will@cvradio.com When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Fans stand in line as they wait to enter the American Bank Center during the World Premiere of the MAC Selena makeup collection Friday. SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Crystal Martinez (center) and Odette Banda (right) from Weslaco look to buy their MAC Selena makeup collection during the World Premiere on Friday at the American Bank Center. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Audrinna Calderon from Austin gets mascara applied to her eyelashes during the World Premiere of the MAC Selena makeup collection on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi. Related Photos MAC Selena World Premiere By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times Corpus Christi Selena fans and makeup aficionados, it's time to rejoice. But do it quickly, and get in line. Starting Thursday, the MAC Cosmetics' Selena makeup collection will be available at the MAC store in La Palmera mall, according to a store employee. If you've heard reports of the makeup line selling out online, it's important to note that those supplies are separate from what will be available in stores. The company long planned separate launches for traditional brick-and-mortar stores and Internet sales. But there's no telling how quickly the makeup will sell out in stores. Hours after the makeup line started selling online Saturday, supplies were drying up. Not only was it sold out, but the massive activity on the store websites caused them to experience server crashes. When you had your items in the cart and ready to check out, but then it says "Gateway Timeout" #MACSelena pic.twitter.com/vMfSts4vwU .n (@sheisnye) October 1, 2016 "The power of Selena's fans is astounding. Their overwhelming passion and excitement inspired the creation of MAC Selena and is the reason for its sellout success and record-breaking traffic to our website," said Sarah Brovda, global communications administrator for MAC. "This is one of the most sought after collections in MAC's history." If I have to go fight some cholas at the mac store then that's what I will do. #MacSelena pic.twitter.com/J7LCyZvIXn Prinsass J (@PrinsassJay) October 1, 2016 By Tuesday, the Internet was like an old Western town with tumbleweeds blowing across the screen for Selena fans wanting "Como la Flor" lipstick and "Techno Cumbia" blush/foundation. "If you didn't get your hands on MAC Selena, please know we are working to restock the collection for maccosmetics.com and the collection will be available wherever MAC is sold in the U.S. and in select stores in Canada," Brovda said. "As soon as we have details on the online restock we will let everyone know." #MACselena crashes and this scene immediately came to mind! pic.twitter.com/tCtRcrl8BA Lucia Briones (@Lucybri83) October 1, 2016 The world premier of the makeup line at American Bank Center last week was one of the highest grossing launches MAC has done, said Kristen Bily, marketing and communications for the venue. "It was definitely a major success for us. Just in food and beverage, we did amazing there," Bily said. "Teaming up with MAC and Dillard's, they executed it so beautifully. They had a vision and it flowed right in the building. I was in awe." Facebook Live posts and other social media initiatives to get the word out about the center's bag and stroller policies were beneficial and saved time, she said. Before the launch, Bily said she received 200 messages a day, many of which were the same questions about bags. Numbers are still being crunched on the number of customers who stood in line for the collection. The venue also hosted Realms Con, an annual anime and gaming convention on the same weekend. MAC Selena will launch internationally later this month. The company thanks fans for their "passion and patience." Twitter: @Caller_Jules Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Industrial construction continues near Portland on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. SHARE DCIM\102MEDIA\DJI_0567.JPG CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A mini capesize cargo vessel pulls into the La Quinta Terminal carrying a payload of iron ore for Voestalpine Texas. The Austrian company will use the material to test various systems at its $800 million plant near Gregory. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Tug boats push a mini capesize cargo vessel up to the Voestalpine Texas dock. The Austrian company will use the ship's payload of iron ore to test various systems at its $800 million plant near Gregory. Voestalpine Texas plant By Chris Ramirez of the Caller-Times PORTLAND Cynthia Bridges fell in love with the lakeside home on Country Club Road the first time she saw it four years ago. These days, the subdivision has gotten a bit louder. Bridges and other residents in Portland's tony NorthShore Country Club enclave are speaking out against their neighbor, Voestalpine Texas. They complain of a constant, a medium- to high-pitched hum emanating from the nearby industrial plant that sounds like a jet engine. They've reached out to the Port of Corpus Christi for help, as well as elected officials, including San Patricio County Judge Terry Simpson and Portland Mayor David Krebs. "It's just awful," said Bridges, whose master bedroom faces the 470-acre plant. "I can deal with it while I'm outside. ... But this (sound) is entering my home. In the morning, at night. "There's just no getting used to it." Officials for Voestalpine Texas, an Austrian iron manufacturing company, say they have been working with an acoustical engineer to study the source of the sound, and that they are mapping out a plan to reduce it. The company has installed a sound-absorbing enclosure around two fans in its briquetting and bottom seal gas dedusting system. More "countermeasures" are planned over the next couple weeks, though a permanent solution may take a little longer. "Given the size and complexity of our facility, the process of identifying effective countermeasures needs to be done in a manner that is holistic, scientifically correct, in accordance with OSHA guidelines and standards, and compliant with environmental regulations. Therefore, this process requires time," the company said in a letter, one of several sent to residents since Aug. 30. Iron is a natural material, but when it is dug from the ground, it typically contains impurities, such as silicon, phosphorous, aluminum and sulfur. It's at this plant, just off U.S. Highway 181, that Voestalpine intends to purify the iron it receives and convert it into easier-to-transport cellphone-sized hot "briquettes." Pure iron in that form can be used in steel production for automobile manufacturing, or even aviation. Construction of the $800 million plant has been steady since its April 2014 groundbreaking. When finished in early 2017, the facility will be capable of producing 2 million metric tons of purified iron briquettes each year. Voestalpine said it plans to share information on the progress of its effort to muffle the sound and to issue regular updates to the community. That's not enough for some residents. "It has been getting louder and louder night after night," an exasperated Jeff Howard said. The sound is so bad in his home, he said he has to sleep with ear plugs. "Sleep deprivation is starting to wear on my family. The humming feels like I'm being tortured in my own home. It's just sad, a place that used to be so relaxing and quiet is now ruined." The plant entered commissioning last spring. That's the period in an industrial project during which equipment and processes are tested to verify they function according to their design specifications or objectives. It has now transitioned to the initial operation period, a stage when initial production is commenced and the company can fine tune parts of its process, said Jonas Chupe, a Voestalpine Texas spokesman. Once the fine tuning has been completed, the company will then produce at a level that is required to fulfill supply contracts with its customers. Voestalpine expects to fulfill its first delivery to a customer around the end of October or early November. About 700 construction workers work on the site. The plant will create roughly 190 permanent jobs. For Danny Turner, a solution can't come too soon. The area had a flat, unobstructed view of sorghum fields when he built his home on Pine Valley Drive in 2003. He is considering legal action against the company. "You can't sell a home, you can't sleep. What else can you do?" Turner asked. "I don't think anybody, including Voestalpine, expected this kind of noise." Twitter: @Caller_ChrisRam 20161004085835581 by callertimes on Scribd SHARE By Marty Schladen, USA Today Network Austin Bureau AUSTIN Two controversial pipeline projects in West Texas are drawing scrutiny from elected officials in the wake of protests and other complaints. Congressional candidates for the district where the pipelines are located are sparring over the issue, while state lawmakers and others voiced concerns over the projects. The El Paso Times has reported on complaints that construction of the Comanche Trail pipeline in eastern El Paso County led to the partial collapse of an irrigation canal and undermined portions of a nearby cotton field. On Sunday, the paper reported allegations that builders of the Trans Pecos pipeline late last month wiped out an ancient American Indian site in northern Brewster County and on Friday sparked a protest in Alpine. The two pipelines are sister projects being built by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners. They're both 42-inch lines that will carry natural gas from the Waha Hub near Fort Stockton and will connect with pipelines controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim at the Mexican border. Another Energy Transfer Partners project, the Dakota Access oil pipeline, has sparked protests in North Dakota that have become a rallying cry for Native Americans throughout the United States and Canada. In Texas, the 195-mile Comanche Trail pipeline will run under the Rio Grande near San Elizario in El Paso County. The 148-mile Trans Pecos pipeline will cross the border near Presidio. Spokeswomen for Energy Transfer Partners last week denied that the Trans Pecos project destroyed an important ancient American Indian site. They also said the company works hard to engage with the communities in which it works and treats landowners fairly. Sprawling Congressional District 23 encompasses the entirety of both West Texas pipelines. It's also one of the most competitive districts in the country, with the seat flipping between parties in each of the past three elections. The current race is a rematch of the 2014 election, in which Republican Will Hurd defeated one-term incumbent Pete Gallego, a Democrat. Asked about constituent complaints about the pipelines, Hurd said he supported the projects, but that citizens' rights need to be respected. "Exporting oil and natural gas is a key driver for the economy in the 23rd Congressional District and something I support," Hurd said in an email. "However, I believe that any major infrastructure project affecting entire towns should be conducted in an open and transparent process, allowing input from the community and respect private property rights." For his part, Gallego criticized the way the pipelines are regulated. Even though the primary purpose of both is to carry gas to Mexico, they're classified as intrastate pipelines for almost their entire length. Those stretches are regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission, which has little authority over how they're built. "Typically, the ball either goes through the hoop or it doesn't," Gallego said in an email. "If a part of a project crosses state or international borders, it is thought of as a federal issue. Unfortunately, due to sequestration and Republican budget cuts, agencies like (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) don't have enough money to do their jobs and properly regulate these projects. Thus, they end up deferring to state authorities." State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, said he supported the pipelines, big stretches of which run through his district. He did so in part because they will provide inexpensive natural gas to previously unserved areas such as Presidio and Tornillo. "Nevertheless, very recent reports that the pipeline's route has damaged native artifacts are both deeply distressing and surprising," Rodriguez said in an email. "When the federal government approved the pipeline, they reported outreach to native tribes and concluded that no prehistoric sites would be damaged. If cultural artifacts were in fact damaged, that is unacceptable. My office has asked Energy Transfer to demonstrate what steps they took to avoid this." State Rep. Mary Gonzalez, D-Clint, represents eastern El Paso County, where the irrigation district is in court battling the Comanche Trail's invocation of eminent domain to run the pipeline under district canals. Some landowners in her district complain that their lack of legal clout makes it impossible to get fair value for their land a charge that Energy Transfer Partners denies. Gonzalez said that Texas law makes it too easy for pipeline companies to invoke eminent domain and build anywhere they wish. "Eminent domain should always be used with extreme caution," she said. "I think it's very important for constituents to have private-property rights and it's dangerous to take them away." Gonzalez said she would support changes to the law, but she said they're unlikely in a state like Texas, where the energy industry carries enormous political clout. "We're not in a climate where our political leadership is going to change that dynamic," she said. El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar and San Elizario Mayor Maya Sanchez also accused Energy Transfer Partners of being less than open with a public that has safety concerns about the Comanche Trail project. Last year, Escobar pressed in vain for Energy Transfer Partners to hold a town hall meeting in which officials would have to answer questions before an audience. The company instead insisted on holding an open house, where company representatives could deal with the public one-on-one. "We were very frustrated by the fact that we got very little to no answers or even got them to engage with the community," she said. Energy Transfer Partners spokeswoman Lisa Dillinger said the company thinks the town hall format is a better way to engage with the public. "As a company it has always been our policy to host open house meetings as a way to interact one-on-one with landowners, local officials and interested parties, answering questions that are specific to their situations," she said in an email. "We have found this format to be very successful." Marty Schladen can be reached at 512-479-6606; mschladen@gannett.com; @martyschladen on Twitter. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Groups have hit out against xenophobic stickers that have been plastered across the city. Stickers have been appearing in multiple locations across the city with offensive slogans linking immigration with terrorism. They have been decried as vile and offensive by Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner. Richard Rose, from Cambridge Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) said: Cambridge is a proudly anti-racist City. Thousands of pounds have been raised for refugees and scores of trips have been organised from Cambridge to 'The Jungle'. We cannot allow the xenophobic attitudes of the past to resurface with the gloss of false respectability, nor the insignificant late-night stickering of an unrepresentative few to dictate the discourse of politics in our City. On October 24, Cambridge Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) will be holding a public meeting to discuss what local communities have done and can do in the wake of the recent shocking increase in racist attacks across the country. National and local politicians and activists will be giving positive and practical advice on how we can prevent the recent negative campaigning in communities. The meeting will be held at Anglia Ruskin University, Lab 026. Amongst others, speakers include the leader of Cambridge City Council Lewis Herbert, Sharon Kaur, Co-convenor of Cambridge Green Party and Zak Cochrane from National SUTR Mr Rose added: Come to the meeting to make your voice heard, and talk about what you can do to help. SUTR is a cross party organization and all are welcome to attend and join. For more information, please check the Facebook page, e-mail standuptoracism.cambridge@gmail.com Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups The academic year has begun at the University of Cambridge, and with that comes the ritual of fresher's week: festivities and events to help welcome new students starting their first year at university. The fair, which took place yesterday and continues today on Parker's Piece, saw an estimated 15,000 students attend. Amatey Doki, president of Cambridge University's Students' Union, said: We have 500 to 600 societies here; it's a huge operation, and a lot of the credit has to go to the staff team. We started in the beginning of July, but actually a lot of the groundwork in making sure we got the sponsorship and all the right people here today started a lot earlier this year. It's great to see so many students from the second and third year setting up their societies and getting students to volunteer their time to do extra-curricular activities. Of course, it being Cambridge, bike sellers, including Cycle King, were in attendance offering special deals for students. Orthi Shahzad, 19, a second year medical student, was one of the students browsing for bikes. She said: Last year I felt like I didn't need one, but I need one to go around now. Last year it would have made more sense to have one because my lectures were far from halls. But I need a bike now to visit friends from other colleges." There was a mix of society stalls and businesses at the fair. One of the more unique societies at the event included Cambridge University Eco Racing, a group of students who built the only solar panel powered race car in the UK. David Hsuan, the society's head of mechanical engineering, said: It cost 500,000 to build, and it was built by us students and we also got help from sponsors. There's 60 of us, and we have different departmental teams, such as a PR team, a business team and more." Domino's Pizza handed out coupons which included two free personal pizzas. They also gave out free slices of pizza, and their stall was arguably one of the busiest stands at the fair. Popular online shopping brand Asos was also there, giving out free canvas bags that you could design yourself on a large screen mounted on their van. From its Gulf of Mexico shores through its river systems to its mountainous northern borders with Georgia and Tennessee, Alabama has been the nursery for one of the world's most popular and enduring myths of early exploration. Did Welsh Prince Madoc beat Christopher Columbus to America by three centuries leaving a legacy of Welsh speaking natives and hints of 12th Century construction styles? Or was the story of the adventurer a myth popularized by politics of new world exploration? Or a bit of both? Ronald H. Fritze, noted historian, and writer and professor will share his research and expertise on the Madoc legend Sunday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. at Blakeley State Park during a free public lecture sponsored by Blakeley and the Alabama Humanities Foundation. A critic of pseudo historic ideas who holds a doctorate from Cambridge University, Dr. Fritze is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a history professor at Athens State University. He is also the author and editor of 11 books and appeared in the series "The Conquest of America" on the History Channel. Dr. Fritze will tell and comment on the story of Prince Madoc or Madog, a son of Owain Gwynadd, king of Wales. King Oswain died in late 1169 leaving a reported 19 to 27 children to battle over his crown. According to folklore Madoc and some 100 men, women and children went to sea in 1170 to escape the bloody family fight sailing west to a distant land. According to the legend, Madoc returned to lead another expedition in 1171 from which we have no record of anyone returning. Welsh pride kept the legend alive until the reign of Queen Elizabeth I when English historians revised the story as a basis for their claims to what are now American lands. The revised legend had Prince Madoc sailing into Mobile Bay, making his way up the Alabama and Coosa Rivers to Northeast Alabama and into Tennessee and Georgia and then westward and up to the Louisville, Ky. area. The centuries-old legend has been nurtured in both the United Kingdom and America but no where more persistently and warmly than in Alabama where the Madoc myth has grown to include a legacy of Welsh speaking native Americans and remains of stone fortifications all across America's midlands believed by some to be Welsh. Before its removal in 2008, a historic marker stood on Mobile Point for more than 50 years claiming Fort Morgan at the mouth of Mobile Bay as Madoc's landing spot after a colorful amateur historian persuaded the Daughters of the American Revolution of the site's authenticity. Caves beneath Desoto Falls in Mentone are named for Madoc. Only a few miles away across the state line in Georgia are the remains of a supposed Welsh fort. Keepers of the legend continue to push for DNA sampling of bones of early native Americans searching for scientific evidence of Welsh ancestry, archaeologists are drafted to examine ruins of fortifications, and language experts and even art historians are urged into the discussion. Even this year a new story arose of a piece of metal from an Alabama river some believe to have dated from Madoc's exploration. Dr. Fritze will cut through the chaff as he distinguishes between historical fact and the folklore that promises to live on as possibly one of Alabama's most unique and intriguing legends. The lecture at Blakeley Park's Gatra Wehle Center is free but registration is requested by calling 251-626-5581. Blakeley State Park is located in Baldwin County on State Hwy. 225 about 5 miles north of its intersection with U.S.31 at Spanish Fort and about 15 miles south of the Spanish Fort exit of I-65. For more information go to www.blakeleypark.com. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups A church is counting the cost after lead thieves struck at the medieval building in Caxton. Neighbours raised the alarm after being disturbed by raiders stripping the metal from the roof at St Andrews Church at around 3am on Wednesday. The thieves fled after leaving a pile of lead sheeting against a hedge ready to be removed. Police are investigating the theft and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Police in Cambridgeshire had already been probing 18 cases of theft, or attempted theft, of lead from church roofs since April and have relaunched the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT). The Rev Stephen Day, team vicar who is responsible for St Andrews, said: It is a big problem. It is too early to say what the cost will be at Caxton, but in a similar incident at Eltisley, where thieves were also disturbed before they could take the lead away, the lead was worth 1,000 but the repairs cost 20,000. The insurance doesnt always cover the cost of repairs. Mr Day said they thieves had been disturbed by a neighbour who raised the alarm. They had taken the lead from the roof and had taken it ready to be collected by their van, he said. (Image: Keith Jones) Mr Day said that a church at Comberton had its lead stolen and then the thieves returned to take the new lead. He said St Andrews had been a victim of lead thieves many years ago and that although it was a small community, he was certain villagers would rally round. Inspector Dick Turner, from RCAT, said: The theft of lead from church roofs can have a devastating impact on local communities. The disruption can be detrimental for local parishioners, community groups and those in rural communities who consider the church to be their support mechanism. As well as the obvious disruption and financial consequences of this type of offence, the damage caused can also have a historical impact. The RCAT team has been visiting churches across the county to discuss the issue and offer security and theft prevention advice. Insp Turner urged anyone seeing suspicious behaviour around churches to contact police on 101, 999 if a crime was in progress, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. We have more newsletters Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Police are appealing for information after a fail to stop collision between a car and a cyclist in Cambridge. The incident took place on Mill Road just after 8.30pm last night (Tuesday). Emergency services, including the police and ambulance service, were called to reports of a collision between a car and a cyclist. There were no serious injuries sustained in the incident but police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after the driver failed to stop. It is believed the road was closed for a short period of time while police investigated. (Image: Oliver Pritchard) A police spokeswoman said: We were called at 8.50pm to Mill Road, Cambridge to reports of a RTC between a car and a cyclist. The cyclist, a woman, suffered slight injuries and did not go to hospital. The driver of the vehicle, believed to be a white BMW or Mercedes, failed to stop." Anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the collision is asked to call the Roads Policing Unit on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups The man spearheading Cambridges hugely controversial City Deal road proposals has pledged a fresh look at how they might operate if brought in. Speaking exclusively to the News on the eve of todays mass go slow protest in the city centre, Lewis Herbert said the planners would look at whether certain groups could be exempted from the scheme, which would restrict access to six key roads at peak times in the mornings and evenings. And he said he has got the message from businesses worried about plummeting trade. Cllr Herbert, chairman of the City Deal and also leader of the city council, said: Consideration will be given to exemption for certain groups if the plan proceeds. People immediately adjacent to the control points would be considered. We have got the message from businesses too and we need to listen to them. Our ambition is to tackle congestion. The reality, if we succeed, is that people will be more attracted to coming into the city. He added: We will be reviewing the proposals. We will be particularly addressing the issues of the nearest neighbours and businesses who need both access and to make deliveries, and what exemptions, including for blue badge holders, we can make. The fundamental issue remains. We cannot operate in a city where buses cannot move around properly. We will look at all the responses from the consultation and continue to welcome more. We think there needs to be a look at the detail. In terms of exemptions, we are looking at issues of access for people near the control points. In the wider design, we will look afresh at the approach we are taking so that Cambridge businesses can make deliveries. The scheme has to work for the benefit of everybody. We want to hear from everybody that has got views. We will look through the responses in detail. It is not just the issues that have been covered in the paper that are important to us, we want to hear from bus users who could gain from the proposals. Three main roads Mill Road, East Road and Hills Road were likely to be clogged up by protest marches from 8am today, although it is not known how many people will take part. The roads are three of six proposed for restrictions, the others being Grange Road, Queens Road and Coldams Lane. The marches are being organised by businesses and residents, and are likely to cause hold-ups for people travelling to work and parents dropping off children at school. Cambridgeshire County Council has warned people on Twitter to expect travel disruption. Details of what is being proposed under the transport side of the City Deal are online at www.gccitydeal.co.uk. LIMBE: Cameroon Army monitoring the sea Archives There are dissenting voices among Fishermen in the South West region who are protesting against the activities of Chinese Fishermen in the region. They complain that Chinese trawlers use heavy equipments and sweep all fish in the sea including Fingerlings. October edition of Green Vision Newspaper indicates that at certain point, the industrial Chinese fishermen had even clashed with local counterparts in which the latter had their equipments destroyed. Apolinius, a fisherman in Limbe is quoted as saying They use large vessels and nets to scrape off everything in the sea. These people have no concern for the future. Another fisherman, Mola Cyprian says he is unable to meet up with his household demands because of the over exploitation by the Chinese fishermen. The problem has not only affected local fishermen, it has an adverse impact on the prices of fish in the market. Fish is now sold at exorbitant prices, twice the prices used to be sold in the past. An aquaculture expert Tongwa Thomas speaking to The Green Vision reveals that the lackluster attitude of administrative authorities is encouraging the unregulated fishing activities. He said, These industrial men get licenses to catch only mature fishes in the high sea. Conversely, they catch everything from smaller to the matured. Fish fresh from water Archives According to the South West regional Delegate for Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Walters Nji ANDU, there have been some irregularities in the sea but that repressive measures are being put in place to regulate fishing activities in Cameroon seas. He went further to say his ministry works in collaboration with the defense forces to monitor activities of fishermen both industrial and artisanal. The regional delegate also revealed that several fishing vessels which have gone beyond the three nautical miles or petroleum areas have been impounded where defaulters pay up to 500,000 FCFA. | BY Ricki Green | Free The Bears, an international wildlife conservation and animal welfare organization, is asking for collaborative assistance from the advertising and production industry, and for all of those artistic art directors, directors, or anyone with a creative flair to come forward with your skills. This year, Free The Bears is 21, and they are holding an online auction to raise funds. Working in the artistic field, they are hoping some creatives might like to draw or paint a picture of a bear, or donate existing art pieces for them to auction during November of this year. They would need to receive your art piece by the end of October. Joji Jacob, Executive Creative Director of DDB Singapore, was the first artist to donate, with the image above. Free The Bears work with local communities and governments throughout Asia to save three of the worlds least-known bear species sun bears, moon bears (asiatic black bears) and sloth bears from misery, torture and the threat of extinction. It was founded in 1995 by Mary Hutton and, thanks to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers throughout Asia, Australia and Europe, 100% of donations go directly towards freeing bears from torture and exploitation. Free The Bears has five areas of focus: 1. Rescue: Working with government task forces, Free The Bears locate and rescue bears from poachers, trophy pet owners, illegal bear bile farmers and inhumane and illegal restaurateurs / operators who sell bear bile for ineffective medicinal purposes and bear paw soup as a status symbol to a wealthy and unscrupulous elite. This is an issue of wildlife preservation and conservation. Hunted and caged in appalling conditions, the bears are slowly tortured for their parts. 2. Sanctuary: No longer fit for the wild, hundreds of traumatised bears need a safe home. Free The Bears has partnered with governments and local organisations to build and maintain world-class bear sanctuaries, including: the worlds largest bear sanctuary: the Agra Bear Rescue Facility in India the worlds largest Sun bear sanctuary: the Cambodian Bear Sanctuary financial support of partner programs, facilities and sanctuaries across Asia 3. Education: Free The Bears use these sanctuaries to teach local schools and families about their precious wildlife and they support mobile education teams to deliver environmental education to communities living in close proximity to threatened wildlife and habitats. 4. Advocacy: Whilst Free The Bears succeeded in lobbying governments to introduce protective legislation, today thousands of bears remain caged and abused in appalling conditions across Asia. They need to keep lobbying to see these laws enforced. 5. Fundraising: Every cent goes directly to the bears and equipping local people to continue the fight. Free The Bears want to raise even more, to do more, and to stop the cruelty. Local and international support for Free The Bears is growing and they know that one day they can put an end to the crisis. But they need to sustain their operations and raise awareness to build widespread local support for the protection of bears. Its here where they need your help. Free The Bears are hoping that you are interested in coming on board with us for our fundraising auction. Our plan is to auction 21 special pieces for their 21st anniversary. For additional information, or to send your artworks, please contact: Claire Davidson, Online Auction Coordinator | BY Ricki Green | Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has further bolstered its CRM offering with the hiring of Stefanie DiGianvincenzo as creative director CRM, this follows the arrival of Gayle While, head of CRM, who joined earlier this year. Says While: The agency undertook a worldwide search for world class talent to bolster the CRM offering and ended up finding someone who had worked here previously. Were delighted to be welcoming her back to Australia. DiGianvincenzo started her career at Clemenger BBDO Proximity working under Australias most awarded creative leader in direct Tan Gout Nee. Departing Australia, DiGianvincenzo worked in London for leading UK agencies Wunderman and AKQA, most recently as creative lead for Nike Women globally. DiGianvincenzo has been awarded at every major awards show and was chosen by the Cannes Lions Festival as one of 12 female creative leaders from around the world to take part in its first See It Be It program. She has judged at a number of international awards, most recently sitting on the Direct jury for the D&AD Awards. Says DiGianvicenzo: My time in London opened my mind to a new way of engaging audiences one thats focused on using technology to provide services and experiences that customers really value. Its an approach that Ive come to live by. And so Im thrilled to be joining a team that not only gets it, but is as passionate about this kind of progressive thinking as I am. | BY Ricki Green | Curious has announced the signing of Florian Habicht to its directorial roster. Until now, Habicht has been making feature films, and winning international awards and stellar reviews for them. Reviews like these, for his 2014 documentary, Pulp: a Film about Life, Death and Supermarkets: As celebrated in Habichts warmly human documentary, Pulp has always been defiantly differentThe result is a beguiling celebration of humanity that could resonate beyond the nostalgic fan base. [Variety SXSW review by Charles Grant] I felt that the film was a triumphmoving, funny, sweet, eccentricand the reaction from the audience, well, its the kind of thing that makes you feel like you are smiling with your heart. [Dangerous Minds review] And reviews like these for his 2011 feature, Love Story: It had the audience in stitches and also gasping with amazement at the risky, strange, surprising and wildly romantic ideas sprinkled through it like the stars on the ceiling of the mighty Civic. [New Zealand Herald review of Love Story world premiere / New Zealand Film Festival Opening Night by Peter Calder.] A peon to the people on New Yorks streets, an absurdist rom-com, a flawless comic subversion; Im not sure what Love Story is. Possibly genius. [Critic Magazine review by Henry Feltham] Habichts decision to move into directing commercials was greeted with enthusiasm by Curious Film executive producer and managing director, Matt Noonan. Says Noonan: Its been a long held ambition of mine to work with Florian and I didnt hesitate when he approached me to say he was ready and keen to take on commercial projects. Habicht had just shot three short films in the UK with Beck, Spiritual Speed dating and Japanese band, Boredoms. These Random Acts were commissioned by Channel 4. His documentary feature, Spookers, which is being supported by the New Zealand Film Commission and Screen Australia, is in post production. And he has a history of making films that become news, beginning with his debut feature Woodenhead in 2003, of which he was writer, producer, director and camera operator, that won distribution throughout the US. In 2008, Habicht completed Rubbings from a Live Man, for which he was director, writer, co-editor, and co-producer. It was nominated for Best Film (under $1 million) at the New Zealand Film and TV Awards. In 2009, He became the first recipient of a grant by late arts benefactor, Harriet Friedlander a years residency in New York. Love Story part memoir, part romance, part exploration of improvising a movie into being was born from his time there. The film was chosen to be the opening night film of the New Zealand International Film Festival in 2011, and won Best Film, Best Director & Best Editor at the NZ Film & Television Awards. It also won the audience award at the Pluk de Nacht Outdoor Film Festival in Amsterdam 2012. Pulp: a Film about Life, Death and Supermarkets, made its debut at the 2014 NZ International Film Festival. It won Best Music Film at the NME Awards London in 2015, the Audience Favourite Award at the In-Edit Festival, Barcelona, an Honorable Jury Mention at the Athens International Film Festival and was ranked in the NYC Village Voice Top 10 Films Of 2014. It made its world premiere at SXSW 2014, was the opening night film at the Sheffield Doc Fest 2014 and the closing night film at the Film Society Of Lincoln Sound & Vision Series NYC 2014. Pulp is being distributed in the UK, USA, Portugal, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Taiwan, The Middle East and France. Says Noonan: Florian is my favourite documentary film maker bar none and Kaikohe Demolition my favourite NZ doc. Its one of the most insightful observations of Aotearoa. With Pulp: a Film about Life, Death and Supermarkets and Love Story, Florian established himself as a renowned director on the global stage. Working with genuinely original creative voices like Florian is special enough. That Florian is great fun to hang out and jam with on ideas is the icing on the cake. View Florian Habichts work here. | BY Ricki Green | By Jon Burden, executive creative director, Naked, Sydney Great advertising crosses over into the cultural mainstream from guests turning up to fancy dress parties dressed like Captain Risky, to not happy Jan! entering the vernacular. I once met a guy who had Diesels motto, for successful living tattooed on his wrist, and I also heard Compare The Market make more money from selling meerkat toys than actual insurance advice. Now, the latter may be apocryphal, but I am certain that while great campaigns can define our industry, bad ones can damn it. Increasing numbers of people manage to eschew advertising altogether. But if you thought advertising was cynical, then getting away from it all has produced some serious market opportunities of its own. Adblock Plus has just launched its Acceptable Ads Platform, allowing publishers to insert what it calls acceptable ads to be served to Adblock users, and apparently close to 1,000 publishers have signed up. YouTube Red $9.99 a month gets you ad free subscription to YouTube. All of this and more highlight a glaring truth currently hovering over the advertising industry people dont always like being told what to buy. An organisation that took it upon themselves to explain this to the industry is the Citizen Advertising Takeover Service (CATS). CATS is a brilliant crowdfunded project, which combines internet users dual obsessions of adblocking and videos of cats. It partnered with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, one of the UKs largest pet rescue centres, and raised enough money to replace standard adverts with pictures of animals. As a result, Clapham Common Tube station currently has 60 cute felines in need of a home plastered all over its walls. Asked why they did this, CATS said they found it exhausting being asked to buy stuff all the time, explaining, Wouldnt it be great not to worry about the holiday we cant afford, the car we dont need, or the body we dont have? Imagine a world where public spaces made you feel good? The fact people put their hands in their pockets to buy an alternative to advertising says it all when it comes to flipping the bird at the industry. And they dont just give their money; Ive lost count of the name our product campaigns that have proven PR own goals, as they succumb to fatal levels of trolling by their would-be consumers. Advertising creates relationships between consumers and brands, and like every relationship you should treat it responsibly, admit your weaknesses and respond to your consumers needs and tolerance levels. Ive talked about polishing the proverbial before, and sometimes a product or project is beyond redemption before it arrives on your desk. Nonetheless, we shouldnt let our standards be determined by the lowest common denominator. We need to make the worst ads a little bit better. | BY Lynchy | M&C Saatchi has lured Richard Morewood back to the network to take the chief executive officer of Asia role, based in Singapore. The five Offices are Singapore, New Delhi, Tokyo, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur. Each Office follows the M&C Saatchi model of owner/managers with the senior team having equity in their businesses. Morewood will focus on driving existing and new business national, regional and global. Morewood is returning to M&C Saatchi having previously worked at the London and Sydney Offices; he was responsible for a number of high profile clients including PC World, Woolworths and David Jones. At M&C Saatchi Sydney, Morewood also had a specific responsibility for talent, focusing on recruitment, resourcing, training and development. Recently Morewood spent five years at DDB, he was responsible for the McDonalds account across APAC & MEA and Unilever (Walls & Lipton) across North Asia, SEA and Australia. Before his time at DDB, Morewood also held senior roles at Bates UK and Mother London. Says Moray MacLennan, Worldwide CEO at M&C Saatchi: It is great to have Richard back in the Network managing a region that is critical for growth. He understands our brand and our culture. Says Morewood: Im absolutely delighted to be rejoining M&C Saatchi and having the chance to work with our offices in New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. As well as with Moray and the teams across the globe. | BY Ricki Green | Sea Life Sydney Aquarium has announced a state wide search for Sydneys Biggest Penguin Fan with its first ever online campaign via History Will Be Kind, designed to support the launch of the attractions world-first Penguin Expedition exhibit in November. The four week competition will see young penguin and conservation enthusiasts demonstrate their reporting skills through a short 30-second video. Budding stars will be able to showcase everything from their knowledge of penguins, to insights into penguin behaviours and the difference between species, within their creative entries. Announced on November 3rd, the winner will report from the opening of the multi-million dollar Penguin Expedition, meet Sydneys first ever colony of King and Gentoo penguins and film a short web series, including exclusive interviews with expert Penguin Trainers. Says Richard Dilly, general manager, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium: This campaign will give one lucky child the chance of a lifetime and is a great way to pay homage to Sydneys first colony of sub-Antarctic penguins. It is also the first time weve run a fully integrated social media campaign so were very excited to see the results. We are looking for creative video entries that show us personality and tell us why entrants love penguins and why they think theyve got what it takes to become a star. As part of their role, the junior penguin reporter will also become a conservation ambassador to help educate visitors on the impact single use plastic has on wild penguin colonies. In addition, the winner will gain unlimited access to Sea Life Sydney Aquarium for 12 months. Entries are open to NSW residents only and applicants must be under the age of 12 years. To be in the running, entrants need to: Step 1: Create a short video telling/showing why they have what it takes to be a Junior Penguin Reporter. Step 2: Upload the video to http://sydneyaquarium.com.au/penguincomp and include the hashtag #PenguinReporter. Step 3: Keep an eye on the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium Facebook page for exciting penguin news. Launching in November, the world-first Penguin Expedition is inspired by Macquarie Island an Australian owned island that lies in the southwest Pacific Ocean and will create an explorer out of every guest as they travel in a raft through a rugged environment at a cool but comfortable six degrees Celsius. The King and Gentoo Penguins set to join the exhibit will be a welcome addition to the 13,000 animals from 700 different species already in residence at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. These curious, playful and sometimes cheeky critters live in sub-Antarctic conditions; they can withstand the harsh winter environment and thrive in the chilly water. King Penguins can grow up to 100 cm tall and weigh 11 to 16 kg, while the smaller but still impressive Gentoos reach a maximum weight of 8.5kg. | BY Ricki Green | The City of Sydney is seeking an inspired operator to help shape the creative culture of one of Australias fastest-growing suburbs. Under its popular Accommodation Grants Program, the city will lease its new multi-purpose creative hub in Green Square to an organisation or individual with a vision for supporting local arts in an area set to double in population over the next 15 years. The successful candidate will take charge of the new Joynton Avenue Creative Centre, which includes space for an artist-run gallery, artist studios, classrooms, workshops, bespoke jewellery benches, co-working spaces for creative entrepreneurs and hire spaces for the community. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said this was a great chance for a leading creative organisation to bring their ideas to life in Green Squares new arts community. Says Lord Mayor: Green Square residents wont have to travel far to tap into culture and creativity. The new Joynton Avenue Creative Centre will give local artists the space to try out new ideas, collaborate, expand their businesses and connect with the community. Through the Citys Accommodation Grants Program, the creative centre will provide an accessible place for artists to hire low-cost spaces to develop their work, as well as office space for creative start-ups and new enterprises. The successful head tenant will have significant experience in managing cultural programs and creative spaces, with the ability to partner with like-minded organisations to deliver a mix of arts, cultural and community offerings. Successful candidates will have a strong vision for the property as a creative centre that: Ensures creatives are able to access the spaces at affordable rent Encourages space for jewellers and an artist-run program in the ground floor gallery Provides community access to classes and practise-based learning in the arts Includes a plan for securing community use of the outdoor and ground floor hireable spaces Fosters collaboration and engagement with the local community Provides a feasible business model for the propertys management. The operator will also directly manage sub-leases for spaces and may consider various terms or space-share agreements suitable for the usage of each space. The three-storey arts centre is located at the former South Sydney Hospital site at 3 Joynton Avenue, Zetland and includes the following spaces: Outdoor and ground floor hire spaces for creative, cultural, social and recreational use Ground floor spaces featuring a gallery for exhibitions and a large open classroom intended for creative classes and workshops First floor spaces intended as artist studios, a jewellery studio and workshop space Second floor office spaces for creative industries including a large open-plan space for co-working and a meeting room. Common areas on each floor include a breakout room, kitchenette, lounge and verandas. Work on the $18 million centre began in late April and is expected to be complete in mid-2017. Candidates must view the spaces before applying. Two open inspections will be offered on 18 October and 8 November 2016. To book, visit jaccsiteinspections.eventbrite.com.au. Interested candidates must submit an application via SmartyGrants by Monday, 21 November at 5pm. For questions, contact communitygrants@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or click here. Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 11:54PM If Google plans to unseat the Amazon Echo in its own category, itll need all the help it can get. And thats what it is planning to do with the Actions on Google program launching in December. This program will allow developers to build Actions for Google Assistant (akin to the 3,000+ skills of Amazons Alexa). There will be two flavors to this: Direct Actions and Conversation Actions. Direct is similar to what you can do with Siri, Alexa, and even Googles own Google Now voice assistant. You ask it for information, schedule a meeting, etc. Conversations, on the other hand and as its name suggests, is more of a back and forth. One example given at the Google event is when Scott Huffman tried to get an Uber and had Google Assistant pass the conversation off to Uber to finalize the request. And thats where developers would need to work with Google. Aside from the Google plans to release an Embedded Google Assistant software development kit to let tinkerers load Google Assistant on things like Raspberry Pi as well as for other hardware manufacturers to have Assistant in other products. Source: The Verge Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 4:26PM Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla Google is now a player in the smartphone game. While the company did dabble in creating specific devices with hardware partners during its now defunct Nexus phase, it left the building of the hardware to OEMs. Nexus is all but dead and there are valid reasons for that. Google is looking forward to a future where they make the whole widget in order to ensure the best experience. The 5-inch Pixel and the 5.5-inch Pixel XL represent the most cohesive idea of a Google Phone since the first Android device shipped eight years ago. The Pixel devices are flagship phones (they start at $899) that boast top-tier specs, camera performance that Google says will beat any smartphone as well as a bevy of intelligent assistant features powered by Google services. Specs include a 5 or 5.5-inch AMOLED display, a SnapDragon 821 Quad-Core processor running 2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz, 4GB of RAM, turbo-charging capability giving 7 hours on a 15 minute charge, 32GB and 128GB storage capacities, a 12 megapixel rear camera, an 8 megapixel front-facing camera and a rear fingerprint sensor which doubles as a trackpad for navigation. What is clearly evident is that the design of the Pixel and the Pixel XL is based off of Apple's iPhone 6. there's really no mistaking the deliberate attempt to grab the look of the most popular smartphone design around (now in three generations of Apple phones), and take that familiar look and feel, move some elements around and put the Android OS secret sauce on it. Google clearly believes that referencing a known and popular smartphone design will increase its chances of success in the marketplace. The premium pricing of the Pixel devices (Canadians can expect to pay $899 for the 32GB Pixel and $1049 for the 32Gb Pixel XL, puts them right in iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy territory. The issue here is that both Apple and Samsung have very mature products that have been developed and evolved through time and the Pixel is the first generation of a new product category for Google. I had some time with the Pixel and the Pixel XL and while they seemed impressive at first blush, I wasn't getting excited by the form factor or the design which, quite frankly, feels like it was from two years ago. I did notice that these devices exhibited high build quality that few Nexus devices could match and the software felt quite snappy. I really need a few days to put the hardware and the software through its paces to really determine if it is as good as Google promises. What do you think about the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, is Google going the right direction by getting into the expensive smartphone game to highlight its newest software features? Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 2:56PM Text and photos By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla On its own, the Moto Z is an inspired flagship device. Its made of top tier materials, offers the best of Motos bespoke software experiences, yet presents users with a pretty pure Android experience with very little in the way of unwanted bloatware (unless youre getting it from a carrier). Its my impression that Motorola, one of the oldest makers of smartphones in the industry, has always seen a future beyond the smartphone. Their first Android device, the Droid (sold in Canada as the Motorola Milestone), was the first to have a slide-out keyboard which differentiated it from most candy bar Androids of the time. The Moto Atrix smartphone, had the ability to be mated to a laptop accessory and even a desktop, it preceded Microsofts Continuum feature of extending a smartphone to become a notebook replacement. With Moto Maker on the Moto X, the company championed customization and personalization, plus they introduced leather, wood, and other materials to the smartphone market. Kicking off a trend that companies like OnePlus, LG, Huawei and others picked up on, but never really pulled off elegantly. Now, with the Moto Z, we're seeing the next phase of evolution. As Motorola Mobility got acquired by Lenovo, it seems they managed to sell their idea of a modular smartphone future with the Moto Z family. Unlike the closed ecosystem represented by rival Apple, who has taken it upon themselves to dictate whats best for the consumer (i.e. you dont need a headphone jack, you cant have SD card expansion). Motorolas been able to push the idea that the smartphone can be whatever you need it to be, provided the core device is capable enough to power various options. Ill be covering each of the Moto Mods components separately as theres too much to discuss for each particular use case. In this review, I want to focus on the Moto Z flagship and all that it represents. From X to Z Motorolas longtime flagship has been the Moto X line which has really dictated some of them biggest innovations in the smartphone space above and beyond the idea of customization. The Moto Z is a completely different animal. It is arguably the most innovative smartphone design weve seen in years. Its ultra-thin profile (5.2mm) recalls the RAZR and my personal favourite phone of that era, the SLVR. Its mind-boggling that people arent going crazy over the fact that this skinny sliver of stainless steel features the latest SnapDragon 820 processor, has 4GB of RAM, and features a truly immersive 5.5-inch Quad HD display with a 535 ppi resolution. On its own, the Moto Z is an inspired flagship device. Its made of top tier materials, offers the best of Motos bespoke software experiences, yet presents users with a pretty pure Android experience with very little in the way of unwanted bloatware (unless youre getting it from a carrier). Moto Z features USB Type-C connectivity with Turbo Charging. A mere 15-minute charge is good for 8-hours of use and then, theres always the option of slapping on a battery Moto Mod for instant juice for hours to an extra day. Living in the land of Z I am a heavy smartphone user. While I hardly make phone calls with the device, I do use it for email, social media, photography, listening to podcasts and streaming music, watching short videos, messaging, light gaming and as a GPS navigation tool with Waze. I got through a day taking the Moto Z off its USB Type-C charger at 7 a.m. and it was at 18% battery capacity at around 9 p.m., which is quite decent considering this is such a thin device. The Moto Z comes with all the high-end goodies. A 13 megapixel camera with an f/1.8 aperture thats capable of detailed stills and 4K video. This cameras resume is impressive, and I like that Lenovo has included a professional mode and RAW capture capability for photographs that crave more control. Theres a 5 megapixel front facing camera for with a 1.4um big pixel for better low light performance as well. Everything about the Moto Z is about precision and detail. The beveled corners, the sensory ridges on the power button, and the balanced layout of IR sensor and the 4 microphones which enable the Moto Actions features are careful and purposely laid out. Expansion Potential On its own, the Moto Z is just as fast and competent as any flagship smartphone in the market right now but comes in a much thinner, more thoughtfully designed form factor. A lot of thought and care went into every aspect of its design which, is more than I can say for many Android flagships that look and feel like derivative devices or pale copies of established devices. Lenovo has really created something special with the Moto Z as a standalone flagship, theres really nothing that looks or feels like it in the market right now. The other half of the story are the Moto Mods, add on peripherals that connect magnetically to give the Moto Z additional powers to run longer, entertain better and improve as a standalone camera. Think of the Moto Z as the Tony Stark of smartphones. It is smart, charming, handsome and functional. But when it puts on a suit of armour (or in this case an external battery, a pico projector, JBL speakers or a Hasselblad camera), Moto Z becomes something else entirely. Mod Squad I plan on reviewing each of the existing Moto Mods in a separate review but I can say the concept works really well. The Moto Mods connect very easily and firmly on to the Moto Z, there is a bit of play or looseness that can be felt if you press hard and move the mod (theyre just connected by magnets after all), but other than that they go on and tend to stay on. Not having to install software for each Moto Mod and have them automatically recognized is huge. The firmware for many of the Mods gets updated automagically once theyre on the device. So far, Ive used the Incipio battery case the most on the Moto Z as it helps add power without adding much bulk. The Insta-Share projector has been a device Ive used more than I originally though. I watched half the first season of Netflix Luke Cage off my Moto Z with the projector. The Moto Zs loudspeaker is quite good for most shows but you can pair a Bluetooth headset and get even louder sound. The Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod is the one I was initially the most excited about and while it does offer great 10x optical zoom, stunning photos and videos, I have yet to really put it through its paces. The option to quickly change the Moto Zs look with a bamboo or even leather backplate will appeal to users who like to change up the look of their smartphones on a regular basis. I cant wait to see what third-party cases and Mods can bring to this ecosystem. Hits: - Lenovos Moto Z is the thinnest flagship smartphone in the market right now - Inspired design, great build, look and feel - Moto Actions and 4 microphones help with personal assistants - Above average camera with OIS and Pro Mode features - Turbocharging and all-day battery life on an ultra-thin device - Moto Mods open up a world of expansion possibilities Misses: - No headphone jack, included USB Type-C dongle is easy to lose Verdict: The Lenovo Moto Z is the most innovative and attractive smartphone in the market right now. Not only does it push the envelope in integration, with a razor-like thinness, it does so without sacrificing many of the key features that make it a flagship smartphone. This alone makes Moto Z an impressive release, but when you consider the manifold expansion capabilities offered by the Moto Mods, this device becomes the nerve-centre of a truly forward thinking digital ecosystem. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 "It was about 'you can', and being encouraging, and saying the world of decision-making is not just for some special class of people, it's for all those who are passionate enough to have their voices are heard." "It's like Donald Trump or a politician using a song by a rock star, and being told, 'I'm sorry, you can't use that in your ad, or at your campaign rally' ... that's the parallel." Featured in the exhibition is an explosives detective dog Sarbi who went missing in action for more than a year during the Afghanistan conflict and was later spotted by another soldier and re-united with her Australian unit. Sarbi died of cancer in 2015 and her ex-handler Warrant Officer David Simpson donated the taxidermied remains to the memorial. Globacom confirmed that 4G LTE services were now launched but only available in; Benin, Eket, Jos, Warri, Yola and Zaria. He said Lagos and other cities would follow soon. MTN Nigeria carried out a nationwide roll-out of 4G LTE services just last week. Globacom is therefore only the third mobile network in Nigeria to activate 4G LTE, after nTel and MTN. The announcement was made via the telcos official Twitter account earlier. According to local press reports, Globacoms prices are the most competitive on the market so far. Some local reports also claim that Etisalat will soon be upgrading its network. Globacoms Head of Corporate Sales, Kamaldeen Shonibare, said: We are pleased to once again play a leading role in empowering Nigerians with world class data services, helping to close the digital divide. In the last one and a half years, the people of this great country have repeatedly spoken by making Globacom the largest data network in new subscriptions. The best we can do for our people who believe in us and made us their number one data network is to give them the best technology. What we are offering is the new speed of life. LUCEDALE, Miss. -- A George County man has been arrested after being accused of attempting to scam multiple businesses in Jackson County. On Monday, 29-year old Tommy Alexander Boulton of Lucedale was arrested by the South Mississippi Metropolitan Enforcement Team. According to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, the sheriff's department received countless complaints from local business owners about a man identifying himself as "John Black," asking businesses to purchase ads in a booklet to be handed out at a youth rally at the Jackson County Fairgrounds on Oct. 26. Officials checked with the Jackson County Civic Center and discovered that no such event was ever scheduled. Agents responded to an Escatawpa business after a complaint of Boulton asking the business to donate money for a second time. The business owner became suspicious and contacted the sheriff's department. Boulton was taken into custody, charged on outstanding warrants from Pascagoula Police and the George County Sheriff's Department. Business owners with information on the case should contact Lieutenant Randy Muffley at 228-769-3152 or 228-769-3063. 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. HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- The Hattiesburg Zoo has more than a dozen new additions. The zoo Tuesday said 14 baby alligators have joined its family. Born last week to Pearl and Jacques, the alligators are the first births on site in the zoo's 66-year history. Zookeepers retrieved the eggs from the nest on Friday, after about 11 weeks of waiting for the eggs to hatch. They were moved to the on-site animal hospital and kept in incubators to ensure their safety. The zoo is evaluating plans for where the alligators will eventually go as they mature. They're expected to grow to eight feet in size within 10-15 years. The baby gators are currently on exhibit in the Asbury Discover Center Reptile Area, where guests can view them from the window. As a democratic country, India has an independent Election Commission in order to conduct systematic, corruption free and impartial elections as and when required. The architects of Indian Constitution knew how important elections are for the largest democratic country in the world; hence, they added information related to Election Commission and rules of elections in article 324-329 of the Constitution. The Election Commission conducts Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhana Sabha, Vidhana Parishat elections along with Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections. India has only one Election Commission and all the elections across the country are conducted as per the directions and guidelines of the commission. The given information aims at helping UPSC civil services aspirants. What is the structure of Election Commission? The Election Commission comprises one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. Initially, this commission had a single member only. However, it became a three member commission after the recommendations of Dinesh Goswami Committee in the year 1990. The aforementioned recommendation was welcomed by the Supreme Court. How are the election commissioners appointed? The President of India appoints all the three Election Commissioners based on the advice of the Union Cabinet as per article 324 (2) of the Constitution. In 1973, the tenure of election commissioners was fixed to 5 years. On 1 January 1986, the parliament increased the tenure to 6 years. However, if an election commissioner completes 65 years even before the completion of his tenure in the office, he/she would retire. 08 January 1991 brought a few changes in the election commission as the Lok Sabha passed a bill with an intention to provide the election commissioners with the same status, salary and other privileges similar to those enjoyed by the judges of the Apex Court. The parliament decides the services to be delivered by the Election Commissioners. The staff required for the Election Commission is appointed as per the sub-article 324(6) of the Constitution. The election commissioners receive their salary from the Consolidated Fund of India. How are the election commissioners dismissed from their power? The election commissioners can be dismissed from their power as per the sub-article 324(5) of the Indian Constitution. The parliament can dismiss them through special majority by presenting the list of impeachment before the house. The Chief Election Commissioner can also advice the President of India to dismiss the two election commissioners under the sub-article mentioned above. Here is the list of Chief Election Commissioners SL No NAME TENURE 1 Sukumar Sen 1950-1958 2 K V Sundaram 1958-1967 3 S P Sen Verma 1967-1972 4 Dr. Nagendra Singh 1972-1973 5 T Swaminathan 1973-1977 6 S L Shakdhar 1977-1982 7 R K Trivedi 1982-1985 8 R V S Peri Sastri 1986-1990 9 V S Ramadevi Nov 1990-Dec 1990 10 T N Seshan 1990-1996 11 Dr. M S Gill 1996-2001 12 J M Lyngdoh 2001-2004 13 T S Krishnamurthy 2004-2005 14 B B Tandon 2005-2006 15 N Gopalaswami 2006-2009 16 Navin Chawla 2009-2010 17 S Y Qureshi 2010-2012 18 V S Sampath 2012-2015 19 Nasim Zaidi April 2015 - We hope the description about Election Commission of India contributes to your preparation for UPSC and other exams with questions on general knowledge. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to introduce major changes in the near future. One of the major changes is that it has decided to stop re-evaluation of answer papers from 2017. CBSE officials said that since 2014, answer sheets of class 12 were re-evaluated for about 10 subjects. According to CBSE, only 1.8 percent students used to apply for re-evaluation and the number of beneficiaries was even lesser. Though the board has decided to leave the re-evaluation system forever, it will have a system in place to take care of authentic issues related to exams. What are some of the other major changes CBSE is planning to introduce? The board has plans to conduct Central Teachers Eligibility Test (CTET) online. The board wants to create a system where the educational institutions can see the certificates of students online. This will help the institutions to verify the certificates students shared by students for several courses. Students will soon be receiving their certificates online. CBSE has asked all the schools under its purview to upload all the necessary data on their respective websites. There are plans to make all the educational content available in audio-visual format for the students which will be a big step towards imparting knowledge to students. CBSE Plans Big Change In 2018 Class 10 Board Exam Pattern About Central Board of Secondary Education A trail of developments mark the significant changes that took place over the years in shaping up the Board to its present status. U P Board of High School and Intermediate Education was the first Board to be formed in 1921. Rajputana, Central India and Gwalior come under its jurisdiction. In response to the representation made by the Government of United Provinces, the then Government of India suggested to establish a joint Board in 1929 for all the areas and it was named as the 'Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Rajputana'. This included Ajmer, Merwara, Central India and Gwalior. CBSE Directs Schools To Register Class IX/XI Online Before Oct 11 The Board grew rapidly and expanded at the level of Secondary education resulting in improved quality and standard of education in institutions. However, the rise of State Universities and State Boards in various parts of the country led to confinement of the jurisdiction of the Board to Ajmer, Bhopal and Vindhya Pradesh later. Consequently, in 1952, the constitution of the Board was amended following which its jurisdiction was extended to part-C and Part-D territories and the Board was given its present name 'Central Board of Secondary Education'. It was in the year 1962 finally that the Board was reconstituted. The main objectives were to serve the educational institutions more effectively, to be responsive to the educational needs of those students whose parents were employed in the Central Government and had frequently transferable jobs. CBSE: Lighten school bags for the good health of kids Northrup Grumman collage.jpg The U.S. Navy recently awarded the Moss Point branch of Northrup Grumman to be the primary manufacturing locations for production of 10 ship-based MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters and three shore-based MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance aircraft. (Northrup Grumman) MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Moss Point's branch of Northrop Grumman was recently awarded $363 million by the U.S. Navy to build unmanned air systems, according to a release by Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran. The Moss Point branch will be the will be one of the primary manufacturing locations for production of 10 ship-based MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters and three shore-based MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance aircrafts. According to the release, the Fire Scout contract is worth $108.1 million, while the Triton contract is worth $255.2 million. Cochran and Sen. Roger Wicker praised the city for securing the contracts and said that Moss Point will be a major player in unmanned aviation. "This is good news, both in terms of confidence in our workforce and in terms of maintaining stable production lines for aircraft required by the Defense Department," Cochran said. "It is clear that Moss Point workers will play a critical role in the future of Navy unmanned aviation." "It is clear why the Moss Point facility and its workers are being asked to play a bigger role in producing the next generation of unmanned aircraft," Wicker said. "This increased workload is a testament to the high-quality job that they are doing to deliver cutting-edge aircraft to our national defense." One weird dude Lessons from the Heart There are not a lot of places where someones personal style gets mentioned in the New Testament, so this one... Servant is as servant does Lessons from the Heart Ive been thinking a lot about what a servant is. The word diakonia is a Greek word which is translated... Removing federal protections for grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem would all but guarantee the trophy hunting of this iconic species in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Photo by John E. Swallow 8.1K shares With the largest populations for these species in all of Europe, Romania has shocked (in the very best of ways) the animal welfare and conservation communities by outlawing all trophy hunting of brown bears, wolves, and other carnivores. Its especially remarkable given the stories of former Romanian communist president Nicolae Ceausescu treating the country as a sort of royal hunting ground and slaughtering perhaps 400 bears during his 25-year reign. In the United States, in contrast, our governments federal and state are, unfortunately, pushing in the opposite direction, seeking to liberalize hunting of grizzly bears and wolves at a time when we recognize that they have far greater economic and ecological value alive than dead. Through our litigation and public policy strategy, weve forestalled the federal governments delisting plans for wolves in four of six states (Wyoming, and also Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), preventing the slaughter of more than 1,000 wolves in the last two years. Later this month, HSUS attorneys will argue before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to defend this animal protection victory. Now were asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) not to delist grizzly bears of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and not to turn management of the animals over to the three states. The grizzly bear is a charismatic keystone predator who is just beginning to recover after being nearly wiped out in the lower 48 states over the last century. A loss of federal protections would all but guarantee the trophy hunting of this iconic species in the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The HSUS, Native American Tribal groups, environmental organizations, and scientists have been analyzing the post-delisting grizzly bear management frameworks proposed by the states, and have submitted detailed comments, research, and testimony to federal and state agencies on the inadequacy of those regulatory mechanisms. The HSUS has also filed two lawsuits in state court challenging decisions by Wyoming and Montana to open a grizzly trophy hunting season after federal protections are removed. The bear population at issue has faced unusual levels of human-caused mortality (mistaken identity kills, damage control killing, poaching, etc.), and they also face key threats to their food sources, including cutthroat trout and white bark pine cones. On Sunday, more than 50 Tribal Nations in both the United States and Canadafor whom the Great Bear is sacredsigned a historic treaty opposing the delisting. In a statement on the treaty, Chief Stanley Grier of the Piikani Nation said, Since time immemorial, the grizzly has been our ancestor, our relative. The grizzly is part of us and we are part of the grizzly culturally, spiritually and ceremonially. The purpose of this treaty is to honor, recognize, and reinvigorate the ancient relationship we have with the grizzly, and to restore the balance where we are the stewards and [the] grizzly is the guardian of our lands. The Administration has touted the success of grizzly bear recovery, but its more hype than hard fact. Grizzly bears once ranged from northern Mexico to Alaskathere were perhaps as many as 50,000 bears in the lower 48 in the early 1800sbefore white settlers largely killed them off. Today, wild grizzly bears number, at best, between 1,400 and 1,700 bears in the lower 48 states, of which only 674 to 839 are believed to be in the area now proposed to be delistedand even that small number may be an over-count, according to some biologists. There is no question that delisting grizzly bears in the GYE will place them in peril. Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming wildlife managers have poorly managed wolves in the eyes of multiple federal judges who have examined prior management schemes. It is these wildlife managers who will call the shots for grizzly bears, and will decide the numbers that can be killed annually, the hunting seasons, and types of allowable hunting or trapping methods. Those could include such cruel and unsporting methods as hunting or trapping over bait, chasing bears with packs of GPS-collared hounds, or even allowing spring hunts that could orphan cubs, leaving them to die from starvation or predation. The agencies in these states dutifully obedient to the outfitters and guides, trophy hunters, and gun clubs cannot be trusted to make the best, science-based decisions or the humane ones. There is no question that Americans value grizzly bears far more alive than dead (and, as a recent study revealed, they have increasingly favorable views of our nations large carnivores in general). In 2015, over four million people visited Yellowstone National Park and nearly five million visited Grand Teton National Park. Our National Parks brought $478 million in revenue to Montana alone in the last fiscal year. Millions of those tourists come to that area to see wild grizzly bears. U.S. and Canadian Tribal Nations, scientists, environmental and humane advocates, and millions of visitors to our treasured National Parks do not want to see this magnificent but still-fragile species put under the gun, simply to appease a few trophy hunters. Doing so will rob the park of grizzly bears and drive down viewership of these animals. Ultimately, that will cut into attendance and put a damper on economic activity in northwest Wyoming. In a terrible way, too, the delisting will effectively turn Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks into game farms to supply trophy bears for outfitters and rich clients to ambush when the animals leave the parks protective boundaries. That same thing has happened with wolves in and around Denali National Park in Alaska, and we cannot and we should not let that happen in the Yellowstone area. Lets not fall behind Romania on animal protection. You, too, can make your opinion known about the hazards faced by grizzly bears if delisted; send in your comments on the FWS proposal before 9 a.m, Oct. 7. Just like the F-150, the new Ford Expedition is set to adopt an aluminum body, reports the Detroit Free Press. The company confirmed the news while recently speaking to investors saying that the aluminum-bodied Expedition will arrive by 2018. Just like the current model, the new Ford Expedition will be constructed at the firms Kentucky Truck Plant. which also produces the latest aluminum-clad Super Duty. Although Ford didnt confirm any additional details about the new Expedition, it is expected to create additional jobs at the facility. Current speculation suggests that the next-generation Expedition will be powered by Fords 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Mated to this engine will be a 10-speed automatic transmission in place of the old six-speed of the outgoing model. Theres a possibility that a smaller 2.7-liter variant could be offered after launch. Each year, Ford sells approximately 40,000 Expeditions, about half the number of Chevrolet Tahoes sold annually. Following its extensive update however, theres a good chance the Blue Oval will see delivery figures rise. PHOTO GALLERY 2018 Ford Expedition Prototype Thinking about ordering a new Rolls-Royce? Then the means arent likely an issue, but if you have the time, you could fly out to the factory in Goodwood to place your order there. But customers in the Far East wont have to go that far anymore as the luxury automaker has opened the first permanent Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Studio away from its home base. The new location in Incheon, South Korea, offers Rolls-Royces elite clientele the chance not only to see some of the companys motor cars up close (as they would in any dealership) but also customize their vehicle in the adjoining Atelier. Designed to evoke the spirit of the companys home in England, the Atelier displays the full range of options, paint choices, wood trim, and leather upholstery choices available for order. Not only that, but the facility located near Seouls main airport also includes a 1.6-mile closed circuit on which customers can drive the companys latest models. Factory-trained instructors highlight the vehicles finer points on the only Rolls-Royce facility in the world to offer closed-course test drives. The permanent studio follows previous seasonal installations in Cannes, France, and at Porto Cervo in Sardinia, and we wouldnt be surprised to see a series of special editions emerge from the Korean location as well. Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos, making his way back from Japan, opened the landmark location before it opens its doors to the public on November 1. He also cut the ribbon on the brands second dealership in South Korea in the city of Busan, joining the existing showroom in the Seoul district of Gangnam. Photo Gallery The new 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel will be offered with both a manual and automatic transmission for the first time. GM Inside News reports that Chevrolet has been prompted to offer the new Cruze Diesel with two transmission options due to poor sales of the previous-gen car which was available exclusively with a six-speed auto. While speaking with the publication, GM Canada product manager Paul Hewitt said that the manual gearbox will be offered for both sedan and hatchback body styles and all available trim levels except the range-topping Premier model. When it hits North American shores, the new Cruze Diesel will receive GMs 1.6-liter engine already on offer in Europe, replacing the 2.0-liter unit of the old Cruze. This new engine delivers 136 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, compared to the 151 hp and 265 lb-ft of the previous unit. It is thought that alongside the poor sales of the previous model, Chevrolet decided to offer the new Cruze Diesel with two gearboxes and a host of variations to help pull buyers away from Volkswagen. PHOTO GALLERY Overall light vehicle deliveries in the United States dropped by 0.7 per cent in September, to 1.434 million units. Still, from the beginning of the year, sales are up 0.3 per cent in 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015, with analysts expecting 17.74 million passenger cars to be delivered across the United States at the end of the year. If such a figure is reached, it will beat out the 17.5 million deliveries of last year which was a record when posted. Senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book, Karl Brauer, told Automotive News that this year, manufacturers have relied heavily on incentives and fleet sales to bolster their sales and delivery figures. The new car market is no longer growing, which means automakers now have to measure success in terms of market share, transaction prices, incentive levels and profitability, he said. While deliveries across the industry are up, not all automakers are enjoying record sales. As a matter of fact, Ford Motors (including Lincoln) September retail sales fell by 8.4 per cent compared to last year, GMs dropped by 0.6 per cent, Honda Motors (including Acura) fell by 0.1 per cent, the BMW Group slipped 5.2 per cent, and the Volkswagen brand by a massive 7.8 per cent (the VW Group was down 3.2 per cent). Among the industrys winners last month were Toyota (including Lexus) who enjoyed a 1.5 per cent rise in deliveries. Nissan (including Infiniti) meanwhile posted a 4.9 per cent gain and the Audi brands deliveries rose 1.6 per cent representing the automakers 83rd straight month of increased deliveries. PHOTO GALLERY A lot of the animation directing was done over video conferencing, so we spent a lot of time preparing, said Kondo. Ultimately, Dice would deliver the notes and discuss things in Japanese. Not being in Japan, in person, to review the work was difficult. It meant Dice had to be careful in his approach to give feedback and provide the right amount of motivation. The directors say they pushed the Japanese team (from animation studio Marza Animation Planet) to participate and collaborate in the filmmaking. Unlike in the United States, it is considered less customary in Japan for animators to propose new ideas. Earlier, on The Dam Keeper made in the U.S. Tsutsumi and Kondo had explicitly relied on its crew to challenge them with suggestions to make the film better and they wanted to manufacture a similar environment with the animators in Japan for Moom. In the end, said Kondo, we loved working with the animators in Japan because, though it was difficult at first, the artists we worked with persevered and were open to new ways of working. Animation Approach Starting with the look of the childrens book, the filmmakers expanded the world of Moom by taking the cg approach. The technique enabled richer textures of the forgotten objects featured in the film and grander views of the plains and hills of grass than traditional animation would have provided. The story could have been told in 2D, said Tsutsumi, but the experience we wanted to deliver and what we wanted to focus on as filmmakers was more attached to our experience working at Pixar, working in cg imagery. CG lighting experts here in the states like Gaku Nakatani helped us work in post to plus the work done at Marza, added Tsutsumi. We had not done a lot of work in cg using post processes; programs like Nuke were utilized to adjust the lighting post rendering. Armed with those techniques, the directors focussed on the characters loss and growth as he meets another memory. Their work was inspired by the loss of Kondos grandmother when he was four years old, which meant Mooms story also took place around that age and implemented an accompanying animation style. For Robert, it was the first time in his life he remembers experiencing the loss of someone he deeply cared about, said Tsutsumi. At that young age, it was difficult to process what it meant to be forever separated from someone you loved. The character of Moom is similar in his difficulty understanding loss and separation. Added Kondo: Dices son was around that age during the making of the film, and we would reference videos of him walking and moving. It is appealing to see the innocence of a child as they are becoming comfortable with their motor skills. Whats Next? Moom has already won 20 awards at various short film festivals (its screened at 66 fests so far) and will next be shown at the Chicago International Childrens Film Festival on November 2nd. Tsutsumi and Kondo are currently working on book two of a three-book graphic novel series, as well as their feature film adaptation of The Dam Keeper. We will continue to work on the craft of telling stories, and continue to tell stories that come from deep within us to try to relate to our audience, said Kondo. We hope to continue to make films in Japan, and dream of making stories and films in other places as well, trying to find places who might benefit from working with us, and who we would learn and benefit from working with. To keep the conversation around suicide awareness and mental health going, Castanet has joined forces with The LifeLine Canada Foundation for the month of October. Local restaurants will bring the message of positive mental health to the dinner table during Food For Thought. Today, we feature XChange in Kelowna. Chef Graydon Gliege prepares an array of tapas, as well as a 48-ounce tomahawk rib-eye steak. XChange will be donating 25 per cent of all tapas sales to The LifeLine Canada Foundation on Oct. 5 in an effort to keep the conversation surrounding mental health awareness at the forefront. Check back now through Oct. 30 to find out which restaurants are featuring delicious meals with unique mental-health benefits. Photo: Contributed Travelling to a foreign country can be exhilarating and a little nerve-wracking. True explorers like myself embrace the culture shock and the feeling of being just a little off-centre, but many view the experience with trepidation. There are ways to off-set awkward moments by doing a little research, learning a few words in a new language and being prepared to avoid any social faux pas. Generally speaking, every country is appreciative if visitors at least try to communicate in the local language. Learn a few useful phrases and you will endear yourself to your hosts. Its also important to realize that customs, traditions and gestures that we feel are normal in North America can be completely misconstrued in other countries. Pointing with your feet: Youre standing in a local market and the vendor has scores of beautiful rugs or carvings spread before you. Both your hands are full with recent purchases so you nudge one of the items with your foot and ask the price. Youre standing in a local market and the vendor has scores of beautiful rugs or carvings spread before you. Both your hands are full with recent purchases so you nudge one of the items with your foot and ask the price. Beware: in Asia, India and the Middle East showing the bottom of your foot to a stranger is considered highly disrespectful. The feet are considered the most lowly and unclean part of the body in most Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist countries. Dont touch the monk: Women are not allowed to make physical contact with monks in Laos. Women are not allowed to make physical contact with monks in Laos. Colour of clothing : When travelling on business, avoid the colour yellow in Malaysia as it is reserved for royalty. : When travelling on business, avoid the colour yellow in Malaysia as it is reserved for royalty. In China, youll make a great impression in red, but not so much in white, which signifies death. Eye contact : Across Latin America and Africa, extended eye contact is seen as a challenge whereas in Western Europe it shows you are taking true interest in the conversation and a sign of self-confidence. : Across Latin America and Africa, extended eye contact is seen as a challenge whereas in Western Europe it shows you are taking true interest in the conversation and a sign of self-confidence. In the Middle East, anything more than a glance between the sexes is inappropriate. Drink vodka: Refusing vodka in Russia is akin to refusing to shake hands. At least take a sip. Refusing vodka in Russia is akin to refusing to shake hands. At least take a sip. Chopstick etiquette: According to Japanese custom, it is considered rude to play, point or stab food with your chopsticks. According to Japanese custom, it is considered rude to play, point or stab food with your chopsticks. If youre in the middle of eating, use the opposite end of the sticks to secure food from a shared plate. Using the end that touches your mouth is considered extremely offensive. The Irish : Ireland is Ireland. Not Britain or part of the U.K. Be sure to get this right when chatting with the locals. : Ireland is Ireland. Not Britain or part of the U.K. Be sure to get this right when chatting with the locals. Hawaiian leis : Wear your fragrant garland around your neck where it belongs and keep it on while in the presence of the person who gave it to you. Simple preparatory research, an open mind and a sense of humour are all that are needed to enjoy a cultural immersion. Make friends, not enemies while travelling abroad. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Yesterday was a big outage on Level3's voice network nationwide. On any given day DownDetector is working overtime to track the numerous outages at banks, network operators, email, social networks and more. This year I think every major carrier had an outage that lasted more than two hours. Some lasted all day. Some were regional. Some were nationwide. Facebook, twitter, Gmail, Yahoo! mail, Outlook/Hotmail, Twitch, Slack, Playstation, Xbox Live - we live online. The new normal is not even 4 nines. Four 9's - 99.99% Uptime - is 1 hour of downtime per year. However, 99.9% means 8.76 hours of down time per year. We are in a 3-9's world. It is too expensive to build a resilient network. And the carriers have learned that customers want cheap. With cable, they learned that Best Effort was "good enough". Who taught them that? Customers did. They buy unprotected circuits. They don't pay extra for protection or failover. BC/DR is for utilities. Even businesses in the Gulf region that survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005 can't be bothered with DR/BC. Not all. But most. We only buy insurance when it is absolutely required by law. Carriers also learned that a service level agreement (SLA) looked good to the buyer. It was a check box on the RFP. Yet the carriers know that paying out for an outage (just ask Frontier in FL, TX and Cali) isn't all that expensive. The most a customer can get back is a month's billing amount. The usual credit is 1/30 of the monthly bill. At $300 that is $10. SD-WAN will help some businesses with back-up / failover, if they are willing to put a 4G or other broadband circuit in place as insurance. If they are willing to pay for the SD-WAN. The funny thing is that no one thinks about Redundancy until there is an outage. Then they are peeved, yelling, calling it to be put on hold for hours. To be put on hold so they can vent and call back later to fight for a credit. Yippee!! With all our data and applications in the cloud, Internet is as vital as oxygen or electricity. Down time means that no one is doing much of anything except Solitaire. How expensive is that? Right now, Florida is staring into a category 4 hurricane named Matthew. Water, bread, gas, wood, batteries and other supplies are scarce. No one prepares. No one thinks ahead. Panic mode is just so unproductive. Think about the cost of a 3 hour outage. No one does but it is our job as the Trusted Advisor to point at days like today and say: See?! Let's put a plan in place for this. Disaster Recovery as a Service is a big deal especially for data center businesses. Right now, companies along the East Coast of the US are wishing they had planned better and bought some DR insurance. Stay safe out there. Plan better starting tomorrow. Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer A woman showed up at the men's shelter on Nanaimo Avenue in Penticton on Sunday night claiming she had been bear-sprayed, according to the RCMP. The woman, who told police she was sprayed while walking from the 24/7 Convenience Store, refused treatment from paramedics and got in the back of a police car for a ride home, said Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth. She then got out, saying the police and B.C. Ambulance were on a power kick. This isn't the first time there have been reports of people being bear sprayed in the city. In late August, the RCMP dealt with two incidents within minutes of each other. Photo: The Canadian Press The national minimum price on carbon proposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday has sparked fears from several Canadian industries that their costs and product prices will rise and their ability to compete with international rivals will suffer. The actual impact is unclear, they say, as implementation details are missing from the federal plan to impose a carbon price in provinces without one. The federal program would impose a minimum carbon price of $10 a tonne in 2018, rising by $10 per year until reaching $50 per tonne in 2022. The funds raised are to go back to the provinces but what happens then is also not known. Here is how the new policy is expected to affect five industries in Canada. Auto manufacturing Truck and car plants don't generate a lot of emissions, says Mark Nantais, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, but some of their suppliers do and extra costs from a carbon tax would likely be passed along. That would hurt overall cost competitiveness with the United States and could lead to new or expansion plants and associated jobs landing there instead of in Canada. About 98 per cent of Canada's car industry is in Ontario, a province that has signed on to a cap-and-trade system with Quebec and California. Nantais said he fears the federal carbon price as it grows will outstrip the real cost of carbon under the provincial cap-and-trade system and costs will rise. Manufacturing/Exporting Mathew Wilson, senior vice-president with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, says his members most worry that new carbon prices will create a competitive edge for other jurisdictions that don't play by the same rules. Members produce everything from steel to high-technology hardware. While their emissions vary enormously, all are expected to pay more for the energy and supplies they use due to carbon prices. He said his organization will be calling on the Trudeau government to ensure carbon pricing is not only revenue neutral, but that revenue from industry be returned to industry in a way that ensures it can still be competitive. Fuel Refining If implemented today, the federal carbon price would apply to refineries in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland because those provinces don't have an existing carbon price scheme, says Peter Boag, president of the Canadian Fuels Association. Refineries in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec either already pay or are set to pay carbon levies. He said so-called "carbon leakage" is a key concern for his members because if refinery costs rise, customers may turn to buying fuel from international suppliers. That could move economic benefits out of Canada but still allow emissions from across the border to enter the atmosphere. Mining A typical mine in Canada spends about 30 per cent of its budget on energy, ranging from diesel for trucks to electricity used to process base metals in a refinery, says Pierre Gratton, president and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada. He said the impact of the federal carbon price will vary across the country depending on energy source. For instance, miners in B.C. can often access emissions-free hydroelectric power, while those in northern Canada often must use fossil fuels. He said the association supports carbon pricing but wants to see a truly revenue neutral system, noting that B.C.'s carbon tax results in mining companies paying out more than they get back in reduced taxes. Agriculture The federal carbon price could increase costs for Canadian farmers who must burn fossil fuel to plant and harvest their crops, hurting international competitiveness, says Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. He called on the government to consult with the industry before implementation in 2018. He added farmers could benefit from the policy if they are able to sell carbon credits from farming practices that sequester carbon or result in reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. We have created such happy memories for our children during this visit #RoyalVisitCanada pic.twitter.com/S1v0XO3WvT Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 1, 2016 A "creepy" video of the recent royal tour in Canada has left some viewers gobsmacked. Kensington Palace tweeted out the short video on Saturday of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George and Princess Charlotte at an outdoor children's party in Victoria. The family moves around in slow motion, playing with bubbles and balloons, to the sound of lagging, thumping music. Many people posted comments describing the video as "creepy" and "morose," while others compared it to a trailer for a horror movie. One man urged everyone to "chill out" and suggested the video was probably uploaded at a slower speed by mistake. The video ends with a Government of Canada logo, but Canadian Heritage was not immediately available to comment on whether it made the video and what may have gone wrong. "We have created such happy memories for our children during this visit," says the message on Twitter that accompanies the video titled "Thank you, Canada Special moments from Thursday's children's party." The party was held last week for Prince William, his wife, Kate, their two children and two dozen military families at Government House. The video shows three-year-old George squirting bubbles out of a fish-like gun while his sister Charlotte, 16 months old, tries to hug a rabbit. There are also shots of a puppeteer and a man making balloon animals. Not so scary until you see it in slow motion and slightly darkened. "I feel like I just watched the trailer for the sequel to #TheShining," responded one person. "Reminds me of the Terminator movie when Linda Hamilton is pushing her baby in the swing before all hell breaks loose," said another. Others said the video twisted a happy kids' party into a Halloween montage. Another likened it to a memoriam tribute. The Daily Mail published a story with the headline: 'It's totally creepy': A 'dark' slow-motion video montage of George and Charlotte at a children's party in Canada leaves royal fans confused." Photo: Google Street View A Kelowna mother is sounding the alarm after her 11-year-old son was chased home, terrorized and pelted with airsoft pistols. According to RCMP, a youth was confronted and allegedly assaulted by several other teens armed with apparent airsoft pistols in the area of Verna Court and Southview Avenue in Glenmore Monday evening at about 6 p.m. The 11-year-old youth sustained minor injuries as a result of being shot at with the airsoft pistols, said Const. Jesse O'Donaghey. The youth later reported the incident to his guardians, who in turn reported the incident to the RCMP." The mom, who asked to stay anonymous for her son's sake, is concerned about the safety of children and small pets in the area. She said the group of about five to seven teens, approximately 15 years old, terrorized her son. There are several kids that hang out in that area, there are small pets. If they are targeting kids, they could be targeting pets, she said. When this happens to an 11-year-old five houses away from his home, and there is that many of them, in broad daylight, that is a concern to me. According to other parents she has talked to, this is not the first time the group has scared kids in the area. This is a concern as this group of kids has been seen doing this previously in a nearby park, she said. They were seen shooting at kids as young as seven years old. She wanted to share the story to let other parents know it happened for their kids' and pets' safety, and to let the parents of those involved know police are looking for them. I don't think these kids think they are being as terrorizing as they are, said the mom. It is happening, police are taking it seriously. If that means these kids think twice about doing it again and they stop, great. If it means no one else has to worry like he did yesterday, good, he was terrified. She said her son suffered bruises and welts to his stomach. Hopefully this lets those kids and their families know that this is serious, she said. Normally it is safe for the kids to walk a couple blocks, the safety of the neighbourhood is in jeopardy. O'Donaghey said police are actively investigating the incident and seeking to identify all those involved, which has included the involvement of a Kelowna RCMP School Liaison Officer. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Const. Robyn Boffy of the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300. Photo: CTV An 85-year-old Calgary man has been charged with second-degree murder after his wife was found dead early Tuesday. Insp. Don Coleman says police got a 911 call from the victim's husband. When officers arrived at the home, they found the body of 80-year-old Audrey van Zuiden. Siegfried van Zuiden, also known as Fred van Zuiden, is to appear in Calgary court Wednesday. Coleman says officers don't know what prompted the attack and there is no history of domestic violence with the couple. Van Zuiden was originally from Holland and wrote a book on his survival of the Nazi occupation. His book details how his family was split up in 1942 and he was shuttled between 26 hiding places including a chicken coop and an insane asylum to avoid capture. He immigrated to Canada in 1952 and founded a sailboat business in Calgary. Media reports suggest van Zuiden was suffering from dementia but Coleman said he can't speculate on the man's mental health. "If that is the case, that will come forward in the hearing process," he said. "That's not for us to determine. The elements of the offence have been met, so a charge is laid." Family members have been notified, Coleman said. "It's truly a tragedy for that family." Photo: The Canadian Press Members of the Parti Quebecois will begin voting today for a new leader to replace Pierre Karl Peladeau. More than 73,200 members can vote by phone or online, until Friday at 5 p.m. eastern. The leadership candidates are members of the legislature Jean-Francois Lisee, Alexandre Cloutier and Martine Ouellet and the unelected Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. Recent polls have indicated that Lisee and Cloutier are battling it out for first place, with Ouellet running third and Plamondon languishing in fourth. The campaign has focused largely on issues of language, identity and Quebec sovereignty. Only Ouellet has promised to hold a sovereignty referendum in a first PQ mandate should she win and become premier in the 2018 provincial election. The race for the PQ's top job is the second in less than two years after Peladeau cited family reasons when he quit last May, just one year after he became leader. Photo: Instagram Halifax police are investigating after a photo posted on social media appeared to show a clown standing on a sidewalk outside a local high school. Const. Dianne Woodworth said students at Halifax West High School advised staff of the photo posted to Instagram Tuesday morning. Woodworth said police went to the school, but nothing suspicious was found. An investigator was looking into it further, she said. "There are no threats or anything criminal in nature, but we're still investigating," said Woodworth. A photo that appears to show a clown standing outside Halifax West was posted to an Instagram account called Halifax Clowns, whose biography states: "We stalking you so keep your eyes open. We ain't killing we just creeping." Also Tuesday, police in Truro, N.S., said they are aware of threats made in Facebook postings involving "clowns" against two schools in the town, located roughly 95 kilometres north of Halifax. There have been repeated sightings of creepy clowns across North America in recent months, with most being hoaxes or social media-fuelled pranks. Photo: The Canadian Press The Liberal government's decision to impose a national floor price on carbon emissions dominated the House of Commons on Tuesday, with critics saying the plan punishes consumers while doing little to combat climate change. All but lost in the immediate, breathless reaction was the reality that the plan announced a day earlier by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won't have much impact, if any, on 87 per cent of Canadians or their carbon footprint for the next four years. That's because the rising floor price on CO2 emissions laid out in the federal Liberal plan starts at $10 per tonne and takes until 2021 to catch up with and surpass existing carbon taxes already imposed by British Columbia and Alberta. And the Trudeau model won't affect Ontario and Quebec's existing cap-and-trade carbon market until it can be established that carbon taxes are driving down emissions elsewhere in the country faster than their market caps are already doing. That tricky piece of equivalency has yet to be sorted out. A group of 22 high-profile business and civil leaders endorsed the plan Tuesday, saying Canada is simply pricing emissions "as most of the world's biggest economies are doing." The Smart Prosperity group, which includes executives from Shell Canada, Unilever Canada, Loblaw and major insurance and banking companies, said the plan allows for "regionally tailored paths." "By starting slowly and ramping up over five years, it gives businesses and households time to adjust and plan for lowering their carbon footprints." The plan's cautious approach, however, is being completely overshadowed by Trudeau's audacious communications gambit. The prime minister announced the national floor price Monday in the Commons just as federal, provincial and territorial ministers were meeting in Montreal to negotiate a pan-Canadian carbon plan. Three provincial ministers left the Montreal meeting early to protest the high-handed federal move, and opposition parties remained in high dudgeon Tuesday. Conservative critic Denis Lebel accused Trudeau of creating more federal-provincial tension in less than a year in power than the previous Conservatives did in a decade. Tory MP Ed Fast said the prime minister had "pulled the rug out from under them by announcing a new, massive, billion-dollar carbon tax grab on Canadians." Conservative MP Lisa Raitt painted a harrowing portrait of starving grannies freezing in the dark. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, meanwhile, lambasted the plan's lack of ambition, asking what Trudeau will tell "the next generation when this betrayal has made climate change worse and jeopardized their future on this planet?" Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer A young mother who went to a New Year's Eve party and never came home was remembered at a Sisters in Spirit Vigil on Tuesday. The event was held at the Penticton Indian Band Community Hall to raise awareness of murdered and missing aboriginal women and girls. "It's in honour and memory of loved ones and there is a strong focus on remembering Dianne Stewart and her family," said Amberlee Erdmann, the resource development co-ordinator for the South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society. The emotional night included a brief welcoming speech by Chief Jonathan Kruger, a dinner, guest speakers and a walk down to the Okanagan River Channel, to release biodegradable candles. "Let's take care of our families and pray for all the murdered and missing girls across the land," he said. Among the guest speakers were Bernie Williams and Audrey Siegl, who travelled up from Vancouver, Clayton Stewart, Dianne Stewart's son, as well as Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. Stewart, standing next to photographs of his mother, described waiting for her to come home after she attended a New Year's Eve party on the Penticton Indian Band reserve 20 years ago. Dianne Stewart was last seen walking near Green Mountain Road. Her remains were found May 7,1997, on the reserve, on the slope of Westhills. "We are still angry. We will be angry for the rest of our lives if this doesn't get solved," he said. "She did not deserve this." He added they will continue to be a thorn in people's sides because his mother needs justice. Williams addressed the same theme, speaking of the need to have cold case files opened so there can be closure. The night concluded with the candlelight walk. Photo: Castanet Staff Three laid-back black bears have wandered back into the bush in Kamloops after spending a day lolling in a tree in that southern Interior city. Conservation officers took a wait-and-see approach to the bruins after the animals were spotted Tuesday morning, high in the branches of a large tree in a residential area. The mother and two cubs literally hung about all day, but resident Troy Morrison says they remained docile. The tree is in Morrison's backyard and he says, except for one snarl from the mother, everything was calm. Sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday, the bears moved on, likely returning to the nearby greenbelt or provincial recreation area as they prepare for hibernation. Photo: The Canadian Press Portugal's former prime minister Antonio Guterres won the Security Council's unanimous backing Wednesday to become the next United Nations secretary-general, winning plaudits for his strong leadership but disappointing campaigners for a woman or East European to be the world's top diplomat for the first time. The veteran politician and diplomat, who served as the UN's refugee chief until December, topped all six informal polls in the council after his performance in the first-ever question-and-answer sessions in the 193-member General Assembly, which received high marks from almost every diplomat. Britain's UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the assembly hearings showed that Guterres "was an outstanding candidate ... who will take the United Nations to the next level in terms of leadership" and will provide "a moral authority at a time when the world is divided on issues, above all like Syria." Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the current Security Council president, appeared before reporters surrounded by the 14 other council ambassadors after the sixth informal poll of the 10 remaining candidates was held behind closed doors saying: "You are witnessing, I think, a historic scene." Churkin then thanked all the candidates saying they displayed "a lot of wisdom, understanding and concern for the fate of the world" and announced: "We have a clear favourite, and his name is Antonio Guterres." He said the Security Council would hold a formal vote on Thursday morning and expressed hope that the council will recommend Guterres by "acclamation" to the 193-member General Assembly, which must approve a successor to Ban Ki-moon whose second five-year term ends on Dec. 31. By tradition, the job of secretary-general has rotated among regions. Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe have all held the post. East European nations, including Russia, argue that they have never had a secretary-general and it was their turn. There has also never been a woman secretary-general and more than 50 nations and many others campaigned to elect the first female UN chief. Indigenous students at Saunders Secondary School in London, Ont. gather to smudge before heading to class each day. The cleansing ritual connects the students from the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation to their heritage, while learning in a mainstream environment. It cleanses our body and helps us start a good day. For five Grade 9 students, this is the first time theyve attended class in a school off their reserve. Its a daunting experience, but having Indigenous practices helps them keep their culture close. Chinodin McGahey Albert is one of those students. For him, the daily smudge ceremony is part of keeping a balanced routine. We take a shell, we put sage in it, light it, the smoke comes and we let it blow over ourselves. It cleanses our body and helps us start a good day, McGahey Albert said. I was nervous [when I started high school]. I didnt know a lot of people, McGahey Albert said. There were a lot more people than in elementary school. Its bigger, I got lost. McGahey Albert is one of 65 students from the Chippewa of the Thames studying at high schools in London and nearby Strathroy. There are also students from the Oneida Nation of the Thames and the Munsee Delaware Nation in the system. There are some cultural differences, they may have a culture shock coming to the big city, explained Debbie Dolson, a support counsellor with the Chippewa of the Thames board of education. There are also some busing or transportation barriers, [students] have to leave their homes at seven in the morning and take a long bus ride to start the day, she said. Another initial challenge is moving from the parenting style of Indigenous communities to the public education system. We tend to parent our children with experiential learning. We have our children experience life and theyre more of an equal in the families, Dolson said. Sometimes in mainstream culture children are seen and not heard. But there are supports in place to help Indigenous students succeed in this new environment. Indigenous students participate in a mentoring program, have dedicated staff to help them and have a space to hang out. Cora Fisher Abram is in Grade 11 at Saunders high school. She hopes to go to Western University in London and become a nurse. She says most non-Indigenous students want to know more about her culture and she has no problem explaining it to them. People are curious, Fisher Abram said. if they wonder why youre doing something theyll ask. And you can just tell them. Theyll be understanding. Vice-presidential nominees Tim Kaine and Mike Pence have long records on education. But neither of them talked very much about them in their first and only debate, at Longwood University in Farmville, Va., Tuesday. If you blinked you might have missed them, but there were a couple of quick mentions of K-12 education. Kaine, for instance, kicked off the debate by talking about school integration. He likened his running mate, Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, to Barbara Johns, a high school student in Farmville who lead a walkout at Moton High School in 1951 to protest segregation. She believed our nation was stronger together, Kaine said, invoking Clintons campaign slogan. And that walkout led to the Brown v. Board of Education decision that moved us down the path toward equality. School desegregation is also a key part of the personal story that Kaine has been telling on the campaign trail. His father-in-law, Linwood Holton, lead the effort to desegregate Virginias schools back in the 1970s. Holton sent his own childrenincluding Kaines future wife, Anne Holtonto newly integrated schools. (Anne Holton later served as Virginias education secretary. Check out our interview with her here .) For his part, Pence repeated a claim hes made several times on the trail that he was able to make record investments in education in his state, while finishing with a surplus. Thats true when it comes to sheer dollars, according to this fact check by Larry DeBoer, an economist at Purdue University in the Hoosier State . Pence raised education spending by about $480 million over two years. But that only amounts to a 2.3 percent increase. But between 2000 and 2008, education spending rose by 2.7 percent on average in the Hoosier state. Kaine gave a couple of shout-outs to his tickets plans to boost education funding. He said he and Clinton want to invest in pre-K education to great teachers to debt-free college and tuition-free college for families that make less than $125,000 a year. Plus, he said reports that Trump may have avoided paying income taxes for years, as chronicled in this New York Times story , means that the GOP nominee refused to finance schools. Kaine also attacked Republican nominee Donald Trumps immigration plan, saying it would mean going from school to school and deporting undocumented immigrants. And he told the crowd the true test of a Clinton-Kaine administration would be whether we can make somebodys life better, whether we can make a classroom better learning environment for school kids or teachers. So what are those records that Kaine and Pence didnt talk about? Kaine has been a big believer in career and technical education. And as governor of Virginia, he pushed to offer universal pre-kindergarten to all four-year olds, but couldnt get the legislature to agree. He was able to secure a more modest expansion of early childhood education programs, however . Pence , who voted against the No Child Left Behind Act in Congress, has been very active in championing school choice as governor of the Hoosier State. He successfully pushed for the biggest increase for charter school funding in years, and he raised the cap on vouchers for elementary school students. Like Kaine, he sought to expand early childhood education. But initially, he refused to seek a substantial federal grant to bolster that effort . And under his leadership, Indiana was the first state to ditch the Common Core. Photo: Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine speaks during the vice-presidential debate with Republican vice-presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence at Longwood University in Farmville, Va. on Oct. 4. Julio Cortez/AP Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Dropping out of high school is typically a gradual process that moves from disengagement to disconnection. But the first two years of high school offer a powerful opportunity to change that trajectory, according to a new report. A study of Connecticut students turns up some interesting findings with national resonance. Even as the on-time U.S. graduation rate reaches an all-time high of 82 percent, far too many teenagers leave high school without diplomas, and then face dim prospects of a good future. The report challenges some assumptions about who these disengaged and disconnected students are. At the request of the Dalio Foundation, the Parthenon Group and Ernst & Young analyzed data provided by the Connecticut Department of Education, and traveled the state interviewing teachers, principals, superintendents, students, and community workers to compose a portrait of the states young people who are at high risk of dropping out, or who had already dropped out. They were surprised to learn that the problem was bigger, and spread more widely across the state, than theyd imagined. (The full report is embedded at the end of this post.) They found 39,000 disengaged or disconnected young people in Connecticut, a number equivalent to 22 percent of its high school enrollment. Quite the cold-water-in-your-face finding in a state known for its high graduation and achievement rates. (Connecticut got another wake-up call recently from a judge who found inequities permeating its education system.) When more than 1 out of every 5 students in the state are disengaged or disconnected, it is reflective of a structural challenge that goes to the core of what is happening in Connecticut high schoolsnot an issue that is limited to a particular student group, geographic region or handful of schools, the Dalio Foundation report says. Disengaged Students: Where Are They? And smash your assumption that student disengagement is a problem restricted to families of certain income levels or races: 9,000 of Connecticuts 39,000 are from towns with above-average income levels, and 6,000 are white or Asian, from middle- and high-income households, the report says. Those young people were more concentrated in cities with big low-income populations, but they werent hard to find in suburban and rural areas, either. Nearly every school district had at least one disconnected or disengaged student, and 113 had 50 or more. In 33 districts, there were 250 or more such young people. In other words: Its not someone elses problem. Students who are pulling away from school, and headed for disengagement, are everywhere. Some of the problem begins in middle school, to be sure. The Dalio Foundation report points to a hefty chunk of students41 percentwho are disengaged in 8th grade. But that doesnt mean high schools can evade responsibility with finger-pointing. The report finds that there is a ton of potential to bring many of those students back from the brink if they get the right supports in 9th grade. The second year of high school isnt too late to make a big impact, either. One-third of the students who were disengaged in 9th grade manage to re-engage in 10th, the study found. One can imagine that with focused effort and funding, those numbers could rise. The researchers defined disengaged youth as those who miss 15 percent (about 25 days) or more of school, fail two or more courses, or are suspended twice (or are expelled or jailed) in one school year. Disconnected students are those who disappear from school without transferring, aging out or graduating. The Dalio Foundation study took an aggressive approach to defining chronic absenteeism, because of an interesting and telling pattern it found in its own data. In Connecticut, students with an attendance rate of less than 85 percent have only a 50 percent chance of graduating from high school in four years. Those with a 90 percent attendance ratethe level the U.S. Department of Education uses to define chronic absenteeismhave an 85 percent chance of graduating in four years. Those differences are just the sorts of inflection points that the study urges policymakers and educators to notice, and to act on. The report urges them to build systems that capitalize on personalizing young peoples high school experience, building relationships that support them, and teaching them how to connect meaningfully with the larger world. That work could catch disengagement before it turns into disconnection. To seed and support new ways of supporting at-risk students, the Dalio Foundation has launched Connecticut Opportunity Project . It aims to create projects that will reach at least 1,000 disengaged students. Untapped Potential: Engaging All Connecticut Youth by cgewertz on Scribd Thousands of schools in the United States may carry harmful health risks for students and teachersbut the causes are often invisible. An estimated 30 percent of K-12 students are exposed to unhealthy levels of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls , or PCBs, through common building materials found in schools, according to a pair of reports released Wednesday by the office of Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental research organization based in Washington. Once a material in the production of caulking, sealants, fluorescent lights, and even paper, the chemicals could be in 30 percent to 50 percent of school buildings built between 1950 and the late 1970s. In fact, an estimated 13,000 to 26,000 schools could contain PCB s, according to some recent research by Robert Herrick, a senior lecturer on industrial hygiene at Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health. As older building materials and lights age, PCBs can easily spread into the air and dust, paint and other building fixtures, and outside soiland students breathe them in. But schools are not required by law to test for PCBs or report themor to notify teachers and parents of the potential health hazards. This means that thousands of schools that may be at risk have not been checked for such chemicals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency received only 286 reports of PCB contamination in school buildings in 22 states over the last decade, according to data analyzed by Sen. Markeys office. (EWAs report includes an interactive map of reported incidents ). Because there is no legal mandate, and because testing and restoration costs can run high, schools responses to evidence of PCBs vary, the reports say. Some school districts removed a single light fixture; others required large restoration projects. For some of the schools that didnt take action to remove toxins, concerned parents filed lawsuits. Earlier this month, a judge ordered the Santa Monica-Malibu school district in California to remove PCBs from window caulking in two of its schools by 2019. The lawsuit ended a three-year battle between the district and a nonprofit citizens group after the affected schools, which followed EPA guidelines for removal in select classrooms, refused parents requests to remove other building materials. The bells are ringing in tens of thousands of schools to signal the start of classes, but the alarm bells should be going off, said Sen. Markey in a press call Wednesday morning. We have no idea how many students are being exposed every day. A Toxic Problem The presence of poisons in the school environmentsuch as asbestos in plaster or lead in paint and plumbingis, unfortunately, not uncommon. Concerns about toxic materials in schools, especially in older buildings, became the focus of a national conversation after more than 30 schools in Flint, Mich., discovered unhealthy levels of lead in their drinking water earlier this year. A 2013 report from the Center for Green Schools estimates the cost to make necessary repairs to school buildings to improve health and safety could be $542 billion. The agriculture corporation Monsanto was the first to manufacture PCBs. By the time Congress banned the use and manufacturing of the chemicals in 1976, harmful effects were already unfolding in thousands of schools. By 1979, the chemicals were legal only within enclosed equipment, such as light ballasts, and the materials could not exceed 50 parts per million. But after years of use, even enclosed materials can leak chemicals into the air. Health problems that can result from exposure to PCBswhile never officially studied in schoolsare wide-ranging. PCBs can cause cancer, lower birth weights in babies, decreased thyroid hormone function, and damage to the immune, endocrine, reproductive, and neurological systems. In schools where PCBs are present, teachers and students have higher levels of the chemical in their blood, Herrick wrote in his study. And David Carpenter, the director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany found that PCBs can damage childrens learning ability and IQ, according to EWGs report. What Can Schools Do? To protect students and teachers, the reports suggest mandatory inspections and PCB testing for all at-risk schools. The EPA and state public health officials should let local districts know of the potential dangers. Schools should test and remove all materials such as paint and caulk that may directly contain PCBs, replace older fluorescent light fixtures, and check both school buildings and grounds for any remaining chemicals even after testing and removal. Schools should also inform parents and educators of the health risks. The reports also call for stronger federal regulations from the EPA to help schools begin to uncover and address the chemical hazards in their classrooms. Sen. Markey announced in an email Wednesday morning that he plans to introduce legislation to require school inspection and testing for PCBs, as well as legislation for federal assistance for projects to inspect and remove the chemicals. Ethiopia: protesters start fires at Dangote plant 05 October 2016 A Dangote cement plant in the Ada Berga, Oromia region, was set alight by angry protesters on Tuesday. The protesters were angered by the death of at least 55 people in a stampede triggered by clashes between police and demonstrators at a religious festival held by the Oromo people on Sunday. Protesters claimed the stampede was a result of violence by the security forces, but the Prime Minister has denied that the security forces had opened fire. The government has declared three days of national mourning. It was reported that during the attack on the plant, factory-owned trucks and machinery were burnt. Government-owned vehicles were also torched. Published under The U.S. Department of Education has told Texas to stop using 8.5 percent as a guideline for special education enrollment, in the wake of a report from the Houston Chronicle that suggested identification rates across the state were artificially kept low. In Denied: How Texas Keeps Tens of Thousands of Children out of Special Education , Houston Chronicle reporter Brian M. Rosenthal wrote that the state set 8.5 percent as a target for special education enrollment about 10 years ago, and strictly audited school districts that went above that percentage. The state said that the percentage was meant to be seen as a guideline, not a hard cap, though Rosenthal quoted several district-level officials who said it was effectively considered a limit. Texas has one of the lowest identification rates for special education, at 8.5 percent, compared to about 13 percent nationwide. The newspaper report raises serious concerns about Texas compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, said Sue Swenson, the acting assistant secretary of the office of special education and rehabilitative services, in a letter to Texas education chief Mike Morath. The Oct. 3 letter from Swenson also revealed that OSERS had been in contact with Texas officials in 2014, two years before the Houston Chronicle investigation, because of a complaint it had received from the advocacy group Disability Rights Texas on a related matter. The department was told that the 8.5 percent benchmark was meant to address concerns that some districts were erroneously identifying many students as needing special education services. The benchmark was not meant to stop districts from providing services to children who really needed them, Texas officials told the Education Department. Within 30 days, Texas must submit a letter to the Education Department with several steps it will take to address the Houston Chronicles report. Those steps must include: Discontinuing the use of any cap, unless the state can prove that it did not result in children being denied for services who qualified for them; Ensuring that districts identify, locate and evaluate all children suspected of having a disability; Determining which districts might have discouraged or refused to act on special education referrals, and how those districts will remedy those past practices; Informing all districts that they may not deny or delay referrals in order to meet the 8.5 percent standard. The department also said it would follow up with Texas on other state monitoring standards that may be problematic. Special education advocacy groups are supporting the Education Departments actions, Rosenthal wrote in a follow-up to his special report . The [U.S. Department of Educations] demand for a response from the Texas Education Agency is a first step toward resolving this issue, Disability Rights Texas told Rosenthal. However, there remains much more work to ensure that children with disabilities are not wrongfully excluded from a free and appropriate public education. DUI as an Unlicensed Driver A DUI is bad. A DUI when you've never had a valid driver's license is worse. A DUI leaving the liquor store for the second time that day and getting into a fatal drunk driving accident that kills a 6-year-old girl and injures 3 other children driving someone else's car without permission and without ever having a valid driver's license is as bad as it could possibly be. A Florida woman is facing 22 criminal charges stemming from a fatal DUI accident last year, and she never should've been behind the wheel. Unlicensed and Unsober The worst part about the accident that claimed 6-year-old Ruby Meza's life is how avoidable it was. Even if the truck that collided with the car she was in wasn't going 65 in a 40; even if it didn't run a red light; even if Shirley Coto (who was driving the car Meza was in) didn't try to turn on a red light herself; and even if she wasn't sporting a .09 BAC four hours after the crash (indicating she was definitely over the limit at the time); and even if she wasn't leaving a liquor store for the second time that day after picking up four children from school (none of whom were wearing seatbelts); even if all of that didn't happen, Coto should never have been driving in the first place. The Sun-Sentinel reports Coto never held a valid driver's license, and "drove her neighbor's Nissan Altima on the day of the fatal crash without permission, registration or insurance." State License Statutes Driving without a license is just one of a litany of crimes Coto is charged with. And if you're looking for a way to make a DUI worse, you've definitely found it. State statutes on driving without a license can vary, but in most cases, driving without a valid license can turn a misdemeanor DUI into a felony. In fact, willfully driving without a license by itself can be a jailable offense. It should go without saying that you shouldn't drive a car without a valid driver's license, and you should never drive drunk, even if you have one. And if you've been charged with either crime, let alone both at once, you need the help of an experienced DUI attorney. Related Resources: 9/11 Victims Bill Becomes Law Over Obama Veto For the first time during his time in office, Congress voted to override President Obama's veto, passing a bill that allows 9/11 victims' families to sue Saudi Arabia for its role in the terror attacks. The Obama administration said it's sympathetic to victims' families, but opposed the bill, fearing that allowing such lawsuits for Americans in this case would open the door to legal challenges against American officials in other countries in the future. But the vote wasn't very close: The Senate voted 97-1 in favor of the override; the House vote was 348-77 in favor. So what does the new law mean? And is Congress already having buyer's remorse over the override? Saudi Liability The new law would allow families of American victims to sue the Saudi government in American courts. If the suit is successful, those courts could seize Saudi assets to pay for any judgment. The New York Times has reported that Saudi officials have warned they "might need to sell off hundreds of billions of dollars in holdings in the United States to avoid such an outcome." The new legislation could worsen already strained relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government has consistently denied any role in the September 11 terror attacks. And while the commission charged with investigating the attacks found "no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded" Al Qaeda, it didn't definitively clear all Saudi officials of playing some part in the plot. If a connection could be proven, the Saudi government could be on the hook for damages. American Liability President Obama remains opposed to opening up terror litigation. "I think it was a mistake, and I understand why it happened," he told military personnel at Fort Lee. "It's an example of why sometimes, you have to do what's hard, and frankly, I wish Congress here had done what's hard. I didn't expect it, because if you're perceived as voting against 9/11 families right before an election, not surprisingly, that's a hard vote for people to take. But it would have been the right thing to do." The concern is that suits can be filed against Saudi Arabia itself, when most nations have sovereign immunity in such lawsuits. In a case of what's good for the goose is good for the gander, American officials are worried citizens in other countries could sue the United States for military actions taken overseas. "Any legislation that affects sovereign immunity should take into account the associated risks to our national security," said CIA director John Brennan. And even some congresspeople may have regretted their vote -- almost 30 senators signed a letter within hours of the override, concerned that the U.S. could face lawsuits "as a result of important military or intelligence activities." Related Resources: This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some are essential to make our site work; others help us improve the user experience. By using the site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Read our privacy policy to learn more. close this window Daw Thuzar Tin, the WFFP director said: We aim to give exposure to the voice of women taking part in the peace process, [to show] the importance of the peace process in Burma and the obstacles against womens participation. The WFPP based the 34-page Burmese language book on training sessions that were run from July to September. Nang Shan Lahpai, the program manager for the Nyein Foundations Social Integration for Peace Program said: Whenever a war breaks out in a country, for whatever reason, the ones that suffer the most are women and children. As peace and development must happen at the same time, womens participation is important. There will not be sustainability if [women] are given fewer chances to participate in the peace process and are not allowed to take part at the decision-making level. In the WFPP book, Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe, secretary of the Women and Childrens Rights Committee of Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House), was quoted as saying that women are still being abused in cities and rural areas even though a new government has taken office. She also criticised the lack of discussion of womens issues in the parliament even though womens activists across the country have been raising womens issues. According to the WFPP book, of the 11 members of the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC) organised by the government only two are women. None of the six members of the Peace Commission are women and of the 48 members of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) only four are women. Of the 72 people who presented papers to the Union Peace Conference (21st Century Panglong Conference) held at the end of August, only nine were women. Despite the number of women in the present parliament doubling from previous parliaments to 13 per cent activists still want the government to create opportunities to increase womens participation in parliament. The WFFP works for womens rights in Burma and it has an office in Mayangone Township in Rangoon. Reporting by Saw Tun Linn for KIC News Translated by Thida Linn Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI Sometime over the last few weeks, the FBI made a secret arrest of a Maryland man who worked as a Booz Allen Hamilton contractor for the National Security Agency. The New York Times was first to report that the FBI is investigating the possibility this NSA contractor "stole" highly classified software created bythe NSA to hack into foreign governments and gain access to their computer networks. The Times report quoted several unnamed senior law enforcement and intelligence officials in today's report. Shortly after the NYT report was published, the Justice Department announced U.S. charges against a Maryland man for "theft of government property, unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials." AAG John Carlin, just now at #CambridgeCyber: "We have made an arrest of an individual who was involved in taking classified information." Eric Geller (@ericgeller) October 5, 2016 In 2013, Booz Allen contractor Edward J. Snowden famously shared a vast trove of NSA documents with journalists that exposed the NSA's warrantless domestic surveillance programs. Snowden was a whistleblower, as his subsequent actions show. He acquired and shared the documentation for public benefit. Few details are available about this new incident, but this seems very different. Officials say "source code," in other words the actual software, was "stolen." Snowden acquired and leaked documentation, not apps. He did not sell the leaked content. From the little information reported so far, this case sounds more like someone trying to sell so-called "cyberweapons." We don't know yet. But a second breach involving the same contractor, Booz, blowing the lid on goods from the NSA, in less than 3 years? Super bad and embarassing for both NSA and Booz. Obvious follow-up question: is the stolen source code referenced here the Shadow Broker hacking tools? https://t.co/IlA0WCNJes Julian Sanchez (@normative) October 5, 2016 Arrest "in recent weeks," stolen code was "dated" and used for network hacking. If that's not Shadow Brokers, it's a hell of a coincidence. Julian Sanchez (@normative) October 5, 2016 Snip from the Times: The information believed stolen by this contractor who like Mr. Snowden worked for the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, which is responsible for building and operating many of the agency's most sensitive cyberoperations appears to be different in nature from Mr. Snowden's theft. The contractor arrested in recent weeks is suspected of taking the highly classified "source code" developed by the agency to break into computer systems of adversaries like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Two officials said that some of the information the contractor is suspected of taking was dated. Here's how the DOJ press release announcing the arrest of Harold Thomas Martin III describes what he did. pic.twitter.com/AXDNYSzLSg Eric Geller (@ericgeller) October 5, 2016 Here's how the criminal complaint describes the NSA contractor's response. pic.twitter.com/TCExbnoDPl Eric Geller (@ericgeller) October 5, 2016 "N.S.A. Contractor Arrested in Possible New Theft of Secrets" (nytimes.com) In Louisville, KY today, a Southwest Airlines plane that had not yet left the ground was evacuated on the runway, after one passenger's Samsung smartphone caught fire. No injuries were reported. Southwest said passengers and airline employees evacuated SW 994 destined for Baltimore, after a passenger reported "smoke emitting from a Samsung electronic device." Verge says the passenger whose phone caught fire is Brian Green and his phone was "a replacement Galaxy Note 7." "We are working with the authorities and Southwest now to recover the device and confirm the cause," Samsung said in a statement issued to reporters. "Once we have examined the device, we will have more information to share." The Verge spoke to Green earlier today. He confirmed that he had picked up the new phone at an AT&T store on September 21. "A photograph of the box shows the black square symbol that indicates a replacement Note 7 and Green said it had a green battery icon." Snip: Green said that he had powered down the phone as requested by the flight crew and put it in his pocket when it began smoking. He dropped it on the floor of the plane and a "thick grey-green angry smoke" was pouring out of the device. Green's colleague went back onto the plane to retrieve some personal belongings and said that the phone had burned through the carpet and scorched the subfloor of the plane. He said the phone was at around 80 percent of battery capacity when the incident occurred and that he only used a wireless charger since receiving the device. Homie replaced his phone with an iPhone 7. Authorities are investigating the incident. The incident must have been terrifying for passengers on the flight. From the New York Times: BASF has started planning for the construction of a new world-scale plant for vitamin A in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The new facility will increase BASFs total annual production capacity of vitamin A by 1,500 metric tons. Reference value for this amount is vitamin A acetate with 2.8 million International Units. With the planned investment BASF wants to ensure long-term supply of its customers and to meet the growing demand of the market. The new world-scale vitamin A plant is scheduled to come onstream in 2020. We can make optimal use of our resources by fully integrating the new production facility into BASFs production Verbund. This significant investment also emphasizes the competitive position of the Ludwigshafen site, said Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE. A new world-scale plant will empower us to even better support our customers growth plans with high supply reliability and superior product quality, said Saori Dubourg, President BASF Nutrition & Health. BASF is a worldwide producer of vitamin A for animal and human nutrition as well as the cosmetic industry. Celebrating jailhouse recovery Audio Article Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears paid a visit to the Chesterfield County Jail last week, meeting with over 50 of the men and women participating in the HARP (Helping Addicts... An icons legacy memorialized Audio Article Enon Library was dedicated in memory of the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker on Friday, Oct. 21. Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Winslow, right, was joined by Walkers daughter, Patrice Walker... TurboAppeal, a Chicago-based startup that makes software to help property owners appeal taxes, has raised a $4 million Series A funding round, the company announced Tuesday morning. It will use the money to expand nationally and introduce new products, said CEO and co-founder Badal Shah. Advertisement Guaranteed Rate, the Chicago-based mortgage company that recently gained naming rights to the White Sox ballpark, led the round, which brings the company's total funding to $7.2 million, Shah said. In August, TurboAppeal entered a strategic partnership with Paradigm Tax Group, a Dallas-based national tax consulting firm that will use TurboAppeal's technology to serve its clients. Advertisement "I've never looked at the capital raise as something that's celebratory; it's more about business results," said Shah, though he conceded the validation from investors is "a nice feeling." Until now, TurboAppeal has offered a product through which it appeals customers' property taxes on their behalf, keeping 30 percent of the savings, if there are any. The company will use the new funding to introduce other products, including a self-service tool for customers to appeal their own property taxes for a flat fee, and another targeting Real Estate Investment Trusts, Shah said. TurboAppeal has 27 employees in Chicago, Denver and Miami, about 10 of whom joined the company this year. Shah said he plans to hire another seven or eight employees in engineering, development and marketing. Today, TurboAppeal's products are available in Illinois and Florida. By the end of 2016 or early 2017, Shah wants them to be live in every county of every state. He said the company has spent the last 10 months preparing for scale, which it will use this funding to pursue. Chicago-based Garland Capital participated in the round, as did Barbara Corcoran Venture Partners of Boca Raton, Fla., and Camber Creek, of Rockville, Maryland. Existing investors Hyde Park Venture Partners and @properties also contributed, along with other unnamed real estate technology investors. aelahi@tribpub.com Twitter @aminamania A $25 million donation from tech entrepreneur Thomas Siebel will help build a new innovation-focused design center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The two-story building, called the Siebel Center for Design, will feature a variety of spaces, including workshops for things like 3D printing and laser cutting, digital media studios for audio recording, and immersive technologies for virtual reality, according to a news release from the university. Advertisement College of Engineering Dean Andreas Cangellaris said the engineering school will be responsible for the Center for Design, but it's meant to bring together disciplines from around campus. "There will be lots of spaces for construction, for making, for large workshops, for bringing together students to create new ideas," he said. "And at the same time, immerse themselves through digital technology." Advertisement The building will cost $48 million total, with the remaining money coming from institutional funds, the release said. Groundbreaking is planned for next summer, with a construction timeline of 18 months. Siebel is chairman and CEO of C3 IoT, a Redwood City, Calif.-based software company that lets companies design and operate Internet of Things applications. In 1993, he founded Siebel Systems, a global software company that merged with Oracle Corporation in 2006. Siebel said other universities with design centers, such as Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley, are changing the face of higher education. "It's kind of a 'Back to the Future' kind of thing, where in engineering a long time ago, the big thing was to be a mechanical engineer," he said. "(That) became very boring, it was about designing machines and designing things. But now design is back and it's back in a big way." Siebel is an alumnus with three degrees from U. of I.: a bachelor's in history from 1975, an MBA from 1983 and a master's in computer science from 1985, according to the release. This is not Siebel's first naming gift to U. of I. In 2000, six years before his company merged with Oracle, he gave $32 million to the university to build the Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science. Then, in 2007, Siebel announced that he wrote a $100 million gift for U. of I.'s science and engineering programs into his will. Siebel is one of several local tech leaders who give back to the universities that helped give them their start. Just last week, the Christopher B. Galvin Family Foundation gave $10.25 million to Northwestern University, most of which will support the Kellogg School of Management. Galvin at one point was the CEO of Motorola. Advertisement Michael Polsky , founder of clean energy company Invenergy, donated $35 million to the University of Chicago in May, expanding the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation throughout the whole university. Chris Gladwin sold his big-data storage company Cleversafe to IMB last year, then donated $7.6 million to the Illinois Institute of Technology. Siebel said he expects companies and inventions to grow out of the Design Center that will have an impact on Chicago and Illinois. "It's going to make change happen, and it's going to make changes happen for the better," he said. amarotti@tribpub.com Twitter @allymarotti A Cook County jury has awarded $1 million to a former Advocate Christ Medical Center doctor in a case involving allegations of sex, lies and audiotape. The jury on Monday found in favor of Dr. Brett Ohlfs, a former emergency physician at the Oak Lawn hospital, who said the hospital fired him in 2011 in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment. The decision against Advocate Health Care, the state's largest hospital chain, came three years after Ohlfs filed the lawsuit. Advertisement Ohlfs alleged the hospital fired him after he reported concerns that a fellow attending physician was sexually harassing female residents, doctors in post-medical school training. That physician allegedly made sexual advances toward them, showed them naked pictures of himself and had sexual relationships with them, according to the lawsuit. Ohlfs was concerned, given attending physicians' authority over residents, including their input on whether a resident can become a licensed physician. Advertisement He said it came to his attention that residents believed they'd have a better shot at getting retained at the hospital if they gave in to the sexual advances. Ohlfs reported the conduct to his supervisor and later was terminated from his position. His former supervisor and two of the hospital's human resources managers also filed their own lawsuit against Ohlfs in Cook County Circuit Court earlier this year, accusing him of illegally taping conversations he had with them about the matter. Attorneys for those hospital employees later agreed to voluntarily dismiss that lawsuit. Advocate spokeswoman Lisa Lesniak said in a statement Tuesday that Advocate is disappointed with the ruling and is reviewing the decision. She said when Ohlfs' allegations came to Advocate's attention five years ago, Advocate completed an investigation and determined no further action was necessary. Ohlfs' former supervisor and the physician he accused of sexual harassment are still employed by Advocate, she said. "We take every allegation or concern raised by those we serve or those we employ very seriously," Lesniak said in the statement. "We have robust policies and procedures in place to ensure the safest and best environment for our physicians to practice and associates to work." In a court document, Advocate denied Ohlfs was fired in retaliation for complaining about sexual harassment of residents. Advocate said it had protocols to address discriminatory or harassing behavior and Ohlfs did not take advantage of any of those measures. Advocate said its actions were for "legitimate, non-retaliatory purposes." Ohlfs said Tuesday the $1 million verdict is helpful after all he and his family have been through. Ohlfs, his wife and three children now live in California where he works at Shasta Regional Medical Center as an emergency doctor. They moved there after he lost his job at Advocate, fearing he wouldn't be able to get another job in Chicago. "We've lived a nightmare for five years, and it helps to try to make us whole again," Ohlfs said of the verdict. Advertisement lschencker@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lschencker Cook County Board Commissioner Bridget Gainer, seen here in the Cook County Board Room in October 2012, co-sponsored the paid sick leave legislation with Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and seven other commissioners. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) The Cook County Board voted Wednesday to require that employers give workers paid sick time, bringing the suburbs in line with a Chicago law approved in June. The county ordinance, which largely mirrors the city's and also goes into effect July 1, allows employees to earn one hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked. Employees can accrue a maximum of 40 hours of paid sick leave per year, or about five work days, unless their employer sets a higher limit. Advertisement Cook County joins nearly 30 local jurisdictions across the country that have adopted paid sick leave laws in recent years in the absence of a broad federal law. The U.S. Department of Labor late last month issued a final rule requiring that federal contractors let employees earn up to seven paid sick days a year. Business interest groups including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association oppose the measure, saying it contributes to an unfriendly business climate. Advertisement "This mandate will lead to greater uncertainty for employers and fewer employment opportunities," Tanya Triche, vice president and general counsel of the Illinois Retail Merchants, said in a statement. More than 900,000 people in Cook County don't currently have paid sick leave, including 420,000 in suburban Cook County. Low-wage workers are the most likely to not receive paid sick days, and advocates say they are the least able to afford forgoing their wages or risking their jobs to take a day off for their health. With a lot of job growth happening in the service sector, where employers typically don't offer benefits, the law is "as much about dignity and fairness as is about a healthy workforce," said Commissioner Bridget Gainer, co-sponsor of the legislation with Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and seven other commissioners. In this video released by The White House, President Obama repeats his call for Congress to pass a law that would guarantee most American workers access to seven days of paid sick leave per year. Oct. 1, 2016. (Handout) The legislation applies to employers of all sizes and to anyone who works at least 80 hours for an employer within any four-month period, so most part-time workers qualify. Paid sick time can be used if a worker or a family member becomes ill, and also in the event of domestic violence or the closing of a school or business due to a public health emergency. Like the city's ordinance, the county law does not apply to construction workers. Employees with collective bargaining agreements could decide to waive the sick leave requirements in their contracts. The County Board approval came after the Finance Committee voted in favor of the law with 11 yes votes, 4 no's and 1 commissioner voting present, according to Cook County Board spokesman Frank Shuftan. aelejaleruiz@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @alexiaer About one-third of the individual members of failed insurer Land of Lincoln did not buy new health coverage on the state's Obamacare exchange as of last week's deadline, according to the Illinois Department of Insurance. But that may not mean they are uninsured. Former members began receiving letters in the past few days after the Friday deadline for securing uninterrupted Obamacare coverage through other companies saying they may be entitled to coverage through a state entity. Advertisement It is the latest uncertainty for former Land of Lincoln members after the July announcement that the insurer would shut at the end of September due to financial struggles. Land of Lincoln had 49,000 members. About 35 percent of Land of Lincoln's individual members did not purchase new coverage on the exchange by Friday. Some may have bought plans from insurers off of the exchange or took coverage offered by a spouse's employer. People who buy insurance off of the exchange aren't eligible for federal subsidies to help offset the costs of their premiums. Advertisement Some may have opted to forgo insurance for the rest of the year, despite the Affordable Care Act's requirement that all Americans have health insurance or pay a fine. However, if they're up to date on their Land of Lincoln premiums, members who failed to buy insurance may still be covered by the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association, a state-created association of insurance companies formed to protect against insurance company failures, the department said. To get the continued coverage, they must also pay their full October premium to Land of Lincoln by Oct. 15, and not have purchased other health insurance. That association's coverage doesn't pay more than $500,000 for the health expenses of any individual and has limited in-network providers, meaning bills for health care services likely will be higher. Also, those with the coverage are not eligible for federal subsidies to offset the cost of premiums. Department of Insurance spokesman Michael Batkins said in an email that the department disclosed before Friday's deadline that the guaranty association could cover Land of Lincoln members for the rest of the year if they didn't buy other coverage. But that wasn't clear to many until after the letters started arriving this week. "I think that's created a lot of confusion for the people who received (the letter) yesterday," said Jeannine Martin, a former Land of Lincoln member and Evanston resident who started a Facebook group dedicated to Land of Lincoln members. Martin said she suspects many members, like her, bought health insurance for the rest of the year off the exchange. Some of those people now likely are wondering whether they were wrong to buy other insurance, she said. Mark Gurda, president of Northbrook-based insurance agency Castle Group Health, said he thinks many members who didn't buy exchange-based coverage for the rest of the year might have bought bare-bones, short-term, off-exchange plans that might not meet the Affordable Care Act's coverage requirements. He also thinks others are going without coverage. Former Land of Lincoln members may still buy health plans on the exchange, but if they do so now, their coverage likely won't start until Nov. 1, Batkins said. Advertisement lschencker@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lschencker Condo owners bothered by smoke smells have the right to file a lawsuit against the smokers in a neighboring condo, claiming a private nuisance. (Katarina Sundelin / Getty Images) Q: For the past four years we have suffered because of an unpleasant odor seeping into our condo. This goes on almost daily, on and off between 5 and 11 p.m., and starts earlier on the weekends. People familiar with the smell tell us it is from marijuana and our maintenance staff believe they know the unit from where it is coming. After we reported the problem to our building manager, the maintenance staff sealed the areas of our unit where the smell was the worst but the problem continued. Our building management then approached the owners of the offending unit and without saying the odor was from pot they communicated that smells are not allowed to escape from units. In response, the owners have sealed their unit and now run an ionic air purifier. Advertisement Despite these efforts, the odor is still very present in our condo, albeit reduced from the original strength. It is offensive to us, but it is also embarrassing when we are entertaining. Our children have expressed concern about our grandchildren inhaling the odor when they come from out of town to visit, and are now considering staying at a hotel. What is reasonable for us to expect from the condo board? What is our responsibility? At what point do we have to accept that nothing more can be done? (Although not central to the problem, three months ago I had brain surgery and I frequently get headaches; this odor makes them worse.) Advertisement A: I hope you are recuperating from your major surgery. You say your headaches are not central to the problem; I respectfully disagree. A couple of law cases dealing with smoking whether regular cigarettes or something stronger all place heavy emphasis on the impact of smoke on health. I am sure your condo documents have language dealing with noise, nuisance and disturbance. Put more pressure on your board. They were involved earlier; they can't take the position now that it is not the obligation or responsibility of the board. You also have the right to file a lawsuit against the smokers, claiming a private nuisance. A public nuisance is something that affects many people, such as a company pouring waste and lead into public water; a private nuisance is an instance where an individual does something that impacts other individuals. While I can't guarantee anything, I think you have a decent case. Talk with a local attorney in your area. Q: Does a married person have a right to real estate if he or she is not on the deed, but was married when the property was purchased? If the marriage does not work out, does that person have a right to a share since his or her income paid for the real estate? A: I cannot provide you specific legal advice; state laws differ. There are community property laws out West that may be different from the laws in the East. In general, however, if the house was bought during the marriage, it is considered marital property, even if only one party is on the title. In a divorce, the judge will attempt to equitably distribute all assets; how long the parties have been married and how the bills have been paid also come into play. On the other hand, if one party owned the house prior to marriage, in most cases that would not be considered marital property. However, if the other party after getting married contributed money toward the mortgage, taxes and upkeep, the court will take that into consideration in making its final decision. You can learn a lot by searching marital property on the web. But please consult a divorce attorney. Advertisement Benny Kass is a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland. He does not provide specific legal or financial advice to any reader. Readers may email him, but he cannot guarantee a personal response. mailbag@kmklawyers.com RELATED STORIES: For sale by owner: Sellers can save cash, but going solo has costs Watch our latest Real Estate videos. Fred Savage (right) describes his 40th birthday party to Kelly Ripa on a July episode of "Live with Kelly." Before he began promoting his new sitcom "The Good Place" on Wednesday's episode of "Live with Kelly," Ted Danson turned to co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Fred Savage and complimented their chemistry. "You guys are great together," Danson said. Advertisement Savage, who grew up in Glencoe, is in the midst of his third "Live" guest co-hosting stint as producers search for a permanent replacement for former co-host Michael Strahan. Strahan left the show in May to co-anchor ABC's "Good Morning America." A bevy of celebrities have temporarily filled the vacancy. Savage, 40, is set to wrap up his three-day co-hosting stint Thursday after co-hosting in May and July. Advertisement Savage, who rose to fame with his starring role in the '80s sitcom "The Wonder Years," seems to have an easy rapport with Ripa, 46. He has a lot of energy and he doesn't overshadow Ripa, a "Live" host since 2001. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Savage's chances to win the job may have recently improved. Ripa's pal Anderson Cooper signed a new longterm deal to remain at CNN, which takes him out of the co-host competition, The Hollywood Reporter reported Tuesday. A Savage rep did not respond to a Tribune request for comment. A "Live" rep said she doesn't comment on co-host speculation. It's unclear when a permanent co-host will be announced. In the meantime, Savage is living in New York, where "Live" tapes, as he shoots the upcoming Netflix comedy "Friends from College." He is also directing a pilot for a single-camera comedy for NBC. The pilot is part of the deal Savage inked with 20th Century Fox Television over the summer to write, produce and direct projects for the studio. Savage starred on the Fox comedy "The Grinder" until the series was canceled in May after one season. "Live" airs 9 a.m. weekdays on WLS-Ch. 7. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Kourtney Kang, Nahnatchka Khan, Fred Savage teaming up for NBC comedy The Dude! Rollerblading! Watch Fred Savage describe his 40th birthday Chicagoland native Fred Savage is a favorite for 'Live' gig: oddsmaker 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) "A 19," a 1927 painting by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, is one of nearly 300 works of art on display as part of the "Moholy-Nagy: Future Present exhibition at the Art Institute. (Kristen Norman / for the Chicago Tribune) The merits of the major retrospective examining Laszlo Moholy-Nagy at the Art Institute of Chicago are many. It brings together prime examples from the astonishing range of work created by Moholy, as he is typically called, despite his life being cut short by illness at age 51. The Hungarian native, who would also live in Berlin, Holland, England and Chicago, made films; crafted experimental photographs; created rigid geometric paintings and colorful, playful ones; bent Plexiglas and metal into futuristic sculptures; wrote influential works of art theory aiming to take artmaking off of its pedestal; designed sets for stage plays and advertisements for a Minnesota haberdashery and the London Underground; and generally embraced the materials and the mass-production ethic of the modern age. Advertisement The three panels in the 1923 work "Construction in Enamel" were made "in fact at a sign factory," the show explains, and Moholy boasted that "one can even order them by telephone." The number of future conventions this anticipates, in artmaking and in commerce, is stunning. "Moholy really did seem to make the future come earlier," said Matthew Witkovsky, the Art Institute curator who organized the show along with Karole Vail at New York's Guggenheim Museum, where the show debuted in spring to a warm reception, and Carol Eliel at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the show's final destination. "He jumped into modern art midstream." Advertisement "Moholy-Nagy: Future Present," which opened Sunday at the Art Institute, is worth seeing, too, strictly as a value proposition: As with most Art Institute special exhibitions, there is no additional charge, and it packs the museum's Regenstein Hall with some 300 objects, offering a thorough exploration of the artist's work and life, with surprises around every bend. Unlike, say, the 2014 Magritte exhibition "The Mystery of the Ordinary," which by its end began to feel like many examples of similar things, the Moholy show constantly shifts moods and media, mirroring the artist's breadth of intellectual interest. "Every citizen should be a student, and every student should make art" is the exhibition's introductory wall-text summation of a Moholy credo. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR In its last galleries, covering Moholy's nine years in Chicago that represented both wartime refuge and a fresh start, it tells a major art story that, here, is also a local story. Moholy, who lived in Lincoln Park, died of leukemia here in 1946 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, not only made paintings in a fresh new style while in the city, he embraced the malleability of the new material Plexiglas, and he founded a school. He had made his reputation teaching at the original Bauhaus, in Germany in the 1920s; out of the Chicago wreckage of the New Bauhaus, which he was lured here to found and direct but quickly ran out of money, he created what lives on as the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. "He remains the most renowned international modern artist ever to have resided in Chicago," the Art Institute says in publicity materials for "Future Present." But perhaps the show's most potent achievement is this: It helps people who may know the artist more by name and it's a challenging one for the American tongue; the second part is pronounced "naj" and by dim sense of his reputation than by any actual work. "Future Present" will change that, whether you come away moved by specific works the vivid, seemingly delighted abstraction of 1941's "CH B3," say, or the 1946 sculpture Dual Form with Chromium Rods that hangs at the show's entry or dazzled, a little, by the totality of a man who wrote about democratizing art and who so thoroughly seemed to live that theory. Some of Moholy's best works, such as his collages, showcase "his original take on unoriginality," said Witkovsky. And he sought out new materials paintings on plastic and metal, for instance in part to demonstrate that "the world is programmed, but you can push to play with that program," the curator said. Moholy's bouncing from one art form and even from one job to another left him open to charges of dilettantism, acknowledged Witkovsky. Although that may have done damage to his reputation, the exhibition, Witkovsky said, argues against that interpretation, demonstrating his facility in many mediums. The galleries show off "Moholy the polymath," he said. "The man of many abilities, but also many registers." Advertisement Joyce Tsai is a Moholy scholar at the University of Iowa who has seen "Future Present" in Chicago and New York and organized "The Shape of Things to Come," a 2015 exhibition of Moholy-Nagy's paintings. She, too, thinks his reputation as "a guy who just phones it in, quite literally," as a theorist whose "conceptual brilliance was compensation for his inadequate hand," is being put to rest by shows such as hers and by this big new retrospective, the first in America in half a century. "The strength of these retrospective shows is they have allowed us to see how much Moholy thinks with his hands and theorizes in practice," she said. "When we're willing to take a closer look at the things that he made, there's a kind of consistency and precision you don't necessarily expect if you come into the show thinking he's a dilettante and thinking he's only a theorist." But "Future Present" doesn't shy away from his writing, his theoretical work. His book "The New Vision" has been taught since it was written and continues to be so, Tsai said. And the exhibition devotes one, 48-foot-wide, mostly text wall to excerpts of Moholy's teachings. "He's saying, Here's how to be an artist," Witkovsky said. "Be in tune to your time, but don't give in to your time. Collaborate. Communicate." sajohnson@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @StevenKJohnson When: Through Jan. 3 Where: The Art Institute, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: Included with $25 general admission; sales.artic.edu RELATED STORIES: 'Above and Beyond' at MSI will let you fly kind of Advertisement Penguins making a comeback at Lincoln Park Zoo Museum goodness abounds this fall. Here is a Top 10 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) DETROIT What if you went to see a concert and got a metaphor instead? Kanye West, on his latest tour, which plays his hometown Friday (United Center) and Saturday (Allstate Arena), spends the entire show literally above the fray, looking down on the audience. There is no traditional stage at one end of the arena or in the center. There is just Kanye, alone on a platform surprisingly small for an arena setting, 20 feet long, 16 feet wide. It is suspended a mere 15 feet above the fans on the floor. Designed by the Wood Dale-based special-effects company Strictly FX, the platform resembles a Hershey bar, or one of those flying cars from "Blade Runner" stripped to its chassis. It floats barge-like, back and forth, the length of the venue, then side to side, creeping closer to the upper rows; as it tips downward, Kanye looks tantalizingly within reach. Advertisement Metaphors, particularly for an artist's relationship to his audience, are rarely so indelible. I caught the tour last week at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, and for the majority of the show Kanye remained hidden in the dark, wrapped in a velvet haze, the best fog that several zillion sodium lights and smoke machines could buy. It's an image impossible not to free associate about: Kanye, tethered to the platform by an umbilical cord streaming from the back of his shirt, is like an artist chained to his art; Kanye, starkly dressed in loose, muted workman clothing, is like a lone wolf wandering a minimalist, dystopian landscape. And that lighting rig, a rectangular truss designed to carry Kanye's chariot, exploding in deep oranges and reds, blasting earthquakes of bass and hyper-focused light beams it wouldn't be out of place in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Advertisement But the key image the one that makes his Saint Pablo Tour so innovative, pointing at no less than the direction of pop culture itself is how those lights redistribute the attention of the traditional concert from the performer to the audience, reimagining the possibilities of a live performance. No joke: Kanye stands in the dark for much of the show. And so, if you're on the floor, it's hard not to notice how in the spotlight you are, how close you are to Kanye, how actually beneath this millionaire provocateur you have become. As the stage moves, you move, the crowd around you moves, a shepherd and his flock. And if you're in the bowl of seats above the floor: Your eye is drawn instinctively to that churning flood of an audience flowing beneath the artist, a roiling impromptu ballet/dance party/mosh pit, bathed in far more dramatic lighting than the guy on the stage. Kanye West performs in Detroit last week. West is scheduled to play Friday in Chicago and Saturday in Rosemont. (Scott Legato / Getty Images) A security guard, who noticed me taking notes, sidled up and shouted: "You know what this reminds me of? It's like 'The Walking Dead,' man!" The guy was on to something. Kanye's previous tour featured a stage (also designed with Strictly FX) that was arguably just as memorable: Two fake icebergs and along with it, cameos by an androgynous chorus dressed in white, people disguised as wolves and Jesus Christ on a cherry picker. Kanye wore a mask for most of the show. It was performance art for 18,000, and decidedly chaotic. This tour boils down to that moment in every zombie movie where the hero has scrambled to high ground, above a clamoring undead army. Needless to say, this being a Kanye show, ego gets more than a cameo: To stand alone above an audience for 100 minutes, walking, sitting, sometimes just watching yourself being watched, is to invite an audience to wonder what you're thinking, if you're bored, etc. Indeed, the show I attended started 90 minutes late; a couple beside me watched an episode of "The Americans" on their phone in that time, then argued why Kanye was still late. (Him: "Maybe he's waiting for a bassist." Her: "Kanye will not wait for no bassist.") To be generous, ego looks a lot like ambivalence here, a queasy confrontation with too much fame: In one of the show's most striking images, Kanye walks to the lip of the stage, which has been tipped low, and before the reaching arms of the scrum beneath him, repeats: "We're surrounded by the (expletive) wolves." (Eerily, a few nights later, after this moment in New York, he was told his wife Kim Kardashian had been robbed at gunpoint and stopped the show.) If he gets away with what could be read easily as contempt, it's because he is not so much performing for you as with you, an audience and a performer recognizing the co-dependency of their relationship, unwilling to stop. As I stood on the floor and Kanye floated above me, a woman took a selfie with the stage. So did many others. A group of hipsters stood to the side and watched the audience watch the stage when a performer is moving above you, it's hard not to start looking at those around you, to become acutely aware of their patterns of movement. All of which decentralizes the traditional concert set-up in fascinating ways. Kanye himself had to tell security at some shows, from the stage, his idea is to let the audience roam. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Destabilizing what it means to be at a concert, and offering possibilities, is his point. Before the show begins, no music is played, only a Brian Eno-like ambient soundtrack of surging and pinging strings. Actually before anything begins, as the fans enter, they see nothing at all, just an empty bowl of a floor where a stage and seats normally are, to be gradually filled in by them. A woman in my section, waiting for the show to start, took in the blankness and shouted: "Kanye, man, you make no sense, Kanye!" Advertisement The audience within earshot, as if reading her mind, laughed knowingly. Not often do you go to a concert and find yourself inside an art project. Granted, Kanye is not the first performer to stand on a platform above an audience it's an old trope, employed by the Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift alike. Likewise, merely name-checking Bob Fosse and Ridley Scott as influences on your ideas, as Kanye has, doesn't make them fresh. But too often a superstar on a riser starts off playing to the cheap seats and just winds up reminding us how actually removed we are from the performance. Here, by shining a light into the audience, a communal joy takes hold. In Detroit, on the floor, there was a lot of bumping and apologizing, and also noticing, suburban bros and urban hipsters, afros pulled into balls, hoodies and hijabs. From the upper decks, it looked like a mess, but inside it, there was real warmth in the potential. cborrelli@chicagotribune.com Twitter @borrelli RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Kanye West postpones shows after wife Kim Kardashian robbed; tour to resume in Chicago Kim Kardashian returns to New York after robbery in Paris Kanye West opens 'Pablo' pop-up store in Northbrook Kanye West fires back at former protege Kid Cudi Kanye West performs at New York Fashion Week party 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) More than half a century ago, two intrepid journalists decided to travel across the United States in a rented Chevy Impala searching for jazz. William Claxton, who eventually would be recognized as one of the 20th century's greatest jazz photographers, and Joachim E. Berendt, a German musicologist, spent a large chunk of 1960 documenting "America's great art jazz," as Berendt put it. Advertisement They wanted to illuminate in images and words the meaning of the music, what it said about life in America, why it had been embraced around the planet. The result of their monthslong road trip was a massive picture book, "Jazzlife: A Journey for Jazz Across America in 1960," which juxtaposed Claxton's sumptuous photos with Berendt's reportage. Advertisement Ten years ago, art book publisher Taschen came out with a stunning, expanded version of the book stretching 696 pages, featuring additional Claxton photos and measuring roughly 12 by 16.5 inches, with a weighty price tag to match: $200. To mark the 10th anniversary of that significant event, and to make the make the volume more accessible to a wider audience, Taschen now has put out a slightly slenderized 600-page version (plus slip case). Though somewhat smaller at 9.4 by 13.2 inches, the new edition of "Jazzlife" contains all the original content, with an altered layout, at $69.99. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Even in its new incarnation, "Jazzlife" remains a book unique in the jazz literature, and not only for its physical dimensions. Pore over its pages, and you're seeing jazz and related music as it was played when many pivotal artists still were working. Trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the Eureka Brass Band of New Orleans, gospel pioneers Mahalia Jackson and Thomas A. Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Benny Carter, Ella Fitzgerald practically everyone who mattered turns up in these pages. But so do anonymous musicians who never were lionized by the music industry yet represented the body politic of the art form. Marching bands and church choirs, street fiddlers and nightclub saxophonists, funeral musicians and beachside bands flourished in Claxton's frame, the photographer capturing jazz as it was lived. Why did they Claxton and Berendt go to all this trouble? "The chance to photograph many of my jazz heroes, in addition to the many unknown and yet-to-be-discovered jazz musicians all around America, was too tempting to resist," Claxton wrote in a foreword to the 2006 volume. Not that everyone was as excited about the road trip as Claxton and Berendt. Advertisement " 'Spare yourself the trip,' they told us in New York," Berendt wrote in his original 1961 foreword to the book. " 'All the important jazz musicians live here now. Do your photos and interviews in New York!' "But it's only from the perspective of New York City that jazz appears to be a universally American language," added Berendt, who died in 2000 at 77. "In reality, the styles and performance practices of jazz belong to particular cities and landscapes, and they remain the expression of those cities and landscapes even when the music is played elsewhere." Indeed, because jazz always has been rooted in the communities and rituals from which it sprang, New Orleans jazz has been different than Chicago jazz, West Coast sounds far-removed from East Coast counterparts. Claxton's photos make that point repeatedly, the musicians parading through the narrow streets of the Crescent City looking little like the players performing on the oceanfront in sun-drenched California. Photographer William Claxton, in a self portrait. (Taschen) Yet there's at least one commonality among most of these images: the joy and optimism of Claxton's view of jazz. Which was quite intentional. "It's true that the stereotype (image) at that time was the jazz musician in a dark, dank place, with alcohol nearby a somewhat sleazy, if exciting, setting," Claxton told me in 1996, when the Harold Washington Library Center presented an exhibition of 93 of his images. Advertisement "But I grew up in California, where there was sunshine and natural beauty all around, and I didn't understand why you couldn't show jazz musicians in that kind of setting too," added Claxton, who died in 2008 at 80. Though Claxton's images in "Jazzlife" are set both indoors and out, he consistently accords the musicians a degree of dignity and respect they did not always receive at the time. You'll see few pictures of the artists dramatized via silhouette, with cigarette smoke billowing around them. The players in "Jazzlife" are real people, not objects of worship, an approach that won the admiration of the photographer who championed the glamorized nightlife imagery of jazz, Herman Leonard. "Bill's vision was not like mine, with the smoky nightclubs," Leonard told me in 1996. "His was sunlight, and since he's from California, I think that's extremely suitable. "So he got a lot of freshness in his photographs, and a lot of the very natural spontaneity on the part of the people he shot. "Pictorially he's wonderful." Advertisement Perhaps no image sums up the buoyant spirits of Claxton's work more than a full-page photo of the Ramsey Lewis Trio then in its first blush of success positively beaming. "They were dressed for the special occasion in sharp-looking suits, ties and hats very slick and handsome," wrote Claxton in his foreword. "I took them out and photographed them on Michigan Avenue with the Chicago skyline behind them." Lewis and friends look as if they own the town. All of which raises a more fundamental question: Why are photographers so drawn to jazz? "I suppose there always is a degree of glamour in photographs of jazz musicians, and there are at least two reasons for that," Claxton told me. Advertisement "On the surface, there are the most obvious visual elements a shiny instrument, the way the light hits the musician, the fact that they're performers who operate in a glamorous world. "But on a deeper level, there's an essential contradiction about these musicians that's irresistible: Most of these musicians have two diametrically opposed facets of their personality. "On the one hand, they're ingenuous or innocent, eager to please their audience. But on the other hand, they're phenomenally disciplined, able to do something brilliant on command, at the snap of a thumb or the drop of a baton," added Claxton. "And that contradiction, their innocence and their artistic skill, makes musicians terribly interesting to us, and to me." It shows in every shot of "Jazzlife." Howard Reich is a Chicago Tribune critic. Advertisement hreich@chicagotribune.com Twitter @howardreich MORE FROM HOWARD REICH: Bob Koester opens new record store after Jazz Record Mart closes Bassist Katie Ernst brings a singular voice to Chicago jazz Patricia Barber explores the mystical power of song 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) There are narrators both reliable and unreliable, and then there are narrators who are dead. Annabel, the lively central figure in Melissa Ross' promising-but-incomplete new play at the Gift Theatre, "A Life Extra Ordinary," introduces herself to the audience by offering salient facts about herself. She was a "good girl," a nice person who grew up in a small college town in Ohio and was the apple of her parents' eye. She also tells us right at the top that she is no longer alive. Advertisement From there we see Annabel's parents Tom and Sally fretting over their daughter's disappearance on a frigid January night, her car left locked while a woman who was eight months pregnant seemingly went for a walk. Right away, we know more than these characters, but not entirely what happened on that fateful night. That takes longer to reveal itself. For the first act of this world premiere under the direction of John Gawlik, I was totally with this tense, sad narrative, especially the wise understanding of what it feels like to have a loved one who you are sure is in trouble, even though police and the rest of the world refuse to treat the situation as an emergency. In Gawlik's production, parental love and fear flow freely from actors Lynda Newton and Paul D'Addario. As played by Cyd Blakewell, Annabel is an appealing, reflective-yet-unpretentious character, indicative of an unquestioning and well-meaning young woman's vulnerability to lousy men yet also wiser than anyone on stage. Advertisement MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Since Ross has set up a structure where Annabel has agency over her own story part of the point is that she did not have agency over her life she is able to take us backward and forward in time as she pleases, showing us shadows of what she wants us to understand about her life, and offering some information on what we will find when we die. This is a popular kind of play in the American theater realistic but stylized, quirky and metaphysical, one foot in "Our Town," one foot in the mystery thriller, a genre it wants to rescue from its history of exploitation. A worthy aim and I first thought this play, penned by Ross, author of the superb "Thinner Than Water," was going to pull it off. But after intermission the dramatic tension dissipates, the scenes lengthen and meander and, to be honest, Annabel, whose narration gets longer and longer and more introspective, very much swallows her own play. That would be fine if she had Annabel not set up the story in the way she does, concerned with an entire community, and her place within. Some of the questions early on such as whether her husband was having an affair, or how her first love still feels about her get dropped and remain as unanswered as what exactly happened to Annabel and why. Her mom similarly floats off into the dark, and an interesting, possibly troublemaking character named Polly (Darci Nalepa) retreats from the story as if she were forgotten. You're first led to think we're looking at the women of a small town, women under duress and caught between love and survival, only for all but one of those women to leave your grasp. That's the issue (well, it's most of Act 2 really) Ross needs to fix with what could be an important new play. Even now it has some wise, moving scenes. This first production is acted with great honesty, which is not unusual at Gift Theatre, where the ensemble is rich and deep, but I did intensely resist one late-in-the-evening scene wherein Annabel agrees to date a guy she should not be dating. He's just too creepy and Annabel, as we have come to know her, clearly is much too smart for him. Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. cjones5@chicagotribune.com Twitter @ChrisJonesTrib Advertisement "A Life Extra Ordinary" - 2.5 Stars When: Through Nov. 20 Where: Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. Running time: 2 hours Tickets: $35 at 773-283-7071 or www.thegifttheatre.org RELATED STORIES: Advertisement 50 shows for fall: Big musicals to tiny world premieres Paramount leads 2016 Equity Jeff nominations 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 20th century American males more diametrically opposite than President Harry S. Truman and Gen. Douglas MacArthur would be hard to find. One was a plain-spoken Midwesterner who said what he meant and meant what he said, the other the kind of self-aggrandizing egomaniac (with a touch of genius) for whom the word "grandiloquent" might well have been invented. Yet during the Korean War, these two very different but equally stubborn men were set on a constitutional collision course that, as H.W. Brands vividly describes in "The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War," would bring the world terrifyingly close to its last and most destructive war. By the time Harry Truman became president in the spring of 1945, after serving only 82 days as FDR's vice president, Douglas MacArthur was already a legend, and there is no doubt that he reveled in his fame. First in his class at West Point, where he scored higher than all but two former graduates in the military academy's history (one of them being Robert E. Lee), MacArthur was held in awe by the doughboys of WWI for his physical courage (the GIs of WWII thought rather less of him, referring to him disdainfully as "Dougout Doug"), and after the end of WWII MacArthur was appointed Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan, becoming, as Brands says, "a Japanese institution," almost a second emperor. Gen. Matthew Ridgway, who commanded the Eighth Army in Korea, and who would become MacArthur's successor, described MacArthur's major flaw as "a faith in his own judgment that created an aura of infallibility and that finally led him close to insubordination." General of the Army Omar Bradley, however, put it rather more succinctly: "MacArthur was a megalomaniac." Advertisement In his early chapters, where Brands fills in the back story of his dual protagonists, he can feel sketchy almost to the point of seeming disengaged (he skims through five crucial years of Truman's life and political career simply by quoting from a single autobiographical letter to his daughter), and this section of the book is somewhat disappointing. But when Brands gets to the Korean War, his narrative comes into its own. Secretary of State Dean Acheson, while discussing America's defense perimeter in a speech to the National Press Club in January 1950, inadvertently left out Korea, giving the North Koreans the impression that an attack on South Korea would not be defended by the U.S. Six months after Acheson's "colossal gaffe" (as David Halberstam aptly put it in his book on the war, "The Coldest Winter"), North Korean troops swarmed across the 38th parallel and easily captured the South Korean capital of Seoul. It looked like they would be able to unify the country as a communist dictatorship within a month. President Truman very much did not want to go to war (it was, after all, barely five years after V-J Day), but felt he had no choice, and selected to lead the American forces the only man who had the authority as well as the military genius to salvage the debacle before it was too late: General Douglas MacArthur. Advertisement Truman refused to even glorify the conflict by calling it a war. Instead, taking a cue from a reporter at a press conference, he euphemized it as a "police action." MacArthur knew better, which in a way was part of the problem: He always knew better than his commanding officers, whether they were the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the president of the United States, and always felt free to question, circumvent, countermand or just flat-out disobey the orders of his superiors whenever it suited him. And it suited him more often than not. Truman was guided in Korea by two motivating principles: aggression must be instantly confronted and repelled (here the obvious analogy was Munich, used as an excuse for military intervention by almost every American president from Harry Truman to George W. Bush), and the notion that any military conflict involving a communist country was invariably directed by the Soviet Union. "The General vs. the President" by H.W. Brands. Truman would inform the nation in a televised address on Dec. 15, 1950, that "Our homes, our nation, all the things we believe in, are in great danger. This danger has been created by the rulers of the Soviet Union." Truman's innovation in Korea was to assemble a multinational coalition and fight under the auspices of the United Nations, which allowed him to circumvent the tedious but arguably necessary constitutional prerequisite of going to Congress and acquiring a declaration of war before sending American troops into combat. (George H.W. Bush would update this template in order to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait in 1991, and his son would attempt much the same thing in Iraq a decade later with disastrous results.) When things looked very bad for the United Nations forces, MacArthur came up with a scheme that was either brilliant or harebrained, depending on how you looked at it. The 70-year-old general laid out an amphibious landing at Inchon, west of Seoul, where the North Koreans would least expect it. The harbor was so inhospitable to an invading force that everything would have to go perfectly for the expedition to have even the slightest chance of success. Once ashore, MacArthur claimed, his troops along with the Eighth Army would combine to destroy the enemy with "a decisive and crushing blow." The whole thing could have been a disaster, but against all odds it exceeded all expectations, proving MacArthur right and further fueling his sense of innate invincibility. Inchon was a work of genius, a military masterstroke comparable to such late-in-life masterpieces as Verdi's "Falstaff" or Sophocles' "Oedipus at Colonus." Unfortunately, like a Greek tragic hero, MacArthur had his hamartia, or tragic flaw, and once he got the enemy on the run he did not want to stop until he reached the Chinese border, even when doing so threatened nuclear war. The man who bragged that "I hope to get the Eighth Army back by Christmas" and who fancied that he understood "the Oriental mentality" eventually found himself facing hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers whose entry into the war he had failed to anticipate. ("He had been made a fool of by the Chinese communist armies," Gen. Ridgway cruelly but accurately pointed out.) At a time when President Truman was hoping to initiate peace talks with the Chinese, MacArthur sent out a statement in effect threatening them with full-out war, which Dean Acheson described as "insubordination of the grossest sort to his Commander in Chief" Rather than risk a nuclear war with the Chinese and possibly the Soviet Union merely to placate MacArthur's wounded pride, Truman fired the general, which had the effect of making MacArthur appear to be a martyr to partisan politics and turning Truman for a while into one of the most unpopular presidents in history. After a tumultuous hero's welcome back to the United States, MacArthur would, as he claimed all old soldiers must, fade away, spending his retirement in Manhattan's Waldorf Towers, and on his deathbed, according to biographer William Manchester, he would beg President Lyndon Johnson to stay out of Vietnam. In time Truman's reputation would recover (by the 1970s he would become positively trendy, given the fact that his plain-spoken style made for a nice contrast with Richard Nixon, who was by then enmeshed in Watergate), and a filmed one-man show about his life would garner an Oscar nomination for James Whitmore. But the war they fought and the terrible risks they ran in fighting it haunt this country to the present day. President Eisenhower would eventually manage to broker a truce in Korea (an example that his former Vice President Nixon failed to emulate in Vietnam), but the war has never officially ended. North Korea is still a communist dictatorship, only now it has nuclear weapons. Advertisement Brands deftly utilizes a wide array of sources, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting of foreign correspondent Marguerite Higgins, who landed with the troops at Inchon, to the papers of both Truman and MacArthur, as well as material that was unavailable to previous scholars. He tells his story with admirable objectivity and fairness, letting the facts speak for themselves. For anyone looking to understand the Korean War, this book is an admirable place to start. 'The General vs. the President' By H.W. Brands, Doubleday, 448 pages, $30 The 100 Club of Chicago marked its 50th anniversary with a gala dinner Sept. 22 at the Four Seasons Hotel with nearly 500 in attendance. More than $1 million was raised to provide families of fallen first responders in Cook and Lake counties with financial, educational, legal and counseling assistance. Honor guard members in dress uniforms stood at attention as guests checked in before a reception, where bagpipers entertained the crowd. The program began in the Grand Ballroom with an honor guard presentation, followed by the national anthem sung by police officer Kenyatta Gaines. The Rev. Thomas Mulchrone, Chicago Fire Department chaplain, offered the invocation. "When heroes fall, we raise hope," he said. Advertisement RELATED: TRENDING LIFE & STYLE NEWS THIS HOUR Comedian and Harvey native Tom Dreesen served as emcee. He introduced an Emmy Award-winning public service announcement video that featured his friends, actors Joe Mantegna, the late Dennis Farina (a former Chicago police officer), Gary Sinise, Dennis Franz and William Petersen. Dreesen said the actors "dropped everything" to help support The 100 Club. "During the last 50 years, the club has provided assistance for 261 families with more than 800 dependents. It provides a safety net during the worst of times," he said. Advertisement Stan Jerlecki shared his firsthand experience with the organization; his father, a police officer, was killed in the line of duty. He was one of the first children to receive benefits from the original 100 Club in Detroit in 1951. "The grieving process for a line-of-duty death lasts anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Sometimes it lasts a lifetime, and you never get over it. The 100 Club's support helped the grieving begin and showed us that there's someone out there who cares. It made all the difference in the world," he said. Helene Wood and Alyssa Baker also spoke about the ongoing support they've received from the club since losing loved ones. Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, presented the Community Excellence Award to Motorola Solutions. Greg Brown, its chairman/CEO, accepted the honor on his company's behalf. "The 100 Club is always there for families of first responders, and we are proud to be there for them. Their love and support are critical and exemplifies the true spirit of Chicago," he said. Joe Ahern, 100 Club CEO, introduced Darrell Jackson, incoming board president. Jackson has been involved with the organization for the past 47 years as a beneficiary, donor and board member. He thanked Jim Riley (100 Club chairman emeritus), Burke and Ahern for getting him involved. "I look forward to having the opportunity to pay it forward," he said. He and his sisters graduated from college with support from the club's educational assistance program after losing their father. Since the organization was chartered in 1966, it has provided coverage to approximately 45,000 local, county, state and federal first responders. When a loved one is killed in the line of duty, the club immediately gives the surviving spouse $50,000 and the children financial assistance for college; it also offers access to legal services and counseling support. The event concluded with Gaines singing "Amazing Grace" as names of the fallen scrolled across multiple video screens in the darkened room. Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers. More coverage Find more photos and events at www.chicagotribune.com/candidcandace. Visit Candid Candace's website at www.candidcandace.com, or follow her on Twitter @CandidCandace. Advertisement RELATED STORIES: After School Matters Gala funds programs for teens WCIU's "You & Me" featured columnist Candace Jordan and her Chihuahua pups Navy SEAL Foundation gala attracts patriotic crowd Gene Baur is the co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary. Noel was rescued by the group. (Farm Sanctuary) A big rock. A little respect. Advertisement A fresh willow branch. A pat on the back. Advertisement A vanilla wafer cookie. Each, in its own way, is an answer to that oh-so-timely question, "What do goats really want?" The Curse of the Billy Goat is officially over, but with the Cubs heading into the playoffs, there's still time to be superstitious, and no superstition looms larger in Chicago than that of a goat named Murphy who was turned away from a 1945 World Series game against the Detroit Tigers and allegedly held a grudge. The Cubs haven't reached the World Series since that fateful year; they haven't won since 1908. So, for those who want to go the extra mile to kiss up to the greatest farm animal ever, the Tribune has tracked down a wide range of options. You can feed the Nigerian dwarf goats at Brookfield Zoo, donate money to support rescue goats at an Illinois animal sanctuary, purchase goat-positive art on eBay or just ponder the many merits of an animal adored by zookeepers, artists and animal advocates alike. "If I could have just one animal, it would be a goat," says Tobein Tegard, who has horses, donkeys, pot-bellied pigs, cows and a sheep at Wedrose Acres, a nonprofit animal sanctuary in Gridley, Ill. "They're wonderful animals. They follow you around like a dog would, and they know their own names." Goats love to climb, so thoughtful humans often supply them with boulders. They're personable and friendly, experts say, trotting over to greet their favorite people and pulling at their shoelaces. They like chewing on leaves and very much appreciate the occasional treat. "My guys go crazy for vegan vanilla cookies," Tegard says. Advertisement At Lincoln Park Zoo, goats compete for their zookeepers' attention with the big names of the animal kingdom: lions, gorillas, bears and a tiger. And they do pretty well for themselves, according to zoological manager Laszlo Szilagyi: "Quite a number of (the zookeepers) really, really like goats. They think they're fun, and they love being around them." Exhibit A: The Lincoln Park Zoo goat that realized it could reach the switch to a fan with his tongue. "This goat had fun turning on and off the fan," says Szilagyi. "They're very smart. He figured out that he had control of that fan, and you could see that he really enjoyed it." If you want to take a hands-on approach to cultivating the goodwill of goats, Brookfield Zoo offers a petting area where you can feed fluffy Nigerian dwarf goats, pat them and brush them. Goats are sociable, food-motivated and enjoy attention, so you'll be covering a lot of bases, says Glenn Granat, curator of Hamill Family Play Zoo. "They're very in tune with people," he says. "They just love interaction." They'll take food right out of your hand, and they're very curious. If a paper bag blows through their yard, all 30 goats will trot over to check it out. The Brookfield goats have a no-visitors area where they can take a break from all the human patting and fussing, but they don't use it much, Granat says. Advertisement "They know they have a choice, and most of the day they're out there with guests, so obviously, they're getting something good out of it." Goat fans newly minted and otherwise also can head to Lincoln Park Zoo's Farm-in-the-Zoo, where the outdoor petting area will be open until Oct. 18. (Sorry, no feeding.) From Oct. 18 until the end of October, visitors can pet the goats over the stall bars inside the barn. Good deeds toward goats aren't just for playoff season at Wedrose Acres, home to unwanted and neglected animals since the late 1990s. "I have a goat that was running in the streets of Chicago. Now that's not any place for a young lady, is it?" says Tegard. A kindly Chicago police officer came to the rescue, delivering the lost goat to Tegard's sanctuary, a two-hour drive from Chicago. The goat, Debbie, has been living peacefully with Tegard for several years now, and the police officer and his wife still visit periodically and send donations. Advertisement Goat Debbie from Wedrose Acres, an animal sanctuary located in Gridley, Illinois. (Wedrose Acres) You can sponsor a goat at an animal sanctuary such as Wedrose, or you can take a more metaphysical approach, embracing kindness and respect toward all goats everywhere. "Goats should be included within the sphere of compassion," says Gene Baur, co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary, a national nonprofit that works to end cruelty to farm animals. For those who want to display goat-positive art, Hannah B Higgins, an art history professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, offers a cautionary note. In Western art, goats have traditionally been used to connote lust and libido, so that darling little goat cavorting among the shepherds and country lasses holds a decidedly grown-up meaning. "They are not an innocent symbol at all. They are racy," Higgins says. Higgins declined to endorse any specific artistic depiction for home use, but eBay offers a wide range of interesting choices from goat-positive artists, among them Chagall prints and replicas of Picasso's She-Goat sculpture. The award for thinking big (regarding the wishes of goats) goes to Szilagyi, who envisions a custom-made play area right at Wrigley Field. Advertisement "I could easily see a setup in the Cubs stadium that would be goat heaven. I would have a lot of climbing structures, and on top of every one, there would be something yummy to chew on: Willow branches, grass, hay they like fruits and vegetables too," he says. Goats love company, so Szilagyi would invite lots of them, and goats like a challenge, so he suggests installing climbing structures of different heights, with a variety of surface textures. As for the size of the goat playground, "The bigger the better!" Szilagyi says. "They like to run around freely." nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com Twitter @nschoenberg RELATED STORIES: Advertisement As Cubs reach playoffs, separating Billy Goat history from myth 10 ways to be a Cubs fan in the afterlife White Sox set world record for dogs at a sporting event What makes Jewish kids so successful? Jewish parenting, Marjorie Ingall says in her new book, Mamaleh Knows Best. (Marjorie Ingall) Through all the hoopla about the parenting secrets of Asian Tiger Moms whose children practice piano for hours and French moms whose children happily tuck into four-course meals, I kept wondering: When are we going to start talking about Jewish moms? As Marjorie Ingall points out in her funny and insightful new book, "Mamaleh Knows Best: What Jewish Mothers Do to Raise Successful, Creative, Empathetic, Independent Children," Jewish kids do tend to do pretty well for themselves. Although Jews make up less than 1 percent of the world's population, we constitute 170 of 850 Nobel Prize winners, 21 percent of Ivy League students, 37 percent of Academy Award-winning directors and 51 percent of Pulitzer Prize winners for nonfiction, Ingall writes. Advertisement So what are Jewish parents doing to foster that outsized achievement? Ingall's theory is that a religion that stresses learning and debate has combined with a long history of religious persecution to create a distinctive approach to child rearing that's heavy on learning, humor and skepticism, embraces geekiness in all its forms, and encourages children to pursue their own passions. Advertisement "Unlike the stereotypical Tiger Mother, we encourage kids to dabble in activities, letting them figure out what they really enjoy," Ingall writes. "We welcome play dates rather than viewing them as distractions from school; we believe that kids learn from peers and need chill-out time. We don't fetishize the teacher as the ruler of the classroom and the font of all knowledge; we encourage kids to be polite in class, but never to stop asking questions and never to sit with answers that don't feel right." Among the secrets of Jewish parenting that Ingall, mother of two daughters, believes will work for all families: Distrust authority: Jews come by this one honestly. So often in our history, we'd get settled in a place only to be driven out or worse by hateful or self-serving authorities. Distrusting those in power was a good survival strategy, and Judaism, a decentralized religion friendly to debate and dissent, offered plenty of opportunity to hone one's critical-thinking skills. "The Talmud, the compendium of Jewish law, is pretty much a bunch of dudes contradicting one another," Ingall notes. "Each page consists of a big box of text in the middle and wrapped around it like a frame is lots of "Wait, you think what? and "No, Rabbi Akiva, YOU shut up!" Today, American Jews celebrate their love of debate with inside jokes such as "2 Jews, 3 opinions." Non-Jewish parents can get in on the action by questioning assumptions, engaging in debate and encouraging the kids to do the same. "Ask your kid questions regularly," Ingall writes, "and listen to the answers. Don't let them get away with facile reasoning. Gently point out flaws and contradictions in their argument. Talk about the questions you yourself are struggling with, and ask for your kid's opinions. I'm not saying you should respect your kid's reasoning that they should not have to go to bed until their 48th game of Grand Theft Auto has been completed. I'm saying you should encourage civil debate and urge your kid to view the world with a gimlet eye." Encourage geekiness: Joining the math team is a lot more acceptable than it used to be, but when it comes to geek acceptance, Jews have historically been and remain way ahead of the curve. Advertisement Throughout much of our history, we've been cool with being uncool, and our dorkiness has served us well, Ingall writes: "Jewish mothers throughout time have encouraged their kids' interests and not cared who knew it. Popularity and conformity have not been our bag. Intellectual inspiration? That's where it's at." Not Jewish? Share your own passionate interests, Ingall writes, and pay attention to what really fascinates your kid even if it's not what you might expect. "I keep thinking of the story told by John Boyega about telling his dad he'd gotten cast in the "Star Wars" reboot, and his dad shrieking and celebrating with him "That is fantastic! I knew it!" before asking, "What is Star Wars?'" Ingall writes. Read and laugh: Research suggests that both humor and storytelling can contribute to a child's success, Ingall writes, and both are central to Jewish culture. Historically, literacy was a good, portable skill for people who were periodically deprived of their homes and property, as was humor. Today, many comedians are Jewish, and parents push books: reading to themselves and their kids, telling stories and helping children find books they love. Ingall endorses these strategies and offers practical tips: "Ask your kids lots of questions about what they're reading, and listen to the answers. And be sneaky. Judy Blume suggests that if we want our kids to read, simply leave books lying around the house and periodically say nonchalantly, 'You're not ready to read this yet.'" Advertisement Heal the world: I know, I know. That's a tough one. And certainly no religion has a monopoly on it. Still, the Jewish approach has its own nuances, among them an emphasis on connecting, meaningfully, with other people. "That essential sense of connection to other people is part of why so many Jews have become doctors, scientists and social justice activists," Ingall writes. "Virtue is not in our DNA. ... It's the values we've transmitted that have made us do so well collectively. I'd argue that it's why we've become successful artists, songwriters, performers; we have insight into the human condition because from childhood we've been brought up to consider the feelings of others." Ingall recommends starting early with your kids; even a preschooler can help donate old toys to a homeless shelter. "You and your kid don't have to do astonishing, creative things," she writes. "Small acts can be powerful." nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com Twitter @nschoenberg Advertisement RELATED STORIES: Your child calls you by your first name. Now what? Merits, not demerits: Learning from school that 'catches' kids being kind Commentary: The hidden real estate and financial dealings have finally come to light and the shocking secret is at last laid bare. No, not Donald Trump's tax records. Advertisement The identity of the elusive Elena Ferrante. Ferrante is the pseudonymous author of the popular Neapolitan Novels, a story of the lifelong friendship of two girls born into a poor, violent neighborhood in Naples, Italy, shortly after World War II. One girl goes on to worldly success, the other stays in the neighborhood. Through years of school, romance, political chaos, family tumult and assorted heartaches, their rivalry and their love endure. Advertisement The four books in the series have cultivated an ardent audience around the world 2.6 million in the English-language market alone and they've succeeded because they're unique and uncommonly good. Hillary Clinton has said she's reading them. As the novels have flourished, so has a mystery: Who is Elena Ferrante? Ferrante, a writer with a keen, unsentimental sense of women's lives and minds, has managed to remain anonymous, despite the efforts to out her. On Sunday, on the website of the New York Review of Books, someone did, or so it seems. He's an Italian journalist named Claudio Gatti. He's the guy gutsy enough and smart enough, or arrogant and sleazy enough, to pull back the curtain on Ferrante, a feat he accomplished by combing through the financial accounts of her Italian publishing house. Aha! Here's a translator ("a notoriously poorly paid occupation") who's earning a suspiciously large amount of money for her translation of German books, sums that have risen dramatically in synchronicity with sales of the Neapolitan Novels. Aha! The lowly translator has bought some major real estate a big apartment in a pricey part of Rome, a country home in Tuscany. And, hmm, though she didn't live in Naples past the age of 3, she happens to be married to a well-known writer from Naples. Maybe the man had something to do with writing the books? Advertisement I'm not going to divulge more of the revelation and speculation than that, because, like a lot of Ferrante fans, I'd rather not know and don't want to upset people who don't want to know either. But unlike a lot of fuming Ferrante lovers, I'm not outraged. I'm merely annoyed, and for two reasons. The primary one is that Ferrante doesn't want us to know who she is. Through her publisher and in occasional email interviews in which she remains anonymous, Ferrante has said she likes the freedom of anonymity. She wants her work to stand on its own, unmuddled by the publishing industry's marketing customs. "It's not the book that counts but the aura of its author," she has said. "The media simply can't discuss a work of literature without pointing to some writer-hero." That leads to the second reason I'd like her to remain anonymous and it's about my preferences: I prefer to read fiction for what's on the page, not for who's on the book jacket. Advertisement Anonymity is poison in nonfiction. If you don't know who's telling you the facts, you can't trust the facts. Fiction is different. In fiction, I'm distracted by knowing too much about the writer who invented the imagined world. Don't get me wrong. Offer me biographical data and I'll consume it, avidly, and I understand the eagerness of historians and critics to connect art with the artist's life. But what matters most when I read a novel is whether the writer can tell a good story, one that helps me feel, think, see. I don't want my reading cluttered by knowing whether the author is tall, short, married, divorced, male, female, clever in that NPR way or as attractive as TV demands. That has been one beauty of the Ferrante novels. We didn't have to interpret her words through her biography because we couldn't. She didn't have to perform beyond putting words on the page, and that was the only performance we were able to judge. The reading experience felt purer that way. As others have pointed out, there's a bright side to the outing of Ferrante. Advertisement It demonstrates that a writer doesn't have to live what he or she writes in order to write something meaningful and true. Art transcends autobiography. Besides, the alleged Elena Ferrante hasn't yet confirmed her identity and there remains a slim possibility the snooping journalist got it wrong. Who knows? Maybe Ferrante is the same anonymous person who delivered Trump's tax documents to The New York Times. Marla Maples, anyone? mschmich@chicagotribune.com Twitter @MarySchmich Professor Fraser Stoddart of Northwestern University speaks about being awakened by a call from Sweden. He is one of three awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune) (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune) Northwestern University professor Fraser Stoddart was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday, a culmination of the university's longtime effort to become a leader in nanotechnology. Stoddart shared the prize with two other scientists for figuring out how to develop the world's tiniest machines built at what is called the molecular level which scientists hope could someday lead to advancements in lifesaving technology. Advertisement Stoddart said he was awakened in his Evanston home at 4 a.m. Wednesday, after three hours of sleep, by a phone call that he initially thought was a hoax. Then he detected a Swedish accent in the voice of the English-speaking caller, who notified him that the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences had awarded him the prize. "I just let it sink in, because this has been going on for 22 years or something, and I really reached the point where I didn't think it would ever happen," said Stoddart, 74. Advertisement At Northwestern University, professor Fraser Stoddart, center, is toasted Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, by Adrian Randolph, left, dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and university President Morton Schapiro, right, after Stoddart was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune) Northwestern recruited Stoddart and his team of researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2007. At the time, Stoddart, who won that year's King Faisal International Prize in science, was considered a candidate for a future Nobel. "Sometimes people joke when they talk about NU, which means obviously Northwestern University, that it probably stands for nanotechnology or nano university and we'll take that, especially today," said university President Morton Schapiro at a news conference. Scottish-born Stoddart won the prize along with French scientist Jean-Pierre Sauvage and Dutch scientist Bernard Feringa. The laureates share the $930,000 prize "for their design and production of molecular machines ... with controllable movements, which can perform a task when energy is added," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in a statement. Stoddart is the second Nobel Prize winner from Northwestern's chemistry department. The late John Pople shared the award in 1998. Magda Owczarek, a postdoctorate researcher at Northwestern who has worked with Stoddart for three years, considers him a mentor. "He is a big figure in the chemistry world," said Owczarek, 32, who moved from Poland to learn from him. "He attracts the most great minds and young minds in chemistry, and he has so (many) accomplishments." At Northwestern University, professor Sir Fraser Stoddart, center, is surrounded Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, by students and photographers after Stoddart was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune) Chad Mirkin, director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern, called Stoddart's award of the Nobel Prize "transformational" for the university. Advertisement "To me, it's a validation of what we've been trying to do over the last two decades, which is to build the largest and best hub for nanotechnology that attracts the best and brightest from all over the world, to conduct research here, to get trained here and to go off and do great things after they leave here," Mirkin said. "In this case, the prize went to a great scientist and even greater person." After receiving the news that he'd won, Stoddart called his two daughters, chemists living in England and Japan, before heading into his campus lab which he refers to as the "research palace." He said winning the prize was "bittersweet" without his wife, Norma, who died of breast cancer 12 years ago and whom he publicly thanked at the news conference. At the university, colleagues and students congratulated him and toasted him with champagne. He joked that he was bombarded with more than 600 emails and phone calls. At Northwestern University, professor Fraser Stoddart, returns to work in his lab in Silverman Hall Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, after being awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune) "I'm an unshowered man today, so please don't come too close because I probably smell," Stoddart said at the news conference. "I already violated parking spots at Northwestern twice, so I'm hoping I'll get away with it for the rest of the day at least." Stoddart, who was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 2007, said he planned to donate at least some of the prize money after the federal government gets its cut to philanthropic efforts and prizes for students. Advertisement The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the scientists' work to develop this miniature technology could lead to a revolution. "The molecular motor is at the same stage as the electric motor was in the 1830s, when scientists displayed various spinning cranks and wheels, unaware that they would lead to electric trains, washing machines, fans and food processors," the academy said. "Molecular machines will most likely be used in the development of things such as new materials, sensors and energy storage systems." The academy said Sauvage, 71, professor emeritus of the University of Strasbourg in France, took the first step toward a molecular machine in 1983 when he linked two ring-shaped molecules together to form a chain. Sauvage conducted research at the National Center for Scientific Research in France from 1971 to 2014, according to the center. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Stoddart took the next step in 1991 when he threaded a molecular ring onto a molecular axle. "As chemists, we make things. As a world, we rely on those things that we make whether they're materials or machines. And he's kind of put those two together on the molecular scale," Mirkin said. "(Stoddart) developed ways of assembling molecules that function like machines, that can do anything ranging from acting as tiny little motors to gears to structures that can be incorporated into lifesaving therapeutic systems." Feringa, a 65-year-old professor of organic chemistry at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, was the first to develop a molecular motor in 1999. Advertisement Stoddart's daughter Alison said her father was "absolutely ecstatic" about winning the prize. "It's just really lovely," she told The Associated Press by phone from Cambridge, England. "It's fundamental chemistry. It's synthesis in making these machines. What it could make in years to come is very exciting." lvivanco@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lvivanco The Griffith Town Council affirmed its decision to move forward with a special election on whether residents want to split from Calumet Township. The council's decision Tuesday to continue moving forward with the Dec. 20 special election came two weeks after Calumet Township officials filed a complaint with the Lake County Board of Elections contesting Griffith's ability to vote on the referendum. Town Council President Rick Ryfa said the complaint will not stop the town from moving forward on planning the election. Advertisement "We are on solid ground with the election date," Ryfa said, and he anticipates the Board of Elections will agree with that. The town must publicize and pay for the special election, according to Ryfa, and the county will run it. Advertisement The complaint claimed the town did not property state the election date for the referendum in the petition and was not property certified with the Lake County Board of Elections. Attorney Alfredo Estrada, of Burke, Costanza and Carberry, representing Calumet Township, wrote in the complaint that state law requires petitioners must state the date of an election but Griffith failed to put a specific date and only gave an election deadline of Dec. 31, 2017. Second, the complaint stated the town clerk did not properly certify the petition to the elections board. Estrada wrote that Indiana law requires a petition for a ballot question must state the date of the election; contain the signature of petitioners; and state the residences of petitioners. "The clerk failed to certify that the petition was in compliance," Estrada wrote. The town submitted 1,273 signatures to the Lake County Board of Elections in August, and tentatively set a Dec. 20 election for voters to weigh in on the measure. Ryfa said, after the complaint was filed, that the referendum petition followed the letter of the law and called Calumet Township's assertions "baseless." Griffith's argument to split from Calumet Township is that state law mandates townships keep spending within 12 times the state average. Griffith officials have argued that Calumet Township is above that mark but that number is different depending on the interpretation of "average" in the state law. The town reviewed an advisory letter from Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office to Rep. Harold Slager, R-15, on if the state uses an arithmetic mean or weighted mean to determine the township assistance property tax rate. Zoeller's office concluded the state should use an arithmetic mean. Advertisement Should Griffith voters decide to split from the township, Ryfa said the town will have one year to petition an adjacent township to move into. clyons@post-trib.com Twitter: @craigalyons A newborn girl just two or three hours old was found in a field near residential and commercial buildings in Chicago Heights on Tuesday, according to police, who are seeking to find the infant's mother. Police received a 911 call at about 11 a.m. Tuesday from a person claiming to have discovered an "unattended newborn lying in the grass in an open field." Advertisement Officers located the baby girl about 100 feet west of 19460 Chicago Heights-Glenwood Road. Paramedics were called and took the infant to Franciscan Health hospital in Chicago Heights, where she was listed in good condition. Chicago Heights Police Chief Thomas Rogers said detectives were trying to find the baby's family. "There's a safe-haven law and a lot of new mothers don't know about this," Rogers said. Advertisement Under the law, a newborn up to 30 days old can be dropped off at a police station, fire station or hospital with no questions asked. Rogers said getting the mother medical help was his top priority. Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of the baby's mother or any other family member can call police at 708-756-6422. Police say the mother may be in need of medical care or other support services. Check back for more information. A 22-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department has been relieved of his police powers pending an investigation into charges that he inappropriately touched a 15-year-old girl at the Wisconsin Dells over the summer, authorities said. Sgt. Jose Garcia was charged in an arrest warrant from Sauk County with one count of sexual assault of a minor younger than 16. Dressed in street clothes, Garcia appeared at a hearing in Cook County on Wednesday and was ordered to surrender to authorities in Wisconsin. Advertisement Garcia is accused of inappropriately touching the girl while at a swimming pool in the Wisconsin Dells, authorities said. The arrest warrant was issued by the Sauk County sheriff's office Oct. 3. Garcia was relieved of his police powers Tuesday, pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings, according to Anthony Guglielmi, chief spokesman for the Chicago Police Department. Advertisement An internal investigation has been launched, and the department was cooperating with Wisconsin authorities, Guglielmi said. The Sauk County district attorney's office had no immediate comment. Juan Rivera, at Northwestern University Law School in Chicago in January 2012, celebrates his release from prison with, from left, his sister Rebecca Leon, wife Melissa Sanders-Rivera, mother Carmen Rivera, father Juan Rivera Sr. and brother Miguel Diaz. (Abel Uribe, Chicago Tribune) A man who was awarded a $20 million settlement for a wrongful conviction in Lake County may have to split the fortune with the woman he met and married while in prison but is now divorcing. Juan Rivera spent 20 years incarcerated for the rape and murder of 11-year-old Holly Staker in Waukegan before he was cleared by DNA evidence and freed. Advertisement Rivera went on to sue several law enforcement agencies and settled last year for $20 million at the time hailed by his attorneys as the largest payout to a wrongfully convicted person in Illinois. He received about $11.4 million after taxes and attorney fees, according to court records. An Illinois appeals court ruled last week that Rivera's settlement proceeds are "marital property." Advertisement "We feel it's a further injustice to Mr. Rivera," his divorce attorney, Michael Berger, said. "Hopefully we'll be able to reverse the appellate court decision. But if the result remains, hopefully a jury would only grant a nominal amount, if any, to Mrs. Rivera." Berger said he intends to take the case to the Illinois Supreme Court. If the ruling stands, the trial lawyer in the divorce could ultimately determine how much of the settlement money Rivera's estranged wife, Melissa Sanders-Rivera, will receive. Rivera met his wife in 1998, after he was convicted in a second jury trial. In an interview with the Tribune after Rivera's release from prison, Sanders-Rivera said she had taken interest in the legal field and volunteered to work on Rivera's case, but became drawn to his personality. The two were married Oct. 31, 2000, when Rivera was still serving a life sentence. In July 2014, 21/2 years after his release, Rivera filed for divorce, which is still pending, Berger said. In court filings, Sanders-Rivera contends she has a right to a piece of the settlement money, specifically citing a portion of the proceeds from a defamation of character claim in Rivera's lawsuit, which took place during their marriage. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > But Berger argued that the injustices Rivera suffered because of his wrongful conviction began before his marriage, although he did not have an opportunity to sue over them until after his conviction was reversed on appeal in 2011. "The injuries (Rivera suffered) started before the marriage, continued through the marriage and will (continue) for the rest of his life," Berger said. "He was tortured into confessing a crime he didn't commit." Advertisement Neither Rivera nor Sanders-Rivera could be reached for comment Wednesday. Berger described Rivera as "disappointed" in the judgment, but he said his client still had a "positive attitude." The city of Waukegan and its insurers paid the largest portion of Rivera's settlement, $7.5 million, and a 2015 Tribune report revealed that the Waukegan Police Department had shared responsibility for more wrongful convictions than any other city police agency in Illinois besides Chicago. Rivera was one of several men who were prosecuted for murder or rape under former Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller but later cleared by forensic evidence. tbriscoe@chicagotribune.com Twitter @_tonybriscoe The FBI released the surveillance camera image of a person believed to have robbed the Fifth Third Bank at 57 E. Randolph St. in Chicago on Oct. 4, 2016. The suspect is in custody. A man charged with robbing a Loop bank Tuesday morning after being arrested less than an hour after the robbery also is suspected in robberies on the Southwest Side and in a west suburb, according to authorities. Demetrius Witt, 42, of Dolton, is charged with robbing a Fifth Third Bank branch, 57 E. Randolph St., of $610 about 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the FBI and court documents. He appeared in federal court Tuesday evening and was ordered held in custody until his next hearing, according to FBI spokesman Special Agent Garrett Croon. Advertisement Witt also is suspected of robbing a US Bank branch, 11159 S. Kedzie Ave., Saturday, and another US Bank branch, 736 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, on Sept. 23, according to BanditTrackerChicago.com website. The same man also is believed to have tried to rob a US Bank at 3515 W. Irving Park Road on Sept. 24, according to the website. On Tuesday, a man entered the Fifth Third Bank a few minutes before 9:10 a.m., went up to a teller and said something like "I want to open an account," according to an FBI affidavit in the case. Advertisement The man was holding a folder for a Fifth Third Bank promotion and pulled out a note from the folder, handing it to the teller. The note said something like "I have a gun," according to the affidavit. The teller realized the man was robbing the bank and took four $100 bills, some $50 bills and "a couple of $5 bills" from a drawer, putting a GPS tracking device in the money before handing it to the robber, according to the affidavit. The robber asked for "large bills," and while the teller was trying to get more money, the man took the note and left, according to the affidavit. The teller then activated a holdup alarm and called 911. The teller and another bank employee who saw the robbery but couldn't hear what the robber and teller were saying both described the robber to authorities. Investigators were told a GPS device was in with the money, and a description of the robber went out over Chicago police radio. Chicago police began monitoring the location of the GPS device, and "Less than an hour after the robbery," police saw a black Cadillac CTS heading south in an alley west of Michigan Avenue south of 16 th Street, according to the affidavit. Officers stopped the Cadillac in the 1700 block of South Michigan because its location and direction matched that of the GPS device. The driver, who turned out to be Witt, matched the description of the robber, and was arrested. Tracking software showed the GPS device to be in the Cadillac's trunk, according to the affidavit. When investigators brought Witt to the bank, the teller who was robbed identified him as the robber. Later, FBI agents identified Witt in surveillance photos of the robbery. An Oak Lawn real estate executive was charged Wednesday with plotting to hire a hit man to kill his grandmother's new husband as well as a lawyer who'd won nearly $1 million in court from him on the husband's behalf. "I'd like to see those two (expletive) go. I just can't have anything come back to me," Lyle Anastos told an undercover informant in a secretly recorded conversation in September, according to a criminal complaint. Advertisement Anastos was arrested Tuesday after he signed over his $5,000 dump trailer as collateral for the job because he was strapped for cash, the complaint alleged. Anastos, 35, was charged with one count of solicitation of murder-for-hire and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert, who ordered him held in custody pending a detention hearing Friday. Prosecutors said they intend to argue against his release because he could pose a danger to the community. Advertisement According to the charges, Anastos was angry at the lawyer, identified only as Individual C, who had filed a series of complaints against him in Cook County Circuit Court that resulted in more than $900,000 in judgments against Anastos, his wife and their company, Skyline 1 Inc. The litigation was filed on behalf of Anastos' grandmother's husband, identified in the complaint as Individual B, alleging Anastos had defrauded Individual B in a real estate transaction. On Sept. 12, an informant told FBI agents that Anastos had approached him about having the lawyer and Individual B killed, asking him to use his "family's mob connections" to find someone who could get the job done, according to the complaint. The unidentified informant agreed to cooperate with law enforcement in exchange for possible leniency in theft and deceptive practices charges against him pending in Will and Cook counties, the complaint alleged. Over the next several weeks, the informant recorded numerous conversations with Anastos during which they discussed the price and logistics for the killings, the complaint alleged. Anastos told the informant he wanted the lawyer dead because he was "the catalyst" behind all the litigation and bad blood that had been stirred up in his family, the complaint said. "Get rid of that (expletive)," he said on one recording quoted in the complaint. "He has no reason to exist. He's already (expletive) up his family. He's (expletive) my family now. He's (expletive) my grandfather in the past. How much is that going to cost?" Eventually Anastos agreed to pay $10,000 for each of the killings, according to the complaint, but Anastos was out of cash and had no money for a down payment that the purported hit man was demanding. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > In a recorded conversation Tuesday at an undisclosed restaurant, Anastos described his predicament as "completely (expletive)" and told the informant he was considering killing the two himself and then "eating a bullet" when he was done so his wife could collect on a life insurance policy, according to the complaint. "I'm going to take the two of them out, in public, do it in front of my (expletive) grandmother, and then put a bullet in my own head," he said. "(Expletive) them. Then (Anastos' wife) is good, house is paid up, kids are safe." In a phone call a few hours later, however, Anastos agreed to sign over the title to his trailer truck, which he said was worth "every bit of five grand," as collateral for the job and then pay the rest when he could come up with the cash, the complaint alleged. Advertisement Agents arrested Anastos about 5 p.m. Tuesday after he met with the informant and handed over the signed title to the truck, the complaint alleged. He appeared in court Wednesday dressed in a red polo shirt and jeans, keeping his arms crossed over his chest during the brief hearing. His wife and another relative sat in the courtroom gallery, quietly dabbing tears from their eyes. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Twitter @jmetr22b Sharon Fairley, head of IPRA listens to testimony at a combined session of the Public Safety and Budget committees at the Chicago City Council chambers on Oct. 4, 2016. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) The initial part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to revamp the city's system of investigating police abuse easily cleared its first test Tuesday, even as some critics derided the proposal as little more than window dressing. Aldermen voted 21-4 at a combined session of the Public Safety and Budget committees to advance Emanuel's measure, setting the stage for a vote by the full City Council on Wednesday. Advertisement Voting "no" were Aldermen Leslie Hairston, 5th, Chris Taliaferro, 29th, Nicholas Sposato, 38th and Anthony Napolitano, 41st. Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, who started out the day bashing the proposal, ended up voting for it after an amendment that would allow aldermen to call the police superintendent "or his designee" before a committee to explain any rejection of an oversight agency reform recommendation. Approval came after a six-hour hearing, with severe reservations expressed near the end by representatives of African-American civil rights groups and the Fraternal Order of Police. But Lori Lightfoot, who headed up a task force appointed by the mayor that was highly critical of the current system, urged aldermen to vote "yes." Advertisement Hairston said the ordinance is not complete and still gives too much control of a new police oversight agency to the mayor and city lawyers. called the plan "a step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough." Prior to Tuesday's hearing, officials from two Chicago branches of the NAACP and others who want greater community oversight of the Police Department said Emanuel is pushing ahead with changes at the margins that fall far short of the wholesale overhaul needed to restore trust in the department, especially among African-Americans. If approved Wednesday, the city would replace the long-maligned Independent Police Review Authority with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. COPA would have greater power to investigate alleged police abuse and the use of deadly force. The city also would put in place a new deputy inspector general for public safety, a watchdog who would audit the new police accountability system and identify patterns and practices that violate constitutional rights. But a key piece of that overall system the establishment of a citizen oversight board that would play a key role in picking COPA's chief has yet to be proposed by Emanuel. The mayor has said he's holding off on that part at the request of community groups that want to provide more input. That delay until the first quarter of 2017 makes it hard to evaluate how independent COPA ultimately will be, according to police accountability experts. Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks at Malcolm X College, calling on "all Chicagoans" to join in a plan for confronting gun violence, on Sept. 22, 2016. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) Committee approval Tuesday came after several delays to gather more public input and make changes after Emanuel was criticized for moving too quickly. In the end, Emanuel agreed to provide a minimum guaranteed funding level for the office to ensure that the mayor or aldermen can't weaken its power by cutting its budget. Emanuel also agreed to set up a pool of law firms, chosen by the Law Department with input from COPA's chief, to enforce the agency's subpoenas. Under the current setup, those matters are handled by the Law Department, which also defends officers being investigated for alleged misconduct who are sued in civil court, creating a potential conflict for city lawyers. Stephen Patton, the administration's top attorney, said that the mayor tried to "balance competing public interests ... to reach the right policy result." The mayor also added a provision barring the hiring of COPA investigators who have been Chicago cops within the past five years. Advertisement The police oversight agency's expanded powers would include the authority to look into allegations of illegal search and seizure and denying suspects access to an attorney duties now handled by internal affairs at the Police Department. It also would place restrictions on a mediation process that a Chicago Tribune investigation determined has often resulted in light punishment for officers. At least for now, however, significant power over the new system would remain in the mayor's hands. The first chief would be Sharon Fairley, who the mayor appointed as chief of the current oversight agency. And the new police watchdog would be chosen by the city inspector general, who is appointed by the mayor. The effort to revamp the system comes as the U.S. Department of Justice conducts a civil rights probe into the Police Department launched after the court-ordered release of a police dash-cam video showing the fatal police shooting of teen Laquan McDonald. jebyrne@chicagotribune.com hdardick@chicagotribune.com Twitter @_johnbyrne Advertisement Twitter @ReporterHal 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) Same-day voter registration in Illinois is back for now after a federal appeals court on Tuesday stayed a judge's order that blocked the practice for the Nov. 8 election. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asked attorneys to file briefs by Thursday on why the case should face an expedited appeal. Advertisement On Sept. 29, U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan declined to reconsider his ruling that the same-day registration option benefited Democratic strongholds, like Chicago, and disadvantaged rural regions that may favor Republican candidates. The state law that created Election Day registration applied only to counties of 100,000 people or more with electronic poll books. Democratic Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office appealed, asking to delay the ruling until it could be heard by an appeals court. Madigan had argued that removing the same-day registration and voting option so close to the election would unfairly deny some citizens voting rights. Advertisement The trial court's ruling had left same-day registration available at the headquarters of local election authorities but not at individual polling places. The suit was filed by a Republican candidate for Congress in northwestern Illinois who was represented by the legal arm of the Illinois Policy Institute, an ally of much of GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner's agenda. Rauner previously was a donor to the institute. rap30@aol.com Twitter @rap30 Mayor Rahm Emanuel attends Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 12, 2015, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday he'll be joining a majority of Chicago aldermen, state legislators and congressmen who are taking advantage of a Cubs offer to buy playoff tickets at face value. "(First lady) Amy (Rule) and I have every intention of going" to the first game Friday night, Emanuel said. "I'll be buying the tickets. ... I think we're all very excited for our home team and the advancement that they've made." Advertisement Some critics question whether it's appropriate for elected officials who vote on issues concerning the team and its under-renovation stadium to accept the tickets, given their scarcity and the fact that regular fans are in some cases paying scalpers thousands of dollars to get inside Wrigley Field. Offering tickets to playoff games to local elected officials has been standard practice for the Cubs for more than a decade. About 70 percent of the city's 50 aldermen, 85 percent of state and federal officials and Gov. Bruce Rauner have taken advantage of this year's offer. Advertisement In other action at Wednesday's City Council meeting: Aldermen voted to join the states of Illinois and California in sanctioning Wells Fargo by banning it from city business for one year. The council voted to end all business dealings with the company in light of admissions before Congress that one of its divisions created more than 2 million unauthorized bank and credit card accounts to jack up profits. "We can revisit it after the 12-month period to see whether this was a wake-up call for them, (to) see if they cleaned up their act," said Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, the Finance Committee chairman. "It gives us time to analyze whether or not they heard what the people are saying." In a statement, Wells Fargo expressed "disappointment" in the decision, noting that its retail banking division, which committed the violations, did no business with the city. As part of a larger bond deal, aldermen approved borrowing an additional $25 million to buy 600 new police SUVs over the next two years for the 970 new officers the mayor plans to hire. The council agreed to impose a three-minute limit per topic on speakers at committee meetings, a measure many think was aimed at perennial gadfly George Blakemore. The measure also calls on speakers to "refrain from use of profane language or obscene conduct." Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th, proposed a resolution calling on social media providers like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to remove content "that glamorizes gratuitous violence" postings she contends encourage shootings. hdardick@chicagotribune.com Advertisement jebyrne@chicagotribune.com Mayor Rahm Emanuel won a major round Wednesday in his effort to reform oversight of the beleaguered Chicago Police Department, but now comes the hard part: putting in place new standards while walking the gantlet of community activists who think they don't go far enough and Chicago police who are convinced they're getting the shaft. As a result, a mayor typically unafraid to take a victory bow offered a more subdued reaction after a lopsided City Council vote to create a new police misconduct investigation agency with broader powers and empower a new watchdog to make sure the new system doesn't go awry. Advertisement "I would consider this the beginning of a journey, not the end," Emanuel said after the 39-8 tally. "This is not the end, but it is an important step forward on the improvements that we all seek." That's an acknowledgment that many of the thorniest police reform issues remain unresolved, even as the U.S. Justice Department continues its own investigation into Police Department tactics and training that could result in Emanuel being required to make additional changes. Advertisement The vote itself underscored the mayor's difficulties. After months of African-American aldermen publicly blasting the administration's police reform efforts, most of them voted for the ordinance thanks to changes Emanuel made along with behind-the-scenes cajoling and arm twisting. West Side Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, had been one of the loudest critics before voting for the ordinance Wednesday, citing concessions from the administration. Mayoral ally Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. echoed sentiments voiced by several black aldermen that it was time to start showing progress on the police oversight issue even as some questions about the specifics remain unanswered. "We can holler and scream, we can march, we can protest, we can hate folks and all of those things, but at the end of the day, we try to get things done," said Burnett, 27th. "We are getting things done here. Everyone's concerns have been incorporated. Did everybody get 100 percent of everything that they wanted? No." But several council members representing largely white neighborhoods where lots of police officers live voted against it. Of the eight "no" votes, six came from aldermen representing bungalow belt neighborhoods on the city's edges. Two other aldermen with strong Police Department ties did not vote: Former police officer Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, walked out of council chambers before the roll call, and former officer Ald. Willie Cochran, 20th, did not attend the meeting. Southwest Side Ald. Michael Zalewski said he heard from the cops in his 23rd Ward that they don't think they'll get a fair shake with the changes, especially a not-yet-created police citizen oversight board. "The rank-and-file police officers that I represent were not supportive, and they made that very clear to me," Zalewski said after the vote. "It was clear to me that, one, I'm not sure they were part of the process enough in the drafting of the new board, and, two, would they have a seat at the table to make sure the men and women of the Police Department had their say on anything that's going to happen on this board?" Asked after the meeting how he can convince police who already are worried they're being unfairly cast as villains around the city that they will get a fair shake under the new rules, Emanuel returned to a theme of shared responsibility that he has mentioned frequently in recent months. "We also have to stress with our citizens they have to work with our Police Department," the mayor said. "Because in the end of the day, the faith we're looking for, the trust we're looking for, are essential for the public safety we are looking for throughout the city of Chicago. It is not on the Police Department alone. It is on all of us." Advertisement On the other side of the issue that has been a dominant theme of Emanuel's second term are residents and community activists, especially in African-American neighborhoods, who say the mayor's efforts will fall short of what's needed to stop police shootings and other incidents of police misconduct that disproportionately affect black Chicagoans. "This was our chance to get it right the first time, Chicago, before the U.S. Department of Justice tells us to start over again," Ald. Leslie Hairston, 5th, said Wednesday. "Sadly, Chicago ain't ready for reform. We prove it over and over again." Under the plan, the much-maligned Independent Police Review Authority will be replaced by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. The new agency will have greater power to investigate alleged police abuse and the use of deadly force. It also will be able to recommend changes to police policy and procedure. City Hall also will create a new post of deputy inspector general to audit the new police accountability system and identify patterns and practices that violate constitutional rights. That person will be picked by the inspector general, who is appointed by the mayor. Emanuel had hoped to pass the police oversight ordinance months ago but repeatedly delayed a vote as aldermen and community organizations called for more input. He also agreed to changes, including a minimum funding level for the new police investigations agency and the new watchdog so the mayor or council cannot gut their power by reducing their budget. The mayor still has to craft a citizen oversight board, which would play a key role in picking the chief of the new police oversight agency. That process is fraught with questions about how much control the new board will actually have, so action has been put off until 2017. Advertisement Asked Wednesday how much authority he will cede to the board, Emanuel did not answer directly. Even with the strong win Wednesday, Emanuel likely will find critics continue to challenge him on his plan's deficiencies. Before the debate, a couple dozen protesters rose in chambers, shouting, "Hold the vote!" and calling for more community input. Police led them out of the room as Emanuel pounded the gavel and Public Safety Committee Chairman Ald. Ariel Reboyras, 30th, yelled his opening statement on the ordinance in a bid to be heard over the fracas. Later, a woman stood and shouted, "Sixteen shots and a cover-up! We will never forget," a reference to the number of times white Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke shot black teen Laquan McDonald in October 2014. The court-ordered release of police dashcam video in November 2015 led to months of massive protests, calls for the mayor's resignation, the Justice Department investigation and Emanuel's firing of then-police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. "That's true," Emanuel responded from the dais at the front of the chambers, saying the city was using the McDonald case as an "impetus for change." Before a council joint committee even took a preliminary vote Tuesday, some African-American activists already were blasting the ordinance as insufficient and calling on the mayor to consider proposals that give power to an elected civilian police oversight board. Advertisement Brenda Sheriff, vice president of the Southside branch of the NAACP, questioned Emanuel's sincerity. "No matter how many tears Mayor Rahm Emanuel sheds at press conferences, if he is unwilling to promote these substantive changes we demand, the world will know that he is only feigning compassion for communities of color that continue to be victimized by those sworn to serve and protect them," Sheriff said. Hours into Tuesday's lengthy committee meeting on the mayor's plan, Lamon Reccord, a young African-American activist who has gained prominence during anti-police protests in the months since the McDonald video was released, rose to his feet in council chambers. Reccord shouted his displeasure with what he described as a too-familiar process to address a deep-seated problem. "You've been saying the same s--- for years, while we're getting killed," Reccord yelled repeatedly at aldermen and Emanuel administration officials as police escorted him out. This year, amid sagging community confidence in police, shootings and homicides have risen to levels not seen in 20 years. The Justice Department could throw a wrench in the works when it issues its report by declaring the city needs to take different steps to fix endemic problems in the department. But Emanuel is counting on this ordinance to show Chicagoans he's taking the necessary steps to overhaul the oversight system. Shortly after the release of the McDonald video, the mayor initially said there was no need for a federal investigation of the Police Department, before changing course and welcoming federal authorities. Advertisement Asked Wednesday whether he's worried the Justice Department could say he didn't go far enough, the mayor didn't answer directly. "I don't want to speak for the Department of Justice. Attitudinally, we welcome them to come in," Emanuel said. "Working with them. They're conscious and aware of what we're doing and fully abreast of the changes we're making." Chicago Tribune's Bill Ruthhart contributed. hdardick@chicagotribune.com jebyrne@chicagotribune.com Mayor Rahm Emanuel and City Clerk Susana Mendoza share a moment after their 2015 inaugration with former Mayor Richard M. Daley nearby. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Topspin Call it an old political two-fer. Advertisement Mayor Rahm Emanuel needed money to pay for expanded youth mentoring programs as part of his response to the spike in street violence. City Clerk Susana Mendoza needs some positive headlines as she runs in the special election for Illinois comptroller. On Tuesday, the Emanuel and Mendoza press shops issued separate news releases announcing that $15 million from Mendoza's office would be spent on the mentoring efforts. The mayor wants to spend $36 million over three years on the program and says he's tapping the private sector for half the money. Advertisement Where'd Mendoza find the extra money? City Hall says a push to ensure more Chicago car owners buy vehicle stickers under a revamped system increased that pot of money to an "all-time high" this year. But the city can't spend vehicle sticker money on mentoring programs -- city code requires that every dollar collected from sticker sales be spent on road work, emissions testing and the like. So, according to Mendoza spokesman Patrick Corcoran, the sticker money will be used to pay for transportation-related expenses now covered with other city revenue. Then the freed-up money will be directed to mentoring. That makes it something of a game of semantics, given that whatever Mendoza did, the mentoring money would have come out of the city's corporate fund, where general revenue goes. Nevertheless, Emanuel's praise was thick. "Clerk Mendoza's ability to run government smarter, better and more efficiently is paying off for the children of Chicago," he said in Mendoza's press release. That bit of pre-election help comes as Democrat Mendoza is challenging Republican Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger, an appointee of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, on Nov. 8. Rauner's well-heeled allies recently dumped $5 million into Munger's campaign fund. (Hal Dardick) What's on tap *Mayor Emanuel will preside over the Chicago City Council meeting. *Gov. Rauner's public schedule was not available. Advertisement *The Chicago City Council meets at 10 a.m. On the agenda: Emanuel's police oversight measure and borrowing $25 million to buy new police cars for all the officers the mayor wants to hire. Live stream here. *The Cook County Board will consider requiring suburban employers to provide up to five days of paid sick leave each year to their workers as the City Council did in June. If approved, both the city and county requirements would go into effect July 1. What we're writing *City Council committee advances Emanuel police oversight plan. *Federal appeals court reopens door to Election Day registration in Illinois. *Aldermen, lawmakers snap up Cubs face-value ticket offer again. *Emanuel administration to save $10 million through lower energy costs. Advertisement *CPS says schools will remain open if teachers walk out Oct. 11. *Hastert victim to state lawmakers: There are too many abusers like him. What we're reading *Trump falls on Forbes' richest list; Ken Griffin rises. *Nursing home operator from Chicago jailed as feds allege $1 billion fraud scheme. *Ten (or more) things you never knew about the "Star-Spangled Banner." From the notebook : Advertisement *Ch. 11 debate dates: WTTW-Ch. 11's "Chicago Tonight" has sent out the list of campaign forums. Here they are: Oct. 20: Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown (D) vs. challenger Diane Shapiro (R). Oct. 24: State's attorney featuring Kim Foxx (D) and Christopher Pfannkuche (R). Oct. 25: Illinois comptroller with Comptroller Munger (R) vs. challenger Mendoza (D). Oct. 26: U.S. Senate, with only Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth confirmed so far. Oct. 27: 8th Congressional District with Peter DiCianni (R) vs. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D). Nov. 1: 10th Congressional District with Rep. Robert Dold (R) vs. former Rep. Brad Schneider (D). Follow the money *House Republican leader Jim Durkin transferred $250,000 from his fund to the House Republican Organization account. Durkin's House GOP needs a net gain of one seat Nov. 8 to take away Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan's supermajority (which sometimes has existed only on paper). *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *Veep hopefuls Pence, Kaine trade blows on policy, attack other guy's running mate. *Former President Clinton dumps on Obamacare. Advertisement *Trump's risky business moves in '80s nearly led him to ruin, NYT reports. *Trump's early voting strategy relies on rallies. *Michelle Obama hammers Trump on taxes, Twitter, PTSD. Claims from the vice presidential debate between Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine, and how they stack up with the facts: WASHINGTON PENCE: "Hillary Clinton had a private server in her home that had classified information on it about drone strikes. Emails from the president of the United States of America were on there, her private server was subject to being hacked by foreign ..." KAINE: "A Republican FBI director did an investigation and concluded ... there was no reasonable prosecutor who would take it further." Advertisement THE FACTS: Both are right, but they left out key details. Of 30,000 emails examined from Clinton's private server, more than 2,000 did contain some classified information. But nearly all were designated classified long after they were either sent or received by Clinton. FBI Director James Comey also said the FBI found that Clinton's server was vulnerable to hacking by foreign powers but found no evidence that her system was breached. Comey indeed conclude that no reasonable prosecutor would have recommended that Clinton or others face prosecution in the email probe. And while he was a Republican for most of his adult life, he says he's no longer is registered with the party. Advertisement __ KAINE: "Donald Trump during his campaign has called Mexicans rapists and criminals. He's called women slobs, pigs, dogs, disgusting. I don't like saying that in front of my wife and my mother. He attacked an Indiana-born federal judge and said he was unqualified to hear a federal lawsuit because his parents were Mexican. He went after John McCain, a POW, and said he wasn't hero because he'd been captured. He said African-Americans are living in hell. And he perpetrated this outrageous and bigoted lie that President Obama is not a U.S. citizen. ... I cannot believe that Gov. Pence will defend the insult-driven campaign that Donald Trump has run." THE FACTS: While it's true that Trump has spewed scores of one-liners considered offensive to women, minorities, Muslims, immigrants and the disabled, Hillary Clinton isn't entirely blameless in the battle of insults. Clinton faced heavy criticism for asserting last month that half of Trump's supporters belong in a "basket of deplorables" because they are racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic. ____ TIM KAINE: "We do not think that women should be punished as Donald Trump said they should for making the decision to have an abortion....That is the fundamental difference between a Clinton-Kaine ticket and a Trump-Pence ticket that wants to punish women." MIKE PENCE: "It's really not. Donald Trump and I would never support legislation that punished women who made the heartbreaking choice to end a pregnancy." Pence told Kaine that Trump "is not a polished politician like you and Hillary Clinton. Things don't always come out the way he means them." THE FACTS: Trump said earlier this year that there should be "some form of punishment" for women who get abortions if the procedure is outlawed. Trump later backed off that remark under fierce criticism, saying that if abortion were no longer legal, doctors who perform abortions should be penalized for performing the procedure not the women who have it. Advertisement Trump later shifted again, saying about abortion: "The laws are set. And I think we have to leave it that way." While Trump supported abortion rights in his younger years, he now says he is staunchly "pro-life," aside from exemptions in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk. Pence is a strong foe of abortion. ____ KAINE: "We stopped the Iranian nuclear weapons program." THE FACTS: Kaine is right - at least for now. One year ago, on July 14, 2015, the United States, six other world powers and Iran finalized almost two years of negotiations on a pact outlining what Tehran had to do to pull back its nuclear program from the brink of weapons-making capacity. And it spelled out the West's obligations to end many financial, trade and oil sanctions that had battered Iran's economy. Advertisement So far, Iran has lived up to its end of the deal. It shut down thousands of centrifuges for enriching uranium and exported almost its entire stockpile of the bomb-making material. It disabled a heavy water plant that would have produced plutonium usable in a weapon. It opened up its supply chain to far greater scrutiny. An underground enrichment facility near Fordo operates under strict limits. But the deal could let Iran start ramping up nuclear activity again after the pact ends in eight years. ____ KAINE: "Our plan is like Ronald Reagan in 1986." THE FACTS: Hillary Clinton's immigration plan is certainly similar to a bill signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. But Clinton's proposal would offer a path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally and would have far broader impact. The estimated population of immigrants living in the United States illegally is now roughly 11 million. In 1986, the so-called Reagan amnesty bill legalized the immigration status of about 3 million people. There are also some notable differences between the so-called amnesty bill signed by Reagan and Clinton's proposal. The Reagan bill included a provision that made it illegal for businesses to hire workers who don't have the legal right to work in the United States. Enforcement of that provision has never fully materialized. Advertisement While Clinton's proposal does include a proposal to deport criminal immigrants, the plan also includes a plan to roll back a law that bars most immigrants who had lived here illegally from returning after either deportation or voluntarily leaving for three or 10 years, depending on how long the person had been living here. That provision actually became law in 1996, while President Bill Clinton was in office but was considered a follow-on to the bill Reagan signed. ___ PENCE: "The fact that under this past administration, we've almost doubled the national debt is atrocious.... Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine want more of the same." THE FACTS: As a share of the total U.S. economy, the national debt has gone up 35 percent; not a doubling. Still, the debt has ballooned to $19.6 trillion. This largely reflected efforts by the Obama administration to stop the Great Recession. Would Clinton similarly increase the debt? Not according to an analysis by the independent Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Advertisement The Clinton plan with its tax increases would increase the gross debt both privately and publicly held by $450 billion over 10 years. Mind you, that is on top of an $8.8 trillion increase already projected by the government under current law. As for Donald Trump, the committee says his tax-cut-heavy plan would increase the gross debt by $4.3 trillion nearly 10 times more than Clinton's plan would do. ____ PENCE: "When African American police officers are involved in a police action shooting involving an African American, why would Hillary Clinton accuse that African American police officer of implicit bias?" Pence accused Clinton and Kaine of using recent police shootings "as a reason to use a broad brush to accuse law enforcement of implicit bias, or institutional racism." THE FACTS: The idea of potential racial bias in police departments has become a center of concern among law enforcement officials across the nation. Police departments are increasing implicit-bias training for their officers, including in large cities where protests over the over the killings of black men by white officers sparked a debate about the role race plays in policing. Experts say the focus on implicit bias is the next frontier of police training and the Justice Department has increasingly pushed for implicit bias training at troubled law enforcement agencies. ____ Advertisement PENCE: She was the "architect of the Obama administration's foreign policy." He said the Middle East is "spinning out of control" and suggested that the ongoing crisis in Syria was the result of a "failed and weak foreign policy that Hillary Clinton helped lead" in the Obama administration." Moreover, he said that that President Barack Obama and Clinton gave Russia room to launch its aggressive moves in Ukraine. THE FACTS: Clinton pushed for increased U.S. intervention after Syrian President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons against rebels. But Obama is the commander in chief and nothing has swayed him thus far. On Russia, Clinton as secretary of state helped seal a nuclear arms-control treaty and secure Russia's acquiescence to a NATO-led military intervention in Libya. By comparison, Republican Donald Trump has rung alarm bells in Washington and Europe with his overtures to Russia's authoritarian leader. Clinton and her supporters say she would be far tougher on Moscow than Trump, whose unusual foreign policy statements include musings about NATO's relevance and suggestions that he could accept Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region. "You guys love Russia," Kaine said, reminding Pence that he and Trump have praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a great leader. ____ Advertisement KAINE on fighting the Islamic State: "Donald Trump doesn't have a plan." THE FACTS: Hillary Clinton also doesn't have a plan that is materially different than what President Barack Obama is already doing. She's described a three-part strategy that involves crushing IS "on its home turf" in the Middle East, disrupting its infrastructure on the ground and online, and protecting America and its allies. All are current elements of the Obama administration's strategy, so it's not clear what would change or if she would accelerate any portions of it. It's also the case that Trump has not laid out a clear plan. ___ PENCE: "Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine want to build on Obamacare, they want to expand it into a single-payer program, and for all the world Hillary Clinton just thinks Obamacare is a good start." Advertisement THE FACTS: Pence has been both for and against the Affordable Care Act at different times. He railed against it while in Congress, but one of his chief accomplishments as governor was Indiana's expansion of Medicaid under President Barack Obama's health care law. The Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 uses federal dollars to help provide health insurance to more than 200,000 low-income Indiana residents who get coverage in exchange for paying a small fee. Pence and his allies have presented the policy as a conservative approach to the Affordable Care Act and have suggested it could be used in other Republican-leaning states that have resisted taking federal money under Obamacare. But he's taken flak over the law from some conservatives who say no matter what it's called, it is still a big-government entitlement program. ___ PENCE: "The fact that under this past administration, we've almost doubled the national debt is atrocious.... Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine want more of the same." THE FACTS: As a share of the total U.S. economy, the national debt has gone up 35 percent, not a doubling. Still, the debt has ballooned to $19.6 trillion. This largely reflected efforts by the Obama administration to stop the Great Recession. Advertisement Would Clinton similarly increase the debt? Not according to an analysis by the independent Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The Clinton plan with its tax increases would increase the gross debt both privately and publicly held by $450 billion over 10 years. Mind you, that is on top of an $8.8 trillion increase already projected by the government under current law. As for Trump, the committee says his tax-cut-heavy plan would increase the gross debt by $4.3 trillion nearly 10 times more than Clinton's plan would do. ___ PENCE: The economy has stagnated under President Barack Obama, with the Democrat waging a "war on coal." THE FACTS: The coal industry is struggling, but the Indiana governor incorrectly blamed its woes solely on new federal regulations, omitting the effects of steep competition from cheap natural gas. Advertisement A string of major coal companies has filed for bankruptcy in recent years, including Arch Coal, Alpha Natural Resources and Peabody Energy. Layoffs and cutbacks have spread economic suffering through coal country in the Appalachians and Wyoming's Powder River Basin. By contrast, these are boom times for natural gas extraction. Still, the Obama administration has implemented rules that aren't making the coal industry's life any easier. Obama last year imposed a rule requiring coal-fired power plants to cut their carbon emissions as part of his effort to combat climate change. The rule has been suspended pending a legal challenge. Obama also has halted new coal leases on federal lands until it completes a comprehensive review. ____ PENCE, saying he's proud that "the state of Indiana has balanced budgets." THE FACTS: True, but that's not exactly to his credit. A balanced budget is required by law, as it is in every state except Vermont. Advertisement Associated Press FARMVILLE, Va. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton weren't on the stage at the vice-presidential debate here Tuesday night, but it didn't really matter. They were still front and center. Stripped of the overpowering personalities of Trump and Clinton, the debate between Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Pence offered the possibility of a more civil and sober conversation about issues that divide the two national party tickets. At times it was just that, whether on the economy, immigration, the chaos in the Middle East or abortion. Advertisement But for much of the evening, it was a boisterous proxy war by a pair of running mates whose goal was to take down the other's presidential nominee. They squabbled, they disagreed, they interrupted one another, they rolled out canned lines, and they feigned indignation. It was bad enough almost from the start that, barely a third of the way through the 90-minute debate, moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News admonished the candidates to back off. "The people at home cannot understand either one of you when you speak over each other," she said. Advertisement Overall it was an unsatisfying, disjointed debate, as the two candidates brushed past specific questions to open up other arguments at will. It probably changed few minds and no doubt brought some encouragement to the bases of the two parties. In that way it was a typical vice-presidential debate. Both Kaine and Pence understood their objectives. Kaine's was to hurl Trump and everything he has said in Pence's face and force him to respond. He began by using an opening question about preparedness to be president, pivoting to a series of attacks on Trump. Pence's role was to do what Trump could not do consistently during the first presidential debate, which was to prosecute a case against Clinton - highlighting both her policy vulnerabilities as secretary of state and questions about her private email server and the Clinton Foundation. He was more effective by far than Trump, but he struggled to fully defend everything Trump has said and done. Kaine accused Trump of running an "insult-driven, selfish, me-first" campaign. Pence took umbrage at that. "You and Hillary Clinton would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign," he said, and then launched into a catalogue of complaints about Clinton, President Barack Obama and the state of the world under the two of them. With that, the evening on the campus of Longwood University seesawed back and forth; occasionally there was serious policy discussion, but then it was quickly back to barbs and insults. Kaine was by far the more aggressive debater, overly so in the opening as he appeared almost too eager to make the entire evening about Trump. Pence appeared taken aback by the assault, though he surely understood that it would be coming. More disciplined than Trump, and with a baritone voice that evoked a sense of seriousness, he battled back. Were it not for the land mines Trump had left for Pence to tiptoe through, it might have been a different debate. Pence pressed at every opportunity to raise questions about Clinton, questions that Trump failed to raise at the first debate. But Kaine kept returning to Trump, daring Pence to defend his decision not to release his taxes; to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin; or to explain Trump's comments about women, Mexicans and others. Advertisement Throughout the campaign, Pence has walked a line between being loyal to the man who put him on the ticket and protecting his own political future. That was the case again Tuesday night, though it's likely he did more to help himself than to absolve Trump of the charges Kaine kept leveling. At times he simply sought to deny that Trump had said or done things Kaine brought up, whether in calling for the deportation of the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants or praising Putin as a stronger leader than Obama. Kaine was far more ready, even eager, to take on criticism of Clinton, jumping at the chance to compare the Clinton Foundation with Trump's charity. Whether his style sat well with undecided voters, those few who are still making up their minds, is another question. In Pence and Kaine, the public got a glimpse of two politicians - though of different parties and ideologies - who bear more resemblance to one another than any comparison of Trump and Clinton. Both are lawyers, and both have served in Congress and in governor's mansions. Both have low-key personalities, and neither is known for slashing, negative politics, though the traditional role of a vice-presidential candidate is to carry the attack against the other party's presidential nominee. They were little known nationally when chosen as running mates to the two least-popular major-party nominees in the history of polling. Pence had the more difficult task Tuesday night, forced to take the stage after Trump suffered through one of the worst weeks of his candidacy - a week that began with the Hofstra debate, where polls declared Clinton the winner, and that spiraled downward from there. Advertisement The damage to Trump was mostly self-inflicted, starting the morning after the debate with insults of a former Miss Universe and followed by an early-morning tweet storm that extended the controversy. Then came a New York Times exclusive that revealed that Trump had claimed $916 million in losses on his tax returns during the 1990s and, that same night, a rambling, off-script performance at a rally. Trump's week was his worst since immediately after the Democratic convention, when he got into a verbal exchange with a Gold Star family; that, combined with Clinton's convention bounce, put the Republican ticket behind in the polls by the end of August. The effect of the past several days was that Trump appeared to arrest the gains he had been making in the polls before the first debate, if not begin to reverse them. Four years ago, Vice President Joe Biden had to follow a weak performance by Obama, who lost his opening debate against Mitt Romney. Biden's challenge, however, was not as difficult as Pence's. Biden needed only to reenergize a Democratic base demoralized by Obama's performance. He did that with a display of aggressiveness - some critics judged it over the top - that contrasted with Obama's laconic posture against Romney in Denver. Biden did not have to answer for or defend controversial behavior on the part of the president. Still, it was left to Obama to produce the real rebound in the second of the three presidential debates, just as it will be Trump's challenge to deliver a more consistent and focused performance against Clinton when the two meet at Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday night for a town-hall debate. Vice-presidential debates rarely matter. They can produce memorable video clips, as several have over the years, but they don't move the polls. Pence played his prescribed role Tuesday night, delivering what Trump hoped for. But so did Kaine, as he kept Trump's vulnerabilities front and center. Advertisement Given the damage Trump did to himself over the past seven days, that will put much greater pressure on the Republican nominee Sunday to show that he learned from his mistakes in the first debate and to show the voters a more disciplined candidate. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Henderson Pavilion on Oct. 5, 2016, in Henderson, Nv. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images) HENDERSON, Nev. Donald Trump sought to claim some credit Wednesday for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's positively reviewed performance in Tuesday's vice-presidential debate. The GOP presidential nominee also tried to distance himself from Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has praised in the past and whom Pence criticized sharply in the debate. Advertisement "I'm getting a lot of credit because that's really my first so-called choice," Trump said of Pence at a rally here in the Las Vegas area. "That was my first hire." Trump said the debate was a chance for the country to get an up-close view of "my judgment." Advertisement "I'd argue that Mike had the single most decisive victory in the history of vice-presidential debates," he said. Of Putin, Trump said, "I don't love, I don't hate. We'll see how it works." In Tuesday's vice-presidential debate, Pence called Putin "a small, bullying leader," a departure from the warmer rhetoric Trump has used to describe the Russian leader in the past. During the rally, Trump threatened to sue the makers of a commercial that he said was attacking his positions on veterans. He did not specify which commercial he was talking about. The nominee also alleged that Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has effectively accused police of "all being racist," though she has not said that. He urged supporters to register to vote and turn out for him no matter what else is going on in their lives. "I say kiddingly, but I mean it: I don't care how sick you are," Trump said. "I don't care if you just came back from the doctor and he gave you the worst possible prognosis - meaning it's over, you won't be around in two weeks. Doesn't matter. Hang out till Nov. 8. Get out to vote." The GOP nominee also put a more intense spin on an argument he has often advanced - that if he doesn't win, his entire campaign will have been a waste. Advertisement "If I don't win, this will be the greatest waste of time, money and energy in my lifetime by a factor of a hundred," he said. Trump's latest campaign swing through Nevada included a lecture to supporters at a rally in Reno about the correct way to pronounce the name of their state. He insists it's "Neh-VAH-da." The Republican presidential candidate performed an exaggerated form of his preferred pronunciation from the stage at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center Wednesday afternoon. He declared that "nobody says it the other way." The confused silence from the crowd mixed with a few shouts of disagreement indicated that quite a few Nevadans pronounce their home state "Neh-VAD-uh." American Bridge, a group that supports Hillary Clinton, immediately put up a web video declaring that Trump was "looking like an idiot" for getting the name wrong Advertisement The Washington Post and Associated Press contributed to this report Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, the latter two vice presidents who became president. (Harvey W. Georges / AP) Here's an amazing statistic to consider as you watch Tuesday's vice presidential debate: The U.S. has gone without a vice president for more than a fifth of its 240-year history. The fact speaks to the inherent contradiction of the nation's second-highest office: For most of American history, it was largely an irrelevant post until it was supremely relevant. Advertisement Until the 25th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted in 1967, no provision existed for replacing a vice president when the position became vacant, as it had 16 times to that point. Thus, the job stayed open for months or even years. Half of those times, the vacancy occurred because the vice president had ascended to the presidency upon the death of the incumbent. A ninth vice president, Gerald R. Ford, became president because of Richard M. Nixon's resignation. Advertisement Seven vice presidents died in office, including one William R. King just six weeks into his term. Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned early to take a seat in the Senate. Spiro Agnew resigned after being indicted. All told, since the first vice president, John Adams, took office in 1789, the office was vacant for the equivalent of 50 years. The tally is unlikely to grow much. As my colleague Noah Bierman reported this week, the vice presidency has grown in consequence in recent decades, thanks to several factors, including the increased complexity of the president's job. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), left, and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) will share the biggest and most hazardous stage of their careers when they face off for the season's only vice-presidential debate. (AP) More Americans will likely watch Tuesday's vice presidential debate than watched the summer political conventions, President Obama's final State of the Union address or even the last Oscars or clinching World Series game. That viewership, though, does not mean the match-up of Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Republican Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana will make much of a difference in the presidential race. Advertisement Some of the most memorable moments in national debates have occurred in the vice presidential face-offs, including Democrat Lloyd Bentsen's famous "You're no Jack Kennedy" putdown of Dan Quayle in 1988. Yet it was George H.W. Bush who won that election and took Quayle with him to the White House. But as that encounter showed, the debates can have lasting impact even if it doesn't shift the race. In 2008, Sarah Palin's capable and at times folksy performance "Can I call you Joe?" helped somewhat to temper doubts about her. In 2012, Vice President Joe Biden's energetic clash with Rep. Paul D. Ryan reinvigorated Democrats after Obama's flat debate performance the week before. Advertisement In this case, Pence needs to deliver a sure-footed performance after Donald Trump fell short in his opening debate with Hillary Clinton and compounded his poor showing both by doubling down on an attack on a former Miss Universe and subsequent revelations about a massive tax write-down he took. Pence can also provide a measure of reassurance to many Republicans who aren't convinced they can back Trump but are loathe to cast a ballot for Clinton. For Kaine, like Pence a new face on the national stage, the task is to answer questions about Clinton's liabilities that she did not address directly. In his more than two months on the ticket, he has made it a point to convey the trust he has in the former senator and secretary of State. But barring a major gaffe by either man, and even perhaps if there is one, the public's attention is likely to return quickly to how the candidates at the top of the ticket react and prepare for their own rematch Sunday. Edith Gaines was director of membership programming at the Art Institute, where she has worked since 1972. (CHRIS BERNACCHI / CHICAGO TRIBUNE) In three decades at the Art Institute of Chicago, Edith Gaines started the museum's travel program and helped broaden the museum's membership base. "She was a wonderful woman who was absolutely inspiring, so gracious, so confident, and had the whole picture," said Suzanne McCullagh, retired curator of the museum's Department of Prints and Drawings. "She was just the greatest asset the museum could have had." Advertisement Gaines, 94, died of complications from a heart problem Aug. 28 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said her son, Jonathan Weiss. She had been a longtime Gold Coast resident. Gaines was born Ida Barylkowski in Swilocz, Poland. She moved to the U.S. with her mother in the late 1920s, took the name Edith Barkow, and grew up in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Advertisement After high school, Gaines began working as a publicist in New York City. She then took a job as assistant society editor at the New York Journal American newspaper in New York City. "Working in New York at the Journal American was really a very heady, giddy period. How many 21 year olds are given the opportunity to go to the Stork Club, El Morocco, the Plaza, the Pierre?" Gaines told the Tribune in 2001, referring to Manhattan's popular nightclubs and hotels. "I was having a marvelous time." After meeting her first husband, Dr. Jack Weiss, of Chicago, on a blind date, Gaines moved to Chicago. She later took a job editing a rotogravure section for a medical association's newsletter and then joined WBKB-Ch. 7 now WLS-Ch. 7 as producer of a weekday morning show hosted by Lynne Walker Goldblatt called "Woman on the Go." In 1972, Gaines took a job at the Art Institute as its director of membership programs. "Membership at the Art Institute always has been the largest of any art museum in the world, and that goes back to Edith and her involvement as well as trying to solicit new members, which she was very good at doing as well," said Larry Ter Molen, a retired Art Institute executive vice president for development and public relations. "She was a very open and forthright person and she did not, shall we say, brook fools," Ter Molen said with a laugh. "And she was someone who was able to rise above any personal difficulties." In 1983, Gaines created the Art Institute's international and regional travel study programs. "Her trips were quite famous," said George Schneider, a retired associate director of museum education at the Art Institute. "And she also hosted these wonderful lecture luncheons that were wonderful ways for us to connect with the public. And she brought in people that would not otherwise have been the least bit interested in the Art Institute." Advertisement Gaines' son said the job at the Art Institute "became a passion" for his mother. "The role that she played, the programs she developed and the cachet of matching interesting programs with interesting people on behalf of a renowned institution I think she was matching a commitment to work that she had throughout her life with a real passion for the institution that she was working for," he said. Gaines opened an art gallery, The Printer's Row Gallery, in the Printer's Row neighborhood in 1982. She also co-founded the group that would become the Chicago chapter of the United Cerebral Palsy organization. She became involved because her older son, Jeffrey, was born with cerebral palsy. He died in 1989. Gaines retired from the Art Institute just a few weeks before her 80th birthday in 2002. Gaines and her first husband divorced in 1975. Her second husband, real estate developer Theodore Gaines, died in 1987. There were no other immediate survivors. Advertisement Services were held. Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. Afghan security officials inspect the scene of a bomb explosion in Kabul on Oct. 5, 2016. At least four people were wounded. (Hedayatullah Amid / EPA) There is a perverse symmetry on display in Afghanistan right now. Fifteen years ago, American warplanes bombed targets there, beginning an offensive against the Taliban government and al-Qaida precipitated by the 9/11 attacks. This week, they were in action once again. There was, of course, a big difference in the two operations. In 2001, our forces were opening a campaign that would end quickly in victory. Today, they are part of a war that has no victory, or conclusion, in sight. Advertisement The original triumph came quickly. By the end of 2001, the Taliban had surrendered in the capital, a new, pro-American government was in place, and Osama bin Laden was running for his life. It was a thrilling turn of events. President George W. Bush said of our enemies, "They saw liberty and thought they saw weakness, and now they see defeat." British Prime Minister Tony Blair proclaimed "a total vindication of the strategy that we have worked out from the beginning." Things went so well that the Bush administration felt free to start planning another war, in Iraq. Advertisement It's hard to believe now, but at the time, we appeared to know what we were doing in Afghanistan. It was an illusion, magnified by faith in our unparalleled military might and righteous mission. Our confidence led us into a fatal error. We committed ourselves to remaking Afghanistan but not wholeheartedly. Given a choice between a massive commitment of military and civilian resources for serious nation building on one hand and leaving as soon as the enemy was vanquished, we did neither. Instead, we chose a middle course, a limited commitment, which averted the worst outcome but offered no way out. We remain wedded to that option for the indefinite future. Despite sacrificing more than 2,300 lives and some $800 billion, we no longer expect anything but bleak reports from Afghanistan. Even the rare item of good news is bad. On Tuesday, for example, the government said it had reclaimed central Kunduz from Taliban units and was fighting to drive them out of other neighborhoods. What's bad about that? Until last year, the city hadn't fallen to the Taliban since 2001. Then, militants seized it and held it for two weeks. Their latest assault on the city even if it can be reversed indicates that security is still up for grabs. All this fighting comes at the end of a bloody summer, in which Afghan forces took record casualties from a resilient foe. Only two-thirds of the country is under government control. Unemployment is estimated at 40 percent. Millions of desperate Afghans have given up and fled, turning up as refugees in Pakistan, Iran or Europe. This week, the Kabul government, a perpetual charity case, sent representatives to ask for $3 billion in aid from other nations at a conference in Brussels. Any money is likely to be wasted. The watchdog group Transparency International rates Afghanistan one of the most corrupt nations on the planet. A unity government that is anything but unified has proved unable to act decisively on the grave problems afflicting the country. Advertisement No one dreamed in 2001 that in 2016, the United States would still be mired in Afghanistan. But some 9,800 American troops remain, along with 5,000 more troops from allied countries. Barack Obama, the anti-war candidate of 2008, can't bring himself to leave. A report last month by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction amounted to a chronicle of folly. It found that pervasive corruption has stymied our efforts, helped the enemy and sapped public support for the government. It quoted an Afghan official who in 2010 argued that "corruption is not just a problem for the system of governance in Afghanistan; it is the system of governance." Ryan Crocker, a former ambassador to Kabul, told the investigators that "the ultimate point of failure for our efforts ... wasn't an insurgency. It was the weight of endemic corruption." The people in the regime we were helping were the true enemy. Looking back, it's clear the U.S. took on a project far beyond its capabilities. Arriving in a backward, war-torn country where we didn't speak the language, know the history, share the religion or understand the culture, we assumed that Marines, money and good intentions would produce a happy outcome. So far, that approach hasn't worked. What makes us think it ever will? Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman. Advertisement Download "Recalculating: Steve Chapman on a New Century" in the free Printers Row app, available at www.printersrowapp.com. schapman@chicagotribune.com Follow him on Twitter @SteveChapman13 and Facebook. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who debates Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine in the vice-presidential face-off on Tuesday night, is seemingly decent political in a thoroughly normal way. Such qualities make Pence the odd man out in Donald Trump's campaign. It's no wonder Trump had second thoughts about him: He doesn't fit. What sets Trump's campaign apart, beyond the slapdash nature of the enterprise, the baldness of the falsehoods and the ejection seat reserved for the latest campaign manager, is that he surrounds himself with men whose bad behavior complements his own. Advertisement That's, of course, subjective criticism. But if you ascribe to certain nearly universal values, it's hard to avoid the conclusion. If the Trump campaign was not caroming daily, often hourly, between allegations of corruption and illegality and its own exertions on the frontiers of dark fantasy and sleaziness, then the presence of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at the head of the Trump transition team would be a running scandal. Advertisement Christie, who is poised to have great influence over appointments in a Trump administration, has long played the role of the petty, vindictive bully. Yet nothing in that characterization prepares one for the pettiness and vindictiveness of the George Washington Bridge traffic jam engineered by Christie's hand-picked staff. Bridgegate is nothing like politics as usual, even at its ugliest. Tens of thousands of Christie constituents were abused solely for the creepy amusement of the governor's staff and, federal prosecutors claim, of Christie himself. The best albeit most implausible interpretation of Christie's role is that he merely has horrific judgment and selected very bad people as top aides. This isn't the view of the scandal that Trump once took, however. "He knew about it," Trump said of Christie in 2015. "He totally knew about it." Perhaps Trump didn't believe his accusation against the governor. Perhaps it was just one of the wild accusations the Republican nominee is apt to make. It's more likely, however, that Trump would have brought Christie into his campaign because of his belief that the governor was involved in the scandal, not in spite of it. Christie is the type of guy that Trump likes to have around so much so that he essentially placed the governor in charge of personnel for a prospective Trump administration. Christie is not a special case. Trump values advice from Roger Ailes, who grafted a political propaganda machine to a news network, evidently harassing women who worked there every step of the way. Similarly, he relies on Rudy Giuliani to provide counsel and to carry his flag. Like Trump, Giuliani is nothing if not versatile; he says whatever the moment requires. Are we spreading rumors about Clinton's health today? "Go online and put down 'Hillary Clinton Illness' and take a look at the videos for yourself," he gamely told a television audience. And referring to news of Trump's tax avoidance, Giuliani said: "Don't you think a man who has this kind of economic genius is a lot better for the United States than a woman ...?" The list goes on: Steve Bannon, the rage-fueled publisher of an alt-right yellow-journalism website who is Trump's campaign chief; Newt Gingrich, who has always been willing to say anything, do anything, be anything for a cut of the action. The angry sycophant Corey Lewandowski, who was Trump's first campaign manager. Advertisement Their collective history with women is uncanny. Ailes, the alleged serial harasser. Giuliani, who publicly humiliated his second wife. Gingrich, whose political hypocrisy is surpassed only by his marital hypocrisy. Bannon, who was once accused of domestic violence. Lewandowski, who grabbed one of Bannon's female reporters so roughly, in public, that she filed charges against him. Of course, at the center of this web is Trump himself, a man of unrestrained appetites and gratuitous cruelty. The men surrounding him merely reflect the varied facets of his own character. To quiet his unsoothable insecurities, Trump goes to pathetic extremes to surround himself with pretty women. It's remarkable how ugly Trump's men are. Bloomberg View Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg View. He was executive editor of the Week. He was previously a national affairs writer for Rolling Stone, a communications consultant and a political media strategist. J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park. Picture shows the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, collectively known as the Belt and Road initiative. (Xinhua) Chairman Mao said: "Differences between friends cannot but reinforce their friendship." Mao's vision of friendship with China's many neighbors finds fitting reflection in the Belt and Road (B&R) initiative, a creative venture that Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled in 2013. It seeks to connect nations and bring immense prosperity to their people through infrastructure development and creation of an integrated trading network spreading from western China to Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and even to Europe. B&R can be a socialist-driven globalization process intended to remove inequality created by freewheeling capitalism. This premise is implied by the fact that China has committed itself to peaceful rise and respect for the sovereignty of other nations. It has set aside US$40 billion to start a process that includes 3.8 billion people living in 60 countries once lying along or adjacent to the original Silk Road. The newly launched Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is expected to be a major provider of the money. "B&R is a policy framework that incorporates myriad development projects, and countries like Nepal should proactively seek to benefit from it," says Dr Upendra Gautam, general secretary at the China Study Center. He notes that integrating Nepal into the B&R really means integration into the global economy, thus "opening up new opportunities for Nepal." A replication of the ancient Silk Road, B&R is "rooted in history and oriented toward the future." Nepal had a special relationship with the ancient Silk Road, and it is widely believed Buddhism initially travelled along the route to reach China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Thailand and other Asian nations. Certainly, the ancient Silk Road contributed to Nepal's prosperity many centuries ago. Nepal has taken formal steps to be part of B&R, the 21st century version of the ancient Silk Road. Its connection to the modern version is through the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Nepal could serve as a gateway to South Asia when the B&R vision comes to fruition. During former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's visit to China last March, Nepal and China inked a landmark deal on trade and transit arrangements, and agreed to enhance connectivity as part of the B&R project. Point 5 of the 15-point joint statement issued then reads: "Both sides agreed to seek synergy in development planning, formulate appropriate bilateral cooperation programs and carry out major projects under the framework of the Belt and Road initiative. The Chinese side agreed to accelerate the feasibility study of the Araniko Highway Repair and Maintenance Project and the Repair and Maintenance Project of the Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Highway, and build a bridge over the Karnali River at Hilsa of Pulan/Yari port." In order to give flesh to their agreement, Nepal and China should jointly work to build road networks through the border passes of Olangchungola (5,095 m), Kimathanka (2,248 m), Lapche (4,091 m), Tatopani (2,515 m), Rasuwagahdi (1,983 m), Larke(5,135 m), Kor La (4,817 m), Hilsa (5,012 m) and Tinker(5,703 m). The document "Envisioning Nepal 2030" of Nepal's Planning Commission states: "To promote growth, Nepal needs to be the connection and trading route not just between India and China but of South Asia as a whole. Capitalizing on its historic linkages, Nepal needs to conduct an in-depth study of reviving the South Western Silk Road (circular silk way)." The Belt and Road initiative is expected to promote the country's immense potential in trade, tourism, water resources and transportation through technology transfers, high standard infrastructure and labor mobility. "The B&R strategy will help Nepal connect to the global value chain by developing world class infrastructure," says Prof. Dr. Surya Raj Acharya, an infrastructure expert. Former Nepalese ambassador to China, Rajeshwar Acharya, and Dr Gautam suggest creating a sub-regional group comprising Nepal, Bhutan and India's northwest, Tibet and Sichuan Province based on the BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) model in order to serve as a gateway to both Southeast and South Asia under the Belt and Road initiative. The B&R initiative is also about promoting cultural understanding. Nations around the Himalayas have a large number of Buddhist followers, and development of the Trans-Himalayan Buddhist pilgrimage will bring them together. This requires opening Trans-Himalaya railway services connecting Nepal with China, then with the Buddhist sub-circuit. Nepal aspires to reap benefits from the B&R initiative, but chronic political instability has posed a stumbling block. The absence of a coherent foreign policy and lukewarm response to China's initiative among politicians and bureaucracy could deprive the country of significant gains. The media reported that President Xi's proposed visit to Nepal was put off after China sensed that Nepal's preparations to implement the Belt and Road initiative were not up to scratch. Nepal mustn't delay in carrying out the necessary works to implement the project, because it cannot afford to let it slip through its fingers. Ritu Raj Subedi is an associate editor of The Rising Nepal. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash Julian Assange [File Photo: Xinhua] WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange announced at a press conference on Tuesday that his platform will release new material in the coming months. It is planned to publish new material every week in the next ten weeks, Assange said in a live video broadcast to Berlin on the 10th birthday of WikiLeaks. The new releases will cover the themes such as oil, weapons and corporations like google, according to Assange. Meanwhile, WikiLeaks also wants to publish new details for the U.S. election, but left the exact date open. However, WikiLeaks is working on publishing the material before the election date on November 8, said Assange. The upcoming publications were "of significant importance for the elections," the 45-year-old Australian said in response to a question whether the new information "will destroy the Democratic presidential candidate." With a view to the 10th anniversary of the founding of WikiLeaks, Assange emphasized that despite all the hostility of "powerful opponents," the website is still well positioned. "We have a strong position, we are debt free and completely independent," he said. "The attacks only make us stronger," Assange said, "We believe in what we do, and when we are put under pressure, we will fight back." WikiLeaks has published hundreds of thousands of secret documents over the past few years, including the U.S. military's actions in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Australian, who has taken refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012, claimed that Sweden intends to hand him over to the United States, where he may face espionage charges for leaking thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables and, if convicted, could be given a death penalty. Flash Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that he would "eventually" cut ties with the United States. Duterte again hit out at the United States and its president, the European Union and the United Nations for using human rights to criticize his campaign to curb the illicit drug menace in the Philippines. "I am very emotional because America has certainly failed us," Duterte added. "I will be re-configuring my foreign policy," Duterte said in a speech before the Jewish Association of the Philippines in Makati City. He added, "Eventually I might in my time break up with America. I would rather go to Russia and to China. " In another speech earlier, Duterte vowed to continue the war on drugs amidst the "hypocrisy" of the U.S., the EU and the UN. "I will not stop despite the hypocrisy of the EU, and America and Obama. They seem to refuse to understand," Duterte said. Duterte said he has no plan to stop his rant again his critics. Duterte again apologized to the Jewish community. "I am not one of the racist member of this republic," he said. "But it was only because that they pictured me to be killing so many persons of the drug problem. And I would say that it is true but not all were killed with their hands tied behind their backs. That would have been an exaggeration," he explained. Last Sunday, Duterte apologized to the Jewish community who were outraged by his comments that made reference to Adolf Hitler who ordered the cold-blooded killings of the Jews. "I would like to make it (clear) now, here and now, that there was never an intention on my part to derogate the memory of the six million Jews murdered," Duterte said in a speech in Bacolod City in the central Philippines. You are here: Home Flash Federal Police rescued 122 Central American migrants being smuggled through north Mexico in precarious conditions, media reported on Tuesday. The migrants had been loaded onto three vehicles, two vans and a lorry-style truck, and "presented signs of asphyxiation" due to the overcrowded conditions, the daily El Universal said, citing the National Security Commission (CNS). Federal Police were patrolling a stretch of highway between two towns in the northern state of Tamaulipas, Antiguo Morelos and Ciudad Mante, when they flagged down the three vehicles for speeding. Closer inspection revealed the vehicles were carrying 69 Salvadorans, 50 Guatemalans and three Hondurans, all of whom were planning to cross the border into the United States. The migrants were provided with food and medical attention in Ciudad Mante, and handed over to immigration authorities for deportation, the police said. The drivers were taken to the national Attorney General's Office in the state capital Tampico for questioning. Flash Victoria's police shortage has forced officers to ignore calls where lives could be at risk, the police union has said. A record crime wave in the state, where the crime rate between 2015 and 2016 increased by 11 percent, has left Victoria 3,300 officers short of what is required, according to the union. One in four senior sergeants surveyed by the Police Association of Victoria said they "regularly" held off on Priority One jobs, including armed robberies, serious car accidents and home invasions, due to being inundated by other calls. Ron Iddles, Police Association secretary, said that there were 115 fewer first-response police in Victoria now than in 2014 and that officers were being put at risk. "A fix to this police numbers crisis cannot be delayed any longer," Iddles told News Limited on Wednesday. "It is plain dangerous when first-response police are spread so thinly that their response to urgent jobs is being delayed. Of the sergeants surveyed, 89 percent said they believed the jobs being held were risking public safety and 84 percent said that call-outs were regularly being completely unattended. Graham Ashton, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, said that while work is being done to deploy more officers he rejected the findings of the union survey, citing Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) data that showed 1 percent of 139,000 police call-outs in the last 12 months were held. "We know we are stretched in a range of areas," Ashton told News Limited on Wednesday. "The (staff) modeling is around avoiding getting to this situation again. Police Minister Lisa Neville told News Limited that the state had set aside funding for an additional 1,156 police officers. Flash Some of the delegates attending the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on Tuesday hailed the meeting as a success. South African Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa told Xinhua that she is happy with the outcomes of CoP17. "This Conference of Parties has made good decisions about our natural resources. What have won too, are the sustainable utilisation of the natural resources," she said. The CoP17 started on September 24 and will end on October 5. Most of the recommendations approved by the Working Group Committees were unanimously adopted. But CoP17 rejected the proposal to close domestic markets for ivory. Molewa said it's a victory for the Southern African countries which will continue to allow sustainable hunting for trophies and sell skins of certain animals domestically. A clause has also been approved, which stipulates that domestic markets be closed in a country if it is proved that there is a link to poaching or illegal trade. Namibian Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeka said Southern African countries managed to get what they wanted. He stated that as Southern African countries they had good policies to sustainably manage the wildlife and are happy with the acknowledgement from CITES that they are doing well. Shifeka said, "We are content with the outcomes of CITES. There were no much controversy. We got what we wanted. We fought and succeeded and its good for us. We feel vindicated about what we always said that our natural resources, like elephants, are not under threat." He said Southern African countries are happy with their support for domestic trade in ivory. The minister said that while Namibia is currently not involved in domestic trade in ivory but they want to consider that in future people will form cooperatives and do business in the species there. He criticised some conservationists for trying to dictate to them what to do with their natural resources. Zimbabwean Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said Southern African countries will not watch while their resources in stockpiles are being burnt. He said they have some plans but he did not elaborate. Rosalind Reeve, senior advisor to Fondation Franz Weber and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, said the conference was a huge success. "Overall, there were lots of success at CoP 17. These includes the up listing of grey parrots, numerous species like reptiles and sharks... the big controversy was the issue of elephants. The defeat of Swaziland proposal is a good outcome, if it had succeeded, it could have been disastrous," Reeve said. She was referring to Swarziland's proposal to sell rhino horns confisticated from poachers and the animals which could have died of natural causes. But CITES rejected the proposal. Reeve said it was also a success in the rejection of opening international trade in ivory. "There was a big step forward but we wanted a better decision on elephants. It is important to make a follow up on domestic market resolution. From now up to the next CoP, we would like to see the implementation of the decisions taken here," she said when referring to the closure of domestic markets for ivory. Reeve said that the EU and Japan should consider joining other countries on domestic trade since their domestic trade in ivory is linked to illegal trade. The conference imposed a ban on international trade in pangolins and grey African parrots. Stricter regulations were also imposed on the trade in rosewood tree, devil rays and silky. For the first time CITES also resolved to include corruption in the fight against wildlife illegal trade. Flash The White House on Tuesday doubled down its criticism of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, calling him not a role model for Americans in any way. When asked whether U.S. President Barack Obama, who had called Trump "unfit" for presidency, believed that the New York billionaire developer was a role model in a broader way, given his success through his career, White House spokesman Josh Earnest answered in the negative. "There are hundreds of millions of Americans that by the way they live their lives every day are role models for our kids," said Earnest here at the daily briefing. "But based on the president's deep concern about the rhetoric of the Republican nominee, I feel confident in telling you that he would not be comfortable with describing the nominee in that way," he said. The question of whether Trump could be a role model was raised after Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire on Monday reversed herself after calling Trump a role model for kids. Ayotte, who had so far refused to officially endorse Trump, later on Monday said she "misspoke" and believed that neither Trump nor Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton "have set a good example" and she would not hold up either one as role models for kids. Trump first drew widespread criticism last June when he said in the presidential announcement speech that Mexico was sending "rapists" and drug dealers to the United States. Since then, he had repeatedly vowed, if elected president, to deport about 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country. In another outburst of emotional remarks, Trump called for a "total and complete" ban on Muslims entering the United States in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015. Since then, the targets of Trump's insults expanded to include women, African-American protesters, and family members of rivals. According to a list compiled by The New York Times, Trump had insulted on Twitter 210 individuals, places and things since declaring his presidential candidacy last June. The Times list did not include targets of Trump's insults broadcasted on cable. Flash The Irish government held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss more actions to prepare for Brexit, including in particular on priority concerns for the country. Following British Prime Minister Theresa May's weekend announcement that she intends to trigger Article 50 by March 2017, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and his cabinet ministers discussed preparations for the negotiations that will then take place, the government said. Kenny reaffirmed that the priorities of the government were the economy and trade, the peace process and Northern Ireland, the Common Travel Area and the future of the European Union itself. After a detailed review of action to date, the cabinet agreed to intensify preparations over the coming weeks, including in particular through closer political and official engagement, including with Northern Ireland, the British government, and the EU member states and institutions, and by broadening dialogue with civic society. The government said Budget 2017 will include measures which will support the overall economic response to Brexit. The government added it would continue engagement with other EU leaders and governments and the EU institutions, including high-level government meetings with Michel Barnier, the newly appointed European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator, who is expected to visit Dublin shortly. In the meeting, the government approved a range of further actions to ensure that Ireland is fully prepared for the difficult negotiations ahead. "Now that we have clarity from Prime Minister May regarding the timetable, we will intensify our engagement and preparation for the negotiations," Kenny said. "Ireland faces unique challenges from Brexit, not least given the all-island issues that arise," he said. Kenny said he would continue to engage with Northern Ireland party leaders on the range of issues involved. Featured Post Standing Rock: Six Years Later -- Militarized Police, Cover-ups and the Fight for Justice Militarized police attack Water Protectors in prayer, Oct. 27, 2016 Images from video by Unicorn Riot https://unicornriot.ninja/2016/police-... White Mesa Ute Spiritual March to Shut Down Uranium Mill Mohawk Warrior Society Book Launch Lakota Jean Roach: The True Story of Leonard Peltier Justice for Dad: Taylor Dewey Shares the Harsh Road to Justice Justice Dept Files Lawsuit Against Rapid City Hotel Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte Speaks on Radiation Archive Search This Blog About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 40 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com Translate Chen Jiangang and Zhao Yonglin, Yang Huas lawers. (Photo: China Aid) China Aid By Brynne Lawrence. Updated Nov. 14, 2016, at 1:22 p.m. (Guiyang, GuizhouSept. 30, 2016) Lawyers representing incarcerated church pastor Yang Hua discovered he has been suffering from serious health conditions during a visit with their client today. Yang, who has been in police custody for a variety of falsified charges since Dec. 9, 2015, and is currently accused of divulging state secrets, was discovered to be suffering from fatty liver disease and scabies along with various other serious diseases. Despite having contracted these illnesses while in a detention center, officials have refused to pay for his medical treatment, and made Yang pay for his own check up. In response to his health concerns, one of his lawyers, Chen Jiangang, filed a bail application. Previously, China Aid received a report from Chen and his co-counsel, Zhao Yonglin, confirming Yangs poor treatment at the hands of government officials. According to an interview Chen and Zhao conducted with Yang, prosecutors visited him twice, applied pressure to his feet, and repeatedly threatened to kill him and harm his family members if he failed to confess his supposed crimes. After obtaining this information, the lawyers sued the prosecution team, accused them of using torture to extort a confession, and requested that the prosecution receive legal repercussions. Yangs lawyers originally predicted that his trial would soon be held, following the admittance of evidence to the courts, but as of yet, no trial date has been announced. China Aid reports abuse cases, such as Yang Huas, in order to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians and promote religious freedom in China. ChinaAid Media Team Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 Email: [email protected] For more information, click here ATHENS - Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan met with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos here on Tuesday, agreeing to deepen cooperation between the two countries at various levels and respect each other's core interests. Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan meets with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Athens on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua] Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, conveyed best regards from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pavlopoulos, saying China-Greece relations have stood the test of ever-changing international situations and achieved constant progress on cooperation since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 44 years ago. China is ready to conduct closer cooperation with Greece at various levels, share mutual understanding and support on issues related to each other's core and major interests, said Liu. Liu highlighted enhanced dialogue among different civilizations, saying China and Greece, as two ancient civilizations in the world, should learn from each other and play an active role in jointly forging four major China-Europe partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization. Pavlopoulos, for his part, appreciated China's stance on Greece's debt crisis, saying he is satisfied with the sound development of bilateral relationship. Greece and China both should take advantage of their cultural influence and set an example for other countries to give importance to cultural exchanges, said Pavlopoulos. Liu is on an official goodwill visit to Greece that began Sunday. On Monday, Liu met with Greek parliamentary speaker Nikos Voutsis. Liu told Voutsis that China and Greece should enhance cultural exchanges, which would in turn help deepen traditional friendship and inject positive energy into world peace and development. Both Liu and Voutsis attended the China-Europe Civilization Dialogue held in Athens on Monday. The 20th China International Educational Exhibition Tour is held in Beijing in March last year. Parents and children who want to study overseas meet face to face with the staff. A Qing / For China Daily Emily Chen's experiences at a private boarding school in the United States have had nothing but positive results. It has been the opposite for some other young Chinese children attending US middle schools, spurring negative headlines and creating a stereotype of "rich, idle and reckless", Chang Jun reports in San Francisco. When three years ago Herald Chen decided to send his only daughter Emily to the United States for high school, he was hopeful that the 15-year-old would regain her enthusiasm for learning and be happy. It turned out to be a decision that the parents and child could not be happier about. This past spring, after attending the Grier School in central Pennsylvania as an international boarding student, Emily was accepted at the University of California, Davis, and Penn State University. "I used to hate school and homework in China," said Emily, adding that she didn't get much attention from teachers because she struggled in class. "But here at Grier I have all these fond memories about learning and motivation and have benefited much from interacting with peers from all over the world." Her father, a physician and renowned expert in late-stage cancer research and treatment in China, said investing in Emily's education yields ample rewards. "I'm not positive that she would have been admitted to the same US universities if she received her education in China," he said. Although China has started gradually transforming its education system, its framework and foundational concepts are often criticized as being narrowly focused on students' academic performance instead of developing character and leadership. Schools are rated by enrollment percentage and students' scores, parents send children to after-school enrichment programs, and heavy homework and work sheet loads devour time for extracurricular activities. 'Nightmarish years' "I still can't forget the nightmarish years when we had to shuffle Emily back and forth between school and after-school training institutions," Chen said. "My wife kept pushing Emily to study harder and would lose her temper at her progress. None of us were happy." When Emily decided to attend middle school in the US and in 2013 enrolled at Grier in Birmingham, the family breathed a sigh of relief. Different teaching methods, different learning approaches and expectations from the school have made Emily independent and self-advocating. "My experiences at the school led me to take leaps of faith in myself and encourage me to believe I could make great things happen," Emily said. The Chen family story is not an exception. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, the number of Chinese K-12 students soared to 34,578 this year, almost half of international students attending US high schools and primary schools. In 2010, 8,857 Chinese students attended US K-12 schools, according to the Student Exchange and Visitor Program. Eva Liu, a Silicon Valley marketing professional, and several of her entrepreneurial friends designed a website - http://waijule.com - and app that helps Chinese parents locate the best public and private K-12 schools in the United States. "We feel that sending young children to US boarding schools will continue," Liu said. "The increase shows no sign of abating in the near future due to the sheer size of China's population and the rise of a wealthy class." Chinese students at Grier are almost half of the about 300 enrolled at the private boarding and day school. The school's administration set up a publicity office in China several years ago to welcome Chinese students to offset declining domestic enrollment and funding. "Fifty thousand dollars a year, including tuition and boarding fees, is not a small number," Emily said. "I understand my parents pin high hopes on me." Young troublemakers Young Chinese children attending US middle schools have become common across the nation, and the nickname "parachute kids" has been given to the special group by the US media and public. In recent years, some of them had made negative headlines, creating a stereotype of "rich, idle and reckless Chinese teenagers". In November 2012, 19-year-old Xu Yichun studying at the South Puget Sound Community College in Seattle, was driving his new Mercedes-Benz C350 with four other students back home after grocery shopping. Xu neglected a stop sign and broad-sided a car, killing the other driver and injuring four people. Xu's mother posted a $2 million bail to get her son released from jail. Prosecutors worried that the foreign student would jump bail but he was nonetheless released. Xu was deported in 2014 and barred from returning to the US for 10 years, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Seattle. On Feb 17, three 19-year-old Chinese students in a Southern California private school were sentenced to years in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and assaulting two Chinese classmates. Yunyao "Helen" Zhai was sentenced to 13 years; Yuhan "Coco" Yang got 10 years; and Xinlei "John" Zhang got six years. Zhai, the ringleader, apologized for her actions in a letter read to the court. "I hope they (the victims) do not carry the wounds from what I did for the rest of their lives," she wrote. HAIKOU - Sansha City plans to set up a sea turtle protection center to promote marine bio-diversity conservation in the region, authorities said Wednesday. Sansha mayor Xiao Jie said the city intents to build a sea turtle refuge that integrates such functions as hatching, release and research. The center is expected to attract experts, volunteers and environmental organizations to Sansha, he said. Sansha City was officially established in 2012 to administer the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea. Over the past four years, the city's environment has seen great improvements thanks to the new garbage collection system, sewage treatment plants and afforestation efforts. Some sea turtle protection stations have already been set up on the city's islands. This year, over 50 nests of baby turtles were hatched and released to the sea off the Qilianyu Islands. The island of Jinqing has released 80 baby turtles to the sea. The city is also considering establishing video observation stations on some uninhabited islands and reefs. Autumn falls on Hongcun village in Anhui province. FENG MUBO/CHINA DAILY Zhang Zhengyan sits in a delicately decorated room at his hostel, surrounded by a group of reporters who are here just for a short break after looking around Pingshan village on September 20. Zhang, in his 60s, is an experienced film producer, who has produced 12 of the most famous films directed by Zhang Yimou, one of the most celebrated directors. Although some guests were seen enjoying their drinks in the front hall, Zhang said the seven rooms in the hostel were all vacant on the day. "It is likely because of the high prices, apart from the fact it is a work day today", said Zhang, whose hostel is an ancient house of some 1800 square meters. Zhang said a room in the hostel that is named the Imperial Bodyguard, costs nearly 1,000 yuan ($150) for a single day. He refuses to offer any discount even when sometimes there are no guests. A tourist in Shenyang admires Tanbo farm art of Doraemon that portrays a magical cat character from a Japanese manga series. LIU DONG/CHINA DAILY One of the granaries and golden corn belts of the country, Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, is transforming into an agricultural tourism destination. According to the Shenyang Committee of Rural Economy, agri-tourism is expanding rapidly. Last year, 195 new hospitality projects were approved. Their income reached 908 million yuan ($136 million) from over 4.4 million visitors. "Owing to the speeding up of urbanization and improvement of living standards, people's consumption patterns have changed. The rising middle class are especially more willing to pay for leisure tours," said Shao Jianbing, a professor of economics at Liaoning University. His view finds an echo in McKinsey & Company's research. According to its latest study, China's middle class consumers spend significantly more time and money on leisure activities and tourism. Moreover, they prefer to choose tours that afford memorable experiences, not just sightseeing opportunities. In this context, agri-tourism offers many opportunities for such experience-seeking travelers. Shenyang Xibolongdi Innovative Agri-Business Co Ltd is one of the beneficiaries of this trend. The firm's general manager, Zhao Aijun, is a resident of Shenyang. Sensing opportunities in agri-tourism, he began to develop paddy field tours and Tanbo art in Shenbei district, the agriculture development zone of Shenyang in 2012. Tanbo is a form of rice paddy art with origins in Japan: farmers plant varieties of rice paddies with different colors, which grow up and create magnificent giant organic pictures in paddy fields. "At first, we just wanted to popularize our rice products by developing paddy field tours. Tanbo art is part of a strategy to attract more travelers. Surprisingly, people like it very much," he said. In the past three years, the number of visitors to Xibolongdi's farms has more than tripled from 15,000 to over 50,000. Last year's revenue from tourism reached 5 million yuan, accounting for about 30 percent of the total. Some 17 images were displayed in the rice fields covering an area of 13.33 hectares in Zhao's manor. "It's a good choice for family outings. It offers a quiet, picturesque, scenic place to relax. What's more, it's not too far from downtown," said Li Haoyu, a visitor. "Leisure farming is a trend and helps restructure and innovate patterns in economic activity, especially agricultural production," said Zhang Junhua, vice-director of the Shenyang Committee of Rural Economy. According to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture, nationwide revenue from agri-tourism reached 440 billion yuan in 2015, up 10 percent year-on-year. About 5.5 million rural families benefited from the development. MANILA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that he would "eventually" cut ties with the United States. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers a speech to the members of the Philippine Army during a visit at the army headquarters in Taguig city, metro Manila, Philippines October 4, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Duterte again hit out at the United States and its president, the European Union and the United Nations for using human rights to criticize his campaign to curb the illicit drug menace in the Philippines. "I am very emotional because America has certainly failed us," Duterte added. "I will be re-configuring my foreign policy," Duterte said in a speech before the Jewish Association of the Philippines in Makati City. He added, "Eventually I might in my time break up with America. I would rather go to Russia and to China. " In another speech earlier, Duterte vowed to continue the war on drugs amidst the "hypocrisy" of the US, the EU and the UN. "I will not stop despite the hypocrisy of the EU, and America and Obama. They seem to refuse to understand," Duterte said. Duterte said he has no plan to stop his rant again his critics. Duterte again apologized to the Jewish community. "I am not one of the racist member of this republic," he said. "But it was only because that they pictured me to be killing so many persons of the drug problem. And I would say that it is true but not all were killed with their hands tied behind their backs. That would have been an exaggeration," he explained. Last Sunday, Duterte apologized to the Jewish community who were outraged by his comments that made reference to Adolf Hitler who ordered the cold-blooded killings of the Jews. "I would like to make it (clear) now, here and now, that there was never an intention on my part to derogate the memory of the six million Jews murdered," Duterte said in a speech in Bacolod City in the central Philippines. A train runs on the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway during an operational test near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct 3, 2016. Africa's first modern electrified railway -- the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway built by Chinese firms, is set to become fully operational on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua] ADDIS ABABA - African people cherish a dream that one day the capitals of all African countries will be linked by high-speed railways, Chairperson of African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma once said. Perhaps, the African people have never come closer in their endeavor towards making the dream a reality. On Wednesday, Africa's first modern electrified railway -- the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway built by Chinese firms, is set to become fully operational. With the inception of what has been hailed as the "Tazara railway in a new era", a new chapter will be turned over in Africa's railway history, while a new milestone will be set up in China-Africa traditional friendship. TAZARA RAILWAY IN A NEW ERA During a visit to Ethiopia in May 2013, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang hailed the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway as the "Tazara railway in a new era." In 1970s, China, where a thousand things still waited to be done, resolved to support the construction of the Tazara railway which links Tanzania's Dar es Salaam with Zambia's Kapiri Mposhi. More than 50,000 Chinese railway workers worked for construction of the railway. Among them, 64 Chinese experts made the ultimate sacrifice in a land far away from home. But Tazara Railway has since become a symbol for China-Africa friendship which opened a new era of development for China-Africa friendly relations. China has since put on top agenda its assistance to African countries in building infrastructures. He who wants to get rich must first build roads. This is one of the key lessons China has learned after realizing rapid economic development following decades of reform and opening up to the outside world. China is willing to share the lesson with African countries so that they will get rid of the bottlenecks that have been holding back economic growth for centuries. In recent years, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the new concept of "building nests to attract phoenix" and "teaching them how to fish" in China's cooperation with Africa. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also proposed that China and Africa work together to develop the "Three Major Networks" -- railway, road and regional aviation. With sincerity and good faith, China is helping African countries to boost infrastructural construction, promote Africa's inter-connection and integration process and help Africa realize independent sustainable development. It is against this historic backdrop that the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, which links Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa with the port of Djibouti, comes into being as an early fruitful result in China-Africa cooperation in building the Three Major Networks and driving industrialization. Thus, the railway, following its predecessor Tazara Railway, has become another symbol for China-Africa friendship. AFRICA'S NEW GROWTH ENGINE Built in 1970s, the Tazara Railway played a major role in the socioeconomic development of Tanzania and Zambia. As the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway commences operations, it will avail landlocked Ethiopia a precious access to the sea, greatly improving its logistics capacity. On the other hand, the small, resource-poor Djibouti will have a chance to realize its ambition to become a regional transport hub. The railway's operation will also help boost economic growth along the railway, speed up urbanization, create jobs, improve people's living standards and promote socioeconomic sustainable development. The Ethiopia-Djibouti is built with a complete set of Chinese standards and equipment. During the process, a great number of Ethiopian and Djibouti technical and managerial personnel received systemic training in Chinese railway technical knowhow, paving the way for the development of their own railways by the two countries themselves. It is foreseeable that more and more African countries will improve their understanding of and finally accept the Chinese railway standards, pushing forward their own railway development, which in turn will speed up their industrialization process. Besides, the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is also expected to give impetus to the economic development of East Africa and even that of the whole Africa. African countries will have a new engine for economic growth. HAVANA - Hurricane Matthew reached eastern Cuba on Tuesday afternoon, "pounding" the area with rain and wind. Naomi Rivera, 41, shields herself from the rain ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Matthew in Guantanamo, Cuba, October 4, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] The "northern eyewall of extremely dangerous Hurricane Matthew already pounding the eastern tip of Cuba," the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest bulletin.Cuba's state daily Granma ran images of rough seas and high waves along the country's eastern shores.Cuban President Raul Castro personally inspected storm preparations in easternmost Cuba earlier in the day.The category four hurricane, meaning it can pack winds of between 209 and 251 km per hour, is forecast to dump as much as 200 to 300 mm of rain, up to 500 mm in mountainous areas, and cause flooding along the island's southeastern coast, according to Granma.Matthew earlier barreled through western Haiti, killing three people, while another remains missing, and displacing some 9,000 people.In Cuba, more than 430,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas prone to flooding, with the eastern provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago, Holguin, Granma and Camaguey under a "hurricane warning" since Monday.Flights, trains and bus transport from Havana and other parts of country to the eastern provinces have been suspended until the hurricane passes.The president was in eastern Cuba since Saturday, touring the provinces of Santiago and Guantanamo to personally oversee preparations.The last major storm to hit Cuba was 2012's Hurricane Sandy, which caused widespread damage to southeast Cuba, killing 11 people, and went on to cause catastrophic flooding in New York City, after making an unexpected left turn into the US Eastern Seaboard as she traveled north.Matthew is expected to turn north-northwest by Wednesday, heading to the Bahamas and the east coast of the United States. British Home Secretary Amber Rudd delivers her keynote address at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Britain, October 4, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Home Secretary Amber Rudd has hit back at critics who labeled her a racist following a speech she made at the Tory party conference about possible immigration curbs. "I don't think we should have a situation where we can't talk about immigration," she said on BBC Radio 4's Today program on Wednesday. "We must not ignore the fact that people want to talk about immigration and if we do talk about immigration, don't call me a racist." On Tuesday, at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Rudd said the government's desire to see net migration into the UK reduced to sustainable levels may mean the granting of student visas in future is linked to the quality of courses and universities where students want to study. She also announced the establishment of a new 140-million-pound Controlling Migration Fund aimed at easing pressure on public services in areas with high immigrant populations. Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said Rudd's proposals were "a nasty little policy that deserves to be thrown out on the rubbish heap". The announcement about student visas is likely to mean students on poor-quality courses and those at inferior educational institutions will face tougher entry rules. Commentators have said the aim is to crack down on the number of people using student visas to get into the UK so they can work. Tanya Wang, senior immigration adviser at UVIC, an education and visa service agency, said it is too early to say what impact such a change might have on Chinese students coming to the UK. But she predicted "universities with a less privileged status may be opposed to this idea because, if such a policy comes into effect, it could significantly affect them". Wang Junwei, who is studying engineering management at the University of Warwick, said such a change might improve the quality of universities and graduates. Wang said a cap on the number of students coming into the country might also mean more jobs for local people. "However, the question is whether the locals are willing to work in those positions?" Wang said. "If they are not, this might influence the daily activities of a factory, a shop, etc. This will cause a domino effect." In her speech, Rudd highlighted the role of UK universities as world-leading centers of academic excellence, but questioned some aspects of the student visa system. "Foreign students, even those studying English language degrees, don't even have to be proficient in speaking English," she said. "We need to look at whether this one-size-fits-all approach really is right for the hundreds of different universities, providing thousands of different courses across the country. " Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group, an organization representing 24 leading UK universities, said: "Our universities compete on the global stage, so we welcome the government's commitment to help us attract the brightest and the best from around the world. It is essential that our immigration system takes a risk-based approach to support legitimate students who want to study here." Rudd is also considering strengthening a test that companies have to pass before they can recruit employees from abroad. "The test should ensure people coming here are filling gaps in the labor market, not taking jobs British people could do," Rudd said. In August, the UK also started a new pilot visa scheme for international students that allows them to stay on for an extra six months after graduation with a master's degree from the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the University of Bath. To contact the reporter: wangmingjie@mail.chinadailyuk.com Xu Shaoshi (center), head of the National Development and Reform Commission and special envoy representing President Xi Jinping, watches as Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopia prime minister (left), and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh (right) cut the ribbon to launch the new railway from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to the port of Djibouti on Wednesday in Addis Ababa. QIN BIN / FOR CHINA DAILY High leaders, dignitaries mark opening of service between Ethiopia, Djibouti port In the 1970s, China anchored the construction of the Tazara railway linking Tanzania and Zambia a project that greatly boosted the two countries' economies. A little more than 40 years later, a new episode of railway history was written, again with a Chinese helping hand, as East Africa's first modern electrified standard gauge railway was inaugurated on Wednesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 750-kilometer railway, built by two Chinese companies and mainly financed by a Chinese bank, links Addis Ababa to the Red Sea port city of Djibouti. Designed for a speed of 120 kilometers per hour, it is expected to reduce travel time from seven days by road to about 10 hours, and provide landlocked Ethiopia with a faster access to the Djibouti port. In a ceremony on Wednesday morning, Hailemariam Desalegn, prime minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and his neighbor, Ismail Omar Guelleh, president of the Republic of Djibouti, cut a red ribbon officially commissioning the infrastructure that traverses both countries. The railway was developed by two Chinese firms China Railway Engineering Corp and China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. China Export and Import Bank loaned 70 percent of the capital. "This train is a game-changer," said Mekonnen Getachew, CEO of the Ethiopian Railways Corp. "Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The connection to the ports (of Djibouti) will give a bounce, and our economy will grow faster." In his keynote speech, Desalegn said the $4 billion railway project clearly showed Africa's desire and commitment to speed up the integration process. "Ethiopia is once again in the continental map as a pioneer toward implementing modern infrastructure, courtesy of China," Desalegn said. The Djibouti president, Guelleh, hailed the project as a symbol of friendship and integration between the two neighboring countries. He said the project was conceived in 1897 but was only made possible more than 100 years later by China. "China has stood by us and has been instrumental in building not only our regional infrastructure but the whole of Africa," he said. "We see a prosperous future as a more integrated continent. This railway represents the new face of Africa, which is ready to take charge of its destiny." Also present were Togo's President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe; Xu Shaoshi, special envoy of President Xi Jinping and head of the National Development and Reform Commission; and Yuan Xingyong, vice-president of Export-Import Bank of China. Xu hailed the railway as an achievement of cooperation and friendship, calling it a road map to the future, but said more effort should be made to develop the local labor force. There will be a three-month test period of the line. To address a shortage of railway personnel, a massive training program is being led by China. In Ethiopia, which hosts most of the line, about 2,000 local stewards, technicians, drivers and others are receiving training from China Railway No 2 Engineering Group, a major builder and operator of the railway. More than 20,000 workers from Ethiopia and 5,000 from Djibouti were employed during the construction. China is a leading builder and operator of railways worldwide. As of the end of 2015, the country had put 121,000 kilometers of rail lines into service, including 19,000 km of high-speed rail. Xinhua and Agence France-Presse contributed to this story. Contact the writers at panzhongming@chinadaily.com.cn (Photo : Getty Images) A logo sits illuminated outside the Nokia pavilion on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex in Barcelona, Spain. Advertisement There is a rumor that Nokia is working on a new smartphone. The rumor started when an alleged mid-range Nokia smartphone appeared on a benchmarking site, fueling speculations that the company is reviving its deteriorating business. Nokia has been focusing on the Internet of Things market since the fall of its smartphone division. However, loyal Nokia fans can get their hands on a Nokia smartphone through a little-known firm named HMD from Finland. HMD successfully acquired a license from Nokia, along with $500 million in operational capital, to design, create, and sell Nokia-branded smartphones. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement According to ZDNet, the licensing deal between Nokia and HMD was signed in April, but HDM is yet to launch or even confirm that it is working on its first smartphone. This has led many Nokia fans to believe that HDM might be working on a major device launch, hence the utter secrecy. Rumors have been circulating in the tech community that two smartphones are currently in the works and that they are aimed towards the high-end market. If the recently leaked benchmark result from the benchmarking website, GeekBench, holds any truth to it, HDM might be working on three smartphones. The mystery smartphone that surfaced on GeekBench bore the codename Nokia D1C. The phone runs on the Android 7.0 Nougat and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset with 3GB of RAM. Advertisement TagsNokia, Android, HDM, nokia smartphone, nokia leak, nokia d1c (Photo : Getty Images) China on Saturday announced that it had blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra River to India. Advertisement A prominent Indian minister said on Tuesday that New Delhi is looking for options to respond to China's move to block a tributary of the Brahmaputra River. However, he did not elaborate on what options India is considering. "The Central Government is seized of the situation and we are working on it," said India's Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. "Leave it to the Prime Minister and the government. We will come out with a solution." Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China on Saturday announced that it had blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra River to India. This move was made to facilitate work on one of the "most expensive" hydropower projects in Tibet. However, it is not clear whether the decision will have any impact on the flow of water towards India and Bangladesh - the two countries where Brahmaputra's tributary gets drained. China's move comes just as Indian government had started reviewing the Indus water treaty to scrap its water sharing agreement with Pakistan. New Delhi is piling diplomatic pressure on Pakistan in the wake of the recent Uri attack that left 18 Indian soldiers dead. Scrapping the Indus water treaty is the latest diplomatic move that Indian government was mulling over. However, experts say that India has been left completely stumped by China's unexpected decision to block the Brahmaputra tributary. Indian authorities suspect Pakistan's hand behind China's decision. Islamabad has been counting on China's diplomatic support in the ongoing tension with India. Any support by China, the closest ally of Pakistan, would give a huge boost to Islamabad's falling morale in the wake of the lack of international support. Pakistan and China's relation with India is underpinned by festering border issues. Both countries have fought wars with India to settle border disputes. The Kashmir dispute has been responsible for most of the wars fought between India and Pakistan. The disputed northern Himalayan region is also responsible for the current tension between New Delhi and Islamabad. Advertisement TagsIndia, India and China, brahmaputra river, china (Photo : Getty Images) Visitors look at smartphones at the Lenovo stand at the 2015 IFA consumer electronics and appliances trade fair on September 4, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Advertisement China's smartphone maker Lenovo said on Tuesday it is targeting not only to double its sales but also to land on the top spot in India's smartphone market with its Lenovo and Motorola brands. "We grew 100% year on year in last fiscal. We are on a growth trend and I see no reason why that growth rate will slow down. That's the trend we are expecting to continue," Sudhin Mathur, executive director of Lenovo India Mobile Business Group, told the Economic Times. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Lenovo together with Motorola snatched the second biggest smartphone seller in terms of value in India, surpassing Apple, with a market share of 9.1 percent in the quarter ended June 2016. When it comes to volume, Lenovo secured the third spot in India, accounting for 7.7 percent of the market share, the company said citing International Data Corporation's Asia Pacific data. "We won't be playing second fiddle and we want to become number one in the India," Aymar de Lencquesaing, senior vice president and co-president of Mobile Business Group, said. As part of its strategy, Lenovo will target the premium segment category (priced $300) in the country. Last Tuesday, it launched Moto Z and Moto Z Play, with price tags at $600 and $375, respectively. These handsets will initially be available on Amazon India and Flipkart starting October 17, according to The Hindu Business Line. Meanwhile, Lenovo also revealed its plans to expand at a global level, with the aim of becoming the world's third biggest vendor worldwide. "It's not mission impossible at all... We are getting on to the gas paddle globally to push volumes worldwide," Lencquesaing said. Advertisement TagsLenovo, lenovo india, Smartphone, indian market, Mobile Phones, Lenovo Moto Z, lenovo moto z play (Photo : Getty Images) Fujitsu's humanoid robot HOAP-3 on display at the Robot Award 2007 on December 20, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. Advertisement Japanese information technology firm Fujitsu is teaming up with China's Shanghai Yidian to sell factory management systems in China, Nikkei Asian Review reported. These systems fall under the "internet of things," which comprises internetworking devices that enable objects to collect and exchange data. Such factory management system is deemed vital for China to cope with its declining workforce and to improve the quality of its products. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The Fujitsu and Shanghai Yidian joint venture, described as a "smart factory" model project by the Chinese government, will start their sales effort as early as next year, with particular focus on coastal manufacturing firms. Under the partnership, Shanghai Yidian will do the installation of the needed sensors and technology in the clients' factories, while Fujitsu will produce the software. Meanwhile, Fujitsu plans to team up with other Chinese partners to compete across the country. It also aims to establish 100 factories in three years that would bring in an estimated $9.73 million revenue for the Japanese technology group. Shanghai Yidian group, on the other hand, is managed by the municipal government and has about 150 companies manufacturing electronic materials, lighting, to name a few. Some of its factories have already reportedly made use of Fujitsu's software, which allows managers to monitor equipment and production in real time, track energy usage, and check any other problems. Last month, Fujitsu announced that its $910 million ARM-powered supercomputer project will miss its 2020 deadline as its engineers need more time to design, test, and perfect the machine's processors, the Register reported. "There has been a delay to development due to us applying a new CPU related semiconductor technology. As a result, the time required for making system prototypes and detailed designs has now been extended," Rishad Marquardt, Fujitsu spokersperson, told El Reg, adding that the expected date of completion will be pushed back between 12 and 14 months. Advertisement TagsFujitsu, Shanghai Yidian, Internet of Things, smart factory, Robots (Photo : Getty Images) President Duterte's shift from US to China would weaken the US influence President Obama continues to establish in Asia Advertisement Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's shift to China as part of his pursuit of independent foreign policy has reportedly shaken the long-standing US-Philippine alliance and could significantly weaken the influence of the US in Asia and the South China Sea region. A study conducted by debt watcher, Fitch Ratings BMI Research, said Duterte's shift from US towards China foreign policy should not be underestimated as this could damage Washington's "pivot to Asia" foreign policy at a time when tensions are running high between Beijing and its neighbors. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's apparent foreign policy shift away from the US towards China could substantially undermine Washington's geopolitical influence in Asia at a time when tensions between Beijing and its neighbors are rising," the study, published on Sept. 30, said. Regional security partner The study, titled "Duterte's Foreign Policy Shift to Undermine US' Geopolitical Influence," said without Duterte's cooperation, US and Japan may turn to Vietnam and will try to nurture Hanoi as a major regional security partner in the disputed South China Sea region. As Duterte continues to "rebalance" its foreign policy away from the US and towards China, its latest shift is seen as benefiting China alone, the superpower Manila brought to court for a territorial case filed in 2013, the study said. The arbitral court handed down a ruling last July 12 in a case filed by the Philippines against China over territorial issues in South China Sea. It rejected the latter's massive claims over the disputed waters following its nine-dash rule. US-Philippine Alliance The ruling, favoring the claims of the Philippines, has been rejected and dismissed by China as "illegal" and "null and void." "A major geopolitical shift in Asia appears to have begun in mid-2016, when Rodrigo Duterte became president of the Philippines, and this will undermine the US' position to the benefit of China," the BMI Research said. While former President Benigno Aquino III sealed its alliance with US and Japan under his term, the two countries, wary of the increasing military power of China, may experience a different thing under Duterte's administration. Philippines has moved away from the US and has started mending ties and cozying up to Beijing, which has welcomed him with open arms. Geopolitical importance "This suggests that the Philippines' presence in an informal US-led bloc of Asian nations aimed at counter-balancing China's rise is no longer assured," according to BMI Research. The report said the Philippines has gained geopolitical importance given its strategic location in major global commercial shipping routes between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. It further added that the US has long recognized the Philippines' strategic significance during the 1898 Spanish-American war. EDCA Even after the American rule ended in 1946, the US has maintained close ties with Manila and as proof to that, then President Aquino signed a 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with Washington in 2014. Duterte has questioned the validity of several Philippine military treaties with the US, such as the EDCA, VFA and the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, saying the treaties were not signed by Aquino or himself. The study said that for as long as Manila continues to shift to Beijing, China will continue to build on reefs and shoals on the disputed sea. "China will most likely continue to consolidate its position in the South China Sea through the construction of artificial islands capable of housing military facilities, and most probably by declaring an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the sea in the near future," the report stated. Duterte earlier has declared that the ongoing US-Philippine military exercises in Manila will already be the last since "China doesn't want it." He also announced that Philippine troops will not join the US forces in its patrols in the South China Sea under the freedom of navigation principle because he did not want his troops to be involved in a "hostile act" with China. Advertisement Tagsindependent foreign policy, US, china, geopolitical influence, pivot to Asia, Fitch Ratings BMI Research, President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo : Getty Images) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has gone on another tirade against the U.S.. telling President Barack Obama to go to hell. Advertisement In the latest salvo against the United States, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday told U.S. President Barack Obama to "go to hell" and that Russia and China are willing to be the country's new military supplier. The Filipino leader's latest taunt against the U.S. came after American authorities allegedly refused to sell some weapons to the Philippines. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "If you don't want to sell arms, I'll go to Russia. I sent the generals to Russia and Russia said 'do not worry, we have everything you need, we'll give it to you,'" Duterte said in a speech in Manila. "And as for China, they said 'just come over and sign and everything will be delivered.'" Duterte warned that he "will break up with America." But did not elaborate on what he meant with "break up." Earlier in the week, the Filipino leader said that he would review the U.S.-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. The defense agreement signed in 2014 allows U.S. troops to access Philippine military bases and permits them to set up storage facilities for maritime purposes and humanitarian operations. Meanwhile, the U.S. has chosen to play down Duterte's latest fiery comments. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that Duterte's comments were at "odds" with the two countries' warm relationship and decades-long alliance. Earnest took a swipe at Duterte's aggressive tactics in his war against "drugs mafia," which has raised concerns over the alleged human right violation."[The] United States of America will not hesitate to raise our concerns about extrajudicial killings," he added. U.S. officials are apparently doing their best to ignore Duterte's rhetoric and not offer him a pretext for more outbursts. However, several foreign experts claim that Philippine President Duterte's recent salvos against the U.S. must be taken seriously, as it marks a tactical shift in Manila's foreign policy. For decades, Manila's foreign policy has been underpinned by close military and economic cooperation with the U.S, which has helped in countering China's aggression in the South China Sea. Advertisement TagsRodrigo Duterte, Barack Obama, Philippines and US (Photo : Russian Navy) Jinxed: Russia's Bulava SLBM. Advertisement The Russian Navy's new "Bulava" RSM-56 (NATO reporting name SS-NX-30) submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) -- the most expensive weapons system in Russian history -- continues to be plagued by a high rate of failure three years after its deployment. This disaster ridden SLBM was developed for the Russian Navy and deployed in 2013 on the new Borei class nuclear ballistic missile submarines. It's the new naval cornerstone of Russia's nuclear triad and is the most expensive weapons program in Russia. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Nine of the 27 test launches of the missile were failures, an unacceptably high failure rate of 24 percent. That means there's a one in four chance a Bulava will either blow-up after launch or miss its target. The latest fiasco occurred last Sept. 28 when one of two Bulavas launched from the Borei-class submarine, Yury Dolgoruky, navigating the White Sea self-destructed after the first stage burnout and fell into the sea. The target of both Bulavas was the Kura firing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. Military sources believe the failed missile was slightly damaged on launch, making it impossible for it to reach its destination. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation declined to comment. The Bulavas past failures were mostly traced to shoddy workmanship and substandard materials, and this might still be the case today. One Russian analyst claims a series of mistakes was made during the Bulava's construction. "Firstly, the developers, who had never worked with ICBMs for nuclear submarines, in certain stages limited themselves to computer models rather than testing at sea. Secondly, the government should not have been trying to optimize costs and deadlines by unifying 'ground' missiles with 'sea' missiles." Western analysts, on the other hand, noted the Bulava's flight test program was problematic. Until 2009, there were 6 failures in 13 flight tests and one failure during a ground test, mostly blamed on substandard components. The missile was officially approved for service in December 2011 and was commissioned aboard the Yuri Dolgorukiy on in January 2013. The missile, however, continued to fail in the summer of 2013 and wasn't operational as of November 2013. It failed again in 2015. In November, the Vladimir Monomakh, another Borei-class submarine, fired two missiles while submerged. One of the missiles self-destructed during the boost phase and the other failed to deliver its warheads to the specified target. It was determined the missiles failed due to manufacturing defects. Advertisement TagsBulava, Borei-class, submarine launched ballistic missile, Russian Navy, Yury Dolgoruky (Photo : Russian Army) The son: Russia's Nerekhta suicide robot tank. (Photo : Wehrmacht) The father: Goliath suicide robot tank and the German Army soldier controlling it. Advertisement The Russian Army has taken a weapon used against it by the German Army in World War II to produce what the Russian's now calls a "kamikaze robot" that blows itself up along with its target. The "Nerekhta" fighting robot is a stealthy, maneuverable and silent miniature robotic tank that sneaks- up on its target totally unnoticed. And "Ka-boom!" The robot owes its stealthiness to its rubber tracks and its quiet engine. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Both in design and use, the Narekhta is similar to the "Goliath" tracked mine used by the German Army on the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. The 0.56 meter tall Goliath carrying 60 kg of high explosive was remotely controlled by an operator using a joystick. Goliath weighed 370 kg and was 1.5 meters in length. The tank was linked to the operator's control console by a set of wires. The operator drove the Goliath (SdKfz 302/303) towards its target where it was detonated. This is precisely the same concept as the Nerekhta. Russian media claims Russian Army scouts and Special Forces will deploy the Nerekhta to destroy enemy tanks and fortifications. "The Nerekhta system has been put on the list of future fighting robots currently being mulled for use by the Russian Armed Forces," said at the Ministry of Defense. "If the combat platform passes the tests, it will enter service with our army scouts and Special Ops troops." The Nerekhta weighs 300 kg; is just over one meter long and has a road speed of 11 km/h in silent mode. Sources claim the Nerekhta can pack hundreds of kilograms of high explosives. A future iteration of the kamikaze tank will see the addition of a robotic arm so the Nerekhta can drop its explosive ordnance next to its target and then escape. No more self-destructing since robots are expensive to make. You can see Nerekhta on YouTube here. Advertisement TagsRussian Army, Nerekhta fighting robot, kamikaze robot, German Army, Goliath tracked mine (Photo : Getty Images) A Lenovo ideapad netbook with an Intel Atom processor is displayed at the Intel Corp. Advertisement Chinese multinational technology company Lenovo said it is considering India as a potential center for manufacturing its laptops. "At Pondicherry plant, where we are already manufacturing desktops, has the capacity and flexibility to manufacture laptops. The company will have to take a call when to do it," Dinesh Nair, director of Lenovo India Consumer Business, said, adding that company is committed to take part of the country's 'Make in India' initiative. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement He also noted that making laptops in India would give more flexibility since at least two months are needed to ship products from China, Gadgets 360 noted. Meanwhile, Lenovo is exerting all of its efforts to grab the top spot in India's PC market over the next few years. In terms of market shares in India, the Chinese smartphone maker currently ranks third with 16.1 percent, trailing behind HP and Dell, which account for 28.4 percent and 22.2 percent, respectively. "Going ahead, we want to be the number one and that would mean we grab share from others," Rajesh Thadani, Lenovo India Consumer Business head, said, adding that Lenovo had grown from merely 7 to 8 percent in 2010 to 16 percent this year. As part of its strategy, Lenovo revamped its entire range of portfolio, shifting its target on gamers and young professionals. It is also boosting its retail presence and has introduced a whole new slate of products into the market. Not only that, Lenovo also launched a new scheme for its clients giving them up to three years of accidental damage protection and three years of additional warranty without added cost when purchasing select models, Money Control noted. Furthermore, all laptops are already equipped with McAfee Live Safe Suite. Prices for the new lineup that includes notebooks, 2-in-1s, and a gaming laptop range between $263 and $1,925. Advertisement TagsLenovo, lenovo india, lenovo laptops, indian market, Make in India (Photo : IAF) An Indonesian Air Force Su-27 (foreground) and an Su-30 are escorted by two Australian Air Force F-18 Hornets. Advertisement Indonesia has announced its largest air force exercise to pound into China's head the message it exclusively owns the Natuna Islands Archipelago, and that China's allegation it has overlapping claims to this region because of its illegal nine-dash line belongs to the trash heap of history. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Two months ago, Indonesia burned Chinese fishing vessels and vessels from other countries caught illegally fishing in the waters of its Natuna Islands. The Indonesian Air Force (IAF) will send its Sukhoi Su-27SKM multi-role fighters; its Su-30MK2 long-range strike fighters and its General Dynamics F-16 air superiority fighters to patrol the skies above the Natunas, the equivalent of an aerial "Do Not Enter" sign to China. Over 2,000 IAF personnel will take part in the exercise. "We want to show our existence in the area. We have a good enough air force to act as a deterrent," said Jemi Trisonjaya, IAF spokesman. Indonesia has always strongly objected to claiming the waters around the Natunas are within its nine-dash line outlawed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration last July 12. Indonesia sank 60 foreign fishing boats during its Independence Day on Aug. 17 in a dramatic message to China and neighboring countries to stop illegal fishing in Indonesian waters. Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said the ships were sunk near eight islands to create artificial reefs. In contrast, Indonesia blew-up captured ships in 2014 and 2015 to send a chilling message to their countries of origin. Malaysia also turns sunken foreign fishing vessels into artificial reefs. The mass sinkings across Indonesia reinforce Indonesian President Joko Widodo's vow to get tough on foreign boats fishing unlawfully in waters within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Indonesia also sank several Chinese boats captured off the Natuna Islands archipelago and elsewhere. Many of the boats were seized off the Natunas where Indonesia's EEZ extends into the South China Sea. China claims ownership of the Natunas based on its illegal "nine-dash line." The Permanent Court of Tribunal in The Hague ruled that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights within the nine-dash line in the South China Sea. It also said none of the land features in the Spratlys meet the criteria for an island that China -- or any other country -- can use to claim a 200-nautical-mile EEZ. The case filed by the Philippines has been labeled a "sweeping victory" against China. In 2015, also on its Independence Day, Indonesia sank 41 fishing vessels from China, Vietnam, the Philippines and other nations after Widodo promised to get tough on illegal fishing in Indonesian waters by foreign fishing vessels, especially those from China. Advertisement TagsIndonesia, Indonesian Air Force, air force exercise, Natuna Islands archipelago, china, nine dash line (Photo : Getty Images/ChinaPhotos) Four major cities in China have introduced new restrictions on property purchases. Advertisement China has taken action to cool its soaring real estate market. Four major cities in the country have put restrictions on new property purchases. Housing prices have been skyrocketing across China, especially in tier-1 and tier-2 countries. The four cities which announced the latest restrictions are Chengdu, Jinan, Wuhan and Zhengzhou. Several measures have been taken to control the unprecedented rise in China's housing market. The average new home price in China's 70 major cities showed an annual increase of 9.2 percent in the month of August, surpassing the 7.9 percent increase recorded in July. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Chengdu now will allow buyers to purchase only one property in certain city districts. Buyers who are looking to acquire their second property will be required to make the down payment of no less than 40 percent of the purchase price. The local government also said that it would take action against developers who have not started their promised construction activities. Jinan will not allow people who already own three properties to buy another. The down payment requirement for people looking to buy their first home purchase has been increased to 30 percent. Meanwhile, Wuhan increased the down payment requirement for a second home purchase to 50 percent. The down payment required for first house purchase is set at 25 percent. China is tightening the credit expansion in its housing market. The government is also looking to clamp down on rumor-mongering, which has led to excessive speculation in the market. Xinhua reported that China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has investigated 45 developers in this regard. Advertisement Tagschina, Chengdu, Wuhan URGENT: ISIS leader reportedly poisoned, extremely ill 05 October, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | MOSUL, Iraq (Christian Examiner) Iran's semi-official FARS News Agency is reporting that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State, has been poisoned and is close to death. FARS cited an Iraqi news source for the report, which claimed a local source in Nineveh Province as saying there was "accurate information" that Baghdadi's food had been poisoned by "unknown individuals." He and other members of his band reportedly fell extremely ill. Baghdadi has reportedly been evacuated from Mosul, the focus of an upcoming Iraqi offensive, to Syria under strict care. Early reports claimed that several of the terror leader's aides had died from the poisoning, but that has not been confirmed. Baghdadi, who was born Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim, was likely already set to flee to Syria. According to FARS, he had given orders for ISIS soldiers in Mosul to destroy the city before it could fall into the hands of Iraqi forces. The report also said several ISIS leaders had already been gunned down by members of the "M" movement in Mosul. "[The] letter M stands for the Arabic word, 'Moqavamah' (Resistance). The group is said to have been formed of dissident people who are opposed to the terrorist cult," FARS reported. This is also not the first time Baghdadi has been close to death. He has been wounded multiple times by airstrikes (in 2014 and 2015). Evacuations ordered as Hurricane Matthew heads towards Florida; volunteers standing by Editorial Staff | 05 October, 2016 by Joni B. Hannigan JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Christian Examiner) From the southernmost tip of the Florida peninsula to New England, residents are making preparations for Hurricane Matthew, a Category 3 storm which is the most powerful in the Atlantic since Hurricane Felix in 2007. Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a State of Emergency for all of Florida's 67 counties ahead of the impact of what could be a Category 4 storm if it makes landfall in the next 24 hours; while South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said 1.1 million of the state's 4.8 million people needed to evacuate from the state's coast. "Our goal is to make sure you get 100 miles away from the coast," Haley said. In Miami, lines at the grocery store were reported long Wednesday morning near Miami Beach, while gas stations were already out of gas, according to residents. In Jacksonville to the north, hardware stores were reporting they were out of generators with emergency shipments on the way. Gas lines there were long as well, with major grocery store chains busy. Major Lenny Curry has ordered an evacuation for Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic and Neptune ahead of the storm, and some low lying and riverfront areas of Jacksonville. "We need to evacuated the beaches," said Curry, who is closing the city for non-essential personnel Thursday and Friday. Residents are told to prepare for power outages. Some families were making emergency plans with some looking to leave the area altogether, heading west or north to escape the storm while most were planning to hunker down. Facebook was alive with "hurricane party" plans in zones were no evacuations would be anticipated. School closures began mid-morning Wednesday, with First Baptist Jacksonville Academy already reporting Thursday and Friday classes dismissed at their infant through middle school campus. Florida Baptist disaster relief volunteers, according to a news story posted on the Florida Baptist Convention website, were already making preparations for the storm. The huge mass of about 5,000 volunteers, well recognized for their ongoing response in Florida and throughout the nation and the world during mass disasters, are trained in mass feeding, emergency response, damage assessment, clean-up and recovery, childcare, chaplain support, and other areas. Two Florida Baptist mass feeding units are being staged at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center near Leesburg for rapid response, according to the news report. "The Disaster Operation Center at Lake Yale will stage equipment out of the warehouse," said the report. "Trained mass feeding volunteers are expected to be called out on Thursday. FBDR officials have asked Southern Baptist state partners west of Pensacola to be on standby, including Texas, Mississippi and Alabama." Delton Beall, Florida's disaster relief director, said the state's Emergency Operations Center estimates there will be more than 300,000 meals needed daily if the state takes a direct hit. Florida Baptists, in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew, had pre-staged food, water and other resources, according to the report. With an extra eye on Haiti and Cuba where Florida Baptists have had long-term ministry, they have reported they have been in contact with mission partners in Eastern Cuba and in Western Haiti since the storm went through there Wednesday. Western Haiti was damaged by floods, the report indicated. Craig Culbreth, catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention's Missions and Ministries Team, said the Mission House of the Confratenite Missionaire de Haiti in Port au Prince did not, however, sustain damage. He plans to travel there Saturday. A team of Florida Baptist is set to travel to Santiago, Cuba, next week to repair church roofs and other damage. The Florida Baptist Convention's Facebook page will post updates. To donate to the Florida Baptist DR relief effort send a check to the Florida Baptist Convention, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207. Designate "Florida disaster relief." To make a donation by credit card, call 800-226-8584, att. Mike Gilley, ext. 3047 or Flor Ramirez, ext. 3100. Persecution of Christians has been increasing in Uzbekistan, where it is illegal to even own a Bible. According to ChristianToday.com, Christian persecution ministry Open Doors is asking Christians around the world to pray for Uzbekistan's Christians. One recent example of the crackdown on Christianity, and particularly, owning Christian literature, is the case of STanislav Kim, a Uzbek Christian who was sentenced to two years corrective labor for owning religious books. Kim also had part of his income confiscated by the government. Another incident occurred this summer when a Christian in the capital city of Tashkent was fined for owning religious literature. He was given a criminal trial and the literature was seized by the state. There have been many other similar cases of Christians being prosecuted for owning Bibles or Christian books. "Please pray for the Christians in Uzbekistan," a source told Open Doors. "It's getting more and more difficult to spread the gospel with literature." Uzbekistan does permit the Russian Orthodox Church, but all other Christian denominations are discriminated against. There are only 300,000 Christians in Uzbekistan which has a population of 30 million. The majority of people in the country are Muslim. Uzbekistan ranks 15 on Open Doors World Watch List of worst countries for Christian persecution. Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com Publication date: October 5, 2016 Pope Francis made a surprise trip on Tuesday (Oct. 4) to survivors in cities devastated by a powerful earthquake that killed nearly 300 people in central Italy in August. In what the Vatican described as a private visit to the town of Amatrice, the pope hugged townsfolk and toured the ruins with firefighters in the hardest-hit area, or so-called red zone. Much of Amatrice is still closed due to security concerns. After he arrived in the town 100 miles northeast of Rome early Tuesday, the pope expressed his closeness to the survivors and urged them to face the future with courage. He was accompanied by Bishop Domenico Pompili, whose diocese encompasses the area. Francis toured Amatrices makeshift school, where he was warmly welcomed by elementary and middle school students who gave him several of their drawings. He hugged children and adults and told people he had thought long and hard after the quake struck, saying he had wanted to visit but did not want to be more of a hindrance than a help. I thought long and hard in the first days of these many pains that my visit, perhaps, would be more of a hindrance than a help, a greeting, the pope said, according to Vatican Radio. I didnt want to be a bother so I let a little time pass, so that some things could be resolved, like the school. But from the first moment, I felt that I needed to come to you! Simply to express my closeness to you, nothing more. And I pray, pray for you! Solidarity and prayer: This is my offering to you. May the Lord bless you all. In one widely shared image, the pope was shown walking alone in silent prayer through the ruined buildings down one of the main streets of Amatrice. During his visit he met with a man who lost his wife and children in the quake, the Vatican said. He also visited a convalescent home where many of the elderly residents had been displaced by the earthquake. He greeted all 60 of them individually and had lunch with them. After blessing victims and survivors, the pope said: Lets move forward; there is always a future. There are many loved ones who have left us, who fell here under the rubble. Always look ahead. (Have) Courage, and help each other. One walks better together, alone we go nowhere. Lets go forward! Since the 6.2 magnitude quake struck on Aug. 24, Francis has expressed his intention to visit the quake-stricken zone but he never announced a date. In the days after the quake he telephoned Pompili several times and also indicated he wanted to visit the region to be close to the people. From Amatrice, the pope continued his visit to the nearby towns of Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto, which were also hard hit by the quake and hundreds of aftershocks that have left around 4,000 people homeless. In Accumoli, he prayed in front of the Church of San Francesco, which was destroyed by the earthquake. In Borbona, another village, he spent almost two hours with the elderly there. From there he traveled to Pescara del Tronto, stopping three times along the way to greet small groups of people. The visit took place on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the popes namesake and one of the most venerated figures in the Catholic Church, and especially in Italy. Last Sunday during the in-flight news conference on his return trip from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Rome, the pope said that he would make this visit privately, alone, as a priest, bishop and pope. But alone. I want to do this and I want to be close to the people. Josephine McKenna covers the Vatican for RNS Courtesy: Religon News Service Publication date: October 5, 2016 It is a sultry day with a hot breeze spinning little dust whirls down the winding road by the Sea of Galilee. There is an air of expectancy everywhere. We hear voices, raised to an excited pitch as friend calls a greeting to friend. Down every trail leading to Galilee little clusters of people make their way. Word has spread abroad that Jesus is returning to Galilee. Thronging multitudes Suddenly He and His little band of followers come over the brow of a little hill on the Capernaum road. Following close behind swarms a vast multitude of people from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. Quickly the word passes from mouth to mouth, Jesus is coming. Crowds from Bethsaida and Capernaum soon appear and join the others. Together they follow the little band of thirteen men, simply dressed in flowing robes. As they reach the summit of the hill, where gentle winds afford relief from the heat, Jesus stops and motions for all to sit down and rest. The authoritative teacher The air is tense. It is a moment to be captured and held for eternity. The crowd hushes as Jesus mounts a large rock and sits down. Quiet falls upon the multitude, their faces turned expectantly toward Jesus. Then He moves His lips and begins to speak. What He was saying there, on that Mount of Beatitudes in faraway Palestine, was to illuminate the pages of history. The most profound, the most sublime words ever uttered were spoken there that day. In simple words, Jesus revealed to His dumfounded hearers the inner depth of Gods commandments and a new way of life! No one who once heard Jesus could ever again be the same. What was the secret of this Master Teacher? How did He hold those crowds spellbound? And it came to pass, when Jesus ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Unconscious Mind Christian Life and the Unconscious, by Ernest White. Harper, New York, 1955. $3.00. Writings in the field of psychiatry, especially as that field relates to mans religious life, must meet two main requirements for the Christian. Such writings must reveal true understanding of scriptural doctrine and must indicate competence and insight into scientific psychology and psychiatry. This book of 190 pages meets both of those requirements to a high degree. Furthermore, these two highly commendable features of the book come together in many satisfying observations on the deeper spiritual issues of life and in much counsel that is biblically oriented and psychologically sound. The author, a practicing physician with a deep interest in psychiatry developed since 1936, has worked in association with Leslie Weatherhead at the City Temple Clinic in London. He describes and uses accurately concepts like the unconscious, ego, id, super-ego, the collective unconscious, archetypes, etc. He can speak of Freud and Freudian teachings without becoming involved in the frothy pansexualism that the popular mind understands as the teaching of the man from Vienna. He understands the dynamic motivation of behavior, and realizes that such motivation to action belongs rather to instinct and emotion than to intellect (pp. 19 f.). Whites main concern is with the Unconscious mind, that large hidden area of the personality that affects all of human life so profoundly. The author identifies the biblical term heart with modern psychologys mind in both its conscious and unconscious aspect. He stresses the unity of the mind and rejects any notion of the personality ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. In the past thirty or forty years drastic changes have taken place in European theology. These theological changes are visible against a complex background; and to take account of their background is to be reminded again that theological development is interwoven with history. The theological climate of a given time is always profoundly influenced by historical events. In times of prosperity and calm, theology takes on an optimistic color; in other times catastrophe throws a shadow over theology. Theology, in the sense of believing reflection on the truth of the Christian faith, does not stand unmoved within the events of a given area. It is constantly taken up, in thesis and antithesis, in struggle and confrontation, into the situation of the times. Temper of the times In the nature of the case, there is always a real danger that a theologian may fit his theology to the mentality of a given era and thus capitulate to it. This has often occurred, as appears from the modernistic theology of the nineteenth century, which, under pressure of the natural science popular at the time, sacrificed decisive points of the ancient confession of the Church to the current Zeitgeist. When this happens, a time in history is no longer viewed in the light of the Word of God, but rather the Word of God is interpreted out of the presuppositions of a given epoch. Thus, the Gospel is assimilated to the mind of the time. And finally, it is no longer the Gospel, but the temper of the times that speaks with authority. Post-evolutionary hypnosis It is clear that theology in Europe today has arisen out of the crises of many catastrophic events that are still vividly alive in our memory. These events are concentrated around the two world wars and all that ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Jerusalem + Judea + Samaria Canal Not Only Problem in Egypt Today Christians in Egypt are concerned about the rights of ships to travel through a canal, but they are more concerned about the systematic program of anti-Christian legislation. Reports from Egypt are as follows: All foreign mission schools must comply with a government order requiring them to teach the Islamic religion to their Moslem students, along with Judaism to Jewish students and Christianity to Christians. Meetings of worship are banned, unless they are held in government-licensed churches. All Sunday sermons in Protestant churches must be approved before they are delivered. Egyptian consulates abroad must obtain approval from the Ministry of Education before granting entry visas for foreign teachers, Among those affected will be hundreds of teachers in British, French, Italian and American mission schools who returned home for summer vacations. The government announced that if an Islamic state can be so broadminded as to provide instruction in the Christian religion for Christian students in its schools, then any objection on the part of foreign mission schools to do the same for Moslem students can only be viewed as fanaticism and will not be tolerated. A bombardment of protest followed, but the government stood firm. Roman Catholic schools agreed to comply with the law, provided that textbooks, instructors and all expenses of the religious courses be paid for by the government. Two Church of Scotland schools, which refused with an unequivocal no compliance, were confiscated and Egyptian principals were appointed. The American Mission in Egypt, a United Presbyterian group, weighed the pros and cons in an effort to find a solution. Soul-searching questions ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. With the first public announcement that a biweekly journal of evangelical conviction was in prospect, Christianity Today attracted the spontaneous interest of thousands of ministers and lay leaders. That initial response gained swift momentum as assurances multiplied that a wide welcome would await such an evangelical medium. Behind this initial issue stands a year of prayer, of decision, of planning. The fortnightly correlation of the Christian lifeline and the editorial deadline now takes the form of necessity as well as of opportunity and responsibility. In design and typography, Christianity Today combines the classic heritage of the past with the best of the modern. The cover achieves this effect with its combination of the classic Dutch and Weiss initials. The feature articles, contemporary in interest, are set and captioned in modern type faces. For article headings, Deepdene will predominate, with the body of the article set in Fairfield, an easily legible book face not uncommon in religious magazines. In its choice of type faces Christianity Today had the counsel of Paul Smith, a leading West Coast type designer. Christianity Today is printed on 40-pound eggshell paper. The first issue alone required 37,000 pounds-enough to reach, page by page, almost across the state of Texas, or from Cairo to Jerusalem to Damascus to Beirut. Christianity Today enjoys excellent printing arrangements. Type is set in Washington, D.C., by the McArdle Printing Company. Mats cast from the type are rushed to Dayton, Ohio, where the McCall Corporation, publisher of national magazines, completes the actual printing and mailing. Even before the last copy of Christianity Today is off the press, the addressing and mailing of copies ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. The role of freedom is waning. The high hope of a free world, so widespread two generations ago, is today in obvious decline. Wherever human liberty survives it dwells under somber shadows. The West distinguishes itself from the Soviet bloc especially as the champion of human freedoms. In contrast with the totalitarian enslavement of man, and the disregard for human dignity and rights in the Soviet sphere, the virtue most publicized by democratic nations is that they are freedom-loving. The twentieth-century conflict between the totalitarian and the nontotalitarian worlds is a conflict over mans position and his rights and duties. Search for a rationale Yet the West itself betrays a growing search for a rationale of freedom. That the Western conception of freedom needs to be revitalized is increasingly recognized and confessed. Multitudes of citizens in the favored Free World today lack a dynamic devotion to the cause of freedom and a missionary zeal to proclaim its message to men near and far. The spontaneous passion to enlist recruits under the flag of freedom is missing. The political crusade upholding individual worth and dignity is carried forward mainly by specialized organizations and technical leaders. What the West lacks is a passionate popular enthusiasm for liberty. Beyond doubt the Western view of human dignity and human rights presupposes a worthier outlook on life than does the communist devaluation of man. The Free World detaches itself, and rightly so, from the materialistic attempt to limit human life to finite considerations. Cooperation and loyalty require more than an appeal to underprivilege and misunderstanding; they demand a recognition of basic values. The West grasps the great fact ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. The names of Karl Barth and of Billy Graham ought not, perhaps, to be mentioned in the same sentence, unless one is prepared to stay for the afternoon. Their gifts and callings are diversethe one a skilled theologian, the other a skilled evangelist. Their influence is equally dissimilar, that of the one mainly academic, and of the other mainly popular. Barth is today doubtless at the very apex of his career, while Grahams star very probably is still rising. Nonetheless, both names are indelibly inscribed upon the role of distinguished Christian leaders in the twentieth century. In some respects, moreover, their ministries reflect superficial points of contact. Barth has had an impact upon theological thought throughout much of the Western world through the translation of his writings; Graham has had an evangelistic access to the Orient as well as to the Continent through the translation of his preaching. Even to contrast their ministries in terms of the technical versus the simple is to exaggerate their basic differences. Barths influence has extended beyond the classroom to the pew, and Grahams call to decision among university students has been as effective as among the less sophisticated. Barth has delivered a series of Gifford Lectures; Graham has fulfilled a weeks preaching mission at Cambridge. And what theologian today does not covet a broad ministry to the market place? Is not the New Testament ideal (we do not imply the flawlessness of Barths theology nor of Grahams evangelism) the theologian-evangelist, whom the apostle Paul supremely exemplifies? However varied their talents and influences, both Barth and Graham have come to symbolize a religious springtime after the ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. The Church can be understood best at two points in its history: at the time reflected in the book of Acts and the Epistles, and at the time of the Reformation. It is more difficult for us to project ourselves into the experience of the early Church because of our inability to duplicate certain advantages they had, namely, the immediate experience and authority of those who had known our Lord in the flesh and the unique outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We are closer to the experience of Luther and the other Reformers because their Christian experience was partially the result of the mediation of the Bible, the history and customs of the medieval church community, and the drag of all the accretions of the human upon the divine institution. An examination of Luthers experience as a member of the church is helpful, therefore, as a starting place for our own understanding. The Bible invoked against Rome In the providence of God, Luther, a devoted and disciplined monk of the Augustinian Order, was called upon to lecture from the Bible. Also in the providence of God, he was led to lecture from three sources, all of which forced him to decision over against Rome. He lectured on the Psalms, Galatians, and Romans; and both in the study and in the classroom the logic of his material led him eventually to see that he was justified by faith alone, that Christ was the only Mediator between him and his God, and that neither he nor his salvation needed the trappings and ceremonies of the Romanist hierarchy. Luthers experience was highly individualistic. He found himself in a saving relationship to God through Jesus Christ, and this experience of salvation with its accompanying assurance was not the result of nor had ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. home World Airstrikes destroy at least 20 churches in Aleppo, Syria At least 20 churches in Aleppo suffered heavy damage following airstrikes that were carried out in late September, according to a senior Russian official. Alexander Dzasokhov, Deputy Chairman of the Commission for UNESCO of the Russian Federation, noted that Aleppo is known for the presence of Christians as well as its architecture and cultural sites. "It suffers great destructions now. According to the recent data, 20 churches were destroyed there," said Dzasokhov, as reported by Interfax. The official also highlighted the need for people to contribute to the preservation of the country. "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," he added. Earlier in September, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) attacked a prominent church in Al-'Aziziyah District of northern Aleppo. A footage released by the Syrian Arab News Agency shows the damages sustained by the Syriac Catholic Church from rockets and mortar shells. According to the Assyrian International News Agency, other Syrian churches and mosques have been destroyed by rebel forces. Some archaeological sites that date back to the Crusades have also been damaged. The United Nations also reported last Sunday that hospitals in Aleppo have been "all but obliterated." U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien said that residents have been maimed and killed by continuous shelling and indiscriminate bombing in the region. "We are in a race against time to protect and save civilians in eastern Aleppo city," O'Brien said in a statement, adding, "They need our urgent action to bring an end to their living hell." The Syrian military started their offensive in Aleppo in an attempt to take control of the whole city after the ceasefire fell apart last month. The initial airstrikes by the Syrian military and its allies were later reinforced by military operations on the ground. home Faith Azerbaijan registers Bible society after 20 year wait, but unclear whether it will be allowed to print Bibles After 20 years of waiting, a Bible society has been registered in Azerbaijan but it is still unclear whether it is allowed to print Bibles due to the government's strict regulations on religious literature. Terje Hartberg from United Bible Societies is optimistic about the latest development. He believes that it is a step towards starting a Bible ministry in the country. However, the Bible society is still required to seek the approval of the government for printed or imported materials. The government also restricts the distribution of literature to state-approved sites. According to a Forum 18 report from 2015, those who distribute religious literature without the permission of the state would have their materials confiscated and would also be subject to criminal or administrative punishment. The report notes that foreigners who are caught distributing religous materials would face deportation. The Old Testament remains one of the banned books in Azerbaijan. When asked whether the ban applies to the whole Bible, Felix Cortley of Forum 18 says in an email to World Watch Monitor, "Well, you can't publish, print, import or distribute any religious publication without prior permission from the State Committee, which will also set numbers allowed. So nothing is approved until it is approved." "Then it can only be distributed in a state-approved venue with a sticker from the State Committee. It appears these stickers have not been available since April. As for the Old Testament, that appears to have been on a police list. So who knows?" Cortley continues. Azerbaijan ranks as the 34th most dangerous country to be a Christian in Open Doors' World Watch List. The officially secular country tolerates religion but the level of surveillance is very high. Forum 18 reports that less than two percent of its population are Russians or other Slavs who are regarded as Christians. 90 percent of its population are ethnic Azeris who are considered as Shia Muslims. It says that the human rights violations in the country are much worse in the exclave of Nakhichevan which borders Iran, Turkey and Armenia. home World China house church pastor suffering from serious diseases after 10 months in brutal jail A house church pastor is now suffering from serious illnesses after being detained in Guizhou Province for 10 months, according to his lawyers. Yang, the pastor of Huoshi Church in Guiyang, has been accused of "divulging state secrets" in December 2015 after he resisted the authorities who wanted to confiscate church property. His lawyers, Chen Jiangang and Zhao Yonglin, have discovered that he is now suffering from liver pain and other serious diseases, China Aid reports. In June, the lawyers filed a lawsuit alleging that Yang was tortured in an attempt to force a confession from him. It was reported that the prosecutors threatened his family as well. In an interview with his lawyer, Yang was able to narrate what the officials told him. According to Yang, one of the prosecutors threatened to kill him and feed him to the pigs. "No one here sympathizes with you. Do you know why the pigs on the pig farm behind this building are so fat? We can turn you into food for pigs, which is one way to die," one of the prosecutors allegedly told Yang, as reported by China Aid. The prosecutor went on to discuss other ways to make Yang confess his alleged crimes. "We can make you experience something worse than death and then make you disappear from the face of the earth, or I can make arrangements with the detention center to have three or four guys locked here rape you and torture you every night. Suing me won't work. I'm the boss here," the prosecutor continued. Last August, Yang's lawyers predicted that his trial would take place soon, but the authorities have yet to announce a trial date. A petition was launched by China Aid and the Lantos Foundation calling on Chinese President Xi Jin Ping to release Yang. It has already received 7,735 signatures. Yang's church is considered to be the largest house church in Guiyang. The church was able to purchase a larger building in 2014 when the congregation outgrew the capacity of the old buildings. The authorities tried to prevent the church from holding an opening ceremony by releasing a notice that declared the church as a non-religious group. The church went through with the event despite the threats. The church received a notice on Oct. 21, 2015 stating that it would be ordered to pay a fine of 12,960 Yuan per day if it continues to use the building for religious activities. home World 'Miracle' experienced by Christians saved from terror militants as dust storm moves in An underground ministry in the Middle East has reported that a group of Christians in the Middle East were miraculously saved from an attack by militants in the form of a dust storm. According to Bibles for Mideast, the group gathered together in the Arabian sea to baptize 24 Christian converts after fasting and praying for three days. As many as 50 Christians, including the new converts, were present at the baptism service. A new baptizer who goes by the name Rizwan said that the group boarded the bus after the service and they were on their way to the house church when militants started firing at them. "Suddenly some militants reached behind us by three or more cars and started shooting with guns toward us," Rizwan narrated. Rizwan said that the service was kept secret and speculated that the information about the event must have been leaked to the militants. He stated that the bus driver tried to drive fast, but the speed was matched by the militants. Rizwan narrated that the people riding the bus believed they were going to get killed and did not know what to do other than to pray. "Suddenly we saw a giant dust storm formed behind our bus. At first we all afraid of seeing the dust storm. We thought we may not be able to go beyond and will be held by the militants," said Rizwan, adding, "Jesus saved us. He Himself blocked the road of militants in the form of a dust storm." Rizwan said that they still heard gunshots but they no longer saw the vehicles behind them. He added that the group were joyfully praising and thanking God as they reached their destination. Bibles for Mideast is committed to distributing Bibles and establishing house churches in the Middle East. Last June, three of its missionaries were abducted upon their release from a hospital where they were treated for the injuries they sustained from a previous attack. The three men rode a taxi with two other passengers, but they were never heard from again. home US Florida Democrats criticize voter registration drives at Chick-fil-A Democrats are criticizing the decision made by Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark to hold voter registration drives at nine local Chick-fil-A restaurants in Florida. Fast food restaurant chain, Chick-fil-A, has become the target of liberal activists angry at the chain after CEO Dan Cathy answered a question about gay marriage indicating that he personally believed marriage was a union between one man and one woman. Cathy has commented that Chick-fil-A itself has no political stance on the gay marriage debate, and will serve every customer with the same dignity and respect, however, that has done little to quell activists. Susan McGrath, leader of Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County, appeared to claim that Chick-fil-A was hub for Republican voters, and likened Clark's decision to a Democratic supervisor holding the event at Planned Parenthood. She stated that the group supports the registration drive but she criticized the move to hold the drive at Chick-fil-A as partisan, Tampa Bay Times reports. McGrath suggested that it might be more transparent to use the Republican Party headquarters for the event. She asserted that Clark may be targeting Republican voters by holding the drive at the restaurant chain. "While some Democrats may occasionally dine at Chick-fil-A (and perhaps even members of the LGBT community), the coordination of Pinellas voter registration activities with this right-leaning business very clearly conveys that your office is targeting Republican-leaning voters," McGrath wrote to Clark. McGrath also pointed out that Clark previously objected to the opening of a satellite office for early voting in certain neighborhoods in St. Petersburg known to be predominantly populated by African-Americans. Other food establishments are also holding voter registration drives in other parts of the United States. Thomas Hull, a Houston designer, has teamed up with the non-partisan group Mi Familia Vota, to put voter registration forms on Taco trucks in Houston. Hull started the campaign after the Latinos for Trump founder Marco Gutierrez suggested that the U.S. will be overwhelmed by Mexican culture if it does not secure its borders. "You're going to have taco trucks on every corner," Gutierrez remarked to MSNBC. Arizona Democratic Party officials have also coordinated with 150 taco trucks to encourage Hispanic and non-Hispanics to register and vote. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is also urging taco trucks all over the U.S. to register voters. Mi Familia Vota is also hoping to make use of taco trucks in Las Vegas when early voting begins in the state of Nevada. home Faith Muslim author announces conversion to Catholicism after murder of priest in France Sohrab Ahmari, an editorial writer for The Wall Street Journal, recounted his spiritual journey from being a Muslim-born Iranian who started doubting God as a boy to his conversion to Catholicism. Ahmari announced his conversion last July after learning about the murder of Fr. Jacques Hamel in France. In his article for The Catholic Herald, Ahmari revealed that he started doubting God at the age of 12. Although he no longer believed in religion, he still had to participate in religious rituals in public to avoid attracting the attention of religious authorities. He soon immigrated to America with his mother. Upon encountering the Mormons, he joked to himself that he had "moved from one theocracy to another." He discovered Friedrich Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" and went on the read the works of Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and other existentialist philosophers. Ahmari started flirting with Marxism and even joined a Trotskyite group called Socialist Alternative, but he soon found that it offered no answers to life's questions. "It didn't banish my personal demons, or give a satisfying account of what I now would call fallenness a my own and others'," he wrote. He had to give up his leftist ideology after he became a teacher. "As a committed leftist, I had to believe that the achievement gap between rich and poor students was purely a problem of redistributive justice," he recalled. "My teaching career quickly disabused me of these notions. Even in the direst classrooms, great teachers a I wasn't one, by the way a could make tremendous gains with students by setting high expectations and emphasising hard work, honesty and tough discipline." This realization did not lead him to God right away, but he started to recognize the contributions of faith to society. Although he was successful in his career, he still felt a hunger for God. He eventually found himself attending Catholic mass. Ahmari said that he dabbled in evangelical Christianity for a few years but he found it lacking. He noted that his mother became a Born Again Christian and one of his sources as a journalist was an Evangelical activist who encouraged him in his journey to faith. Explaining his decision to choose Catholicism over other denominations, Ahmari stated that the Catholic liturgy appealed to him. "I longed for worship that gave full expression to the mysteries of the Christian faith," he wrote. Ahmari's new book, "The New Philistines," in which he shares his insights on the art world's obsession with identity politics, will be released on Oct. 20. home World Iran arrests more than a dozen Christians in raid The National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI) revealed that at least 25 Christians were recently arrested in the Southern City of Kerman. According to a report by NCRI, security guards raided the homes of the Christians and confiscated some of their personal belongings. The authorities have not released any information about the reason for the arrests nor the whereabouts of the detained citizens. The Iranian authorities have been increasingly targeting Christians in its campaign against gatherings where Islamic principles are not strictly adhered to. Last August, five Christian converts were arrested at a family gathering in Firouz-Kouh county, north of Tehran. According to Mohabat News, one of the arrested men was beaten by the police when he protested against the harsh treatment of the guests. The police found and confiscated three Bibles and charged five men for evangelizing at their house church. Family members are worried that the detained men will be forced to make statements against other believers. Iran currently ranks in the Open Doors World Watch List as the ninth most difficult country to be a Christian. Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs reported that the number of believers continue to grow in the Islamic Republic despite the persecution of Christians. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is actually the place in the world where the Church is growing the fastest, something that would be pretty surprising to most Christians," Nettleton said, according to Mission Network News. Nettleton asserted that Iranians are beginning to reject Islam because of its connection to the government, which has been perceived as corrupt and inefficient. "The country is run by the Mullahs. The government says, 'We're doing everything according to Islamic principles.' So if the government doesn't work, if there's still corruption, if there's still poverty, then that must mean Islam doesn't work.... That failure has really, in the eyes of the people of Iran, become the failure of Islam," Nettleton added. Nettleton stated that he had heard reports that as much as 70 percent of Iranians reject Islam and some have become more open to the Gospel. home World Iraq monk who fled ISIS now obeys God's calling by serving Christians at refugee camp A monk from the Christian town of Qaraqosh in Northern Iraq is now serving Christians at a refugee camp in Erbil after he fled from his own monastery in Northern Iraq when Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) invaded the city. The monk only known as Raeed joined the monastery back in 2001. During the United States-led invasion of Iraq, the taxi that he was riding with a fellow monk was ran over by a U.S. tank. His friend was killed and he was left in a coma. He woke up to realize that he was the only survivor of the accident, the World Watch Monitor reports. The incident challenged Raeed's faith, but he was determined to follow God's calling. "But what happened [in the end] deepened my faith. It brought me back to my calling. I'd promised to obey Jesus, and He said 'Whoever follows Jesus should not look back,'" said Raeed. The next challenge to his faith came when ISIS invaded his city. "The sound of honking car horns disturbed the silence of our prayer room. Beyond the street noise, there was the sound of explosions," he recalled. He and the other monks fled to Erbil along with thousands of people who feared for their lives. In Erbil, he remembered his calling to "Follow Jesus no matter what" and helped to build a monastery at the refugee camp. The church is now packed with people that some have to remain standing at the doorway during a service. He would often conduct the services when there are no priests around. He stated that he did not expect to serve at a refugee camp, but he has come to accept it as his calling. "I just have to be here with the people in the church because God needs me to be here...It is all about Jesus." he says, adding, "Jesus is the core, He is the Rock we build on. And whatever might happen, our Rock will never disappear. He will always be here." Raeed may soon be joined by others who have previously fled Iraq. The Catholic Chaldean church has recently ordered priests and monks who left their posts in Iraq without permission to return immediately. home World Iraq Parliament rejects proposal to establish Christian and Yazidi provinces The plans to establish separate provinces for Christians and Yazidis have been rejected by The Iraqi Parliament when it voted in favor of maintaining the administrative border of Nineveh province on Monday. "The Iraqi people reject any decision that partitions the Nineveh province. The people of the city determine the destiny of their city in the post-Islamic State (IS) stage," said Ahmed al-Jabra, a Sunni Member of Parliament (MP) who requested the parliament vote, according to Assyrian International News Agency (AINA). Shingal, a district in Nineveh Province is mostly populated by Yazidis, while a large number of Christians live in the Nineveh Plain. Yazidis and Christians are demanding the establishment of the two regions as separate provinces. Viyan Dakhil, a Kurdish Yazidi MP, has said that Kurdish Yazidis will not be returning to Shingal unless there are changes in the administration of Nineveh Province. Romio Hakkari, the Secretary-General of the Assyrian Bet al-Nahrain Party, is suspicious about creating a Sunni autonomous region. "We do not want to be part of the possible Sunni autonomous region in Iraq," said Hakkari who claims that Christians suffer discrimination from Sunnis in the region, according to the same report from AINA. Hakkari stated that about 200,000 Christians were displaced when Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) gained control of Mosul in June 2014. He had previously visited Washington to ask for support in liberating the Nineveh Plain. Earlier this month, The Christian militia known as the Nineveh Plain Protection Unit (NPU) reported the liberation of the village of Badanah in southern Mosul with the help of a United-States-led coalition. It was later revealed that ISIS has been planting mines in the Nineveh Plain as they move away from the area. Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako of the Chaldean Catholic Church stated that it would take a massive program to remove the hundreds of mines before people can return and rebuild the city, according to Agenzia Fides. Christians from the Nineveh Valley are divided in their opinions about the administration of the region. Some believe that Nineveh Valley should be a part of the Kurdistan Region while others want an autonomous region that coordinates with the Iraqi government. home World ISIS rewards its informants with Christian and Yazidi slaves A captured Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighter has revealed that the terrorist group is rewarding its members with Christian and Yazidi sex slaves for providing information about potential deserters and defectors. In an interview with Alaan TV, Abu Al-Mughaira Al-Muhajer, a fighter captured in Aleppo, explained that ISIS would buy slave girls, with prices ranging from $250 to $300, to offer them as rewards. Al-Muhajer stated that he himself received three sex slaves after he reported his own brother who wanted to leave ISIS. He noted that all of the girls had been beaten on their backs. He said that he complained to an ISIS emir when he found out that the girls were not captured from battle. "They told me that the girl from Damascus was a Yazidi, and that the two girls from Homs were Christians," Al-Muhajer stated, adding, "They told me that they had been captured, but it turned out that they were wives of FSA fighters from the Islamic Front." "So I went to the emir and told him that they were not slave-girls or anything. He admitted that they were wives of FSA fighters, but said that they too needed to be captured," he added. Last month, it was reported that Syrian rebel fighters discovered a prison used by ISIS to torture women in the Syrian city of Manbij. The fighters found sex stimulants, contraceptives and other pills at the site. The facility had solitary confinements as well as rooms for groups. Military council group leader Omar Mazerli said that the prison was very well hidden. In March, a report from the New York Times revealed that the slave girls are being forced by ISIS to ingest birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. A 16-year-old girl, who had to swallow one pill each day, only realized months later that the pills were for birth control. She said that she had to take a box of pills with her whenever she was sold from one man to another. home US Man convicted of kidnapping for helping ex-lesbian flee United States with her daughter A man from Waynesboro, Virginia was convicted of international parental kidnapping and conspiracy for helping an ex-lesbian flee the country with her daughter last Thursday. In 2009, Philip Zodhiates assisted Lisa Miller and her daughter to get away from her former lover who was awarded with visitation rights with the child. According to the indictment, Zodhiates made the arrangements with another man in Buffalo, New York to transport Miller and her daughter to Canada. According to Christian News, the two-week trial was focused on proving whether Zodhiates helped Miller out of his generosity or just to keep the child, now aged 14, away from Miller's former lover. "We had a lot of evidence about intent," says U.S. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf, who served as one of the prosecutors, adding, "We also had strong evidence about the secrecy and deception used by the defendant." Robert Hemley, one of Zodhiates' attorneys, argued that Miller's secrecy should not be blamed on Zodhiates. "There is no such thing as guilt by association," he said. Zodiates, who is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30, could face up to eight years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Miller's ex-partner Janet Jenkins testified at the trial stating that she is willing to do "anything and everything" to get the child back. The former lovers were joined in a civil union in Vermont in 2000. Miller gave birth to a daughter named Isabella through artificial insemination in 2002. The couple split in 2003 and Miller reportedly renounced her homosexuality and became a Christian. The court gave custody of Isabella to Miller while granting visitation rights to Jenkins. Miller reportedly became concerned about what Isabella was learning from Jenkins during the visitation. She claimed that the girl at age six was forced to take baths with Jenkins and was touching herself inappropriately. She added that Isabella became withdrawn and talked about suicide. Miller filed for exclusive custody of Isabella which had been granted to her by the court. Jenkins fought against the ruling until the Virginia Supreme Court awarded visitation rights to her in 2008. A family court judge granted full custody to Jenkins in 2009 after Miller continued to refuse her former partner from visiting the child. By that time, Miller had already fled the country with the aid of Mennonite Christians. She is believed to be living with her daughter in Nicaragua. Kenneth Miller, the pastor who transported Miller from Buffalo New York to Canada, was sentenced to 27 months in prison. The pastor was held in contempt for refusing to testify against Zodhiates. Timothy Miller, a Mennonite pastor in Nicaragua, was arrested and deported to the United States in connection with the case. He will be tried in Buffalo next month. News / National by Staff reporter The United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed ZB Financial Holdings, its subsidiaries, the Industrial Development Corporation along with other individuals and entities from the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons that were designated under the Zimbabwe-related sanctions programme.According to an update from OFAC, ZB Holdings and its banking subsidiaries, IDC, Chemplex Corporation, Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company, three farms (Gowrie, Longwood and Mlembwe) and individuals Aeneas Chigwedere, Jocelyn Mauchaza-Chiwenga, Georgina Nkomo (John Nkomo's widow), Abina Chapfika, Ever Chombo, Grace Charamba and the late Sabina Mugabe and Charles Utete.Analysts also say the removal also provides a boost to the country's re-engagement programme with international financial institutions ahead of side-meetings at the annual International Monetary Fund/World Bank conference.The US imposed sanctions on the country in the early 2000s mostly and involved asset seizures and travel bans.Several Zimbabwean companies have had their export receipts, amounting to millions of dollars, seized over the years by the office owing to the sanctions.Agribank and the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe were removed from the list in February. home World Teenage blogger jailed in Singapore for criticizing Muslims and Christians Amos Yee, a Singaporean teen blogger, was sentenced to six weeks in jail last Thursday for his controversial posts critical of Muslims and Christians. Yee, 17, was found guilty for six charges of "wounding religious feelings" and two other charges for not appearing at a police station when he was summoned. He pleaded guilty to five of the charges. He was also ordered to pay the fine of 2,000 Singaporean dollars. "He has, on several occasions, deliberately elected to do harm by using offensive and insulting words and profane gestures to hurt the feelings of Christians and Muslims," the principal district judge Ong Hian Sun wrote in a court document. In a phone interview with CNN, Yee stated that he thought that the sentence was fair. He said that he will continue his commentaries but he would not be breaking the law. "I think that if I do continue to make critical social media posts I'll post things that aren't illegal," Yee said. "I think that will be possible." Yee's lawyer, Nadarajan Kanagavjayan, also believes that the teen blogger got a fair sentence. He has advised his client not to file an appeal. "Given our situation and practices in Singapore, Amos' sentence is very fair because you must also remember that this isn't the first time he brushes the law," Kanagavjayan told CNN. Yee is scheduled to begin his sentence on Oct. 13. He has already been jailed in 2015 for four weeks when he criticized Christianity and insulted Singapore's first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. The presiding judge hoped that Yee would not reappear in court for similar infractions. Officials from the U.N. Human Rights Council, the E.U. and representatives from various human rights groups were present at Yee's trial. Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Right Watch in Asia, has criticized Singapore for violating the freedom of expression. He urged Singaporean authorities to reconsider its approach when dealing with similar cases. "Every time the authorities go after him, it just adds to his online audience who are interested to find out the latest thing," Robertson stated, as quoted by Reuters. home US Vote for Hillary Clinton to fight abortion, Eric Sapp urges A Christian writer has suggested that pro-life voters should elect Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton if they are concerned about the unborn. Eric Sapp, the executive director of American Values Network, implied that there will be less abortions under a Democratic president than a Republican. In an op-ed for the Christian Post, Sapp pointed out that Republican leaders have not been consistent in their pro-life position because they have passed bills that allowed exceptions for late-term abortions in cases of rape and incest. "Even the House Republican late-term abortion bill that passed the House and failed in the Senate on a party-line vote included exceptions allowing late-term abortion if the child was conceived through rape or incest or the woman's life was in danger," Sapp wrote. Sapp noted that the rate of abortions increased under Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush but dropped under the terms of Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. He also pointed out that Republicans have not done much to limit abortions under President George W. Bush. "Under Bush, Republicans controlled the House and Senate, and 2/3 of the Supreme Court," he noted, adding, "And what did Republicans do to overturn Roe or in any meaningful way limit abortion? Nothing." Sapp also suggested that the Democrats are more effective in reducing poverty and unwanted pregnancies because Republicans are trying to cut medical care, food programs and contraception coverage for the poor. He asserted that reducing poverty would do more to lower abortion rates than overturning Roe v. Wade. "Increase contraception access, family leave, and improve pre- and post- natal healthcare, and we'd cut abortions by 50% or more," Sapp suggested. Dr. Richard Land, the president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, wrote a response stating that Clinton is a dangerous choice for pro-life voters. He argued that Republicans reluctantly accepted the exceptions to abortion bills because they had to compromise in order to save more lives. Land pointed out that Democrats are campaigning to repeal the Hyde Amendment which restricts federal funding of abortions. Land acknowledged that abortion rates went up under Reagan and Bush senior but he indicated that the fertility and birth rates were also high. "Yes, it is true that abortion numbers go up in Republican presidential terms. However, so does the fertility rate," Land wrote in his column for the Christian Post. "In other words, more women get pregnant during Republican presidential terms." Land suggested that it is more reliable to elect a pro-life president and lawmakers to get rid of abortions. Assyrian Christians Caught In Crossfire As Fighting Rages Against ISIS Kurdish militias have "occupied" parts of Assyrian Christian villages in north-east Syria, according to World Watch Monitor (WWM), as fighting continues to re-take the area from Islamic State. Militias from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have reportedly erected signs in different places in the villages along the Khabour River, warning the area is "dangerous and mined". Assyria TV called this "a trick" to scare Assyrians and justify occupation, WWM said. A senior Catholic source has been quoted as saying the militias are carrying out acts of violence and intimidation against Assyrian Christians in Hassake, the main city in the north-eastern province that lies close to the Khabour villages. The Khabour River region in the Hassake province was attacked by ISIS in February 2015. Some 35 Assyrian villages were ransacked and days later ISIS kidnapped and held over 200 Assyrians hostages. All of the hostages were eventually released by Islamic State after ransoms were paid. Villages such as Tel Nasri and Tel Goran were caught between the Syrian army and Kurdish militias both fighting ISIS and eventually occupied by militias from YPG in 2015. Last week, a synod of Chaldean Catholic bishops from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, the US, Canada and Australia urged the liberation of areas seized by ISIS and for the displaced to be able to return home. Chaldeans were among around 120,000 Christians uprooted when ISIS seized Mosul and the Nineveh Plain in Iraq during the summer of 2014. An ancient branch of Christianity, the Assyrian Church of the East has roots dating back to the 1st century AD. Assyrian Christians speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus, and have origins in ancient Mesopotamia a territory which spreads across northern Iraq, north-east Syria and south-eastern Turkey. Can We Persuade God To Change His Mind? One of the most powerful stories of Elijah is the tale of his encounter with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, told in 1 Kings 18:16-40. Under King Ahab, Baal-worship had become dominant in the land. Elijah challenges him to put his pagan prophets to the test. It's High Noon in Israel: whichever God can light the fire of his own sacrifice is the winner. So the prophets of Baal, 450 of them, ritually dance and cut themselves to the point of exhaustion, while Elijah mocks them perhaps Baal's out, he says, or asleep, or in the lavatory. Of course, nothing happens. Then Elijah repairs the Lord's altar, lays the sacrifice on it, drenches it with water, to underline the impossibility of what's going to happen, and prays a brief prayer. And the fire from heaven falls, and the sacrifice burns. The losers, incidentally, are slaughtered; we wince at that, but that's how it was in those days and we shouldn't try to sanitise it. It's a great story. But a good way of reading any Bible story is to ask ourselves how we fit into it. Perhaps we'd like to think of ourselves as Elijah, strong for the faith in the face of impossible odds. Perhaps, if we're honest, we are more like the onlookers, wavering between two opinions, keeping our options open. But perhaps we are more like the prophets of Baal than we care to imagine. They believed that the more effort they put in, the more devotion they showed, the more it cost them, the more noise they made and the longer and more fervently they prayed, the more likely it was that their god would answer them. That's a temptation we face today. The Church is weaker than it has been. The job is harder. So the temptation is to think that if we just pray harder and work harder, God will hear us. If we can just encourage everyone to attend our prayer meetings, go out and evangelise the neighbourhood, or double-tithe their income, everything would be alright. Or even, if we get our worship band up to scratch with some really good amplification. There's no excuse for not trying our best to reach out to people who don't know Christ, or trying as hard as we can to serve him in the world. But we shouldn't think that the more we do, the louder we pray and the more we sacrifice, the more likely God is to act. Elijah just prays, and leaves it up to him; God doesn't need convincing. His blessings are not a return for services rendered; they are gifts of grace. There's an old saying that we should pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. I like that balance: it doesn't let us off the hook and allow us to be lazy, but it affirms the sovereignty of God. He will act when he chooses to act. What he requires of us is patient faith. Perhaps we'd like him to move more quickly, but we aren't going to change his mind by shouting louder. That's what pagans do; we're called to trust him anyway. In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus says: "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." He's introducing what we know as the Lord's Prayer: short, simple and trustful, and a pattern for Christian prayer today. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods Christian Man Hacked To Death In Church In India A Pentecostal Christian who was involved in politics has been hacked to death in a church, according to reports from India. "G" Dhanasekharan, aged 34, was murdered by a group of men wielding knives and sickles in Chennai in Tamil Nadu, southern India. He had been praying at his Devasabha Church when he apparently received a phone call and stepped out of the service. When he was surrounded by the gang of aggressive men he fled into another church, where they caught up with him and murdered him before making a get-away on three motorcycles. The victim had been involved in local politics and was a councillor for the DMK or Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam political party, representing the local youth, The Times of India reports. Married with two young children, he is believed to have been in business in real estate. "We are also trying to find out whether there was any business rivalry which could have resulted in the murder," police told The Times of India. Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, told Agenzia Fides: "This killing is yet another proof that Christian minorities are particularly vulnerable. The trail of aggression carried out by Hindu militants to the detriment of the Pentecostal faithful is known. Police are investigating but we believe Dhanasekharan was also killed because of his faith." Christian Persecution On The Rise In Uzbekistan Where Just Owning A Bible Is Illegal Increasing numbers of Christians in Uzbekistan are being punished simply for the "crime" of having religious literature at home. The persecution charity Open Doors is asking Christians worldwide to pray for Christians living under the harsh central Asia dictatorship. One Christian, Stanislav Kim, was sentenced to two years' corrective labour in Urgench for having religious books at home. He is now under effective house arrest, living at home with restrictions placed on his movements and a fifth of his wages seized by the state. This is the second time Kim, a Baptist from the north-western Khorezm region, has been found guilty of this offence, according to Open Doors. Earlier this summer, a Presbyterian Christian in the capital Tashkent was fined for having religious literature at home. The Christian literature was ordered to be handed to the state-backed Muslim Board. A criminal trial against him for "illegal" use of computers began last month. In Zarafshan, a city in Central Uzbekistan, a Baptist pastor and his wife were fined for Bibles and Baptist song books seized from their home. In Surkhandarya, a region in the southeast of the country, four Baptists were also punished when religious literature was discovered and confiscated during an illegal house search. Officials ordered the destruction of two Bibles, as well as other books and CDs. The authorities claimed that one book was banned because it could be used to spread a faith. They also stated that Baptists are banned in the region because they do not have state registration. "Please pray for the Christians in Uzbekistan," a source told Open Doors. "It's getting more and more difficult to spread the gospel with literature." Uzbekistan, where the main religion is Islam and just over 300,000 of the 30 million population are Christian, is ranked number 15 on the Open Doors persecution watch list. The Russian Orthodox Church is tolerated but other denominations are viewed as sects that aim to destroy the political system. House churches are regularly raided and Christians can be fined for anything from owning a Bible to having a Christian song on their phone. Those who convert from Islam endure the greatest persecution, Open Doors reports. Four Kidnapped Christians Including A Child Released For Ransom In Egypt Four Coptic Christians, including a child, who were kidnapped on Monday in the Egyptian town of Manfalout in Assiut, have returned home safely after a ransom was paid, according to the independent Cairo newspaper Watani. The kidnappers initally demanded a ransom of EGP 500,000 (45,000) or else they would kill the Copts, the paper said. This was eventually negotiated down to EGP 150,000 (13,000) which was paid during a successful exchange. One of the victims' relatives, who asked not to be named, told Watani that the Assiut security deputy chief had advised him to pay the ransom money in order to ensure the safety of the kidnapped Copts, adding that once the kidnappers were later caught the money would be found and returned to those who paid it. Watani reported that two of the kidnap victims, the brothers Emad and Ramy Lamei, who work as construction workers in Cairo, had received a phone call offering them a job in Assiut. They went to Assiut where they sought directions to the site in the town of Zarayeb al-Ooussiya from relatives living in the area. A relative, Marzouq Ashamallah, reportedly offered them a ride to get there, and his nine-year-old son Amir came along. But before the four reached their destination, armed men blocked the road, kidnapped them at gunpoint, and took the car. The Copts' relative told Watani that on the same day his family received a phone call made on one of the kidnapped Copts' mobile phones, asking for the ransom money. The kidnapper said that if the police were to intervene the kidnapped men and boy would be killed. The family therefore refrained from filing a police report, but informally sought the advice of the Assiut Security Deputy Chief. Later, the kidnappers again called the family who negotiated the ransom money, bringing it down to EGP 200,000 (17,700). The family, who are not wealthy, then negotiated the ransom down further. After a ransom of EGP 150,000 was paid, the four Copts who were kidnapped some 350km south of Cairo, were safely released last night. A first attempt to hand the money over failed when the kidnappers discovered that police were close by and shot at them, Watani said. However, a second attempt succeeded. The kidnappers asked to be paid at a site near Deir Muwwas in Minya in the north of the country, and used Ashamallah's car to get there. This time there was no police intervention, and the four Copts were set free. One of those freed, Emad Lamei, said: "We were caught and blindfolded and taken to a place we don't know on the mountain east of Assiut." Watani reported that the eastern Assiut mountain is a desolate area notorious for outlaws who hide from police in its caves. Lamei said that they were chained and forced to put their faces to the ground. They were all beaten, he added, except the child. The police are investigating. Egypt has an estimated population of nine million Christians, the majority of whom are Othodox Copts. New Mission Launched To Share The Gospel With People Of Other Faiths Christian agencies have joined forces in a new outreach to evangelise people of other faiths. The Evangelical Alliance is working with London City Mission and Global Connections to reach out with the Gospel to the five million people in the UK who are part of a non-Christian religion. The Reaching the world on your doorstep event takes place on 23 November at St Mellitus College, the evangelical theological college in West London. Evangelists will pray and share ideas about engaging more effectively with non-Christian people of faith. The event is part of the emerging Christian response to the new multi-cultural societies of the West. Gavin Calver, director of mission at the Evangelical Alliance, said: "We don't need to travel far to meet people with different beliefs, that's part of what's so wonderful about living in Britain today. "In the past our missionaries went overseas, today we just need to go next door, down the street or round the corner. "The challenge is that while the world is on our doorstep our methods of outreach and evangelism might need refining. It's a privilege to work with London City Mission and Global Connections on this event, and our hope is that we can all learn more about reaching out and sharing the good news of Jesus with people from other faith backgrounds. "This isn't just a day to learn about other faiths, but a chance to provoke ourselves to action and come away equipped to build relationships that reflect Christ to our neighbours who may have never heard the good news." Steve Uppal, a convert from the Sikh religion and senior leader of All Nations Church Wolverhampton, said: "My family came to Christ from Sikhism simply because an English lady knocked our door in Wolverhampton and asked if she could come in and share something important with us. She understood the Indian culture and customs and respectfully spoke about Jesus Christ. That one conversation led to me and my whole family becoming believers. "I am very excited about this event because it offers the Church an insight and help in reaching the world on our doorstep." Usha Reifsnider, who became a Christian from the Hindu faith, said: "My journey as a Christ follower began when my local primary school teacher reached out to our immigrant family. We lived in an industrial area where most immigrants felt excluded from society. "We were deeply honoured that an English lady, a Christian, would care for us. "Like all Hindus I longed to please God so I could one day find eternal peace and oneness with God. I gradually realised that no amount of effort on my part could deal with my separation from God. Hindu or not it was my own wrongdoing, my sin, which was the barrier. "I found through reading the Bible and spending time with Christians that God had made a way for me to find eternal peace and be a part of the Body of Christ." News / National by Staff reporter A ZIMBABWEAN man from Chitungwiza was reportedly shot on the left eye by Botswana Police during an operation against illegal immigrants in that country.According to local media, authorities in the neighbouring country allegedly deported the injured man after keeping him in custody for 23 days without treatment.Regional immigration officer in charge of the Western region, Mr Regies Munyaradzi, said Botswana officials on Friday deported an injured Mr Wayne Murova but his office sent him back into the neighbouring country for treatment.A police source from Plumtree who preferred anonymity said Mr Murova had lost vision in his left eye as a result of the attack.He said the Zimbabwean was shot on September 7.The police source said Mr Murova was being held at Molopolole Camp in Botswana where he was being treated awaiting deportation. Pope And Archbishop Lament Our Culture Of Indifference, Waste And Hate Dialogue with other churches and faiths is not a "luxury" but something the world increasingly needs, Pope Francis said today. The Pope was speaking in Rome as he and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby jointly sent out 19 pairs of Catholic and Anglican bishops on a "mission" to the world. They admitted they can see "no solutions" to the obstacles to unity between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglicans - the ordination of women and the gay issue. And together they lamented a culture of indifference, waste and hate. But the Pope and the Archbishop, in Rome for their third formal meeting and to mark the 50th anniversary of the Anglican Centre in Rome, said in a joint statement that they are "undeterred" by the "serious obstacles" to full unity between Anglicans and Roman Catholics. In their Common Declaration, they said that differences over issues such as women's ordination "cannot prevent us from recognising one another as brothers and sisters in Christ by reason of our common baptism. "Nor should they ever hold us back from discovering and rejoicing in the deep Christian faith and holiness we find within each other's traditions." The Common Declaration was made at a service of Vespers in the Church of Saint Gregory on the Caelian Hill in Rome, from where in 595AD, Pope Gregory sent Augustine to evangelise the Anglo-Saxon people. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in 597. During the service, 19 pairs of Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops from across the world were commissioned by the Pope and Archbishop before being "sent out" in mission together. Pope Francis told them: "Fourteen centuries ago Pope Gregory sent the servant of God, Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, and his companions, from this holy place, to preach the joyful message of the Word of God. Today we send you, dear brothers, servants of God, with this same joyful message of his everlasting kingdom." And Archbishop Justin Welby said: "Our Saviour commissioned his disciples saying, 'Peace be with you'. We too, send you out with his peace, a peace only he can give. May his peace bring freedom to those who are captive and oppressed, and may his peace bind into greater unity the people he has chosen as his own." Pope Francis also tweeted: Ecumenical and interreligious dialogue is not a luxury, but something which our world, wounded by conflict and division, increasingly needs. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) October 5, 2016 The new declaration comes 50 years after Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey met in Rome in a historic spiritual healing of the four-century rift between the two churches. Pope John Paul II went on to meet Archbishop Robert Runcie and then Archbishop George Carey, and Pope Benedict XVI met Archbishop Rowan Williams, also praying together at St Gregory's. Archbishop Welby and the Pope say in their new declaration: "Fifty years ago our predecessors recognised the 'serious obstacles' that stood in the way of a restoration of complete faith and sacramental life between us. "Nevertheless, they set out undeterred, not knowing what steps could be taken along the way, but in fidelity to the Lord's prayer that his disciples be one. "Much progress has been made concerning many areas that have kept us apart. "Yet new circumstances have presented new disagreements among us, particularly regarding the ordination of women and more recent questions regarding human sexuality." Behind these differences lies a perennial question about authority. "These are today some of the concerns that constitute serious obstacles to our full unity. While, like our predecessors, we ourselves do not yet see solutions to the obstacles before us, we are undeterred. "In our trust and joy in the Holy Spirit we are confident that dialogue and engagement with one another will deepen our understanding and help us to discern the mind of Christ for his Church. We trust in God's grace and providence, knowing that the Holy Spirit will open new doors and lead us into all truth." The human person is demeaned by personal and societal sin, they added. "In a culture of indifference, walls of estrangement isolate us from others, their struggles and their suffering, which also many of our brothers and sisters in Christ today endure. "In a culture of waste, the lives of the most vulnerable in society are often marginalised and discarded. In a culture of hate we see unspeakable acts of violence, often justified by a distorted understanding of religious belief. "Our Christian faith leads us to recognise the inestimable worth of every human life, and to honour it in acts of mercy by bringing education, healthcare, food, clean water and shelter and always seeking to resolve conflict and build peace. As disciples of Christ we hold human persons to be sacred, and as apostles of Christ we must be their advocates." Pope Francis: 'Evil Does Not Have The Last Word' The tireless work of churches and aid agencies in the Middle East is "a reflection of God's mercy" and a sign that "evil has limits", Pope Francis has said. Speaking to representatives from more than 40 Catholic aid agencies and churches, the Pope warned that the cycle of violence in places like Iraq and Syria can seem unbreakable. "Violence begets violence, and we have the impression of being caught up in a spiral of arrogance and inertia from which there is no escape," Francis said during his address. "The work of all who like you, represent so many workers in the field, who are committed to helping refugees and to safeguarding their dignity, is certainly a reflection of God's mercy and, as such, a sign that evil has limits and does not have the last word." Director of humanitarian and emergency response at CAFOD, Matthew Carter, said following the meeting on Friday that "Ensuring that humanitarian access remains our number one priority in order to provide emergency assistance to men, women and children. "The suffering is some of the worst I have witnessed and must be averted and people kept alive," he continued. "Vulnerable people must be given access to water, food and urgent medical assistance and this is their right under international humanitarian law. Long term peace in the region is essential but the priority must be to end the conflict immediately, to stop the violence, killing and atrocities." This was reflected in Pope Francis' speech, Carter added. "The Pope's message is loud and clear we cannot be paralysed by the enormity of this conflict, instead we must continue to do all that we can to reach those in need both inside of Syria and in neighbouring countries." Pope Francis Hugs and Prays With Survivors In Town Devastated By Earthquake Pope Francis yesterday paid a surprise visit to Amatrice, the Italian town levelled by an earthquake at the end of August, and the other nearby devastated towns. He visited a newly-built Capranica school, where he met children who showed him some of their drawings and other recent work. He also witnessed and prayed over the ruined Catholic churches, and talked to relatives and neighbours of the 297 dead as well as others survivors. He hugged them individually as he walked and prayed through the ruins left by the 6.2 magnitude quake. The Pope had wanted to go earlier to the devastated town, in central Italy, where nearly 4,000 people are still living in a tented encampment next to the town, but he had to wait until his advisers deemed it safe. The visit was deliberately kept private so Pope Francis could be free to be a "priest" to the people. Besides Amatrice he visited Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and San Pellegrino di Norcia. The visit was live tweeted by the Pope's new director of communicatons, Greg Burke, and from the Pope's own Twitter account. #PopeFrancis at the Church of San Francesco in Accumoli, destroyed by the quake pic.twitter.com/BUsdBlx0yz Greg Burke (@GregBurkeRome) October 4, 2016 Vatican Radio reported that he prayed with survivors on what was the feast day of his namesake, St Francis. He encouraged them to "move forward" because there is always a future. He was accompanied by the Bishop of Rieti, Domenico Pompili. Pope Francis told the survivors he met in the town: "I thought long and hard in the first days of these many pains that my visit, perhaps, would be more of a hindrance than a help, a greeting. "I didn't want to be a bother so I let a little time pass, so that some things could be resolved, like the school. But from the first moment, I felt that I needed to come to you, simply to express my closeness to you, nothing more. And I pray, pray for you. "Solidarity and prayer: this is my offering to you. May the Lord bless you all; may Our Lady watch over you in this moment of sadness, pain, and trial." After blessing them, he said: "Let's move forward; there is always a future. There are many loved ones who have left us, who fell here under the rubble. Let us pray to Our Lady for them; let us do it together. Always look ahead. Courage, and help each other. One walks better together, alone we go nowhere. Forward! Thank you." He also spent several minutes praying alone in the badly-damaged town centre. Earlier, the Holy See press office said he would make this visit privately and quoted the Pope saying he wanted to do it "alone, as a priest, as a bishop, as Pope. But alone. This is how I want to do it. And I would like to be close to the people." Rebels Fend Off Aleppo Assault As US Scrambles To Renew Peace Process Syrian rebels said on Tuesday they had repelled an army offensive in southern Aleppo as Russian and Syrian warplanes pounded residential areas, while nations spoke of rebuilding a peace process the United States broke off this week. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who announced on Monday that Washington was suspending talks with Moscow due to Russia's role in the offensive, said peace efforts must carry on. Turkey, long one of the main foes of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but which has lately repaired its damaged ties with his ally Russia, said it planned to make a proposal to Washington and Moscow to resurrect a ceasefire that collapsed last month. But on the ground there was no sign of peace with potentially the biggest and most decisive battle of the five-and-a-half year war unfolding as pro-government forces sought to drive anti-Assad rebels from their last major urban stronghold. Assad's government, with Russian air support and Iranian ground forces, launched the assault on Aleppo last month, a week into a ceasefire agreed by Washington and Moscow. The United States and other Western countries say Moscow and Damascus are guilty of war crimes for deliberately targeting civilians, hospitals and aid deliveries to crush the will of more than 250,000 people trapped under siege in Aleppo. The Syrian and Russian governments say they target only militants. Rebels said they inflicted losses on pro-government fighters after hours of clashes on the fringe of Sheikh Saed district, at the southern edge of the rebel-held eastern half of Aleppo city. "We repelled their attempt to advance in Sheikh Saed and killed 10 regime fighters and destroyed several vehicles," said a fighter from the Failaq al-Sham rebel group who gave his name as Abdullah al-Halabi. Pro-government media said the Syrian army was pressing ahead in a major campaign supported by Iranian-backed militias and Russian air power to take full control of Syria's largest city, divided between rebel and government zones since 2012. In the 15 days since the collapse of the ceasefire, war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had documented the deaths of 293 civilians in besieged east Aleppo as a result of air strikes and shelling, including 20 on Tuesday. It has documented 25 deaths in government-held west Aleppo from rebel shelling during the 15 days. Opposition sources give higher death tolls in the besieged rebel-held sector, under attack from bombing described as unprecedented in its ferocity. Many hundreds of wounded people have been brought to a handful of functioning hospitals, which are short of supplies and have themselves come under attack. Aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said four of the last eight functioning hospitals in eastern Aleppo had been damaged by air strikes in the past four days. "Doctors are performing brain and abdominal surgeries ... on the floors of the emergency rooms, for lack of available operating theatres," said Pablo Marco, MSF's Middle East operations manager. "Make a desert, call it peace" The collapse of the ceasefire last month left US policy on Syria in tatters and was a personal blow for Kerry, who negotiated the truce over months of intense diplomacy with Moscow despite scepticism in Washington, including from other senior figures in the Barack Obama administration. Last month Republican Senator John McCain called Kerry "intrepid but deluded" for relying on Moscow. Kerry suspended talks with Russia on Monday, accusing Moscow of failing to live up to its commitments to halt fighting and assure aid reached besieged communities. "We are not giving up on the Syrian people and we are not abandoning the pursuit of peace," Kerry said on Tuesday in a speech in Brussels. He accused Moscow of turning a blind eye to Syria's use of poison gas and "barrel bombs" oil drums packed with explosives to kill civilians. "Where they make a desert, they call it peace," Kerry said, quoting the Roman historian Tacitus. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by Russian news agencies saying Moscow would make efforts to resolve the crisis despite the US suspension of talks. Moscow said it had deployed the advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Syria for the first time to protect its base at Tartous, Russia's only sea base on the Mediterranean. A spokesman for the Turkish president said Tayyip Erdogan could speak by telephone to Obama and President Vladimir Putin about a proposal to revive the Syrian ceasefire. The spokesman did not give details of the proposal. A German official said US, British, French, German and Italian officials would meet in Berlin on Wednesday to discuss next steps. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, said attacks on civilians in Aleppo could amount to crimes against humanity. He suggested countries with a veto at the UN Security Council, such as Russia, should be stripped of the power to prevent such serious cases being reported to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Syria's civil war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and made half the country homeless in the world's worst refugee crisis. Most regional states and many global powers have been drawn into the conflict to support the opposing sides, and amid the fighting the hardline Sunni Muslim group Islamic State seized much of Syria and neighbouring Iraq. Washington is bombing Islamic State but has mostly avoided direct involvement in war elsewhere in Syria, leaving the field open to Russia which joined the conflict a year ago on the side of its longtime ally Assad. Russia says the only way to fight Islamic State is to support Assad. Washington says the Syrian leader has too much blood on his hands and must leave power. Levelled ground A successful assault on Aleppo would deliver the biggest victory of the war for Assad, and leave his government in control of all the major cities of western Syria where the overwhelming majority of the population lives. The rebels, armed and funded by foreign powers including Western countries, Arab States and Turkey, are putting up a bitter fight for districts of Aleppo where they have had years to fortify their positions. They also control other territory and have launched advances of their own. A rebel commander from the Nour al-Din al-Zinki group said the army had opened several fronts simultaneously since the launch of a ground assault in order to stretch rebel forces, and had dropped leaflets from helicopters calling for surrender. Government forces have pressed southwards since securing Handarat, a camp for Palestinians on the northern edge of Aleppo last Thursday following what rebels called carpet bombing. "They levelled the ground and our people had no choice but to retreat under the bombing of the Russians," the Zinki commander said. Rebels still expect the army thrust will slow in residential areas that offer them more cover from air raids. In the heart of the city, warplanes flying at high altitude hit Bustan al Qasr, Hay al Huluk and Fardous neighbourhoods with reports of casualties, several rebel contacts said. Rebels believe those planes are Russian. The Russian embassy in Damascus was hit by mortar fire on Monday. Moscow said the shells had been fired from the rebel-held Jobar neighbourhood east of Damascus. VP Candidates Clash On Abortion In Live TV Debate The two Christian vice-presidential candidates, Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence, clashed over the issue of abortion during their televised debate last night. Pence, who was raised Catholic but converted to become an evangelical at college, stressed his opposition to abortion and attacked Hillary Clinton for opposing a ban on partial term abortions because it did not include an exemption on health grounds. Pence said that it was unacceptable that "a child that is almost-born into the world could still have their life taken from them". Kaine, a Catholic who says he personally opposes abortion but has voted consistently in favour of abortion rights, said that he and Hillary Clinton support the Supreme Court decision that made abortion in the US legal in 1973. "We support the constitutional right of American women to consult their own conscience, their own supportive partner, their own minister, but then make their own decision about pregnancy," Kaine said. Kaine drew a distinction between personal belief and public policy. He said that "you should live fully and with enthusiasm the commands of your faith", but added "it is not the role of the public servant to mandate that for everybody else." Kaine went on to criticise Donald Trump's assertion that women should face some kind of "punishment" for abortion. "Why doesn't [he] trust women to make this choice for themselves?" Kaine asked. Pence distanced Trump from the comment, adding that the Republican presidential candidate was "not a polished politician like [Kaine] and Hillary Clinton". Pence added that he was "proud" to be standing on a pro-life ticket with Trump. Indiana Governor Pence and Virginia Senator Kaine debated for 90 minutes in the only vice presidential debate of the campaign, at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. Today, Pence told the conservative radio show host James Dobson that he and Trump would defend the right to religious exemptions if they won in November. "I don't believe in discrimination or mistreatment of anyone; I believe that we should love our neighbour as ourself," Kaine told Dobson on 'Family Talk'. "But neither do I think that anyone should ever fear persecution because of their deeply held religious beliefs." Religious institutions, particularly Catholic ones, have repeatedly clashed with the Obama administration over the issue of exemptions on areas such as contraception cover for employees. Why I Still Believe In Praying For Aleppo There's all too often a sense, with stories about about Syria, and Aleppo in particular, that nothing changes. The airstrikes and mortars, the futile attempts to bring peace, the latest diplomatic setback: it's essentially the same story with a different date. Is there any point in telling them, or reading them? Will anything really change? And how, in the face of the enormous scale of the suffering there, can Christians remain prayerfully engaged with the situation and still continue to function? Sometimes a story cuts through that sense of generalised awfulness and makes us weep. Here are some by BBC reporter Jeremy Bowen. In a piece about Aleppo's children he writes about an eight-year-old boy named Hani Jadid, whose right arm had been amputated above the elbow. His four cousins were killed by the shell that maimed him and he was being sent home, still in agony from his wound an hour's drive by taxi. Or there's seven-year-old Rawda al-Youssef, who was sitting with her family outside eating dinner when she was shot in the back. The family didn't even hear the shot. Now she's paralysed. Or then there's the middle-aged dentist, Mohammad Marzen Saboni, whose wife and two-year-old son were killed by a rebel shell. He may not walk again. By him in the next bed was his nine-year-old daughter Mayar, also with both legs in plaster. One estimate is that 11.5 per cent of Syria's population 1. 9 million people have been killed or injured since the first shots were fired in Deraa in the south of the country in March 2011. One death is a tragedy, Stalin is supposed to have said; a million is a statistic. And that's the problem. These stories of Hani, Rawda, Mohammad and Mayar might move us to tears, but multiply them by millions and we can't take it in. So how should we care and how should we pray? The ease with which images and stories are shared around the world nowadays means that we can be bombarded with calls on our compassion. The good thing about this is that we can never say that we just didn't know. The bad thing is that our feelings of sadness or shock can take the place of real, engaged compassion and commitment, as though feeling sad or sorry about something can actually achieve something. At its worst, this turns us into voyeurs, who get an emotional jolt from other peoples' pain. So here are five things to help Christians respond to tragedy in a Godly way. 1. Turn sadness to prayer Praying for a person or a situation means that we are redirecting our sense of helplessness. We are placing a hopeless situation into the hands of God. We can't see how it will work out, and we can't even be too specific in our prayers. But prayer is an expression of hope in God's future. It says He can change a situation, even if we can't see how. 2. Turn prayer to action We have to choose our battles. We can't engage with every worthy cause; sometimes we have to say, 'No', and leave an issue to someone else. But just as feeling sad can be a dead end without prayer, so prayer can be a dead end without action. At its worst, it can be a substitute for doing something concrete, a quick tick-box exercise that lets us off any responsibility for doing something. When we think about Syria, we realise we can't do much. But we can give to a charity, and we can stay informed about what's happening. 3. Take hold of the near edge Situations like Aleppo are too big for us to visualise. There are too many people, there's too much politics and there is too little clarity. But we can visualise Hani, Rawda, Mohammad and Mayar. Giving a conflict a human face and praying intentionally for these people helps stop us praying in a sterile, generalised way for something that's terribly urgent and human. 4. Don't lose your outrage What's happening in Syria is wholly against God's desire for his creation. Every death and injury is an insult to Him. The failure of the world to stop it, and the cynical use of rebels and regime to fight out a proxy war, is disgraceful. We are to be inspired by anger as well as love. 5. Don't stop believing Faced with death and destruction on such a scale, it would be easy to conclude that God was not interested in peace and was not involved in achieving it. For some, these terrible situations are evidence either that God doesn't exist, or that he is impotent to change things. But this isn't how believers there see it. For many of them, His presence with them in their distress is what helps them survive. Honour their faith by sharing it. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods Highlights of Londons Post-War and Contemporary Art auctions This years Frieze Week sales include works by Thomas Schutte, David Hockney and Gerald Laing, alongside others by exciting talents from London to California, and Romania to South Korea This October, Christies Frieze Week auctions of Post-War and Contemporary Art will bring together a selection of works by more than 200 of the most exciting artists in the contemporary art world. The sales are set to be highlights of one of the most important weeks in the art-world calendar. On 4 October, The Collection of Leslie Waddington will present works from the personal collection of one of the most influential art dealers of modern times. The sale is to be followed by the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction on 6 October, focusing on artists who are the subject of some of this autumns most anticipated exhibitions, including Glenn Brown, David Hockney, Per Kirkeby, Gerald Laing, Thomas Schutte, Henry Taylor, Gunther Uecker and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. The Italian Sale is to be held the same evening, while the Post-War and Contemporary Day Auction takes place on 7 October. Cristian Albu, Head of the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction comments: This October my aim was to put an emphasis on names that are fresh and relevant to the current art landscape, and the selection includes a remarkable number of artists who are either currently the subject of major solo shows or participating in important group shows across the world. The contemporary female form Highlights of the Post-War and Contemporary Art Auction include a number of works that explore the female form. Leading the group is Thomas Schuttes Bronzefrau Nr.13 from the iconic Frauen series 18 large sculptures which reimagine the classical female nude. For Schutte, the reinterpretation of the female body through history offers an insight into the human condition. Unseen in public for more than 50 years, Gerald Laings Beach Wear is the largest of the artists celebrated series of 10 beach girls, created between 1964 and 1965. Capturing the heady glamour of the Swinging Sixties, the work is infused with the influence of sexual liberation, consumer culture and the growth of mass media. Laings replication of commercial printing techniques, painstakingly rendered by hand, had a profound impact on the development of Pop art. In Untitled (Statue of Liberty) (1989), Albert Oehlen takes one of the worlds iconic representations of the female form as his subject, pushing the features of a monument recognised across the globe to the point of abstraction. The work is an extraordinary example of meta-painting, its riotous surface confronting the mediums greatest existential dilemmas. Spanning more than two metres, Lucy McKenzies portrait of Olga Korbut shows the celebrated Belarusian gymnast spliced and splintered as though viewed through a prism. Nicknamed the sparrow from Minsk, Korbut captured public attention at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games with the daring performances that earned her one silver and three gold medals at just 17 years of age. The painting, which was executed in 1998, is one of the most important early statements of McKenzies politically and socially engaged practice. In contrast, it is the male form that forms the point of departure for David Hockneys Figure in a Flat Style (1961), first shown at the Royal Society of British Artists Young Contemporaries exhibition in 1962. The figure is constructed of two canvases, which formally echo a head and a torso, and a pair of easel legs. The work is representative of an experimental period of Hockneys career, and its innovative structure can be seen as something of a self-portrait. Works from the same series are held in major collections internationally, including the Tate and the Kunstmuseum Dusseldorf. Names to watch now Frieze Weeks Post-War and Contemporary auctions provide the best opportunity to see some of the most hotly pursued names of the moment. Vividly evoking downtown Los Angeles, Henry Taylors Walking with Vito promises to be a major draw, capturing the California heat in saturated colour. Though often local in focus, Taylors tight compositions reveal a deep awareness of art history, drawing inspiration from greats including Goya, Matisse and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Following a standout performance in last years October auction, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye remains a name to watch. This season, the artist is represented with Bound Over to Keep the Faith, which debuted as the centrepiece of Yiadom-Boakyes major 2013 exhibition Extracts and Verses and saw her nominated for that years Turner Prize. Looming from a vast 2m canvas, a huge, long-limbed man grins over his shoulder, hand poised at his chin. His eyes, teeth and shirt gleam white against a background of rich, Goya-esque darkness. Adrian Ghenie is represented in the Post-War and Contemporary Evening Auction with the vast and cinematic vision that is Nickelodeon, which was the centrepiece of Darkness for an Hour, Ghenies first UK solo show in 2009. The work executed on two panels that, together, span more than four metres presents eight figures amid a dark, cavernous interior. Each treads boards as though assembled on a spotlit stage, its wooden floor dragged viscerally into being through paint pulled across Ghenies canvas. Houston-based Hastings Equity Partners has sold oil and gas production analysis firm Southern Petroleum Laboratories, the company announced. A price was not disclosed. The company sold SPL to Industrial Growth Partners, a San Francisco private partnership that specializes in industrial investment. Hastings bought a majority interest in SPL in 2014. General Motors and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center have come up with what they call the "most extreme off-road-capable" midsize pickup. The most impressive feature about the new Colorado ZH2, announced Monday, is that it runs off clean energy, even with its reinforced interior and exterior, imposing 6 1/2-foot height and camouflage coloring. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Galveston Art Bound Family event supporting children's literacy and art education. When: 5-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: Galveston Arts Center, 2501 Market Information: smartfamilyliteracy.org The Original Greek Festival Learn about Greek culture and Greek cuisine while enjoying activities for kids, music and more. When: 5-10 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday Where: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Tickets: $5-$25; greekfestival.org Mad Hatter Day "Alice in Wonderland"-themed tea party with child-friendly tea, cookie decoration and creative arts projects. When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday Where: The Woodlands Children's Museum, 4775 W. Panther Creek, The Woodlands Tickets: $9; woodlandschildrensmuseum.org Houston AfriFest The Nigerian-American Multicultural Council host its fourth annual AfriFest featuring live music and performances, food, cultural artwork, fashion shows, national displays, games, kids' activities and more. When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday Where: Houston Baptist University, 7502 Fondren Tickets: $5; namchouston.org Hot Peas 'N Butter New York-based multicultural family music band, known for its catchy Latin-influenced songs for kids, performs. When: 11 a.m. Monday Where: Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive Information: milleroutdoortheatre.com News / National by Thobekile Zhou Bulawayo City Council could have spent close to $2000 on the mayor Martin Moyo to attend Botswana 50th Independence celebrations last week.The City of Francistown which BCC has a twinning arrangement with invited Moyo to the festivities.President Robert Mugabe boycotted due to strained relations with President Ian Khama.According to BCC latest report out today, the total cost was pegged at $1600.Moyo and his chauffeur would have spent $796 on accommodation for three nights, $493 for transport and $311 for meals.It was not immediately clear whether the mayor traveled to Botswana. Ballet began during the Renaissance era around the year 1500 in Italy and since then, dancers have entranced us with their out-of-this-world moves. Photographer Jocelyne Jeannot was inspired by dancers' elevated skills, so much so that the New York-based photographer began a series titled "Defying Gravity" to showcase their talents. LAUGHABLE PHOTOS: Texas couple laughs off wardrobe malfunction during engagement photo shoot that went viral Her school friend Callie Eidler suggested that Jeannot start photographing dancers - starting with her. From that first photo shoot in the summer of 2014, Jeannot has moved on to photographing at least 20 other dancers around New York City. "I started to do more shoots all over the city and I began to notice their movement in greater detail," Jeannot told Chron.com. "They put so much time into mastering just these little details." From professional dancers to recreational dancers whose day jobs are off of Wall Street, Jeannot has been inspired by them all, especially in their memorable stories of persistence and wisdom. HEART MELTED: Texas photographer captures loving images of grandparents on their 63rd anniversary In a collaboration between Eidler, who studies ballet, and Bharatanatyam dancer Rukmani Nayyar, Jeannot is able to combine the two styles of dance in opposing, yet fluid way. Nayyar speaks of dance saying: "Dance, like music, knows no geographical boundaries, no linguistic barriers, and no racial divisions. All walls crumble where art is concerned. It is a great unifying and integrating force." ONE THOUSAND WORDS: Engagement photo shoot take empowering turn after break up Two of the dancers Jeannot has photographed have come from Japan in pursuit of dance and master the craft. "Hiroko Uchino came here from Japan and she is very positive and persistent and focused on what she wants to achieve," Jeannot said of one of the dancers she's photographed. "There were not very many outlets to pursue dance in Japan, so she moved here to complete her dream." You can Uchino perform in the video above. Her series "Defying Gravity" has been acknowledged by the Bronx Council in the Arts for the BRIO award, an award that aims to note the wealth of artistic excellence in the Bronx area. Click through the gallery above to see the beautiful photos of the series in the gallery above or visit Jeannot's website here. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Theater Sassy Mamas: The Ensemble Theatre presents a romantic comedy about three "cougars." 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; $36-$61; 3535 Main; 713-520-0055, ensemblehouston.com Mamma Mia!: A daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father before her wedding, brings together three men from her mother's past. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; $35-$150; 800 Bagby; 713-315-2525, thehobbycenter.org Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: A musical adventure of friendship, helping others and new experiences. Presented by Society for the Performing Arts. 5:30 p.m. Sunday; $28-$78; 615 Louisiana; 713-227-4772, spahouston.org Duck for President: Unhappy with the working conditions on Farmer Brown's farm, Duck campaigns to put himself in charge. Presented by Main Street Theater. 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday; $20; MATCH, 3400 Main; 713-524-6706, mainstreettheater.com The Mother****** With the Hat: Obsidian Theater presents this show about love, fidelity and misplaced haberdashery. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; $15-$30; 3522 White Oak; 832-889-7837, obsidiantheater.org The Marvelous Wonderettes - Dream On: It's 1969, and the Wonderettes are throwing a fabulous retirement party for their beloved teacher. Presented by Stages Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Wednesday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; $17-$47; 3201 Allen Parkway; 713-527-0123, stagestheatre.com The Musical of Musicals, The Musical!: One story becomes five delightful musicals, each written in the style of a different master of the form. Presented by Theater LaB Houston. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; $34; MATCH, 3400 Main; 713-868-7516, thelabhou.org A Midsummer Night's Dream: Four young lovers and a troupe of actors find themselves in the middle of a dispute between the King and Queen of the fairies. Presented by Alley Theatre. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; $26-$79; 615 Texas; 713-220-5700, alleytheatre.org The Bear and The Proposal: Classical Theatre Company presents two plays that examine love among the landed aristocracy of Czarist Russia. 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Wednesday, 2 p.m. Sunday; $10-$25; 4617 Montrose; 713-963-9665, classicaltheatre.org Little Shop of Horrors: A floral assistant stumbles across a new breed of plant. Presented by Stageworks. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; $15-$26; 10760 Grant; 281-587-6100, stageworkshouston.org The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins sets off on a frightening but magical journey. Presented by the Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center. 7 p.m. Friday, Noon Saturday; 2503 S. Mason; 281-829-2787, kvpac.org Chaos Theory: A contemporary tragicomedy of a love story between two professors. Produced by the Indo-American Association. 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; $30; MATCH, 3400 Main; 281-648-0422, iaahouston.com Peter and Wendy: The Montgomery County Performing Arts Society presents its community outreach project, by the Missoula Children's production. 7 p.m. Saturday; $6; Crighton Theatre, 234 N. Main, Conroe; 936-760-2787, mcpas.org Classical/Opera Hocus Pocus Pops: Music by the Houston Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Friday; $20; Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins, The Woodlands; 713-224-4240, houstonsymphony.org Brahms' First Symphony: Mercury pairs this important piece with one of Beethoven's most beloved violin concertos. 8 p.m. Saturday; $19-$68; Wortham Center, 501 Texas. Additional performance at 8 p.m. Friday at University of Houston; 713-533-0080, mercuryhouston.org Fantasy, Love And Sex(tet): River Oaks Chamber Orchestra's opening series features cellist Richard Belcher and violinist Cecilia Belcher in a program of Robert Schumann's Fantasy Pieces. 5 p.m. Sunday; $15-$25; MATCH, 3400 Main; 713-665-2700, rocohouston.org Lost in the Stars: The soloists of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild present a concert event featuring moments from opera, musical theater and the American Songbook. 5 p.m. Sunday; $5-$20; St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, 4900 Jackwood; 713-666-3111, StThomasHouston.org Dance Russian Grand Ballet: "The Sleeping Beauty," Vladimir Troshchenko's production of the Tchaikovsky classic, with a cast of 50 Russian dancers. 7:30 p.m. Friday; Stafford Centre, $35-$58; 281-208-6900, staffordcentre.com Ash Danceworks: Rebecca French's new company premieres with "Beethoven Recnstrctd," with electronic sound by John Edward Ross and Richard Ford and interactive projections by Tim Thomson, Alan Lett and Jonathan Riely. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; MATCH, 3400 Main; $12-$35; 713-521-4533, matchouston.org Comedy Dance Festival: "Program Awesome" of short, funny dances by Daniel Adame and Suchu Dance, Shanon Adams, Jhon Stronks, FLY Dance Company and a film by Ashley Horn. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; The Pilot, 1502 Navigation; $20 or pay what you want; suchudance.org This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Firefighters battled a blaze early Wednesday morning at an abandoned house in northeast Houston. The 1-alarm fire broke out about 5:15 a.m. at a two-story home on Staples near Martha, according to the Houston Fire Department. No injuries were reported. Officials said the home was behind several other occupied houses and had been abandoned for about five years. Firefighters contained the flames to the vacant home, which had extensive damage. The fire did not spread to other structures. Investigators are trying to determine what sparked the blaze. A Houston man was in jail on Tuesday after authorities accused him of being behind the wheel of a car that fatally struck a construction worker. Timothy D. Dean, 34, is charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of Estanisloa Romero, 71. A worker at an auto shop in northwest Harris County died Tuesday when a car fell on him, authorities said. The employee, who was not been identified, was killed about 6:30 p.m. at a shop along the 2400 block of West Mount Houston Road, officials confirmed. The first German Americans to come to the 13 original colonies arrived in Philadelphia on Oct. 6, 1683. The 13 families settled in an area thenceforth known as Germantown, Pa. Throughout the rest of American history, and especially in the mid-19th century, Germans poured into North America, looking for good farmland, freedom of thought and an overall better life. They were almost unanimously opposed to slavery. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Gabrielle Langley wakes up in the middle of the night, she often has a line in her head. This germ of a poem will slip away if she goes back to sleep, so Langley scrambles for the nearest notepad or taps the line into her phone, "trying to capture it so it won't escape me." Langley will read some of those lines Sunday at the Houston Poetry Fest. The festival, an annual Houston event since 1985, offers three days of readings and workshops that celebrate poetry and poets. Starting Friday night, more than two dozen juried poets will take the microphone this weekend at the Willow Street Pump Station downtown. The selected poets -including Saba Husain, Matthew Riley, Weasel Patterson, David Cowen and Carolyn Dahl - are spread out over three sessions; they'll be joined by a few guest poets (Alice Anderson, Pablo Miguel Martinez, Saba Razvi and Martha Serpas) and this year's featured poet, Choonwha Moon. More Information Houston Poetry Fest When: Friday-Sunday (Juried poets read at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; open readings are at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, and workshops are 2-4 p.m. Sunday) Where: Willow Street Pump Station, 811 N. San Jacinto Info: Free; houstonpoetryfest.info See More Collapse This year's group is a wide variety of ages and ethnicities, and they'll be reading a mix of poems that are personal and political, quiet and dramatic, funny and devastating. Langley has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 20 years; "poets do not typically make a living writing poetry," she points out. Writing is what she does in her spare time, usually in the middle of the night. But in recent years, Langley has had several poems published in literary journals, and in the Huffington Post last fall, Houston writer Anis Shivani declared her one of "five emerging Houston poets you should know about." Langley is also a co-editor of "Red Sky," a forthcoming anthology that addresses the issue of violence against women. The idea came when friend and fellow poet Stacy Nigliazzo lost a colleague: In 2015, Caroline Minjares was stabbed to death by her estranged boyfriend, a Houston firefighter, in a murder-suicide. Nigliazzo wrote a poem in response to the news coverage and showed it to Langley. "I told her, there has to be some way to do an anthology," Langley says. So they put out a call for submissions and received more than 1,000 of them from all over the world. Proceeds from sales of "Red Sky" (Sable Books, $19.95) will go to the Global Fund for Women. Langley's own submission to the anthology is "Berlin, May 1945," about the waning days of World War II, when Russian soldiers raped thousands of German women in Berlin: "Into the ruins / on hob-nail boots," she writes, they "hunted down / the youngest / the prettiest / made her pay / for Hitler / for Stalingrad ." The most powerful aspect of any poem is "what's between the lines," Langley says. "One of the things I'm always looking to do is let the reader's imagination work. I don't want to tell the reader what my philosophy is. I would rather leave the reader with questions." WASHINGTON - Latino leaders say Donald Trump's personal insults of former Miss Universe Alicia Machado could further propel turnout in November, and a new poll suggests that Trump's attacks may be having an effect on Latinos' already negative view of the GOP nominee. But despite Trump's missteps and a surge in voter registration, some Latino advocates worry that Democrats and deep-pockets donors are failing to support mobilization efforts needed to get irregular voters to the polls. A poll of Latinos released Sunday showed further erosion in the GOP nominee's ratings - 77 percent unfavorable now - 5 percentage points worse than a week ago. Democrats are looking at key battleground states, among them Florida, Nevada and Colorado, as places where Latinos' still-diminishing view of Trump could prove decisive. The tracking poll, sponsored by the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Education Fund and Noticias Telemundo, captured fallout from Trump's ongoing jabs last week at Machado for gaining weight when she was Miss Universe. Latinos found the attacks in the debate and afterward as offensive to them, and Trump compounded the damage in his Twitter tirade when he referred to Machado's "sex tape past," widely seen as a false allegation. Trump apparently was referring to a 2005 night-vision clip from "La Granja," a Spanish reality program, that shows Machado and a man moving rhythmically under a blanket or sheet absent nudity or anything explicit, similar to some scenes in U.S. reality shows. The nonpartisan tracking poll showed why Trump is a refrain in Democratic ads focused on Latinos: Hillary Clinton is viewed favorably by two-thirds of Latinos - far better than by people generally - and led Trump 73-16 percent when Latinos were asked which candidate they prefer. Adding to the decline Houston pollster Sylvia Manzano of Latino Decisions, which conducts the tracking surveys, points to still another possible reason for Trump's ongoing decline among Latinos: Cuba - and Trump's efforts to drum up business opportunities in the 1990s during the embargo, an issue followed especially closely in Florida. Manzano said that despite some reports of Latinos becoming tuned out, her polling shows that the level of interest already has eclipsed what surveys showed four years ago. "I've heard media chatter about Latinos not enthused, but we don't have evidence to support that," she said. In Bexar County, which surpassed the 1 million mark in registered voters in late June, had 1,028,657 registered voters Monday - 100,000 more than in 2012, said Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen. Other cities with large Hispanic populations also say registration has surged. Enthusiasm is not enough Nonetheless, advocates worry that Democrats and philanthropies aren't devoting more to corralling that enthusiasm in the campaign's last weeks. The San Antonio-based Southwest Voter Registration Education Project operated in as many as 14 states in the past decade but limited funding this election has reduced efforts to just three states beyond Texas. "I think campaigns and corresponding groups are supporting efforts to turn out the voters that the campaigns think they need. In Hillary's case, its white men," said Lydia Camarillo, Southwest Voter vice president. Ben Monterroso, executive director of Mi Familia Vota, a Los Angeles-based national advocacy group, said he, too, worries about missed opportunity. He said Machado "represents pride in the Latino community. He (Trump) insulted one of our heroes." Monterroso added: "It looks to me that it's politics as usual in not building for the future. I don't see the coordination. I don't see it in the streets. I don't see it in the barrios." Democrats in Texas and Washington say efforts aimed at Latinos are building. Democratic National Committee spokesman Walter Garcia said additional party efforts will unfold in coming days. "We're constantly working to make sure that we highlight how dangerous and divisive Trump's candidacy is," he said. Red-state Texas typically settles for drips from the national party funding spigot in presidential election years. But Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa pointed to the DNC opening offices in Houston and Austin this season and heavy national funding of Alpine Democrat Pete Gallego in his challenge of U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, in the San Antonio-area quintessential swing district. Four million votes on the table In a conference call Friday, Hinojosa said: "We all know that the biggest problem we've had in getting the state to turn blue is the turnout in the Latino community. We leave 4 million votes on the table every election from that community. Texas is not really a red state, it's a nonvoting state." U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, pointed to the nearly 940,000 increase in the number of legal immigrants who have applied to become citizens as further indication of an energized Latino electorate. Castro is doing his part for Democrats nationally: He campaigned in Louisiana over the weekend and has trips planned for Florida and Iowa. Castro also is party-building in Texas, helping to finance a strategy in which people reach out to friends and relatives who in turn reach out to others with encouragement to vote. He likened the method to people asking others to help them move on a weekend. "They help you not because they like moving on a Saturday but because you asked them to," he said. In the Latino Victory Project's late efforts, a rock 'n' roll soundtrack accompanies the sound of money. Latino Victory was formed two years ago by actress and activist Eva Longoria and Henry Munoz, the San Antonio entrepreneur and Democratic Party finance chairman. Latino Victory is partners with the rock band Mana, of Guadalajara, Mexico, in an online campaign, #CuentaConmigo (count on me), with concerts so far in El Paso and Las Vegas and another planned in Miami. The Longoria-Munoz PAC also has spent $1.3 million this election, most of it supporting Latino candidates. "You can't take our community for granted," said state Rep. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso. "Just because Trump is out there doesn't mean these funding organizations have to make less investment. They can't be short-sighted." Nevada, where more than 1 in 5 voters are Latino, is the battleground state with the biggest Latino percentage and potentially a place where Latinos could make a big difference Nov. 8. Latinos see their best chance yet to send the first Latina to the U.S. Senate in the battle to replace Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Nevada Democrat and former two-term state attorney general, trails U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, a physician and three-term congressman, in recent polls. Heck led by just two points in a Las Vegas Review-Journal survey published Sunday, suggesting that a robust turnout could put Cortez Masto over the top. Last week, Cortez Masto answered charges by two of Heck's former advisers that she is "hispandering" for votes, with one of her critics remarking that she doesn't speak fluent Spanish. Cortez Masto, whose grandfather emigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, called the barbs a slap at Mexican-Americans "who have come to this country . have worked hard, and have made a life for them and their families." In the battleground state of Florida, an influx of Democratic-leaning voters arriving from Puerto Rico is rapidly changing the Hispanic electorate and may be a key factor in November, analysts say. In the past, Republicans could bank on strong support from Cuban-Americans in Florida. That GOP support has eroded in recent years, particularly among young Cuban-Americans. In 2012, Barack Obama captured the Cuban-American vote. Since then, tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans have moved to Florida after fleeing the island's debt crisis and economic woes, many of them settling in the Orlando area. Susan MacManus, a commentator and University of South Florida professor, noted intense organizing in the Orlando area and successes in state legislative contests of candidates of Puerto Rican heritage. "We're really starting to see the exertion of Puerto Rican political power. That has to be helpful to Hillary Clinton," she said. *** Tensions flared again recently between League City Mayor Pat Hallisey and members of City Council before the council voted down a request that he be investigated for allegedly violating the city charter. It was the latest incident reflecting rancor on the council, leading members Todd Kinsey and Hank Dugie to express frustration over the fighting, with Dugie calling the latest drama an "embarrassment" to the city. The 4-2 vote on Sept. 27 ended discussion on whether the mayor broke with charter policy by discussing details of a supposedly confidential development plan on a podcast, brought up in an email by City Manager Mark Rohr to council members on Sept. 15. The matter had been added as a supplementary agenda item to the Sept. 26 meeting at the end of the week before in what Hallisey called a "torpedo move." Article III, Section 3A of the city's governance policy states that information defined or "notified" by council members as confidential should remain outside of public discourse. Hallisey said that the confidentiality agreement on the project in question had expired in December. In a later interview, Hallisey denied the accusations. "I know better than to divulge a negotiating point," he said of the alleged breach, calling the rejected motion "childish." "It's a bunch of childish game-playing," Hallisey said. "We're the laughingstock of the region, from Galveston to Houston. I've been in government for 41 years, I've worked for commissioners courts and I've never seen anything like this." City Attorney Nghiem Doan said he had received an email from Rohr in August in which the city manager made similar accusations of a charter violation against the mayor and sent the message to everyone on the council. Even before the motion came to a vote at the Sept. 27 meeting, friction between Councilman Dan Becker and Hallisey festered at the meeting, with Becker interjecting several times that the mayor, under the charter, should be exempt from any discussion and vote in the matter. The mayor then called Becker out of order. On the third attempt to exclude the mayor from voting on the item, Becker asked council to "overrule the mayor's decision." "We wouldn't be here at this juncture if you would comply with the rules and comply with the charter," Becker said. Doan said the city charter does not prohibit the mayor's participation or discussion; it only prohibits a vote by a member of the council on a matter concerning that person's official conduct. "You can tell we've been down this road before," City Councilman Keith Gross said. "It occurred to me the first we had gone down this road, for the purposes of the open meeting act, I think we ought to think about what public business is and what is private business. If there is an issue about conduct among the council, I would suggest and I would think that would be considered private business and not something we should be arguing in front of the entire League City." On the losing end of the vote were Becker and Geri Bentley. Councilwoman Heidi Hansing was absent. The item was the latest in a stream of accusations and counter-accusations between some members of city council and the mayor since Hallisey won in a March special election. In August, Doan filed a formal complaint against the mayor accusing him of using a derogatory word when referring to Hansing and of verbally harassing two city employees, accusations the mayor denies. "There is an undercurrent of secrecy in this town, there's an undercurrent of control," Hallisey said, addressing audience members during last Tuesday's council meeting. "Citizens, it's hard for you to know what's going on because I don't even know what's going on." Hallisey said he has no personal animosity toward individual council members and said the reason he ran for office was to establish some stability in city government. "I knew it was going to be like this, I didn't come into this with any illusions," he said. "We've always been contentious here, we've never been quite as mean." The Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce is preparing to serve up a new event in the form of A Taste of Cleveland, set to take place on Oct. 19. A Taste of Cleveland is an event where numerous businesses will gather at the Cleveland Civic Center to set up booths while providing various foods to visitors. "It's to bring the community together," said Chamber Chief Operating Officer Jim Carson, " and for the businesses to promote their wares and products." Every business that participates is expected to bring food items of different types along with any products they wish to showcase. The businesses do not necessarily have to be restaurants or caterers. Carson says the event allows visitors to not only partake in a nice meal but also give a little bit of time to each business to learn more about them and what they do. When a booth vendor offers food, they are essentially offering visitors their time and therefore prompting the visitors to learn more about them. "They personally have an obligation to you because you gave them your time," said Carson. The theme this year is a tailgate party with every vendor expected to bring enough food to serve 300 people. Visitors to A Taste of Cleveland will only be charged $5. Carson says the event's true purpose is not really a fundraiser so much as it is bringing the community together and seeing what businesses exist in the city. "I think it's going to be a lot of fun," he said. "It lets people know what's in this area and permits shopping locally." A Taste of Cleveland is scheduled to be held at the Cleveland Civic Center on Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone who wishes to be a vendor can contact the Chamber at 281-592-8786 or visit www.clevelandtxchamber.com. Registration is $25. There's always a little sweating going on in the board room and with administrators when the Texas Education Agency releases the latest round of test scores and data on school districts across the state. The high-stakes nature of the tests can impact home sales, growth and even the economic future of the community. In spite of tougher standards applied to all testing levels across the state, most area districts met or exceeded state standards except for Cleveland ISD Across the state, 1,101 districts achieved the Met Standard designation. Cleveland, Sheldon, LaMarque, Orangefield, Navasota and Nacogdoches were among the 66 school districts that were tagged with Improvement Required. Of the more than 1,200 school districts and charters, as well as more than 8,600 campuses statewide, the ratings reveal that approximately 94 percent of school districts and charters across Texas have achieved the rating of Met Standard. Districts, campuses, and charters receive one of three ratings under the accountability system: Met Standard, Met Alternative Standard, or Improvement Required. The performance index framework includes four areas: Student Achievement Provides a snapshot of performance across all subjects; Student Progress Measures year-to-year student progress by subject and student group; Closing Performance Gaps Emphasizes the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students and the lowest performing racial/ethnic student groups; and lastly, Postsecondary Readiness Emphasizes the importance of earning a high school diploma that provides students with the foundation necessary for success in college, the workforce, job training programs or the military. In order to earn a rating of Met Standard or Met Alternative Standard, a campus or district must meet the target on either Index 1 or Index 2 plus meet the targets on Index 3 and Index 4. For the 2015-2016 school year, the number of districts achieving a rating of Met Standard or Met Alternative Standard stayed relatively stable to the previous years. Here's a breakdown of each of our area districts and comments from the superintendents regarding their scores. HARDIN ISD DISTRICT: Met Standard ALL CAMPUSES: Met Standard SUPERINTENDENT: Brandon Peavey Hardin ISD had particular success in the postsecondary readiness Index which is based not only STAAR assessments, but also graduation rates, enrollment in Career and Technical Education coursework, and SAT/ACT performance. "This past year, the state raised the passing standard for STAAR assessments, and so Hardin ISD is proud that our teachers and students were prepared to meet the more rigorous passing standards for 2015-16," Peavey said. Hardin ISD has seen a growth in overall student population in the past few years. This is evidenced by the need to build a larger elementary school, which is currently under construction to meet the needs of their expanding population, and the additional space recently opened at Hardin High School for CTE programs. "We have found that Hardin has become a destination district for parents who would like their students to attend high-quality schools that provide students with individualized instruction, technology integration, and preparation for college or career," the superintendent said. With data trends showing HISD consistently meets and exceeds standards in all subject areas and grade levels, Peavey felt confident that the district was headed in the right direction. While administrators at HISD believe the assessments are fair, they are also happy to see that the accountability system continues to evolve to include more community-based assessment and less reliance on STAAR data. "That is a positive change so school districts can focus on instruction and programs that benefit our students and community, Peavey said. LIBERTY ISD DISTRICT: Met Standard ALL CAMPUSES: Met Standard SUPERINTENDENT: Dr. Cody Abshier Liberty ISD staff were very pleased with the strong academic performance despite higher state standards. "At the secondary level, we have more room for growth and are working hard to meet the challenges head on. We are confident that with the addition of our math and English tutoring programs at Liberty High School, performance will be stronger in May of 2017," Abshier said. Enrollment remains relatively stable despite the growth going on around them in area districts. "We are very proud of all the hard work that our teachers and students are doing, and we feel that our district is headed in the right direction in both academics and extra-curricular areas," the superintendent said. Abshier said he understood the need for accountability, but remains hopeful that the State will improve the efficiency and user-friendliness of the assessment system. DAYTON ISD DISTRICT: Met Standard ALL CAMPUSES: Met Standard SUPERINTENDENT: Dr. Jessica Johnson Johnson said there were additional challenges to the testing in 2015-16 due to an increase in the passing standard on all STAAR tests, problems with the testing vendor (ETS), and changes in the law regarding student attendance, but in spite of those challenges she felt the community worked hard together to overcome the obstacles. "While we are never satisfied until 100 percent of our students are successful both in and out of the classroom, we did experience some significant increases in the number of students passing their STAAR tests in the spring of 2016, particularly in some groups of students who have traditionally struggled in the past," she said. To continue the success in the classroom, the DISD board has approved several positions designed to support teachers in the classroom. In addition, district administrators have built in layers of monitoring and support to ensure that every child receives the best education possible. "We are excited about our new elementary campuses and the new K-5 configuration, as well as all the other projects we were able to accomplish thanks to the generosity of our community," Johnson said. CLEVELAND ISD DISTRICT: Improvement Required ALL CAMPUSES: Met Standard, except for the high school SUPERINTENDENT: Dr. Darrell Myers Cleveland ISD saw dramatic improvements in grades PK-8 and as a result, received numerous state academic distinctions for campus academic gains and closing performance gaps between sub-population performances. The high school was rated "Improvement Required" as a result of student academic performance in writing; however, administrators say there has been significant issues with the scoring of the state writing test. "We are appealing our rating to the Texas Education Agency based on the outcome of having 90 of our students writing tests rescored," Myers said. "We should know the outcome within a few weeks." Each of the campuses met the state standards for Index 4 which deals with college readiness. However, the district was rated "Improvement Required" in this area. It may seem confusing how all of the campuses meet the standard but the district is rated "Improvement Required." "It is predicated on the fact that when in aggregate at the district level, some subpopulations will have enough students to include in the rating system as opposed to individual campuses which do not. This is an area that we must concentrate on in the upcoming years," Myers said. The district has gained 535 new students this year alone resulting in an increase of 12 percent to the total of 4,675 population. The increase is predominantly to Hispanic and Latino families making the district a minority majority with a breakdown of 60 percent Hispanic/Latino, 29 percent White and 8 percent Black/African American. The continued rapid growth has a serious impact on many of the services offered students and families, including transportation. Myers said he is confident the district is moving in the right direction and appreciates the teachers and staff for managing the growth. He is not a fan of the current high stakes testing system, especially when there is no guarantee that the results are accurate. "Our current system is extremely complex, age inappropriate, and places too much stress on children," he said. TARKINGTON ISD DISTRICT: Met Standard ALL CAMPUSES: Met Standard SUPERINTENDENT: Kevin Weldon Weldon was happy that all TISD campuses and the district achieved the highest accountability rating of Met Standard for 2016. Those successes included THS receiving distinction designations from TEA for Academic Achievement in Social Studies and Top 25 Percent: Closing Performance Gaps and TIS receiving a distinction in Top 25 Percent: Student Progress. "Even with the state's move to the more rigorous phase-in 2 passing standard, which required students to receive a higher score in order to pass, Tarkington ISD students were successful," Weldon said. The following 2016 Tarkington ISD scores exceeded state results: Grades 4, 5, 6, 8 Math STAAR Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Reading STAAR Grade 7 Writing STAAR Grade 8 Algebra I EOC English 1, English 2, Biology, US History EOC Tarkington ISD enrollment numbers remain stable across the district. "While Tarkington ISD continually strives to improve all facets of the educational process, we are very proud of the efforts of our students and the dedication of our teachers," the superintendent said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Jeff Turner Jr. struggles with the deadly outcome of an armed robbery at his Conroe jewelry store Monday. But the soft-spoken business owner understands his actions protected employees, family members and customers. A day after fatally shooting one of four robbers terrorizing patrons at his Texas 105 West shop, Turner told The Courier he is distraught by the harrowing moments that unfolded. "It's very hard," Turner said Tuesday. "I didn't want him to die. I just wanted to stop him." Turner returned fire on Javian Jackson, killing the 21-year-old Houston man with an AK-47 rifle as the four assailants tried to steal jewelry, money and purses from Jeff's Jewelry and customers. Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Harris County District Clerk's website, his criminal history dates back to August 2012 and includes convictions for burglary, evading police, false report to a police officer and a felon in possession of a weapon. The three other men fled in a white Dodge Charger, which law enforcement found abandoned on Tink Calfee Road in Conroe. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon. Turner, who said this is the second armed robbery at the store in two years, was working in a back office when he heard commotion. "I was working at my computer and I heard yelling up front," he said. "I didn't know what was going on. I just kept hearing yelling and yelling. I got up and grabbed the weapon. "I opened the door and the guy shot at me from about 5 feet away." Turner responded instantly. "I felt the bullet go past my head and I fired at him to protect myself and everyone else in the store," he said. "Everything in my brain was telling me to run out the back door. But I had to stay and protect the people. I knew I had to help." As Turner recounted the events, he was visibly shaken by the thought of the bullet hitting the wall behind his head. "I know God was in control of the situation. He protected me and he protected everyone in there," said Turner, who had family members in the store at the time of the attempted robbery. He said video surveillance shows the assailants with guns pointed at employees and customers as the robbers smashed glass and shoveled money and jewelry into a bag, but they didn't get away with valuables. Turner also confirmed that two other employees had weapons; however, it has not been confirmed whether they actually fired them. Law enforcement is not releasing the video at this time. While Turner is thankful to be alive, he knows that another family is suffering a loss. "I feel horrible for the family," he said. "I can't imagine what they are going through." Turner said it is his faith and the community that is helping cope with the tragic events. "We are not going to let this stop us," said Turner, whose father moved Jeff's Jewelry to Conroe in 1996 from Borger, Texas. "The support from the community has kept me going." Turner's attorney E. Tay Bond said his client did what he needed to do to protect himself and others. According to Section 9 of the Texas Penal Code, there are legal justifications for the use of force in a limited set of circumstances when a person has no duty to retreat, such as a homeowner who is protecting himself from an armed intruder. The law also applies for business owners. Bond said the Turner family is resilient. "Jeff's Jewelry is open and they are going to take even more security measures to protect their customers," he said. "They are part of the fabric of this community." Bond said he is thankful for Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon and his staff along with the Conroe Police Department and other law enforcement officers who worked the scene. He said the incident could be seen as a message. "When these people come up here to rob the citizens of Montgomery County, the only thing they are taking away is a sense of security," Bond said. "At some point, word will get out, 'Don't come to Montgomery County to commit a criminal offense.'" This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Police have identified the would-be robber killed Monday in a Conroe jewelry store heist as a 21-year-old man. Javian Jackson was one of four thieves who burst into a Conroe West strip center store and exchanged shots with employees in the brazen broad daylight robbery. After the criminal crew made their mid-day entry into Jeff's Jewelry, store owner Jeffery Turner Jr. reached for his AK-47, intending to defend himself and his property. The robbers opened fire, but Turner and other store workers shot back. Jackson was killed in the hail of gunfire. The attempted heist in Montgomery County is likely not connected to last month's brazen smash-and-grab at a jewelry store in River Oaks, despite some similarities in the cases, police said Tuesday. RELATED: Suspects flee after store robbery When thieves hit up de Boulle Diamond and Jewelry, a high-end Houston boutique, they busted in swinging hammers and wearing black hoodies. The four-person crew swept in and out of the store in a mere 40 seconds, with thousands of dollars of merchandise in tow. The daytime robbers dashed outside to a waiting car and met up with the fifth man - a getaway driver who sped off in a black Nissan. Monday's robbery was fast, too. The thieves were in and out in less than a minute, Conroe police told the Chronicle Tuesday. "It was very quick," said Lt. Dorcy McGinnis. In both cases, the suspects were dressed in all black and had a getaway car waiting outside after their daytime armed robbery. The Conroe crew - who are still on the run - later abandoned their white Dodge Charger getaway car near Tink Calfee Road. Although there is surveillance footage of the crime, authorities have no plans to release it. And, although the cases seem to bear some similarities, McGinnis was tight-lipped about the direction of the investigation - and whether it was related to the River Oaks heist. "Obviously we're going to consider other incidences that look similar," she said. "I can't comment on whether we're following that lead at this time." But Houston police indicated they don't believe the two are related. "We do not believe that the cases are connected or very similar," said Houston police spokesman John Cannon. That determination is "based on how the incident up there went and their methods of operation," he said, adding that investigators won't likely release information on specific differences between the cases. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Christina Brown was one of four survivors in an intoxicated driving crash that killed her 14-year-old daughter, Nicole King, near Angleton. "Her whole front of her body was covered in tire prints. She had a severed spine, bleeding in her ears, bleeding in her brain," Brown said recalling her daughter's death over Spring Break on March 19, 2010. King died instantly when drugged Jeffrey Thomas slammed his father's F-150 into Brown's family sedan parked on the side of Texas 288. The crash also injured Brown, King's step-father Chris Brown and their then-11- and 12-year-old children. READ MORE: Katy student killed in accident Thomas pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony intoxication manslaughter charge in August 2011 for 10 years in prison. He also received 10 years of community supervision for the crash. Christina Brown spent Sept. 15 at Thomas' first parole board hearing in Austin fighting to keep him in prison for his full sentence. Ultimately, the board denied Thomas' parole - and chose to not hear his parole for another five years, meaning he will spend the full term of his sentence in prison. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is mandated to review a criminal's parole eligibility on a yearly basis, unless the charge for which the convict is incarcerated is exceptionally violent or if the convict is found to have used a deadly weapon. In those cases, the board can decide not to review a case for up to five years. READ MORE: Sheriffs want new parole law to reduce jail crowding Thomas' plea agreement included a deadly weapon finding, according to an online post by Brazoria County prosecutor David A.K. Smith. Defying Logic However, intoxication manslaughter on its face is not considered a violent crime for which a parole hearing can be pushed back, and the board must review these cases on a yearly basis unless there is a deadly weapon finding. "It defies logic, frankly," said Houston Police Department victims advocate Andy Kahan. Kahan said he's working with local legislators to introduce a bill that would add intoxication manslaughter to that list, giving the board the discretion to postpone a parole hearing for up to five years. READ MORE: Man gets life without parole for killing former employer "There's no harm in giving discretion," Kahan said. "If the parole board wants to give one year, they can do that. But something tells me they would certainly appreciate having the discretion, particularly in cases like Christina's." In 2015, the 84th Legislature passed House Bill 1914, which gave the board the option to push back parole hearings up to 10 years for capital crimes and aggravated sexual assault. Kahan hopes to work with State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, who authored HB 1914, in getting similar legislation introduced during the 85th Legislature that would address intoxication manslaughter. READ MORE: Parole officers charged with accepting bribes Although intoxication manslaughter does not fall under the violent crimes rule, there is a caveat to the charge giving the board the discretion Kahan wants. If a person is convicted and found to have used a deadly weapon during any offense, the parole board is given the five-year discretion. Family's Testimony For Brown, the fight is not just about keeping Thomas in prison for the full 10 years. Her surviving children went through trauma, multiple surgeries and even a coma as a result of the crash. Brown and her children testified Sept. 15 and hope to never have to testify again. "It was really hard for them to go back to it, because they were 11 and 12 (years old) at the time of the accident," Brown said. "A lot of stuff that came out they didn't know about. They didn't have time to find out the things that happened." Brown pulled dash-cam video, crash reports and arrest logs and presented those before the one-person panel. - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An 83-year-old man died Tuesday when a fire swept through his plumbing supply company in south Houston. The 1-alarm blaze broke out about 9:20 a.m. at Byrd Plumbing Supplies & Services at 7819 Cullen near Red Bud, according to the Houston Fire Department. The Houston Police Department identified the victim as Frederick Byrd. READ MORE: Population growth strains county's last all-volunteer fire department Police said a worker was able to get out of the burning building and called 911 to say the company owner, Byrd, was still inside. When police officers arrived they tried to get into the building to help Byrd but smoke and heat from the fire forced them back outside. When firefighters arrived they found Byrd on the first floor of the building. He had been burned and was rushed to Memorial Herman hospital, where he later died. No other injuries were reported. Investigators are trying to determine what sparked the blaze. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A suspected white supremacist prison gang member named this week to the state's Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list was captured Wednesday in northwest Houston. Kevin Wayne Matthews, 49, identified by law enforcement as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, was taken into custody without incident at an undisclosed location, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Matthews, who has worked as an electrician, was wanted on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in a May 2015 incident in Liberty County. He is accused of using a vehicle to attack two family members, and had been caught by law enforcement with a firearm. Liberty County District Attorney Logan Pickett said the case is worthy of the attention that comes with being among the state's most wanted. "Gangs have shown a proclivity for violence," Pickett said. "Any time you have accusations against felons with firearms and felons committing violent crimes, I'd imagine the spotlight should be a bit brighter on those to get those allegations resolved." RELATED: Aryan Circle steps out of the shadows Matthews, who had a Pasadena address, has been in and out of the gang's home turf the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at least six times, for offenses such as breaking into a building, stealing a car and evading arrest, according to records. He was last sent to state prison for nine months in 2014 for drug possession. The gang, which has about 2,000 members and recruits, is active inside the state's penitentiaries and outside as well in many parts of the state. The DPS ranks it in the same gang category as Bloods, Crips and Bandidos in terms of size, but officials say it commits a disproportionately larger amount of crime. "The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas was formed as a white supremacist prison gang, but places its racist ideology secondary to its everyday criminal activities," an agency report on the gang states. Membership is for life, orders from superiors must be obeyed without question, and failure to do so can carry a penalty of death, according to the gang's constitution. It has a military type structure, with top leaders called generals and rank-and-file known as soldiers. PHOTOS: The most dangerous prison gangs The gang has often been in the cross hairs of law enforcement, with one of the largest racketeering prosecutions ever based in Houston. Federal authorities here convicted 73 members and associates of the gang in a case that wrapped up in 2014. One of the gang's most infamous crimes played out a decade ago when longshoremen Robert McCartney was kidnapped in a carjacking in Baytown, then murdered and dumped in a Liberty County field. Authorities said the gang members were acting on orders from superiors to find parts for a truck. Danny Ray Ferguson, a member of the gang's rival, the Aryan Circle, was named to the state's 10 Most Wanted Fugitive list in April and also became Houston's Most Wanted Gang Fugitive, a double dose of attention that resulted in him quickly surrendering for allegedly violating parole. Crime Stoppers, in coordination with the Texas governor's office, was offering a reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to the arrest of Matthews. Officials said the tip information is being reviewed to determine if a reward will be paid. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-252-8477 or by texting the letters "DPS" followed by the tip to 274637 (CRIMES) from a cellular phone. Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist, is based in Jerusalem. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..Gatestone Institute..05 October '16..Once again, the Europeans seem to be in Alice's Wonderland when they consider Palestinian affairs in particular and the Middle East in general. The renewed attempt by the European Union to remove the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas from its terrorism list is a case in point.Recently, an advisor to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) recommended that Hamas be removed from the EU's terrorism blacklist. In 2014, the EU's second-highest court ruled that Hamas should be taken off the list on "technical" grounds. It argued that Hamas's listing was not based on evidence, but on "factual imputations derived from the press and the internet."However, the European Council then appealed this judgement, arguing that Hamas should remain on the terrorism blacklist, citing a 2001 decision by the UK and the US that designated both Hamas and the Tamil Tigers as terrorist groups. But the recent opinion by the ECJ advisor dismisses this argument. "The council cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet," Advocate General Eleanor Sharpton said. She explained that the council could not rely on terrorist listings by countries (the UK and US) outside the EU.This latest highly dangerous European attempt to strike Hamas from the terrorism blacklist will, as the EU knows perfectly well, only serve further to embolden the Islamist movement to replace Israel with an Islamic empire.Removing Hamas from the terrorism list would obviously be seen as a severe blow to Hamas's rivals in the Western-backed and funded Palestinian Authority (PA), and to the efforts to revive any peace process between the Palestinians and Israel.As this is not the EU's first attempt to do this, it is hard not to conclude what many Palestinians have suspected all along: that the EU and its affiliates do not care if the Palestinians and others in the area are overrun by Hamas terrorists and are forced to live under the rule of despotic Islamist militants. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two suspects were taken into custody early Wednesday morning after they led police on a chase following a car-jacking in southwest Houston. The chase began about 3:30 a.m. near Post Oak and Bellfort when a patrol officer tried to pull over a driver for a traffic violation, said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department. Crowson said the driver refused to stop and sped away. The officer followed the suspects. During the chase, officer determined the vehicle had been stolen about two hours earlier in a car-jacking in a parking lot in the 5100 block of Griggs. Both suspects in the car-jacking had guns. The chase ended, Crowson said, when the suspects hit a curb along Bellfort near Texas 288. They jumped out of the disabled car and ran into a nearby pipe yard. The business was open and officers evacuated the workers and searched for the suspects. With the help of a police helicopter crew and a search dog, they found the men. One was hiding in the water in a creek while the other was hiding in a pipe. The K-9 bit one of the suspect on the leg as the men were taken into custody. The man had slight injuries and is expected to be fine. No other injuries were reported. The suspects, Crowson said, are expected to be charged with aggravated robbery as well felony evading. No information was released about the car-jacking. When four men opened fire on his customers during an attempted robbery Monday afternoon, Conroe jewelry store owner Jeffery Turner Jr. shot back with his AK-47 rifle In the aftermath, one robber lay dead in the doorway among shattered glass; while Turner, his employees and customers were left shaken but unharmed. The three other robbers fled the scene in the Conroe West strip center in the 4800 block of Texas 105 West. "You always have a right to defend yourself, especially when the robber shoots at you," said Turner's attorney E. Tay Bond, who said all the witnesses and Turner reported the four men started shooting first. "Jeff does keep an AK-47 for defense purposes." Bond said Turner called him to the scene after the shooting. Turner was not available for comment after Monday's attempted robbery, Bond added. The identity of the dead man has not been released. According to Conroe Police Lt. Dorcy McGinnis, four men dressed in all black entered Jeff's Jewelry around lunchtime and demanded jewelry, purses and other items. They opened fire on the store employees and customers, with at least three store workers firing back. "There was a lot of gunfire," McGinnis said. Windows were broken out of the store, and police set up barriers around the crime scene. The initial report was that nothing was taken from the store. About a dozen people stood in shock after learning what had happened inside the store as police office strung crime scene tape around the parking lot. A manhunt ensued for the three other men. Conroe police located their abandoned getaway vehicle near Tink Calfee Road between West Fork Boulevard and Longmire. Roads were blocked off Monday afternoon as the search continued. The DEA brought in a helicopter to help with search efforts, according to the CPD. Alice Long, who was working at The Cabinet Company in the same Conroe West strip center, said she heard the commotion. "I heard what I thought was a car backfiring," she said. "Then I heard sirens real close." Long said she then saw police cars pull into the jewelry shop next door. Long remembers the last time the jewelry store was robbed. "I had not been here six months when they got hit," she said. Turner was not available for comment after Monday's attempted robbery, Bond said. TranStar As the afternoon rush hour kicked into high gear on Wednesday, crews removed downed telephone lines that closed Interstate 45 North at Cavalcade The closure was reported minutes before 3 p.m., according to TranStar. All lanes reopened at about 4:10. With the start of fall, millions of Americans will turn down their thermostats to take advantage of the cooler weather. But as daylight savings draws closer to an end, they might not realize they're turning on the lights more often. According to Accuweather, temperatures in Houston are not expected to drop below 80 degrees until late October. With less sunshine in the day and our reliance on man-made lighting going up, our energy bills might be higher than expected for the fall. SAN ANTONIO An argument between two brothers on the Northeast Side quickly turned into a case of aggravated assault, putting two people in the hospital, according to police. Authorities responded at about 1:15 a.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Ashland Drive, where a 34-year-old man tried to break up an argument between two brothers and was shot in the arm with a shotgun. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente wanted a ride to the presidential election ballot somewhere, anywhere. He tried as a Democrat in the primaries and lost. De La Fuente is now on some state ballots as a Reform Party candidate, others as an independent and in five states even represents a party of his own creation - the American Delta Party. But a federal judge has turned away his request to appear at all on the Texas ballot. READ MORE: A chance the presidential election will end in a tie, thanks to New Mexico U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman in Austin rejected De La Fuente's argument that the state's laws governing ballot access are unconstitutional. The same argument was also submitted by the American Delta Party that De La Fuente founded and a voter named Beverly Kennedy. Presidential elections are national in appearance only - every state votes for president on the same day. But, each state has a different set of ballot-access rules, requirements and deadlines. In Texas, the law for ballot access is fairly simple: Independent candidates must submit an application to appear on the ballot, supported by a petition signed by a number of registered voters totaling 1 percent of the votes cast in the previous presidential election (nearly 80,000 in this case). READ MORE: A younger generation loves Obama, cooler to Clinton, Trump Those signatures must be obtained after the Texas presidential primaries conclude and submitted before the second Monday in May, approximately six months before the general election in early November. Only voters who did not participate in the primary may validly sign the petition. The process for becoming a write-in candidate is simpler. The candidate need only submit an application 78 days before the election. Texas also has at least two "sore loser" statutes. In short, the two laws say a person who participated in a party primary "is ineligible to be an independent candidate for president or vice-president of the United States in the succeeding general election." READ MORE: Could third-party candidates thwart Clinton or Trump? Maybe. De La Fuente fell under the "sore loser" laws and didn't submit the necessary signatures in time to secure ballot access for his party or as a write-in candidate. Pittman was unimpressed with De La Fuente's arguments that the hurdles to ballot access in Texas were "discouraging." "It is not at all clear from the record what attempts De La Fuente has made to appear on the ballot, except competing in the State's primary election," Pittman wrote. The ruling leaves De La Fuente without a general-election ballot ride in Texas this year and the state's laws in tact for future candidates. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..This Ongoing War..05 October '16..There has been another rocket attack on southern Israel today.A reminder here this morning, the day after Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year), that the insatiable appetites of the Palestinian Arab terrorist ranks for more mayhem and more Jewish victims produce largely unpredictable outbursts of violence directed at generally unpredictable targets and with unknowable outcomes.What we can say with confidence is that ordinary people living peaceful lives on our side of the fence are again being terrorized. -- Todays scheduled oral arguments in the Duane Buck case: Now nearly two decades later, the U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to look for a third time at whether the death sentence the jury gave Buck was tainted by testimony and evidence related to the fact he is black. Buck's case doesn't present a broad challenge to the death penalty but draws attention due to Texas' standing as the nation's leader, by far, in carrying out 537 executions since the Supreme Court in 1976 allowed capital punishment to resume. At issue is whether the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was correct when it refused attempts by Buck's attorneys to reopen a judgment against Buck. That ruling blocked his lawyers from moving forward with an appeal contending Buck's constitutional rights were violated when his defense lawyers put on an expert witness who referred to Buck's race during his testimony. (AP) -- On your radar: One of the nation's largest corrections companies is challenging the Department of Justice's decision to phase out the use of 14 private prisons nationwide, saying the department acted illogically and illegally. Florida-based GEO Group, which operates two of the five facilities facing possible closure in Texas, launched the attack this week in what it says is the nation's first legal challenge to the recent decision out of Washington. The official protest, a primary step toward a lawsuit, could freeze any changes in the procurement process until an administrative judge can consider the issue, including questions about how private prisons measure up to those run by the government, writes the Houston Chronicles Dane Schiller. State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, suggested police arent always held accountable because many people dont know where to turn to complain about mistreatment. Acevedo said the Austin Police Department is amending its tickets and citations to include information telling recipients who to contact with complaints or other input. The department also is creating a brochure with similar information to hand out, he said. -- How lawmakers are tackling police tension, fear, by the Statesmans Chuck Lindell. State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, suggested police arent always held accountable because many people dont know where to turn to complain about mistreatment. Acevedo said the Austin Police Department is amending its tickets and citations to include information telling recipients who to contact with complaints or other input. The department also is creating a brochure with similar information to hand out, he said. McCraw said he liked that idea and committed to adding the phone number of the DPS inspector generals office, which does internal investigations, on all warnings and tickets. Well do that right now, he told the committee. Trying to educate young people is absolutely key to helping us avoid some of these outcomes. Not all parents teach their kids how to interact with police, he said. We share a goal everyone goes home at night. West also suggested creating minimum penalties for officers found guilty of misconduct and allowing police body camera and dashcam videos to be released earlier in the process, particularly to citizens interested in making a complaint about treatment by police. -- Must read from Quorum Report Editor Scott Braddock: The biggest group representing major employers in the state, the Texas Association of Business, on Monday confirmed to Quorum Report that it is no longer part of a coalition pushing to ban the automatic deduction of union dues from government paychecks. The TAB still supports the policy position, of course, but the powerful trade association is now distancing itself from an alliance of other business groups called the Texas Business Coalition. That coalition, chaired by Houston janitorial executive Brent Southwell, includes the National Federation of Independent Business, Texas Retailers, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas, and others. >> Could Trumps comments about women cost him key voters? The Texas Tribune -- FLASHBACK: When Clayton Williams said he didnt pay taxes, Ann won: The 1990 Texas election was days away, and the Republican front-runner was a millionaire known mostly for his money and his mouth. Finally, a reporter asked again about his income taxes, and Clayton Williams blurted: Ill tell you when I didnt pay any income tax, was 1986 . The headlines the next day were published in big, stark letters: Williams Didnt Pay 86 Taxes. The next week, Democrat Ann Richards came from 5 points down to win the 1990 Texas governors race. I thought right then, Oh man, we just lost it, said Bill Kenyon, Williams former campaign spokesman. But nobody else asked about it. I thought it might be our lucky day. A quarter-century before Trump-vs.-Clinton, the Midland oilman blustered his way through a Texas election against a high-profile Democratic woman, and lost, writes the Star-Telegrams Bud Kennedy. CAPITOL DAYBOOK JOINT 10am Coastal Barrier System [E1.030] SENATE 9am State Affairs [Senate Chamber] 1pm Business & Commerce [E1.016] SPEED READ White House uses SWSW-style event as a call to action, Houston Chronicle Garcia: Trumps rare moment of self-awareness, San Antonio Express-News Catering company launches taco truck lawsuit, Houston Chronicle The rise and fall of Enron, Houston Chronicle Weatherford was caught but CEO didn't face the consequences, Houston Chronicle Democracy can be bad for the economy, Houston Chronicle Clown-related threats haunt Dallas-area schools, the latest in series of hoaxes nationwide, The Dallas Morning News Houston Black Lives Matter Group Slams Democrats Police Education Proposal for Teens, The Texas Observer Will Any Major Newspapers In Texas Endorse Donald Trump? Texas Monthly RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE -- Steady Pence gets wide praise, but Kaine lands jabs on Trump, by the AP: Pressed by Kaine to defend his running mate throughout the 90-minute debate Tuesday, Pence mostly dodged, sidestepped or let the moment pass by. He vouched for the billionaire's tax history, but was less vocal when challenged about Trump's temperament or his inflammatory words about women and President Barack Obama. >> Pences that Mexican thing comment gets online attention, AP >>Trumps vet supporters are sticking with him after PTSD remarks, Buzzfeed -- Trump is running out of time, by Politicos Gabriel Debenedetti: Republicans' sense of relief was palpable after Pences performance on Tuesday, but the nominee's window is rapidly closing: early voting has begun in a handful of battleground states, like Iowa and Wisconsin, and its on the brink of starting in others like North Carolina and Florida. Clintons field operation has revved up on the ground in such states with the campaign estimating that more than 40 percent of this years electorate in key states will vote prior to Election Day and her high-profile surrogates like Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders are fanned out across the country hammering home her message that Trump is unfit to serve as president. 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. The Prime Minister of Israels Residence Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..The Washington Free Beacon..03 October '16..The Obama administration ignited a firestorm over the weekend when it stripped the city of Jerusalem as being located in Israel in an official communication sent following a memorial service for recently deceased former Israeli President Shimon Peres.The White House originally sent out a press release attributing Obamas remarks at the memorial service as taking place in Jerusalem, Israel. However, shortly after that statement was sent, the White House reissued the statement with Israel crossed out as the location.The White Houses move prompted criticism in Israel and throughout the pro-Israel community, including on Capitol Hill.Thehas assembled a list of ten other places that the White House does not believe are located in the state of Israel. Rural Areas and Small Cities Across Canada Eager to Attract More Newcomers CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A The latest Canadian government statistics reveal that more active immigration strategies at a local level may be necessary in order to attract more immigrants to rural areas. Several small cities and towns in central Canada have already created local immigration strategies to attract newcomers. Now, other municipalities across the country are taking note of the positive results. In 2015, more than three-quarters of new permanent residents to Canada landed in just seven cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Winnipeg. The government of Canada is looking to change that, however. Fortunately, the provinces are also on board. Canadas Minister of Immigration, John McCallum, has stated that in addition to the record numbers of new immigrants who have landed over the past year the government hopes to welcome even more newcomers to Canada. But the government hopes to lure these immigrants to other locations, with Minister McCallum citing labour market shortages and aging populations as reasons to populate certain regions. We would like to spread the immigrants across the country relatively evenly. The last thing we want is that every immigrant either goes to Toronto or Vancouver, said McCallum at a recent roundtable discussion. Theres a significant feeling that Canada does need more immigrants, partly because we have an aging population, and so we need more young blood to keep our economies going. The situation is urgent in Atlantic Canada, where population growth from 2011 to 2014 was close to zero in all provinces except Prince Edward Island. Over the past couple of years, Nova Scotia has reacted by developing a dynamic and growing Provincial Nominee Program (the Nova Scotia Nominee Program). Earlier this year, Canadas Atlantic provinces announced a new pilot program to facilitate the entry of more immigrants through the PNPs. The plan is part of a new Atlantic Growth Strategy. Of the larger provinces, in 2015 new immigrants generally settled in urban areas: In British Columbia, 88.6% of immigrants settled in Vancouver, Victoria, or Abbotsford-Mission. In Alberta, 84.8% of immigrants settled in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, or Lethbridge. In Saskatchewan, 67.3% of immigrants settled in Regina or Saskatoon. In Manitoba, 83.2% of immigrants settled in Winnipeg. In Ontario, 94.2% of immigrants settled in Toronto, Ottawa-Gatineau, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, or Windsor. In Quebec, 91.6% of immigrants settled in Montreal, Quebec City, or Trois-Rivieres. Governments (federal and provincial) believe that these settlement patterns drive up property prices, create demographic challenges, and are not as responsive to labour market needs as could be the case. A case study: Morden, Manitoba A small city in southern Manitoba, Morden, with a population of just over 9,000, is bucking the national trend in its effort to attract and retain new immigrants. The Morden Community Driven Immigration Initiative (MCDII) has so far been a great success, with immigrants arriving to this Pembina Valley community for two main reasons: quality of life and jobs. In 2011, Mordens population was just 7,800. Since then, the population of the area, including the neighbouring city of Winkler, has increased by 3,000, thanks in part to immigration initiatives like the MCDII. Operating at a local level, the criteria for selecting newcomers are rather different from those used by the federal government. The MCDII favours community connections, and candidates who may not be eligible to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), or other federal programs, may be eligible to apply within the scope of the MCDII, which identifies potential candidates under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Morden targets workers in certain occupations. At the time of writing, these occupations include manufacturing jobs, cabinetmakers, factory sewing machine operators, and heavy vehicle mechanics. For a full list of eligibility requirements, click here. Examples to follow Morden is the canary in the coalmine. Other municipalities across the country are looking at how its immigration drive brings positive results, both for the labour market and the community, and seeing whether similar strategies would work for their own towns and cities. Ultimately, these sorts of initiatives are what is needed, both for the existing communities and new immigrants alike, says Attorney David Cohen. At a provincial level, Nova Scotia is certainly leading the way. It has recognized the challenge of changing demographics and a shifting labour market and has reacted with gusto. It has successfully lobbied for a larger PNP allocation and is now trying to reach out to towns and cities outside Halifax to bring them into the decision-making process. To learn more about your Canadian immigration options, please fill out a free online assessment today. 2016 CICnews All Rights Reserved Which presidential candidate will best uphold the rule of law? This is one of the most important questions the American voter should consider. The rule of law is essential to a republican society. The Constitution recognizes that the president is central to the rule of law. It requires him to swear an oath that he will faithfully execute the duties of his office and that he will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution itself. The proposition that we are a republic of laws, not of men, is more than a conceit. Societal respect for the rule of law allows people to plan for the future. It enables them to be secure in their property. It promotes self-help and prevents violence. It also tamps down on political conflict and polarization, because it forces social movements to go through legal processes to change the law. In the United States, these processes are purposefully laborious. Creating new legislation at the federal level requires agreement between both houses of Congress and the president. Changing the Constitution requires two-thirds support in both houses and three quarters of the state legislatures. The requirements of consensus for legislation and constitutional amendments produce compromise, forcing people to work together. Sadly, neither of the major-party candidates in 2016 can be trusted as a conservator of the rule of law. Republican nominee Donald Trump has a history of skirting the law in his private enterprisesallegedly stiffing creditors and suppliers alike. His temperament seems the opposite of law-abiding. A sole focus on winning is in tension with following the rules of a democratic polity that will inevitably frustrate continuous political triumphs. Moreover, journalists have had a field day in detailing how some of his policy suggestions, such as torture of suspected terrorists, would violate established law. Hillary Clinton also poses a grave threat to the rule of law, less because of her temperament than because of her ideology. Clinton is a progressive, and progressivism in the United States was born in no small measure as a revolt against the fundamental rule of law. Progressives didnt like the basic structures of the Constitutionfederalism and the separation of powersbecause these features thwarted social change and created obstacles to the efficient, administrative government that progressives felt could engineer a better world. Progressives proved unwilling to go through the process of constitutional amendment to change the plan of government. Hence, in the New Deal, they supported the appointment of Supreme Court justices who both gutted the enumerated powers that restrained the federal government and blurred the separations of powers that constrained the executive. In the latter half of the twentieth century, progressive focus shifted to celebrating judges who would fabricate federal rights that were not actually in the Constitutionlike the right to have an abortionand impose them on the nation. Both the decline of federalism and separation of powers in our constitutional plan have generated political polarization. Federalism allows ideas to percolate and consensus to develop. In contrast, a strong federal administrative state means that policy will tend toward the extremes. The president feels justified in catering to the partisan voters who got him nominated rather than the broad middle of the nation. President Hillary Clinton would further weaken the institutions that protect our rule of law. She wont appoint justices dedicated to following the original meaning of the Constitution. Instead, her judicial appointees will be inclined to create new substantive rights favored by the Democrats even when those rights are nowhere contained in the Constitution. She is also dedicated to the latest progressive causeweakening free speech, a right actually in the Constitutionin order to defend the political hegemony that progressives otherwise enjoy in the press and the academy. Her pervasive lack of constitutional fidelity counts heavily against her, because there is already a vacancy on the Supreme Court and there is likely to be one or two more during her first term. Moreover, given that her party will almost certainly not control both houses of Congress, she will likely continue the pattern of President Obamas last six years in officeattempting to rule by executive decree rather than by forging legislative compromise in matters such as immigration and health care. The result here, too, will be greater polarization, as opponents will be enraged by her high-handed methods. These practices will also put more pressure on the basic framework of the separation of powers, as the Supreme Court faces the choice of opposing a democratically elected president or enforcing statutes and the Constitution as written. Trump is likely better on preserving the judicial framework for the rule of law, not because of his innate constitutional fidelity, but because of his own legislative circumstances. Most significantly, he will likely follow through on his promise to appoint justices like Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court. He will need to keep the Republican coalition happy on matters that unite it, even as he pursues his core agenda on matterslike tradethat divide it. He will be less able to use the bureaucracy to make policy, because the bureaucrats dont agree with him, and even the Republicans he appoints are likely to have significant differences with him. Nevertheless, given his temperament and self-confidence, there is a substantial risk that he will ignore his appointees and make rash use of presidential powers. The question, then, of which candidate will advance the long-run rule of law isnt an easy one to answer. We are left with the choice of a candidate who will be inclined to lawlessness by temperament and one who will be inclined to lawlessness by ideology and circumstance. This unhappy dilemma is more evidence that we face the least inspiring choice for president in our entire history. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images Audio Transcript Brian Anderson: The State of Texas has seen spectacular economic and population growth over the past two decades. The Lone Star States pro-development policies have made Texas one of the most attractive places for middle class families to own a good home at a reasonable price. Texass economic success has largely been concentrated in its four major metropolitan areas: Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, which make up what is known as the Texas Triangle. Each city has successfully lured its own mix of businesses and entrepreneurs to relocate or invest in Texas and together they are doing better than almost any region in the country since the Great Recession. However, no economic boom can last forever and with growth comes significant challenges, many of which are the same challenges faced by other American cities in the past. Joining us to discuss those challenges and Texass future is Aaron Renn. Aaron is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, and a columnist at Governing Magazine. Hes an expert on urban development and can be found on Twitter @Urbanophile. Aarons latest piece, Lone Star Quartet, is featured in Texas Rising, our new special issue of City Journal focused on Texas. It can be found online at www.city-journal.org. Aaron, thanks very much for joining us. Aaron Renn: Thanks for having me in. Brian Anderson: Now, many people have compared Texass explosive growth in the century with the rise of California in the last century. There are many similarities but California today is one of the most expensive states for middle class families to live while Texas is relatively cheap. What sets apart the Texas experience and policy choices over the past twenty years in this context from places like California? Aaron Renn: Well, one thing is success is cyclical. No one goes up and up and up forever. So California had a really good run and part of the challenge with them is you know, as you get older in your development pattern you start making, you know, bad choices a lot of times. Youve had so much success that you think youre going to have success forever. So in Californias case, their taxes got out of control. They have very high income taxes there. They do have capped property taxes for some because of Prop 13, but that mostly benefits longstanding homeowners over new homeowners. They stopped investing in their infrastructure, their highway systems are in very bad shape, and then they also became an incredibly high regulatory state; which may be, you know, far worse than the taxes are the regulations. Especially in terms of two things, one is the inability to build anything and its very Brian Anderson: Including housing. Aaron Renn: including housing. And this has sent housing prices through the roof and the second is some of these, you know, toughest environmental mandates in the country around things like greenhouse gas emissions and things like that, that have dramatically raised energy costs in the state, which effectively, or specifically effects low-income households the most. So you end up with a situation where its sort of a high-cost, high-regulation environment, and you combine that with the fact that its successful industries like Hollywood and Silicon Valley tech really are less affected by that. They are very high-value industries, they are very clean industries, they operate in office parks and things were already existing, studio backlots, and things like that. So its kind of great if youre one of those people in those industries, but its not so great for everybody else. Texas, by contrast, a no income tax state, low regulatory state, Houston famously has no zoning. Its stayed more affordable and it has stayed, you know, more pro-business, not just for high-end business, but for all kinds of other businesses. Thats the big differences between California. California is okay if you are a high-end business, as for everybody else, but like California, Texas will run into its own set of problems at some point. Growth is going to slow down, they are going to make maybe some bad mistakes of their own, so they shouldnt assume that they are immune to the Californias disease. Brian Anderson: Well lets look at some of these cities more specifically. So Dallas-Fort Worth is now the fourth largest metro area in the country, you note, and its poised to take its place above Chicago for the third largest metropolitan area in the country before 2050. Why is Dallas in particular growing so fast and what have leaders there been doing to prepare for this growth that is, you know, projected to happen over the next few decades? Aaron Renn: Well, Dallas has sort of become an alternative to Chicago as the premier interior business capital of the United States. So they have some very similar characteristics. They are both giant cities with very thick labor markets, so theres many, many companies hiring, many, many employees there. You can find a job. They are very diverse. They have huge hub airports, central time zone, convenient to travel around the country. And so what we see is Chicago is still doing well in some respects in terms of its downtown loop economy and the kinds of high-end, global, city-type businesses. Chicago is actually doing quite well. But for kind of the mass employers that prefer a more suburban environment like Toyota, which is bringing 5,000 people there, Dallas is really, in a sense, taking over as the preferred interior business capital of the United States. So thats a factor. And Dallas also is just, you know, a fairly productive place to do business. It is more productive than the average city in the kind of industries that it attracts and so it has been doing well on that basis. Brian Anderson: Now Houston is also booming, thanks, in large part, to its status as a global center of the energy economy. But as you warn in your essay, Houston has significant problems looming. Could you talk a little bit about those? Aaron Renn: Well, with Houston its really been a very, very successful city because of its industry energy energy industry and that has led to Houston actually having pretty high incomes. Not just, you know, cheap housing but also pretty high incomes. Ive seen at least one study that argues that Houston actually has the highest standard of living in the United States once you factor in the cost of living and the incomes. But like anything that is concentrated in one industry, you are vulnerable to cyclical swings. And now weve had, you know, tremendous declines in oil prices and so that has percolated through to the Dallas economy and also I mean, excuse me, the Houston economy. Also, like some cities, you know, like Chicago or like some California cities, Houston has acquired some pension issues. Brian Anderson: Right. Aaron Renn: And so they have large, unfunded pensions there that they are going to have to deal with. And the City of Houston itself also has a lot of kind of low-grade, substandard infrastructure. So, you know, Houston is not immune from challenges. Brian Anderson: San Antonio, the third of these four metropolitan areas, is unique in many, many respects. It is also doing very well but its makeup is different. Could you elaborate a little bit on that? Aaron Renn: Sure. Of major metropolitan areas in the U.S. with more than a million people, San Antonio has the highest share of Hispanic population and is the only one of those that is over half Hispanic. The interesting thing about San Antonio, though, is that this Hispanic population is largely native born. It has very, very deep-standing roots in the city going back to, really, its founding. So it has been, effectively, a Latino city for a very long time. San Antonio, in contrast with some of the other cities, has lower educational attainment in terms of college degrees, but it also has a huge military presence. And so what we have seen is that the military has played a huge role in driving their economy and also helping to integrate Latinos into middle class success in America in a way that necessarily hasnt happened in a lot of other places. So Toyota located a major manufacturing plant there not long ago. So they are actually, you know, they are actually, I think, having a better working class economy, although they are also growing some of their high-end business as well in terms of cybersecurity. The military has a cybersecurity command there. The NSA has a facility there. There are some financial services around the military and medical training. So, although it doesnt get quite the cachet of an Austin, theyve got their own high-tech stuff going but I think the real star of their story is the fact that theyve been able to give so much good middle-class success to their Latino population. Brian Anderson: Speaking of Austin, it is undoubtedly the bluest of Texass cities. Weve just got back from doing a dinner there. It was quite striking, the kind of mix of people we met. Its also becoming one of the least affordable of Texass cities, probably the least affordable. Is there a connection between its increasingly blue politics and its lack of affordability? Aaron Renn: You know, its hard to say precisely but, you know, we see the same things happening in many of these other progressive capitals. You know theres just kind of a regulatory mindset that you get when you come with these kind of far-left mentalities. I wrote a piece called Libertarians of Convenience for City Journal a while ago talking about this, about how many of them are now starting to realize that their regulatory mindset is making it very difficult to build housing and other things that they want and it is pricing even many of, you know, the aspirational progressives, out of the city. The problem is this regulatory gene, if you will, is very hard to just turn on and off. And so when your mindset is lets try to regulate things in order to achieve the outcomes that we want, sort of social engineering, economic engineering, you end up with all kinds of consequences like high housing costs because its just more complicated to do things. Austin is also growing faster than a lot, even the other cities in Texas. Super, super fast population growth in a place thats smaller than Houston and Dallas likely plays a role as well. Brian Anderson: Aarons latest piece, again, is called Lone Star Quartet. Its featured in our special issue Texas Rising. Aaron, thanks very much for coming by. The issue is available online at www.City-Journal.org. Thanks again, Aaron, for joining us on 10 Blocks. Aaron Renn: Thank you. 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 What does Brexit have in common with the Trump phenomenon? According to author and historian Timothy Garton Ash, theyre both symptoms of increasingly polarized societies, which can be attributed, at least in part, to the media. In his latest book, Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World, Garton Ash outlines the requirements for a free and open society, one of which is an uncensored, diverse, and trustworthy press. Last week, during a talk at the Columbia Journalism School, Garton Ash floated the idea that Britain and the US are gradually ceasing to have the media they need for democracy. In making his argument, Garton Ash harks back to the 5th Century B.C., when 6,000 citizens of Athens would gather to debate the political choices of the day on a slope at the foot of the Acropolis. In modern society, he says, this public square, where people enjoyed free speech for democratic self-government, has been reincarnated in the form of newspapers, television, websites, and social media, which are now being divided up into information cocoons, echo chambers, and filter bubbles. CJR caught up with Garton Ash after his talk to find out how we ended up here and what, if anything, can be done about it. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. What similarities do you see in the British and US media landscapes that have contributed to Brexit and the Trump phenomenon? What we now face in the age of what I call Trumpery, or in Brexit, is that we have this amazing proliferation of uncensored, free, commercially-competing media, but theyre less and less doing [their] job because you have this echo-chamber effect. In the Brexit debate, the narrative of national liberation prevailed over the facts and all the evidence and all the arguments of the experts, which were dismissed. Something of the same kind, it seems to me, is happening in the American media in this presidential campaign. Theres a Clinton bubble and a Trump bubble. In the Trump bubble you have Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, talk radio, Breitbart, and your Facebook friends. In the Clinton bubble you have MSNBC, NPR, The New York Times, and your Facebook friends. Were off in these different echo chambers. In both echo chambers theres a danger that facts give way to narrative, and thats profoundly corrosive of democracy. Do you think this polarization is caused by the media or is it a symptom of a bigger issue? The noble American cliche is the marketplace of ideas, and my argument is that we are seeing a market failure in the marketplace of ideas. The public good of news in the public square is not being satisfactorily delivered. To that extent, I think it is a media failure and it comes from the sheer proliferation of platforms and sources of news, [and] from the collapse of the traditional business modelparticularly newspapers. Theres incredibly fierce commercial competition, which means everyone is shouting for eyeballs and clicks and attention. [It] means not just if it bleed, it leads, but also that if it roars, it scores. So you get shouting from both sides. Instead of people in the public square having a debate with all voices being heard, youve got two teams, one shouting from one side of the public square and one shouting from the other. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Having said that, you cant blame it all on the media, obviously, because the fact is there are real interests and real grievances behind this. There are a lot of people who have done very badly out of globalization who feel left behind and excluded and, in some sense, they are expressing those grievances too. Do you think there is enough good local reporting on these people who feel excluded? Its so easy to blame it on The Sun and Rupert Murdoch and on Nigel Farage, but I think we have to interrogate ourselves about what we got wrong, and one of the things we got wrong [in covering Brexit] was not reporting enough [on] people living in the post-industrial towns of Northern England and the poorer parts of England and Wales who werent benefiting from globalization, who werent benefitting from Europe, whose familiar worlds were being changed by immigration, who no longer had good jobs. Similarly in the United States, someone used a nice phrase the Rust Belt Brexiteers, and I think thats actually spot on. The job of journalism was to report this, to analyze it, to understand it, and what we did as we were beginning to cut budgets, you know, we cut those jobs. We didnt have the labor reporters and the north of England reporters and, of course, every journalist wanted to do the Middle East or Westminster or be a columnist. So I think we have to start with that self-criticism. Do you think its the job of big news organizations like The Guardian and The New York Times to do local reportingsince theyre also trying to cater to the global community nowor do you think it should be smaller, local organizations? I think if you are really trying to be a national medium, you absolutely should [cover local news]. If 52 percent of your country is voting in a way which all your coverage and virtually all your opinion pages suggest is crazy, you should be trying to understand that and not just trying to understand Syria and climate change. In your book you discuss trust in media as an essential component to democracy. In the US, a recent poll shows that trust in the media is at an all-time low. What do you think is causing that and what can media organizations do about it? I believe that there are some questions where we have to do more work, more reporting, more investigation to understand what thats really about, and I suspect it may vary from country to country. One [thing] is the denunciation of the mainstream media, or the liberal media, something which is repeated endlessly on Fox News or Breitbart and now by Donald Trump. I think that does undermine confidence. But another part of it is that journalists are often regarded as part of this metropolitan, liberal, remote elite. Not without some reason because actually there is a Westminster bubble, for example, and there is a Washington bubble, and there is a whole class of journalists who are closer to politicians of all parties, and other metropolitan journalists, than they are to anything else. But those are only a couple of [factors]. Another one would be about how media is separating out into echo chambers and polarizing. Can we demonstrate to what extent that is causing the polarization in society or is reflecting it? Is it correlation or is it cause? Where should journalists draw the line between balanced reporting and the dangers of false equivalence? Why is that important? Its funny because I was called out on this yesterday because I was pointing out that The New York Times, faced with the danger of Trump, has become not only very outspoken in its editorial/op-ed pages, but also on its news pages. Using the word lie, lying, liar, which is extraordinary for The New York Times. On the other hand, I was criticizing the BBC for what I call fairness biasfor being too neutral. And then someone said to me, You cant have it both ways, which is it? The answer is, were all trying to work this out. What is the balance? I think The New York Times is a great example of this . Once weve worked out what the new normal is, what the new balance of journalism is, I think we should be told. I think in six months time, The New York Times should sit down and tell us, Hey, these are the new terms of engagement. For me, as a disciple of George Orwell, the key quality is honesty in leveling with the reader. As a political writer, I have an unwritten contract with the reader. That may be that I strive to be impartial. Or it may be that Im very partial and partisan, but Im honest about it. Or it may be Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, [whos] a satirist. But thats fine, as long as you know what the contract with reader is and you honor [it]. What should Facebook be doing to promote the idea of more free speech and better free speech? What role should news organizations play in that process? I think the issue is this: Facebook is now becoming, in effect, an editorial platform because more and more people, particularly digital natives, are using their Facebook news feed as a primary source. I think we need, urgently, a conversation with what I call in the book, the private superpowersthe Googles, the Facebooks, the Twitters, also Amazon and Appleabout what the terms are. The platforms are kind of leery of even making the first step in that direction because then theyre going to be held accountable. I think we have to demand that a bit because otherwise it wont happen. Facebook and Google and Twitter are very responsive to large-scale, visible, and audible user pressure. Some people in the media have called for news organizations to be granted special privileges that exempt them from Facebooks normal moderation strategy. What is your view of that? Its like my point about the unwritten contract. I think we just need to know whats going on here. I wouldnt for a moment want to prescribe because there are going to be multiple variants on that, but some sort of clarityparticularly in something as dominant as the Facebook news feed. The other thing is, Facebook is in a position vis a vis legacy media that China is towards Europe. They can divide and rule. At the moment, even really big players like the Times and The Guardian are going slightly cap in hand to Facebook to have this conversation, and Facebook has the upper hand. Its a collective action problem. If there was more solidarity between the media companies, they together have something that Facebook really needs. Facebook need their content. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Shelley Hepworth , formerly a CJR Delacorte Fellow, is Technology Editor at The Conversation in Australia. Follow her on Twitter @shelleymiranda. An apartment house where six people died in a fire had been neglected during foreclosure and lacked alternative exits, allowing several bedrooms to become death traps when the blaze spread upstairs, a prosecutor said Monday to open the homeowners manslaughter trial. The deaths were caused by the unconscionable conduct of landlord Gregory Nisbet, who failed to have working smoke detectors, adequate exits and other safety measures, Assistant Attorney General John Alsop said. Nisbet had stopped making mortgage payments on the building, wasnt maintaining the structure and wasnt even keeping tabs on who lived there, Alsop said. The fire was a foreseeable risk that he chose to disregard, Alsop said. If hes convicted, Nisbet would be the first Maine landlord to be successfully prosecuted for manslaughter because of poor conditions of a building. Many landlords in the state are watching the trial to see the extent to which a landlord can be held accountable for tenants actions. Defense lawyer Matt Nichols said the state was improperly holding the landlord to a higher safety standard by classifying the home as a boarding house. He said the home should be properly classified as a single family dwelling with less stringent requirements. Nisbet is on trial for six counts of manslaughter in Portland, where the fire happened Nov. 1, 2014, just hours after a Halloween party had ended. The fire killed Nicole Finlay, David Bragdon Jr., Ashley Thomas and Christopher Conlee, along with Topsham resident Maelisha Jackson. Rockland resident Steven Summers was hospitalized and died two days later. Several others were able to escape. The fire was determined to be an accident: It was started by smoking materials that were improperly discarded on the front porch. But the legal cause of the deaths was the landlords negligence, Alsop said. The screams of three third-floor victims indicated they were alive and wouldve survived if they had been able to escape, he said. The prosecutor acknowledged the tenants had disabled smoke detectors and blocked a hallway that prevented an alternative exit on the second floor. The third-floor bedrooms created in a former attic had no alternate exit other than a rope ladder provided by the landlord, and the windows violated code because they were too small, Alsop said. Theres no way he shouldve rented out those attic rooms, he said. The building went into foreclosure in 2012 and all of the tenant leases had expired, Alsop said. The porch had rot and there were plumbing leaks, he said. Things had gotten so out of hand that some people were living temporarily in the cellar or even outside using extension cords for electricity, the prosecutor said. The case is being decided by Superior Court Justice Thomas Warren after Nisbet waived his right to a jury trial. The maximum penalty for manslaughter is 30 years. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Early this morning, Hurricane Matthew was nearing the eastern tip of Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Maximum sustained winds were recorded at nearly 125 mph (205 km/h) with gusts reportedly higher. It is considered a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Cat modeling firm RMS noted that it is one of the most powerful North Atlantic hurricanes in recent history, having briefly reached Category 5 strength on Saturday October 1, it is the strongest hurricane in the Caribbean Sea since Felix in 2007. Slight strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the east Florida coastline from north of Golden Beach to Sebastian Inlet, including Lake Okeechobee. A Hurricane Watch is in effect along the east coast of Florida north of Sebastian Inlet to the Fernandina Beach. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect along the east coast of Florida from Chokoloskee to Golden Beach and in the Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge eastward, including Florida Bay. Interests elsewhere in the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys should monitor the progress of Matthew. According to the NHC, Matthew is likely to produce devastating impacts from storm surge, extreme winds, heavy rains, flash floods and/or mudslides in portions of the warning areas in Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas. It will likely take another day or so for the potential impacts of Matthew in the United States to clarify, the NHC stated on its Facebook page. Tropical storm or hurricane conditions could affect Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina later this week or this weekend, even if the center of Matthew remains offshore. Keith Tidball, an expert in emergency response at Cornell University, said Matthew is likely is likely to continue its westward shift towards North Carolina, New England and Eastern Massachusetts. After its approach among southeastern seaboard states, Matthew is predicted to continue north-northeast and strike New England on Sunday, with eastern Massachusetts being potentially at greatest risk. It is unclear if landfall in the Northeast will be at hurricane strength, due to the potential for Matthew to pass over a lot of land before getting there, said Tidball. It is too soon to specify what, if any, direct impacts Matthew might have on the remainder of the U.S. east coast farther to the north. At a minimum, dangerous beach and boating conditions are likely along much of the U.S. east coast later this week and weekend. Sources: NHC, Cornell University Remembering Mary Beth Bergum The sun shone down on the Brothers of Mercy campus on Tuesday morning as people congregated near the main entrance, preparing to honor Mary Beth Bergum in a remembrance and... Abortion, economy on ballot for November election On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters throughout Western New York will head to the polls in what will prove to be a referendum on some major issues facing the nation. Abortion,... Dont forget the children this Liver Disease Awareness Month Pretty much everything in our world runs through some sort of filter. Our words are filtered to be socially acceptable. Our water is filtered to be drinkable. Even our blood... akron police.jpg Akron police are looking for a suspect in two overnight breaking and entering robberies in the city's Ellet neighborhood. (File photo) AKRON, Ohio -- Akron police are investigating a pair of overnight burglaries that happened in the city's Ellet neighborhood, including one at Ellet High School. School officials discovered Wednesday morning that someone broke into the building and forced open a cafeteria vending machine. The burglar got away with an undisclosed amount of cash. Employees at the nearby Mogadore Road Family Mini Mart also discovered Wednesday morning that someone removed an alarm panel and broke into the store by shattering the glass front door. The burglar got away with cash from the register and stole gaming machines. The burglar also took one box of Black & Mild cigars, police said. Police have not identified a suspect in either incident, and investigators are not sure if the burglaries are related. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact Akron police at 330-375-2552. If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. Food news collage, 2016 Now making food news: Why you shouldn't eat food that fell off the floor; fishing 'slaves,' and cheese for the poor. (Photos courtesy of AP, top; Peggy Turbett/The Plain Dealer, left; Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer, right.) (Special to The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Major food sources have been in the news lately, with an updated study on the dangers of food picked up and eaten from the floor, the discovery of slave labor in Pacific Ocean fishing fleets and the purchase of a massive amount of cheese from struggling dairy producers to give to the poor. Think before you eat What about that very last cupcake you just discovered on the plate? If it fell out of your hand and landed frosting-down on the floor, don't go quoting the "five-second rule." Old studies may have said that food quickly retrieved from the floor might not have been there long enough to pick up something disastrous. But a new study tells a different story. Ohio State University's "Chow Line" column by Martha Filipic says the five-second rule was given credence a few years ago by a study in England that found time was a significant factor in the ability of food to pick up germs from the floor. And what desperate eater wouldn't agree? But, Filipic adds, a rigorous Rutgers University study published last month "concluded that, depending on circumstances, bacteria can transfer onto food dropped onto the floor nearly instantaneously, in less than a second." 'Slave' fishermen A recent investigative report by Associated Press concluded that foreign fishermen are working the waters near Hawaii in slave-like conditions, and that their catches could be landing on tables of fine restaurants in California, counters at Whole Foods and wholesale clubs such as Sam's and Costco. AP's report found workers held for years at a time on boats. "The investigation found men living in squalor on some boats, forced to use buckets instead of toilets, suffering from running sores from bed bugs and sometimes lacking sufficient food." A loophole in United States law keeps them from labor protections. At the time the story appeared, some companies had not finalized their own sourcing research. Extra cheese to poor The federal government has purchased $20 million worth of surplus cheese - about 11 million pounds - from manufacturers to give to food banks across the country. Companies built inventories recently as prices for cheese stalled and revenues for dairy producers dropped 35 percent. The surplus was at a 30-year high. The USDA intends a two-fer benefit of helping the industry as well as the hungry. Deadlines for financial assistance to dairy producers has also been extended to Dec. 15. By Debbi Snook Anthony Lemons acquitted from murder charges dating back to 1994 Anthony Lemons speaks to media at the Justice Center after he was acquitted of murder charges dating back to 1994, for which he spent 18 years incarcerated. Two years later, Lemons is still fighting in court to get a wrongful imprisonment judgement that would allow him to collect compensation from the state. (Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Not guilty. When he heard those words in court, two years ago, Anthony Lemons thought his troubles were behind him. Lemons spent 18 years in state prison for murder he says he didn't commit. Two years after Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Janet Burnside allowed Lemons to go free, another judge, Daniel Gaul, remains unconvinced of Lemons' innocence. Now he faces another court, the Ohio 8th District Court of Appeals, which is waiting on the Ohio Attorney General's office to respond to Lemons' appeal. Meanwhile, Lemons remains unemployed with a felony conviction still on his record and no way to collect compensation from the state for almost 18 years of incarceration. "It's an injustice," Lemons said. "I've been exonerated already, how am I not innocent? It doesn't make any sense to me." Ohio law allows people vindicated through the criminal justice system to seek a certificate that deems them innocent. For Lemons, that certificate means the difference between whether he can collect the $500,000 he believes he's owed for the more than 17 years he spent in prison, or it means he gets nothing. On April 12, 1994, someone shot Eric Sims inside his apartment in the Cliffview apartment complex, on Cleveland's East Side. Investigators recovered bullet casings, but collected no other forensic evidence from the crime scene. The investigation went nowhere for nine months, when a phone call led detectives to Jude Adamcik, who said he was in the apartment and saw Sims get shot by someone named "Tone." She didn't name Lemons, but she picked him out of two phone lineups and told police that his Air Jordan shoes matched the ones worn by Sims killer. After he was released on parole in 2012, Lemons asked the judge who oversaw his conviction 20 years earlier for a new trial. The shoes did the trick. Lemons proved that the shoes he wore in the photo lineup hadn't been in production when Sims was shot, and Common Pleas Judge Janet Burnside obliged his request for a retrial. Adamcik, the state's only eye witness, died from a brain aneurysm in 1996, and Burnside barred a transcript of her trial testimony from being used as evidence in the new trial. The prosecutors office dropped the charges. Burnside declared Lemons not guilty. To get the certificate needed to secure his innocence, Lemons is required to present his case to another judge. Unlike a criminal trial where the burden of proving his guilt was on the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, the civil proceeding where Lemons sought to declare his innocence required him to to prove it. Lemons' attorneys called five witnesses during the hearing held in May, including Denise Kovach, the police detective who investigated the murder. She told the judge that she "still considers Anthony Lemons a murderer who was appropriately convicted." Kovach also said that police thought there were other people in the apartment during the shooting, including another man who went by the nickname "Tone." The judge also reviewed the transcript showing Adamcik's original testimony as the only witness to the crime. In Lemons' criminal retrial the judge barred the admission of the same transcript, however rules about what evidence is valid are different in a civil trial. "The court found this testimony and the testimony of Detective Kovach as the most persuasive testimony of the trial," Judge Gaul wrote in his decision, denying Lemons' certificate of wrongful conviction. The other witnesses Lemons' attorneys called at his innocence trial were both at the scene of Sims' murder. One admitted to using crack cocaine on a daily basis at the time and said "those days were very gray." The other was a Adamcik's boyfriend, John Thompson, who had never testified before. He testified that he thought the man who committed the crime, who was introduced as "Tone," lived in Euclid (Lemons did not). The judge found that Thompson's drug use invalidated his credibility as a witness. Lemons' own testimony didn't fare much better. The judge pressed Lemons on why he didn't raise the issue involving the shoes during his first trial, and took exception with the fact that Lemons testified that "he'd never been to jail before." Lemons had been to jail prior to his arrest in the Sims killing, on a weapons charge and drug trafficking charge the year prior to his arrest in Sims' murder. Gaul writes in the decision that he found Lemons' testimony "incredible." In his appeal, Lemons' attorneys wrote that Gaul made errors in reaching his decision, one being that he held Adamcik's transcript as credible testimony, when Burnside, who witnessed the trial, did not. The Ohio Attorney General has until Oct. 11 to file its response to Lemons' appeal. If you'd like to comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comment section. Scary clown.jpg A person dressed as the scary clown from the movie "It" poses at a convention in Argentina. Social media users posing as scary clowns have made threats against several schools near Cleveland, police said. (AP Photo/Agustin Marcarian) GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - Detectives will file juvenile charges against a 16-year-old boy accused of posing as a clown while making social media threats against Garfield Heights High School, police said. The Garfield Heights resident, who is not a student at the high school, will be charged with menacing and inducing panic in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court, police said in a news release. Detectives filed a subpoena to obtain the IP address for an Instagram account that had been posting threatening messages. The teen admitted to creating the account when detectives found and interviewed him, police said. The Instagram account featured a photo of a clown and suggested a "murder spree" at Garfield Heights High School. The account has since been deactivated. The account had been among a series of clown-related Instagram pages that posted threats toward schools in Garfield Heights, Shaker Heights, Euclid, Twinsburg, Beachwood, Orange, Moreland Hills and Eastlake. Detectives are investigating the threats but have not found any evidence to suggest they are credible, police and school officials said. Three Eastlake girls were arrested Monday after they admitted to posting threats toward schools in that city and Willoughby. The city's juvenile prosecutor is reviewing the case to determine if the girls will face juvenile charges, police said. There have been multiple reports in Ohio of encounters with people dressed as clowns. There have also been reports of similar incidents in other states. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- James and Chris Hicks had too much property in their lives. They lived in a huge Victorian in Ohio City while restoring a 300-year-old log cabin in southern Ohio. A move to condo living sounded like the thing to do, so they sold the Victorian and moved into the turn-of-the-century Franklin Lofts in Cleveland. They stayed in the new place for just four years. Even the condo's rooftop deck with city views couldn't persuade them to stay any longer. "I just missed having a yard and a house," said James, 65. "I'm not a condo person." While house hunting, the couple visited a 1865 cottage in Ohio City. Chris, 64, didn't like the fact that the front door opened right onto the brick-lined West 29th Street. The front lawn was merely a flower bed. But her husband reminded her that the houses in Colonial Williamsburg are the same. The couple frequently visits the living history museum in Williamsburg, Virginia. "We liked (the 1865 house) because it was so quaint," said James, who retired in 2006 as director of creative recruiting at American Greetings. The Hicks immediately planned to expand and update the Ohio City house they purchased in 2013 for $140,000. The residence was in good repair with no structural damage, but the 1970s decor had to go. They decided to create a larger living area, gut and redecorate every room and, while they were at it, make it a green, energy-efficient home. A house this old has been changed over time. The home's first owner probably made meals on a cook stove in the living room. An expansion in 1913 added a separate kitchen and dining room, and a brick sunroom was put on the back of the house in 1925. The Hicks' 535 square-foot addition expanded the house to include a two-car garage (cars park end-to-end because the property is so small), laundry, sewing room, mudroom and bedroom/bath suite. Now their 1,835 square-foot home has two bedrooms and 21/2 baths. Since the Hicks are retired -- Chris is a former American Greetings illustrator -- they were concerned about reducing energy costs. "We wanted something that would be low in utility (cost) over time," James said. "It became an obsession with me." They gutted the interior and redesigned it with green features such as a low-flow toilet, upgraded insulation and energy-efficient windows. Long-lasting LED lights glow throughout the house. It's expensive, but "before a light bulb burns out, I'll probably be deceased," James joked. To reduce the amount of chemicals in the air, floors were refinished with water-based stain and walls painted with zero-volatile organic compound paints. The combined cost of construction and green features was $160,000. The Hicks won a 10-year tax abatement from the city of Cleveland for their efforts to make their house green. The couple worked closely with architect Michael Caito, green construction consultant George Trappe of Residential Energy Services, and Payne & Payne Builders, one of the foremost green builders in Ohio. James took charge of interior design, and he laid tile and pre-engineered wood flooring on the second floor and installed kitchen cabinets. He dug up the old brick parking pad, where cars parked before the garage was built, and recycled 2,000 bricks to create brick paths and flower beds of day lilies, yucca, grasses and other ornamentals. In the living room, ceiling plaster was removed to expose 1865 oak beams across the entire ceiling, and a single metal beam that resembles a bridge. James thinks that the single beam dates to a previous renovation. The refurbished living room fireplace has a surround made of rectangular stones running vertically to visually add height to the room. The stones' earth tones echo the aged patina of the metal ceiling beam. A terracotta-toned accent wall surrounds the fireplace. "I like warm colors, especially in living areas," he said. The first floor space was reconfigured to give James, the family cook, a bigger kitchen. The new kitchen has quartz countertops, new oak flooring and a backsplash made of stainless steel tiles. The old ceiling was replaced with pre-engineered wood flooring to give the room a unique spark. Another unusual choice was using an 1800s-era six-foot workman's bench as a kitchen island. The trough that held the workman's tools is filled with antique cooking utensils, visible through the table's glass top. Upstairs, there's a story behind two antique oil portraits hanging in the second-floor landing. As a young couple, the Hicks used their rent money to buy the artwork. Their landlords forgave them and, years later, the Hicks learned they had made a good investment. But they never were reckless again with the rent money, Chris said. The new bedroom and bath, part of the addition, is decorated to please the couple's two young grandsons, who are frequent visitors. James decided to redecorate the original master suite. The couple slept in the other bedroom and Chris, was told not to peek in the room for two months. "I could have gone through that door a million times and seen what he was doing, but I didn't," Chris recalled. When the room was revealed, gone were its old purple, green and blue walls against white Berber carpet. She found a bright and airy room done in tans and creams, with a new skylight, an inviting Pottery Barn bed and expanded walk-in closet with pegs to hang her collection of artsy necklaces. "The room was beautiful. I went in and sat on the bed and cried," she said. "Anything he does, I love it. We have the same taste." IMG_5121.JPG Medina High School Student Council members, from left, Cali Leonhardt, Kaitlyn Novicky, Megan Varley, Leah Steier, Ally McGarr and Abby Gillespie help with trail cleanup at the Cleveland Metroparks' Hinckley Reservation. (Photo Courtesy of Medina City Schools) MEDINA, Ohio - Medina High School will host a free community seminar on Northeast Ohio's opiate problem at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Middle Auditorium. Opiate addiction and abuse is a growing epidemic across the country, and Medina County has not been spared. In 2015, 129 people overdosed on opiates. Twenty-one of them died. Through July, Medina County law enforcement officers have saved 41 people through the use of the Narcan antidote. Cuyahoga County is on pace to see more than 500 people die this year from heroin or fentanyl overdoses - a 1,000 percent increase over a decade ago. The seminar will feature a number of local and Northeast Ohio speakers who will discuss the opioid problem, its underlying causes and the roles community members can play in finding solutions. On Oct. 26, Joseph M. Pinjuh, chief of the United States Attorney's Office Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and Narcotics Unit, will speak to students at the high school. High school Student Council members focus on clean water Last month, about 60 Medina High School Student Council members participated in a daylong leadership workshop revolving around clean water initiatives. After several council members traveled to Ecuador this past summer, they realized what an issue clean water is in our world and wanted to education their fellow students about this problem. "During our involvement in the village in Ecuador, we witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of consuming contaminated water," said Student Council President Holly Schneider. "We were inspired to make a difference here to keep our Great Lakes clean," she said. Adviser Laura Calaiacovo contacted the Alliance for the Great Lakes and the Cleveland Metroparks to help get things started. She and co-adviser Shannon Duncan planned leadership workshops with activities that taught about clean water and the problems in our society. The students helped with a higher-elevation trail cleanup at Hinckley Reservation and learned about water runoff issues from lawn fertilizer and farm insecticides and how that impacts water flowing to the rivers and on into Lake Erie. They learned that keeping people on the trails and out of protected marshland and wetland areas could help to keep water from becoming more contaminated. They removed fallen trees and cleaned up debris on and around the trails. "It's so refreshing to see the kids become passionate about these issues as they learn more and more about them," Calaiacovo said. Added council member Carlee Lisser: "This day really inspired us to help get rid of disposable water bottles and clean the Earth." IMG_2927.JPG Two children were wounded in a drive-by shooting Tuesday night on Cleveland's West Side, reports say. (Jane Morice, cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 3-year-old child was shot in the face and a 9-year-old in the back in a drive-by shooting Tuesday night on the city's West Side, police say. The shooting occurred at a home on the 7300 block of Dudley Avenue at about 10:20 p.m. Police say shots were fired into the home from a dark-colored vehicle. Both children were inside the home when they were wounded. The children were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center and both were alive Tuesday night, police Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said. Distraught family members were seen outside the home being interviewed by police. At least four evidence markers were in the street and two were near the house. Police reportedly were searching for two suspects Tuesday night. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 216-621-1234. cleveland.com reporter Jane Morice contributed to this story. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section. watch now Jim Cramer has his eye on CEOs that could be changing the face of their industry, in particular, Larry Merlo of CVS Health . "CVS is down way too much, I would never sell it down here. I was in Napa this weekend. This company is run by Larry Merlo, he is a finer merlot than anything I tasted in Napa," the "Mad Money" host said. He also highlighted cloud computing plays as the winners of the market, as they won't be taken down by worries of the Federal Reserve, election or economic worldwide growth. One day, Twitter could be a way for companies to interpret data and acquire additional customers, Cramer said. Likewise, he praised Salesforce.com's ability to adapt throughout the years and predict what customers want before they even know they need it. "Then maybe buying [Twitter] could allow Salesforce to rival Amazon , Alphabet and Facebook in the knowledge game," Cramer said. Marc Benioff, chairman and chief executive officer of Salesforce.com Inc. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Billionaire Mark Cuban told Cramer on Tuesday that he has also utilized the net operating loss deduction tax code used by GOP nominee Donald Trump. His issue is with Trump's refusal to "own it." "The problem I have with what [Trump] has done is not that he hasn't paid taxes, honestly It's that he won't own it and he won't explain it," Cuban said. Tax documentation from 1995 revealed by The New York Times on Saturday uncovered that Trump reported a $916 million loss on that year's tax return, which would allow him to offset future income. With taxes in the spotlight this week, Cramer turned his attention to Intuit , the owner of TurboTax and QuickBooks. Intuit's stock was up 6 percent when Cramer last recommended it on tax day, but has since cooled off after management provided cautious guidance for its next quarter. He spoke with Intuit's chairman and CEO Brad Smith, who said there is a much larger market out there in small business that could be opportunity for the company. "It's crazy, about 40 percent of small businesses are still paper and pencil, shoeboxes and excel spreadsheets. And so there is a much easier way to do it. You don't even have to know accounting you send the invoice, accept the payment and everything happens for you," Smith said. Mark Cuban Gabriel Grams | CNBC Outspoken Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to eject American troops from his country, but that could leave the Philippines powerless against potential Chinese encroachment. The U.S. and Philippines were enemies during the Philippine-American War of 1899-1902, with Washington only granting Manila full independence in 1946. But since a 1951 treaty that enables each country to aid one another during an invasion, the world's largest economy has maintained an on-and-off military presence on the island nation for decades. But on Sunday, Duterte threatened to end a security pact signed in 2014 by his predecessor Benigno Aquino III, known as the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The deal, which was only implemented in January, brought U.S. forces back onto to military bases in the Philippines for the first time since they were expelled in 1991. Around 300 U.S. troops were being routinely rotated in and out of the country, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in May. In addition, there are also about 107 soldiers currently based in the southern province of Mindanao. Duterte, also known as The Punisher, has ramped up his anti-American rhetoric in recent days after Washington, alongside Europe and other members of the international community, condemned the government's use of extra-judicial killings in a narcotics crackdown. "Instead of helping us [with the war on drugs], the first to hit was the State Department. So you can go to hell, Mr Obama, you can go to hell," the former Davao City mayor was quoted as saying on Tuesday, adding that Washington had also refused to sell weapons to his administration. The White House said Duterte's comments were "at odds" with the deeply rooted bilateral alliance, adding that Manila had yet to communicate any changes in the relationship, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The GOP vice presidential nominee Pence initially dodged a question about Trump's taxes to slam Hillary Clinton 's tax plan during the vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Virginia. The Indiana governor then said Trump has "created tens of thousands of jobs" even if he may have paid minimal income taxes. Mike Pence defended Tuesday Donald Trump 's reported 1995 loss of nearly $1 billion, saying his running mate "brilliantly" used American tax laws after some "tough times." Republican candidate for Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia on October 4, 2016. A New York Times report over the weekend showed Trump reported a $916 million net operating loss in 1995, which could have shielded him from income taxes for years. The Clinton campaign has used the report to attack Trump's business acumen, a key point of appeal for the developer, though Trump surrogates have used words like "genius" to describe his use of the tax system. Pence claimed that Trump will eventually release his tax returns, following recent precedent for nominees, but repeated the Trump campaign line that he cannot because he is under audit. However, there is no legal precedent for that. Sen. Tim Kaine, Clinton's running mate, seized on Trump's comment in the first presidential debate that not paying taxes made him "smart." Kaine rhetorically asked if it is not smart to pay for the military and teachers through taxes. Pence fired back by asking if Kaine uses all of the tax deductions available to him. Republican candidate for Vice President Mike Pence (R) and Democratic candidate for Vice President Tim Kaine speak during the vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia on October 4, 2016. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Virginia U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine clashed briefly during Tuesday's vice presidential debate on how to defend against "homegrown terrorism" threats, with neither of them offering any real solutions to the growing problem. Both vice presidential candidates argued during Tuesday's vice presidential debate that more must be done to protect Americans against "homegrown terrorism" threats, such as the Orlando mass shooting and the New York/New Jersey bombings. Both of which were carried out by U.S. citizens and legal immigrants. The discussion then pivoted to the issue of immigration of Syrian refugees. Pence reaffirmed Donald Trump's proposed "extreme vetting of immigrants from parts of the world that export terrorists." The Indiana governor added that he and the Republican presidential nominee share a commitment to suspend the Syrian refugee program in the interest of the safety and security of the American people. Kaine, however, reminded Pence of Monday's federal appellate court decision that struck down one of his plans to block funding to organizations aimed at resettling Syrian refugees, citing it was "discriminatory." The decision specifically refutes Pence's belief that some refugees were sent to Syria by ISIS to engage in terrorism, and now seek to infiltrate the United States. The court refuted the governor saying, "no evidence of this belief has been presented...it is nightmare speculation." Kaine argued Pence's plan was "anti-ethical" to discriminate based on country of origin, and said he and Hillary Clinton will vet refugees based on "whether they are dangerous or not." Mike Pence and Tim Kaine had a choppy exchange Tuesday on American policy toward Russia, with Pence taking on a more hawkish tone than his running mate Donald Trump has previously. At the vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Virginia, both vice presidential candidates aimed to defend their running mates on policy toward Russia. Democratic nominee Sen. Tim Kaine targeted Trump's previous comments about Putin's strong leadership, while Pence tried to parry the attacks but clouded the ticket's views on Russia. Pence, the Indiana governor, called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "small and bullying leader," taking a much harsher tone than his running mate on the Russian leader who has consolidated power around him. "The provocations by Russia need to be met by American strength," Pence said, referencing Russia's annexation of Crimea and other actions around the world. Trump has so far failed to offer many coherent policies on Russia, going as far as to call Putin a stronger leader than U.S. President Barack Obama and not clarifying in some interviews whether he would allow Russia's actions in Ukraine or whether he would let Russia take the lead in Syria. The U.S. has previously raised concerns about Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad amid a civil war in the country. In a rapid series of attacks, Kaine slammed Trump and Pence for their previous comments about Putin, alleging Donald Trump has not released his tax returns because they may show possible conflicts of interest with Russia. Pence denied that Trump did not know that Russia annexed the Ukrainian province of Crimea, though he did in an previous interview. Pence claimed that he and Trump acknowledged "painful facts" by saying Putin "has been stronger on the world stage" than the Obama administration. Downtown Manhattan residents who refuse to schlep all the way to Brooklyn, Harlem or Queens will now be able to shop at one of the country's largest retailers without hopping on the subway. Target is cutting the ribbon Wednesday on its 45,000-square-foot Tribeca store, its latest effort to penetrate dense urban markets with smaller shops. For New York City dwellers who haven't stepped foot inside a Target for awhile and even for those who have the Tribeca shop will look decidedly different. Because it caters to urban living, the store will forego large furniture in favor of a full aisle of air mattresses. Instead of 24-packs of toilet paper meant for stocking up, visitors will be offered grab-and-go items from food to electronics. And in place of your typical cookie-cutter food and beverage cafe, the Tribeca shop will be home to the Chobani yogurt company's second cafe. "It's the best of what Target has to offer," spokeswoman Kristy Welker told CNBC on a store tour. The two-level shop, just a five-minute walk from the World Trade Center area, is Target's 27th small store. By year's end, the company will operate 32 of these pint-sized locations. And while they still represent less than 2 percent of the big-box retailer's store count, they could eventually number in the hundreds, CEO Brian Cornell has said. Each of these stores caters to the local markets they serve. In addition to the city-skewed merchandise at the Tribeca location, it will be the first Target store to feature overhead digital screens that direct shoppers to the next open checkout counter. That will help it handle the influx of traffic it expects. The Tribeca shop will likewise be staffed by some 200 employees a level that's more in line with its typical 135,000-square-foot stores, management said. By comparison, its 21,000-square-foot space that opened in Queens in July has roughly 70 employees. Though Target declined to provide traffic or sales forecasts for the store, it's located smack in the middle of New York City's new downtown. Roughly 60,000 residents live in the area, and have a median household income of $134,756, according to the Alliance for Downtown New York. The retailer is also catering to the nearly 15 million tourists expected to visit the area in 2017, Welker said. As it learns what shoppers want from their local Target store, the company will make adjustments to its merchandise and presentation, Rob DeMarino, Target's store team leader, said. For example, when visitors at Target's San Francisco shop kept asking for paper plates and cups to host office parties, the retailer was able to get them in stock in a few weeks. "That's the most exciting part," DeMarino said. New York City is one of the 11 markets Target is focusing on for its small-store expansion. Other cities include Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Among other stores it's slated to open are a downtown Brooklyn shop scheduled for this winter, and an East Village shop coming summer 2018. Target does not break out the sales or profitability of its small shops as compared with its traditional locations, preferring to view its stores as "one Target," spokeswoman Molly Snyder said. She did say, however, that its small stores tend to receive more frequent footfall than its larger stores, and ring up higher sales per square foot. Those sales certainly come at a cost. Though Target declined to share specifics regarding its Tribeca lease, ground floor space in lower Manhattan cost an average $294 per square foot as of the second quarter, according to CBRE data. Yet Target's small shops shouldn't be viewed in a one-dimensional lens, Moody's analyst Charlie O'Shea cautioned. Instead, they're a way for Target to extend its brand into a new market, and build a relationship with new, existing or lapsed customers. They also serve as another touch point in its advantage over Amazon : Having physical stores. At the entrance to Tribeca's store, for example, is a service desk where shoppers can pick up or return online orders. "Target needs this second format," O'Shea said, adding that if retailers want to compete in both the digital world, they've "got to have more nimble bricks-and-mortar" operations. In the fiscal second quarter, Target's comparable sales fell 1.1 percent, as it reported its first traffic decline in a year and a half. Like Target, Wal-Mart is also rolling out a breed of smaller shops, called Neighborhood Market. These 668 stores average roughly 40,000 square feet. Hong Kong political activist Joshua Wong was deported from Thailand on Wednesday after being detained in Bangkok for several hours when Thai officials refused to grant him entry. The 19-year-old, who made international headlines in 2014 for his leadership during Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport just before midnight on Tuesday but was held in airport custody until Wednesday afternoon, Wong's political party Demosisto revealed in a statement. Thai student-activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, who was expected to meet Wong, notified Demosisto of the detention around 4am on Wednesday. Thai authorities had previously received a letter from the Chinese government regarding Wong's visit, according to Chotipatpaisal, whose request to see Wong was declined. Wong later boarded a Hong Kong Airlines flight and arrived back in the city around 3:45 pm local time, Demosisto said. The center-left party has condemned the Thai government for unreasonably limiting Wong's freedom and right to entry. Nathan Law (R) and Joshua Wong (C) at a rally in Causeway bay following Law's win in the Legislative Council election in Hong Kong on September 5, 2016. A new generation of young Hong Kong politicians advocating a break from Beijing looked set to become lawmakers for the first time on September 5 in the biggest poll since mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014. ISAAC LAWRENCE | AFP | Getty Images Wong and Nathan Law, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and fellow independence campaigner, later discussed the case in greater length at a press conference. "If Thai authorities held Mr. Wong at Beijing's request, then this episode strongly suggests that China remains deeply suspicious of political activism in Hong Kong," Chong Ja Ian, assistant professor at the National University of Singapore, told CNBC. Wong and the Demosisto party that he co-founded with Law are fierce advocates of Hong Kong's independence from mainland China. In recent years, Wong and other pro-democracy activists have ramped up their protests against increasing Chinese interference in the island's politics. Hong Kong is considered a special administrative region of China and operates on a principle known as 'One Country, Two Systems' that grants the city high levels of autonomy from the mainland. Still, Beijing maintains the right to select candidates for the post of Hong Kong chief executives, as well as for the legislative council. Under Hong Kong's constitution, universal suffrage is an "ultimate aim" but it remains out of reach after Beijing ruled out open nominations. Last month, Hong Kong held its first major election since the 2014 Umbrella Movement, with record turnout. Pro-democracy politicians secured 54.8 percent of the vote, while the pro-Beijing camp took 40.3 percent. But ahead of the polls, the Hong Kong government had banned six pro-independence candidates from running. The strong pro-democracy result reportedly spooked Beijing, with multiple Chinese officials insisting afterward that Hong Kong could never be independent of China. watch now watch now Android may be the dominant smartphone operating system (OS) but "it's not invincible," according to analysis firm IHS Markit, which argues that Google's latest Pixel smartphone could risk antagonizing manufacturers reliant on the software. On Tuesday, Google a subsidiary of Alphabet - held a hardware event in which it launched two smartphones the Pixel and Pixel XL a smart home hub called Google Home, a virtual reality (VR) headset, Wi-Fi routers and a new version of its Chromecast streaming device. The Pixel smartphone runs Google's Android software and comes with Google Assistant the technology giant's digital personal assistant similar to Apple's Siri, which is also present on its Home hub. By releasing its own hardware, Google has gone the route of Apple, looking to tightly knit devices and software to create a strong ecosystem. It's a shift from the strategy it employed with its previous Nexus smartphones where it used the devices to show its hardware partners the capabilities of Android. Sabrina Ellis, Director of Product Management at Google, speaks about the new Pixel phone during the presentation of new Google hardware in San Francisco, California, U.S. October 4, 2016. Beck Diefenbach | Reuters "This is the final defeat for the operating system licensing model which Microsoft pioneered, and everyone tried to copy before Apple's iPhone success," Ian Fogg, senior director of mobile and telecoms at IHS Markit, said in a note Tuesday. But in taking this route, Google is not so much taking on Apple , but more challenging its partners such as Samsung , LG and Sony , something that could be potentially troublesome. "Google's relationship with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) like Samsung has always been complicated, but today's (Tuesday) announcements made it even more so, especially given that Google appears to be aiming both at the premium smartphone and VR headset spaces which Samsung currently dominates when it comes to Android," Jan Dawson, an analyst at Jackdaw Research, wrote in a blog post on Tuesday. "Unlike Microsoft, Google made no attempt to justify its entry into first-party hardware in competition with its partners there were no claims of merely showing OEMs the way, merely a displacement of erstwhile partners in the value chain. Google is building its own relationships with carriers and supplanting device partners." Android not invincible Update: Fox News reporter Jesse Watters has apologized for the segment on Twitter, saying it was meant to be taken "tongue-in-cheek." His tweets and the original CNBC story are below. Twitter Twitter *** A Fox News segment that pokes fun at Asian stereotypes is causing outrage online, with many calling the piece racist. On Monday, Fox News reporter Jesse Watters went to Chinatown in New York to interview people about the U.S. election for a segment on "The O'Reilly Factor" called "Watters' World!" The clip includes Watters greeting people with a bow, asking a street vendor if his merchandise is illegal and asking if people know karate. Host Bill O'Reilly said on the show that the segment was "gentle fun," but acknowledged "I know we're going to get letters." The Asian American Journalists Association called for an apology. AAJA President Paul Cheung said in a statement that Fox News missed a chance to learn more about the Asian-American vote, which has not been covered much by mainstream news. "It's 2016. We should be far beyond tired, racist stereotypes and targeting an ethnic group for humiliation and objectification on the basis of their race. Sadly, Fox News proves it has a long way to go in reporting on communities of color in a respectful and fair manner," Cheung said. Fox News did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter The German government is pursuing discreet talks with U.S. authorities to help Deutsche Bank secure a swift settlement over the sale of toxic mortgage bonds, according to sources in Berlin. Until now, German officials have played down their role in the standoff, saying it is up to Deutsche to work out a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice, which is demanding up to $14 billion to settle claims the lender mis-sold mortgage-backed securities before the financial crisis. But government officials in Berlin, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters they hoped to facilitate a quick deal that would buy Deutsche Bank time to regain its footing. One senior government official told Reuters there was "contact at all levels" between German and American officials. Another source said Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was not planning to meet DOJ officials during a trip to Washington this week for International Monetary Fund meetings, but added: "You can hold talks. It doesn't have to be the minister." Deutsche has been engulfed in crisis since news of the $14 billion U.S. demand emerged last month. It is fighting the fine but could have to turn to investors for more money if it is imposed in full. The resolution of the crisis through a reduced settlement is crucial for Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces a federal election next year. It could be political poison for her government to rescue a bank that got into trouble through speculating. At the same time, officials recognize that Germany's biggest bank, which employs around 100,000 people, cannot be allowed to fail. "Everyone knows the significance of the bank," said a third government official. Berlin is hoping a near-term settlement well below the mooted $14 billion will ease pressure on Deutsche Bank. The first government official said the ideal solution for Germany in the longer term would be a merger between Deutsche and its smaller domestic rival Commerzbank even if it would be better to wait several years until both banks were cleaned up before sealing such a deal. Berlin has previously declined to comment on the topic of bank mergers. The official's comments about an all-German tie-up mirror the view of others in Berlin who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, although it is unclear whether they represent official policy in the Chancellery. "We are not Austria," the official said. "We are the biggest economy in the European Union, one of the world's leading exporters. We need a big bank with a European and international presence but which is anchored here in Germany." The official added that merging Deutsche with a European rival was fine in principle but only if Germans controlled the combined entity. OPPOSITION Worries over a major bank in Europe's largest economy have stirred painful memories of the 2007-2009 financial crisis and sent tremors through global markets. For Merkel, Deutsche's woes could hardly have flared up at a worse time. Her Christian Democrats are losing support to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and are at loggerheads with their Bavarian allies over migrant policy. With her strength in a fractured post-Brexit European Union also sapped, the last thing Merkel needs in the run-up to the election is Deutsche turning to her government for help. "Rescuing Deutsche Bank would not be popular," the senior government official said. "No government in the world ... wants to have to save banks before an election. But I don't believe this will be necessary." The German Finance Ministry has denied it is working on a rescue plan for Deutsche. But government sources said it was crucial that trust was restored in the bank. While this will take time and Deutsche's business model still needs work, agreeing a settlement with the DOJ would help alleviate the pressure on the bank, buying time for asset sales and possibly another capital hike. Comments on Sunday from Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, a Social Democrat, accusing Deutsche of making speculation its business, were a signal that Merkel's opponents will not hesitate to use the Deutsche issue to score political points. "The German government would face stiff opposition if it decided to help Deutsche Bank," said Joerg Rocholl, president of the ESMT business school in Berlin and member of an economic advisory board to the German finance ministry. "I would expect opposition parties to seize on this in a massive way to question the credibility of the government in the run-up to the federal election next year," he added. In an Emnid survey for Focus magazine on Saturday, 69 percent of those polled opposed state aid for the bank, with 24 percent in favor. Lawmakers in Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) have said they do not want to see the government jump to Deutsche's aid. "Deutsche Bank caused these problems itself," said Eckhard Rehberg, a budget expert in the CDU parliamentary party. "At the present time, I rule out capital assistance." Complicating the calculus are new EU bail-in rules meant to shield taxpayers from shouldering the cost of failing banks. Germany pushed hard for rules that say investors and creditors representing 8 percent of a bank's balance sheet must be tapped before there can be any government support. LESSONS LEARNED As the German government considers its next moves, officials say that a number of previous cases involving European firms and U.S. authorities are shaping its approach. In pushing for a settlement with the U.S. DOJ, Berlin is opting for a discreet approach, in part because it saw how France's aggressive public lobbying several years ago against a $9 billion fine imposed on BNP Paribas for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran, Cuba and Sudan seemed to backfire. The lessons of the Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) diesel emissions scandal have also left their mark. The Wolfsburg-based carmaker initially tried to resolve the costly dispute by dispatching lower level officials to negotiate with the United States. When VW CEO Matthias Mueller finally addressed the issue during a visit to the Detroit car show in January, he stumbled during an English-language interview with NPR, attributing the scandal to a "technical problem" and denying the company had deliberately deceived. The ensuing storm forced him into an embarrassing backtrack. "I think it has been understood after the VW case, that you can't send third-level people. The chief must go himself," said the senior government official, referring to Deutsche CEO John Cryan, a Briton who will also be in Washington this week. "The advantage in this instance is that he's a native speaker. This could help resolve this despite all the challenges," the official added. "VW gave the impression they weren't taking it seriously." For Merkel, the case of German carmaker Opel, may also be influencing her thinking. Back in 2009, in the months before she would run for a second term, she took the lead in trying to cobble together a controversial rescue of the Germany-based unit of U.S. giant General Motors (GM.N), only for it to later unravel. The lesson from that case: avoid government intervention unless it is absolutely necessary. Politicians are beginning to spar over the investigation of SpaceX's recent rocket explosion. A bipartisan group of 24 members of Congress has written a letter praising the role NASA, the FAA and the Air Force are taking in the investigation of a massive fire on a Cape Canaveral launch pad in early September that claimed both a SpaceX rocket and a nearly $300 million satellite. The letter encourages the agency to reject calls to turn the investigation entirely over to federal hands. Just a week ago, 10 members of congress wrote their own letter to the same three agencies, questioning the leading role SpaceX is playing in the inquiry. "We feel strongly that the current investigation should be led by NASA and the Air Force to ensure that proper investigative engineering rigor is applied and that the outcomes are sufficient to prevent NASA and military launch mishaps in the future," said the letter dated Sept. 29 and signed first by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-CO. The more recent letter, dated Tuesday, appears to be a response to this call. "Accidents are unfortunate events, and accident investigations shouldn't be politicized," said the second letter, signed first by Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX). Some of the lawmakers who signed each letter have interests that align with various private space companies, the Los Angeles Times noted. watch now Shares of Deutsche Bank seesawed Wednesday after a report the embattled German lender was eyeing a lower settlement with U.S. authorities, adding to speculation on a possible outcome for its litigation issues. German markets news publication Der Platow Brief said on Tuesday that Deutsche Bank was looking at a settlement of $4 billion to $5 billion by end of October with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The newsletter, which was reported by Reuters, also said that the bank was considering scrapping bonuses and raising fresh capital but it did not cite sources. Shares of Germany's biggest bank by assets fluctuated between gains and losses on Wednesday, continuing a spate of market volatility experienced by the bank since reports last month that it could face a penalty of up to $14 billion from the DOJ for the misselling of mortgage-backed securities in the run up to the financial crisis of 2008. Shares of the bank closed up 2.77 percent on Wednesday. The twin tower skyscraper headquarter offices of Deutsche Bank AG stand beyond pipework in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. Jasper Juinen | Bloomberg | Getty Images There are concerns that the bank, which is viewed as a risk to the global banking system, cannot afford such a large amount and could need some kind of rescue or "bail-in" of depositors. As such, even unsubstantiated reports of a smaller, more manageable settlement have been welcomed by investors. The bank has repeatedly defended itself over recent weeks, however, telling CNBC that there is "no reason to worry" and that the bank had a "comfortable cushion." German economic experts told CNBC on Wednesday that the final size of the settlement with U.S. authorities made a big difference to the outcome of the Deutsche Bank debacle. "The question is does Deutsche Bank need to raise additional capital? Of course that has to do very much with the size of the settlement with the Department of Justice in the U.S," Marcel Fratzscher, president of the German Institute for Economic Research, told CNBC Wednesday. watch now watch now FRANKFURT The European Central Bank's new headquarters towers over the Main River in Frankfurt, a gleaming symbol of modern Europe. At its base stands a searing reminder of the continent's dark history. Below the newly built skyscraper, a concrete ramp stretches down into a dark basement. Ten-thousand Jews awaited expulsion to concentration camps from the room between 1941 and 1945. Men, women and children filed from the basement to the nearby railroad tracks, boarding trains with nothing except deep uncertainty about their future. Others watched the trains pass from a footbridge, many bidding goodbye to loved ones for the last time. Thousands of Jews were held in this basement, now part of a memorial at the ECB in Frankfurt, before they were deported to concentration camps. Elizabeth Schulze | CNBC Today, the basement, railroad tracks, footbridge and surrounding area are preserved as part of a memorial that lies on both public land and the ECB premises. The memorial carries powerful memories of the Holocaust near the offices of some of Europe's top policymakers. "A memorial on the east side of the building has been built to remind us, and those who come after us, of deeds that cannot and must never be forgotten," ECB President Mario Draghi said during the inauguration of the new premises in March 2015. The ECB chose the site of the Grossmarkthalle, or wholesale market hall, as the location for its new headquarters in 2001. Construction was completed in 2014. The design maintained the original appearance of the Grossmartkhalle building, which was used to sell fruits and vegetables across the region for most of the 20th century. The red brick exterior contrasts with the glossy windows of the adjacent towers. A concrete path at the former site of a train ramp, from where Jews were deported. The basement of the former market hall served as accumulation point, from where more than 10,000 Jewish citizens from Frankfurt were transported between 1941 and 1945 to concentration and extermination camps. Frank Rumpenhorst | AFP | Getty Images European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Wednesday the noise centered around Deutsche Bank 's current affairs is somewhat exaggerated, and the European financial system is more robust than before the global 2008 crisis. Dombrovskis, who is also a former prime minster of Latvia, said on "Squawk on the Street" the financial system is in better shape in part from the results of a recent stress test by the European Banking Authority. "The scenarios are sent by European Banking Authority, but it must be said, even taking into account a Brexit," he said. "The adverse scenario, which banks have to go through, was more severe than volatility we had seen post-Brexit." He continued, "Obviously, some pockets of weakness remain on which we still need to work." Fear circulated in the European Banking community last week after a report said Deutsche Bank has still yet to reach a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. There are concerns the German lender cannot afford the Justice Department's proposed $14 billion bill and would need a rescue from the German government. But Dombrovskis said the settlement results remain to be seen. "We cannot comment [on] U.S. authorities decisions. And, as we know, negotiations between Deutsche [Bank] and U.S. authorities are still ongoing and it remains to be seen what amount of settlement it will be," he said. Correction: This story was corrected to reflect that Dombrovskis is the former prime minister of Latvia. WHEN: Today, Wednesday, October 5th Following is the unofficial transcript of an EXCLUSIVE interview with Andrew McCabe, Deputy Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, live from the Cambridge Cyber Summit hosted by The Aspen Institute, CNBC and MIT on Wednesday, October 5th. Mandatory credit: The Cambridge Cyber Summit hosted by The Aspen Institute, CNBC and MIT. WALTER ISAACSON: Thank you very much. So you're sitting here with a lot of people from MIT, a few from Harvard. How do you at the FBI, now that you have to move away from people carrying guns and badges and going after bank robbers to go after cyber criminals, how are you going to recruit your workforce of the future? ANDREW McCABE: Yeah, it's a great question. So we still need quite a few of those folks that are carrying guns and badges, because our mission is broad and diverse. But never before have we been in quite the same situation where we have had such an incredible emphasis on recruiting and recruiting the right talent for the new threats. And that is, of course, this talent pool. So, folks, I'm taking applications. Meet me at the back of the auditorium if everybody is interested. WALTER ISAACSON: Are you changing the rules of coming in? In other words, you now I've heard Jim Comey say this, you have a cyber squad. It's eight people, right, generally? ANDREW McCABE: Give or take. WALTER ISAACSON: Six or eight people. And they all carry guns. Do you actually think you're going to get maybe Harvard geeks but not MIT geeks, who are going to be carrying guns around everywhere? ANDREW McCABE: No, no. And I don't know that that description is accurate. We've done a lot to recruit and hire computer scientists, technologists, analysts who have particular experience in the hightech field. So those kind of that traditional squad function of eight to ten to maybe twelve agents and a few analysts really kind of turned on its head on the cyber side. It's not strange at all to see within the squad you have discrete teams. It may be one agent and a computer scientist and two analysts who handle an array of cases from a particular sector or a particular geographic area. So we need our guntoters there to be able to do the traditional work that they do in terms of collecting evidence and then working with prosecutors to get those cases forward. But more than ever, we need folks who have tech skills, who have the experience in the private sector and academia. WALTER ISAACSON: Do you have to change the background checking requirements? ANDREW McCABE: It's a little tougher because, of course, everyone who works for us has to be able to qualify for top secret clearance. So there's a certain amount of vetting that everyone has to come through, regardless of the work role they're going to fill. But I think the difference now is we're looking in different places for those candidates. When I came in, it was predominantly lawyers and accountants, folks with foreign language ability, and then some other kind of diversified applicants. Now we're much more strategic in the way that we recruit and the folks that we's are looking to bring on board. WALTER ISAACSON: We were talking a moment ago about the possibility of a revelation of what I will just call another sort of Snowden. ANDREW McCABE: Okay. WALTER ISAACSON: That's an inside job maybe. How do you protect against that sort of thing? And how worried are you that there are more and more people that will either both leak or sell information? ANDREW McCABE: Yeah, yeah. I won't comment specifically on any impending revelations or WALTER ISAACSON: Feel free. ANDREW McCABE: investigations. Thanks for the offer, but I'll demur on that one. But generally our efforts in the kind of postSnowden world we've always had a focus on insider threat issues within the FBI. And we greatly increased the amount of folks that we have kind of concentrating on those efforts. It's challenging for us because the insider threat problem exists in many different places within our organization. There are parts of it that look and feel a lot like counterintelligence. There are parts of it that look and feel a lot like traditional security issues. There are parts that look like our network security priorities. So the challenge for us is how do you get the folks in those different stovepipes working together on the insider threat atlarge. We did that by creating an insider threat section. So an entire group of folks, some agents, many analysts, many computer folks, contractors, who really look at our own workforce and our own insider threat and vulnerabilities 24/7. WALTER ISAACSON: One of the problems we're facing is the threat of a homegrown terrorist, which that falls pretty much in your bailiwick now, along with DHS and your other related agencies. ANDREW McCABE: Yep. WALTER ISAACSON: How do you change how do you look at the changing nature of the threat and it changes what you do? ANDREW McCABE: Boy, I could go on this one for quite some time. I won't bore you with that. But suffice it to say that the threat from homegrown violent extremists, or HVEs as we refer to them, is the thing that keeps the director and I most on alert and up at night. It's as he's analogized in the past, it's akin to searching for, you know, the needle in the stack of needles. It's made particularly tough because of the technological environment that we're working in now, which really, when you go back five, six, ten years in our focus on CT threats emanating from the Middle East and Pakistan, the alQaeda threats, the alQaedaaffiliated threats, completely different in the way that they spoke to their target audience. So whereas terrorist propaganda was something that if you were already an adherent or leaning in that direction, you had to go out to the Internet, seek it, find it and pull it to yourself, now that's been completely upended. ISIL is incredibly adept at not only producing propaganda that's slick and professional, but it's and targeted to specific audiences, it's multilingual, and they have, through the use of social media, been able to perfect pushing that material to anybody who's interested in it. So you've taken the target audience of those consumers of really violent propaganda and expanded it by the leagues of thousands. Where we used to maybe be looking at hundreds of folks that we were concerned that were on that path to radicalization, now we're dealing with tens of thousands of very hardtoidentify monikers who are consuming this stuff on a daily basis. The vast majority of whom don't present a threat to us, but it's trying to divine which folks in that massive group of people, massive group of consumers of propaganda truly warrant the attention of our WALTER ISAACSON: And are you able to develop disinformation tools, ways to go after them, ways of spoofing or, you know, enticing them in some ways? ANDREW McCABE: Yep. Yep. I mean, disinformation is a little bit outside our bailiwick. That's not an area that the bureau goes into. But we do try to as we do with every threat we face, we try to adapt and we try to work within the parameters of those threats. And in the kind of terrorist recruitment and radicalization space, that means interacting with folks who we think are engaged in that activity. WALTER ISAACSON: When you interact with them, can you pretend to be somebody else? ANDREW McCABE: You can, in the same way that you conduct we lawfully conduct undercover activities all across our programs. WALTER ISAACSON: And so you will engage, pretend to be somebody else, try to gather information? ANDREW McCABE: I think probably it's the best analogy is kind of the listening post, you know, the prisoner who reports back as to what his colleagues are saying. So it's about having access to those places, to those forums, to those communities where the sort of planning and operational activity is being discussed and being able to WALTER ISAACSON: And so somebody is on one of those forums, a group of people are planning and operational activities are being discussed. How often do you have the problem that at that point they go dark on you by being in an encrypted app? ANDREW McCABE: Very often and more often lately. That progression towards I wouldn't say going dark, but that darker space provided by encryption, we see that increasing every day. In fact, it is a commonly used methodology in that particularly in the ISIL recruiters, to utilize open source to the greatest extent possible to identify, to spot and recruit folks, and then as soon as they feel like they have someone who shows potential, those interactions are immediately transferred over into an encrypted space. WALTER ISAACSON: And if they're moved into an encrypted space, can you go to a court and get access to those conversations? ANDREW McCABE: It depends on the space. It depends on the provider. It depends on where that provider is located. It depends on how that technology is constructed. More often than not, no. Many of the providers of the encrypted communications applications are overseas so, of course, we can't serve legal process on folks who are not here in the country. And some folks who are here, the providers don't have the ability to provide content on an endtoend encrypted conversation. WALTER ISAACSON: In other words, even an Apple or something may not, quote, have that ability? ANDREW McCABE: That's right. That's right. WALTER ISAACSON: And do you think they should be required to have that ability? ANDREW McCABE: That's a great question. And, quite frankly, it's not one that you want me or the FBI answering. That is a policy question that should be derived from a vigorous conversation in our country. I think we're headed in that direction right now. We seem to be having that conversation with greater substance and depth. But that cuts to the very core of that balance between security and privacy. So the fact that we now have communications applications that are essentially beyond the reach of lawful court orders, we have to decide as a nation, do we think that's a good thing? WALTER ISAACSON: Have we ever had that before? ANDREW McCABE: I don't think we've had it in quite the same way. We have grappled with technology, right, at many different junctures in our history. I mean, the FBI was born from the success of the interstate highway system, right? The ability of criminals to quickly and easily cross state borders, folks discovered they needed an investigative agency that could have that same ability. The perfusion of telephonic communications, you see a clear connection to the development of Title III authority. So we are at another one of those watershed moments where we have to decide as a nation where do we want to strike WALTER ISAACSON: Do you think our political system is capable of making such a decision now? ANDREW McCABE: They haven't shown a lot of promise lately. We seem to be there's an election going on in this country. I don't know if folks are aware of that. So that's been a bit of a distraction. But hopefully we'll get back to that business. WALTER ISAACSON: Speaking of the election, to what extent is the FBI I think there are 1900 electoral entities in, you know, the St. Tammany Parish, you know, Registrar of Voters, all that. To what extent are you safeguarding them from having their voter roles compromised or anything a malicious actor could do? ANDREW McCABE: We're working very closely with our colleagues across the government on that issue. In terms of the actual safeguarding, that piece of the problem really is more in DHS's lane. And obviously we work very closely with them on how they do that. The FBI comes in, as you know, typically once there's been a cyber incident, then the responsibility falls on us. WALTER ISAACSON: So, in other words, if there's a cyber incident about to occur and you, maybe somebody, figures out somebody is trying to erase the voter rolls of Miami. ANDREW McCABE: Right. WALTER ISAACSON: Would the FBI know that before it happened? Would it be able to doing? ANDREW McCABE: You know, it's entirely factdependent. It would be impossible for me to answer that without having a kind of more robust review of the facts. WALTER ISAACSON: Do you have the tools to do something? If you woke up and it's 6:00 a.m. and you say, boy, this is happening, we're going to try do you have the authority from the President? Do you have the tools you need? ANDREW McCABE: So, we have the ability to see we have a greater ability to see threats coming to us now than we ever have had in the past. Do we see it all? Absolutely not. But when we see those sorts of threats coming in and we provide those notifications to private sector entities all the time, financial sector entities and the like, we certainly coordinate immediately and directly with the affected entity and assist them and DHS in doing whatever is necessary to repel that attack. But the problem is, you don't see everything. The more information we are able to share with the private sector, the academic sector, the better our detection ability becomes. Because all of that code, all of that malware, all of those indicators get compiled into our datasets, and then it's easier for us to identify those things that are coming at us. WALTER ISAACSON: Well, you were at breakfast this morning when that issue came up. I don't know if Anne Margulies is here. If she is, I will embarrass her slightly. Because it became part of the discussion, which is Harvard gets hacked, I think she said, every other day from a serious state actor. MIT gets since we're here, we'll be nice, gets hacked every day, not just every other day. ANDREW McCABE: You said it, I didn't. WALTER ISAACSON: Do they first of all, suppose you were the I.T. director. You're hacked. Do they know who to call? Say this happened this morning it happened last night. Do they have a phone number to call and say, Hey, we think it's the Russians, and they've now taken all of our, whatever? ANDREW McCABE: Yeah, absolutely. As you saw from Anne's response this morning, she has a good relationship with her local FBI field office. And that is what we seek for all of the players that we deal with. But folks should know that that is the place to call. We've tried to get better at communicating that message, the joint messages that we put out with DHS, to try to kind of clarify the lanes in the road and make it clear here's where you call. WALTER ISAACSON: Would it be helpful to you if you could monitor those systems in realtime and get the data in realtime, as the hacks are occurring? ANDREW McCABE: I mean, that's always helpful. That's the ideal position. WALTER ISAACSON: What resistance do you meet when you want that? ANDREW McCABE: This isn't speaking of any group. We see the same sort of concerns from the private sector, from academia, from kind of across the spectrum. Folks are uncomfortable with, to some extent, sharing providing that sort of access, sharing sometimes information about attacks that take place, because for obvious reasons it impacts they feel it impacts their reputation and their position in the community. Nobody likes to say, Hey, we've been hit. But I think we're getting better at that. The director used to refer to it as the two policemen patrolling the neighborhood comprised of 30foot walls in all directions. You can see that there's nothing happening on the street. If you can't see behind the walls, you can't actually help out as to the emergencies that are taking place. We've got to get to that point where folks are comfortable sharing information and ultimately providing access if we expect the FBI and DHS and our Secret Service and our other partners in government to be able to be more proactive in the way we address the threats. WALTER ISAACSON: One of the things we heard this morning when we were just eating breakfast, it was not a formal session, was, I'm not that comfortable I mean, some people are saying, I am just not that comfortable, for reasons of academic freedom or whatever, that the FBI might be able to get into our systems. How do you try to grapple with given all the revelations that the FBI and CIA and NSA have done, and frankly, things that weren't revelations when people thought they were. Like, they thought the NSA was reading all of our emails, which I'm not sure was exactly the case. ANDREW McCABE: Right. WALTER ISAACSON: How do you go about convincing people, Hey, I'm from the FBI and I want to get into your database. ANDREW McCABE: We're here to help? Yeah. it's tough. It's tougher in some places more so in some places than others. We understand that skepticism. We have we've not been perfect. We've had our own our own flaws in the past. I think we've done an incredible job of trying to stay connected to that legacy in a way that informs our decisionmaking as a modern organization, that impacts our ability to recruit and train our new agents. And for all those reasons, we it's a core it's part of our core values, right, to maintain that connection to our history and to constantly focus on our core mission, which is protecting the United States of America and its citizens, and upholding the Constitution. So that's the place that we come from. Despite that, we understand that folks are always skeptical of government to some extent, skeptical of us, for whatever reasons they may have had. You only break through that skepticism and that reluctance through partnerships. We've put an incredible emphasis on our partnerships with the private sector, particularly over the last few years. We are trying to be more responsive. We are trying to be more agile in the information that we disseminate to the private sector and the way that we are actually showing we're here to help. But that next step is true collaboration. And, ultimately, we just have to continue working, through that position of trust, and enable folks to put us in the place that we need to be to help them stop those sorts of threats. WALTER ISAACSON: You just mentioned that you learned from your history, you're always aware of your history, the missteps, the FBI and the intelligence community has made throughout the history. As you know, your colleague, the director, Mr. Comey, has, under the glass of his desk, the order in which J. Edgar Hoover said he wanted to wiretap Dr. Martin Luther King, and Bobby Kennedy's signature on it. ANDREW McCABE: That's right. WALTER ISAACSON: How do you train each new generation not to let that happen again? ANDREW McCABE: Yeah. So in many ways, you have to be consistent in the way you message your understanding of that past and how you're going to shape the future. And we do that in the last few years, we have completely restructured our training of new agents and analysts who essentially walk in the front door together and begin their FBI experience as collaborative partners, rather than the kind of separated approach we used to use. One of the steps in that training is every agent and analyst comes to D.C. and participates in a program that includes both the Holocaust War Memorial and the Martin Luther King Memorial in the capital. And it is opportunities like that, we kind of take them off the firing line, off the driving off the driving courses and the tactical work they do at Quantico, to step back and reposition on those core values and that sacred trust that we hold with the American people to uphold the Constitution and protect their lives and wellbeing. WALTER ISAACSON: And that trust is needed in order to get academics ANDREW McCABE: That's right. WALTER ISAACSON: private companies to be able to say, "Yeah, you can have access in realtime to everything coming in and out, say, of our databases to try to protect it." One of the things we'll hear from John Carlin soon. But one of the things that happened is there's been a new law that allows that type of sharing and some would indemnify you from antitrust, from whatever other problems you could have if you agree what it's called, an ISAC, where you sort of roll it all up into a database that people can look at. And what else needs to be done legally to make people feel "I can trust you in real time rolling up all of my cyber intrusion data into a database"? ANDREW McCABE: Yeah. Well, I don't know what needs to be done legally right now. I think we have a pretty good framework with the creation of the portal that you've just referred to. We've done that really more to organize ourselves in the way that we interact with the private sector to give the private sector one point of contact on that kind of initial reporting. We've clarified the lanes in the road with the presidential order in terms of how we respond to an incident and who's responsible for which pieces, whether it's infrastructure protection or it's conducting the investigation that enables us to understand that it's the Russians or the North Koreans or the Iranians, whoever it might be. So I think we've made some progress on the legal side. The harder piece is that cultural one that we've been talking about. And I don't want to I don't want to mislead you. A mistrust or a lack of trust with the FBI specifically is not the only driver. That is not the only thing that creates reluctance on the part of the victims, whether they're private sector or academic, to want to expose the fact that they've been that they've been victimized by a hack. There's obvious economic repercussions. There's shareholder value issues. So it's a complicated mixture. WALTER ISAACSON: Couldn't you pass a law that said there couldn't be derivative shareholder lawsuits if somebody discloses in realtime that they've been hacked? ANDREW McCABE: I think I'm going to have to defer that one to Mr. Carlin. WALTER ISAACSON: All right. I hope he's watching so he can prepare an answer. ANDREW McCABE: Yeah, I'm sure he's picking up. WALTER ISAACSON: But would it help you? I mean, leave aside whether it's legal or whatever, would it help you if there were just more incentives to share data that way? ANDREW McCABE: Of course, of course. More information is better for us. That's that's how we're going to that's our chance of getting out in front of this threat. And that's where everybody wants us to be, right? You heard it from Ann this morning. They want to know when it's coming. The only way to know when it's coming is to know when it's been here, to understand that malware, to understand those signatures and have that knowledge as we conduct the kind of intelligence collection that we do. WALTER ISAACSON: You know, one of the hacks in the news has been the various Russian intrusions into everything from a couple of stateelected systems, the DNC, to State Department and White House, I think a couple years ago, which were somewhat public. What is the role of the FBI in saying to this whole group, "We can nail this case? We know who did it and how?" And do you generally know who did it or sometimes you just can't figure it out? ANDREW McCABE: You know, there's it's a great question. So our role is to go back through the event and see if we can establish see if we can establish attribution. Right? And we do that through a deep and complicated forensic analysis. And in some situations, you're able to do that and be able to say conclusively, in a way that you could prove in court, "Yes, this is what happened and this is the party that's responsible." WALTER ISAACSON: I'm sorry, those are two different things, to be able to know what happened and to know it in a way you can prove in court. ANDREW McCABE: That's right. WALTER ISAACSON: Why do you conflate those two? ANDREW McCABE: Because your knowledge of what happened may be based on tools or techniques that you're not able to expose in court. WALTER ISAACSON: Right. That's what I'm saying. Those are separate things. ANDREW McCABE: Right. So those could be two separate things. WALTER ISAACSON: But in the case of the Russians, say, might it be that you know for pretty much sure but you don't want to have to prove it in court, but we have a system where you have to prove it in court if we're going to name the Russians? ANDREW McCABE: I don't know that we have a system where we have to prove it in court to be able to name any party that may have been involved in a hack. And that's what we were talking about briefly this morning, the difference between an assessment and kind of a forensic conclusion. And so our role in that whole of government approach is to drive towards that forensic conclusion. Whether you're going to then take it to court and indict somebody and try to prove a case or you're just going to be able to say publicly, "Here's who we feel strongly is responsible." Aside from both of those alternatives, you have the assessment which can be based on many different things. It is very different to be able to say that the United States government feels with some degree of confidence that a particular state actor was involved. That assessment could be based both on the forensics, which might get you close but not all the way, but it may also be based on other intelligence collection streams that you have. And so there are sort of different levels of attribution that you may be able to do at any given time. WALTER ISAACSON: And so you were able to do a pretty robust one on the North Koreans. ANDREW McCABE: That's correct. WALTER ISAACSON: On the Sony hack. ANDREW McCABE: That's correct. WALTER ISAACSON: I mean, I assume since the President came out and said so. I'm not revealing anything there. Do you feel that you're not yet at that stage with the Russians? ANDREW McCABE: Well, I can't really comment on the activity that most folks believe included Russian involvement. But it is not it's not without precedent. Obviously you mentioned Sony. The indictment of the five three L.A. officers, probably another great example. We've had other cases that I think fit that same mold in the last couple years. So that's out there. That's in the kind of realm of the possible. WALTER ISAACSON: Getting away from cyber for just a moment, even though it's a cyber conference, when you're looking at the threats now to the homeland that the FBI has to deal with, how has the threat landscape changed? And is cyber something you keep separate or is it integrated into all your threats? ANDREW McCABE: That is a great question. You know, the threats seem to change every day in our main lines of business. Right? So our criminal investigative work, our counterintelligence work, our counterterrorism work. And then, of course, there's cyber. I would say the thing that's most different today is cyber is bleeding into every one of those business lines, if you will. There is not our most significant work on the criminal side, on the CT side, and on the counterintelligence side is all very heavily driven by cyber vectors. So cyber tactics and techniques, whether that comes from just communication, recruitment, planning, or the way the actual attacks are taking place. So the challenge for us is how do we take that kind of nugget of cyber expertise that exists in the cyber division, how do we keep those folks focused on that true kind of traditional cyber intrusion work that we need them to stay focused on and yet spread their expertise, their tactics, their investigative techniques out to the workforce atlarge. That is a challenge for us right now. We have thousands of agents and analysts and many of whom who have been doing their work for many years and may have not participated in that kind of education and training process that our cyber investigators have. So, it's how do we kind of tilt the scales back even a little bit and spread, kind of share the wealth of those cyber tactics and techniques? It's something we're working on. WALTER ISAACSON: And, finally, what would you say in this zip code or two, the O2138, 02139, with the best students in this field, what would you say to them about why they should be engaged with you? ANDREW McCABE: Right. So, I mean, they have incredible opportunities, and they are a talented and diverse bunch. If I could give them any advice, it would be to seek out those opportunities, especially at this point in your life, to do good instead of just doing well. And that is not just with the FBI. That's FBI, CIA, NSA. Across the spectrum of our intelligence community, there are incredible opportunities to serve your country and to do the work that you find fascinating and compelling. It's a great experience, and there's some great organizations to work with. So I would encourage them to consider it. WALTER ISAACSON: Well, thank you for doing it. ANDREW McCABE: Thank you. Appreciate it. About CNBC: With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, CNBC World and CNBC HD, CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to approximately 386 million homes worldwide, including more than 100 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries. CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms including: CNBC.com; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides live access to CNBC programming, exclusive video content and global market data and analysis; a suite of CNBC mobile products including the CNBC Apps for iOS, Android and Windows devices; and additional products such as the CNBC App for the Apple Watch and Apple TV. Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBCUniversal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/programming/cnbc. For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com. It's been more than 100 days since the U.K. voted to leave the European Union and uncertainty remains over several issues, including continued membership of the single market. There has been a lot of talk around whether the end result will be a "hard Bexit" with the U.K. losing access to the EU single market and customs union -- or a "soft Brexit" with access to the single market retained. Either way, experts told CNBC that foreign companies were likely to continue to invest in the county. The U.K. has a strong track record for foreign direct investment (FDI). Foreign investors own 10.6 trillion ($13.5 trillion) of U.K. assets, according to the Bank of England that's more than five times U.K. gross domestic product and makes the U.K. one of the top destinations for FDI both within the EU and globally. Dan Kitwood | Getty Images FDI is crucial to any economy. It raises productivity, which helps output and wages, and boosts competition, according to the LSE's Centre for Economic Performance. One such company looking to invest in the U.K. despite the Brexit result -- is Campaign Monitor, an email marketing and automation software provider founded in Australia. Last week, the company announced plans to open a new office in London in order to better serve its European customers; the company has customers at around 25,000 companies in the U.K. "Obviously Brexit creates uncertainty and I think the greatest concern is that there's going to be probably years of uncertainty," Alex Bard, CEO of Campaign Monitor, told CNBC in a phone call. "For us, (the decision to invest in the U.K.) made a lot of sense because of the density of our customers in that area, because we want to be close to our customers to help them succeed." Around 40 percent of Campaign Monitor's customers are based in Europe, and of that, "A meaningful percentage -- I would say a majority -- are in the U.K.," Bard said. "(Brexit) certainly created a bit more uncertainty, but not enough to dissuade us from the investment that we wanted to make," he added. Strong fundamentals? For decades, hurricanes were named for the saint's day on which they occurred (like "San Felipe" in 1928). The U.S. started giving hurricanes female names in 1953. It wasn't until 1979 that hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico began receiving both male and female names. "U.S. hurricanes used to be given only female names, a practice that meteorologists of a different era considered appropriate due to such characteristics of hurricanes as unpredictability," researchers wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in 2014. The researchers found that hurricanes with female names cause more deaths than male-named storms, suggesting that people don't prepare as much for the feminine storms. The paper recommended that policymakers consider a new naming system that wouldn't cause "human response to be influence by the mental representations associated with those categories." Americans also apparently respond to the names of storms in the way they name their children. A 2012 analysis found that after Katrina, there was an unusual increase in the number of children with K-names: Kimberly, Karen or Kevin. People avoided the name of the hurricane itself, but were more likely to pick similar-sounding names. Naming conventions are also a source of controversy. A black congresswoman from Texas complained in 2003 that hurricanes were only given white names. "All racial groups should be represented," she said, according to Wired. Additionally, the names chosen by the regional tropical cyclone authorities do tend to reflect the names in those regions. The Atlantic Basin hurricanes in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic are named Alberto, Barry and Chantal. In contrast, Jakarta has Anggrek and Bakung. The Southwest Indian Ocean has Abela from Tanzania, Bransby from South Africa and Cilida from Madagascar. The International Monetary Fund needs to focus on politics for the first time in order to combat the rise of unilateralism around the world, Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer told CNBC on Wednesday. "The geopolitical recession is really just picking up steam. And that's about a lack of global leadership. It's unilateralism from the U.S. and everyone else and it's also the delegitimization of a lot of development governments the anti-establishment tendencies that we're seeing in the U.S., we're seeing in Europe it's making it a lot harder for organizations like the IMF to do their jobs," he said in an interview with "Closing Bell." Bremmer believes if the organization is not able address politics, it would hinder its ability to create the economic stabilization the world "desperately needs." Indian budget carrier IndiGo has banned children aged under 12 years from its premium extra leg room seats, branding the rows as "quiet zones". The airline said in a statement that row numbers 1 to 4 and 11 to 14 are generally to be kept-child free as it tries to promote a calmer environment. "IndiGo endeavors to extend courteous and hassle free experience to all passengers," the statement read. "These zones have been created for business travellers, who prefer to use the quiet time to do their work." However, there are no similar restrictions on children in the rows next to the quiet zones - or the rest of the aircraft. IndiGo claimed the on-board quiet zone for passengers is already an international practice. Other airlines have tried the concept including Scoot, a Singaporean budget carrier and AirAsia X of Malaysia. But in 2013, the travel website Skift surveyed several U.S. domestic carriers who all said they had no plans to introduce child free areas. Employees inside public and private organizations may be the biggest cybersecurity threat those organizations face when it comes to defending against cyberthreats, cybersecurity experts from both the public and private sector agreed. At The Cambridge Cyber Summit in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, the issue of so-called insider threat was in the spotlight following a New York Times report that the FBI had in recent weeks arrested a National Security Agency contractor the agency suspects of stealing and sharing highly classified information. John Carlin at the Cambridge Cyber Summit, October 5, 2016. David A. Grogan | CNBC On an interview on CNBC's "Power Lunch," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin confirmed that the FBI had arrested and charged the individual with theft of government secrets, including classified information, on August 29. "The threat of insiders is real and what can happen is you have amazing defenses to protect your intellectual property and other secrets from those who are trying to obtain them from outside your company's walls, but you forget sometimes to have a program where you are watching those who you trust," said Carlin. It is one of the most serious threats a company can face, he said. "We take that type of conduct very seriously," he said. watch now Other cybersecurity experts on stage at the event agreed. Though protecting devices and servers will always be important, organizations should not overlook the importance of protecting against people, said Tom Fanning, president and CEO of energy firm The Southern Company. "What do you do about people?" he said. "That is a real challenge here." watch now Danica Patrick prior to the Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup series race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA. Three out of five Americans own some sort of life insurance, but only 51% of millennials have coverage. According to a 2016 Life Happens insurance study, losing the main breadwinner could significantly impact the surviving household members: "Half of US households would feel the financial impact from the loss of their primary wage earner in just six months, and more than a third would feel the impact in a month or less." Danica Patrick has an idea of what that's like. "Both my parents lost their dads when they were teenagers, so they know what it's like to struggle and to try and make ends meet, especially when one income goes away," the NASCAR driver and spokesperson for Life Insurance Awareness month tells CNBC. Neither of her grandfathers had life insurance, and it was a struggle for her family to get by. Patrick's parents made sure they wouldn't make the same mistake and bought life insurance in their 20s. The professional race car driver followed suit. "I've had coverage since my early 20s when I started racing cars," she explains. "It's a dangerous sport, so it's a more common conversation to have from an earlier age, based on what I do, but for most people, it's not the most common conversation to have." The lack of conversation could explain why only half of millennials own life insurance. Patrick recommends considering what would happen if the worst came true. "Actually go through the motions in your mind of what you would do," Patrick said. "Ask the questions. Have an answer. You need to plan for when things unexpectedly happen." There are a handful of reasons to consider taking out a life insurance policy, including covering the cost of a burial and paying for home expenses, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Two of Nigeria's 10 presidential jets have been put up for sale as part of a drive to cut costs, a spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday. Buhari, a 73-year-old former military ruler who took office last year, has vowed to crack down on corruption and mismanagement of public funds that has seen a rich elite benefit from the OPEC member's oil wealth while most Nigerians live on less than $2 per day. Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu issued a statement to say newspaper advertisements for the sale of two presidential planes had been authorized by the presidency. Glenn Gerstell, general counsel of the National Security Agency, made the comments at the Cambridge Cyber Summit at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The NSA has lost some terrorists because of their adoption of strong encryption, but the agency is supportive of the use of the technology, it's top lawyer said Wednesday. Cindy Cohn (l), Glenn Gerstell (c) and Daniel Weitzner at the Cambridge Cyber Summit at M.I.T. on Oct. 5th, 2016. "We are big supporters of encryption," said Gerstell. "Encryption is more of a law enforcement issue." He said the NSA sees ISIS terrorists using end-to-end encryption, and that has prevented the agency from finding out the key information about those bad actors. The widespread availability of encryption technology requires the government to employ additional resources to monitor terrorists, said Gerstell. He declined to elaborate on specific sources and methods. Privacy advocate Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, listed some of the methods the government may use when encryption blocks access to information shared by suspects: They install key loggers on devices to discover passwords, stop computers on their way to being shipped and install backdoors or send fake messages masquerading as popular services like Facebook to trick suspects to divulging passwords. "We know they purchase vulnerabilities and don't tell the companies their systems are vulnerable," she said. About 90 percent of the vulnerabilities the government discovers are in fact disclosed, but at times they choose not to share that information for national security reasons, said Gerstell. The NSA is in an excellent position to assess cyberthreats given its tech chops, but the anonymity enabled by end-to-end encryption whose adoption is growing allows some people to get away with "mischief" and the barriers to entry for the use of this technology are "extremely low," he said. Cybersecurity is the biggest threat the NSA will face over the next couple of decades, and the agency is very focused on combating cybercrime. It takes a multifaceted approach working hand in hand with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to share threat information, and issuing bulletins to reach the public where appropriate, Gerstell said. The conference is sponsored by CNBC, MIT and The Aspen Institute. Salesforce has been on an acquisition spree this year, most recently with the purchase of Krux for $700 million. "It's a great product," Benioff said about Twitter, "It's an exciting product, but obviously the business has a lot of challenges, very severe challenges." Talks of Salesforce possibly acquiring Twitter resurfaced again on Wednesday, taking Salesforce's stock down more than 5 percent. However, CEO Marc Benioff told Jim Cramer that Twitter has severe issues. Benioff described his acquisition strategy to the "Mad Money" host, saying that he is confident that his shareholders want him to look at every single company, pick the best ones and make deals with the ones that are in Salesforce's best interest. He wished Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey well. "All I can do is one thing, which is wish my good friend Jack Dorsey well. He is the CEO of that company. It's his job to make that a great company. It is my job to make Salesforce a great company," Benioff said. Benioff declined to comment specifically about any deal, because it would set a precedent of commenting on the deals that Salesforce does. In an interview on CNBC's "Power Lunch" earlier on Wednesday, Benioff confirmed that it is in the interest of the company to look at all deals. However, he says he passes on most. One deal that Salesforce did not make was with LinkedIn , which was acquired by Microsoft . While Benioff says he is still on good terms with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, he has major beef with his executives. "I'm cool with Satya for sure, but some of his executives however, I am not cool with because they have made some very aggressive statements about what they are going to be doing with this LinkedIn data It's amazing what they have said. And they are doing things that are absolutely anti-competitive, and that's what I wrote on Twitter," Benioff said. Benioff said he worries that what these executives would do with the data "might have been a little bit on the wrong side of the fence." Cramer weighed in on a potential deal between Salesforce and Twitter, stating "I think Twitter has the potential to become a very valuable asset under a company like Salesforce the ultimate way to figure out what the consumer is thinking and what she wants." Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Benioff's commentary. The jury is still out on how the presidential candidates will fare during the next debate, on Oct. 9, in the eyes of a key voter constituency: the small-business sector. The group that is composed of 28 million business owners is a major voting block in the upcoming election. Yet if the last presidential debate is any guide, the Republican ticket has an advantage. According to an exclusive nationwide poll with Manta, a social network for small businesses, Trump won the first debate in the eyes of small businesses on Main Street. Manta's survey, which polled a diverse group of 834 small-business owners nationwide between Sept. 26 and Sept. 28 revealed that Republican candidate and business mogul Donald Trump was the winner, with 58.7 percent. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton garnered 41.3 percent of their vote. Smoke emitting from an overheated Samsung device led to the evacuation of Southwest Airlines flight 994 from Louisville, Kentucky, minutes before departure. The incident caused extensive damage to the device, which is making it difficult to identify the specific model, Capt. Kevin Fletcher of the Louisville Metro Arson Bureau told WAVE, the NBC affiliate in Louisville. He said that at the moment he can only say the electronic device, which looks like a cellphone, is a Samsung. Last month, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission officially recalled the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 after reports of the batteries catching fire. A Samsung spokesperson told CNBC on Wednesday that there is "no evidence that this incident [on the Southwest airplane] is related to the new Note 7." The electronics-maker said it is working with the airline and authorities to recover the device and confirm the cause. The owner of the device told The Verge that it was a replacement Galaxy Note 7. Capt. Fletcher said, however, that while the carpet of the aircraft has been singed, there is very minor damage to the aircraft. The plane was ventilated by the response team, so there was no smoke when the arson bureau arrived, Fletcher said. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that "the crew of Southwest Airlines 944 reported smoke in the cabin while parked at a gate at Louisville International Airport at about 9:20 a.m. today." WAVE reported that the flight had been originally scheduled to depart at 9:30 a.m. ET. The flight appears to have been cancelled, according to Southwest's website. Southwest said in a statement that a customer reported smoke coming out of a device. The FAA said Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting responded and that it "will look into the source of the smoke." A spokeswoman for the Louisville airport said a total of 75 people were on the plane at the time and that no slides were deployed during the evacuation. NBC News' Melanie Kucera and Jay Blackman, and CNBC's Jim Forkin contributed reporting. It was perhaps the most telling and key moment in Tuesday night's VP debate: When Tim Kaine was talking up the economy, Mike Pence responded with, "People in Scranton know different. People in Fort Wayne know different." Pence's decision to give Scranton a shout out was hardly random. The city and its surrounding county are seen as a potential flash point for Donald Trump to pull off an upset victory in Pennsylvania because of a combination of hard data and emotional appeal. Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral votes are still a prize the Trump-Pence campaign believes it can win despite a RealClearPolitics poll average that has Hillary Clinton recently increasing her lead there. What makes Scranton even more important for the Trump team is the fact that Barack Obama won the city and its surrounding Lackawanna County by a resounding 27 percentage points in 2012. If Trump can not only win Scranton and Lackawanna, but boost the total number of votes from the 98,000 cast in the county four years ago, Pennsylvania could, indeed, go to the Republican presidential candidate for the first time since 1988. The Scranton region is so crucial because it's not part of the Clinton stronghold in the greater Philadelphia region, nor is it a part of the western regions of the state where Trump's support is strongest. It's also very close to the city of Reading, Pa., in Berks County, where Romney won in 2012 but by less than 1,700 votes among 170,000 total votes cast. But those are just the raw numbers. The human story in Scranton and the handful of neighboring or nearby places like Berks, Luzerne, and Lehigh Counties tell you a lot more about why Trump could, indeed, win Pennsylvania. Each of those areas have seen the long-term effects of the overall manufacturing decline in America. Each of those counties is close enough to see, but not really participate in the more concentrated government spending and wealth in the Philadelphia area. And many voters there are also aware of the big boost in jobs that have come from fracking in the western counties, (not one fracking well is located in the counties of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Berks, or Lehigh), leaving them feeling left out of whatever economic recovery there is to speak of. This is a region, like so many other parts of this country, where the service-sector economy is so important. And it is that service sector that has been so impacted by immigration, thus giving Trump a key opening. The nearby town of Hazleton actually has a growing immigrant population, but opposing illegal immigration is very politically popular there. Hazleton's former Mayor Lou Barletta took his tough stance on immigration and used it to upset a long-serving Democrat in Congress in 2012. With that in mind, perhaps it's not surprising that Trump won 77 percent of the vote in Luzerne County in the 2016 Pennsylvania Republican presidential primary, and 70 percent of the vote in Scranton's Lackawanna County. But the really impressive fact is that Trump tripled the winning primary numbers 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney posted in both of those counties. If those primary results and turnout are indicative of what's going to happen in November, you can see why the Trump campaign is optimistically focusing on those specific parts of the Keystone state. Pennsylvania is rarely looked at as a national bellwether state like Ohio or Florida. But perhaps it should be. For one thing, opposition to illegal immigration like we see in places like Scranton and Hazleton was clearly underestimated as a key factor in the GOP primaries. Perhaps if the campaign managers for the Republican candidates running against Trump had paid more attention to that, one of those other challengers could have won the nomination. And looking further back in history, it was Pennsylvania Democrat Harris Wofford's surprise win in the 1991 special election to replace the late U.S. Senator John Heinz that signaled a shift towards the Democrats in the state and nationwide that clearly presaged Bill Clinton's victory over George H.W. Bush for the White House a year later. In fact, Wofford's campaign managers, James Carville and Paul Begala, took senior roles on Clinton's 1992 campaign staff. Because no Republican presidential candidate has won Pennsylvania in 28 years, the conventional wisdom remains steadfastly doubtful about Trump's chances to win it now. But trends are a powerful force in politics, and in addition to Trump's growing support in the middle of the state, the Democrats only won the state by five percentage points in 2012 after a ten-point win in 2008. And if Trump can ride that momentum to a win in Pennsylvania, he will almost surely win the entire election. Leading up to Twitter 's Sept. 8 board meeting, CEO Jack Dorsey had conflicting views with former Chief Executive Ev Williams on the future of their company, according to a report from Bloomberg. Dorsey wanted the decade-old social media business to not change course and remain focused on products that users are familiar with, the Bloomberg report said. Williams wanted to explore selling Twitter, the article said, and explained that ultimately Dorsey lost the disagreement. The board of directors decided to hire Goldman Sachs and Allen & Co. to evaluate possible bids. With suitors like Disney , Salesforce and Google lining up to buy the Silicon Valley-based company, Twitter is now consulting with advisors to settle the internal conflict, people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg. Dorsey does not want to sell Twitter, even though Bloomberg points out that formal bids may or may not even come. However, according to the news service, Dorsey may be overruled by the board to make Twitter an independent company. Sources told Bloomberg that Dorsey does not want to be the sole decision maker on Twitter's future. The article mentioned that Chief Financial Officer Anthony Noto has become just as influential as Dorsey, saying that it is not known if Noto supports the sale. Noto, who was the former CFO of the NFL, bought the rights to stream 10 of the league's games. With Noto, Twitter has entered the video streaming realm, the report said. CNBC has reached out to Twitter, Disney and Google for comment. Salesforce declined to comment. Even with the gains from live video streaming, Bloomberg said Dorsey is still having to consider a different future for Twitter weighing a sale because of the lack of user growth. For more on the subject read Bloomberg's article here. In the three decades that it took to turn his company, including the Sam Adams beer brand, into a $2 billion craft beer empire, Koch juggled a lot as the Chief Everything Officer. The start-up founder quickly realized that CEO doesn't always stand for Chief Executive Officer : "You're the Chief Everything Officer," said Koch in an interview with CNBC at the Iconic conference in Boston in September. To maximize his productivity, the self-made billionaire asks himself the same thing every morning, he said at the Iconic conference: "When I start the day, I think, What are the two things that I absolutely need to do today for the day to be successful?" "I just try to focus on two or three things that I need to do that day, and I don't quit until I've done them," he said. He writes the two or three items on a Post-it note, Business Insider reported in 2015. The small size of the note prevents him from adding too much detail or making too long of a to-do list. Plus, it fits in his pocket and is highly accessible throughout the day. Yahoo fired back Wednesday at a report that said it built a software program to search all of its customers' incoming emails for U.S. intelligence officials. Reuters reported Tuesday that Yahoo scanned millions of Yahoo Mail accounts at the behest of the National Security Agency or FBI. It cited three former employees and a fourth person apprised of the events. The report said officials allegedly wanted Yahoo to search for "a set of characters" in emails. Yahoo called the report "misleading." "We narrowly interpret every government request for user data to minimize disclosure. The mail scanning described in the article does not exist on our systems," Yahoo said in a statement. Earlier, the company had said it was law abiding and complied with the laws of the United States. In response to the Reuters report, two major U.S. email service providers Microsoft and Google said that their email services are safe from U.S. government spies. The American Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday it was disappointed with Yahoo's reported compliance with the U.S. government, calling it "unprecedented and unconstitutional." Yahoo's stock was slightly higher in premarket trading Wednesday. The company's stock is up more than 29 percent this year. Disclosure: CNBC has a content-sharing partnership with Yahoo's finance site. Brian Casey, the 17th president of Colgate University, on Sept. 30 addresses the gathering during his inauguration ceremony in the schools Memorial Chapel. Photo credit: Mark DiOrio. HAMILTON, N.Y. Colgate University inaugurated Brian Casey as its 17th president in a Sept. 30 ceremony that the school called the highlight of a weeklong celebration of Colgate. I can think of no greater calling than to be one more person on this campus, longing to advance knowledge, to perpetuate it to posterity, and with this faculty, this administration, this board, to alter the world with the power of our ideas, Casey said in his remarks. He addressed those gathered for the ceremony in the schools Memorial Chapel. The school provided excerpts of Caseys remarks in a news release issued Monday. In the days leading up to the inauguration ceremony, professors, students, alumni, and friends gathered for panel conversations on the universitys history; developing community leaders; and the current state of communications and media, the school said. Casey began his duties on July 1 after the school announced his selection in August 2015. Colgate had formed a search committee in February 2015 after Jeffrey Herbst, the schools former president, announced he would step down at the end of June 2015. Casey follows Jill Harsin, who served as Colgates interim president for the 2015-16 academic year. Born and raised in New Jersey, Casey earned a bachelors degree in philosophy and economics at Notre Dame. He received his law degree from Stanford. After beginning his career as an attorney with New York Citybased Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Casey earned his doctor of philosophy degree in the history of American civilization from Harvard. After serving in the administrations of Harvard University and Brown University, Casey was chosen as the 19th president of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, a position he held from 2008 to 2016. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com Whitman Publishing announces the release of the updated and revised third edition of the Guide Book of Peace Dollars, by award-winning numismatic researcher Roger W. Burdette. The following is a press release from Whitman Publishing LLC: Whitman Publishing announces the release of the updated and revised third edition of the Guide Book of Peace Dollars, by award-winning numismatic researcher Roger W. Burdette. The 288-page book will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide on September 27, 2016, for $19.95. Before then it is available for preorder (including online at www.Whitman.com). The Guide Book of Peace Dollars, a volume in Whitmans popular Bowers Series of numismatic references, covers every date and mintmark, plus significant die varieties, of Americas last 90% silver dollar, struck from 1921 to 1935. The coin began as a commemorative of peace after the violent upheavals of World War I. Burdette studies Proofs, patterns, trial pieces, errors and misstrikes, countermarks, and famous collections. Noted Peace dollar collector Barry Lovvorn assisted with the coin-by-coin study and contributed other research. Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The Peace dollar is often unfairly overshadowed by its predecessor, the Morgan dollar, wrote Coin World editor-at-large Steve Roach in the books foreword. The sensitive Peace dollar offers a different, and perhaps a more accessible, collecting experience. The 1921 Peace dollar, with its high relief, is undoubtedly one of the most attractive 20th-century coins. Chapter 4 offers detailed analysis of the mysterious 1964-D Peace dollar, providing for the first time ever a photograph of an obverse die discovered in the Philadelphia Mint. In order to learn as much as possible about the 1964-D Peace dollar, I extended my research beyond the usual musty archives, Burdette said. I interviewed all of the surviving Denver Mint employees who worked there during May 1965, when the back-dated 1964 Peace dollars were struck. Michael Lantz, a 34-year pressman, was particularly helpful in introducing me to former employees and providing background information. He was a die setter and press operator who retired in 1995 as production general foreman. These interviews opened interesting avenues about how the Denver Mint operated and its daily work. Did you know the Mint struck 322,394 1964-D Peace dollars?: Recently discovered was tooling for a 1964-D Morgan dollar, as well. No examples of either 1964-dated coin have ever been publicly discovered. Burdette explores the origins and history of the Peace dollar (including the American Numismatic Associations involvement), early designs and casts, and the coins production process. For hobbyists he lays out ways to collect and grade the coins, studies the market effect of hoards and meltings, and illustrates unusual examples. In addition to a coin-by-coin analysis that includes market values and rarity ratings, Burdette presents the biographies of key participants in the Peace dollars story, a Van AllenMallis cross-reference, a bibliography, and an index. To help clarify the Proof issues of 1921 and 1922, he has added a new table of pattern and experimental pieces and has updated information on the 1922 productions. The first edition of the Guide Book of Peace Dollars debuted at 11 o'clock, November 11, 2008 the 90th anniversary of the official ceasefire that brought peace after the Great War. The second edition was released in June of 2012. Author Roger W. Burdette is a former member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, which advises the secretary of the Treasury on coinage and medals. He is the author of the three-part Renaissance of American Coinage, each volume of which won the Numismatic Literary Guilds Book of the Year award, and From Mine to Mint, which was also a Book of the Year winner. He is a contributor to the Guide Book of United States Coins (the Red Book), and has shared insight in numerous other Whitman books. As an independent researcher his recent work has delved into World War II experimental and pattern pieces, 19th-century mint operations, U.S. proof coins from 1936 to 1942, and the annually convened U.S. Assay Commission. Because Whitman Publishing is the Official Supplier of the American Numismatic Association, ANA members receive 10% off the book when purchasing directly from the publisher. It can also be borrowed for free as a benefit of ANA membership, through the Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library. Ellen is an assistant city editor for spring 2017. She has reported on the Missouri General Assembly and Columbia city government for the Missourian. Reach her at: eccg25@mail.missouri.edu or in the newsroom at (573) 882-5720 Follow this search Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today 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 Family starts over after losing home, pets in Wooldridge fire The McComb family called Wooldridge home before losing everything material to wildfire. What hurt the most was the loss of their pet dog Olaf. From Rhode Island to California, democracy reform is on the ballot. Common Cause is leading many of these initiatives that aim to #FightBigMoney and create a government truly of, by, and for the people. In Alaska, automatic voter registration is on the ballot to ensure our elections are secure and accessible to all eligible voters. In California, voters will vote on two good statewide initiatives to increase transparency in the legislature and call on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. A small-dollar donor, citizen funded election program also is on the ballot in Berkeley, and in Sacramento voters will decide on an initiative to create a local independent redistricting commission. In Maryland, voters in Howard County will vote on a small-dollar donor, citizen funded elections program. In Missouri, an initiative will appear on the ballot to create contribution limits and increase disclosure. In Rhode Island, voters will consider an initiative to allow the state ethics commission to investigate and police the state legislature. In Washington, two statewide democracy reform questions will be presented to voters: one would create a citizen funded elections program and strengthen disclosure and lobbying laws; the other would call on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision. By now, I suspect that most everyone is familiar with the Wells Fargo scandal. For those that have been living under a rock for a few days, approximately 5,300 Wells Fargo employees have lost their jobs because they were opening fraudulent accounts in the names of unsuspecting customers in an effort to hit their incentive bonus targets. There are some curious elements to this fraud. First, according to The New York Times, the employees were provided with ethics training warning them specifically against such practices. Second, there is evidence that some members of management were aware of the practice, and did not stop it. Most surprising is the fact that Wells was hit (so far) with $185 million in fines and penalties, all because of only $2.6 million in fraudulent fees. The folks at Defensive Security last week pointed out the strong parallel between this case and employee security, bringing into question whether we are incentivizing employees to employ poor security practices while at the same time training them on good security practices. If you think through this correlation carefully, you should quickly see the connection. We incentivize employees to be productive, in most cases with formal targets for work completion. Even when such targets are not explicitly stated, it is understood that employees who don't get their work done will miss out on raises and promotions, and potentially lose their jobs. At the same time, we saddle them with an ever-increasing list of security requirements. In the information security world, the not so carefully guarded little secret is that conforming to security rules reduces productivity. I might claim that everyone could follow safe security practices and continue to be as productive as they would without following them, but this would be dishonest. In fact, following the rules will definitely impact productivity to a varying degree. As an example, we tell our employees to be cautious about clicking on links in email, but then we press them to finish work that relies on links sent via email. We may also require them to research topics, while blocking a large number of websites for security reasons. One such mixed message hit home for me last week. The organization for which I currently consult blocks cloud storage sites such as Dropbox, to ensure that any storage of sensitive data is properly protected. In a meeting with users last week to discuss this blocking, we were told in pointed fashion by many that such blocking was making it harder for them to do their jobs. In my article "Information security and employee productivity in conflict," I cited a study in which 91% of those surveyed claimed that following security rules impacted their productivity. In the same article, I confessed that, as a cybersecurity professional, employee convenience has never topped my priority list. I, like many in this field, tend to put security first, and other considerations a distant second. Given the fact that ransomware is rampant today, with opening attachments or clicking links the main mode of infection, it is imperative that we make employees part of the security process, rather than telling them how to stay secure, and then demanding that their productivity remain constant. Otherwise, the inherent conflict will continue to expose our organizations to security failures. So, how do we balance productivity with security? The following are some thoughts: Seek understanding If you are anything like me, you probably remember your parents telling you to do or not to do something, without them really understanding how their decision impacted you. If you impose stringent security requirements on employees with them having little or no understanding of what issues need to be addressed and why they are important, you get the same reaction. As Stephen Covey so aptly put it, seek first to understand, then to be understood. Live in their shoes for a bit, understand their struggles, and then help them to understand why your security requirement are important. Involve employees from the start Just as the major automobile manufacturers have for many years sought input from their assembly line workers on improving efficiency, we must involve employees in the process of balancing security with productivity. Build an advisory team from across the organization, and discuss with them the security issues that you need to address. Get their input on how to address those issues with minimal impact to their work. And most importantly, listen to them. Address the workload impact Given the growing cybersecurity threat, we will be forced to make hard decisions that involve imposing requirements that make more work for employees across the board. It is unreasonable, however, to expect them to absorb the extra work while continuing to finish all other tasks. Your staffing levels and assignments must take into account the extra overhead necessitated by security controls. Find balance I am working on a mobile media encryption project for one organization. We had initially planned to require employees to encrypt all removable drives, including the content already on them. Once we recognized the overhead and frustration this would involve, we elected only to encrypt free space at this phase. This is not quite as secure an approach, but will serve the needs of the organization better in the long run. Bottom line -- cybersecurity is hard, and those of us charged with protecting it need all of the help we can get. When done correctly, it is possible for your employees to be allies in that fight, rather than bystanders or even enemies. Incent them from the start to be a positive force, and not a negative one. Google on Tuesday launched several products under the mantra of "Made by Google," including two Pixel smartphones that natively run a new Google Assistant built on recent advances in artificial intelligence to improve personalized, voice-capable searches. Most of the new products had been hinted at for weeks. They include the new Pixel phones, with 5-in. or 5.5-in. screens and prices starting at $649; a Google Home device for $129 that relies on Google Assistant, and a virtual reality headset and controller called Daydream View for $79. The phones come in three colors: Very Silver, Quite Black and Really Blue. Much of the focus of the event, which was livestreamed from San Francisco, was on Google Assistant. "The goal is to build a personal Google [search] for each user," said Google CEO Sundar Pichai in opening remarks. With the use of A.I., Pichai said, search capabilities can be more personal and more like human speech. "We are evolving from a mobile first to an A.I. first world," he said. Another major theme of the event was Made by Google, which incorporates the idea of offering the best Google Android experience "by bringing hardware and software design together under one roof," said Brian Rakowski, vice president of product management, in a blog. Previously, Google had relied more heavily on third-party manufacturers for its Nexus line of phones, going back to the Nexus One, introduced in 2009. The phones, however, are reportedly manufactured by HTC for Google. Google also apparently decided to stick with the simple Pixel name for the different-sized phones, even though it was reported they would be called the Pixel X and Pixel XL. Both will run Android 7.1, also known as Nougat. Both phones have an impressive set of specs, including a 12.3 megapixel rear camera, a quad-core Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB of memory and either a 2,770 or 3,450 mAh battery. While the storage is either 32GB or 128GB, Google said cloud storage of high-definition photos and videos will be unlimited. Video stabilization software was also demonstrated. A live customer care feature is included for reaching out for technical help via phone or chat, with a screen-sharing option. There is also a "quick switch" capability for transferring contacts, photos and messages from a phone on another OS to the new Pixel phone. The phones are available for pre-order today in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany and Australia, and starting Oct. 13 in India. Verizon will be the exclusive carrier nationwide, although the phone can be purchased unlocked from the Google Store for $649, or $27 a month. Analyst Carolina Milanesi of Creative Strategies, was impressed with the Pixel phones, saying they could take advantage of the problems Samsung has had with a recall of its Galaxy Note7 devices over battery problems. "Made by Google could not come at a worse time for Samsung," she tweeted. Others, however, questioned how well the Google Assistant will perform in real life. "Everything Google showed onstage was very compelling, but as we have seen with most claims in intelligent assistants, rarely, if ever, have they lived up to the hype," said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. "Google and Google Now are very high quality, but to claim it is a game-changer, Google Assistant must do what it did on stage." Moorhead also reminded users that as they take advantage of Google Assistant personalized voice searches, Google is mining their personal information as the company creates improved advertising profiles the lifeblood of Google's existence. Overall, Moorhead said the Pixel devices are "pretty undifferentiated compared to both Samsung and iPhone seventh-generation phones." He said he was surprised that Google didn't put two rear cameras in the devices, as that is rapidly becoming a standard on premium phones. Some analysts viewed Google's A.I. news as more noteworthy than the new smartphones and other hardware. "It was clear that Google is laying the groundwork for A.I. to be the next major platform upon which Google will build its future products, whether that's Google Assistant or Home. Google's advances in speech-to-text and text-to-speech provide the company with a leg up in the conversational user interface that underpins many of the A.I.-based applications," said Gartner analyst Mark Hung. The Google Home device wasn't well differentiated from Amazon's Echo, said Jack Narcotta, an analyst at Technology Business Research. "I wonder if there's really value for this type of home device outside of a niche base of tech-savvy consumers," he said. Finally, a big tech announcement that's not about Apple. In case you missed it, Google on Tuesday rolled out a variety of new devices, everything from smartphones -- the Pixel -- to Google Home and Google Wifi. Oh and it unveiled Google Assistant, which ties everything together with a witch's brew of artificial intelligence and voice recognition. The prospect of Google listening in at home has Multimedia Editor Keith Shaw worried about privacy -- and firmly wearing his tin-foil hat -- as he and Executive News Editor Ken Mingis decipher what Google is up to. Are we now living in a future where our devices "know" more about us and what we need than we want them to know? Is "OK, Google, turn on the lights" the 2016 equivalent of "Open the pod bay door, Hal"? Probably not. But technology is clearly headed that way, and Google's new products and services represent a big push in that direction. The only hitch: that little thing called privacy. Shifting gears, Mingis also points viewers (and readers here) to IDGE's special report, Hacking the Election, which looks at the myths and realities behind efforts to hack this year's presidential election. For an audio podcast only, click play (or catch up on all episodes) below. Happy listening, and please, send feedback or suggestions for future topics to us. We'd love to hear from you. A federal judge has ruled it is plausible that four national credit-card companies improperly conspired in lockstep to set a deadline of Oct. 1, 2015 for requiring retailers to upgrade their technology to accept embedded chip cards for credit and debit card purchases. In an order issued Friday (Case number C 16-01150 WHA), U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup agreed with two small Florida businesses -- B & R Supermarket and Grove Liquors which brought the lawsuit in March. [ ALSO ON CSO: Chip card payment confusion, anger rages on ] Alsups ruling also allows the antitrust case against Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Financial Services to move forward in federal court for the Northern District of California. The two retailers are seeking to create a class-action case involving millions of small retailers who have been required under the Oct. 1, 2015 deadline to assume liability for fraudulent card charges if they havent upgraded to the more-secure chip card technology instead of magnetic-stripe cards. The retailers believe there was industry conspiracy over creation of the deadline that violates fair trade practices. In the same ruling, the judge allowed two other retailers Los Angeles-based gourmet food chainMonsieur Marcel and New York-based grocery story chain Fine Fare to intervene in the case. Significantly, the judge dismissed the role of nine major banks, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo, in any conspiracy over setting the chip card deadline, but ordered the banks to retain records pertinent to the case. This order concludes that plaintiffs plausibly allege an impermissible conspiracy by Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, the judge said. We are disappointed that the court denied our motion, said Mastercard spokesman Seth Eisen, in an email. As we move into the next phase of the process, we believe we have a strong case that will allow us to put this matter behind us and focus on driving our business and relationships with customers. American Express, Visa and Discover declined to comment on the ruling. Lawyers for the retailers have said a class-action lawsuit could include 8 million U.S. small businesses. They would seek repayment of the cost of upgrading to chip card readers and related software, estimated at $6 billion. However, the National Retail Federation has recently estimated the total cost of the conversion in the U.S. at up to $35 billion. Walmart and Home Depot have brought separate lawsuits over the chip card conversion, primarily related to their contention that chip credit cards rely primarily on chip-and-signature purchases instead of more secure chip-and-PIN purchases. In the most recent ruling, Alsop said U.S. card companies deviated from chip card rollouts performed in other countries because the card companies chose a single Oct. 1, 2015, deadline to impose the liability shift, instead of rolling out different card brands at separate dates. This order concludes that the deviation from prior rollouts points a finger at plausible suspicion and tends to show that the lock-step rollout in the U.S. flowed from conspiracy , Alsup wrote. The ruling added: When the [card] networks had implemented liability shifts in other countries, they unfolded quite differently from what later occurred in the United States. Implementation was largely staggered in other countries, meaning no common effective date. Moreover, some of the networks offered certain accommodations in other countries by reducing interchange fees, implementing gradual rollouts and providing addition time to install [chip reader] terminals. The ruling also notes that Visa CEO Charlie Scharf told analysts in 2014 that Visa had met in a room to work together in 2011 with other card companies, banks and select retailers to develop a plan for the chip card conversion. A jury could find that defendants got into a room and fixed a common penalty effective on a common date, the judge wrote. Alsup also said that because merchants were also in the room didnt necessarily render the idea of a conspiracy implausible. We would expect the giant retail chains to be involved in the planning for they would be the first to get certified, the judge said. Run-of-the-mill merchants, like our plaintiffs, are the ones to suffer under the liability shift. After the lawsuit was filed in March, Visa, Mastercard and American Express moved to streamline certifications of chip card equipment and processes and forgave chargebacks of $25 or less. A chargeback is the industry term for a fraudulent transaction that is charged back to a retailer. This story, "Chip card lawsuit to move forward against Visa, Mastercard, others" was originally published by Computerworld . Error 500 Oopsour servers taking a break while we frantically figure out what went wrong. We apologize for ruining your day. If you keep running into this error, please let us know. The common and the middle ground When Theresa May stands up today, it is worth thinking about a critical distinction in politics between the common ground and the middle ground. First espoused by Keith Joseph in the 1970s the distinction is that the middle ground is a compromise between politicians, while the common ground is an attempt to build agreement between politicians and voters about what has gone wrong with the UK. The common ground is an attempt to show why your principles can solve the issues of the day, the middle ground is an attempt to show you are in the political centre of the day. The failure to understand the distinction leads to the ratchet effect. If your opponent is constantly moving to the left in politics, and you always seek to find the middle ground between yourself and them, you will be dragged ever further to the left. You might win elections, but only on their terms. Joseph used this to illustrate how the Heath government has been pulled over its period in office to endorse an industrial strategy, corporate bailouts, and a watering down of economic reform in areas such as the unions and liberalisation. We face a growing global dissatisfaction in Western politics. The rise of Trump, in part Brexit, the radical movements in Southern Europe, Le Pen in France, the difficulties of the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan all are part of a wider dissatisfaction. What is our reaction as Conservatives to this wider dissatisfaction? A move left on the middle ground? Outside of Brexit, which has been imbued with a specific cachet from 17 million votes, it is hard to argue that we are not currently seeing our own ratchet, and that our response so far is to move to the soft left. The modern ratchet is twofold. In the first case, there is an economic ratchet. Ditching austerity (by which we mean a balanced budget 12 years after the last recession began), continued monetary market meddling, embracing an industrial strategy, and increasing regulation (e.g. in the energy markets with tariffs and in the labour markets with a higher statutory minimum wage) all illustrate we are moving to the left. This Conference so far has had limited policy announcements, but those that exist and the mood music now and in the last few months has been mainly focused on intervention and spending more of taxpayers money. Secondly, and just as importantly, there is a push against individuals and in favour of identity politics. Almost unnoticed last week the Government ditched the numerical and verbal tests that have been used for years to recruit the top civil servants. The reason given was that they discriminated against certain groups. Yet complex numerical and verbal skills are a necessary part of being an effective civil servant. May has ordered a review of equal opportunities. Will it report that often different outcomes reflect the aggregates of different choices by individuals and families. If Pakistani and Bangladeshi households see much lower incomes, at least most of this is not racism but due to low female participation rates, different educational results, and larger families. The pressure is to ignore this and present any problems as needing quotas, interventions and other illiberal moves. These days the left is able to present itself as morally virtuous on both fronts. This creates a danger for Labour as has been shown in the recent leadership elections, where the centrist candidates in both 2015 and 2106 were almost embarrassed to say that they believed in moderate policies, instead talking about how their policies might not be as good as Corbyns but were electorally successful. But to be frank if you run a contest where the more left-wing (and less like a Tory) you are, the more morally virtuous you are, then eventually you end up with Jeremy Corbyn. Twice. The biggest problem with the ratchet and the middle ground is that by following left-wing solutions you never tackle the underlying problems. Chasing the middle ground is based on showing that we care and that if you care you have to intervene. But if the problems are really an inefficient public sector, a distorted capital and land market, and excessive meddling by government, as well as a failure to apply liberal solutions based on market based mechanisms and technological solutions to complex issues like troubled families, then your interventions will only make things worse. Todays speech will help define the May administration I accept this is a free market analysis from a generally free market and liberal Tory. But even if you dont agree with it, it surely must be worrying that the trend is almost all in one direction always to more intervention. David Cameron was no pure free marketer, but since he left the stage the party has become steadily more authoritarian and pro-government. The middle ground is a danger not despite the fact that Labour are weak, but precisely because they are so weak. If we are dragged onto the Labour partys territory by their move leftward we will never solve the problems we face and will face electoral, political and philosophical difficulties that may let them crawl back into power as part of a general coalition with the Lib Dems and SNP. Of course, these are still early days. May has chosen to hold back policy announcements this conference, to the point where very little new has emerged after the vacuum over the summer. But nearly three months on from her elevation as leader, todays speech will be critical in setting out what an early vision of what May seeks to achieve and how she intends to achieve it. Will May make a pitch for the middle or common ground? Will she continue the move toward interventionism? Like others, I wait with interest for her speech today. Another Nationalist investigated over independence campaign spending Chris Law, the SNP MP for Dundee West, has provided information to the police about his financial dealings, apparently in relation to his Spirit of Independence campaign in 2014, according to the Daily Mail. This saw him driving around Scotland, distributing leaflets from a re-purposed Green Goddess fire engine. The Herald reports that Nicola Sturgeon wants the investigation to take its course. Meanwhile, prosecutors have received a file from the police on the fraud charges against Natalie McGarry, which the police brought last week. Were Law whom the Daily Record reveals is set to buy himself a castle to lose the SNP whip it would bring the disgraced ex-Nationalist caucus up to the combined number of unionist MPs currently sitting for Scottish seats. Alas for the UK, the unionists best hope of pulling ahead currently looks to be George Galloway, who has announced his intention to contest McGarrys Glasgow East constituency in the event of a by-election. Tories claim Jones is danger to the UK Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Tory leader, has launched a fresh attack on Carwyn Jones over the latters closeness to Plaid Cymru, according to Wales Online. Writing in the Sunday Times (), he launched a stinging attack on the First Minister, who with Sadiq Khan is one of Labours most senior remaining elected officials: He has flip-flopped over fundamental aspects such as the freedom of movement, seeking at every turn the support of his nationalist comfort blanket, Plaid Cymru on whom he is becoming increasingly reliant. It is abundantly clear that Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon is no longer alone in posing a danger to the future of the Union. Jones has previously been criticised by his own side for his fixation on the Nationalists, which Labour critics believe left the Conservatives the political space they needed for their success in the 2015 general election. He also spent the EU referendum campaign warning that Brexit might lead to the Welsh people are asking which union the UK or the EU we should be a member of. Wales, including the First Ministers own constituency, voted Leave. In other news, this week Jones appointed Alun Davies to fill the new Welsh seat on Labours NEC. The creation of these seats, which are in the gift of the leaders of the devolved parties, is seen as a blow to the Corybnistas. Democratic Unionists talk deals in Birmingham Channel 4s Gary Gibbon reports that the Democratic Unionist Party is at the Conservative Conference in strength, sounding out an agreement that might secure special status for Northern Ireland. This follows a report in the Irish Times that the Irish Government is making moves to try to establish some kind of special recognition for the Irish border during the EU negotiations. The DUP have rebuffed efforts to get dragged into Dublins activities but seem to be working for the same thing. An arrangement with the eight-strong DUP caucus would boost the Governments working majority from 16 (12 plus the boost from Sinn Feins abstention and the Speaker and Deputy Speakers) to a much healthier 32. Gibbon reports says at Arlene Foster, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, is keen to stress that this wont be a formal pact, which probably suits both sides. Instead it would apparently be an understanding: a presumption of support linked to a right to be consulted and looked after. Its certainly a more constructive approach than that being taken by some Ulster-based litigants, who are mounting a legal challenge to Brexit on the basis that Northern Ireland should have the right to veto it. Plaid Cymru took funding from Gaddafis Libya, alleges activist A long-standing and active member of the Welsh Nationalists has claimed that the party accepted 25,000 from the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 1976. Wales Online reports how Dr Carl Clowes, who was part of a four-man Plaid delegation to Libya that year, relayed the story in his autiobiography. The Nationalists say they have no record of such a donation, but Clowes insists he was told the cash had been paid into the partys general fund. Davies Tories are insisting that Plaid pay the donation apparently worth more than 160,000 in todays money back to Libya. Salutations We recognise The SATUCC CEC Our Partners here present. Secretary Generals Women and Youth Committees The Staff of SATUCC at the Secretariat All of you in Comrades in your different capacities are important; We welcome everyone to the 11th Delegates Congress of SATUCC.Today is the first session of our pre- Congress activities with the [] Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. An illegal immigrant who drunkenly struck a pickup truck carrying several children, killing one of them, in Phoenix over the weekend said he drank a small bottle of whiskey, 12 beers and used cocaine three times in the hours before the fatal crash. ABC15 reports that German Godinez-Godinez, 19, ran a red light Sunday night before plowing into a pickup truck, killing six-year-old Tyrik Jenkins, who was sitting in the bed of the truck, and injuring three other children and one adult. Godinez, a citizen of Guatemala, told authorities that he entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and stayed after it expired. He is facing one count of manslaughter and five counts of endangerment. His next scheduled court appearance is Oct. 10.The state of New Hampshire granted parole Tuesday to a convicted killer who gunned down a Manchester police officer four decades ago when he was a teenager. Doug Alden of the New Hampshire Union Leader reports that Cleo Roy, 55, was 15-years old in 1976 when he fatally shot Officer Ralph Miller, 25, a rookie officer with a toddler and a pregnant wife. Roy had been partying with friends while his parents were out of town and bragged to some older friends that he would kill any cops that showed up. Roy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. While doing his time in New Hampshire, he escaped in 1977. He was never charged but was transferred to a federal prison in Illinois, where he was was charged with killing a fellow inmate in 1988. Roy was later indicted and sentenced in 2005 to federal racketeering charges along with 39 individuals associated with the Aryan Brotherhood, a gang he was a member of. He has since left the gang, expressed remorse for killing Miller, completed programs and remained free of disciplinary problems for five years. Roy's release is conditional and lifelong. For the first 90 days, he will be on intensive supervision and must frequently report to his parole officer, be subject to random drug tests and abide by a curfew. He is also not allowed to go to Manchester or have any contact with the Miller family.The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in a final order to be published Wednesday in the federal register, will reduce the amount of opioid medications manufactured in the U.S. next year, lowering the production quotas of several highly addictive drugs that have proven fatal. Andrea Noble of the Washington Times reports that in 2017, the approved production of oxycodone decreased by 22%, while morphine and hydrocodone dropped 34% and fentanyl fell 24%, making next year's reductions the largest production quota declines in the last decade. Officials added that a large part of the reduction was accomplished by eliminating a 25% production buffer that was implemented in 2013 to combat concern over a possible painkiller shortage, which "proved unnecessary." Opioid overdose deaths from prescription drugs and heroin hit record levels in 2014, with nearly 30,000 deaths, and continues to affect communities across the U.S.The parents of a domestic violence victim are fighting for a domestic violence registry in New York state that would work like a sex offender registry, consisting of individuals with prior felony domestic violence convictions. Jordan Williams of WIVB reports that Linda and Thom Randolph's daughter, Shannon Pepper, was assaulted by her boyfriend, Tony Nevone over the course of two days in 2013 after she received a text from her ex. Nevone broke Pepper's eye sockets and upper and lower jaw, punctured her lung and bit her lips down, almost completely off, leaving her unrecognizable and comatose for a month. After regaining consciousness, Pepper was the first to sign a petition in the fight against domestic violence, but unfortunately died in an accidental apartment fire last year. The registry bill passed the Senate six times and has yet to pass the Assembly due to opposition from the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a group which argues that domestic violence registries have "dangerous unintended consequences" such as providing a false sense of security -- as many attackers don't have prior criminal records and wouldn't be listed -- and compromising victims' privacy and lessening the likelihood of them reaching out for services out of fear of being identified. The Rudolphs are working with Congressman Tom Reed's office to gain momentum at the federal level. Pepper's attacker was charged with first-degree assault and will be in prison until at least 2030. Security News Security Experts Say New NSA Leak Should Remind Businesses To Protect Against Insiders Sarah Kuranda Share this Attention on the insider threat is back in the spotlight, with reports of what could be the second major NSA document theft in recent years. The FBI arrested Harold T. Martin III, an NSA contractor through Booz Allen Hamilton, on charges that he stole government property and removed classified documents, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. The FBI is investigating whether the documents Martin allegedly stole could have included classified computer code developed to break into foreign systems, such as China, Iran, Russia and North Korea. The incident marks the second major theft of NSA documents in recent years by a government contractor, following Edward Snowden in 2013. Snowden also worked for Booz Allen Hamilton at the time and has more recently been pushing for a pardon for his acts. [Related: Palo Alto Networks Steps Up Endpoint Security Game With Certification Of Traps As AV Replacement] The investigation into the extent of information taken and Martin's motivations is ongoing, the report said. Security experts said this latest incident highlights the continued importance of protecting against insider threats, which accounted for 77 percent of all data breaches last year, according to the 2016 Verizon Data Breach Report. "It is quite alarming, to say the least Businesses need to wake up that these concepts are out there because if something as sensitive as this at the NSA gets leaked out, what could you have on your servers?" Morey Haber, vice president of technology at BeyondTrust, said. "This just proves that something even considered top secret could still get out." The report said the FBI is not referring to Martin as an insider threat, but Haber said the government and businesses use different definitions of what might be an insider threat. He said the government typically only refers to incidents as insider events if it was related to mistake or error, while a business would likely classify both malicious and unintentional removals of data as insider threats. Charles Drum, director of privileged account management services at Integral Partners, a Boulder, Colo.-based solution provider, said there are many ways to protect against insider threats, such as Snowden and possibly Martin. "I think businesses in general need to think about how to better protect their data," Drum said. This is important for businesses of all types, Drum said, not just the government. He gave the example of clients that Integral Partners has in the biotech market, where intellectual property on drugs and other products needs to be protected from data theft for competitive reasons. He said his company recommends strict controls and policies around data access, including privileged access management and identity access management solutions. "If certain internal controls are in place, he might have gotten caught sooner," Drum said of Snowden. "If they are implemented effectively you can do well." BeyondTrust's Haber said businesses can improve their security by protecting business-critical data -- information that, that if stolen by a malicious insider, could prove detrimental to the business. From there, he said a business can decide how to protect and control access to that data. "The more sensitive the information the higher the detrimental risk ... businesses have to protect, track and control those crown jewels even more,' Haber said. Fincantieri is building more cruise ships and a broader range of ships than any other shipbuilder. We are building small, intermediate and large ships, said Loris Di Giorgio, head of cruise ship marketing and sales, in an exclusive interview with Cruise Industry News. Added Monica Polidori, in charge of strategic market analysis: Our model is very flexible because our production network is made up of shipyards of different sizes. In addition, we are now working with Vard, with yards in Norway and Romania, which gives us even more flexibility. In fact, Di Giorgio underlined the companys diversification in cruise ship building, naval vessels and offshore. We are different than many of our competitors and less prone to suffer from economic cycles, he said. Furthermore, cruise ships are also benefitting from the expertise and knowledge developed in the other sectors. Today, Fincantieri builds the largest vessels at its Monfalcone facility, while the Marghera yard builds ships from 100,000 to 140,000 tons, Sestri, from 55,000 to 100,000 tons and Ancona from very small luxury and expedition ships up to 50,000 tons. Sections can be built at its Palermo and Castellamare yards and towed to one of the other yards for completion. Vard has been focused on the offshore industry. But to compensate for the downturn in oil and gas, Fincantieri is working closely with its subsidiary to build expedition ships. The hulls will be built in Romania and towed to Norway for outfitting and completion. Also, this summer Fincantieri signed an agreement with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) for a joint venture to eventually build cruise ships in China for the Chinese and Asian markets. These vessels will be built at CSSCs Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding facility (SWS) on the basis of a technological platform licensed to the joint venture and to the SWS shipyard by Fincantieri, which will perform the activities within its competence through the joint venture. Earlier this year, Fincantieri signed what it called an exclusive cooperation agreement with Huarun Dadong Dockyard for ship repair and conversion aimed at serving the cruise ships based in China. Our agreement is for ships that are deployed and sailing from China and in this part of Asia, said Polidori. Previously, these ships had to go to Singapore for drydocking and that is quite a distance. Now, all the work can be done in Shanghai. We saw this as a business opportunity. Monica (Polidori) and myself joined the company 30 years, ago DiGiorgio said. Since then we have seen Fincantieri grow from a local company to an international, diversified corporation. Going from local to global and more diversified has intrinsically made us more solid. Di Giorgio and Polidori are confident that they will continue to see strong demand for cruise ships, because of the low penetration of western market and the growth of new markets, like China. Plus, there will be demand generated from the replacement of vessels reaching their 30-year service life. The cruise market will continue to demand more ships, different ships and new technologies, Di Giorgio added. Excerpt from Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine: Fall 2016 Eelco Cornelisse, director of marine operations, China, Royal Caribbean International, said as ships grow in size in China, they are outpacing available drydocks. "In Europe and the U.S. the drydocks have grown with the size of the ships," Cornelisse said at China Cruise Shipping. "We need a shipyard that is located near major cities and airports. This is to facilitate the teams that will have to come on and off the ship." He said there needs to be a strong yard management team that understands the complex needs of a cruise ship drydocking. "There is no opportunity to extend the drydock time. This is the first thing we tell any shipyard." Drydocks should also have cooling water hookups for machinery, in addition to drinking water for up to 2,800 workers and crew that may be onboard during the work. He also noted "complex service needs" when it comes to Azipod propulsion. "They are complex, difficult to maintain, and it's challenging to do it in a short period of time." He also talked about advanced hull coatings. "Are you ready to apply these coatings for us? Are you able to do this in an environmentally sensitive way?" he asked of a conference crowd, including many Chinese shipyards in attendance. "One of the liming factors is the maximum draft of the vessel. Our biggest vessel sailing in these waters has a draft of nine meters. We can immediately exclude most of the big shipyards in China. "I have had the pleasure of talking with many shipyards, and I believe the majority of them underestimate the complexity of the work drydocking a cruise ship," Cornelisse continued. The solutions will need to come at some point, however, as in three years the Quantum of the Seas will be required to drydock as it hits its fifth year of service. "The window is now, the Quantum is two years old, in three years she needs to drydock and we will start that discussion soon," Cornelisse said. "The growing market will create growing needs." Cornelisse is based in the Royal Caribbean office in Shanghai, supporting the company's regional ships, and working to expand relationships with local marine authorities, shipyards and vendors in China. He joined Royal Cairbbean in 2008, having previously spent 13 years with Holland America Line in various marine engineering and environmental management positions. Two of Carnival Australia's vessels, the Carnival Spirit and Pacific Pearl were asked to sail to the aid of a disabled yacht with six people on board off Australia's east coast 280 nautical miles north east of Sydney, according to a statement. It is the second time in little more than a week that Carnival Australia ships have been involved in marine rescues at sea. Last week the locally based Sun Princess rescued five people adrift in a disabled vessel off Vanuatu. The Pacific Pearl was released from the marine rescue operation by Australian marine search and rescue authorities. The Carnival Spirit was been asked to stand by the disabled craft pending the arrival of further assistance. Two female crew members from the yacht were expected to receive medical assistance onboard the Carnival Spirit. The Carnival Spirit has also provided emergency supplies including fuel. In last week's operation the five people rescued by Sun Princess were family members of a senior Vanuatu Government minister who expressed his thanks for the help provided. The Regent Seven Seas Voyager is scheduled to undergo a 25-day drydock renovation later this month as part of the lines $125 million fleet-wide refurbishment program. Following the refurbishment effort, Seven Seas Voyager will "feature the same elegant style and indisputable attention to detail famously featured on Seven Seas Explorer, providing guests with a consistent look-and-feel, no matter which Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship they choose to sail," said a statement from the company. Seven Seas Voyager joins Seven Seas Navigator as the second ship to receive this stylish new update to the public spaces and suites onboard, with Seven Seas Mariner scheduled to receive a similar makeover in April 2017. Seven Seas Voyager will emerge from this refurbishment with a new look. The first post-refurbishment cruise will be a 23-night Barcelona to Dubai voyage departing on Nov. 9, 2016, which is also the lines annual Reunion Cruise hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Jason Montague. This fleet-wide renovation brings a new level of elegance to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet, strengthening our position as the undisputed leader in luxury cruising, said Montague. Our continued fleet investment ensures our ships look better today than the day they were delivered from the shipyard. We are making certain that we not only have the most luxurious ship ever built with Seven Seas Explorer, but the most luxurious fleet at sea. If your business is located in the southeastern U.S., you're probably bracing for hurricane Matthew, which as of this writing is headed for Florida after making landfall in Cuba. All-too-familiar with the havoc a hurricane can wreak, you likely have a battle-tested plan for dealing with such storms and their aftermath. But if your plan focuses primarily on the "physical plant, systems, tasks, and resources to get back to regular productivity," you're missing a crucial element says Bill Tibbo, author of the new book Leadership in the Eye of the Storm: Putting Your People First in a Crisis. Tibbo argues that "the most important thing to understand about a crisis is that people are involved," that "tragedy is measured in human terms," and that "organizations that take the time to carefully and fully support each employee's personal recovery are the most successful at getting their operations back on track." Register now to download a sample chapter from Leadership in the Eye of the Storm and learn 6 techniques for creating a people-focused crisis response plan. Yahoo has reportedly searched through all of its users' incoming emails with a secret software program that's designed to ferret out information for U.S. government agencies. The software program, which was created last year, has scanned hundreds of millions of Yahoo Mail accounts at the behest of the National Security Agency or FBI, according to a Tuesday report from Reuters. Yahoo reportedly created the program to comply with a U.S. classified government directive. It's unclear if the mass email searching program is still in use. "Yahoo is a law-abiding company and complies with the laws of the United States," the company said in a statement. The mass email searches might go above and beyond other U.S. government requests for information. Internet and telecommunication companies have handed over customer data before, most notably under the NSA's PRISM surveillance program, which was publicized by leaker Edward Snowden. However, the Yahoo initiative was especially broad and reportedly required the creation of a custom software program that could search through all the incoming emails in real-time. [ MORE YAHOO PROBLEMS: Yahoo data breach affects at least 500 million users ] It's unclear what U.S. government agencies were exactly searching for and if Yahoo handed any information over. But the company was querying for a "set of characters," possibly a phrase in an email or attachment, according to Reuters. Both the NSA and the FBI didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Reportedly, a former Yahoo chief information security officer, Alex Stamos, resigned when he found out about the program had been authorized. The mass email searching was so secretive that not even Yahoo's own security team was unaware of it, according to the news report. The security team didn't discover the program until May 2015, initially assuming hackers had broken in. Stamos didn't immediately respond for comment. But he reportedly told his security team that a flaw in the secret program could have allowed hackers to access users' emails. News of the Yahoo mass email searching comes after the company reported a massive data breach affecting 500 million user accounts. The company has blamed the breach, which originally occurred in 2014, on a "state-sponsored actor," although some security experts suspect cyber criminals may have been the actual culprits. Prediksi Botafogo vs Cuiaba 02 November 2022 Selamat datang di situs Prediksi Bola jitu terpercaya. Berikut Bocoran prediksi pertandingan sepak bola antara Botafogo vs Cuiaba. Prediksi Botafogo vs Cuiaba 02 November 2022 Prediksi Botafogo vs Cuiaba Laga pertandingan Brazil Serie A antara Botafogo melawan Cuiaba akan dilaksanakan segera pada tanggal 02 November 2022 yaitu [] This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEYMOUR - Police are reporting the sighting of a black bear on Tuesday. A large black bear has been spotted roaming around on Botsford Road. near Country Club Road. Residents should use caution if bear is near their property, police posted on its Facebook page. One person replied that a bear was also seen near Falcon Drive and Falcon Road on Monday. According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, nine bears have been spotted in Seymour from Oct. 7, 2015 to Oct. 3 of this year. BRIDGEPORT - A city police officer has been accused in a federal civil rights lawsuit claiming of beating up a prisoner in the Police Departments booking area two years ago. In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court here, Sgt. Ivan Delgado is accused of violating the civil rights of Gregory Walker of Stratford. A hearing before the Board of Police Commissioners in connection with the case was postponed Wednesday. Walkers lawyer, Philip Russell, said his client intends to demand that Delgado be fired based on a video he said shows Delgado attacking Walker. On one hand we are encouraged the city fathers seem to be taking some corrective action however, in the absence of compelling video evidence my client was on his way to a possible prison sentence. Charles Paris, head of the police union, was unaware of the federal lawsuit but contends the allegations pending against Delgado before the police commission are minor. He said Delgado was initially placed on administrative duty but returned to normal duty by Police Chief Armando Perez. The union fully supports Sgt. Delgado and believe the allegations in the lawsuit that he beat the person up are untrue, Paris said. He will have the opportunity to plead his case before the hearing of the police commission. On Nov. 29, 2014, the 50-year-old Walker was driving on the east Side of the city when he was pulled over by Delgado at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Waterman Street, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court against the city and Police Department by Russell and Robert Berke. The suit states that Delgado radioed for backup and then arrested Walker citing motor vehicle irregularities. It continues that Walker was handcuffed behind his back and brought into the Police Departments booking area. Once there, Delgado demanded to know if Walker was related to another Walker the officer had a prior dispute with, the lawsuit states. When Walker replied the other Walker was his son, the suit states Delgado, Without provocation began to abuse, beat, choke, hit, slap and punch the plaintiff. It states that Delgado told Walker at one point, I will kill you. When other officers arrived in the booking area Delgado falsely accused Walker of assaulting and threatening him, according to the lawsuit. Walker was subsequently charged with threatening and interfering with a police officer. He was held for several days in lieu of $10,000 bond and denied medical treatment for injuries that included contusions, abrasions and sores on his face, chest and legs, the suit states. On Dec. 4, 2014, Walker filed a complaint against Delgado with the citys Office of Internal Affairs. However, the suit states that OIA took no action against Delgado and concealed a video taken in the booking area that would have substantiated Walkers claim that Delgado was in fact the aggressor. The criminal case against Walker continued until Jan. 19 of this year when, on the eve of trial, Superior Court Judge Maureen Dennis dismissed the charges against Walker after viewing the booking area video. Cathy Zuraw / Cathy Zuraw The Advanced Wound Care Center at Milford Hospital, 300 Seaside Ave., is participating in the Healogics National Diabetes Campaign from October 24 to 28. One of nearly 800 Healogics-managed centers, the Advanced Wound Care Center at Milford Hospital offers advanced therapies to patients suffering from chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers. Team members across the nation will dedicate the entire week to visiting local physician offices to provide education on the treatment of potential or existing chronic wounds for people also suffering from diabetes. There are approximately 29.1 million people living with diabetes in the United States, and nearly 28 percent are undiagnosed. Of those 29.1 million, about 25 percent will eventually develop a foot ulcer. Left untreated, these ulcers can impair quality of life and may lead to amputation. In 2010, 60 percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations occurred in adults 20 years and older with diagnosed diabetes. New York state officials are objecting to a federal agencys plan already endorsed by their Connecticut counterparts to dump dredged silt in Long Island Sound. The Associated Press reports that Rossana Rosado, New Yorks secretary of state, formally objected in a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Rosado said the EPA needs to consider alternate sites, and the cumulative effects of the dredging. The EPA wants to continue underwater dumping of toxic dredge material at a site in the Eastern Long Island Sound that had been scheduled to close at the end of the year. The New London disposal site will instead be partially closed and expanded beyond its existing underwater footprint to increase capacity. The EPA intends to close the existing Cornfield Shoals disposal site near the mouth of the Connecticut River. We are proposing to go from two sites to one, Mel Cote, chief of the surface water branch for EPAs New England region, told Hearst Connecticut Media earlier this year. We are also adding new restrictions and procedures. Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the agency supports the EPA plan, and pointed out that the dredged material to be disposed of at underwater sites is already in the Sound We are pleased that EPA continues to recognize the need to preserve options for open water disposal of dredged materials, Schain said. Connecticuts ports, harbors and marinas rely on periodic dredging projects to remain open and available to serve the needs of our state. A recent Hearst review of a dredging plan developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and now proposed by the EPA found multiple government studies confirming that dredged material stays put after placement, but little science detailing the impact on nearby fish and marine life or on the 20 million people who live near the Sounds shores. The review also found stiff opposition to the dredging plan in New York State, in part because Connecticuts maritime economy and dredging needs dwarf New Yorks. Connecticuts sediment is far more polluted, due to generations of industrial factories that dumped pollutants into rivers and the Sound. Environmentalists in Connecticut have also sharply criticized the plan, noting the material is classified as toxic. Staff writer Bill Cummings contributed to this story. Steve Jobs has been the subject of dozens of books and half a dozen movies, and some seriously strange tributes. "Cheese Jobs," anyone? Theres no doubt the eccentric, innovative Apple co-founder, who died five years ago today, left an indelible imprint on the world. Evidence of his legacy is virtually everywhere you look, glowing in the hands of passersby and most likely in your own clutches. After all, there's now 1 billion people who own an electronic doodad made by the Cupertino, Calif., colossus that Jobs launched with Steve Wozniak in 1976. Related: Steve Jobs: An Extraordinary Career Theres also no shortage of creative and bizarre ways fans of the Billion Dollar Hippie have paid tribute to the legendary tech mogul. Here are seven interesting, fun and quirky homages to the man who sold his Volkswagen bus to ignite a computing revolution: 1. Cheese Jobs on a platter We werent kidding. A self-described Apple fanboy really did sculpt a decent rendition of Jobss noggin out of soft, pliable mozzarella cheese. Ken from TheCooksDen.com proudly displayed what he lovingly dubbed Steve Jobs Cheese Head atop a glorious platter smothered in Spicy Steve Nachos, iPad Thai and Apple Cheese. The hot mess, complete with a replica of Jobss iconic wireframe glasses, was a cheesy, yet heartfelt homage to the greatest consumer electronics company of all time. Bon appetit, Apple heads. If you, too, get the urge to hand carve an ooey, gooey cannibalistic His Steveness out of low-moisture mozzarella, perhaps in time for Halloween, Ken the cook kindly left step-by-step recipe instructions behind. Click here to get cookin. 2. Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates Epic Rap Battle In this lively Epic Rap Battles Season Two throw-down, a Steve Jobs impersonator and a Bill Gates impersonator go head to head over who is the bigger nerd and has more techie accomplishments. Much NSFW silliness and insults ensue, ranging from who made the cooler computer to who deserves more credit for revolutionizing the world of computing and beyond. Its a classic Windows vs. iOS shouting match, peppered with swears and sexual innuendos. Not exactly a tribute for the ages, the short clip is a strange if somewhat entertaining diversion, backed by tacky techno beats. Youve been warned. Check out the nerdy action below. 3. The ultimate Steve Jobs tattoo Several fans of Jobs show their devotion to the tech genius by inking his image forever on their skin. Now thats devotion. One of the best tattoos weve seen of Jobs is LA Ink star Nikko Hurtados finely detailed and realistic portrait of the innovator, which comes close to capturing Jobss intensity. Check it out here, along with several other Jobs homage tattoos. Related: The Important Lesson Entrepreneurs Can Learn From the Apple Computer That Sparked a Revolution 4. Young Steve Jobs action figure For those not bold (or crazy) enough to ink the image of Jobs on their skin, Legend Toys 12-inch plastic action figure made in his likeness was, for a time, a less painful and non-permanent way to keep his memory alive. Make that until the Japanese toy was apparently discontinued. The figure featured a '70s era mop-topped Young Steve Jobs sitting cross-legged with a detailed model of the first Apple computer awkwardly balanced on his lap. Several other collectible action figures of Steve Jobs are currently making the rounds on eBay, ranging in price from $15 to $2,000. 5. Hello Kitty-Steve Jobs hybrid The folks at Sanrio, the company behind kawaii cultural icon Hello Kitty, apparently had a soft spot for Jobs. The Japanese licensing powerhouse created a tribute to the tech wizard following his death and aptly called it Hello Stevie. It featured Jobs in a hybrid Hello Kitty form, with the Apple co-founders iconic blue jeans and black turtleneck uniform, and, of course, his glasses. Related: Steve Jobs Commencement Speech, Stanford University, June 2005 (Transcript) 6. Steve Jobs memorial statue In 2014, Serbian sculptor Dragan Radenovic created a bizarre sculpture to honor what would have been Jobss 59th birthday. The effigy is perhaps as eccentric as the innovator was himself. A tall, dark geometric bronze sculpture, it features Jobss head at the top of a long rectangular column. Oddly jutting out of the sides are Serbian letters, a Latin letter and numeric digits in reference to the binary system used in computers. Geeky to the max just about covers it. 7. Steve Jobs in Carbonite iPhone case In perhaps the quintessential nerd combo, a clever artist by the name of Greg Koening concocted a unique iPhone case that replicates the famous carbonite freeze scene from Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back. Instead of Han Solo being frozen, however, it features Jobs imprisoned in carbonite. Apples lawyers reportedly werent thrilled with the plastic case that depicted their beloved co-founder in vivid detail and sent the cases creator a cease-and-desist letter, according to MTV . Koening said his freeze tribute was fun while it lasted, per a report on Cult of Mac . As you might guess, the case is now history. We didnt see it on eBay or anywhere else online, but we did find plenty of other iPhone cases emblazoned with Jobs's image. Related: 7 Creative, Marvelous and Downright Weird Ways People Paid Tribute to Steve Jobs 10 Innovators on What They Learned From Steve Jobs Steve Jobs Commencement Speech, Stanford University, June 2005 (Transcript) Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WEST HARTFORD, Conn. There's always one home every Halloween that gets the neighborhood talking. But one Connecticut property may have the entire nation scratching its head this year. Along North Main Street in West Hartford stands a wall. Outside that wall, mannequins donning ponchos and sombreros. And high atop in "Trump Tower," the country's potential Commander-in-Chief. See where this is heading? "I knew it was going to get some attention," homeowner Matthew Warshauer said of his home's display. "I didn't expect how much. And this quickly." Warshauer, a professor of history at Central Connecticut State University, said his goal is the same every Halloween: To incite discussion. This year was no different and this year's election was a prime opportunity for him. In August, Warshauer set out to create the wall U.S. voters have long heard about from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Over the course of about 50 hours, Warshauer built a wall complete with a tiny-handed Trump, Senator Bernie Sanders "jailed by the DNC," and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a star-spangled tutu and riding a donkey. The display is a jab at Trump's promise to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to combat illegal immigration, as well as controversy over the Democratic party supporting Clinton over Sanders. "I've never been at a loss to come up with something...The 'Trump Wall' is a no-brainer. It fits with how I put the display together," Warshauer said. "Friends will say, 'You'll never top that one.' And you know what that does." That challenges Warshauer to rise to the occasion. Though every year, his makes sure his display has a political theme. "I don't think I'm being belligerent. I'm trying to be thought-provoking," Warshauer said. "I say the same thing to my students. 'You don't have to believe what I believe. But you have to believe what you believe.' "I'm making fun of both political parties," he added. Related: Guide to Halloween activities around Connecticut This isn't the first time his Halloween display has generated local fame. In fact, it's practically a tradition now and even those who don't agree with him get excited for his next creation. "People get excited every year," Warshauer said. "The town has gotten used to it. In the summer, people will say, 'Can't wait to see what you have for Halloween this year.'" Last year, Warshauer built a Huey helicopter replica and a grisly, war-torn landscape to depict the Vietnam War. The year before, a Roman coliseum with soldiers beheading their ancient leaders. Each year's theme took aim at the effectiveness of the country's two-party system. The same display wouldn't go over too well in March or June, Warshauer joked, but during Halloween, "It's in good nature and fun." While he pokes fun at both major political parties, he admitted he has a bias this election year. "I think [Trump] is a tremendously dangerous candidate," Warshauer said. "I would like people voting for Trump to think about it. It's not the same as not voting for Hillary Clinton." Cathy Zuraw / Connecticut Post TRUMBULL, Conn. Police responded to a report of a man with a rifle near two Trumbull schools Wednesday morning. The claims, however, were unfounded. Trumbull police said they received a call at about 11 a.m. of a suspicious male, carrying a rifle, and dressed in a green, camouflage jumpsuit on Booth Hill Road near MacDonald Road. Officers already in the area responded to the call, but didn't find the suspect. LONDON - The expectations were breathless. For weeks, backers of Republican nominee Donald Trump have hyped the tantalizing possibility that the anti-secrecy organization WikiLeaks was on the verge of publishing a set of documents that would doom Hillary Clinton's chances in November. "@HillaryClinton is done," longtime Trump associate Roger Stone tweeted on Saturday. "#Wikileaks." The group's founder, Julian Assange, did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm, suggesting to Fox News hosts that his scoops could upend the race with documents "associated with the election campaign, some quite unexpected angles, some quite interesting." The announcement by WikiLeaks that it would host a major press conference on Tuesday only seemed to confirm that the bombshell was ready to burst. The pro-Trump, anti-Clinton media world rippled with fevered speculation. But if an October surprise about the Democratic nominee really is coming, it will have to wait a little longer. Over the course of two hours on Tuesday - with the world's media and bleary-eyed Trump diehards across the United States tuning in - Assange and other WikiLeaks officials railed against "neo-McCarthyist hysteria," blasted the mainstream press, appealed for donations and plugged their books ("40 percent off!"). But what they didn't do was provide any new information about Clinton - or about anything else, really. The much-vaunted press conference, as it turned out, was little more than an extended infomercial for WikiLeaks on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of its founding. Assange, whose group released a trove of hacked Democratic National Committee documents on the eve of the party's convention this summer, breezily dismissed the idea that anyone should have expected any news at his news conference. "If we are going to make a major publication about the U.S., we wouldn't do it at 3 a.m.," Assange said at one point, referring to the Eastern daylight start time for the event. That didn't go over well with Trump backers who had stayed up through the night, thinking they'd be watching live the unveiling of the death blow to the Clinton campaign. Assange, as it turns out, had taken a page from Trump's own playbook by drawing an audience with a tease, only to leave those tuning in feeling that they'd been tricked. InfoWars, the pro-Trump and virulently anti-Clinton media vehicle launched by Texas radio host Alex Jones, had touted the WikiLeaks press conference as "historic" and promised that "the Clintons will be devastated," tweeting, "The Clintons Will Be DEVASTATED: Infowars Historic LIVE COVERAGE Of #Wikileaks10 Press Conference - Share this link! https://t.co/M4saKik1GO" Before Assange took the stage, Jones - who broadcast through the wee hours of the American morning - told viewers and listeners he was so excited he was worried his heart couldn't stand it. But by the end, Jones realized he'd been played - or in his words, "#wikirolled," tweeting: "Release the documents NOW @wikileaks! We only have a month before #Election2016 comes to an end! #Wikirolled #TrumpvsHillary" He wasn't the only one. Sleep-deprived Trump backers and Hillary-haters all across the country took to Twitter to convey their displeasure. But perhaps those waiting for an October surprise shouldn't lose all hope just yet. Or at least, that was the message from Assange, who spoke via video link from the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he's been holed up for the past four years as Swedish authorities seek his extradition on sexual assault charges. He promised to reveal documents every week for the next 10. He said some will have a direct bearing on the U.S. election. "We think they're significant," he coyly informed his worldwide audience. But what will they reveal? And when will they come? Assange wouldn't say. --- The Washington Post's Karla Adam contributed to this report from London. STORY LINK FX News: Pound Sterling Euro Exchange Rate Staging Minor Recovery? Pound Sterling Euro Exchange Rate News: Forecast-Beating Services PMI Triggered Eventual Recovery for GBP Today British Pound Predictions: Uncertainty Ahead for GBP EUR after Mays Monetary Policy Comments Euro Daily Update: Fluctuations Recorded after ECB Official Sees No Systemic Crisis Pound Euro (GBP EUR) Future Forecast: Eurozone Retail PMI Incoming along with Further Angeloni Comments Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound Euro (GBP EUR) exchange rate remains in a position of clearly reduced strength today, having been laid low following the weekend and the news that the latest trigger date for Article 50 would be March 2017.Since then, a trio of better-than-expected UK September PMIs, covering manufacturing, construction and services have come out, though the positive impact of these has been severely delayed due to widespread negativity.Also coming in today have been remarks from Prime Minister Theresa May, who has made bold (if unspecific) statements about how the country will be restructured under the current Conservative government.The next UK ecostats arent due until Friday morning, therefore and Pound movement over tomorrow may well come from any statements that happen to come from the Bank of England (BoE) or Theresa May.As part of her closing speech today, May stated that change was needed when it came to super low rates, which has raised the possibility of Government involvement in BoE affairs, something that could be responded to before the week is up.Fridays UK ecostats will mainly be focused on Augusts trade balance results, which are set to show a deficit reduction. Also out will be the manufacturing and industrial production stats for August; an industrial annual rise is expected alongside a manufacturing decline on the year.Euro exchange rates have been decidedly mixed lately, with losses against the Pound being minimal; alongside this has come a rise of 0.5% against the Japanese Yen.The most recent Eurozone economic news has been broadly negative, consisting of the overall services and composite PMI results for September, along with the August retail sales stats. In both cases, declines have been recorded.Elsewhere, European Central Bank (ECB) official Ignazio Angeloni has offered reassurance on the European banking sector, stating that while individual institutions may be struggling, there is no overall threat of collapse.Eurozone ecostats to watch out for on Thursday will include the mornings September retail PMI, as well as further closing comments from Angeloni during the afternoon.Minor gins may results from the retail PMIs announcement, given that current forecasts are for an advance from 51 points to 51.2.Elsewhere, the morning will bring Greeces unemployment rate for July, which previously hit 23.4% and is expected to reduce fractionally to 23.3%. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Currency Predictions Euro Forecasts Euro Pound Forecasts Pound Ster Forecasts 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. A The Memphis City Council passed an ordinance by a vote of 7-6 Tuesday to decriminalize the possession of a half-ounce or less of marijuana within city limits.A The council was adamant that the new law does not in any way legalize, or even truly decriminalize, cannabis.A The ordinance gives police officers the option to either issue a $50 fine or enforce the current state laws for people caught with less than a half ounce of cannabis. Nashville passed a similar ordinance last week. It is still illegal in the state of Tennessee and a federal crime to possess marijuana.A aIt is illegal,a councilwoman Janis Fullilove said. aSome people in this city believe they will have free reign. They can walk up to an officer and take a hit off a joint and say, anow you canat to a dog-gone thing to me.aaA Councilman Berlin Boyd, the main proponent of this ordinance, began the meeting explaining how it would benefit the city for the council members to pass it in the wake of much criticism to the ordinance.A aIn 2010, approximately 42 percent of drug arrests were for marijuana possession, costing the state almost $43 million,a Boyd said. aWe recognize it is a definite problem and will ultimately save taxpayersa money, and it is something we feel will benefit the citizens of Memphis.aA aTreating addiction and substance abuse as a crime will be known as one of the biggest public health tragedies of the modern era.aA -Tyler Marshall, neuroscience graduate from Rhodes CollegeA Numerous citizens of Memphis came to the meeting and voiced their opinion on why cannabis should or should not be decriminalized.A aTreating addiction and substance abuse as a crime will be known as one of the biggest public health tragedies of the modern era,a Tyler Marshall, neuroscience graduate of Rhodes college, said. aDrug use does not cause problems in society like poverty and mental illness; rather, poverty and mental illness all contribute to drug use in society. We must come together to treat the underlying issues that contribute to these important behaviors and not waste taxpayer money on sending folks to jail for a crime that is about as harmful and addictive as caffeine.aA Jason Vautner, secretary of the board of directors for the national organization for the reform of marijuana laws, Memphis chapter, came before the council to share with them statistics of how marijuana is no more dangerous than other legal substances.A aIn 2014, 47,000 people died from opioid drug overdoses.a Vautner said to the council. a480,000 deaths from cigarette smoking, including 42,000 from secondhand exposure; 88,000 deaths from alcohol. Cannabis has been the direct cause of exactly zero deaths in recorded history.aA Vautner then quoted former president Jimmy Carter in saying, aPenalties against the possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself,a and the current penalties against cannabis do just that.A Citizen Jimmy Vashaun compared the awar against marijuanaa to the prohibition of alcohol in the early 1900as, and the city would blossom after the passing of this ordinance.A aLadies and gentlemen, it doesnat look like we learned anything from the fatal prohibition of alcohol,a Vashaun said. aWe have a problem with population loss; Colorado has just the opposite, theyare gaining people. Thereas a lot of people spending a lot of money just to keep a God-given herb illegal.aA Another citizen at the meeting, Melissa Duncan, shared with the council members her recent medical struggles from radiation she got some time in the early a70s.A aCancer had spread from my thyroid to other parts of my body,a Duncan said. aIn the last year, I have undergone surgery, extreme radiation, stem cell treatment and, in the second week of November, I will be undergoing my second radiation treatment.aA She said she constantly lives with the idea that adying is easy and living is hard,a and using cannabis to dull the pain would mean the world to her.A aAccess to cannabis and products made from it would, one, safe my life, two, make living easier, three, ensure my children have a mother for an extended period of time and number four, allow me to continue in my profession,a Duncan said.A However, not every citizen at the meeting was trying to convince the council to pass the ordinance. Kirk Hudson, a Memphian for 78 years, was extremely displeased the council was even going over this type of ordinance.A aIam a little upset because the church should be here,a Hudson said. aThey should be here standing on the word of God. This is a shame. Back in the a90s, we were taught, aDonat use it.a [Marijuana] should never be in this city.aA Councilman Boyd further defended his ordinance by comparing cannabis to alcohol, just as many citizens did.A aI would much rather hang around a person who is high on marijuana than a drunk,a Boyd said, receiving applause from the audience. aBecause a person high on marijuana is in a chill mode, but a person that is drunk on alcohol is belligerent, they want to talk all over you. I think [the ordinance] is trial-and-error.aA United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHARLES SWAN, Appellant No. 16-1183 Decided: October 03, 2016 Before: CHAGARES, GREENAWAY, JR., and RESTREPO, Circuit Judges. OPINION* Charles Swan appeals his sentence imposed after his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and his counsel moves to withdraw as counsel pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). For the following reasons, we will grant the motion to withdraw and affirm the District Court's judgment. I. We write solely for the parties and therefore recite only the facts necessary to our disposition. On July 12, 2012, York City Police noticed Swan driving a vehicle with an expired registration. The police stopped the car, but Swan left his car and fled on foot. During the ensuing chase, Swan threw a pistol. Swan was eventually arrested, and the police recovered the firearm. Swan later admitted that the firearm was his. An indictment was filed charging Swan with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g). Swan knowingly and voluntarily entered into a guilty plea agreement for the single count in the indictment. The plea agreement stated that if Swan qualified as an armed career criminal, the count carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years. When Swan entered his guilty plea, the District Court asked him if he understood that if he was found to be an armed career criminal he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years. Swan stated that he understood. Prior to this conviction, Swan was convicted three times for possession with the intent to deliver cocaine under Pennsylvania law. The District Court later held a sentencing hearing and imposed the mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months of imprisonment. Swan filed a timely appeal. His attorney has filed a motion to be relieved pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), stating that there are no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Swan has filed his own pro se brief. II. The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. 3231. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1291 and 18 U.S.C. 3742(a). When counsel files a motion to withdraw under Anders we follow a two-step process. First, we consider whether counsel has adequately fulfilled the requirements of Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a), which requires filing a brief, compliant with the requirement set forth in Anders to identify anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal. Anders, 386 U.S. at 744. Second, we consider whether an independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues. United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001). If our review reveals any merit to the appeal, we appoint substitute counsel, order supplemental briefing, and restore the case to the calendar. III. On appeal, defense counsel and the Government argue that there are no remaining issues of merit. In his pro se briefing, Swan challenges his sentence, arguing that his three prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses do not qualify as three separate convictions that would subject him to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years under 18 U.S.C. 924(e)(1). In the first step of our analysis, we conclude that defense counsel's Anders brief is inadequate. Counsel has not scoured the record in search of appealable issues. United States v. Marvin, 211 F.3d 778, 780 (3d Cir. 2000). While counsel need not raise every possible claim of error, counsel must adequately attempt[ ] to uncover the best arguments for his or her client. Id. at 781. Counsel has not. In his Anders brief, defense counsel does not identify the issue raised by Swan in his pro se briefing: whether Swan's convictions for possession with the intent to deliver cocaine on July 19 and 23, 1999 were offenses committed on occasions different from one another under the ACCA. 18 U.S.C. 924(e)(1). Nor does defense counsel address the additional issues discussed by the Government: whether the guilty plea was knowing and voluntary, and whether the sentence was procedurally and substantively reasonable. However, the fact that the Anders brief is inadequate does not end our review. At the second step of our analysis, we conclude that the appeal is frivolous. Therefore, for the reasons below, we will allow counsel to withdraw. We have set forth a three-step framework for district courts to follow when sentencing a defendant. See United States v. Flores-Mejia, 759 F.3d 253, 256 (3d Cir. 2014) (en banc). First, a district court must calculate a guidelines sentence as it would have been prior to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). Id. Second, the district court must formally rule on any motions for departure and state how that departure affects the guidelines calculation. Id. Third, the district court must exercise discretion by considering relevant 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) factors regardless of whether it varies from the guidelines sentence. Id. Swan challenges the District Court's determination at step one of his sentencing the finding that he is an armed career criminal under 924(e). We have unequivocally determined that a conviction under Pennsylvania law for possession with intent to distribute cocaine is a serious drug offense and properly serve[s] as a predicate offense for the imposition of the fifteen-year minimum sentence under the ACCA. United States v. Abbott, 748 F.3d 154, 160 (3d Cir. 2014) (quoting 18 U.S.C. 924(e)). Swan has been convicted of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine at least three times under Pennsylvania law, so he qualifies as an armed career criminal under 924(e). See id. In 2006, Swan was convicted of possession with intent to deliver cocaine. In 1999, he was convicted of four counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine: three counts arose on July 19, 1999, and one count arose on July 23, 1999. Swan argues that all four counts in 1999 on both July 19 and July 23 should be treated as a single offense. We disagree. In support of his position, Swan points to the Presentence Report, which stated that criminal history points were not assessed for the July 23, 1999 conviction as it was considered a single sentence with the July 19, 1999 conviction under U.S.S.G. 4A1.2(a)(2). But 4A1.2 has no bearing on the application of the ACCA. See Brown v. United States, 636 F.3d 674, 676 (2d Cir. 2011). Section 4A1.2 speaks only to the calculation of criminal history points and does not bear on the calculation of [a defendant's] ACCA sentence. Id.; see also United States v. Maxey, 989 F.2d 303, 308 (9th Cir. 1993) (The district court correctly rejected [defendant's] argument that guideline section 4A1.2's related offense doctrine should determine whether section 924(e) is applicable.). We have adopted a separate episode test to examine multiple convictions under the ACCA, requiring that the criminal episodes be distinct in time, but not mandating that the three predicate offenses be separated by intervening convictions. United States v. Schoolcraft, 879 F.2d 64, 7374 (3d Cir. 1989). Even though Swan's three counts on July 19 occurred on the same day, the July 23 count must be treated as a separate offense. See id.; see also United States v. Blair, 734 F.3d 218, 22829 (3d Cir. 2013) (holding that three burglaries counted as predicate offenses for the ACCA since they occurred on separate occasions because the criminal episodes were distinct in time and targeted different geographic locations and victims (citations and quotation marks omitted)). Therefore, even if we assume without deciding that the three counts on July 19 are a single offense under the ACCA, Swan was still convicted of two offenses in 1999. Placing those two 1999 offenses alongside his 2006 conviction, he has satisfied the three offense predicate requirement under the ACCA. See Abbott, 748 F.3d at 160. There are no other colorable issues associated with Swan's guilty plea or sentencing. The guilty plea was knowing and voluntary. In this matter, no departures were requested by either Swan or the Government. The District Court considered the 3553(a) factors and ultimately imposed the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years. IV. For the foregoing reasons, we will grant the motion to withdraw and affirm the District Court's judgment. Counsel is also relieved of any obligation to file a petition for a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 109.2(b) (2011). FOOTNOTES . Under 924(e), also known as the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), a person convicted under 922(g) who has three previous convictions for a violent felony or a serious drug offense committed on occasions different from one another shall be imprisoned not less than fifteen years 18 U.S.C. 924(e). CHAGARES, Circuit Judge. First up yesterday was Andrew R.T. Davies, the barrel-chested farmer who leads Welsh Tories. Mark my words, yelled R.T., one finger raised to accentuate his determination, we will make breakfast a success. Oops! Brexit! I meant make Brexit a success! Mr Davies, a stupendous trencherman, had been rehearsing from sunrise and was no doubt fantasising about getting stuck into a mound of snorkers and fried bread for brekker. Theres one word that wasnt meant to come out like that, he chortled. Scroll down for video Lord Chancellor Liz Truss (pictured) was even more grippingly terrible than Culture Secretary Karen Bradley had been on Monday And he got away with it because he is clearly comfortable in his own pelt and on top of his brief. You cannot say that of all the main speakers at this conference. Yesterday Amber Rudd, Jeremy Hunt, Damian Green and Justine Greening (on home affairs, health, pensions and education respectively) did okay. But Lord Chancellor Liz Truss was even more grippingly terrible than Culture Secretary Karen Bradley had been on Monday. How could so jellyish and unformed a political personality have been made Lord Chancellor? I have known ping-pong bats less wooden, CBeebies presenters more statesmanlike. When she mentioned her predecessor, Michael Gove, the hall stunned by her weakness burst into applause. They miss the Gover. Sacking him from Justice was a mistake. Lord Chancellor! Here is one of the ancient offices, for centuries associated with full-bottom-wigged brainpower. Yet Mrs Truss could have been an airline stewardess Doris-ing her way through the in-flight catering announcements. Home Secretary Rudd (left) was a crunchier proposition, poshly imperious. Pictured right, Liz Truss She narrowed one eye in a pre-rehearsed manner, wrinkled her nose as if scenting pepper and then spouted inanities about how proud she was to hold her job. She wanted a country that works for everyone. She levelled her lower lip and declared: We can make change happen. But what and how would she change? No lucid philosophy, no piercing analysis was laid forth. No wit or originality or scholarship was evident. She merely said our prisons are rotten, the staff who work there are admirable and the rule of law is important. You dont say! Mrs Truss could have been an airline stewardess Doris-ing her way through the in-flight catering announcements And there was some politically-correct drivel about how not enough judges are from minority groups and how the Supreme Court should have more women. How does that sit with the May regimes belief in meritocracy? Mrs Truss (perfectly genial to meet in person) is a caution of what happens when you make tokenistic appointments based on fashion and revenge. As she sashayed off, having got her under-ministers to lead an ovation, it was hard to believe so vapid a speech had ever been uttered by the minister in charge of our courts. Home Secretary Rudd was a crunchier proposition, poshly imperious. A hint of Tootsie or maybe Annie Leibovitz in those spectacles? Or was she channelling Michael Heseltine? She had almost the same height and hairdo as Hezza and the same way of saying the letter R. She said taxi drivers would in future have to prove they were not illegal immigrants. Was this aimed at Uber and its Cameroon lobbyists? Yet the days most impressive speakers were non-politicians a bicycles entrepreneur, a disabled student from York, and two parents who lost babies after NHS mistakes. Melissa Mead, whose little boy William died of sepsis, had the audience in tears. Yes, Tories do have hearts. When Liz Truss mentioned her predecessor, Michael Gove, the hall stunned by her weakness burst into applause Mrs Mead did not blame the NHS staff. She movingly explained how lovely the ambulance staff had been. She just wanted the system improved. James Titcombe, unbelievably dignified, had written 3,000 emails and 300 letters of complaint after his infant son Joshua died. It was no bad thing to be reminded that the NHS is not the property of health unions or doctors groups it belongs to the public. For a classic example of political short-termism, look at successive governments record on training doctors. Every year, countless highly qualified Britons are turned away from medical schools as there are too few places while every year, the NHS scours the world for recruits, because we train too few. Yes, many foreign doctors are first class. But others fall short of British teaching hospitals rigorous standards while far too many speak inadequate English. Scroll down for video Jeremy Hunt, pictured, should be applauded for pledging to train 25 per cent more medical students and making the NHS self-sufficient in doctors by 2025 This is why the Mail applauds the Health Secretarys pledge to train 25 per cent more medical students, making the NHS self-sufficient in doctors by 2025. Just one word of caution. Previous governments made similar promises only to put training at the top of their list when cuts are demanded. Jeremy Hunt must see his initiative through. Hugely welcome, too, is his plan to make doctors reimburse us for some of the cost of their training (around 220,000) if they leave the NHS within four years. Which brings us to an uncomfortable truth: women doctors are much more likely than men to take time off for child-rearing, work part time and retire early. So we have to train two women to get the same amount of work as from one man. How, then, how can it make sense that for four decades, 60 per cent of students selected for training have been female? The Mail would never suggest discriminating against women. But with the NHS in deep financial trouble, shouldnt Mr Hunt promote equality by training as many men as women? Europes real racists In Hungary, razor-wire fences are going up everywhere. In Germany, a mayor is clubbed unconscious by neo-Nazis protesting against a centre for migrants. In Malmo, Sweden, cars and buildings are set alight in the worst race riots for a decade. In Paris, a Chinese tailor is beaten to death while racist attacks spread through the suburbs. Indeed, all over Europe the migrant crisis has provoked racist violence on a terrifying scale. Yet, blind to this bloodshed, the Council of Europes racism watchdog castigates Britain for an alleged increase in anti-foreign sentiment since the referendum. Yes, every racist incident is shameful including the 18 against members of our million-strong Polish community in the three months after the vote. But the UK, where even verbal abuse is registered as a hate crime, is perhaps the EUs most racially tolerant society. As for blaming Brexit, hasnt the watchdog noticed that by far the ugliest racism is in countries staying in the EU? Cover-up at the Yard After a public outcry, Scotland Yards inquiry into police mishandling of trumped-up allegations of child abuse was supposed to clear the air. But shockingly, it emerges that Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe plans to censor the report on the hounding of such figures as war hero Lord Bramall and former home secretary Lord Brittan publishing only extracts with which the police agree! If Scotland Yard, pictured, sweeps facts from the inquiry into a botched child abuse investigation under the carpet, how can we root out police malpractice? The public funded this 2million report. We surely have the right to see it in its entirety. With the facts swept under the carpet, how can we hope to root out police malpractice? It's not just returning holidaymakers who suffer misery from 5,000-strong queues at passport control. For foreign visitors, scenes such as those at Stansted (and Londons other airports) are their first experience of Britain. United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. RASSOL CHINA, Appellant No. 16-1023 Decided: October 04, 2016 Before: AMBRO, SMITH, and FISHER, Circuit Judges OPINION* A grand jury in the District of New Jersey returned an indictment against Rassol China and four other individuals, charging China with conspiring to distribute heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. 846 and distribution of heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C. 2. These charges were filed after the police knocked and announced themselves at a heroin operation in a third floor apartment, prompting China and three others to jump out of the apartment window (the police apprehended the fifth individual before they entered the apartment building). China apparently fractured his heels in the jump, but nonetheless was able to reach his car, drive directly toward a law enforcement officer, almost hitting him, and elude capture. Law enforcement subsequently apprehended China in the hospital where he was receiving treatment. Thereafter, China pleaded guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement that included an appellate waiver. A presentence report was prepared, which determined that China was a career offender because of multiple controlled substance convictions. See U.S.S.G. 4B1.1. Although China initially challenged the applicability of the career offender enhancement, defense counsel withdrew that challenge at sentencing. The enhancement resulted in an offense level of 34 and a criminal history category of VI, yielding an advisory Guideline range of 262 to 327 months. The District Court sentenced China to 262 months of imprisonment. This timely appeal followed. Counsel submitted an Anders brief and a motion seeking to withdraw as counsel. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967). After reviewing the Anders brief, we are satisfied that counsel thoroughly examined the record in search of appealable issues and adequately explain[ed] why the issues are frivolous. United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001). China's guilty plea limited the issues he could challenge on appeal to whether he could be haled into court on the charges in the indictment, the validity of his guilty plea, and the legality of the sentence imposed. See United States v. Broce, 488 U.S. 563, 570-75 (1989). Counsel explained at length that the guilty plea colloquy largely complied with the requirements of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(b). Counsel appropriately noted that the colloquy did not advise China, contrary to Rule 11(b)(1)(H)'s directive, of the maximum possible penalty of life imprisonment. This omission, counsel explained, would not warrant setting aside China's conviction because plain error review applied under United States v. Vonn, 535 U.S. 55, 59 (2002), and the error did not affect China's substantial rights as the plea agreement explicitly set out the minimum and maximum sentence at play. The government agreed that China was well aware of the statutory maximum of life imprisonment, noting it was set forth in his plea agreement, as well as in a document entitled Application for Permission to Enter Plea of Guilty that China signed after reviewing it with counsel. We agree that this omission in the plea colloquy did not affect China's substantial rights. Defense counsel also recognized in the Anders brief that China's plea agreement contained an appellate waiver. The government acknowledged that the colloquy with regard to the appellate waiver was deficient in certain respects and elected not to enforce the waiver. Because the government did not invoke the appellate waiver, we need not examine whether the waiver was valid and bars our review. See United States v. Goodson, 544 F.3d 529, 535 (3d Cir. 2008). We note, however, that even if the appellate waiver were unenforceable, that would result in setting aside only the waiver (not the District Court's judgment) and removing any bar to our review. Id. at 541. Having concluded there is no basis for setting aside China's guilty plea, we turn to the legality of China's sentence, which is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Tomko, 562 F.3d 558, 567 (3d Cir. 2009). We conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing China to 262 months of imprisonment. Counsel noted that the District Court arguably erred in applying an enhancement for obstruction of justice under U.S.S.G. 3C1.2 because that enhancement was not contemplated as part of the plea agreement. Nonetheless, counsel acknowledged that application of this enhancement does not entitle China to relief. We agree. The 3C1.2 obstruction of justice enhancement affected only the total offense level of 32, which was rendered inoperative once it was determined that the offense level from the career offender table was greater than the offense level otherwise applicable. U.S.S.G. 4B1.1(b). Thus, the District Court did not err in calculating the Guideline range under the career offender guideline. Nor do we discern any procedural error as there were no motions by China for the District Court to rule upon and the Court fully considered the argument for a downward variance. The within-Guideline sentence, given the Court's explanation for the sentence imposed, was not substantively unreasonable. For the reasons set forth above, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court. Because our own independent review of the record fails to reveal any nonfrivolous issues for appeal, we will grant counsel's motion to withdraw and affirm the judgment of the District Court. We certify that the issues presented in the appeal lack legal merit and thus do not require the filing of a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court. 3d Cir. L.A.R. 109.2(b). FOOTNOTES . Before the PSR applied the career offender enhancement, China's offense level, without the acceptance of responsibility adjustment, was 32 and his criminal history category was VI. . The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. 3231. We exercise jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. 1291. . Indeed, China's pro se submission, which he filed pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 109.2(a), also notes there was error in the District Court's review of the terms of the appellate waiver. . We note that China's pro se submission also took issue with the propriety of the obstruction of justice enhancement. In his view, application of the enhancement constituted a breach of the plea agreement. Because it is the District Court that determines the applicable Guideline range, the government did not breach the plea agreement. Indeed, the plea agreement advised that [t]he sentence to be imposed is within the sole discretion of the sentencing judge and that the prosecution was not making any representation or promise as to what guideline range may be found by the sentencing judge. SMITH, Circuit Judge. Grouchy film star Hugh Grant, 56, delivers a soft moan of despair for my country, after reports of Theresa Mays meeting with media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Self-effacing TV personality Piers Morgan, 51, tweets back to pompous Hugh: Our countrys fine, [you] just need to stop acting so the world doesnt think were a bunch of annoying foppish twerps. Grouchy film star Hugh Grant, 56, delivers a soft moan of despair for my country, after reports of Theresa Mays meeting with media tycoon Rupert Murdoch Today programme presenter Nick Robinson asks Theresa May: You first dreamt of getting this job four decades ago. How does it compare to what you dreamt of? May, 60, incredulously replies: Im not sure if I did dream of the job four decades ago! Retorts Robinson: I spoke to your cousin the other day for a documentary and he remembered listening to a tape of you as a teenager saying that you wanted to be prime minister. Snapped May: I dont remember saying it at that age. Publicity-cautious Theresa can be hard work on the airwaves! Theresa May told Nick Robinson: 'Im not sure if I did dream of the job four decades ago! BBC official historian Lord Briggs memorial service was held yesterday, appropriately, at All Souls, Langham Place, next to the BBC. One of the tribute speakers was Professor Jean Seaton who last year brought out Pinkoes and Traitors, the follow-up to Asas earlier history covering 1974-1987. It was much criticised for about 40 errors. Was Asa spinning in his grave? Irish actress Lisa Dwan, 38, pictured, was in full Beckettian spout when The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, 69, dozed off on Monday night What would the late, bleak playwright Sam Beckett make of Salman Rushdies unscripted contribution to the Old Vic premiere of his Nos Knife? Irish actress Lisa Dwan, 38, pictured, was in full Beckettian spout when The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, 69, dozed off on Monday night. One distracted theatregoer remarked: Dwan takes a lot of pauses in the play so Sir Salmans snoring was even more unfortunate. Aged crooner Engelbert Humperdinck, 80, cheerily points out: Tom Jones and I shared the same manager. I think hes a great talent. Sir Tom, 76, who like Humperdinck was managed by the late Gordon Mills, is less flattering about The Hump. Discussing Engelbert only last year, the Welshman unpleasantly remarked: Once a c***, always a c***. Thank goodness Humperdinck real name Arnold Dorsey is the forgiving type! Conservative peer Richard Balfe, 72, leads a revolt of members at the historic Reform Club in Pall Mall, opposed to the appointment of retired naval officer Rod Craig, 66, as its new secretary. Balfe doesnt take kindly to unwelcome scrutiny of his own activities in the famous establishment as fellow club member Arnold Rosen discovered when he enquired if Balfe declared club hospitality in the Lords register of members interests in 2014. Balfe wrote back: You seem to be suffering from delusional paranoia, adding: I suggest you seek urgent medical help. Fruity television presenter Kirstie Allsopp, 45, tweets: Im overweight because Im greedy, its not anyone elses fault and Im not suffering from a mental illness. I need to eat smaller portions. Loyal fans of lovely Kirstie will be quick to point out the camera always adds a few extra pounds. No matter how hard he tries it seems Henry Szaraz just can't stop gaining weight. The 19-year-old, from Sydney, has Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a rare congenital disorder characterised by a ferocious appetite and an obsessive compulsion to eat. His mother, Virginia, keeps a constant eye on her son, now weighing over 200 kilograms, to stop him breaking into the padlocked food cupboards when she is not looking. Insatiable: Henry Szaraz, 19, has a rare congenital disorder that gives him an appetite that can never be satisfied. He is pictured in the uniform of his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs Caring for Henry is a 24-hour job that includes bathing him in the morning, ferrying him to physical therapy appointments during the day, and locking the cupboards and fridge before bed at night. In addition to the insatiable appetite, symptoms of PWS include developmental delays, learning difficulties, stubbornness and a fast-rising temper. Virginia, a mother-of-three, said it was only a matter of time before Henry also developed diabetes on top of the other complications. 'I'm 55 and caring for Henry on my own. There are no holidays,' Virginia told Daily Mail Australia. 'In every aspect of his life he needs to be supervised. 'I need to assess whether I have locked the cupboard or the fridge before I go to the loo. 'I might be gone for a couple of minutes and come back to find an empty jar of peanut butter under his bed with a teaspoon in it.' No holiday: Mother Virginia (centre) said Henry (pictured right, aged four) developed his obsession with food as a toddler. He now weighs over 200 kilos People who suggested Henry could simply lose weight by 'eating more vegetables' completely misunderstood the nature of the disorder, Virginia said. PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME AFFECTS 1 IN 15,000 BABIES Prader-Willi Syndrome is a rare disorder which causes the sufferer to constantly feel hungry. It affects one in 15,000 children and is caused by abnormalities on chromosome 15. The syndrome is defined by an insatiable hunger and other symptoms such as low muscle tone and developmental delays. Other symptoms include a high pain threshold, speech difficulties and poor temperature regulation. Source: Prader-Willi Foundation Australia Advertisement 'Basically, people with the condition are born as tiny babies who fail to thrive. Henry was born as a tiny little five-pounder. 'At about the age of three, that's when the appetite kicks in. 'Mixing that with the non-existent metabolism, it's inevitable that they gain weight quickly. 'They don't have a choice. 'Some with Prader-Willi will eat anything. 'If you have raw mince defrosting they'll eat it, or they will go through bins for scraps of food. 'Fortunately thats not Henrys thing.' Despite the learning difficulties caused by the disorder, Henry was as crafty as anyone when it came to food, she said. 'He doesn't miss a trick. I am always being outsmarted. 'When it comes to food and things like that it is a lifelong battle.' Constant supervision: Virginia said she constantly kept an eye on Henry to make sure he wasn't sneaking food Virginia quit her job as a disability-support nurse to bring up Henry's older brother more than 20 years ago. After Henry was born, the solo mother no longer had the option to return to work and making ends meet has been a struggle ever since. 'In our financial situation you just can't save. There are always medical costs,' she said. Much-loved: Henry was a much-loved member of his local community, mother Virginia (centre) said. He is pictured with his sister Liz (left) earlier this year To rub salt into the wound, the family's trusty 97 Ford Falcon will lose its registration in three days' time and Virginia said there is no chance the 'rust bucket' will pass its next test. Unless she can find the money for a replacement, she will have to borrow a car or fork out for taxis. ' Weve always had rust buckets. Things held together with a paper clip and a bit of tape. But to get Henry to his appointments a car is absolutely necessary. 'I need a car that is low enough to the ground to carry him, but one that won't bottom out when he gets in.' 'Great smiley chap': Virginia (left) described her son as a 'great smiley chap' who would dress up as Santa at the local creche every year Henry is a staunch supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league club - his favourite player is Sam Burgess - and is a much-loved character in the community of Asquith, North Sydney. 'He's very loved and recognised in the local community,' Virginia said. 'Wherever we go people will come up and speak to us. 'He's such a friendly kind of person. He's always got a big smile on his face and even plays Santa at the local creche. 'Because he's such a great smiley chap, he's well loved.' It aimed to show people how easy alcoholism is to miss The stunt by a Parisian ad agency was created to spread a message She was instead a construct - aimed to raise awareness of alcoholism However, the model wasn't merely another lifestyle blogger When a good-looking French woman - supposedly a 25-year-old model from Paris - appeared on Instagram in August, she speedily racked up more than 50,000 followers. Thanks to an assortment of fun-loving snaps of Louise Delage in typically Instagrammed scenarios - including the beach, shopping, and hanging out with friends in the city - people were quick to like and comment on the pretty model's photos. For many users, she seemed to have one of those impossibly perfect, sun-drenched Instagram lives. Little did they realise that Louise Delage wasn't a real person. Look a little closer at her snaps and ask yourself: What does every single one have in common? Scroll down for video Glamorous: A new Instagram profile appeared on the site in August - it depicted the glossy, sun-drenched life of a Parisian model (pictured) Growing: Very speedily, the 25-year-old Louise Delage amassed 50,000 followers (pictured), who adored her glamorous, lifestyle shots Norm: Ms Delage shared snaps from typically Instagrammed scenarios - including at-home lifestyle shots (pictured), when shopping or on the beach with friends Whether it's a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in her hand, a cocktail by her side or even a sly bottle poking out from her handbag, Ms Delage's photos always come complete with an alcoholic drink. And while the 25-year-old is indeed a model from Paris, Ms Delage was in fact hired by the Parisian ad agency, BETC, to send a clever message about alcohol addiction to young people. As part of the company and Addict Aide's Like My Addiction campaign, she aimed to raise awareness of drinking among young people, and draw attention to the fact that alcoholism can be so easily missed. Trick: Little did people know that the pretty model wasn't in fact a real person - and many people didn't notice what was going on with her photos Common theme: Whether it was a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in her hand, or a sly bottle poking out from her handbag (pictured), Ms Delage's photos always featured alcoholic drinks Construct: The model was hired by the Parisian ad agency, BETC, to send a clever message about alcohol addiction to young people Campaign: The agency decided to create the profile in order to raise awareness By the time BETC released a YouTube video revealing who the model really was last week, it became clear how she had managed to trick so many people. Thanks to the model's clever 'lifestyle porn'-style shots and commonly-used food and nature Instagram hashtags, most people had simply assumed she was merely another fashion blogger-type, new and 'hot' on the social media platform. But as the video announced: 'It's easy to miss the addiction of someone close.' The big reveal: By the time BETC released a YouTube video revealing who the model really was last week, it became clear how she had managed to trick so many people Sobering: As the video announced: 'It's easy to miss the addiction of someone close' - people don't always spot it Not true: The BETC president and creative director, Stephane Xiberras Paris made a valid point about how people's lives aren't always how they look online Viral: Since a clip announcing Ms Delage's real identity was released on September 30, it has garnered more than 350,000 hits Since the clip and identity of Louise Delage was released on September 30, it has already garnered more than 350,000 hits. The BETC president and creative director, Stephane Xiberras Paris, told AdWeek that while a 'few people sensed the trap - a journalist among others - in the end, the majority just saw a pretty young girl of her time and not at all a kind of lonely girl, who is actually not at all that happy and with a serious alcohol problem'. 'Sometimes it seems like in this era, the more people stage their ideal life on social media, the more that serves to hide a not-so-ideal reality,' Mr Paris continued. Comedians from New Zealand have mocked sexism in car adverts by creating their own hilarious commercial starring a woman driver. The fake advert, made for the new season of Funny Girls, shows comic Rose Matafeo playing a farmer driving a new Holden truck. The skit shows the farmer going about her day as a man doing a voiceover for the advert patronisingly instructs her how to drive. Comedians from New Zealand have mocked sexism in car adverts by creating their own hilarious commercial starring only women drivers The fake advert, made for the new season of Funny Girls , shows comic Rose Matafeo playing a farmer driving a new Holden truck as voiceover man criticises her every move As rock music plays, a man with burly voice is heard describing the car as 'the ultimate workhouse'. He continues, as the car pulls over and a woman steps out: 'With a powerful 2.8 litre Duramax diesel engine, it's built tough, just like y... woah, what the f***?' As the farmer queries who the man is, he says: 'Sorry love, just didn't expect to see a woman. 'Well, you usually don't see women in these types of ads,' he adds. After being asked if she has children in the car or whether she is a widow, the woman replies: 'No, I'm a farmer... No, I own this farm. I run it.' She climbs back into the car and drives off through a gate and over some hills, only for the man to interrupt once more. As he describes the vehicle's towing capacity, he interjects: 'Hey, easy on the clutch there, you're riding it.' 'You know this isn't the first time I've driven a truck,' she shouts back, before saying 'f*** you' after he makes another snide comment. As he describes the vehicle's towing capacity, he the voiceover interjects: 'Hey, easy on the clutch there, you're riding it' The next clip shows the woman trying to reverse park as the man chimes in to tell her to 'turn the wheel clockwise' - leading her to get out and tell him to park the vehicle instead The man is seen getting into the car, but then embarrasses himself by stalling it and giving up The next clip shows the woman trying to reverse park as the man chimes in to tell her to 'turn the wheel clockwise'. 'I know!' she snaps back, telling him that she did not ask for help. She berates the voiceover man once more after he tells her to 'calm down'. 'Woah, must be somebody's time of the month,' he says under his breath, infuriating the woman. 'Mate, if you think you know how to do it, why don't you do it,' she says as she clambers out of the car. The man is seen getting into the car, but then embarrasses himself by stalling it and giving up. George and Charlotte stole the show in Canada last week on their first royal tour together, but the siblings could be getting some competition very soon. Bookies have slashes the odds on the announcement that another royal baby is on the way following the royal tour. Since their return from Canada, bets have been piling in on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announcing some happy news next year. Scroll down for video George and Charlotte stole the show on the royal tour of Canada last week and now royal watchers are convinced Kate and William will be adding to their brood in the new year As a result, Ladbrokes have slashed the odds to just 4/6. Odds of a pregnancy announcement before the end of 2016 stand at 4/1, while the odds of a 2018 pregnancy are 3/1. The Canada tour gave the opportunity to see the Cambridges as a happy family unit of four for the first time. And noting how much Kate and William, both 34, are enjoying being parents has convinced royal watchers that they will surely be adding to their brood. The Canada tour gave the opportunity to see the Cambridges as a happy family unit of four for the first time Prince George has fun with a bubble gun at a children's party at Government House in Victoria, British Columbia Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: 'The sight of Kate and Wills with George and Charlotte has sent royal baby watchers into overdrive. 'A 2016 announcement seems unlikely but if the money's to be believed 2017 looks like a certainty.' She added: 'Fans of the Duke and Duchess are hoping the couple make an addition to their gorgeous brood sooner rather than later.' Doting father Prince William carries his daughter Princess Charlotte. He's made a point of putting his family ahead of royal duties, with the full approval of the Queen Kate, 34, entertains Prince George with balloons at a children's party in Canada The Duchess, of course, is from a family of three along with brother James and sister Pippa. And according to royal sources, William believes that three children is the ideal number for a complete family. The couple have come under fire this year for putting their children ahead of royal duties. Kate was criticised for skipping the annual presentation of shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day to spend time with her children ahead of the royal tour of India and Bhutan in April. And William has also been censured for taking on a part time role with the Air Ambulance to allow him to spend time with his family - as well as undertake royal duties. A former Premier League WAG who has previously denied rumours she is anorexic, has shocked fans by revealing that she is undergoing cold laser liposuction. Maria Pogrebnyak-Shatalova, 26, the wife of Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, recently posted a picture of herself with tubes attached to her stomach on social media. Pogrebnyak, 32, enjoyed spells at Reading and Fulham before moving back to Russia to sign for Dynamo Moscow last year. Scroll down for video Maria Pogrebnyak-Shatalova, 26, the wife of Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak has shocked fans by revealing she's undergoing laser liposuction The model and designer has previously denied rumours that she suffers from an eating disorder Mother-of-three Maria regularly shows off her figure on social media but in the past she's come under fire for being too thin The beautiful blonde, is a model and fashion designer and became famous in her own right after appearing in the Fox reality show Meet The Russians. She regularly treats her 394,000 Instagram followers to snaps of her working out in the gym and enjoying various spa and cosmetic treatments. She told her followers on social media that she was going to try out cold laser, a non-surgical alternative to traditional liposuction that is said to be a 'very pleasant' treatment for problem areas. Ms Pogrebnyak explained: 'The treatment is done on a special medical machine usually used for physiotherapy with a cold laser. Maria with her husband Pavel Pogrebnyak, 32, who enjoyed spells at Reading and Fulham before moving back to Russia to sign for Dynamo Moscow last year The blonde reality star has been having cold laser liposuction, which is billed as a painless alternative to the traditional procedure Maria enjoying a rollerblading session with her three sons, Artem, Pavel and Alexey 'It is great if you have an excessive belly, hips or even a double chin. This machine is a great way out of this.' The majority of Ms Pogrebnyak's followers appeared to be surprised by her decision, commenting that her body was already perfect and that she was going too far. Netizen 'vip.sea128' said: 'Why would you need a liposuction. All you have is skin and bones. Nothing else'. The glamorous WAG found fame in her own right after appearing on the reality show Meet The Russians The clothing and jewellery designer said she maintains her slim figure by avoiding sweet foods and fizzy drinks And 'mari-rostov1' added: 'Seriously, show me your problem areas?' Cold laser is billed as a painless alternative to traditional liposuction. It removes fat from targeted areas without the need for incisions, anaesthesia or a lengthy recovery time. Maria at the clinic where she has laser lipo: Fans were shocked by her decision, questioning why she needed the fat busting procedure The selfie lover likes to keep her 394,000 Instagram followers up to date with regular snaps The mother-of-three shows off he tiny waist and long legs in a cut out swimsuit Fitness fanatic Maria poses in her gym gear (left) and shows off her best Legally Blonde style in a pink tweed miniskirt and jacket The mother of three boys, Artem, Pavel and Alexey, has previously been criticised for being too thin, but has denied speculation that she has an eating disorder. After fans commented on her 'skeletal figure', Maria accused her critics of being rude and said that she would not be provoked into commenting on their silly remarks. She added: My husband likes the way I look. I am not starving, I eat normally. I live an active lifestyle and I'm always on the move, so I burn off a lot of calories. The blonde designer said that her husband loves the way she looks and refuses to accept critics comments that she's too thin Fashion designer Maria began her career in jewellery before moving into fashion The busy fashion designer said that she only sleeps four hours a night as she juggles work and motherhood The reality star has an amazingly toned figure, which she says is down to exercise and avoiding junk food I take food with me when I am driving to the city or doing different errands during the day. I usually have chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots. And I drink a lot of water. I read that I am a bad example for teenagers? But I am all for a healthy lifestyle! I just do not drink sweet drinks or eat fast food, because they're harmful. However, Maria previously told Ikon London magazine that she loves to cook and bake for her family. The fitness lover has denied accusations that she sets a bad example with her trim figure and insists that she lives a healthy lifestyle The fashion designer said that she barely sleeps because of her busy lifestyle Maria cuddles up to a giant teddy bear during a rare moment of down time The fashion lover examines a selection of outfits on a shopping trip 'I have a husband who is hungry all the time and I cook. Each night at 6pm we all sit round the table and have a meal. 'And after the meal we have tea and cake as a family. Ive made all the cakes. Cupcakes, Russian cakes everything!' Her slim figure may also be down to her busy life as a working mum, designing jewellery and clothing. She said that her whole day is taken up with ferrying her children to their activities and helping them with homework, so she only has the opportunity to work in the evenings. 'When the children are in bed, I sit down and I work on the designs. I sleep for four hours a night,' she said. Claims Kate , 34, doesn't want to be seen as ' With all eyes on them as they toured Canada, the Royal Family pulled out all the stops to ensure they looked picture perfect. Often colour-coordinated, they were no doubt well aware that the photographs of their first official tour as a family-of-four would be remembered for years to come and tried to dress fittingly for the special occasion. And fashion fans were quick to notice that Prince George exclusively wore shorts - and it's certainly not the first time. Scroll down for video It is rare to see Prince George wearing anything other than shorts and one etiquette expert says it's all because the Duchess of Cambridge doesn't want to be considered suburban Indeed, the three-year-old is rarely seen in trousers and, according to an etiquette expert, there's a very interesting reason behind it. Etiquette expert and MailOnline columnist, William Hanson, claims that shorts on young boys are, in fact, a silent British class marker and trousers are deemed 'suburban', which no self-respecting royal would want to be considered. He explained: 'Not only does The Duchess of Cambridge have to worry about what she is wearing in public but she has to dress her own children and find a balance between royal tradition and heritage and more proletariat customs, such as the "suburban" habit of making young boys wear trousers. 'Although I don't really think that the sartorial rule of shorts for young boys would be a new one for Catherine. I would suspect that her own mother and mother's friends knew this - as more well-heeled middle class mothers do - and dressed their own boys accordingly.' Etiquette expert William Hanson, claims that shorts on young boys are, in fact, a silent British class marker and trousers are deemed 'suburban', which no self-respecting royal like Kate, right with her son, would want to be considered William says that the sartorial rule of shorts for young boys wouldn't be a new one for Catherine, believe that her own mother, Carole Middleton, and her friends would already know this Whilst the children won over the world on their first royal tour, some social media users were quick to comment on their 'post-war' look suggesting that little Prince George and Princess Charlotte were dressed 'for the 1950s' or a '19th century gothic novella'. One Twitter user commented: 'Why are the royal children always dressed in such an old fashion style? Or do they only wear trainers and jeans when chilling at home?' Another, named Jas, said: 'They royal kids look like they were dressed in the 1950s' Jackie Kane added: 'Why the hell are the royal offspring always dressed like something out of a 19th century gothic novella?' Prince George sits for his official Christmas picture in a courtyard at Kensington Palace in late November of 2014 wearing blue shorts, left, and dons red versions at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte in 2015 A woman has spoken out about how her ex-husband held her family hostage in a drunken rage, just three years before he stabbed his own mother to death. Elizabeth Kemp, 44, from Bryn, near Port Talbot in Wales, has revealed the terrifying ordeal she and her two young daughters suffered at the hands of 44-year-old Mark Stephens. The general manager stabbed his mother Rita, 67, a retired former company director 38 times in the head and face at their home in Pencoed, Wales, in a drunken haze after downing vodka. Scroll down for video Dreams shattered: Elizabeth Kemp married Mark Stephens in 1998 and the couple went on to have two daughters. However, Stephens' battle with alcoholism turned him into a dangerous killer and in 2015 he stabbed his mother to death Stephens received a suspended sentence for attacking his family in 2013. However, just two years later, his anger turned to his mother Rita Stephens, 67, who was brutally murdered by her son in June 2015 He then threw a blanket over her body and went to sleep - before waking and going out to buy more alcohol, in June last year. Stephens' ex-partner Elizabeth Kemp has now spoken out about she feels lucky to be alive after suffering a terrifying hostage drama, three years before he murdered his mother. In 2012, Stephens locked Elizabeth and her two daughters - both under ten at the time - in a bedroom and told them: 'We're going to be on the news in the morning.' Traumatised Elizabeth, a primary school teacher, pleaded with Mark for their lives and after an agonising wait he relented. But the true extend of his brutality transpired three years later, when he stabbed his mother, Rita, 67, to death, inflicting 38 injuries on her frail body. On June 19 2015, he had gone to the pub with his brother, getting drunk on double vodkas. Then, after returning home, he flew into a drunken rage, stabbing his frail mother with a carving knife and fork, leaving her with 38 injuries to her face and body. The killer was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 20 years. Reflecting on her own ordeal, Elizabeth said: 'We were lucky to escape with our lives. 'But I never imagined Mark would kill his own mother. I wish the family had listened to me.' Elizabeth said: 'In that moment in that room I did believe he was going to kill us. Not many people believed the extent of it. They thought I was overplaying it. The couple met in a nightclub in 1991 and quickly fell in love, walking down the aisle in 1998 and having their first daughter in 2003 Kemp told her husband that she was leaving him at Christmas in 2012...prompting her former husband to force her and her daughters to stay locked in a bedroom at knifepoint Kemp says that while Stephens wasn't a particularly hands-on father, he did show his daughters lots of love and affection. His quick temper was made worse by drinking and while he never hit Kemp, he would frequently throw things 'His sister, Kirsty, wanted me to drop the charges and Rita didn't believe he could be that violent. I wish they'd listened to me. Maybe Rita would still be alive.' Elizabeth and Mark met in a nightclub in January, 1991, clicking immediately. In 1998 they married, having their first daughter in 2003 and their second in 2008. The mother-of-two explains that while Mark never lifted a finger to help change nappies or give bottles, he showered the girls with affection and was particularly close to their oldest daughter. His mother wouldn't believe that he was dangerous, even though he threatened to kill us... Elizabeth Kemp A heavy drinker, though, he was often drunk even getting inebriated during a family trip to Walt Disney World, Florida. He'd throw things around the room,' said Elizabeth. 'One Christmas he came home drunk and threw the kids' toys everywhere. 'He never hit me, but he'd push me or trip me up. She says the abuse was often more mental, with him telling her: "'Nobody else will want you, you're worthless". He'd make me feel bad about myself. ' But on 27 October, 2012, the abusive relationship reached fever pitch, after a family lunch at a local pub, when Elizabeth decided she'd had enough, telling Mark she planned to leave him. Back home, she started putting the children to bed, while Mark remained downstairs, drunk. She said: 'He called up the stairs, "Come on down here, Liz". Something in his voice scared me.' Stephen's addiction to drink took a more dangerous turn with his binges becoming increasingly frequent, even occurring on a family holiday to Walt Disney World, Florida Rita Stephens had welcomed her son back to her home but the pair were frequently involved in arguments and Mark Stephen's vodka drinking binge with his brother led to her horrific murder Climbing the stairs, Mark entered the girls' bedroom, brandishing the family's two biggest kitchen knives, before issuing his chilling threat that they would soon make headlines. Terrified, brave Elizabeth stood in front of her daughters, to protect them and tried to talk Mark out of hurting them. After 15 minutes, he relented, going back downstairs and falling into a drunken stupor. Then she and the girls gathered a handful of belongings in a carrier bag and crept down the stairs. Mark had disconnected the phone and hidden the car keys in his coat pocket. So, walking past him on tiptoes, they escaped from the house, fleeing to Elizabeth's parents', where they called the police. Mark was arrested and charged with affray. However, his mum Rita pleaded with Elizabeth to drop the charges. Happy again: Kemp met her new man Christopher following her divorce from Stephens and say she feels lucky to have escaped with her life Speaking out: Kemp (pictured on her wedding day with new husband Christopher) felt that people didn't believe just how bad life with her former husband had been New life: Elizabeth and Christopher on their honeymoon in 2014; Kemp says she feels people thought she was exaggerating when she initially revealed her story of being taken hostage 'She wouldn't believe that he was dangerous, even though he threatened to kill us,' said Elizabeth, who refused to relent. In January 2013, Mark pleaded guilty to affray at Swansea Crown Court and was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years. The couple divorced and Elizabeth rekindled her relationship with her childhood sweetheart Christopher Kemp, 42, a photocopier engineer, marrying him a year later. Despite her loathing for him, Elizabeth's daughters insisted on maintaining a relationship with their father spending a weekend with him every fortnight. But on 20 June 2015, Elizabeth received a shocking phone call, bringing her own hideous ordeal back into sharp focus. She said: 'Mark's sister Kirsty called saying, 'He's killed her, my mum's dead and it was Mark who did it.' 'I couldn't believe it. I fell to my knees in shock.' When his trial opened in February this year, the horrific details of Rita's cruel death emerged. Mark had moved into her home in Tonteg, Bridgend, a fortnight before the attack, but his drinking triggered frequent arguments, especially as widow Rita believed he was ruining the family upholstery firm. Following the brutal attack, Mark was arrested and Elizabeth had to tell their children the terrible news. She's known for her charismatic demeanor and enthusiastic smile but today Queen Maxima outdid herself when it came to her famous facial expressions. The queen of the Netherlands could be seen pulling a bizarre range of faces at an exhibition opening in Apeldoorn. The Argentinian born royal was pictured winking and grimacing as she spoke to wellwishers out side the Anna Pavlovna exhibit. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was pictured pulling some rather unusual facial expressions during her engagement in Apeldoorn this morning It is unclear what caused the royal to wince though it appears that she may have got something in her eye. As well as her characteristic smile Maxima showcased her usual flair for fashionable headwear this morning. Ditching her usual wide brim hat the mother-of-three opted for a smaller velvet piece of millinery for her engagement today. The 45-year-old royal appeared to be wincing for an unknown reason as she arrived at the opening of the Anna Pavlovna exhibit in the Dutch town Ditching her usual wide brim hat the mother-of-three opted for a smaller velvet piece of millinery for her engagement today Maxima demonstrated her flair for coordination pairing her grey hat with a matching blouse Maxima, 45, demonstrated her flair for coordination pairing her grey hat with a matching silk blouse and a complementing navy skirt. The Dutch royal flashed a bit of bling pairing a large amethyst ring on her right hand. The queen was delighted when a charming young girl approached her with a colourful bouquet at today's event. The queen was charmed by a young fan who presented her with a colourful bouquet After receiving the delightful poesy the royal could be seen carrying it around with her The mayor of Apeldoor, John Berends (pictured) accompanied the queen into the exhibiton The smartly dressed child was overjoyed as she shook hands with the equally thrilled queen. During the ceremonial opening of the exhibition Maxima had the honour of pressing a large red button - marking the launch of the exhibit. She later donned a pair of black gloves as she toured the impressive range of paintings, presumably to prevent any damage to the delicate artworks. The exhibition is sure to prove of particular interest to Maxima as it features paintings of former queen of the Netherlands Anna Pavlovna of Russia who ruled during the 19th century. Maxima has the honour of pushing a large red button to mark the opening of the exhibiton Maxima later posed with the oil paintins of Anna Pavlovna, a former queen of the Netherlands Today marks Maxima's second engagement of the week as she stepped out in Rotterdam yesterday. The royal, 45, who's rarely seen without a statement hat, donned a broad-brimmed black headpiece as she attended the opening of the Fifth European Nursing Congress. Maxima appeared her usual vivacious self as she laughed and beamed as she arrived at the conference that addresses scientific research and innovations in elderly care. Her presence shines a light on the hot-button issues for older people including prevention of illness, homecare, hospital care, long-term care mental health, rehabilitation and transitional care. Yesterday Maxima visisted Rotterdam today for the fifth European Nursing Congress Normally pictured among other dignitaries it was a sight to behold to see Queen Letizia of Spain pose with a group of bikers during her engagement today. The Queen of Spain, 44, seemed delighted at the chance to pose for a photograph with the group of leather clad motorcyclists at a charity event in Madrid this morning. While slight Letizia is easily half the size of some of the men she posed with the queen looked completely at ease with her new found friends. Queen Letizia made some unlikely friends in the form of leather clad bikers at the Red Cross Dia de la Banderita event in Madrid today While her compadres opted for full leather Letizia was dressed in an eye-catching rouge complementary of the annual Red Cross event known as 'Dia de la Banderita' (lit. Little Flag Day). Known for being one of Europe's most slender royals Letizia covered up her smaller frame today in wide leg red trousers and a billowing silk blouse. Always with an eye for coordination Letizia paired her scarlet trousers with a pair of matching low heeled court shoes and a slick of cherry coloured lipstick. Despite being half the size of some of her compadres Letizia looked totally at ease with her new found friends Letizia covered up her smaller frame today in wide leg red trousers and a billowing silk blouse Always with an eye for coordination Letizia wore slick of cherry coloured lipstick to match her red trousers The bikers were not the only friends that the mother-of-two made at the Red Cross World Day this morning. The royal looked delighted as she held a baby girl at the event however, the infant didn't seem as thrilled, bursting into tears as she was handed to Letizia. During the event the queen also received donations for the 'Dia de la Banderita' at the Red Cross headquarters. The royal looked delighted as she held a baby girl at the event however, the infant didn't seem as thrilled, bursting into tears as she was handed to Letizia Letizia soon handed back the baby to her mother after she became a little fussy The queen also greeted those who were making donations to the Red Cross Charity this afternoon such as this man pictured Queen Letizia poses with Secretary of State for Equality and Social Services, Susana Camarero (3L), President of the Red Cross Spain, Javier Senent (3L), amongst others as she arrives to attend a debate on childhood at this morning's event During today's engagement Letizia met with the Secretary of State for Equality and Social Services, Susana Camarero, President of the Red Cross Spain, Javier Senent among others before attending a debate on childhood. Today marks Letizia's second engagement this week. Yesterday saw the queen travel to Mondonedo for the inauguration ceremony at the San Rosendo de Mondonedo Secondary School. The event will see the former journalist welcome the new students taking part in the 2016 vocational course at the school. With the colder weather setting in the 44-year-old royal ditched her signature lighter fabrics in favour of a cosier wool cape. Yesterday Queen Letizia of Spain covered up her famously slender frame today in a loose fitting cape as she arrived at a secondary school in the town of Mondonedo United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. JERRY FRAZIER, Appellant v. SECRETARY PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA No. 14-4425 Decided: October 04, 2016 Before: McKEE, Chief Judge **, HARDIMAN and RENDELL, Circuit Judges Emily R. Derstine Friesen (Argued), Marc Esterow, Kate A. Mahoney (Argued), Richard H. Frankel, Esquire, Drexel University, Thomas R. Kline School of Law, 3320 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Amanda D. Haverstick, Esquire, Reed Smith, 1717 Arch Street, Three Logan Square, Suite 3100, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Counsel for Appellant Ryan Dunlavey, Esquire (Argued), Susan E. Affronti, Esquire, Ronald Eisenberg, Esquire, George D. Mosee, Jr., Esquire, R. Seth Williams, Esquire, Philadelphia County Office of District Attorney, Three South Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Counsel for Appellee OPINION * I. Jerry Frazier appeals the order of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denying his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Frazier urges that his counsel was ineffective for failing to call Laura Garrett, a potentially exculpatory witness, at trial, and he seeks an evidentiary hearing to probe this issue. Although the parties contest the applicable standard of review we should apply to the state court's decision, we need not decide that issue to resolve this case. See, e.g., Taylor v. Horn, 504 F.3d 416, 453 (3d Cir. 2007). Even under de novo review, Frazier cannot rebut the presumption that his counsel performed adequately. Thus, he cannot establish a prima facie case that he was deprived of effective assistance of counsel as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court's order. II. Because we write primarily for the parties, we discuss the facts only briefly. In 2003, Jerry Frazier summoned Jose Oquindo from outside Oquindo's home to a nearby street corner. After Oquindo approached, at least two men drew their weapons and began firing. Oquindo died shortly thereafter. At trial, Oquindo's fiancee Wanda Figueroa, and Oquindo's neighbors George Medina and Juan Carlos Colon, testified as to what they had seen on the night of the murder. Figueroa testified that she had seen two men she could not identify chasing Oquindo down the street firing at him. Medina, a childhood friend of Frazier's, testified that Frazier was not present during the shooting. He also explained that although a 911 recording from the night of the murder captured him implicating Frazier at the scene of the crime, his statements on the call had been taken out of context. Colon testified that he had seen Frazier shoot Oquindo. Medina's wife, Laura Garrett, was also at the scene of the crime but was not called to testify at trial by either the prosecution or the defense. After the Commonwealth rested, the trial judge conducted a colloquy with Frazier. THE COURT: There are witnesses you can also call; do you understand that? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: And it's your decision also not to call witnesses? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: You're doing that of your own free will? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: Again, no threats or promises were made to get you to do that? THE DEFENDANT: No. THE COURT: After discussing this with your attorney, that's what you both decided on? THE DEFENDANT: Absolutely. The jury found Frazier guilty of first-degree murder, criminal conspiracy, and possession of an instrument of crime. The Superior Court affirmed the judgment of the sentence on direct appeal. Frazier then filed a petition under the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. 9541 et seq. (2007), asserting, inter alia, that his counsel had been ineffective for failing to call Garrett as a witness. Garrett signed an affidavit stating that she would have testified that she saw Frazier running away from the shooting as it occurred without a gun in his hands. Her affidavit further asserted that she had relayed this information to Frazier's lawyer. The PCRA court denied the petition without a hearing. The Superior Court affirmed, finding that Frazier's colloquy waived his right to challenge counsel's effectiveness for failing to call Garrett. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied allocatur. Frazier then filed a writ of habeas corpus, which the District Court denied, finding that under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA)'s deferential standard of review, Frazier's claim was without merit. Because it was not an unreasonable determination of the facts for the Superior Court to conclude that Frazier had knowingly and intelligently waived his right to call any witnesses, he could not prevail on his ineffective assistance claim regarding Garrett's testimony. Further, the District Court found that Frazier was not prejudiced by the failure to call Garrett, as her testimony would have been duplicative of her husband George Medina's. The District Court also opined that Garrett's testimony would not have been genuinely exculpatory. III. We have jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1291 and 2253. We review the District Court's denial of an evidentiary hearing for abuse of discretion. Grant v. Lockett, 709 F.3d 224, 229 (3d Cir. 2013). When, as here, the district court does not hold an evidentiary hearing and dismisses a petition based on the state court record, our review is plenary. Id. at 22930. IV. As noted above, the parties contest the standard of review we should apply to the Pennsylvania Superior Court's ruling. Frazier argues that the Superior Court's decision was procedural, as it barred him categorically from asserting his ineffective assistance claim due to his colloquy at trial. Thus, he claims, the decision was not an adjudication on the merits, as required under 2254 to warrant deference. Rather, he would have us review the state court's determination de novo. However, we need not decide this issue to resolve the case. For even under de novo review of his ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Frazier cannot succeed. V. To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must show that his counsel provided deficient assistance and that there was prejudice as a result. Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 104 (2011). To demonstrate deficient performance, Frazier must show that his counsel's actions fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms. Buehl v. Vaughn, 166 F.3d 163, 169 (3d Cir. 1999) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688 (1984)). The inquiry requires courts to be highly deferential to counsel's reasonable strategic decisions and guard against the temptation to engage in hindsight. Marshall v. Hendricks, 307 F.3d 36, 85 (3d Cir. 2002) (quoting and citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 68990). Indeed, counsel is presumed to have acted within the range of reasonable professional assistance, and the defendant bears the burden of overcom[ing] the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689 (quoting and citing Michel v. Louisiana, 350 U.S. 91, 101 (1955)). Frazier suggests that in conducting this deficiency inquiry, we must ascertain counsel's actual motivation for every challenged action. This runs contrary to precedent and common sense. Richter makes clear, Strickland calls for an inquiry into the objective reasonableness of counsel's performance, not counsel's subjective state of mind. 562 U.S. at 110 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688). While it is true that courts cannot indulge post hoc rationalization for counsel's decisionmaking that contradicts the available evidence of counsel's actions, Wiggins [v. Smith], 539 U.S. [510], 52627 [ (2003) ], neither may they insist counsel confirm every aspect of the strategic basis for his or her actions. Richter, 562 U.S. at 109. Thus, objectively reasonable explanations for counsel's actions ascertainable from the record eliminate the need for an evidentiary hearing investigating counsel's subjective motivations as to trial strategy. See Thomas v. Varner, 428 F.3d 491, 501 & n.10 (3d Cir. 2005). We find that Frazier's counsel performed reasonably in this instance, and thus no evidentiary hearing is required. Arguing otherwise, Frazier likens his case to those where we did remand for evidentiary hearings. See, e.g., Branch v. Sweeney, 758 F.3d 226 (3d Cir. 2014); Siehl v. Grace, 561 F.3d 189 (3d Cir. 2009). However, there is a critical distinction between his case and those on which he relies: we have ordered evidentiary hearings where the record would leave a reasonable judge questioning whyother than inadvertencecounsel performed as he or she did. But here, it is not so difficult for us to surmise why counsel may not have called Garrett, and why that choice was at least reasonable. It is clear that not calling Garrett was a matter of strategy rather than inadvertence. Garrett affirmed that she had met with counsel to discuss what she had seen, and that he responded that her testimony was not needed. Further, Frazier confirmed in his colloquy that he had discussed with his counsel not calling other witnesses. While it is clear counsel made a strategic choice, we must still assess if that strategy was at least reasonable. Although we disagree with the District Court's conclusion that Garrett's statement was merely duplicative of other witnesses' testimony, we still find the choice not to call her reasonable for several reasons. First, the record indicates that Garrett may not have been a reliable witness, based in part on the same biases that the Commonwealth claims discredited Medina. Second, her testimony would have directly contradicted her husband's that Frazier was not at the scene at all. Third, calling Garrett to the stand could have highlighted several facts unfavorable to the defendant, including that she was injured in the exchange while nine months pregnant with George Medina's child. Also, Frazier's colloquy supports the idea that counsel performed reasonably. Garrett was present in the courtroom during part of the trial, yet Frazier's colloquy indicated clearly that he did not wish to call other witnesses. Regardless of counsel's advice, it seems somewhat implausible that Frazier would have so freely and explicitly waived his right to call Garrett if her testimony would have been as helpful as he now urges. At the very least, the colloquy helps bolster the conclusion that not calling Garrett was a reasonable course of action. These reasons, operating in concert with the presumption that counsel performed reasonably, decide this case. Because we find counsel has not performed deficiently, we need not address prejudice. VII. In conclusion, we find that Frazier's petition was properly denied, and we affirm the judgment of the District Court. FOOTNOTES . This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not constitute binding precedent. . 28 U.S.C. 2254(d) commands that when a State court has adjudicated [a claim] on the merits, on habeas corpus review federal courts should defer to the State court's decision unless the adjudication (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. RENDELL, Circuit Judge: A comedian posing as a broadcast journalist fooled New Yorkers into believing that Hillary Clinton had dropped out of the presidential race after being diagnosed with 'Zika' in an elaborate prank. Accompanied by a fake camera crew, Tyler Fischer, 29, pretended to be a reporter for BBC America, informing the public of the 'news' that Hillary was ill and that Donald Trump would 'most likely be the next president of the United States'. The New York-based actor received mixed reactions from the public - ranging from cheering to shock, sadness and conspiracy theories, while two people suggested they would commit suicide because of it - which he filmed for a video. Courtesy of Comedian Tyler Fischer Lies: Prankster tyler Fischer, pictured posing as a broadcast journalist, shocked New Yorkers by pretending that Hillary Clinton has 'dropped out' of the election race What? The actor and comedian, 29, told them she had dropped out due to illness, claiming she had 'Zika', and filmed their reactions Unhappy: He told them as a result of Hillary dropping out, Donald Trump would 'most likely' be president. Many New Yorkers, pictured, were devastated by the 'news' Dressed in a suit, Tyler stood in different spots on the streets of New York with a 'BBC America' microphone. As he pretended to deliver his 'report', shocked crowds gathered around him and he approached members of the public for their reactions. He also falsely accused the Democrat presidential candidate of having an 'affair with Ben Carson' and 'sexting with Anthony Weiner'. His video has been watched more than 180,000 times since he shared it on YouTube on Sunday. He said: 'Breaking news, breaking news, breaking news! 'Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has just announced that she will be dropping out of the presidential race, making Donald Trump perhaps the next president of the United States.' As he said the 'news' was announced 'about five minutes ago' passers who overheard what he said started responding to it. A man and a woman both said: 'Oh my God.' As Tyler said 'Donald Trump will most likely be the next president of the United States' a man stood open-mouthed while a woman said: 'No, you're kidding.' A man and a woman both individually claimed to have predicted it. The woman said: 'I knew that was going to happen, after that thing that she had the seizure.' Hoax: In reality, Hillary Clinton, pictured right on Tuesday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has not pulled out of the race against Donald Trump, pictured left in Prescott Valley, Arizona Confusion: He received mixed reactions from the public to his fake news - ranging from sadness to cheering. He spoke to a French man and woman, pictured, who were shocked 'Zika?' These women could not believe Tyler's fake claim that Hillary had dropped out Hopeless: One man, pictured, hugged Tyler and said to the camera: 'We're screwed, we're really f****d' Options: He asked a child, pictured, if he would consider moving to Canada but the boy was not optimistic - suggesting that they might 'build a wall to keep all the Americans out' One man said: 'I'm going to hang myself now.' The reporter said: 'No, don't hang yourself.' 'There goes another assassination,' said another passerby. Some people's reactions were more extreme. One man responded to Tyler's approach by saying: 'Let me go find me a gun.' Others turned to religion in response to the 'revelation'. One woman crossed herself as she said: 'God help us.' A man hugged Tyler as he said 'I'm sorry'. The prankster also hugged another member of the public who said to the camera: 'We're screwed, we're really f****d.' Despite his unprofessional demeanor - hugging people, standing with his hands in his pockets, confusing his facts and sharing his own opinions - people appeared to believe that Tyler was a reporter. 'I didn't think she'd drop out even if she died,' said one man. One of a group of three women to whom he told the false news to asked: 'Does she have Parkinson's?' They appeared astonished when he told them she has Zika - responding simultaneously: 'Zika?' They later revealed they were Trump supporters and started cheering. He confuses his facts when he tells another woman that she had Zika but later incorrectly referred to it as 'bird flu'. Drastic measures: One man, pictured left, responded to the fake news by saying 'Let me go find me a gun' while a woman, pictured right, crossed herself Consoling: A man, pictured, hugged Tyler as he said 'I'm sorry' in response to his claims Conspiracy: One passerby, pictured, said it was an 'assassination' attempt False: Tyler then made up claims about Hillary's personal life, telling one man, pictured, that she had been 'sexting with Anthony Weiner' and had an 'affair with Ben Carson' Predictions: A number of people, including the man pictured, claimed they 'knew' Hillary would pull out He said: 'It has been confirmed she has Zika...Bird flu, I don't know if that's because she had been travelling.' Tyler then moved on to making up claims about Hillary's personal life. He asked a man: 'Are you surprised to find out that she had been sexting with Anthony Weiner?' He responded by saying: 'What's good for the goose should be good for the gander?' Tyler replied: 'What about her affair with Ben Carson?' When Tyler lied to two French people that Hillary was pulling out of the race, the woman said: 'We are scared. Please, don't stay here.' He asked a child if he would consider moving to Canada but the boy was not optimistic - suggesting that perhaps they might follow Donald's example. He said: 'Canada's probably going to build a wall to keep all the Americans out.' One man responded to Tyler's fake claims by saying: 'She believed that Satan is a god of this world. If she's very careless...and sick.' When Tyler suggested that it was because Hillary was a woman, the man mistakenly repeated his words before correcting himself by saying he did not agree on that point. He said afterwards: 'Don't put this on TV.' To which Tyler replied: 'No, no, no. It will be on the internet.' She's known for having an artistic flair having secured one of the industry's most coveted jobs and today Princess Eugenie indulged in her passion as she attended an art fair. The Princess of York looked edgy in a sleeveless mac as she joined other gallery enthusiasts at the VIP private view Frieze art fair in London's Regent's Park. The youngest daughter of Prince Andrew paired her trendy jacket with a white a-line dress and grunge style boots for her outing today. Princess Eugenie sported an edgy outfit as she attended the VIP private view of the Frieze art fair in London The 26-year-old, who works at the Hauser and Wirth gallery, posed briefly for photos but didn't seem keen to hang around this afternoon. The princess did however, flash what appeared to be a very empty left hand despite recent rumours that she is engaged to long term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank. The only ring that could be spotted on Eugenie's hands was on her middle finger on her left hand rather than her ring finger. In recent weeks rumours of the princess' engagement to long term partner Jack Brooksbank have been rife, however their was no evidence of an engagement ring today The only rings to be seen worn by the princess were on the middle finger of her left hand (pictured) Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank have been together since they were introduced in Switzerland in 2010 and in recent weeks it has been rumoured that the pair have decided to tie the knot. Last month Eugenie took nightclub manager Mr Brooksbank, 29, to Balmoral to meet her grandmother. It was rumoured that while there, he may have asked the Queen for her blessing for a forthcoming engagement. It came after the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York and her partner joined other members of the Royal family at the Highland retreat for a shooting party to celebrate Prince Harry's birthday. Rumours of Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank's engagement came after the pair made a trip to Balmoral where it was suggested that he asked for the Queen's blessing One insider claimed that the trip would be a 'rite of passage' for Mr Brooksbank. And while no official announcement has been made, the couple are reportedly planning to become officially engaged by the end of this year with a view to marrying in 2017. It was reported that the pair are set to live in Kensington Palace, which also serves as the official royal base of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The pair are said to be 'very serious' about their relationship - and Brooksbank has become close to the Duke and Duchess of York. A family friend said in August: 'Jack is very close to Eugenies family. He is always invited away with them in the summer. Sarah sees him as a son-in-law already. She and Andrew adore Jack. He is a lovely boy and he has really fitted into the family. However, a spokesman for Sarah, Duchess of York, categorically denied the claim her daughter was about to get engaged. When it comes to hiring top models to show off her designs, Stella McCartney has her pick of the A-listers. So it came as some surprise when she chose Ronnie Wood to became one of the first famous faces to showcase her hotly-anticipated menswear line. The 69-year-old who recently became a father for the fifth - and sixth - time, was shot posing in one of her T-shirts and dapper jackets while cradling his twin baby daughters Gracie Jane and Alice Rose. Scroll down for video Proud father Ronnie Wood beams in the David Bailey portrait as he holds his baby twins, born just done day before his 69th birthday, in his arms The Rolling Stones guitarist was reunited with his 'old pal' David Bailey, who took a series of black and white portraits of celebrities in Stella's new designs. A fan of fashion since the Sixties, Ronnie wore a Stella McCartney jacket, $1,840 (1,440) over an organic T shirt from the new line, with a price tag of $265 (208). In true rock god style he also accessorised with a $335 (262) antique chain necklace, but kept his own pendant necklace on too. The brave dad held his four-month-old twin daughters in his arms without putting them in nappies first, but fortunately the girls were on their best behaviour and seemed more interested in sleeping in front of the camera. It was the first time the little girls have been shown off in public since Ronnie and his wife of four years Sally Humphreys debuted them shortly after their birth in June. He already has son Jesse Wood, with his first wife and former model, Krissy Wood, daughter Leah and son Tyrone from his second marriage, to Jo, and Jamie, Jo Woods son from a previous marriage, whom Wood adopted. Ronnie and his theatre producer wife Sally Humphreys, who is 31 years his junior, married in 2012 Gigi Hadid posed on the cover of the Wall Street Journal Magazine featuring Ronnie Ronnie was joined by a range of stars in the Wall Street Journal shoot including Tom Daley and Professor Green, all captured in the stark images by the veteran Sixties photographer. For many fashion fans, Stella's transition into menswear has come as a surprise. But for the designer herself, who used to spend her Central Saint Martins days in the Nineties hanging around with tailors in Savile Row, it's a natural progression. Stella McCartney is making her first foray into menswear on November 10 The 45-year-old has also dabbled in menswear over the years, making a suit for David Bowie, shoes for Morrissey and a coat for Ronnie. The rocker told WSJ: 'I saw her in a wonderful overcoat once, gray with pinstripes, and I said, "Oh, I love that,". 'She said, "Oh, this is my personal overcoat. I'll make you one".' A year later he had forgotten about it until he saw her and she whipped out the overcoat and told him that she'd made one for her and one for her father, Paul. But her official menswear line has been six years in the making. The prices will also be similar with T-shirts starting at $245 (192) and coats topping out at $2,155 (1,690). A father with terminal cancer was granted his final wish to see his daughter perform in her marching band, just one week before he passed away. Mike Bankes, who passed away last month at the age of 67, was transported to the stadium in a stretcher by ambulance with balloons and flowers to surprise his daughter Mikayla who is a member of her high school marching band in Morton, Illinois. Mikayla, who thought it was a normal rehearsal, was moved to tears by the visit from her father who had recently returned home on hospice after a year-long battle with cancer and spent two months in hospital. Surprise! Terminally-ill cancer sufferer Mike Bankes (left) was granted his final wish to see his daughter perform with her marching band just one week before he died Monumental: Mike, pictured center with wife Nikki Pittenger-Bankes and daughter Mikayla, passed away just a week after the emotional visit Proud: During the practice, in full dress rehearsal, Mike watched from the stands as his daughter performed Spectators said there was 'not a dry eye in the stadium' as Mikayla and her father's shared dream came true. The Morton High School marching band were dressed in full uniform and the band director gave a speech in honor of Mikayla and Mike. After the performance, Mikayla was led to her father in the stands by her instructor and three best friends. Mikayla was astonished by the surprise and said she only realized what was happening when her band mates started hugging her. 'I thought maybe we were just going to put uniforms on just to practice with uniforms on... Unexpected: Mikayla had no idea what was happening until her band mates started hugging her and she saw her father was there Assistance: He was driven to the stadium by ambulance and carried in on a stretcher Unwell: Mike had recently returned home on hospice after a year-long battle with cancer and two months in hospital 'I was talking with someone and people just started hugging me and then I realized that my dad was there in the stands,' she told WMBD afterwards. She said she tried to do 'as best I could' and that her father told her that 'he really liked it'. Her mother Nikki Pittenger-Bankes said she had never seen her daughter so happy. 'Our daughter, Mikayla, is in the Morton Color Guard and has always wished her dad could see her perform just one time. And his last wish was the same. 'So with the help of some amazing people, we made it happen... Special performance: Mikayla, pictured center, said she tried to do 'as best I could' and that her father told her that 'he really liked it' Joyful: Nikki said she had never seen her daughter so happy Memorable moment: She said Mike brought balloons and flowers for his daughter and that afterwards they 'shared the best family hug and moment ever' Special: She said her daughter was 'gleaming, she was crying and it was all amazing' 'He had balloons and flowers for her and we shared the best family hug and moment ever! 'This made my daughter the happiest I have ever seen her. She was gleaming, she was crying and it was all amazing,' she wrote on the Love What Matters Facebook page, where her story has been liked by more than 85,000 users. Nikki later said the performance was a 'true blessing' for their family as she revealed that her husband passed away just a week later. She wrote: 'Thank you everyone for your continued love and support. It means the world to us. Grateful: Thanking people for their help and support Nikki said 'it's a memory that will last forever' Loss: Nikki later shared an image of a memorial created in honor of her husband on Facebook Memories: 'This night was a true blessing for my family, as he passed away just a week after this,' Nikki said of the emotional moment Close: Photographer Jacque Austin who recorded the marching band event, said it was 'heartwarming' to see Mikayla, pictured with her father when she was younger, so happy 'This night was a true blessing for my family, as he passed away just a week after this. 'But it's a memory that will last forever. Thank you all again! Love and hugs to all!' Photographer Jacque Austin said it was an emotional experience. She told Daily Mail Online: 'It was so heartwarming to see the joy in Mikayla's face as well as her dad's as the last wish of both of them came true. With their thick, glossy, tumbling manes these four women could so easily be in their 20s - from the back, that is. Their real ages (from 45 to 54. Yes, really!) may surprise you but the truth is, these days, its impossible to work out how old a woman is from behind. Why? Because, regardless of age, our hair is collectively the longest it has been since the Seventies, and its not just the young women who aspire to girlish Kate Middleton-esque tresses, but 40-plus women, too. With their thick, glossy, tumbling manes these four women could so easily be in their 20s - from the back, that is - but their real ages range from 45 to 54, proving that it's impossible to guess a woman's age from behind Forget the sensible older lady haircut of yesteryear todays mature women want the swingy-haired locks of a twentysomething. And with the advent of more effective shampoos and conditioners, not to mention extensions and thickeners, even those cursed with limp strands can get in on the act. Long hair in mid-life is fast becoming the norm and the likes of actresses Julianne Moore, 55, Demi Moore, 53, Jane Seymour, 65, and models Elle Macpherson, 52, and Cindy Crawford, 50, are proof that long locks can have longevity in the style stakes. (Cindy and her 15-year-old daughter illustrate, too, how difficult it often is these days to distinguish between a mother and daughter with identical-length hair when they are walking down the street). (From left) Rae Martin, 54, loves her long blonde hair, May Simpkin, a nutritionist, is 51 and says her tumbling locks are 'flattering', Natural blonde Dr Heike Doutine, 45, dyes her waist-length hair herself and Model and property developer Michelle Thomas, 48, swears by Royal Jelly capsules Whereas a youthful rear view and cruelly incongruous face used to be the dread of all women, the perceived wisdom that short hair is more flattering has now been turned on its head. May Simpkin, a nutritionist, is 51 and a case in point. Her hair is the longest it has ever been and, she insists the most flattering. For the past year, my secret weapon has been a weekly 15 salon blow-dry to keep it looking luscious and presentable for the next five days, she says. Twice a year, I also have a Brazilian keratin treatment. At 225 a pop, its not cheap, but it magically smooths any frizz. May Simpkin, a nutritionist, is a case in point. Her hair is the longest it has ever been and, she insists the most flattering Those with abundant hair like the 51-year-old's can turn to products to ward off frizz and coarse grey hairs, one of the many perils for mid-life Rapunzels But whats not to love about having swishy locks at my age? At a glance from behind, I can see why some people assume Im years younger. But I think longer hair is more flattering from the front, too. Those with abundant hair like Mays can turn to products to ward off frizz and coarse grey hairs, one of the many perils for mid-life Rapunzels. Reduced oestrogen results in a shorter growing phase, while increased levels of male hormones such as testosterone can make hair thinner. Wild curly hair like mine is trickier to pull off as you age, admits May, who lives in Surrey with her husband Guy, 55, who works in the City, and their children, Daniel, 21, Jack 19, and Jade, 17. Thats why I straighten it. Since entering my 50s, my complexion is naturally less radiant, so I focus on ensuring that my hair gleams and illuminates my face. Natural blonde Dr Heike Doutine has waist-length, head-turning hair, but says she never goes to salons and instead dyes it herself The 45-year-old said: Ive always had long hair, even as a child. Teachers told me I looked like Brigitte Bardot and that my hair wasnt appropriate and should be tied up' Others are taking rather more drastic action. Hair loss specialist Lucinda Ellery says she has noticed a definite increase in older women coming to her for fillers (a new technique that uses hair extensions to add volume, rather than length) because they want to grow their thinning hair long. I have long hair myself, says Lucinda, so I understand the appeal. Hair does deteriorate as you get older but, these days, if you want more hair, you can go and buy some. The allure of long hair is all about quality, rather than quantity. It implies health (or wealth, where extensions are concerned). At 45, natural blonde Dr Heike Doutine has waist-length, head-turning hair, but says she never goes to salons and instead dyes it herself. I do eat healthily, though yoghurts, fruit and probably too much fish. I walk a lot, too, says the philosophy lecturer from London. Heike has been married to her husband for 20 years and they have an eight-year-old son. Rae Martin from Herne Bay, Kent, tried the sensible thing, lopping off her Rapunzel-esque hair when she turned 40 The 54-year-old's friends were incredulous, asking what she had done with her 'lovely long hair', while one of her sons told her she didnt look like his mummy any more. So she grew it back - much, she suspects, to her husband Phils delight She adds: Ive always had long hair, even as a child. Teachers told me I looked like Brigitte Bardot and that my hair wasnt appropriate and should be tied up. I have long hair myself so I understand the appeal. Hair does deteriorate as you get older but, these days, if you want more hair, you can go and buy some But, as an adult, Ive only ever received compliments about it. My husband cleverly once told me: You are the only woman who looks good in the morning.' Trichologist Glenn Lyons, of the renowned Philip Kingsley Clinic, advocates shoulder-length hair, rather than any longer. I remember walking down the road behind a woman with long, blonde hair and thinking that she looked great. But when she turned around, I was in for a shock she must have been about 75. Contrary to popular belief that washing your hair every day strips it of essential oils, Glenn says regular washing is beneficial. Hair is exposed to the same elements as your face and you wouldnt go five days without washing your face, would you? Using a good conditioner is the key. Rae Martin, 54, from Herne Bay, Kent, tried the sensible thing, lopping off her Rapunzel-esque hair when she turned 40. Model and property developer Michelle Thomas agrees that longer hair is more flattering as you age As for maintenance, the 48-year-old mother of one - her daughter is 12 - focuses on using a good conditioner and swears by Royal Jelly capsules The social media consultant says: Until 15 years ago, I had hair down to my bottom, an antidote to the sensible bob Id had in my teens and early 20s. But in a moment of madness, when I turned 40, I asked my hairdresser to chop it all off to the nape of my neck. Her friends were incredulous: What have you done with all that lovely long hair? they all asked and one of my sons told me I didnt look like his mummy any more. So she grew it back much, she suspects, to her husband Phils delight. Model and property developer Michelle Thomas, 48, agrees that longer hair is more flattering as you age: A short haircut can make a woman look hard. My other half prefers it long and down. As for maintenance, the mother of one her daughter is 12 focuses on using a good conditioner and swears by Royal Jelly capsules. Lucinda Ellery agrees that vitamins and good products are the key to good hair. She says: We are influenced subliminally by the glossy posse of celebrities, so its no wonder older women want lovely, long, thick hair more than ever. Its all part of that covetable youthful package. A New Zealand-based lingerie brand has launched a stunning new campaign featuring nine women of all different ages, races, shapes, and sizes modeling their lacy designs. Lonely Lingerie enlisted photographer June Canedo to shoot its Autumn/Winter 2016 campaign, which was styled by Zara Mirkin. The photo series, which has been named 'Nine of a Kind', features photographer Petra Collins's ballerina sister Anna and plus-size model Paloma Elsesser, among others. Simply stunning: Lonely, a New Zealand-based lingerie brand, has released a new campaign starring nine real women, including designer Georgia Pratt Family affair: June Canedo shot the brand's Autumn/Winter 2016 campaign, which also features her mother, Rogeria In addition to the campaign's focus on diversity, none of the images have been retouched or altered in any way. 'Our campaign serves to celebrate individuality,' said Helene Morris, Lonelys designer and founder. 'Through intimate portraits of nine inspiring women, we celebrate our differences, our different ages, our different bodies, our different stories [and] the differences that make us who we are.' The campaign, which is mean to inspire women from all walks of life, also stars Art Hoe Collective founder Gabrielle Richardson, transgender model Aurel Haize Odogbo, New York-based stylist Marcela Jacobina, writer and Slutever founder Karley Scortino, artist Ajani Lucid, designer Georgia Pratt, and June's mother, Rogeria. Ethereal: Plus-size model Paloma Elsesser donned one of Lonely's white lingerie sets for her beachside shoot Natural models: Photographer Petra Collins's sister Anna (left) posed with her hand on her head, while writer Karley Scortino (right) was curled up on a chair Unique: 'Our campaign serves to celebrate individuality,' said Helene Morris, Lonelys founder. Art Hoe Collective founder Gabrielle Richardson is pictured posing on a wooden chair In one of the images, Anna confidently poses with her hand on her head while standing on the beach. Another photograph sees Rogeria donning one of the label's delicate lace bras while standing in a bare room with a hardwood floor topped with throw rugs. 'With Zara, June and these nine women, we hope to inspire a community of like-minded individuals independent women who can collectively say they are proud to be themselves,' Helen said of the campaign. Each of the nine women look beautiful in the various lingerie pieces they were chosen to model. Perfect fit: Artist Ajani Lucid (left) and transgender model Aurel Haize (right) look stunning in black lace Au naturel: Photos from the 'Nine of a Kind' campaign are completely unretouched. New York-based stylist Marcela Jacobina is pictured wearing floral separates While is Georgia wearing a a black lace bra and high-waisted briefs, Marcela is sporting a more casual floral bralette paired with matching underwear. The campaign aims to encourage women to embrace who they are and celebrate their differences. The models featured in the photo series are so diverse that many women will presumably able to identify with at least one of them. Zara, a New York-based stylist who was born in New Zealand, believes that all women are equal and should be celebrated. My journey began on the bus to Broadgreen Hospital, in Liverpool, which my 22-year-old, heavily pregnant mother boarded on October 7, 1946. The following day, I entered chilly, postwar Britain a lucky beneficiary of Clement Attlees new Family Allowance of five shillings a week. I was blessed to be a baby boomer. People say age is just a number but thats not right. Ageing is all too real the sum total of our experiences. If those include remembering grease-stained ration books in the kitchen drawer, cushions made from black-out curtains, watching the Queens Coronation on a tiny black-and-white screen, a sixpence for pocket money, chanting times tables in classes of 50 and first hearing Elvis . . . then, folks, youre definitely cracking on in years! Aged 7 months: Family comes first: Here I am with my adored grandfather Bill Mooney, who fought in two World Wars. At the time my parents were living with their two children in my grandparents three- bedroom rented house because there was so little council accommodation in bombed-out Liverpool. Times were hard for them all but it was here, as a baby, I learnt my first important life lesson: that family (for better, for worse) trumps everything To deny it would be to reject the richness of a period that began in the postwar gloom, embraced The Beatles and Ban The Bomb, and witnessed greater change than any other period in history. I rejoice to have lived through exciting times and relish the new ones. Age is a state of mind thats for sure. If we cant be Forever Young (as Dylan sang) we can be forever sparky. One of my peers from university dreads her imminent 70th, because the thought is utterly depressing. But a friend six years older finds the zippy 70s no problem. No guessing which attitude I admire. Surely the worst aspect of ageing is not the years on the body clock, but the cumulative toll on the mind and heart. If you allow it. Is there a choice? Thats what I plan to spend the coming year, as I enter my seventh decade, examining. Aged 6: Always dress to impress: By the time I was about six or seven, my parents had finally got their own council house. In the original version of this picture I was posing in front of the essential coal bunker (the coal fire heated the water, dont forget) and so proud of the costume my clever mother had made. I learnt this life lesson from her: that even if you dont have much money, you can always look your best My new project is to consider how to transform the third age in body, mind and spirit. Yes, its daunting, but change must be embraced. Otherwise you just congeal. I wont pretend I like wrinkles, or the thicker waist, or the fact that my (salon-coloured) hair is thinner than 20 years ago. I dont judge women who succumb to the ultimate vanity of a facelift, but since your reflection tells your story, why betray that unique history? Still, I firmly believe in constant maintenance. Being determined to make the most of yourself is the outward sign of actively engaging with life. Why give up because of wrinkles become one of those women whos let herself go? Why not take pride? Like my mother, I shall be slapping on face cream until the end. Its a real positive to think you owe it to the world, as well as to yourself, to turn a brave face to the future, even if the sands are running out. So I dont think it trivial to offer my own beauty tips: Never go to bed without cleaning and moisturising, no matter how late or how much wine youve drunk! Aged 16: You can be anything you want: At the age of 16 I discovered boys, but Mickey the cat remained my greatest love. At this stage my parents had moved to Wiltshire, taking out their first mortgage on a semi. So I went to the local grammar school and had my third vital lesson drummed into me at home and school: that studying hard and expecting the most of myself was the key to getting on in life Dont think you must use expensive products. Boots is good enough for me and I spend less money on clothes and cosmetics than ever before. (Have to save up for the grandchildren . . .) Moisturise top to toe after every single bath or shower. It takes two minutes. Exercise at least twice a week and eat well. My greatest regret is that I didnt realise the importance of this until I was in my 40s. For a morale boost, choose one quick, easy beauty product to use each day, even if youre not going out. Mine is eye-liner, but lip gloss will do. Treat yourself. I have regular facials and reflexology for relaxation. This isnt pampering a silly term I dislike. No, its sensible, wise and celebratory to proclaim: This one body I have is a gift. While its important to look after your body, more than ever I realise the importance of nurturing the mind. Endlessly slumping in front of the TV is an offence, just as scoffing junk food is a crime against the body. Im lucky still to be working, but my dear mum keeps her mind active by doing puzzles, as well as using her tablet computer. Aged 23: Love comes in many forms: When I was at University College London I met my first husband, fellow student Jonathan, and fell madly in love, marrying after only three months. We were passionate equals and took life pretty seriously, talking endlessly about what we would do with our futures. Exercising precious brain cells is another free choice, open to all. Me, I devour newspapers and books, and still try to learn poems by heart. Feeling engaged with the world is essential, although it can make you furious. For example, you contemplate humanitys outrages, then watch Labour zealots sing the Red Flag, complete with those stupid clenched fists, as if the vile Soviet gulags had never happened. Oh please. Back then I believed the best of human kind. Now I dont because proofs to the contrary come in every day. How can you believe in essential goodness when confronted by the tide of online stupidity, vicious cruelty and loathsome porn? The world is more polluted by this dross than greenhouse gases. As for world peace . . . if you believe thats a possibility youll go slowly mad. These days I know too much about human nature to place any faith in perfectibility. Instead I acknowledge sin and chaos and the eternal struggle between good and evil. As for change, if youd told me in 1968 that in 2016 I would join the Conservative Party Id have laughed in your face. Life lesson: that an impetuous love could last for 35 years and even be sustained after divorce. Oh, and that a first child (Dan was born when I was 27) teaches you a new sort of love. But now I passionately believe that level-headed, strong-minded, compassionate conservatism is the best (only?) system for Britain. And because our democracy needs an effective, strong Opposition Im miserable about whats happened to my old party which achieved so much good when I was born. The thinking never stops. We Librans wield even-handed scales, murmuring: On the one hand, on the other hand, still trying to see both sides of the argument. But I unequivocally detest all fanatics who would destroy the way of life I hold so dear. Ive swapped sides on imaginary barricades. That may sound negative: certainly, thinking about political and moral issues can make you feel helpless yet the process keeps you alive. Im thrilled still to believe the voice of the individual can be a powerful instrument of change (consider the Brexit referendum) and have no time for those who look back with regret, always moaning that the past was better. Some of it was, but some wasnt so dont be sentimental. The important thing is to set your mind on constant renewal: to try new music, new programmes, new interests, new ideas. Then if you go scuttling back to old favourites, its fine because you have at least opened your mind. Aged 33: Youre stronger than you think you are: In my 30s I was a journalist, working for newspapers and magazines and also appearing on radio programmes, while juggling family life which was tough. Here I am with our eldest son Daniel. Our second son Tom was stillborn at full term, and then at 33 I had Kitty, who had serious medical problems. Thank goodness I didnt know at the time how much hospital treatment she would need. Life lesson: you can find extraordinary reserves of strength inside yourself, for the sake of those you love Aged 42: Lifes tough get over it: The picture is carefree but life was stressful, balancing family problems (Kittys health, Dans teenage years) with writing fiction. We lived near Bath and my husband had to be in London a lot. I drank and smoked too much, and longed to escape at times. Life lesson: Youre sure to be disappointed and stressed, so just learn to deal with it An exercised mind will never truly grow old. Then, of course, there is the Spirit. The other day I found marvellous lines in the Bible. St Paul wrote: No wonder we do not lose heart. Though our outward humanity is in decay, yet day by day we are inwardly renewed. That sums up my attitude to ageing the keystone of which is the accumulation of wisdom. Wrinkles may line your face, and the sorrows and stupidity of the world afflict your mind yet the Spirit can float free, high above earthly concerns. Unless you consciously cultivate that thought, growing old will probably be miserable. This is the time to start focusing on the inner life. Its important to be able to accept the loss of dreams or become weighed down with bitterness and regret. I assumed my first marriage would last into old age. It didnt. I thought Id ease off work, become a peaceful grandmother and take up painting again. And none of that has happened. Yet a degree of sadness and disillusion arrive hand-in-hand with the glorious, fulfilling realisation that family love, friendship, personal integrity and infinite compassion all matter more than anything else. Aged 51: Keep reinventing yourself: With both children having flown the nest, I fought against the ageing process. I wanted to be young and free again, even though deep down I knew it was impossible. But I could still put on terrific parties (food for 40!) and stay up all night and even learnt how to ride a motorbike. It was fun, but in the end I lost my nerve. Life lesson: you can always re-invent yourself but maybe you shouldnt try this hard That knowledge feeds the heart and the warmth of the heart enables the Spirit to grow. Heres an important paradox: you must be ready to accept change right until the end (and what else is ageing but changing?) but simultaneously accept some things cannot be changed. So live the life you have, not the life you have imagined. My first love was journalism but I dreamed of achieving fame with fiction that might change hearts and minds. Believing this to be a superior calling, I wrote stories for adults and children and had disappointments as well as some success. But then came the earthquake: my marriage ended after 35 years, I lost work (partly as a result), remarried and then began a totally unexpected new career as advice columnist. Now, through that journalism, I have access to countless heart-warming and heart-breaking real human stories, which reach out to me and through me to thousands of others. Whats more, this writing can (I know for a fact) change lives. How miraculous! I believe in miracles and mystery. Aged 60: You never know whats round the corner: I separated from my first husband in 2004 and remarried in 2007. Obviously this was a very painful period, but I was blessed with the support of my family and that my marriage did not end in bitterness. With Robin I created a new, calmer life and my career in journalism really took off once more. Life lesson: never think you know whats coming and always have faith that there will be calm after the storm Asked about my religious/spiritual beliefs (which I am quite a lot these days, since my new book considers the afterlife of animals) I answer simply: Yes, Im a Christian because I cant think of a better, richer blueprint for living. Love thy neighbour...what other philosophy could save the world? Naturally I have doubts, but each night I say my prayers never a series of requests, but a ritual of essential thanks. Gratitude gives me hope and strength. In this golden autumn of life, I balance losses against gains. This is the time to meditate on blessings: family, friends, dogs, career, good food, books, music, art, home and all the glories of the natural world, which bring me more joy, than Id have imagined as a callow 30-year-old. That city girl wanted to sit up late boozing and smoking. This countrywoman wants to be among trees. Aged 70: We all feel like a child inside: What I know now: Each of these vital life lessons is as relevant as ever. I may have changed in some ways, but not in the essence. Deep down I still feel like an ordinary Liverpool girl who needs to work hard and prove myself, and who dresses up to face the world. Retirement isnt for me, because I have too much to do. Yes, I feel lucky and thats why, whenever theres a chance, I will always pop a cork in celebration Then I wanted to be sexy. Now I care only about tenderness. Then I was restless. Now I want to stay home with husband and dogs. Then I believed activism would change the world. Now I acknowledge human frailty. Then I played rock music in the car. Now I love silence . . . and my thoughts. Death comes into those thoughts a lot, which isnt surprising. Already some of my peers have died, and that lends urgency to each minute. Yet the sight of grandchildren growing is an antidote to mortality. This is how it is the blossoming and the withering and theres something glorious in accepting that were all a part of endless cycles of growth and death, like the leaves on trees. So the old greed for life (wanting to do and have everything) is tempered by a new sense of calm. So be it. Several were insulted by Starbucks staff who misspelled names on drinks Grandmother called 'old b***h' on one receipt, and another called 'chubby' Photos show the most offensive notes left by customers and waiters Every customer has had a rude waiter, and every waiter has had rude customers (and probably more than just a few). But some people take their frustration to the next level by leaving sneaky rude messages on takeaway cups and receipts. From mildly insulting nicknames to grossly offensive racist remarks, these photos reveal some of the most outrageous notes left for customers and waiters. Waitress Amice09 received this message from a man whose date did not go to plan after she rudely asked the server to re-make her drink three times LoudRen257 revealed she was called a 'weird bictch' on her receipt from a Pennsylvania pizza restaurant on Reddit While signing for the bill, one man had drawn a tiny picture of a penis in the middle of his signature on a receipt One waitress said a sweary message left on a receipt was the 'perfect' way to end her last ever shift as a restaurant worker after seven years in the business. Amice09 posted a picture of the receipt on Reddit, on which a man had scribbled: 'Sorry my date was a *****'. She later revealed the female 'date' has asked her to re-make a drink three times after proclaiming them all 'absolutely disgusting'. The photo received more than 5,500 upvotes on Reddit. LoudRen257 revealed she was called a 'weird bictch' on her receipt from a Pennsylvania pizza restaurant on Reddit - which might have been ruder if it had been spelled correctly. Meanwhile an Imgur user shared a picture of a discrete message her boyfriend had left for waiting staff at another restaurant. TheLovelyVoiceofWisdom was helping her grandmother clean up her desk when she found an old receipt with a very rude message hidden amongst the numbers Srelf was outraged after finding out a waiter had written 'Chubby' on a friend's receipt after visiting a branch of US fast food chain Wendy's While signing for the bill, the man had drawn a tiny picture of a penis in the middle of his signature. The girlfriend said: 'This is how my boyfriend signs the receipt when drunk.' TheLovelyVoiceofWisdom was helping her grandmother clean up her desk when she found an old receipt with a very rude message hidden amongst the numbers, she revealed on Imgur. The receipt called the elderly woman an 'old *****'. 'Such rude people indeed still exist in our world,' the poster wrote. One man was outraged after finding out a waiter had written 'Chubby' on a friend's receipt after visiting a branch of US fast food chain Wendy's. Kurt was shocked to discover that his name had been turned into a very rude swearword by a member of Starbucks staff A barista mispelled his name 'Chad' as 'S***' in Buenos Aires, he revealed on Imgur Srelf uploaded a photo to Twitter, with the caption: 'My friend came home crying to her children.' It's not only receipts where rude messages are hidden. Dozens have shared pictures on social media of the rude names they've been given by staff working at Starbucks. The coffee chain asks its baristas to write people's first names on their drinks to give a more personal service. Instead of her name, Jude, the girl's drink reads: 'Jew' Kinzi shared a picture on Imgur of his Starbucks drink, which brands him 'lazy' But the policy has backfired on more than one occasion. Kurt was shocked to discover that his name had been turned into a very rude swearword by a member of Starbucks staff. The picture of the outrageous drink has been viewed on Imgur more than 300,000 times. Chad meanwhile was left rolling his eyes when a barista mispelled his name as 'S***' in Buenos Aires, he revealed on Imgur. The words 'DIABETES HERE I COME' appeared on a label for one Floridian man's grande white mocha - but he didn't find it funny as he claims his two sisters have diabetes That photo was viewed more than 800,000 times. And WaxMeOffMiyagi uploaded a picture of friend Jude to Imgur looking grumpy with her thumbs down while holding a Starbucks frappuccino. Instead of her name, the drink says: 'Jew'. Kinzi also shared a picture on Imgur of his Starbucks drink, which brands him 'lazy'. He said: 'My name is always spelled wrong but Starbucks wins the prize.' Waitress Sadie Karina, who was born in America but is of Latin-American descent, received a racist message on a receipt from one customer Arainia Brown and her boyfriend Rolman Sparkman were shocked to find that their waiter had written 'BLACK PPL' on their receipt In another Starbucks-related offence, t he words 'DIABETES HERE I COME' appeared on a label for one Floridian man's grande white mocha. He then claimed to have scribbled a furious reply to the barista when he returned the cup, which read: 'Two of my sisters are diabetic, so... not funny.' While some of the messages are only mildly insulting, others are much more offensive. Waitress Sadie Karina, who was born in America but is of Latin-American descent, received a racist message on a receipt from one customer at a Virginia restaurant in August. Victoria Whittle, from Manchester, was eating out with partner Mike Shawcross when she saw the waiter had called the couple 'Shaw****rs' on the receipt Alan Bell was left furious when he saw that his surname had been cruelly misspelled as 'Bell End' on an electronic ordering system at Domino's One family suffered through an evening of shoddy restaurant service at an eatery in New Hampshire - only to be called 's*** shows' on their receipt at the end of the meal The note said 'we only tip citizens'. In another racist incident, Arainia Brown and her boyfriend Rolman Sparkman were shocked to find that their waiter had written 'BLACK PPL' on their receipt at a Texas pancake house. Back in the UK, Victoria Whittle, from Manchester, was eating out with partner Mike Shawcross at a hotel in Shropshire earlier this year, when she saw a rude note left on their receipt. The waiter had called the couple 'Shaw****rs' - which the hotel insists was a genuine mistake, as it believed that to be their actual surname. Meanwhile, Alan Bell was left furious when he saw that his surname had been cruelly misspelled as 'Bell End' on an electronic ordering system at a Hertfordshire branch of Domino's. One family suffered through an evening of shoddy restaurant service at an eatery in New Hampshire - only to be called *s*** shows' on their receipt after they received their meal free of charge as compensation. Surgeons operated on the baby's spine during the 24th week of pregnancy The condition caused a gap in her spine from it not developing properly Frankie Lavis was diagnosed with spina bifida after her 20-week scan A baby who was the first in Britain to have spinal surgery while inside the womb can walk with a frame - despite doctors saying she would spend her life in a wheelchair. Frankie Lavis was diagnosed with spina bifida - a condition which caused a gap in her spine as a result of it not developing properly. Surgeons operated on her while her mother was in the 24th week of pregnancy - just two weeks short of the time limit for such an invasive procedure. It was touch and go whether she would survive and her parents, Gina, 37 and Dan, 39, from Plymouth, were told she would still spend life in a wheelchair. But now aged two, Frankie has defied all expectations and can walk with a frame better than her parents ever imagined. Scroll down for video Frankie Lavis was diagnosed with spina bifida - a condition which caused her spine to not develop properly. She became the first person from Britain to have spinal surgery while in the womb. Her family were told she would spend her life in a wheelchair, but now aged two, she has defied all expectations and can walk comfortably with a frame Mrs Lavis said: 'No-one else in the UK had this operation before us so it was a big step. 'But we firmly believed that the best thing was to give her the best start and that is what it is. 'There is a lot of risk but look what we have now. Just look at her now. It is amazing' The family discovered fault in the development of Frankie's spinal cord and surrounding bones which left a split in the spine at the 20-week scan. They diagnosed her with spina bifida and said they could either terminate the pregnancy or attempt to correct the fault after she was born. After researching the condition, they found out about fetal spina bifida repair before birth - although it was surgery not done in the UK. Doctors discovered a fault in the development of Frankie's spinal cord and surrounding bones which left a split in the spine at the 20-week scan It was touch and go whether she would survive the surgery, conducted in Belgium, which took two hours and involved 22 surgical staff. But the operation proved to be a success as she was able to move her lower body when she was born just 11 weeks later They decided the in-utero operation would give their baby a better chance of reduced disability than having it after birth. Mrs Lavis added: 'At the time it was a difficult decision. We came in hoping to find out if we were having a boy or a girl but were told she had a major disability. 'We know that she's the first baby in the UK to have the surgery and we also know that there are many more babies who could qualify for the surgery but it's not being offered as an option at the moment. 'Maybe because it's abroad, maybe because it's a big operation and commitment but we knew it was the right option for us.' The surgery was carried out by Professor Jan Deprest in Belguim, who leads one of only four centres in Europe that performs the operation. It was approved by NHS European Cross Border Funding agency within 30 minutes of the request being made and the family paid their own travel and accommodation. Parents Gina, 37, and Dan, 39, were told they could either terminate the pregnancy or attempt to correct the fault after she was born. but after researching the condition, they found out about fetal spina bifida repair before birth - although it was surgery not done in the UK Surgeons had to cut through Mrs Lavis' abdomen, uterus and into the amniotic sac that held Frankie to reach her spinal cord. The operation took two hours and involved a team of 22 surgical staff. Her back was then brought of the sac enough for it be operated on, while her face remained in the fluid to make sure she didn't start to breathe on her own, which would have meant she had to be delivered prematurely. WHAT IS SPINA BIFIDA? Spina bifida is a fault in the development of the spine and spinal cord that leaves a gap in the spine. Every year around 365 pregnant women in England and Wales are told they are carrying a baby with the condition. As with Mrs Lavis, most cases are detected at the 20-week scan. Frankie was diagnosed with the most common and most serious form of the disease, called myelomeningocele, which affects about one in 2,000 UK babies. In myelomeningocele the spinal column remains open along the bones making up the spine. The membranes and spinal cord push out to create a sac in the baby's back. This sometimes leaves the nervous system vulnerable to infections that may be fatal. In most cases surgery is carried out to close the gap in the spine after birth But damage to the nervous system will usually already have taken place, resulting in: partial or total paralysis of the lower limbs bowel and urinary incontinence loss of skin sensation Advertisement To prevent bleeding, the uterine wall was stapled to the abdominal wall, which surgeons pushed back the bundle of foetal nerves into the space inside the vertebrae, where they would normally be. Surgeons used an artificial skin patch to cover the wound in the baby's back, over which natural skin would eventually grow. And soon after birth, she was moving her legs - showing the operation was a success as the nerves in control of her lower body were working normally. Two years on, Frankie has now surpassed all expectations to be able to walk with a frame better than her parents ever imagined. She was this week taken back to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth so staff who care for her could see how she was getting on. Her former consultant Dr Ross Welch said he was astonished at her progress. He added: 'The change is really quite remarkable knowing the diagnosis when we first made it for Frankie. 'The outcome we predicted was she would never be independently mobile and would be in a wheelchair. 'And to see her as she is now - walking and doing what any other child would do is astonishing.' Every year around 365 pregnant women in England and Wales are told they are carrying a baby with spina bifida and most cases are detected at the 20-week scan. The high risk of damage to the nerves and of disability caused by the condition means that more than 60 per cent of women choose to terminate their pregnancies. A surgical team has performed America's first uterus transplants with living donors in a breakthrough that could revolutionize pregnancy. Four women received donated wombs at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, between September 14 and September 22. It was an attempt to replicate the only successful transplants in the world, which took place in Sweden in 2014. Five of the nine Swedish patients went on to have healthy babies. Despite having to remove three of the wombs due to restricted blood flow, lead surgeon Dr Giuliano Testa told TIME this marks a milestone in America's attempt to help infertile women give birth to their own child. The new approach comes seven months after America's first ever uterus transplant in Ohio's Cleveland Clinic failed. The transplant, which came from a deceased donor, was removed days later due to a yeast infection. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO HOW DO DOCTORS CARRY OUT A WOMB TRANSPLANT? The first step involves doctors removing some of the patients' eggs in order to fertilize them in a dish to create embryos. These are then frozen, until they are needed. Secondly, a womb, complete with two major arteries and four veins, removed from a from donor in a three-hour operation. The donated womb is then implanted into the patient during an operation that typically takes around six hours. The woman is then, as all organ transplant patients are, prescribed powerful immune-suppressing drugs to stop the transplanted womb being rejected by the body. Around a year later, when doctors are confident the transplant is a success, one of the embryos is thawed and implanted into the donated womb. If the pregnancy is a success, doctors ultimately deliver the baby via C-section. Once a woman has successfully carried one or two babies, the transplanted organ is then removed. Advertisement 'If you look at this from the science [perspective], it's something we've learned a lot from, and we have a patient who is doing well,' Dr Testa told TIME. 'This is the beginning of hopefully a great history for medicine.' By the end of 2016, Dr Testa and his team plan to perform six more transplants. He added: 'This is the way we advance, from learning from our mistakes. 'I am not ashamed of being the one who will be remembered as the guy who did four [transplants] in the beginning and three failed. 'Even if through failure, I am going to make this work. I believe from an ethical and clinical and research point of view, we have our heart in the right place.' All of the women in the Dallas trial have a condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, which affects the reproductive system. Some were also born without a womb. The Dallas transplants, like that in Cleveland, are aimed at women with what's called uterine factor infertility, meaning they were born without a uterus or with uterine abnormalities that block pregnancy. If a woman is approved for a transplant, she would first have to have eggs removed from her ovaries, like is done for in vitro fertilization, and then freeze the embryos. Those could be implanted only 12 months after the transplant heals, if it's successful. The womb and blood vessels are sewn inside the recipient's pelvis. Lindsey MacFarland, 26, beamed as she spoke to reporters days after the operation about how grateful she was. But the day after the press conference doctors were forced to remove the uterus due to 'complications' Dr Andreas Tzakis, the program director of the transplant center at the Cleveland Clinic, emphasized that the trial is delicate and although it has been conducted in other countries, carries many risks WHY THE FIRST ONE FAILED The nation's first uterus transplant failed because of a yeast infection. Lindsey MacFarland, 26, of Lubbock, Texas received the transplant on February 24 and seemed to be doing well, even appearing briefly at a news conference days later with her doctors. But just four days after the surgery, the married foster mother suffered a sudden complication that required the organ to be surgically removed, the hospital said. In a statement, the Cleveland Clinic said: 'The infection appears to have compromised the blood supply to the uterus, causing the need for its removal.' The infection was caused by a fungus, called Candida albicans, the New York Times reported. It is a common yeast that causes infections in humans. Though it can be present on the skin without causing infection, overgrowth of the fungus can result in infection. Advertisement Before closing the abdomen, surgeons check for good blood flow and that the attachment to the ligaments is strong enough to maintain a pregnancy. The first attempt in Cleveland used a deceased donor. This would have come from a woman left brain-dead by a car crash, heart defect, brain hemorrhage or another illness. Aged 18 to 50, they would have been kept alive on a ventilator until their womb were removed in a three-hour operation. This time, however, the donations came from live donors. The recipients were aged between 20 and 35. The donors were aged between 35 and 60. According to TIME, these donors were all so-called 'altruistic donors', meaning they are not related to the recipients and do not know who they are. Dr Testa said 50 women offered to donate. 'They told us, "we had our chance to become mothers, and now we have this uterus and it's not doing anything for us. We can put this uterus to use for people who really need it." That struck me as a physician. These women are phenomenal,' Dr Testa said. The first attempt at a uterus transplant was performed in Saudi Arabia in 2000, and failed due to blood clotting. The uterus was removed after three months. In 2011, there was a second attempt in Turkey. Though the recipient managed to conceive, her pregnancy was terminated at eight weeks when doctors couldn't detect a heart beat, and the operation was also deemed a failure. To ensure the new uterus is healthy enough for a pregnancy, recipients must wait a year before doctors perform in vitro fertilization. Once a woman has had one or two children and the donor womb is no longer needed, it is removed by a team of surgeons. This would prevent the need for the woman to be on immune-suppressing drugs for the rest of her life. KEY QUESTIONS OVER AMERICA'S WOMB TRANSPLANTS Why the excitement? Experts in Sweden announced last year that a baby boy had become the first in the world to be delivered following a successful womb transplant. In the UK, a team led by Professor Richard Smith has been working for almost 20 years to secure approval for transplants. That approval has now been granted, which means the first British baby born following a womb transplant could arrive in 2017 or 2018. How do women come to have no womb? Thousands of women of child-bearing age in the US have no womb or a womb that would be unable to carry a baby. Some women are born with a syndrome known as MRKH (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser), which means their womb never developed properly. Others lose their wombs to cervical cancer. Data suggests as many as 50,000 women of childbearing age in the UK have no viable womb, and thousands in the US will be suffering the same condition. Is it risky? The operation takes around six hours, with the organ coming from a donor who has died but whose heart has been kept beating. The recipient will need to take immune-suppressing drugs following the transplant and throughout any pregnancy to prevent the chance their body might reject the donor organ. Once the donor womb is no longer needed, it can be removed by a team of surgeons. This would prevent the need for the woman to be on immune-suppressing drugs for the rest of her life. Advertisement United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. ARTKES BENNETT, Defendant - Appellant. No. 15-4753 Decided: October 04, 2016 Before WILKINSON and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges, and DAVIS, Senior Circuit Judge. Thomas P. McNamara, Federal Public Defender, Stephen C. Gordon, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellant. John Stuart Bruce, Acting United States Attorney, Jennifer P. May-Parker, Barbara D. Kocher, Assistant United States Attorneys, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee. Artkes Bennett appeals his 192-month sentence following his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine and a quantity of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(C), 846 (2012), distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) (2012), and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C). On appeal, Bennett contends only that his sentence is substantively unreasonable. We disagree. We consider the substantive reasonableness of the sentence imposed under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). In doing so, we must take into account the totality of the circumstances, including the extent of any variance from the [Sentencing] Guidelines range. Id. We presume that a sentence within a properly calculated Guidelines range is substantively reasonable. United States v. Louthian, 756 F.3d 295, 306 (4th Cir. 2014). A defendant can rebut this presumption only by showing that the sentence is unreasonable when measured against the 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) [ (2012) ] factors. Id. Having reviewed the record, we conclude that Bennett has not made the showing necessary to rebut the presumption that his within-Guidelines-range sentence is substantively reasonable. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED PER CURIAM: The 18-year-old, from India, went to hospital complaining the growth had become painful. Doctors explained it was a vestigial tail A teenager has finally had his seven inch tail removed by surgeons after hiding the defect all his life. The 18-year-old, from Nagpur, India, went to hospital complaining the growth had become painful. Doctors explained it was a vestigial tail that developed while he was in the womb - but should have disappeared naturally over time. A neuro-development abnormality had meant it continued to grow while his spine was forming - despite the body usually absorbing the tail to form the back. His family ignored the defect when he was born to prevent any social stigma from people who would consider him to be strange. But when it became problematic and affected his day-to-day life he was taken to hospital to have it looked at. A team of six doctors successfully removed the abnormal growth in an hour-long operation earlier this week. Dr Pramod Giri, who operated on him, said: This is an extremely rare case and we have not seen such an abnormality here before. 'He was admitted only after he complained of extreme pain in his lower back, problems while sleeping and sitting. Scroll down for video 'The boy was also suffering from an extreme psychological issue because the tail was growing so he had to always adjust the tail in his clothes when sitting. He added: The family were always aware but they ignored it and did not see a doctor as they were superstitious and considered it to be a good luck charm for the boy. A team of six doctors successfully removed the abnormal growth in an hour-long operation earlier this week 'They hid his condition all these years worrying about the social stigma and also because it was not creating any health issue for him until now. He is very happy. He is now very comfortable while sleeping and sitting. He says he feels more confident about himself now.' WHAT IS A VESTIGIAL TAIL? During pregnancy, every growing baby develops a vestigial tail before their spine starts to form. However, it disappears naturally during the embryonic development as it is absorbed by the body to become the spine and nervous system. But in some rare cases, children are born with a tail after the spine didn't form properly in the womb and it continued to grow. They contain adipose and connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves and are covered by skin. Vestigial tails are considered harmless but can affect the bladder and result in a loss of function of the lower body if left untreated. Surgery to remove the growths is usually straightforward because they don't contain any bone, cartilage or spinal cord. Advertisement After six weeks of pregnancy, every growing baby possesses a vestigial tail - but it normally disappears during development as it grows to become the spine and nervous system. However, sometimes children are born with one as a result of it continuing to grow - but there have only been 23 cases reported worldwide. They contain adipose and connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves and are covered by skin. Doctors say they are harmless and can be easily removed because they lack bone, cartilage and spinal cord. But the abnormality can affect the bladder and reduce bowel control. It has also been known to result in extreme pain and a loss of function in the lower body. The surgery to remove the growth was not complex but because it involves part of the spinal cord they had to be cautious, doctors said. However, because there was no bone or muscular tissue in his tail, removing it was not difficult. It is hoped the boy will be discharged from hospital later this week. His family ignored the defect when he was born to prevent any social stigma. But when it became problematic and affected his life he was taken to hospital to have it looked at A former Marine sergeant who lost all four limbs after standing on a homemade bomb in Afghanistan has received a double arm transplant. John Peck, 31, stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) in 2010, obliterating his legs and left arm. He later lost the other arm to an infection. But now, after six years as a quadruple amputee, the decorated veteran has made it through a 14-hour operation to receive two new arms. His arms are scarred and move awkwardly but his doctors say he is making progress and they expect nine to 12 months of rehabilitation. Speaking publicly for the first time since his surgery at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, Peck said the best things about it all is that he can hold his fiancee's hand again. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Former Marine John Peck, 31, has received a double arm transplant six years after stepping on a homemade bomb in Afghanistan in 2010. He is pictured after his operation A team of 12 surgeons and another dozen of different specialisms at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital worked nearly 14 hours to perform the bilateral arm transplant (pictured) Peck now faces months of rehab to learn how to lift his arms, his fingers, use a fork, and write He said he cannot stop staring at his 'perfect' arms which match his skin tone and body 'I wanted to move forward with my life,' he said. 'It's kind of been on a time-out right now.' It has been a long journey for the Illinois-born Marine, who is now a motivational speaker and hopes to use his new arms to fulfill his dream of becoming a chef. Three years before losing his limbs, Peck was serving in Iraq. During his service he suffered a traumatic brain injury when his vehicle hit an IED. Undeterred, he went on to serve in Afghanistan. Peck (left) before losing his arms, and (right) in hospital in 2010 after stepping on a bomb The Illinois-born Marine said he hated his prosthetic limbs, and feared it would be for life Peck was approved for a double arm transplant in August 2014 In 2010, he stepped on another IED. It exploded, obliterating all four of his limbs. Peck was approved for a double arm transplant in August 2014. Two years later, he received a call telling him to come in to Brigham and Women's Hospital for the procedure. A team of 12 surgeons and another dozen of different specialisms worked nearly 14 hours to perform the bilateral arm transplant. 'As soon as Dr Talbot called me, I knew, and I just broke down. 'I was crying because I was happy. But then my mind switched and it became... I mean, somebody died. He received a call telling him to come in for the procedure in August this year Dr Simon Talbot examines Peck's stumps as they get ready to perform the surgery Mixed feelings: Peck said he was excited but sad to think that his donor had died The team marked out the points at which they could attach the skin and rewire the nerves 'I just want [the donor family] to know that this gift, it's not going to go to waste at all.' The first thing he did was to put a bracelet honoring his Marine brothers on his wrist. He now faces months of rehab to learn how to lift his arms, flex his fingers, use a fork, and write. But for now, he is content simply marveling at his new arms. 'I loved them the minute I looked at them,' he said. 'I looked down, it seemed natural. It was just a perfect match. The skin color is a perfect match, the size - of course I had swelling but the size is a perfect match. Everything was just perfect.' Shortly after his operation in August, Peck proposed to his girlfriend Sara Paker. When Ava Christianson was diagnosed with cancer at the age of four, doctors said she had the best odds. She had the most common type of leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In 90 per cent of cases, a conventional course of chemotherapy does the trick. But her experience was different. By the age of eight, Wisconsin-born Ava had tried all of the standard therapies - from chemo to a bone marrow transplant - and relapsed five times. However, since she was first diagnosed researchers have made astonishing strides in the field of immunotherapy, training patients' bodies to fight their tumors. Scroll down for video Ava Christianson (pictured) was diagnosed with cancer at the age of four. She relapsed five times despite being told she had the best odds. But now she is in remission after a clinical trial WHAT IS CAR T-CELL THERAPY? CAR T-Cell therapy is a kind of so-called 'immunotherapy'. Immunotherapy is the most promising approach to fighting cancer to date, according to the expert panel of cancer researchers that Vice President Joe Biden assembled to fight cancer. About 30 million immune cells are taken out of the body, genetically modified using stem cells, and injected back in. The modified cells are designed to hunt and kill the disease. It is still being developed. Three people died in one clinical trial this summer after the procedure caused their brains to swell. Ava Christianson (the little girl in this story) tried one version of CAR T-Cell therapy in Minnesota last year, but it was short-lived; she relapsed. The new trial by the National Institutes of Health has changed the target of the genetically-modified cells. Advertisement It is a groundbreaking approach that offers new hope to patients with no options left. This year Ava became the 18th person in history to try the new five-minute operation at the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center. In August, doctors gave her the all-clear. Having been disappointed time and time again, her parents Bethany and Jay are reluctant to celebrate, but they told the Washington Post they are quietly hopeful. 'We just need this to work and to stay working,' Bethany said. The new procedure - CAR T-Cell therapy - has never been tried in humans before this experiment. CAR T-Cell therapy is where about 30 million immune cells are taken out of the body, genetically modified using stem cells, and injected back in. The modified cells are designed to hunt and kill the disease. Ava already tried the first version of CAR T-Cell therapy in Minnesota last year, relapsing soon after. This year she tried a new version developed by NIH. It is the most promising approach to fighting cancer to date, according to the expert panel of cancer researchers that Vice President Joe Biden recruited to fight cancer. And doctors hope it could provide the key to combating leukemia, which is increasingly intelligent. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a cancer of the white blood cells, which are made in the bone marrow. There are two different types of white blood cells - lymphocytes and myeloid cells- and they work together to fight infection. Normally, white blood cells develop, repair and reproduce in an orderly and controlled way. But in leukaemia, the process gets out of control and the cells continue to divide in the bone marrow, but do not mature. Hopeful: Despite all the setbacks, Ava's parents Bethany (pictured) and Jay are hopeful Ava (pictured) had the most common type of leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In 90 per cent of cases, a conventional course of chemotherapy does the trick These immature dividing cells fill up the bone marrow and stop it from making healthy blood cells. As the leukemia cells fail to mature, they cannot work properly to fight infections, leading to an increased risk of infection. Because the bone marrow cannot make enough healthy red blood cells and platelets, symptoms such as anemia and bruising can occur. Chronic forms of the disease tend to affect adults and are very rare in children. Normally, children with ALL respond quickly to a bone marrow transplant. Until recently, there was no other option. 'Five years ago our doctor would have just had to tell us to go home,' Bethany told the Post. Ava already tried the first version of CAR T-Cell therapy in Minnesota last year, relapsing soon after. This year she tried a new version developed by NIH. Pictured at the NIH center Now they are home in Prescott, Wisconsin, hoping to let Ava get on with a normal childhood. But the number of set-backs they've had make it hard to believe this is it. When it all started, their doctors said 90 per cent of children will never relapse in the rest of their lives after traditional treatment. 'Ninety per cent, you feel pretty darn good that you're ok,' Bethany told the Post. 'And then when we found out that she'd relapsed we were still told with bone marrow transplant that it was like 80-85 per cent chance that this was going to cure her. 'So you still... you get this... "ok we just need to get through this and we'll be ok". 'That's been the most frustrating thing, you stop paying attention to the probabilities.' Jay added: 'It gets to a point where you're like... "we need to figure this out" and you just keep searching and doing. Luckily we've been led here and hopefully this is our last stop for her and it fixes it.' Narendra Modi has warned critics not to indulge in unwarranted jingoism over the Indian Armys surgical strikes in Pakistan occupied Kashmir across the Line of Control. The Prime Ministers stringent advisory was issued yesterday to his Cabinet colleagues and party leaders who have been asked not to speak on the sensitive subject and avoid chest-thumping. The move comes at a time when a political slugfest has broken out over the veracity of surgical strikes with some BJP leaders being accused of trying to take the political mileage out of it and their opponents, like Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking evidences of the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued stringent advisory against 'chest-thumping' Sources said Prime Minister Modi took serious note of the developments at a Cabinet meeting and asked his colleagues to refrain from speaking out of turn. The PM wants the ongoing controversy to end as it is felt that the mud-slinging over such a sensitive matter at a time when the armed forces are on a high state of alert does not augur well for the nation. The government wants unity in the country on the issue and his advice went first to the ruling party members. The Prime Ministers words of caution came even when the government mulled over sharing evidence about the surgical strikes. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was among those who called for proof of the strikes Union minister Hansraj Ahir said on Wednesday that the Army has handed over the video footage of the surgical strikes to the government following due procedures. However, sources said the government was not keen to share the video evidence as the officials felt that it was not a one-off action. There could be more such cross-border raids if the terrorists strike India in future. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had claimed that the government should give proof of surgical strikes to prove Pakistan wrong. Pakistan has not acknowledged that the surgical strikes took place. The BJP has come under fire from opposition parties for trying to use the surgical strikes to win votes in Uttar Pradesh after huge banners were put up in various cities praising Central government and the army for the retaliation Kejriwal was joined by Congress leaders Sanjay Nirupam and Digvijaya Singh who raised similar demands. The minister said: The laid down procedure has been followed. The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) briefed about the surgical strikes. It was not the defence minister nor the Prime Minister and not the home minister. It was the DGMO who briefed. That was the right thing to do and they did it." Prime Minister Modi also chaired a meeting of the Cabinet committee on security in which situation on the border was reviewed. There have been constant violations of ceasefire by Pakistan on the Line of Control. The Indian Army has been responding by firing back at Pakistani posts. There are reports that some more infiltration attempts might take place in the coming weeks as Pakistan was frustrated after it was caught napping by the Indian Armys surgical strikes. Bisada is on the boil again the day after an accused in the Akhlaq lynching case was found dead in police custody. Hindu groups and residents held protests in the area and burnt effigies of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav following the death of the suspect, called Ravin Sisodia, alias Robin, aged 22. Anticipating trouble, the district administration activated Section 144 in the area and deployed more than 300 policemen. Ravin was in custody at the district jail in Luksar in Greater Noida. Locals and Hindu groups burn an effigy of UP CM Akhilesh Yadav following the death Locals are demanding Rs1 crore as compensation, a government job for Ravins wife and action against the jailer and Akhlaqs brother Jaan Mohammad for cow slaughter. Tension is simmering in the village as locals and residents from neighbouring villages gathered outside the house of the deceased. Blaming the Samajwadi Party for a biased probe, protesters burnt effigies of Akhilesh and Mulayam and shouted slogans against them. The protesters also carried out a march from the village to Rana Sangram Singh Chowk, alleging negligence of jail officials and demanding that the jailer, ML Yadav, be suspended and an FIR registered against him. Police patrol Bisada and neighbouring villages anticipating trouble among the locals Ravins family members, who are yet to get possession of his body, have refused to cremate him until their demands are met. Sanjay Rana, a local BJP leader whose 12 relatives, including son Vishal, were arrested on the charge of killing Akhlaq, said: This is a case of custodial death and we dont believe in the police version. "He was tortured to death and we want a fair probe in the matter. We have made a list of demands, which include compensation of Rs1 crore and action against the jailer and Akhlaqs brother. If these are not done, we will not cremate the body." On Monday, Ravin allegedly complained of respiratory problems and fever, following which, he was admitted to the Noida district hospital. Broken belongings at the Akhlaq Residence in Bishada Village, Uttar Pradesh, after the attack On Tuesday morning, he was shifted to LNJP Hospital, where he died in the evening. Yadav said that Ravin had complained of a stomach ache on September 29 and he was taken to the district hospital. Ravis ultrasound report showed that there was water in his lungs, he said. Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter. The Commission has issued notices to the Director General, Prisons, and the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, calling for a report within four weeks. Doctors at LNJP Hospital said no injury marks were found on Ravins body. We are waiting for his medical report. The symptoms are of dengue or chikungunya, a doctor said. On the other hand, the Uttar Pradesh government ordered two inquiries - one a magisterial probe and another by SDM, Sadar. The situation in Bisada is under control. Villagers are cooperating. Police teams are on standby. We have forwarded the demands of the deceaseds family to the government, said Rajesh Kumar Singh, SDM, Dadri. Ravin was unemployed and married a year before going to jail. He has a nine-month-old daughter. Meanwhile, a trial court in Greater Noida rejected an application of the rest of the accused to attend Ravis funeral, saying that there is no provision for it. Travel insurers really can be a cynical bunch. I'm sure you've noticed that most firms now advertise millions of pounds of cover for unexpected medical bills, knowing full well that the likelihood of your submitting such a large claim is almost nil. Behind this clever veneer, they hide nasty catches that as 62-year-old retired teacher Marian Mortimer found can leave you deeply out of pocket. What rankles most about her story was that the 7,500 bill she incurred was the result of a medical disaster. Fit for purpose: It's surely only logical that basic travel insurance should cover the most basic eventualities any family could suffer on holiday Yet, because her husband Stephen died before they could return home, her insurer Avanti counted it as 'repatriation' costs where the cover only extended to 5,000, leaving her scrambling to find the remaining 2,500 from her own savings. To be crystal clear about this: Avanti and its underwriter Mapfre stuck to the letter of the contract. They have done nothing illegal or underhand. But I can't help feel that it was unfair in the first place to offer such a measly amount to bring a loved one home for a funeral when up to 10 million would have been available if Stephen had pulled through in hospital. I've racked my brain, but the only explanation I can come up with is that the cap is either mean-spirited or an oversight. It could be a significant problem for many holidaymakers, as around half of the travel insurance policies listed on price comparison websites contain this snag if someone dies abroad. You might argue travel insurance is there to cover only the individual named on the policy. And if that individual is no longer with us, then it is somehow less important. However, that ignores the reality of family life. If you fall ill and need emergency treatment, everyone in the family benefits if the insurance covers the cost of getting you back on your feet. You see this principle most clearly with life insurance, which pays out when the customer dies so the family can cover mortgage payments, inheritance taxes and funeral bills. It's surely only logical that basic travel insurance should cover the most basic eventualities any family could suffer on holiday. Sadly, between 3,000 and 4,000 Britons die abroad every year. The only way to make sure their family is fairly treated in a time of tremendous emotional turmoil is for travel insurers to clean up the mess they've made of their travel policies. They should get rid of the 'repatriation costs' clause in their contracts and simply include any such bills in the overall medical cover. The good news is that Avanti has now done this albeit too late for Marian. Now let's see other companies step up to that same mark of fairness and quality. Kim's ordeal It's hard to imagine the fear that Kim Kardashian must have felt while she was bound and robbed at gunpoint in a luxury apartment in Paris on Monday. But it's less difficult to work out how the criminals knew to target the celebrity. Ms Kardashian had earlier that night posted a picture on social media of her Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring, estimated to be worth 3.5 million. She'd been flaunting it for weeks to her millions of internet followers and seemingly that's what let the thieves know she had it with her in her plush Paris hotel. I'm sure that Ms Kardashian and rapper husband Kanye West will be looking into their travel insurance as anyone who's burgled abroad would. But it would be worth someone reminding celebrities that any normal person who posts pictures of their expensive jewellery on Facebook or Twitter and lets the world know exactly where they are might face a struggle to win a payout on their insurance. Underwriters drag their feet on these claims as, essentially, you've just drawn a treasure map for burglars and put an 'X' to mark the spot. Home truths Thank you for the fantastic response to our call for memories of family finances in the Sixties. Your letters and emails were an enormous help in putting together our 50th anniversary edition of Money Mail, published last week. Goodness, hasn't life changed dramatically in the past half century? For the most part, you shared happy memories of how you bettered yourself over the years with a helping hand from Money Mail's weekly tips. But of all the letters I've received over the past week, one stood out. Aubrey Vickers, a former mayor of Eastbourne and chairman of the town's council housing committee, says: 'Money Mail data clearly demonstrates that the prime staple of the average family budget, housing (house prices), have multiplied by nearly 60 times over the period, while salaries have risen by a mere third of this, and other staples such as bread and milk are down in real terms. 'Put simply, family budgets are today tied-up with staggering housing costs like never before. 'All walks of life, whether old, young or working people, require homes. Around the time of Money Mail's inception, my Young Conservative friends and I throughout the country were calling for 300,000 homes per year to be built to address national needs, and they were. The need and call for new homes remains the same today.' I couldn't agree more and it's good to see our new Chancellor Philip Hammond pledging 3 billion to this cause. I still have my doubts that our politicians are doing enough to solve the housing crisis facing future generations, though. We don't just need more homes, we need affordable houses in the right places and of the right size. That's going to take more than throwing a few billion pounds at the problem, I fear. Siemens UK boss Juergen Maier, whose firm employs 13,000 British workers, has been hobnobbing in Birmingham at the Tory conference. He was fawningly praised by turgid business minister Greg Clarke, who even pointed him out in the auditorium. Peacockish Herr Maier, 42 (he's a sucker for colourful shirts and rakish pocket squares) had welcomed Clarke's appointment in July tweeting blokeishly: 'Looking forward to getting stuck in.' A source forewarns: 'Trust me, this will all end in tears.' Service company Serco has been awarded the 80million contract to develop Santander's new London hire cycles. Apparently the firm's 850,000-a-year boss Rupert Soames already travels to meetings on the so-called 'Boris Bikes', despite enjoying an 18,000 benefits package which includes a driver. Evidently Rupert, 57, is in more agile shape than older brother, bulging Tory grandee Sir Nicholas, 68, who's unlikely to be joining the capital's lycra brigade. JP Morgan's 18million a-year chief Jamie Dimon backs ailing Deutsche Bank, remarking insouciantly: 'There's no reason that it shouldn't get over its problems.' A bit like a doctor dismissing a severed spinal chord. Last week JP's chief market strategist, ex-BBC journalist Stephanie Flanders, declined to speculate on Deutsche's prospects, muttering something about commenting on another bank's business. Do we suspect comely Stephanie, 48, doesn't share her gung-ho boss's cheery optimism? Fund manager and soi-disant 'City Superwoman' Nicola Horlick, a fervent Remainer, is still raging over Brexit. She says: 'This is the biggest thing this country has had to face since the Second World War and I worry about whether people fully understand the implications.' Crosspatch ex-Tory Nicola, 55, recently pledged allegiance to the Liberal Democrats, as though that were a grown-up solution to the matter. The Apprentice returns for its 12th season tomorrow. Why does the BBC still trot out this limp old nag? Despite pretences, it has less to do with business than a ritual humiliation of fame-chasing nincompoops by boorish ringmaster, Lord Sugar. I worked for London Transport's computer department. When it was taken over by a private company in 1987, I was given the option of leaving my pension where it was or transferring it out. The latter promised me a guaranteed minimum pension that would be at least equal to the one I would have received from London Transport. I paid a premium of 5,772.83 to Norwich Union, which later became Aviva. In the past two years, there has been a catalogue of errors relating to my policy, which I suspect have cost me thousands of pounds. I am regularly told the transfer value is zero. Aviva has changed documentation to show me retiring at 65. And the complaints team have never called me back. During April and May 2016, my pension value appeared to decrease. Mrs J. C., Berkshire. Errors: Aviva has been making one readers life a misery by messing up her pension policy You spent years trying to sort out this mess before writing to me in May. I have been communicating with Aviva since then but, in August, you, not surprisingly, ran out of patience and brought in the Financial Ombudsman. The Ombudsman confirmed that Aviva's approach to resolving the issue was correct, but doubled the amount of compensation to 500. Let's look at what's happened. The documentation said your guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) of 299 per year would increase by 8.5 pc for each completed year from April 6, 1988, until your retirement, aged 60, in March 2013. To bust some jargon, GMP refers to a link with state top-up pensions. London Transport's pension took you out of the old state top-up pension, Serps, so your private pension must at least equal what this would have paid. Your woes began when Aviva erroneously changed your retirement age from 60 to 65. As a result, you did not receive your retirement information or choices. After I intervened, Aviva, on June 28, issued a proper quotation for the pension backdated to your 60th birthday. Three weeks later, on July 18, it provided a further quotation showing what you could instead receive if you waited until your 65th birthday. But you told me you were unhappy because you still had not been told how much compensatory interest you would receive, other than that it would be paid at 8 pc so you felt it was impossible to make an informed decision. I agree. How can you compare the offers if you have not been provided with all the figures? I pushed Aviva very hard and, finally, we have them. If you choose to backdate your pension to March 29, 2013, you will receive 43 months' annuity payment at 152.29 per month, plus 723.23 interest. That makes 7,271.70. You would also receive 778.65 tax-free cash, plus 174.23 interest. So the total back payment would be 8,224.58. Then you would continue to receive 152.29 a month, or 1,827 a year, for life. These figures assume that you are a basic-rate taxpayer and they are approximate: they will change depending on when you actually take the pension. If you choose not to backdate, but instead take it from today, you would receive 2,875.08 a year, or 239.59 per month, before tax. There would be no tax-free cash because the fund is not big enough to provide any. You'd need to wait for around eight-and-a-half years before the total provided by this option starts to work out as better value than the backdated deal. But don't forget to factor in any tax and potential investment earnings. If you wait until you're 65 to take the pension, you are likely to receive about 3,131.96 per year. These all include a spouse's pension if your husband were to outlive you. I was also concerned that receiving your back pension as a lump sum could adversely affect your tax position. I put this to Aviva, and it has agreed to cover any extra tax liabilities caused by its error. Retiring soon and need advice? Find an independent financial advi YOU HAVE YOUR SAY - MAKING YOUR MONEY GO FURTHER Every week, Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here's what you had to say about our ultimate guide to making your money go further... Making your own packed lunch and avoiding buying snacks during the day helps to save a fortune. I've been doing it for the past 20 years. You should also buy food at low-budget stores, rather than the bigger supermarkets. C. B., Stevenage, Herts. The best way to save loads of money is to pay off your mortgage as quickly as possible make it a priority over any other spending. It'll save you thousands. J. M., Cambridge. I have been known to skulk around the reduced section of my local supermarket at around 7pm. I buy discounted meat and just pop it in the freezer. I save quite a bit this way. S. H., Sussex. My favourite tip is to use bath foam instead of shower gel. The only difference is that bath foam is runnier, but it's around a third of the price of shower gel and gets you just as clean. F. M., Plymouth. If you find it hard to increase your income, try reducing your waste instead. I'm not talking about 'going green' as such it's more a matter of looking after the folding green stuff. W. R., Chatham, Kent. I always check both Amazon and eBay to get cheaper deals. F. D., Scotland. Rather than continuing to pay into a pension, I started putting money into a stocks and shares Isa. It's tax-free when you take it out, as opposed to when you put it in, as with a pension. R. M., London. Never ring the phone numbers written on letters from your insurer. Instead, look online for the free phone number and use that. Why pay 5p or more a minute just to be put on hold for an hour? E. H., Essex. When hiring a car, take out an excess policy with a specialist insurer don't buy the car hire company's excess insurance. We did this and paid 2.50 a day instead of more than 20 a day. T. N., Leeds. It's really only worth haggling on big or medium-ticket items on smaller-ticket items, it's just for the fun of it. Beware of taking your better half when haggling, though especially if they have their heart set on something. C. M., Reading. Always eat before you do the food shop! W. W., Guildford, Surrey. In August 2015, I moved home and transferred my dual fuel account to my new property. Scottish Power said my direct debit would be 69.41 a month. In January, it dropped to 17.16, and I received a call asking why I had transferred my gas to British Gas. I had not, and said I wished to remain with Scottish Power. In February, my direct debit went through for 17.61 for electricity, but nothing for gas. Since then, I have provided readings and attempted to set up a new direct debit, all to no avail. In July, once again the direct debit of 17.61 was taken. Scottish Power told me it was applying the direct debits to my bank account. I have sent it monthly statements to show that this is not so. M. G., Manchester. Well, here's a turn up for the books. Most people who write to me about power companies complain they have been overcharged. But you are desperately trying to convince Scottish Power that you are its customer, you wish to remain its customer and you would dearly like it to take some money. Scottish Power says your supply was taken over by another supplier in error. Then, when it took back your supply, it inadvertently recorded the incorrect meter number against your gas account. This meant that your gas usage was not billed. It has now put the situation right and set up a direct debit for both gas and electricity. By way of apology, it has written off your balance of 72.20. Think you are paying too much for your energy? Check out This is Money's guide to the cheapest tariffs and how to switch Heartbreak: Stephen Mortimer died on his way to see Machu Picchu with his wife Marian For 30 years, Marian and Stephen Mortimer had dreamed of visiting Machu Picchu in the Andes in South America. The couple waited for Stephen to retire so that they could spend six weeks in Peru over the summer of 2013. Stephen had spent months planning the trip in painstaking detail even researching local public transport so they would know how to get about. For the first three weeks of the trip, they had a ball. They camped in the desert and saw the Nazca Lines giant shapes drawn in the sand by an ancient civilisation. But suddenly, while the couple were waiting for a bus to take them to the Machu Picchu site, Stephen began to feel unwell and was rushed to hospital. Despite the efforts of medics, Stephen died a few hours later, aged 68. He'd been suffering from severe altitude sickness, which had caused fluid to build up in his lungs, resulting in heart failure. Marian called their travel insurer, Avanti, to make arrangements to fly Stephen's body home to Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, so that she and their three children could hold his funeral. But she was told to pay 2,500 before it would help her. Avanti said her policy only covered repatriation costs up to 5,000 and the bill to get Stephen home was 7,500. Marian and Stephen were seasoned travellers and knew the importance of good travel cover. They had chosen a policy with Avanti because it specialises in providing insurance for travellers over 50 with pre-existing medical conditions Stephen was on tablets for high blood pressure. The couple had paid around 150 for an annual worldwide policy, specifying that they were going to Peru. They made sure they had enough cover if either of them fell ill 10million but never thought to check whether the limit was different if one of them died unexpectedly. Avanti's underwriter Mapfre stuck to the letter of the contract. Dream trip: For 30 years the couple talked about visiting Machu Picchu in the Andes in South America Marian, 62, a retired nursery teacher, says: 'We saw we had plenty of cover if we fell ill and that repatriation costs were included, so we felt confident that we were sufficiently protected. 'If they would have covered the cost of bringing Stephen home if he had just fallen ill, why not do the same when he died?' If they would have covered the cost of bringing Stephen home if he had just fallen ill, why not do the same when he died An insurance industry insider told Money Mail that travel insurers routinely bump up the medical cover they offer to as much as 10 million to give the impression that the policy is more comprehensive than it is. Insurers know that it's highly unlikely they'll ever have to pay out this much in medical costs even in the U.S., where hospital care is expensive. That helps mask the catches elsewhere in the cover while keeping the deal at the top of many price comparison websites. Research by GoCompare shows 383 of the 870 travel insurance policies on offer 44 per cent impose a limit on how much they will pay to bring home someone's body, ranging from just 750 to 10,000. The lowest limits are offered by budget insurers Starttravel, Twopointfive and World First. The remaining 487 policies offer the same amount of cover as they do for medical care typically 2 million or more. On top of the 2,500 she had to pay towards bringing Stephen home, Marian ran up a mobile phone bill of around 400 calling Avanti, its claims handler Jubilee Assistance, underwriter Mapfre and her 26-year-old daughter, Kathryn, who was trying to help co-ordinate everything from the UK. And an extra 500 to bring Stephen's rucksack home In the midst of these calls, she was told that to bring Stephen's big travelling rucksack back with his body, Marian would need to pay an additional fee of around 500. Marian says: 'Everyone I spoke to sounded as though they were reading from a script they seemed to have no compassion. I was in shock. My husband had just died in front of me while I was giving him CPR. 'But instead of prioritising getting him home, they just kept making me get out my credit card.' Instead of prioritising getting him home, they just kept making me get out my credit card Marian finally made it home on August 6, 2013, and her husband was brought back on August 14. The rucksack was dropped at a funeral parlour near to Manchester Airport. Marian's friends collected it for her. She refused to pay the bill for bringing it back but received letters threatening her with debt collectors. After the funeral, Marian made an official complaint about the way she had been treated. She also believed Avanti should have paid out 15,000 under the 'accidental death' clause of her policy. Stephen's GP said that, in his opinion, the death was accidental because the couple didn't know he would have such an extreme reaction to altitude sickness. But the insurer disagreed, and the Financial Ombudsman sided with the firm. However, Avanti was ordered to pay out around 7,000 for the second half of the holiday which Marian had to cancel when Stephen died. Marian has come forward three years after her ordeal to warn other holidaymakers about the problems they could face if something similar happened to them. 'We tried to do the right thing and took out insurance it doesn't seem right that my family and I are around 3,500 out of pocket,' she says. 'Even if Stephen and I had looked more carefully at the small print to see how much would be paid out if one of us died abroad, we wouldn't have known whether it was enough, because we didn't know how much it costs to bring a body home from Peru. 'Insurance firms should just be made to cover the full cost of bringing someone home if they die, and then no one would have to endure what we did.' A spokesman for Avanti says that the couple's travel insurance policy was underwritten by Mapfre, so it 'does not feel it would be appropriate to comment on the complaint because it was not directed to Avanti'. However, last night, the insurer said that it had changed its policy for new customers to include repatriation costs in the 10 million medical cover. Mapfre could not be reached for comment. Billionaire JCB boss Lord Bamford will miss out on a divided after profits almost halved at his digger business. The group was hit by tough global conditions, with the international market for construction equipment down 14.2 per cent in 2015. Turnover fell 6.8 per cent to 2.3billion, shrinking in all key markets except India. Slump: Lord Bamford, pictured with former Prime MInister David Cameron, will miss out on a divided after profits almost halved at his digger firm Profits at the business fell from 192.7million to 102.7million during the period. The firm said it would not be paying a dividend this year as a result, for the first time since 2010. Last year, 60million was paid out. 'JCB is not a public company and dividends are declared from time to time,' a spokesman said. Bamford, 70, succeeded his father as boss in 1975 and is a strong supporter of Britain's manufacturing industry. A backer of Brexit, he told his employees they had 'little to fear' from leaving the European Union. The father-of-three is known for his opulent lifestyle. His family owns a 240ft yacht and a holiday home in Barbados, and earlier this year he chartered two Boeing 737 jets to fly 180 friends to India for a four-day celebration of his and wife Carole's 70th birthdays. United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee v. 2005 PILATUS AIRCRAFT, BEARING TAIL NO. N679PE Defendant PABLO ZARATE JUAREZ; VIZA CONSTRUCTION, L.L.C.; PREMIER INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LIMITED, Claimants - Appellants No. 16-40298 Decided: October 03, 2016 Before REAVLEY, DAVIS, and JONES, Circuit Judges. This appeal follows a criminal investigation which resulted in the United States Government seizing a 2005 Pilatus Aircraft, Bearing Tail No. N679PE, and instituting a civil forfeiture proceeding against the plane. Subsequently, Pablo Zarate Juarez (Zarate), a Mexican citizen, claimed an interest in the aircraft, individually and on behalf of Viza Construction, L.L.C. and Premier International Holdings, Limited, (collectively Claimants) . Zarate, while in Mexico, was indicted on money laundering conspiracy and bank fraud charges related to the civil forfeiture of the aircraft. The Government moved, against Claimants' opposition, to dismiss the claims to the aircraft under the Fugitive Disentitlement statute, 28 U.S.C. 2466, which prevents a claimant who is a fugitive from justice from contesting the civil forfeiture. The district court dismissed the claims under 2466 and denied Claimants' motion to stay the civil proceedings. We affirm. I. The fugitive disentitlement doctrine, dating back to the late 19th century, authorized an appellate court to dismiss an appeal or writ in a criminal matter when the party seeking relief becomes a fugitive. United States v. Degen, 517 U.S. 820, 823, 116 S. Ct. 1777, 1780 (1996) (Citing OrtegaRodriguez v. United States, 507 U.S. 234, 239, 113 S. Ct. 1199, 1203, (1993); and Smith v. United States, 94 U.S. 97, 24 (1876). An issue existed as to whether this disentitlement applied to civil forfeiture cases until Congress resolved the issue by enacting 28 U.S.C. 2466, which provides that: (a) A judicial officer may disallow a person from using the resources of the courts of the United States in furtherance of a claim in any related civil forfeiture action or a claim in third party proceedings in any related criminal forfeiture action upon a finding that such person-- (1) after notice or knowledge of the fact that a warrant or process has been issued for his apprehension, in order to avoid criminal prosecution-- (A) purposely leaves the jurisdiction of the United States; (B) declines to enter or reenter the United States to submit to its jurisdiction; or (C) otherwise evades the jurisdiction of the court in which a criminal case is pending against the person; and (2) is not confined or held in custody in any other jurisdiction for commission of criminal conduct in that jurisdiction. (b) Subsection (a) may be applied to a claim filed by a corporation if any majority shareholder, or individual filing the claim on behalf of the corporation is a person to whom subsection (a) applies. 28 U.S.C. 2466. Our issue is whether the Government proved that Zarate declined to enter/reenter the United States to submit to its jurisdiction, or otherwise evaded the criminal court's jurisdiction. II. Claimants argue on appeal that: (1) the Government did not prove Zarate remained outside the United States to intentionally avoid criminal prosecution; (2) Zarate's due process rights were violated; and (3) the district court abused its discretion by dismissing the claims instead of granting a stay. A. Zarate remained outside United States to deliberately escape prosecution The Government demonstrates the court's findings in United States v. $671,160.00 in U.S. Currency, 730 F.3d 1051, 1057 (9th Cir. 2013) to be consistent with the instant case in finding that a totality of the circumstances showed that Zarate deliberately remained away from the United States to avoid criminal prosecution. We agree. Zarate had previously visited the United States approximately 100 times in less than three years prior to the seizure of the aircraft. The record also established that Zarate has family residing in this country, as well as significant business interests here. Yet, he chose not to return to the United States after the seizure of the plane in June 2012. B. Application of fugitive disentitlement does not violate Claimants' due process rights Claimants next contend that Zarate's choice of whether or not to enter the United States to fight the civil forfeiture of the plane or to face criminal prosecution was a violation of his due process rights, specifically his rights under the Mexico-United States extradition treaty. For support, Claimants cite the Supreme Court's decision in Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377 (1968), wherein the Court found it intolerable that one constitutional right should have to be surrendered in order to assert another when a criminal defendant was faced with giving up his Fourth Amendment rights or Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. Zarate has no rights to claim because of that treaty. The United States does not seek to extradite, and a right to be heard is waived by not seeking it. See U.S. v. Batato, ___ F.3d ___, No. 15-1360, 2016 WL 4254916 (4th Cir. Aug. 12, 2016). C. District court did not abuse its discretion in denying stay Finally, Claimants argue that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing their claims instead of granting a stay of the civil forfeiture proceeding. We disagree. The district court denied the requested stay first because Zarate is a fugitive from justice. The district court also noted Claimants' inconsistent positions regarding the stay in the matter. The record reveals that Claimants repeatedly opposed the Government's motions/extensions for stay, did not oppose when the Government moved to lift the stay, but then filed for a stay on their own behalf. Moreover, the district court explained that Zarate failed to personally appear in any proceedings related to the forfeiture action only appearing telephonically in one hearing and has not answered discovery or provided otherwise meaningful participation in the forfeiture action. III. Since the record supports a finding that Zarate remained outside the United States to intentionally avoid criminal prosecution, the elements of 2466 are met and the claims in opposition lack merit, the judgment is affirmed. AFFIRMED. FOOTNOTES . Zarate ultimately withdrew his individual claim after the district court ordered him to personally appear for deposition. . The same is true here as the court said there: There is no dispute that Ionita knows full well that he is wanted by the State of California. Ionita's attempt to reclaim the defendant funds by litigating the civil forfeiture claim while avoiding answering the criminal charge is precisely the situation that the Fugitive Disentitlement Statute was enacted to address. Id. at 1056. . 28 U.S.C. 981(g)(2) provides that Upon the motion of a claimant, the court shall stay the civil forfeiture proceeding with respect to that claimant if the court determines that (A) the claimant is the subject of a related criminal investigation or case; (B) the claimant has standing to assert a claim in the civil forfeiture proceeding; and (C) continuation of the forfeiture proceeding will burden the right of the claimant against self-incrimination in the related investigation or case. REAVLEY, Circuit Judge: AFRICA DEAL BP has announced a deal to buy 100 per cent of the liquefied natural gas produced from an offshore project off Mozambique. The 20-year partnership is with Eni East Africa, Galp Energia, Kogas and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos. Paul Reed, chief executive of BP's supply and trading business, said: 'BP is pleased to play a key role in enabling Mozambique to be an LNG exporting country.' The value of the deal was not disclosed. PILL BLOW AstraZeneca's heart drug Brilinta has failed to help patients with serious circulatory problems in their legs, prompting the drugmaker to scrap a $3.5billion-a-year sales target for the medicine by 2023. The setback follows similar disappointing results in March for the same pill in another big trial in stroke patients. Both studies were designed to open up markets for Brilinta beyond its current use in heart attack patients. SPANISH HOTEL EasyHotel has been granted permission to build a 204-room hotel in Gran Via, Barcelona, which will open in early 2018. EasyHotel, which provides low-cost accommodation with the option to pay for extras such as coffee, spare towels, housekeeping and internet, currently owns three hotels and a further 17 franchised locations. TOP FIRM Apple has been named the world's most valuable brand despite seeing iPhone sales fall this year. Google secured second place and Coca-Cola came third according to a list of the top 100 brands compiled by Interbrand. HSBC and Burberry were the only two British brands to make it into the top 100, coming 47th and 83rd respectively. AIRLINE JOBS Ryanair will create more than 3,500 jobs next year, including pilots and cabin crew, as it plans to add 50 aircraft to its fleet. The Irish budget carrier remained tight-lipped on how many of the roles would be based in the UK, having warned in July that it would 'pivot' growth away from British airports after the Brexit vote and house its 50 new aircraft outside the country. BREXIT FEARS The UK property market could see a short sharp adjustment as uncertainty mounts during Britain's Brexit negotiations, according to a study by property investor M&G Real Estate. It said capital values could fall by around 10 per cent, but any drop would be short-term. Vodafone suffered a customer service meltdown last year after a computer glitch Furious Vodafone customers are still struggling with billing problems months after the telecoms giant promised service would improve. Vodafone suffered a customer service meltdown last year after a computer glitch sent its billing system into disarray. Shortly afterwards, watchdog Ofcom launched an inquiry into how Vodafone handles complaints. The firm then promised to improve. But the regulator still received almost triple the number of complaints about Vodafone than any other phone firm between April and June this year, its latest report shows. This is the fifth time in a row the firm has topped the complaints table for monthly mobile services. Just three in 10 adults feel they are either very or fairly confident they are on track to achieve the level income they want to see them through their retirement. By contrast, half said they were not confident they were going to have generated the income they needed. For the over-55s age group, closer to retirement, the proportion was 47 per cent. The worrying insight into savers' concerns that they will not have enough money for their pension years, was revealed in a survey that looked at retirement confidence across the country. Bleak future? Half of adults fear they are not on track for the retirement income they need From a regional perspective, those in the East Midlands were most pessimistic, with just 17 per cent saying they felt confident they were on track. This could be down to the fact that just one in three living in the region said have an existing pension pot, the lowest proportion of any group in the UK. The average pension pot in the East Midlands was the lowest, standing at 17,963, which allowing for future growth delivered a potential pot at retirement of just 149,046, according to the research by online investment platform Nutmeg. This means they will have enough savings for just five years of retirement, based on the income levels they want to live off. By contrast, Londoners had an existing pot of 52,516, which allowing for future growth would mean they are in line for more than three times as much - with a future lump sum of 499,775. But despite this stronger financial position, just 34 per cent said they were on track for their desired level of income. This is likely to be because those in London have a desired retirement income of just over 35,000, which at a 4 per cent withdrawal rate would require a pension pot of 875,000 Confidence crisis: The Scottish feel most on track, while the East Midlands lags behind The Scots are the most confident, and among the best prepared. They have an average pension pot of 47,989 and 43 per cent say they are either very or fairly confident they can generate the retirement income they need. While the figures may vary, no UK region is saving enough to deliver its desired income in retirement. the report claimed National life expectancy is 81, while desired retirement age varies between 60 and 65. Based on potential pension pot size, those in the East Midlands are facing a shortfall of 15 years between the length of retirement they have saved for and their life expectancy. That is closely followed by a 12 year shortfall in the North East, while London has the smallest deficit of three years. In the capital Nutmeg calculated that a pension pot would deliver 14 years' worth of the desired income of 35,000 to someone retiring at the desired age of 64. With national life expectancy of 81, savers would fall three years short. Time to go: All regions face a shortfall in the amount of years their income will sustain them Lisa Caplan, a financial adviser at Nutmeg, said: 'Our expectations for pension income are profoundly unrealistic. Across the UK, many people will have to choose between increasing their savings, adjusting their expectations, or accepting that they will run out of money at some point during their retirement and become dependent on benefits'. Brexit fears The young are most concerned about the effect Brexit will have on their pension. Those aged 18 to 39 were more than twice as worried as those over the age of 55, 39 per cent relative to 17 per cent of the older age group. Regionally, the Scottish are most worried about the effect that leaving the EU will have, with 37 per cent expressing concern, higher than the UK average of 30 per cent. In the referendum, 62 per cent of Scots voted to remain part of the Union, compared with 48 per cent of the wider population. Mixed picture: The young and the Scottish are most worried about Brexit's effect on pensions Only one in four of the Welsh, and those living in the South West and East of England were concerned. The research was commissioned by Nutmeg and conducted by Opinium, who polled 2,006 adults who have not yet retired between 2 and 6 September 2016. The sample has been weighted to reflect a nationally representative audience. One of Britain's biggest insurers is refusing to help customers use their pensions like cash machines if they need the money to pay off debts. Savers with Prudential are only allowed to use new pension freedoms to dip into their retirement pot at regular intervals if they first pay to see a financial adviser. Many customers who want a so-called drawdown policy pay for a visit from one of Prudential's own advisers, whom it dubs the 'man from the Pru'. But Money Mail can reveal that if a customer tells the adviser they are going to take their cash to pay off a loan or credit card, they can be refused help. Savers with Prudential are only allowed to use new pension freedoms to dip into their retirement pot at regular intervals if they first pay to see a financial adviser This is because the insurer says its advisers are not allowed to deal with customers who are in debt and have negotiated a plan with their creditors to manage repayments. Instead, savers can cash in the entire pension and face a tax bill or swap their fund for an annuity which pays an income for life. Alternatively, they can move their pension to another fund or seek out another financial adviser, who may be difficult to find and cost them thousands of pounds. The revelation is the latest blow for savers who have tried to cash in their pensions, but found themselves blocked by insurers. Last year, Money Mail launched a campaign when we discovered insurers were making it difficult and costly to use the new pension freedoms. The Government has since ruled that no one who wants to cash in their entire pension should have to pay for financial advice. But firms still force customers to get advice if they want to move into a drawdown. This is a policy where your fund remains invested in the stock market while you take an income. Vic Tuff, from Blyth, Northumberland, asked Prudential for a 25 per cent payout from his 200,000 retirement pot in April. But so far, he has not received a penny because of the insurance giant's stance towards customers with debt. Vic, a 55-year-old self-employed software engineer, had hoped to take his cash to pay off 30,000 of credit card debts that had built up when he lost a major client. Over the past year, he has struggled with the repayments and had turned to debt charity StepChange. It helped him set up something called a token payment plan. This is an arrangement where borrowers who expect their financial situations to improve within a year are allowed to make smaller, more manageable payments. Vic rang Prudential and asked to take 50,000 from his retirement pot. He hoped to use the money to pay off debts and cover living costs. The rest of the money was to be kept invested for his retirement. The insurance giant told him that, to get hold of the cash through drawdown, he needed to see a financial adviser. It sent one of its representatives to his home. Vic spent an hour talking to the adviser, who quizzed him on his income and outgoings. He was told the fee would be 2 per cent of his entire pot, equal to 4,000. 'I tried to be upfront,' says Vic. 'The adviser seemed hopeful I would get my cash.' But weeks went by and Vic heard nothing from the Pru. Finally, the firm told him he had been barred from receiving his payout because its advisers cannot deal with customers' debt problems. Catch: If a customer tells the adviser they are going to take their cash to pay off a loan or credit card, they can be refused help Like hundreds of thousands of savers who have been bamboozled by the complex rules surrounding the new pension freedoms, Vic, a Prudential customer for 25 years, was unsure what to do next. So he's left his pension in place and is still trying to pay off his debts. His other option is to hire another financial adviser to help, cash in the whole pot or move his pension. If he takes out the whole 200,000, he will face a tax bill of tens of thousands of pounds, as the withdrawal will count as income for that tax year. Vic is worried about extra fees if he moves his pension elsewhere and is unsure who to trust for advice. He says: 'I was gobsmacked at the explanation. I can't understand why they are saying they are not able to help.' I was gobsmacked at the explanation. I can't understand why they are saying they are not able to help Prudential wrote to Vic after he complained and explained its staff did not have 'the right licences' to deal with debt advice. It said the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) watchdog 'recommends' that drawdown deals are sold subject to financial advice being given. However, the FCA told Money Mail that it was unaware of ever having stated this. Experts say there is no reason why savers must take advice if they want to dip into their pension pots. The exceptions are if savers plan to cash in a final salary pension, which pays a guaranteed income, or if their contract has valuable payout promises in the small print. Pension freedom rules stipulate that these savers must take advice. A Prudential spokesman said that it 'recognised' that the City watchdog had not officially recommended customers take advice on drawdown. It apologised that its letter to Mr Tuff had been 'unhelpful' on this point. It says: 'Our advisers can provide advice to anyone who wishes to use pension savings to pay off their debts, provided the customer is not in a specific debt-management arrangement.' 'Fake Sheikh' Mazher Mahmood is facing jail for tampering with evidence in the collapsed drugs trial of popstar Tulisa Contostavlos. Following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey, the 53-year-old undercover reporter and his driver, Alan Smith, 67, were found guilty of plotting to pervert the course of justice. The pair conspired to suppress evidence in the former N-Dubz star's trial, which was thrown out at Southwark Crown Court in July 2014. After the case today, a lawyer for 18 people who claim they were victims of Mahmood's investigations revealed they plan to pursue him and his former employer News UK in civil claims which could top 800 million. The Crown Prosecution Service has also already dropped a number of live cases in the wake of the Tulisa trial and has identified a total of 42 past cases with 72 defendants involving Mahmood. They added that in 25 of these cases, involving 41 defendants, they have released details of material which they may consider undermines a conviction. Mazher Mahmood, pictured (left) after his arrest and (right) entering court, has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice over his role in the drugs trial of singer Tulisa Eight people prosecuted after Fake Sheikh stings, including Pakistani cricket fixer Mazhar Majeed, want to get their convictions quashed. Six cases have been lodged with the Criminal Cases Review Commission which expects to receive two more files within weeks. Famous figures preparing cases include the Duchess of York, who believes she lost millions in work and endorsements after being exposed in 2010. The Duchess of York was caught on camera offering privileged access to her former husband Prince Andrew then a UK trade envoy for 500,000. Her former financial adviser John Bryant, once photographed sucking her toes, is also suing in the US for more than 100million over another Mahmood sting. Others include Londons Burning star John Alford and former Page Three model Emma Morgan, who were both caught in cocaine stings. Mahmood, pictured hiding his face as he left court today, conspired to suppress evidence following a sting he carried out on popstar Tulisa The case was brought against Mahmood after Tulisa was accused of arranging for him to be sold 800 of cocaine by one of her contacts following an elaborate sting for the Sun on Sunday newspaper in May 2013. TULISA CRITICISED OVER 'INNOCENT' CLAIMS Pop star Tulisa Contostavlos had a minor skirmish with the law when she went on national television to protest that she had been 'proved innocent' in her drugs trial - two weeks before Mazher Mahmood's trial. The 28-year-old former X Factor judge made the comment when she was interviewed by Piers Morgan on ITV's Good Morning Britain on September 5. She told Morgan: 'I was completely innocent, which was obviously proved at the end of it, luckily, thank God.' At a pre-trial hearing, Mahmood's lawyer, John Kelsey-Fry QC, complained about the potentially prejudicial remark, which was also reported in newspapers. As he read transcripts from the interview, the senior barrister said it was 'unfortunate' that Miss Contostavlos had spoken out about the case. Advertisement During a meeting at the Metropolitan Hotel in London, Mahmood posed as a film producer and plied Miss Contostavlos with alcohol as they discussed an acting role alongside Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. As Smith drove the former X Factor judge home to Hertfordshire, she allegedly spoke about a family member who had a drugs problem. When he was interviewed by police about the journey more than a year later, Smith, of Dereham, Norfolk, recalled the conversation. But a day later, after speaking to Mahmood and emailing his draft statement, the singer's anti-drugs comments were removed, the court heard. At a pre-trial hearing, Mahmood denied being an 'agent provocateur' or that he discussed the drugs conversation with Smith. But when he was questioned at length in the trial, Mahmood appeared to concede he had talked to Smith about what Miss Contostavlos said about drugs in the car. Neither defendant gave evidence but it was said on Mahmood's behalf that there had been a 'misunderstanding' of his evidence as he was 'steamrollered' with multi-faceted questions. And Miss Contostavlos's comments in the car would not have stacked up against the 'clear and incontrovertible evidence' against her, it was claimed. A jury found he tampered with evidence ahead of the planned drugs trial of popstar Tulisa Defence lawyer John Kelsey-Fry QC told jurors: 'Mr Mahmood is not a policeman. He is a journalist. THE CELEBRITIES THE 'FAKE SHEIKH' EXPOSED Celebrities, sports stars and even a minor royal are among those queuing up to sue Mazher Mahmood following his downfall Sarah Ferguson In 2010, Sarah Ferguson told Mahmood she could get him access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, who was a quasi-official British trade envoy, in return for 500,000. In the most embarrassing episode of a gaffe-strewn career, the Duchess of York was secretly taped saying, That opens up everything you would ever wish for. She later apologised for a serious lapse in judgment, saying she was in the gutter due to her drinking but is now suing for years of lost earnings. Mazhar Majeed Sporting agent Majeed and three Pakistan cricketers were jailed for their part in a spot-fixing scam following a corruption trial in 2010. The case came to court after Mahmood posed as a match-fixer. He later said their actions were a sad day for cricket but a good day for investigative journalism. Majeed is another of the six cases seeking to get their convictions quashed as a result of the evidence of Mahmoods dishonesty. He and the three cricketers could also sue for damages. John Alford Londons Burning and former Grange Hill star John Alford was jailed for nine months in 1999 after being secretly filmed at the Savoy agreeing to supply Mahmood with cocaine. After his trial, the actor, who bowed repeatedly in front of someone he thought was Saudi royalty, described himself as the biggest mug on the planet. A leading critic of the Fake Sheikh, Mr Alfords case is one of six before the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Herbie Hide Former boxing champion Herbie Hide was jailed for 22 months in 2013, reduced to 18 months on appeal, after a cocaine sting orchestrated by Mahmood. He said the Fake Sheikhs team begged him to buy the drugs and his actions left him crying every day as he battled depression. Hide has already unsuccessfully brought a case at the Court of Appeal, but is expected to return to the Criminal Cases Review Commission within weeks. Emma Morgan The former Page Three glamour model was lured by Mahmood with offers of a lucrative contract for a Middle East bikini calendar. Miss Morgan, who was 24 at the time, was covertly filmed taking cannabis and cocaine. When the story was published her career was destroyed. She is believed to be one of at least 18 people suing for loss of earnings and the damage to her reputation. Jodie Kidd The supermodel lost a string of valuable contracts after being caught up in an undercover drugs sting by the News of the World. In 2007, she was recorded in conversations with Mahmood, who was posing as a businessman, offering to arrange a drugs deal. Kidd was said to have arranged for three grams of cocaine to be delivered for 150 and could be among those preparing a civil case. Advertisement 'Whilst the prosecution may say he boasts of the number of convictions resulting from his work, securing convictions is not actually his job.' He said Mahmood's whole investigation was about exposing the pop star's private face 'smoking weed' and 'arranging cocaine for mates' set against her public persona as a 'role model'. Smith's lawyer, Trevor Burke QC, challenged jurors to try to remember, as his client had done, conversations and events a year earlier. After her case collapsed in July 2014, Miss Constavlos claimed to reporters she had been the victim of 'a horrific and disgusting entrapment'. For more than 25 years, Mahmood has enjoyed a position as 'King of the Sting' at the now defunct News of the World, Sunday Times and Sun on Sunday with Smith as his 'right-hand man'. Mahmood, from Purley, south London, has been suspended by News UK since the collapse of the Tulisa trial. A spokesman for the company said today: 'We are disappointed by the news that Mazher Mahmood has been convicted. We do not have further comment at this time.' The Crown Prosecution Service has since dropped a number of live criminal cases in which Mahmood was due to be a witness and announced a review of 25 past convictions. A CPS spokesman said: 'We have taken all reasonable steps to trace cases linked to Mr Mahmood - including the issuing of a press release, along with scrutiny of our own records and other sources of information. 'We have identified 42 cases with 72 defendants involving Mahmood and we have been able to serve disclosure packs in 25 cases involving 41 defendants. We have also provided a disclosure pack to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. 'The decision on whether to take any further legal steps rests solely with the relevant defence team. 'To date we are aware of two applications by convicted defendants for leave to appeal conviction. Both were refused by the Court of Appeal.' While officer in the case, Detective Constable Jim Morrison, said: 'This case is a reminder that perverting the course of justice is a very serious offence that goes to the heart of our justice system. We will always take action where statements or other evidence has been tampered with.' The Criminal Cases Review Commission is currently reviewing six cases involving celebrities who were convicted following involvement with Mahmood. As he was leaving court, Mahmood declined to comment to journalists or say whether he would be launching an appeal. Ben Rose, Miss Contostavlos' defence lawyer, said: 'The real scandal in this case is that Mahmood was allowed to operate as a wholly unregulated police force, 'investigating' crimes without the safeguards which apply to the police. 'It was obvious from the outset that Tulisa should never have had to go to court. 'If Mahmood's evidence had been properly stress-tested instead of accepted wholesale by the CPS, we are confident it would have come to the same conclusion. 'Investigative journalists do important work, but Mahmood clearly went too far. 'That he and his driver have now been convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice will hopefully deter other journalists from using entrapment to drive celebrity gossip stories. 'Mahmood's actions brought his profession into disrepute and ruined hundreds of lives in pursuit of better circulation figures. 'The Crown Prosecution Service should not be so credulous in future. Mark Lewis, a lawyer for individuals were convicted of crimes which, they argue, came as the result Mahmood's false evidence, said his clients are pursuing 'substantial compensation'. Mr Lewis said: 'Over the last 25 years, innumerable lives have been ruined by the dishonest actions of Mazher Mahmood. People have lost their livelihoods, their homes and relationships, with some spending time in prison. 'Following today's verdict, there will be a significant number of civil claims made against Mazher Mahmood. We anticipate the total sums involved could easily reach 800 million, with some awards dwarfing those seen in the phone-hacking scandal.' While Hacked Off campaign director Dr Evan Harris said the implications of Mahmood's conviction were 'far-reaching'. The King of Sting: Mahmood's successes and failures as an undercover reporter Paedophiles, arms dealers and drug dealers have all found themselves at the centre of his stories, as have celebrities and public figures, including the Countess of Wessex, who was taped calling the Queen 'the old dear', and Sven-Goran Eriksson, who revealed his plans to quit as England head coach. Mazher Mahmood claims to have helped put more than 100 criminals behind bars and risked his life on a daily basis to lift the lid on the murky world of crime. Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was among the 'fake sheikh's' targets In 2011, he exposed the Pakistan cricket cheats whose fixing scandal rocked the sport. His trademark disguise was born in 1984 when he was sent to expose a vice ring operating out of a hotel near the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre. He decided to pose as a wealthy young Arab looking to buy a Ferrari. With a huge gold Rolex on his wrist and a deferential entourage of hired hands surrounding him, the 'King of the Stings' found he could get access to pretty much any well-known individual. Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were exposed as match fixers In 2005, Princess Michael of Kent was exposed by the Fake Sheikh making some startling comments about fellow royals. She described the late Princess Diana as a 'nasty' woman and said Prince Charles had merely married a 'womb'. In 2006, he secretly filmed the then England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson saying he would leave the role for enough money and would get David Beckham to join him at his new club. But Mahmood's career has featured some high-profile failures. In 2002, he claimed to have uncovered a plot to kidnap Victoria Beckham and her sons and ransom them for 5million. Five men were arrested. But the case collapsed as the main witness, a Kosovan asylum seeker, was deemed unreliable and had been paid 10,000 for the story. In 2006, he clashed with George Galloway, who claimed the reporter attempted to trap him by posing as an Islamic businessman. The Respect MP responded by circulating photos on the internet Mahmood - threatening his anonymity - after the journalist failed in his bid to ban their publication. A suspected drug dealer is held with his hands tied behind his back by two men. One of them pulls out a pistol, takes aim and shoots him at point blank range into the back of their victim's head. In the blink of an eye, both men calmly climb onto mopeds and speed off. Lying dead in the road, the 'drug pusher' is the latest victim of the Philippines deadly narcotics war, in which more than 3,000 people have been murdered since June. Vigilantes have a licence to kill with impunity since President Rodrigo Duterte declared war on drugs - and controversially claimed he would be 'happy' to slaughter three million users and dealers. Duterte sparked outrage when he controversially compared himself to Hitler - and his purge of drug pushers to Germany's purge of Jews during the Holocaust. Cold blooded: A suspected drug dealer is held with his arms behind his back by two men before one of them pulls out a gun and blasts him in the back of the head. It is the latest summary execution in a Philippines drug was that has seen 3,000 murders since June Bloodshed: Daylight murders are carried out on suspected drug pushers with impunity since President Rodrigo Duterte controversially claimed he would be 'happy' to slaughter three million users and dealers. Pictured: A grief-stricken wife sobs over her husband's bloody body Justice? Since Duterte came to power extra judicial killings are accepted as police turn a blind eye to vigilante retribution, reportedly on the orders of the president. Pictured Two unnamed alleged drug dealers tied up with cardboard signs in Manila Since Duterte came to power extra judicial killings are accepted as police turn a blind eye to vigilante retribution, reportedly on the orders of the president. Aurora Moynihan, is the highest profile casualty of the savage crackdown to date. Daughter of Lord Anthony Moynihan, one of Britain's most colourful aristocrats, the former public schoolgirl's bullet-ridden body was found dumped by the roadside in Quezon City, close to the capital, Manila, in September. Aurora, 45, a mother of two, enjoyed a privileged childhood within the English aristocracy, but was said to be a user of methamphetamine, known as shabu. CCTV images showed her getting out of a Toyota SUV and being shot by unknown assailants before being found next to a torn piece of cardboard warning 'drug pusher to the celebrities, you're next.' Dumped: Aurora Moynihan (pictured) is the highest profile casualty of the savage crackdown to date. Daughter of Lord Anthony Moynihan, one of Britain's most colourful aristocrats, the former public schoolgirl's bullet-ridden body was found dumped by the roadside in Quezon City, close to the capital, Manila, last month Executed: Aurora (pictured), 45, a mother of two, enjoyed a privileged childhood within the English aristocracy, but was said to be a user of methamphetamine, known as shabu. Her murder sent shockwaves through her social circles in the affluent suburb of Makati Police say her murder marks a dramatic shift in the drugs war as celebrities and wealthy users are targeted. 'This could be a turning point,' Police Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, the director of the Quezon City force, said of Miss Moynihan's death. 'People are clamouring for the big fish to be neutralised, not just the low level.' Since Ms Moynihan's death more high profile arrests have followed as police have held former adult film star Karen Pallasigne, 36, and Krista Miller, 26, another Filipino actress, accused of having drugs links. Eleazar says police are developing other cases involving celebrities and politicians. Boxer turned congressman Manny Pacquiao, 37, has already admitted to taking 'all kinds of drugs' when he was a teenager. Pacquiao, who is the godfather to Duterte's grandson, said he was confident his confession would not damage his close relationship with the president. Police say Miss Moynihan's murder marks a dramatic shift in the drugs war towards celebrities and wealthy users being targeted. Pictured: CCTV footage of one of the latest drugs killings Police chief Guillermo Eleazar described the former public schoolgirl's death as a turning point, adding: 'People are clamouring for the big fish to be neutralised, not just the low level.' 'He always gives a chance to people who want to be changed,' he said. But not everyone in Manila agrees. Miss Moynihan's murder sent shockwaves through her social circles in the affluent suburb of Makati. Frightened friends would only speak about her anonymously, for fear of being hunted down themselves. One feared that she may have been targeted because her boyfriend owed money to drugs lords. The shift in focus to celebrities and the wealthy has not stopped the mounting pile of body bags. Such is the impunity felt by the masked assassins terrorising the country that they do not restrict their operations to the cover of darkness. Gruesome images like this one of Franklin Bambico's grief-stricken wife sobbing over his body, bathed in blood, at lunchtime in a main street in the northern city of Baguio, are all too common Just days after Mr Bambico was murdered, the same fate was met by beautician Chona Oliveros (pictured) who was gunned down as she gave a mid-morning pedicure at her stall Human Rights Watch has described the situation as 'nothing less than mass killings disguised as crime control.' Duterte's war on drugs has been condemned by the United Nations, European Union and the United States. His response? He told the EU 'F**k you' and called US President Barack Obama a 'son of a whore.' Such is the impunity felt by the masked assassins terrorising the country that they do not restrict their operations to the cover of darkness. Gruesome images of Franklin Bambico's grief-stricken wife sobbing over his body, bathed in blood, at lunchtime in a main street in the northern city of Baguio, are all too common. Just days later in the same city, beautician Chona Oliveros, 47, was gunned down in cold blood as she gave a mid-morning pedicure at her stall. The atmosphere of intimidation has led over 700,000 drug users in the 100million strong island nation to sign up to a government plan to 'surrender' to the police, avoid charges and stay alive. But lawyers and activists fear that some who surrender actually end up on so-called 'kill lists'. 'We've had reports that some of those who have surrendered have been targeted,' said Manila-based human rights lawyer, Jose Manual Diokno. He compared the lists to a similar system during the 1970s dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos, singling out 'enemies of the state'. 'Nowadays they refer to them as addicts or drug pushers but the shortcuts and lack of due process are exactly the same,' he said. 'We are all in the dark about where they [lists] are coming from. I don't know what kind of verification is done to check their accuracy,' he added. 'They are the reverse of what the legal process is supposed to be.' Jeremiah Magno, 32, had surrendered just two months ago. But it did not save him from being shot three times by masked gunmen on motorbikes outside his front door in the Manila slum of Masville. He had been playing a dice game on his own, just metres from where his elderly mother, Evelyn, 68, and daughter, Natalie, three, were sleeping. Jeremiah Magno, 32, (pictured in the coffin) had surrendered to police just two months ago. But it did not save him from being shot three times by masked gunmen on motorbikes outside his front door in the Manila slum of Masville Grief: Jeremiah's brother John-Paul, pictured consoling his three-year-old niece Natalie, three, told MailOnline: 'I told him I didn't want him to end up lying [dead] on the pavement.' His mother Evelyn, a midwife's assistant (pictured), is worried about his daughter Natalie, four. 'I don't want the same thing to happen to her as happened to her father,' she said. On the night Jeremiah was taken to the morgue in a stained white sheet, his fresh blood still pooling on potholed lane, his visibly shattered elder brother John-Paul, 37, said he had encouraged Jeremiah to surrender to the police to protect himself. 'I told him I didn't want him to end up lying [dead] on the pavement,' he said. Jeremiah followed his advice and signed a pledge to no longer take drugs. His family claimed he went clean. 'He didn't do bad things. He was just a user. He didn't sell or deal. I told him if he ever did that I would forsake him as my brother. He's a nice guy when he's not on drugs,' said John-Paul, a security guard. John-Paul added his brother had wanted to open up a small shop and he doted on his toddler daughter, whose mother was no longer around. 'He was very close to his daughter. He used to comb her hair and buy her trinkets. She kept asking why he wasn't here,' said his mother Evelyn, a former charity worker who was widowed with four young sons when Jeremiah was just two years old. 'He wasn't worried when he surrendered. He thought good would come of it.' On Thursday, as she sat by her son's open casket at the wake in the family's small, rundown home, Evelyn fretted that she would have to give up her job as a midwife's assistant to take care of Natalie. 'I don't want the same thing to happen to her as happened to her father,' she said. The little girl appeared confused by the embalmed body of her father. 'Daddy's dead,' she said, although it was unclear if she knew what that meant. She tugged at her uncle's trousers until he lifted her up to give her a better view. 'I miss Daddy,' she said, pointing at his lifeless body. 'I miss him.' Despite the injustice of his brother's death, John-Paul Magno said he would rather not press charges against the unknown suspects who killed him. 'I'm more concerned about the security of my family. I'm the only man and I don't live her. How can I look after them?' he said. The culture of fear on the streets is so great that, for some, incarceration at the Quezon City jail, one of the nation's most crowded prisons, is a welcome relief. The jail should be operating at a capacity of 800, but in August peaked at over 4000. Much of the recent influx can be attributed to drugs-related charges. The culture of fear on the streets of the Philippines is so great that, for some, incarceration at the Quezon City jail (pictured), one of the nation's most crowded prisons, is a welcome relief The jail, above, should be operating at a capacity of 800, but in August peaked at over 4000. Much of the recent influx can be attributed to drugs-related charges. Inmates can wait months or years for the cases to come to court Inmates can wait months or years for the cases to come to court. In the meantime, they receive little food and conditions so crowded that they are forced to sleep crushed together on the ground, or on staircases. Despite the discomfort some say they would rather remain inside. 'When people come here they say they are happy because they are still alive,' said one long-term inmate, who did not wish to be named. Advertisement It was virtually impossible to miss this mammoth sailing superyacht as it took to the sea for a test run today - thanks in large part to its three 300ft masts which stand taller than Big Ben's tower. The 468ft-long vessel, owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko, was reportedly pulled out of the German Naval Yard in Kiel, north of Hamburg, by a tugboat and eventually built up a speed of 20 knots. But the superyacht, worth an estimated $450million (313million), was not able to realise its full potential because the three huge sails have not yet been unveiled. They are expected to be tested at some point in the next week. It was imaginatively named 'Sailing Yacht A' by its owner - who hit the headlines in September when he moored his other 225 million masterpiece, 'Motor Yacht A', on the Thames. It was virtually impossible to miss this mammoth sailing superyacht as it took to the sea for a test run today - thanks in large part to its three 300ft masts which stand taller than Big Ben's tower The 468ft-long vessel (right), owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko, was reportedly pulled out of the German Naval Yards in Kiel, north of Hamburg, by a tugboat and it eventually built up a speed of 20 knots Sailing Yacht A boasts eight floors - with a helicopter pad on one of the decks - and an underwater observation room Melnichenko, who has an estimated net worth of $11.9 billion (9.35 billion), is said to favour using the letter 'A' so that his vessels are listed first in shipping registers. Sailing Yacht A boasts eight floors - with a helicopter pad on one of the decks - and an underwater observation room. The behemoth is believed to be one of the world's largest sailing superyachts. Superyachtfan.com reports that the boat is powered by a 'hybrid diesel-electric package with controllable pitch propellers,' and is designed to accommodate 20 guests and a crew of 54. The yacht was designed by Frenchman Philippe Starck and built by German Naval Yards, Nobiskrug. Mr Melnichenko is expected to recover some of the costs by licensing the technology developed for the vessel for commercial applications. The luxury yacht, that was built at a shipbuilding yard near Hamburg, Germany, has masts that are 300ft high and is one of the world's largest sailing boats in the world The sailing ship is owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko, who is believed to have paid 260m for the vessel Cruise speed of the ship is 18mph, with a top speed of 24mph. The hull is made of steel, with a teak-finish deck The epic vessel boasts a staggering eight decks and its keel incorporates one of the largest single pieces of curved glass ever made at 193 square feet and weighs a whopping 1.8 tons The vessel is an upgrade to the Russian billionaire's 'Motor Yacht A' - which set him back 190million. Melnichenko also owns a Boeing 737 - but he has now turned his attention to sailing power. The epic vessel boasts a staggering eight decks and its keel incorporates one of the largest single pieces of curved glass ever made at 193 square feet and weighs a whopping 1.8 tons. It dwarfs other famous super-yachts like The Maltese Falcon, which is 298ft and weighs 1,367 tons. The cruise speed of the ship is 18mph and its has a top speed of 24mph. The hull is made of steel, with a teak-finish deck. This has been used to create a stunning observation pod on the bottom of the vessel so Mr Melnichenko, 43, and his Serbian model wife, Aleksandra, can enjoy stunning views of the sea. Mr Melnichenko (pictured with wife Aleksandra), who has an estimated net worth of $11.9 billion (9.35 billion), founded the fertilizer producer EuroChem, the coal producer Suek, the power generator SGK, and the pipe exporter TMK Motor Yacht A was Andrey Melnichenko's first purchase, and now he has moved into the sailing side of the industry Motor Yacht A was a behemoth of the seas in its own right, now Mr Melnichenko has another toy for his collection The yacht will have a high-tech digital control system operated using a touch sensitive sheet of black glass in the bridge. This will allow the crew to raise and lower the sails and even drop the anchor with a brush of their fingers. Mr Melnichenko founded the fertilizer producer EuroChem, coal producer Suek, power generator SGK and the pipe exporter TMK. The boat owner billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko, pictured with his wife Aleksandra He was named as the 97th wealthiest person on the planet by Forbes and the ninth richest in Russia. Speaking about the project earlier this month, a spokesman for Mr Melnichenko said it 'pushed the boundaries.' 'This project was a considerable financial risk for him as he had to fund massive R&D to see if he could achieve his vision,' they said. 'But he is a man to always push the boundaries and to challenge the industries he works with to think out of the box so he can achieve something new and exciting as well as beautiful. 'Sailing Yacht A is a monument to invention.' Benjamin Maltby of MatrixLloyd, said: 'Make no mistake - this will be a very significant ship. 'While precise details of the sailing rig have yet to be released, not since the days of the mighty clipper sailing ships, such as the Cutty Sark, has such a large sailing vessel been built. Crowds gathered in northern Germany to catch a glimpse of the mega-yacht as it set on its maiden sail The masts were prudced by Magma Structures based in Portsmouth, and were shipped out to the German port An artist's impression gave the idea that the sailing yacht would dwarf other yachts - and so it has been proved TALE OF THE TAPE Top Speed: 24mph (20.8 knots) Cruise Speed: 18mph (15.6 knots) Length: 468ft Size of sailing masts: 300ft Cost: 260m Crew: 54 Advertisement 'This new superyacht will be nearly twice the length and over twice the width of the Cutty Sark. 'She will instantly become an inspiration to cargo ship owners, and a floating demonstration that sails - combined with the latest materials and technology - mean that dirty diesel engines are no longer needed as the primary means of propulsion. 'The green lobby should be celebrating - as cargo ships are significant CO2 contributors. 'The masts were built by Magma Structures in Portsmouth - just a stone's throw from another well known sailing vessel, HMS Victory, which is less than half the length of this new superyacht.' Sarah Johnson from Magma Structures told MailOnline Travel: 'We are really proud of the team who build these masts, that are the largest free-standing rigs in the world. 'We are the only company who can produce structures like this of this size, it's great for Britain to be involved.' Boat International reports that the previous argest sailing yacht on the water is 96.35 metre Sea Cloud, a classic beauty launched in 1931, followed by the modern falcon-rigged iconic yacht Maltese Falcon at 88 metres LOA. Sailing Yacht A will handily surpass both of these. After months of preparation work, the Sailing Yacht A finally took to the seas in northern Germany HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO KEEP A SUPERYACHT ON THE WATER? From Russian oligarchs to Middle Eastern royalty to Hollywood producers, it takes a certain type of person to own a superyacht - crucially, they must be super rich. Andrey Milnichenko has invested $451 million into his new vessel Sailing Yacht A. However, the initial cost is only part of owning such a luxurious vessel. For wealthy owners like Roman Abramovich and UAE president Khalifa Al Nahyan, owners of two of the costliest private vessels in the world, the costs associated with keeping such big boats on the water are staggering. The original plans for Sailing Yacht A have become a reality for the wealthy Russian businessman Insurance company Towergate estimates that 10 per cent of the initial value of a superyacht goes on operating costs. For Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich's Eclipse, a 162.5m vessel with a missile defence system that cost the billionaire an astronomical $500milion (332), that means $50m (33m) a year. The standard fuel usage for a 71m yacht is 500 litres an hour, meaning an average of $400,000 (265,000) is spent on petrol every year per vessel. The Value Added Tax (VAT) works out at 15-25 per cent of the vessel's value while docking costs are an average $350,000 (232,000) and $240,000 (159,000) the standard for insurance sees the costs soar. Add to that the expected $1million (664,000) per year for maintenance and repairs and the wages for an average $1.4m (930,000) for an on-board crew - which can range from less than 20 to 154 staff on the Sultan of Oman's mysterious Al Said superyacht - and it's a significant outlay. Advertisement Manhattan's oldest church is getting ready to celebrate its 250-year history, which has seen worshipers ranging from George Washington to those who searched for victims following the September 11 attacks. St. Paul's Chapel in Lower Manhattan is best known today as the 'Little Church that Stood,' having survived unscathed as the World Trade Center towers came down across the street. A monthslong interior renovation of the Episcopal sanctuary will be unveiled on its anniversary date October 30, along with a '9/11 Chapel of Remembrance' area for quiet reflection that also contains artifacts of the attacks. Scroll down for video St. Paul's Chapel, Manhattan's oldest church, is getting ready to celebrate its 250-year history, which includes worshippers ranging from George Washington to those who searched for victims following the September 11 attacks The renovation will be unveiled on its anniversary date October 30, along with a '9/11 Chapel of Remembrance' area for quiet reflection that also contains artifacts of the attacks St. Paul's Chapel in Lower Manhattan is best known today as the 'Little Church that Stood,' having survived unscathed as the World Trade Center towers came down across the street On Tuesday, a weather-resistant statue of St. Paul was to be lowered by crane to a spot outside the chapel where the original had stood. The original has been restored and will be moved inside and unveiled on the anniversary date. St. Paul's, the chapel of the Parish of Trinity Church several blocks south, is Manhattan's last remaining colonial structure. Smoke is seen around the church in this image from September 11, 2001 Men are pictured on the street not far from the church in this September 11, 2001 image A rescue worker sleeps in a pew of St. Paul's Chapel, as police officers sit in the background, across the street from the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attack Debris is seen covering the graveyard in the wake of the 9/11 attack It was built in 1766 as a 'Chapel of Ease' for the 'uptown' parishioners of the expanding city, then at the tip of Manhattan. It was known best in colonial times for surviving several fires, the most devastating of which was the Great Fire of 1776 that consumed a quarter of lower Manhattan. George Washington is depicted outside St. Paul's Chapel People are pictured in the churchyard in this photograph from circa 1905 A section of St. Paul's Chapel is shown during a months-long interior restoration in New York A fire bucket brigade saved the chapel but Trinity, built in 1698, was turned into a pile of rubble. 'That is why Founding Fathers like George Washington wound up worshipping at St. Paul's regularly,' said Anne Petrimoulx, the archivist for Trinity and St. Paul's. It was built in 1766 as a 'Chapel of Ease' for the 'uptown' parishioners of the expanding city, then at the tip of Manhattan It was known best in colonial times for surviving several fires, the most devastating of which was the Great Fire of 1776 that consumed a quarter of lower Manhattan In sprucing up for its 250th anniversary, the chapel's blue ceiling and pink walls, rendered during an earlier restoration in the 1960s, are being covered in white dove and natural cream traced back to the mid-1800s the earliest color conservationist could find. Conservators took about 1,000 samples from various locations columns, balconies, ceilings and walls 'and wound up finding the earliest color they could,' said project manager Luke Johns. The church's remarkable historical artifacts also have been restored in recent years. The Lower Manhattan church is seen in this black-and-white image from 1895 Contractors attach a resin replica of the original statue of St. Paul to a crane as they prepare to install it in the tympanum of St. Paul's Chapel on Tuesday They include an 18th-century painting of the Great Seal of the United States and the oldest monument in New York, commissioned by the Continental Congress in 1776, to an American revolutionary war hero, Gen. Richard Montgomery. But it is equally renowned for its long ministry including religious services for printers getting off work in the wee hours of the night in the early 1900s and opening a business lunch club for women when the female workforce was relatively small. Today, most remember it for providing meals, beds and counseling to rescue workers after 9/11. Investigators in Paris are now trying to track down the gang responsible for holding Kim Kardashian at gun point at her luxury apartment and stealing 8.5million worth of jewellery. But mystery surrounds who was responsible for the raid or how the armed gang even managed to make it into the reality TV star's apartment. They struck at 2.30am on Monday, just hours after Kim wore her 3.5million engagement ring, given to her by rapper husband Kanye West, for only the second time on Snapchat. Here MailOnline poses 10 unanswered questions that remain following the heist in the French capital while martial arts guru Matt Fiddes, the former bodyguard of Michael Jackson, gives his view on the robbery: Investigators in Paris are now trying to track down the gang responsible for holding Kim Kardashian at gun point at her luxury apartment and stealing 8.5million worth of jewellery Kim is believed to have had her 3.5million engagement ring stolen in the heist. The raid took place hours after she wore the ring for the second time on Snapchat 1. Why were Kim Kardashian and her best friend, the stylist Simone Harouche, by themselves in an unguarded flat with at least 8.5m worth of jewellery that Kim has pictured on social media? Family and other aides were staying less than a mile away at the Four Seasons George V Hotel. Mr Fiddes told MailOnline that there was never an occasion when he was looking after Michael Jackson that the star would be left completely alone. He said: 'Michael used to tell me that he had never walked down the street alone without security since he was seven years old. 'Kim should have absolutely not have been left alone without security, it is all very fishy. Kim and her best friend, the stylist Simone Harouche, were left by themselves in an apartment in Paris before the raid 'When you are carrying expensive jewellery such as that, it is not unusual for the jewellery itself to have its own bodyguard. 'It's a different world now with social media and by showing off your wealth you are becoming a target.' 2. Why was there no CCTV whatsoever inside or directly outside the palatial apartment block where flats rent for up to 8,000 a week? Such cameras not only detect the approach of criminals, but also deter them. Mr Fiddes says that a celebrity on Kim Kardashian's level should have had security cameras fitted, not only outside the building but inside too. He explained: 'A camera should have been fitted to the bedroom door where she was sleeping along with a sensor. 'A screen could have been set up in the chief of security's bedroom, and somebody would have watched it all night. 'It is standard procedure. There is something not right there.' 3.Why was only one night porter on duty in a block used to house some of the biggest stars in the world, including Madonna and Leonardo di Caprio? The block provides cooks, chauffers and other staff, so why not a 24/7 dedicated security team? Mr Fiddes said it seems unusual that Kim's own security did not stay with her at the apartment. It has since been revealed that there were no CCTV cameras either inside or directly outside the luxury apartment, above, where Kim was staying with 8.5million worth of jewels He added: 'It is normal for celebrities on her level to bring their own security team. 'I would have said she should have had seven or eight security people outside the building and another two or three more trusted people inside. 'In America, when I was with Michael Jackson we would also have a link to local police and they would come right away if there was an incident.' 4. How did the gang get through a deadlocked armoured door that was also bolted from the inside? There was no sign of forced entry, and no reason whatsoever why anybody would have allowed unidentified men entry in the middle of the night. Even if they were falsely claiming to be police, a simple telephone call could have alerted bona fide officers. Mr Fiddes said it would be normal for security teams to do a sweep of the building before there client would get there. He explained: 'A high level celebrity would bring their own security team do to a complete sweep of the building. 'They would normally go to a place a day or two before the celebrity to a reccy and check out everything in the building where their client would be.' One of the luxurious main rooms in the complex where Kim Kardashian had millions of dollars worth of jewellery stolen by five armed masked men dressed as police officers Matt Fiddes: Difficult to keep a celebrity's movements under wraps 5. What information would the porter who was tied up and gagged have had about Ms Kardashian's whereabouts, movements, and personal security arrangements? It is standard policy in VIP portered blocks for residents to have absolute privacy, and not to divulge any information to what would amount to very junior and low paid staff members. Mr Fiddes says that it is difficult to keep a celebrity's movements under wraps, especially when they are high profile. But he added: 'You have people like maids and concierge in hotels, they will tell people who is staying there. 'Usually they want autographs and the celebrity obliges but that is why stars bring their own security.' 6. Why did Ms Kardashian's bodyguard, Pascal Duvier, leave her alone to go to a nightclub? And how apparently did the gang know he was not there? Mr Fiddes claimed it is beyond belief that Mr Duvier was not with Kim, and was instead two miles away with her sisters Kourtney and Kendall Jenner at L'Arc nightclub. He explained: 'My take on that is that you have to be willing to take a bullet to protect people and when you get to the stage you can't, that is when you have to move on. On the night of the raid, Kim's bodyguard Pascal Duvier (left, in file image with Kim) was at a nightclub with her sister Kourtney 'That was part of the reason why I left my job with MJ (Michael Jackson) because I had children. 'It seems that he has become more of a friend to Kim rather than an employee. You can see that when the prankster tried to grab her a few days earlier. 'He also has his own social media accounts, which we would not have been allowed to do at all. 'When I worked for Michael, we weren't even allowed to tell our wives or girlfriends where in the world we were.' 7. Why was Ms Kardashian allowed to leave France within a few hours of the crime, so as to return to the USA? It is common procedure for victims of serious crime to assist police and prosecutors with enquires for at least a few days afterwards. Key information could easily be forgotten if and when Ms Kardashian ever returns [to Paris] to speak to police again. Just hours after the raid, Kim fled France and boarded a private jet headed for New York 8. Why were only three bodyguards protecting members of the Kardashian clan in France during the country's ongoing State of Emergency, which was imposed following terrorist attacks in Paris? Kim Kardashian was meant to be in her own flat with one bodyguard, while the other two security men were with other family members at the George V. Mr Fiddes said Kim may have been badly advised to go to Paris for fashion week given the current state of emergency in France. He explained: 'When her security were doing their research, they would see Paris has had two major terror attacks recently. Matt Fiddes (pictured with umbrella), Michael Jackson's former bodyguard, believes it was fishy that Kim was left completely alone 'She is one of the most high profile celebrities in the world and I might have advised her not to go, especially if it was just to attend some fashion shows. 'She is a major target, especially as she an high profile American woman. 'There were times with Michael when he really wanted to visit places but they were just too dangerous. 'We had to tell him, look we can't go there.' 9. How did five assailants manage to get in and out of the building, and then away on bicycles? The men apparently escaped with nobody seeing them at all apart from their principal victims, Ms Kardashian and the unidentified porter. Mr Fiddes says that in his previous role, Michael Jackson had a videographer who would document his every move. Kim leaves the Ferdi restaurant in Paris days before the robbery, which took place during the city's fashion week He explained: 'We would do this to protect his safety and the safety of the people around him. 'It meant you could identify people who were constantly following him and we could review the footage. 'One of the reasons was if a fan said MJ's car ran over their foot and they wanted to sue us, we could look back and stop a lawsuit dead in the water. 'We used camcorders back then, but it is easy now to use dashcams or cameras you can wear.' 10. There have been a spate of 'home jackings' French slang for robberies in private residences in the district where Ms Kardashian lives in Paris, so why wasn't she warned, and better protected Michael Jackson's former bodyguard Matt Fiddes, who is also a martial arts expert Mr Fiddes says that security teams would usually do their research into the place their client was staying. He said: 'You would get your security to do a reccy beforehand and expect them to look into the history of the area. A wealthy businessman's mistress of 27 years has been battling to get a slice of a $22 million divorce settlement with his wife. The businessman from Christchurch in New Zealand split from his wife in 2007 after 47 years of marriage, the New Zealand Herald reports. His mistress, who he is now in a relationship with, has been fighting various courts ever since because she claimed she was entitled to a share of relationship property. A former mistress of a wealthy businessman from Christchurch, who is now in a relationship with him, is fighting his ex-wife in court to get a piece of the $22 million divorce settlement Their affair began around 1980 and they would meet in secret before work or when he claimed he had to leave a family holiday to return to work, according to his ex-wife. The woman started working for the man's company a year after their affair started and she still works there now. On one occasion, the man told his wife that he was participating in a yacht race in Australia when he was actually on a holiday in Perth with his mistress-turned-partner. The couple had tried to claim they were in a de facto relationship but a Family Court judge ruled in 2014 that wasn't the case. Several other courts have since rejected appeals The man received two relationship property claims in the Family Court when he split from his wife in 2007, including one from his former mistress and his wife. The couple had tried to claim they were in a de facto relationship, which is why the former mistress claimed she was entitled to a share in the $22 million divorce. A Family Court judge ruled in 2014 that they weren't a de facto couple, which they then unsuccessfully appealed in the High Court. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. JAMILAH TALIBAH ABDUL-HAQQ, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITALS; et al., Defendants-Appellees. No. 15-15747 Decided: October 04, 2016 Before: TASHIMA, SILVERMAN, and M. SMITH, Circuit Judges. MEMORANDUM * Jamilah Talibah Abdul-Haqq appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing her employment action alleging violations of Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and California law. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1291. We review de novo a dismissal for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 341 (9th Cir. 2010). We may affirm on any basis supported by the record, Johnson v. Riverside Healthcare Sys., LP, 534 F.3d 1116, 1121 (9th Cir. 2008), and we affirm. Dismissal of Abdul-Haqq's Title VII, ADA, and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) claims was proper because Abdul-Haqq failed to exhaust her administrative remedies as to those claims. See Freeman v. Oakland Unified Sch. Dist., 291 F.3d 632, 636 (9th Cir. 2002) (setting forth factors exhaustion requirement for Title VII claims); see also 42 U.S.C. 12117(a) (extending Title VII exhaustion requirement to ADA); Rodriguez v. Airborne Express, 265 F.3d 890, 896 (9th Cir. 2001) (FEHA requires exhaustion of administrative remedies). The district court properly dismissed Abdul-Haqq's intentional infliction of emotional distress claim because Abdul-Haqq failed to allege facts sufficient to state a plausible claim. See Hughes v. Pair, 209 P.3d 963, 976 (Cal. 2009) (elements of claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress). We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009). Defendants' motion to strike documents attached to Abdul-Haqq's opening and reply briefs is granted because the documents were not part of the record before the district court. See Fed. R. App. P. 10(a); 9th Cir. R. 10-2; see also Lowry v. Barnhart, 329 F.3d 1019, 1024 (9th Cir. 2003). Defendants' motion to strike Abdul-Haqq's opening brief is denied. AFFIRMED. FOOTNOTES . This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. Phyllis J. Hamilton, Chief Judge, Presiding Paramedics tried to resuscitate the girl but she died in hospital The girl was with her family at the Ivanhoe Crossing in Western Australia A girl, 6, drowned after she was caught in a whirlpool in a flooded river A six-year-old girl has drowned after she fell into a flooded river notorious for being infested with crocodiles while with her family. Paramedics were called to Ivanhoe Crossing near the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia at 3.40pm on Tuesday, They tried to resuscitate the girl at the scene but she was later pronounced dead at hospital, reported ABC. A six-year-old girl drowned after falling into the Ivanhoe Crossing near the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia (pictured) The young girl is believed to have been caught in a whirlpool before she was pulled out from the river. In May this year, another two young boys almost drowned in two separate incidents. The two boys were sucked under water and were lucky to have been plucked to safety. The Ivanhoe Crossing is a concrete causeway built across the Ord River. The popular fishing location has several warning signs advising the public to not swim in the waterway but they are ignored on numerous occasions. Barney Fuller, 58, shot and killed Nathan and Annette Copeland, his next-door neighbors, in a rural area of eastern Texas in May 2003 Texas is scheduled to execute its first death row inmate in six months on Thursday. Barring an unlikely last-second stay of execution, Barney Fuller, 58, will be administered lethal doses of poisonous chemicals through injection. Fuller will be executed over 13 years after he pleaded guilty to murdering a couple and shooting one of their children in a rural area of east Texas just outside the town of Lovelady. In May 2003, Fuller was hauled into a Texas court to answer for charges that he had made threatening phone calls to his neighbor two years prior. Later that evening, Fuller went home and began drinking, stewing in his anger. Two nights later, Fuller left his home with a 12-gauge shotgun, a military-style semi-automatic carbine and a .40-caliber pistol and carried the weapons about 200 yards to the home of neighbors Nathan and Annette Copeland. He fired 59 shots into their house, kicked in the back door and walked inside, opening fire again. Nathan Copeland, 43, was killed in his bedroom, shot four times. The room in the state facility in Huntsville that will be used in Fuller's execution on Wednesday. Lethal injection is the method of execution used by Texas authorities His wife, 39, was gunned down in a bathroom while calling 911. One of their two children was shot but survived. The 911 operator heard Fuller's voice, yelling: 'The party's over b****.' The couple's 14-year-old son, Cody, was hit twice and survived, and their 10-year-old daughter, Courtney, avoided gunshots because Fuller couldnt find the light in her dark bedroom. Cody found his mothers cellphone and called police. 'Barney Fuller found happiness with a warm gun,' asst. district attorney Tanya Dohoney was quoted as saying by the Toronto Sun. 'He was so fond of shooting on his rural Houston County property that his pastime repeatedly peeved his neighbors, including the Copeland family. 'After Barney shot the Copeland's electric transformer to smithereens, the ensuing dispute led the Copelands to seek terroristic threat charges against Barney.' Nathan Copeland, 43, was killed in his bedroom, shot four times by Fuller. His wife, Annette, was gunned down in a bathroom while calling 911 Fuller appears to have long been resigned to his fate. He pleaded guilty to the murder charges in court and he did not protest when jurors sentenced him to death. 'He was very adamant not wanting to be there,' said William House, one of his trial lawyers. 'From the very start, he just really didn't care.' Cindy Garner, the former Houston County district attorney who prosecuted Fuller, described him as mean and without remorse. 'A lot of times in the country folks argue about chickens and dogs,' Garner said. 'He was shooting his mouth off, but no one had any idea that something like this was going to happen, where he was just going to march down the road like Rambo and tear up an entire family.' There are currently 254 inmates on death row in the Lone Star State - six of them women. An Icelandic woman has launched a desperate search for a Melbourne couple after she realised she had their honeymoon photos on her camera. Andrea Hauksdottir, 26, was backpacking through Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, in March 2013 when she met the recently married couple and joined them kayaking. Ms Hauksdottir, who is currently in Reykjavik, said she promised to send them the photos, but lost a book with their contact details during her holiday. An Icelandic woman has launched a desperate search for a Melbourne couple after she realised she had their honeymoon photos (pictured) Andrea Hauksdottir, 26, (pictured) was backpacking through Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, in March 2013 when she met the recently married couple and joined them kayaking On Saturday she posted a plea to Facebook, asking her friends share the photos to try and find the couple. The black and white photos show the pair in each other's arms while kayaking near sea caves at Koh Phi Phi. She said all she remembers is the woman's name is Bianca, her parents were Polish and she was around 28-years-old. 'We got on really well - I really enjoyed their company,' Ms Hauksdottir told 3AW. The black and white photos show the pair in each other's arms while kayaking near sea caves at Koh Phi Phi. On Saturday Ms Hauksdottir (pictured) posted a plea to Facebook, asking her friends share the photos to try and find the couple Some were skeptical Facebook would be successful finding the pair in a city of more than 4 million Ms Hauksdottir (pictured) said she 'won't stop' until she finds them to give them the photos She said she had many more photos of the Melbourne couple and her post has been shared more than 50 times in four days. Some were skeptical Facebook would be successful finding the pair in a city of more than 4 million. But Ms Hauksdottir said she 'won't stop' until she finds them. 'I dearly hope they're still married,' she said. The head of the Army has ordered his chain of command to support British troops facing vexatious claims over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a letter seen by this newspaper, General Sir Nicholas Carter told his officers to remember that every soldier was innocent until proven guilty - and should be treated as such. He also revealed that he has ordered a full-scale review into the tactics used by two taxpayer-funded probes investigating historic cases against UK troops. Scroll down for video General Sir Nicholas Carter, right, has ordered his chain of command to support British troops who are facing criminal allegations during their service in Iraq and Afghanistan He said a number of claims made against UK soldiers were 'not credible' (file picture) Sir Nicholas, the chief of the general staff, told his staff that the chain of command must be as supportive as possible to those under invetigation. He said a significant number of claims had been made that were not credible and that soldiers must know what their rights are and the support that is available to them. His highly unusual intervention is a victory for the Daily Mail, which has revealed how soldiers are being dragged through as many as five probes over incidents a decade or more ago. The Mail has also revealed the heavy-handed practices used by investigators, who have turned up at military barracks and soldiers homes threatening arrest. It follows an announcement that the Government will tear apart human rights laws when sending soldiers into future wars. Last night the Army said Sir Nicholas cares deeply and was acutely conscious of how distressing multiple investigations were, particularly if soldiers had to relive traumatic experiences. In the letter sent to the chain of command on Tuesday, Sir Nicholas said: I want to make it absolutely clear that the chain of command is to be as supportive as possible of those under investigation. Our soldiers must know what their rights are and the support that is available to them. He said that the decision to quiz troops on past incidents was not cost free and there must be a risk assessment that takes into account the trauma it could cause them. The Daily Mail has revealed how soldiers are being dragged through as many as five probes over incidents a decade or more ago (file picture) The Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat) is investigating more than 1,500 claims (file picture) Sir Nicholas said the military needed to consider the impact on soldiers who had to cope with the pressure of being investigated as well as being required to recount traumatic events during interview. He said there was a unique vulnerability of those deployed on combat operations, adding: The decision to interview someone is not therefore cost free. It should be subject to a risk assessment that balances the value of the potential information with the likelihood of causing trauma and long term distress to the individual, he wrote. He also said they had to take into account the impact on the moral component of the Armys fighting power. In a huge development, he also said he had written to the director of judicial engagement policy in the MoD calling for a review into the practices by the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat) and Operation Northmoor, investigating cases from Afghanistan. They must ensure their practices are clear, unambiguous and treat soldiers with respect in light of concerns that have been reported in the press and elsewhere, he said. He signed off saying: Finally be in no doubt that in my mind everyone is innocent until proven guilty and should be treated as such. His letter was sent to senior officers in the military on Tuesday, as the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary announced they would rip up human rights laws when soldiers are sent to the battlefield in future. Under the landmark measures, troops who fight in future wars will not face multiple probes like those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Responding to the move, the head of the Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, said human rights laws had risked seriously undermining the operational effectiveness of the military. The head of the Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, said human rights laws had risked seriously undermining the operational effectiveness of the military (file picture) He said troops should be free from the burden of excessive litigation. The chief of the defence staff said: Extending the jurisdiction of the European Convention on Human Rights to the battlefield risks seriously undermining the operational effectiveness of UK Armed Forces, so this important announcement is very welcome. I am determined that the Armed Forces should have the confidence and tools to do their jobs effectively on operations, free from the burden of excessive litigation. The announcement followed months of high level meetings between ministers and generals on the plans. Sir Nicholas said in the letter that the Governments crackdown would provide protection against vexatious allegations and will assure our operational effectiveness. Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded forces in Afghanistan, said of the letter: It is unusual for the chief of the general staff to send such a strong message. It is the message of support that soldiers need. Prime Minister Theresa May said yesterday: I think it is absolutely right that the Government should say to our troops we are on your side. Hilary Meredith, a lawyer representing a major and two soldiers facing prosecution, said: The good the human rights act was brought in to do has been overshadowed by those who abuse it. Theresa May has also said it is right the Government tells troops it is on their side (file picture) Politicians and former military personnel also said more needed to be done to protect soldiers being dragged through probes now. General Lord Dannatt said: I still believe the present unsatisfactory situation with regard to the Iraq and Afghanistan inquiries needs to be gripped. The wholescale nature and scale of the allegations are totally incredible, most are fallacious but while the inquiries are still live, there are hundreds of service men and women anxious about their future. Former Major Andrew Sayers, who has been helping hounded troops, said: Where this fails is it doesnt deal with the here and now. An Army spokesman said of the letter: The chief of the general staff cares deeply about his people. 'He is acutely conscious of how distressing it is for individuals to be the subject of allegations and investigations, particularly if such investigations require them to relive traumatic experiences. They all deserve our care and support. Jane Lunnon says young women should look to Shakespeare for inspiration Teenage girls should learn to be less like Kim Kardashian and more like Cleopatra and other Shakespearean heroines, a leading private school head has said. Jane Lunnon, of Wimbledon High School, declared that young women needed to ditch role models from reality TV and instead take inspiration from the strong women of the Bards plays. She said youngsters need people to look up to who were not known simply for the size of their diamonds but for being resourceful and resilient in the face of adversity. And she pointed out that many women in Shakespeares works grappled with the same issues as girls today, such as love, self-image and confidence. Mrs Lunnon, 46, is launching a project in her high-flying girls day school to encourage pupils to recognise the relevance of Shakespeare to their lives. It comes after she carried out an informal survey of her pupils, who despite being bright, high achieving and aspirational still cited celebrities as role models. She said: [They were] just as likely to cite Taylor Swift or Kim Kardashian as a role model as Malala [Yousafzai] or Michelle Obama in fact, slightly more likely. I have nothing against them but I wonder to what extent Kim Kardashian as a role model is a lot to do with inches either column or physical. Scroll down for video ARE THESE REALLY GOOD ROLE MODELS? Lady Macbeth Macbeth A femme fatale with a burning ambition to be queen and will stop at nothing to achieve it. She goads her husband Macbeth into carrying out a horrifying killing spree although her wicked deeds eventually drive her to the grave. Goneril King Lear Obsessed with power and overthrowing her elderly father as ruler of Britain. She drives King Lear insane with her acts of betrayal and ends up killing herself after poisoning her own sister, Regan, out of jealousy. Desdemona Othello The Venetian beautys marriage to Othello proves to be her downfall. After he is convinced by the evil Iago that she has been unfaithful, the naive Desdemona cannot make him believe her innocence and is smothered by him. Tamora Titus Andronicus Barbarous, ruthless, and driven by lust, the queen of the Goths is a terrifying villain in this bloody revenge tragedy. In one scene, she encourages her sons to execute a violent rape of Titus Andronicuss daughter Lavinia, leaving her mute and disfigured. Gertrude Hamlet The queen of Denmark and Hamlets mother, Gertrude is a woman with weak principles and loose morals. Shortly after her husbands death, she marries his brother and the new king who is also his murderer. Advertisement I would like the pool to be a bit wider and have role models who are speaking not just by the size of their diamonds. Mrs Lunnon, an English teacher whose twin sister is also a private school head, said there is a paucity of role models in todays society and that Shakespeares heroines could be a good pastoral resource. These could include Cleopatra, the strong but tragic heroine of the historical play Antony and Cleopatra, she said. She added: I think Shakespeare was saying with Cleopatra that you are allowed to be flawed and powerful and brilliant and still have enormous influence. The thing about Cleopatra is its all so much of the presentation of character is about image and how she sells the myth of Cleopatra. Kim Kardashian is selling the myth about Kim Kardashian. Shakespeares Cleopatra did the same thing. But she has such fascinating things to say about and was about power in a mans world, a lone female voice when all the other women in Antony and Cleopatra are basically powerless. It sounds trite to say she had enormous self-confidence, but thats what you would be getting kids to recognise how I see myself and what I project. And while there are less strong female characters in Shakespeare such as Ophelia in Hamlet and Desdemona in Othello not to mention more problematic women like Lady Macbeth there are plenty of others who triumph under stress. According to Mrs Lunnon, good role models for teenage girls include Rosalind from As You Like It, Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing and Viola from Twelfth Night. She added: We have lost to some extent the celebration of joy and being light-hearted. Teens are very reflective and self-aware. Look at Rosalind, look at Beatrice, look at Viola, the capacity in challenge and dilemma and pain, to love, to be vivacious, to be resourceful, to be resilient they embody it so vividly, and that is a really powerful message. Its not that terrible things happen to them, its how they respond. Mrs Lunnon spoke about her Women of Will project, which challenges pupils to consider the characters from a modern standpoint, at the annual The Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference in Stratford-upon-Avon, which is taking place this week. Characters such as Cleopatra, pictured here played by Frances Barber, should be a source of inspiration for young women, says Mrs Lunnon The 15,000-a-year school in south-west London is hoping to roll it out to partner schools in the state sector. Jacqui OHanlon, education director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, is supporting the project. She said: You dont have to work very hard to get young people to engage with the contemporary relevance of Shakespeares work. Advertisement The Swedish model, who hit Patriots star Julian Edelman with a paternity suit, had a lavish baby shower for the child she claims they conceived during a casual fling. Ella Rose was surrounded by several friends at her baby shower that was thrown for her in Los Angeles over the weekend by model Abigail Ratchford, according to the Boston Globe. Rose filed the paternity documentation in Los Angeles County Superior Court and named Edelman as the father of her unborn child in July, the website reported. Swedish model, Ella Rose (center in pink), who hit Patriots star Julian Edelman with a paternity suit, threw a lavish baby shower for the child she claims they conceived during a casual fling Rose (left) was surrounded by several friends at her baby shower that was thrown for her in Los Angeles over the weekend by model and friend Abigail Ratchford (right) Rose filed the paternity documentation in Los Angeles County Superior Court and named Edelman as the father of her unborn child in July. She's pictured with three of her friends at Ratchford's Beverly Hills home And though Rose has claimed that Julian Edelman (pictured) is the father of her child, the wide receiver hasn't spoken publicly about the suit or pregnancy Pictures from the baby shower were posted to Ratchford's Facebook and Instagram. The shower reportedly cost $10,000, which included ham-and-cheese croissants and mini beef wellingtons, according to TMZ. And though Rose has claimed that Edelman is the father of her child, the wide receiver hasn't spoken publicly about the suit or pregnancy. Sources told TMZ that Edelman and Rose had a casual relationship for about two years. She is reportedly due to have her baby girl this month. The Patriots star was spotted with Victoria's Secret supermodel Adriana Lima in July. The pictures from the baby shower were posted to Ratchford's Facebook and Instagram The shower reportedly cost $10,000, which included ham-and-cheese croissants and mini beef wellingtons. There was also a candy bar with pink candies and a huge flower centerpiece Sources originally told TMZ that Edelman and Rose had a casual relationship for about two years. She is reportedly due to have her baby girl this month They were seen holding hands in Nantucket, just days before it was reported that Rose filed the paternity suit. Last month, TMZ reported that Lima went on a 'date' with Ryan Seacrest. Sources close to Edelman and Lima told the site that the pair were still very much a thing and Edelman believes the host and Lima are just friends Last month, TMZ reported that Adriana Lima (pictured) went on a 'date' with Ryan Seacrest The dramatic rescue of a helpless four-month-old kitten from a 12th-storey ledge of a building in Singapore has been captured in an adorable video. SPCA Singapore rescue officer Yao Huang was called to an apartment building at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 on Monday from a concerned resident who saw the Persian cross kitten was trapped on a ledge opposite from his block. When Mr Huang arrived two police officers from Ang Mo Kio North were already at the scene. Scroll down for video The dramatic rescue of a helpless four-month-old kitten from a 12th-storey ledge of a building in Singapore has been captured in an adorable video Mr Huang made his way up to the unit on the 12th floor as officers remained on the bottom floor with an open blanket in case they needed to catch the kitten. Using a pole with a loop on the end, the rescue officer attempted several times to bring the kitten to safety before he was finally successful. The kitten has since been reunited with her owner. SPCA Singapore advised the owner to mesh up his windows and his gate to prevent the kitten from escaping again. 'Cats and kittens are curious animals and they risk falling out of an open window by simple acts such as chasing a bird that was flying past,' the service said in a Facebook post. The release of the video coincided with World Animal Day and to remind people to take action for animal rights. SPCA Singapore rescue officer Yao Huang was called to an apartment building at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 on Monday from a concerned resident Mr Huang made his way up to the unit on the 12th floor as two police officers remained on the bottom floor with an open blanket in case they needed to catch the kitten Bishop Mulkearns died in April after he admitted to knowing about paedophile priests in his Advertisement A luxury beachfront property owned by a disgraced bishop who ignored rampant paedophile priests is expected to sell for over $2million. The home perched on a cliff in Fairhaven, Victoria was owned by Bishop Ronald Mulkearns who died in April after he admitted to knowing about paedophile priests whom he sent for treatment and moved among parishes. The four-bedroom home was purchased in 1986 for $55,000 but is expected to fetch $2.1million when it goes to auction on October 29, The Daily Telegraph reported. A luxury beachfront property (56 Banool Road pictured) owned by a disgraced bishop who ignored rampant paedophile priests is expected to sell for over $2million The home perched on a cliff in Fairhaven, Victoria was owned by Bishop Ronald Mulkearns (pictured) who died in April after he admitted to knowing about paedophile priests whom he sent for treatment and moved among parishes The 1476 square metre property at 56 Banool Road features uninterrupted ocean views Prior to hitting the market it underwent extensive renovations- all paid for by the church The 1476 square metre property at 56 Banool Road features uninterrupted ocean views. Prior to hitting the market it underwent extensive renovations- all paid for by the church. Hundreds of children were molested by a number of paedophile priests when Bishop Mulkearns was head of the Ballarat diocese from 1971 to 1997, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual abuse heard. According to the bishop's will all funds from the sale of the home will go to the dioceses. But Catholic Bishop Paul Bird said last month profits will be donated to a cause to help survivors of sexual abuse. 'Whatever the diocese of Ballarat receives from Bishop Mulkearns' estate I intend to set aside for assistance to victims of abuse. This will continue the support that the diocese has given to abuse victims over many years,' he said in a statement. The home has stunning ocean views and is within walking distance from the beach Bishop Ronald Mulkearns who ignored rampant paedophile priests is set to sell his waterfront home (pictured) for $2.1 million Destinations including Los Angeles, Fiji, Japan and Bali will be included A flash 24-hour overseas travel sale offering Australians discounts of up to 70 per cent on flights, cruises, tours and accommodation for some of the world's most sought-after holiday destinations is on the way. Hosted by Click Frenzy, the sale will give holidayers the chance to visit places such as Los Angeles, Japan, Bali and Fiji at a fraction of the usual price in peak periods. The online sale will kick off at exactly 7pm AEDT on October 18, and will operate on a first-come first-served basis - meaning the best deals will be snapped up quickly. The sale will include over 500 deals from in excess of 100 well-known travel brands, giving consumers the chance to save thousands of dollars on their dream getaway. A flash 24-hour overseas travel sale offering Australians discounts of up to 70 per cent off holiday deals is on its way The sale will give holidayers the chance to visit places such as Los Angeles (pictured), Japan, Bali and Fiji at a fraction of the usual price in peak periods The sale will include over 500 deals from in excess of 100 well-known travel brands (pictured is a holidayer at Beachcomber Island, Fiji) Heavily discounted offers will stretch across holiday packages, cruises, flights, rental cars, hotels and accommodation, travel insurance and tours. Travel brands including Webjet, TigerAir, Hotels.com, Accor, Mantra, Fast Cover, Europcar, AAT Kings and Intrepid tours have already signed on to offer exclusive deals. Click Frenzy co-founder Grant Arnott told Travel Weekly that the company was expecting a huge response from the public when the sale launched. 'We're expecting more than a million customers over 24 hours to rock our Click Frenzy Travel website and make this Australia's biggest ever online travel sale,' he said. The offers will stretch across holiday packages, cruises, flights, rental cars, accommodation, travel insurance and tours (pictured is holidayer at the iconic Hollywood sign) Trusted travel brands including Webjet, TigerAir and Hotels.com have signed up with Click Frenzy to offer exclusive deals (pictured is Likuliku Resort, Fiji) Fuel retailers were last night accused of ripping off drivers as the average price of diesel hit its highest level in a year. A litre of diesel rose to 1.13 at the end of September amid speculation about a cap on oil production, according to the RAC. The average price has not been that high since August 10 last year. Fuel retailers were last night accused of ripping off drivers as the average price of diesel hit its highest level in a year Petrol prices also rose around half a pence last month to 1.12 per litre, just short of the highest price of the year. It means filling up an average-sized family hatchback with petrol is over 5 more expensive than at the start of the year, while a tank of diesel is 4 more than in January. Drivers in East Anglia have seen the biggest jump, with the price of petrol rising by 0.84 p a litre to 112.51p and diesel increasing 0.61p to 113.96p. Experts have attributed this to the rising cost of oil, which is the biggest factor affecting UK fuel prices. The oil price jumped eight per cent in September to $48, or 38, a barrel. The wholesale price of diesel paid by fuel retailers is also nearly 9 pence higher than it was at the start of August, and 7.4pence higher for petrol. This has fed into rising prices at the pumps. Petrol prices also rose around half a pence last month to 1.12 per litre, just short of the highest price of the year But last night motoring campaigners criticised fuel retailers for rushing to hike prices at the first sign of rising oil prices, while being slow to pass on savings when costs fall. Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK campaign said: The time-honoured unregulated rip-off at the pumps continues to go unchecked. Ruthless fuel supply chain dealers still hike prices like a rocket at the first sign of a rise in oil and a fall in sterling, but in reverse they take an eternity to pass on lower wholesale prices, particularly disadvantaging the smaller retailers. In mid-August when oil was 39 a barrel, petrol averaged 110.7p per litre. According to analysis by FairFuelUK oil is now at a similar level, yet unleaded has jumped to 112.4p and diesel has risen by 2 pence to 113p. It accused fuel retailers of profiteering over the summer by increasing prices at the pumps when wholesale prices fell. Yesterday RAC has warned drivers could be hit by further increases in fuel prices over the coming months. This is because oil producing cartel Opec reached a preliminary deal last week to stabilise the market by slashing output. This has raised hopes that countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran will cut the production of oil pushing up oil prices further The glut of oil and the shale gas boom in the US produced by fracking has been blamed for depressed oil prices which peaked at $115 in the summer of 2014. More recently the falling value of the pound has made oil denominated in US dollars more expensive. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: A higher oil price, combined with a weakening pound, is forcing up wholesale fuel prices.While we dont envisage an immediate hike in prices in October, a lot depends on how markets react to the recent news of the first production cut by Opec nations since 2008, which marks a major move away from the organisations long-term over-supply strategy. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff - Appellee, v. DAVID SCHULTZ, II, Defendant - Appellant. No. 15-30165 Decided: October 04, 2016 Before: MCKEOWN, HAWKINS, CIRCUIT JUDGES, and EZRA,** District Judge. MEMORANDUM* David Schultz appeals his 108-month sentence of imprisonment. He raises three issues on appeal: (1) whether the district court erred in finding that he was a supervisor and applying a two-level enhancement Sentencing Guideline; (2) whether the district court erred in considering at sentencing a state criminal conviction that occurred subsequent to the instant offense; and (3) whether his sentence is substantively unreasonable. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1291. We affirm. Because the parties are familiar with the facts of the case, we do not recite them except to the extent necessary to aid in understanding this deposition. I. The Supervisor Enhancement A finding that a defendant was an organizer, leader, or supervisor is a factual finding reviewed for clear error. United States v. Rivera, 527 F.3d 891, 908 (9th Cir. 2008). A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if it is (1) illogical, (2) implausible, or (3) without support in inferences that may be drawn from the facts in the record. United States v. Pineda-Doval, 692 F.3d 942, 944 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting Red Lion Hotels Franchising, Inc. v. MAK, LLC, 663 F.3d 1080, 1087 (9th Cir. 2011)). The Guidelines apply a two-level enhancement to the base offense level [i]f the defendant was an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor in the offense of conviction. USSG 3B1.1(c). A single incident of persons acting under a defendant's direction is sufficient evidence to support a two-level role enhancement. United States v. Maldonado, 215 F.3d 1046, 1050 (9th Cir. 2000). Here, the district court applied the 3B1.1(c) enhancement because it found that Schultz was the instructor, the teacher, and the supervisor of the hash oil manufacturing process. There is sufficient evidence in the record to conclude that the district court did not commit clear error in finding Schultz to be a supervisor. Schultz conceded that he was teaching Kaplan and Strycharske how to manufacture hash oil; in so doing, Schultz implicitly admits that he exercised control over them, at least during the periods of instruction. Accordingly, the district court did not clearly err in finding that Schultz was a supervisor. II. Consideration of Schultz's California Conviction (A) The USSG 5G1.3 and 5K2.23 Motion Where an appellant argues that a district court committed a procedural error for failure to adequately address all arguments offered to the court, but did not object to this at sentencing, the standard of review is for plain error. United States v. Rangel, 697 F.3d 795, 805 (9th Cir. 2012). Plain error is (1) an error that (2) is plain, (3) affects substantial rights, and (4) seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings. United States v. Blinkinsop, 606 F.3d 1110, 1114 n.2 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732 (1993)). Schultz contends that the district court erred by not addressing his motion for a downward departure pursuant to USSG 5G1.3 and 5K2.23, based on the time he had served in California for his state conviction. Section 5G1.3 only requires a downward adjustment where a defendant is serving an undischarged term of imprisonment for an offense constituting relevant conduct to the instant offense. Here, there is no evidence that Schultz's California conviction constituted relevant conduct to his federal offenses as defined by the Guidelines. Accordingly, Schultz's motion for a downward departure pursuant 5G1.3(b) was frivolous. Likewise, Schultz's 5K2.23 argument is frivolous because it is only applicable where 5G1.3 would have provided an adjustment. Accordingly, the district court did not plainly err in failing to specifically address this frivolous argument. (B) Consideration of State Conviction During 3553(a) Analysis Schultz argues that the district court improperly considered his California conviction as an aggravating factor under 3553(a), because he also received two criminal history points for that conviction. The district court may consider without limitation, any information concerning the background, character and conduct of the defendant, unless otherwise prohibited [by the Guidelines or other law]. United States v. Boykin, 785 F.3d 1352, 1363 (9th Cir. 2015) (quoting United States v. Brown, 985 F.2d 478, 481 (9th Cir. 1993)) (emphasis in original) (alterations in original). The district court commented during its 3553(a) analysis that Schultz's criminal history score did not adequately reflect the fact that Schultz re-engaged in the exact conduct that caused the explosion only nine months after that tragic event. Any conduct resulting in a sentence of imprisonment for more than sixty days would have caused Shultz to receive two criminal history points. See USSG 4A1.1. It was not an abuse of discretion for the district court to vary upward as a result of the California conviction because the temporal proximity between the two episodes demonstrated Schultz's lack of respect for the rule of law and his threat to the public's safety. See United States v. Reyes, 764 F.3d 1184, 119899 (9th Cir. 2014). III. Substantive Reasonableness of the Sentence Lastly, Schultz challenges the substantive reasonableness of his sentence. We review the substantive reasonableness of a criminal sentence under what the Supreme Court has described as the familiar abuse-of-discretion standard of review. United States v. Ressam, 679 F.3d 1069, 1086 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 46 (2007)). A substantively reasonable sentence is one that is sufficient, but not greater than necessary to accomplish 3553(a)(2)'s sentencing goals. United States v. Crowe, 563 F.3d 969, 977 n.16 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)). In determining substantive unreasonableness, we are to consider the totality of the circumstances, including the degree of variance for a sentence imposed outside the Guidelines range. United States v. Carty, 520 F.3d 984, 993 (9th Cir. 2008) (citing Gall, 552 U.S. at 51)) (en banc). Schultz's calculated offense level resulted in a Guidelines range between 33 to 41 months. The district court departed upward and sentenced Schultz to 108 months, or nine years, imprisonment. This 67-month upward departure from the high end of the Guidelines' range was reasonable given the totality of the circumstances. The district court gave detailed and adequate reasons based on the 3553(a) factors which were supported by the record. The ultimate sentence remained within the statutory maximum, and the district court did not abuse its discretion. AFFIRMED. The sister of an Australian backpacker whose body washed up on a Brazilian beach after he vanished for two-and-half weeks has revealed that she hopes to use her brother's tragic death as a way to help others. Rye Hunt, 25, died after taking a powerful party drug called NBOMe, which sent him into a 'psychotic' state. His body washed up on a Rio beach on June 8. His sister, Romany Brodribb, told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that she now has aspirations to educate others about the dangers of taking drugs, especially while overseas. Rye Hunt's sister Romany Brodribb has said she hopes to use her brother's death in Brazil earlier this year to educate others Mr Hunt, 25, died after taking a powerful party drug called NBOMe His sister said she now has aspirations to educate others about the dangers of taking drugs Mr Hunt had been backpacking through South America with his friend Mitch Sheppard when, while in Rio, the pair reportedly took NBOMe, which caused severe and adverse reactions including extreme paranoia. Mrs Brodribb said while her brother did not take drugs in Australia, she believes while on holiday he may have made a split-second decision which cost him his life. 'Since his death I've spoken to a lot of people who have said: "Well you're in Brazil, you're partying... someone offers you something, you take it",' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I guess this is the message that I'd like to spread to young people is that its very easy to get sucked in to these situations'. Mrs Brodribb said often 'you don't know what you're getting' especially with the prevalence of synthetic substances, and this makes drug taking all the more dangerous. 'He took it unknowingly because he thought it was MDMA, and he also misused it. 'He took more than you should for that kind of drug. Mrs Brodribb said her brother did not take drugs in Australia She believes while on holiday he made a split-second decision which cost him his life 'Sometimes decisions around the use of substances can have some pretty crazy outcomes', she added. A day after her brother's body was found Mrs Brodribb gave birth to her first child, a baby boy, giving him the middle name Rye. She said while this was a welcome distraction at the time, it delayed her grieving process. 'Sometimes it takes a little while to sink in... with me I feel like as time has gone on it's actually got harder. 'Grief is certainly not a linear process,' she added. This week she also announced that the remaining money which was fundraised to during the search for Mr Hunt would be donated to charity. Mrs Brodribb gave her baby, born a day after her brother's body was found, the middle name Rye Mr Hunt is pictured here with his girlfriend Bonnie Cuthbert Mrs Brodribb's family will be donating money to a number of charities, including Missing Persons Advocacy Network - founded by Loren O'Keefe after her brother Daniel disappeared Friends and strangers donated over $45,000 to allow family members to travel to Brazil to find the missing man, and then bring his body home when it was discovered. Half of the remaining $15,000 will be donated to Speak Up, Stay ChatTY, a Tasmanian-based charity that encourages conversations around mental health. 'My brother was a really big supporter of that charity and really believed in it,' Mrs Brodribb told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's a really worthwhile charity and we knew that Rye would be really happy if we supported them.' The second charity receiving a donation is the Missing Persons Advocacy Network - founded by Loren O'Keefe after her brother Daniel disappeared in 2011. 'Loren got in touch with us during the search and was really supportive,' Mrs Brodribb said. The official GOP website made a huge gaffe ahead of the vice presidential debate on Tuesday night by declaring Republican candidate Mike Pence as the winner before the event even started. More than an hour ahead of the start time, a blog post on the official website for the Republican National Committee announced that Pence was the 'clear winner' of the debate against Democrat Tim Kaine. The post, titled 'Who Won the Vice Presidential Debate', appeared on the website early Tuesday evening and included Pence's top moments from the debate - how the Indiana governor discussed the economy and highlighted Hillary Clinton's scandals. Whoops: The official GOP website (above) made a huge gaffe ahead of the vice presidential debate on Tuesday night by declaring Republican candidate Mike Pence as the winner before the event even started More than an hour ahead of the start time, a blog post (above) on the official website for the Republican National Committee announced that Pence was the 'clear winner' of the debate against Democrat Tim Kaine 'Americans from all across the country tuned in to watch the one and only Vice Presidential debate,' the post said. 'During the debate we helped fact check and monitor the conversation in real time @GOP. 'The consensus was clear after the dust settled, Mike Pence was the clear winner of the debate.' In addition, the site said Pence 'perfectly shared Trump's vision to make America great again' during the debate, according to the GOP. GOP.com (above) also listed links to other debate posts that were live on their site under the two sections 'More Election 2016' and 'Recommended for you' The page has since been taken down, but not before image grabs of the huge mistake were taken and shared around social media. The '404 Error' message (above) appears on the site now where the story was 'Mike Pence made the most of his opportunity to debate Hillary's VP pick Tim Kaine,' the GOP wrote in the post. 'The other clear winner from tonight's debate was Donald Trump. 'His running mate perfectly shared Trump's vision to make America great again and that message is resonating with Americans all across the country.' The page has since been taken down, but not before image grabs of the huge mistake were taken and shared around social media. Also, a separate post, titled 'It's clear Who Lost the VP Debate, Hillary Clinton' on their site made it clear that Kaine lost, even though the debate hadn't even happened yet. The GOP wrote in the post: 'Mike Pence (above) made the most of his opportunity to debate Hillary's VP pick Tim Kaine' The GOP declared that Kaine (above) lost to Pence and wrote: 'The consensus was clear after the dust settled, Mike Pence was the clear winner of the debate' 'Tim Kaine was unable to answer for his running-mate's record of failure, corruption and secrecy at tonight's debate,' the second post stated. 'The American people have spoken and it's clear who tonight's biggest loser is, Hillary Clinton.' GOP.com also listed links to other debate posts that were live on their site under the two sections 'More Election 2016' and 'Recommended for you'. Pence and Kaine are set to face-off at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia at 9pm for their only debate before the election next month. Theresa May was forced to backtrack yesterday after appearing to suggest that foreign doctors might have to leave the country from 2025. In an interview, the Prime Minister said her Governments plan to train hundreds more British medics would mean overseas doctors would eventually cease to be needed. She told BBC Breakfast they would only remain in the country as an interim measure. Theresa May was forced to backtrack yesterday after appearing to suggest that foreign doctors might have to leave the country from 2025 But later in the day she changed tack saying the new policy did not mean foreign doctors would be asked to go home once enough British ones had been trained. The Prime Minister said decisions about recruitment would be left to local hospitals. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced yesterday that he wanted to boost the total of British-born doctors by increasing the number of medical students trained each year from 6,000 to 7,500, which will cost around 100million. He said this would mean the NHS would be self-sufficient by 2025. A quarter of the medical workforce in England is from overseas, and the NHS spends 3.3billion on agency staff to fill vacant roles every year, including 1.2billion for locum doctors. Asked yesterday morning about the plans, the Prime Minister suggested that foreign doctors would be needed only until 2025. She said: Yes, there will be staff here from overseas in the interim period until the further numbers of British doctors are trained and come on board in terms of being able to work in our hospitals, so we will ensure that the numbers are there. But I think its absolutely right as we look to the future that we say we want to see more British doctors in our Health Service. The comments provoked a huge row, with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accusing Mrs May of breathtaking arrogance. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced yesterday that he wanted to boost the total of British-born doctors by increasing the number of medical students trained each year from 6,000 to 7,500, which will cost around 100million She tweeted: The arrogance of this from the British government is breathtaking like theyre somehow doing these doctors a favour by allowing them to stay living here. However, in the afternoon, Mrs May rowed back on her comments during an interview with Five News. Asked whether foreign doctors would have to go home, she replied: No. What I am talking about is the fact that at the moment there are many hospitals here in the UK and the NHS who are reliant on doctors from overseas coming in and filling places. Asked whether foreign doctors competing with British ones would be told to go home, she said: This is about ensuring that we have more British doctors trained so that they can take places in the NHS. It will be for hospitals to decide who they employ in terms of the openings they have. Last night the Institute for Public Policy Research, a centre-Left think-tank, called on the Government to give all NHS workers from the EU free British citizenship to secure their status after Brexit. Chris Murray, a migration research fellow with the IPPR, said: Obviously, training more NHS doctors is the right strategy in the long term, given the predictable staffing shortages as the population grows and ages. But the subtext of this announcement is that the Government values the contribution of overseas doctors less than that of native ones. This is very risky another post-Brexit vote signal to EU workers that they arent valued. Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, a GP and chair of the Commons health select committee, tweeted that it would be better for TM [Theresa May] to unequivocally welcome our valued overseas health & care staff. We all benefit from their skills. The mother was too distraught to speak to police, according to authorities Authorities are awaiting results of an autopsy due sometime this week Her mother, Long Beach officer Cassie Barker, and fellow cop Clark Ladner, have been placed on leave pending an investigation Chyenne Hyer, 3, was pronounced dead by authorities on Friday after she was found in a parked car with the engine running A three-year-old girl died after being left for four hours in her mother's police car, authorities have said. Cheyenne Hyer was pronounced dead on Friday in Kiln, Mississippi. She was found around 3:30 pm unattended and unresponsive in the vehicle, which police estimate had been running for up to four hours. Cassie Barker, Cheyenne's mother, had left the car outside a home while visiting fellow Long Beach police Officer Clark Ladner, police said. The air conditioning was on when authorities arrived. Investigators are 'fairly certain' the little girl died from the heat, but they are waiting for autopsy and toxicology results. Cheyenne Hyer (pictured with her mother Cassie Barker) was pronounced dead on Friday in Kiln, Mississippi. She was found unattended and unresponsive in a police vehicle No one has been charged in the death. Barker and Ladner have both been put on leave. Barker is now in the hospital, according to the Clarion-Ledger. She has been too distraught to talk to the police or sign papers necessary to release Cheyenne's body to a funeral home. The details of her condition remained unclear. Officials described it only as a 'medical' condition. 'As soon as she's released, I can assure you we'll attempt to interview her,' Hancock County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Don Bass said. Investigators are 'fairly certain' the little girl (pictured with her mother) died from the heat, but they are waiting for autopsy and toxicology results Investigators are still taking statements are are going at a 'pretty good pace', he added. Authorities could press charges even if Barker cannot provide a statement, according to Bass. Ryan Hyer, Cheyenne's father, was with Barker for the first two years of the little girl's life. He lived with them for that time then moved back to Florida, his home state, after he and Barker broke up. Hyer was devastated when he heard his daughter had died. 'I lost all feeling. I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe, then I was flat out crying,' he told the Clarion-Ledger. 'After that I just was angry, and I went in the backyard and started beating up the shed.' Barker (pictured) is now in the hospital. She has been too distraught to talk to the police or sign papers necessary to release Cheyenne's body to a funeral home Cheyenne, he said, loved horses and was the 'funniest, happiest little girl ever'. Investigators believe Barker was visiting Ladner at his home in the moments before Cheyenne's death. They didn't specify what the relationship between Ladner and Barker was. Both were off duty. Hyer said he and Barker broke up because she was seeing other men, and that he knew Ladner. Investigators did not believe Ladner was involved in the case. 'We don't even know if he knew the child was in the car,' Bass told the Clarion-Ledger. The chief of Long Beach police, Wayne McDowell, said he had yet to speak with the mother because of her 'medical state'. 'As you could expect, she is very distraught,' McDowell said. Police expect to have the results of the autopsy within the next few days, WLOX reported. Authorities have yet to confirm that the girl died from heat stroke caused by overheating in the vehicle's interior. Nonetheless, temperatures in Mississippi were in the high 80s to low 90s range this past week. A man has been charged with unlawful wounding after a 40-year-old man was stabbed in the stomach during an argument on the Gold Coast train. The 40-year-old man followed a 23-year-old man he had been arguing with to another carriage around 8pm on Tuesday and kicked his motorcycle helmet, before the younger man stabbed him, police claim. Officers said they believe the two men didn't know each other before the fight. Scroll down for video A 23-year-old man stabbed a 40-year-old man in the stomach after he kicked his motorcycle helmet while they were riding on the Gold Coast train near Coomera around 8pm on Tuesday, police allege It is believed an argument broke out between the two men, who were did not know each other, and the 40-year-old followed the younger man to another carriage before he was stabbed The 40-year-old was taken to the Gold Coast Hospital with single non-life threatening stab wound to his abdomen, police said. The younger man was arrested at Coomera Railway Station and has been charged with unlawful wounding, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensils, police said. He will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on October 17. Robert R. Farmer, 25, faces more than 16 years in prison after he admitted abducting and killing cats A California man has pleaded guilty to killing up to 16 cats he abducted from a San Jose neighborhood. Robert R. Farmer, 25, faces more than 16 years in prison after he entered his plea to 21 felony animal cruelty counts on Tuesday, the Santa Clara District Attorney's office said. Prosecutors say Farmer whose father is retired San Jose police Captain Jack Farmer abducted the cats from the quiet residential Cambrian Park neighborhood in San Jose, KRON reported. Investigators arrested him last year after they found him sleeping in a car where the carcass of an orange tabby cat and several cat collars were later discovered. Scroll down for video Investigators arrested Farmer (pictured in court) last year after they found him sleeping in a car where the carcass of an orange tabby cat and several collars were later discovered Authorities say Farmer may have killed up to 16 cats. Only four bodies were found. Several victims confronted Farmer in court as he displayed no emotion or tried to apologize to them. 'What he did to our cats was horrible, my cat Thumper ended up in a trash can,' victim Myriam Martinez, of San Jose, told KGO. 'He was killing these poor cats by the elementary school, he did horrible in-humane things to these poor animals,' Martinez added. Surveillance video (above) of one of the cat abductions coupled with many resident tips to police led to Farmer's arrest Authorities say Farmer may have killed up to 16 cats. Only the remains of four of the animals were ever found Several victims (pictured) confronted Farmer in court, but he displayed no emotion and didn't make any attempt to apologize Farmer may get up to 16 years in prison when he is sentenced for his crimes in December 'What prevents him from doing something else to somebody else?' Martinez said. Surveillance video of one of the cat abductions coupled with many resident tips to police led to Farmer's arrest. He's scheduled to be sentenced in December. Priceline are to 'educate' staff after an alleged racial profiling incident in a Melbourne store left a young Ethiopian woman feeling like a 'second-class citizen'. In an open letter posted online, Hiwot Birhane claims she was a victim of 'humiliating racial profiling' when she visited the health and beauty retailer in Melbourne with a group of 'seven black girls' on a Saturday afternoon a fortnight ago. Priceline have issued a response to the letter, which they described as 'a regrettable series of circumstances.' Hiwot Birhane, a young woman of Ethiopian descent, claims she was the victim of 'humiliating racial profiling' during a visit to a Melbourne Priceline Pharmacy She penned an open letter on Facebook which soon went viral - claiming the store chose to search the bags of all of her friends despite letting three other customers out hassle free 'The experience of these customers is what matters most and a direct apology will be conveyed,' the spokesperson said. 'Our preferred way of dealing with this is to work with our store team to ensure that this wouldn't occur again, as our view is that education is more valuable than punitive action. 'Our store team member in question does indeed work with refugees in her own time and was highly distressed that anyone would think that she was racially profiling.' The group of young African women were browsing for false eyelashes and makeup when they claim to have heard a call for 'extra security to the front of the store.' Ms Birhane said that after her friend bought a pair of lashes the entire group were searched by imposing security guards as they exited the store - despite three customers ahead of them leaving without being hassled or searched. 'If everyone who exited the store was being searched we would have no issue; but what we witnessed and experienced in your store was racial profiling,' she wrote. 'The fact that we have to justify our presence in your store is offensive and deeply hurtful. Women who were not black were not searched. Women who were black were searched.' Unsatisfied with the response provided by the store manager Marie, Ms Birhane claims to have had a conversation with a regional manager named Rochelle three days later. Priceline has since apologised for the incident, which they described as a 'regrettable series of circumstances' She claims that Rochelle said the women who had been let out of the store without being searched were regular customers that management 'actually knew.' Rochelle defended Marie's decision to call security by explaining: 'Marie is not a racist person at all(you) don't know her at all, (you) don't know what she does she works with refugees,' according to Ms Birhane. Left feeling dissatisfied, she posted an eloquent open letter to Facebook which soon went viral, demanding a boycott of the pharmacy chain until a proper apology was provided and the CCTV footage was examined. It's not the first time a store in the Highpoint shopping complex in Melbourne has been accused of racially profiling customers. Last year shocking footage emerged inside an Apple store showing a staff member kicking out six African teenagers on the basis they 'might steal something.' A Sydney man has been arrested by Indonesia immigration authorities for allegedly running a cafe on a university campus while holding a tourist visa. Sayegh Ghassan was working at Gus Kitchen at the University of Indonesia when he was arrested by authorities on Friday, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. 'We received information from people that there was a suspicion of immigration violation by a foreigner,' head of Depok Immigration Dudi Iskander said. A Sydney man has been arrested by Indonesia immigration authorities for allegedly running a cafe at the University of Indonesia Depok campus (pictured) while holding a tourist visa 'We checked and it was true so we arrested him'. Mr Dudi said the department will now investigate the university about how Mr Ghassan came to be running the cafe on his tourist visa. Investigator Hendy Darmawan said Mr Ghassan had been running the kitchen for a year and recently opened a bakery also on the university campus. Mr Dudi said the Sydney man could face up to five years jail and a fine of $50,000 if found guilty. Sayegh Ghassan was working at Gus Kitchen (pictured) at the University of Indonesia when he was arrested by authorities on Friday Investigator Hendy Darmawan said Mr Ghassan had been running the kitchen for a year According to a food review website, Gus Kitchen serves a mix of Western and Asian food at cheap university prices. It is located on the Depok campus in the heart of the University of Indonesia. Both Gus Kitchen and the bakery have since been closed. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it would offer consular assistance to the Australian man detained in Indonesia. Mr Dudi said the Sydney man could face up to five years jail and a fine of $50,000 if found guilty (stock image) The friends and family of a hairdresser who was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband have set up a fundraising campaign in a bid to send her body home to Iran for burial. Nasrin Abek, 35, was found dead inside her apartment in Potts Point, Sydney, last week after she was allegedly killed by her husband in a frenzied knife attack. Iranian man Amir Darbanou, 42, was charged with the murder of his wife. Police will allege part of the man's motivation stemmed from Ms Abek's recent decision to convert from Islam to Christianity, 7 News reported. Loved ones are now trying to raise money to have Ms Abek's body flown home to Iran, where her family lives. She moved to Australia just four years ago. Scroll down for video Sydney hairdresser Nasrin Abek was found dead inside her apartment in Potts Point last week The 35-year-old (left) was allegedly killed by her husband Amir Darbanou (right) in a frenzied knife attack because she converted from Islam to Christianity Police made the gruesome discovery when they forced entry into the couple's home and found Ms Abek dead with multiple stab wounds last Thursday morning One of the woman's friends wrote on the fundraising page that her parents were 'desperate' to get their daughter's body back to Iran so they could grieve properly for her. 'They haven't seen her for four years - and now they just want to bury her death [sic] body back in her home country,' the post read. 'We are raising money for Nasrin so we can send her body back to Iran as soon as possible. Please help us , your little help would make a big difference.' The page aims to raise $15,000 and has so far fetched more than $2,500 since the campaign was set up two days ago. Police said there was no known history of domestic violence between the couple but neighbours had reported hearing screaming coming from the apartment on Wednesday night Ms Abek moved from Iran to Australia four years ago and recently converted to Christianity Police discovered Ms Abek's body when they forced entry into the couple's home in the early hours of Thursday morning. A relative had raised concerns for the woman's welfare after Mr Darbanou allegedly called to say she was dead, on Wednesday night. The 42-year-old did not enter a plea or apply for bail when he appeared in Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday. Police said there was no known history of domestic violence between the couple, who had been living in Australia for four years on bridging visas. Successful Australian entrepreneur Franziska Iseli wants people to stop using the 'girl boss' hashtag that has been popularised by US e-retailer Sophia Amoruso. Ms Iseli cringes every time she hears the term used or associated with her. She believes the term is irrelevant in a time where women are striving to be equal to their male counterparts. 'We are in an age where we have to live equally. We don't have to highlight 'I'm a girl but I'm also a boss',' Ms Iseli told Daily Mail Australia. Successful Australian entrepreneur Franziska Iseli (pictured) wants people to stop using the 'girl boss' hashtag that has been widely popularised by e-retailer Sophia Amoruso 'Because it has a reverse affect. Guys would not go around saying "I'm a boy boss".' Ms Iseli has not read Ns Amoruso's book that started the 'girl boss' movement but says the popular term most likely came from a good place. However she thinks it unintentionally divided workplaces. 'Sometimes women use it to be better than others. I don't think we're better than anyone,' Ms Iseli told Daily Mail Australia. 'When you run a proper company you shouldn't be setting yourself apart in the business, "Look I'm the girl boss and my employees you're my b****es". Sophie Amoruso's book that started the movement 'If you're a cleaner, you're just as important as the boss. 'Everyone is equally important, there's no need to highlight it.' Ms Iseli said the movement also glossed over the issues women faced being a business leader. 'The "girl boss" movement often depicts a picture of "she's got it all under control", causing feelings of insecurity in women who think running a business is a walk in the park, when in fact it isn't,' Ms Iseli said. 'Being a business owner or leader in a company is about embracing both the ups and downs, celebrating the journey along the way. 'I'm a big advocate of celebrating and encouraging people, both men and women, but I am not sure that the "girl boss" label really helps in creating a future generation of amazing leaders with values based on inclusion, collaboration and gratitude rather than significance and entitlement.' Ms Iseli won the New South Wales Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2013 after she started up marketing company Basic Bananas following her father's death. Ms Iseli won the New South Wales Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2013 after she started up marketing company Basic Bananas following her father's death She and Ms Amoruso (pictured) are set to speak at the Ontrapalooza summit in Santa Barbara in the US this month 'When my brother called me to say my dad had a heart attack, for me that was a wake-up call. What the heck am I doing with my life?' she previously told Startup Smart. 'Because what if I died, would I be regretting what I'm doing right now? And I realised I would be.' Since Basic Bananas, Ms Iseli has branched out with branding agency The Business Hood, social media company Yours Socially, and environmental social enterprise Ocean Lovers. Advertisement The vice-presidential debate took just minutes to turn into a debate on one man Donald Trump. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clintons running mate, started the hostilities in his opening statement, and signaled that he would make attack Trump the theme of the night - then drove home insult after insult by interrupting Mike Pence, his rival, and the moderator, Elaine Quijano. In no time he was ticking off a list of rhetorical body-slams Trump has used in the 16 months of his presidential campaign. And across the 90 minutes, he was estimated to have interrupted up to 70 times, a figure come up with by the Republican National Committee. Other estimates were lower - but the trend was clear. At one point he labeled Trump a 'fool or a maniac', generating a rebuke from Pence: 'That's pretty low, even for you.' The first snap poll - for CNN - suggested that Trump had benefited more from the debate than Clinton. A focus group of Ohio voters for CBS News was more damning of Kaine with one man calling him 'a jerk'. Donald Trump's son Eric classified Kaine's performance as 'annoying,' while Clinton's team of surrogates were deployed to the spin room to push any style criticism back. Scroll down for video Tim Kaine, Hillary Clintons running mate (left), opened hostilities against Mike Pence (right) in his opening statement, and signalled that he would make the attack on Trump the theme of the night Kaine opened up tonight's presidential debate by talking about how much he trusted his running mate, Hillary Clinton, telling voters that he trusted the former secretary of state with the life of his deployed Marine son Early on, Pence was asked about some of the issues Trump had with temperament, noting how 67 percent of voters thought the billionaire businessman was a risky choice. 'Why do so many Americans think Mr. Trump is simply too erratic?' Kaine at one point inferred that Trump was a 'fool' and a 'maniac' who could 'trigger some catastrophic event' Pence accused Kaine of delivering an 'avalanche of insults' during the exchange and at one point said: 'Did you all just hear that? Ours is an insult-driven campaign?' That went well: Kaine did not endear himself to his own supporters in one focus group of Ohio voters His opening statement set the tone on Trump. 'He's called Mexicans "rapists and criminals",' Kaine said. 'He has called women slobs, pigs, dogs, disgusting. I don't like saying that in front of my wife and mother.' 'He attacked an Indiana-born federal judge and said he was unqualified to hear a federal lawsuit because his parents were Mexican. He went after John McCain, a POW, and said he wasn't a hero because he was captured. He said African-Americans are living in hell. And he perpetrated this outrageous and bigoted lie that President Obama is not a U.S. citizen.' 'If you want to have a society where people are respected and respect laws,' Kaine complained, 'you can't have somebody at the top who demeans every group that he talks about. And I cannot believe that Gov. Pence will defend the insult-driven campaign that Donald Trump has run.' CBS correspondent Quijano didn't give Pence an opportunity to respond, but the Republican vice presidential nominee created his own opening while discussing illegal immigration. 'I was listening to the avalanche of insults coming out of Senator Kaine a minute ago,' he said. 'He says ours is an insult-driven campaign? Did you all just hear that? Ours is an insult-driven campaign?' 'To be honest with you,' Pence said, turning to Kaine, 'if Donald Trump had said all the things that you said he said in the way you said he said them he still wouldn't have a fraction of the insults that Hillary Clinton leveled when she said that half of our supporters were a "basket of deplorables".' 'She said they were irredeemable, they were not American. It's extraordinary,' he said. Kaine listed his litany a second time, saying Clinton had apologized and demanding to know if Trump had done the same. Pence sniffed that Clinton had only said she was sorry for saying 'half' of Republicans were deplorable. In no time Kaine was ticking off a list of rhetorical body-slams Trump has used in the 16 months of his presidential campaign. 'He's called Mexicans "rapists and criminals",' Kaine said. 'He has called women slobs, pigs, dogs, disgusting. I don't like saying that in front of my wife and mother' Kaine added: 'He attacked an Indiana-born federal judge and said he was unqualified to hear a federal lawsuit because his parents were Mexican. He went after John McCain, a POW, and said he wasn't a hero because he was captured Pence then turned to Kaine and slammed Clinton for calling half of the Republican supporters a 'basket of deplorables'. She said they were irredeemable, they were not American. It's extraordinary,' he said HILLARY'S EMAILS GO CENTER STAGE In a debate episode about cyber security, Pence went on offense to tie the topic to the now-infamous unsecured and secret email server that housed all of Hillary Clinton's electronic communications while she was secretary of state. TIM'S GENDER WARS Tim Kaine described himself as planning to be Hillary Clinton's 'right-hand person' when she enters the White House. He avoided a gendered pronoun in favor of a more apparently politically correct description. 'My primary role is to be Hillary Clinton's right-hand person and strong supporter as she puts together the most historic administration possible. And I relish that role. I'm so proud of her,' he said. Ironically he was later accused of sexism for speaking over moderator Elaine Quijano. Kelly-Anne Conway, Trump's joint campaign manager, tweeted: 'How many times has @TimKaine ignored and interrupted the female moderator tonight? #sexist.' Advertisement 'We have got to bring together the best resources in this country to understand that cyber warfare is the new warfare of the asymmetrical enemies that we face in this country,' Pence said. 'I will also tell you that it's important in this moment to remember that Hillary Clinton had a private server in her home that had classified information on it about drone strikes.' Quijano cut in as soon as he said the word 'classified.' 'Governor, your 30 seconds is up,' she intoned. Pence continued: 'Emails from the President of the United States of America were on there. Her private server was subject to being hacked by foreign powers.' 'We could put cyber security first if we just made sure the next secretary of state doesn't have a private server.' Kaine defended Clinton be falling back on an FBI investigation that concluded Clinton behaved 'recklessly' but not criminally. 'A full investigation concluded that not one reasonable prosecutor would take any additional step,' the Democratic nominee scolded his opponent. 'You don't get to decide the rights and wrongs of this. We have a justice system that does that.' Pence, unmoved, turned personal, while Quijano struggled to he heard asking a question about Syria. 'Senator, if your son or my son handled classified information the way Hillary Clinton did, they'd be court-martialed,' he said. 'That is absolutely false, and you know that, governor,' Kaine shot back. 'That's absolutely true,' Pence said quietly, taking the last word. Pence drew blood, blaming Clinton's State Department for creating the power vacuum in the Middle East that the ISIS terror army went on to fill 'Iraq has been overrun by ISIS,' Pence (right) said, 'because Hillary Clinton failed to renegotiate a status of forces agreement' with the Iraqi government. During an exchange on cyber security, Kaine defended Clinton be falling back on an FBI investigation that concluded Clinton behaved 'recklessly' but not criminally HIGH EMOTION AS FAITH AND ABORTION RAISED Tuesday's debate, the only meeting between the two presidential understudies, was billed as a quiet, policy-driven affair. But emotional fireworks took off when Pence brought up partial-birth abortion while talking about the impact of his Christian faith on his work in government. Both men are personally pro-life, but Kaine has embraced Hillary Clinton's pro-choice position as her number-two. 'For me, the sanctity of life proceeds out of the belief that ancient principle where God says, "Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you".' 'And so for my first time in public life, I sought to stand with great compassion for the sanctity of life. Society will be judged by how it defends its most vulnerable the aged, the infirm, the disabled, and the unborn.' Pence also said he agonized over the idea of partial-birth abortion, a late-pregnancy procedure that terminates the life of a fetus and then extracts it from the womb in anatomically recognizable pieces. 'What I can't understand is with Hillary Clinton, and now Senator Kaine at her side, is to support a practice like partial-birth abortion,' Pence added. 'The very idea that a child that is almost born into the world could still have their life taken from them, is just anathema to me,' he said. Kaine mocked Trump and Pence for not 'trusting women' to make the agonizing decision whether to terminate a pregnancy. He's called Mexicans "rapists and criminals". He has called women slobs, pigs, dogs, disgusting. I don't like saying that in front of my wife and moth Senator Tim Kaine 'We trust American women to do that and we don't think that American women should be punished,' he said. Trump said in March during an MSNBC town hall event that abortion comes with a 'punishment' for women a remark that he later said was a misstatement. Pence said the words came out wrong at the time because Trump is 'not a polished politician like you and Hillary Clinton.' Kaine repeatedly interrupted his opponent and accused him of failing to properly defend Donald Trump In a debate episode about cyber security, Pence went on offense to tie the topic to the now-infamous unsecured and secret email server that housed all of Hillary Clinton's electronic communications while she was secretary of state. 'If you want to have a society where people are respected and respect laws,' Kaine complained, 'you can't have somebody at the top who demeans every group that he talks about' KAINE'S INTERRUPTIONS TO QUESTION TRUMP'S TAXES Kaine, the serial interrupter, used several of his interjections to bash Trump for failing to produce his personal income tax returns. Quijano asked Pence about a recent New York Times report that surmised Trump may have avoided paying income taxes to Uncle Sam for 18 years, due to legal maneuvers that spread financial losses over many years' returns. Pence argued Trump exploited the federal tax code 'just the way it's supposed to be used,' and teased Kaine asking if he had personally taken every tax deduction he was entitled to. Trump, Kaine responded, had promised to release his tax papers more than a year ago. 'He's broken his first promise,' Kaine said. He attacked an Indiana-born federal judge and said he was unqualified to hear a federal lawsuit because his parents were Mexican. He went after John McCain, a POW, and said he wasn't a hero because he was captured. He said African-Americans are living in hell Senator Tim Kaine 'Senator, he's going to release the tax returns when the audit is over,' Pence said a now-timeworn pledge that is become less credible with just five weeks remaining until election Day. Kaine also jabbed at Trump, who was watching 2,300 miles away in Las Vegas, for boasting during last week's presidential debate that paying no income taxes in a year when he lost money would show that he is smart. 'So it's smart not to pay for our military? It's smart not to pay for our veterans?' Kaine asked. 'It's smart not to pay our teachers?' 'So I guess the rest of us who do pay for those things are stupid.' Pence defended Trump's long career as a real estate development employer, praising him for working in the private sector instead of being a career politician. 'He actually built a business. Those tax returns showed he faced some pretty tough times 20 years ago,' Pence said. 'His tax returns showed he went through a very difficult time, but he used the tax code the way it was meant to be used, and he used it brilliantly,' Pence said. Pence turned personal at one point, telling Kaine: 'Senator, if your son or my son handled classified information the way Hillary Clinton did, they'd be court-martialed,' he said Pence went on offense to tie the topic to the now-infamous unsecured and secret email server that housed all of Hillary Clinton's electronic communications while she was secretary of state Quijano had trouble keeping the debate on track, and challenged Pence time and time again while standing back when Kaine interrupted him more than a dozen times 'SENATOR THAT'S PRETTY LOW EVEN FOR YOU' Quijano had trouble keeping the debate on track, and challenged Pence time and time again while standing back when Kaine interrupted him more than a dozen times. She directly needled Pence about his running mate's temperament, saying two-thirds of American voters believe the billionaire businessman would be a 'risky' choice to lead the country. 'Why do so many Americans think Mr. Trump is simply too erratic?' she asked. Pence quickly took aim at the Democrats instead. 'Let me say first and foremost that, Senator, you and Hillary Clinton would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign. It really is remarkable,' he told Kaine. You guys love Russia,' he began. You both have said Vladimir Putin is a better leader than the president Gov. Pence Clinton, he said, helmed America's foreign policy in the Middle East as it was 'literally spinning out of control.' He pointed to Syria and then the 'newly emboldened' Russia, which overtook the Crimea region of Ukraine. At that, Kaine pounced 'You guys love Russia,' he began. 'You both have said Vladimir Putin is a better leader than the president.' Quijano tried again to get the debate back under control. 'These guys have praised Vladimir Putin as a great leader,' Kaine protested. Ronald Reagan said something really interesting about nuclear proliferation back in the 1980s. He said the problem with nuclear proliferation is some fool or maniac could trigger some catastrophic event. And thats who I believe Governor Pences running mate is exactly who President Reagan warned us about. Pence hit back: Senator, thats pretty low even for you. 'I must have hit a nerve here,' Pence snarked. 'To get to your question about trustworthiness,' he said at last, 'Donald Trump has built a business through hard times and through good times. He's brought an extraordinary business acumen.' 'He's employed tens of thousands of people in this country.' Kaine returned later to Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, complaining that Trump and Pence had both compared him favorably to U.S. President Barack Obama. 'If you don't know the difference between dictatorship and leadership, you've got to go back to a fifth grade civics class,' Kaine said. Pence said he and his running mate weren't being complimentary of Putin, but merely stating 'painful facts.' 'That's not an endorsement of Vladimir Putin that's an indictment of failed leadership,' he said, pointing fingers back at the Democrats. Kaine snapped back that no president should coddle Putin, and 'Hillary Clinton knows exactly who this guy is.' Pence sniffed that Clinton had only said she was sorry for saying 'half' of Republicans were deplorable CBS correspondent Elaine Quijano tried to keep control of the proceedings as the pair exchanged jibes in their only chance to impress the voters Kaine gave Clinton credit for killing Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda ringleader whom President Obama gave the order to kill the third time his military leaders asked him to PENCE HITS CLINTON ON FOREIGN POLICY RECORD Kaine opened up the presidential debate by talking about how much he trusted his running mate, Hillary Clinton, telling voters that he trusted the former secretary of state with the life of his deployed Marine son. 'The thought of Donald Trump as commander-in-chief scares us to death,' Kaine said, as he noted Hillary Clinton's history-making presidential run on several occasions. Pence told voters early on that 'the American people know we need to make a change,' before thanking Trump for putting him on the ticket. He then drew blood, however, in blaming Clinton's State Department for creating the power vacuum in the Middle East that the ISIS terror army went on to fill. 'Iraq has been overrun by ISIS,' he said, 'because Hillary Clinton failed to renegotiate a status of forces agreement' with the Iraqi government. Kaine gave her credit for killing Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda ringleader whom President Obama gave the order to kill the third time his military leaders asked him to. Early on, Quijano asked Pence about some of the issues Trump had with temperament, noting how 67 percent of voters thought the billionaire businessman was a risky choice. 'Why do so many Americans think Mr. Trump is simply too erratic?' Pence quickly took aim at the Democrats instead. 'Let me say first and foremost that, Senator, you and Hillary Clinton would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign. It really is remarkable,' Pence replied. Pence pounced on Clinton's foreign policy credentials, saying she watched over the Middle East as it was 'literally spinning out of control.' He pointed to Syria and then the 'newly emboldened' Russia, which overtook the Crimea region of Ukraine. At that Kaine pounced: 'You guys love Russia,' he began. 'You both have said Vladimir Putin is a better leader than the president.' Quijano tried to get the debate back under control. 'These guys have praised Vladimir Putin as a great leader,' Kaine protested. Quijano tried to re-ask the question, why there's such a disconnect between how Pence perceives Trump and what the voters say. 'Because at a time of great challenge in the life of this nation, where we've weakened America's place in the world, stifled America's economy, the campaign of Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine has been an avalanche of insults,' Pence said, aiming the fire back at team Clinton. 'Look, to get to your question about trustworthiness, Donald Trump has built a business through hard times and through good times. He's brought an extraordinary business acumen,' Pence continued. 'He's employed tens of thousands of people in this country,' the Indiana governor added. Kaine looked like he was up for a fight throughout the initial exchanges and wasn't willing to back down from throwing the verbal punches The attack on Trump continued as the debate moved to the economy. Kaine described the rival campaigns as 'you're hired, versus youre fired' 'YOU'RE HIRED VERSUS YOU'RE FIRED': SPLIT ON ECONOMY The attack on Trump continued as the debate moved to the economy. Kaine described the rival campaigns as 'you're hired, versus youre fired'. But Pence attacked the Obama record. 'The politics of this administration,' Pence continued. 'Have run this economy into a ditch.' Kaine tried interrupting several times, by noting the 15 million new jobs. 'You can roll out the numbers and sunny side, but people in Scranton know different,' Pence countered, mentioning a pivotal swing state. 'This economy is struggling.' Pence also gave Kaine a 'God bless you' for his public service, but noted, 'Donald Trump is a businessman, not a politician. 'The thought of Donald Trump as commander-in-chief scares us to death,' Kaine (pictured) said, as he noted Hillary Clinton's history-making presidential run on several occasions Moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News (in background) watches as Gov. Mike Pence, right, shakes hands with Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine FIRST POLL HANDS IT TO PENCE A snap poll by CNN/ORC suggested that voters preferred Pence over Kaine after watching the clash. Its sample, which skews Democratic, found that 53 per cent had not changed their mind as a result. However 29 per cent said they were more likely to vote Trump, compared to 18 per cent for Clinton. Eric Trump, working the spin room after the debate, praised the governor's performance. 'Honestly, that's why my father picked him. He's poised, he was amazing, he is incredibly articulate, he was calming in so many ways, but he also lead with tremendous strength,' the young Trump gushed. 'I just think he did an amazing, amazing job tonight.' Trump's middle son thought Quijano did alright too. 'I thought the moderator was fine, they were certainly going back and forth, but I thought it was fine, I thought it was fairly down the middle, it was nice to see,' he said. As for Kaine, Eric Trump was irked by the many interruptions. 'I found them a little annoying, quite frankly, sitting up front,' Trump said, noting his vantage point. Fox News' Sean Hannity, who was standing nearby, offered his assessment: 'A lot annoying.' 'A little rude, maybe a lot annoying,' Eric Trump then offered. The Clinton campaign's top brass was deployed to the spin room and defended Kaine's style. 'I'm not concerned about that at all,' said campaign manager Robby Mook when Dailymail.com asked if worried the 'annoying' label would stick. 'What was frustrating about this debate was at times Governor Pence said things that were simply not true, but more often than not he was refusing to take a position on his running mate's statements and policies.' 'I think it's troubling that they don't seem to be acting as a unit,' Mook continued. 'And Mike Pence did not show up to have Donald Trump's back,' the campaign manager charged. Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta admitted that Pence offered a 'smooth' performance. 'But he basically walked away from the top of the ticket,' the longtime Clinton ally quipped. Podesta said he didn't believe Kaine needed more practice before the debate. 'As I said, I give Gov. Pence credit for a smooth performance, but every time Tim Kaine was really just quoting Donald Trump he'd shake his head "no," and I'm not sure what signal that sends, "no" that he didn't think the charge was fair, or "no" that he didn't support Donald Trump,' Podesta said, hammering in the Pence-didn't-have-Trump's-back talking point. At least both men can say their national stature has been elevated. Before being added to the national ticket neither Pence nor Kaine could be considered significant national figures, but political insiders were familiar with both and they were considered solid standard-bearers of their respective parties. Recent polling shows that 41 percent of Americans couldn't name Pence as Trump's running mate, while an even bigger 46 percent didn't connect Kaine with the Clinton campaign. The pair tightly gripped each other's hands as they walked onto the stage for the highly-anticipated clash Kaine waves to the crowd with his hand on Pence's back ahead of the pair's only debate ahead of the election The running mates both smile as they shake hands before the debate. Polls before the event suggested many Americans could not name the candidates Moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News addresses the candidates as the begin to answer questions in Virginia Anne Holton, wife of vice-presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine waits for the vice-presidential debate to begin Karen Pence, wife of Republican candidate for Vice President Mike Pence, arrives for the vice presidential debate Eric Trump, son of Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, takes his seat in the front row before the debate s He listens as the audience at Longwood University are given instructions by the moderator and debate committee He raised a smile at one point while talking to the person sitting next to him. His father was busy on the campaign trail, but managed to live-Tweet throughout the debate Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile (left) talks with Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus ahead of the one and only Vice Presidential debate Short-staffed officers are having to decide which 000 calls to attend Victoria is facing a record number of crimes across the state The group of around 20 men were armed with wooden and metal weapons The men allegedly from different gangs are reportedly arguing over turf Rival gangs believed to be arguing about turf have allegedly stormed into a milk bar armed with wooden and metal weapons. The group of around 20 men surrounded the shop owner and father-of-three, Joe Risoli, as they allegedly chased a thug who had escaped into the Coburg shop in Melbourne. CCTV footage of the incident shows the alleged thug entering the shop through the front door moments before a large group of men followed him on Monday at 9pm, reported 7 news. An armed thug (left) was allegedly chased by a rival gang (right) into a milk shop in Melbourne during what was reportedly a fight about turf 'This first fella came in in with a long piece of wood, a branch of a tree, and they were after him,' Mr Risoli said. 'If they all started fighting it would have been a pub brawl.' The 69-year-old owner claims the brazen men were throwing chairs at their targets while shouting threats at each other. Mr Risoli said the fight continued for 10 minutes and it only stopped when they heard the sounds of sirens approaching. The men who were caught on CCTV footage swamping the shop were allegedly armed with wooden weapons and metal tools The 69-year-old father-of-three found himself cornered after around 20 men swarmed his shop and allegedly began to attack each other The violent fight between the gangs over territory is just one of the many crimes swamping Victoria in record numbers. Victorian police have been struggling to keep up with the increased crime spree with one in four general duties senior sergeants finding themselves attending serious incidents. The lack of numbers in the police force has meant officers are deciding which situations to attend to when in fact all calls must be responded to, reported Herald Sun. Despite Melbourne holding a higher first-response ration of police to population than the state average, it has a shortage of police as a record number of crimes floods the state 'For example, [we're choosing] family violence, over a hot aggravated burglary, over a dangerous driver, over an armed hold-up alarm,' said a senior sergeant. Police Association secretary Ron Iddles said the Victorian police force is lacking in numbers and as a result the public is at a risk. 'It is plain dangerous when first-response police are spread so thinly that their response to urgent jobs is being delayed,' Mr Iddles said. 'Not only does this place the community at risk, but it places police themselves at increased risk of injury and stress as they are constantly forced to make difficult resource allocation decisions that could ultimately have fatal consequences.' The Australian National University has quietly launched a 'diversification strategy' to lower its number of Chinese international students. Documents unearthed in a freedom of information request said the Canberra university considers Chinese students as 'dominating' its numbers and quietly started a scheme to lower their enrolment in 2015. Over 60 per cent of students enrolled at the Australian National University in 2016 were from China and it now plans to recruit students from other nations including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore, student newspaper Woroni reported. The Australian National University in Canberra quietly launched a 'diversification strategy' in 2015 to lower its number of Chinese international students Over 60 per cent of students enrolled at the Australian National University in 2016 were from China and it now plans to recruit students from other nations (stock image) The report unearthed in the FOI recorded the minutes from a university council meeting in February of this year. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington told the meeting there was a need to 'mitigate potential risk exposure in the event of a market downturn'. The report said under the new scheme, 39 per cent of international students enrolling at the College of Business and Economics will be from countries other than China by 2020. This would be a boost of 13 per cent. Since the launch of the 'diversification strategy' results have been mixed, with 2015 and 2016 figures revealing only enrolments from Singapore and India grew. Report said under new scheme, 39 per cent of international students enrolling at the College of Business and Economics will be from countries other than China by 2020 (stock image) There was an eight per cent boost in students from Singapore and 24 per cent growth in students from India in 12 months. 'The University remains exposed to the Chinese international market,' a report from 2015 said. 'Diversification strategies at College and Central level are addressing this issue, but will take time to make a meaningful impact'. The driver of a Porsche Cayenne and her daughter who mysteriously died four months ago on a Florida highway suffered from excessive amounts of a flammable gas that may caused by a faulty car battery. Investigators probing the deaths of Latifa Lincoln, 45, and her three-year-old daughter, Maksmilla Lincoln, said that the two breathed in large quantities of hydrogen sulfide, a clear gas whose smell bears a resemblance to that of rotten eggs. Lincoln and her daughter were found dead inside their 2006 Porsche Cayenne along Florida's Turnpike in Osceola County just south of Orlando, on May 13, WESH 2 reported. Latifa Lincoln (right), 45, and her three-year-old daughter, Maksmilla Lincoln, were found dead in their 2006 Porsche Cayenne on Florida's Turnpike just south of Orlando earlier this year The car crashed into the side railing, though officials later determined that the deaths may have caused by a substance inside the vehicle First responders who arrived at the scene reported smelling a foul odor. Three of them even had difficulty breathing For four months, authorities were at a loss to explain what caused the woman and her daughter to die in their vehicle The effect of the hydrogen sulfide was so strong that it forced first responders who arrived at the scene to step back. Three of them even had difficulty breathing, WESH 2 reported. 'It's unprecedented,' said Dr. Gary Utz, the assistant medical examiner in Orlando. 'I haven't been able to find another case.' The driver's seat of the Porsche Cayenne is shown above. Investigators are trying to determine whether the car battery was the cause of the hydrogen sulfide leak The Porsche Cayenne (above) is unlike other vehicles because its car battery is under the driver's seat and not the hood Records indicate that Lincoln purchased the car from an East Orlando dealership, though there is no record of any crash Urine tests conducted on the victims confirmed that hydrogen sulfide was the cause of death. The battery of the Porsche Cayenne is located under the driver's seat, while in most other vehicles it is underneath the hood. The Porsche Cayenne was bought by Lincoln from a nearby dealership. 'We feel sorry for the lady,' Ron Telleysh, the finance manager at the Auto Express dealership in East Orlando that sold her the car, told WESH. 'She used to come in here all the time with her little daughter.' Safety records indicate that the car was never involved in a crash. When journalist Talitha Cummins fronted cameras to deliver the news, nobody knew she was hiding a secret that would almost end her career. Cummins described herself as the modern face of alcoholism - young, professional, educated and high-functioning. The Sydney-based journalist gave birth to her first child in August, a baby boy named Oliver Paul Lucas, and has now been four years sober. Scroll down for video When journalist Talitha Cummins fronted cameras to deliver the news nobody knew she was hiding a secret that would almost end her career But it has been a long road to recovery for the 36-year-old newsreader, originally from the Gold Coast, who delivers the morning headlines on the Seven Network's Weekend Sunrise. Cummins started binge drink when she was 14 years old and shares her story of alcoholism on Monday night's Australian Story on the ABC. At the height of her alcoholism, she would consume up to four bottles of wine a night. As soon as Cummins had one drink, she said it would unleash an 'unstoppable need' for more and more. 'I've done things that I'm not proud of and I've done things that I probably won't ever remember,' the newsreader said. 'I went to the media awards in Brisbane all dressed up in a formal dress and proceeded to drink myself into oblivion. I was told I was carried into a car to be sent home.' Cummins described herself as the modern face of alcoholism - young, professional, educated and high-functioning - but she is now four years sober But it has been a long road to recovery for the 36-year-old newsreader, originally from the Gold Coast, who delivers the morning headlines on the Seven Network's Weekend Sunrise Cummins also recalls the moment she ended up in hospital because of her drinking. 'Holding it all together was becoming a really hard act. I ended up in hospital on a weekend and got my stomach pumped,' she said. 'Trying to pretend everything was normal was no longer sustainable.' Fellow newsreader and friend Chris Bath said Cummins' colleagues did not notice she had a problem. 'Television is this bright, shiny, fabulous facade. When you're a news presenter you put on a mask most of the time. Talitha fooled everyone,' Bath said. On top of drinking, Cummins was fighting serious depression, and had overdosed and had to be rescued by a friend. When her boss at Channel Seven confronted her, the newsreader finally found the strength to take action. Bath told Australian Story 'the threat of losing her job made [Cummins] sober up'. Cummins signed up for Alcoholics Anonymous and the online help site Hello Sunday Morning. Fellow newsreader and friend Chris Bath (pictured) told Australian Story 'the threat of losing her job made [Cummins] sober up' She had never intended to go public with her addiction but she was encouraged to do so when she accidentally published a private blog detailing her alcoholism. 'Initially I was really shocked and wanted to delete it,' Cummins said. 'But when I saw the responses I was amazed. People said my story was theirs as well. I got emails from people who were binge drinking, mothers who would start drinking in the afternoon, high profile people who were reformed alcoholics.' Bath described her friend as 'very brave'. 'There were a few unkind comments, but the overwhelming reaction was that it was a really courageous thing for her to do,' Bath said. Donald Trump's running mate Mike Pence kicked off the one and only vice presidential debate by misstating the name of the college hosting the event. 'Thank you to Norwood University for their wonderful hospitality and the Commission on Presidential Debates,' he said. 'Its deeply humbling for me to be here.' The debate is being held at Longwood University and the mistake was quickly picked up by social media users. Norwood University does not exist, but that did not stop one witty Twitter user setting up a 'Norwood University' account moments after the faux pas. 'Happy to host you tonight, Governor!' the account tweeted, before adding: 'Enrollment for Spring '17 is OPEN!!!' Mike Pence (right) kicked off the debate by misstating the name of the college hosting the event. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clintons running mate (left), opened hostilities against Pence in his opening statement, and signalled that he would make the attack on Trump the theme of the night. One witty Twitter user setting up a 'Norwood University' account moments after the faux pas However, Tuesday's debate took just minutes to turn into a debate on one man Donald Trump. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clintons running mate, opened hostilities in his opening statement, and signalled that he would make the attack on Trump the theme of the night. Kaine opened up tonight's presidential debate by talking about how much he trusted his running mate, Hillary Clinton, telling voters that he trusted the former secretary of state with the life of his deployed Marine son. 'The thought of Donald Trump as commander-in-chief scares us to death,' Kaine said, as he noted Hillary Clinton's history-making presidential run on several occasions. Indiana Gov. Pence told voters that 'the American people know we need to make a change,' before thanking Trump for putting him on the ticket. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trump's running mate (right), told voters that 'the American people know we need to make a change,' before thanking Trump for putting him on the ticket Kaine opened up tonight's presidential debate by talking about how much he trusted his running mate, Hillary Clinton Pence drew blood, however, in blaming Clinton's State Department for creating the power vacuum in the Middle East that the ISIS terror army went on to fill. 'Iraq has been overrun by ISIS,' he said, 'because Hillary Clinton failed to renegotiate a status of forces agreement' with the Iraqi government. Kaine gave her credit for killing Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda ringleader whom President Obama gave the order to kill the third time his military leaders asked him to. The attack on Trump continued as the debate moved to the economy. Kaine described the rival campaigns as 'you're hired, versus youre fired'. But Pence attacked the Obama record. 'The politics of this administration,' Pence continued, 'have run this economy into a ditch.' Kaine tried interrupting several times, by noting the 15 million new jobs. 'You can roll out the numbers and sunny side, but people in Scranton know different,' Pence countered, mentioning a pivotal swing state. 'This economy is struggling.' Pence also gave Kaine a 'God bless you' for his public service, but noted, 'Donald Trump is a businessman, not a politician.' While vice presidential debates usually don't change the course of the presidential election much, Democrats supporting Clinton heightened the stakes for Pence, threatening he'll have to answer for some of Trump's recent remarks. 'The thought of Donald Trump as commander-in-chief scares us to death,' Kaine (pictured) said, as he noted Hillary Clinton's history-making presidential run on several occasions Moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News (in background) watches as Gov. Mike Pence, right, shakes hands with Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine 'Usually this is a test to see if these candidates are prepared to serve as president,' Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook said on 'CBS This Morning.' 'I think both of them are regarded as pretty accomplished public servants. The real question is, is Mike Pence going to defend Donald Trump,' Mook said. Vice President Joe Biden also offered the candidates some advice, in a missive that was clearly aimed at Pence. 'Think about whether you made the right decision,' he said. 'Because it could be a long day in that office over there,' he said, pointing out the window at the White House, 'if you don't agree with the president.' Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway promised that the Indiana governor would be 'feisty.' And Clinton, boarding her 'Stronger Together' plane this morning, gave a thumbs up and said 'great' when asked by reporters how she thought her running mate might fare. Moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News addresses the candidates as the begin to answer questions in Virginia At least 12 people were arrested in cities across the US on Tuesday for running a sophisticated sex trafficking operation, authorities said. Hundreds of women were brought from Thailand to America under fraudulent visas and forced to work as prostitutes to pay off tens of thousands of dollars in bondage debts, prosecutors say. The indictment charges 17 people with various counts, including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit forced labor, conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Of those 17 people, about a dozen were arrested in Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles. At least 12 people were arrested in cities across the US for running a sophisticated sex trafficking operation. Hundreds of women (file photo) were brought from Thailand to America and forced to work as prostitutes to pay off tens of thousands of dollars in bondage debts The women including one who was forced to have sex with strangers for 12 hours a day, six or seven days a week were not allowed to move about freely and were 'effectively modern day sex slaves', according to a redacted indictment. The arrests, along with the recent arrest of the organization's boss in Belgium, will effectively dismantle the operation, said Alex Khu, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Minneapolis. 'We feel pretty confident that based on the number of important-position folks we are taking down, we'll really hurt this organization,' he told AP in advance of an official announcement about the arrests. 'It will take down this ring.' Khu's office began investigation the sex trafficking case in the Twin Cities in January 2014. His team discovered that it was part of an international ring and 'a very sophisticated, complex network operating throughout the United States ... where women are really placed on a circuit, traveling from one city to the next'. Since 2009, hundreds of women were brought from Bangkok, Thailand, to several cities in America, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Washington and Dallas, according to the indictment. The women were from poor backgrounds, spoke little English and were lured with promises of a better life. Bosses or traffickers for the operation in Thailand entered the women into a bondage debt 'contract' in exchange for a visa and travel to the US. As part of the contract, the women would owe a debt ranging from $40,000 to $60,000 and would be 'owned' by the organization until that debt was repaid. The women were often encouraged to have breast implants to make them more appealing to potential clients and the cost of the surgery was added to their debt. Once they arrived in the US, the women were forced to have sex in various 'houses of prostitution' including hotels, massage parlors and apartments. The women (file photo) were forced to turn over most of the money they earned, as well as pay for rent, food and personal items, making it virtually impossible to repay their debt, the indictment said They were not allowed to leave without escorts, who would have sex with the victims as part of their payment. The women were forced to turn over most of the money they earned, as well as pay for rent, food and personal items, making it virtually impossible to repay their debt, the indictment said. The organization controlled the women by isolating them and threatening to harm their families in Thailand if they escaped. In one case, Khu said, a woman tried to get out of a situation and the organization sent 'muscle' to assault a family member in Thailand, breaking his bones. The indictment says one victim recruited in 2010 agreed to a $40,000 bondage debt. When she arrived in the US, she was sent to work at two prostitution houses for 12 hour days, six to seven days a week, and was not allowed to leave by herself. The terms of her contract changed and she was then forced to work at a 'spa' in Houston that was open 24 hours a day. In addition to the traffickers, the organization also employed house bosses who ran the prostitution houses, advertised (file photo) the women on websites and scheduled customers There, she lived on a mattress on the floor with another victim, and was required to have sex at all hours. She ran away one night, and began receiving emails that suggested her family in Thailand would be harmed and her visa would be canceled. 'They don't control the money. They don't control the customers or the johns. They can't refuse a john. They don't have freedom of movement. ... The female victims are literally helpless,' Khu said. 'They can't get out.' The indictment describes a highly organized operation, with many tiers of employment. In addition to the traffickers, the organization also employed house bosses who ran the prostitution houses, advertised the women on websites and scheduled customers. Other 'facilitators' helped with money laundering or booking travel for the victims, while 'runners' would escort the women from place to place. Khu said the head of the organization, who was based in Thailand, was recently arrested in Belgium for separate trafficking offenses there. When it was over, Trump declared that 'Mike Pence won big' Trump responded that Conway was in the audience and 'better luck next time' Kelly said on air that Trump was surrounded by his team and that campaign manager Kellyanne Conway has 'got the thumbs' As soon as the contest began, Trump fired off a tweet at Fox News host Megyn Kelly Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump live-tweeted the only vice presidential debate while his running mate fended off attacks on stage and the GOP's first salvo was against Fox News host Megyn Kelly. Trump had forecast Tuesday afternoon that he would be live-tweeting the event. Kelly mused on air that Trump would be 'surrounded by his team! Kellyanne's got the thumbs. Only when they're released will he [tweet].' She was suggesting that Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway would be calling the shots. Trump immediately shot back at his former nemesis, who confronted him with a question about some of his comments about women in the first GOP primary debate. While vice presidential candidates Tim Kaine and Mike Pence tangled in Virginia, Donald Trump live-tweeted the debate with his own comments and musings He tweeted at Kelly: 'I am in Nevada. Sorry to inform you Kellyanne is in the audience. Better luck next time.' As the vice presidential contest between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine began, Trump sent a rare compliment his opponents' way. Both are looking good! Now we begin!' he wrote. Then he started hailing his running mate and trashing Kaine. Pence 'is doing a great job - so far, no contest!' Trump wrote. Donald Trump kicked off his live-tweeting of the event with a swipe at Fox News host Megyn Kelly JOKER: Republican Donald Trump kept busy during the vice presidential debates, retweeting a user who said Tim Kaine looked like an 'evil crook' LIKEABLE ENOUGH: Trump retweeted someone who found his running mate more likeable 'No contest!' Trump retweeted @elisa006, who said Kaine 'looks like a fool!' Trump hailed Pence's salute to law enforcement Trump wrote that Hillary Clinton 'sneers' at Americans Trump declared his running mate the winner Trump has feuded with Fox News host Megyn Kelly since the first GOP debate in August 2015 Kelly spoke on air about Trump's aides writing his tweets but Trump shot back that campaign manager Kellyanne Conway was in the crowd at the vice presidential debate Trump retweeted a Twitter follower, @elisa006, who wrote ' I agree. Kaine looks like a fool!!' He retweeted another Twitter user, @bigdog_joey, who tweeted, 'kaine can't defend all those lies.' Trump retweeted another user who wrote, 'Kaine looks like an evil crook out of the Batman movies.' Pence struggled at times to fend off frequent interruptions by Kaine who asked him repeatedly to defend Trump's comments. When Pence got in a point, that police officers are 'the best of us,' Trump tweeted: 'I agree Mike - thank you to all of our law enforcement officers!' When it was all over, Trump tweeted: 'Mike Pence won big. We should all be proud of Mike!' Kaine opened up tonight's presidential debate by talking about how much he trusted his running mate, Hillary Clinton 'The thought of Donald Trump as commander-in-chief scares us to death,' Kaine (pictured) said, as he noted Hillary Clinton's history-making presidential run on several occasions George Pazos, 49, was sentenced to two years in prison in a Cincinnati, Ohio, court A man has been sentenced to two years in prison after he attacked a prostitute and forced her to 'perform fellatio on his dog', according to court documents. George Pazos, 49, tried to withdraw his guilty plea at the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in Cincinnati, Ohio and begged the judge to let him take care of his beloved pets before he headed to jail. Pazos, who initially faced up to 22 years in prison, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault in a deal that saw a rape charge dropped, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Pazos 'engage[d] in sexual intercourse for pay' with a woman on January 1, before he threatened her, tied her up and raped her, court documents said. He also forced her to perform a sex act on his dog - the same pet he mentioned after his sentencing on Tuesday, when he told Judge Patrick Dinkelacker he wouldn't be able to find someone to care for the animal while he was in prison. Pazos, who also owns a cockatoo, said: 'Theres not much I love in this world No one wants to lose their child. Please let me bring them to a pet place. And Ill come right back.' His request was denied. Pazps raped a prostitute and forced her to 'perform fellatio on his dog', according to court documents. Pictured, the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court The plea deal also allowed Pazos to avoid registering as a sex offender. Pazos' attorney James Bogen had acknowledged the accusations were 'very disturbing', but said the woman's account of the events on January 1 had changed. Gaye Lyons has lost her bid to become the country's first deaf juror after a High Court ruling dismissed her discrimination claims A woman has lost her bid to become the country's first deaf juror after a High Court ruling dismissed her discrimination claims. Gaye Lyons, who is profoundly deaf, was excluded from jury duty in 2012 after being told by the deputy registrar she could not serve as there were no provisions to allow an Auslan interpreter inside the jury room. The 60-year-old, who can lip read but requires an interpreter to communicate, claimed she had been discriminated against by the Queensland Government. She took the case to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Queensland Court of Appeal, where the decision was upheld each time. And on Wednesday, the High Court dismissed her appeal after finding the Queensland law did not permit an interpreter to be present during jury deliberations in the absence of specific legislative provisions. The decision has ended a four-year battle after she took legal actions against the state government, claiming the exclusion had prevented her from performing her civic duty as a juror. In arguing Ms Lyons' case, solicitor Kylie Nomchong SC rejected claims about possible errors from interpreters and said there was just as much chance that a hearing juror would be bored, distracted or suffer a lapse in concentration. Lawyers for the state said there was no way to test the accuracy of interpretations and the Jury Act was simply being administered as it was intended. The High Court ruled that the presence of a person other than a juror in the jury room during deliberations was 'an incurable irregularity', regardless of whether or not they participated. The High Court (pictured: stock image) has dismissed her appeal after finding the Queensland law did not permit an interpreter to be present during jury deliberations Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said the confidentiality of jury deliberations and the right to a fair trial were 'among the most fundamental tenets of our justice system.' Following the unprecedented case, Ms Lyons said the ruling against her was a 'smack in the face' for deaf Australians. She said her case was about the principle of justice and equality for 'every citizen of Australia'. 'Deaf people should not be treated any differently,' Ms Lyons said. 'The High Court does not see that.' Chief Executive of Deaf Australia Kyle Miers said the court had failed to recognise the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Two women were arrested Monday after opening fire during a drug deal gone bad while a four-year-old child sat in the back seat of their car. Raynisha Smith and Uranus Maxwell were both arrested and now face several charges after the incident that occurred in Houston, Texas. Deputies said an argument started when Smith and Maxwell felt they were being shorted during the drug deal, KPRC 2 reported. Raynisha Smith (left) and Uranus Maxwell (right) were both arrested and now face several charges after they allegedly shot a man for shorting them during a drug deal in Houston, Texas. A four-year-old child was in their car when the shooting took place Smith allegedly shot a man with a prohibited weapon, deputies told the station. The women also had a four-year-old child in the vehicle during the incident. It's still unclear how the child is related to the women. Deputies said that when they arrived to the scene, they were told that the man had been shot and the shooter was attempting to flee. 'Quick response time by deputies enabled them to stop the vehicle the shooter was in prior to her leaving the motel property and detain all occupants within the vehicle,' Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman told the station. Authorities said they also found marijuana and a stolen handgun in the vehicle. Smith was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Harris County Jail (pictured). Her bond was set at $10,000 and Maxwell's was set at $2,500 The handgun had been reported stolen almost a year ago, investigators told CW39. Both women were booked into the Harris County Jail. Smith was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to KPRC 2. Her bond was set at $10,000. Advertisement The co-owner of 7-Eleven's Australian stores is selling her waterfront holiday home for $3.4 million, only months after a franchisee in her group was slapped with a record fine for exploiting workers. Businesswoman Beverley Barlow and her husband Douglas own the luxury pad on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which features a pontoon, pool and large open-plan interior. The north-facing home at Noosa Waters - with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and three-car garage - would be beyond the reach of 7-Eleven workers, who were paid as little as $5 an hour. A co-owner of 7-Eleven in Australia, Beverley Barlow, is selling this holiday pad with pontoon for $3.4 million Mrs Barlow and her brother Russell Withers, who own 7-Eleven in Australia through a family-owned holding company, were ranked at No. 25 on the 2016 Forbes rich list, with an estimated worth of $1.1 billion. The selling agent, Marek Realty principal Joanne Marek, said Mrs Barlow was spending less time at her canal-frontage holiday home. 'If you're not utilising it so much, it's surplus to what you need,' she told Daily Mail Australia. In June 2016, Federal Circuit Court judge Michael Jarrett ordered the operators of a 7-Eleven store to pay a record penalty of $408,348. Beverley Barlow was spending less time enjoying this view over Noosa Waters, the selling agent says He found the Brisbane business had underpaid 12 7-Eleven workers more than $82,000, adding the franchisee had shown contemptuous disregard for Australian workplace laws. The Fair Work Ombudsman took action against 7-Eleven after a Fairfax Media-ABC investigation revealed foreign students were paid as little as $5 an hour in 2013 and 2014. Mrs Barlow and her husband Douglas bought 26 The Anchorage in September 1999 for $535,000, property records show. Beverley Barlow and her husband Douglas bought this canal-front property for $535,000 in September 1999 Ms Marek said wealthy baby boomers from Sydney and Melbourne were buying upmarket waterfront properties at Noosa Waters, which is also known as Noosaville. 'There's been, in the last six months, six waterfront sales in that area between $3 and $4 million,' she said. 'We're not looking at buyers here seeking finance or for investment purposes ... they are predominantly Sydney and Melbourne retired purchasers.' The 800 square-metre Noosa Waters property was listed for sale in early October 2016. This waterfront property with a pool would be beyond the reach of 7-Eleven workers Retired baby boomers from Sydney and Melbourne are buying waterfront properties in Noosa Waters Foreign student workers at 7-Eleven can only dream of such grand views at Noosa Waters A 7-Eleven store, which typically employs foreign workers on student visas Philip Misowitz, 32, has been indicted for first-degree murder in Baltimore in the death of his grandfather, Robert Harmic, 77 A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder after he allegedly killed his grandfather by throwing a glass candy jar at his head during a row. Police say Philip Misowitz attacked Robert Harmic, 77, on September 10 at Chesaco Avenue and Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, Maryland. The two got into an argument before Misowitz allegedly threw the jar and struck his grandfather in the head, WBFF reported. Cops reporting to the scene found Misowitz sitting in front of his house, wearing a bloody shirt. 'You guys are here for me,' he told them, according to WBFF. Harmic was rushed to Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore. He fought for his life for several weeks, but eventually succumbed to his injuries on September 29. An autopsy said his cause of death was a homicide blunt force trauma. On Tuesday, a Baltimore County Grand Jury indicted Misowitz for first-degree murder, first degree assault and second-degree assault. He is being held without bail at the Baltimore County jail. A young couple enjoying a date in Adelaide ended up being bruised and battered when their car was swallowed up by a sink hole. The couple had parked their Suzuki 4WD on a hill to view the lights over Adelaide on Tuesday at about 11.30pm when the sinkhole opened up beneath them. The car - with the couple still inside - was swallowed up by the hole and it landed front-first into the 4 metre by 4 metre crater. A young couple enjoying a date in Adelaide on Tuesday had parked their Suzuki 4WD on a hill to view the lights when a giant sinkhole opened up beneath them at about 11.30pm Its rear bumper could be seen poking out from the top of the sinkhole. The couple, who are aged in their 20s, were able to climb out and suffered only minor bruising. The sinkhole opened up over an old silver mine shaft, according to Nine's Today Show. The car - with the couple still inside - was swallowed up by the hole and it landed front-first into the 4 metre by 4 metre crater The couple, who are aged in their 20s, were able to climb out and suffered only minor bruising Its rear bumper could be seen poking out from the top of the sinkhole The SES were called to the scene and were due to use a crane to remove the car on Wednesday. It comes just days after a horror storm lashed Adelaide that cut power across the state, flooded homes, ruined farms, and damaged roads and other infrastructure. Emergency Services Minister Peter Malinauskas said the damage bill would be substantial as the clean up began from the storms. A total figure is still a while away but a preliminary estimation for crop damage alone was $30-$40 million. South Australia has been battered by storms that cut power across the state, flooded homes, ruined farms, and damaged roads and other infrastructure South Australia is mopping up and counting the costs in the aftermath of the state's devastating storms A major clean-up job looms across the mid north and the Adelaide Hills, the areas hardest hit by flooding But a major clean-up job looms across the mid north and the Adelaide Hills, the areas hardest hit by flooding. The cost to businesses will also be significant with companies like BHP Billiton and Arrium halting operations during the power outage. The SA government has also announced an independent inquiry into the storms and the state's readiness for and response to the blackout. Pulling off a $10 million dollar jewel heist is one thing - but finding a buyer is another, say experts, predicting that the robbers who targeted Kim Kardashian in Paris will struggle to dispose of their loot. Kardashian, the world's highest paid reality television star, was held up at gunpoint in a luxury Paris apartment in the early hours of Monday. The robbers made off with a ring worth four million euros ($4.5 million/3.5 million) and a case of jewellery with a value of five million euros ($5.6 million/4.3 million). Sandrine Marcot, acting president of the French union of jewellers and watchmakers, said the value of the haul would 'crash' due to the media hype around the heist and the recognisability of the stolen goods. The robbers who targeted Kim Kardashian, pictured here leaving Ferdi restaurant in Paris with her giant ring on September 29, will struggled to sell their loot, experts say 'Everyone knows that ring. It won't be easy to get rid of it,' a police source said. Last week, Kardashian had posted a Twitter photograph of her left hand sporting a huge diamond sparkler - reportedly a 20-carat ring by Lorraine Schwartz given to her by her husband, rap superstar Kanye West. 'These are not everyday jewels. These are unique pieces,' Marcot told AFP, predicting the spoils of the raid would be cut into smaller gems to conceal their origin. Precious stones often come stamped with a laser mark, making them 'extremely easy to trace', Marcot said. Some laser marks are so deep they are impossible to cover up but others can be concealed by savvy polishing, making the stone 'difficulty to identify, unlike, for example, a stolen painting,' the police source said. Kim's 20-carat ring by Lorraine Schwartz was given to her by her husband, Kanye West, and is believed to be one of the items robbers stole The Lorraine Schwartz ring is the second one gifted to Kim by Kanye - after he originally proposed with a similar rock in 2013 Is this the 3.5million ring stolen from Kim Kardashian by Paris crooks? Kim flaunted her second engagement ring given to her by Kanye in a Snapchat video posted just two hours before she was robbed at gunpoint In most cases, the robbers work with several intermediaries, including a shady jeweller in charge of whittling down the gem into less conspicuous stones. But a gem that has been recut is worth only a fraction of its initial value. Kardashian's ring could lose three-quarters of its value after being reworked, according to police. And yet despite the difficulty in disposing of eye-popping jewels, they still exert a powerful pull on thieves, with Monday's robbery the latest in a string of brazen heists around France in recent years. 'You will always have customers who want stones or to melt down the metal,' the police expert explained. Police stand guard outside a luxury apartment building in Paris, on October 3, 2016, where US reality television star Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint Among the pieces Kim had with her in Paris were these necklaces from her husband Kanye's upcoming collection with Jacob Arabo, who sells his pieces to the rich and famous for thousands of pounds Kim was wearing the ring on Sunday night as she and sister Kourtney Kardashian arrived at the Alaia showroom just hours before she was robbed She was also wearing grillz by Dolly Cohen in one of her Snapchat stories in Paris, which can cost upwards of 200 euros (174.82) Just stealing precious gems and rendering them unrecognisable does not make for the perfect crime, however. Robbers also need to have connections in the jewellery business to get a good price for their spoils. The gang that walked into the exclusive Harry Winston store in Paris in 2008 disguised as women, walking away with loot worth up to 85 million euros, failed miserably at the final hurdle. Knowing nothing about jewellery, the leader of the gang from the Paris suburbs entrusted the sale to a friend. A Sydney doctor who collected thousands of signatures for a petition against the Safe Schools program wants it abolished because it's promoting views that are incompatible with Chinese culture. Dr Pansy Lai opposes the schools program, which aims to reduce bullying of gay, lesbian and transgender students, and has led a petition against it that has received 17,500 signatures. 'Safe Schools is promoting views on gender and sexuality that Chinese parents find extreme,' she told the Northern District Times. A petition signed by 17,500 people and presented in the NSW parliament in August has expressed the fears of the Chinese-Australian community 'Chinese people really value family relationships, and we expect to pass on our family values to the next generation. It's a parent's right to teach sexual education to our children.' Damien Tudehope, the Liberal MP for Epping, presented the petition to the New South Wales parliament in August. The petition says the Safe Schools program 'discriminates against children and parents from other cultures' who believe a relationship between a man and woman was the norm. Dr Lai said the program - which requires parental consent - was changing the school culture. 'It's changing school language, changing bathrooms it's changing the whole school environment,' Dr Lai told the newspaper. The federally-funded program has been fiercely debated at state and federal level and has come under fire from conservative politicians like Liberal senator Cory Bernardi, who has claimed it is indoctrinating kids in a 'Marxist agenda'. Liberal Nationals MP George Christensen has likened the program to grooming undertaken by pedophiles. The petition says that the program 'discriminates against children and parents from other cultures' A woman has resigned from a Queensland hospital after she claims her colleagues became suicidal and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder due to bullying from staff. Stevie-Lee Semgreen worked on night shift for an entire year at Townsville Hospital until she resigned in June, saying her complaints were ignored by the hospital's management. She said the Australian Workers Union told her she would be 'putting a target on her own back' by complaining to the department. Hospital managers have been accused of bullying over a three-year period leaving several staffers suffering panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorders and suicidal thoughts, according to the Townsville Bulletin. Stevie-Lee Semgreen worked on night shift for an entire year at Townsville Hospital until she resigned in June, saying her complaints were ignored by the hospital's management One woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said launched an external review after she lodged a complaint saying she felt suicidal. She said the complaint was ignored for 12 months. 'We are isolated and alienated and not given any support,' she said. 'Some of the workers feel they are powerless within their union.' Ms Semgreen said she resigned from Townsville Hospital after her issues were also ignored and had since moved to the Sunshine Coast. One woman, who chose to remain anonymous, launched an external review of Townsville Hospital after she lodged a complaint saying she felt suicidal Hospital managers have been accused of bullying over a three-year period leaving several staffers suffering panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorders and suicidal thoughts (stock image) 'I had asked a few times if I could take my issues further but hospital's management told me that I could not,' she said. The hospital claim they had beneficial channels for employees to voice their concerns. AWU Queensland branch secretary Ben Swan said they were investigating Ms Semgreen's complaint before she resigned. 'All matters reported with the union by our members at Townsville Hospital have been and continue to be raised and addressed with the hospital's HR executive team,' AWU northern district secretary Bede Harding said. Daily Mail Australia have contacted Queensland Health for comment. A woman who was high on methamphetamines when she hit and killed a mother-of-three with her car claims that serving time in prison could sever her relationship with her toddler son. Counsel for Samantha Magdaleine Farrer asked the District Court of South Australia in Adelaide on Wednesday to allow the 39-year-old to go home to her 15-month-old son, according to The Advertiser. Farrer, who is the former girlfriend of siege gunman Rodney Clavell, was found guilty in May of causing the death of Kathleen Heraghty, 48, as she rode her bicycle in December 2013. Samantha Magdaleine Farrer (pictured), who was high on ice when she hit and killed mother-of-three Kathleen Heraghty near Adelaide in 2013, says serving jail time could ruin her relationship with her son Her counsel asked the court to compare Farrer's case to that of drug trafficker Soraya Constant (pictured), who was granted bail before she went into labour with her second child so she wouldn't be separated from her children Farrer's counsel, Gilbert Aitken, argued that the incident was 'a tragic accident with terrible, shocking consequences' but that his client shouldn't face jail time because it was not intentional. Mr Aitken asked the court to compare Farrer's case to that of Soraya Constant, who pleaded guilty to importing pseudoephedrine to make amphetamine, but was granted bail before she went into labour with her second child so she wouldn't be separated from her children, according to The Advertiser. Constant, 30, was 29 weeks pregnant when she was sent to jail in April and also had a toddler daughter. Her jail sentence for drug trafficking was overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal. Farrer was found guilty in May of causing the death of Kathleen Heraghty (pictured), 48, as she rode her bicycle in December 2013 Farrer was also found guilty of leaving the scene of the accident (pictured) South Australian prisons do not have the appropriate facilities for children to stay with their mothers while they serve their time, Mr Aitken said. '[Experts] make it quite plain that the effect of this kind of separation are, essentially, far too great,' he said. 'It can lead to beliefs others are unreliable and can't be trusted ... (Farrer's son) is at an age and a stage where he wouldn't understand the reason his mother had been removed.' South Australian prisons do not have the appropriate facilities for children to stay with their mothers while they serve their time, Farrer's counsel said 'The resentment that would cause could well last the rest of his life.' The family of Ms Heraghty said last month that they are 'drenched in pain' after her death. Farrer was granted a bail continuation and will return to the court in two weeks for sentencing. Tasha Reign is campaigning against California's Proposition 60 at a number of colleges in the state When California residents head to the polls on November 8, they'll be able to vote for more than just the next president. The controversial Proposition 60 will hang in the balance, and porn star Tasha Reign, real name Rachel Swimmer, kicked off a college tour on Tuesday urging young people to vote against the bill, which would require the use of condoms on set. Reign said the bill's passing would 'criminalize pornography', while pointing out the effects it would have on wide ranging issues like the privacy of adult performers, or the economy of California. The 27-year-old who has already visited her alma mater UCLA, told LA Weekly: 'This is criminalizing pornography. No female performer wants to be on-set and be told what she can put in her body.' Reign clarified that she was not urging college students to practice unsafe sex so much as she was trying to spread the word about the bill. In addition to the using condoms on films sets depicting vaginal or anal sex, Proposition 60 would require the producers of adult films to pay for the performers' STI tests and vaccinations. Producers would also have to obtain a license, and film sites would be forced to post signs regarding the mandatory use of condoms. While the bill aims to promote safe sex, many porn stars have fought against the required use of condoms, saying it's impractical for professionals who often perform for hours at a time. Proposition 60 would require the use of condoms on adult films sets depicting vaginal or anal sex. Pictured, Reign, left, at her alma mater UCLA Reign pointed out the effects it would have on wide ranging issues like the privacy of adult performers, or the economy of California The condoms can cause painful and uncomfortable rashes which can lead to health risks like yeast and bacterial infections. Breaks in the skin can also increase the risks of STIs. It would also allow any resident in the state to sue if the regulations are not being enforced. Reign told LA Weekly: 'This will allow random civilians to have personal access to my home address if they want to sue because of their puritanical agenda.' But Bradley W Hertz, an attorney campaigning for the bill, wrote in the LA Daily Journal: 'Such lawsuits can only be brought if Cal/OSHA fails to act within a reasonable period of time to enforce violations. 'Far from being a "sue an adult film performer" measure, as the opponents would have you believe, the "private attorney general" provision serves only as a last resort.' Reign also pointed out that the bill would drive film production out of California if it is passed, causing a loss of millions of dollars to the state's economy. Proposition 60 is based on Los Angeles County's Measure B, which was passed in 2012, which shifted the industry's established epicenter. While the bill aims to promote safe sex, many porn stars have fought against the required use of condoms, saying it's impractical for professionals who often perform for hours at a time Porn stars have also argued that there have been no HIV transmissions on-set in California since 2004, making the case that the industry's own regulatory system of testing actors every 14 days is sufficient. Actors are supposed to turn up on set with their results, and co-stars can refuse to work with an individual if they failed to get tested, or if the results came back positive for STIs. Earlier this year, the Center for Disease Control found an adult film actor had unknowingly infected two men with HIV in 2014 because the virus went undetected by lab tests. It is unclear where the filming took place. But Adam Cohen, a public health consultant with the Aids Healthcare Foundation said: 'Testing is not prevention. Taking an STD test to prevent an STD is like taking a pregnancy test to prevent pregnancy. Testing, and condoms, is the best form of prevention.' Michael Weinstein, president of the AHF, said the law would have a positive trickle-down effect. He said: 'Porn is the primary means of sex education that young people get, and it's had a very negative impact on the promotion of safer sex.' Reign will be touring nine different college campuses in the lead up to November 8, making pit stops at colleges like UC Riverside and San Diego State University. An hours-old baby was found abandoned in a Chicago field on Tuesday. James Turner was walking by the field in the Chicago Heights suburbs when he came across the baby girl, who still had her umbilical chord attached. Police received a 911 call around 11am from Turner who reported that he discovered an 'unattended newborn lying in the grass in an open field', according to WGN TV. An hours-old baby was found abandoned in a Chicago field on Tuesday. James Turner was walking by the field in the Chicago Heights suburbs when he came across the baby girl (pictured) Police received a 911 call around 11am from Turner who reported that he discovered an 'unattended newborn lying in the grass in an open field'. The area where the infant was found was circled by investigators Officers located the baby and called paramedics who transported the infant to the St James Hospital where she's in good condition. The baby was is a black female who was born two to three hours before she was discovered in the field, police told the station. Police are calling her Baby Jane Doe. Turner lives in the apartment complex right next to the field where he found the child, according to FOX 32. He found the baby along a path used by residents as a shortcut through the field. Turner told the station the baby was crying, naked and still had the umbilical cord attached. Turner lives in the apartment complex right next to the field where he found the child. He found the baby along a path (pictured) used by residents as a shortcut through the field. Police said they are seeking information on the mother's whereabouts as well as family members He said it looked like the little girl was delivered somewhere else and left in the field. Chicago Heights Police Chief Thomas Rogers told WGN TV that detectives are trying to find the baby's family. He said in his experience children get left behind when a mother is scared and possibly no other family members know about her pregnancy. Rogers noted that there is a 'safe-haven law' that not many mothers know about. A 50-year-old woman has allegedly returned a reading of more than six times the legal blood alcohol limit crashing into a six-year-old girl while reverse parking in Sydney's north-west. Police said that the girl was trying to cross between two cars parked on Progress Avenue, Eastwood, at about 12.40pm when the woman driving a Subaru allegedly reversed into her. The girl was reportedly trapped between the two vehicles for three minutes, and was taken by road ambulance to Westmead Children's Hospital where she was treated for possible pelvic injuries. Scroll down for video The woman returned reading of more than six times legal blood alcohol limit She remains in a serious but stable condition at Westmead Children's Hospital. Police allege that before the nasty collision took place, the Subaru also hit two parked cars while trying to reverse. 'The offending driver in this instance was heavily impaired with alcohol. The driver was six times over the legal limit,' a police spokesman said at the scene. 'It could have been a catastrophe incident involving the young lady and could have involved others. 'With that level of impairment how do you get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and attempt to drive, let alone walk? Seven vehicles in all were involved in the collision and it could have been a hell of a lot worse.' Police said that the girl was trying to cross between two parked cars A police spokesman at the scene said he didn't know how the driver could walk let alone drive The woman is being held at Ryde Police Station and is set to be charged later on Wednesday night The female driver of the Subaru attempted to drive off but was arrested nearby a short time later. She was then subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result, at which stage she was brought to Ryde Police Station and arrested. A subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.303 and the woman is set to be charged later on Wednesday night. Vice presidential debate moderator Elaine Quijano is being accused of bias for cutting off Republican Mike Pence during an attack on Hillary Clinton's email scandal, as Trump's campaign calls Democrat Tim Kaine 'sexist' for ignoring questions presented to him her. Quijano, who is a New York-based CBS News correspondent and a second-generation Filipino-American, is the first Asian-American journalist to moderate a national debate. The 42-year-old sat behind the desk Tuesday evening to moderate the debate between Kaine and Pence in Farmville, Virginia. Quijano criticized Pence for failing to answer questions, as he was unable to speak without interruptions from Kaine during much of the debate. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, also accused Kaine on Twitter of sexism for 'ignoring' Quijano's questions. CBS News' Elaine Quijano (above) moderated the vice presidential debate on Tuesday and is being accused of bias for cutting off Republican Mike Pence during a Hillary Clinton email attack The New York-based CBSN anchor and CBS News correspondent criticized Pence (left) for failing to answer questions as he was unable to speak with constant interruptions from Kaine (right) Quijano, who is originally from Chicago, seemingly overstepped her role of moderator when she pressed the Indiana governor about whether illegal immigrants would be 'forcibly removed' under Trump's plan as president. 'Governor, how would these millions of undocumented immigrants leave? Would they forcibly be removed?' she asked. In addition, Quijano appeared to support Kaine during his criticism of the billionaire real estate mogul when she answered back to him saying 'right' in agreement. Kaine said: 'This is important, Elaine. When a guy running for president will not support the troops, not support veterans, not support teachers' 'Right,' Quijano, who attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, responded back to Kaine before he could even finish his remark. In addition, Quijano appeared to support Kaine during his criticism of the billionaire real estate mogul when she answered back to him saying 'right' in agreement Political commentator David Axelrod took to Twitter (above) and said that Quijano was 'intent' on 'running through her questions, even when significant exchanges' were happening He also wrote (above): '@TimKaine is interrupting more than @Mike_Pence, which I don't think is serving him well. Scoring more on positives.' However, Kaine also overran Quijano in the debate and took control by speaking over her and Pence. She later stopped Pence before his discussion of the Clinton Foundation was over despite Kaine having plenty of time to defend the charity and attack the Trump Foundation. Political commentator David Axelrod took to Twitter and said that Quijano was 'intent' on 'running through her questions, even when significant exchanges' were happening. He also wrote: '@TimKaine is interrupting more than @Mike_Pence, which I don't think is serving him well. Scoring more on positives.' In addition, Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, accused Kaine on Twitter (above) of sexism for 'ignoring' Quijano's questions A New York Times reporter, Nick Confessore, then asked Conway in a tweet (above): 'Is it sexist when Kaine interrupts Pence constantly or just what debaters do to win debates?' Conway replied (above) to Confessore by declaring Kaine's debate strategy 'unsuccessful' Conway, who said she appreciated that Pence was 'very tough, but very polite' during the debate, accused Kaine on Twitter of sexism for 'ignoring' Quijano's questions. 'How many times has @TimKaine ignored and interrupted the female moderator tonight? #sexist,' Conway tweeted Tuesday night. A New York Times reporter, Nick Confessore, then asked Conway in a tweet: 'Is it sexist when Kaine interrupts Pence constantly or just what debaters do to win debates?' Conway called Kaine out on Twitter (above) for 'flipflopping' over whether former president Bill Clinton should have resigned over the Monica Lewinsky scandal In another tweet, Conway took aim at Kaine replying to questions with 'buzzwords.' Conway replied to Confessore by declaring Kaine's debate strategy 'unsuccessful'. 'Actually, it's just unsuccessful. Hillary must be none too pleased her husband and her running mate are stepping all over her message,' she replied back to Confessore. Conway called Kaine out for 'flipflopping' over whether former president Bill Clinton should have resigned over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. She linked back to an article that pointed out Kaine said in 2002 he thought the president should have resigned. In another tweet, Conway took aim at Kaine replying to questions with 'buzzwords.' On Wednesday, Barney Fuller, 58, is set for lethal injection for the May 2003 killing rampage outside Lovelady, about 100 miles north of Houston An East Texas man who pleaded guilty to killing a neighbor couple during a shooting rampage 13 years ago appeared headed for an execution Wednesday that he wanted. Barney Fuller Jr. asked that all his appeals be dropped to expedite carrying out his death sentence. Fuller, 58, would be the seventh convicted killer executed this year in Texas and the first in six months in the nation's most active capital punishment state. His execution would be only the 16th this year nationally, a downturn fueled by fewer death sentences overall, courts halting scheduled executions for additional reviews, and some death penalty states encountering difficulties obtaining drugs for lethal injections. Fuller surrendered peacefully at his home outside Lovelady, about 100 miles north of Houston, after a middle-of-the-night shooting frenzy in May 2003 that left his neighbors, Nathan Copeland, 43, and Copeland's wife, Annette, 39, dead inside their rural home. The couple's 14-year-old son survived two gunshot wounds, and their 10-year-old daughter escaped injury because Fuller couldn't turn the light on in her bedroom. Court records show Fuller, armed with a shotgun, semi-automatic carbine and a pistol, fired 59 shots before barging into the Copeland home and opening fire again. The attack culminated a 2-year-old dispute over Fuller's being charged with making a threatening phone call to Annette Copeland. Fuller pleaded guilty to capital murder. He declined to be in the courtroom at his July 2004 trial and asked that the trial's punishment phase go on without his presence. He didn't return to the courtroom until jurors returned with their death verdict. The room in the state facility in Huntsville that will be used in Fuller's execution on Wednesday. Lethal injection is the method of execution used by Texas authorities Last year Fuller asked that nothing be done to prolong his time on death row. 'I do not want to go on living in this hell-hole,' he wrote to attorney Jason Cassel. Fuller had no late change of heart, Cassel said Tuesday. A federal judge in June ruled Fuller was competent to drop his appeals. Fuller had testified at a hearing that he was 'ready to move on.' Fuller had irritated neighbors with his frequent gunfire and was summoned to court in 2003 to address a charge that he made a threatening phone call two years earlier after complaints he shot out an electrical transformer providing power to the Copelands' home. 'Happy New Year,' he told Annette Copeland in the January 1, 2001, call. 'I'm going to kill you.' William House, one of Fuller's trial lawyers, said Fuller thought when he got a court notice 'that they were stirring up some more stuff and he just kind of twisted off.' Nathan Copeland, 43, was killed in his bedroom, shot four times by Fuller. His wife, Annette, was gunned down in a bathroom while calling 911 Court records showed he seethed over the court appearance and began drinking. Two nights later, he grabbed his guns and extra ammunition clips and went to the Copelands' home about 200 yards away. House described Fuller, who declined from death row to speak with reporters, as 'just a strange bird' who was 'very adamant' about not attending his own murder trial. 'I think we did everything we were supposed to and did the best we could but didn't have a whole lot to work with,' House said. A sheriff's department dispatcher who took Annette Copeland's 911 call about 1:30am on May 14, 2003, heard a man say: 'Party's over, bitch,' followed by a popping sound. Annette Copeland was found with three bullet wounds to her head. Cindy Garner, the former Houston County district attorney who prosecuted Fuller, described him as mean and without remorse. A high-speed train propelling commuters from Sydney to Melbourne in under an hour would make everyone on board throw up, experts say. The Hyperloop railway system has faced serious criticism since its inception in 2013 from mathematics researcher Alon Levy who claims travelling at 1,200 kilometres per hour would leave passengers severely motion sick. 'It's not transportation; it's a barf ride,' he wrote in Pedestrian Observations. Scroll down for video Hyperloop is the name given to the innovative technology, with Hyperloop One leading the charge to bring the concept to Australia. Pictured is an artist's impression by VicHyper The researcher, from Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology, told the ABC that every time the train-like pods navigated a bend commuters would experience dizziness and nausea - similar to the feeling of being a high-speed roller-coaster. 'On Hyperloop, the proposed curve radii are several times too low, and the result is that passengers are going to feel the g-force that's more than that of a plane taking off,' he said. The high-speed railway technology, developed by billionaire Elon Musk, started attracting attention Down Under after Hyperloop One's Alan Jones said his team was 'very keen to explore the potential for doing proof of operations in Australia'. 'The reason for that is there's a clear long-term need for ultra-fast transport on the Australian east coast,' Dr James, who is vice-president for worldwide business development in passenger systems, told The Australian. The UK has shown interest in bringing Elon Musk's Hyperloop network to the UK. One of the firms racing to make the concept a reality says it could link the cities of the north Hyperloop One's Alan James said a journey in the high-speed train from Sydney to Melbourne could take only 55 minutes 'Melbourne to Sydney is the third busiest air corridor in the world and we can give you Melbourne downtown to Sydney downtown in 55 minutes.' A flight from Melbourne to Sydney usually takes an hour and a half. The high-speed railway technology uses magnetic train-like pods to shuttle passengers and freight around a network of tubes at close to the speed of sound. The technology is still largely at the concept stage, however early tests have been carried out and Dr James said Hyperloop One is aiming to test out a prototype in their Nevada base as soon as six months from now. Earlier this year, a group of Bachelor of Engineering students from Melbourne's RMIT University presented their take on the concept to an international Hyperloop design competition in Texas. WHAT IS HYPERLOOP? Hyperloop is a proposed method of travel that would transport people at 745mph (1,200km/h) between distant locations. It was unveiled by Elon Musk in 2013, who said it could take passengers the 380 miles (610km) from LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes - half the time it takes a plane. It is essentially a long tube that has had the air removed to create a vacuum. The tube is suspended off the ground to protect against weather and earthquakes. Passengers would sit in either individual or group pods, which would then be accelerated with magnets. The superfast Hyperloop transportation system, CGI pictured, was dreamed up by Elon Musk in 2013 and it might be coming to Europe Advertisement While the technology is still largely at the concept stage, early tests have been carried out on the propulsion technology, which could ultimately transport passengers at 1,220 km/h Working under the team name of VicHyper, the students' design involves a pod travelling on a cushion of air inside a vacuumed tube at speeds of 1,200km/h. Their high-speed pod could also see a journey from Brisbane to the Gold Coast reduced to just nine minutes, according to 7News. The UK government has also shown interest in the Hyperloop concept, which could link cities in the north of England and cut the journey time to London to a matter of minutes. Hyperloop waas unveiled by Elon Musk (pictured) in 2013, who said it could take passengers the 610km trip from LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes - half the time it takes a plane The brainchild of billionaire and head of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk, Hyperloop will use magnetic train-like pods to shuttle passengers and freight around a network of tubes at close to the speed of sound While the initial talks are hopeful, the technology is still a number of years away. In addition, such huge infrastructure projects would require input from national and local government as well as the treasury, before getting the green light. Earlier this year, researchers working on the project unveiled the system of magnets used to drive the pods. Tests in the Nevada desert showed how the system could accelerate pods along a track. A test sled reached speeds of 116 mph along a track, but engineers still have a long way to go before reaching the 760 mph speeds needed to achieve the promised travel times. Two brothers who were caught on CCTV 'brutally' attacking a black man and kicking him on the ground during a fight over a racist slur have been spared jail. James Bruce, 20, and his brother Matthew, 19, will not serve time in prison despite surveillance footage revealing their brutal attack on an innocent passer-by. The brothers were leaving a nightclub in Melbourne in June last year when the victim overheard James say 'my n****r' Two brothers who were caught on CCTV 'brutally' attacking a black man and kicking him on the ground during a fight over a racist slur have been spared jail. Pictured, James and Matthew Bruce during the attack, as the victim lies on the ground The black man confronted the two men over the use of the racist term before walking away. But James, who had been out drinking as he was celebrating landing a new job, followed the man into a car park. The shocking surveillance footage shows James punching and kicking his victim, while Matthew is seen kicking the man in the groin as he lays on the pavement. 'Footage of this event was sickening and disturbing,' magistrate Carolene Gwynn said. 'The attack was cowardly,' she said. Police do not believe the attack was racially-motivated and James told the court that he was singing a song when said the word 'n****r'. The shocking surveillance footage shows James punching and kicking his victim, while Matthew is seen kicking the man in the groin as he lays on the pavement James (left) and Matthew (right) avoided a jail sentence and were both ordered to carry our community service The victim, who was left with broken teeth as well as cuts and bruises, said he forgave the two men who assaulted him. 'I just believe they were being stupid and it ended in someone being hurt,' he told police. Both of the Bruces have apologised for their actions and admitted to affray. James also admitted intentionally causing injury. The pair made full admissions to police, showed remorse and voluntarily took part in a youth alcohol program. James was sentenced to 400 hours of community work, while Matthew will have to serve 200 hours of community work. James' lawyer, Domenic Care, requested that the court order the media to stop publishing images of him, but his request was denied. The lawyer claimed that four black men had attacked James while he was out jogging, leaving him with a black eye. He said he will reopen after October this year when the suspension ends The owner of a daycare business received $1.6million in government funding over 16 months to care for more than 70 children that were never seen or heard during multiple visits from officials. Ruben Majok Aleer Aguer's ACT business Long Life Family Daycare was suspended in September 2015 after staff from the ACT Education Department were unable to confirm any children were placed in the care of the 21 educators he claimed to have hired after 13 visits, according to The Australian. Mr Aguer, a former staff member of the ACT Education Department who arrived in Australia from Sudanese refugee camp, was receiving $100,000 a month in benefits for 74 children and his educators. Ruben Majok Aleer Aguer's ACT business Long Life Family Daycare received $1.6million in funding for 74 children that Education Department staff never heard or saw during 13 inspections (stock image) During a civil proceeding prior to his businesses suspension, Mr Aguer was unable to provide sufficient evidence he had hired the educators and three co-ordinators to care for the children. Mr Aguer appealed the suspension, which led to an ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal this year. Although the tribunal found that Mr Aguer was unable to produce reliable evidence that he was in face running a daycare, he was not accused of misappropriating the funds he had received for the business. The tribunal did hear about large sums of money being exchanged by check. 'Given the near-complete lack of evidence of employment or independent contractor records before the tribunal, I am not satisfied that any of the persons claimed to be employed or engaged by the applicant as educators were in fact so employed or engaged,' tribunal senior member Heidi Robinson noted in her judgement, according to The Canberra Times. Mr Aguer, a former staff member of the ACT Education Department who arrived in Australia from Sudanese refugee camp, was receiving $100,000 a month in benefits for the children and 21 educators he claimed to have hired (stock image) The relationship between Mr Aguer, who is also a youth minister, and the Education Department is said to have broken down when he gave several excuses to avoid staff members visiting his educators or main office. A lawyer for the department said he had initially been cut some slack because 'the regulator does have an interest in providing diversity within the family daycare marketplace, if we can put it that way, and having particular groups within the community provide family daycare is seen as a desirable outcome,' according to The Australian. The suspension on the business will expire later this month, and Mr Aguer said he is planning to reopen his business. 'I'm still demanding for my licence to be issued back again,' he said. 'They (the money) come through me and I pay them to the carers, who were looking after the kids. There was not any case against children abuse or anything raised against me.' Hillary Clinton's vice presidential nominee, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, is getting flack for constantly interrupting Indiana Governor Mike Pence during their debate on Tuesday. Kaine, who was picked as Clinton's vice presidential candidate because of his likability and 'nice guy' image, interjected a total of at least 70 times, according to the political news and statistical analysis website fivethirtyeight.com. Kaine started the hostilities in his opening statement, and signaled that he would attack GOP nominee Donald Trump. It became the theme of the night. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine (left) and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (right) held their only vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, on Tuesday The debate was moderated by Elaine Quijano of CBS News. Quijano admonished both candidates for interrupting each other, yet Kaine topped the night with 70 interruptions Kaine then drove home insult after insult by interrupting Pence and the moderator, Elaine Quijano of CBS News. In no time he was ticking off a list of rhetorical body-slams Trump has used in the 16 months of his presidential campaign. At one point he labeled Trump a 'fool or a maniac', generating a rebuke from Pence: 'That's pretty low, even for you.' The first snap poll - for CNN - suggested that Trump had benefited more from the debate than Clinton. A focus group of Ohio voters for CBS News was more damning of Kaine with one man calling him 'a jerk'. Frank Luntz, the veteran Republican pollster, held a focus group for CBS News which found that Pence was the clear winner Luntz's focus group was turned off by Kaine's behavior, with one member saying that Hillary Clinton's VP pick 'came off as a jerk' 'Pence is coming off as the guy you want to have a beer with. Kaine is coming off as the person on Facebook you unfriend,' wrote one Twitter user Pence's debate performance had people opining that he was an asset for the freewheeling Trump Donald Trump's son Eric classified Kaine's performance as 'annoying,' while Clinton's team of surrogates were deployed to the spin room to push any style criticism back. The Ohio focus group, which was run by longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz, declared Pence the winner. 'Mike Pence is winning because Tim Kaine cannot debate like an adult without interruptions,' Luntz tweeted. 'Kaine is interrupting too much,' Luntz tweeted. 'The focus group wants the moderator to lay down the law and shut him up until it's his turn.' Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said Kaine's interruptions and his propensity to 'ignore' the moderator, Quijano, was 'sexist.' 'There he was, interrupting a female moderator,' Conway told Fox News. 'We lost track of the times. We just stopped writing it down.' Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, accused Kaine of 'sexism' for 'ignoring and interrupting' Quijano Conway said that Trump was accused of sexism when he interrupted Clinton during their debate last month, but there was a double standard when it came to Kaine. 'It's the Clinton campaign who loves to throw around words like "sexism" and "unhinged",' she said. 'They've got to be regretting those words on a night like tonight, when Tim Kaine looked like both.' 'Is it sexist when Kaine interrupts Pence constantly or just what debaters do to win debates?' New York Times reporter Nick Confessore asked Conway in a tweet. Conway replied by referencing Kaine and Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, who criticized ObamaCare during a campaign stop on Monday. 'Actually, it's just unsuccessful. Hillary must be none too pleased her husband and her running mate are stepping all over her message,' Conway tweeted. Conway also blasted Kaine and Bill Clinton, who on Monday made headlines by criticizing ObamaCare, for undermining Hillary Clinton's candidacy During the debate, Quijano admonished both vice presidential nominees for repeatedly interrupting each other. 'Gentlemen, the people at home can not understand either one of you when you speak over each other,' said Quijano, a digital reporter with CBS News. Face the Nation moderator John Dickerson said that the debate was a 'bickerfest.' 'Tim Kaine, from the word go, was interrupting and kept interrupting all night,' Dickerson said. 'He seemed insistent on getting across the bad news about Donald Trump.' 'He repeatedly tried to get Mike Pence to defend Donald Trump, and often Gov. Pence resisted that temptation,' Dickerson said. A Saudi teenager who charmed YouTube viewers with his clumsy online flirting has been arrested for 'unethical behaviour.' The boy, who is known by his screen name 'Abu Sin', a nickname which means 'toothless' in Arabic, shot to fame with his goofy attempts to woo Californian vlogger Christina Crockett, 21. But police in Riyadh said the "enticing" videos had received "negative attention" when they went viral which violated the country's conservative norms. Riyadh Police spokesman Col. Fawaz Al-Mayman told the Saudi Gazette that Abu Sin, 19, was arrested on Sunday after Saudi viewers demanded he be punished. If convicted he could face three years in prison. Scroll down for video 'Abu Sin', a joke reference to his crooked teeth, was arrested after videos of his goofy attempts to woo Christina Crockett, 21, went viral Miss Crockett said he seemed 'really energetic and super excited' even though he barely spoke any English and she cannot speak Arabic The pair hit it off on conversational live-streaming site YouNow and drew in nearly 6.5 million views despite the fact that he speaks almost no English and she speaks no Arabic. The videos were later uploaded to YouTube where they gained even more fans. The light-hearted videos show them attempting to communicate despite their obvious language barrier. In one of their most-watched videos Abu Sin grins as he tells Miss Crockett: 'I am Saudi Arabia'. Wearing a low-cut top and smiling, she responds: 'That's cool, I'm America.' Throughout their conversations he periodically blurts out in Arabic, "what's she saying!?" But later he excitedly remembers some more English words, telling her: "I love you too. I love you too. I love you too." She replies: "Aw, I don't even know what you're saying, but I love you so much." Abu Sin and Christina, still a better love story than Twilight! Rukhshan Hameem (@rukhshan) September 30, 2016 I just want someone to love me like Abu Sin loves Christina. Xill-e-Ilahi (@XilleIlahi) September 29, 2016 Their exchanges took on extra significance in Saudi Arabia, where unrelated men and women seldom see one another. Almost all public spaces are gender segregated and most women cover their face, hair and bodies. Many of the pair's viewers were based in the Arab world and it was through them that Abu Sin was brought to the police's attention. They identified and tracked down the teen - whose real name has not been released - in the Saudi capital and arresting him while he was broadcasting another video. Footage posted on YouNow on Sept. 25 purports to show his arrest which occurred while he was chatting to a Kuwaiti user who, upon seeing the police car in the background of the shot, makes siren noises before watching as Abu Sin goes to talk to the cops. When he doesn't return, his video partner looks concerned and starts biting his nails. According to Ary News one of Abu Sin's friends then confirms that he has been arrested. His social media fans called on Miss Crockett to help him but she refused, saying it wasn't her fault. She posted a video saying the Abu Sin's (inset) arrest was 'crazy and unfair' but adding: 'It's not my fault that it went viral. It's not my fault that he got this fame from it or that I got it. Neither of us asked for it.' In a video entitled 'My Response' she said: 'Obviously, I think this whole situation is totally crazy and unfair, but I don't feel I should be getting any hate for this because I have no control over it. 'It's not my fault that it went viral. It's not my fault that he got this fame from it or that I got it. Neither of us asked for it.' Abu Sin's real name has not been made public but Miss Crockett said she invited him to "guest broadcast" with her on her YouNow channel because he seemed 'really energetic and super excited' even though she admitted he barely spoke English. 'Because we couldn't really communicate that we would just do funny things like dancing and stuff, he would put on some funny music and we would dance around and be funny,' she said. 'We couldn't really communicate' - Miss Crockett said the pair would put on funny music and dance around to entertain their viewers Media laws in Saudi Arabia prohibit public incitement and obscenity but the teenager's arrest has divided opinions in his home country, with one editorial in the Saudi daily Arab News claiming the incident 'made people laugh [at Saudi Arabia]' and arguing that the demands of public opinion should be upheld. But it continued by asking people to consider whether a funny video should really be the cause of such outrage, asking, 'When did being 'silly' ever become a crime?' and suggesting the teen be given a television show rather than a jail term. Ben Needham's grandad has returned to the Greek island of Kos as he fears he may have accidentally laid building foundations over the site where his grandson is believed to have been crushed to death and buried. Guilt-stricken Eddie Needham, 68, is assisting investigators as they probe whether the toddler was killed by a digger in an accident at the building site 25 years ago. Eddie's need to support his family meant he went back to work two weeks after Ben vanished. Police are investigating if digger driver Konstantinos 'Dino' Barkas may have accidentally killed Ben. He was working near the farmhouse where Ben went missing in 1991 and a friend of Mr Barkas recently came forward claiming the driver may be responsible. As he returns to Kos, Eddie hopes to find out if the foundations he laid under the farmhouse extension after Ben's disappearance are the same ones that are there now. 'If he was buried there he has been buried there on purpose,' Eddie told the Mirror. 'I can't believe anybody would bury a baby. Nobody would be that evil. But I believe that we have been spun a spider web of lies all these years,' he said. Eddie Needham (centre), grandfather of missing Ben, is pictured with South Yorkshire Police officers on Wednesday in Kos Eddie Needham (left) with DI Jon Cousins of South Yorkshire Police (second left) and other officers in Kos on Wednesday Stefanos Troumouhis (in pink) is the owner of the olive grove where the investigation is taking place in Kos The farmhouse in Kos is close to the house where Ben's family were staying. South Yorkshire Police, who are carrying out a new 1million inquiry to solve the mystery, have told mother Kerry Needham to 'prepare for the worst'. Mr Barkas was questioned at the time Ben went missing but he died from cancer last year. The new witness has been questioned by South Yorkshire Police. The digger's son Valandis has insisted his father had done all he could to help police with their inquiries when the 21-month-old went missing and 'wouldn't harm an ant, let alone a little child'. The youngster vanished on July 24, 1991, when Miss Needham, who was 19 at the time, left him with her parents Eddie and Christine Needham who had emigrated to Kos while she worked at a local hotel. Eddie Needham (second left) explains his work at the building site in 1991 to DI Jon Cousins of South Yorkshire Police (left) and other officers Eddie Needham (left) is shown around the soil examination process by an officer in Kos Forensics officers work at the rear of the farmhouse where Ben Needham disappeared from, on the ground where an extension was recently demolished The farmhouse extension has been demolished in the search at the site believed to be where missing toddler Ben Needham could have been crushed to death by a digger 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 Ben Needham disappeared from a farmhouse on a Greek Island of Kos in 1991 whilst on holiday with his parents. Grandfather Eddie Needham (left) is pictured here at the time with mother Kerry Needham and grandmother Christine Needham. Photographs have emerged showing the inside of the house where Ben was last seen, which have remained virtually untouched since Ben Needham's last tragic holiday in 1991 Police are also focusing on a fig tree after photographs revealed it was not present when the Sheffield toddler disappeared on the Greek Island 25 years ago Ben wandered off at around 2.30pm but police were not contacted for at least three hours because the grandparents thought he must have gone with Kerry's 17-year-old brother Stephen. Kerry Needham said last month she was angry that the new witness had kept quiet for so long, adding: 'He could have ended this 25 years ago. 'I could have done something with my life instead of having my life on hold and not being able to do anything or focus on anything and living this nightmare. 'I could have probably forgiven that person back then but now, no. It's 25 years of misery to find out this ending. It's going to be difficult.' Miss Needham and her family are now steeling themselves for the possibility that police will finally solve the mystery and find Ben's remains. On Tuesday, police started demolishing a wing of the farmhouse owned by a family who now live in Australia, which had not been built at the time the 21-month-old toddler vanished in 1991. Police will mpw excavate the area underneath the house in the village of Iraklis. Detective Inspector Jon Cousins, from South Yorkshire Police, said the family were 'clearly upset' but have agreed for the property to be torn apart in the hope it might provide answers for the Needhams. Eddie Needham is returning to this farmhouse to see if the foundations are the same ones he laid in 1991 Police searching for Ben Needham have stumbled upon a 1,500-year-old burial site in the grounds of the Greek farmhouse where he vanished, pictured is where the bodies were found Investigators are pictured digging behind the farmhouse where missing toddler Ben Needham was last seen alive (pictured) He believes the catch points to a An expert wrangler was delighted to snare the biggest red-bellied blake snake he has ever seen. Stewart Lalor pried the deadly serpent from a property in Mt Cotton, a rural region in south-east Queensland. The Brisbane-based snake catcher said the size of the reptile points to a positive change in the ecosystem. Stewart Lalor pries a monster two-metre red-bellied snake from a rural property The snake catcher said he was thrilled to find a red-bellied that large because it points to a positive change in the ecosystem Mr Lalor told Daily Mail Australia the snake was hiding between two boulders, so he only saw how large it was after bringing it out in the open. I was pretty impressed. It's the biggest red-belly Id ever seen, real fatty, Mr Lalor told Daily Mail Australia. He said it was extremely rare to see red-bellies of that size in the wake of booming cane toad populations. They dont usually live to be that size because of the cane toads. Its a good sign the invasive species' population could be coming under control. Though bites from red-bellies can be fatal, Mr Lalor said they are generally shy and will only bite when threatened. Red-bellies are among the most common snakes in Australia, with huge populations in countrys east. Another red-bellied snake caught by Mr Lalor's Brisbane based business A man has been charged over a brawl with bikie gang rivals outside a Melbourne brothel in August. Nabil Maghnie, 41, was charged in September with affray and firearm offences after police allege he started a brawl with rivals from the Mongol bikie gang outside the Gotham City brothel in South Melbourne, reported the Herald Sun. Police believe the property developer was involved in a shootout where three shots were fired into his car, and eight shots were fired from his car. Nabil Maghnie, 41, has been charged over a brawl with bikie gang rivals outside Gotham City brothel (pictured) in Melbourne in August They also claim to have found $23,000 in cash in a backpack that was taken from the car by Maghnie's son. Police are reportedly concerned Maghnie is involved in an escalating violent feud with underworld figures. Maghnie was admitted to the Northern Hospital in Epping on September 22 with life-threatening gunshot wounds to the face and chest. He was released on September 26 and arrested by Special Operation Group officers on September 28. The firearm offences were based on forensic evidence taken from his car and over another incident at Crown Casino in July this year. Police opposed Maghnies bail, saying they were concerned that a gun used in the September shooting had not been recovered. Maghnie was admitted to the Northern Hospital in Epping (pictured) on September 22 with life-threatening gunshot wounds to the face and chest. He was arrested by police two days later They said they were also concerned he may engage in 'revenge-type attacks'. Magistrate Elizabeth Lambden agreed and refused Maghnie bail, saying he had a 'significant history of violence' and there was 'an unacceptable risk to the community'. A barbershop has given one of their team a special award to prove he's a cut above the rest in a heartwarming video. Staff at the Blendmasters Barbershop in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, wanted to thank their colleague Dev, who has Down's syndrome, for all his hard work. In a touching clip posted to their Facebook page, the team rally around their colleague and make a fuss over him as they lead him over to his 'employee of the month' plaque. Dev can barely contain his glee, and is soon high-fiving his friends, hugging and shaking hands as they all congratulate him. Customers and friends have been touched by the video with many commenting on the kind gesture. Mica Time: 'Wow that was awesome do you even realize the enjoyment he probably is feeling deep inside. You guy's are amazing for your kindness and humbleness.' Dev was over the moon as his colleagues surprised him with an employee of the month award While Ricardo Gonzalez wrote: 'My upmost respect goes to you guys we need to see more people like you guys do things like this may God bless you all.' Matthew Bolz said: 'This put a smile on my face man y'all don't even realize what some little act of kindness like that does for em. Seems like a good group of guys. God Bless!!' A dog is grinning from ear-to-ear after making friends with a grasshopper in a hilarious video. Euro the Jack Russell bares his teeth with a massive smile as the insect rests on his head at home in Thailand, with a clip of the unlikely friendship whipping dog-lovers into a frenzy. Over 31,000 have watched the video on Euro's Instagram page, with many cooing over how 'cute' the content pooch looks. Chenaeguez wrote: 'That was so sweet I love it', while Bernie.nie posted: 'What a cute and funny dog!' However, not all were impressed with the video with one poster even calling it out for alleged animal cruelty. Pictured, Euro the Jack Russell smiles as he strikes up an unlikely friendship with an insect Rachweishaupt said: 'This dog seems to pretty clearly be in distress. That's not a natural expression, nor is his breathing naturally. Jihadi fighters are hunting down kittens in the Iraqi city of Mosul after a fatwa on cat-breeders was issued by senior ISIS clerics. The new law forbids the indoor breeding of cats inside the Islamic State's 'caliphate' and claims to be in line with the jihadists' "vision, ideology and beliefs". Residents of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul were warned not to violate the ban which was declared on Tuesday, as ISIS fighters began searching their houses for kittens, Iraqi News reported. ISIS claim the decree is in line with their "vision, ideology and beliefs" but jihadists regularly post pictures of themselves with kittens The Islamic State of Cat twitter account showed fighters feeding and playing with kittens in a bid to attract more recruits The purge will come as a surprise to many after the terrorist group deliberately posted pictures of kittens on social media in a bid to attract new breed of young fighters. A UN report in 2014 showed thousands of jihadists had flocked to Iraq and Syria after seeing pictures of cats posed alongside AK-47s and in the arms of masked terrorists. 15,000 fighters from 80 countries joined the fight after seeing their posts on social media. The move was a deliberate attempt to groom youngsters into joining the terrorist group, said the report. ISIS understand and recognise 'the terror and recruitment value of multi-channel, multi-language social and other media messaging,' it said, adding that by embracing the cat craze, they were attempting to show a more 'cosmopolitan' side. Embracing the internet cat craze was an attempt to make the terrorist group appear 'cosmopolitan' but now they've banned cat-breeding In 2014 the UN reported that 15,000 fighters from 80 countries flocked to Iraq and Syria to join ISIS after seeing their posts on social media Recognising 'the terror and recruitment value of multi-channel, multi-language social and other media messaging,' helped the terrorists attract a new breed of young fighters One twitter account, The Islamic State of Cat, showed ISIS fighters feeding and playing with kittens, as well as sick photographs of the cats surrounded by guns and grenades. Last year prolific British ISIS recruiter Omar Hussein posted pictures of his pet alongside propaganda images and advice about how to join the Islamic State group. In one his grey cat, named Lucy, was shown curled up inside a suicide belt. Below the shot Hussein - who once worked as a security guard at Morrisons' supermarket in Buckinghamshire - wrote 'Come closer and I'll blow the entire house down!' Omar Hussein posted pictures of his pet alongside propaganda images and advice about how to join the Islamic State group Underneath one picture of 'Lucy' the cat sitting inside a suicide belt Hussein wrote 'Come closer and I'll blow the entire house down!' But many of the terrorists seem to be genuine feline fans. In 2015 Dutch jihadist Israfil Yilmaz, 28, became an overnight heart-throb after he posted pictures of himself holding a ginger kitten. The terrorist, who was reportedly killed in an airstrike in Raqqa last month, received 10,000 marriage proposals after posting the images with the caption "Soft towards the creation of Allah but fierce and harsh towards the disbelievers." Israfil Yilmaz received marriage proposals after posting a picture of himself holding an adorable ginger kitten A fatwa is a legal decree issued by a specialist in Islamic law. ISIS relies on a central committee to issue fatwas which is comprised of influential clerics and figures working for the group. The death of a vicar's daughter's newborn baby will be re-examined by prosecutors after an inquest heard the boy could have survived if the family had dialled 999. Jonathan Percival was born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck in 2014, but doctors today said he would have lived if medics had been able to use CPR. Ruth Percival, gave birth while on the toilet at the vicarage in Freckleton, Lancashire, and her father, James - the then vicar of Holy Trinity CE Church - came to her aid. But after thinking the baby was 'obviously deceased', they left Jonathan wrapped in a towel on a sofa and he was not seen by a medic for more than 90 minutes. The death of a baby at a vicarage - which saw Reverend Jim Percival (pictured right today) and his daughter Ruth (left) questioned on suspicion of murder - will be referred to prosecutors The vicar and his daughter, 30, who had wanted an abortion, were both arrested on suspicion of murder in 2014 after police found the 'stillborn'. They have since been cleared of the charges. But the matter may now go before the courts after Coroner Alan Wilson adjourned the inquest at Blackpool Coroner's Court following evidence from a doctor. Mr Wilson said he would refer the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if an offence of 'causing or allowing a child to die' was committed. The inquest heard Rev Percival told police the child appeared 'sallow and lifeless' and he thought was 'obviously deceased' after the birth on 25 November 2014. But Blackpool Coroner's Court was told the baby could have survived up to 15 minutes after delivery. The vicar (shown) was told he would be facing no charges in April - but the matter may now go before the courts after new evidence suggested the case may be 'criminal' Reverend Percival, 65, and his daughter Ruth, 29, were both arrested in 2014 after detectives were alerted to a stillbirth at the vicarage of Holy Trinity Church, in Freckleton, Lancashire Jonathan was born between 3.30pm and 4pm, but he was not seen by a medical professional until about 5.35pm - when the vicar let paramedics into the home. During that period the baby was left alone in the house wrapped in a towel on a sofa as the pair visited their local GP, the inquest was told. Consultant neonatologist Dr Ruth Gottstein told the inquest: 'If resuscitation had been initiated, I think the baby would have survived. 'Mouth-to-mouth would have done a good job.' It was reported that Mr Percival told paramedics his daughter had earlier taken the baby towards an outside dustbin. Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour said evidence showed the baby had been taken outside at some point but was 'never' placed in the bin. She said there was no evidence the child had drowned and nothing to suggest the cord was placed around the neck deliberately in an effort to strangle the boy. The pathologist also ruled out the possibility of a plastic bag being placed over the child's head. Dr Armour explained that a scratch found on the back of the child's head suggested he could have survived for between five to 15 minutes after birth but the injury did not contribute to the death. The two doctors, together with consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Jo McPartland, agreed that Jonathan was alive when he was born. After the vicar was cleared, his friends said the clergyman (shown) felt 'vilified' over the 18-month investigation The inquest into the 'unexplained' death heard it is 'impossible' to ascertain just how the little boy died. Miss Percival and her father were due to give evidence, but Mr Wilson told them it would not be 'appropriate' to do so after he listened to Dr Gottstein's evidence. 'In court today she stated clearly that if resuscitation attempts had been made she could see no reason why this child would not have survived,' Mr Wilson said. 'In my opinion this evidence strengthens the previous existing suspicion as to whether a criminal offence had been committed. 'I take the view that having listened to Dr Gottstein it is incumbent upon me to adjourn this inquest and refer the matter to the director of public prosecutions (DPP), with a view for the DPP to consider if a criminal prosecution ought to follow and that includes considering the offence of causing or allowing the death of a child.' The inquest was told Miss Percival was living with her father and mother, Susan, 66, at the time of the birth, which was a full-term pregnancy. She was said to have known she was pregnant and had wanted an abortion but was told by the Marie Stopes clinic in Manchester that she was 'too far on'. In medical notes it was recorded she had then 'buried her head in the sand and forgot about it'. She was sent home from work on 25 November 2014 after 'feeling unwell' with stomach ache and back pain. Mr Percival told police his daughter had gone into the downstairs bathroom at about 3.30pm and remained there for around 30 minutes. At the time, detectives said the death of the child was being treated as 'suspicious' and the pair were questioned on suspicion of murder and child neglect He then heard 'moaning and groaning', he said, and opened the door to 'blood everywhere', with his daughter holding a baby. He stated that he saw the cord around the neck, the baby was 'obviously deceased' and he described him as 'sallow and lifeless'. When Miss Percival was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, she was said to have told medics: 'My dad said the baby died because the cord was around the neck. 'I want nothing to do with the baby. I want the nurse to dispose of it.' She went on to tell the police that the birth was a 'sudden event' as she sat on the toilet and the baby fell into the water. Miss Percival told detectives she thought the baby was asleep or deceased. No attempt was made to ring 999, the inquest was told. The 'stillborn' child was found by paramedics at the vicarage of the Holy Trinity Church. At the time, detectives said the death of the child was being treated as 'suspicious' and Mr Percival and his daughter were questioned on suspicion of murder and child neglect. Rev Percival was vicar of the village's Holy Trinity Church in Freckleton (shown) for ten years having previously worked at churches in Preston and Blackburn Shortly afterwards, Lancashire Police dropped historic allegations of rape against the clergyman. Detectives also carried out paternity tests on the body of the dead baby. Mr Percival's wife, Susan, 66, was held in late 2014 on suspicion of conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child, but she was later told she faced no further action. In April this year, Mr Percival and his daughter were told they will face no charges and no further police action was taken. After the vicar was cleared, his friends said the clergyman felt 'vilified' over the 18-month investigation. At an earlier pre-inquest hearing, the medical cause of the death of the baby remained unknown as the full post-mortem report was awaited. Rev Percival was vicar of the village's Holy Trinity Church for ten years having previously worked at churches in Preston and Blackburn. Advertisement A six-year-old boy who died after a teenage gunman opened fire at a South Carolina elementary school is being remembered on Wednesday as a superhero. At the Hall family's request, mourners wore superhero costumes to celebrate Jacob, who is being laid to rest dressed as Batman. 'We want to honor Jacob, celebrate Jacob, in a way he would love,' his great-aunt, Rebecca Hunnicutt, told the Anderson Independent-Mail. 'He always wanted to be a superhero.' His funeral comes a week after authorities say 14-year-old Jessie Osborne killed his own father before driving a pickup to Townville Elementary School and crashing into a playground fence. Jacob, a classmate and a first-grade teacher were struck by bullets as they left for recess. That student and teacher were treated and released from a hospital later that day. A bullet struck Jacob in a main artery in his thigh, and he was airlifted to a Greenville hospital, where he died on Saturday. Scroll down for video Dale Hall, dressed in a Superman outfit, stands before the casket during the funeral for his brother Jacob Hall on Wednesday An emotional Renae Hall, dressed as Robin, reacts as her son is placed into a hearse after the funeral service on Wednesday. The six-year-old is being laid to rest dressed as Batman A 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children, including Jacob (his mother, above) and a teacher as recess began Friends support Jacob's mother Renae Hall (above) after an emotional funeral for the six-year-old, who died of his injuries on Saturday after being struck by a bullet in a main artery in his thigh A six-year-old boy who died after a teenage gunman opened fire at a South Carolina elementary school will be remembered on Wednesday as a superhero. Above, Jacob's blue casket arrives for his funeral service Video courtesy of WSPA 7News A fellow six-year-old, Lily Gunby, said Jacob 'was really sweet,' and 'knew a lot about Jesus.' She's sitting in the pews of Townville's Oakdale Baptist Church, wearing a pink and black Superman shirt in her friend's honor. Lily's uncle Derek Gunby says Jacob was 'the cutest thing ever' at the church's Bible school. The mourners also include some people who drove for hours to attend the funeral. John Buckland, the founder of Heroes 4 Higher, drove his Batmobile - which he calls the Hope-Mobile - from West Virginia. Wearing full Batman garb, he gave the kids posters saying 'Tough things make me stronger' and delivered a eulogy for Jacob. 'Out of this community, the world is seeing how to do it right and the only reason you're able to do it right is because you've learned from the best and that's a six-year-old boy,' he said. 'We're not here to mourn, we're here to celebrate. My message to all of us here today is take what we've learned from Jacob , let it make you a better husband, a better father, a better brother, a better sister, a better everything. 'May a six-year-old boy become such a part of our lives that this community shows the rest of the world what hope is all about.' John Buckland, dressed as Batman, speaks during a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday The Rev. David Blizzard delivered the eulogy for Jacob, saying he loved everybody, and would 'pretend he was a superhero' Townville Fire Chief Billy McAdams wipes away tears before the funeral for six-year-old Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church Mourners surround the casket of six-year-old Jacob Hall as it leaves Oakdale Baptist church in Townville, South Carolina Jacob, a classmate and a first-grade teacher were struck by bullets as they left for recess last Wednesday. Above, people dressed as superheroes for Jacob's funeral Jacob Hall's family have encouraged people to dress as superheroes to celebrate what he enjoyed. Above, a man dressed as Batman arrived at the funeral A Batmobile arrives before a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall, a six-year-old boy who was killed in a school shooting last week A sticker remember the Townville Elementary School shooting is affixed to the Heroes 4 Higher Batmobile WATCH: 'Batman' delivers eulogy at superhero-themed funeral for 6-year-old Jacob Hall, who was killed in S.C. school shooting. pic.twitter.com/TxuJ6wCGo7 NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) October 5, 2016 The Rev. David Blizzard delivered the eulogy for Jacob, saying he loved everybody, and would 'pretend he was a superhero.' Blizzard: 'He imagined himself being the good guy and sure enough, it's almost surreal to think what's happened. This little boy has spoken to us and said, 'I want you to love each other like Jesus loves us.'' He also referred to the nine people killed last year inside the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, North Carolina. He said their families forgave that shooter. He said 'we have the same Jesus that Mother Emanuel had, and we can do the same thing if we choose to.' 'Why forgive? Because, he said, 'a superhero story is about good versus evil. The good always wins. We live in a dark world, but the good's going to win.' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stickers decorated his blue casket with 'God's Super Hero' written inside. Superheroes in his floral spray included the Ninja turtles and Captain America. Townville Elementary school teachers are also in the church, wearing handmade blue capes with a Ninja Turtle face and Jacob's name on the back. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who wore a Batman pin, is pictured leaving the funeral for six-year-old Jacob Hall A young boy dressed as Spider-Man watches as Jacob's casket leaves the church after the funeral service in Townville Landen Gilbert, dressed as Batman, stands in line to enter Oakdale Baptist church for the funeral of his cousin Jacob A young girl is hugged by a man dressed as Captain America at the superhero-themed funeral for six-year-old Jacob Hall A woman dressed as Thor speaks with a young girl ahead of the funeral service in Townville, South Carolina, on Wednesday Men dressed as superheroes speak to a police officer outside the funeral for Jacob Hall on Wednesday Jacob's funeral comes a week after authorities say 14-year-old killed his own father before driving a pickup to Townville Elementary School and crashing into a playground fence. Above, people arrive for the service Jacob Hall's family encouraged people to dress as superheroes to celebrate what he enjoyed. Above, people arrive in superhero-themed outfits for the funeral Kortnie Lanclos, of Liberty, South Crolina, wears a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shell before the superhero-themed funeral People packed the church on Tuesday evening for Jacob's visitation, many of them wearing superhero costumes and T-shirts. At the front, large posters showed Jacob as Superman and being held by Jesus. Supporters released hundreds of balloons on Sunday in his honor following a prayer service at Oakdale Baptist Church, where the funeral will be held in this small rural town near the Georgia border. Family members said Jacob told them he was out saving Townville as others slept. 'He loved anything to do with goodness,' Jacob's mother, Renae Hall, told WYFF. Tim Marcengill, Associate Pastor Evangelism and Education, speaks at funeral for Jacob Hall on Wednesday John Buckman, dressed as Batman, hugs the aunt of Jacob Hall, Rebecca Hunnicut, after speaking during the funeral service 'He loved anything to do with being able to help somebody. That's why I say Jacob was going to make a difference and he still is going to make a difference.' Students won't return to Townville Elementary until Thursday but the district's other five schools will honor Jacob by participating in Superhero Day. All employees and students were invited to come to school in costume, and any who want to attend the 11am funeral are excused, said District Superintendent Joanne Avery. Townville teachers will take a bus to the funeral and wear superhero capes, she said. Jacob's mother Renae Hall, left, mother of Jacob Hall, hugs friendsKatie Olvera (left) dressed as Wonder Woman, Aaron Sloan (center), dressed as a Power Ranger, and John Suber (right) dressed as Superman at a wake service for Jacob on Tuesday Jacob's mother Renae Hall, left, talks to Starr Henderson, 12, during a wake service at Oakdale Baptist Church on Tuesday Jacob's (left) mother Renae Hall (right) hugs friends and family during a wake service for her son on Tuesday Jacob's aunt Rebecca Hunnicutt (left) listens to U.S. Senator Jeff Duncan during a wake service in Townville on Tuesday Zowie Sanders, gives a fist bump to John Suber, left, of Greenville, dressed as Superman, with her sister Lindsey Sanders, center, and their mother Brooke Starks, right, of Townville, during a wake service for Jacob Hall A moment of silence was observed at 1.42pm district-wide, marking one week since the shooting. According to a Facebook page created for Superhero Day, schools across the state planned to participate. But schools in central and coastal South Carolina were closed for the rest of the week because of the approach of Hurricane Matthew. Osborne faces two murder charges in the deaths of his father Jeffrey and Jacob. He also is charged with three counts of attempted murder, as well as five counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Starr Henderson, 12, of Belton, cries after seeing her nephew Jacob Hall during a wake service at Oakdale Baptist Church on Tuesday Home Secretary Amber Rudd, seen at the Conservative conference today, has defended her plans Amber Rudd hit back at fierce criticism of her new immigration policies today, insisting it was not racist to talk about and control immigration. The Home Secretary unveiled a raft of new policies to control the number of people coming to Britain in her speech to the Tory conference yesterday. Among a series of controversial proposals was a plan to make firms reveal how many staff are foreign - intended to encourage businesses invest in home-grown talent. The policy - which is subject to consultation - came under heavy fire from business groups and opposition politicians today. But Ms Rudd was unrepentant in a BBC radio interview today. She said: 'The fact is we should be able to have a conversation about immigration, we should be able to have a conversation about what skills we want to have in the UK and where we need to go out of the UK in order to recruit them, in order to help businesses, in order to boost the economy. 'I don't think we should have a situation where we can't talk about immigration.' She added: 'I put this in the context of it being very clearly about boosting the economy, looking after people who are here - and yes, I am aware of the language, and when I looked at my speech and thought about how to present it, I was very thoughtful about not falling into that trap. 'But we mustn't shy away from having this sort of conversation because we know if we do it just pops up later in a more difficult way.' Adam Marshall, acting director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce said: 'It would be a sad day if having a global workforce was seen as a badge of shame' The Home Secretary cited a factory she visited recently which employed almost exclusively staff brought in from Romania or Poland. But pressed on the criticism from business about the plan to force companies to reveal foreign staff, the Home Secretary admitted: 'This is one of the things we're going to look at in the review I mean, the business I mentioned to you would have shown that it had 80 to 90 per cent non-UK citizens working there. 'It's not something we're definitely going to do, it's one of the tools we're going to use as a review to see if we can use it as a way of nudging people to do better behaviour. Adam Marshall, acting director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce said: 'It would be a sad day if having a global workforce was seen as a badge of shame. 'It does not tell you anything about what the company is doing to train up their UK workforce or the effort and lengths they have made to recruit in the UK before turning overseas.' He added: 'Now is not the time to tell businesses they have to jump through hoops to get the talent they need from around the world.' James Sproule, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, told Radio Four's Today programme his organisation was 'not enthusiastic' about the plan, insisting firms should be free to employ who they like. Lord Bilimoria, the chancellor of Birmingham University told BBC Radio 4 that Rudd's plans were 'absolutely shocking'. Ms Rudd unveiled the controversial policies in her key note speech to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham yesterday, pictured Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said: 'The tone of the Conservative conference has become increasingly xenophobic. Theresa May has presided over the return of the Nasty Party. Whether it's doctors, migrants or Europe, the Tories are blaming anyone but themselves for their failure. 'The idea of British companies producing lists of foreign workers runs counter to everything that this country has ever stood for. It would be divisive, discriminatory and risks creating real hostility in workplaces and communities. 'If the Government proceeds with legislation in this area, it will face the mother of all battles. 'This week, it has become increasingly clear what the Prime Minister means by 'hard Brexit' and many people will find it disturbing. While we must respond to concerns expressed in the Referendum, people did not vote for this and fighting 'hard Brexit' must be the new frontier in progressive British politics.' Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: 'The Government's plan on foreign workers is a nasty little policy that deserves to be thrown out on the rubbish heap. 'This threatens to further stoke the resentment that has seen increases in hate crime across our country. 'Only the Liberal Democrats are fighting to keep Britain open, tolerant and united. A hiker walking through a park in Long Island thought he discovered a shrine made by a serial killer after noticing dozens of notices of missing people around a makeshift shelter. James Rankin posted footage of his bizarre discovery on his Facebook page - only to discover the scene was preparation for a bizarre Halloween party. Rankin saw the missing posters attached to trees while walking through Berkeley Jackson County Park in Huntington, New York. Hiker James Rankin found these bizarre missing person posters while walking in the woods Rankin pointed out some of the bizarre scenes with his knife during the creepy video More than 550,000 people have viewed the video since it went on line on Monday afternoon He wrote on his Facebook page: 'Just found the absolute most creepiest s***ever in the damn woods. 'If I don't post back with a video, send an armed search party.' In the expletive-ridden video, Rankin approaches a clearing in the woods surrounded by trees. Several of the trunks have sheets of white A4 paper attached to them, each with details of a real missing person's case. The clip also shows a pile of twigs built into a shape which looks like it could be some sort of ritualistic altar. Initially, Rankin thought he may have stumbled across the dump site of a particularly active serial killer in the Long Island region. Rankin asks on the video: 'Who the f*** does something like this?' The missing posters were attached to trees across a wide area of the local park Rankin reported the matter to Suffolk County Police who said it was a Halloween prank In total, there were more than a dozen posters featuring both missing women and a handful of men. After 12 minutes inspecting the site he said: 'We've got to get out of here. We've got to get as far away as possible.' After returning to civilization, Rankin contacted Suffolk County Police to report his suspicions. Some commentators on Reddit claimed it could have been the scene of an independent movie - similar to the Blair Witch Project - which failed to clean up the area. Others suggested it was the dump site for a serial killer. The bizarre scene was discovered in Berkeley Jackson County Park on Long Island Rankin said he had visited the park many times previously but never saw the missing posters However, after contacting the police, Rankin discovered the real reason for the bizarre scene. Two days after posting the original video, Rankin updated his followers. He said: 'The police have told me that the homeowner of the adjacent property is claiming this was set up for a "Halloween party," and that it would be taken down after Halloween. They are not investigating further. 'What I wanna know is, if these were "Halloween party" decorations, why have they been hanging there for weeks or months? Despite its lowest turnout in 15 years, the number of sex crimes reported at this year's Oktoberfest has surged. The world's most famous beer festival saw numbers slump to their worst since the September 11 attacks in 2001 amid heightened security due to recent acts of terror. About 5.5million people were in Munich for the 2016 Oktoberfest - which ended on Monday - down 300,000 from the previous year, but the number of sexual crimes reported to police shot up by almost 50 percent. Scroll down for video The world's most famous beer festival saw numbers slump to their worst since the September 11 attacks in 2001 amid heightened security due to recent acts of terror About 5.5million people were in Munich for the 2016 Oktoberfest - which ended on Monday - down 300,000 from the previous year, but the number of sexual crimes reported to police shot up by almost 50 percent The overall amount of crime was down 15 percent on last year, but there were 31 reports of sexual crimes compared to 21 in 2015. Organisers of the festival - also known as Wiesn - said this was down to the authorities having a greater awareness, according to The Local. Support group Safer Wiesn for Girls and Women said it counted 215 women visiting the security checkpoint for help and that 18 of them had experienced violence. Last year, 197 visited security. Crimes such as pickpocketing and the number of people being clubbed with the over-sized beer jugs were down. Last year's numbers were also down on 2014. Two years ago, 5.9million attended the festival, meaning a 400,000 drop in attendees in just 24 months. Two years ago, 5.9million attended the festival, meaning a 400,000 drop in attendees in just 24 months For the first time in the festival's 200-year history there were entrance checks to get into the ground as part of the heightened security measures. It is thought to be in reaction to the terror attacks in Germany this year. A shooting spree at a shopping centre in the Bavarian capital left nine people dead in July. And in the same week a teenager in Wurzburg injured train passengers on an axe rampage and another man blew himself up outside a music festival in Ansbach. In cities across Germany, women were molested by marauding gangs of men as they celebrated New Years Eve. Oktoberfest is no stranger to terrorism. North Korea has labelled the South Korean president a 'barefaced and impudent bitch' after she called for North Koreans to abandon their country and move south. Her invitation sparked an angry response from Kim Jong-un's state newspaper, which branded her comments 'insane baloney'. Speaking on South Korean Armed Forces Day on October 1, President Park Guen-hye urged citizens in North Korea to move to the 'bosom of freedom' in the South. South Korean president Park Guen-hye (pictured) invited citizens in Kim Jong-Un's North Korean state to cross the border to the 'bosom of freedom' In her speech, President Park spoke of the 'gruesome realities' faced by people living in North Korea, and told citizens they were welcome to relocate 'whenever you want.' Her message came just a day after a soldier crossed the heavily fortified border into the south, while in August the second most senior official at Pyongyangs embassy in London defected to South Korea. In response, North Korea's official state newspaper Rodong Sinmun [Workers' Newspaper] hit back, labelling her comments 'insane baloney' and branding her a 'barefaced and impudent bitch'. The article, published on Monday, read: 'Park Geun-hye has the gall to ignore the reality within her grasp and to doggishly and overtly utter ravings as saying the land of freedom and encouraging defection. There is no such a barefaced and impudent bitch elsewhere.' In her speech, President Park also attacked the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and warned of growing tensions between the two countries, and said acts of terrorism from North Korea were 'likely',Yonhap News Agency reports. 'Chances are high that to fend off internal instability and social confusion, North Korea will stage various acts of terrorism and provocations, such as saber-rattling along the Northern Limit Line (NLL) and the Demilitarized Zone,' she said, referring to the border between the two countries. President Park criticised North Korean president Kim Jong-Un's 'reign of terror' Hitting back, the article in Rodong Sinmun continued: 'It's ridiculous and foolish that Park Geun-hye flutters her feet to smear our dignified leader's reputation with infamy by persisting hallucinations in her head as an established fact and mentioning a reign of terror as well as starvation and repression.' Official government data from Seoul shows that defections from the north to the south are on the increase. A total of 894 people crossed the border between January and August this year - a 15 per cent increase on the same period a year ago. An alleged victim of a serial killer accused of murdering young men he met on gay networking site sent his details to a friend, joking: 'In case I get killed'. Stephen Port is accused of killing four men he met online and committing a catalogue of sexual offences against eight others. His trial heard today that Port, 41, arranged to pay 23-year-old Anthony Walgate 800 to spend the night with him after meeting on a website called 'Sleepyboys'. Mr Walgate was later found collapsed outside his block of flats. The prosecution allege Port poisoned him so he could have sex with his unconscious body. Jurors were told that two days earlier, Mr Walgate had sent details of his job to a friend and joked: 'In case I get killed.' Stephen Port, pictured (left) in court and (right) before his arrest, has gone on trial accused of four counts of murder and four of administering poison Port is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of 29 charges including four murders, seven rapes, four indecent assaults and administering a substance with intent. As well as Mr Walgate, the victims of Port's alleged murder spree are said to be Gabriel Kovari, 22, from Lewisham, south London; Daniel Whitworth, 21, from Gravesend, Kent, and 25-year-old forklift truck driver Jack Taylor, from Dagenham, east London. Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said the defendant carried out sex offences against 12 young men over three-and-a-half years, including the four who died. Mr Rees said: 'The prosecution say it is a case about a man - the defendant - who in the pursuit of nothing more than his own sexual gratification, variously drugged, sexually assaulted and in four cases killed young gay men he had invited back to his flat.' At the time, Port was living in a one-bedroom flat in Cooke Street and described himself as '70% more gay than straight'. The defendant was attracted to smaller boyish men referred to as 'twinks', jurors were told. Mr Rees said: 'We say all of the offending behaviour was driven by one main factor, namely the defendant's appetite for having sexual intercourse with younger, gay males while they were unconscious through drugs.' Among Port's four alleged victim were Anthony Walgate (left) and Daniel Whitworth (right) Jack Taylor (left) was found dead in September 2015. Gabriel Kovari (right) in 2014 POLICE WERE TOLD ABOUT 'SECOND VICTIM' BUT NO COMPLAINT WAS MADE Port's first alleged victim was just 19 when he went to his flat on 25 February 2012. It is alleged Port spiked his glass of red wine with drugs then took advantage and raped him when he was 'asleep' on the bed. The alleged victim, who cannot be named, only complained to police after Port was arrested for the murders of four men. The second complainant was 23 years old when he is said to have met Port in May 2014 on gay website 'Fitlads'. The Muslim, who does not drink or take drugs, claims he was drugged by the chef on the fifth visit to Port's flat in early June 2014. Jurors heard he was 'knocked out' after Port handed him a cup of clear liquid. He awoke fully naked lying on the floor and Port helped him get to Barking station, where he collapsed. Both were quizzed by police, but Port was allowed to leave as, despite admitting having taken drugs, no allegations were made. Advertisement He allegedly drugged 11 of his victims by spiking their drinks or injecting it into their bodies. His appetites were reflected in the type of 'drug-rape' pornography he watched, jurors were told. Port also filmed himself having sex with men while they were unconscious, Mr Rees said. He used a range of drugs, ordering poppers, Viagra, Meow Meow, a substance known as Tiny and GHB from dealers, the court heard. Post-mortem examinations on the victims showed each had died from an overdose of GHB, an anaesthetic drug which acts as a sedative. Mr Rees said the circumstances surrounding their deaths were 'strikingly similar'. Each was in his early 20s and died a short time after going to Port's flat. In three cases, the men had bottles of GHB 'planted' on them, while they were all found in or near a churchyard some 400 metres from Port's home. Mr Rees said there was evidence they were each dragged there and three were 'propped up in a sitting position'. In each case, Port allegedly lied to police about his involvement with the victims. Two of Port's alleged victims were found near St Margaret's Church, Barking He was convicted of perverting the course of justice after making a false statement in the investigation into the death of his first victim, Mr Walgate, the court heard. He denied ever meeting Mr Kovari and Mr Taylor and falsely claimed he did not write a suicide note that was found on the fourth victim, Mr Whitworth. This is the moment a farmer had to be winched to safety from the back of his submerged truck after getting stuck in floodwater in Victoria. The man, who has not been identified, was hauled to safety by State Emergency Service workers near the town of Tarrawingee on Wednesday afternoon. Emergency workers say the 50-year-old became trapped while attempting to drive through floodwater without realising how deep it was. A 50-year-old farmer had to be rescued from the back of his truck in Victoria on Wednesday afternoon after driving into rising floodwaters Tarrawingee, which is located close to the Ovens River, has been inundated with floodwater in recent days as severe storms continue to drench the state. Footage taken from a Nine News helicopter above the rescue site shows the farmer's utility vehicle almost completely submerged by a torrent of floodwater flowing around it. The man himself can be seen standing on the bed at the back, which is also almost completely covered with water. Eventually emergency crews are able to float a life vest out hooked up to a cable out to him, before winching him to safety through the waist-deep water. The man was pictured looking embarrassed while standing in the back of his flooded truck while emergency workers floated a life vest out to him After donning the vest, which was hooked up to a steel cable, the man was winched to safety through the waist-high floodwater Simon Kinniburgh, spokesman for Victoria SES, told Prime7 News: 'This rescue is another reminder that people should heed warnings and stay clear of floodwater. 'Fifteen centimetres of water is all it takes for a car of any size to be swept away.' More than 15mm of rain has fallen in Victoria's north-east in the last 24 hours, causing the already swamped ground to flood once again. Residents in low-lying Myrtleford have been told to evacuate as rivers hit their highest level for more than 20 years, while more than a thousands homes across Victoria have also been left without power. Authorities said the episode serves as a reminder never to drive into floodwater, saying it only takes 15 centimetres of water to drag a car away He allegedly rubbed a terrified woman's leg before asking her out for curry A Pakistani migrant taxi driver declared 'all Australian women are sluts and deserve to be raped', asked female passengers if they were virgins and 'groped' the thigh of a woman he picked up from a bar late at night, a tribunal has heard. Western Sydney resident Afzal Nazir was found not to be a 'fit and proper person' to drive a taxi by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday. The decision came after it heard harrowing details of five encounters female passengers had with him over just two months he spent behind the wheel, including him allegedly rubbing a frightened woman's leg before asking her out for curry. Pakistani migrant taxi driver Afzal Nazir declared 'all Australian women are sluts and deserve to be raped', a tribunal heard (stock image) One frightened female passenger who stepped into Mr Nazir's car said he was 'highly agitated' and ranted at her for 20 minutes, including 'that all Australian women are sluts and deserve to be raped because of the way they dress'. 'He said his wife would never dress like Aussie women do as she is a respectable person and has studied for many years,' tribunal senior member Geoffrey Walker said in his decision. Mr Nazir told the woman he had paid $2000 to enter Australia and 'had not simply arrived on a boat and people should respect him'. 'He said Australians do not care about true relationships, they all want to f*** each other and then f*** them off.' During his ravings, he began striking the steering wheel and 'yelling about how dumb Australian people are as they constantly mix up his race and said how stupid they could be, that they could not tell where he was from.' He then detailed an incident with a drunk person the night before and said 'if that happened in his country he would pul out his AK 47 and put 14 bullets in his head' while pretending to fire a gun at her. Four other women made serious complaints against Mr Nazir about his behaviour while driving cabs in Newcastle in August and September 2011. One female passenger said Mr Nazir allegedly rubbed her leg before asking her out for curry (stock image) Four other women made serious complaints against Mr Nazir about his behaviour while driving cabs in Newcastle in August and September 2011 (stock image) One female passenger said when she entered the taxi Mr Nazir told her: 'You're wearing pants so I am thinking you are a lesbian' and demanded she agree with him. The tribunal heard another woman was picked up at a pub and he told her she looked 'hot' tonight, before asking if she had a boyfriend - and for her name, age and street address. The woman said he asked her 'why I was out alone if I'm such a 'hot' girl and then started rubbing her leg because it looked 'cold'. Mr Nazir then took the car into an industrial area, the tribunal heard, and 'he asked her if she liked Indian food and whether she would like to go out for some curry'. 'He kept saying that she was so pretty and he would love to take her out,' Prof Walker said. The tribunal ruled he was not a fit and proper person to drive a taxi - because he would be highly likely to receive future complaints (stock image) Another complaint detailed how he picked up two young women from Fannys nightclub, asked them why they were virgins. The complainant said when they asked him to stop talking about 'sexual relations... he simply laughed and kept talking about it'. Roads and Maritime Service cancelled Mr Nazir's driving authorities in early 2012. He was also accused of putting a passenger in his boot and of being rude to a pregnant woman. The tribunal ruled he was not a fit and proper person to drive a taxi - because he would be highly likely to receive future complaints. He denied all the allegations and argued there might have been a series of misunderstandings, but the tribunal ruled that was 'improbable'. 'He has accepted no responsibility for his misconduct,' said tribunal senior member Prof Walker. Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to a Second World War veteran after only a handful were expected at his funeral. Douglas Oswald Shallcross, 92, survived a deadly grenade blast and was twice run over by tanks while fighting against the Germans on the Western Front. After the war he returned to his hometown of Marple, Greater Manchester, where he worked in a steel factory and met Doreen, who would later become his wife. He died last week and his daughter Anne Holloway and her children were among the few people expected to attend his funeral yesterday. Hero: Douglas Oswald Shallcross served on the Western Front during the Second World War Paying their respects: The coffin of Second World War veteran Douglas Oswald Shallcross, 92, is carried into Highfield Cemetery, in Romiley, Greater Manchester, yesterday Unbreakable bond: Dozens of veterans were among those who responded to the public appeal But a group of veterans launched a public appeal and hundreds responded, arriving at Highfield Cemetery, Romiley, to give Mr Shallcross the send-off he deserved. Born and raised in Marple, Mr Shallcross was a soldier in the Reconnaissance Corps during the War. He served in the D-Day landings and celebrated his 21st birthday under fire on a French battlefield, where his sergeant sneaked him a bottle of beer to mark the occasion. In one exchange of fire a grenade detonated just feet from where he stood, killing every member of his patrol but him. He was also run over by an American tank on two separate occasions. A colleague also accidentally shot Mr Shallcross in the forehead, leaving him with a cross-shaped scar that remained throughout his life. But Mr Shallcross was reluctant to discuss his heroism and near-death experiences once he returned to Britain, preferring instead a quiet life with his family. Emotional send-off: A member of a military band also attended Mr Shallcross' funeral Final farewell: A piper plays at the funeral where hundreds gathered to say goodbye Community: A public appeal was put out ahead of the funeral in Stockport yesterday He spent his demob money on installing electric lights at his mother's house and undertook a position at the Bredbury steelworks. The veteran was introduced to his future wife on a blind date. Daughter Anne was born in 1951 and Mr Shallcross later became a grandfather and great-grandfather. Mrs Holloway said her father would have been moved by the send-off. She said: 'I am incredibly touched, it was lovely. His wartime memories were some of the last to fade away so I am sure he would have been so grateful.' Granddaughter Victoria Holloway said: 'It was amazing seeing so many people and we are really touched that so many would come out to say goodbye.' Andy Cooke, a veteran of the Household Cavalry and organiser of the campaign, said he was amazed by the turn-out. Service: Mr Shallcross was part of the Normandy landings and served with the Army in France Tribute: Veterans and servicemen gathered to pay their respects to Mr Shallcross Coming together: Young and old gathered to give Mr Shallcross the funeral he deserved He said: 'There is no veteran that should go without people paying their respects to them. I would like to thank every person who attended; the response has been incredible.' Veteran Simon Walker served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Gibraltar and Canada between 1986 and 2001 and said he felt he had to pay his respects. The former full corporal said: 'Just one word says it all. Respect. Respect for what he and so many of his generation have done.' Catherine O'Brien came to the ceremony with her husband, Shaun, after reading about the appeal in the press and on social media. She said: 'He fought for us. We thought he can't just be buried by himself. Accused murderer Robert John Adams 'flipped out', when he was asked about missing nurse Mary Louise Wallace, according to a former friend. Witness Ross Adams has told the NSW Supreme Court of two confrontations he had with his former housemate in the late 1980s, with the first occurring during a drinking session at the Gladesville RSL. Mr Adams said when he got up the courage to ask Adams, who is no relation, whether he knew what happened to 'that nurse', his mate turned aggressive. Robert John Adam (pictured) is on trial accused of murdering 33-year-old Mary Louise Wallace in September 1983 'He leant over and said, 'what's that to you?' in a menacing manner into my face,' Mr Adams told the court on Wednesday. 'I had a sense of that, I don't know ... sense of foreboding,' he said. Mr Adams said he never raised the subject with his former friend again. Robert John Adams is on trial accused of murdering 33-year-old Ms Wallace, who was last seen leaving a wine bar in his car after a night out in September 1983. Ross Adams testified he'd read about Ms Wallace's disappearance in the newspaper and had seen a sketch in the paper that looked like Bob. Adam's former housemate Ross Adams (above) said he 'flipped out' at him when questioned about missing Sydney nurse Mary Louise Wallace in the late 1980's. Robert John Adams was described as a big drinker with a 'variable' personality by his former house mate But he'd thought he should give his friend 'the benefit of the doubt' and 'let things take their course'. But soon after the Gladesville RSL conversation, in about 1988, the witness said he fled the home they shared in fear of his life after Bob snapped when he said he was moving out. Adams grabbed him by the back of the neck and shoved his head between his legs so he couldn't breathe. 'I was stuck there and all I could think was, 'don't move, don't say anything' or this is going to get a lot worse,' Mr Adams said. It was the end of his friendship with Adams whom he described as a big drinker with a 'variable' personality who could 'just flip' occasionally. Mr Adams said that the accused once grabbed him by the back of the neck and shoved his head between his legs so he couldn't breathe Robert John Adams' picture was previously picked out of a series of photos by a woman who had been brutally raped Earlier, the court heard that a woman who claimed to have been brutally raped by a man named Bob in 1978 picked Robert John Adams' picture out of a series of photos she was shown in 2013. NSW Detective Nicole Jones said the woman identified two photographs, and said the one of Adams was most similar to the man who had forced her to have sex in his car while strangling her more than three decades before. The clocks are going back! Big Ben is being changed to GMT The Vice Presidential debate between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine could go down in history as... forget that, it probably won't even be a footnote. Opinion polls suggested the Republican running mate narrowly won the debate but the over-riding impression on social media was that the whole thing was just a giant snoozefest. Kaine, the snapping, snarling Senator from Virginia, defended Hillary Clinton pugnaciously and landed several low blows on the Governor of Indiana. Scroll down for video Mike Pence managed to avoid tough questions on his stance towards LGBT people and was perceived as coming out on top with many feeling he had given Tim Kaine a spanking Sarah Palin, who was John McCain's running mate in 2008, asked on Facebook why Pence and Kaine had to stand up all night Whatcha gonna do brother? Trump supporter Arthur Angell felt Pence had given Kaine a Hulk Hogan-esque leg drop Tim Kaine, who interrupted Governor Pence 70 times during the debate, came off badly in the memes posted on Instagram But in the battle of the memes Pence came out on top, with several people on Twitter and Instagram claiming Kaine's frequent interruptions were just annoying. Former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin - a face that launched a thousand memes - also pointed out it was the only VP debate in recent years that required candidates to stand. The former Governor of Alaska wrote on Facebook: 'How is it that the dudes lucked out and got chairs over the last 20 years of VP debates minus one?' Tim Kaine was mocked on Twitter with blogger Matt Walsh suggesting he was a Dr Seuss character (left) and Michelle Malkin, an editor with the Conservative Review, comparing him to a creepy clown (right) There is more than a passing resemblance between the Governor of Indiana and Leslie Nielsen (pictured), straight-faced star of the Airplane and Naked Gun spoof movies, who died in 2010 Tim Kaine, who was little known outside of Virginia before being picked as Hillary Clinton's running mate, did not endear himself to viewers This meme poked fun at Donald Trump's alleged affinity with Russia's President Putin, who is known for his love of the outdoors and all things manly The silver-haired Mike Pence came off as cool and calm while Tim Kaine was perceived as having the annoying tone of Moe Szyslak, the grumpy bartender in The Simpsons This tweet suggested fans who were tiring of the VP debate might want to switch over and watch the Toronto Blue Jays beating the Baltimore Orioles in a drama-filled MLB play-off Some phrases kept cropping up in the debate, which was mocked by web users, with one reminiscing about the famous Seinfeld scene where Elaine 'dances' Me [watching the VP debate] pic.twitter.com/pGuWSry6JU Dirt McTurd (@DirtMcTurd) 5 October 2016 Viewing figures in Maryland may have been even lower than the rest of the country as the Orioles were playing the Blue Jays in the American League wild card game. The night's moderator, Elaine Quijano, who struggled to control the pair, escaped without a single meme. Police called as lorry with British plates causes major confusion on roads Motorists in Bury St Edmunds stunned as driver goes round anti-clockwise Footage shows the moment a huge 14-wheel lorry sparked rush-hour chaos by going the wrong way round a roundabout Bemused drivers were also forced to tackle the roundabout backwards to avoid the white lorry. At one point the vehicle appears to reverse around the junction in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, before causing bedlam by blocking six lanes of traffic Driving instructor Ann Crowe, from Thurston, Suffolk, was driving when she approached the roundabout. The mum-of-one watched open-mouthed as a huge vehicle drove forced cars to reverse back onto the roads theyd just driven down. Ann, 40, said: I was sat watching thinking is this actually happening? My husband and I have seen some random things while out teaching but I think thats got to be one of the most jaw-dropping things Ive ever seen. The three-and-a-half-minute clip shows the unmarked lorry reversing onto the roundabout after going down a no-through road. The driver then awkwardly goes the wrong way around the roundabout and comes to a standstill for 28 seconds on the island causing tailbacks on all the filter roads. Dashcam footage captures the bizarre attempt to navigate the roundabout the wrong way, with the lorry driver initially reversing, then setting off anti-clockwise Bemused motorists watch on as traffic slows to a halt, with six lanes blocked by the 14-wheel lorry as it creeps round the roundabout after what police believe was a failed three-point turn Ann said: It was an English lorry with an English plate and was a left-hand drive - it was just ridiculous. As a driving instructor I have to anticipate people doing things wrong and Im always erring on the side of caution. What was concerning was that a lot of traffic was having to reverse off the roundabout back into the roads that were joining it - they were having to reverse the wrong way into oncoming traffic. Driving instructor Ann Crowe, car pictured, was driving when she approached the roundabout and could not believe what she saw, saying: "It was ridiculous" I think maybe hes entered that road by mistake, tried to reverse out and got himself into a position he couldnt get out of - its the only thing I can think of. Its very tight round there, you can just about get two cars side by side. It was ridiculous. A Suffolk Police spokesman said: Officers were called at 17.56 to reports that a lorry was carrying out a three-point turn on a roundabout at Parkway. Online retailer Amazon was forced to pull a range of 'sexy' Halloween costumes for children as young as four after a backlash from child safety campaigners. Children's charities said young girls were being 'sexualised' by the bizarre costumes, which include French Maid, tiny schoolgirl and sexy leopard' costumes. Amazon said they were not responsible because Hong Kong company Silvia's Wand used the UK site as a marketplace for the outfits, modelled by small children. This costume is described on the site as 'Girl Sexy Vintage London SchoolGirl on the website, with a skirt just 30cm long This costume is described as a 'French Maid' outfit, but is available for four to five-year-olds This costume was advertised as a 'Sexy Queen' outfit by the seller, Sylvia's Wand However, it has removed the outfits until the inappropriate descriptions can be changed, a spokesman said. Child protection charity, Kidscape CEO, Claude Knight said: 'Every year there are a growing number of manufacturers of Halloween costumes who believe, for inexplicable reasons, that outfits should become increasingly sexualised. 'Costumes are produced for wide age bands starting at age two or four and are marketed under a 'sexy' label. This was advertised as a 'Sexy Girl - Japan Kimono' on the site 'This does raise grave concerns, as young girls have no comprehension of the messages that they are sending out when they wear age inappropriate clothing. 'Parents do of course have freedom of choice, but it would be helpful if more thought were given to the wider issues surrounding the sexualisation of childhood. 'Childhood is a precious time and misguided commercialisation and distortion should not be allowed to hijack it in this way.' The costumes, which are modelled by a young girl, feature skirts which are just 30cm long, and were on sale for just over 20. They had been for sale since October 2014. Amazon refuse to comment on individual cases however the full 'girls' range from the raunchy lingerie outfitter were taken off the site following the reaction being flagged to them. When asked for an explanation, a spokesperson for Amazon said: 'All sellers on Amazon Marketplace must adhere to our selling guidelines.' Another advert for a 'Sexy Insect' outfit availabnle for girls as young as four years old But Mumsnet CEO, Justine Roberts also criticised the range. She said: 'It's baffling that retailers will happily market a child's costume as 'sexy', and perhaps even more baffling that people will buy it. 'Thankfully most parents will stick to dressing their children up as superheroes and giving them a bucket full of sweets.' The costumes are no longer available on the Amazon website after sparking outrage And Barnardo's Chief Executive, Javed Khan said: 'At a time when surveys show girls are under tremendous pressure to look good, it is irresponsible and immoral for any retailer to advertise clothing that sexualises young girls. 'Children should be seen as children and not as sexual commodities. This 'adult' clothing fashion retailer should not be making money by depicting them as mini sexualised adults. 'We would urge all retailers to monitor and remove inappropriate goods aimed at making children look 'sexy' as soon as possible.' Silvia's Wand is a lingerie brand created by Hong Kong fashion firm Lady Silvia and have no online shop beyond Amazon. The brand may no longer have their children's clothing on Amazon but customers can still choose between nearly 500 racey garments. Advertisement Kim Kardashian reportedly asked the concierge at her luxury Paris apartment if they were 'going to die' after he led five armed robbers inside her flat in the early hours of Monday morning. The overnight door man took the armed men dressed in police uniforms up to Kim's apartment via her private elevator, opened her armoured door and reportedly remained inside the flat the 'whole time' during the raid that saw her held up with a gun to her head. TMZ reports Kim told police in a phone interview from New York: 'He opened the door and led them [the robbers] up and was in there the whole time.' The terrified star reportedly asked the concierge 'Are we gonna die?' and he calmly replied, 'I don't know'. Kim's hands and feet were bound with cable ties during the robbery and she is believed to have been dumped in her marble bath tub after answering the men's demands and pointing to her millions of dollars worth of jewellery. She told them where she left her Lorraine Schwartz ring, which is worth a reported $4.5million (4 million /3.5 million) and was last seen on her finger in a Snapchat post earlier that night The overnight concierge at Kim Kardashian's luxury Paris apartment is reportedly the man who let five armed robbers into her apartment after they threatened him with a gun on Monday Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in her Parisian apartment at Hotel Le Pourtales, 7 rue Tronchet in Paris (pictured) Pictured is one of the luxurious main rooms in the complex where Kim Kardashian had millions of dollars worth of jewellery stolen by five armed masked men dressed as police officers. The Eiffel Tower can be seen from the window Meanwhile, the concierge was also tied up. He was dumped back in the lobby, which is where police found him when they arrived. The revelation comes after a new video emerged showing a mystery car tailing Kim as she left a French fashion house just hours before the terrifying 8.5million heist. The footage shows a grey Fiat 500 trying to constantly cut in front of photographers and wanting to tailgate the car carrying Kim, her husband Kanye and her sister Kourtney after they left a fitting at Givenchy. According to photographers on motorbikes who were also following the reality TV star, the driver of the car was talking loudly on his phone but looked to be smartly dressed. A new video has emerged showing a mystery car tailing Kim Kardashian as she left a French fashion house just hours before the terrifying 8.5million heist The footage shows a grey Fiat 500 trying to constantly cut in front of photographers and wanting to tailgate the car carrying Kim, her husband Kanye and her sister Kourtney after they left a fitting at Givenchy According to photographers on motorbikes who were also following the reality TV star, the driver of the car was talking loudly on his phone but looked to be smartly dressed Sources in France said one of the suspect men pretended to be a plain-clothed detective to try to get a seat next to her at the exclusive Ferdi restaurant, where she dined on Thursday night, above At one point, photographers who were angry by his driving tried to confront him as Kim arrived at a restaurant in the French capital. And when asked who he was, the man apparently replied that he was a police officer. It is also claimed that he also tried to enter the restaurant where the family were eating but was turned away by security. Photographers also claim he was spotted outside the apartment that was raided with Kim inside and that he was stood there for two hours, constantly looking inside the gate and clutching his phone. French police investigation have claimed that Kim was tailed by two men in the days leading up to the robbery. The two men described as 'Caucasian' and 'North African' posed as a plain-clothed detective and as a photographer to gain vital 'close surveillance' information for robbery. One even tried to gain access to the Kardashian's exclusive apartment at Hotel Pourtales ahead of the raid in the early hours of Monday morning, investigators fear. The men who spoke with French accents are now thought to be suspects in the multi-million dollar jewellery heist in which Kim Kardashian begged for her life with a gun at her head. Meanwhile it has emerged there is no CCTV footage of the robbers breaking into or escaping the hotel which is said to be frequented by A-list celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna and Jay Z. However, the gang is believed to have been caught in a 'million-to-one' image after a camera at the Bel Ange nail salon on the same street as the apartment, facing a mirror, reflected their getaway. Kim Kardashian was tailed by two men in the days before her terrifying multimillion pound robbery in Paris, it has been claimed. A man on a motorcycle aroused suspicions among photographers As details emerged of how Kim was tailed in the days preceding the robbery, the star told close friends how she feared she would be raped by her attackers. Pictured: Kim reunited with husband Kanye West in New York on Monday One man is said to have acted suspiciously, joining the paparazzi 'pack' to gain 'inside' information about the star's movements while the other man apparently posed as a detective to seek access to the star at a restaurant. 'Kim Kardashian was tailed for at least three days before the robbery,' the source close to the French police investigation claimed to MailOnline. 'We know there was one man who pretended to be a photographer who followed the American celebrity on a motorbike to find out her whereabouts. Another man pretended to be a plain-clothed detective to try to get a seat next to her at the exclusive Ferdi restaurant on Thursday night. 'But both men were fakes. The photographer tried to listen in to the conversations by other snappers but he was challenged by the genuine ones. 'And the so-called policeman fled when staff at Ferdi asked to see his credentials.' Detectives are now hunting the two men who are believed to be part of a 'sophisticated international criminal organisation'. 'We know the licence plate of one of the vehicles used, a Fiat 500, and a photograph of one of the suspects. They both appear to be French and highly professional. 'But this kind of robbery could only have been carried out by a sophisticated international criminal organisation. It would have to be if they had any hope of re-classify the stolen jewels and sell them again.' Police officers remain stationed at the apartment building in Paris where Kim Kardashian was robbed in a terrifying attack in the early hours of Monday morning The two men who spoke with French accents are now thought to be suspects in the jewellery theft in which Kim begged for her life with a gun at her head. Pictured: Kanye West, left, and Kourtney Kardashian, right, leaving Ferdi restaurant on Thursday where she was apparently followed Police scoured the area looking for footage from nearby shops and banks in a bid to find the armed thieves who made off with millions of pounds worth of jewellery, 1,000 in cash and a mobile phone which is said to have been remotely wiped. But the only footage available, from a police surveillance camera, was not facing the front of the Hotel Pourtales and the robbers were able to evade it.. One source questioned whether the Kardashians had had the appropriate level of security due to the high-profile nature of their visit and the huge value of the jewellery they were carrying. We know the licence plate of one of the vehicles used, a Fiat 500, and a photograph of one of the suspects. They both appear to be French and highly professional Police source He told MailOnline: 'They [the Kardashians] had three body guards to protect five members of the family staying at two different locations while flaunting their jewellery for everyone to see on the internet. Clearly this wasn't enough.' Kim felt there was no need for guards to stand watch outside the apartment complex, a source told Page Six. Her friend said: 'It sounds crazy but understand she's in her own home, in an apartment with only one entry point which is coded with two keys and keypad. 'If a guard was there, what would have happened differently. Her guard doesn't carry a gun. They had five guns - most likely more.' Kim told friends she feared she was going to be raped during the break-in that left her tied up in her luxury Paris apartment as men dressed as police officers stole millions of dollars worth of jewellery. The 35-year-old reality star begged for her life, screaming that she had two children as five masked men bound her wrists and ankles before leaving her in the bathtub. Kim Kardashian feared she was going to be raped when five masked men raided her Paris apartment Monday. Pictured, Kim, with a huge ring on her hand, at a private dinner on Sunday with sister Kourtney Kardashian and designer Azzedine Alaia One of the two men - described as 'Caucasian' and 'North African' - are said to have tried to gain access to the Kardashian's luxury apartment at the Hotel Pourtales ahead of the raid early Monday morning. Pictured: Kardashian with West in New York There are fears some of the jewellery stolen in the raid could have included a Lorraine Schwartz ring, diamond grillz and sentimental necklaces designed by her husband Kanye West French police said a robbery, on such a high-profile celebrity, could 'only have been carried out by a sophisticated international criminal organisation'. Pictured: Kim's bodyguard Pascal Duvier (grey t-shirt) in New York with Kanye West But once they had gone she managed to break free from the restraints and scream for help from her balcony. She had been asleep in just a robe early Monday when she heard the robbers running up the stairs of her two-story apartment behind La Madeleine church in the city's 8th arrondissement, TMZ reported. She was halfway through dialling her bodyguard when her phone was snatched out of her hands. Meanwhile, her friend Simone Harouche sprung from her bed downstairs and locked herself in a bathroom, the website reported. The fashion stylist and long-time friend of the Kardashians called Kim's personal bodyguard Pascal Duvier, who was out at the L'Arc nightclub with Kourtney and Kendall less than two miles away. Meanwhile Kim managed to squeeze her hands out of the wrist ties by 'wriggling her hands' then ran 'screaming from the balcony', People magazine revealed. Kim didn't understand the French-speaking robbers amidst the chaotic scene. But she heard them repeating 'ring, ring' before she realized they were searching for the 20-carat emerald-cut Lorraine Schwartz ring given to her by husband Kanye West, according to TMZ. Kim Kardashian West leaves 'L'Avenue' restaurant escoreted by her security Pascal Duvier on Sunday, just hours before the robbery Kardashian's stylist friend Simone Harouche (left), who was in the apartment as it was being robbed, rang her body guard for help while her other pal Jasmine Sanders (right) rushed back from her night out in Paris to see her The men, who entered the building after holding the concierge at gunpoint, stole her ring and also a jewellery box worth $6.7 million (6 million/ 5.24 million) before escaping on rented bicycles available throughout the city. Bodyguard Pascal Duvier missed the robbery as he was with Kim's sister Kourtney and Kendall Jenner two miles away. The bodyguard, who managed to return to the apartment two minutes after the men escaped, was blasted for allowing the shocking security lapse while former guard Steve Stanulis, who suggested it was an inside job. The source added: 'When Kourtney went out to the nightclub on Sunday night Pascal had to go with her she was in the most danger. 'Kim was at a five star hotel which in any normal circumstances should be a safe environment.' However the hotel doorman was left with few options when he was confronted by the gang posing as policemen and armed with hand-guns. Kardashian's main bodyguard Pascal Duvier - who was not with her at the time of the robbery - returned to New York today After Kim safely made it inside her hotel in New York City with her husband Kanye West, a ring of security was positioned outside the building 'There really wasn't anything the concierge could do when the guns came out,' the source told MailOnline. 'The body guards never would have let me the men upstairs if they had been there. 'They would have stopped the robbers from getting to Kim and putting a gun to her head or died trying. That is what they are trained to do. 'But this was a hotel night porter. There was nothing he could do. He had to let the robbers into Kim's apartment or they would have killed him.' The five English-speaking robbers posing as policemen are believed to have tracked her via her obsession with updating social media. Within hours of her ordeal the 'hysterical' star fled Paris by private jet back to New York. Just an hour or so before the robbery, Kim posted a video on Snapchat that showed her wearing the engagement ring (left). She posted a video of herself FaceTiming with Blac Chyna during a baby shower with Rob Kardashian Police and medics are pictured at the scene, along with Kendall Jenner (centre), Jasmine Sanders and Terrence J who left the apartment at 4:30am Kim Kardashian was accompanied by her assistant and personal bodyguard as she rushed on to a waiting plane on Monday morning after being robbed at gunpoint The Salvation Army is asking the public to help provide items for their homeless day shelter. Officials said they are completely out of trial sizes/hotel sizes of soap and shampoo, and are also in need of toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shaving cream, and deodorant. All items can be donated to The Salvation Army, 800 McCallie Ave., or donations can be made to csarmy.org. "Folks could also order these items online and have them shipped to our address. We also have red barrels where folks can collect at their offices or churches. So many of us travel and have these items from hotels at home already," officials said. Film captures the hair-raising moment an unobservant driver narrowly avoids a smash with a bus while attempting to change lanes. In the dashcam footage, the driver of a red Toyota starts to move into a bus lane in Cambridge after indicating left. The driver luckily spots the bus at the last moment, swerving out of the way as the bus comes to a halt. While the car mirror appears to shave the side of the bus, it narrowly avoids a nasty collision. The man who captured the footage on his dashcam said it demonstrated the textbook reason why driving instructors drum 'mirror, signal, manoeuvre' into learner drivers' heads. The Cambridge man, who did not wish to be named, said the incident left him wondering whether the driver had seen the bus at all or had merely assumed indicating gave him or her the right of way to move. The driver in the red Toyota briefly flashes a left signal and swerves towards the oncoming bus, narrowly avoiding a full collision and instead shaving the side of the much larger vehicle The 49-year-old said: "From what I could tell, it was rather more a case of 'signal, manoeuvre, mirror'. "It looked like the car must have actually touched the bus, as I think the left-hand wing mirror of the car had swung right round. "I just thought that this is a good example of why people should always check their mirrors. The Toyota driver realises his mistake and make pulls away from the bus, back into his original lane after the near miss Stunned motorist continues down the road after the incident, as the the bus driver slams on the brakes to avoid a crash. The Toyota driver proceeds to turn left at the nearest exit "I was happy to see the driver stopped and appeared to head back to the bus to talk to the bus driver, but I don't know what the outcome of that talk was. "It just goes to show that people really need to keep their eyes peeled when they are driving, and not assume that they always have right of way." Kim Kardashian's 3.5million diamond engagement ring will end up in the hands of an unscrupulous Russian or Middle East-based tycoon 'who won't care it's stolen', an expert told MailOnline. The star's glittering 20-carat ring by Lorraine Schwartz given to her by her husband, rap superstar Kanye West, will be almost impossible to sell on the black market, they said. The diamond's clarity, colour and cut would make it instantly recognisable to traders if it were put up for sale on the open market. Even corrupt jewellers would be reluctant to alter the huge stone because cutting it into a smaller size would diminish its value enormously, our source added. Kim Kardashian's stolen 3.5million diamond engagement ring (pictured) will end up on the finger of a Russian or Middle Eastern tycoon's girlfriend or wife, an expert has told MailOnline Her 20-carat rock will be instantly recognisable if sold on the open market, the expert warned, and so gangsters will be forced to sell to tycoons willing to accept it without much scrutiny. Pictured: Kim wearing the ring in Paris, a day before it was reportedly stolen Kim shared a video on Snapchat showing off her engagement ring hours before the robbery. Pictured: Kardashian Facetiming Blac Chyna before the theft 'Kim's diamond will end up on the finger of the girl based in Russia or the Middle East,' a highly placed source in the international diamond industry told MailOnline. The armed gang who broke into her apartment at the Hotel Pourtales and made off with 8.5million-worth of jewellery in the early hours of Monday morning is still on the run. They were thought to have evaded security entirely but police say a 'million-to-one' CCTV camera feed from a nail salon on the Rue Tronchet captured the robbers making their escape. 'There is no way the gang of criminals will allow that stone to be cut,' the expert said. 'A 20-carat diamond is valuable because of its size as well as its colour and clarity. 'If the stone was cut into two, the gems would not each be worth 50 per cent of the price of the original stone. The value drop dramatically, down to 10 per cent of the original. Investigators are still hunting the five-strong gang who broke into her Hotel Pourtales apartment and made off with 8.5m worth of jewellery. Pictured: Kim wearing the 20-carat ring that was stolen A highly placed source in the diamond industry said the robbers would be reluctant to cut down the ring because it will bring down its value. Pictured: Kim being escorted from the car by husband Kanye (left) and without the ring on her return to New York (right) The armed gang who broke into the Hotel Pourtales and made off with 8.5million-worth of jewellery from Kardashian's room is still on the run. Pictured: Kardashian showing off her glimmering jewels at the Met Gala 'That is why these gangsters will sell it to a rich tycoon in Russia or the Middle East where they are less bothered about where their girlfriends' jewels come from.' These gangsters will sell it to a rich tycoon in Russia or the Middle East where they are less bothered about where their girlfriends' jewels come from. MailOnline diamond source The stolen gem is likely to be 'laundered' through corrupt diamond traders in India or Dubai, where it will be given a new 'Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certificate'. A GIA certificate, also known as a diamond report, is issued by an accredited gemological laboratory, which details the diamonds carat weight, measurements, cut, colour and clarity. These measurements detail a stone's individual characteristics or 'finger prints' that are unique to each diamond. Kardashian's stolen gem is likely to be 'laundered' through corrupt diamond traders in India or Dubai. Pictured: Kim wearing a diamond-studded choker at the LACMA Art and Film Gala The stolen diamond could be reclassified as a new stone but it would require a buyer who is 'happy not to ask too many questions', the expert told MailOnline. Pictured: Kardashian wearing expensive bracelets at the InStyle awards, left, and Noon by Noor launch, right Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld criticised Kardashian (pictured) for bringing the robbery on herself by constantly flaunting her wealth on social media. Pictured, Kardashian wearing a shimmering sequin dress and gems at the Met Gala in may The source, who has experience in the vast diamond mines of Africa, told MailOnline: 'Each stone has its own unique weight, cut and clarity. These are like fingerprints. 'If Kim Kardashian's engagement ring were put on the open market it would be instantly recognisable. If Kim Kardashian's engagement ring were put on the open market it would be instantly recognisable MailOnline diamond source 'The diamond could be put on the market if it were re-classified as a new stone. 'But it would not stand up to close inspection and therefore the buyer would have to be happy not to ask too many questions. This type of buyer is only found in Russia and the Middle East.' A CCTV camera in a nail salon is thought to have caught the thieves creeping past a sleeping guard and escaping on push bikes. It was thought the armed gang avoided a police camera which was not pointed at the front of her Paris apartment block. The thieves were not caught on CCTV at her apartment because there were no cameras, but a 'million-to-one' camera at the Bel Ange nail bar (right) may have filmed them making their escape The robbers who targeted Kim were instead caught on CCTV at the Bel Ange nail bair as they escaped on push bikes. Circled is the CCTV camera believed to have filmed them A CCTV camera in a nail salon is thought to have caught the thieves creeping past a sleeping guard and escaping on push bikes. Pictured: Police standing guard outside the Hotel Pourtales It has since emerged the gang was filmed on a 'million-to-one' CCTV camera facing a mirror, which captured a reflection of their getaway. Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld yesterday criticised Kardashian for bring the theft on herself by flaunting her wealth. 'You cannot display your wealth and then be surprised that some people want to share it with you,' the legendary designer told reporters after his Chanel fashion show. A female Uber passenger has relieved the traumatising moment her driver turned off the ride-sharing app before sexually assaulting her. Laura Merser, 18, claims her driver logged off halfway through her journey back from a friends house in Sydney, before pulling off her clothes and groping her. The teenager is calling for tighter safety measures against the controversial app after Uber offered her an $11 refund when she flagged the incident, reports ACA. Scroll down for video Laura Merser, 18, says she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver After telling her she looked like a model and inviting her to star in a music video, she says the driver offered to finish the ride free of charge. However things took a chilling turn when he told her to take off her top, and started forcing it down, forcing himself on me and touching me, moving my underwear aside and touching me. The teenager fled the car and called police, taking a screenshot of the driver from her phone. However she was left shocked when Uber only offered to reimburse her for the ride, neglecting to take any action against the driver. Laura is now making a civil claim against the company for breaching their duty of care. Uber had a duty of care to Laura. They breached that by failing to ensure the drivers were suitable, and failing to ensure the safety of passengers, said her lawyer Lisa Flynn. She claims the driver turned off the app before pulling off her clothes and groping her (reenactment) The teenager fled the car and called police, taking a screenshot of the driver from her phone The teenager is calling for tighter safety measures against the controversial app Laura has a word of warning for anyone planning to use the app while alone and after drinking. Go in a group in that situation, its not worth it. Kim Jong-un's state newspaper warned 'the Korean peninsula has reached the brink of a war' North Korea will launch retaliatory nuclear strikes against the United States if Washington makes 'preemptive attacks' on Pyongyang, the country's state media has warned. Kim Jong-un's state newspaper Rodong Sinmun condemned recent joint drills conducted by Seoul and Washington in the East Sea, which were carried out last week as a show of force against North Korea's fifth nuclear test. The newspaper branded the move an 'advance preparation for mounting a preemptive attack', and warned that North Korea was ready to retaliate. 'If the aggressors and provocateurs dare mount a preemptive attack on the DPRK, they will not be able to escape a merciless, nuclear retaliatory strike of justice,' an article published today said. In a previous article, published yesterday, Pyongyang said 'the Korean peninsula has reached the brink of a war', and branded President Obama 'the chieftain of war'. The newspaper said tensions between the two states had arisen 'owing to the reckless military provocations of the US and the South Korean puppet forces.' The newspaper branded President Obama 'the chieftain of war' after Seoul and Washington conducted joint nuclear tests The US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, the country's top diplomat for South East Asia, told Congress last week that plans were in place for 'de-escalating and defusing' a crisis. According to Fox News, he said South Korea's official statements on pre-emption did not show it has any intent 'to take precipitous or provocative action.' The nuclear threat comes after North Korea lashed out at South Korean president Park Guen-hye, as she urged citizens in the North to move to the 'bosom of freedom' in the South. South Korean president Park Guen-hye has urged citizens in the North to move to the 'bosom of freedom' in the South President Park was branded a 'barefaced and impudent bitch' with Rondong Simnun dismissing her concerns about the welfare of citizens in the north as 'insane baloney'. In a speech on South Korean Armed Forces Day on October 1, she also warned acts of terrorism from North Korea were 'likely', according to reports from Yonhap News Agency. Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte has blasted Barack Obama claiming he can 'go to hell' after the US president criticized Manila's anti-drugs campaign. The controversial leader, dubbed 'Duterte Harry' by his critics, has faced international condemnation over the violent deaths of 3,000 suspected drug dealers or addicts over the past three months. Duterte promised a crackdown on drugs before he was elected president in June. Scroll down for video Hard-line Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte, pictured, has threatened to scale back military co-operation with the United States over criticism of his incredibly violent anti-drugs policy The Filipino president, known as 'Duterte Harry', left, indicated he would consider seeking closer ties with both Russia and China as a result of Obama's hostile attitude to his campaign The UN believes some 3,000 drug dealers and addicts have died in the three-month purge Such is the level of antipathy between Duterte and Obama that the Filipino leader has threatened 'to break up with America' and instead seek closer ties with China and Russia. The Philippines has had long standing relations with the United States, although these are being strained by Duterte's violent anti-drugs clampdown. In his most recent outburst, Duterte also attacked the EU. He fumed: 'Better choose purgatory, hell is filled up.' The United Nations and Human Rights organizations believe more than 3,000 people have been killed since June. In a speech before a local convention attended by officials and business executives, Duterte outlined his disappointments with the US, which has asked his government to stop the widespread killings and has questioned whether human rights are being violated. He also described Washington as an unreliable ally, saying Filipino forces have not benefited from joint combat exercises with US troops. He said: 'Instead of helping us, the first to criticize is this State Department, so you can go to hell, Mr Obama, you can go to hell.' The US and Filipino forces have held joint training exercises this week, although Duterte has indicated that this week's operation will be the last of his presidency Then addressing the EU, he said: 'Better choose purgatory, hell is filled up.' In a later speech at a synagogue in Makati city in the Manila metropolis, Duterte warned he may decide to 'break up with America' in his most serious threat so far to push relations back with Washington. 'Eventually I might, in my time, I will break up with America,' he said without elaborating. 'I would rather go to Russia and to China.' In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said yesterday that the US had not received any official request from Duterte or any other Philippine official to alter any aspect of bilateral cooperation. 'This is an alliance that is robust and that benefits both of our countries. Even as we protect this strong alliance, the administration and the United States of America will not hesitate to raise our concerns about extra-judicial killings,' he said. 'We remain deeply concerned by reports of widespread extrajudicial killings by or at the behest of government authorities in the Philippines. The use of that kind of tactic is entirely inconsistent with universal human rights and the shared values of our two countries.' Duterte, center, was elected in June with a six-year mandate to clamp down on drug crime Some Filipinos have demonstrated against the continued presence of US troops in the country Duterte has given assurances that he would not abrogate a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the US and will maintain the long alliance with America, one of his country's largest trading partners and provider of development and military aid and defense equipment. The US has expressed concern over the extrajudicial killings and urged Duterte's government to ensure law enforcement efforts comply with human rights obligations. Last month, Obama canceled a planned first meeting with Duterte on the sidelines of an Asian summit in Laos after the Filipino leader blurted 'son of a b***h' in warning the US leader not to lecture him on human rights ahead of their meeting. Duterte later expressed regrets over his remarks. Angered by US criticism, Duterte has made a series of public pronouncements that he could scale back the activities and presence of visiting US troops in the country. White House press secretary Josh Earnest, pictured, said he was not aware of any moves to reduce the number of military co-operation or training exercises with the Philippines Duterte has repeatedly insulted President Obama, pictured, since taking power in June Last week, Duterte said the joint US-Philippine combat exercises to be held this week, the first of his presidency, would also be the last of his tenure. The exercises, centering on amphibious landing drills, started Tuesday under some uncertainty because of those remarks. Marine commanders from both sides said at the opening ceremony that the exercises, involving 1,100 American and 400 Filipino military personnel, are aimed at improving readiness by the two countries to respond to a range of crises while deepening their historic ties. US Embassy officials said Washington has not been formally notified by the Philippine government of any move to scrap other planned drills. Advertisement They are remembered as the 'noble six hundred' who rode 'into the mouth of Hell' with unwavering valour in Lord Tennyson's poem commemorating the Charge of the Light Brigade. Now a remarkable account from one of the soldiers who survived the carnage has emerged, providing a graphic insight into one of the most glorious failures in British military history. Sergeant William Butler, who was 29 at the time of the Crimean War charge, described how he fought on as comrades were mercilessly cut down by Russians all around him. Some 673 cavalrymen headed into what became known as the Valley of Death in October 1854. There were 245 casualties, including 118 dead. Sgt Butler self-published his account of his military service in a small pamphlet in retirement. A rare surviving copy is now being auctioned by a private collector. Survivor: Sergeant William Butler, right, who was 29 at the time of the Crimean War charge, shared his experiences in 'A Descriptive Account of the Famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava', left, which is being auctioned next week Carnage: This painting illustrates the scene of the suicidal charge on the battlefields of Crimea. Some 673 cavalrymen headed into what became known as the Valley of Death in October 1854. There were 245 casualties, including 118 dead The account, titled 'A Descriptive Account of the Famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava', begins with the march from London to Portsmouth in March 1854. The 17th Lancers, which formed part of the Light Brigade of the British cavalry, was then deployed overseas. On the voyage to Constantinople in Turkey, 15 horses were lost overboard, included Sgt Butler's. He was so affected by its death that he contemplated jumping in the sea, he wrote. In September 1854 a 'skirmishing' party of 400 men was sent out at Alma in the Crimea. They encountered 11,000 Russian cavalrymen but were able to disperse the enemy. Sgt Butler wrote: 'The Russians made several attacks but their pluck was not good enough. Had they been more courageous we should not have been more than a mouthful for them.' The British then rode over the ground they had left. Cpl Butler wrote: 'We could scarcely get along for dead bodies. I never saw such carnage.' The Russians clashed with the Brits at Balaclava on October 25, attacking the brigade on the right flank of the Light Brigade. It was then Sgt Butler and his comrades were sent into action. Charging into action: This extract from the eyewitness account describes the moment Private William Britton, Lord Cardigan's duty trumpeter, blew on his bugle several times to signal the men to walk, trot and gallop towards the enemy Marching towards the carnage: The account begins with the regiment's journey to Balaclava, where the battle took place (left). He then goes on to describe how comrades were shot dead around him just moments into the battle (right) 'INTO THE MOUTH OF HELL': HISTORY OF THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE Lord Tennyson, who commemorated the battle with the poem the Charge of the Light Brigade The Charge of the Light Brigade took place in October 1854 during the Crimean War. An appalling series of misunderstandings led to the Brigade advancing down a different valley from the one commander-in-chief, Lord Raglan, had intended when he dictated ambiguous orders for Lord Lucan, the cavalry commander. Despite the fact that the order seemed to demand the cavalry to attack the Russian artillery without infantry support - in contravention of all accepted laws of military practice - an incredulous Lucan passed the instructions on to the Earl of Cardigan, who commanded the Light Brigade, and the troops advanced. Although it only lasted around 20 minutes, the attack saw almost a fifth of the Light Brigade killed, and hundreds more wounded. It is thought to have come about after Lord Lucan and the Earl of Cardigan, who were in charge of the cavalry in the battle, were given a confusing order by Lord Raglan, the British commander. The Light Brigade had been meant to ride to the rescue of British guns which had been captured and were being dragged away by Russian forces. But due to a misunderstanding they instead though they had been given the suicidal task of capturing well-defended Russian guns much further away. As they rode towards the distant emplacement, their men were torn apart by Russian marksmen and shell fire. To the surprise of their foes, they did manage to reach the massed guns and inflict some damage, but were so depleted that they had to turn back and retreat. Lord Tennyson's poem, written based on breathless newspaper dispatches from the front, memorably expressed the bravery of ordinary soldiers as they rode to their doom. It captured the public mood, and was distributed to soldiers in Crimea while they were still fighting. Advertisement Sgt Butler penned: 'At last Captain Nolan, riding at full speed, came towards our Brigadier, Lord Cardigan...word to mount was given. The order was quickly obeyed. 'Walk, trot, gallop, was sounded by Lord Cardigan's trumpeter, Wm. Britton, who on that day was killed. 'Captain Nolan had not gone above 400 yards when he was shot. Just as we got to No. 1 redoubt, my right-hand man, Walter Brooks, was also shot. We got a bit further when my left-hand man fell. 'My blood was up and I began to wish to get near the enemy. Shot and shell were coming in all directions. What few reached the guns - and I amongst them - cut away like madmen and succeeded in taking and spiking them. 'Some sound being heard which I took for rally, the signal to retire, we got together what few we could, but going back was worse than coming, for a regiment was drawn across our path, and guns were playing upon us. 'I was attacked by two cossacks. I engaged the one on my right and despatched him at the time the other made a cut at me which just caught my nose, chin and bridle hand; but he never cut another, for I left him on the ground. Under fire: When the order came to retreat, Sgt Butler was attacked by two Russian cossacks but he despatched them with his lance before they could kill him. His own horse was then shot from under him, he writes in this dramatic extract Service: Sgt Butler reveals details of his life before he joined the military (left) and the awards he received (right) Unwavering bravery: The Motto of the 17th Lancers is also included in the graphic account of the Charge of the Light Brigade 'Going little further my horse was shot beneath me and I law weltering in blood and swooned.' When the order came to retreat, Sgt Butler was attacked by two Russian cossacks but he despatched them with his lance before they could kill him. His own horse was then shot from under him and he was eventually rescued from the battlefield. Sgt Butler wrote how the survivors then faced the harsh Russian winter, starving and frost-bitten. Conditions were so dire their horses started eating each other and the men didn't care if they lived or died, he said. Sgt Butler returned to England in 1855 and was deployed to India two years later where he saw the horrors of the Indian Mutiny. He received a special mention for killing 12 rebel soldiers who were ransacking an Indian village before being almost killed by how own side after he and his horse were mistaken for the enemy. The account is being sold by auctioneers Wallis and Wallis of Lewes, East Sussex. Roy Butler, of the auction house, said: 'William Butler charged and survived and decided to do a personal publication of his own many years ago. 'It was just a pamphlet book and only a handful were printed. Never mind the films and books that have been produced about the Charge of the Light Brigade, this is a vivid and graphic account by someone who was there.' Advertisement A British blogger being paid to travel the world to take stunning photographs thanks to his Instagram account is looking for a colleague. Jacob Riglin, 21, from Richmond in London, takes the spectacular snaps for luxury brand clients including Forbes and is looking for someone to join his team. He scales some of the world's tallest buildings to take pictures of the most famous cities on the planet - and it's all thanks to his Instagram account. His stunning shots of London last year, as reported on MailOnline, saw his work gain worldwide recognition and was asked to photograph New York and various European cities. Twelve months ago, he had gathered 150,000 followers, but today he has more than doubled that figure. Now, his employers Beautiful Destinations are looking for someone to join his team, and teh job advert reads: 'As you catch a fireball on Dubai's horizon, there's not a single car or skyscraper in sight - it's just you and one of the wildest landscapes in the world. 'You follow the winding road through the Japanese hills as twilight begins to fall. Suddenly, an award awaits: Chureito Pagoda stands proud against the magnificent Mount Fuji. 'You spot a table and chairs set up on a deserted, candle-lit island from your boat in El Nido. 'The captain says, "That's where you're having dinner tonight." 'You explore rooftops dotted through Santorini's cliffs before your helicopter picks you up for an aerial view of the island and its glistening sea.' Three is not always a crowd as proved by this photograph way above the New York skyline overlooking Central Park Now, his employers are looking for someone to join his team, and his job advert reads: 'As you catch a fireball on Dubai's horizon, there's not a single car or skyscraper in sight - it's just you and one of the wildest landscapes in the world.' Jacob Riglin, 21, from Richmond in London, takes the spectacular snaps for luxury brand clients including Forbes and is looking for someone to join his team The British photo blogger appears to be strapped in here as he straddles a building overlooking Hong Kong Jacob Riglin lights up London Bridge in the English capital with this stunning picture featuring a boat whizzing on the Thames Manhattan is captured from above in a stunning skyscraper-heavy shot of New York as Central Park lingers in the distance New York by day is a completely different picture to New York by night as a lit up Times Square is captured here The 21-year-old scales an unfinished building to become part of the Hong Kong skyline by night Jacob Riglin, pictured here, took stunning shots of London last year, as reported on MailOnline, which saw his work gain worldwide recognition and was asked to photograph New York and various European cities. This could be your new boss - the photographer is looking to hire someone to take with him on his global travels Misty shot of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, is taken here from a helicopter as the snapper's legs dangle Twelve months ago, he had gathered 150,000 followers, but today he has more than doubled that figure to 353,000 The Houses of Parliament beam off the River Thames in London with the London Eye pretty in pink in the background More luxury can be seen here, as the British photographer chills on the beach inches from giant Galapagos sea lions As the sun dips beyond the London horizon, St Paul's Cathedral can be seen in the background as Jacob scales the heights Jacob peers perilously down to a quiet freeway in Ajman Saray, Dubai, from the towering building above Meet the twenty-one-year-old Londoner who landed a dream job travelling the world off the back of his Instagram account - even if it does mean dangling from a cliff in a hammock Venice is another destination on his travels as the Instagram sensation dangles his legs over the city's iconic canals Jacob's shirt matches the landscape below as he dangles his legs off a huge building in Hong Kong The skyscrapers cast towering shadows over Central Park in New York in another iconic aerial shot Advertisement Harrowing photos have captured the horror of the migrant boat journey to Europe - with 22 people found dead inside a crammed vessel. Photographer Aris Messinis who gained access to the boat said it appeared many of the dead had suffocated. Cruel smugglers jammed about 1,000 people on three levels inside the boat, as the migrants made the treacherous voyage from Libya to Italy this week. The photographer counted 22 bodies but said there were more dead in the hold. He captured the heartbreaking moment survivors were forced to climb over the lifeless men and women laid out underneath the blazing sun on a rescue boat. Tragic: Dead bodies are pictured on the bottom level of a wooden vessel that was making its way to Europe when people were crushed and suffocated Panic: Migrants try to pull a baby out of the water as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean sea, some 12 nautical miles north of Libya Another photo shows migrants desperately trying to pull a baby out of the water and back onto the boat as they wait to be rescued. In total, twenty-eight Europe-bound migrants were found dead on a day of frantic rescues off Libya on Tuesday. The Italian coastguard - which is coordinating rescue efforts in international waters north of Libya - said 28 bodies had been recovered over the course of 33 operations on Tuesday, while 4,655 migrants had been rescued. Photographer Mr Messinis was travelling on the Astral, a ship chartered by Spanish NGO ProActiva Open Arms, which rescues migrants at sea. Heartbreaking: Migrants step over dead bodies that are piled on top of each other, as they are rescued by Spanish NGO ProActiva Open Arms on Tuesday Killed en route to Europe: Survivors of the journey from Libya were put on the same rescue boat as the dead bodies belonging to people who didn't make it Awful scenes: Cruel smugglers jammed about 1,000 people on three levels inside the wooden boat and the catastrophic overcrowding caused deaths Late on Tuesday, the Italian navy took over helping survivors and retrieving bodies, he said. It was yet another day of drama at sea after more than 6,000 migrants, most of them Africans in packed rubber dinghies, were rescued off Libya on Monday. Nine bodies were found in those operations, including a pregnant woman. With numerous rescue boats en route to Italy to unload the huge human cargo collected on Monday, the Astral was left alone to deal with the overloaded wooden boat for several hours. Desperate: Migrants struggled to stay afloat on minimal lift rafts as they waited to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea Killed: Members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO evacuate a dead body on a stretcher from the third level of the wooden vessel Trapped: A dead body is loaded on to a stretcher inside the hull of the overcrowded boat where at least 22 people died Too late: The Astral, a ship chartered by Spanish NGO ProActiva Open Arms, was left alone to deal with the overloaded wooden boat for several hours Sorrow: A child wearing a life jacket cries as the group waits to be taken to shore. Families give their life savings in desperate bids to reach the safety of Europe Waiting for help: The latest people to be rescued will add to a total of some 132,000 migrants who have landed at Italy's southern ports so far this year It was aided only by lifeboats dropped by a Spanish military plane until the navy arrived at midday. There was panic onboard, with people jumping into the water, according to the photographer. The Astral's rescue operations had begun before dawn and lasted until nightfall. The latest people to be rescued will add to a total of some 132,000 migrants who have landed at Italy's southern ports so far this year, fleeing conflict, poverty or persecution and hoping to start new lives in Europe. The new arrivals are mostly Africans who plan to try to get to northern Europe but increasingly are obliged to seek asylum or the right to remain in Italy, where reception centres have been strained to bursting point. The fight to stay alive: A parent lifts their small child above the crowd to avoid suffocation as they wait to be rescued on the overcrowded boat Not giving up hope: A mother wails as her young child clings on to her onboard an overcrowded vessel on Tuesday Indonesian police have uncovered hundreds of protected animal species in Jakarta being traded illegally in the markets and online. The animals include birds, such as the yellow crested cockatoo, nori red head black birds, Bali starlings and white starlings. They also included slow lorises, a species of nocturnal Asian primate with large beady eyes. Indonesian police have uncovered hundreds of protected animal species in Jakarta being traded illegally in the markets and online. These include slow lorises (pictured) The slow lorises (pictured) are a species of nocturnal Asian primate with large beady eyes Police said each of the animals is would be expected to fetch tens of millions of rupiah on the black market Police said each of the animals is would be expected to fetch tens of millions of rupiah on the black market. In August The National reported that the illegal trade in birds in Indonesia is driving several species to extinction. Jakarta is already known as a hotspot for the illegal bird trade with three markets including one in the east of the city that is countrys biggest. Under Indonesian conservation law, trading protected wildlife can carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and fine of 100 million rupiah (more than $10,000 AUD). Police also found birds, such as the yellow crested cockatoo, nori red head black birds, Bali starlings and white starlings A recent report in The National said that the illegal bird trade in Indonesia is forcing many species to the brink of extinction Jakarta is already known as a hotspot for the illegal bird trade with three markets including one in the east of the city that is countrys biggest A man has appeared in court accused of blackmailing British boxer Amir Khan. Hamza Din, 27, is alleged to have made an unwarranted demand of money from Khan on March 27 in Middlesborough. Din, from Durham, and previously of Marton-in-Cleveland in Cleveland, appeared at Bolton Magistrates Court today. Hearing: A man has appeared in court accused of blackmailing boxer Amir Khan (pictured) He is charged with 'on March 27 at Middlesbrough with a view to gain for yourself or another or with intent to cause loss to another, made an unwarranted demand of money from Amir Khan with menaces'. The case was sent to Bolton Crown Court where there will be hearing on October 31. Din remains on unconditional bail until then. Former light-welterweight champion Khan last stepped into the ring in May of this year. He insisted at the time he had no regrets after his Las Vegas gamble against Mexican Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez ended in a brutal sixth-round defeat. Khan last stepped into the ring in May of this year. He insisted at the time he had no regrets after his Las Vegas gamble against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez ended in a brutal sixth-round defeat The Bolton-born fighter has a career record of 31 wins from 35 fights, 19 of which were by knockout. An all-British showdown with IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, who tweeted after the fight earlier this year has long been speculated. The Planning Commission staff is recommending approval for five short-term vacation rental requests. Three are all from Lookout Mountain Vacation Rentals. The sites are: 3073 Baggett Trail on Signal Mountain - Zachary Wayne Reynolds 815 S. Scenic Highway near Shingle Road on the side of Lookout Mountain Alan Haniszewski 7029 Maplewood Lane near Old Wauhatchie Pike - Jamye Joseph Two others are from James Rogers. They are at 7808 Hixson Pike and 16112 Lakewood Dr. The cases go before the Planning Commission next Monday at 1 p.m. at the County Courthouse. The Chattanooga City Council is studying what restrictions to place on short-term vacation rentals within the city limits. A French police chief has blamed Kim Kardashian for flashing her jewellery on social media as it made her easy pickings for thieves. Kardashian, the world's highest paid reality television star, was held up at gunpoint in an exclusive Paris apartment in the early hours of Monday. The robbers made off with her 20-carat Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring worth 3.5million and a case of jewellery with a value of 5.24million. Her hands and feet were bound with cable ties during the robbery and she is believed to have been dumped in her marble bath tub during the terrifying heist. Kim Kardashian, pictured here leaving Ferdi restaurant in Paris with her giant ring on September 29, made herself an easy target, a French police chief has said Kardashian's 20-carat ring by Lorraine Schwartz was given to her by her husband, Kanye West, and is believed to be one of the items robbers stole Johanna Primevert, chief spokeswoman for the Paris police department, said her celebrity status made her an easy target. She told CNN: 'It was really the celebrity who was targeted, with possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media, and it was these goods that the attackers targeted.' Her former bodyguard Steve Stanulis, 42, added: 'Security was out with the sisters and Kim had been showing all the jewellery on Snapchat. It's a perfect storm to get robbed.' 'I saw this happening. It just had to with the way Kim flaunts her riches and her diamonds. 'She has nearly 50 million people( on Twitter) who at any moment and on any day know where she is. 'And then she shows them this mighty great expensive rock on her hand a few hours before and she invites trouble. 'She could fall prey to stalkers, crazy fans or criminals like this weekend at any time and she and Kanye now have to take this as a warning.' The Lorraine Schwartz ring is the second one gifted to Kim by Kanye - after he originally proposed with a similar rock in 2013 Shawn Tuma, a Texas cybersecurity attorney, said celebrities with a prolific presence on social media can put themselves at risk. Kardashian has 84 million followers on Instagram and another 48 million on Twitter. It is a vital for her and her family's brand and their desire to forever keep in the public eye. He told Vanity Fair: 'They use their social media, they use their public presence as a huge part of their business model. 'So what this (robbery) shows is the importance of evaluating your risk profile, whether you're a company, whether you're an individual, and saying, 'How much risk am I exposing myself to?'' Kardashian flaunted her second engagement ring given to her by Kanye in a Snapchat video posted just two hours before she was robbed at gunpoint Officers are still hunting the five people suspected of assaulting Kardashian at her palatial apartment at the upmarket Hotel de Pourtales, which she rents for 25,000 a month. They wore ski masks to hide their faces as they attacked the 35-year-old reality TV star and mother-of-two who screamed 'Please don't kill me! I have children'. The men tied her hands together, pulled tape across her mouth, and then placed her in a marble bath. The door of the bathroom was then locked, and two members of the gang helped themselves to the jewellery. The robbers had also handcuffed and gagged the concierge who had opened the door of the apartment block, which is close to the British Embassy. The terrified star reportedly asked the concierge 'Are we gonna die?' and he calmly replied, 'I don't know' when he was led the robbers into her flat. Neighbours of the star 'did not hear a thing' when she was screaming for help while being robbed in Paris and the gangsters did not leave a trace of DNA. Kardashian is said to have been screaming frantically both before and after being locked in a bathroom, where she too was bound up with tape across her mouth. She managed to escape, according to her own testament, and made a phone call to her bodyguard Pascal Duvier logged at 2.56am on Monday, while also shouting for help from a balcony. After their highly organised raid, the five men were seen escaping on 'velibs' - hire bicycles which can be rented all over Paris. Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint by masked men at an apartment in Paris in the early hours of Monday. She is pictured here with sister Kourtney in Paris on Sunday night wearing her huge engagement ring (left), just hours before being robbed They were reportedly caught on CCTV as they crept past a sleeping guard. It was thought the armed gang avoided a police camera, which was not pointed at the front of her Paris apartment block and that local businesses didn't have any footage either. However, now it has been revealed the gang was caught in a 'million-to-one' image after a camera facing a mirror reflected their getaway. According to The Sun, French police have now seized the footage from the Bel Ange nail salon on the same street as the apartment. A camera on the salon's mezzanine-level was reportedly facing a large mirror which reflected an image of the gang as they made their getaway. The mother-of-two sported a white two-piece number as she stepped out in Paris The revelation comes after a new video emerged showing a mystery car tailing Kim as she left a French fashion house just hours before the robbery. The footage shows a grey Fiat 500 trying to constantly cut in front of photographers and wanting to tailgate the car carrying Kardashian, her husband Kanye West and her sister Kourtney after they left a fitting at Givenchy. According to photographers on motorbikes who were also following the reality TV star, the driver of the car was talking loudly on his phone but looked to be smartly dressed. At one point, photographers who were angry by his driving tried to confront him as Kardashian arrived at a restaurant in the French capital. And when asked who he was, the man apparently replied that he was a police officer. It is also claimed he also tried to enter the restaurant where the family were eating but was turned away by security. Photographers also claim he was spotted outside the apartment that was raided with Kardashian inside and he was stood there for two hours, constantly looking inside the gate and clutching his phone. New York architect Peter Marino (left) poses with Kim Kardashian (left) and Kourtney Kardashian (right) at the private dinner hosted by Surface Magazine and Azzedine Alaia as part of Paris Fashion Week on Sunday night, hours before the robbery French police investigation have claimed Kardashian was tailed by two men in the days leading up to the robbery. The two men described as 'Caucasian' and 'North African' posed as a plain-clothed detective and as a photographer to gain vital 'close surveillance' information for robbery. One even tried to gain access to the Kardashian's exclusive apartment at Hotel Pourtales ahead of the raid in the early hours of Monday morning, investigators fear. The men who spoke with French accents are now thought to be suspects in the multi-million dollar jewellery heist. Kardashian, who was in the French capital to attend fashion week shows, returned to the U.S. on Monday. Among the pieces Kardashian had with her in Paris were these necklaces from her husband Kanye's upcoming collection with Jacob Arabo, who sells his pieces to the rich and famous for thousands of pounds She was also wearing grillz by Dolly Cohen in one of her Snapchat stories in Paris, which can cost upwards of 200 euros (174.82) Experts predict the robbers will struggle to dispose of their loot. Sandrine Marcot, acting president of the French union of jewellers and watchmakers, said the value of the haul would 'crash' due to the media hype around the heist and the recognisability of the stolen goods. Special tests that should have been booked within a week never happened One died one month after attending the clinic complaining of chest pains More than 200 veterans died while awaiting treatment at a VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, a shocking new report has revealed. The Phoenix VA Health Care System was the center of a national scandal in 2014 when an audit by Veterans Affairs discovered 35 people had died while awaiting care. The internal investigation found veterans were being kept on 'secret waiting lists' and were reportedly facing delays of up to a year. Phoenix VA Care System, pictured, failed to treat veterans in a timely fashion according to a damning 47-page report by the Inspector General's office which has just been published In a damning 47-page report, the VA Office of the Inspector General found that 215 veterans had died while awaiting treatment. Among them was a 58-year-old man who was described as a 'moderate smoker'. He arrived at the hospital in May 2015 complaining of chest pain which got worse with strenuous activity. The first doctor ordered an 'exercise treadmill test' from the Cardiology Outpatient Department and said the examination should take place within a week. However, one month later, in June 2015, a family member discovered the man dead in his home. The report said: 'According to the death certificate, an autopsy was performed confirming the cause of death as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 'At the time of his death, the treadmill test was not scheduled.' The report claimed the primary care provider had evaluated the patient properly and sent him forward for further tests 'as his symptoms were concerning and suggestive of heart disease'. Arizona senator John McCain said a 'cultural change' was needed inside the Phoenix VA The report concluded: 'Timely testing may have indicated that the patient had significant disease and could have prompted further definitive testing and interventions that could have forestalled his death.' The review found that some 35,000 patients were waiting for consultations, with some facing delays of more than 300 days for vascular care. One patient underwent surgery for vascular care in October 2015 after being recommended for treatment in June 2013. A scheduler who attempted to warn of poor appointment practices in the surgical department was removed from their position after reporting the problems. Michael J Missal, Inspector General at the US Department of Veterans Affairs said: 'Because consults were inappropriately discontinued, some patients did not receive the care requested or experienced delays in receiving care. 'OIG's 14 recommendations will help improve consult procedures at PVAHCS and ensure veterans receive the follow-up medical care with specialty doctors that they earned through their service in our military.' The Inspector General's report said the VA Office reviewed more recent allegations that the Phoenix system's staff 'inappropriately discontinued and canceled consults, management provided staff inappropriate direction, patients died waiting for consultative appointments, more than 35,000 patients were waiting for consults' as of August 2015. Consults include appointments, lab tests, teleconferencing and other planned patient contacts. As of July 2016, there reportedly were 38,000 open consults at the Phoenix VA. Jeff Miller, US House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman said: 'More than two years after the Phoenix VA Health Care System became ground zero for VA's wait-time scandal, many of its original problems remain, and this report is proof of that sad fact. 'It's clear veterans are still dying while waiting for care, that delays may have contributed to the recent death of at least one veteran and the work environment in Phoenix is marred by confusion and dysfunction.' The Phoenix system enrolls about 85,000 veterans and announced last week the hiring of yet another new director since the 2014 firing of Sharon Helman. Miller added: 'VA's performance in Phoenix and across the nation will never improve until there are consequences up and down the chain of command for these and other persistent failures. 'Unfortunately, given that this report is largely devoid of clear lines of accountability to those responsible for Phoenix VAHCS's current problems, it is unlikely these issues will be solved anytime soon.' Russia is evacuating more than 40million people in drills to prepare for nuclear war after Putin's Ministry of Defence warned of 'schizophrenics from America sharpening atomic weapons for Moscow. Citizens have been told a war with the West could be imminent and Kremlin officials have said underground shelters have been built to house 12million people. The massive evacuation drill started yesterday and will last three days. Russia is evacuating more than 40million people in drills to prepare for nuclear war after Putin's Ministry of Defence warned of 'schizophrenics from America sharpening atomic weapons for Moscow A Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters spokesman said: ' The three-stage four-day drill involves more than 40 million people, more than 200,000 specialists of rescue units based in regions, organizations and enterprises, as well as some 50,000 units of equipment. 'Management bodies and forces of the Emergency Ministry's territorial bodies have been put on simulated high alert. 'Representatives of federal executive authorities, heads of regions, local governments and organizations are taking part in the massive drill. 'Emergency Ministry's forces and facilities are fully engaged, including rescue military divisions, rescue units, paramilitary mine rescue units and State Small Vessels Inspectorate, fire departments and aircraft. 'The topic of the drill is Organization of civil defense during large natural and man-caused disasters in the Russian Federation.' Russia's accused bombing of Syria has been widely criticised, and the US this week suspended negotiations with leader Vladimir Putin Russia's accused bombing of Syria has been widely criticised, and the US this week suspended negotiations with leader Vladimir Putin. Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov said: 'Civil defense system solves a wide range of tasks related to protection of people, material and cultural values in each constituent territory of the Russian Federation. 'Modern approaches to foundation of control centers are being implemented, there is a set of automatized database forming systems, modeling of different threats and risks, satellite monitoring and forecasting system which uses Russian-made solutions and technologies.' He added there would be a comprehensive approach to training experts and specialists able to work in crises. The minister noted that regions of Russia have enough material and other resources of civil defense to respond to large massive disasters swiftly and efficiently. 'The Emergency Ministry, federal executive authorities and regions have material and other resources to ensure uninterrupted operation of transport, power supply and communication systems. 'It has proven efficient in the past three years. 'We are restoring roads, building temporary bridges and handle many other problems. 'During the drill we are going to inspect what was planned to be inspected and make suggestions on building-up the potential and areas of developing civil defense considering risks and threats, civil defense plans are going to be revised and suggestions will be made for summary rules of national standards.' Two jets have been grounded after they clipped tail fins while one was preparing to take off at an airport in Western Australia. A Qantas jet bound for Perth was making its way to the runway at Paraburdoo Airport at around 4.30pm on Wednesday when it came into contact with a Network Aviation plane, which is owned by the same company. Around 70 travelers were forced to disembark while engineers disentangled the aircraft, and filmed the moments after the collision. Two aircraft were grounded at an airport in Western Australia on Wednesday after their tail fins clipped while one was preparing to take off While a Qantas spokesman claimed the aircraft did not actually collide, images and footage taken from the scene seem to suggest otherwise. The images appear show the rear stabilising fins on the left hand side touching each other while the aircraft, both Boeing 717s, sit on the tarmac. Will Snaith, a miner, told The Western Australian: 'We were feeling the brakes, it was like a couple of jerks but we thought he was just testing the brakes. 'We saw this guy jumping up and down outside the window, going, "Stop, stop stop." Around 70 passengers were forced to disembark while engineers disentangled the aircraft, with at least three flights cancelled due to the accident 'The pilot taxied left and this guys jumping around waving his arms and were thinking, "Mate, wheres your radio?" 'We watched the wing go underneath the tail of the other one but it was the back of the plane that touched. From what Im looking at, its touched anyway.' The airport is a major transport hub for miners working in pits nearby, and provides a much-needed link to cities elsewhere in Australia. As Tim Kaine and Mike Pence battled it at out the vice presidential debate Tuesday night, viewers took to Twitter to voice their confusion at the Democratic running mate's unusual pin. Some confused it with the flag of Japan, Honduras and even ISIS - but it's actually a 'blue star' pin to honor American servicemen. Kaine's eldest son Nat, 26, is currently deployed as a Marine, something he touched on in the debate. He is an active-duty 1st lieutenant who Kaine said earlier this year was deployed abroad 'in aid of NATO allies'. It is unclear exactly where. Kaine's rival Mike Pence's son, Michael J. Pence, is also a Marine officer - a 2nd lieutenant who is currently training to become a pilot in the corps. Scroll down for video Tim Kaine wore a blue star pin to Tuesday night's debate to honor his eldest son Nat, who is an active-duty Marine Star of the show: The blue star flag was created in 1917 for the parents of US servicemen The blue star pin is worn by military family members to honor active-duty servicemen during times of war or hostilities. The blue star flag was designed by World War I Army captain Robert L. Queisser in 1917 as a symbol for parents with deployed children. Queisser's own two sons served on the front line. On duty: Nathaniel Kane was deployed to Tanzania in 2015 and met park rangers protecting wildlife there Graduation: Mike Pence was with his son Michael as he graduated from officer candidate school before being commissioned as a Marine 2nd lieutenant in 2015. The flag was adopted by the Department of Defense in 1947. But it's apparently still uncommon enough that people unfamiliar with the pin ridiculed Kaine for it Tuesday night. In a since-deleted tweet, the North Carolina GOP wrote: 'Tim Kaine wears a Honduras flag pin on his jacket but no American flag. Shameful.' Other users clearly had never heard of the flag. Twitter user Mike wrote: 'Does anyone else notice that Mike Pence is wearing an American flag pin on his suit and Tim Kaine of course is not? Wow, shameful?' A woman was subject to a vicious and unprovoked attack as she waited at a set of traffic lights along a busy high street. Shocking video footage shows the woman take a nasty punch to the head as a man sprints past in Clapham High Street, south London. The 25-year-old victim was said to be 'very distressed' after the daylight assault, which was caught by CCTV cameras. Pictured, the man attacks the woman with a brutal punch at traffic lights on Clapham High Street, south London Metropolitan Police are now hunting for the 6ft-tall black man involved in the incident at the pedestrian crossing on Wednesday, September 14. The attacker was aged between 30 and 40 years old, had short black hair and is described as being clean shaven or having short stubble. He was wearing dark trousers and a green jacket. DC Dan Nash, from Lambeth CID, said: 'The victim was simply going about her business when out of the blue a man approached her from behind and punched her in the side of her head before running off. 'This was an unprovoked attack which has left the victim very distressed. CCTV footage shows the man loitering at the location for a few minutes before the attack. 'Clapham High Street was very busy at the time of the incident. Someone must have seen something, so I am appealing for any witnesses or anyone who recognises the man to come forward.' Pictured, the woman is knocked to one side after the punch with her attacker fleeing the scene The woman, who had minor injuries, flagged down officers after the assault, who then searched the area but could not find the attacker. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'No arrests have been made and inquires continue.' Donald Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway appeared on MSNBC a day after the vice presidential debate Donald Trump's presidential campaign is planning to continue to exploit footage of Bill Clinton on the campaign trail this week calling Obamcare 'the craziest thing in the world.' Appearing on MSNBC a day after the vice presidential debate, Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, called Clinton's latest statements a 'huge issue.' 'Weve got now president bill Clinton as our best surrogate. Were thinking of having him in the spin room with us in St. Louis,' she quipped a reference to the pivotal second presidential debate set to occur on Sunday. Bill Clinton's comments which showed him splitting with popular president Obama on an issue central to his presidency while Hillary Clinton is seeking to succeed him is likely to live on not only in the next debate, but in campaign TV ads. Donald Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway declared Mike Pence the winner of Tuesday night's debate and said Bill Clinton was now the campaign's best surrogate after his explosive Obamacare remarks Scroll down for video Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, also appearing on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe,' smiled as he struggled to explain the comments Speaking of Hillary Clinton's view of Obamacare, he said, 'She thinks its been a success and we need to continue on it, we need to buid on it.' Trying to clean up for Bill Clinton, whom he served as chief of staff, Podesta said, 'Thats what he really believes, his colorful language not withstanding.' Speaking at a rally in Flint, Michigan on Monday as he stumps for his wife, Bill Clinton said, 'So you've got this crazy system where all of a sudden 25 million more people have health care and then the people who are out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half.' 'It's the craziest thing in the world,' the former president said. Bill Clinton tried to clean up his remarks on Tuesday by saying Obamacare did 'a world of good.' Hillary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta tried to spin Bill Clinton's remarks, 'his colorful language not withstanding' Conway acknowledged her own boss' time was better spent talking about policy rather than any weight gain by former Miss Universe Alicia Machado EXPLAINER IN CHIEF? Bill Clinton put his foot in his mouth Monday when he called Obamacare ''the craziest thing in the world' HELPING HAND? Conway joked that Donald Trump's campaign would deploy Bill Clinton in the 'spin room' after the next debate as a Trump-supporter following his Obamacare comments Republican Mike Pence (R) and Democrat Tim Kaine (L) sparred during the only Vice Presidential Debate at Longwood University in Farmville NO MAS MACHADO: Conway indicated Trump might have erred by going after former Miss Universe Alicia Machado following the first debate. ''If the campaign is about you and not about us, the people, then its not really your highest and best uses as a candidate,' she said Both Podesta and Conway weighed in on Tuesday night's vice presidential debate, where Indiana Governor Mike Pence prevailed in snap polls after Virginia Senator Time Kaine repeatedly challenged and interrupted him. But Pence turned down numerous opportunities to defend his running mate, even denying Donald Trump had said things he had actually said. 'Governor Pence was smooth,' said Podesta. 'He seemed sort of likeable but he didn't get the job done. The vice president's job is to go in and try to defend the top of the ticket.' He added: 'Mike Pence looked like more like he was looking at 2020 than 2016. He kind of walked away.' 'He did backflips on Russia. He didn't sound at all like what Donald Trump has been saying out on the campaign trail. He made a whole new policy up on Syria which embraced Hillary Clinton's approach to what's going on in Syria.' Conway said Tim Kaine appeared 'so boorish interrupting and ignoring a female moderator.' But asked about her own boss's attacks on former Miss Universe Alicia Machado during the first presidential debate, Conway admitted there were better uses of his time. 'If the campaign is about you and not about us, the people, then its not really your highest and best uses as a candidate,' Conway said. She also cast aside theories that Trump was ticked that Pence didn't defend some of Trump's comments perhaps with an eye on his own political future. Police are looking for a 30-year-old Romanian man seen on CCTV She is now recovering from concussion and facial injuries in hospital The attack occurred on Sunday night near the Colosseum An Australian woman, 49, has been raped, beaten and robbed in Rome An Australian woman has been raped, beaten, and robbed in central Rome. The 49-year-old cannot remember the rape, but recalls being punched in the face and being robbed of her mobile phone and purse, The Local reported. She had been at a bar near Romes central Termini train station on Sunday night and was attacked in the Colle Oppio park, near the Colosseum. A 49-year-old Australian woman has been attacked near the Colosseum in central Rome (stock image) The woman was raped, beaten and robbed at Colle Oppio park (pictured) on Sunday night A passerby rescued the woman, who is now recovering from concussion and facial injuries at San Giovanni Hospital. The Australian woman was in Rome for a study trip and had planned to leave for Paris on Tuesday, but is now expected to remain at the hospital for up to a month, local media reported. Police are looking for a 30-year-old Romanian man spotted on CCTV leaving the bar with the woman. Its believed there may be a second man involved. She had been at a bar near Romes central Termini train station (pictured) and was seen leaving with a 30-year-old Romanian man She is recovering from concussion and facial injuries at San Giovanni hospital It is the second brutal attack on a foreign woman in the Italian capital in as many weeks. Two men, aged 27 and 31, and a woman were arrested on Monday for the rape and beating of a Brazilian woman, 48, on September 25. She was reportedly kidnapped, beaten, tied up and raped. The Brazilian woman passed out but escaped to hospital as her attackers slept. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed consular assistance to an Australian woman hospitalised in Rome. A friend of a Georgia businesswoman who was accidentally shot and killed by her husband claims the man placed a handgun in his lap as they drove home because they feared for their safety in light of recent Black Lives Matter protests in Atlanta. Diane McIver, 63, was in the front passenger seat while her spouse, attorney Claud 'Tex' McIver, was sitting in the backseat of an SUV, directly behind her, when the handgun in his possession went off, fatally injuring her on the night of September 25, according to police. Mark Guilbeau, an investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week that her cause of death has been listed as homicide the death of a person at the hands of another. Scroll down for video Tragic couple: Atlanta businesswoman Diane McIver, 63 (left), was reportedly shot dead by her husband, attorney Tex McIver (right), when a handgun accidentally discharged Bill Crane, a friend of the Atlanta couple acting as a family spokesman, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Claud McIver had retrieved his handgun, a .38-caliber snub-nose revolver, because they were concerned about unrest in Atlanta related to the Black Lives Matter movement and feared of getting carjacked. Just two days earlier, hundreds of demonstrators staged a march in downtown Atlanta to protest the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina. Crane also told the paper that the revolver was in Mr McIver'a lap when their 2013 Ford Expedition hit a bump in the road and the weapon accidentally discharged, killing Diane. It was a tragic accident, he said. Atlanta Police Sgt Warren Pickard on Tuesday called into question Crane's account of what went on inside the McIvers' car that night, saying that the friend 'wasn't in the car, so he is not a witness to what happened.' Pickard declined to offer any more details on the investigation, only saying that the case is 'more complicated' than first thought. In an earlier interview with WGCL, Mr Crane had said that the handgun fired as Claud McIver was taking it out of a plastic shopping bag. A friend said the McIvers armed themselves because they feared Black Lives Matter protests. This image from September 23 shows demonstrators in downtown Atlanta protesting the police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott Lingering questions: It is unclear whether the gun fired as Mr McIver, pictured on the left outside Atlanta police headquarters, was removing it from a plastic bag, or when the SUV hit a bump in the road Police said they are now in the process of conducting repeat interviews of witnesses to the shooting. Sometimes you have to question the person three or four times to get the answer you need, said Sgt Pickard. We are going to let those interview sessions lead us in the right direction. Boss: Diane McIver was president of Corey Airport Services, an Atlanta-based marketing company where she had worked for more than 40 years As of Wednesday morning, no charges have been filed in connection to the businesswomans shooting death. Diane McIver was president of Corey Airport Services, a successful Atlanta-based marketing company where she had worked for more than 40 years. Her husband is a partner in the Atlanta office of Fisher Phillips LLP specializing in labor and employment law. He is also a vice president of the Georgia State Election Board, and as of August, a member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Gun Violence. The fatal incident took place at around 10.40pm on September 25 as Diane and Tex McIver were riding in the 2013 Ford Expedition from their sprawling farm in rural Putnam County to their apartment in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. The SUV was reportedly riding along Piedmont Avenue, past Piedmont Park, when Diane McIver became concerned about carjackers after seeing some people make their way towards their SUV. It is then that her husband reached for his handgun. Georgia ranchers: The McIvers were riding in an SUV from their sprawling farm in Eatonton, Putnam County (pictured) on Sunday night when the incident took place Pied a terre: Diane and Tex McIver own an apartment in a luxury complex in Buckhead, Atlanta (pictured) Sad irony: Mr McIver is a member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Gun Violence Diane McIver was rushed to Emory University Hospital, where she succumbed to her injures shortly before 1am Monday. Atlanta police have been reluctant to release details of the shooting. An incident report that was put out by the department last Wednesday made no mention of any other occupants of the Ford SUV other than the victim. 'This is one of those situations were working through very slowly,' police Sgt. Warren Pickard said. 'We want to get it right.' Diane was a vivacious, beautiful, entertaining woman who was a lot of fun to around, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills told the station 11Alive. Simon Cowell earlier this year. A man has been charged with breaking into his home last December A man has appeared in court accused of breaking into music mogul Simon Cowell's 10million home and stealing 1million of jewellery. Darren February, 32, was charged with burglary following the incident Cowell's mansion in Holland Park, west London on December 4 last year. He only spoke only to confirm his personal details as he appeared in the dock at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court, west London, today. The X-Factor judge was asleep upstairs with his partner Lauren Silverman and their young son Eric when an intruder broke into their home. Prosecutor Kevin Christie said jewellery belonging to Ms Silverman, with an estimated value of 1million. Watches and two passports, belonging to Cowell, were also taken from a safe. The passports were later recovered. Mr Christie told the court: 'A burglary took place at a dwelling at approximately 1:20am in the morning on Friday December 4th last year. 'The property owner Mr Simon Cowell was asleep in the master bedroom on the first floor with his partner Lauren Silverman. 'Also in the property was their son, a nanny and a security guard. 'In the safe was jewellery belonging to Lauren Silverman with an estimated value of over 1million. 'Also in the safe were two passports belonging to Mr Cowell with some watches.' February indicated no plea as he appeared in the dock wearing a striped short-sleeve shirt, Mr Christie told the court the CPS had CCTV footage from the house which a police officer had used to identify February. He added that a glove found near the scene carried DNA evidence which matched February. There was a break in at the music mogul's home in December last year while he, his partner and their son slept upstairs The prosecutor said: 'One of the passports was recovered approximate to the home and a second passport was located later on. 'Some of the property was recovered in a bag.' Peter McGovern, defending February, told the court the prosecution's case was not as strong as made out by Mr Christie and that there were three other suspects. Cowell said following the burglary that knowing the intruder had passed just 'three feet' from where he lay asleep 'creeps' him out. Speaking about the raid last December, Cowell said: 'He got up to the first floor and there were two doors, one to my bedroom and one to my bathroom, which leads to a dressing room where the safe was. 'So he could have walked into my bedroom. Instead, he chose the other so he went through the bathroom. I think he had inside knowledge, definitely.' Cowell said at the time that jewellery belonging to his partner Lauren Silverman was stolen Commenting on the night of the raid, Cowell said: 'I went to bed early that night. I'm normally up quite late.' His three Yorkshire Terriers had been with him. Of the items stolen - said to include jewellery and cash - he added: 'It was mainly Lauren's stuff. The first thing you think about is, 'OK, that's insured so it's not the end of the world'. 'It's just the feeling of that invasion, that someone was three feet away from you. It kind of creeps you out a bit.' Cowell has since stepped up security, saying: 'It's a wake-up call. I've changed lots of things to make it harder to get into. 'This is happening hundreds of times a day across the country, I'm not the only one. Most people, like me, think, 'At least no one got hurt.'' February, of no fixed address, was ordered to next appear at Isleworth Crown Court on November 2. Aubrey Consiglio Adam Smith Chad Hall Casey Mount Kyle Briner Lindsey Liles Previous Next HHM CPAs, Chattanoogas largest locally-owned CPA firm, has hired five staff accountants and one senior accountant to accommodate recent growth. Senior accountant Adam Smith and staff accountants Casey Mount and Aubrey Consiglio have been added to the tax department. Staff accountants Chad Hall, Kyle Briner and Lindsey Liles will serve on both the tax and audit teams. Over the past five years, we have been fortunate to grow at a pace that allows us to hire candidates throughout the year, said Donnie Hutcherson, managing partner of HHM CPAs. We are always looking for the best, the brightest and for those who care about our dynamic company culture as well as the Chattanooga community." HHM is currently hiring for internships and full-time positions. Visit hhmcpas.com/careers for more information. The family of a New Hampshire cop who was murdered by a teenager in 1976 have slammed the decision to grant the gunman parole. Cleo Roy was just 15 when he was sentenced to 50 years behind bars for killing father-of-two Ralph Miller on October 2, 1976. He was granted parole after expressing remorse for the slaying and remaining trouble-free in prison. But the family of the slain officer have expressed their anger at the outcome. Ralph's brother Arthur Miller told the New Hampshire Union Leader on Tuesday: 'It's a shame that Cleo Roy did not stop to think that behind the badge was a person with a family, parents who loved him and an all-around good human being that was fun to be around. 'Mr Roy can now see the light of day. I wish I could say the same for Ralph, who had it all taken away.' Cleo Roy (left and right), who was convicted of gunning down a Manchester police officer 40 years ago at age 15, has been granted parole Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin said Wednesday: 'This has been extremely difficult for them. 'They don't feel that the punishment fits the crime. But they respect the fact that parole board made the decision that they did, as do we.' Miller was shot when he was responding to a noise complaint stemming from a teenage drinking party Roy was holding in his parents' absence. Miller was 25 and a Navy veteran with one year on the force when he was gunned down. He had a three-year-old daughter, and his wife was pregnant with their second child. They had moved into a new home days before the shooting. The Fallen Officers page on Manchester's website says: 'At about 11:30 p.m. on October 2, 1976, Officer Ralph Miller responded to 119 Hall Street to check a report of a loud party. 'Cleo Roy, age 15, was armed with a rifle and was standing silhouetted in the doorway as Officer Miller approached the residence. 'Roy raised the rifle and fired a shot, striking Officer Miller in the upper chest. Officer Miller died later that night at the Catholic Medical Center - East.' Roy, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, expressed remorse for the shooting. According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, he said Tuesday: 'I cannot and will not attempt to make an excuse nor can I ever repay what I stole from Officer Miller's wife and particularly what I stole from his children. Miller (pictured) was 25 and a Navy veteran with one year on the force when he was shot and killed. He had a 3-year-old daughter, and his wife was pregnant with their second child 'I killed a husband, a father, a son and a cop for the twisted reason of wanting to gain status with the older boys that were there.' Roy last applied for parole in 2011. The state parole board denied it, noting his 'atrocious' behavior during his first dozen years in prison outweighed leadership he showed in counseling convicts and helping prison officials maintain order. Roy entered the state prison in 1976. He escaped during his first year there, which led to a transfer to the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois. There, he joined the white supremacist prison gang, the Aryan Brotherhood, and drew a federal racketeering conviction in connection with the killing of another inmate gang member in 1988. He told the board in 2011 after five years in an isolation cell at Marion, he walked away from the gangs. On Tuesday, the board noted that since 2011, the 55-year-old Roy has been 'disciplinary-free,' finished programs to help his job prospects and manage his finances, established strong family and community support, started family counseling, and notified the police in his proposed community of release. Roy will be under the supervision of a parole officer who will assist in his transition to society. Miller's family and the Manchester Police Department did not support Roy's release. Family members did not attend Tuesday's hearing. Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported, said: 'I appreciate hearing the regret and the tone in which he said it, but I don't want to lose sight of who officer Ralph Miller was. 'As you make your decision and Mr. Roy moves on with his life, always remember the person who was lost here. Police have released footage of the moment an elderly Texas man was followed home from the bank by a robber and attacked in the hope of finding the people responsible. Trieu Pham had just made his monthly trip to the Chase bank near Belfort and the Gulf Freeway in Houston on September 1. However he did not realize he was about to become the victim of what is known as a 'jugging' attack, where a burglar follows someone home, knowing they have just taken out cash. Attack: In the video captured on the home surveillance system, you can see a Dodge Charger across the street and a man jump out (left), running up into the carport Robbery attempt: The surveillance shows the man running to the car just as Pham gets out The victim is thrown to the ground as the robber attempts to search the car for money Pham is thrown to the ground, but is not hurt. He fled the carport in search of safety Pham cashed his social security check, as he does every month, and then drove the 10 minutes to his house in Glenbrook. However once he pulled into his carport he was pounced upon by a tall black man, and the whole robbery was caught on surveillance video. The footage shows the man get out of a white sedan on the street and run over to Pham, who is still getting out of his car. Pham is thrown to the ground, and then gets up and runs away, as the man rifles through his car. The robber then flees, running back to the car from which he came and taking off. This is the man police are hoping to find. His is a tall black man, possibly in his twenties Victim: Trieu Pham had just made his monthly trip to the Chase bank near Belfort and the Gulf Freeway in Houston on September 1 Luckily, Pham was not injured in the attack. Also, the money he had withdrawn was in his trouser pocket, so the thief left empty-handed, ABC 13 reported. Pham's nephew was inside the house at the time and came to his aid. Houston Crime Stoppers has now appealed for information for anyone with information about what happened to come forward. Fortunately, a witness was able to write down the license plate of the car involved in the attack and give it to the patrol officers who attended the scene. Scene: Pham was followed home to his house in Glenbrook from this Chase bank Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for any additional information. Advertisement Kim Kardashian's bodyguard has deleted all references to her off of his social media accounts as MailOnline can reveal that he filed for bankruptcy for his German security company ten weeks ago with debts of more than 1million. Pascal Duvier, 43, who was in a nightclub when the star fell victim to a 8.5million heist as she slept alone in her Paris hotel, lodged a claim for company insolvency at Heidelberg administrative court on July 22 this year. His German ProtectSecurity firm, which has run security for a host of stars from Kim's husband Kanye West to the Black Eyed Peas, has racked up debts totalling 1,093,518 (961,296). The insolvency lawyer on the case told MailOnline: 'There is so much debt. There are many claimants. I cannot say the exact number. Lots.' Insolvency: Kim Kardashian's bodyguard Pascal Duvier, pictured above with Kim in Paris last weekend, filed for bankruptcy for his German security company ten weeks ago with debts of more than 1million Shabby: Duvier was seen at his security business premises in Eppelheim, Germany, in recent weeks. A woman who runs a hairdressing salon on the mini-industrial estate said: 'He came here with his secretary but didn't stay long. Since then the blinds have been down and there has not been a soul here.' Bankruptcy: Official documents obtained by MailOnline, above, reveal that Mr Duvier filed for insolvency for his ProtectSecurity firm on July 22 in his German hometown of Heidelberg Debt: Duvier's ProtectSecurity firm, which has boasted of running security for a host of stars from Kim's husband Kanye West to the Black Eyed Peas, has racked up total debts of 1.093,518, 63 Too much debt: An insolvency lawyer appointed to Mr Duvier's case said the company owes lots of money. The premises where ProtectSecurity was registered, above, rent for less than 400 a month in south-east Germany Reality TV star Kim, 35, was subjected to a terrifying ordeal in the early hours of Monday morning when five gunmen disguised as police officers and wearing ski masks to hide their faces bound and gagged her in the luxury Hotel de Pourtales. Mother-of-two Kim had been left alone in the suite while bodyguard Duvier went to high-end nightclub L'Arc with her sisters Kourtney and Kendall Jenner. Bodyguard Duvier arrived at the flat two minutes after the gangsters escaped on bicycles with her 3.5million engagement ring - apparently after being alerted by a text message from Kim's best friend Simone Harouche. Duvier, who has vowed to track down the attackers, has faced claims he left the star exposed by failing to secure the flat in his absence. Kim has reportedly told friends that she does not blame him for the crime. There is no suggestion Duvier had any involvement or that he is under any suspicion. By Wednesday afternoon, Duvier had deleted all references that he had worked for Kim from his social media accounts. That included photos of the reality TV star and pictures of him while he was working as her bodyguard. Duvier has not been fired by Kim or Kanye and according to TMZ, sources say deleting the content from his accounts is a safety measure to block possible thieves from figuring out the couple's whereabouts. High opinion: Pascal Duvier's self aggrandizing Instagram posts reveal how much faith he appears to have in himself and his ability to protect his employer, Kim Kardashian Hot stuff: The bodyguard likes to promote himself heavily on social media and creates the impression amid the hashtags and name dropping that he knows exactly what he is doing Dapper: The selfie-loving German bodyguard has often shared images on social media after building his own online following thanks to his work with celebrities but has turned his account settings private in the wake of the attack Show off strength: The burly bodyguard shared photos on his Instagram account of him attempting to lift huge objects The 6-4' selfie-loving security guard has worked for Kanye West since 2012, and won acclaim just a week ago when he saved Kim from being grabbed by prankster Vitalii Sediuk in Paris. On his LinkedIn profile, Duvier says: 'My goal as the Chairman of ProtectSecurity is build a security team around the protected person.' He has apparently run the company for 19 years and his profile says he has lots of experience with high profile clients having worked for Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, Will.i.am, the Pussycat Dolls, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Lana del Rey and Katy Perry. The paperwork was lodged at the justice centre on the banks of the Neckar River at 8am on July 22. The insolvency document for the case said the company's 'inability to pay and debts' meant that a lawyer was appointed by the court to examine all its finances. The lawyer told MailOnline that normally an insolvency specialist is appointed to help try to rescue a failing business. He said: 'There is so much debt. There are many claimants. I cannot say the exact number. Lots.' Base: Although he travels the world, Duvier was previously registered to a modest tower block in Heidelberg in south-east Germany, above Collapse: The insolvency paperwork states that the case should be settled through correspondence 'It was known to me that Herr Duvier is the bodyguard of Frau Kardashian.' The insolvency paperwork further states that claimants who say the company owes them money had until September 16 to file their claims. The document says that the case should be settled through correspondence, which would spare any court appearances. Part of the insolvency lawyer's job will be to ascertain whether the company has any money in any other accounts, any assets not declared or anything else of value which could be used to pay the creditors. The claims will be assessed initially on the 10th of October. Duvier was last seen at his security business premises in Eppelheim in recent weeks. A woman who runs a hairdressing salon on the mini-industrial estate said: 'He came here with his secretary but didn't stay long. Since then the blinds have been down and there has not been a soul here.' The premises rent for less than 400 a month and are located next to various companies in offices separated by hardwood walls. Educated in mathematics at Heidelberg University, Duvier spent time in his youth as a bouncer at discos and nightclubs in the famed academic city. He went in the Bundeswehr to perform his mandatory military service when he was 18 in 1991. According to a friend who attended the same judo club as him, he signed on as a regular soldier for three more years. The friend said: 'He liked the army. He went on to work at the NATO HQ in Heidelberg' - a facility which was shut down in 2013. The court documents do not list who the company owes money to or how much in assets it still has. The revelation that Duvier's firm has filed for insolvency will be a further blow, after the attack on his star client. Take down: Kim declared 'Pascal's a G! He's the best bodyguard in town' after he saved her from being grabbed by prankster Vitalii Sediuk in Paris Concerned: Duvier posted throwback photos on Twitter of a time Kim got swamped by fans and paparazzi and said 'this make me angry' On October 2 - hours before the raid on Kim's apartment - he wrote: 'You don't become a bodyguard over night. It's a job with dedication, responsibility and passion.' Following the robbery, a source told Us magazine: 'Kim is not blaming Pascal. She felt completely safe at the Paris apartment and doesn't believe this is his fault in any way,' they said. Kim was sleeping alone in just a robe when she heard the robbers running upstairs around 2.30am Monday. She feared she would be raped as her wrists were bound with plastic ties, and pleaded with her attackers: 'Please don't kill me! I have children'. After managing to wriggle free, she apparently fled to the balcony in the nine-flat block and screamed for help. Within two minutes Duvier was on the scene, according to accounts from the Kardashians. Two days on, police in the French capital do not appear to be close to solving the robbery. Kim and her best friend, the stylist Simone Harouche, were left by themselves in an apartment in Paris before the raid A source in Paris has said: 'Forensic enquiries have also been carried out, but as yet there is no useful DNA evidence.' Investigators said Ms Kardashian and her stylist Ms Harouche, who was also in the flat at the time, had provided brief statements before returning to the USA within hours of the crime. The only other confirmed witness is an unnamed porter who is said to have been tied up and gagged and left in the stairwell. Detectives have already confirmed that there was no CCTV camera inside or directly outside the block, where flats rent for up to 8000-a-week. But an American linked to of Bel Ange ('Beautiful Angel'), a nail salon close to Ms Kardashian's home, said film of the gang running away is indeed available. MailOnline requested comment from Pascal Duvier through the Kardashians' PR but they have declined. His sister told MailOnline the claims were 'false' but when told there were public documents she added: 'You have to speak to him. This is private. My brother will meet all his debts.' It has since been revealed that there were no CCTV cameras either inside or directly outside the luxury apartment, above, where Kim was staying with 8.5million worth of jewels Brussels Nord Train Station, in north of the city, was later evacuated Belgian police said it had 'reason to believe this was a terrorist attack' Man stabbed one of the officers in the stomach and the other in the neck Two police officers were attacked on a busy main road in Schaerbeek Two police officers were stabbed as one of Belgium's busiest train stations was evacuated due to a bomb scare. The officers were attacked by an unnamed individual in a busy main road in Schaerbeek, known as a 'hotbed of jihadism'. Police shot the suspect in the leg and arrested him. The assailant has been named in Belgian newspaper De Standaard as 43-year-old 'Hicham D', a Belgian national who was formerly in the armed forces and known to the security services. He is reported to have had contact with jihadi fighters who had returned from Syria. Belgium - which has a population of 11 million people - has supplied the highest per capita number of fighters to Syria of any European country. Federal prosecutor's spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt said 'we have reason to believe it is terror-related.' The attack came hours after commuters were ordered to leave Brussels Nord Train Station as it was swept for explosives. An officer stands next to the scene when an unidentified man tried to stab two officers The assailant Wednesday stabbed one officer in the neck and the other in the stomach in the city's Schaerbeek neighborhood Blood spatters are seen behind a police cordon after two officers were stabbed on the street Police stand at the scene where officers were stabbed by an unidentified man in Schaarbeek The prosecutor's office said the man stabbed one of the plain clothed police officers in the stomach and the other in the neck. Neither was seriously hurt. The suspect then tried to run away but was spotted by a second group of officers who shot him in the leg. The 'strongly built' suspect 'broke the nose' of one of the policemen in the struggle. Jan Jambon, Belgiums interior minister, tweeted 'all my support to the police in Schaerbeek'. Schaerbeek has become synonymous with terrorism after a dilapidated 1960s flat in the neighbourhood was used by three jihadists as a bomb-making safehouse prior to the devastating airport and metro attacks on March 22. The Criminal Investigation Department pictured at the scene of a stabbing in Schaerbeek Two police officers were stabbed on this street by a terror suspect who was later shot The suspect originally ran away, but a police car chased him and armed officers shot at him Police patrol the area when the man stabbed two officers in the Schaerbeek district Several terror suspects linked to the coordinated Paris attacks last November were also based in the district. The attack came hours after commuters were ordered to leave Brussels Nord Train Station as it was swept for explosives. Police searched the station, causing major delays, but found 'nothing untoward'. The station was re-opened at around 3pm local time. Belgian counter terrorist prosecutors were investigating a stabbing incident in Brussels today Police and army personnel were stationed outside the station following a bomb alert Commuters were forced to leave the station in the north of the city as officers investigated Police sources said there was no connection between the stabbing and the bomb scares. The same station was evacuated two days ago as officials investigated a suspect package found in a car parked outside. Belgium has been on high alert after coordinated suicide bombings at Brussels airport and at Maalbeek metro train station, which left 35 dead and was the deadliest terrorist attack in the country's history. In August, a machete-wielding man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' attacked and seriously wounded two police women in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi. The assailant was shot dead. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack. A month later, a man wielding a knife attacked two officers in the Molenbeek area but the officers were wearing bulletproof vests so only sustained bruises. Prosecutors said the man of north African origin had no proven link to Islamists. The incidents took place as Brussels hosted representatives from 70 countries and 25 international organisations to raise billions of dollars in aid for Afghanistan. Security was tight for the conference in the EU's headquarters, about two and a half miles from the scene of the knife attack. US secretary of state, John Kerry and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon were among those in attendance. A former student of Scotch College in Melbourne, who revealed he was raped while at the boarding school, said he hopes by sharing his story it will prevent others from experiencing the same thing. Thomas Page, now 46, spoke to The Age about the incident that took place when he was 16-years-old and had recently moved from to the city from central Victoria. He described how after taking a shower he found all his clothes had been taken, and he thought the other students were playing a joke on him. A former student of Scotch College in Melbourne (pictured), who revealed he was raped while at the boarding school, said he hopes by sharing his story it will prevent others from experiencing the same thing Two students then grabbed his waist, another two grabbed his ankles and a fifth boy raped him. Mr Page said when he worked up the courage to report the incident to the school they shut him down, and did everything to 'silence' him and make the incident go away. 'Silence is the perpetrator's greatest weapon,' Mr Page said. 'I want to overcome silence.' In the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the commission is now reportedly looking at an inquiry into sexual abuse among children. Mr Page left the school in the months following the incident and enrolled at a local high school back home, but dropped out before finishing Year 12. He described how he struggled in the years following, and was eventually diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. Thomas Page, now 46, revealed the incident that took place at the school (pictured) when he was 16-years-old and had recently moved from to the city from central Victoria He told Fairfax he made a statement to police in 2004 about the incident, but said they did not take him seriously or follow the claim up. A police spokeswoman said the incident was investigated in 2004 but closed pending further information. It was re-investigated in 2015 and the initial investigation was reviewed, but it was closed again pending further information. Mr Page reached a settlement with Scotch College in 2006. Current principal Tom Batty told Fairfax Media the school community was 'appalled' at the treatment of some of the school's former students. 'It is not possible to imagine the suffering victims have been through in the years since they were abused, in some cases by fellow students,' Mr Batty said. Mr Batty said he had met with old boys who had been abused and apologised on behalf of the college. He said the college's psychologist had also offered support to victims. National child abuse helpline Child Wise: 1800 991 099 Hillary Clinton is getting the band back together. Her husband's vice president, Al Gore, Democrats' nominee for president in 2000, will hit the trail for her this month, putting aside bad blood from their White House days to help her beat Donald Trump. According to the Washington Post, Gore, 68, is being brought in the fold to woo millennials to Clinton, also 68. Many millennials were just small tots when Gore ran faced off against George W. Bush in 2000. Youth casting their ballots for the first time in this years general election wouldnt have been alive when Gore and Bill Clinton barnstormed the country in 1992. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Hillary Clinton is getting the band back together. Her husband's vice president, Al Gore, Democrats' nominee for president in 2000, will hit the trail for her this month Desperate to decimate Trump, Clinton is taking all the help she can get and will reportedly send the climate change activist to do make her case to young people in the final weeks of the White House race. Gore's failed bid for the nation's highest elected office is a cautionary tale for supporters of Bernie Sanders who are planning to stay at home or vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, on Election Day. Democrats blame Green Party candidate Ralph Nader for the outcome of the 2000 presidential race. Nader was on the ballot in 43 states that year and won 2.74 percent of the national popular vote. Johnson could spoil the race for Clinton now, they fear, siphoning off disgruntled Bernie Sanders loyalists and Barack Obama voters. A Morning Consult poll released this week found that Clinton would win 61 percent of voters aged 29 and younger if she went head-to-head with Trump. With Johnson and the Green Party's Jill Stein in the mix, her millennial support drops to 51 percent. Johnson would win 16 percent of young voters. Stein would earn the votes of six percent. Trump had 19 percent support in that scenario. Gore endorsed Clinton in July on the eve of the Democratic National Convention. I am not able to attend this years Democratic convention, but I will be voting for Hillary Clinton, he said in a tweet. Given her qualifications and experience -- and given the significant challenges facing our nation and the worldincluding, especially, the global climate crisis, I encourage everyone else to do the same. The retired politician had withheld his support for Clinton throughout the Democratic primary, promising to support the partys nominee yet refusing to give the woman whose husband he ran with twice his backing outright. Gore and Clintons relationship has, reportedly, been strained since she ran for and won a U.S. senate seat in 2000, the year he saw his own Oval Office dreams dashed. Her candidacy diverted funds from his campaign and kept her husbands impeachment trial and affair with Monica Lewinsky on the front burner during the election. He was previously shoved to the sidelines as vice president, tasked with technology and environmental issues, as the first lady tackled health care reform. She was so instrumental in the creation of the legislation that the proposal was nicknamed Hillarycare. Gore wound up winning a Nobel Peace Prize for his climate change work, and is now ready to let bygones be bygones, it would appear. THROWBACK: Gore and Hillary Clinton are pictured at a church service in New York in 2000 - he year he saw his own Oval Office dreams dashed Gore, his then-wife, Tipper, Bill Clinton, and Hillary, say goodbye to supporters in this 1992 photo before boarding a bus in New York Hillary Clinton is leaving no stone unturned as she barrels toward the November election. Two weekends ago, as she prepared to face-off against Donald Trump at Hofstra, she dispatched the cast of The West Wing to Ohio for a weekend of campaigning. Hunger Games star Elizabeth Banks joined her at an event Tuesday in Pennsylvania. Clinton also has her squad Senator Elizabeth Warren, Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders, First Lady Michelle Obama, and President Barack Obama burning up the map on her behalf. Yesterday, she sent Bill to Ohio Universitys Athens campus to make her case to college students. The former first president told them about her tuition free plan for public universities he also went on for lengthy stretches about taxes and manufacturing, lecturing them on Hillarys plans for the middle class. She could especially use a boost in Ohio. The former cabinet secretary has been losing to Trump in every major survey of the critical battleground state since mid-September. Its unclear if shell send Gore there. The Post says his team is conferring with the Democratic National Committee about the terms of his speaking engagements. Two Moldovan conmen have been jailed after laundering more than 2.5 million stolen using a virus sent in an emailed Word document which recorded bank details. Ion Turcan, 35, and Pavel Gincota, 32, ran a network of more 200 sham accounts from their west London flat to fund their luxury lifestyle. They stole the money by sending a Trojan virus called Dridex as an email attachment - which, when opened, allows criminals to remotely access the victims device and snoop on their bank details. The pair were arrested in February 2015 and charged with conspiracy to possess false identification and conspiracy to launder money. Ion Turcan, 35, (left) and Pavel Gincota, 32, (right) ran a network of more 200 sham accounts from their west London flat to fund their luxury lifestyle Gincota was also charged with a separate money laundering offence in relation to a cyber fraud in Germany in 2012, in which the victim lost 25,000 Euros. Both Gincota and Turcan pleaded guilty to all the charges and were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to five years and eight months, and seven years respectively. Detectives first started investigating the pair in 2015 after 500,000 was stolen from a medical research company and laundered through a series of Barclays accounts. Officers pieced together the money laundering network after discovering the same computer had accessed 199 separate online banking accounts between March 2014 and February this year. When police raided Turcan and Gincotas flat in West Drayton, officers discovered a stash of fake driving licences, passports and identity cards, many of them with the same photograph. Both Gincota and Turcan pleaded guilty to all the charges at the Old Bailey on Tuesday Prosecutor Alistair Richardson told the Old Bailey the men were part of a sophisticated web of fraud, involving, but not limited to, online banking. Vast sums of cash were stolen from banking customers using a Trojan virus called Dridex. When the email attachment is opened it allows criminals to remotely access the victims device and record their bank details. The conspiracies were extensive,' Mr Richardson said. 'They involved the laundering of proceeds of crime in extensive and significant sums, of money stolen from bank accounts using malware computer software and the passing of those sums through a web of more than 200 sham bank accounts. To do so it was necessary to obtain bank accounts by using a series of fake identities. Mr Richardson told how one company, Galen Research, lost more than 500,000 in the scam. On 1 June 2015 a Senior Research Associate at Galen Research was at work when she received an email. The email was blank but there was a Word document attached. She opened the document. Three black screens flashed up. Ms Thorpe reported this. On 3 June she was informed that a virus had been detected and quarantined. Later that day she attempted to log on to the companys Santander account but online banking did not recognise the details. In the meantime, a series of unauthorised transfers had occurred, totalling some516,725.55 paid in 42 separate transactions. The money stolen from Galen Research was transferred through two separate accounts before part of the cash went into Gincotas account. Another 50,000 was stolen from the CW Group, which includes the not-for-profit company Jobs at Homes, after a computer used by the Head of Finance was infected with Dridex. The Barclays accounts used to launder the stolen cash had all been accessed by the same computer using the same cookie. Mr Richardson said: This cookie is recorded as accessing no less than 199 Barclays bank accounts in total. In other words, it would appear that one computer was accessing the online banking of 199 separate bank accounts. Turcan and Gincota were arrested in a car in Heston Community Centre car park on 1 February this year. Text messages on Turcans phone revealed several messages about the money laundering between June 2015 and January 2016. In one chat with another launderer he received a message: Nice and clean, we sucked everything. Turcan replied: Good job :) Mr Richardson said: What starts to emerge is a picture not just of someone who is involved on the sidelines but someone directing the operation, directing what funds go where. Turcan received more than 76,000 into his own Barclays bank account in 60 separate transactions between March 2014 and April 2015. Gincota was credited with just over 230,000 from June 2014 to November 2015. Mr Richardson said: The prosecution say that the patterns of transfers show that monies paid to Gincota indicate he was laundering the proceeds of crime through the network of concealment. Steve Brown, Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA National Cyber Crime Unit said: Pavel Gincota and Ion Turcan were serial money launderers who processed millions of pounds worth of stolen money through hundreds of bank accounts to fund their lifestyles. Those involved in the most serious types of organised crime depend on the services provided by money launderers like Gincota and Turcan to hide their criminal profits. Former President George W. Bush has joined a public service announcement urging people to vote but it's not at all clear whether he wants them to vote for Republican Donald Trump. Bush, who has taken pains to stay on the political sidelines since leaving the White House, joined in the voter participation video, which is pegged to the hit musical 'Hamilton.' 'Our future depends upon you casting a ballot,' Bush tells viewers. What the two-term Republican president doesn't say, and hasn't said publicly, is who he is voting for. His wife, Laura Bush, appears in the video and urges Americans to 'stay involved in the political life in our country.' Scroll down for video Former President George W. Bush told viewers 'our future depends' on them casting a vote Other Bush family members have gained attention throughout the election season for either backing or appearing to back Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, posted on Facebook this month that George H.W. Bush told her he was voting for Clinton. The president's older son, Jeb, slammed Townsend for putting out the information but didn't deny it. 'The President told me hes voting for Hillary!!' Townsend posted of the 92 year old family patriarch. Late last month, Jeb Bush slammed Kennedy Townsend for the breach. 'I thought it was a little inappropriate for a person to overhear a frail, 92-year-old man, in a private setting, at a reception for the Points of Light Foundation, which focuses on volunteerism to hear this and then immediately go on Facebook and put it on there and then go on national television and then not even show up at the board meeting,' he fumed, without denying the accuracy of the statement. George W. Bush's daughter, Barbara Bush, attended a fundraiser for Clinton in Paris on Saturday that was hosted by Clinton aide Huma Abedin. George W. Bush's daughter, Barbara (third from left), attended a Hillary Clinton fundraiser in Paris last weekend, along with longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin (top) Attendees posted pictures of Barbara Bush and Abedin at the $5,000-$10,000 a plate event. Bill Clinton has developed a close relationship with the Bush family since George W. Bush left office. He has jokingly called Clinton his 'brother from another mother.' The former president hasn't said how he intends to vote. Jeb Bush has said he won't vote for Trump in November. He said in July: 'I cant vote for Hillary Clinton and I cant vote for Donald Trump, and it breaks my heart.' Jeb Bush's son, George P. Bush, the Texas state agriculture commissioner, broke wth the family and endorsed Trump, who attacked his father mercilessly as 'low energy' during the campaign. 'Tonight Show' host Jimmy Fallon also appeals in the video, which was reported by McClatchy. Former first lady Laura Bush also urges voter participation in the video Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon appears in the video, which was posted on the show's YouTube channel 'If youre inspired by Hamilton, if youre inspired by our founders, understand that the system of government they designed only works if you participate,' President Obama said Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren also makes an appearance House Speaker Paul Ryan, who endorsed Trump after previously saying he wasn't 'ready,' also appears in the video 'If you can vote, there's nothing more important than to vote. Lots of people lived and died so that you can do that,' Miranda says in the video. High-turnout elections often favor Democrats. In this year's presidential election, Donald Trump will perform better if elements of the Barack Obama coalition young and minority voters don't show up in the numbers they did in 2008 and 2012. The increasingly nasty tenor of the campaign has the potential to drive down turnout. Obama also delivers a line in the video, where he mentions the Broadway smash based on the life of Alexander Hamilton. Two Russian Blackjack bombers were intercepted flying back and forth to Northern Spain from the direction of Norway, it has emerged. Four nations - Norway, the UK, France and Spain - all deployed their own jets as the TU-160 planes skirted the airspace of each country, flying around the UK. Spanish media have said it is the furthest south an operation like this has had to take place. This image of one of the Russian bombers was tweeted by the Ministry of Defence today Norway was the first to detect the two Russian jets and scrambled two F-16 fighters to accompany them towards the north of Scotland. Two RAF Typhoon jets then scrambled to intercept Russian Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack bombers just off the coast of Scotland. Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in northern Scotland during the incident, but the Ministry of Defence said the Russian jets did not enter UK airspace. A RAF Typhoon jet similar to two that have been scrambled to intercept Russian planes (file picture) The incident involving the Russian Blackjack bombers (one of which is pictured, off Shetland) is the latest example of brinkmanship by President Putin (right) Another pair of Typhoons from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire also took off but were not required. Skirting to the west of Ireland, the two Russian planes then head to Brittany. Two French Rafale jets took over and intercepted the Blackjacks 100km from Brittany and escorted them to Mont-de-Marsan. As the two jets flew along the Iberian coast, two F-18 Spanish fighter planes took over and all four aircraft got as far as Bilbao before turning back. A statement by the French ministry of defence said: 'These interceptions and escorts were conducted in close cooperation between the two NATO operation centers of the north and south and the national air operations center (ANOC) in Lyon Mont-Verdun.' The incident occurred on September 22, but the full details are only now emerging. The Typhoon jets were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth to deal with the Russian jets which flew close to British airspace off Shetland In February this Blackjack bomber, capable of carrying 16 nuclear missiles, was intercepted by RAF Typhoons as it headed for UK airspace A Russian Blackjack bomber (Tupolev Tu 160) being intercepted an RAF Tornado F3 fighter near Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, in March 2014 In November last year Typhoons were scrambled from Lossiemouth to intercept two Blackjack bombers in an almost identical incident and a month earlier Typhoons intercepted Russian jets over the North Sea. In May 2015 two Bear strategic bombers were intercepted after being spotted north of Scotland. Vladimir Putin has previously been accused of Cold War-style 'brinkmanship' over similar incidents with Nato aircraft across Europe, including more than 100 Russian planes intercepted in 2014. Tensions mounted further when Turkish forces shot down a Russian jet after it allegedly entered Turkish airspace while operating missions in Syria. HOW THE TU-160 IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST OPERATIONAL BOMBER The Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack, which is also known as the White Swan, is the world's largest operational bomber. The Blackjack can fly twice the speed of sound It has also been billed as the world's largest combat aircraft, supersonic aircraft and variable-sweep aircraft - and been compared to the American B-1 bomber. Measuring 178ft long and with a spread wing span of 183ft, the aircraft has a range of more than 7,500 miles. With a crew of four men, the Blackjack entered service in 1987 and can carry 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles as well as 24 Kh-15 attack missiles. The aircraft is part of the Long Range Aviation branch of the Russian Air Force which is involved with long-range nuclear weapons. Advertisement Intercepts of Russian aircraft by NATO have increased over the last year amid heightened tensions between the West and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. The Blackjack is the world's largest operational bomber and is nicknamed the White Swan by the pilots. It can travel at twice the speed of sound and carry 16 nuclear missiles. It is possible the bombers were taking an unusual route to Syria, after a similar incident last November when two Blackjacks came close to entering UK airspace and Typhoons were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to intercept them. The Russian aircraft were making an out-of-the-ordinary 8,000-mile trip round Europe on their way to a bombing mission in Syria. The bombers departed from Olengorsk, in the Kola Peninsula and made their way westbound, coming close to Norwegian and British airspace, where they were met by the RAF. Once intercepted by Britain's Typhoons, they made their way over the Atlantic Ocean and headed back east to Gibraltar, before firing their missiles from the Mediterranean Sea. After flying over Syria, they took the usual route home, over Iran and the Caspian Sea, according to The Aviationist. In October, Typhoons intercepted a Russian Tu-95 'Bear' over the North Sea and Russian warships passed through the Channel and had to be escorted by the Navy. Carpe Risus will present "House of Frankenstein" at The Colonnade Center at Benton Place Campus, 264 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold on Saturday, Oct. 22 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. House of Frankenstein is a comedy about Baron Victor von Frankenstein who is bored with his attempts to give life to the lifeless so he has turned his attention to curing the supposedly incurable. From his home in the Carpathian Mountains, he and his long-suffering wife Elisabeth, the unsavory hunchback Ygor, the Valkyrian Frau Lurker and the Monster play host to various mysterious and menacing denizens of the night (invited and otherwise) who visit the Baron to beg him to rid them of their vices. But this challenge, although a welcome diversion for the headstrong scientist, proves to be no picnic..more of a highly entertaining wise cracking comedy/horror.Ticket prices range from $8-$12. Group ticket prices are available for all shows. For more information, email office@colonnadecenter.org, or call 706-935-9000.The House of Frankenstein" is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc. and was written by Martin Downing. A rocket attack in Israel was declared part of the "jihad against Jews" after a terrorist group linked to ISIS claimed responsibility. Silafi jihadists in Gaza released an online statement saying the strike was in response to the arrest of five Salafi operatives by Hamas. 'Red alert' sirens sounded in the southern Israeli town of Sderot which borders on Gaza shortly before the rocket hit, The Jerusalem Post reported. Scroll down for video The rocket struck the street in the southern Israeli town of Sderot causing large plumes of smoke and left a scorched crater in the road The rocket left a scorched crater in the road while the blast shattered windows of homes and shrapnel damaged cars in the street nearby. The Gaza-based cell is called Ahfad al-Sahaba-Aknaf Bayt al-Maqdis and one of several Salafi jihadist groups who claim to share an ideology and purpose with ISIS. In a statement, released in Arabic and Hebrew and seen by the Times of Israel they said, 'Oh you cowardly Jews: You dont have safety in our land.' Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas and since 2014 has observed a de facto ceasefire with Israel but local armed Salafi groups sometimes attempt their own strikes. In response to the latest attack the Israel Defence Forces fired shells at a Hamas observation point in the town of Beit Hanoun, in the north of Gaza. Hamas-run media said there were no injuries caused by this retaliation strike. 'I can never get used to this': Locals said the strike caused hysteria even though it's not the first time they've been targeted In Sderot local student Dar Cohen, 24, told i24news how he was woken by his roommates screaming. 'Around 10:20 the siren went off," he said. "Then all of a sudden the other students in the apartment started screaming that a rocket was being launched to the city.' Panicking, he ran towards the bomb shelter but only made it as far as the stairs before the explosion hit. 'The noise is so loud it can shatter windows and it can knock you like a sonic boom In your chest. I can not describe it but it's terrifying,' he said. 'There was a lot of hysteria, as not a lot of us are well adjusted to this, it's happened to me about seven times. I can never get used to it.' Israeli police reported no casualties in Sderot and bomb-disposal teams were called to the area which was cordoned off to the public. The last rocket attack to come from Gaza was on August 21. Israeli authorities reported no casualties. The blast shattered windows of homes and shrapnel damaged cars in the street nearby but police reported no injuries Conservative Republicans are more likely to believe scientists are influenced by a desire to progress their own careers Liberal Democrats are far more likely to believe we are the cause of the crisis and trust in climate scientists Only 19 percent think scientists have found a solution for Less than a third believe experts have a thorough More than half of Americans still don't believe that humans are behind climate change despite decades of research, a new study has found. The majority of people in the United States remain skeptical of climate change scientists and their research, according to a report by the Pew Research Center. Less than a third trust that the experts know 'very well' the cause of global warming while just 19 per cent believe they have identified the best ways to address it. Scroll down for video Despite decades of research, more than half of Americans still don't believe that humans are behind climate change, a new study reveals The majority of people in the United States remain skeptical of climate change scientists and their research, according to a report by the Pew Research Center Pew compared their findings to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which stated in the forward to its 2013 report, 'the science now shows with 95 percent certainty that human activity is the dominant cause of observed warming since the mid-20th century'. The likelihood to believe if climate change is caused by mankind appears to be deeply political, with liberals far more likely to believe in years of scientific findings compared to conservatives and Republicans who were more suspicious. More than half of liberal Democrats said there is a 'widespread consensus among climate scientists' about the causes of climate change, and seven in 10 trusted those scientists to give full and accurate information on their findings. The likelihood to believe if climate change is caused by mankind appears to be deeply political Yet around just 15 per cent of conservative Republicans agree. They were far more likely to believe that climate research findings 'are influenced by scientists' desire to advance their careers (57 per cent) or their own political leanings (54 percent) most of the time,' said the Pew report. Solutions to the crisis were also split on political lines as m ore than three quarters of liberal Democrats said restricting emissions from power plants could make a big difference, compared to 29 per cent of conservative Republicans. A similar divide was seen on the question of the usefulness of an international agreement to limit carbon emissions - with 71 per cent of liberal Democrats in favor compared to 27 per cent of conservative Republicans. Two thirds of liberal Democrats back tougher fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks and corporate tax incentives to encourage greener business practices, compared to just about one quarter of conservative Republicans. The graph shows how temperatures have slowly been increasing over the years Even the worthiness of individual efforts to reduce one's 'carbon footprint' were seen quite differently, with 52 per cent of liberal Democrats saying this can make a big difference compared to 21 per cent of conservative Republicans. Having a base of science knowledge did not make a sweeping difference in people's beliefs. CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALREADY CAUSING DEATHS A new study has revealed the dangers of climate change are already affecting humanity and led to the death of hundreds of people across Europe sixteen years ago. A heatwave in 2003 killed 506 people in Paris and 315 in London, experts have said in a new study. A fifth of those deaths can be blamed on man-made pollution. The study led by University of Oxford scientists said there were 315 heat-related deaths in London as Europe experienced its hottest summer on record, out of which 64 were caused by climate change. Advertisement 'To the extent that science knowledge influences people's judgments related to climate change and trust in climate scientists, it does so among Democrats, but not Republicans,' said Cary Funk, lead author and associate director of research at the Pew Research Center. 'For example, Democrats with high science knowledge are especially likely to believe the Earth is warming due to human activity, to see scientists as having a firm understanding of climate change, and to trust climate scientists' information about the causes of climate change,' said Funk. 'But Republicans with higher science knowledge are no more or less likely to hold these beliefs.' The poll did find 'strong bipartisan support for expanding solar and wind energy production,' with 89 per cent of Americans favoring more solar farms and 83 percent more wind turbine farms. Yet, despite liberals being seemingly concerned about climate change, the national figures reveal the U.S. to be mostly ambivalent about the threat which President Obama once called the 'greatest threat to future generations'. Slide me Shocking image shows how global warming is causing Europe's glaciers to retreat by hundreds of feet a year: Austria's largest glacier, Pasterze, in 1920s (left) and in 2012 (right) Only 36 percent of Americans said they are 'deeply concerned about climate issues,' said the survey, which was taken from May to June, some five months before the US presidential election. Americans also don't trust the news media's coverage of climate change with just over half of those surveyed saying the media does a 'bad job.' Thirty-five percent of Americans say the media 'exaggerate the threat of climate change,' and 42 percent say the media 'don't take the threat of climate change seriously enough.' Just 20 percent say the media are 'about right in their reporting.' The survey was based on a nationwide sample of more than 1,500 adults, from May to June this year. Dear Kim, There comes a moment in everyones life which makes you re-assess everything IN your life. It doesnt matter if youre rich or poor, black or white, old or young. At some point, that moment will hit you like a ten-ton truck and when it does, youd better listen to what your heart and gut tells you. Your moment came at 3am on Monday morning. Until then, you were a woman who thought she had it all: great natural beauty, two perfect kids, marriage to one of the worlds top music stars, a variety of extravagant homes, myriad business ventures raking in hundreds of millions of dollars, private jets, limos, famous friendsyes, you were living your dream. Until Monday morning Kim was a woman with everything: beauty, two perfect kids, marriage to one of the worlds top music stars, a variety of extravagant homes, businesses making a fortune, jets, limos and fame In fact you were living most peoples dream. So much so that you even launched a Kim Kardashian West lifestyle app where people could actually live that dream for themselves, virtually, through yours - for $2.99 a month. It proved insanely popular, which is hardly surprising given youre followed by 48 million people on Twitter, and gazillions more on other social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. No wonder then that you must have felt absolutely on top of your game as you lay on your bed inside your palatial Paris apartment in the early hours of Monday. And as always, you wanted us all to share in your real-time joyful self-congratulation as you Snapchatted photos of yourself delightedly sporting your dazzling $4 million diamond wedding ring. Then the dream suddenly became a nightmare. Five armed men burst in, hauled you out of your bed at gunpoint, tied you up and threw you in your bath. They then robbed you of that ring and another $7 million worth of jewels. And you shared your life with your fans - and photos of your massive engagement ring and the other huge new diamond Kanye gave you. And you were robbed, and feared you'd be rape, and begged for your life You were terrified, understandably. Youve told friends since you feared they were going to rape or even kill you. It must have been a hideous experience for which I can only offer you my deepest sympathy. Yet you were, as Im sure you would readily admit yourself, lucky. These disgusting thugs didnt physically harm you, though the mental scars may be hard to eradicate. And it could have been a hell of a lot worse. They might have been ISIS terrorists intent on decapitating you on camera in their latest warped, twisted reality TV snuff video strike against western culture. After all, you epitomize everything they profess to detest about louche, celebrity-obsessed excess, Paris is their favourite European city to commit atrocities, and thanks to your insanely lax security team, you were a sitting duck. But thankfully they werent, and you survived. Unlike the 100 or so children who were killed by bombs and bullets in Syria in the last 10 days. That may sound a trite thing to say but perspective, proper meaningful perspective, is an important thing when this life-assessing moment comes. Ive known you for five years, ever since you came to my old CNN studio in New York for an hour-long interview. I thought then that you were a smart, warm, polite, engaging and self-aware young woman. When I mockingly asked you to name a single talent you possessed, you just smiled knowingly and made no attempt to cite one. I once interviewed a very self aware Kim, and she explained her marketing skills and her work ethic. She doesn't take drugs, get pictured falling out of clubs, or cheat. She's good to her fans and gives away 10% of her income to charity Then you thought a few seconds more and said: Actually, I think being an entrepreneur is a skill, marketing is a skill, and so is fashion designing. Ive always worked hard. When I asked you about your status as a role model, you replied: I think I promote a healthy, natural body image. You explained you dont take drugs, get pictured falling drunkenly out of nightclubs, or cheat on your man. You talked proudly of being good to your fans, and trying your best to be a loving mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend. You also confirmed you give away 10% of your income to charity, which is a considerable sum of money. Despite my instinctive aversion to talentless reality TV stars, I came away from that first encounter genuinely liking you. I felt oddly defensive towards you after you were criticized for your Paper cover. I thought I got you After that, we met many more times at events and parties and you were always exactly the same friendly, chatty, and devoid of the searing insincerity and delusions of grandeur that so many stars with real talent exude. I even felt oddly defensive towards you. When you were attacked for your cheeky Kim Breaks The Internet stunt for Paper magazine, I wrote a column of support. You sent me a massive ceramic pot of flowers with a hand-written note saying: Piers, I am so appreciative and touched by your kind words and support. You get me!!! I thought I did. Then something changed in you. You grew slowly coarser and snarkier, and started bombarding the world with regular naked selfies - claiming, absurdly, they were promoting feminism and empowering women. When I, and others like Bette Midler, challenged you about this nonsensical theory, you responded by posing with your mate Emily Ratajkowski for even an grosser image of the pair of you in a toilet, topless and flipping the bird. It was pathetic. But she grew slowly coarser and snarkier, claiming absurdly that naked selfies were promoting feminism and empowering women. When challenged about this nonsensical theory, you responded by posing with Emily Ratajkowski for this even grosser image in a toilet Is that really what you want your millions of young female fans to aspire to do in the name of feminism? Do you seriously want to encourage them to think the only pathway to success for women is getting their kit off and middle fingers out? For better or worse, these girls relate to you, look up to you, admire and respect you. Why contaminate their impressionable minds with such a bulls**t message? Around the same time, you began trash-talking Taylor Swift after she took exception to your husband Kanye writing a song in which he called her a b*tch and said he wanted to have sex with her. Kim also began trash-talking Taylor Swift after she took exception to Kanye writing a song in which he called her a b*tch and said he wanted to have sex with her. She supposrted this piece of wax orgy art which featured both lying nude next to a dummy Swift naked You even encouraged his appalling piece of waxwork orgy art which featured figures of you both lying nude next to a dummy of Taylors own naked body. It was exploitative, distasteful and frankly, revolting. And it all seemed so unlike the Kim Kardashian West that I thought I knew. Now, as you recover from this horrendous attack in Paris, doubtless shaken to your very core, you have got time to reflect on where you are in your life and what really matters to you. I hope you see this as a massive big red WARNING! sign. This was in many ways an attack waiting to happen. As fashion king Karl Lagerfeld put it yesterday: You cannot display your wealth and then be surprised some people want to share it. A Paris police spokesman added: It was really the celebrity who was targeted, with possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media. They are both right. As Karl Lagerfeld put it yesterday: You cannot display your wealth and then be surprised some people want to share it. A Paris police spokesman said something similar. That doesn't mean Kim deserved it- she didn't - but she should rethink how she lives and promotes her life You were attacked Kim because you publicly flaunted your success and excess to the point that somebody else wanted it for themselves. That doesnt mean you deserved it because nobody deserves to be robbed in such a despicable manner. But it should mean that you now think long and hard about how you lead and promote your life. Its a chance to re-calibrate, to take pause and work out if you just want to be known as a topless, bird-flipping, diamond-flashing, trash-talking sex tape celebrity or something more meaningful and influential. Ive seen you speak out about serious issues like Armenian genocide, gay marriage and US gun control, and talk intelligently about issues your young female fans really care about like health, beauty, confidence and self-esteem. When you do that, you have a powerful voice. When you live up to and celebrate the former image, you have a corrupting one. Back in New York, shaken, you Kim have a chance to re-calibrate. What kind of woman, mother, wife and role model do you actually want to be now youve achieved everything and faced up to a moment where it was nearly all taken away from you? I interviewed the Dalai Lama two weeks ago and asked him if he minded that you have four times as many followers as he does on Twitter. He said hed never heard of you, but no, he didnt care. Famous people have no ability to compete with my wisdom! he smiled. Hes right, you dont. But that doesnt mean its too late to be a lot wiser yourself. Its your call, Kim. What kind of woman, mother, wife and role model do you actually want to be now youve achieved everything you dreamed of as a kid, and now youve faced up to a moment where it was nearly all taken away from you? I wish you well with your recovery. Kind regards Lonnell McDonald, 28, (pictured) is accused of stomping and bouncing on the teen's pregnant stomach to force an abortion A 14-year-old girl who was raped by a family member and then beaten into delivering a stillborn baby, later burned on a charcoal grill, has testified in the trial against a relative. The unnamed teen's pregnant stomach was stomped and bounced on by Lonnell McDonald to force an abortion in March 2013, Texas prosecutors said in opening statements of McDonald's trial on Tuesday. The stillborn child was then taken from the teen by relatives who burned the body on a charcoal grill before disposing of it in an unknown location, prosecutors said. The teen, who is now 17, said her relatives took the baby and placed the child in a five-gallon bucket before she ever had the chance to see it, she testified on Tuesday. Lonnell McDonald, 28, who is charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder and aggravated assault, has pleaded not guilty, The Dallas News reported. He faces up to 99 years in prison if convicted. Three of the teen's other family members have also been charged in the attack with conspiracy to commit capital murder. Those relatives include her two cousins 27-year-old Cecila McDonald, who is married to Lonnell McDonald, and 28-year-old Cedric Jones Jr, and an aunt, 46-year-old Sharon Jones. Her brother, 23-year-old Robert Cayald, who she told officials raped her in August 2012, is facing a sexual assault charge in the case. The girl's brother, 23-year-old Robert Cayald (left), who she told officials raped her in August 2012, is facing a sexual assault charge in the case. Her cousin Cedric Jones Jr has been charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder The victim was repeatedly assaulted between January and March 2013 when she eventually gave birth to a stillborn baby at Cecila McDonald's apartment. The teen, who now lives with a foster family in Denton, said in court on Tuesday that she waited two years to report the attack hoping she would forget it had happened. But she said something changed in 2015 when she reported it, noting, she 'didn't really care anymore because I was tired. Tired of everything'. On Tuesday, prosecutors said that to this day they have no idea what happened to the stillborn baby. 'We can't tell you what happened to that baby, but we can tell you what happened to the teen,' prosecutor Rachel Burris told jurors. The young girl had told police she was sexually assaulted by her brother in 2012, but did not report the abuse because she was 'embarrassed', court documents state. She told police she was a virgin at the time of the sexual assault and that her brother was the father, according to an arrest affidavit. The victim eventually came forward to police on May 22, 2015, when she made a full statement to officers. Back in January 2013, the suspects had discovered the girl was pregnant and began attempts of forcing the victim to abort her baby. The teen said she told Cecila McDonald and Sharon Jones about the attack in March 2013 after the women said Cayald had abused Cecila McDonald's three children. The teen's aunt, 46-year-old Sharon Jones (left) and her daughter 27-year-old Cecila McDonald (right) have been charged in the case. The teen testified that the women Googled how to induce a miscarriage before giving her birth control pills and cinnamon tablets However, the women did not report the allegations to police and soon after McDonald 'became very nervous', worrying Child Protective Services would take away her children if they learned the teen was pregnant and living in the same home as Cayald, an affidavit states. Cecila McDonald reportedly told the girl: 'You ain't about to get my kids taken away from me.' So Sharon Jones and Cecila McDonald 'took matters into their own hands', police said. The teen said the women searched online how to induce a miscarriage before purchasing several pills and making her take them. The teen was allegedly given 'multiple doses' of birth control pills as well as emergency contraception pills and cinnamon tablets, according to an affidavit. When the pills failed to abort the baby, they are accused of pinning the girl down on Sharon Jone's living room floor while Lonnell McDonald 'repeatedly bounced up and down' on the girl, as well as kicking her, until her water broke. The final assault, according to one witness who accompanied the girl to police, lasted six hours, it is said. 'It was like every time I woke up, they were still there,' the teen said in court. The attack continued until the girl started bleeding heavily and delivered a stillborn baby about two hours later. The infant's body was then burned on a charcoal grill in an attempt to dispose of the body, the affidavit claims. Prosecutors claim the assault is believed to have taken place in this housing block in Dallas, Texas After that did not work, Sharon Jones paid Cedric Jones Jr $25 to 'take care of the rest of it', according to the affidavit. He allegedly placed the baby inside a plastic bag and disposed of it in an unknown location. The teen and her five siblings were living with Cecila McDonald after they moved to Texas from California in 2010 after their grandmother, who cared for them, died. The year before, Cayald had moved to North Texas and had been ordered to stay away from his sister, prosecutors said. It is not clear why he was told to stay away. The teen and her siblings and originally moved to live with Sharon Jones in order to avoid being placed in foster care, The Dallas News reported. But the teen and two of her siblings moved into Cecila McDonald's apartment where both Cayald and Lonnell McDonald lived. The teen testified that she and her siblings were told to lie to Child Protective Services workers so they would not find out the children were living with Cayald. William Orr, 55, posed in his boxer shorts and sent lewd messages on a gay chat app before trying to meet a 'teenage boy' in a car park A widower who lost his wife to cancer and son fighting in Afghanistan was caught by paedophile hunters after sexting what he thought was a 15-year-old boy. William Orr, 55, posed in his boxer shorts and sent lewd messages by text and later on a gay chat app before trying to meet the 'teenager' in a car park. But when he arrived he was caught on camera by Dark Justice. Orr then tried to flee the country but was later arrested by police while driving to an airport. A court heard the father-of-three's life had been blighted by tragedy - his wife died in his arms of lung cancer aged 25 and his son Damien was killed in 2009. Orr believed he was talking to a teenager called Tom on a gay chat app, but the fake profile had been set up by the paedophile hunters group Dark Justice. Newcastle Crown Court heard how the defendant contacted 'Tom' and told him he was aged 43, from South Shields, and called Liam. Dark Justice, acting as Tom, told Orr he was a 15-year-old male and despite this the defendant continued the conversation. Patrizia Doherty told the court how the conversation lasted for 15 minutes before Orr started to communicate with him using the chat application KIK. She said: 'He sent across photographs of himself in boxer shorts and performing a sex act. 'He asked to meet up with Tom despite being reminded several times that Tom was only 15-years-old. 'The defendant suggested that him and Tom met up in a car park near Newcastle College in Elswick. 'The defendant arrived driving a grey saloon, he approached Dark Justice and said "nice trackie bottoms". 'He introduced himself as being part of Dark Justice to which the defendant said "are you f***". 'The defendant walked to his car and sped off.' Dark Justice took Orr's registration number following the meeting on June 28 this year and informed the police. Caught: William Orr, 55, posed in his boxer shorts (pictured left) and sent lewd messages by text (right) and later on a gay chat app before trying to meet the 'teenager' in a car park Filmed: But when he arrived he was caught on camera by Dark Justice (pictured). Orr then tried to flee the country but was later arrested by police while driving to an airport Orr was arrested by Essex Police, on behalf of Northumbria Police, while driving to Stansted Airport. Ms Doherty said: 'He was trying to get away. 'The defendant said to Tom "do you have a big c*** and I can make you very happy". 'There was some grooming behaviour used against the victim and significant disparity in age. Orr, of South Shields, admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity 'He said he was 43 knowing full well Tom was 15. He was 54 at the time.' Orr, of South Shields, admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. The court heard how Orr has a previous conviction for outraging public decency in 2013 after he was caught carrying out a sex act on Seaburn Beach by a group of teenage boys. David Callan, defending, told the court how Orr lost both his wife and his son. He said: 'The defendant married a wife called Linda when he was very young and had three children. 'She died when she was 25 in his arms of lung cancer. 'He had a normal sexual relationship with her. Since then he's found it very difficult to be in an intimate relationship with a woman. 'He has been confused about his sexuality. He thinks he's not bisexual but rather homosexual at this stage. He's found therapy extremely helpful. 'He lost his wife leaving him with three children to bring up on his own while working. 'His child Damien was killed in Afghanistan in 2009 while fighting for his country. He's still not got over that death.' Dark Justice took Orr's registration number following the meeting and informed the police Orr was arrested by Essex Police while driving to Stansted Airport in an attempt to flee Judge Penny Moreland told Orr: 'Tom told you he was 15. You continued to talk with him and then on the KIK application. 'By 11 o'clock you had suggested to him the two of you meet and by 20 past midnight you had travelled to the car park near Newcastle College where you found there was no such person as Tom.' Judge Moreland sentenced Orr to six months in prison suspended for two years. Footage has emerged of the moment an Indiana man was robbed and shot on his front stoop by two men with guns as he returned home with groceries. The incident occurred on September 26 just after 6am in Marion. Police say the suspects attempted to rob a resident as he approached his home, ambushing him. Surveillance footage from out the front of the home shows a man dressed all in black and wearing a hoodie first approach the man with a shotgun. Scroll down for video Ambush: The incident occurred on September 26 just after 6am in Marion. Police say the suspects attempted to rob a resident as he approached his home, ambushing him The surveillance shows the man putting up a fight, dropping his food and grabbing the gun The victim manages to push the robber back, however another man came up behind him The first suspect was wearing black sweatpants and a black Jordan sweatshirt with the hood tied around his face. He was carrying a shotgun The man put up a fight, dropping his groceries, grabbing the shotgun and wrestling the first man. That's when the second man comes into view. That man was wearing black pants, a gray t-shirt and a black mask on his face. He was carrying a pistol. Police said the victim was shot at five times. However he was only hit once, taking a bullet to the arm. He was taken to the hospital but has since been released. The man, who did not want to be identified, told Fox 59 he has not been home since the incident, fearing for his safety. This is the second suspect. He is seen wearing black pants, grey shirt and balaclava. He is carrying a pistol Investigators said the struggle lasted about a minute. The victim told investigators he didn't know who the armed men are. Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that results in the arrest or indictment of the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call 765-662-8477. Amanda Knox is celebrating her freedom by declaring to the world that she is in a relationship. The 29-year-old took to Facebook on Tuesday to update her status and announce that she is dating Christopher Robinson. Knox put the date that the two began dating as February 13, meaning she and the author have been together for close to eight months. Two days prior to her relationship announcement Knox posted on Facebook to celebrate the five years she had been out of prison. Scroll down for video Together forever: Amanda Knox changed her Facebook status to announce that she is in a relationship with Christopher Robinson In love: The 29-year-old wrote on Facebook that she had been in a relationship with Robinson since February 13 Settling down: Knox wrote about moving in with Robinson in July, just five months after the two began dating Knox wrote about Robinson for the first time over the summer when she revealed that the two were moving in together, writing about how much it reminded her of her time in prison. 'Im reminded of how my cell in Capanne prison transformed in character with the arrival or release of even just one prisoner,' wrote Knox in a blog post published on the West Seattle Herald's website. 'While none of us was allowed much in the way of material possessions, our combined emotional baggage, when bashed together without consideration, could make an already inescapable situation insufferable, even dangerous.' Robinson is a writer whose book War of the Encyclopaedists received a rave review from Knox last May on her blog. Knox wrote that the book was a 'hilarious and heartbreaking, investigation of the truth of two lives through fiction.' She makes no mention of knowing Robinson in the review and appears to have met him after writing the post. Knox was newly engaged to musician Colin Sutherland at the time, but the two split at some point in the past year. She also spoke about her struggle to begin leading a normal life now that all charges have officially been dropped against her in an Italian court, nearly one decade after she was arrested and accused of murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher. 'Slowly, bit by bit, Im recovering. It may still be the case that, when I call Puget Sound Energy to set up a new utility account, Im reminded that Im That girl in Italy?! That Amanda Knox?!" Yeah, Im her,' wrote Knox. 'Im also the Amanda Knox who is so excited to be living my life alongside people I love and respect, lugging furniture, scooping cat poop, paying the bills, moving on.' Mr. write: Robinson is a writer and Knox reviewed his book War of the Encyclopeadists last year Popular girl: The pair have been travelling together while Knox promotes her recently released Netflix documentary Public eye: Knox was convicted of murdering Meredith Kercher, and then later exonerated of the crime (above in 2008) Knox appeared on Good Morning America last week to promote her Netflix documentary, and acknowledged the fact that despite being cleared of all charges many still believe she is guilty of murder. 'I think I'm trying to explain what it feels like to be wrongfully convicted,' she said about her aim with the documentary. 'To either be this terrible monster or to be this regular person who is vulnerable. And what I'm trying to convey is that a regular person like me - a kid who was studying abroad, who loves languages - could be caught up in this nightmare where they're portrayed as something that they're not.' Knox also hit out at the prosecutor in the case, saying he made the proceedings more about her and less about the actual victim - Kercher. She was photographed that morning arriving to the studio with Robinson. Knox and Robinson are seen together at 'Good Morning America' TV show in New York on September 29 The couple as they arrive at the studio to tape GMA last week Knox said her primary focus now is helping others who have been exonerated as they try and get their lives back on track. 'Now my attention is turning towards the next person. My name is cleared. I'm fine, I'm moving on with my life, I'm going back to graduate school, I'm redeveloping my relationships. Knox then added: 'But there remains the fact that I'm in a unique potion as an exoneree. Once an exoneree always an exoneree. I can't go back to my life that I had before, and neither can the other exonerees that are out there. 'And a lot of times their stories go overlooked.' Knox also revealed that she was not paid to participate in the new documentary. Italy's highest court overturned Knox's conviction in the brutal murder and sexual assault of Kercher in March of last year. However, the court did uphold Knox's conviction for falsely accusing her former boss, Congolese-born bar owner Diya Lumumba, of the murder. She was sentenced to three years on that charge in January of this year but given time served as she had spent longer than that behind bars in Italy after being charged with the murder of Kercher. Knox speaks during a brief press conference in front of her parents' home on March 27, 2015 in Seattle, Washington, after she was acquitted by Italy's highest court of murder. Seen behind her is her then fiance Colin Sutherland Knox is seen above with former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito who she was dating at the time of the murder and he also stood accused in the killing In May, the European Court of Human Rights agreed to hear Amanda Knox's case challenging her slander conviction due to the fact that Knox claims her admission was coerced by police, who refused her access to food, water and the bathroom after her 2007 arrest. Knox spent nearly four years in jail after being convicted and sentenced to 26 years in her initial trial. The court battle went on for seven and a half years, with flip-flop decisions that saw her return to the United States after being acquitted only to face another trial after the acquittal was thrown out. She then faced her second appeals trial and high court proceedings in absentia while living in Washington. This is the dramatic moment a fight broke out on the Beijing subway over seats. The fight broke out between the ten passengers on October 3 at around 7pm as the train was approaching Jiaomen West Station. According to The Beijing Times, the violence began after one of the groups told the other that they were tired and needed their seats. Fight: At the beginning of the video, a woman can be seen holding another man by his jumper Violence then spreads to other parts of the carriage with one woman pinned against a wall In the footage posted on Shanghaiist, a man and a woman can seen tussling over a seat. The woman in the pink jumper can be seen pulling at the man's jumper. He then violently beats a man in the carriage as the woman tries to grab hold of him. While opposite them are two men who are grabbing hold of each other. The arguments then erupt into two separate fights seeing the groups move around the carriage as they try to grab hold of each other. One group has a woman pinned to the wall before the other group comes to help her. The fight spreads: All ten people then seem to start fighting each other in a bizarre scene Brutal: At one point, a woman appears to have grabbed one of the men around the neck One man is viciously slapped by one of the women before another man starts beating another woman involved in the fight. The fight becomes increasingly vicious with many of the group punching each other until the footage cuts. Beijing MTR Corporation, the city's railway operator said the train driver reported the fight to the control room. Railway staff arrived at the scene and intervened in the dispute. The passengers involved in the fight were handed over to the police. People have been discussing the video on China's social media site Weibo. One user commented: 'They were beating each other so hard. I can't tell from the video who is not feeling well.' While another wrote: 'There are so many vacant seats. Why didn't they sit down?' A furious pet owner launched his dead cat at a vet sparking a mass brawl inside a surgery. The bizarre fight - which resulted in a passer-by fainting - took place in the city of Vladivostok in South Eastern Russia after the man blamed the doctor for the cat's death claiming he failed to save its life. Doctors said the cat died from injuries sustained after he was trapped in a window wither by the man or one of his friends and the whole episode caused an onlooker to comically pass out. Scroll down for video The bizarre fight - which resulted in a passer-by fainting - took place in the city of Vladivostok in South Eastern Russia after the man blamed the doctor for the cat's death claiming he failed to save its life The dead pet is hurled at the doctor before he is peppered with a flurry of punches A bald man comes to the vets' rescue and hits the pet owner before gripping him in a headlock, but the brawl spills out into an opening outside the surgery as the second doctor rains punches down on the man and an accomplice Another man in scrubs enters the fray and gets collared with a right hook to the face for his troubles The man is seen on camera rushing towards the surgery clutching the dead cat in his arms and pushes past a customer to get in. He looks around the packed reception area frantically before spotting a man in medical scrubs. The dead pet is then hurled at the doctor before he is peppered with a flurry of punches. Another man in scrubs enters the fray and gets collared with a right hook to the face for his troubles. A bald man comes to the vets' rescue and hits the pet owner before gripping him in a headlock, but the brawl spills out into an opening outside the surgery as the second doctor rains punches down on the man and an accomplice. Once outside, the accomplice catches the doctor flush with a left haymaker sending him backwards clutching his face. The pet owner then lands a punch of his own on an unsuspecting man walking out of the surgery before six men wipe their faces and appear to talk as the violence dies down - all watched by an on-looker wearing grey. Once outside, the accomplice catches the doctor flush with a left haymaker sending him backwards clutching his face With the brawl over, the pet owner barges past two men to re-enter the surgery to ask for his cat back. He lovingly embraces it as he clutches the dead pet tightly to his chest as his accomplice stands in the doorway With the brawl over, the pet owner barges past two men to re-enter the surgery to ask for his cat back. He lovingly embraces it as he clutches the dead pet tightly to his chest as his accomplice stands in the doorway. They leave with the man rubbing his face on his cat's head. As people come and go from the surgery, the on-looker in grey - standing yards away from anything and some time after the action has finished - spins around three times and collapses comically in the opening. Three people - including the accomplice and the man he punched in the face - rush to help the man who is writhing on the floor. Inside the surgery, five women in medical clothing appear to look out of the window and call an ambulance and when they head outside to help him, his shoes have been removed and he's sprawled out on his back. They lift him up to a seated position while the cat owner - seen walking in the background - apparently places his cat on a lawn. Inside the surgery, five women in medical clothing appear to look out of the window and call an ambulance As people come and go from the surgery, the on-looker in grey - standing yards away from anything and some time after the action has finished - spins around three times and collapses comically in the opening One of the vets broke his nose in the fracas, and the clinic said either the man or one of his friends killed the cat by pinning it down with a window framce. A spokesman for the clinic told Russian TV station Zvezda: 'The cat was pinned down the window frame by the owner or someone in his entourage. 'But they only bothered to consult the veterinarian when it became clear that the animal wasn't well - it could have been in agony. 'In a situation like this, it is unlikely the pet could have been saved, even if assistance was provided by doctors immediately.' Islamic State has urged lone jihadists to arm themselves with weapons to carry out a 'campaign of knife attacks' in quiet neighbourhoods. In a propaganda magazine, ISIS urged would-be jihadists to 'overcome their squeamishness' which it said was 'never an excuse for abandoning jihad'. The terror group made the call in the second edition of magazine Rumiyah, meaning Rome, which was issued by the organisation's Al-Hayat Media Centre. According to PJ Media, the article urges would-be jihadists to launch their assaults at nighttimeon random victims in alleys, beaches, forests, and 'quiet neighbourhoods', and aim for a 'reasonable kill count.' An ISIS propaganda magazine has called on would-be terrorists to arm themselves with knives The first edition of the magazine, which was issued last month, urged jihadists to target teens playing after-school sport and pavement flower-sellers. In the latest PDF edition, which has been distributed widely on social media, supporters were urged to arm themselves with readily-available weapons and launch a 'campaign of knife attacks' in which the attacker 'could dispose of his weapon after each use, finding no difficulty in acquiring another one.' In a call to arms, an article in the magazine says: 'One need not be a military expert or a martial arts master, or even own a gun or rifle in order to carry out a massacre or to kill and injure several disbelievers and terrorize an entire nation.' Urging followers to carry out brutal acts of violence, the article continues: 'Many people are often squeamish of the thought of plunging a sharp object into another person's flesh. The magazine has told followers of Islamic State that 'any such squirms and discomforts are never an excuse for abandoning jihad' 'It is a discomfort caused by the untamed, inherent dislike for pain and death, especially after 'modernization' distanced males from partaking in the slaughtering of livestock for food and the striking of the enemy in war. 'However, any such squirms and discomforts are never an excuse for abandoning jihad.' The shocking article even goes on to advise would-be terrorists on which weapons to use. 'It is explicitly advised not to use kitchen knives, as their basic structure is not designed to handle the kind of vigorous application used for assassinations and slaughter,' it reads, adding: 'to avoid troublesome knives, those that can cause harm to the user because of poor manufacturing.' 10/24/2022 Believers Baptist Church will hold its annual Old Fashioned Fall Festival this Saturday, from 12-3 p.m. All are invited. The church is out in the country in Catoosa County. The address ... more This is the three-year-old boy killed at an inflatable playground in Queensland. Hunter Young was found unresponsive near a piece of inflatable play equipment at the indoor centre Inflatable World Toowoomba at 1pm on Sunday. He was initially taken to Toowoomba Hospital then transferred to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, but later died. Scroll down for video Hunter Young (pictured) was found unresponsive near a piece of inflatable play equipment at the indoor centre Inflatable World Toowoomba at 1pm on Sunday The boy lived with his parents in Coomera on the Gold Coast but was in the care of his grandparents at the play area Investigations into how the boy suffered serious injuries are continuing and the cause of death is yet to established. A post mortem is expected to be carried out. According to The Courier Mail, Hunter was found at the bottom of a slide at Inflatable World in Toowoomba. It has been reported that he suffered head injuries. The newspaper reported the boy lived with his parents in Coomera on the Gold Coast but was in the care of his grandparents at the play area. Bosses at Inflatable World sent condolences to the family. In a Facebook post, Inflatable World said: 'We are devastated by the news that a child has passed away in hospital after collapsing at our venue on Sunday afternoon. 'Inflatable World takes the health and safety of our patrons, staff and others very seriously while they are on our site and have taken extensive measures to ensure we have the highest standards for workplace safety. 'We offer our deepest condolences to the family.' Hunter died after he was found unresponsive near a piece of inflatable play equipment at Inflatable World Toowoomba (pictured) in Queensland In a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday evening the company said they had reported the incident to Worksafe and were cooperating with police Ousted: McIntosh County Sheriff's Deputy Brant Gaither (pictured) was terminated in July for swapping racist jokes with another Georgia law enforcement officer A sheriff's deputy in Georgia was fired over the summer and another local police officer quit his post after the two were caught swapping racist and misogynistic jokes on Facebook, and allegedly making plans to pull over black drivers. McIntosh County sheriff's Deputy Brant Gaither was terminated in late July at the conclusion of an internal affairs investigation into his online conversations with another former deputy, Jeremy Owens. The two men, who are both white, had served together until December 2015 on the department's special traffic unit in charge of patrolling Interstate 95. Owens later left the sheriff's office and was hired by the Darien Police Department. A day after Gaither was fired for his conduct, Owens resigned from his post in Darien. According to records documenting the internal investigation, which were first obtained by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and published on Tuesday, Gaither and Owens, who were Facebook friends, exchanged racially charged jokes on Facebook's instant messaging service, which included the use of the term 'colored people' and the N-word. Facebook friends: Gaither (left) and his former colleague, Darien Police Officer Jeremy Owens (right), reportedly used Facebook messenger to trade racially charged comments and make sexist jokes In one exchange, according to the cited records, Gaither sent his friend a meme featuring Martin Luther King Jr and a caption that read: 'I have a dream. That one day my people will not act like animals.' Owens reportedly responded by saying: 'Lol. That'll never happen.' In another Facebook conversation, the pair discussed an apparent plan to stop black motorists while patrolling the highway. 'It's supposed to rain tomorrow,' Owens reportedly said in a message to his then-colleague Gaither. 'Might not get too many n***s.' To which Gaither replied: 'I hope we get a few but [expletive] if we don't.' The two friends also reportedly made light of domestic violence against women, and at one point swapped a joke about fried chicken. The racially charged online exchanges between Owens and Gaither came to light in July after another deputy was issued Owens' old computer, which contained access to his Facebook account, according to McIntosh County Sheriff Stephen Jessup. Toxic rhetoric: In one exchange, Gaither reportedly sent a meme featuring Martin Luther King Jr and a caption that read: 'I have a dream. That one day my people will not act like animals' Vile slur: In another exchange, Owens reportedly told his friend: 'It's supposed to rain tomorrow. Might not get too many n***s' Jessup said when he became aware of the posts, it made him 'want to throw up.' 'I do not tolerate that in my department,' Jessup told the newspaper. Gaither, who had sat through a two-hour diversity training session along with Owens in October 2015, was let go for violating the department's polices concerning immoral conduct and behavior unbecoming a deputy. Disgusted: Gaither's boss, McIntosh County Sheriff Stephen Jessup (pictured) said when he learned of the racist jokes, it made him 'want to throw up' When the deputy learned his fate, he reportedly acknowledged that he made a 'stupid mistake' but said: 'It was just a joke, we all do it.' Upon learning of the circumstances of Brent Gaither's firing, the Southern Center for Human Rights sent a lawyer to McIntosh County to look into the sheriff's department's practices, fearing that the racist quips traded between the two deputies were just 'the tip of the iceberg,' attorney Sarah Geraghty told the paper. The non-profit law firm plans to formally ask the US Department of Justice to launch its own investigation into the sheriffs department. According to information available on social media, Brent Gaither is a married father-of-two. Both he and his wife are retired US Marines who own a gun store in Darien. Jeremy Owens is also married with a young son. He now operates a pressure washing business. European human rights chiefs have told the British press it must not report when terrorists are Muslim. The recommendations came as part of a list of 23 meddling demands to Theresa Mays government on how to run the media in an alarming threat to freedom speech. The report, drawn up by the Council of Europe's human rights watchdog, blamed the recent increase in hate crimes and racism in the UK on the 'worrying examples of intolerance and hate speech in the newspapers, online and even among politicians', although the research was done before the EU referendum campaign had even begun. The suggestions sent to Downing Street urging the UK Government to reform criminal law and freedom of the press and in a brutal criticism of the British press, the report recommends ministers 'give more rigorous training' to journalists. But UK ministers firmly rebutted the remarkable demands, telling the body: 'The Government is committed to a free and open press and does not interfere with what the press does and does not publish, as long as the press abides by the law.' The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), chaired by Christian Ahlund (file picture) said discussions over immigration had caused increasing 'xenophobia'. The report, from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) body, said there had been an increase in hate speech and racist violence in Britain between March 2009 and March 2016. In an audacious move, the report recommends the British media be barred from reporting the Muslim background of terrorists. And it comes after multiple terror atrocities by Muslim extremists across Paris, Brussels, Munich and other German cities over the last year. Over the same period, there have been no major terror attacks in Britain. The 83-page report states: 'ECRI considers that, in light of the fact that Muslims are increasingly under the spotlight as a result of recent ISIS-related terrorist acts around the world, fuelling prejudice against Muslims shows a reckless disregard, not only for the dignity of the great majority of Muslims in the United Kingdom, but also for their safety. 'In this context, it draws attention to a recent study by Teeside University suggesting that where the media stress the Muslim background of perpetrators of terrorist acts, and devote significant coverage to it, the violent backlash against Muslims is likely to be greater than in cases where the perpetrators' motivation is downplayed or rejected in favour of alternative explanations.' Theresa May's government firmly rebutted the remarkable demands, telling Brussels: 'The Government is committed to a free and open press and does not interfere with what the press does and does not publish, as long as the press abides by the law' The aftermath of the referendum has raised tensions on both sides of the divide but the report today warned of a rise of in racism The ECRI regularly assesses incidents of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance across the EU's 28 member states. It bases its analysis on 'a great deal of information gathered from a wide variety of sources'. ECRI Chair Christian Ahlund, said: 'It is no coincidence that racist violence is on the rise in the UK at the same time as we see worrying examples of intolerance and hate speech in the newspapers, online and even among politicians.' Donald Trump live-tweeted Tuesday night's vice-presidential debate and delivered his verdict Wednesday morning, castigating moderator Elaine Quijano for allowing Democratic nominee Tim Kaine to steamroll Republican Mike Pence with interruptions. 'The constant interruptions last night by Tim Kaine should not have been allowed. Mike Pence won big!' Trump wrote on Twitter. The Republican National Committee released a 4-minute video compilation Wednesday morning showing 72 separate instances where Kaine leapt in to talk while Pence had the floor. Despite meek protests from Quijano, Kaine kept his aggressive posture for 90 minutes launching zinger after zinger but annoying the audience in the process. Scroll down for videos Donald Trump vented on Twitter after Democrat Tim Kaine interrupted his running pate Mike Pence 6 dozen times in a 90-minute vice presidential debate on Tuesday Kaine looked like he was up for a fight and leapt in to control the debate whenever Pence made a point he didn't like CBS News moderator Elaine Quijano had trouble keeping the debate on track, standing back when Kaine interrupted him over and over Live 'dial' testing conducted by pollster Frank Luntz during the event in Farmville, Virginia showed that both Republicans and Democrats were turned off whenever Kaine muscled in and talked over Pence. His focus group of Ohio voters, convened for CBS News, heard one man declaring that 'Kaine came off as a jerk. I actually like that guy and I was really disappointed in him.' Kaine 's stock plummeted in one focus group of Ohio voters Tuesday night 'Kaine is interrupting way too much,' Luntz tweeted as the two vice presidential hopefuls bickered. 'The focus group wants the moderator to lay down the law and shut him up until it's his turn.' In one rare moment of quasi-assertiveness, Quijano scolded them both. 'The people at home cannot understand either one of you when you speak over each other,' she said calmly. 'I would please ask you to wait until it is that the other is finished.' Kaine, unfazed, kept trying to set the stage for a free-for all. 'All right. We're having fun up here,' he replied. His dismissal of Quijano came back to haunt him later, when Trump campaign manager Kelly-Anne Conway hinted at a reason. 'How many times has @TimKaine ignored and interrupted the female moderator tonight? #sexist,' she tweeted. Several of Kaine's interruptions were strategic attempts to hammer Donald Trump for failing to release his personal income tax returns. Quijano asked Pence about a recent New York Times report that surmised Trump may have avoided paying income taxes to Uncle Sam for 18 years, due to legal maneuvers that spread financial losses over many years' returns. Pollster Frank Luntz concluded Kaine was 'interrupting way too much' and Quijano should have 'shut him up' Pence argued Trump exploited the federal tax code 'just the way it's supposed to be used,' and teased Kaine asking if he had personally taken every tax deduction he was entitled to. Trump, Kaine interjected, had promised to release his tax papers more than a year ago. 'He's broken his first promise,' he said as Pence continued to talk. 'Senator, he's going to release the tax returns when the audit is over,' Pence said. Eric Trump, the presidential nominee's middle son, told DailyMail.com after the debate that he found Kaine's interruptions 'a little annoying, quite frankly, sitting up front.' Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity, who was standing nearby, offered his assessment: 'A lot annoying.' 'A little rude, maybe a lot annoying,' Trump corrected himself. Eric Trump called the interruptions 'rude' and 'annoying' Top brass from Hillary Clinton's campaign were on hand in the debate's 'spin room' to defend Kaine's confrontational debate style. 'I'm not concerned about that at all,' said campaign manager Robby Mook when Dailymail.com asked if worried the 'annoying' label would stick. 'What was frustrating about this debate was at times Governor Pence said things that were simply not true, but more often than not he was refusing to take a position on his running mate's statements and policies.' A Texas mother who went fishing with her family at the weekend was not expecting to catch herself when she threw a line into the water. Vanessa Martinez was fishing with her husband and children at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park in Laredo, on the Mexico border, when her line snagged something. The San Antonio woman gave it a pull, only for the sinker to sling straight back into her face, lodging the hook in the skin right by her left eyebrow. Ouch: Vanessa Martinez tugged at her fishing line after it snagged on something in the water, however the sinker came straight back and hit her in the face Off to hospital: Martinez filmed herself en route to hospital, and then had her husband film as the hook was removed by doctors, posting the footage to YouTube In two videos Martinez posted to her YouTube channel, she explains that her husband tried to take the hook out himself, however they quickly realized just how deep it had gone. 'The kids are freaking out because mommy has a hook stuck to her freaking face,' Martinez laughs in the first clip. She then adds: 'I'm just glad it wasn't my eyes.' Martinez is taken to hospital by her husband, with her children in tow, and someone films her as the doctors extract the hook. Operation hook: Doctors first gave Martinez some anesthetic shots to numb the area (left) before using clippers to cut away part of the sinker (right) Going in: The doctors gently pulled out the hook with some pliers after just a few minutes First Martinez is administered some shots of anesthetic to numb the area around the hook. Doctors then use clippers to cut away parts of the hook. Two doctors then carefully remove the one piece that is still lodged in the skin. Martinez did not seem bothered during the procedure, despite some blood dripping into her eye. She did at one point ask the surgeons if her eyes would bruise up. A replacement model of the troubled Samsung Note 7 smartphone began smoking inside a U.S. plane on Wednesday, the family which owned it said, signaling that Samsung's solution to its recent scandal may not have worked. The evacuation occurred around 9.20am, only 10 minutes before Flight 994 was set to depart for Baltimore from Gate B-17 at Kentucky's Louisville International Airport. Indiana passenger Brian Green's phone began emitting smoke inside a Southwest Airlines Co flight to Baltimore from Louisville, Kentucky, his wife, Sarah, told Reuters after speaking with her husband. Scroll down for video Carpet in an area of the plane was where the device was dropped was burned by the overheating device, but it was the only damage to the aircraft, authorities said. She said that Green had replaced the original phone about two weeks ago after getting a text message from Samsung. Samsung said in a statement it was working to recover the device and to understand the cause. WHY WERE THE BATTERIES EXPLODING? Lithium batteries are use in a range of consumer electronic devices, favored by manufacturers because they are lightweight and pack much more energy into a small space than other power cells. But storing so much energy in a tiny space, with combustible components separated by ultra-thin walls, makes them susceptible to overheating if exposed to high temperatures, damage or flaws in manufacturing. If the separators fail, a chemical reaction can quickly escalate out of control. Koh Dong-jin, Samsung's mobile president told reporters in Seoul: 'The flaw in the manufacturing process resulted in the negative electrodes and the positive electrodes coming together.' It is unclear how Samsung failed to discover the battery problem before launching the Note 7. Advertisement 'Until we are able to retrieve the device, we cannot confirm that this incident involves the new Note7,' it said. Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, announced a global recall of at least 2.5 million of its flagship Note 7 smartphones in 10 markets last month due to faulty batteries causing some phones to catch fire. The recall was a major embarrassment for Samsung. Some 75 people, including crew members, were evacuated from the flight on Wednesday and no one was injured, airport authority spokeswoman Natalie Chaudoin. Carpet in an area of the plane was where the device was dropped was burned by the overheating device, but it was the only damage to the aircraft, authorities said. The Verge spoke to Brian Green, owner of the Note 7 that overheated, and he confirmed that he had picked up the new phone at an AT&T store on September 21. A photograph of the box shows the black square symbol that indicates a replacement Note 7 and Green said it had a green battery icon. He said the phone was at around 80 per cent of battery capacity when the incident occurred and that he only used a wireless charger since receiving the device. His wife, Sarah, told The Courier-Journal he had just powered the phone off and was waiting for his flight to take off when it overheated, 'made a popping noise and started smoking.' A Southwest Airlines plane was evacuated on Wednesday after smoke coming from an overheated Samsung device filled the cabin. A view of the plane shown above A photograph of the box shows the black square symbol that indicates a replacement Note 7 and Green said it had a green battery icon. He said the phone was at around 80 percent of battery capacity when the incident occurred and that he only used a wireless charger since receiving the device. She said he quickly 'took it out of his picket and threw it on the ground,' before calling her from someone else's phone to tell her what happened. She also noted that he had taken it to a local AT&T store about two weeks ago to have it replaced and had not had problems with it until Wednesday. Louisville Metro Fire spokesman Capt Sal Melendez said the phone had overheated while the crew was giving their safety demonstration. Passenger Misty Whitaker said she was sitting at the front of the plane when a flight attendant rushed down the aisle, saying there was smoke on the plane. An aerial view of Gate B-17 at Kentucky's Louisville International Airport. Seventy-five people, including crew members, were evacuated from the flight and no one was injured '(They said), 'Leave all of your bags on the plane and come forward in an orderly fashion,'' Whitaker told WAVE 3 News. 'They said it was a Samsung Galaxy. The last they told us while we were waiting was that the fire had burned through the carpet. 'I know it was toward the back of the plane but I don't know if it was in an overhead bin or under a seat or what.' During the evacuation, Fletcher told WDRB that passengers were 'very calm' and said there was 'no panic.' The flight, which was scheduled to depart at 9.30am, was delayed and then canceled shortly after 11am. Whitaker told WAVE 3 News that passengers with connections from Baltimore were being rerouted. Green said her husband, who was traveling for work, was 'shaken up' by the incident but okay. She now questions why her husband's replacement phone 'was doing what the other one was doing.' Last month, it was reported that half of the potentially dangerous Galaxy Note 7 handsets had been replaced with non-exploding versions through Samsung's recall program in the US. US aviation safety officials also warned passengers last month not to turn on or even charge a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 while one the plane, after reports of devices exploding and catching fire. U.S. safety regulators announced a formal recall last month of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 smartphone (pictured) after a spate of fires led to injuries and property damage Samsung released a statement to USA Today regarding the incident, saying they are working with authorities and the airline. 'We are working with the authorities and Southwest now to recover the device and confirm the cause,' the company said. Southwest Airlines also issued a statement regarding the incident. 'Before Southwest Airlines Flight 994 departed from Louisville for Baltimore, a customer's electronic device, believed to be a Samsung, began emitting smoke,' the statement said. 'All customers and crew deplaned safely via the main cabin door. 'Customers will be accommodated on other Southwest flights to their final destinations. A retired doctor's life was saved when a mystery dermatologist spotted a mole on her face during a museum visit - and it turned out to be cancerous. Dr Diana Terry had been admiring the paintings at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath when she was approached by the woman out of the blue and was told 'You need to get that sorted.' The woman, who never gave her named and only introduced herself as a dermatologist, pointed to a dark 2mm-wide mole that Dr Terry hadn't taken any notice of. Dr Diana Terry, whose life was saved when a mystery dermatologist spotted a mole on her face during a museum visit - and it turned out to be cancerous And the day after the bizarre encounter at the gallery Dr Terry visited her GP and was referred for treatment. The mole, which was in the corner of her left eye and had been there for around a year, turned out to be melanoma - a deadly form of skin cancer. Luckily doctors were able to remove the mole straight away and after undergoing a follow-up surgery, the retired anaesthetist was given the all clear. Months later, she was telling the story of how a stranger saved her life to a friend, who said: 'That sounds like Dr Sallie Neill.' And it turned out to be correct, and now the women have met up so Dr Terry could thank Dr Neill for saving her life. Months later when Dr Terry told the story to a friend, it emerged the woman who helped her was dermatologist Dr Sallie Neill, right Dr Terry, a grandmother-of-seven and a former consultant at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, said: 'If she hadn't spotted it, I foolishly didn't think anything of it. 'If it had started itching or bleeding or getting a lot bigger, I might have gone to the GP but that would have been too late and it might have spread. 'Melanoma are very unpredictable so nobody could say you definitely would have been doomed if you had left it, but they can go nasty quite quickly. I think she saved my life.' The women have met up so Dr Terry could thank Dr Neill for saving her life and spotting the dangerous mole Dr Terry said they were in the last room of the museum tour in a group of around 12 people on February 17 when Dr Neill came up to her. She said: 'She looked me straight in the eye and said, 'You need to get that sorted.' 'I was taken aback but because I'm a doctor myself and I have done the same thing to other people, I could see she meant it. 'You don't ignore something like that. I thought, 'Gosh, that is very courageous - to go up to a complete stranger and tell them they need to get it looked at.' 'She didn't introduce herself. She just said, 'I'm a dermatologist.' I had never seen her before. 'It was just completely out of the blue.' The following day, Dr Terry went to her GP, who sent her to the Royal United Hospital in Bath, where the mole was removed. She was then referred to oncology experts and, after a follow-up op in May, learned that, fortunately, the cancer had not spread. Dr Terry added: 'It was a great relief. 'I wanted to track the woman down to say thank you and, by chance, one of my book club friends is a chest physician who had worked with Sallie's husband. 'He texted her and said, 'Were you at Victoria Art Gallery on February 17' - and she was. Dr Terry had been admiring the paintings at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath, pictured when she was approached by Dr Neill out of the blue The pair met at Dr Neill's home and later reunited at the art gallery where the life-changing encounter took place. Dr Neill, who formerly worked at St Thomas's Hospital in London, said she couldn't ignore the mole when she spotted it close to Diana's left eye. She explained: 'Being a dermatologist it is a little bit like bird watching - I wouldn't know a thing about birds but a bird watcher would see a bird that most of us would miss. 'The mole was dark and irregular which are key signs. We were all fairly close to each other so it was easy for me to stand next to her and have a good look. 'I thought it might be cancerous but didn't tell her that at the time. 'If she had left it, it would have definitely been serious. Advertisement Syria's military has announced it will be reducing its air strikes and artillery fire on rebels in the war-torn city of Aleppo - as a strike obliterated a residential area and pictures suggest the use of cluster bombs. Government forces claim they will reduce strikes to 'allow civilians to reach safe areas'. The announcement came on a day when a top official in Syria's main opposition said violence in the city is reaching 'genocidal proportions'. Images taken today reveal large blasts in the Darat Izza neighbourhood caused by a Russian missile. And a series of smaller explosions suggest the use of cluster bombs - a day after a four-year-old girl died in Aleppo having picked one up thinking it was a toy. Smoke rises after an attack on the Darat Izza neighbourhood in Aleppo Pictures of small explosions in the Darat Izza neighbourhood point to the use of cluster bombs, which many countries have outlawed A statement carried by state news agency SANA said the decision to reduce air strikes had been taken 'after the success of our armed forces in Aleppo and cutting off all terrorist supply routes into the eastern districts'. It continued: 'The military command has decided to reduce the number of air strikes and artillery on terrorist positions to allow civilians that want to leave to reach safe areas.' Opposition official Bassma Kodmani, of the High Negotiations Committee - a key player in UN-mediated peace talks that failed in April - said the city is not about to fall. CLUSTER BOMBS: THE WEAPONS THAT CONTINUE TO KILL AND MAIM CIVILIANS LONG AFTER THEY ARE DROPPED What are cluster bombs? Cluster bombs are devices which release a number of projectiles on impact. They scatter bomblets over a wide area which do not always explode on impact. Between 2010 and 2014, 92 per cent of those killed by cluster bombs were civilians, with the Cluster Munitions Monitor stating that global casualties exceed 55,000. Are they legal? The bombs were banned in international law by the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) - an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer and stockpile of cluster bombs. Since it came into effect in 2010, 108 countries have signed the treaty and 100 have ratified it or acceded to it. What does the Convention on Cluster Munitions require? Countries which sign up to the treaty are not allowed to use cluster munitions, develop, stockpile or transfer them to other states, or assist anyone in using them. Advertisement A deadly blast after a Russian Army missile is dropped on a neighbourhood in Aleppo Smoke rises following the air strike, in a campaign by the Syrian government, backed by Russia, to reclaim rebel-held areas in Aleppo She said: 'We are not talking about a fall of Aleppo within days or even two to three weeks.' Instead, Kodmani said the campaign had involved 'a level of violence against citizens that is reaching genocidal proportions'. Today a group which tracks Syria's civil war said Syrian and Russian airstrikes are responsible for most of over 450 civilian fatalities it has documented in Aleppo in the past weeks. It is estimated that 450 civilians have been killed in the war-torn city since September 19, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has stated On September 22, the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced a major assault to capture the opposition-held half of Aleppo The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the deaths have been recorded since a US-Russia brokered ceasefire failed on September 19. In a report released today, the Observatory said airstrikes have killed 302 civilians in the eastern, rebel-held side of the provincial capital. It says 112 civilians died in rebel-held areas in the Aleppo countryside. Meanwhile, the Observatory says 14 civilians in the eastern part of the city of Aleppo died in shelling by forces loyal to the government, while rebel shelling on Aleppo's government-controlled areas has killed 27 civilians. Smoke rising in a circular pattern above the residential area of the Darat Izza neighbourhood in Aleppo suggests the use of cluster bombs Members of the Syrian opposition group attack with missiles Assad regime forces during an operation named 'Conquest of Aleppo' around Baskoy village in Aleppo Members of the Syrian opposition to President Bashar al-Assad launch a missile attack against government forces On September 22, the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced a major assault to capture the opposition-held half. Backed by Russian warplanes, the offensive is being waged in the city centre, in the northern outskirts, and in the southern edges. It has come under international scrutiny because of indiscriminate air strikes on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals. Heavy bombardment on Monday destroyed the M10 hospital, the largest in the eastern districts. Eman, the four-year-old who died after picking up a cluster bomb thinking it was a toy A four-year-old girl has died in Aleppo after picking up what she thought was a shiny toy, but which was actually a cluster bomb. The tragedy happened while the young girl was collecting water in the under-siege Syrian city, which government forces, backed by Russia, are trying to reclaim from rebels. Four-year-old Eman picked up a cluster bomb thinking it was a silver ball. She died as a result of her injuries after it exploded and shrapnel tore through her body As soon as tiny Eman picked the object up to play, it exploded. Shrapnel tore through her tiny frame, and both of Eman's legs were broken in the blast. The murder case has been compared to the Stephen Lawrence killing It was Coulter's second trial after changes to double The family of Surjit Singh Chhokar have spoken of their relief after a jury today found Ronnie Coulter guilty of his murder, almost 18 years after the crime. The 32-year-old waiter was stabbed to death on 4 November 1998 outside his home in Overtown, North Lanarkshire and the murder was subsequently branded 'Scotland's Stephen Lawrence case'. His mother Gurdev Chhokar had tears in her eyes as she stood on the steps of the Glasgow High Court alongside the rest of her family after the verdict was given. Ronnie Coulter, 48, from Wishaw, was found guilty of the murder following a second trial brought after double jeopardy laws changed. Ronnie Coulter, 48, right, was found guilty of the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar, 32, left Mr Chhokar was stabbed to death 18 years ago and today's verdict brought an end to an 18-year fight for justice by his family, pictured outside Glasgow High Court His mother Gurdev Kaur Chhokar, 75, was pictured in tears after the guilty verdict was given Coulter was originally cleared of stabbing the father-of two following a trial in 1999. But the Crown was given permission to bring a second prosecution following changes to Scotland's double jeopardy laws. In a statement on behalf of the Chhokar family, solicitor Aamer Anwar said: 'Today's verdict is not a cause for celebration but relief that finally justice has been done. 'For any parent the loss of a child shatters the soul, but no one can imagine the devastating toll on a family having to campaign for justice for nearly 18 years, but did Surjit's killers really think his life was so cheap that his family would just walk away. 'Surjit was neither a rich or powerful man, but he was a loving son, father and brother who was lucky to have two stubborn parents who refused to be silenced as they fought for justice as a right and not a privilege. Father Darshan Singh Chhokar fought for his son's killer to be brought to justice until he died of cancer in October 2015. Mr Anwar said: 'Darshan always said that until his very last breath that he would have hope, a hope for justice. Whilst the dead cannot cry out for justice, it is the duty of the living to do so for them.' The family's solicitor Aamer Anwar, pictured, said today's result was 'not a celebration' but a 'relief that justice has been done' The family's campaign for justice was backed by their community, with supporters bringing a banner to the court with Mr Chhokar's face on it Mr Anwar said 'no one can imagine the devastating toll' the family endured in their fight to have their son's killer found 'There is real sorrow that Mr Chhokar is not here to see justice, but I hope that both he and Surjit are now finally at peace.' The jury, made up of 10 women and four men, took over two days to decide on the verdict after hearing evidence for four weeks. The majority of the 14-strong jury agreed that Coulter had murdered Mr Chhokar. Mrs Chhokar gasped with shock when the jury returned with a guilty verdict for Coulter, 48. Sitting with the family, Mr Anwar comforted the mother as she reeled from the shock verdict. Sister Manjit Sangha was also visibly shaken when the verdict was announced in court. Family members had made a poster emblazoned with the legend 'Justice' and the face of Surjit Singh Chhokar. But when Coulter's supporters left the court, they shouted that there had been a 'miscarriage' and branded the trial a 'failure'. When Coulter was acquitted in 2000, Mr Anwar stood outside the same court and denounced the justice system for acting like a 'gentleman's colonial club' and of being 'arrogant, unaccountable and institutionally racist.' The case has been compared to that of Stephen Lawrence's in England and drew wide media coverage, pictured Supporters (right) of Coulter (left) were heard shouting there had been a 'miscarriage of justice' after the trial ended Mr Chhokar was stabbed three times on Garrion Street, Overtown, North Lanarkshire, dying of blood loss in the arms of partner Liz Bryce. Coulter will be sentenced on 31 October after a report on his health can be compiled. Police Scotland Detective Chief Superintendent Clark Cuzen said: 'If Darshan Singh Chhokar was alive today, I can only imagine his feelings at seeing justice being served. 'Coulter has been cowardly for showing absolutely no remorse for his crimes and the fact that he has actively and deliberately tried to evade justice for years speaks volume about the individual. 'Surjit Singh Chhokar was a well-liked member of the community and did not deserve to be the victim of a sustained period of intimidation which ultimately led to his murder. The Cobb County Police crime scene technician was the first witness for the state Wednesday in the first-degree murder trial of Justin Ross Harris, charged with multiple counts in the hot-car death of his 22-month-old son Cooper. Brad Shumpert stood next to a large display screen in the courtroom, describing the graphic pictures and videos that showed the young boy's body on the asphalt outside his father's silver SUV in June 2014 near Smyrna, Georgia. Shumpert's graphic images showed Cooper's legs that seemed frozen in a bent position from sitting in a car seat inside the hot and locked car, the result of rigor mortis that had set in. Cooper's eyes were open. His face showed the scratches from his attempts to claw his way out of the car seat as he slowly baked to his death for more than seven hours while his father worked. Scroll down for video 22-month-old Cooper was found dead in Harris's SUV. Cobb County Police crime scene technician Brad Shumpert showed pictured of the scene to the jury on Wendesday Justin Ross Harris is on trial for the first degree murder of his son Cooper, who died in June 2014 Shumpert's graphic images showed Cooper's legs that seemed frozen in a bent position from sitting in a car seat inside the hot and locked car. The disturbing images troubled several jurors as the displays continued. Several jurors looked away from time to time Shumpert's pictures also documented the interior of the SUV and showed the proximity of Cooper's red and black car seat, only inches behind and to the side of the driver's seat. One image also showed an outside temperature indicator on the dashboard at the time, which showed 95 degrees at the time he made the pictures. The disturbing images troubled several jurors as the displays continued. One woman kept her hand over her mouth. Another covered her eyes. Several jurors looked away from time to time. Shumpert said he remembered a 'noticeable' odor at the scene and describe the victim's 'hot, musty, urine-soaked diaper', though he didn't note it in on his report. Harris and his defense attorney insist the grisly death was an accident and not an intentional act, as police and prosecutors believe. Another witness, James Hawkins, described to the jury his futile attempts to breathe life into the limp and sweat-soaked body of Cooper, pulled from his father's compact SUV only moments earlier. Hawkins and his colleague Anthony Pantano were among the first people on the scene as Harris pulled his SUV into a strip mall, exited quickly from the driver side door and began screaming. The two lighting installers had just finished repairing a restaurant's decorative lights when they heard the screech of brakes and loud screaming, Hawkins testified Tuesday afternoon. Shumpert shows a photo of the car seat where Cooper was trapped for seven hours as he sat in the hot car Shumpert's pictures also documented the interior of the SUV and showed the proximity of Cooper's red and black car seat, only inches behind and to the side of the driver's seat Shumpert said he remembered a 'noticeable' odor at the scene and describe the victim's 'hot, musty, urine-soaked diaper'. Pictured above, Jacquelyn Piper, Cobb County Police officer, explains photographs Pantano quickly drove his van to the spot where the SUV had come to an abrupt stop behind a pizza restaurant. James ran to join him. Pantano testified how Ross Harris tried to unbuckle his young son from a child's car seat behind the driver's seat. Pantano crawled inside to help the distraught driver to get the limp child onto the pavement. Pantano described how Harris attempted to revive his son as he lay on the ground but gave up and walked away from the child's body after 'a few compressions and one breath'. Harris's defense rests on convincing the jury that his son's death was an accident. He faces charges of first-degree murder for Cooper's death by hyperthermia while he worked for more than seven hours inside an office building. Harris pulled into a shopping mall parking lot, took Cooper out of the car and tried to perform CPR but was 'too overwhelmed and couldn't concentrate', his defense attorney Maddox Kilgore explained. Prosecutors contend Harris misled investigators and tried to get them to believe the young boy's death was an accident. He described Harris' sexting with women as gross, filthy and graphic, but said his client's sex life, 'no matter how perverse and nasty and wrong that we think it is, it doesn't have a thing in the world to do with the fact that he forgot that little boy. Nothing.' Sexual behavior isn't some kind of motive for murdering 'the person he loved more than anything in the world', Kilgore said. Harris with his ex-wife Leanna and Cooper. The pair separated earlier this year after Leanna filed for divorce saying their marriage was 'irretrievably broken' after the death of their son Justin Ross Harris wept in court on Tuesday as witnesses recalled the moment his son was discovered dead 'What it is, is evidence of his filthy sex life. That's all it is,' he added. The high-profile trial began Monday after jurors were selected and the prosecution made its opening statement. What looked like a tragic accident came under public scrutiny after investigators said they found Harris had researched child deaths inside vehicles before his son perished. 'Evidence will show this was the worst imaginable death for a child,' Cobb County assistant district attorney Chuck Boring told the jury during opening statements Monday. Temperatures inside the car were estimated to have reached 120 degrees, according to medical examiner reports. The prosecution says Harris knew his son was in the car and may have wanted the boy out of his life - so that he could carry on his relationships with various women. 'He closed the door on his 22-month-old son's life and sought another life. Minutes before he closed the door on that child, while that child sat in the car, evidence will show that this defendant had been online and exchanged comments that he'd been unhappy in his marriage,' prosecutors said. Boring said that instead of thinking about his son, Harris had spent the day messaging an underage girl. 'On that day, when his son was cooking to death, he was texting with a 16-year-old girl, trying to get photos of her vaginal area,' Boring added. Harris was in court, left, and right in his mugshot. 'Ross loved that little boy more than anything,' his defense attorney said in an emotion-filled opening statement James Hawkins, a lighting contractor, was among first on the scene as the lifeless body of Cooper Harris was lifted from Ross Harris' SUV. He performed CPR on Cooper but realized he was dead after blowing two breaths into the baby's mouth. 'It was blowing into a busted bag,' he recalled Witness Anthony Pantano described how Harris attempted to revive his son as he lay on the ground but gave up and walked away from the child's body after 'a few compressions and one breath' Harris's defense rests on persuading jurors that he simply didn't remember his 22-month-old son was still strapped in his car seat as he headed to his job - even though they had shared breakfast at a Chick-fil-A restaurant just minutes before the brief drive from the diner to his office. But Harris had a double life, Boring said as he opened the trial. He said: 'While he was doing that all day, his son was out in the car, dying, slowly, painfully... When he was point-six of a mile from the Chick-fil-A where he had breakfast with his son, he was texting a...woman [saying] 'I hate being married with kids. The novelty has worn off and I have nothing to show for it.'' 'It's about deception, of family and friends, deception with law enforcement, deception in every part of this case. A double life,' Boring said. Boring also criticized Harris's reaction upon the discovery of his son's body. He said: 'Harris pulled into a shopping center after leaving work and began shouting, 'What have I done? What have I done? 'His behavior was not consistent with somebody who had just discovered his child in the back seat after forgetting him. Did he cry, 'somebody call 911, somebody come help my child'? No. 'While other people were trying to help his son, he was walking around. He starts trying to call his wife, and trying to call the daycare. He doesn't call 911 and separates himself from his child. No tears.' The car Harris left his son inside while he went to work in Marietta, Georgia, is shown in this image from WSB-TV Harris, a computer programmer for Home Depot Corporation, sat in his office as his son struggled to breathe in the sun-baked SUV parked outside, police said. Harris was arrested and charged with murder several hours after Cooper was found dead in the back of the car. An indictment filed against Harris in September 2014 listed the following eight charges: malice murder, two counts of felony murder, cruelty to children in the first degree, cruelty to children in the second degree, criminal attempt to commit a felony of sexual exploitation of children, and two counts of dissemination of harmful material to minors. A murder conviction in Georgia carries a life sentence in prison. Cobb County Senior Assistant District Attorney Chuck Boring believes Cooper's death was intentional. Harris had researched child deaths inside vehicles before his son's death, investigators said. Harris confirmed to police that he researched child deaths inside vehicles, including what temperature it needed to be for that to occur. Harris was 'fearful that this could happen', according to police. Prosecutors previously said Harris was messaging six women the day Cooper died. He reportedly told one woman on the app Whisper: 'I love my son and all but we both need escapes.' Harris was also indicted on eight charges for sexually exploiting underage girls. A former nanny to Pink Floyd star David Gilmour's children broke down in tears today as she was told she faces jail for helping her lover run his international drug ring. Anni Rowland, 52, helped drug baron Kevin Hanley by counting and laundering his cash from her home in the picturesque town of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. Former grocer Hanley, 53, is now serving 17 years for smuggling millions of pounds worth of cocaine in shipments of watermelons, pomegranates and broccoli. But his partner of 20 years - whom he met at a lavish bash - claimed she never had anything to do with the drugs. Anni Rowland, 52 (pictured today outside court), the former nanny of Pink Floyd star David Gilmour's children, is facing jail after helping her drug baron lover Kevin Hanley count and launder his cash from her home in the picturesque town of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire She said she thought Hanley was still working in fruit and veg and that she believed all his travelling was to meet contacts across the world. Rowland denied knowing he was a drug dealer, even though he was jailed for supplying cocaine in 2001. She was jailed in 2006 for helping him stash the cocaine in a safe house in the New Forest. She has now been convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis and money laundering following a three-week trial at the Old Bailey. Rowland, dressed all in black, held her head in her hands and wept as the jury returned the verdicts. Judge John Bevan QC said: 'I don't intend to deal with sentence now, partly because I want to apply my mind to it and I want to hear mitigation.' He added: 'She has something of a mountain to climb.' After his release from prison for the 2001 cocaine charge, Hanley set up two shell fruit and veg companies - ICC 2009 Ltd and Paris Western - to act as a front for his drug ring. But investigators found that he hadn't declared a penny of legitimate income to HMRC. His empire was smashed by the National Crime Agency after a massive surveillance operation which included bugging his home in Fulham, south west London. Former grocer Kevin Hanley (right) is serving 17 years for smuggling millions of pounds worth of cocaine in shipments of watermelons, pomegranates and broccoli. His former lover Anni Rowland (left), now faces jail herself over conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering He was juggling two women - Rowland and glamorous Greek television presenter Chrysi Minadaki, 45 - who has also been jailed for her role in the conspiracy. Minadaki would travel with him all over the world to negotiate the drug deals, while Rowland was busily organising his flights and his accommodation. She would also transfer him large sums of cash for his business dealings. Rowland said she had never had anything to do with drugs, even when she was living a globe trotting lifestyle with the Gilmour family. Rowland was the former nanny to the children of Pink Floyd star David Gilmour 'I was looking after four children. I was on-call 24 hours a day - it certainly wasn't party, party, party,' she told the court. 'I was going to concerts and things like that but I was staff.' She told the Old Bailey that she met Hanley at her 30th birthday in 1992, which had been held on David Gilmour's 1920s houseboat on the Thames. She said there had been more than 300 guests, because she had a joint party with the daughter of the legendary Deep Purple keyboard player, Jon Lord. Prosecutor Richard Jory QC asked: 'What was Mr Hanley doing for Pink Floyd? Supplying them fruit and veg?' She replied he had only been introduced to her as 'Kevin' and she'd been told he was a friend of a friend. Rowland insisted Hanley had 'stripped her of her confidence' and 'twisted everything'. 'It's only after I've been arrested that I've been furnished with all this information and I've found out it's all been lies,' she said. 'He said he was in fruit and veg and he'd been set up and it was nothing for me to worry about and we argued and argued.' 'He would convince me. He just had this ability to twist things and I would end up apologising. And it's in all the [legal] papers and he still denies it - not that I've spoken to him for more than two years, but he still says he was stitched up. 'I stopped believing when I read everything that was in those papers, but then he would still come up with something feasible and I would still believe him. 'I just feel very stupid and hurt. I stopped all contact with him.' Rowland is facing jail after being convicted this week of conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis and money laundering following a three-week trial at the Old Bailey Hanley, 53, is serving 17 years for smuggling millions of pounds worth of cocaine in shipments of watermelons, pomegranates and broccoli. Pictured: Cash seized by police during his arrest Hanley set up the international drug smuggling ring and pretended he was shipping fruits She said that Hanley would always promise to make things up to her, and told her that he would quit the 'fruit and veg' industry and they would have a pub in the country. 'He stripped me of my confidence,' she said. 'He always told me that no one would love me like he loved me and no one would love me because I'd been in prison.' 'He always had all the lies and I wanted to believe him. All this - it's all been a lie. Twenty years of a lie. I never agreed with anyone to supply anything. 'I was counting money that I thought was legitimate money from fruit and veg. So yes I counted money, but I never laundered any money. 'I kept everything relating to him for years. It was my shrine to him. It was so stupid.' She said she never knew exactly where he was or who he was with and would always give her a feasible explanation of why he needed cash, flights or hotels. Rowland, of Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire will be sentenced on Friday When asked about Minadaki, she said: 'It was the first time I met her. She was really rude. In my head she was this beautiful Greek goddess and she wasn't and I apologised to him for accusing him of anything.' She described her love rival as 'a woman with a beard'. Officers raided the Chelsea home of co-conspirator John Fowler, 58, on November 24, 2012 and recovered 2million in cash, around 2.5million worth of top grade cocaine, 100,000 of amphetamines and 61,000 of skunk cannabis. Minadaki and grocery businessman John Fowler, 58, were jailed for 17 years and 16 years respectively in 2014. Rowland commuted with her son between the Cotswolds town and London while Minadaki had a plush flat in Cadogan Square in Westminster, the court heard. Mr Jory said: 'Ms Rowland booked flights and accommodation for Hanley and Fowler around Europe. 'She made charges for payment where money became due. She arranged for the transfer of money to Hanley when he needed it, for example when he was travelling abroad. 'She occasionally attended meetings with him and was present with him in September 2014 when the prosecution say there was a decision made that was picked up on a secret listening device about drug arrangements and procedural matters. 'Her fingerprints were found in due course on items, including the 2million in cash. 'There were also writings and notes indicating that she was familiar with cash - perhaps counting the cash and making a note of the quantities stored at Mr Fowler's address. 'It appears to be, at least at one stage, a safe house for cash and property in this criminal conspiracy. Rowland, of Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis and money laundering. Republican after Republican applauded Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's performance over Sen. Tim Kaine at last night's vice presidential debate. But sources close to Donald Trump are telling CNBC and CNN that the Republican nominee isn't as jazzed, because his No. 2 outperformed the top of the ticket. 'The media is saying Pence won, but didn't really defend Trump,' a Trump aide told CNN's John King. 'That isn't sitting well with the boss.' Scroll down for video Sources close to Donald Trump (left) are suggesting that the GOP nominee isn't so jazzed that his running mate, Gov. Mike Pence (right), didn't defend him more at last night's debate Additionally a Trump aide told CNBC's John Harwood directly after the debate that 'Pence won overall, but lost with Trump.' Part of what's probably annoying The Donald is that Republicans are expressing a kind of buyer's remorse after seeing Pence's steady articulations of conservative principles. In a segment this afternoon on CNN, the network's special correspondent Jamie Gangel explained that Republican sources were emailing her 'Pence 2016.' 'A lot of these people feel he's so good they wish he was at the top of the ticket,' Gangel said. 'One of my sources said, "He looks like a Republican, he sounds like a Republican and he really knows how to debate."' CNN's Wolf Blitzer then asked if those sources believed that Trump doesn't look like a Republican or sound like a Republican nor does the brash billionaire know how to debate. Sources told CNN that Republicans were charmed by Gov. Mike Pence because he looked and sounded like a Republican - and he knew how to debate 'Correct, correct, absolutely,' Gangel replied. In the direct aftermath of the debate, the Republican nominee's son Eric Trump gushed over Pence's performance. 'Honestly, that's why my father picked him. He's poised, he was amazing, he is incredibly articulate, he was calming in so many ways, but he also lead with tremendous strength,' the young Trump gushed. 'I just think he did an amazing, amazing job tonight,' Eric Trump added. On the other hand, The Donald's middle son found Kaine's interruptions 'annoying.' But just across the spin room, team Clinton was already pointing out that Pence won by distancing himself from Trump. 'I think it's troubling that they don't seem to be acting as a unit,' Hillary Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook told DailyMail.com. 'And Mike Pence did not show up to have Donald Trump's back. Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta echoed Mook's sentiment, giving it to Pence for having a 'smooth' debate, 'but he basically walked away from the top of the ticket,' Podesta claimed. With Trump's weaker debate performance and now Pence's strong one, all eyes will be on The Donald when he takes the stage beside Clinton for a second time. In part because Pence didn't quite answer debate moderator Elaine Quijano's question on Trump's taxes Republicans fear, according to Gangel's reporting, that it's going to be brought up again. 'They think it's a PR disaster,' she explained on CNN. 'Again, Mike Pence released his taxes ... and they're also really concerned it's going to be coming up at the debate.' In the first debate Trump offered that he was 'smart' for potentially not paying income taxes and that was before the New York Times offered evidence that the businessman lost so much money in 1995 he could have skipped paying federal income tax for 18 years. It took a while, but Democratic presidential nominee finally called running mate Tim Kaine more than 12 hours after the end of the first vice presidential debate. Clinton and Kaine spoke on the phone at 11:45 Wednesday morning, more than 12 hours and a full news cycle at the end of the contentious TV smackdown that Kaine had spent days preparing for. Clinton also emailed Kaine about the performance, but it isn't clear whether she reached out to her running mate Tuesday night, while the debate was the talk of commentators and the political class. LETS CONNECT IN MORNING: Clinton called running mate Tim Kaine at 11:45 am Wednesday after he faced off against Mike Pence in the only vice presidential debate Clinton got asked how Kaine did as she boarded a plane en route to fundraisers in D.C. Wednesday. She flashed two thumbs up but didn't say anything. Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill, asked whey the two didn't connect sooner on what was most likely Kaine's most consequential night of the campaign, responded: 'They emailed a bit and connected this morning.' Clinton's response was glacial compared to her predecessor, who immediately called Vice President Joe Biden after his 2012 debate against then-Rep. Paul Ryan. Obama watched the debate aboard Air Force One, then called Biden and immediately hailed his 'terrific.' 'I could not be prouder of him. I thought he made a very strong case,' Obama said on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base while returning from a campaign trip that night. 'I really think that his passion for making sure that the economy grows for the middle class came through. So I'm very proud of him,' Obama continued. The president didn't have much to complain about. His own performance had been halting in his first debate against challenger Mitt Romney. Clinton and Kaine also connected by email but it's not clear if they were in touch Tuesday night Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta said Kaine 'did a real good job' Asked on MSNBC who won the debate, Podesta declared that Donald Trump lost Clinton campaign press secretary Nick Merrill (R), when asked why the two didn't connect sooner, told DailyMail.com, 'They emailed a bit and connected this morning' YOU NEVER CALL: Kaine put his nice-guy reputation on the line by repeatedly cutting off Mike Pence in Tuesday night's debate. But he didn't get a congratulatory phone call from Hillary Clinton until nearly noon Wenesday STILL AFLOAT: The flight crew demonstrate safety features on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's plane at Westchester County Airport October. Clinton had no public events Wednesday but flew to D.C. for fundraisers SPEED DIAL: Vice President Joe Biden got a phone call from President Obama, who was busy both campaigning and running the country, the night of the 2012 presidential debate Asked who won the debate last night, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's first response on MSNBC was: 'Well, look, I think that Donald Trump lost and that was fairly clear -- and I just got in on the conversation but look, I think Tim Kaine did a great job. He defended Hillary, he laid out clear plans. 'And he kept putting Trump's own words to Mike Pence, and Mike Pence never defended Donald Trump, Podesta responded. Podesta told reporters on the way to Clinton's DC home: 'Tim did a real good job. At the end of the day, I think the impression that everyone came away with was that Mike Pence didnt want to defend Donald Trump.' Kaine drew criticism in initial televised commentary for being over-prepared and frequently interrupting his opponent. But it remains to be seen whether Pence did his campaign more harm by repeatedly shaking his head and denying Donald Trump said things that remain on tape. Clinton didn't speak publicly about Kaine's performance until after 6:00 pm on Wednesday, when she praised him. 'Did anybody see Tim Kaine in the debate last night?' Clinton asked at a Women for Hillary event at a Washington hotel, prompting the crowd to cheer. 'I though Tim did a great job and every time he tried to push Mike Pence to defend what Donald Trump has said and done, Pence just bobbed and weaved and tried to get out of the way because after all, trying to defend Donald Trump is an impossible task,' she said. Clinton continued: 'Mike Pence was asked several times to justify how his running mate's dangerous views could be understood. For example, that Donald Trump wants more nations to have nuclear weapons. No real answer to that.' Bill Clinton says his wife didn't take him to the woodshed for his derisive Obamacare comments. 'No she didn't,' he said Wednesday during a coffee shop stop on his bus tour of Ohio. He told a reporter asking if Hillary was giving him 'grief' that 'it was clear from what I said that there are problems with it, but I supported it strongly from the get go.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Bill Clinton says his wife didn't take him to the woodshed for his derisive Obamacare comments - she knew what he meant 'No she didn't,' he said Wednesday during a coffee shop stop on his bus tour of Ohio Clinton delivered brief remarks at an organizing office in Warren later in the day. There, he was presented with a hand-made beer mug that bore the number '42' and a wine glass for Hillary that was stamped with the number '45' - her potential presidency Bill said his wife wasn't angry with him because she understands the argument he was making. He said he'd talked to President Barack Obama about his concerns, too, and how 'frustrating' it is that the insurance markets are not working as well as everybody hoped they would.' 'But nobody can be surprised. That's why he wanted a public option in the first place. That's why she supported one,' Bill said in Youngstown of Obama and his wife. Donald Trump said Tuesday in Arizona that Hillary Clinton likely put her husband 'through hell' after the former president called the Obamacare medical insurance program 'the craziest thing in the world.' 'And she wants to double down on Obamacare! I bet he went through hell last night,' the Republican presidential nominee told a packed arena in Prescott Valley, Arizona. 'Can you imagine? Can you imagine what he went through after making that statement? He went through hell.' 'But honestly,' Trump added, 'there have been many nights when he's gone through hell with Hillary.' Donald Trump said Hillary Clinton has put her husband Bill 'through hell' many times including last night after the former president openly criticized the Obamacare system Bill lambasted President Barack Obama's signature law as 'the craziest thing in the world' on Monday Bill Clinton told a campaign crowd in Flint, Michigan on Monday that the Affordable Care Act created 'this crazy system where all of a sudden 25 million more people have health care and then the people who are out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half.' 'It's the craziest thing in the world,' he said. He tried to walk it back on Tuesday. 'We, for the first time in our history, at least are providing insurance to more than 90 percent of our people,' he said in Athens, Ohio. Hours later in the Ohio town of Steubenville, he joked about being 'no good' on the campaign stump now that hes a grandfather and a less-cautious speaker. 'You know, you need your Miranda warnings every time you open your mouth,' he said, 'because anything you say can be held against you.' The White House distanced itself from his remarks and he tried to soften the blow by praising Obama for enrolling millions in insurance. Trump fired on him with both barrels, saying he had finally 'told the truth about Obamacare.' 'He's absolutely trashed President Obama's signature legislation. Remember, Hillary Clinton called Obamacare one of the greatest accomplishments of President Obama, of the Democratic Party, and of our country. Give me a break!' he said. 'You see what's happening with your premiums? They're going through the room. Some of them are up 60, 70, 80 percent.' Clinton, Trump explained, had said Monday 'that it doesn't make any sense, and that the insurance model doesn't work. Now I've been saying that for a long time!' 'At least he's honest. He's very late.' Hillary Clinton is leveraging her famous husband to help her win the White House in her own right, but Bill's stumble could cost her Trump spoke to a crowded arena in Prescott Valley, Arizona on Tuesday afternoon Trump pledged, as he has more than 100 times since he launched his presidential campaign last year, that he would ask Congress 'to send me a bill to immediately repeal and replace Obamacare' on his first day in office. Bill said Wednesday that Republicans were responsible for the flaws in Obamacare. 'As time goes on, it's obvious that the adversaries of health care, who didn't want there to be a public option, and have voted 57 times to repeal it, are trying to use a problem that the bill has or a class of people that haven't been helped, and they worked hard to make sure those people didn't get helped.' Had the law been passed with the provisions the president wanted, 'we wouldn't be dealing with this,' Bill said. 'And that's what Hillary's saying.' Bill has mentioned the healthcare law at each of his rallies on a bus tour through Ohio this week. 'I want to say this one thing about the healthcare law, because that's another thing that they're trying to tangle with,' he said Tuesday evening in Steubenville, presumably referring to Republicans. 'I supported the Affordable Care Act. I support it today.' The Affordable Care Act, nicknamed Obamacare, is seen by the president as the biggest single achievement of his presidency, although its financial underpinnings are unraveling Hillary supports a public option, a government-run health insurance program, just like Obama did. He had to settle for the current law, which expanded healthcare but not enough, according to Bill In Youngstown, at a pancake breakfast Wednesday morning, he again insisted 'there are problems with it.' 'There are problems with it, and everybody knows it,' he said, reciting for his audience the issues he sees with Obamacare's subsidies and Medicare - not enough people qualify. The presidential candidate's spouse told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he talks 'about it all the time' and continues to do so because his personal focus group - diners at his local deli - have cited it as a concern. 'By the way none of them want to repeal the health care bill, either,' he said. Hillary has fallen several points behind Republican Donald Trump in the swing state that historically decides the election and dispatched her husband there this week to re-energize his voters. The winner of the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections said Wednesday he believes the country is close to a '21st century version of the kind of broadly shared prosperity that we had when I was privileged to be your president.' 'But it is not gonna happen if we vote to continue gridlock and divisive politics, and puttin' each other down and all that kind of stuff, it's not gonna happen.' The winner of the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections said Wednesday he believes the country is close to a '21st century version of the kind of broadly shared prosperity that we had when I was privileged to be your president.' Continuing he said, 'One of the things I don't agree with Hillary's opponent on is, you know, everything is just terrible and we're all a bunch of losers.' The military is full of losers, the generals doesn't know as much about ISIS as Trump does. 'Poor generals.' 'Everybody's a loser? Oh really?' he said at the union event. America is not 'going to hell in a handbasket,' he charged. It is in its 79th month of job growth. 'We've got the makings here to rise again.' This upcoming vote is being cast as a 'change election.' Hillary has done a lot of things in her life, 'always to make positive change,' he said. 'Is this a change election? You bet it is. But you better make the right change.' A family puppy farming gang has made 100,000 selling hundreds of sick and dying dogs to unsuspecting members of the public. Teresa Wade, 57, has been convicted of the fraud alongside three others after keeping the canines in squalid conditions. Many of the animals died or suffered serious health problems after being kept in windowless sheds, before being sold for an average of 450 each. A family puppy farming gang has made 100,000 selling hundreds of sick and dying dogs Many dogs died or suffered serious health problems, kept in windowless sheds and cages Just under 2,000 of the animals were snapped up by new owners after they were listed on the unlicensed Pets4Homes website for up to 750 Just under 2,000 of the animals were snapped up by new owners after they were listed on the unlicensed Pets4Homes website for up to 750. Some died shortly after arriving at their homes, or were ill and infested with fleas; one even 'vomited worms'. The gang behind it all, from Essex and east London, included Wade, Victoria Montgomery, 54, her daughter Roxanne Montgomery, 33, and her partner Tony Hammond, 34. Scroll down for video Details of the case were raised at their fraud trial, with the prosecution brought by the RSPCA following a raid at the traveller site in Essex. In a shocking twist Wade and Victoria Montgomery changed their pleas four weeks into the six-week hearing, after originally denying ripping off hundreds of families. As part of the trial a horrifying video was shown to the jury, depicting one helpless dog 'rotting away' at Wade's home in Aveley. Gang leader: Teresa Wade, 57, has been convicted of the fraud Along with Montgomery, of Barking, she reared the toy cockapoo-type pets on an industrial scale, scamming animal lovers into thinking they were 'home-bred'. Prosecutors said the breeds were only worth around 200 because of how they were farmed. Sentencing for the gang will take place on 8 December, with a further hearing due relating to animal welfare offences. Basildon Crown Court heard Wade's home was raided by RSPCA inspectors in October 2014. They found 76 different toy breeds, 44 of which were puppies. Speaking outside court, RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport said more and more are now being duped into purchasing farmed pets. 'These dogs were being bred and kept at a travellers' site until it came time to advertise them online and sell them to unsuspecting members of the public when they were moved to staged home environments,' she said. 'This is a tactic that more and more of these people are using to trick the public and to avoid raising any suspicions, and it's something we are seeing increasingly in these cases.' Earlier she had described the terrible conditions of the farm to the court: 'They were dirty, some were pot-bellied and generally they appeared somewhat depressed. Some dogs died shortly after arriving at their new homes, or were ill and infested with fleas; one even 'vomited worms' The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA following a raid at the traveller site in Essex Basildon Crown Court heard Wade's home was raided by RSPCA inspectors in October 2014 'For the most part what bedding there was of shredded paper was wet and it was dirty. A lot of the water bowls were empty,' she said. And pointing to dog in the video she told the jury: 'This dog was in very poor condition. 'He had lots of areas of sores, it was almost rotting away, it had a lot of skin sloughing off the body.' It is not known exactly how many dogs were sold, although 1,900 were taken by Wade to the vets for vaccinations in 2013 and 2014. The gang behind it all, from Essex and east London, included Wade, Victoria Montgomery, 54, her daughter Roxanne Montgomery, 33, and her partner Tony Hammond, 34 It is not known exactly how many dogs were sold, although 1,900 were taken by Wade to the vets for vaccinations in 2013 and 2014 Wade's daughters Charlene Smith, left, and Danielle Wade, right, both 29, denied conspiracy to commit fraud and the charges will lie on file Prosecutor Hazel Stevens said: 'The dogs seized included approximately eight groups of puppies of mixed litters. 'They were variously described as tired, dirty and lethargic, nervous and unable to walk on a lead and had to be carried from the premises. 'The conditions were described as poor, no water, and little or no bedding with such that they were wet and dirty. As part of the fraud trial a horrifying video was shown to the jury, depicting one helpless dog 'rotting away' at Wade's home in Aveley All of the dogs, a mix of poodles, cocker spaniels, cavachons, cockerpoos and golden doodles, have been placed into the RSPCA's care They have now been successfully re-homed and are living in good homes with loving families She added: '...this enterprise, if licensed, would have been one of the largest breeding establishments in the UK. 'The sums of money involved puts this as a fraud in excess of 100,000.' Montgomery pleaded guilty to making false representations about the condition of the puppies being sold, after her partner and daughter admitted the same offence. Wade's daughters Charlene Smith and Danielle Wade, both 29, denied conspiracy to commit fraud and the charges will lie on file. All of the dogs, a mix of poodles, cocker spaniels, cavachons, cockerpoos and golden doodles, were placed into the RSPCA's care. Advertisement It is a tale of two worlds. Peering down from a balcony, holidaymakers in Morocco watch workers toiling in the blistering heat of an outdoor tannery. The animal skins - mostly sheep, goat, camel and cow - that the craftsmen pile, dampen, dry, treat and dye in the midday sun of Fez is part of a centuries-old leathering process. And it's not just the stifling temperatures they all have to contend with. There's also the smell. Holidaymakers watch leather workers go about their business at an ancient tannery in the city of Fez The animal skins used to make the leather goods are mostly from sheep, goat, camel and cow. Pictured, tanners ply their trade among a honeycomb network of vats Workers sort through the raw hides and soak them for two to three days in pits containing a mixture of quicklime, water, salt and cow's urine. This helps to get rid of any leftover hair and fat on the skins The products made include coats, handbags, slippers and shoes and other leather goods such as cushions, belts and hats The ancient technique requires workers to soak the skins in animal urine for several days; later, pigeon excrement will be necessary to help smooth the leather. The hard work, all done manually, is carried out by men only - a skill that is passed down from generation to generation. The fruits of their labour will ultimately produce coats, handbags, slippers and shoes and other leather goods such as cushions, belts and hats. Some will be exported to the likes of France, Spain and India; others will end up in the local souk (marketplace) to attract the tourist dollar. The hard work, all done manually, is carried out by men only - a skill that is passed down from generation to generation The smell of ammonia fills the air as the hides are cleaned and smoothed, with the aid of pigeon faeces Workers stand barefoot in vats and knead the skins to further soften them up The ancient tannery is one of three in the Old Medina, which was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 1981 After they have been dried, the animal skins undergo the dyeing stage. At this point, they are transferred to the vats containing various colouring agents. Mint dye is used to create a green effect Poppy flower is used to achieve a red colour; cedar wood for brown; henna for orange; saffron for yellow; and indigo for blue The tannery consists of a honeycomb of stone vessels filled with various dyes and foul-smelling fluid. Standing in the vats, the workers go about their duties, ending up with their own skin dyed in various colours as a result. But first, they will sort through the raw hides, stretch and soak them for two to three days in pits containing a mixture of quicklime, water, salt and cow's urine. This helps to get rid of any leftover hair and fat on the skins. Then the hides are cleaned - with the aid of the 'smoothing' pigeon faeces. Workers stand barefoot in vats and knead the skins to further soften them up. After they have been dried, the animal skins undergo the dyeing stage. At this point, they are transferred to vats containing various colouring agents. Olive oil is also sometimes used to give the leather skins a shiny gloss Eventually, the products will be dried on the roofs of the Medina - and then, to market Mint, for example, is used to achieve a green colour; cedar wood for brown; henna for orange; saffron for yellow; indigo for blue; and poppy flower for red. Olive oil is also sometimes used to give the leather a shiny gloss. Afterwards, the products are dried on the roofs of the Medina - and then, to market. The ancient tannery is one of three in the Old Medina, which was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 1981. Fez, founded in the 8th century, is Morocco's second largest city, with a population of around 1million. Some of the goods will be exported to the likes of France, Spain and India; others will end up in the local souk (marketplace) to attract the tourist dollar Paulo Regina, 43, had been flying to the UK to get a job under Freedom of Movement laws on an Easyjet flight from Catania in Sicily to Manchester when he lit up a cigarette An Italian passenger who triggered a mid-air alert by lighting up a cigarette on board a plane has avoided jail after claiming he didn't understand the warning signs because they were in English. Paulo Regina, 43, had been flying to the UK to get a job under Freedom of Movement laws on an Easyjet flight from Catania in Sicily to Manchester. During the flight he went into the toilet and began smoking a cigarette with the fumes setting off a security alarm on the aircraft. The pilot who was about to start his descent into Manchester from 30,000 feet faced having to make an emergency landing due to fears the plane might be on fire. But cabin crew quickly found Regina cowering sheepishly in the lavatory smelling of smoke and alerted the cockpit. When he was confronted, he quickly claimed he spoke no English and made hand gestures to indicate he flushed the cigarette butt down the toilet. At Manchester Magistrates Court today, the Sicilian, who is now living at a friends house in Burnley, Lancashire and working as a pot washer in a restaurant pleaded guilty to smoking on an aircraft under the Air Navigation Order 2000. But despite facing up to two years jail under so-called 'air rage' legislation he was fined 250 and ordered to pay 115 in costs - at the rate of just 5 a week. Speaking through an interpreter he insisted: 'This was the first time I had travelled by plane and the safety instructions were read in English. I did not understand.' The court heard the incident occurred on September 14 after Regina boarded the flight for Britain so he could find work in the UK. At 1pm cabin crew suspected one of the passengers had been smoking on the plane after smelling the fumes and alerted the pilot Gareth Platt. Miss Tina Cunnane, prosecuting said: 'The co-pilot, Mr Andrew Dunn then made a public announcement, making clear that passengers were prohibited to smoke on-board the aircraft. 'At 3.25pm UK time, when the aircraft began its initial approach into Manchester Airport, a loud chime could be heard from the cockpit. 'The noise, according to Mr Dunn, highlighted a number of issues; including that the aircraft could be on fire. Despite facing up to two years jail under so-called 'air rage' legislation Regina was fined 250 and ordered to pay 115 in costs - at the rate of just 5 a week 'Depending on the severity of this incident, the pilot may have been forced to divert the flight in the interest of safety. 'However, immediately after the alert system was activated, Samuel Haywood, a member of the cabin crew contacted the pilot confirming he had located a male in the rear of the aircraft who he had found smoking.' Ms Cunnane told the court that a warning light had alerted crew there was an incident in the toilet and when Mr Haywood knocked on the door, there was no reply. She said: 'Mr Haywood was forced to open the door in case of a fire and found the defendant inside. 'After indicating that he could not speak English, Mr Regina made hand gestures to show the crew that he had flushed the cigarette down the toilet. 'The pilot then alerted air traffic control on their arrival into Manchester, where the defendant was cautioned and charged with the offence of smoking on board an aircraft. 'Mr Regina has since been granted bail and is living at a friends address in Burnley, whilst working as a pot washer in a local restaurant.' Regina had been travelling to the UK to find work and had been on board an Easyjet service from Sicily to Manchester In mitigation Regina who was not legally represented claimed he had admitted his mistake to the crew straight away. His current wage was not disclosed publicly to the court. Passing sentence District Judge David Smith said: 'We have listened to what you have said today and taken into account the limited number of times you have flown. 'We are going to accept your earnings that you have presented to us. You have stated that you can pay 5 a week and we accept that offer by collection order of the court. Initial payment will begin in 14 days.' Smoking was banned on US domestic flights in 1988, with most airlines around the world following suit by the end of the 1990s. This ban is usually rigorously enforced, with repeated warnings on the overhead speakers and illuminated no smoking signs. In 1973 a discarded lit cigarette was blamed for a fire which led to the deaths of 123 people on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. During the tragedy smoke began to fill the cabin and within minutes, crew were unable to see any of the instruments, and passengers were unable to find the emergency exits through the smoke. Imran Khan, 38, from Cheadle, Greater Manchester who stabbed to death his wife Nasreen because she looked after men in her job as a care assistant A devout Muslim man who displayed 'medieval' attitudes towards women has been jailed for stabbing to death his care worker wife because she looked after men. Imran Khan, 38, from Cheadle, Greater Manchester, had sent spouse Nasreen a series of text messages leading up to her death claiming she was contravening Islam. In one message he wrote: 'If you go to men's houses and lie to me I get angry. If you play games I get angry. Later he stabbed her to death with a kitchen knife in a frenzied attack during a furious row at the couple's home they shared with their three children. And when police turned up at the scene after the attack, Khan told an officer: 'Never get an arranged marriage bro.' The judge also dismissed that the murder was a result of a culture clash as he said both Khan's parents and sister were supportive of Mrs Khan's choice of job. At Manchester Crown Court, he admitted murder and today he was jailed for life with a minimum requirement to serve 20 years. The court was told that in the run up to Mrs Khan's death last April, he had warned his wife: 'It's not halal for you to work with men.' Police also found a text message sent to 38-year old Mrs Khan from her husband saying: 'I have told you 10 times there are three people whose prayers will not be accepted by Allah - a fleeing slave until he returns to his master, a woman whose husband is angry with her, until he is pleased with her, and a drunkard until he becomes conscious. If you dont listen to me I get angry.' And passing sentence Judge Patrick Field QC told him: 'Nasreen worked hard to support her family and was good at that job but by contrast you are a selfish and controlling man, did little to support your family and your wife, instead you sought to determine how she should live her life, expressing your disapproval of her choice of work. 'You did not want Nasreen to have contact with other men, even though they were her clients, and her duties involved no more than administering medication and warming their food. 'It appears your disapproval was born out of some outdated, almost medieval notion of how a wife should behave. You ordered her to stop - and she wouldnt. Khan stabbed his wife to death with a kitchen knife in a frenzied attack during a furious row at the couple's home, pictured, they shared with their three children 'Unless anybody should think this was some kind of cultural clash let it be said that the evidence shows that your parents and sister were entirely supportive of Nasreens choice. 'You nevertheless decided that no wife of yours should be caring for men. 'Behind the traditional line taken in your texts, appeared to lurk an element of jealousy of your wifes independence of mind and a resentment of her defiance of your orders. 'In certainly appears to me to be the case, in any event, you became incredibly angry, to the point that you determined that your solution was to kill Nasreen.' The court heard how the couple married in an arranged union in 1999 after Khans family travelled to Pakistan but the marriage was stormy. A floral tribute is left outside the family home after the murder. Khan has today been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison He spent family money on himself and claimed his wife would pretend to be asleep to avoid them getting intimate with each other. In December 2015 Nasreen got a job with Homecare Services looking after both vulnerable men and women telling relatives she wanted to 'gain experience and independence, and help support her family.' But Khan was unhappy with her job and the fact she had one-to-one contact with men. He sent her vitriolic text messages suggesting 'Allah would not approve.' On the day she was killed, Nasreen confided in her boss about her husbands behaviour saying: 'I cant take it anymore, I dont know what to do' and the employer offered to speak to Khan. But as they discussed the situation, Nasreen got another text from her husband saying: 'Its not halal for you to work with men. I dont give permission. I told you no men when you started.' In another text, he claimed she was committing 'Haram' which means forbidden in Islam He wrote: 'If she cant get you a rota with no men then leave the job, I dont give you permission for that, so listen to what Im telling you, you are my wife, let me remind you you are married. 'If you go another mans house again then you are doing Haram. Dont ignore this again and again Its Haram what youre doing.' At Manchester Crown Court, pictured, Khan admitted murder and today he was jailed for life with a minimum requirement to serve 20 years That night the couple began arguing after Nasreen showed the text messages to their eldest daughter. Khan went out only to return an hour later saying: I have got no choice - Im going to kill her and kill myself. He then stormed into the kitchen and stabbed his wife eight time before emerging with a twisted and crazy expression on his face. Nasreen was given first aid at the scene but died of her injuries. Khan fled to a friends house and gave himself up later. He told officers: 'I dont know what I have done - its like a bad dream. I always loved her - I never meant to do nothing.' In court Khan claimed he carried out the killing at a time when he was shocked and devastated after his wife told him she never loved him and that the marriage was over. But after the case Senior Investigating Officer, Duncan Thorpe, from Greater Manchester Police said: 'This is a tragic incident which has left a mother dead and three children without parents. My heart goes out to them; they are the ones who have lost out most here. UPDATE: The Shergills, of Slough, Berkshire, denied and were cleared of money laundering after prosecutors offered no evidence against them It involved getting bank details from customers while posing as anti-fraud Hardial, 33, is accused of helping launder proceeds from the 113m 'vishing' scam masterminded by Feezan 'Fizzy' Choudhary (pictured) A bank worker appeared in court today accused of laundering cash from a 113m scam thought to be Britain's biggest ever cyber fraud. Hardial Shergill is accused of helping launder proceeds from the 113m 'vishing' scam masterminded by Feezan 'Fizzy' Choudhary. Choudhary, from Glasgow, was jailed for 11 years last month after a court heard how he made so much money he was able to send a team of valets to Lahore,Pakistan to polish his fleet of Porsches. He also partied with popstars while splashing out on Rolex watches, jewellery, trips to Dubai and shopping sprees in Harrods. Hardial, 33, is said to have used his position as a Lloyds bank worker to supply fraudsters with 'mule accounts' to filter the stolen funds through. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today charged with money laundering. Victims were contacted by scammers claiming to be from the Lloyds anti-fraud department who would dupe them into revealing their account details. Choudhary was jailed for 11 years after a court heard how he made so much money he was able to send a team of valets to Pakistan to polish his fleet of luxury cars (one of which is pictured) These were then raided for vast sums of money which were transferred through various accounts supplied by corrupt bank employees before eventually being withdrawn from banks and ATMs - often just hours after the original fraud. District Judge Andrew Vickers said: 'Formally this court sends your case to be tried at Southwark Crown Court.' When talk show host Steve Harvey showed his audience a picture of 12-year-old Hillary Clinton during a February taping, the 68-year-old Hillary Clinton sitting across from him feigned surprise. 'Oh boy, oh my goodness,' the former secretary of state said. But Clinton, according to a campaign strategy memo published by the Washington Free Beacon, which was part of an email given to the website DCLeaks.com, was fully briefed that this photo and Harvey's questions were coming. Scroll down for video Hillary Clinton (left) appeared on Steve Harvey's (right) show in February. A document given to the Washington Free Beacon shows the entire exchange was pre-planned Hillary Clinton feigned surprised when Steve Harvey showed a picture of her at 12 years of age. However a memo told Clinton about all the photos Harvey that would used in the segment In fact, the Clinton campaign outlined practically every moment of the interview with Harvey to the candidate before she went on the show. The memo, written by Clinton communications aides Karen Finney and Betsaida Alcantara, explains to the nominee that 'YOUR time at the studio will be divided into five segments.' 'We pitched the show on having YOU and Steve discuss gun violence and faith, two issues YOU both care deeply about,' the memo said. 'We coordinated closely with the show's producers on the script and format of the show,' it continued, referencing that Harvey's full list of questions were on the back pages. The reason for Clinton's appearance on the show in late February was to expose her to African-American and women voters in advance of the South Carolina primary. That particular primary was important for Clinton because it was the first state where she ended up having a clear win against her Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders. Hillary Clinton would enter the show as a surprise 'expert' on grandmothering, as a question an audience member would ask Steve Harvey was pre-planned In Iowa, the two Democrats were close, and then in New Hampshire, Sanders crushed Clinton because of his next-door-neighbor status. Harvey was also pitched by the campaign because he had defended Clinton against Sanders on a previous show. After the November 14, 2015 Democratic debate Harvey did a segment highlighting a double standard in politics, referencing how Sanders suggested Clinton was 'shouting' for speaking out. 'Is this a double standard?' Harvey asked his audience. 'Yeah, it's a double standard. Women have a right to speak up.' As for the show Clinton was appearing on, she would enter to give 'advice' to an audience member, whose question was in the script. The reason the Clinton campaign eyed Steve Harvey's show was because the reach it has with black and female voters The document, authored by two top Clinton communications aides, spells out the exact questions Steve Harvey would ask the candidate, including one from the audience 'Hi Steve. I'm a grandmother of 12 kids so by now I'm running out of fun things to do with them,' a Robin Rick would say. 'Im looking for new ways to entertain them so I was wondering, since Marjorie is a grandmother like me what are some of her favorite things to do with your grandkids?' she continued referencing Harvey's wife. Clinton would then enter as a surprise guest and an 'expert' on the subject of being a grandmother. Harvey would then ask Clinton what she thought of Rick's question. Her answers were scripted out to include: 'Im lucky, I only have one grandchild at the moment and another one coming this summer!' the memo said. 'So Im just experiencing the newness of it all. We spend countless hours just watching Charlotte in awe. When she learned to clap her hands, we gave her a standing ovation,' Clinton was supposed to say. She was also to mention that baby Charlotte loves 'The Wheels on the Bus,' a tidbit she's shared a handful of times on the campaign trail. 'One suggestion for how to keep the 12 grandkids entertained is to have them play a game together, have them engaged and break them up in teams and plan something thats active like a scavenger hunt!' Clinton was instructed to answer. Moving along, Clinton was warned that Harvey would ask her her pizza crust preference and may even ask if she likes pizza with hot sauce or not. Clinton is known to carry around a bottle. Then the two would get to the more political topics: race, criminal justice reform and gun violence, with the memo including the answers that Clinton should spout. During a later segment, and for a different Harvey show, Clinton would answer questions about the Flint, Michigan water crisis. He would also introduce the former first lady, senator and secretary of state as a 'female groundbreaker' and show the photos that got Clinton so surprised. 'During this segment Steve will take a trip down memory lane with YOU to talk about the different moments of YOUR life displayed in the photographs below,' the memo said, attaching all of the images. Four friends who were removed from a flight after it landed in Turkey after being accused of 'playing a song about bombs' have claimed they were ejected from the plane because they are 'bearded Asians'. The crew ordered passengers to sit back in their seats after the jet had arrived at the terminal and four heavily armed Turkish police officers boarded the aircraft and removed Nabeal Iqbal, 19, Hammad Ahmed, 21, both dentistry students, warehouse manager Shabad Niaz, 23, and A-level student Tasiq Ali, 18. They were accused of being 'extremely disruptive' and playing a song that used the word 'bomb' several times on a mobile device during the service from Manchester Airport to Dalaman. But they deny the allegations and say they are 'embarrassed' at what happened. (From left) Hammad Ahmed, Nabeal Iqbal, Shabab Niaz and Tasiq Ali say they were removed from a Thomas Cook flight The group, pictured, were accused of playing a song on the flight which repeatedly used the word 'bomb' but deny the allegations The airline said the four had been 'extremely disruptive throughout this flight' and that one of them upset other passengers by repeatedly playing an audio track on a mobile in which the word 'bomb' was used several times. Mr Iqbal denied the allegation and said: 'At the front the cabin crew manager accused us of saying the word 'bomb' and taking a bag with a bomb into the toilet and leaving it there. 'We know we didn't say bomb and we didn't have a bomb. It was embarrassing. I would never say anything like that on an airplane. 'It's always in the news, people getting escorted off planes after 9/11. It's best not to joke about anything like that on a plane. 'It was a really embarrassing experience. I just don't think we were treated fairly at all.' They say they were 'treated unfairly' and feel they were reported to the police because they are 'bearded Asians' He added: 'You could say we were a bit loud. We were having a laugh and joke with people around us. 'As we were taken off, the cabin crew manager said "I can't believe you have said bomb on a plane, it's disgusting and you will never fly with Thomas Cook again". 'We told her we hadn't said anything. I've tried to think hard about this and I can't think why she would say that.' He said the four mates had been thrown off simply because 'we are bearded Asians'. Another passenger, Pamela Clarke, 55, from Sheffield, who was sitting six rows away, said: 'I never heard anything about bombs. There was no bad behaviour or anything like that from them. There was a group of women in front of them who were extremely drunk and loud but not them.' The airline said the four had been 'extremely disruptive throughout the flight' and that one of them upset other passengers by repeatedly playing an audio track on a mobile in which the word 'bomb' was used several times. Nabeal denied they played a 'bomb' track, and insisted their mobile phones would have required a wifi connection to play such a track. 'They've changed their story,' he said. A spokesperson for Thomas Cook Airlines said 'Four individuals were extremely disruptive throughout this flight and were refused carriage on the basis of their abusive behaviour. 'We do not tolerate such severely disruptive behaviour towards our crew or passengers and their collective and sustained actions were entirely unacceptable.' A spokesman for Thomas Cook Airlines said the group were 'extremely disruptive' and their actions were 'entirely unacceptable' The four pals were eventually released by police after refusing to pay a 60 'bribe' or sign a statement in Turkish which they didn't understand. They continued their holiday at Club Anastasia hotel in Marmaris where they say tried and failed to contact Thomas Cook Airlines to check whether they would be welcome on the return flight. They called Teletext Holidays who had booked the package for them and were assured they would be welcome on the return flight, according to Nabeal. But when the four turned up at Dalaman Airport on Friday, September 30, they were turned away again by airline officials and had to sleep the night on the beach. Thomas Earl Brown Jr, 39, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Tiffany Davenport-Ray, 42, on her wedding day A Kansas man has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting dead a bride as she left her reception, still wearing her wedding dress. Thomas Earl Brown Jr, 39, was sentenced for the premeditated first-degree murder of Tiffany Davenport-Ray and the attempted murder of her husband Melvin Ray. Davenport-Ray, 42, was sitting in the passenger seat as her husband drove them from their wedding reception in Topeka on May 25, 2014 when shots rang out. An SUV had overtaken the couple's car when Davenport-Ray was struck by a bullet in the head. Ray, who was not wounded, then grabbed her gun from the car's glove compartment and returned fire. Awnterio Dwan Lowery, who was driving the SUV, has also been sentenced to life in prison. He was convicted last year of premeditated first-degree murder. Jermel Ramond Robbins Sr, 26, was also in the SUV with Lowery, 32, and Brown. He was shot to death just three weeks after the wedding. It was revealed during Lowery and Brown's trials that his death was linked to Davenport-Ray's murder. During Brown's sentencing, District Judge David Debenham said it was 'inconceivable' that the mother-of-two was murdered on her wedding day. Davenport-Ray (pictured right with her daughter) was still wearing her wedding dress and was sitting alongside her husband Marvin Ray (pictured together left) when she was killed The couple were leaving their reception when an SUV pulled up next to them and fired six shots, striking Davenport-Ray once in the head 'A person is entitled to be married for more than nine hours,' he told the courtroom, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Ray testified that he had no idea why someone would try to kill him and his wife on their wedding day. The couple, who both lived in Wichita, had been leaving the Elks Club in Topeka and were going to drop their friend off before spending their first night as newlyweds. Awnterio Dwan Lowery, who was driving the SUV, has also been sentenced to life in prison Ray said he had noticed a white SUV following them as Davenport-Ray leaned her car seat back and told him she was tired. 'I leaned over to tell her we got things to do, we've got to consummate this marriage,' Ray told the courtroom. Then shots tore through the driver's side window and Ray saw muzzle flash, he testified, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. He grabbed his wife's gun and fired two or three shots at the SUV. Ray then asked if everyone was okay, but his wife said nothing. 'I turned and looked at her and there was blood everywhere,' he said. He immediately drove the car to the nearest hospital and pulled his wife out of the car. 'There was so much blood, she fell out of my arms,' he said. Defense attorney Gary Conwell had claimed Ray fired the first shot at the SUV after an argument at the reception, but he disputed both claims. Ray testified that he had no idea why someone would try to kill him and his wife (pictured with daughter Destiny) on their wedding day Ray said there was no problems at all during his wedding and that he never fired first. 'I don't know what sparked this,' he said. On what was supposed to the happiest day of her life, Davenport-Ray left behind a new husband, a 22-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. 'Mom you mean the entire world to me and I just wish I had that moment to tell you once more,' her daughter Destiny DeYanna wrote the day after the murder. 'You fought hard, like you normally did. I will forever look at all the pictures from yesterday to see your happiness shouting loud and clear.' Neighbors say the two men lived in the home with their elderly mother Steve surr endered after a 40-minute standoff with cops and was arrested A man suspected of making criminal threats died after police in California stunned him with a Taser outside a home where another man who was armed with a gun barricaded himself during a standoff, officials said Wednesday. Police responded to the Burbank neighborhood Tuesday evening following reports that someone had been making threats, police Sgt. Claudio Losacco said. A man in his 60s - who neighbors identified as Tom Brinkly - confronted the officers outside the house and one officer discharged his Taser to subdue him, causing the man to collapse, he said. A second man, his brother Steve Leroy Brinkley, then came to the door armed with a handgun and threatened police, Losacco said. Scroll down for video Tom Brinkley (above) died Tuesday after being tasered by police outside of his home on Tuesday. He was suspected of making criminal threats Police responded to the Burbank neighborhood (above) Tuesday evening following reports that someone had been making threats, police Sgt. Claudio Losacco said Officials said Steve Leroy Binkley (pictured above), Tom's brother, was armed with a gun and barricaded himself inside the home during a standoff. He was eventually arrested by cops The officers took cover and called for backup. Officers using shields were able to drag the man hit by the Taser away from the front of the house. He was attended to by paramedics but died at the scene. Steve surrendered after a 40-minute standoff and was arrested, Losacco said. 'He was walking out and he put his hands over his head, got on the ground and they took him away,' Harrington told KABC-TV. Neighbors in the area said Tom and Steve lived at the home with their elderly mother who is in hospice care for cancer. Neighbor Nancy Harrington (above) said that Steve and Tom were brothers who 'kind of had a feud for a long time' The cause of death for Tom (above) will be determined by the coroner's office. The death was being investigated by Burbank police and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office Neighbor Nancy Harrington said they fought often. 'They've kind of had a feud for a long time,' she said. 'Basically he said that he was going to kill him once his mom passed away.' According to KABC-TV, Steve Leroy Binkley, engaged in the standoff with police and was booked on one count of threatening a public officer. He is being held on $25,000 bail is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning. The cause of death for Tom will be determined by the coroner's office. The death was being investigated by Burbank police and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. The man who prepared Donald Trump's taxes the year that he reportedly posted a loss of over $900million says it is not Trump who made a brilliant and smart move, but rather himself. 'As far as I know, and that only goes through late '96, he didn't understand the code,' said Jack Mitnick in an interview with Today on Tuesday. 'Nor would he have had the time and the patience to learn the provisions. That's a lifetime of experience.' He then added: 'He was interested in the bottom line, not the detail. Staff under my supervision did his returns - he had no involvement in the preparation.' Shortly after parts of Trump's tax returns showing his losses om 1995 were released, he tweeted: 'I know our complex tax laws better than anyone who has ever run for president and am the only one who can fix them.' Scroll down for video Trump's former accountant Jack Metnick said that the Republican hopeful had no knowledge of tax code (above on Inside Edition) The New York Times reported Saturday that Trump posted a net loss of $915,729,293 in federal taxable income in 1995. It was already well known that Trump was losing money during the early to mid-1990s, a time when his casinos fell into financial turmoil and some of his businesses filed for bankruptcy. But the records obtained by the Times show losses so large that they could have allowed Trump to avoid paying taxes for up to 18 years. The newspaper reported that Trump made only $6,108 in wages, salaries and tips in 1995. He also reported $7.4 million in interest income and a loss of $15.8 million on his real estate and partnership holdings that year, the newspaper said. The Times said it based its story on the first pages of Trump's 1995 state income tax filings in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The documents were anonymously mailed to one of the newspaper's reporters. Mitnick, who prepared Trump's taxes that year, told The Times the documents were authentic, pointing out that they reflect a printing error from his tax preparation software that he corrected by manually inserting some numbers using a typewriter. Those numbers are slightly misaligned on the documents. Trump's campaign did not challenge the documents' authenticity or the veracity of The Times' story, but Trump threatened to sue the newspaper for making the information public. 'Mr. Trump is a highly-skilled businessman who has a fiduciary responsibility to his business, his family and his employees to pay no more tax than legally required,' the campaign said in a statement released Saturday. The campaign also said that Trump had paid 'hundreds of millions' of dollars in various kinds of taxes over the years. Claim: 'I know our complex tax laws better than anyone who has ever run for president and am the only one who can fix them,' wrote Trump (above on Wednesday) Before running for president, Trump said he would release his tax returns if he ran. But since he announced his candidacy last year, Trump has refused, bucking a tradition to which presidential nominees have adhered since 1976. Trump has repeatedly said he won't release the documents because he says they're under audit by the Internal Revenue Service and his attorneys have advised against him making them public. Tax experts and IRS Commissioner John Koskinen have said such audits don't bars taxpayers from releasing their returns. Donald Trump heaped praise on Gov. Mike Pence on Wednesday during his first rally after Tuesday night's vice presidential debate, taking credit for casting the right man for the GOP's number-two slot. 'Mike Pence did an incredible job, and I'm getting a lot of credit, because that's really my first co-called "choice",' Trump told an open-air crowd estimated at 7,000 in a suburban Las Vegas amphitheater. 'Last night America got to look first-hand at my judgment,' he said, calling Pence's win over Democrat Tim Kaine 'the single most decisive victory in the history of vice-presidential debates.' 'He was phenomenal. He was cool. He was smart,' Trump said. 'He was meant to be doing what he's doing.' Scroll down for video Many people are saying he's smart: Donald Trump claimed credit for picking Mike Pence as his running mate on Wednesday, calling his debate performance 'cool' and 'phenomenal' Yuge prayer: Pastors from the Las Vegas area prayed with Trump during a visit to the International Church of Las Vegas, and International Christian Academy Only in Las Vegas: Trump acknowledged an Elvis impersonator during his rally in Henderson, Nevada 'Our first presidential decision was the selection of our running mates,' he said, 'and all of America saw that I made the right choice.' Thousands of miles away in Virginia, Pence said Wednesday that the man at the top of the ticket emerged as Tuesday night's big victor. 'From where I sat, Donald Trump won the debate,' he said. Two of the morning's warmup acts threw jabs at Kaine before Trump took the stage. Rep. Billy Long, a Trump-supporting Republican from Missouri, said Pence had found himself under assault from 'Hurricane Kaine.' The Democrat's dozens of impolite interruptions while Pence was speaking, Long said, made him a 'category 5' storm. Conservative talk radio host Wayne Allyn Root, a Henderson, Nevada native, riled up the audience asking: 'Did Mike Pence kick Tim Kaine's ass?' Kaine, said Root, came off as grating and brusque during the 90-minute debate. 'How does anyone make Hillary look likeable?' he mocked. 'He's completely unlikeable, rude and nasty. Hillary must be a really proud mom.' Classroom visit: A girl gave Trump a Bible and a hug as he visited a class of first-graders Sorry? Trump, who famously never utters apologies, demanded one Wednesday from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Affordable Care Act Trump urged his rally crowd to vote on November 8, even if they're too sick to go to the polls. The future of the nation is at stake, he said. 'This is the last chance we get,' he said. In an only-in-Vegas moment, Trump spotted an Elvis impersonator in his audience, and broke focus for a moment. 'And I see Elvis back there. Elvis!' he exclaimed, before saying again: 'This is the last chance we get.' Trump's day in Las Vegas ended with a campaign stop at the El Sombrero cafe and began with a visit to the International Christian Academy at the International Church of Las Vegas. One first-grader, an African-American girl, presented him with a Bible. He gave her a hug while camera shutters clicked. One student saw Trump entering the classroom and said: 'I'm nervous! I'm nervous!' Another said: 'I want to touch his hair because it's orange.' But when Trump entered, a girl was heard telling him: 'See? I told you his hair wasn't orange!' Pastor Pasqual Urrabazo participated in one of Trump's Hispanic roundtable events in July at Trump Tower, and invited the candidate to visit. 'I have faith, if he gets in office, he's going to do what's right,' Urrabazo told reporters, 'because he is a human, he has a heart, and he has a lot of people praying for him.' Senior Pastor Paul Marc Goulet said Trump 'comes across as a hardliner, but he's more of a pragmatist.' None of that was on display during the late-morning rally. No debate: Mike Pence (right) was the widely acknowledged winner of Tuesday's VP debate against Tim Kaine (left), an outcome that Trump proclaimed was the biggest win in that quadrennial event's history Storm surge: Rep. Billy Long of Missouri told Trump's audience that Kaine interrupted Pence so often on debate night that he resembled a category-5 'Hurricane Kaine' The unapologetically brash real estate billionaire accused Hillary Clinton of believing American policing is dependent on anti-black bias. 'Hillary Clinton basically believes all our police are racists,' he said. It's the kind of comment that typically draws a swift demand from Democrats for an apology that never comes from the hip-shooting Republican. But on Wednesday it was Trump demanding an I'm-sorry from Clinton and from President Barack Obama over the increasingly unpopular Obamacare medical insurance law that has seen costs skyrocket and doctor coverage shrink. 'They're always telling me, if you say something wrong, just apologize,' Trump said. 'Just apologize.' 'I think that President Obama should apologize for Obamacare. And I think that Hillary Clinton should apologize for pursuing Obamacare. And she wants to make it even worse than it is right now.' Trump ceded the microphone for a few minutes to Agnes Gibboney and Laura Wilkerson, members of the Remembrance Project whose sons were murdered by illegal immigrants. 'My family emigrated to this country legally!' Gibboney said. Wilkerson, near the point of tears, urged the audience to recruit their neighbors to vote for Trump next month. Wednesday's rally saw only one protest interruption, from a lone man who shouted about Trump's promise to release his tax returns. Police escorted him out without incident while Trump boomed about his 'simple' three-word economic agenda: 'Jobs, jobs, jobs.' Trump had kind words for fellow billionaire and Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who has opened his wallet for Republican candidates and super PACs this year. Adelson recently bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal, making him a rare media figure whom Trump praises. The presidential nominee asked his audience if they had read 'your good paper' before coming to the rally. 'Good paper, owned by a great guy. Sheldon! Sheldon Adelson,' he said, straying from his prepared remarks. New York Times bestselling author Ed Klein has just publised his fourth book about the Clintons since 2005, Guilty as Sin. On Sunday, DailyMail.com described one chapter in which Klein tells how Bill Clinton enjoyed foot rubs, massages and romps in his presidential library with female interns. On Monday Klein shared exclusive information about Hillary Clinton's health as well as an exclusive excerpt from Guilty as Sin describing shocking new details about the Democratic presidential candidate's medical crises. Below, Klein shares another exclusive excerpt from the book in which he describes Hillary Clinton's relationship with Sidney Blumenthal, who Klein says is is responsible for the majority of the anti-Obama smear campaigns. Guilty as Sin is available in bookstores October 4 and for order from Amazon, where it has already hit No. 14 on the bestseller list after only one day. GUILTY AS SIN CHAPTER 20: THE BLUMENTHAL ASCENDANCY In many ways, Hillary trusted her three top aides - Huma Abedin, Cheryl Mills, and Jake Sullivanmore than her own husband. 'Bill looks out for Bill first and foremost,' she told a close friend. 'And it's always been that way. But I know in my heart that Huma, Cheryl, and Jake will be loyal to the end. Especially Huma. Nothing will shake her loyalty. Huma would go to Sing Sing before she would rat me out to the FBI.' Ed Klein reveals the relationship between Hillary Clinton and Sidney Blumenthal in his upcoming book, Guilty as Sin Hillary and Blumenthal first met when Blumenthal was a young journalist covering the Clintons in Arkansas However, when Hillary found herself with her back to the wallas she did now with the expanding FBI investigations into her emails and pay-to-play relationship with the Clinton Foundationthe person she automatically turned to for help was Sidney Blumenthal. They had known each other for more than thirty years, ever since Blumenthal was a young journalist covering the Clintons in Arkansas. He began crossing the line from journalist to propagandist during Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign; Blumenthal defended Bill from accusations that he was a sexual predator. The friendship between Blumenthal and Hillary blossomed in 1997, when he went to work in the White House as the Clintons' chief communications adviser on the Monica Lewinsky scandal and coined the phrase 'vast right-wing conspiracy' to discredit the Clintons' critics. 'Over the years' wrote Politico's Glenn Thrush, 'Blumenthal has corresponded more or less constantly with the Clintons, but especially Hillary, on a wide range of topicsnot for nothing did he earn the nickname 'Grassy Knoll' for spinning dark conspiracy theories during his tenure in the White House during the Lewinsky scandal. Blumenthal's noir, wheels-within-wheels worldview meshed with the first lady's less-than-sunny view of the press and Republicans.' In a sworn deposition before a grand jury, Blumenthal testified that he had never fed defamatory information to reporters about Monica Lewinsky. But an old literary buddy, the late Christopher Hitchens, called Blumenthal a liar. Hitchens signed an affidavit claiming that Blumenthal had defamed Lewinsky as a 'stalker' during a lunch with him. According to Hitchens, Blumenthal had perjured himself during his sworn testimony. During the 2008 presidential primary campaign, Blumenthal spread scurrilous rumors about Barack Obama. Blumenthal worked as the Clintons' chief communications adviser on the Monica Lewinsky scandal in 1997 He spent time in the White House advising Clinton, and from there became close with Hillary 'Almost every day over the past six months,' Professor Peter Dreier wrote in a May 2008 Huffington Post blog, 'I have been the recipient of an email that attacks Obama's character, political views, electability, and real or manufactured associations. The original source of many of these hit pieces are virulent and sometimes extreme right-wing websites, bloggers, and publications. But they aren't being emailed out from some fringe right-wing group that somehow managed to get my email address. Instead, it is Sidney Blumenthal who, on a regular basis, methodically dispatches these email mudballs to an influential list of opinion shapersincluding journalists, former Clinton administration officials, academics, policy entrepreneurs, and think tankersin what is an obvious attempt to create an echo chamber that reverberates among talk shows, columnists, and Democratic Party funders and activists.' When Hillary later tried to hire Blumenthal as an adviser at the State Department, Rahm Emanuel, Obama's first chief of staff, vetoed the idea. The president didn't want to have anything to do with the reviled Blumenthal. For a while, Blumenthal disappeared from the media's radar, but he was back on the screen when the State Department started releasing tranches of Hillary's emails. The emails revealed that Hillary had ignored Rahm Emanuel's orders and had secretly gone behind the White House's back to use Blumenthal as her own private intelligence-gathering service. In a flurry of emails, Blumenthal had passed on gossip and advice to Hillary on a variety of foreign policy subjectsfrom Prime Minister Gordon Brown's chances of holding onto his job in Great Britain (he wrongly predicted that Brown would defeat David Cameron) to how the United States should deal with Libya. Klein also details Clinton's relationships with her top aides, Huma Abedin (left), Cheryl Mills, and Jake Sullivan. He said that Clinton told a close friend: 'Huma would go to Sing Sing before she would rat me out to the FBI' Aide Cheryl Mills (left in 2015) helped Hillary Clinton prep for questioning from the FBI last year Former staffer Jake Sullivan was also considered to be one of Hillary Clinton's top and loyal aides A batch of 550 emails released in February 2016 contained a classic Blumenthal 'Grassy Knoll' memo to Clinton titled 'OBL photos.' In this email, Blumenthal suggested that the administration use grisly photographs of Osama bin Laden's dead body to shore up Obama's image as a can-do president and influence the outcome of pending legislation in Congress. 'Having the whole Congress see the photos,' Blumenthal wrote Clinton, 'would have these likely impacts as well: The farright-wing Tea Party Republicans would by [the photos'] mere presence admit to the President's status above them and to his effectiveness.' 'Reading through the Blumenthal emails,' wrote the Washington Post's Fact Checker Glenn Kessler, 'one sees that this is mostly gossip of dubious value.' Guilty as Sin is available in bookstores October 4 and for order from Amazon The value of Blumenthal's advice was further tainted by his shameless conflicts of interest. While he was advising the secretary of state, he was also drawing salaries from the Clinton Foundation (which received a large chunk of its donations from foreign governments and businessmen), Media Matters (the Clinton's slime machine), and a company with business interests in Libya. 'When first asked about her correspondence with Blumenthal, Clinton insisted he was merely 'an old friend' who occasionally sent 'unsolicited' email,' Jonah Goldberg wrote in National Review. 'That was a lie. It turns out that then-Secretary of State Clinton was in near-constant contact with Blumenthal, urging the head of her 'secret spy network' (ProPublica's term) to supply her with information and political advice, most about Libya. . . . 'But what does it say about Clinton that she just can't do without her pet?' Goldberg continued. 'Part of the answer is that Blumenthal is a legendary sycophant. But the means of his sycophancy are more relevant. He serves as Clinton's enabler: a rumormongering Wormtongue whispering confirmation of the vast right-wing conspiracy that the Nixonian Clinton sees everywhere.' --------- 'Hillary doesn't give a shit what people say about Sid,' a source close to the Clintons told the author of this book. 'She loves him and knows he would kill for her.' In late May, after the FBI wrapped up its interviews with Huma and Cheryl and prepared to question Hillary, Blumenthal got in touch with Hillary and advocated a scorched earth policy against FBI Director James Comey. Hillary passed on some of Blumenthal's ideas to the top echelon in her Brooklyn campaign headquarterschairman John Podesta, manager Robby Mook, and Huma Abedinand to the dirty tricksters in her Slime Room, David Brock, and Hillary's truth-challenged spokesman Brian Fallon. While the FBI was preparing to question Hillary, Blumenthal advocated against FBI Director James Comey (pictured) As usual, Blumenthal crossed the line of accepted opposition research practices into the realm of dark conspiracy theories. He posited that anyone as devoutly Catholic as Comey must have skeletons in his closet of a sexual nature. Blumenthal rehashed widely debunked allegations that J. Edgar Hoover had been a cross-dresser, and suggested that Comey might have followed in Hoover's high-heel footsteps and was a cross-dresser, too. He urged the campaign to put out these far-fetched claims, because he said that people were always ready to believe the worst about their enemies. Once the cross-dressing allegations hit the Internet, Blumenthal advised, they would go viral, and Comey would never be able to undo the damage to his reputation. 'Word about Blumenthal's dirty-tricks strategy percolated through the Brooklyn headquarters,' said a source close to the campaign. 'I was with a young lawyer from the campaign and two female volunteers at a bar near the headquarters, and we began talking about whether Sid's plan would work and prevent Hillary from being indicted. Convicted wife-killer Gerard Baden-Clay was helped back to his cell after breaking down and 'sobbing uncontrollably' while working in the prison metal shop. Prison sources have revealed the 46-year-old is struggling to cope with his life sentence after his murder conviction for killing his wife Allison in April 2012 was reinstated in August. Baden-Clay also continues to wear his wedding ring and has wedding photographs of himself and Allison pinned to his cell wall at Wolston Correctional Centre in Wacol, 7News reported. Scroll down for video Convicted wife-killer Gerard Baden-Clay (pictured with wife Allison) was helped back to his cell after breaking down and 'sobbing uncontrollably' while working in the prison metal shop Prison sources have revealed Baden-Clay is struggling to cope with his life sentence after his murder conviction for killing his wife Allison in April 2012 was reinstated in August The former real estate agent reportedly broke down just 12 days after the High Court reinstated his murder conviction. Allison's body was found in a creek bed in April 2012 - 10 days after Baden-Clay reported her missing from their Brisbane home. Baden-Clay was initially found guilty of murder in 2014 but had his conviction downgraded to manslaughter in December in the Court of Appeal after his lawyers argued he could have unintentionally killed her during an argument. Queensland's Director of Public Prosecutions immediately launched an appeal to be considered by the nation's highest court. Baden-Clay also continues to wear his wedding ring and has wedding photographs of himself and Allison (both pictured) pinned to his cell wall at Wolston Correctional Centre Allison's (left) body was found in a creek bed in April 2012 - 10 days after Baden-Clay (right) reported her missing from their Brisbane home The five-judge bench in the High Court unanimously ordered Baden-Clay's original murder conviction to be reinstated in August. It found the Court of Appeal had 'erred in concluding that the jury's verdict of guilty of murder was unreasonable on the basis that the prosecution had failed to exclude the hypothesis that Gerard Baden-Clay unintentionally killed his wife'. The High Court found the jury was entitled to consider the whole of the evidence to satisfy themselves he had intended to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm on Allison. Baden-Clay attended Allison's funeral with their three daughters in Brisbane in 2012 A UFC fighter has died a week after he was found unresponsive alongside his dead roommate in their apartment by police responding to a 'potential drug overdose'. Josh Samman, 28, died Wednesday after spending a week in a coma. His cause of death is currently unknown. His roommate Troy Kirkingburg, 28, was pronounced dead after the men were found in their Hollywood, Florida home last Thursday. UFC fighter Josh Samman, 28, died on Wednesday after spending a week in a coma. He was found unresponsive in his Hollywood, Florida apartment by police last Thursday Authorities were responding to a call of a 'potential drug overdose' when they discovered that Samman's roommate Troy Kirkingburg (right) was dead An autopsy will be conducted on Samman but the Broward County Medical Examiner's office will not administer a toxicology report, according to MMAFighting.com. Chief Medical Examiner Craig Mallak said because Samman remained alive for days after he was found there would no longer be 'suitable specimens' to test. Mallak said it is possible that a definitive cause for Samman's death may not be found. A toxicology report will be conducted on Kirkingburg, who was well known in the fighting community as a ring announcer. Former and current professional fighters took to Twitter to share their grief over Samman's death. 'Josh Samman. Friendly. Intelligent. Caring. Fierce competitor. Human. The body may be gone but the energy moves on. He will be missed,' wrote retired MMA fighter Kenny Florian. 'At the end of the day MMA is a community as much as it is a sport,' wrote Shane Carwin. 'You will be missed.' Police found Samman still breathing and with a pulse when they arrived at the pair's home after responding to a call of a 'possible drug overdose'. Samman had detailed his past struggles with drug use and suicidal thoughts in a memoir written in the wake of the death of his girlfriend, Hailey Bevis, in 2013. An autopsy will be conducted on Samman but the Broward County Medical Examiner's office will not administer a toxicology report because he remained alive for days after he was found Samman made his professional debut in 2007 but went through years of struggle after suffering both health issues and the death of his girlfriend in 2013 The couple had been texting when Bevis crashed into a tree. Samman was consumed with guilt and grief. 'Just try to imagine the most monumental things in your life and then removing those things and never having them again,' Samman told UFC in 2015 of losing Bevis. 'Its just an enormous loss, theres no way that youll ever be the same after something like that.' 'Theres nothing that couldve happened in my life that wouldve been worse than that.' Samman's friend Christopher J Rothstein said he believed Bevis' death has continued to haunt the fighter through the years. 'Dealing with the death of...Hailey a couple years back was excruciating for him,' Rothstein wrote in a Facebook post the day after Samman was found unresponsive. Samman had been texting his girlfriend Hailey Bevis (pictured together) when she struck a tree and was killed. The professional fighter was consumed with both grief and guilt Samman's friend Christopher J Rothstein said he believed Bevis' death has continued to haunt the fighter through the years Samman spent more than a year away from the Octagon but returned on Bevis' birthday, winning his fight with a head kick. 'This is for my mom, this is for Hailey, this is for everyone who has cared for me and helped me back to where I am today,' he said of the monumental comeback match. It was the second time Samman had pulled himself up from tragedy. At the age of 21, he had nearly lost his leg - and his career. Samman had pulled a muscle and suffered a blood clot in his leg, which swelled dramatically after he got on the plane. The emergency operation resulted in 200 stitches. A quarter of a year would go by before he would even be able to walk again. Samman recounted his past struggles in the book The Housekeeper: Love, Death & Prizefighting, which was released earlier this year. Upon the book's release, he expressed his desire to emerge a better person. When he was 21, Samman pulled a muscle and suffered a blood clot, which swelled dramatically after he got on the plane, and almost had to have his leg amputated 'I wanted it to be really good,' Samman told MMA Fighting. 'Sometimes people get lost in their tragedy, and sometimes it catapults them.' Samman's next fight was scheduled for December 9 at UFC Fight Night 102. He had excitedly shared a photo of him signing the bout agreement just four days before he was found unresponsive. Kirkingburg was engaged to TV anchor Charlene Cristobal at the time of his death, according to his obituary. She posted a photograph of them together on Sunday, writing: 'Both of us smiling. Together.' 'That's how I'll remember us. Always. I love you.' Now friends and fans are left reeling with Samman being gone after so many years of fights both in and out of the ring. I cant understand how, or why, we are at this juncture in life,' Rothstein wrote last week. 'And why Josh has had to deal with so much darkness in his life. A life that is so full of joy and potential. Hillary Clinton prefers a special SUV wth a 'little step' when she requests a government SUV to transport her, hacked emails from an advance staffer reveal. Clinton's desire for a newer model specially-equipped vehicle would be hardly noticeable to the public, which sees her get transported at high speed in a black SUV as part of a taxpayer-funded motorcade. But Clinton's specific preference for the step is pronounced enough that advanced staff coordinated in advance to try to get one of the vehicles for a short trip to McLean Virginia outside Washington last year. The email, posted by DCLeaks, has the subject heading 'HRC Car,' and appears to show Clinton staffers and contract advance staffer Ian Mellul planning logistics for a Februrary 2016 trip to McLean by the former secretary of state. WATCH YOUR STEP: Hillary Clinton requested a specially outfitted Chevy Suburban with a retractable step, according to a hacked email CAR TALK: Aides discussed getting a certain type of Suburban for the former secretary of state More than a year's worth of Mellul's gmail account got hacked, leading to a release of information including what was purported to be first lady Michelle Obama's passport. 'I hope you don't think this is a silly question, but if you do - oh well,' writes PR executive Laura Gross, a former White House, Clinton, and Obama advance staffer, as she test drove the special car request. Gross then mentions that she has repeatedly seen the term 'retractable floorboard' regarding 'HRC's Suburban' a reference to the hefty, gas-guzzling ride used to ferry Clinton around. She said Secret Service informed her the reference was to 'retractable running boards' on the Chevrolet. YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR: Hillary Clinton enters her vehicle after a flight in Moline, Illinois in September EASY RIDER: A Clinton aide requested a vehicle with the 'little step' PASSENGER SIDE: Clinton gets into a black SUV February 27 in Birmingham, Alabama, days after aides wrote about getting her a certain type of vehicle FIRM GRIP: Clinton boards her plane in White Plains on a trip to D.C. Wednesday STEADY AS SHE GOES: Clinton climbs the stairs at a campaign event in California in June She then informs Clinton staffer Jason Chung that he must be referring to 'the things that come out from the side of the car, so it's easier to get out - sort of like a little step. Correct?' Chung responds: 'It's meant to be retractable running boards, yes. The newer ones have almost like a little step that comes down.' But Chung observed: 'It's okay if the ones you have do not,' in an email revealed by the Washington Free Beacon. Gross had been seeking clarification if it was okay if the vehicle that had been procured didn't have the feature. Gross was likely referring to the featured called a 'power step' on large, late model Chevy vehicles including the Tahoe. It allows a passenger the convenience of a step despite the vehicles high-clearance. It's retractable nature keeps the vehicle from bottoming out or getting caught on a curb. CARBON FOOTPRINT: Clinton walks toward an SUV fro her aircraft February 28 in Nashville LIKE A ROCK: The vehicle of choice for the Secret Service and Clinton for transport is the Chevy Suburban IS THIS THING ON? Hillary Clinton, left, arrives at a Women for Hillary finance event at the Hyatt Regency in Washington Wednesday It isn't known whether the desire for the step had anything to do with health concerns for the former secretary of state, 68. Clinton stumbled during a Sept. 11th memorial, when it was revealed she had pneumonia. After she suffered a concussion in late 2013, Clinton wore special prism lenses, which can correct double vision. She has also been spotted taking care to grab onto hand railings while taking the stage and exiting her airplane as she flies around the country during her presidential campaign. On February 16, Clinton attended a McLean fundraiser at the home of Beatrice Wilkinson Welters and Tony Welters. President Obama appointed Wilkinson Welters to be U.S. ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. City Council Rubber Stamps Rahm's New Police Oversight Agency By aaroncynic in News on Oct 5, 2016 7:22PM As expected, the City Council enthusiastically rubber stamped Mayor Rahm Emanuels Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which will replace the beleagured Independent Police Review Authority. The Chicago Tribune reports the council signed off on it Wednesday afternoon with a 39-8 vote. The no votes were cast mostly by aldermen from cop-heavy wards, rather than those who criticized Emanuels plan for not going far enough. Emanuel made some slight changes to the ordinance earlier this week, which apparently was enough to win most alderman over, despite a public push for other alternative oversight bodies. Emanuels appointed entity will now have a guaranteed budget of 1 percent of the Chicago Police Departments budget, the authority to hire independent counsel, and also will now ban current or former cops of the last five years from serving as investigators. The level of widespread engagement and transparency is a model that can and should be followed in the future, wrote Police Board President Lori Lightfoot in a letter to the Sun-Times. Our city is truly the better for it...There is, of course, more work to be done. [But] passage of this ordinance is a necessary and important building block for the path forward. The first head of COPA will be Sharon Fairley, who Emanuel appointed to run IPRA. The new deputy inspector general for public safety, who will be charged with auditing police practices and recommending changes, will also be appointed by the mayor. "I would consider this the beginning of a journey, not the end," said Emanuel, according to the Tribune. "This is not the end, but it is an important step forward on the improvements that we all seek...to get us to a point where I think we have made a difference in the future of the city of Chicago and a fundamental difference in the safety that we want to seek throughout the city of Chicago." It remains unclear what fundamental difference, if any, Emanuels new agency will have from the way IPRA worked. Creation of a Community Oversight Board, which is supposed to play a role in picking the head of COPA has been delayed at least until next year. Much of the public is likely to remain skeptical of any mayoral-appointed body. Here's a man who sat on incriminating evidence of one of the most horrendous murders in this city for 400 days and he gets a chance to parade in front of us as a social reformer, as someone who's going to bring police accountability to this city? We don't think so, said said Frank Chapman, of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression at a press conference at City Hall on Tuesday. Alderman Leslie Hairston, who has her own police accountability ordinance in City Council and was among the no votes, also criticized COPA. "This was our chance to get it right the first time, Chicago, before the U.S. Department of Justice tells us to start over again," she said. "Sadly, Chicago ain't ready for reform. We prove it over and over again." A woman interrupted Bill Clinton's speech in Canton, Ohio, this evening to accuse him of sexual misconduct. 'Bill Clinton is a rapist,' a woman wearing sunglasses and an orange ball cap said loudly as she walked in front of the press holding a gray t-shirt making the same claim. The front of the shirt read: 'BILL CLINTON A RAPIST.' The back of shirt was facing the former president. It was not clear from the woman's positioning whether it carried a message, as well. A woman interrupted Bill Clinton's speech in Canton, Ohio, this evening to accuse him of sexual misconduct It was not clear from the woman's positioning whether the back of the shirt - the side facing the former president - carried the same message Clinton's response suggests it did not. As the unidentified woman was led out by security, he said, 'I love it when people come into my rallies. 'It's a dead giveaway when they don't want a conversation,' he said, 'because they know they'll lose a conversation.' Attendees of the speech, at Canton's Ironworkers Local 550 Training Center, clapped for Clinton and shouted 'get her out!' at the woman. 'Don't worry about that,' Clinton said, as the yelling overpowered his remarks. Over the weekend a man stormed a Fox News broadcast and held up t-shirt with Bill's face and the word 'rapist.' An anti-Hillary protester held up a similar sign outside the Democratic presidential nominee's Fort Pierce, Florida, speech on Friday. Bill, seen here earlier in the day, was speaking at Canton's Ironworkers Local 550 Training Center Several women have accused of Bill Clinton of rape over the years, including Juanita Broaddrick and Paula Jones, both of whom say he took advantage of them in Arkansas hotel rooms. Kathleen Willey says he fondled her in the Oval Office. Donald Trump has been warning the Clintons that he could bring up the infidelities Bill has admitted to, Monica Lewinsky and Gennifer Flowers, at Sunday's general election debate. Hillary Clinton'z campaign suspects he won't, though, because the strategy could 'backfire.' Theresa May did some mad double-waving of the arms during her keynote speech Theresa May strode on stage practically geysering adrenaline. Crumbs, she was pumped. Turbocharged Theresa and yes, they really did play the Rolling Stones for background beat did some mad double-waving of the arms. She bounced on her glittery disco heels and gave a wiggle of two hips in slinky magenta. Prime Minister, puh-lease! Stillness descended and we had a long pause. Gawd, I thought, now shes dried. Had the autocue gone on the blink? But she was merely taking a deep breath, savouring the view from the top board, before, twang, she dived into an hour-long speech which spanked her imprint on the Conservative Party and rammed home some moral imperatives of Centrism. She began: When we came to Birmingham this week, big questions were hanging in the air. Do we have a plan for Brexit? Her eyes flashed under Cleopatra make-up. We do. Next: Are we ready for the effort it will take? Another flash of the headlights. We are. Then: Can Boris Johnson stay on message for a full four days? She pulled a dubious look and did a little levitation with one palm. Hmmmm, just about. As the hall laughed, releasing tension, Foreign Secretary Boris in row three did a wounded oi, wot have I done, ref? Let us hope Boris will not mind that she just took ownership of him. People voted for change on June 23 and change is going to come. The word revolution was used three times in the first minutes. Indeed, it had been the quiet revolution. The aristocracy she wanted toppled by this revolution were not the old tweedy overlords of the shires. They were the Philip Greens and Googles of this world who ignored the spirit of citizenship people who behave as though they have more in common with international elites than with the people down the road. This was terrific rabble-rousing stuff and it could never have been uttered by David Cameron (though she took care to praise her absent predecessor; the hall gave him a big hand). Talking of hands, she was using hers a lot first one side of her special wooden lectern, now the other. She could have been mixing a margarita in a cocktail shaker. Prime Minister Theresa May and her Husband Philip John at the ICC Birmingham earlier today Change and ordinary, working-class people kept being mentioned. Her vision was of Britain as a Great Meritocracy capital letters as in the text we were handed afterwards, thank you. That test also reminds me that she essayed a saccharine passage about triathlete Alistair Brownlee helping brother Jonny over the line in Mexico. All we needed was Rolf Harris singing Two Little Boys. She praised that typically British, quiet resolve that had made these people defy the Establishment on June 23 an Establishment, ahem, which she had supported. The activists liked it when she said our laws made not in Brussels but in Westminster. In front of me sat a Belgian journalist with a laptop. I saw her type the words yeah yeah. The May of the past would never have dared pick so many fights in one speech her caution was her most maddening trait but now she was happy to biff Remainer commentators (presumably at the BBC, Guardian etc.) who sneered at patriotism and who could not comprehend buccaneering Brexit voters. Only the naughty part of me was tempted to yell so why did you not support Leave, Theresa? The billions of disposable coffee cups dumped in landfill sites could take up to 30 years to decay, experts have warned. Campaigners are now issuing fresh calls for a plastic bag-style 5p charge to tackle the waste caused by high street cafe chains. Just one in every 400 cups handed out by firms including Costa, Starbucks and Pret a Manger is recycled because they include a plastic membrane that cannot easily be separated. Just one in every 400 cups handed out by firms including Costa, Starbucks and Pret a Manger is recycled As a result, an estimated 2.5billion are binned and end up in dumps where they take decades to degrade, releasing greenhouse gases as they do so. Environmental groups say they want firms to do much more to develop cups that can be easily recycled or do more to encourage customers to bring their own reusable vessels. A leading academic has now warned that the thin plastic polyethylene skin in cups supplied by coffee chains is resistant to degradation and could take around 30 years to break down. Chris Cheeseman, a professor of materials resources engineering at Imperial College London, said: 'Even then we don't know for sure, because nobody has looked at the cup specifically,' he said. Even if there were no plastic lining, the cups could still take at least two years to start breaking down because they use high quality virgin paper which requires the felling of hundreds of thousands of trees. COATING THAT MEANS BILLIONS GO TO LANDFILL Most coffee cups used by chains such as Costa, Starbucks and Pret a Manger are not recycled. The paper vessels are coated with an inner polyethylene skin to stop the drink making them soggy but the plastic is so tightly bonded to the paper it is difficult to remove. So when the cups reach waste plants the polyethylene is recognised as a contaminant and the disposable cups are directed towards landfill. Only two specialist recycling plants are able to process the cups in Cumbria and in Halifax. Yet only a tiny fraction of the cups are collected by the stores and sent to these plants. There is a glimmer of hope from British entrepreneur Martin Myerscough, who has created the recyclable Frugalpac cup. It has a thin plastic membrane that floats away during the recycling process and Starbucks has agreed to run a trial. Advertisement 'In terms of environmental impact the cellulose fibre is potentially more of an issue than the plastic,' he said. 'This could take 18 months to two years to start to break down and then it produces methane gas which is probably not collected.' Campaigners across the globe have been putting pressure on coffee shops to change the way they operate. Groups and political parties in the UK, including Friends of the Earth and the Liberal Democrats, support the idea of a 5p charge. The idea of using financial incentives to change shopping behaviour has already worked with the plastic bag fee, which was brought in following the Daily Mail's Banish the Bags campaign. Earlier this year, the then Tory environment minister Rory Stewart told MPs a fee could also be applied to coffee cups to prevent them feeding a tidal wave of litter and waste. The idea was quickly withdrawn via an official statement from his department. However, even coffee shop giants have accepted that financial incentives to cut the use of throwaway vessels are worth trying. Starbucks gives customers a 25p discount if they bring their own re-usable cup. Costa gives a donation of 25p to charities including Keep Britain Tidy. Environmental groups say they want firms to do much more to develop cups that can be easily recycled A charge would give coffee sellers an incentive to switch to cups that can be easily recycled. A British entrepreneur has already developed a cup that can be fully recycled and Starbucks has agreed to run a trial. Head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth, Andrew Pendleton, said a charge or an outright ban on those that cannot be recycled should be considered. 'The massive reduction in plastic bag use shows that just a small change in everyday habits can make a meaningful difference,' he said. 'Attention is now rightly turning to the estimated 2.5billion non-recyclable coffee cups that end up in landfill every year, and other by-products of modern life like the completely oversized boxes and excess packaging that results from online shopping. Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Kate Parminter called for a 5p levy, adding: 'It's a disgrace that seven million cups are thrown away every day, mostly not recycled, and yet the Government simply turns a blind eye.' Cardiff University academic Wouter Poortinga, who has studied public reaction to bag charges, said shoppers are opening up to the idea of similar levies for coffee cups and plastic bottles. 'We've seen that the plastic charge has become increasingly popular since it was introduced, and that it has changed attitudes towards waste policies as well,' he said. Labour's tolerance of anti-Semitism and members abusive behaviour has made it the new Nasty Party, Theresa May said yesterday. The Prime Minister famously told the Conservative conference in 2002 that many saw the Tories as the Nasty Party due to their narrow social outlook. But yesterday she said that the Conservatives had changed beyond recognition while under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour had adopted the politics of division and forgotten how to represent the views of working people. Theresa May said that the Conservatives had changed beyond recognition while under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour had adopted the 'politics of division' and forgotten how to represent the views of working people She added that the Opposition could no longer describe itself as the party of the NHS and made a point of praising Clement Attlee, the post-war socialist PM who set it up. Mrs May was Conservative Party chairman in 2002 when she told delegates they needed to modernise, saying: Our base is too narrow and so, occasionally are our sympathies. You know what some people call us? The Nasty Party. Yesterday, in her first keynote speech as PM, she deployed almost exactly the same language to describe Labour. She said the party was determined to ... embrace the politics of pointless protest that simply pulls people further apart. Jeremy Corbyn with his wife Laura during a visit to Northumberland. Many Labour MPs particularly women have been subjected to online abuse from supporters of Mr Corbyn She continued: Thats what Labour stands for today. Fighting among themselves, abusing their own MPs, threatening to end their careers, tolerating anti-Semitism and supporting voices of hate. You know what some people call them? The Nasty Party. And with Labour divided, divisive and out of touch, we have a responsibility to step up, represent and govern for the whole nation. Many Labour MPs particularly women have been subjected to online abuse from supporters of Mr Corbyn. Some have been threatened with deselection. The party has also been accused of taking a soft line on anti-Semitism. An internal report on the problems, written by civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti, was widely seen as a whitewash. Its author has since been elevated to the Lords by Mr Corbyn. Mrs Mays speech also staked the Tories claim as the party of the NHS, which she hailed as one of the finest healthcare systems in the world. She praised Mr Attlee as a man with the vision to build a great national institution. However, she pointed out Labour had expanded the use of the private sector in the NHS faster than Tories, and was the only party ever to cut spending on the NHS, having done so in Wales. Lets have no more of Labours absurd belief that they have a monopoly on compassion, she said. Lets put an end to their sanctimonious pretence of moral superiority ... they have given up the right to call themselves the party of the NHS, the party of the workers, the party of public servants. Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn spent yesterday shopping for jumpers on holiday in Northumberland with his wife Laura Alvarez. EXCLUSIVE: A self-styled multi-millionaire foreign exchange dealer who brags on TikTok about how he treats parking tickets as the cost of 'VIP parking' (left) has been behind a string of dissolved companies and lives in a rented house. MailOnline can also reveal that one of the directorships listed for Luke Desmaris (right, inset), 27, at Companies House gives his 'correspondence address' as the home of an elderly couple who live in an isolated gated bungalow and have never heard of him. Desmaris, who charges people for advice on how to make a fortune, made headlines this week after releasing a boastful TikTok video showing parking tickets on his BMW on double yellow lines near Harrods as a voiceover says: 'Broke people see a fine, but I see VIP parking'. He also regularly brags about earning 300,000 a month, living in 'multi-million mansions', and wearing two Rolex watches worth a total of 40,000 in a bid to get some of his 83,000 followers on TikTok to pay him 29.99 a month for trading advice. Many of his videos feature the exterior of his former five bedroom home and his 90,000 BMW M4 car in Harlow, Essex, with some posing the question: 'How can I afford this house and car age 27?' When 11-year-old Shi Luyao was diagnosed with cancer, he was determined to undergo treatment and get back to school as soon as possible. In order to treat his Leukaemia, the schoolboy was forced to leave school for two years using only textbooks to keep up with his studies, reports the People's Daily Online. Luyao has since returned to school but is forced to travel 280 miles alone for bone marrow biopsies but he always makes it back for school the following day. Dedication: Shi Luyao travels 280 miles for his treatment and always makes it back to school Hard journey: He has to go for regular bone marrow biopsies a six-hour train ride away Shi Luyao was brought up by his father after his mother walked out on the family when he was just two-years-old. Forced to provide for his son, Luyao's father moved to Anhui province while he was looked after by his grandparents in Guizhou province. In November 2013, Luyao had a fever and was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. His father brought him to Anhui province for better chemotherapy treatment however because the boy was not in his home province, the medical insurance only covered half of the bill. Luyao's father had to borrow some 200,000 yuan (23,544) to help cover the rest of the bill putting him in severe debt. During his treatment, Luyao was always motivated to study, teaching himself by borrowing books from his cousin. Tragic: He is so dedicated to school that he taught himself for two years during chemotherapy According to his teacher, he has excelled academically, scoring 100 percent in a maths test When the chemotherapy finished, Luyao moved back home with his grandparents and returned to school. However he still has to frequently travel to a hospital in Kunming hundreds of miles away for bone marrow biopsies. The 11-year-old takes the train by himself, travelling some 280 miles back to hospital for the biopsy. Instead of spending time recovering, he gets back on the train and travels for six hours to make it back in time for school the following day. Luyao told reporters that making the trip sometimes upsets him: 'I want to cry but I cannot let people see me cry because then they will know I am alone.' His teacher says despite his situation, he has excelled academically. In a recent maths test he scored 100 percent. People have been discussing the boy's story on Chinese social media site Weibo. One user wrote: 'He is a young child but he is so tough and courageous.' While one user commented: 'I really wish that someone can escort the boy to hospital. He should not have to travel alone.' A paediatrician in China was stabbed to death on October 3 by a distraught father after his daughter died. 34-year-old Li Baohua was stabbed 15 times across his body including 12 in his head as he worked in his office at Laigang Hospital in Shandong province, reports the People's Daily Online. Doctors fought for five hours to save Baohua however he later died from his injuries. Horrifying incident: 34-year-old Li Baohua was stabbed to death by an angry patient Tragic: The doctor had been treating the girl who was suffering from pneumonia Shocking incident: The doctor was killed while he was in an office on October 3 The baby girl was born in January and died just two days later. A spokesperson from the hospital told The Beijing Times that the baby girl was diagnosed with sepsis and severe pneumonia. The spokesperson said that while the illness is common nor complicated, the condition of a patient can deteriorate rapidly. Distraught by the death of his daughter, the father demanded compensation from the hospital for her death. However an agreement was not reached. Tragic: Staff turned up to remember their colleague after he was killed on October 3 Remembering a colleague: A memorial service was held for staff to pay their respects According to reports, the father had been to the hospital demanding compensation multiple times before. During one visit he smashed a window in the hospital. On October 3 he entered Li Baohua's office and stabbed him 12 times in the head and three times elsewhere on his body. Staff from the hospital came to his rescue however the father tried to stop them from helping the doctor. Once they were able to help, medical staff worked for five hours to save Li Baohua however they were unable to save him. The father has been detained by police. The hospital held a memorial service for the doctor. Pictures from the event were posted to social media site Weibo and show many of the man's colleagues paying their respects. A mother-of five in central China was so determined to find the five men involved in her husband's murder that she spent 17 years tracking them down. Her husband Qi Yuande was killed in January 1998 by a fellow villager who suspected his wife Li Guiying of reporting him and his family for breaching the one-child policy. Li Guiying, also a village official then handed her findings to the police who detained the men. The final two men were handed their charges on September 30, reports the People's Daily Online. A loving family: Li Guiying (left) pictured with her husband (right) and children Dedicated: Li Guiying spent 17 years successfully finding those behind her husband's murder Qi Yuande worked as a schoolteacher in a small village in central China's Henan province. He was confronted by the fellow villager named Qi Xueshan who suspected his wife who worked as a village official had reported him and his family for breaching the one child policy. Qi Xueshan started attacking Li Guiying with bricks before calling on his four brothers for help. They then tried attacking her with cleavers. Qi Yuande came to his wife's aid but he was soon overpowered by the men who stabbed him to death. Li Guiying pictured with her three children travelled across the country to find the killers Li Guiying was severely injured and hospitalised. The five men went on the run. Once out of hospital, the mother dedicated her life to finding the men and ensuring that her husband had justice. She went to over a dozen provinces across China and searched for clues. She took photos of the men with her and went around villages asking people if they had seen them. Two of the suspects including Qi Xueshan were captured in Beijing and Shanxi province not long after the murder. They were sentenced to 15 years in prison. A third suspect was captured in Xinjiang province. He was handed the death sentence however a higher level court overrode the decision. The case is currently being heard. And in June this year the final two suspects were arrested and charged with premeditated intentional homicide. She is awaiting the final verdicts for the pair. People have been talking about the woman's story on social media site Weibo. One user wrote: 'Her story should be made into a movie.' While another commented: 'She is such a strong woman.' For tenants living in Turkey 2,200 years ago, rental agreements really were carved in stone. Archaeologists have discovered what may be one of the world's oldest tenancy contracts etched into a five feet long slab of marble. It is inscribed with 58 lines of text in ancient Greek that spell out in excruciating detail the terms for renting out a property in the city of Teos in Anatolia, Turkey. A 5 feet long marble tablet has been discovered to have one of the world's oldest rental agreements inscribed on it (pictured). The slab was found among the ruins of the ancient city of Teos in Turkey. It details a tenancy agreement for property within the city's gymnasium WHAT WAS THE GYMNASIUM In ancient Greece, gymnasiums were training facilities for competitors who took part in public games. The athletes tended to be men over the age of 18 years old who competed nude. Alongside their physical training, the athletes were also expected to devote time to learning how to write and developing a moral education. Gymnasiums became sites of intellectual pursuits as well as physical. They were usually large structures that included a stadium, baths and porticos. Advertisement The stone slab was discovered just to the west of the ruins of the Temple of Dionsys the ancient Greek god of wine during excavations there. Experts say the unusual stone tablet sheds fresh light on the legal system and the social structure in the ancient city. It details how a property within the gymnasium of Teos were left to members of the gymnasium described as Neos, the Ancient Greek for youth or new - when a wealthy citizen of the city died. This included the land, the buildings, slaves and a religious alter within the site. However, those who inherited the site were unable to pay for its upkeep and instead rented it out through a bidding process. According to Hurriyet Daily News, Professor Mustafa Adak, head of Akeniz University's prehistoric languages and cultures department who has been studying the inscription, said: 'In order to meet the expenses of this land and to get income, the Neos rented the land.' Archaeologists say they have unearthed around 400 marble tablets in Teos, but the one inscribed with the rental agreement is particularly unusual. The stone tablet (pictured) features 58 lines of text, more than half of which set out penalties if rules are not adhered to Teos was an ancient Greek city that sat on the west coast of Anatolia in modern day Turkey (shown on map) The inscription, which bears the names of six city elders who acted as witnesses to the document, also details specific clauses that the tenants have to stick to. It says the owners should be allowed access to the religious altar at the site for three days a year. According to Professor Adak, this may have been a convenient tax dodge as the state collected tax on lands at the time unless it was defined as 'holy'. The agreement also sets out a series of penalties if the tenants damage the property or fail to maintain the land. Teos (ruins pictured_ was one of the most important cities in Hellenistic Turkey forming one of the 12 cities within tie Ionian League - a powerful alliance of city states in the region. It was initially settled in around 1,000BC, but by around 500BC it was a flourishing seaport. The site of Teos contains many ruins that survive from the ancient Greek period, such as the once fine theatre in the city's centre (pictured) Almost half of the contract is taken up with penalty sanctions, which would require the tenant to pay fines if they breached them. The inscription also states that the landlords would inspect the property on a yearly basis while they would also check productivity of the land. The tablet is one of nearly 400 to be unearthed in Teos during excavations there. Professor Adak told Turkey's Dogan News Agency: 'We can determine the city's social, administrative and ecclesiastic structure by examining the inscriptions.' Teos was one of the most important cities in Hellenistic Turkey forming one of the 12 cities within tie Ionian League - a powerful alliance of city states in the region. It was initially settled in around 1,000BC, but by around 500BC it was a flourishing seaport. The additional part used by teens is responsible for thrill-seeking activity Brain scans showed teens used two parts of the brain, adults used just one Researchers found teenagers were better at remembering than adults Teenagers can often be portrayed as irresponsible individuals, who become incredibly stroppy when they do not get their own way immediately. But a new study shows adolescents' love for instant gratification can actually help improve their memory. Researchers found teenagers were better at a picture-based learning game than adults when positive reinforcement was involved. They argue this sensitivity to reward could be part of an evolutionary adaptation to learn from their environment. Scroll down for video Teenagers can often be portrayed as irresponsible individuals, who become incredibly stroppy when they do not get their own way immediately. But a new study shows adolescents' love for instant gratification can actually help improve their memory. Stock image Teens' brains are wired differently from adults, the study found, explaining both their wild behaviour and their ability to memorise. 'The adolescent brain is adapted, not broken,' said Dr Juliet Davidow, co-author and psychology researcher at Harvard University. 'The imbalances in the maturing teenage brain that make it more sensitive to reward have a purpose - they enable adolescents to be better at learning from their experiences.' Dr Davidow and her colleagues, including Professor Daphna Shohamy from Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute, and Adriana Galvan from the University of California, set out to test whether teens' sensitivity to reward could also make them better at learning from good or bad outcomes. It all comes down to the coordinated activity of two distinct regions called the striatum and hippocampus - a phenomenon that is unique to youngsters. The striatum is the area of the brain involved in releasing dopamine. The teen brains showed activity in both the striatum and the hippocampus regions of the brain during the learning task, whereas the adults were mainly using their striatum Teens' brains are wired differently from adults, the study found, explaining both their wild behaviour and their ability to memorise. 'The adolescent brain is adapted, not broken,' said Dr Juliet Davidow, co-author and psychology researcher at Harvard University HOW THE STUDY WORKED The study of 41 teens and 31 adults first focused on the striatum which controls planning, decision-making and something called reinforcement learning. The subjects were presented with a picture of a butterfly and then a pair of flower pictures, and asked to guess which flower the butterfly would land on. They could work out which flowers the butterfly would land on using trial and error. Dr Davidow said: 'In simplest terms reinforcement learning is making a guess - being told whether you're right or wrong and using that information to make a better guess next time. 'Essentially it's a reward signal that helps the brain learn how to repeat the successful choice again.' If participants selected the right flower, the word 'correct' would flash on their screen, and if they guessed wrong, it would say 'incorrect' instead. With every answer, an unrelated image - for example, a watermelon or a pencil - would also be displayed when the 'correct' or 'incorrect' label appeared. These images were later used in a memory test to examine how well the subjects remembered their environment during the learning process. The study, published in the journal Neuron, found adolescents performed better than adults in this game. Advertisement Professor Daphna Shohamy, of Columbia University in New York, lead author of the study said: 'Studies of the adolescent brain often focus on the negative effects of teens' reward-seeking behaviour. 'However we hypothesised this tendency may be tied to better learning. 'Using a combination of learning tasks and brain imaging in teens and adults we identified patterns of brain activity in adolescents that support learning - serving to guide them successfully into adulthood.' The study of 41 teens and 31 adults first focused on the striatum which controls planning, decision-making and something called reinforcement learning. The subjects were presented with a picture of a butterfly and then a pair of flower pictures, and asked to guess which flower the butterfly would land on. They could work out which flowers the butterfly would land on using trial and error. Dr Davidow said: 'In simplest terms reinforcement learning is making a guess - being told whether you're right or wrong and using that information to make a better guess next time. 'Essentially it's a reward signal that helps the brain learn how to repeat the successful choice again.' If participants selected the right flower, the word 'correct' would flash on their screen, and if they guessed wrong, it would say 'incorrect' instead. With every answer, an unrelated image - for example, a watermelon or a pencil - would also be displayed when the 'correct' or 'incorrect' label appeared. These images were later used in a memory test to examine how well the subjects remembered their environment during the learning process. The study, published in the journal Neuron, found adolescents performed better than adults in this game. Brain scans of each participant while they were performing learning tasks were expected to show the teens' superior abilities were due to a hyperactive striatum. OLDER PEOPLE TAKE FEWER RISKS Scientists from University College London found a drop in the neurotransmitting chemical makes older people more risk-averse in some situations. Older people were not more risk-averse overall, and they didn't make more mistakes than young people did. The study of over 25,000 people aged 18 to 69 found older people were less likely to choose risky gambles to win more points in a smartphone app called The Great Brain Experiment. But they were no different to younger participants when it came to choosing risky gambles to avoid losing points. While it is widely believed older people don't take risks, the study showed exactly what kind of risks older people avoid. Older people were simply less attracted to big rewards and this made them less willing to take risks to try to get them. Advertisement Dr Davidow said: 'But surprisingly, when we compared the brains of teens to those of adults, we found no difference in reward-related striatal activity between the two groups. 'We discovered the difference between adults and teens lay not in the striatum but in a nearby region - the hippocampus.' This is the brain's memory HQ and further analysis revealed more activity here for teens - but not adults - during reinforcement learning. Moreover, that activity seemed to be tightly coordinated with activity in the striatum. To investigate this connection, the researchers slipped in random and irrelevant pictures of objects into the learning tasks, such as a globe or a pencil. The images - which had no bearing on whether the participants guessed right or wrong - served as a kind of background noise during the tasks. When asked later on, both adults and teens remembered seeing some of the objects, but not others. However, only in the teens was the memory of the objects associated with reinforcement learning, an observation that was related to connectivity between the hippocampus and striatum in the teen brain. 'What we can take from these results isn't that teens necessarily have better memory, in general, but rather the way in which they remember is different,' said Dr Shohamy. 'By connecting two things that aren't intrinsically connected, the adolescent brain may be trying to build a richer understanding of its surroundings during an important stage in life.' Previous studies have shown adolescence is a time when powerful memories are formed, which the authors argue could be due to this enhanced connectivity between the hippocampus and striatum. 'Broadly speaking, adolescence is a time when teens begin to develop their independence,' said Dr Shohamy. 'What more could a brain need to do during this period than jump into learning overdrive? Here's A Better Way To Get Your Weed: Meet LeafedIn.org By Sponsor in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 5, 2016 5:00AM LeafedIn.Org: Free Weed App For Chicago Marijuana Networking The marijuana community across the state of Illinois celebrated when they scored two landmark legal victories, the passing of Senate Bill 10 that extended the states Medical Marijuana program through 2020 and the signing of SB 2228 that immediately decriminalized possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana. Shortly after, many veterans of the national political and social cannabis landscape once again found themselves worrying whether Illinois would be yet another state to find itself without the necessary framework and infrastructure to effectively grant its citizenry the full benefit of this legislation. This is a conundrum that has been faced time and time again by states that have enacted progressive marijuana legislation, and it will continue to be a fundamental issue for states following the national trend of legalization and de-criminalization of cannabis. The challenge in the status quo has now gone from passing law, to creating the infrastructure, tools, and frameworks when new legislation is passed. In comes a popular and well respected technology startup in the marijuana field that has proven to be the answer to this issue of framework and execution. Leafedin.org is a free anonymous cannabis networking app that is unrivaled in its effectiveness, technology, and the trust within marijuana community and cannabis industries. It allows every type of individual, business, and entity, to meet its marijuana product and employment needs, in the most effective manner possible. 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Click here to sign up for Leafedin.orgs exclusive newsletter and visit Leafedins store to get a 5 dollar discount using OGDiscount. You can also connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This post is brought to you by Oho Herer, Founder at Leafedin.org Advertisement It is the ultimate boy's toy and will allow people to relive their James Bond fantasies in real life. The world's first commercially available jetpack is to be launched in 2019, it was announced today as the man behind the technology flew his personal prototype over London. David Mayman, a former commercial pilot from Australia, worked with a team of engineers to build the one-person vertical take-off device. Scroll down for video Former airline pilot David Mayman took to the air above the River Thames in London (pictured) to mark the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to develop a commercially available jetpacks. They hope to sell the devices by 2019 HOW THE JB-10 WORKS The JB-10 JetPack uses two minature jet engines fixed to a harness. The engines run on aviation fuel and can together lift 350lbs at a time. It can be controlled using two joysticks which control the lift and direction of the jetpack. Advertisement In a four minute flight he flew around 100 feet (30 metres) into the air above the River Thames in East London, zipping back and forth towards the ExCel conference centre. Together with chief designer Nelson Tyler, he has launched a company called JetPack Aviation that is aiming to sell the jetpacks to the public. They also claim to have an agreement to develop a special heavy lifting version for US Special Forces. The JB-10 JetPack is powered by two miniature jet engines run on aviation fuel that sit either side of a harness and can be controlled using two joysticks. Mr Mayman and his team is hoping to raise 300,000 in a crowdfunding campaign to help them create an electric version of the jetpack, which they hope to sell from around $250,000 (196,000) each. Speaking after his flight over the Thames, Mr Mayman described the experience as 'awesome' and said it was the ultimate 'freedom'. He said: 'A lot of us spent time in our youth fantasising about what it would be like to follow Buck Rogers up into the air with our very own jetpacks. Mr Mayman looked like a real-life James Bond as he soared above the River Thames in east London (pictured left). During the four minute flight (pictured right) he zipped back and forth across the river towards the ExCel conference center The jetpack (pictured) is small enough to be so it can fit inside the boot of a car and can be carried by just one person Mr Mayman said he had spent many hours dreaming of soaring around like Buck Rogers in his own personal jetpack so it was a dream come true to finally pilot one in real life (pictured) The jet engines run on aviation fuel, but Mr Mayman's company JetPack Aviation hopes to now develop an electric version The jetpack has been compared to the one used by Sean Connery as James Bond in the film Thunderball (pictured) 'We are getting a lot closer to launching a commercial product but there is still much further that we can take our design and ideas.' The team are also hoping to popularise a new sport of jetpack races with their technology. The jetpack is currently able to lift around 350lbs and can reach speeds of up to 60mph. It can also be packed down small enough to be carried by one person. The jetpack (pictured over the Thames) has a top speed of around 60mph and has a flight time of around 10 mintues Mr Mayman (pictured) flew up to 100 feet (30 metres) above the Thames with the iconic skyline of Canary Wharf in the background. He describes flying the jetpack as 'awesome' and said it provides total freedom The developers claim the JB-10 JetPack (pictured) can have a range of applications and uses but they believe it may appeal to those hoping to live out their James Bond fantasies The jetpack is highly maneuverable (pictured) but currently only has a limited flight time. It means that anyone hoping to commute to the office with it would need to live nearby It uses twin turbo jets which have been specially adapted, reducing the size compared to turbofans, which run cooler and consume less fuel. The company claim they also have a research and development agreement in place with the US Special Operations Command to develop a four turbine jetpack capable of lifting 700lbs. Lucy Sharp, from Seedrs Investment, the firm behind the crowdfunding campaign for the electric jetpack, said: 'This is for the city boys who grew up in the 70s and 80s and dreamt of being a real-life Iron Man. The team claim they are developing a heavy lift version of the jetpack for the US special forces. The current jetpack has two engines and can lift 350lbs while the US military version will have four engines and lift 700lbs Mr Mayman's flight in London (pictured) marked the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to develop a commercial version of the technology. Onlookers were startled as he flew overhead The jetpacks (pictured) are expected to retail for around $250,000 (196,000) each - about the same as an Aston Martin car The team are also hoping to develop a new sport - jetpack racing when the technology (pictured) becomes more widely available 'It retails at around the price of an Aston Martin and it is the ultimate boy's toy. It'll be a choice - either Aston Martin or jetpack to work today?' Mr Mayman has now conducted more than 400 test flights in his personal jetpack, including around the Statue of Liberty and in Monoco. It is a chilling vision of war - and one unlike any other ever fought. US military bosses have revealed their predictions for a major conflict, and say war between nation states at some point in the future 'is almost guaranteed'. Artificial intelligence and smart weapons would be at the fore - with a 'modern nation-states acting aggressively' the likely enemy Scroll down for video Artificial intelligence and smart weapons would be at the fore - with a 'modern nation-states acting aggressively' the likely enemy, Army bosses have revealed. 'A conventional conflict in the near future will be extremely lethal and fast, and we will not own the stopwatch,' said Maj. Gen. William Hix on a future-of-the-Army panel at the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army in Washington, according to Defence One. 'The speed of events are likely to strain our human abilities,' Hix said. 'The speed at which machines can make decisions in the far future is likely to challenge our ability to cope, demanding a new relationship between man and machine.' China and Russia are both mustering conventionally massive militaries that are increasingly technological and forcing the Pentagon to contemplate and prepare for 'violence on the scale that the U.S. Army has not seen since Korea,' said Hix Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, Army deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and training said the US faces threats from 'modern nation-states acting aggressively in militarized competition.' 'Who does that sound like? Russia?' he said. War between nation states at some point in the future 'is almost guaranteed,' said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley at the same event. Future adversaries could end the air superiority the U.S. Air Force has provided since the Korean War, Milley said, and anti-access, area-denial capabilities could prevent the Navy from getting to the fight, he warned. So 'land forces will have to enable sea forces,' and the Army 'is definitely going to have to dominate the air above our battle space,' he said. Milley said the Army also must be prepared to engage in cyber warfare, operate without the space-based communications and precision navigation it has taken for granted, and fight in a complex urban setting. Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, Army deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and training said the US faces threats from 'modern nation-states acting aggressively in militarized competition,' Milley cited a long list of 'fundamental changes' confronting the nation and the Army, including the renewed threat from Russia, the growing economic power and military strength of China, an expanding number of fragile nation states, and climate change that could lead to more instability. 'While we're ready now, we are being challenged,' he said. If the aim is to deter war, 'our Army and our nation must be ready.' The Army's future weapons will also need to be better designed, Katharina McFarland, acting assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology said. 'You travel all over the world, don't you?' McFarland asked the gathered audience of soldiers, Army civilians, and industry reps. 'You can pretty much get in a car anywhere and drive it.' BAE Systems has unveiled its prototype for the massive tank that could one day replace the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The Next Generation Bradley was debuted today at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting in Washington DC, revealing improvements in space, electrical power, and force protection. This new concept is a high-tech upgrade to previous design, incorporating targeting sensors and network connectivity and allowing for the addition of future technologies as these systems continue to grow. The concept for the Next Generation Bradley Fighting Vehicle is a high-tech upgrade to previous design, incorporating targeting sensors and network connectivity and allowing for the addition of future technologies as these systems continue to grow BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is used by the US to transport infantry and provide cover fire. Recent versions are suited with electronics systems for situational awareness, network connectivity, and communication within the Armored Brigade Combat Team, according to BAE Systems. The new prototype features suspension improvements, targeting sensors, and network connectivity. With more space and electrical power, BAE says the vehicle will be a platform for emerging technologies to grow, and allow for the development and experimentation of future systems. Advertisement The prototype has been fitted with upgrades in the suspension to enhance the vehicles mobility for maneuvers within the Armored Brigade Combat Team. It is equipped with armor, fuel tanks, and the drivers hatch from the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, along with 600 volt electronics and final drives from the M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer seen in the current Bradley systems. According to BAE, the new design will allow for faster development, and significant cost savings. In the current budget environment, the Army often has to choose between maintaining an existing fleet and developing new capabilities, said Deepak Bazaz, director of Artillery and Bradley Programs at BAE Systems. Were investing in research and development to demonstrate cost-effective options for the Army to address current gaps. 'Were focused on integrating current, emerging, and future technologies to significantly improve the Bradleys mobility, force protection, and lethality. The Next Generation Bradley uses a modernized version of the turret seen in the current system, with suspension improvements, targeting sensors, and network connectivity. With its more advanced capabilities, BAE Systems says the next-gen Bradley Fighting Vehicle will provide a platform for emerging technologies to grow, and allow for the development and experimentation of future systems. A Bradley Fighting vehicle is pictured Its hoped that the vehicle will provide room for future technological advancements, as well, with more space and electrical power. By leveraging new and emerging technology, with an eye towards commonality within the formation, we can continue to provide superior capabilities for our troops, Bazas added. Key to our approach is providing built-in growth capacity that will ensure the system can support future inbound technologies, allowing our soldiers to successfully execute their mission in the coming decades. THE HISTORY OF THE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE The development of the Bradley dates back to the pre-Vietnam era. The earliest specification, from 1958, called for a vehicle of no more than 8 tons, mounting a turret with a 20 mm autocannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun, with sealed firing ports for 5 infantry gunners. U.S. Army M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles roll through the desert December 17, 2002 near the Iraqi border in Kuwait. The development of the Bradley dates back to the pre-Vietnam era. It was developed largely in response to the Soviet BMP family of infantry fighting vehicles, and to serve as both an armored personnel carrier (APC), and a tank-killer. One specific design requirement was that it should be as fast as the then new M1 Abrams main battle tank so that they could maintain formations while moving. An early vwersion of the vehicle, an XM-723 mechanized infantry vehicle is offloaded from a YC-15 aircraft during a heavy loading test in 1977. Advertisement With its more advanced capabilities, BAE Systems says the next-gen Bradley Fighting Vehicle will provide a platform for emerging technologies to grow, and allow for the development and experimentation of future systems. The unveiling of the prototype comes just days after it was revealed that BAE Systems will begin construction on new nuclear submarines for Britain, with roughly $1.7 billion of investment from the British ministry of defense. General Motors has revealed its most extreme Chevy truck yet, and its set to be tested by the US Army. The Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 is an off-road electric vehicle equipped with a massive hydrogen fuel cell, which can even act as a portable power source. Despite its hulking size, at over six-and-a-half feet tall and seven feet wide, and all-terrain capabilities, the truck will also be used to evaluate stealth operations for near-silent surveillance. Scroll down for video General Motors has revealed its most extreme Chevy truck yet, and its set to be tested by the US Army. The Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 is an off-road electric vehicle equipped with a massive hydrogen fuel cell, which can even act as a portable power source THE ULTIMATE OFF-ROADER The Colorado ZH2 is over 6-and-a-half feet tall and seven feet wide. It was built on a stretched midsize pickup chassis and sits on 37-inch tires. The vehicle is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell, along with an Exportable Power Take-Off unit that will allow users to power remote tools. The Army will also assess the fuel cell's ability to facilitate stealth operations. Advertisement The Colorado ZH2 was unveiled at the meeting of the Association of the United States Army, and will be tested next year to assess the use of hydrogen powered vehicles in military missions. According to GM, the massive vehicle sits upon 37-inch tires and has a custom suspension to enable passage over all types of terrain. And, it has an Exportable Power Take-Off unit (EPTO), meaning the fuel cell can be used to power tools outside of the car. These capabilities open up a wide range of potential applications, and GM teamed up with the US Army Tank Automotive Research, development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) to bring the concept to life less than a year after signing. The Colorado ZH2 was unveiled at the meeting of the Association of the United States Army, and will be tested next year to assess the use of hydrogen powered vehicles in military missions According to GM, the massive vehicle sits upon 37-inch tires and has a custom suspension to enable passage over all types of terrain The speed with which innovative ideas can be demonstrated and assessed is why relationships with industry are so important to the Army, said Paul Rogers, director of TARDEC. Fuel cells have the potential to expand the capabilities of Army vehicles significantly through quiet operation, exportable power and solid torque performance, all advances that drove us to investigate this technology further. In the tests, the Army will assess the ZH2 fuel cells ability to facilitate near-silent operations, reduced acoustic and thermal signatures, and high wheel torque at all speeds through the electric drive. It has an Exportable Power Take-Off unit (EPTO), meaning the fuel cell can be used to power tools outside of the car. And, it has red tow hooks for 'aggressive pulling' Despite its hulking size, at over six-and-a-half feet tall and seven feet wide, and all-terrain capabilities, the truck will also be used to evaluate stealth operations for near-silent surveillance Along with this, they will test for low fuel consumption and water by-product for field uses. Over the next year, we expect to learn from the Army the limits of what a fuel cell propulsion system can do when really put to the test, said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM Global Fuel Cell Activities. GM will continue tests on the Colorado ZH2 until early 2017, and then, it will be turned over to the Army for a year of field testing. This is the second vehicle this year that GM has contracted with the US military, following the Unmanned Undersea Vehicle currently in pool testing, which also uses the hydrogen fuel cell. In next year's tests, the Army will assess the ZH2 fuel cells ability to facilitate near-silent operations, reduced acoustic and thermal signatures, and high wheel torque at all speeds through the electric drive Advertisement A new Japanese plan envisages extending the Trans-Siberian railway, potentially allowing passengers to travel all the way from London to Tokyo by train - a distance of 6,000 miles. The new link would bypass Vladivostok, currently the final stop on the world famous route, with a four-mile bridge or tunnel linking the city of Khabarovsk to the Russian Pacific island of Sakhalin. From here the new rail connection would cross to the northerly Japanese island of Hokkaido, requiring a 26-mile tunnel. A new Japanese plan envisages extending the Trans-Siberian railway, potentially allowing passengers to travel all the way from London (far left) to Tokyo by train (far right) Reports in the Japanese and Russian media say the Tokyo government along with potential investors is actively considering the development. Japan is also considering plans to speed up traffic on the Trans-Siberian railway, which is slow compared with its own routes and many in the West. So far Russia only has plans for a high speed link on the first leg of the route from Moscow to Kazan. The Japanese plan could involve supplying the complete equipment, including trains, signaling systems, and new railway track. The new link would bypass Vladivostok with a four-mile bridge or tunnel linking the city of Khabarovsk to the Russian Pacific island of Sakhalin, then a new rail connection would cross to the northerly Japanese island of Hokkaido Japan is also considering plans to speed up traffic on the Trans-Siberian railway (pictured), which is slow compared with its own routes and many in the West 'The ventures are seen as leading to a revival of not only commercial traffic between the two countries, but also to increased tourism and other human contacts,' reported The Siberian Times The Kremlin 'is keen to make a great leap forward in developing the Russian Far East'. However Moscow is likely to resist any linkage between accepting Japanese investment on this project and conceding to Tokyo's demands to handover any of the Kuril Islands, which Stalin grabbed for the Soviet Union at the end of the Second World War. Reports in the Japanese and Russian media say the Tokyo government along with potential investors is actively considering the development - pictured, the Trans-Siberia track The Japanese plan could involve supplying the complete equipment, including trains, signaling systems, and new railway track - pictured, workers on the Trans-Siberian railway Officially the two sides have still not signed a peace treaty ending the war over the territorial dispute. President Vladimir Putin is due to visit Japan in December. Separately, Russia is seeking investment for a 5 billion scheme to create a new generation Pacific cargo port - Samarga - capable of handling 80 million tons. Andrew Studer, only 20 years old, has travelled the world to photograph solo voyagers in Advertisement Whatever irksome problems you might be having today, this should put them into perspective. A young photographer has travelled the world far and wide to capture sole humans in nature's vast and engulfing landscapes. Andrew Studer, 20, from Portland, Oregon, is aiming to demonstrate the earth's prowess, and what 'small fish in a big, big pond' we are. He has voyaged around America to capture caves in Utah, waterfalls in Washington and the Milky Way in Oregon. The talented snapper has also chased the Northern Lights in Iceland, surveyed the lakes in Canada and immersed himself in the beaches of Hawaii. Mr Studer tells MailOnline Travel: 'Often times, the subjects in these photos are me. I set my camera on a tripod and use what's called an intervalometer remote which takes photos on a timer while I climb out to the spot. When it's not me, it's just a friend.' His resulting photos are certainly enough to shine a torch on how small we really are. Andrew Studer, 20, has travelled the world far and wide to capture sole humans in nature's vast and engulfing landscapes, such as here, a surprise visit from the Northern Lights over the Enchantments in Washington Pictured (left) marvelling at the view in SkUgafoss, Iceland, and (right) stargazing near Mount Hood Stratovolcan in Oregon Two people enjoy a misty walk in Oregon, Mr Studer's hometown, where many of his breathtaking photographs are taken A spontaneous backpacking trip (left) led Mr Studer and a friend up the Tatoosh mountain range in Washington and (right) a starlit night in the Trona Pinnacles, California Mr Struder hopes to demonstrate the earth's prowess, as seen here in Iceland, and what 'small fish in a big, big pond' we are Pictured (left) a morning hike upriver in Zion National Park, southwest Utah, and (right) Mr Studer himself shooting in Iceland Images of the Milky Way rising as the moon sets over the Oregon Coast (left) and (right) the famed Northern Lights in Iceland A storm passes over Vestrahorn in Iceland under the midnight sun, which never fully sets during the bleak midwinter months Observing a winter waterfall in SkUgafoss, Iceland (left) and (right) a spontaneous drive up to Banff, Canada, through the night led Mr Studer to Moraine Lake in time for sunrise The sunrise hovers up behind the imposing Mount Hood in Oregon, surrounded by dense forest and a blanket of frothy clouds A waterfall feeds the lush green moss in Washington (left) while a dog accompanies this man on an amble in Oregon (right) Christmas and New Year might still seem some way off but this piece of news might get you in the holiday spirit early. New data reveals the best time to book festive hotel breaks if you want more bang for your buck - with savings of up to 55 per cent. November and December appear to be the prime months for bargain hunting, with breaks to Dubai, Berlin, London, and Moscow dropping by more than one third at certain points. The Big Apple: You might be able to get up to 25 per cent off a trip to New York, if you strike it right between mid-November and late December Australia experiences the biggest dip, with breaks to Sydney slashed by up to 55 per cent if you hit it lucky between now until the end of the year. There appear to be more bargains in Europe than Asia, with trips to Istanbul and Dublin falling in price from mid-November to Early December. Elsewhere in the world, you might be able to get up to 25 per cent off a trip to New York, if you strike it right between mid-November and late December. The Best Time to Book report was released by the travel planning and booking site TripAdvisor. It was based on data from the site, with researches analysing historical hotel booking data. Computers at the ready! In 15 out of 22 destinations analysed in the report, the best rates are available at some point between now and the end of the year In 15 out of 22 destinations analysed in the report, the best rates are available at some point between now and the end of the year. Commenting on the results, Hayley Coleman, TripAdvisor spokesperson, said: 'Based on TripAdvisor booking data, Europe is the best option for late travel shoppers thinking about a Christmas break away, with bookings made in November or December offering the biggest savings to seven out of the eight destinations we analysed. 'Our report found that hotel prices can vary significantly from one week to the next depending on the destination, so its the well-informed traveller that is most likely to snag the best deals.' Thomas Cook successfully evacuated hundreds of holidaymakers in Cuba after Hurricane Matthew ripped through the island with devastating effect. The British operator transferred 570 guests to Cayo Coco - a tropical island in the Jardines del Rey chain - after Holguin airport in the east was closed. The fierce storm raged through Cuba on Tuesday, with torrential rain and category-four winds (130-156mph) destroying dozens of homes in Cuba's easternmost city, Baracoa. State of devastation: Red Cross workers and residents walk among the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in Baracoa, Cuba, Wednesday, October 5 With the hurricane now travelling north towards the Bahamas and Florida, Thomas Cook says it is doing all it can to keep travellers safe and up-to-date with the situation. The travel company worked with the Cuban government to move its clients from Cuba, which was put on high alert. They were due to depart on flights scheduled on October 3 and 4 but now these schedules have been put on hold. An update on the Thomas Cook website reads: 'The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority and we monitored the development of Hurricane Matthew very closely as it moved towards south east Cuba and the resort of Holguin. 'From the information we have currently the hurricane passed through Holguin last night with only heavy rain, no loss of electricity or water, and no damage within any of the hotels, and all customers are safe and well. 'Although we will continue to assess the hotels as it may take time to re-establish hotel staff levels, prepare rooms for guests and replenish supplies. 'Our resort staff remained with customers in the hotels throughout the hurricane and are now speaking to customers and assisting with any questions.' High alert: With the hurricane now travelling north towards the Bahamas and Florida, Thomas Cook says it is doing all it can to keep travellers safe and up-to-date with the situation Flight path: This handout picture obtained on October 5 shows an image of the category four hurricane Matthew over Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica Yesterday it was reported Thomson also delayed two flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica, as the storm ripped through the Caribbean, killing seven people in Haiti. Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in almost a decade, powered toward the Bahamas and Florida early on Wednesday after battering Haiti and Cuba with torrential rains and killing at least ten people. The hurricane, which the United Nations said created the worst humanitarian crisis to hit struggling Haiti since a devastating 2010 earthquake, whipped Cuba and Haiti with 140 mile-per-hour (230 kph) winds on Tuesday, pummeling towns, farmland and resorts. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from the storm, which caused severe flooding and killed four people in the Dominican Republic as well as at least six in Haiti, the two countries that share the island of Hispaniola. Matthew was a Category Four hurricane through Tuesday but was downgraded to Category Three early on Wednesday, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The eye of the storm was about 115 miles (185 km) south of Long Island in the Bahamas on Wednesday morning and it was expected to be very near the east coast of Florida by Thursday evening, the NHC said. Rubble: People look to salvage personal belongings from their homes damaged by Hurricane Matthew in Baracoa, Cuba Fatal impact: Authorities said on Wednesday two people in Haiti were crushed by trees and two were swept away by swollen rivers Maximum sustained winds eased to around 115 mph (185 kph) by Wednesday morning but the NHC said it was likely to strengthen again slightly in the coming days. It was difficult to assess the severity of the impact on Haiti because Matthew knocked out communications in many of the worst-affected areas, including the main bridge that links much of the country to the southwest peninsula. There was particular concern about Haiti as tens of thousands of people are still living in tents and makeshift dwellings due to the 2010 earthquake, which killed more than 200,000 people. Authorities said on Wednesday two people in Haiti were crushed by trees and two were swept away by swollen rivers. Mourad Wahba, the U.N. secretary-general's deputy special representative for Haiti, said much of the population had been displaced by Matthew and at least 10,000 were in shelter. 'Haiti is facing the largest humanitarian event witnessed since the earthquake six years ago,' he said. Heifer International, a nonprofit organization working with farming families in Haiti, said farmland and businesses caught in Matthew's path had been devastated. The U.S. government said it was ready to help the afflicted and about 300 U.S. Marines set off on the USS Mesa Verde to provide disaster relief in Haiti, the Marines said in a tweet. Next port of call: Landscapers ride in a truck along a stretch of road that's partially flooded from rain triggered by the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, in the eastern district of Nassau, Bahamas There were no immediate reports in Cuba of deaths, casualties or major damage. Cuba's government has traditionally made extensive efforts to cope with hurricanes and authorities spent days organizing volunteers to get residents to safety and secure property. Matthew thrashed the tourist town of Baracoa in the province of Guantanamo, passing close to the disputed U.S. Naval base and military prison. It was on track to mow over the central and northwestern Bahamas, the NHC forecasts showed. Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city, which lies in the southeast of Cuba, was not badly hit, state media said. Officials in the Bahamas urged residents to evacuate to higher ground and the Ministry for Grand Bahama said on Facebook that government offices in New Providence and Grand Bahama had been closed until further notice. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings were extended along the east coast of Florida as the storm moved north. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on Tuesday declared a state of emergency, and ordered the evacuation of more than one million people from Wednesday afternoon. It's the city of love and Kim Kardashian still loves it. The 35-year-old will return to Paris in future, despite her harrowing ordeal there this week. The mother of two was bound, gagged and held at gunpoint in a luxury apartment as an armed gang made off with millions of dollars worth of jewelry earlier this week. 'Shes not turning her back': Kim Kardashian will return to Paris in future despite being robbed at gunpoint But a source close to the TV star told People that has not put her off the French capital. 'She loves Paris. Its the city of love for [her and Kanye]. She will go back to the city,' the insider said. 'Its where her wedding activities were the rehearsal dinner and everything. Shes not turning her back on Paris. She loves the people and the city.' However the source claimed she would not be returning to the Hotel Pourtales - the so called No Address Hotel - any time soon. But a source close to the TV star told People the ordeal has not put her off the French capital 'Its very doubtful,' they added. 'It was a great home but due to safety concerns she likely wont ever go back. Shes not going to feel safe going back to it.' Meanwhile Kim's husband Kanye West has vowed to boost security to protect his family following the harrowing incident. Kanye learned about the robbery at the Meadows Festival in New York City on Sunday and abruptly announced a 'family emergency' mid-song before walking off the stage during the headline set. A source close to the rapper told People: 'He's usually in control. And now he realizes that he could have lost her, and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.' Amour: 'She loves Paris. Its the city of love for [her and Kanye]. She will go back to the city,' the insider said. A gang of five armed men barged into Kim's apartment wearing ski masks and clothes with police markings at around 3am Monday morning. The robbers managed to secure access to her accommodation by handcuffing the concierge on the ground floor, and forcing him to reveal the brunette's location in the building. Upon entrance, Kim reportedly 'begged for her life' and told the gunmen she had children at home when two of them held the gun perilously to her head. The group stole a jewellery box worth 6 million ($6.7 million/ 5.24 million) and a ring worth 4 million ($4.5 million/ 3.5 million), prompting fears that the valuables were personal ones, and not just jewellery Kim was borrowing for fashion week. She was the former lingerie model who won Richie Strahan's heart on The Bachelor. But Alex Nation's ex sister-in-law, Kimberley Grace, has hinted in a thinly veiled jibe at the reality TV star, her modelling past may not be all it seems. Taking to Instagram on the eve of The Bachelor finale last month, the sister of Alex's ex-husband, Joel Porter, shared a cartoon image with the phrase: 'She says I'm a model... but pays for her own shoots'. Scroll down for video Paying for her own shoots? Alex Nation's ex sister-in-law, Kimberley Grace, has revealed in a thinly veiled jibe, that her modelling past may not be all it seems, accusing The Bachelor winner of paying for her own shoots Alongside the seemingly specially created meme, Kimberley captioned the post with a number of hash-tags, calling out the blonde starlet. While Kimberley said she's 'not naming names' in one hash-tag, the remainder, clearly identified Alex as the inspiration for the 'passive aggressive' post, adding 'reality tv' and 'white rose'. Deborah Porter, Joel and Kimberley's mum, responded to the post, seemingly in agreement. 'Not naming names': While not explicitly calling out The Bachelor starlet, Kimberley identified Alex as the inspiration for the 'passive aggressive' post with the hash-tag 'white rose' All in: Deborah Porter, Joel and Kimberley's mum, also responded to the post in agreement Bachelor babe: During the run of the series, Alex's topless and lingerie modelling past was exposed Judging by Kimberley's account, it seems she too was once a model of some description, with photos of shoots shared in the past. It's not the first time Alex's former sister-in-law has made a jibe on social media about The Bachelor winner. After Joel's new girlfriend Ashy Smith apparently criticised Alex's parenting skills in a series of social media posts last month, Kimberley also weighed into the supposed 'family feud'. Presumably in response to last month's Bachelor finale, Kimberley shared a photo of her brother Joel, his son Elijah and Ashy, writing in the caption: 'You are the real winners'. Hitting out: It's not the first time Alex's former sister-in-law has taken a thinly veiled jibe on social media at The Bachelor winner Weighing in: Kimberley also weighed into the supposed 'family feud' after Joel's new girlfriend Ashy Smith apparently criticised Alex's parenting skills (Alex pictured with son Elijah) The image was posted on Instagram over two weeks ago - after Richie Strahan confessed his love for single mother Alex, 25, on the Network Ten dating show. Kimberley, who is Joel's older sister, wrote as the caption: 'Love this little family. You are the real winners. You both have that kid's heart.' Alex and Joel were briefly married after she gave birth to their son Elijah in 2011, but it is understood they divorced two years ago. 'The real winners': Kimberley - Joel's older sister - shared a photo of him, his son Elijah, and girlfriend Ashy over two weeks ago (pictured) and wrote in the caption, 'Love this little family. You are the real winners. You both have that kid's heart.' Alex frequently spoke about Elijah on The Bachelor, but fans have criticised her for not spending enough time with the five-year-old since the finale. It is also not yet known if Richie, 31, has even been introduced to Elijah despite the couple spending time in Melbourne, where he lives. This follows reports that Alex's parenting skills were supposedly being criticised by her ex-husband's partner on social media. Fan claims: Alex often spoke about Elijah on The Bachelor, but fans have criticised her for not spending enough time with her five-year-old son since the finale. Pictured with Richie Strahan Social media drama: This follows reports that Alex's parenting skills were supposedly being criticised by her ex-husband's partner Ashy Smith on social media. Pictured: Ashy and Elijah As Daily Mail Australia revealed in September, Ashy appeared to share several Instagram posts about neglectful parents - which were later deleted. An image posted days before The Bachelor finale stated: 'Too bad you are only a good mother on Facebook and the rest of the time you neglect your child.' Another similar post read: 'Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience. You are raising a human being.' It still remains unclear if Ashy's Instagram posts were directed at Alex. Co-parents: Alex and Joel were briefly married after she gave birth to their son Elijah in 2011, but it is understood they divorced two years ago. Pictured: Joel and son Elijah Daddy duties! Joel confirmed last month that Elijah was staying with him during the school holidays - while Alex flew to Perth to spend time with Richie's family Meanwhile, Alex has responded to fans' accusations that Ashy has taken on a 'stepmother' role to Elijah, and any criticisms of Alexs own role since her rise to TV fame. 'My little boy is everything to me,' she said last month. 'I know who I am and I know what kind of mother I am so (critics) don't bother me.' A glance at Joel's Instagram page shows that Ashy is however very involved in Elijah's life and regularly joins the father and son on family days out. Joel also confirmed last month that Elijah was staying with him during the school holidays - while Alex flew to Perth to spend time with Richie's family. Dump Donald Trump's Honorary Street Designation, Aldermen Say By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 5, 2016 6:17PM Getty Images / Photo: Joe Raedle Amid a busy Wednesday at City Council, Ald. Brendan Reilly (Ward 42) threw an amazing, populist bomb of an ordinance onto the agenda: remove the Honorary Trump Plaza street sign that designates a downtown stretch of Wabash Ave. The ordinance, which was introduced by Reilly and has the support of 46 councilmembers, according to the alderman, would strip the honorary title, which currently runs in front of Trump Tower, just north of the Chicago River. Chicagos honorary street signs are meant to recognize Chicagoans who have made us a world-class city. Given Donald Trumps recent rhetoric against the city, women and minorities, he does not deserve that special distinction, Reilly told Chicagoist. During last weeks debates, Trump did Chicago a great disservice by painting a distorted caricaturecomparing us to a war-torn countryof our beautiful, welcoming, diverse city. At last Mondays presidential debates, Trump called again for stop-and-frisk to be instated in Chicago while describing the city in broadly violent terms. In the past, he has used Chicago violence to buttress his law-and-order agenda, and in August he exploited the death of Nykea Aldridge for attempted political gain. "Chicago is a global city, with a hospitality industry moving in a positive trajectory and unprecedented investment in hotel and lodging. We have challenges... but this skewed narrative can only hurt. Donald Trump is not worthy of the honor," Reilly told Chicagoist. Reilly said he expects the ordinance will pass "rather quickly" and hopes to see the sign removed within the next month or so. He did not have an immediate suggestion for a replacement. She's the glamorous mother-of-three with one of the hottest bodies in Hollywood. And just days after Kourtney Kardashian slayed at Paris fashion week, the brunette beauty somehow managed to outdo herself while flaunting her enviable physique in a sizzling new photoshoot for Cosmopolitan magazine Australia. The 37-year-old single mum showcased her taut tummy and naturally cinched waist while sporting a revealing leather look one-piece swimsuit. Scroll down for video Yummy mummy! Kourtney Kardashian recently showed off her enviable physique in a sizzling new photoshoot for Cosmopolitan magazine Australia In another shot, the November cover girl is seen flaunting her ample assets and glowing complexion while wearing a beaded black halter corset and matching skinny pants. With her luscious locks worn loosely and swept away from her face, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is pictured gazing directly at the camera lens. With her makeup flawlessly applied, Kourtney is seen posing confidently while showing off her gym-honed physique. Busty display: In one shot, the November cover girl is seen flaunting her ample assets and glowing complexion while wearing a beaded black halter corset and matching skinny pants Stunning: With her makeup flawlessly applied, Kourtney is seen posing confidently while showing off her gym-honed physique Cover girl: Kourtney dazzles on the November cover of Cosmopolitan Last week, the stunning sister of Kim Kardashian West dazzled in a cleavage-bearing bralette and balloon-style skirt while attending a show with the mother-of-two. While the trip to Paris began as a whirlwind for the famous sisters, it ended in tears after Kim was robbed in her hotel room. Reports claim that during the heist, Kim's bodyguard, Pascal Duvier, was accompanying Kourtney and Kendall Jenner to a local party. Fashionista: Last week, the stunning sister of Kim Kardashian West dazzled in a cleavage-bearing bralette and balloon-style skirt while attending a show with the mother-of-two Drama: While the trip to Paris kicked off on a high note for the famous sisters, it ended in tears after Kim was robbed in her hotel room (Kourtney is pictured here with her sister Kyle Jenner in New York) Smoking hot! Kourtney is renowned for flaunting her enviable bikini body across social media 'It wouldn't be that strange for Pascal to be dispatched to be with Kourtney or the other family members once Kim was 'safely' in her residence,' a source close to the family told PEOPLE magazine. 'And he regularly provides security for the whole family not just Kim.' Last year, Kourtney announced her split from her longtime partner Scott Disick, with whom she shares Mason, six, Penelope, four, and a 21-month-old son Reign. She's a faithful fan of French fashion brand Longchamp. So Jessica Alba made her support clear on Tuesday evening, as she turned out for their Paris Fashion Week cocktail party at Boutique St Honore. The American actress and Honest Company founder, 35, rubbed shoulders with the likes of Alexa Chung and Audrey Tautou on a glittering evening in the French capital. Scroll down for video Party time: Jessica Alba cut a slick figure at Longchamp Boutique St Honore on Tuesday night as part of Paris Fashion Week Jessica picked a pared down image, teaming a classic LBD with sophisticated matching shoe boots. To the typically-classy image, the brunette added a patterned jacket that was robed just over her shoulders for an effortlessly French vibe. Her hair was dressed in a youthful fashion that saw her pile long and glossy curls into a half-up-half-down 'do with a high ponytail. Stunning star: Jessica added a pop of colour with her blue, black and white jacket Old pals? Jessica hung out with Kristen Stewart's ex, Soko (right) All smiles: Jessica was a vision, especially with a backdrop like Paris in the picture Having come all the way from Hollywood, Jessica was understandably the special guest on the night. She flew into the fashion capital on Sunday, leaving beau Cash Warren and her two daughters Honor and Haven behind, as well as her successful business. But this week, her passion for fashion came first, and Jessica would be sharing dinner with Longchamp CEO Jean Cassegrain following her high profile appearance at the Valentino SS17 runway show and afterparty earlier this week. Jessica spent time catching up with Kristen Stewart's ex - a fellow actress - named Soko. Dinner for one: Jessica would be sharing dinner with Longchamp CEO Jean Cassegrain Classic in black: She paired a simple LBD with black booties on the night British model Alexa Chung was also in attendance, sampling a Sixties look, making a feature of her long and lithe legs in a cute minidress. Save for her colour-pop right handbag, Alexa was keeping her image understated in charcoal. The overall effect was ladylike, with her hair pinned sweetly to one side, but she made sure to inject a rocky edge to the outfit with heeled ankle boots on her feet. Gorgeous girl: Jessica has long been a fan of the French brand Longchamp Leggy display: Jessica kept her pins covered in demure black tights Ladylike: Alexa Chung looked sleek at the Lonchamp Cocktail party Everyone's best friend: Derek Blasberg (second right) cosied in with Alexa, Jessica and Sophie Delafontaine (left) Leggy lady: The brunette worked her signature cut above the knee with cute ankle boots Teaming up: Alexa is the new muse for Longchamp, here with Jean Cassegrain Alexa stars in the new Longchamp campaign, shot by Peter Lindbergh, which focuses on the new Paris Premiere handbag. Alexa's history with the French brand goes back a long way but she officially returned as the face of the brand in 2016. Her Spring 2016 campaign was her fifth for the luxury retailer, having first signed up to work with Longchamp in 2013. When in Paris: The stunner posed on the balcony of the building Dinner guest: Alexa was a guest of honour at the party, as a star of the new Longchamp campaign Keeping it cool: Elena Perminova was one of the guests in a rocky studded dress Glamazon: Audrey Tautou paired colour rich shoes with a coat dress Perfect pair: Audrey shared the red carpet with Lambert Wilson What a backdrop: Elena posed with her back to the Eiffel Tower Call it the house that funny built. Kathy Griffin is listing her 8,000 sq. ft mansion in the east section of the Hollywood Hills - which sits on about 1.5 acres of some of California's most valuable land - for $5,495,000. The 55-year-old comedian's lush five-bedroom, six-bathroom contemporary-styled mansion is two stories high, and was built only 13 years ago. Scroll below for video On the market: Kathy Griffin 55, is attempting to sell her Hollywood Hills mansion for $5,495,000 Queen of the castle: One look at the home of the comic (seen here in Las Vegas last month) gives a good idea why she looks so happy The Oak Park, Illinois native's home, listed by The Agency, sits behind gates and boasts an unreal view of the surrounding Los Angeles landscape, with choice glimpses of landmarks such as Universal Studios and the Hollywood sign. It has observation decks that wrap around the lush home adjacent to each of its five bedrooms. The architecture on the red-headed comic's expensive estate, from a far, looks like a flying bird, which earned it the moniker, 'Wings.' As you walk in the home's opulent entry area, you can see all of the top-scale features that make it as resplendent from the inside as it is on the outside. The floors are composed of terrazzo, while the walls are accentuated with stones, as water flows in various areas, giving those inside a comfortable, relaxed environment suitable for work or play. In those Hollywood Hills: The mansion sits on some of the hottest property in Los Angeles Soaring: The home, which some say looks like a bird in flight, has been nicknamed 'Wings' Take a gander: Picture frame windows give those inside a thorough look at the area Uplifting: Water displays in parts of the home make for a relaxing effect on its inhabitants The My Life On The D-List personality's luxury abode also includes a media room, complete with a kitchen, bathroom and fireplace, leading to exquisite French-style doors that take you to the observation deck on the first floor, en route to a pair of guest rooms that boast comparably-expansive views of LaLa Land and its surrounding areas. The Suddenly Susan star's dwelling features a bold staircase, with a giant living room that allows for plenty of natural sunlight to pour in. The living room offers a slate fireplace that extends from the floor to the high ceiling, and vertical windows that feature picturesque views of neighboring canyon vistas. Other amazing bonuses at the residence of the Emmy-winning comic include an office that's enclosed in glass and fixtures from the top domestic designers. A view from above: The mansion boasts multiple observation decks that present exhilarating views such as this one Spread out: The home is spread across 1.5 acres and boasts large security gates at its front Modern love: The contemporary home, featuring a breathtaking staircase, was built in 2003 What's cooking: A state-of-the art kitchen is equipped to make anything one's heart desires Everywhere you look: Every bedroom in the home comes with an observation deck The pop culture observer's kitchen has state-of-the-art appliances, a breakfast bar for light meals, and counter-tops composed of sumptuous Quartz and Caesarstone. The master suite, in the home the Grammy-nominated star is selling, includes another fireplace, along with access to the sprawling backyard. The former Fashion Police host likely has never had a storage issue with her clothes, as the suite has two showroom closets, one with clothing racks that can be pulled down, and extra amenities for shoes and other pieces of one's wardrobe. Five-star: Guest bedrooms in the home rival the amenities offered in upscale hotels Luxury, redefined: Griffin's home boasts a magnificent bathroom and closet adjacent to one another Ready for the makeup chair: The bathroom has all of the amenities one would need before an appearance in front of the camera Fashion police station: The walk-in closet features multiple places to hang and store one's wardrobe The backyard was designed in mind for get-togethers, as it includes features such as a saltwater pool and spa, along with a cabana and a dining area. Griffin's ride to the top of the hills has come through tireless hard work since she moved west to Los Angeles as a teen to chase her dreams. The author of The New York Times Best Seller Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin remains the Guinness record-holder of one of comedy's toughest feats, as she's starred in the most stand-up specials ever aired on television. One with nature: The backyard's brick and stone elements enhance its earthy feel Time for a dip: Hot California summers don't seem so bad with a nice pool to cool off in Ambulance Rating: The Yorkshire Vet Rating: Some girls cant resist a man in uniform, and Peggys one of them. The 94-year-old Cockney sparrow was flirting furiously with paramedics Dean and Andy, in Ambulance (BBC1). Ive had two husbands and a lover, she confided, and they were all useless in bed. Peggy was on her way to hospital after a fall, but what she really wanted was something that isnt available on the NHS. You might call it emotional support, though Peggy had a more direct word for it. Paramedics Shani Smith and David Wedlock featured in the BBC's engrossing three-part documentary, Ambulance She wasnt the only person in London with that on her mind, not by a long way, but some patients had elected to go private. Weve got a cardiac arrest in a brothel, announced one of the call handlers manning the 999 switchboard. As this engrossing three-part documentary is revealing, much of the work of ambulance crews involves caring for vulnerable people. One suicidal man spent 90 minutes on the phone to a 999 controller while the emergency team tracked him down. A homeless alcoholic who had been violently abused as a child didnt want to die, but was terrified of anyone offering help. Paramedic Dean Lowes gave viewers insights into life on the frontline Another man was convinced he had taken hostages and committed murder after a row with his girlfriend. As the paramedics talked him out of his panic, it became clear his psychotic state was brought on by a cocktail of drugs. These cases were presented without judgment or undue sympathy. It was up to viewers we might condemn them for wasting NHS resources along with their own lives, or wonder what else could be done to help them. Some stories were heartbreaking. Kathleen, aged 92, was senile, and convinced she needed an ambulance. She was so desperate that while the paramedics were with her she rang 999, twice. Her pains had no physical or rational cause, but dementia isnt rational and no one knows what inner agonies she was suffering. Other cases were shocking. A woman collapsed at Bond Street Tube station and faked a miscarriage so convincingly that the ambulance crew were completely fooled. It turned out she had pulled this stunt five times that day. Mental illness had to be at the root of this bizarre bout of attention-seeking. It was hard to view the hoax dispassionately, though, because expert editing meant we saw the human cost of her behaviour. Area controller Pete Crean in the operation centre, which featured heavily in the BBC's Ambulance When paramedics Shani and Dave were dispatched to Bond Street, they had been on their way to rescue a man in his 90s who had fallen in his living room. He had been waiting three hours for help, and they were 100 yards from his door. But they had to divert, to the more urgent call-out. This programme offers no solutions, only observations. It is intended to provoke us, to make us think. So heres a thought. Every night there are scores of frivolous 999 calls, from people reporting injured birds to idiots who have locked themselves out of their homes. How about fining every timewaster? It costs 100 if youre caught doing 35mph in a 30 zone, after all frivolous calls to the emergency services should be deterred with the same automatic punishment. The money could pay for a few more mental health nurses. Too much for some: Yorkshire vet Julian Norton gave a very graphic view of the work he does None of the Ambulance footage was medically graphic, which is more than you can say for The Yorkshire Vet (C5). This fly-on-the-barn-wall show is set in the Dales, at the practice once run by James Herriot and immortalised in All Creatures Great And Small. It is even narrated by Christopher Timothy, star of the classic TV drama. But was life at Skeldale House depicted in such gory detail in his day? During the sequence about the lamb with the prolapsed rectum, I had to close my eyes and wait for the bleating to stop before I could open them again. The scenes of an alpacas breech birth, or a chinchilla being gelded, hardly made easy viewing either. Dougie the parrot who needed his beak trimmed was more my level. What do celebs care about? A whole range of different things according to a new PSA, but they all agree on one: Americans should vote. The Vote Your Future campaign has released a star-crammed video featuring dozens of famous faces revealing which issues concern them most, and pleading with citizens to make their voice heard come next month's election. Scroll down for video What do you care about? Leonardo DiCaprio joined a host of celebs urging America to Vote Your Future on Tuesday It counts: Kendall Jenner called on her fellow millennials to put someone in charge who wants to do good Clues: The videos are non partisan and do not mention either candidate - Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton - by name or party; however it is not hard to decipher which candidates each celeb is backing... and they are heavily in favour of one in particular Leonardo DiCaprio, Kendall Jenner, Robert De Niro, Zendaya, Eva Longoria and Bella Thorne are just some of the names making the plea. While the three minute clip edits together brief glimpses of each, the Vote Your Future channel contains dozens more clips less than a minute each, of each celeb stating their case. The videos are non partisan and do not mention either candidate - Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton - by name or party; in fact many of the featured stars urge voters to go to the polls, even if they disagree with them. However it is not hard to decipher which candidates each celeb is backing... and they are heavily in favour of one in particular. Follow me: Instead of pushing a particular issue, Kate Hudson just asked for a president who can communicate Redheads unite: Emma Stone pushed for equality, while Julia Roberts wants clean oceans and air That 70s vote: Among the videos, none are as emotionally charged as a tearful Wilmer Valderrama, who is pushing for immigration law reform Old School: Robert De Niro and Jonah Hill also called on Americans to use their vote Among the videos, none are as emotionally charged as a tearful Wilmer Valderrama, who is pushing for immigration law reform. 'My community comes here, waves the flag like nobody else in unity,' he says, welling up. 'In my Latino community, respect is all we want. We take the jobs that people assume don't exist. And somehow we are taking those jobs from people? 'So it's important we get our respect back. It's important we pay tribute to the may generations of immigrants who come here and sacrifice everything just to give their kids the education that they never had.' Vested interest: Olivia Wilde - who was heavily pregnant when recording - pushed for reproductive rights Thorny issue: An incredulous Bella Thorne meanwhile appealed for common sense gun laws While he doesn't state who he will be voting for, it is unlikely to be the one who intends building a wall. Scrubs star Donald Faison is another who gets visibly emotional, as he appeals for racial inequality. 'My kids are brown. There's a possibility that because of the colour of their skin, they're not gonna live past 25... especially my sons,' he said. Olivia Wilde - who was heavily pregnant when recording - pushed for reproductive rights. Issues: Sarah Hyland backs medical research, while Martin Sheen's priority is the environment 'This election cycle I'm thinking a lot about reproductive rights; everyone's right to plan when they want to have a family. And it's on my mind because I'm literally about to have a baby... like, in a minute,' she said, showing off her huge bump. 'To be able to decide exactly how and when and why and where I want to have a baby, and I believe that is a basic human right.' An incredulous Bella Thorne meanwhile appealed for common sense gun laws. 'You can't drink, you can't smoke a cigarette, but you can go buy an assault rifle? I'm sorry, what do you need an assault rifle for at 18 years old?' she asked. Made it to 25: Scrubs star Donald Faison is another who gets visibly emotional, as he appeals for racial inequality Future: Ed ward Norton was worried about damage to the planet's ecology, while Eva Longoria wasnts economic mobility for women 'I understand the right to bear arms and to protect your family. To have a handgun in your own home, yes I can understand that. But there's no reason that anyone all over the world can just buy any freaking gun they want.' Instead of pushing a particular issue, Kate Hudson just asked for a president who can communicate. First and foremost I think in a president I'm looking for a real communicator who can explain to people why we need to make different choices,' she claimed. 'And when they talk about implementing change in our country that I can see the steps and follow the steps as to how they could possibly get that done. And I think that gets people more involved in the change. 'That all starts and ends with communication. And I'm going to vote for the one that communicates the best.' Use it: John Slattery wants gun control reform, while Anne Hathaway wanted those who were pi**ed off to vote instead of just complaining Kendall Jenner called on her fellow millennials to put someone in charge who wants to do good. 'We the millennials, not just you, me included, all of us. We have so much power, we're the biggest generation there is. And I think that we should take that power and really use it. To make a change in the world, to make a change in something that you believe in, you have to get out there and vote,' she said. 'I think someone that genuinely wants to do good is going to have to run our country. If youre with me, then vote. If you're not with me... vote.' Zendaya meanwhile urged people to remember the price paid for your right to vote. Balance: Rose McGowan wants rid of the wage gap, while Kathy Griffin wants gender equality 'There was a time when women couldn't vote. There was a time when black people couldn't vote. There was a time when black people weren't even considered human beings. You have to remember that. And you have to remember how much blood and sweat and tears and marching and strength went into allowing you to vote,' she said. 'There's probably a reason they did that, and it probably means that's its something that you should be doing.' Leonardo DiCaprio perhaps came the closest to attacking one of the candidates without using any names. Remember: Zendaya meanwhile urged people to remember the price paid for your right to vote. Staying alive: Moby also appealed for gun control, while Ken Jeong spoke for healthcare 'I can't imaging having a political leader that doesn't listen to the scientific community,' he said. 'Over 97 per cent of the scientific community is in complete agreeance that we are contributing to climate change. 'To deny that means that you are not a part of the modern world. You don't believe in modern science, or facts. We can't argue it any more. We dont have enough time.' The series also includes appeals from Julia Roberts, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Rami Malek, Kathy Griffin, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Hyland, Hannah Hart, Alyx Weiss, David Schwimmer, Jonah Hill, Dean Winters, Harvey Keitel, Martin Sheen, Ben Schnetzer, Mayim Bialik, Alyssa Milano, Kelly Oxford, Anne Hathaway, Milo Ventimiglia, Karla Souza, Bobby Cannavale, Megan Boone, Rajiv Dhall, Ricky Dillon, Miranda Cosgrove, Beanie Feldstein, Rose McGowan, John Slattery, Michelle Monaghan, Ken Jeong and Moby. She's the Victoria's Secret model who grew up on Western Australia's South Fremantle beaches. And Bridget Malcolm makes an epic return home in her new campaign shots as the newly revealed face of Australian swimwear brand, Seafolly. The 24-year-old blonde beauty showed off her incredibly toned figure in a series of bikinis while shooting at Broome's stunning red-rock cliffs and deserted beaches for the brand's Summer 2017 campaign. Scroll down for video New face of Seafolly: Victoria's Secret model Bridget Malcolm showcases an epic return home in new Seafolly Summer 17 campaign shots as the new face of the Australian swimwear brand It is the first time in 10 years since the brand has returned to the idyllic location, after shooting with supermodel Miranda Kerr in 2007. Bridget, having once labelled the fellow Australian model and former Victoria's Secret beauty as a 'benchmark' to those in the industry, rocked the shoot. In one image, she showcased her long, lean legs standing atop a beach-side cliff edge, with the breathtaking landscape encapsulating the shot. Impressive! The Australian beauty showcased her long, lean legs standing atop a beach-side cliff edge, with the breathtaking landscape encapsulating the shot Revealing! The New York-based personality embraced her natural beauty for the shot and was able to add sex appeal to the modest bikini looks with her seductive poses The new face of Seafolly embraced her natural beauty on set, with neutral makeup used with a tanned bronzer. Her hair was worn loosely and styled in beach waves but in another image worn in a loose top bun. While the bikinis were quite modest, the New York-based star was able to add sex appeal to the looks with her seductive poses. She even flashed a bit of cleavage in a blush pink bandeau top and other activewear-inspired bikini sets. Active! The staturesque stunner's enviable physique was on full display within the figure-hugging swimwear, as she ran along the sandy Western Australian beaches Beachy! Her hair was effortlessly styled in beachy waves worn down and in a loose top bun throughout the campaign images The statuesque stunner's enviable physique was on full display in the figure-hugging swimwear, as she ran along the sandy beaches and posed alongside a surfing longboard. The American-based Victorias Secret model secretly returned earlier this year to the Australian shores for the shoot. Bridget says it was a refreshing change to her fast-paced city life that she welcomed with open arms, saying 'Its a lot of energy at all times and theres not a lot of beaches or moments to just take a second.' Fitness fanatic! The model admitting in the past to training seven days a week when Victoria's Secret was on, she revealed she had a more lowkey approach to preparing for this campaign Bridget was selected for the Welcome to Broome campaign to pay homage to her Western Australian roots and to celebrate her natural Australian beauty. 'Seafolly is such an iconic Australian brand, it's the pinnacle for a lot of Australian models and I'm just so happy and humbled to be included as part of the family. This trip has been unforgettable,' the petite model said of the experience. World-famous photographer, Simon Upton, described the shoot as one that he'll 'cherish forever.' 'From catching crabs to spotting kangaroos between shots, the whole experience was one well cherish forever,' he said. Proud! The petite model says she is so 'happy and humbled to be included as part of the (Seafolly) family' While admitting in the past to training seven days a week when Victoria's Secret was on, Bridget revealed she had a more low-key approach to preparing for this campaign. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph she detailed her prep: 'Im vegan and I eat very cleanly and work out year-round so for Seafolly I just made sure I drank a lot of water beforehand because I flew half way around the world and got lots of rest because the shoot days were long, with very early starts.' It certainly seemed to be a happy birthday for Dakota Johnson. The 50 Shades Of Grey star not only celebrated with friend Cara Delevigne but also got some FaceTime with one of the most famous musicians in the world. Cara, 24, took to her Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo with the birthday girl as they video chatted with Taylor Swift. Tremendous trio: Cara Delevigne and Dakota Johnson were pictured on FaceTime with Taylor Swift on Tuesday All three stars could be seen putting their best smiles on for the adorable social media snap. Cara posted the image to her 34.2 million followers with the caption: 'Happy birthday @dakotajohnson #facetimefamilyphoto @taylorswift.' Both the high-fashion model and actress celebrating turning 27 looked like they were enjoying a rather relaxed day in baggy white T-shirts. No bad blood here: Cara is definitely tight with the 26-year-old 1989 hitmaker as she was seen leaving Taylor's NYC apartment last week Creature comforts: Oozing comfort, the 24-year-old Suicide Squad star attempted to conceal her identity leaving her gal pal's place as she covered her dirty blonde tresses with her hood Cosy: Swapping her usual red carpet glamour, the British beauty slipped into her pyjama inspired navy number with mustard spots and pockets Taylor looked excited to be chatting it up with her gal pals as her huge smile could be seen on the small iPhone screen. No doubt Cara and 26-year-old Taylor are tight as the British model was spotted heading to the pop star's apartment in New York City Last week. The Suicide Squad actress rocked an eye-catching leopard print onesie on the outing in the Big Apple. Relaxed: Taylor pictured out in New York City last week Oozing comfort, the Cara attempted to conceal her identity leaving her gal pal's place as she covered her dirty blonde tresses with her hood. Cara teamed her look with a studded bag and black trainers as she walked to her waiting car. She managed to seduce her teacher, annoy her parents by becoming a topless model and broke Jason Grimshaw's heart. And Rosie Webster is set to bring her own very special brand of carnage back to the cobbles, as Helen Flanagan is to return to Coronation Street after a five-year break. Having left the soap in 2012, the actress, 26, will reprise the role she made famous at the end of the year - with her first scenes airing in February 2017. Scroll down for video She's back! Rosie Webster is set to bring her own very special brand of carnage back to the cobbles, as Helen Flanagan is to return to Coronation Street Helen, who played the character for 12 years, is due to start filming scenes at the end of the year. The vivacious brunette will come bouncing back into her mother and father's lives when she arrives back in Weatherfield from Miami alongside younger sister, Sophie. Details of the storyline that sees her return are being kept under wraps, though she should be safe from any revenge reprisals carried out by John Stape (the teacher she seduced). Speaking about her return to the soap, Helen said: 'I'm so excited to be returning to Coronation Street and being part of the Webster family again.' The Webster returns: Having left the soap in 2012, the actress, 26, will reprise the role she made famous at the end of the year - with her first scenes airing in February 2017 'I'm so excited to be returning to Coronation Street and being part of the Webster family again.': Helen is due to start filming scenes at the end of the year Corrie boss Kate Oates said that it was the 'ideal time' to bring the character back, explaining: 'The Websters have missed Rosie and so have we. 'With Sophie away on holiday with her sister it seemed like the ideal time to bring Rosie back home with her for a visit. 'We are delighted that Helen is as keen explore what Rosie has been up to away from the cobbles as we are.' Ready to break some hearts? The vivacious brunette will come bouncing back into her mother and father's lives when she arrives back in Weatherfield from Miami alongside sister Sophie Back in time: The character was a regular fixture on the Northern soap from 1990-2012. Played for nine years by Emma Collinge, Helen took over the role in 2000 (pictured in 2003) It's currently four years since Rosie left the street to pursue sate her lust for fame, but her mother Sally has been away to visit her regularly - dropping hints on her return of what Rosie is up to. The character was a regular fixture on the Northern soap from 1990-2012, and was played for nine years by Emma Collinge before Helen took over the role in 2000. The eldest daughter of mechanic Kevin and local snob and gossip Sally, Rosie has caused her own fair share of drama on the cobbles. After rebelling and becoming a goth, Rosie embarked on a disastrous affair with teacher John Stape which resulted in her being kidnapped. Remember him? The eldest daughter of mechanic Kevin and local snob and gossip Sally, Rosie has caused her own fair share of drama on the cobbles - including an affair with John Stape Life after the street: After leaving the soap in 2012 Helen had a stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2013 before taking a career break to start a family Turning her eye to modelling and fame Rosie became a favourite among the Street's male population, though she found time to out father Kevin's affair with best-friend Tyrone Dobb's wife, Molly. After leaving the soap in 2012 Helen had a stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2013 before taking a career break to start a family. The actress has used her time out of the limelight to start a family with her long-term partner, the footballer Scott Sinclaire, and in 2015 she gave birth to the couple's first child, Matilda. Speaking to ITV's Loose Women earlier this year, she said that being a mother to the 16-month-old tott had changed her priorities in life. '[Matilda] has made me so much happier,' she explained. 'It changes your priorities and you realise whats important but I am completely besotted with her.' Adding: 'It is really full on but you dont realise how much until you actually become a mother yourself.' She's the stunning Australian model who is regularly seen out and about in LA. And Shanina Shaik, 25, was seen walking arm-in-arm with her handsome fiance on Wednesday evening, enjoying a date night. The former Victoria's secret model sizzled in a tight LBD as she walked along an Los Angeles sidewalk with her beau - who was sporting a huge smile. Scroll down for video Date night: Shanina Shaik, 25, was enjoying a romantic night out on Wednesday when strolling down a Los Angeles street with her happy fiance, DJ Ruckus Shanina once again donned what seems to be her favourite colour of late, in another all-black ensemble. She complemented her little black dress with an oversized biker jacket and strappy stilettos, and carried a black designer handbag. The in-demand model curled her hair into waves, which fell loosely around her face. During the stroll, Shanina held onto DJ Ruckus' hand. Matching her mood: The in-demand model wore an all-black ensemble on the night out Her fiance - real name Greg Andrews - appeared to be the absolute opposite to his stunning partner in attire and attitude. The award-winning DJ had a permanent grin on his face as he strolled down the street. He donned a bright orange jumper, light blue trousers, and hung several necklaces around his neck - two attached with large crystals. Shanina's beau also wore a large, black bomber jacket, which had bright patches all over it - including a dragon, an eagle, and the USA flag. He's the ex-bodyguard of Kim Kardashian who was fired by Kanye West in May after being accused of flirting. And Steve Stanulis, 42, has certainly not shied away from weighing in on the reality star's terrifying Paris attack that took place earlier this week. During an interview on Channel Ten's The Project on Wednesday, Steve shared that he highly doubts Kim will shy away from flaunting her wealth and lavish lifestyle on social media. Scroll down for video Vocal: Kim Kardashian's ex-bodyguard who was fired in May this year by husband Kanye West, Steve Stanulis (pictured) 42, shared with Channel Ten's The Project on Wednesday, that he highly doubts the reality star will shy away from flaunting her wealth and lavish lifestyle When the show's co-host Peter Helliar quizzed the brawny bodyguard on whether the Kardashian family will ever stop flaunting their wealth to social media, he did not hold back. 'First of all, they'll [the Kardashians] never stop posting,' Steve responded. 'That will never change,' he added with a laugh. 'That's what made them, especially Kim, and that's what she'll continue to do,' he added. 'They'll never stop posting, that will never change': When the show's co-host Peter Helliar (left) quizzed the brawny bodyguard on whether the Kardashian family will ever stop flaunting their wealth to social media, he did not hold back This is not the first time Steve has spoken out publicly to Australian press, regarding the Paris attack. Just earlier on Wednesday on a radio breakfast show, he called the incident a product of 'karma'. During the interview, Steve was quizzed about whether he felt that he could have prevented Kim from being robbed at gunpoint if he were still employed by Kanye and the Kardashians at the time. 'It could be karma coming around': Just hours earlier on Wednesday, Steve called the incident a product of 'karma' 'I don't know if I could have taken down five assailants with guns, [or] it could be karma coming around,' he responded to radio hosts Sam Frost and Rove McManus with a slight chuckle. Steve, a former NYPD officer of Staten Island, also took a direct swipe at Kanye, telling Rove and Sam that Kanye 'wasn't one of the best guys to work for,' and that he was 'a little high maintenance' as a client. It's not the first time the bodyguard has suggested that karma may have been responsible for Kim's attack. Reunited: Kim was reunited with husband Kanye West in NY after she was robbed at gunpoint in Paris, and was seen flanked by security after fleeing the city on private jet If you've got it flaunt it: Just an hour or so before the robbery, Kim posted a video on Snapchat that showed her wearing the engagement ring (left). On the right she showed of her Cartier bracelets Showcasing her bling: Kim also revealed her weighty engagement ring at a diamond-encrusted grill on Instagram just hours before she was robbed at gunpoint Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, Steve claimed that Kim and Kanye's lack of 'respect' for security staff would eventually come back to haunt them. Look, they had this coming to them. They do not respect the importance of security when you have a profile as strong as theirs,' he claimed. When I worked for them Kanye would take off on his own in a cab and leave me behind to take another cab. 'They had this coming to them': Steve also appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, claiming that Kim and Kanye's lack of 'respect' for security staff would eventually come back to haunt them Hitting back at his former employers: Look, they had this coming to them. They do not respect the importance of security when you have a profile as strong as theirs,' he claimed 'It used to infuriate me as I wasnt doing my job as well as I could have,' he added. Making sure to take a dig at Kanye, Steve added: when he went out for dinner in a restaurant, I would sit on a separate table and he wouldnt even offer me a glass of water'. In the interview, he also argued that the heist was '100% an inside job' given how perfectly the attack fell into place for the assailants. Terrifying: On Monday morning, five masked men dressed in clothes with police markings burst into Kim's luxury apartment and held her at gunpoint, stealing $11m worth of jewels 'They went to an exclusive place, with exclusive entrances, they knew exactly where to go, where to find the jewellery,' he said. 'Security was out with the sisters and Kim had been showing all the jewellery on Snapchat. It's a perfect storm to get robbed,' he added. On Monday morning, five masked men dressed in clothes with police markings burst into Kim's luxury apartment and held her at gunpoint. Details: Meanwhile, Kim's current bodyguard Pascal Duiver (left) spent the early hours of Monday morning at Arc nightclub in Paris with Kourtney and Kendall Kardashian They bound her wrists and ankles with zip ties and left her in a bathtub before stealing more than US $11 million worth of jewellery. The gang of robbers had been able to enter the exclusive l'Hotel de Pourtales after the concierge mistook them for police and let them in. Meanwhile, Kim's current bodyguard Pascal Duiver spent the early hours of Monday morning at Arc nightclub in Paris with Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner. Coming to the rescue: Pascal, who stands at 6'4' and weighs a heavy 264 pounds, rushed to Kim's luxury lodgings minutes after he heard about the raid from Kim's friend Simone Harouche Pascal, who stands at 6'4' and weighs a heavy 264 pounds, rushed to Kim's luxury lodgings minutes after he heard about the raid from Kim's friend Simone Harouche. However, the masked assailants escaped on bicycles with their loot just minutes before Pascal arrived at the scene. Pascal has since been widely criticised for failing to prevent the attack and for leaving Kim alone in an apartment without another security guard present. A moment too late: However, the masked assailants escaped on bicycles with their loot just minutes before Pascal arrived at the scene Shocked: Taking to his personal blog the evening following Kim's attack, Pascal (left) responded to criticism by writing: 'The events that occurred in Paris was one of the most sickening things I have seen or heard' Taking to his personal blog the evening following Kim's attack, Pascal responded to criticism by writing: 'The events that occurred in Paris was one of the most sickening things I have seen or heard'. 'We have tips and leads and we will find you. That I promise you...you messed with the wrong one,' he went on. Kim's spokesperson Ina Treciokas confirmed to Daily Mail on Monday that: 'Kim Kardashian West was held up at gunpoint inside her Paris hotel room this evening by armed masked men dressed as police officers'. 'She is badly shaken but physically unharmed,' the representative added. Kim has stayed silent on social media since the attack. Chicagoland School Placed On Lockdown, Because Enough With This Clown S***t By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 5, 2016 5:05PM Getty Images / Photo: Tim Boyle Update, 10/7: The UIC student who was detained by campus police was not dressed as a clown. The student, Oscar Chavez, was in fact wearing a costume he created that was inspired by artist Salvador Dali. The costume and performance were part of an assignment for his art class, DNA Info reported on Thursday. Original: The Great Clown Scare of 2016 only hit the Chicago area in earnest this week, but it already seems to be reaching a flashpoint. At least four more incidentsall of which prompted some manner of police responseoccurred on Tuesday. The good news is that the belabored-on-arrival phenomenon appears primarily isolated to the suburbs; the bad news is that scaring elementary kids is really not clever and is actually a pretty shitty thing to do, however empty the threat. It was enough to prompt school officials in suburban Waukegan to put Greenwood Elementary School on lockdown after students at the school reported seeing three people dressed as clowns, carrying weapons at a home near the school during recess, according to a statement from the Waukegan Community Unit School District #60. Waukegan Police were called to the school to investigate the incident, and provide increased patrols during dismissal. West of Waukegan, in Round Lake, police notified parents that authorities had been made aware of the dreaded JoJos (@WeAnitClown!ngaroun), who has reportedly been threatening a visit to Round Lake High Schoolalthough RLPD made it clear it was (surprise) probably just a prank. Still, not cool, JoJos. (And according to the Tribune, North Chicago police are suffering through similar stunts.) (In unrelated Round Lake Police Department news, they have beautiful sunsets there.) Closer to home, a performance artist was detained by UIC policebut not arrested or chargedafter joining the trend, or making a pointedly meta commentary about the trend, or something. Whatever the case, we dont expect to see him on 3Arts 2017 class of grant awardees. they just arrested a clown on my campus. i am livid. pic.twitter.com/xkliyWyY7j Ilyas Ashar (@ellyorwhatever) October 4, 2016 [HT Tribune and ABC7] It was a night that left the contestants on the edge of their seats after two intruders entered the mansion. And during Wednesday's Bachelorette, intruder Matteo was sent home by Georgia Love, after only arriving in the mansion that same night. The Italian's short lived time on the show left him disappointed as he blamed timing for the reason he was sent packing so soon. Scroll down for video Home: Bachelorette intruder Matteo was sent home by Georgia Love on Wednesday, after only arriving in the mansion that same night. 'I'm a bit disappointed,' he said, adding: 'The original guys had more time to build a connection with Georgia. 'I just wish her all the best because she seemed like a very genuine and nice person.' Upon arriving at the Bachelorette mansion earlier in the night, Matteo seemingly won Georgia over by his thick accent. Upset: He said: 'I'm a bit disappointed. The original guys had more time to build a connection with Georgia' In her piece to camera, she gushed: 'Matteo comes up and he is a very good-looking guy. 'And, I mean, that accent... Come on,' she giggled while her cheeks turned red. After he joined the mansion, regular c ontestant Matty voiced he wasn't impressed by the addition of Matteo, saying: 'Who the hell does this guy think he is? Mixed feelings: Upon arriving at the Bachelorette mansion earlier in the night, Matteo seemingly won Georgia over by his thick accent 'I haven't had a single date and I feel like there's like a queue of guys for a single date and this new guy comes in and it's like potentially another person in the queue for that single date. 'There is nothing I hate more than somebody who jumps in and pushes in on a queue. This is big. I think we're getting a little bit worried about him.' Sam angrily said: ' We've got 10 guys here. At least three to four absolute peanuts. Angry: After his arrival, Sam said: ' We've got 10 guys here. They can't be any worse than those pretzels. I'm happy that there's new guys. I'd definitely would trade them for a few of the guys in the house' 'The intruder can't get any worse than guys we're stuck with already. They can't be any worse than those pretzels. I'm happy that there's new guys. I'd definitely would trade them for a few of the guys in the house.' He continued: 'I am not feeling threatened. Would I trade two of our pretzels for the two intruders? 100 per cent. Ryan, boring as f***. Rhys, boring as f***. I would trade them...But I'd rather get booted over one of those two guys than booted over Rhys or Ryan.' The Bachelorette Australia airs on Network 10 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm. He cause the internet to nearly crash when he was pictured stripping naked to film scenes for the show in February. And in a new official sneak-peak for the up-coming FX show Taboo, Tom Hardy has stripped off once-again to showcase his hulking physique and menacing character. Introducing his roguish character, the explorer James Keziah Delaney, the 38-year-old actor is pictured wading shirtless through the foreboding waters of a swamp. Scroll down for video Menacing: in a new official sneak-peak for the up-coming FX show Taboo, Tom Hardy has stripped off once-again to showcase his hulking physique and menacing character The first official teaser released ahead of the period drama's debut later this year sets the scene for the regency drama. Captured on camera wading through murky waters, the tattooed and muscular form of Delaney can be seen traversing a swampy lake - giving fans a glimpse of the rugged character in full. With the water lapping around his waist, the British explorer looks calm and collected as he traverses the body of water. James, an adventurer who's returned home to England, certainly looks to have experience an exotic life. An adventurous life: Introducing his roguish character, the explorer James Keziah Delaney, the 38-year-old actor is pictured wading shirtless through the foreboding waters of a swamp Tattooed in geometric symbols, the hardy explorer cuts an imposing figure as shadows play across his face and body - half-obscuring his features and highlighting his muscles. With his face obscured by the murky light, Tom's famous features are just recognisable thanks to a halo of light around his head. With his short hair ruffled and a wispy short beard adorning his jaw-line, The Dark Knight Rises actor looks a far-cry from his last TV outing in the BBC's Peaky Blinders. Battered and bruised? The tattooed and muscular form of Delaney can be seen traversing a swampy lake - giving fans a glimpse of the rugged character in full Having played tough but shrewd gang leader Alfie Solomons, gone are the suits, walking cane and bushy beard - replaced with raw muscle and a grim visage. In the clip, the actor can be hear elaborating on his character's grim powers and troubled past, as he whispers: 'I know things about the dead. When I left from Africa, I though I was mad.' As he says these words a haunting figure is seen in the swamp, all hollow eyes, dark hair and grim in face. This footage looks to have been taken while Tom was filming a scene for the FX and BBC project in February. His tale: Taboo tells the tale of adventurer James Keziah Delaney - who builds his own shipping empire in the early 1800s At the time the Legend star was seen stripping naked in Essex and wading through a freezing cold lake surrounded by a production crew. Taboo tells the tale of adventurer James Keziah Delaney - who builds his own shipping empire in the early 1800s. The mini-series, based on a story penned by Tom and his father Edward 'Chips' Hardy, sees Delaney return to Britain circa 1814 (during Napoleon's second resurgence in Europe). Following 10 years in Africa, Tom's character arrives back in London to discover that he has been left a mysterious legacy by his dead father - who has been murdered. Long ago: The mini-series, based on a story penned by Tom and his father Edward 'Chips' Hardy, sees Delaney return to Britain circa 1814 Out for revenge: Following 10 years in Africa, Tom's character arrives back in London to discover that he has been left a mysterious legacy by his dead father - who has been murdered Driven to wage a personal war of vengeance on those who have done him wrong, Delaney finds himself in conflict with the notorious and powerful East India Company, whilst also playing a dangerous game between two warring nations Britain and the newly independent United States of America. Directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, the eight-part American and British miniseries will also star House Of Cards actor Michael Kelly, Brazil star Jonathan Pryce and Game Of Thrones Oona Chaplin. Polly Hill, Controller of BBC Drama commissioning said in a statement: The talent on-and off-screen is incredible and I am so excited to see Steves captivating scripts come to life. Tom Hardy and the rest of the cast are set to bring this original and spectacular story to life in a unique and epic way. A release date has not been set for the series, but it is expected to air later this year on both BBC One and FX. Patrick Dempsey's wife Jillian Fink has offloaded the divorce pad she bought following her brief split with the actor. Jillian, 41, has sold the five-bedroom home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles for a cool $8 million after reconciling with the Bridget Jones star. Patrick, nicknamed 'McDreamy' after his Grey's Anatomy character, reconciled with Jillian in February and she put the house on the market back in July. Scroll down for video Reconciled: Jillian Fink reconciled with Patrick Dempsey earlier this year after a brief split, attending the Bridget Jones's Baby premiere with him last month Jill splashed out on the two story home last summer for $6.1 million - during the early stages of break up proceedings. According to TMZ, she has now sold it for $7.575 million to Black Mass director Scott Cooper and his producer wife Jocely. The price hike was reportedly due to the property - which was built in the early 1950s - being 'redesigned with a warm modern influence,' reported Variety. Not bad: Jillian has made a profit on her Pacific Palisades mansion in just a year On her own: According to Variety, Jillian bought a five-bedroom home in the Pacific Palisades for $6.1M just six months after she filed for divorce from the actor in January last year The longtime showbiz couple are parents to daughter Talula, 14, and fraternal twin sons Darby & Sullivan, 9. 'You have to work at everything. And you cannot do everything,' Dempsey told ES Magazine in May about repairing his marriage. Something has to be sacrificed.' 'You've got to keep at it,' he added to People. 'You've got to communicate, and stay open and not get lazy. And not give up. And lots of sex!' Neutral tones: The $2M price hike is reportedly due to the property - which was built in the early 1950s - being 'redesigned with a warm modern influence' Fine dining: The Dempsey's home for sale is also a brief walk to the beach within the Huntington Palisades neighborhood Lots of light: The master bedroom on the main floor boasts a marble fireplace and French doors that open to the tree-shaded backyard pool The former teen star said he didn't want to head to divorce court because he didn't feel like all the work had been done. And we both wanted to do that work. That's where it started,' he confessed. 'It's always destabilizing when you're potentially breaking up a family or you have a big section of your life that's ending,' said the Can't Buy Me Love star. Hungry? The home's eat-in kitchen features a large center island topped with marble, a butler's pantry, and a long dining table Plush: The home is now no longer required following the couple's reconciliation Neutral tones: The home has been decorated with tasteful wooden floor and white walls The star and his family have also been spending increasingly more time in his Lewiston, Maine hometown where he owns The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. The TAG Heuer spokesmodel and his ladylove - who still work steadily in Hollywood - also own a $1.9m Venice Beach micro-compound. The Dempsey's home for sale is also a brief walk to the beach within the Huntington Palisades neighborhood. The master bedroom on the main floor boasts a marble fireplace and French doors that open to the tree-shaded backyard pool. Complete with mini-fridge: Their three children could chill out in the playroom/den on the upper level Divorce is stressful: And curiously, the home features a zen-style, relaxing spa room with a massage table The home's eat-in kitchen features a large centre island topped with marble, a butler's pantry, and a long dining table. And curiously, the home features a zen-style, relaxing spa room with a massage table. The artist formerly known as 'McDreamy' can currently be seen playing Jack Qwant in the who's-my-babydaddy threequel Bridget Jones's Baby - hitting UK/US theaters September 16 - alongside Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Emma Thompson. And Jillian continues to be an in-demand hairstylist and make-up artist for celebrities like Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kate Winslet. She announced she was pregnant with her first child as she unveiled her baby bump on the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. And Lea Seydoux showcased her blossoming figure at another high-profile event as she attended the Louis Vuitton SS17 Paris Fashion Week show in the French capital on Wednesday morning. The Spectre actress, 31, looked a picture of happiness as she dazzled in a heavily embellished silver minidress, which boasted frills at the hem and sleeves and a shallow plunge at the neck. Scroll down for video Blooming: Lea Seydoux showcased her baby bump at another high-profile event as she attended the Louis Vuitton SS17 Paris Fashion Week show on Wednesday morning Wearing her blonde hair in loose waves, the Parisian star completed her chic look with leather lace-up boots as she lovingly clutched her bump. Lea accessorised with silver hoop earrings and applied a heavy dose of red lipstick that matched her pedicure and contrasted with her perfect porcelain complexion. As she arrived at the show, the actress added a pink overcoat as she posed for photos with French star Adele Exarchopoulos, before taking her seat in the front row. Lea was also treated to backstage tour where she was pictured with Adele Exarchopoulos, Alicia Vikander, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Connolly and Miranda Kerr. Bumping along: The Spectre actress, 31, looked a picture of happiness in a heavily embellished silver minidress as she posed with fellow French star Adele Exarchopoulos (L) Stunning: The Bond star's pretty outfit boasted frills at the hem and sleeves and a shallow plunge at the neck Lea revealed she was expecting her first child by posing on the red carpet with her bump at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere for her much applauded Cannes Grand Prix-winning film Its Only the End of the World. This is the star's first child with her boyfriend Andre Meyer and it comes after Lea said in 2014 that she's in no rush to marry. 'I never believed in marriage, but now I'm in love, I think maybe,' she said. 'We still need to believe in thingswe need discipline. I don't believe in the religious side, but as a civil actyes. But I don't really care about marriage.' Lea previously played Bond girl Madeleine Swann in the latest James Bond film Spectre. Mother in the making: Wearing her hair down, the blonde beauty (pictured with Miranda Kerr) completed her chic look with some leather laceup boots as she clutched her bump Backstage: The Parisian actress was pictured with (L-R) Adele Exarchopoulos, Alicia Vikander, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Connolly and Miranda Kerr Models Karlie Kloss and Miranda Kerr were among the stars of the show on Wednesday. Karlie, 24, pulled out all the stops, wearing a colourful cut-out mini dress which showed off her catwalk ready legs. The red, white and blue number had a rock-star asymmetric hemline which draped down one leg. She teamed it with a pair of chunky lace-up boots, which are key for Autumn/Winter 2016 and wore a leather jacket over her shoulders. Her blonde locks were sporting bangs and styled in a tousled fashion which flattered her famously beautiful features. Fellow model Miranda Kerr, 33, chose to stand out by colour-blocking, wearing a bright red mini skirt by the label which had a 'V' monogram on the belt. She rarely puts a fashion foot wrong. And Michelle Williams yet again pulled out all the sartorial stops as she headed to the all-star Louis Vuitton SS17 show at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday. The 36-year-old Blue Valentine actress ensured she stood out among the stars as she slipped into a flirty navy shift dress with a dainty mint green frill along the bust. Scroll down for video Chic: Michelle Williams yet again pulled out all the sartorial stops as she headed to the all-star Louis Vuitton SS17 show at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday Michelle opted for a simple yet stunning look as she arrived at the glamorous show while surrounded by fellow acting hot shots including Alicia Vikander, Lea Seydoux and Jennifer Connolly. The bevvy of screen sirens were clearly determined to make their mark on the fashion world, with Michelle wowing in the flirty navy shift dress. The only detail on the sleeveless mini was a delicate mint green frill extending across the chest to add a splash of colour to the otherwise plain dress. In-keeping with the luxury goods brand, she clutched a boxy patent clutch with gold fastenings at the front. Short and sweet: The only detail on the sleeveless mini was a delicate mint green frill extending across the chest to add a splash of colour to the otherwise plain dress (pictured with Alicia Vikander) Short and sweet: Michelle boosted her diminutive height with patent ankle boots Flirty look: The 36-year-old Blue Valentine actress ensured she stood out among the stars as she slipped into a flirty navy shift dress with a dainty mint green frill along the bust (pictured with Alicia Vikander) Shunning the favoured false tan look of many Hollywood stars, Michelle showed off her flawless alabaster complexion, which glowed alongside her dark dress. Her peroxide pixie crop stood out among the lengthy locks of her peers, with the short style perfectly complementing her perfect bone structure. In-keeping with her minimal look, Michelle wore pared-back make-up which drew out all her best features including sparkling eyes and a puckered pout. Having a giggle: The bevvy of screen sirens were clearly determined to make their mark on the fashion world, with Michelle wowing in the flirty navy shift dress All the stars! Michelle opted for a simple yet stunning look as she arrived at the glamorous show while surrounded by fellow acting hot shots including Alicia Vikander, Lea Seydoux and Jennifer Connolly The fashionista was no doubt soaking up the incredible styles of the forthcoming season including many super racy looks. One stand-out ensemble was a corseted leather dress with an asymmetric hem and racy plunging neckline. Other looks saw a classic suit reconstructed to become a more feminine shape, with a jagged neckline and tapered trousers. Sexier than ever: One stand-out ensemble was a corseted leather dress with an asymmetric hem and racy plunging neckline He showed off his competitive attitude and outspoken personality while appearing on Survivor Australia. Now, evicted contestant, Rohan Maclaren is putting his stance opinion to good use as he publicly calls for an end to domestic abuse. Over the weekend, the 28-year-old was announced as the latest Polished Man ambassador to raise awareness for the cause. Scroll down for video Role model: Survivor's Rohan Maclaren has announced as the latest Polished Man ambassador to raise awareness for domestic abuse In a statement released on Wednesday, the reality TV star explained: 'I have seen the effects of domestic abuse first hand on my travels and it has to stop. 'I'm very passionate about ending violence against women and children and removing any barriers people have to living a life where they can reach their potential.' Rohan went on to add: 'To me being a Polished Man is about taking a stand and speaking up for the vulnerable and being an advocate for equality and empowerment. Putting an end to it: In a statement released on Wednesday, the reality TV star explained: 'I have seen the effects of domestic abuse first hand on my travels and it has to stop' 'YGAP's work on trauma prevention, recovery and on economic empowerment works to this goal.' On Tuesday, he shared an image of himself and his fellow Polished Man ambassadors to social media. Alongside the post, he wrote: 'This morning ran past @ygap to have a cheeky newspaper photoshoot with some of the other ambassadors of the Polished Man campaign. Coming together: He shared an image of himself and his fellow Polished Man ambassadors to social media after the announcement 'With The Bachelor @samjameswood and actor @gytongrantley. Check out my link in the bio and please donate. love ya allllll (sic)'. Earlier on, Rohan posted an image of himself posing with his mum while showing off his freshly painted finger nail. ' Never thought I'd see the day when I would get my mum to paint my nail! #goDoggies #grandfinal,' he posted. Jumping on board: Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth has also been named as an ambassador He went on to add: 'Today is day one of the @ygap Polished Man campaign for October where I'm raising money to prevent violence against women and children! 'Such a worthy cause - send a donation to the link in my bio and I'll paint my nail how you want for a day and give you a shout out in my story! #maclarendayspa #fabulous.' She's no stranger to showcasing her chic sense of style both on the red carpet and off it. And as she arrived at Louis Vuitton's Paris Fashion Week SS17 show Jennifer Connelly looked every bit the on-trend fashionista. Taking her place on the FROW on Wednesday morning, the 45-year-old actress rocked a high-end Gothic punk look; flaunting her legs in a leather mini skirt. Scroll down for video Punk spirit: As she arrived at Louis Vuitton's Paris Fashion Week SS17 show Jennifer Connelly looked every bit the on-trend fashionista The Labyrinth star went for a modern and ultra chic twist on a dark punk rock look. Wearing a thigh-skimming slate leather mini skirt, which featured button-up details, the Oscar-winning actress flaunted her slim pins to the max. She teamed the skirt with a black PVC shirt, which featued metal studded detailing across its arms and collar. Hell for leather: Taking her place on the FROW on Wednesday morning, the 45-year-old actress rocked a high-end Gothic punk look; flaunting her legs in a leather mini skirt PVC princess: She teamed the skirt with a black PVC shirt, which featued metal studded detailing across its arms and collar Adding an autumnal edge to her look, the A Beautiful Mind star threw on a black waist-length poncho. Keeping to her punky theme, Jennifer donned a pair of black block-heeled leather brogue boots. She kept her accessories for the show to a minimum, and only wore a single cursory ring, though she added a single cursory ring to her ensemble. Legs ahoy! The thigh-skimming slate leather mini skirt, which featured button-up details, the Oscar-winning actress flaunted her slim pins to the max Winter warmer: Adding an autumnal edge to her look, the A Beautiful Mind star (pictured with Michelle Williams) threw on a black waist-length poncho Those boots were made for stomping: Keeping to her punky theme, Jennifer (seen with Roger Federer) donned a pair of black block-heeled leather brogue boots The collection: Louis Vuitton's SS17 collection was full of vampy spirit, with a focus on tailoring and daring cuts Wearing her dark locks arrow-straight and down to her shoulder in an off-centre parting, the actress allowed her hair to frame her striking features. Wearing a pale an minimal palette of make-up Jennifer let her natural beauty shine through for her stint on the FROW. Jennifer is currently on the promotional trail for American Pastoral, in which she stars opposite Ewan McGregor, who also directs the flick. 'Its just been the most extraordinary passage of time and a really fulfilling creative experience, very traumatic at times, just learning the curve of it all,' Ewan told Deadline of his experience directing. 'Basically I look at it and say, "Well, this is the film I wanted to make. This is what I had in my head.." And there it is, so I think thats great.' He's traversed the sea, fought through the brutal terrain of the Wild West and survived exploring the human psyche. But it seems that Leonardo DiCaprio now has his sights set on the final frontier. Space. Speaking at the South By South Lawn talk at the White House on Monday, the 41-year-old actor let slip that he had signed up for a shuttle trip to Mars. Scroll down for video Betting it all on Red? It seems that Leonardo DiCaprio now has his sights set on the final frontier. Space Interviewing President Barack Obama and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe about the issues of climate change Leonardo let slip that he'd signed up for a mission to the red planet. As the trio discussed the effect of climate change on planet Earth, the talk took an unexpected turn when Dr. Hayhoe made a quip about a mission to Mars. Referencing the off-world colony projects being championed by the likes of Elon Musk, the Canadian scientist quipped: 'If you're a human living on this planet - which most of us are, yeah? As long as we haven't signed up for the trip to Mars - I don't want to know if anyone has - I think you're crazy.' To which the Oscar-winning actor responded: 'I did.' His future? Speaking at the White House on Monday, the actor, 41, let slip that he had signed up for a shuttle trip to Mars (something famously depicted in Matt Damon's The Martian) Interviewing President Barack Obama and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe about the issues of climate change Leonardo let slip that he'd signed up for a mission to the red planet The President showed off his winning sense of humour by adding: 'I did,' before Obama added: 'I think he'll acknowledge he's crazy.' It's unclear whether the Hollywood star was joking about the trip to Mars, but if he wasn't it's quite possible he'll be blasting off to the red planet in a few years. The 45-year-old billionaire inventor Elon Musk is currently focusing his efforts on the Space X programme - which he has set up to bring space travel to the wider public. He did! As they discussed the effect of climate change, the talk took an unexpected turn when Dr. Hayhoe made a quip about a mission to Mars - to which Leo said he'd signed up Not quiet Hollywood: It's unclear whether the Hollywood star was joking about the trip to Mars, but if he wasn't it's quite possible he'll be blasting off to the red planet in a few years Leo's new friend: The 45-year-old billionaire Elon Musk is currently focusing his efforts on the Space X programme - which he has set up to bring space travel to the wider public Musk hopes to use Space X to create a colony on Mars, and pioneer a reusable fleet of spacecraft to ferry people back and forth to the red planet. Bloomberg reports Elon told a conference on aerospace: 'The goal of SpaceX really is to build the transport system. Its like building the Union Pacific railroad [a freight hauling railroad that operates in 23].' Matt Damon famously portrayed Mark Watney an astronaut left behind on Mars by his crewmates in the 2015 thriller, The Martian. The role saw Matt go up against Leonardo for the Best Actor gong which DiCaprio eventually nabbed for his performance in The Revenant. She's a serial jet-setter who swooped into France to make a rather belated Paris Fashion Week appearance this week. And Miranda Kerr, 33, proved that she even flies in style as she arrived at the city's Charles De Gaulle airport on Wednesday to head to London a mere 24-hours after touching down in Paris. The supermodel looked the epitome of chic as she opted for skintight leather trousers and a plunging beige top while rushing to catch her flight. Scroll down for video Model on the move: Miranda Kerr, 33, proved she even flies in style as she arrived at Paris Charles De Gaulle airport on Wednesday to head to London 24 hours after touching down The mother-of-one teased a glimpse of cleavage in a low-cut velvet halterneck, while keeping on trend with a matching black choker. Keeping warm during the autumnal French weather, the Australian beauty draped an elegant oversized beige coat around herself and opted for large-rimmed black sunglasses to complete the stylish look. Miranda showed no sign of fatigue as she used the airport's marbled floors as her own personal catwalk while teetering on suede stilettos. The former Victoria's Secret Angel swept back her long chestnut tresses in an elegant up-do which drew attention to her flawless model complexion. And she's off: The supermodel looked the epitome of Parisian chic as she opted for skintight leather trousers and a plunging beige top while rushing to catch her flight Dimpled darling: The Australian star swept back her long chestnut tresses in an elegant up-do which drew attention to her flawless model complexion Earlier in the day, Miranda mingled with her fellow A-listers at the star-studded Louis Vuitton fashion show. The star chose to stand out by colour-blocking, wearing a bright red mini skirt which had a 'V' monogram on the belt. Miranda teamed the garment with a clashing bright pink top which had a turtleneck design and tucked it into her skater skirt. Model behaviour: Miranda showed no sign of fatigue as she used the airport's marbled floors as her own personal catwalk while teetering on suede stilettos Touchdown! The star was seen hours later arriving in Los Angeles in the same outfit Adding an edgy vibe to the otherwise girly ensemble, Miranda paired chunky lace-up boots while toting her belongings in a leopard print box bag. The stunning star also kept busy during her short visit with a quick photoshoot for Louis Vuitton at the picturesque Place Vendome. Miranda flashed some leg in an asymmetric dress with a pair of chunky metallic boots and a silver statement necklace. A classic beige trench coat finished off the look and Miranda's locks were immaculately styled in gentle glossy waves. Busy bee: Earlier in the day, Miranda mingled with her fellow A-listers at the star-studded Louis Vuitton SS17 Paris Fashion Week show Quirky: Adding an edgy vibe to the otherwise girly ensemble, Miranda paired chunky lace-up boots while toting her belongings in a leopard print box bag Hard at work: The stunning star also kept busy during her short visit with a quick photoshoot for Louis Vuitton at the picturesque Place Vendome The brunette beauty was without Snapchat billionaire fiance Evan Spiegel, who she announced her engagement to in July. Miranda - who raises son, Flynn, five, with actor ex-husband Orlando Bloom, 39 - recently admitted she is keen to expand her brood. She said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph's Stella magazine: 'I am definitely open to the possibility of having more.' The model also revealed that she's set her wedding date for next year and that she will keep the nuptials 'small and intimate'. The couple started dating in June 2015. Her leggy figure and striking facial features have landed her countless endorsement deals. And Miranda Kerr showed off her supermodel status as she attended Louis Vuitton's runway show at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday. The 33-year-old looked incredible in a vibrant ensemble from the luxury brand, that highlighted her endlessly long legs and svelte frame. Scroll down for video Bold beauty! Miranda Kerr, 33, flaunted her leggy figure in a vibrant ensemble by Louis Vuitton, as she attended the luxury brand's Paris Fashion Week runway show on Wednesday Miranda looked flawless in a high-neck fuschia top with mid-length sleeves that accentuated her lithe arms. Tucking the bold number into a fire-engine red mini-skirt, the mother-of-one drew attention to her slender waist with a statement belt. Adding an edgy dimension to the ensemble, Miranda sported biker-style black lace-up boots and carried a Louis Vuitton leopard-print box bag. Leggy lady: The former Victoria's Secret Angel drew attention to her lean legs in a red mini-skirt Striking: Miranda enhanced her stunning facial features with just a minimal makeup palette However the accessory that drew the most attention was her sparkling engagement ring, given to her by Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel. Highlighting her striking facial features, the former Victoria's Secret Angel swept her brunette tresses into a sleek chignon at the nape of her neck. A minimal makeup palette was chosen, consisting of a flawless complexion, defined brows and a soft pink lip. Making her way through: It was no surprise the supermodel's arrival garnered attention Edgy: The beauty entrepreneur sported biker-style black lace-up boots with the bold ensemble She's wild: The mother-of-one carried her belongings in a leopard-print box bag by the luxury label Miranda attended the show without tech billionaire fiance Evan, but recently admitted they might be adding a new addition to their family. The budding entrepreneur opened up about her husband-to-be: 'I am definitely open to the possibility of having more [children],' Miranda told The Daily Telegraph's Stellar magazine. Miranda also revealed that she's set her wedding date for next year and that she will keep the wedding 'small and intimate'. The businesswoman first stepped out in public with Evan at a pre-Grammys gala in Beverly Hills in February. She shares five-year-old son Flynn with ex-husband Orlando Bloom. Capturing the moment: The businesswoman recorded the luxury brand's highly-anticipated runway show The Long March, after 80 years, retains a powerful legacy in China. An exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Red Army's Long March opened at the National Museum of China on Sept. 22. Over 300 artifacts are on display, including weapons, posters, maps, cooking utensils, manuscripts and paintings. The exhibition will run until Oct. 31. "We research, commemorate, and publicize the Long March to remember our predecessors and stay true to our mission," Bai Yuntao, the museum's deputy director in charge of the exhibition, told Xinhua. From October 1934 to October 1936, the Red Army, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), carried out a daring military maneuver that laid the foundation for the eventual victory of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The Red Army marched through raging rivers, snowy mountains and arid grasslands to break the Kuomintang regime's grip on the country and to continue their fight against Japanese invaders. Some of them marched as far as 12,500 kilometers, enduring hunger, thirst and cold. AN 80-YEAR COMMITMENT "I can feel the past when I see the original objects from the Long March," said Ji Yongxiao, a retired engineer. The CPC's commitment to China's development, which dates back 80 years, is evident here, said Ji, who waited three hours to see the exhibition on its opening day. "I am the same age as New China," said Zhang Pu, a retired government worker born in 1949. This year, Zhang has made three trips to retrace the route of the Long March through Guizhou, Sichuan and Gansu provinces. "The Long March is an epic event that inspires and guides Chinese people," Zhang said, adding that it has by no means been easy for the Chinese people to improve their lives over the last 80 years. "The hard-working spirit we see in the exhibition has never faded. The Long March spirit is with us today, and its aim is to make Chinese dreams come true." Ji Xianbin, a retired coal miner from east China's Shandong Province, served in the PLA in 1965. He was touched when he passed by the snowy mountains over which the Red Army had climbed three decades before. "I thought the mountains sacred, and that I was lucky to have lived a better life than the Red Army," Ji said, recalling his feelings half a century ago. "Our lives at present have improved even more, but we cannot forget the sacrifices that led to our current joys," Ji told Xinhua. RENEWING THE LONG MARCH "As a member of China's younger generation, I was touched by the Long March spirit of perseverance and the Red Army's fearlessness in the face of hardship," said Zhai Genyang, a high school student from Beijing. Zhai's schoolmate, Hao Ruili, agreed that China's youth should remember their predecessors' spirit, as they bear the responsibility of fulfilling the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. Yu Jin, a doctoral student at Northeast Normal University, said that the Long March spirit of unity, perseverance and high ideals reflects the conventional essence of Chinese culture. "We, China's youth, should be the best representatives of these red values and should pass the baton from generation to generation," Yu said. She believes that young people's mission is a continuation of Chinese history: "We are embarking on a new Long March to realize the Chinese dream." "If our processors could do this, then what can't we?" Ma Wen, a college student from south China's Guangdong Province, told Xinhua after seeing the exhibition. "Honestly, the words 'Long March' don't come up often in my daily life," Ma said, "but I see remembrance and perseverance as basic Chinese characteristics, and believe the spirit of the Long March has been passed down through my family, exercising an invisible but powerful influence on me." FOREIGNERS ABSORB THE SPIRIT OF THE MARCH Stella Dervicani, a student at the Institute Vespucci-Colombo in Italy, was on a two-week trip in Beijing to study Chinese language. She and her classmates were the first foreign visitors to the exhibition. "I had heard about the Long March, but I never felt close to it until I saw this exhibition. I know it made today's China possible," she said. Upon her return, Dervicani will be taking a modern Chinese history class at Vespucci, which will cover the Long March. "I can't wait, having now seen this exhibition," she said. A bundle of grass on display caught attention of Aurora Caselli, Dervicani's classmate. The grass was used as food during the Long March. "This made me understand the struggle that the Red Army faced," said Caselli. "I could feel the hardships they suffered, like lack of food, cold, and many people dying. The exhibition is very impressive, and it brings history to life." "The Long March is unique, and is worthy of our attention and focus," Susanna Ceccarelli, a history teacher from Vespucci, told Xinhua. Two American college students were amazed to find that there were more historical ties between the Long March and their home country than they had imagined. Caitlin Brown of Chicago, Illinois and Alyssa Flanders of Madison, Wisconsin are studying Chinese at Beijing University for the fall semester. Edgar Snow, who taught journalism at Yenching University, the heart of what is today Beijing University campus, left for northwestern Shaanxi in 1936, where he interviewed Mao Zedong and other senior CPC leaders. Snow published "Red Star Over China" the following year, which gained worldwide attention. He also took the iconic photograph of Mao Zedong in a red army hat. The hat, which was given to Snow and treasured by him for decades, was returned to China by the Snow family after his death. The original hat, together with the wooden box Snow kept it in, is on display at the exhibition. "I had heard about the Long March before, but I did not know they had to deal with such a wide variety of difficulties," said Flanders after she saw an oil painting of the Red Army crossing snowy mountains, and a leather belt that had been partly eaten by Ren Bishi, a senior CPC leader and one of his men. "The Long March is inspirational and demonstrates the power of human will," Flanders added. Also on display are an oil lamp that a peasant in southwest China's Guizhou Province used to lead the way for the troops and a receipt given to lamas in Sichuan Province who supported the Red Army with 15,000 kg of highland barley and 2,000 kg of peas. "The Long March was an amazing accomplishment. I can see the strong ties between the Army and the people," Brown, who has a copy of "Red Star Over China" on her desk, told Xinhua. She added that the fact that "senior Red Army leaders struggled side-by-side with low-ranking military men" greatly impressed her. They play sisters in their forthcoming film A United Kingdom. And it seems that Rosamund Pike and Laura Carmichael have developed quite the bond while working together, as they were all smiles at the BFI Lodon Film Festival. Hitting the red carpet together at the film's photocall at the Mayfair Hotel on Wednesday, Rosamun, 37, and Laura, 30, appeared delighted to be reunited. Scroll down for video Chic co-stars: It seems Rosamund Pike and Laura Carmichael have developed quite the bond working on A United Kingdom together, as they were all smiles at the BFI Lodon Film Festival Showing off their in-sync styles at the event, the two actresses took to the red carept in contrasting mini dresses. Rosamund, who first shot to fame as a Bond girl, wowed in a funky red thigh-grazing number. The fitted floral-print number clung to the actress slender frame before tapering out below the waist. Lady in red: Hitting the red carpet together at the film's photocall at the Mayfair Hotel on Wednesday, Rosamun, 37, and Laura, 30, appeared delighted to be reunited Teamed with a pair towering black suede heels, Roasmund ensured that her lithe legs were firmly in the limelight. Wearing her blonde locks in a simple swept-over style, the Jack Reacher star's striking features were perfectly framed. Laura went for a breezier look with her dress and opted for a white layered number. Floral fashion: Rosamund, who first shot to fame as a Bond girl, wowed in a funky red thigh-grazing number A floaty little number: The fitted floral-print number clung to the actress slender frame before tapering out below the waist Thigh's the limit: Teamed with a pair towering black suede heels, Roasmund ensured that her lithe legs were firmly in the limelight The long-sleeved mini featured a gossamer-thin layer with gold print emblazoned on it, allowed the Downton Abbey beauty to flash a hint of skin. A white slip under-layer ensured her modesty was kept firmly in-tact, though like Rosamund Laura chose to flaunt her legs. Rounding her look off with a pair of metallic skyscraper heels, which saw her rival her co-star in the height department. Wowing in white: Laura went for a breezier look with her dress and opted for a white layered number Demure from Downton: The long-sleeved mini featured a gossamer-thin layer with gold print emblazoned on it, allowed the Downton Abbey beauty to flash a hint of skin The Southampton-born star went for a natural look with her make-up as well, and allowed her golden locks to fall around her shoulders in a carefree manner. The two actresses were joined on the red carpet by the film's leading men, David Oyelowo and Tom Felton. A United Kingdom tells the tale of Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana and Ruth Williams, who cause an international stir when they marry in the late 1940s. The film is due for general release on November 25. They only got engaged a few months ago. But Bachelor stars Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell are already in therapy, they told People. 'Were not the perfect couple,' the 28-year-old Higgins said. 'Far from it! But we are trying really hard and we love each other a lot.' The doc is in: Bachelor stars Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell are already in therapy, they told People; here they are seen in NYC in March 'There are so many weird elements to being in a relationship after The Bachelor,' Lauren, 26, added. 'Weve gotten in arguments like any other couple, but about some things that other couples wouldnt have to fight about, like the fact that we met when he was dating other women. You can say thats what I signed up for, but its still real life and its still hard.' The two became engaged 10 months ago and their finale aired this spring. In April she moved into his Denver residence. The truth is out there: 'There are so many weird elements to being in a relationship after The Bachelor,' Lauren, 26, said Now they are starring on Freeforms Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After?, got engaged on the finale of The Bachelor. In April, she moved in with him in Denver. They have couples counseling at their church. 'We want to get a foundation that is healthy and pure and honest, with some help from a mediator,' he said. A new TV gig: Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After? premieres October 11 on Freeform; here they are pictured on September 24 in Las Vegas 'Bachelor or not, our life is not easy to navigate. We have our struggles. But we wont give up. And for every argument, were stronger for it.' She then said 'even facing situations I didnt know if I could handle, running away was never an option for me.' The star then said she was 'so committed' to Ben. 'I love him so much and at the end of the day, I want to spend my life with him,' she said. Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After? premieres October 11 on Freeform. They looked happy at their over-the-top baby shower held in Woodland Hills on Sunday. But all may not be as it appears with Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna, who are expecting their first child together, a daughter, on November 16. According to UsWeekly, the 29-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and the 28-year-old video model are still living in separate homes in the Calabasas, California area. InTouch Weekly added that Rob is 'faking' the relationship to get his $2 million salary for their spinoff Rob & Chyna which may not be renewed for a second season due to his reclusive ways. Not the same address: Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna still live in separate houses, according to UsWeekly His nest: Rob lives in this traditional home in Calabasas that his mother bought for him Her pad: Chyna has her own property in Calabasas that she lives in with son King Cairo On their E! show, Rob is kicked out of Chyna's home after she suspects him of texting other women. He then sets up house in the mini mansion Kris Jenner already bought him earlier this year. The move seemed like it would be temporary, but UsWeekly has claimed it has not been. 'They think it's a healthier way to live,' said a source. It was added that they are fighting less now that they do not share a bed. Loved up: They looked happy at their baby shower held in Woodland Hills on Sunday Action! But the two reality TV stars had the Rob & Chyna cameras on them And the insider was hopeful that one day they would live together in an even bigger mansion. But for now, they will not share the same address. As far as their cloud-themed baby shower (which Kim Kardashian and her sisters did not attend but Scott Disick did), they were 'kissing the whole time,' added the pal. Indeed, they did look happy at the party. But they also had Rob & Chyna cameras in their faces. All about the green? InTouch Weekly added that Rob is 'faking' the relationship to get his $2 million salary for their spinoff Rob & Chyna which may not be renewed for a second season due to his reclusive ways; here they are seen in May InTouch has alleged that the relationship is now fake. And that Rob only wanted his $2 million payday for Rob & Chyna - which momager Kris set up - because he needed the money. He also wanted to compete with his sisters Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie, who all have thriving careers. 'Rob wanted to make more money even if it meant pretending to be in a loving relationship,' it was stated. 'They are scrambling to hide the truth about their messy, twisted relationship,' it was also claimed. No 2? It has also been reported that they may not get a second season. According to TMZ, E! executives haven't yet ordered a second season of the series as they are afraid Rob will revert to his former self and disappear before they complete filming And Rob, who usually says it like it is, cannot come clean about the status of the relationship. 'It would be too humiliating. The lie has gotten so out of control,' it was added. And Chyna has no problem with fudging their relationship because it's all about the money for the former stripper who has a baby with Tyga. 'She wants to make millions from endorsement deals,' it was claimed. 'She's desperate to be as famous as the Kardashians.' She's a producer on the show: Kim Kardasian, seen here on an episode of Rob & Chyna, makes money off the series It has also been reported Rob & Chyna may not get a second season. According to TMZ, E! executives haven't yet ordered a second season of the series as they are afraid Rob will revert to his former self and disappear before they complete filming. However bosses have reportedly branded Blac Chyna, also 29, 'TV gold', and would consider a solo show with her. Neither Rob not Chyna have yet to publicly address Kim's ordeal in Paris on Sunday when she was bound, gagged and had a gun pointed to her head as thieves made off with $11m worth of jewels. She's strutted down the runway for the likes of Giambattista Valli, Mugler and Elie Saab during this season's Fashion Week. And Sara Sampaio made a sartorial statement yet again as she arrived at the Miu Miu SS17 Paris Fashion Week show in the French capital on Wednesday prior to her catwalk appearance. Rocking a rather racy pair of boots, the model, 25, showcased her toned pins in her daring thigh-high caged footwear. Scroll down for video Kinky boots: Sara Sampaio made a sartorial statement as she arrived at the Miu Miu SS17 Paris Fashion Week show in the French capital on Wednesday prior to her catwalk appearance The professional clothes horse teamed her sexy statement heels with a plunging LBD, which was belted at the waist with a large gold buckle. In true fashionista form, Sara strategically draped a long structured coat from Misha Collection on her shoulders, while toting a matching black handbag. The Victoria's Secret model showed off her natural beauty with a low-key slick of make-up, while her brunette tresses were scraped up into a high ponytail. Interchangeable black and gold chokers added an element of edge to the ensemble, while the Portuguese bombshell threw on a pair of oversized shades to keep the autumnal sun at bay. These boots were made for... flaunting: Rocking a rather racy pair of boots, the model, 25, showcased her toned pins in her daring thigh-high caged footwear Chic: The professional clothes horse teamed her sexy statement heels with a plunging LBD, which was belted at the waist with a large gold buckle Parisian elegance: In true fashionista form, Sara strategically draped a long structured coat from Misha Collection on her shoulders, while toting a matching black handbag After her dazzling arrival at the fashion showcase, Sara then ruled the runway in a number of head-turning ensembles. Sara arrived in Paris last week after making quite the impression during the recent Milan Fashion Week, where she walked the runways for the likes of Versace, Moschino and Alberta Ferretti. The beauty officially began modelling at the age of 16 and later auditioned for the Victoria's Secret show, but was not chosen. She managed to make the cut for the lingerie giant's 2013 show, and earned her Angel wings the following year. Runway goddess: After her dazzling arrival at the fashion showcase, Sara then ruled the runway in a number of head-turning ensembles Kooky: Designs featured an array of high-waisted shorts tucked in to chic blouses, embroidered tops and floral dresses complete with matching bedazzled headgear Runway royalty: Gigi Hadid took to the eagerly anticipated Miu Miu catwalk on Wednesday as part of the designer's Paris Fashion Week showcase Fellow models of the moment Gigi Hadid and Taylor Hill also took to the eagerly anticipated Miu Miu catwalk on Wednesday as part of the designer's Paris Fashion Week showcase. Designs featured an array of high-waisted shorts tucked in to chic blouses, embroidered tops and floral dresses complete with matching bedazzled headgear. Miu Miu is one of the last shows before Fashion Week officially closes later on Wednesday. Model turnout: Taylor Hill also walked down for one of Paris Fashion Week's closing shows The first promo clip for Brad Pitt's new film Allied dropped the day Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from the Hollywood star. The drama coupled with her undeniable on-screen chemistry with Pitt forced his co-star Marion Cotillard to issue a statement categorically denying that she was in anyway romantically involved with the actor or had played any part in his split from Jolie. And while the shock divorce proceedings continue, Paramount has forged ahead with the release of the first official full-length trailer for the World War Two spy thriller that is set to hit movie theatres on November 23. Scroll down for video Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard engage in a steamy love affair during World War Two in the spy thriller Allied The chemistry between the two stars is palpable in the new full-length trailer released by Paramount on Wednesday The first thing that strikes the viewer is a similarity between this action-packed romance and the one played out by Pitt and Jolie in 2005's Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which as everyone knows is when the A-listers fell in love with each other. The plot revolves around a husband and wife who are both expert assassins and who, it turns out, may or may not be hiding deep secrets from the other. The trailer for Allied opens with Cotillard, in a silky evening gown, walking towards an open door. The trailer opens with French actress Cotillard walking towards an open door in a silky evening gown The action then switches to a swanky party where she is seen exchanging meaningful glances with Pitt The two are at a reception for a German ambassador in Casablanca in 1942 As an outside explosion serves as a distraction, Pitt pulls out a machine gun from under an overturned table Cotillard also has a weapon and knows how to use it She's then seen with Pitt, dressed in a tuxedo, who hands her a glass of champagne as a Nazi bigwig strides out onto a balcony above them to address the gathering. A ticking clock is followed by a large explosion outside at which point the two stars toss over the table of champagne and glasses to reveal machine guns tap[ed to the underneath, that they then use to assassinate the German ambassador and his cohorts. It transpires that Pitt is a secret intelligence officer and Cotillard is a member of the French Resistance who have teamed up to carry out the politically-motivated hit in Casablanca in 1942. It turns out that Cotillard is a member of the French Resistance and Pitt is an intelligence officer. The two highly-trained operatives teamed up to assassinate the German ambassador Cotillard may be a crack shot; she's also a very attractive woman Pitt asks Cotillard to return with him to London and be his wife She accepts and the two are married Soon, the two clearly start falling for each other. 'You're beautiful and good,' Pitt tells her. 'Being good at this kind of work is not very beautiful,' Cotillard replies. The trailer cuts to a steamy encounter in a car in which the two kiss passionately. In voiceover, Pitt is heard saying: 'When the war is over, come with me to London. Come with me and be my wife.' The two are then seen laughing as Pitt carries his new wife into their wedding reception and they're showered with confetti. The couple settle down to a life of wedded bliss in wartime London For a while, their pasts are behind them as they build a future together Cotillard is soon pregnant and gives birth to a daughter It seems they are living a perfect life as a family despite the ongoing war around them Cotillard gets pregnant and gives birth to a daughter and the happy family is seen picnicking in a park. Then air raid sirens sound and the action switches to some kind of underground bunker where Pitt is faced with Jared Harris explaining to him that the intelligence service believes his wife may be a Nazi spy. 'This is insane,' a disbelieving Pitt says. 'If you are right, then all this will be forgotten,' Harris tells him. But if she is, you will execute her with your own hand and if you do not comply, you'll be hanged.' Then Pitt is called into an underground bunker where a military officer, played by Jared Harris, tells him that they suspect his wife is a Nazi spy Pitt is in disbelief but he's ordered that if Cotillard is revealed to be a spy, and the truth will be known within 72 hours, he must assassinate her himself.... or he will be hanged Pitt is shell-shocked by the revelations Pitt is told the truth about his wife will be known within 72 hours. The action then focuses on Pitt's interaction with Cotillard who realizes something is up, and whether he will put love before loyalty. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film also stars Matthew Goode, Lizzy Caplan, Charlotte Hope and August Diehl. Allied is released in the US on November 23 and in the UK on November 25. Everything between them is different now...... Cotillard knows something is wrong and that her husband's attitude to her has changed Pitt is torn between love and loyalty The boyfriend of pregnant Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans has been sentenced to jail time. David Eason was sentenced to 60 days in prison for violating a domestic violence protective order against an ex-girlfriend, according to an arrest warrant posted by RadarOnline from the New Hanover County court in North Carolina. The arrest warrant says David was in the same location as his child, who was out with his grandmother and aunt, when he approached and hugged the child, who was 'frightened.' Sentenced: Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans' boyfriend David Eason has been sentenced to 60 days in prison for violating a domestic violence restraining order against an ex '[He] was told not to and grabbed the child again,' the document reads. David entered a not guilty plea, but the judge found him guilty and sentenced him to 60 days in prison for violating the order. He is appealing,Us Weekly reports. Last month, Jenelle, 24, announced the couple are expecting their first child together, a baby girl they're naming Ensley Jolie Eason. 'She's so perfect already,' Jenelle wrote as she shared an ultrasound photo. Expecting: Jenelle and David are expecting a baby girl early next year David shared a sweet photo of the couple kissing as they announced their news. 'It's a girl yall! I'm so happy I'm about ta cry!!' he wrote. 'I love you so much @j_evans1219 and I can't wait to meet our baby girl Ensley Jolie Eason!' Baby on the way: The Teen Mom 2 star shared a snap of an ultrasound of her baby, who she's naming Ensley Jolie Eason The baby is due in late January. Jenelle gushed about her boyfriend as she posted a cute selfie of the couple to mark their one-year anniversary last week. ''You have my heart, hook, line and sinker." Going strong since 09.24.2015,' she wrote. Selfie: The MTV star shared a photo with David as they marked one year together Jenelle and David both have two children from other relationships. Jenelle is mom to son Jace, 7, with her ex-boyfriend Andrew Lewis. Her mother Barbara Evans has had custody of Jace since 2009, but the MTV star - who previously battled heroin addiction and has been arrested multiple times - is seeking to regain custody this fall. She also has son Kaiser, 2, with ex-fiance Nathan Griffith - who was also jailed while Jenelle was pregnant with their son, for driving on a suspended license. Cuties: Jenelle is mom to son Kaiser, 2, and Jace, 7. She is challenging her mother Barbara for custody of Jace The 16 & Pregnant star was previously married to Courtland Rogers, and they were arrested for domestic violence and heroin possession together in 2013, before divorcing in 2014 after two years of marriage. Meanwhile, her boyfriend David has a son, Kaden, and a daughter Maryssa. The Teen Mom 2 star also said last month that a doctor's test revealed that she had had a miscarriage before becoming pregnant again. Angelina Jolie found herself on her own after she filed for divorce from partner of 12 years Brad Pitt on September 19. But the 41-year-old Oscar winner has had help from her brother James Haven, 43. And in the new issue of UsWeekly it has been revealed the former actor, who famously kissed Jolie on the lips at the Oscars in 2000, now has 'an active daily role' looking after the six kids Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, and Zahara,11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, eight. Family time: Angelina Jolie's brother James Haven, seen here with the actress and Brad Pitt in 2008, is helping her raise the six children she shares with Brad Pitt Over: The actors, seen here during their last red carpet appearance in November, have a temporary custody arrangement until October 20 'He took a more active daily role in June,' said a source. 'The kids all call him Uncle James.' A People source has said in the past: 'James is her rock. She trusts him.' Like Angelina, his parents are Jon Voight and the late Marcheline Bertrand. Haven is a USC School of Cinema-Television graduate and has worked in films since 1998. New digs: Angelina has reportedly moved the children to Denise Richards' old home in Hidden Hills He had minor roles in several films starring Jolie, like Gia (1998), Hell's Kitchen (1998) and Original Sin (2001). He also appeared in Monster's Ball (2001) and a 2004 episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2009 he became a born again Christian and In 2011, he served as executive producer to the short comedy film That's Our Mary, which follows two actresses awaiting the final casting decision for the role of the Virgin Mary at a faithbased film studio. UsWeekly also claimed Brad has no problem with James helping with the kids. 'Brad thinks highly of James. He has always been incredible to the kids and is welcome in his home.' The clan: The Pitts have six kids Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, and Zahara,11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, eight; here they are seen in 2014 Brad's home is in Hollywood Hills while Angelina has reportedly moved the children to Denise Richards' old home in Hidden Hills. The six bedroom, eight bathroom mansion was on the market for $6.9 million when Angelina asked to rent it, it has been alleged. There is a swimming pool and a large backyard. Folks: Like Angelina, his parents are Jon Voight and the late Marcheline Bertrand; here James and Jon are seen in 2014 Close: The brother and sister have always been affectionate with each other; here they are seen in 2000 James is most likely staying in the house that is in a gated community. Kris Jenner lives up the street, Kim Kardashian is rebuilding her home nearby, and Kylie Jenner owns three mansions in the area. In July, OK! magazine claimed he'd stepped up to fill Pitt's shoes as a father figure because the Hollywood actor was working so hard and was away from home much of the time. In fact, Haven was spending so much time with his nieces and nephews, the publication reported the youngest of them - Knox and Vivienne - had started calling him 'daddy'. His life: The star is an actor and director; here he is seen in 2011 with Ashley Reign 'Brads absolutely working his butt off right now and the kids rarely see him, a source told OKMagazine.com. 'He leaves for the set before they wake and comes home after theyve gone to bed.' RadarOnline revealed Tuesday that the actress had also allegedly fired the family's nanny several months ago for what she regarded as 'flirting' with her husband. Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after they wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. The actress filed papers citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asked for physical custody of the couple's three biological children as well as their three adopted children. She always looked impossibly stylish, no matter the occasion. And Alesha Dixon was looking better than ever when she stepped out in London on Wednesday, rocking an elegant black satin jumpsuit. The TV personality displayed her endless legs in the silky ensemble, set off with a pair of gold stilettos for extra height. Scroll down for video Going glam: Alesha Dixon was looking better than ever when she stepped out in London on Wednesday, rocking an elegant black satin jumpsuit Alesha's smart one-piece was embellished with gold buckle detailing, including a belt cinching in her waist. She matched her gold hoop earrings to the detailing on her outfit and her statement shoes. Alesha wore her ombre bob pinned back from her face and completed her look with a slick of bright red lipstick. Belted up: Alesha's smart one-piece was embellished with gold buckle detailing, including a belt cinching in her waist Legs for days: The TV personality displayed her endless legs in the silky ensemble, set off with a pair of gold stilettos for extra height Her outing comes after she confessed she was disappointed by judge Louis Walsh's decisions on The X Factor. Alesha had joined the Irish music boss at his home in Ibiza to help his make his choice for the Groups category. Tweeting after the show, The Britain's Got Talent judge revealed she was 'gutted' he didn't take girl bands Skarl3t and Four Of Diamonds through to live shows. Stunning: Alesha wore her ombre bob pinned back from her face and completed her look with a slick of bright red lipstick It's all in the details: She matched her gold hoop earrings to the detailing on her outfit and her statement shoes The brunette beauty wrote: 'Well that was fun! But I am gutted, I was really rooting for the 2 girl groups! ' Alesha formerly made up one third of the band Mis-Teeq and therefore was naturally rooting for the all-female acts. In the end, Louis selected The Brooks, 5AM and controversial novelty act Ottavio & Bradley. Jennifer Garner recently remarked that she and Ben Affleck are 'doing really well' despite their split. The two were having an easygoing time as they stepped out separately in Los Angeles' Brentwood area on Wednesday. Their outing comes on the heels of news that Ben's mother Christine Boldt is pleading with Jennifer to 'halt the divorce proceedings' and make the marriage work, according to In Touch. Scroll down for video Stepping out: Jennifer Garner grabbed coffee to go in LA's Brentwood neighbourhood on Wednesday and Ben Affleck looked refreshed as he emerged on a separate outing Jennifer, 44, certainly seemed to be in a chipper mood while grabbing multiple coffees which she balanced in a takeout tray. She was dressed down in faded jeans and a violet-blue T-shirt that was partly tucked into the waistband, along with white trainers. Ben, also 44, looked more refreshed than usual in navy 7 For All Mankind trousers with a matching crew-necked jumper as he went about his solo errand. Happy-go-lucky: The 44-year-old actress sure seemed chipper as she picked up multiple coffees to go In you go: Jennifer strolled to a waiting SUV with her carry-out tray of coffees Not too blue today: Ben, 44, looked refreshed while dressed in navy blue jumper and trousers Solo but not for long: The Argo star was on a solo mission in LA's Brentwood area Ben's mother has made a heartfelt plea to her daughter-in-law to stop the divorce from going forth and give her son another chance, In Touch is reporting. That is causing some confusion on Jennifer's part as she navigates through separation and co-parenting of the couple's three children Violet, 10, Seraphina, seven, and Samuel, four. 'Jen is torn and doesn't know what to do,' a source told the publication. On their side: One person who's rooting for a Ben and Jen marriage comeback is Affleck's mom Christine Boldt (pictured with him in 2014) Don't go through with it: Jennifer (pictured Sunday) has been asked by Ben's mom to 'halt the divorce proceedings,' In Touch is reporting A mother's love: Ben's mom Christine worries that her son 'will go off the rails without the family to ground him,' a source told the publication It all started when Boldt made her feelings known to the Mother's Day star, as reported in In Touch. 'She's asked Jen to halt the divorce proceedings,' the source said. The emotional well-being of the Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice is at the crux of the request. Close ties: Jennifer clearly adores her mother-in-law (pictured with her last November) but is 'torn' about stalling divorce proceedings Family values: The Mother's Day star was pictured having a great time with Christine and her kids in 2013 'She is so afraid that Ben will go off the rails without the family to ground him,' the source added. Ben's mom has witnessed the Argo star 'at his lowest, when he falls into a vicious cycle of partying and boozing,' the source said. History repeating itself 'is her biggest nightmare,' added the source. As it stands now, Jennifer and Ben are both reportedly living in separate residences on their Pacific Palisades, California compound so they can try to keep things as normal as possible for their youngsters. Date night? The couple stepped out without the kids for dinner at The Hungry Cat in Santa Monica on September 22 They have been seen out together with the children running errands and going out for meals at their neighbourhood hangouts like Brentwood Country Mart. On September 22, Jennifer and Ben stepped out for dinner without the children to The Hungry Cat in Santa Monica, California. While Jennifer looked comfortably chic in a black knee-length skirt, white jumper and ankle-high gladiator sandals, Ben opted for blue button-down 'We are definitely a modern family,' Jennifer told Access Hollywood's Natalie Morales in August. 'Were doing really well.' Hes better known for his culinary skills, but celebrity baker Paul Hollywood revealed a hitherto unknown talent during an appearance in Kent on Wednesday afternoon. The Great British Bake Off host, 50, was given the rare opportunity to fly a vintage aircraft after paying a visit to Aero Legends on the southern English countys Headcorn Airfield. The organisation gives air enthusiasts the chance to fly in planes used by the RAF during World War II, amongst them the Tiger Moth, Spitfire and Harvard. Scroll down for video Ready to go: Paul Hollywood was given the rare opportunity to fly a vintage aircraft after paying a visit to Aero Legends at Headcorn Airfield in Kent on Wednesday afternoon And dressed in a green jumpsuit, Hollywood certainly looked the part as he posed for photos shortly before taking to the skies alongside a trained pilot. Captioning the shot, he wrote: 'Awesome day today thank you @AeroLegendsUK.' The bearded presenter was later seen sporting a flight helmet and shades while preparing to take off for a flight across rural Kent and neighboring Dover. Ready for Bake Off: The bearded presenter was later seen sporting a flight helmet and shades while preparing to take off for a flight across rural Kent and neighboring Dover Off to a flier: Dressed in a green jumpsuit, Hollywood certainly looked the part as he posed for photos shortly before taking to the skies A short video taken from the ground and shared on social media captured Hollywood's aircraft as it passed over the rolling countryside. 'Did anyone see this flying past White cliffs, Deal, Sandwich, Wingham and Canterbury today...!' Hollywood wrote alongside the short clip. Elsewhere the presenter recently confirmed he will star with The Great British Bake Off following its controversial move from the BBC to Channel 4. In flight: The presenter recently confirmed he will star with The Great British Bake Off following its controversial move from the BBC to Channel 4 Announcing his decision in a statement, he said: 'The Great British Bake Off has brought baking to the nation and we've seen people from all walks of life and backgrounds experience the highs and lows of competition, and more importantly helping each other. 'It's been a huge part of my life in the past few years and I just couldn't turn my back on all that - the bakers themselves, the bakes, the team that makes it, and of course the tent, the bunting, and who could forget ... the squirrels. Star Trek Beyond delighted Trekkies when it arrived in cinemas over the summer. And it seems the cast also had fun on set, judging by a silly gag reel showing behind-the-scenes bloopers released on Wednesday. The funny footage shows John Cho telling costar Chris Pine that his Captain Kirk sounds too much like Star Trek icon William Shatner. 'This one's going to be full Shat,' Chris shoots back. Scroll down for video Whoops: 'This one's going to be full Shat,' Chris Pine jokes after John Cho says he sounds too much like William Shatner The actor is also seen fighting off a malfunctioning door - and losing - in the background of another scene. Another goofy blooper shows Karl Urban and Chris giggling as they film a boozy scene and try to outdo each other with satisfied smacking sounds. 'Never in my life heard you make that voice,' says Chris. 'Sounds mildly sexual.' Pull the other one: Simon Pegg keeps the crew laughing during one tense scene Little too much? Karl Urban laughs after Chris tells him his satisfied sipping sounds are 'vaguely sexual' Even Spock's amused: Zachary Quinto can't keep a straight face as his costar collapses in laughter And while one character grapples with a prop and complains 'It's too short,' Simon Pegg- who also co-write the script - cracks up the crew by joking: 'It's not the first girl who's said that to me.' The clip also shows behind-the-scenes footage of late actor Anton Yelchin, who was killed in a freak accident involving his vehicle over the summer. In or out? Chris Pine fights with a malfunctioning door in another silly slip-up Natalie Portman stars as Jacqueline Kennedy in the hours and days following the assassination of her husband President John F. Kennedy in the film Jackie. And the first full-length trailer for the movie was released Wednesday giving fans an idea of why the biopic was greeted with such acclaim when it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. Portman, who won an Academy Award for Black Swan, nails the former First Lady's whispery slightly accented voice and her distinctive beauty in the role many pundits predict will earn her a second Oscar. Scroll down for video Moving portrayal: Natalie Portman stars as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the hours and days following the assassination of her husband in the just released trailer for the film Jackie The film directed by Chilean Pablo Larrain paints a portrait of Jackie as she lives through and then seeks to come to terms with the loss of her husband. The trailer opens with the sound of Richard Burton as King Arthur singing from the original cast recording of the musical Camelot. Then is seen crowds of people reflected in the passing darkened window of a limousine as Portman's face slowing comes into view as she leans her head against the glass. The trailer begins with Richard Burton as King Arthur singing a song from the musical Camelot as the camera shows crowds reflected in the darkened glass of a limousine Slowly Portman comes into view as the widowed Jackie with her head pressed up against the window of the moving vehicle In an iconic scene, Portman accompanied by two children as John and Caroline Kennedy leaves the White House for her husband's funeral The movie recreates the famous moment when the First Lady, in widows weeds, kneels to plant a kiss on her husband's coffin with daughter Caroline by her side Then flashbacks of her time in the White House are intercut with scenes of the her arrival on board Air Force One at Dallas Love Field, the assassination and the immediate aftermath. In one powerful scene, Portman is seen from behind standing naked in the shower washing off the blood of the murdered president. As the enormity of what's happened sinks in, she breaks into hysterical grief-laden sobs . The trailer shows Portman as Jackie walking down the steps of Air Force One after arriving at Dallas Love Field The camera pans over the presidential limousine with the secret service agent clinging to the boot after Kennedy is shot Portman is next seen with her back to the camera standing naked in the shower as her slain husband's blood streams down her back She breaks down into hysterical grief-laden sobs as the enormity of what has happened starts to sink in While the trailer is basically made up of pieces from many different scenes, Portman is heard speaking in character as the music from Camelot plays underneath. 'People like to believe in fairy tales,' she says. 'Don't let it be forgot that for one brief, shining moment, there was Camelot.' Then after a pause, she adds: 'There'll never be another Camelot.' Jackie will be released in theatres by Fox Searchlight on December 2. In addition to Portman's acting being tipped for Oscar glory, it's already collecting accolades for its screenplay. First time scribe Noah Oppenheim picked up the screenplay prize at the Venice Film Festival last month. Camelot - the mythical kingdom - was how the Kennedy White House was portrayed following the election of the youngest President in American history The public was fascinated by the president, who was 43 when he took office, and his beautiful bride who transformed the White House into a cultural and fashionable salon Jackie is also portrayed as a devoted mother who despite the trappings that came with being First Lady, maintained a normal family life for her children Caroline and John John-John, as he was known, turned three just two weeks before his father was gunned down in Dallas on November 22, 1963 Portman is seen walking across fields towards the water at sunset with her kids running ahead of her It's contrasted with the loneliness and solitude she faced following the assassination, shown as she walks alone through the graves at Arlington National Ceremony She was keen to return to her charity work as soon as she was able. But brave Lindsay Lohan certainly seemed to have to brush off a lot of pain, as graphic new pictures show the true extent of her injuries. Last week, Lindsay revealed that her ring finger was 'ripped off' in a dramatic boating accident in Turkey, but the star has now had the tip reattached. Scroll down for video The true extent: Graphic new pictures show the horrifying extent of Linday Lohan's injuries from a recent boating accident in Turkey The imagery, originally released by TMZ on Wednesday, shows Lindsay's third finger in two parts. While the nail still in tact, the epidermis of the finger appears to have been fixed back on below the joint. Of the injury, Lohan said afterwards: 'To make this very clear. The bottom part of my finger was ripped off. It was not "chopped" or "severed" off.' 'It was ripped off': Lindsay insists that the tip of her third finger was not severed by 'ripped off' Back to work: The redhead has been keen to return to her humanitarian work as soon as possible (here on Tuesday) Luckily, in the aftermath of the incident, LiLo's boating companions scrambled around to find the finger of the Hollywood starlet. She then had to be taken to an emergency room, where she had the surgical procedure to reattach it. Linsday said: 'I almost lost my finger from the anchor. Well, I lost half my finger, thank goodness we found the piece of my finger I just had surgery to fix it it hurts so bad.' Sharing gifts: The children of a Syrian family that she went to visit showed their gratitude with kisses when she delighted them with presents The Parent Trap star initially embarked into the Eurasian area to conduct a humanitarian mission in her support for refugees fleeing from Syria. There, she paid visits to an Istanbul hospital as well as the home of the Hussiens, a family of Syrian refugees. Since then, her injuries don't seem to have held her back from helping during her trip. Emergency surgery: The star complained of it 'hurting so bad' after the accident Stitched up: The stitches were used to reattach her finger tip All back together again: The star was brave but admitted that she was in a lot of pain Black and blue: Lindsay has been focussing on charity work in recent weeks On Tuesday, Lindsay took her bandaged finger to meet a Syrian family living in the Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul. The family, who have two young children, received presents from the international actress and showed their gratitude in kisses. Lindsay put on a brave face, boldly sharing her horror story and brandishing her bandaged hand to the cameras. The actress proved she was still in good spirits on Monday too, when she took to Instagram to share her first selfie since the incident. Making light of the injury, the 30-year-old Mean Girls star wrote: 'One-handed selfie!', alongside the picture. Too gruesome to show: Lindsay shared this photo of her bloody finger on Monday Staying strong: Lindsay proved she was still in good spirits on Monday when she took to Instagram to share her first selfie since she suffered the horrific hand injury Sending out her message: The star also tweeted this message about what happened Earlier, she was seen wearing the flower headband SnapChat filter. The make-up free American actress could be seen smiling at the camera as she lay down. Clad in what appeared to be a white nightshirt, she wore her fiery tresses loose around face. And keeping her accessories to a minimum she looked in good spirits, despite the weekend's events. Damage: Lindsay had to undergo emergency operation on her ring finger Sunday after part of it was mangled in a boating accident off the Turkish coast 'I lost half my finger': The Mean Girls star, 30, had attempted to lift the heavy anchor of the vessel she was on when she got tangled up in the rope and careened into the water Lindsay had to undergo emergency operation on her ring finger Sunday after part of it was mangled in a boating accident off the Turkish seaboard. The star had attempted to lift the heavy anchor of the vessel she was on when she got tangled up in the rope and careened into the water, TMZ reported. The actress attempted to free herself of the anchor ropes when the heavy boating machinery seared into her ring finger, cutting it off. Ouch: Lindsay (pictured in June) was lucky to have her finger reattached after it nearly came off for good as the actress struggled to untangle herself from a boating anchor rope Walking the walk: While some stars prefer to stay out of the fray with their political opinions, Lindsay is clearly the type who wears her heart on her sleeve Big heart: Lohan seems comforted in this shot with Heya (left) and Leys, a pair of twins at the home she visited Too cute: The Long Island native plants a kiss on one of the children at the home of the family she invited, the Husseins She took to Instagram to share with her followers the lessons she gleaned from the emotional encounter. 'Meet the Hussein Family. The father, Mohammad, was injured severely in Aleppo and his wife left him and her three kids after they migrated to Turkey. The lovely girl is Heya (9) and her twin brother is Leys,' Lohan wrote. 'The Sultanbeyli Municipality is covering their rent and kitchen expenses but the conditions of the house are very bad. 'The older brother was not in the house with us because although he is 17, he had to work in order to take better care of his family.' Helping hand: Lohan is happy to use her fame and influence toward causes near to her heart The politically-charged pop culture princess earlier made clear where she stands, as she posted an image of the Turkish flag woth the caption: '#Start #helping the #refugees suffering in #Syria. As promised. #istanbul stop #massacreinaleppo.' The actress was accompanied on her jaunt by Abdurrahim Boynukalin, the Turkish deputy minister of youth and sports, according to the Anadolu agency. While there, the Liz & Dick star also announced her latest endorsement deal, with the B4L company and owner Umit Akbulut. The unexpected, unsavoury, aroma of revolution reared its ugly head in Dessert Week on the Great British Bake Off with one of the contestants choices particularly radical. No not Candices provocative plum-coloured lipstick. This breach of GBBO protocol was relatively minor. Tom Gillifords announcement about the concept behind his Showstopper was altogether more modern and Just Wrong. Scroll down for video Unsavoury: Tom Gillifords announcement about the concept behind his Showstopper didn't go down too well on dessert week during The Great British Bake Off Its a hipsters picnic ! he revealed eagerly, inspiring a palpable shudder of horror from Mary Berry, not to mention millions of viewers at home. Tom was embodied the evangelical zeal of the true subversive as he expounded further about his recipe for mini mousse cakes. Its taking something really classic and simple and making it ludicrously complicated - which is the hipsters way ! The hipsters way?! If Tom thought this was the way to approach mini mousse cakes he was mistaken. If he thought anything to do with hipsters belonged on the Bake Off he was crazy. Winner, winner: Meanwhile, Andrew went on to winner Star Baker Eventually thankfully anarchy was defeated, the natural order restored, and he was eliminated. (Sent home that is, not actually like a Russian spy.) The nation could rest easy. The Bake Off was safe again, at least for the time being. No doubt there will be all manner of hipsters when the show starts on Channel 4. For now, Round Seven was Dessert Week. At least that was the theme officially. It really amounted to The Battle Of The Young Bucks Week with Tom and Andrew fighting it out for survival (or whisking it out), like gladiators. Admittedly they were rather geeky gladiators, with aprons and a love of piping butter-cream into sponge cakes. But one of them had to go that much was clear. Back in lippy: Candice was noticeably back to her best in red lipstick It was hard to imagine Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood being ruthless enough to resist the chilled-out charm of Selasi Gbormittah, the Cool Ruler of the tent, and sending him home. As for the three female Bakers, Candice, Jane, and Benjamina were so evidently superior they were surely secure. So it proved, turning into a blatant showdown between Andrews clean-cut family values and Toms experimental, eccentric, radical approach to bread and life in general. The ever-lovable Andrew started with his usual optimism. This week is my kind of week. Im a desserts man through and through, he beamed boyishly, seemingly unaware that so was everyone else. Head-to-head: Tom and Andrew fighting it out for survival (or whisking it out), like gladiators Tom was surprisingly gloomy considering he had triumphed in the previous show (Botanical Week). Then again he was a hipster, demonstrating how the world was against them as he scowled: Ive had a bit of the curse of Star Baker in the past. So Im just going to try and ignore that. A bit late given that he had just brought it up. Dessert Week saw the Bakers required to make a family-sized roulade (for the Signature Challenge), a Marjolaine gateau (the Technical), and (in the Showstopper) 24 mini mousse cakes. No not Mini Mouse cakes. Unfortunately. Andrew cleverly countered Toms persona of the grumpy revolutionary, shamelessly celebrating his family ties with a fervour that made The Waltons look like The Sopranos. For the roulade he was using his dads recipe (banana, caramel, passion fruit curd), acting as if roulade recipes were something all fathers passed down to their sons. With his Showstopper he then played the Christopher Maloney Lovely Gran card. As Sue Perkins put it: Andrews using his grans chocolate sponge recipe and his love of ice-cream to capture a day at the seaside in mousse form. Mmm tasty: There's only six bakers left in the competition now As you do... Meanwhile Paul Hollywood had rumbled Tom as a wrong un, immediately forming a conspiracy theory about his millionaire shortbread roulade. Its interesting that you covered it in chocolate. Whats it hiding? he probed concluding the appearance is not good. I thought it was quite classy, Tom objected afterwards feeling persecuted. I wanted it to look like a chocolate bar and it did look like a chocolate bar. A hipsters chocolate bar maybe... After last weeks disaster it feels like Im back in the running now, trilled Andrew on a high and going on to take the Technical Challenge by storm. Very good, even, piping ! purred Mary. Thats how it should be. Nice and crisp. Really well put together. Lovely flavour. Beautifully layered. Good piping. On your marks... Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins assembled the contestants for three more challenges Apart from that she didnt like it... Tom knew Marys fondness for nibbling Andrews Marjolaine meant trouble. The moment that they tasted Andrews and I realised how different mine was to Andrews, I knew I was going to be last or in the bottom few, he harrumphed. He conveniently ignored the fact that the judges had described his own effort as all over the place and on the chewy side. Andrew finally crushed Toms chances with his mini mousse cakes, which the judges declared were divine. Tom nodded in pain rather than agreement. He might as well have put on his hipsters coat and headed out the door for Shoreditch then and there. But he had to stay to hear Paul Hollywood say the apple pie and ice-cream combination in his Hipsters Picnic was a very original idea. This didnt necessarily sound like a compliment especially when he added: but there isnt much finesse about it. Feeling lucky? Andrew finally crushed Toms chances with his mini mousse cakes He had been the only Baker not to rely on moulds to set and shape the mousses, ambitiously piping all the layers by hand instead. The mixture that youve piped is not a mousse, Paul pointed out - a petty, bourgeoisie, minor detail in a mousse cake. As for his carrot cake mousse, Toms unnecessarily contrary decision to use nutmeg again predictably back-fired. His lofty view its an aroma that works quite well proves mis-placed. Its quite stodgy, Paul scoffed (not in a good way). Youve gone a bit overboard with the nutmeg and again its not a mousse. A hipsters picnic: Tom's idea went down like a lead balloon Colourful: It was dessert week on the show this week You could see Tom thinking that Hollywood clearly had no idea what being a Hipster, or having a Hipsters Picnic, was all about. Mind you, this was one thing about the Bake Off that he had got spot on. Apart from Hollywood winning Most Unfashionable Male, here are my other awards from this weeks episode: Channel 4 Pointer of the Week Mel Giedroyc for remarking we all know that nuts and caramel are an exquisite, delightful, combination. Like Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, theyre a match made in heaven ! Not for much longer. Pretentious Baker of the Week Candice for explaining my Champagne Cocktail is a Prosecco and raspberry liqueur jelly. Will you tell her or shall I? Thats not champagne. Compliment of the Week Mary Berry telling Jane: youve achieved great things. These in their own way are quite startling. Not bad for a cappuccino mousse cake. Wrong Priority of the Week Paul Hollywood to Benjamina on her chocolate coffee cup mousse cakes: Oh wow they taste amazing ! Its a shame theyre not neat. If they taste that good, who cares? Coconut Gamble of the Week Benjaminas Pina Colada roulade recipe - pineapple soaked in coconut rum, layered with Coconut mascarpone, and rolled up in coconut sponge. Not great if you dont like coconut. Pompous Judge of the Week Paul Hollywood for Janes technique with roulade: interesting that youve rolled it up that way ! Lets not exaggerate. Ridiculous Judge of the Week Paul Hollywood for telling Jane: the alcohol in the roulade is almost ruining the flavour. Madness. Merry Berry Lush of the Week Mary Berry for disagreeing with Paul and declaring I like the whole combination. Perhaps its the little bit of tipple in there I like ! Man Crush of the Week Mel Giedroyc for sighing: That is a lovely, lovely sight ! A man spreading cream on to a sponge ! Im slightly giddy ! Of course it depends WHICH man. If its Selasi, anything is lovely. She's always totes well-dressed, often in her own brand of southern-inspired clothing. So it seemed appropriate that Reese Witherspoon carried a bag which read: 'Totes Y'All" as she arrived at LAX on Wednesday. The 40-year-old actress looked stunning as she got set to jet out of Los Angeles, alone. Scroll down for video Well-dressed: Reese Witherspoon carried a bag which read: 'Totes Y'All" as she arrived at LAX on Wednesday She showcased her slim figure and sense of style in an effortlessly glamorous outfit. The Oscar winner teamed skinny leg cropped denim jeans with navy blue suede pumps. A blue jacket was draped over her shoulders covering a cream sweater, with lace detail. Totes beautiful: The 40-year-old actress looked stunning as she got set to jet out of Los Angeles Her cheeky tote bag looked to be a useful in-flight addition to her leather handbag. The 5ft 1in Legally Blonde beauty displayed flawless skin, with minimal make up and a hint of pink lip-gloss. Giant dark glasses shielded her eyes, as her blonde tresses were worn loose, long and wavy around her pretty features. Looking good: She showcased her slim figure and sense of style in an effortlessly glamorous outfit Stylish: The Oscar winner teamed skinny leg cropped denim jeans with navy blue suede pumps She's been busy opening a Draper James store in Dallas, Texas . Reese started the company to honour her Southern heritage as she spent her childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. Stephanie Davis has decided on a 'quirky' name for her unborn son - but Jeremy McConnell had no say in it, she admits. The former Hollyoaks actress - who is expecting her first child with former boyfriend Jeremy - previously voiced her intention to call her baby Albi in tribute to her late grandfather Albert. But the brunette told OK! magazine on Wednesday that she had changed her mind, and she's now settled on both first and middle names for the tot, by herself. Scroll down for video Baby on the way: Stephanie Davis has revealed that her unborn baby boy now has a 'different and quirky' name She said: 'The first name is going to stay as the one that means the most to me. The middle name I want to be something for myself, something I've picked for him on my own - it's a bit different and quirky. 'Everyone loves the first name, however, when he arrives there's a chance I could switch his first and middle name around but either way, I've finally decided.' And the 23-year-old star intends to give the baby her own surname. Bumping along nicely: The star has said that her decision was a hard one She explained in her blog that she felt really 'proud' to be able to give the baby a family name because they had done so much to help her through her pregnancy. 'It was a hard challenge but for a while now I've been calling him by this name. It's kind of stuck and I can't imagine calling him anything else now. I can't believe I have this little life in me - it takes my breath away.' Stephanie has been sunning herself on a 'babymoon' and is having such a good time, she's extended her break twice. Lost love: Stephanie seems to have left Jeremy McConnell out of the decision Last week, Stephanie left fans baffled when she posted a snap in which he burgeoning bump looked like a totally flat stomach. The Liverpool-born beauty addressed the claims in the blog: 'I can't cope with these ridiculous rumours you know... To start, I'm nearly 6 months pregnant so my baby is sitting quite low. 'That photo didn't even show my stomach and I even have a bigger bump that I should right now! I have to just laugh at it as it's quite funny. It is ridiculous though, I just don't get it.' The Kardashian family have remained noticeably quiet on social media as they rally around Kim after she was robbed at gunpoint on Sunday night. But Rob took the time to congratulate two of his close friends on Tuesday after celebrating their wedding with them. No doubt the 29-year-old was pleased to be a part of the happy occasion after a difficult few days. A good pal: Rob Kardashian (pictured in May) took the time to congratulate two of his close friends on Tuesday after celebrating their wedding with them Rob shared a photo of the bride and groom to his Instagram page, along with the caption: 'Congratulating my brother @jkplatinum on his big day. One of the most beautiful and elegant Armenian weddings I've seen. 'For those who don't know @gplatinum & @jkplatinum are my day one Armenian family. Congratulations to the entire Keshishyan family.' The wedding of Mr and Mrs Jack and Jaqueline Keshishyan took place at the Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood. The only member of the Kardashian-Jenner family to comment on Kim's robbery so far is Caitlyn Jenner, who spoke out after she was criticised for sharing a smiley snapshot with Kylie. 'Congratulating my brother': The 29-year-old shared a photo of the bride and groom on Instagram Just married: The wedding of Mr and Mrs Jack and Jaqueline Keshishyan took place at the Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood The 66-year-old transgender star then posted a photo of Kim with the caption: 'Love my girl! After hearing the full story, I'm so thankful she's okay. It's a reminder for us all to be careful in the uncertainty of this world.' Kylie was also criticised for sharing a flashback photo on Tuesday in which she was showing off her derriere in a red swimsuit. According to E!, Rob heard about what had happened to Kim while at his baby shower with Blac Chyna. A source said he was 'very concerned' and 'started to make calls to his family to find out if everyone was OK' with some help from his fiancee. By her side: The Kardashian family have remained noticeably quiet on social media as they rally around Kim after she was robbed at gunpoint on Sunday night 'Very concerned': According to E!, Rob heard about what had happened to Kim while at his baby shower with Blac Chyna on Sunday (pictured) The insider added: 'They were both extremely shaken up and upset by everything, but once they discovered that Kim wasn't hurt they calmed down. It was a terrifying moment for the two of then. They were so worried about Kim.' Kourtney and Kendall were in Paris at the time of the robbery, but they were partying at a nightclub with Kim's bodyguard when the incident took place. After hearing about the ordeal, they rushed back to the apartment that Kim was staying in to be by her side. 'Love my girl': Caitlyn said she is 'so thankful' that Kim is alright following the terrifying ordeal Kim was robbed by five armed men wearing ski masks and clothes with police markings, who entered the building at around 3am after the concierge let them in. Handcuffed and at gunpoint, he then led them to the starlet's flat. Kim reportedly 'begged for her life' and told the gunmen she had children at home when two of them entered her room and held the gun to her head. The men stole a jewellery box worth 6 million ($6.7 million/ 5.24 million) and a ring worth 4 million ($4.5 million/ 3.5 million), prompting fears that the valuables were personal ones, and not just jewellery Kim was borrowing for fashion week. Reunited: Kim fled from Paris after the robbery and was seen with Kanye West in New York City on Monday Kim and her family were placed under police protection at the George V Palace hotel after the incident, and a spokesperson told DailyMail.com she is 'badly shaken but physically unharmed'. Kim fled to New York via private jet with mother Kris Jenner after the robbery and was seen reunited with husband Kanye West on Monday. The rapper was told of the raid halfway through a headline performance at the Meadow Music and Art Festival, New York, and immediately cancelled the set. Their on-camera rivalry has become somewhat of a fixture this season on The Bachelorette. But 'villain character' Sam Johnston has revealed that his relationship with fellow model Rhys Chilton may not be as acrimonious as it has been portrayed on the show. 'It was a friendly rivalry,' Sam revealed in an interview with OK! magazine this week. Scroll down for video 'It was a friendly rivalry': The Bachelorette's 'villain character' Sam Johnston has revealed that his relationship with fellow model Rhys Chilton may not be as acrimonious as it has been portrayed on the show 'We shared a room and are actually quite good friends,' he added. The supposed beef between Sam and Rhys reached peak level during Wednesday night's episode, when Sam declared that he would rather lose to an intruder rather than Rhys. Rhys too took a joust at his brunette counterpart, revealing to the camera that he would have loved to 'shut Sam up' by hitting him in the mouth with a toy bow-and-arrow. Ouch! The supposed beef between Sam and Rhys reached peak level during Wednesday night's episode, when Sam declared that he would rather lose to an intruder rather than Rhys Right in the kisser! Rhys too took a joust at his brunette counterpart, revealing to the camera that he would have loved to 'shut Sam up' by hitting him in the mouth with a toy bow-and-arrow While Sam and Rhys' on-screen feud appears to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Bachelorette hopeful Clancy has hinted that a real rivalry existed between himself and Rhys during filming. 'Rhys is only interested in himself and doesn't care what other people have to say,' Queensland-based Clancy told Woman's Day. Clancy explained that he decided to ignore Rhys completely during filming, aiming to keep their interaction to a bare minimum. 'Rhys is self-centred': While Sam and Rhys' on-screen feud appears to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Bachelorette hopeful Clancy has hinted that a real rivalry existed between himself and Rhys during filming 'Rhys is self-centred and self-minded, and doesn't ask questions about anyone else,' he said. 'I don't converse with him anymore. It's only when he says an inappropriate comment that I'll say something.' Meanwhile, b oth Clancy and Rhys enjoyed one-on-one time with Georgia during Wednesday night's episode. While Clancy's ice-skating rendezvous saw him develop a budding romance with Georgia, Rhys decided to spend his date complaining about the other boys. Skating into her heart? While Clancy's ice-skating rendezvous saw him develop a budding romance with Georgia on Wednesday night's episode Advertisement The Apprentice contestants will be put through their paces in a series of tough tasks designed to test their business acumen. But when they're not trying to impress Lord Alan Sugar in the boardroom, the 18 candidates will be relaxing in style in a lavish 12 million London mansion. Sir Alan Sugar has spared no expense to provide the candidates with a luxurious property, which can be rented for almost 40,000 a month. Scroll down for video Plush pad: When they're not trying to impress Lord Alan Sugar in the boardroom, the 18 candidates will be relaxing in style in a lavish 12 million London mansion Situated in leafy Hampsteads most sought-after streets, the plush pad boasts six bedrooms, six bathrooms and five roomy reception rooms set over four floors. Currently listed for sale on Zoopla via local agent Marcus Parfitt, the enormous 10,000 square foot pad also has a sizeable price tag of 11,950,000. The plush property is also available to rent via Phillips Harrod, but prospective tenants will need to have deep pockets with the monthly rental figure coming in at 38,783 or a whopping 8,950 every week. The contestants will be living in the height of luxury, with hardwood floors, marble baths and period features running throughout the property. Sprawling: Situated in leafy Hampsteads most sought-after streets, the plush pad boasts six bedrooms, six bathrooms and five roomy reception rooms set over four floors Tasteful decor: The contestants will be living in the height of luxury, with hardwood floors, marble baths and period features running throughout the property Time for some R&R: A home cinema room and a Jacuzzi are also at their disposal to help the candidates unwind after a stressful day A home cinema room and a Jacuzzi are also at their disposal to help the candidates unwind after a stressful day. Lord Sugar will once again be joined by Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner as they put the 18 brave contestants through their paces in a series of gruelling tasks. The nine men and nine women come from a range of careers and backgrounds, from bakeries and business consultancy to property and IT, each with different experience to draw from during the tasks. Lord Sugar said: 'I need to see whos got a good business brain, thats all Im interested in. The winner gets a 250,000 investment and it will change someones life forever. Costly: Currently listed for sale on Zoopla via local agent Marcus Parfitt, the enormous 10,000 square foot pad also has a sizeable price tag of 11,950,000 Dig deep: The plush property is also available to rent via Phillips Harrod, but prospective tenants will need to have deep pockets with the monthly rental figure coming in at 38,783 or a whopping 8,950 every week 'You are going to learn more about yourself throughout the course of this process, I promise you that. 'Sometimes, some people cant stand the heat, and they complain and they moan. If you want to moan you can send me an email at lordsugar@idontcare.com.' Once again aiding Lord Sugar in his quest are Karren Brady, who has been Lord Sugars advisor on the show since 2009, and Claude Littner, who returns for his second series. Lord Sugar wants the new candidates to be under no illusion how competitive the process will be. Fancy: Sir Alan Sugar has spared no expense to provide the candidates with a luxurious property, which can be rented for almost 40,000 a month Green space: After a hectic day in the boardroom, this year's hopefuls can retreat to their outdoor oasis It's back: Lord Sugar will once again be joined by Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner as they put the 18 brave contestants through their paces in a series of gruelling tasks 'You see 18 people here, and were here for 12 weeks - that tells you there are going to be occasions where more than one person is going (to be fired)', he declared. 'And I dont care how many it can be. I really dont care. Im very flexible and it is a very, very competitive situation. 'You can compare this to being on a life support machine and one of your colleagues here pulling the plug out just to charge their mobile phone up. Thats how competitive it will get.' 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. The Apprentice returns to screens on Thursday, October 6 for the 12th series. Dramatic rescue images as EU urged to change tack on migrant crisis The horror, terror and joy felt during perilous rescues of migrant boats were captured in powerful new images published Wednesday, as the latest deadly episode in the Mediterranean fuelled calls for Europe to change tack on the crisis. AFP photographer Aris Messinis was on board Spanish NGO boat The Astral as it battled to help a number of overcrowded rubber dinghies and a larger wooden vessel found in distress off the coast of Libya in a frantic operation that lasted from dawn until after dusk on Tuesday. Almost 1,000 mainly African migrants were hauled to safety but 32 died as a result of toxic fumes or in the crush of too many bodies: 29 of them on one of the dinghies. Migrants wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 Aris Messinis (AFP) Gerard Canals, the Astral's mission chief, told AFP the disaster could easily have been much worse as his relatively small boat was the only one in the area for all of Tuesday morning, having been first alerted to the distressed boats by the Libyan coastguard. "It was a 19-hour rescue operation and after all that to have 'only' 32 people dead is something we can be almost proud of," he said. "If the big wooden boat had capsized, we could have taken 200 on board and the (hundreds of) others would all have drowned," he told AFP from the boat on Wednesday. Italian navy and coastguard boats did not get to the scene until after midday. Canals said he had not seen what happened on the dinghy but that it appeared there had been a panic which caused a crush and led to some people fainting or being knocked to the floor, where they were trampled on. The Astral was sailing north tugging a liferaft containing the corpses with a view to transferring them to the Italian coastguard. Messinis's images capture the extreme range of emotions produced by the drama. Among the most striking is the hauntingly poignant respect shown by the survivors as they tiptoe over lifeless bodies on their own way to safety. In the water, an African man clings desperately to a float thrown in by the rescuers and stretches his leg out as if he were trying to help a fellow passenger floundering helplessly a yard (metre) away from him. Or could he have been seeking to push him away? - Baby boom - Other images reveal that there were many small children on board the boats; one is crying, perhaps sensing the prevailing sense of fear, others seem totally carefree, oblivious to the panic, including one hoisted above the crush of the crowd. William Lacy Swing, the head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 3,500 migrant deaths in the Mediterranean this year showed Europe needed to do something different. "That is more than all of last year and last year was more than 2014, so clearly our policies are not working as they should be or you wouldn't have that many people who are dying," he told AFP. Four women who were among the rescued in other operations gave birth on their way to Italian ports. The number of pregnant women boarding migrant boats in Libya has increased significantly this year and it is not uncommon for them to go into labour as soon as they reach the safety of a rescue boat. The 10,600 new arrivals will raise to more than 140,000 the total number of migrants or refugees to have landed in Italy since the start of this year. The numbers are in line with the previous two years but Italy is now having to register and accommodate a bigger proportion of them under pressure from its EU partners, putting immense strain on its overcrowded reception centres and government coffers. Mediterranean migrant deaths John SAEKI, Gal ROMA (AFP) Migrants wave at members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 Aris Messinis (AFP) A migrant is rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 Aris Messinis (AFP) Migrants are rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 Aris Messinis (AFP) Migrants wait to be rescued by the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 Aris Messinis (AFP) Migrants wait to be rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 Aris Messinis (AFP) A migrant hangs from a boat as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 3, 2016 Aris Messinis (AFP) An airplane drops flotation devices as migrants wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 Aris Messinis (AFP) Hong Kong activist deported from Thailand 'at China's request' Hong Kong democracy campaigner Joshua Wong returned home Wednesday after being deported from junta-run Thailand, where he was due at events commemorating a massacre of student activists, as he and his supporters blamed China for his detention. The bespectacled Wong, 19, famed for his galvanising role in the city's 2014 pro-democracy "umbrella movement", was held upon arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. "I think Beijing (was) the important factor or motivator for the Thai government to detain me at the airport," Wong told reporters at a press conference late Wednesday in Hong Kong. Democracy campaigner Joshua Wong speaks to the press on his arrival at Hong Kong's international airport on October 5, 2016 Anthony Wallace (AFP) He previously said he was stopped by more than 20 police and immigration officers after stepping off the plane in Bangkok at midnight local time and was asked to hand over his passport. Wong said he was then forced to spend around 12 hours in an airport detention room. "After they held and kept my passport and refused my request to contact my lawyer and my parents in Hong Kong, I felt hopeless scared and tired," Wong said, adding that Thai authorities told him he was "blacklisted". Political party Demosisto, co-founded by Wong this year, said it "strongly condemns the Thai government for unreasonably limiting Wong's freedom and right to entry". Speculation swirled that Thailand's military government was acting under pressure from regional superpower China -- a key ally who has lavished investment and diplomatic support on a junta lacking international friends following its 2014 coup. Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, who invited Wong to speak in Thailand, said police had told him of a "written letter from the Chinese government to the Thai government concerning this person". An airport immigration official confirmed there had been an "order" to detain Wong but declined to say who issued it. But junta spokesman Lietenant General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said: "There had been no instruction or order given, pertaining to Mr Wong." "Mr Wong had been active in resistance movements against other foreign governments, and that if such actions were taken within Thailand, they could eventually affect Thailand's relations with other nations," the spokesman added. Netiwit later led a few dozen students wielding umbrellas -- in a nod to Wong's movement in Hong Kong -- in a protest at a Bangkok campus, shouting "Joshua Wong has the right to be here". Wong has been a perennial thorn in Beijing's side since emerging as an unlikely leader of protests against Chinese political domination of the city. - 'Lucky' to return - Last year he was similarly barred from entering Malaysia, where officials sent him back to Hong Kong citing fears his planned talks would damage ties with Beijing. The Thai military has also busily suppressed its own student pro-democracy protests since its 2014 power grab. But it would not be the first time the kingdom's junta has appeared to act under pressure from China. "The Thai military government has kowtowed to China in the past, to Thailand's own detriment," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a politics expert at Chulalongkorn University. He cited Bangkok's deportation of more than 100 Uighurs who had fled China in 2015, a move that drew widespread condemnation from rights groups who say the Muslim minority are heavily repressed by Beijing. Deporting Wong will "be counterproductive because it will attract global attention," Thitinan said, adding it will "send a signal that Thailand's space is not open". UN Human Rights Office in Asia spokesman Jeremy Laurence said Wong's detention "raises further concerns about restrictions on peaceful freedom of expression and assembly in Thailand". Wong had been due to speak at an event in Bangkok on Thursday marking the 40th anniversary of a massacre of pro-democracy students by security forces and royalist militias. The Thammasat massacre of October 6, 1976, remains a deeply sensitive issue in Thailand's recent history. Wong's detention also comes almost a year after Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai disappeared in Thailand.Gui later resurfaced in China, one of a number of men detained by Chinese authorities over their involvement in the selling of titles critical of Beijing's leaders. "I'm lucky to have finally returned to Hong Kong, if I couldn't return I can't imagine what sort of situation it would be...I'm lucky I did not become the next person to have disappeared," Wong had earlier said upon arrival in the city Wednesday afternoon. Wong was among three student leaders convicted in August over the 2014 storming of the forecourt of Hong Kong government headquarters, an event that preceded mass protests that brought much of the city to a standstill for months. His party Demosisto wants a referendum on Hong Kong's future, including the option of independence. Joshua Wong played a key role in Hong Kong's 2014 pro-democracy "umbrella movement" Anthony Wallace (AFP/File) Attacks on Trump, Clinton dominate VP debate The two candidates for US vice president launched bitter attacks on the reputations and policies of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Tuesday during a fiery debate five weeks from Election Day. Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence sought to highlight their capabilities as the men who could be a heartbeat away from the presidency, but essentially they were on stage fighting a proxy war for their running mates scrapping for every vote on November 8. Polls show Clinton gaining in the wake of a punishing week for her Republican rival Trump, who has been hammered by controversies over his taxes and his treatment of women. Vice presidential candidates Democrat Tim Kaine (L) and Republican Mike Pence (R) speak during a debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia on October 4, 2016 Saul Loeb (AFP) Kaine, a senator from Virginia, took aim at Trump from the beginning, saying the idea of the brash Republican as commander-in-chief "scares us to death." "I can't imagine how Governor Pence can defend the insult-driven, selfish, me-first style of Donald Trump," Kaine said. Kaine sought to portray himself as a deeply experienced local, state and national politician who would be the "right-hand person" for Clinton, whom he described as trustworthy and more than capable in the role of commander in chief. An imperturbable Pence, governor of Indiana and a Christian conservative, calmly shot back. "You would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign," he said, highlighting Clinton's relentless criticism of Trump and how she painted half of her Republican rival's supporters as "deplorables." "We see entire portions of the world, particularly the wider Middle East, spinning out of control. The situation we're watching hour-by-hour in Syria today is the result of the weak foreign policy that Hillary Clinton helped lead in this administration and create." For many Americans, the debate was their first prolonged exposure to the men who would be next in line for the presidency if their side wins in November. - 'Shooting himself in the foot' - Pence is as modest and polite in style as Trump is brash and insulting, while Kaine, who also has a calm style on Capitol Hill, appeared to take a more aggressive stance than Pence in attacking the rival camp. He sought to drill down on issues that appeared to have given Clinton a bump in the polls demanding Trump release his tax returns and mocking the White House hopeful for some of his impulsive Twitter missteps during the campaign. "Donald Trump can't start a Twitter war with Miss Universe without shooting himself in the foot," Kaine said, referring to Trump's rants against Alicia Machado, a beauty queen whom he called "Miss Piggy" when she gained weight after winning her crown. The two men repeatedly talked over each over as they clashed about Trump's failure to release his tax records, social security, how to handle an aggressive Russia, and the prospect of mounting debt, forcing moderator Elaine Quijano to intervene. "Senator Kaine could not stop interrupting Governor Pence," Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told CBS news after the debate. "It was really unhinged and really unfortunate." Kaine, 58, and Pence, 57, are about 10 years younger than the presidential nominees. They each have sons serving in the US military, and they are seen as more religious than Clinton and Trump. Trump has suffered from what has been seen as a mediocre performance in his first debate with Clinton, revelations of a $916 million loss in 1995 that may have meant he paid no taxes for several years and criticism of his demeaning treatment of Machado. Pence, who spent a dozen years in Congress, is known for his discipline. He prepared intensively for the debate, unlike Trump, who did little to practice for his September 26 encounter with Clinton. Trump, who live tweeted throughout the political showdown, posted that "Mike Pence won big. We should all be proud of Mike!" Clinton countered on Twitter that she was "Lucky to have a partner like @timkaine who stood up for our shared vision tonight -- instead of trying to deny it." - 'Strike' Assad regime - Pence stressed that a Trump administration would want the United States to "use military force to strike the targets of the Assad regime" if Russia continues its involvement in "this barbaric attack on Aleppo." But the Republican clearly distanced himself from Trump's praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, hailing the US system as "superior to the crony corrupt cabal system in Russia in every way." Kaine hammered away though, insisting that "Donald Trump, again and again, has praised Vladimir Putin and it's clear that he has business dealings with Russian oligarchs." "Trump has business dealings with Russia that he refuses to disclose," while "Hillary Clinton has gone toe to toe with Russia." Pence assailed Clinton while pushing a larger theme of change -- something many Americans say they want -- including his call for "repealing Obamacare lock, stock and barrel." Since the first presidential debate, support for Clinton has risen to 44.3 percent against 40.6 percent for Trump, according to an average of recent national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics. A second round of presidential debates is set for Sunday. The format will be a bit different, with candidates fielding questions put to them by people in the audience. Democratic Tim Kaine (L) and Republican Mike Pence take questions from moderator Elaine Quijano during the US vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia on October 4, 2016 Paul J. Richards (AFP) Candidates for the US vice-presidency Vincent LEFAI, Paz PIZARRO (AFP) Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence squared off at the debate to highlight their capabilities as the men who could be a heartbeat away from the presidency Joe Raedle (POOL/AFP) UN's highest court rejects epic Marshall Islands nuclear case The UN's highest court on Wednesday narrowly threw out landmark cases brought by the tiny Marshall Islands against India, Pakistan and Britain for allegedly failing to halt the nuclear arms race. In majority and sharply divided decisions, a 16-judge bench at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled there was no evidence that Majuro had a prior dispute with any of the three nuclear giants or had sought negotiations on the issue. "The court upholds the objection to jurisdiction" raised by each of the countries, presiding judge Ronny Abraham said in separate rulings, and therefore the tribunal "cannot proceed to the merits of the case." The Marshall Islands' delegation including lawyers Laurie B. Ashton (L) and Phon van den Biesen (R) along with Luigi Condorelli (C) from the University of Florence pictured at the International Court of Justics (ICJ) in the Hague, on October 5, 2016 Bart Maat (ANP/AFP) The tiny Pacific island nation, with a population of 55,000, was ground zero for a string of devastating nuclear tests on its pristine atolls between 1946-58, carried out by the United States as the Cold War arms race gathered pace. After the hearings, the Marshalls said it will now "study the ruling" which is final and without appeal. "Obviously it's very disappointing," Marshall Islands lawyer Phon van den Biesen told reporters. "It's a dispute that is clear to all of the world except for the judges here," he said, outside the courtroom in the ICJ's historic headquarters in the Peace Palace in The Hague. - 'Sky turned blood-red' - Initially in 2014, Majuro had accused nine countries of failing to comply with the 1968 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which seeks to inhibit the spread of atomic bombs. But the ICJ already refused to take up cases against the other countries -- China, France, Israel, North Korea, Russia and the United States -- as they have not recognised the court's jurisdiction. Israel has also never formally admitted to having nuclear weapons. The Marshall Islands argued that by not stopping the nuclear arms race Britain, India and Pakistan had breached obligations under the treaty -- even if New Delhi and Islamabad have not signed it. At a poignant March hearing, Majuro's lawyers painted a vivid picture of the horrors caused by 67 nuclear tests notably the atolls of Bikini and Enewetak. "Several islands in my country were vaporised and others are estimated to remain uninhabitable for thousands of years," Tony deBrum, a former Marshall Islands foreign minister, told the court. "The entire sky turned blood-red," said deBrum, who was nine when he witnessed the blasts. Judge Abraham noted the archipelago, "by virtue of the suffering which its people endured as a result of it being used as a site for extensive nuclear testing, has special reasons for concern about nuclear disarmament." "But that fact does not remove the need to establish that the conditions for the court's jurisdiction are met," Abraham said. - 'Horrific weapons' - The so-called "Operation Castle" tests in March and April 1954 were particularly devastating and resulted in massive contamination due to nuclear fall-out. The NPT commits all nuclear weapon states "to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date." Critics had argued however that the ICJ action was a distraction as the islanders' real fight was with Washington. They contended the case was unrelated to the victims' claims for increased compensation, better health care and clean-ups to render the sites habitable again. The islands hoped however to reignite the debate over the disarmament talks, which have stalled over the past two decades. "The Marshall Islands decided to bring these cases because they come from a notion that in the end nuclear weapons are the most horrific weapons on earth," said Majuro's lawyer Van den Biesen. Experts told AFP there had always been a possibility the case could "backfire". "That it happened this early is certainly very disappointing for them and the whole nuclear disarmament movement," said Joris Larik, senior researcher at The Hague Institute for Global Justice "But it also shows that small island nations are looking for smart ways to play a role on the global stage. Sometimes they succeed and in a case like this, perhaps not so much." Map of Marshall Islands locating the Enewetak and Bikini atolls, where 67 US nuclear weapons were tested from 1946-1958 - (AFP Graphic) Islanders from nuclear weapons test-damaged Rongelap Atoll march while holding banners marking the 60th anniversary of the Bravo hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, in Majuro, in March 2014 Isaac Marty (AFP/File) Afghanistan seeks aid to rebuild at Brussels talks World powers meet in Brussels on Wednesday to pledge billions of dollars for Afghanistan until 2020, as fresh Taliban violence underscores the challenges 15 years after the US toppled the Islamist movement. The war-ravaged country's President Ashraf Ghani will meet key figures including US Secretary of State John Kerry, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and NATO head Jens Stoltenberg at the conference in the Belgian capital. The meeting is expected to drum up pledges worth at least three billion dollars annually over the next four years, although the exact amount is unclear among donor fatigue caused by the war in Syria and the migration crisis. Brussels Conference on Afghanistan is expected to drum up pledges worth at least three billion dollars annually over the next four years John Thys (AFP) In return the 70 donor countries and 25 organisations gathered in Brussels will expect Kabul to promise it will tackle corruption, waste, political reform and human rights. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said late Tuesday the Brussels conference was "dedicated to the international support to Afghanistan, and to Afghanistan's support for the Afghan people". Almost exactly a decade and a half after the start of the US-led invasion to topple the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks, Afghanistan remains dependent on foreign aid and a limited NATO military presence to keep going. Violence has continued with Afghan forces fighting Taliban militants in the flashpoint city of Kunduz this week while a US soldier was killed in a bomb blast during operations against Islamic State militants in the east on Tuesday. The United States and the 28-nation EU currently each provide about a third of all international aid to Afghanistan, with Japan the next largest donor. A State Department spokesman said the conference was a chance for Kerry and the other officials to "reaffirm our collective support for Afghanistan's development and self-reliance". - Seventy countries attending - The conference follows up from a meeting in Tokyo in 2012 where the international community agreed to provide four billion euros a year in funding until the end of 2016. It also comes two years after the London Conference on Afghanistan at which then newly-elected president Ghani vowed to build a more self-reliant country. On Tuesday, Ghani attended an event in Brussels on female empowerment, a key issue in an impoverished, socially conservative Islamic country. "We cannot count our successes by the number of women in high-ranking positions, we have to measure our effort by the empowerment of millions of girls," Ghani said. Mogherini said the conference was "dedicated to all Afghan women and their talent and their hopes and their lives". The EU formally signed a state building contract of 200 million euros for 2017-2018 on Tuesday. Ahead of the conference Brussels and Kabul this week also struck a tentative deal for Afghanistan to take back migrants from the EU, which faces its biggest refugee crisis since World War II. EU officials denied reports that aid pledges would depend on Kabul accepting the return of 80,000 asylum-seekers deported from EU countries. But a key issue in Brussels will be countering the huge waste of international aid funds that have poured into Afghanistan since 2001. The United States has spent around $110 billion on Afghanistan's reconstruction since 2001, more than the cost of the Marshall Plan that rebuilt a devastated Europe after World War II, but with limited results. Naeem Ayubzada, founder of NGO the Transparent Elections Foundation of Afghanistan, told AFP that in a sign of progress Afghan government officials had promised to let civil society organisations like his monitor spending more closely. But he warned that if the Afghan government and the donors continue with the "same methods and mechanisms, the corruption will be increased". US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani pose for photographers during Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, on October 4, 2016 Geert Vanden Wijngaert (Pool/AFP) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani applauds a speech next to European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, during a meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, on October 4, 2016 John Thys (AFP) Rough times for Saudi retail as govt cuts bite Diamonds glitter in the display cases of Saddam al-Yafae's shop, but the business has lost its sparkle. He and other retailers in Saudi Arabia say sales were already down -- along with the kingdom's oil revenues -- and cuts to civil service benefits announced last week only add to their gloom. "In comparison to last year, this period is very weak," says Yafae, a salesman at Al-Abdoul Wahab for Jewellery in central Riyadh. A Saudi salesman adjusts diamond pendants at his jewelry shop in Tiba market in Riyadh, on October 3, 2016 Fayez Nureldine (AFP) Sales used to come easily, he says, an array of silver and diamond creations behind him. But this morning there are no customers, and Yafae has time to chat. "There's a lot less work, especially with these decisions," he says, referring to the government spending cuts. "It's getting worse and worse." On September 26 the cabinet imposed a wage freeze on the civil service, which makes up the bulk of the kingdom's workforce. It eliminated their annual pay hike of three to five percent and capped overtime pay. Other allowances including for hazardous work will be cancelled, amended or suspended. The highest ranks of government were not spared either as King Salman chopped the salaries of ministers by 20 percent, which the Saudi Gazette said amounts to 10,350 riyals ($2,760) each per month. Top officials will no longer be given cars, and telephone expenditures will be curbed. - 'A lot of pain' - The 150 members of the Shura Council, appointed to advise the cabinet, will see a 15-percent drop in their allowances for housing, furniture and vehicles. That amounts to almost 4,000 riyals monthly per member, Saudi Gazette said. Since 2014 global oil prices have collapsed by more than half, leaving Saudi Arabia with a record deficit last year. The shortfall in the kingdom's main revenue source had already led to unprecedented subsidy cuts and a slowdown in government projects as the administration tries to diversify the economy. Even before the cuts to civil service bonuses, economists had noted a slowdown in consumer spending and economic growth. "Fiscal austerity has inflicted a lot of pain on the economy," London-based analysts Capital Economics said in early September. "We are over-stocked because sales are down," says an expatriate rug seller, whose offerings hang from ceiling to floor with price tags of several hundred riyals. Outside, a customer haggles over a small floor mat. He ends up paying 50 riyals. Next door, a South Asian rug dealer says business was much better three or four years ago. Further down Olaya Street a merchant selling phone cards, batteries, stereo speakers and cables said "the situation (is) very bad". He did not want to be named out of concern he could be forced from the country for speaking critically. Business is down almost 25 percent over the past two years, he said, partly blaming the underground Metro transit line being built outside. - 'No money' - Cuts to government bonuses are adding to the woes, as customers cite the latest austerity for their reluctance to buy. "No money, my friend," he said they have told him. Some government workers contacted by AFP declined to talk about the reduction in bonuses. Those who did said they accepted the cuts and would adapt. "I will redo the family budget," said Musa Mohammed, 41. Khalid al-Bishi, 35, another civil servant, said it's time to "stand with our country" and reduce spending at home. "We will make do with the basics," he said. Others see a lot of room for adjustment. "Saudi families weren't saving and leaned towards luxuries," Majdi Damanhori, 45, who works for a private company, said adding that the government has taken a "bold decision". Hadi al-Osaimi, 39, a teacher, said Saudis should stop splurging on things like parties for weddings and newborn babies. "Let's not forget the extravagance of travelling overseas, and shopping at high-end outlets," he said. In a report Monday, the Saudi firm Jadwa Investment said ATM cash withdrawals and point-of-sale transactions "have shown signs of weakness in 2016, and public sector workers' allowance reductions will likely push down consumption patterns in coming months." In July, food prices fell for the first time in six years and they are expected to continue downward, Jadwa said. Abdullah al-Sadoun, a Shura Council member, said he and his fellow members are glad to be targeted by the cuts in a step to reforming the economy. "We've been addicted to oil for the last 50 years," he told AFP. "To spend it the way we've been doing is very bad." Since 2014, global oil prices have collapsed leading to a slowdown in Saudi Arabia's economic growth Fayez Nureldine (AFP) N. Korea embassy official defects in Beijing: report A North Korean embassy official in Beijing has defected, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Wednesday, while a separate report suggested two embassy staff had sought asylum with the Japanese mission there. If confirmed, it would mark the latest in a recent series of high-profile North Korean defections that some observers see as a sign of growing instability within the leadership in Pyongyang. Yonhap, quoting an anonymous source "familiar with Pyongyang affairs," said the official -- stationed in the Beijing embassy but attached to the North Korean Health Ministry -- had disappeared with his family in late September. Reports suggest that at least one North Korean embassy official in Beijing has defected Fred Dufour (AFP/File) The source said the official was responsible for sourcing medical supplies for a clinic in Pyongyang that caters to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and his family. South Korea's Unification Ministry, which has a general policy of not commenting on defections, especially by senior officials, said it was unable to confirm the report. In a separate report, the South Korean daily, JoongAng Ilbo, said two senior staffers at the North Korean embassy in Beijing had asked for asylum in Japan. The newspaper cited an anonymous source as saying the two officials were not diplomats, but attached to a North Korean government office. Japan's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga denied that any approach had been made to the Japanese mission. "There's no truth in the reports that North Korean asylum seekers contacted the Japanese embassy, and we're not aware of any situation involving North Koreans hoping to defect to Japan," Suga told a regular press conference. The North has been rocked by a number of high-level defections, most recently that of its deputy ambassador to Britain who fled to the South in a major propaganda victory for Seoul. In a speech last Saturday to mark Armed Forces Day, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye made a direct appeal to more North Koreans to abandon their country. "There have been persistent defections, even by North Korean elites who have been supporting the regime," Park said. "We will keep the road open for you to find hope and live a new life," she added. North-South Korea ties are currently plumbing new lows, with Seoul holding to a hard line with Pyongyang in the wake of two nuclear tests and numerous missile launches this year. Indonesian faces six years in jail over porn billboard An Indonesian man arrested for hacking into an electronic billboard and streaming a porn film during Jakarta rush hour could face up to six years in jail, police said on Wednesday. The Japanese film "Watch Tokyo Hot" was broadcast for 10 minutes on the advertising screen on Friday at a major intersection in the capital, leaving motorists variously amused or horrified. The power was quickly shut off to the "videotron" -- as the giant screens are locally known -- but not before scenes of a couple engaged in a steamy tryst were captured on motorists' phones and went viral on social media. The giant electronic billboards in Indonesia are locally known as 'videotrons' Adek Berry (AFP/File) Police and cybercrime specialists in the largely conservative, Muslim-majority country launched a hunt for the perpetrator and on Tuesday arrested a 24-year-old IT analyst in his office. Access to pornographic websites is blocked in Indonesia, and romantic scenes in films and television programmes are often blurred or cut altogether by state censors. The arrested man, whose identity was not disclosed, has admitted responsibility for the crime, Jakarta police chief Mochamad Iriawan said. He carried out the prank after spotting login details displayed on the billboard. "The suspect claims he worked alone," Iriawan told reporters. "But we are still investigating whether he was working alone, whether he had a particular motive, or whether he was just fooling around." Afghan refugees return to uncertain future in alien homeland Mohammad Anwar arrived in Pakistan as a child more than 35 years ago but is leaving as a father, his family among the thousands of uprooted Afghan refugees "returning" to a war-torn homeland many of them have never seen. Anwar, disbelieving and grief-stricken, has packed the bric-a-brac of a lifetime onto a truck wildly painted in baroque colours but says he is leaving his heart and soul in Peshawar, the city that sheltered him for decades. "We can't forget the time we passed here, we were treated like brothers," he tells AFP. Afghan refugees travelling with their posessions cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at the Torkham crossing point on September 7, 2016 A Majeed (AFP/File) "Insha'Allah, we will come here again, this time with passports." Pakistan has provided safe haven for decades for millions like Anwar, who fled Afghanistan with his family when he was just seven years old, after the Soviet invasion of 1979. But as the fight against the Soviets morphed into civil war, Taliban rule, the US invasion and the grinding conflict in Afghanistan today, even Pakistan's famed hospitality has run out. Pakistan hosts 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees, according to UNHCR, making it the third-largest refugee hosting nation in the world. A UNHCR official said the agency also estimates a further one million unregistered refugees are in the country. Since 2009, Islamabad has repeatedly pushed back a deadline for them to return, but fears are growing that the latest cutoff date in March 2017 will be final. Meanwhile refugees are increasingly worried about their future in Pakistan amid a security crackdown against undocumented foreigners. The anxiety, combined with a UN decision to double its cash grant for voluntary returnees from $200 to $400 per individual in June, has seen the flow of refugees over the border become a torrent. More than 200,000 have crossed this year, the vast majority since July -- including nearly 98,000 in September alone, says UNHCR. - Tears, trucks at Torkham - Anwar fills out documents at a UNHCR centre outside Peshawar crammed with men in Afghan caps and turbans. Children lie on the floor as mothers in veils fan themselves in the steamy heat. They face an uncertain future in an Afghanistan still at war and already overwhelmed by so many people fleeing fighting that officials warn of a humanitarian crisis. But first they will pass the Torkham frontier, a mountainous outpost where -- until this year -- border "controls" were more of a suggestion, and thousands crossed each day with impunity. When AFP visited recently a gleaming new gate, constructed in June and reinforced by two kilometres of barbed wire, funnelled travellers through customs queues and scanning machines. Pakistani pride in the new facilities contrasted with tearful Afghan refugees piling their trucks high not just with household goods, but cattle, tree trunks and scraps that could help build even a mud hut once they reach Afghanistan. "We spent our best time here," 45-year-old Khair Muhammad, returning after 36 years with 21 members of his family, told AFP tearfully. His truck was loaded with beds, fans, wood, utensils, and a cow and her calf. "We never thought, never even imagined that we would return in such circumstances," said 29-year-old Inamullah Khan. - End of the road - With a resurgent Taliban in control of roughly one third of Afghanistan's districts, many returning refugees will travel no further than Kabul. Among them is Abdhur Rahman, who left for Pakistan 30 years ago, fleeing a province which is now buffeted by Taliban attacks. He returns aged 70, grey turbanned with his white beard curling over his chest, patriarch of a family of 25. But the former peasant and anti-Soviet fighter from Paktia in the east will find little support in the overstretched capital. Kabul already has one of the highest population growth rates in the region: some 1,200 people every day, says European Union ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin. The UN put the number of displaced people in the city last month at 265,000, and in 2013 the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) documented 53 informal settlements, little more than timber clinging to the side of mountains with neither water nor electricity. While Afghanistan's minister for refugees, speaking at a UNHCR meeting in Geneva, said more than one million people have been internally displaced in Afghanistan, and asked host countries "to stop forceful expulsion of Afghan refugees and instead pave the way for the registration of undocumented refugees". Abdhur Rahman speaks soberly of his last days in Pakistan. "The police harassed us, they cut the water and electricity in the camp... it was better to leave," he says. But another returnee, Sayed Karim, has lived for months in Kabul "without water, no school, no doctor". Trapped in limbo with the gates at Torkham closed and his home province of Baghlan roiled by fighting, he remembers his days as a teacher in the refugee camp in Pakistan. "In Pakistan we had good work. A good life," he says. Afghan refugee families sit in a truck as they return from Pakistan to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camp on the outskirts of Kabul on September 27, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP/File) Afghan refugee families look at samples of bombs and mines at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camp on the outskirts of Kabul on September 27, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP/File) Encarnacion smashes winning homer as Blue Jays claw Orioles Edwin Encarnacion smashed the winning home run as the Toronto Blue Jays downed the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in an 11th-inning thriller to win their American League wildcard duel on Tuesday. Dominican star Encarnacion homered to left field off Ubaldo Jimenez for a three-run score to send Toronto into an American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers. It was a dramatic end to a nerve-jangling game which erupted into controversy in the seventh inning when a fan threw a can onto the field as Baltimore outfielder Kim Hyun-Soo caught the final out. Edwin Encarnacion of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after hitting a home run to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on October 4, 2016 in Toronto, Canada Tom Szczerbowski (Getty/AFP) The incident drew a furious response from Baltimore's players, with center fielder Adam Jones angrily gesticulating into the stands. Baltimore manager Buck Showalter also stormed out of the dugout to left field to voice his disgust with the umpiring crew before returning. As the tension mounted, the final innings became a question of who would blink first. Baltimore left-hander Brian Duensing struck out Ezequiel Carrera to launch the bottom of the 11th before being replaced by Jimenez. It was to be a nightmare performance for Jimenez however, who conceded singles to Devon Travis and Josh Donaldson to leave the Blue Jays with runners on the corners. With the home crowd roaring them on, Encarnacion then settled a pulsating battle with his three-run homer to keep the Blue Jays' post-season alive. Earlier, Orioles starter Chris Tillman gave up four hits, one walk and two runs while striking out four in just over four innings. Marcus Stroman for the Blue Jays allowed four hits and two runs with six strikeouts in six innings. Jose Bautista had hit a solo home run for Toronto while Baltimore's scoring came from a two-run homer by Mark Trumbo. The Blue Jays face Texas in game one of the division series on Thursday. Boycott test for Asia's top film festival The 21st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) kicks off Thursday, with an extended row over artistic freedom and a boycott by high-profile local cineastes threatening to undermine its reputation as Asia's premier movie showcase. This year's event will screen some 300 films from nearly 70 countries, including 66 features that will be receiving their world premieres. The World Cinema section will include a number of top award winners from the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, including Ken Loach's Palme D'Or recipient "I, Daniel Blake" and "It's Only the End of the World" which won the Grand Prix for director Xavier Dolan. Debris from the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) village is seen along Haeundae beach in the aftermath of typhoon Chaba, on October 5, 2016 Yonhap (Yonhap/AFP) The main focus will, as usual, be on Asian films, with the Korean drama "A Quiet Dream" by Korean-Chinese director Lu Zhang opening the festival, and "The Dark Wind" by Iraqi director Hussein Hassan bringing down the curtain. The prestigious annual event has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with the municipal government of the host city Busan since the screening in 2014 of a controversial documentary about the Sewol ferry disaster. The film, "Diving Bell," criticised the government's handling of the sinking in April 2014 that killed more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren. The screening went ahead despite the fierce opposition of the Busan city mayor, and then chairman of the festival organising committee, Suh Byung-Soo. - Political revenge? - A subsequent flurry of official probes targeting organising committee members and an unprecedented cut in state funding last year were seen as exacting political revenge and an assault on the festival's creative independence. Four major South Korean domestic filmmakers' groups, including the Producers' Guild of Korea and the Directors' Guild of Korea (DGK), have said they will boycott this year's BIFF, which runs from October 6-15. The groups have hundreds of members including the Cannes award-winning film director Park Chan-Wook and Bong Joon-Ho, who helmed the 2013 dystopian Hollywood sci-fi movie "Snowpiercer". There is particular anger over the treatment of former BIFF director Lee Yong-Kwan who was forced to step down last year in the face of embezzlement charges. Lee was instrumental in getting "Diving Bell" screened and supporters say the case against him is politically motivated. A Busan court is set to hand down a verdict in late October, with prosecutors seeking a one-year jail term. In a bid to smooth things over, the Busan city government -- a major BIFF sponsor -- appointed the well-respected former founding director of the festival, Kim Dong-Ho, as the new chairman of the organising committee in June, replacing Mayor Suh. And a month later, the municipal authorities adopted new rules aimed at ensuring the committee's independence. While some responded by withdrawing boycott threats, the four prominent filmmakers' groups refused to budge, saying the regulatory changes did not go far enough. - Boycott vow - "We think the new rules are a compromised version which did not reflect many of the demands from our members and will hardly be enough to ensure artistic freedom of the festival," a spokeswoman of the DGK told AFP. "The four groups will boycott the event as planned," she said. Several moviemakers reportedly went so far as to reject the festival's requests to screen their movies. The zombie blockbuster "Train To Busan" -- a huge domestic and regional hit -- will be absent from the "Korean Cinema Today" section after its production company rejected a screening request, Yonhap news agency said. "We decided not to submit it because... Busan mayor Suh Byung-Soo never made an apology for causing the crisis," the agency quoted an official from Red Peter Film as saying. BIFF programmer Nam Dong-Chul admitted that this year's event had faced "many difficulties", including a funding shortage, but said the festival was getting back on track. The appointment of Kim Dong-Ho as chairman had "helped convince those in the international film festival circuit that we were at least on the path to revival", said Nam, who also appealed for a strong audience turnout. "We will be able to safeguard the status of the BIFF only if more movie fans come to our festival and support us," he said. 'World Robot Summit' coming to Japan in 2020 The robot olympics are coming to Japan in 2020, the same year that the eyes of the world will be on the summer games in Tokyo. As top human athletes battle for medals, their cutting-edge droid counterparts will also be locked in fierce competition at the "World Robot Summit". Japan's trade ministry is hosting the event which will feature "competitions and exhibits" involving a variety of machines including humanoid and industrial robots, a government official said Wednesday. The robot olympics are coming to Japan in 2020, the same year that the eyes of the world will be on the summer games in Tokyo The exact date and location of the event has yet to be determined, with the ministry now inviting bids from cities across Japan, which is famed for its robot technology. In recent years, the country has sent a talking robot into space as a conversation partner for Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, as part of a project to see how the machine could act as a companion for isolated people. Japan has also used robots to fill jobs as kitchen workers and farmers in a bid to address labour shortages that are projected to get worse as the country rapidly ages. The government said it hopes to draw high-tech robots from around the globe for the 2020 summit. Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympics starting in late July that year, followed by the Paralympics. Singapore aquarium diver killed in stingray attack A Singaporean diver has died after being struck on the chest by stingray in a closed underwater attraction in the city-state, the aquarium's owners said on Wednesday. Veteran diver Philip Chan, 62, was stung on Tuesday at Underwater World Singapore in a "tragic accident", while readying stingrays for transfer to another aquarium, the attraction's owners Haw Par Corporation said in a statement. He later died of his injuries in hospital. Visitors walk through glass tunnel at the Underwater World of Sentosa's Island in Singapore Roslan Rahman (AFP/File) The incident brought back memories of Australian celebrity conservationist Steve Irwin, who was killed by a stingray barb in the chest in 2006 during a diving expedition off the Great Barrier Reef. Haw Par said it has suspended the animal transfer programme while police investigations are underway. The 25-year-old facility on the resort island of Sentosa shut down in June when it could not keep up with newer attractions on the same island, including a bigger aquarium and water adventure park. Its pink dolphins, fur seals and otters were moved to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, China, one of the largest marine parks in the world, while its other sea creatures were still looking for new homes, local media reported. It is unclear which species of stingray struck Chan in the chest. Stingrays are commonly found in tropical waters and their barbs, at the end of their tails, are coated in toxic venom which they use to defend themselves when threatened. Afghanistan wins billions in aid pledges at Brussels talks World powers pledged billions of dollars for war-ravaged Afghanistan until 2020 at talks in Brussels on Wednesday amid fresh calls for the Taliban to make peace 15 years after they were driven from power. Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani met officials from more than 70 countries and international groups, including US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, at the conference. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced that the 28-nation bloc will pledge 1.2 billion euros ($1.5 billion) a year and said "I would expect similar levels of engagement from our partners." US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani pictured during a conference on Afghanistan in Brussels, on October 4, 2016 Geert Vanden Wijngaert (Pool/AFP) "There will not be any donor fatigue on Afghanistan," she added. Mogherini said a dinner of key regional players including China, India and Pakistan on Tuesday night had "found common ground" for the Afghan peace process. "The European Union will try to facilitate this as much as possible in the coming months," she said. Kerry urged the Taliban to follow the example of notorious Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and make an "honourable" peace with the Kabul government to end years of violence. Hekmatyar, the so-called "Butcher of Kabul" who heads the Hezb-i-Islami group and was a key figure in Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s, signed a peace deal with Ghani in September. "This is a model for what might be possible," Kerry added, urging Russia and Afghanistan's neighbours to play a role. The Taliban continue to wage a bitter insurgency almost exactly a decade and a half after the US-led invasion that toppled the group in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, launching a major offensive on the city of Kunduz earlier this week. Afghanistan remains dependent on foreign aid and a limited NATO military presence, despite having improved key life indicators including maternal mortality and lifespan. But the brutal war in Syria and the worst migration crisis since World War II have left Afghanistan facing competition for dwindling international donor funds. - 'We will make peace' - Ghani told the conference that Afghanistan was making progress on the economy, corruption and human rights but needed constructive international support to see the changes through. "Afghans can make peace, we will make peace, we are committed to constructive politics, not destructive politics," he said. Total pledges in Brussels looked set to fall short of the four billion dollars a year for four years that the international community promised for Afghanistan at the last such conference in Tokyo in 2012. The United States and the EU currently each provide about a third of all international aid to Afghanistan, with Japan the next largest donor. For security, NATO nations have already committed at a summit in Warsaw in July to maintain troop numbers in Afghanistan and uphold a pledge of $5 billion a year to fund local forces until 2020. In exchange for the money in Brussels, donors will expect the Kabul government to promise it will tackle spiralling corruption and waste, while working on political reform and human rights. The United States has spent around $110 billion on Afghanistan's reconstruction since 2001, more than the cost of the Marshall Plan that rebuilt a devastated Europe after World War II, but with limited results. On the eve of the conference the EU and Kabul published a controversial deal to speed up Afghanistan's taking back of migrants from the Europe, which faces its biggest refugee crisis since World War II. The plan involves possibly building a dedicated terminal for deportees at Kabul airport. EU officials have however denied that aid pledges will depend on Kabul accepting the return of 80,000 asylum-seekers. Zubaida Akbar of aid group Save the Children said the plan for forcible returns was "extremely concerning" given the violence still wracking Afghanistan. Millions in US told to flee hurricane, Haiti toll over 100 Some three million people on the US southeast coast faced urgent evacuation Thursday as monstrous Hurricane Matthew -- now blamed for more than 100 deaths in Haiti alone -- bore down for a direct hit on Florida. Highways in Florida and neighboring states clogged up with people streaming inland to escape the storm blasting in from the Caribbean, as officials warned people tempted to ride it out they may be risking their lives. President Barack Obama declared a federal state of emergency in Florida as it braced for the ferocious Category Four hurricane, expected to bring beach-eroding waves as tall as two-story buildings and winds strong enough to snap trees and blow away roofs or entire houses. Local residents take shelter at the Pedro Menendez high school in St. Augustine, Florida, on October 6, 2016 Jewel Samad (AFP) Poor and vulnerable Haiti remained essentially cut in half two days after Matthew hit. Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph said at least 108 Haitians have died, with 50 killed in a single town and reports of "complete destruction" in the island's south. In its latest target, the storm slammed the Bahamas Thursday, blowing off roofs, downing trees and knocking out power. Weather forecasters working out of Nassau airport had to flee for their lives. According to the forecast track, the hurricane could make landfall in the United States near Cape Canaveral, where NASA's Kennedy Space Center is located, by Friday morning. As US gas stations ran dry, frantic shoppers flocked to stores for essentials. They snapped up batteries, transistor radios, bread, canned goods, bottled water, ice and pet food to gird for what Florida Governor Rick Scott warned would be a devastating, killer storm, with winds howling at up to 150 miles (240 kilometers) per hour. "Evacuate, evacuate, evacuate," he told a news conference. "Time is running out." The region's strongest storm in years, Matthew regained power as it swirled toward the US coast, upgraded a notch to Category Four Thursday by the National Hurricane Center on its 1-5 scale. - 'Body bags' - In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the normally bustling resort turned into a ghost town as tourists loaded up cars, cut short vacations and fled north. "It was packed with people here yesterday and then we came today and it was like 'Oh my God there is nobody here,'" Kelly Allmendinger, a 26-year-old bartender whose family was one of only two left on the eerily deserted beach. Despite the mass flight, officials warned a worrying number of people were not heeding the evacuation order. "People do not seem to get it and are not leaving," Sheriff William D. Snyder from Martin County, Florida, told NBC News. "I'm not saying this to be theatrical... I asked my captain of detectives if he had body bags, because if we get 140 mile-per-hour winds in mobile home parks, we are going to have fatalities." The fire service in St Augustine, northern Florida, issued a video message on Facebook warning that damage to the city was expected to be "catastrophic" and urging all holdouts to leave. "We as a city are evacuating," said Fire Chief Carlos Aviles. "I cannot emphasize enough: we are encouraging you to leave." "If you are choosing to stay in St Augustine, you are choosing to do so at your own risk. There will be no public safety personnel to assist you." - 18-foot waves - Some 1.5 million coastal dwellers are under an evacuation order in Florida alone. More than a million others in South Carolina and other coastal states were also told to escape the path of the storm, which first made landfall in Haiti Tuesday. Mandatory evacuations were also ordered in six coastal counties in Georgia that are home to some 520,000 people. Some 6,000 US Marine recruits were evacuated from a base at Parris Island, South Carolina. Miami International Airport canceled 90 percent of its incoming and outgoing flights on Thursday and Walt Disney World -- in Orlando, 35 miles inland from the Atlantic -- was to close early on Thursday and stay shut Friday. President Obama's emergency decree frees up resources to help Florida and authorizes the federal government to coordinate relief efforts. Obama spoke with the governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, pledging to provide them with all necessary federal resources to cope with the storm. Both presidential candidates sent out messages of support to those affected, with Republican Donald Trump saying "Please stay safe" while Democrat Hillary Clinton urged people to heed evacuation orders, tweeting: "Stay safe Florida." The National Hurricane Center said waves whipped up by the hurricane could reach as high as 18 feet (5.5 meters) -- nearly as tall as a two-story building. Debris tossed into the air will be capable of blasting through buildings and cars, the NHC said in a bulletin. Scott said the forecast is for storm surges of five to nine feet (1.5 to 2.7 meters), not counting the waves on top of that. Power outages, possibly lengthy, are a near certainty. - 'Running out of food' - As Matthew barreled northwest, Caribbean nations continued the grim task of assessing damage and fatalities, with four dead in the Dominican Republic in addition to the surging toll in Haiti. In Cuba, where some 1.3 million people were evacuated, there were no reported fatalities, but four cities in the east were cut off because roads were blocked by large chunks of rock hurled by the storm. Haiti postponed a presidential election scheduled for Sunday as it reels from the strongest storm to make landfall there in half-a-century. In one southern department alone, 29,000 homes were destroyed, the interior minister said. In Haiti's southern city of Jeremie, "about 80 percent of the buildings are gone," tweeted Jean-Michel Vigreux, country director for the CARE relief agency. "All phone lines and electricity are gone. Access is completely cut off, and everyone is running out of food and money." Further south in Les Cayes -- home to a major port -- an AFP reporter found the cathedral's roof completely blown off. The town of Roche-a-Bateau, where at least 50 died, was also devastated, local lawmaker Ostin Pierre-Louis told AFP. "No one's house is left standing." Hurricane Matthew Vincent LEFAI, Laurence SAUBADU (AFP) Franki stands in his flooded home following the overflowing of La Rouyonne river in the commune of Leogane, south of Port-au-Prince, October 5, 2016 Hector Retamal (AFP) A worker boards up the door of a house in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on October 6, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP) Commuters make their way through heavy rain in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6, 2016, ahead of hurricane Matthew Jewel Samad (AFP) New Chinese-built railway links Ethiopia to the sea With Chinese conductors at the helm, a fleet of shiny new trains will on Wednesday begin plying a new route from the Ethiopian capital to Djibouti, in a major boost to both economies. The 750 kilometre (460 mile) railway, built by two Chinese companies, will link Addis Ababa to the Red Sea port city of Djibouti in about 10 hours, a far cry from the current excruciating multi-day trip along a congested, pot-holed road. "We're so excited! It takes two or three days for a truck to come from Djibouti. The driver doesn't answer his phone. We don't know where he is and that can be a bit of a nightmare, said Ethiopian importer Tingrit Worku. The new 750 kilometre (460 mile) railway, built by two Chinese companies, will link Addis Ababa to the Red Sea port city of Djibouti in about 10 hours Carl De Souza (AFP/File) "The train could make a huge difference". Some 1,500 trucks a day currently lumber along the road which carries 90 percent of imports and exports from landlocked Ethiopia to the port -- a key trade hub to Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa. "This train is a game changer. Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The connection to the ports (of Djibouti) will give a bounce and our economy will grow faster," said Mekonnen Getachew, project manager of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation. - All Chinese staff - The Horn of Africa country was the world's fastest growing economy last year at 10.2 percent, however the International Monetary Fund estimates that the worst drought in 30 years is likely to see this plummet to 4.5 percent in 2016. Both countries benefit from economic integration, with Ethiopia gaining access to the sea and Djibouti gaining access to Ethiopia's emerging market of 95 million people. "It is the first standard gauge electrified railroad on the continent build with Chinese standard and technology, and certainly it will not be the last. Many stand to benefit from it," Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia La Yifan said in a statement. The new railway means the end of the historic French-built diesel line built in 1917, which fell into abandon in later decades, with frequent derailments. Wednesday's inauguration will be followed by a three-month test period, with no paying passengers and carrying only cargo. However when the line is fully functional, uniformed Chinese controllers will welcome passengers to spotless platforms of newly built stations all along the route, while Chinese technicians and stationmasters will keep things running in the background. "We don't yet have the management experience yet. We have a management contract with Chinese staff for five years, with an Ethiopian counterpart in training," said Getachew. - A first step - China has invested heavily in infrastructure in Ethiopia, funding sub-Saharan Africa's first modern tramway -- which opened last year -- as well as motorways and dams. The new $3.4 billion (three billion euro) railway, with its red, yellow and green trains evoking the Ethiopian flag, was 70 percent financed by China's Exim Bank and built by China Railway Group and China Civil Engineering Construction. A high-level Chinese delegation, in Addis Ababa for the inauguration of the railway, on Tuesday signed further agreements worth $100 million for the construction of roads, the state-controlled Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported. Natural resources from Africa have helped fuel China's economic boom, and it became the continent's largest trade partner in 2009. Beijing even built the $200 million African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa in 2012 as a gift expressing "friendship to the African people." However direct investment in Africa slumped "more than 40 percent" last year, as growth slowed in the Asian giant. The railway is the first step in a vast network of 5,000 kilometres of rail which Ethiopia hopes to build by 2020. "Our plan is to connect the train to Mekele (north), to Moyale (south), near Kenya, and to Gambella (west), near South Sudan. So we will be connected to Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan," said Getachew. Djibouti, the smallest state in the Horn of Africa, sees the project as the start of a trans-African railway crossing the continent from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, a journey which takes three weeks by boat. However this dream appears far off, as the railway would have to pass through war-torn countries such as South Sudan or the Central African Republic. A Chinese employee of the Addis Ababa / Djibouti train line pictured at the Feri train station in Addis Ababa on September 24, 2016 Zacharias Abubeker (AFP/File) Work in progress on the new railway line linking Djibouti with Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa pictured in Djibouti on May 5, 2015 Carl De Souza (AFP/File) Switzerland pressures Malaysia over 1MDB 'Ponzi scheme' Switzerland on Wednesday raised the pressure on Malaysia to cooperate with its probe into scandal-tainted 1MDB, saying new evidence indicated a "Ponzi scheme" was used to cover up $800 million in misappropriations from the Malaysian state fund. The Swiss attorney general's office opened an investigation into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in August 2015 following allegations that some of the billions of dollars that it alleges were stolen from 1MDB had passed through Swiss banks. The Swiss attorney general initially asked for Kuala Lumpur's help in January, but that request was "still pending", said a statement from Switzerland's top prosecutor, Michael Lauber. Singapore last year opened an investigation into fund flows linked to Malaysia's scandal-tainted state investment fund 1MDB Manan Vatsyayana (AFP/File) Lauber's office on Wednesday reissued its call for "mutual legal assistance from the Malaysian authorities", following a similar request earlier this year. Citing new evidence in the 1MDB case, the attorney general's office (OAG) said it had "identified further suspect transactions involving the Swiss financial sector." A total of $800 million (712 million euros) purportedly invested in natural resources by the Malaysian company SRC, a former 1MDB subsidiary, "appears to have been misappropriated," the statement said. The fraud "was committed based on a form of 'Ponzi' scheme", the OAG statement added. A Ponzi scheme involves paying returns on investments with money from other investors, rather than from income generated by the investments themselves. The OAG did not provide details of the alleged scheme. - Foot-dragging? - Malaysia has been rocked for more than a year by allegations of a massive campaign of fraud and embezzlement surrounding 1MDB that is stunning in its scale and complexity. The scandal has prompted calls for the ouster of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak -- who established 1MDB in 2009 -- sparked a huge anti-Najib protest in the capital, and triggered investigations by authorities in several countries. The US Justice Department filed lawsuits in the United States in July to recover billions in assets it said were purchased by Najib relatives and associates with money stolen from 1MDB. The suits also said an unnamed Malaysian official as taking part in the theft. A spokesman for Najib's government has admitted that official was the prime minister, while denying he was a target of the US probe. The US moved to seize assets including real estate in Beverly Hills, New York and London, artworks by Monet and Van Gogh, a Bombardier jet, and corporate ownership stakes. A Najib spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest allegations, and no immediate comment was seen from Malaysias attorney general, Mohamed Apandi Ali. Apandi, who was appointed by Najib after the scandal broke, earlier this year cleared Najib of any wrongdoing, provoking outrage in Malaysia. Najib has shut down domestic investigations. He and 1MDB deny any wrongdoing. In January, Apandi promised to cooperate with the Swiss. The OAG did not directly accuse Malaysian authorities for dragging their feet, but made clear that its initial request had not been answered. "The OAG remains confident that the two requests for mutual legal assistance made to the authorities in Malaysia will be executed," the statement said. In contrast, Swiss authorities noted their "full satisfaction" with cooperation from authorities in Singapore, through which some of the funds involved in the scandal moved. What is Malaysia's 1MDB scandal? Laurence CHU, John SAEKI (AFP) Strike kills 19 civilians in IS-held Syria village: monitor Three children were among at least 19 civilians killed in an air strike on a village held by the Islamic State group in northern Syria on Wednesday, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was unclear whether the strike was carried out by the US-led coalition fighting IS, or Turkey, which is leading an operation against the jihadists in the area with support from Syrian rebel forces. The strike hit the village of Thalthana, in northern Aleppo province, the Britain-based monitor said. A Syrian man sits on the rubble of destroyed buildings following a government forces air strike in Aleppo, on October 4, 2016 Thaer Mohammed (AFP/File) Thalthana lies near the key IS stronghold of Al-Bab, and is just 12 kilometres (eight miles) southeast of the jihadist-held Dabiq, which Turkish-backed rebels have been pushing towards in recent days. Turkey began its unprecedented operation inside Syria, dubbed Operation Euphrates Shield, on August 24. Ankara says it is targeting IS but also the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers to be a "terrorist" group despite their fight against IS. While Japan now welcomes over 10 million visitors every year, it has not always been so cosmopolitan. But new evidence has surfaced, which suggests that ancient Japan may have been more multicultural than previously thought. New testing on an artefact that was discovered decades ago suggests that a Persian official worked in the country's former capital, Nara, more than 1,000 years ago. Present-day Iran and Japan were known to have had direct trade links since at least the 7th century. But new testing on a piece of wood - first discovered in the 1960s - suggests broader ties JAPAN'S CHANGING CAPITAL Traditionally, the home of the Emperor was considered the capital. Nara was the capital of Japan from around 710 AD to around 784 AD. From 794 to 1868, the Emperor lived in Heian-kyo - modern day Kyoto. After 1868, the seat of the Government of Japan and the location of the Emperor's home was Tokyo. Advertisement Present-day Iran and Japan were known to have had direct trade links since at least the 7th century. But new testing on a piece of wood - first discovered in the 1960s - suggests broader ties. Infrared imaging revealed previously unreadable characters on the wood - a standard writing surface in Japan before paper - that named a Persian official living in the country. The official worked at an academy where government officials were trained, said Akihiro Watanabe, a researcher at the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. The official may have been teaching mathematics, Mr Watanabe added, pointing to ancient Iran's expertise in the subject. 'Although earlier studies have suggested there were exchanges with Persia as early as the 7th century, this is the first time a person as far away as Persia was known to have worked in Japan,' he said. 'And this suggests Nara was a cosmopolitan city where foreigners were treated equally.' While Japan now welcomes over 10 million visitors every year, it has not always been so cosmopolitan. But new evidence has surfaced, which suggests that ancient Japan may have been more multicultural than previously thought. Pictured is Mount Fuji Nara was the capital of Japan from around 710 AD to around 784 AD before it was moved to Kyoto and later present-day Tokyo. The discovery comes after another team of researchers last month unearthed ancient Roman coins at the ruins of an old castle in Okinawa in southern Japan. It was the first time coins from the once mighty empire have been discovered in Japan, thousands of kilometres from where they were likely minted. Morocco votes after five years under Islamists Morocco will elect a parliament on Friday for the first time since an Islamist-led government took office following Arab Spring uprisings that toppled leaders across the region. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) came to power in 2011 after swelling protests prompted concessions from King Mohammed VI, the scion of a monarchy that has ruled the North African country for 350 years. A new constitution reduced some, though not all, of the king's near-absolute powers as autocratic regimes fell in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Nabila Mounib, secretary general of Morocco's Unified Socialist Party (PSU), gestures during a party meeting in Rabat on October 4, 2016, ahead of the parliamentary election Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane's PJD says a second term would allow it to continue its limited economic and social reforms. Heading a coalition that includes communists, liberals and conservatives, it retains considerable support among the urban middle classes that have largely abandoned the left in favour of Islamist parties. But it has been weakened by rising unemployment and what critics say is a failure to deal with corruption. The party has faced a string of scandals within its ranks including a major drugs bust, a dodgy land-grab deal and the suspension of two vice presidents found in a "sexual position" on a beach. It also faces a resurgent liberal opposition Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), formed in 2008 by a close adviser to the king. The PAM has poured enormous resources into a campaign criticising the government's record as "catastrophic" and pledging to roll back the "Islamisation" of society. It pitches itself as the defender of women's rights and liberal social mores, and aims to bring more women into parliament, where they hold just 67 out of 395 seats. - 'Exclusive decision maker' - The PJD accuses its rival of being the party of the palace, part of a shadowy "parallel state" controlling political life. If it holds on to power, the PJD will remain an essential part of Moroccan politics, "despite the feelings it rouses at the palace and among the globalised bourgeoisie," said Pierre Vermeren, a historian of the Maghreb region. A victorious PJD would try to take the opportunity to gain more space from the monarchy for joint decision-making, he said. But the decisive clout in Morocco remains in the hands of King Mohammed VI -- regardless of who is in government. "The king is de facto the exclusive decision maker on a series of long-term and strategic matters," including foreign policy and big infrastructure projects, according to an analysis from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank. At the same time the monarchy can present the successful inclusion of an Islamist party "as a sign of the ongoing process of democratisation following the adoption of the 2011 constitutional amendments," it added. Previously the monarch could choose his prime minister, but since the consitutional changes he must appoint someone from the party that wins the most seats in parliament. - Return of the Salafists - Friday's poll also marks the return of Salafists, followers of an ultra-conservative brand of Sunni Islam, to the political arena. There are only a few dozen Salafists among the 7,000 candidates in Friday's poll, but their re-emergence is a notable shift in a country where they were once pariahs. They include Abdelwahab Rafiki, also known as Abou Hafs, a former preacher who was sentenced to 30 years in prison after jihadist attacks in Casablanca in 2003 that left 45 people dead. He was pardoned in 2012 and is running for Istiqlal, a nationalist party. Rafiki is not alone. The Casablanca bombings prompted authorities to arrest some 8,000 people, many of them Salafists. But like him, many were pardoned following the turmoil of 2011, and have since gained a foothold in Moroccan politics. Moroccan Salafists were among the thousands who headed to Afghanistan in the 1990s to fight the Soviet Union. Today, many have renounced violence and declared allegiance to King Mohammed VI. "It is the classic old policy of the palace, which after sanctioning deviants, reintegrates them," Vermeren said. A supporter of Morocco's Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM) waves a flag during a party meeting in Kenitra on October 4, 2016, ahead of the parliamentary election Fadel Senna (AFP) The 'big five' decisions at CITES wildlife trade meeting The world's largest wildlife meeting wrapped up late Tuesday with conservationists hailing progress in tightening rules on trafficking of endangered species including sharks, grey parrots and pangolins. But the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference in Johannesburg also exposed sharp differences over how to best protect Africa's elephants and rhinos. Ten days of talks ended a day earlier than expected, with CITES chief John Scanlon describing the meeting as "a game changer for the planet's most vulnerable wild animals and plants". An installation showing a rhino and an elephant in Mandela Square as part of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild, Fauna and Flora) convention in Johannesburg on September 26, 2016 Marco Longari (AFP/File) More than 2,500 delegates sifted through 62 proposals to reform trade restrictions on more than 400 species. In all, 51 proposals were accepted, five rejected and six were withdrawn. Wildlife campaigners generally welcomed the outcome, adding that concrete action was now needed to tackle a global boom in poaching and trafficking. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said that governments had united behind "tough decisions", while the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said that "conservation trumped commerce". Among the animals affected by CITES decisions were: - African grey parrots - Governments overwhelmingly voted to outlaw all trade of the much sought-after African grey parrot. The birds are prized as pets because of their intelligence and ability to mimic human speech. Their numbers have been hit by poaching as well as destruction of forest habitats. The birds are now rarely sighted or locally extinct in countries including Benin, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Togo. - African elephants - A high-profile bid by 29 African countries to have all African elephants included in the highest category of CITES protection was rejected after heated debate. Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe -- which boast healthy elephant populations -- argued against the proposal, and southern African elephants stayed on the list that could allow for trade under stringent conditions. The decision also split conservation groups, as arguments raged through the conference venue. International trade in ivory remains banned, and campaigners urged governments to concentrate on tackling trafficking and ending ivory demand in Vietnam and China. A new study revealed that the number of African elephants has fallen by around 111,000 in the past decade -- the worst drop in 25 years. - Pangolins - Trade in all eight species of pangolin in Africa and Asia was banned when they were placed in CITES' top protection category to save them from extinction. The shy, scale-covered pangolin has become the world's most heavily trafficked mammal, valued as an edible delicacy and ingredient in traditional medicine, especially in east Asia as well as across Africa. They curl up into a ball when under attack -- an effective tactic against lions, but one that allows human hunters to easily pick them up. - Rhino - A controversial bid by the tiny African kingdom of Swaziland to be permitted to trade its rhino horn was soundly defeated. Some campaigners argue that providing a legal supply of farmed rhino horn is the only way to break a sudden boom in poaching that threatens the animal's survival. Demand for rhino horn, which is composed of keratin -- the same substance found in human nails -- has soared in Vietnam and China, where it is believed to have medicinal powers capable of curing everything from hangovers to cancer. - Sharks - Thirteen species of devil rays, thresher sharks and the silky shark, populations of which have been in free-fall, won tougher protection when they were elevated into Appendix II of CITES, meaning they can be traded only under strict conditions. A 2013 study estimated that 100 million sharks are killed every year --- twice the rate that conservationists say is sustainable. Sharks are hunted for their meat, skin, liver oil and cartilage, with shark fin soup often consumed at prestigious banquets in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Bangladeshi student cleared over deadly cafe attack A Bangladeshi court Wednesday formally exonerated a student at a Canadian university of involvement in a deadly cafe siege, two months after he was arrested and charged over the carnage. Security forces named Tahmid Hasib Khan as a suspect in the weeks following the siege at the upmarket Dhaka cafe in July when Islamist militants killed 22 mostly foreign hostages. Khan's family vehemently protested his innocence, saying he was in the cafe as a customer and was not connected to the five gunmen who hacked and shot to death the hostages in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. A sign of solidarity is placed near the restaurant where a bloody siege ended in the death of seventeen foreigners and five Bangladeshis, in Dhaka on July 5, 2016 Roberto Schmidt (AFP) The court formally cleared the 22-year-old on Wednesday, three days after he was released on bail when police dropped the charges, Dhaka Metropolitan court public prosecutor Abdullah Abu said. "He (Khan) was exempted as police had not found any evidence against him," Abu told AFP. "However, police today filed another case against Khan of non-cooperation with the investigators," Abu added, although police were not going to seek his rearrest. Khan, a University of Toronto student who was back in his homeland on leave, did not speak with reporters as he left court. Khan and Hasnat Karim, a British national of Bangladeshi origin, were both inside the cafe when gunmen staged their raid on July 1, taking a group of mainly Western diners hostage. But neither were seen in public after the end of the siege when commandos stormed the cafe. Police had denied the men were in their custody before announcing on August 4 that they had been arrested. Abu said on Wednesday that Karim, whose family has also denied his involvement, remained in jail. Bangladesh's national police chief has said the two had fallen under suspicion as a result of their "behaviour and actions" during the siege. Reports in local media said Khan was seen holding a firearm and Karim strolling with the attackers on the roof. The siege was by far the deadliest in a string of attacks claimed by Islamist groups which have blighted Bangladesh over the last three years. Food shortages in Afghan city of Kunduz as residents flee fighting Food was running short as forces in Afghanistan battled Taliban militants for a third day in Kunduz Wednesday, residents said, with scores fleeing the strategic Afghan city fearing more violence. Taliban militants on Monday launched an attack in the northeastern city of Kunduz, briefly hoisting their flag at the main intersection, according to witnesses, before Afghan forces backed by NATO drove them into the outskirts. Since late Monday Afghan forces have been conducting a careful clearing operation, with officials warning that the militants may be hiding in civilian homes as fighting continued around the city's edges. Residents of Kunduz leave the strategic Afghan city amid ongoing fighting between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces on October 5, 2016 Bashir Khan Safi (AFP) "We are facing a shortage of food in the city. The prices are skyrocketing. A loaf of bread that cost 15 Afghanis ($0.22) is now 40 Afghanis ($0.60)," a resident, Khalid, told AFP. "People have to wait in queues for hours behind bakeries to buy bread," he said. Frightened citizens were still trying to flee amid unconfirmed reports the militants were building up their presence once more. "Almost all the people in the city want to leave. I have been trying to find transportation for hours today, but all cars are full," Nasirullah, waiting in the bus station with his family of five, told AFP. Khairuddin, a teacher in the city, said schools, universities and other private and public institutions were shut and residents were left without electricity as the main power station had been destroyed by militants. "The few shops that are open are running out of food items. We don't know when the government is going to begin their clearance operation to push them (Taliban) completely out of the town," he said. The main roads to the city are also cut off, he said. - Enemies hiding in houses - But Mahmood Danish, spokesman to the Kunduz governor, said Afghan forces were moving slowly for fear of civilian casualties. "We have not launched the major clearance operation yet, because the enemies are hiding in people's houses. But soon we will drive all of them out the city." As the fighting continued on Wednesday, two rockets hit the main city hospital late in the day, though they did not cause any casualties, provincial health director Abdul Hamid Alam told AFP. "We don't know which side fired the rockets, but fortunately there is no casualties, and the hospital is open and operational," he said. Meanwhile in Kabul an explosion late Wednesday targeted a bus carrying government employees, wounding four people, according to the interior ministry. After seizing Kunduz last September, the Taliban held the city for two days then withdrew from the outskirts on October 15. A US air strike during the fighting hit a hospital operated by Medecins Sans Frontieres on October 3, killing 42 people. The organisation, which has not since relaunched its operations in Kunduz, had planned to mark the anniversary Monday by sending its country representative Guilhem Molinie and international president Meinie Nicolai to the city. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is meeting world leaders at a conference in Brussels on Wednesday in a bid to secure financial aid from the international community up to 2020. He told delegates the Kunduz attack had been launched to overshadow the conference, but that they "will not dent our will, diminish our resolve, or divert our focus". "A war president was the last thing that I wanted to become but as the proud commander-in-chief of our forces I salute their will and their sacrifice," he added. The meeting, 15 years after the US invasion of 2001, will try to drum up support despite donor fatigue compounded by conflicts in Syria and Iraq plus the worst migration crisis since World War II. An Afghan National Army commando aims his weapon amid ongoing fighting between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces in the strategic city of Kunduz on October 5, 2016 Bashir Khan Safi (AFP) Israeli police to question US billionaire in Netanyahu probe Israeli police plan to question US billionaire and World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder as part of an inquiry into gifts for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reports said Wednesday. Lauder had refused to be questioned after arriving in the country for last week's funeral of ex-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres, Channel 2 television reported. An agreement was reached in which investigators will either travel to New York in the coming days or Lauder will return to Israel. World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder deliveres a speech in Zurich on February 2, 2016 Michael Buholzer (AFP/File) "I am coming from a commemoration for the Babi Yar massacre (the execution of more than 34,000 Jews by the Nazis in Ukraine), and I arrive for the funeral of a good friend ... and you arrest me?" he said, according to Channel 2. An Israeli police spokeswoman declined to comment on the reports. Authorities have been looking into spending and gifts related to Netanyahu, though Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has stressed that a formal investigation has not been opened. Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that police want to question Lauder over gifts he allegedly gave Netanyahu and alleged spending on trips for him. Lauder, whose family founded the Estee Lauder cosmetics giant, has long been seen as an ally of Netanyahu, who in the late 1990s put him in charge of negotiating with then Syrian president Hafez al-Assad. Their relationship however is said to have taken a downturn after Israel's Channel 10 carried a report on the financing of Netanyahu's travel in 2011. Lauder was part owner of the channel at the time. Netanyahu and his aides have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Russia sends two warships back to Med as Syria tensions rise Russia on Wednesday said two of its warships were heading back to join its forces in the Mediterranean amid an upsurge in tensions with Washington over Syria. The announcement comes a day after Moscow said it had dispatched its S-300 air defence missile system to its naval facility at Tartus in Syria. The two Buyan-class corvettes -- the Zelyony Dol and Serpukhov -- returned to the Mediterranean after an earlier deployment off the coast of Syria that saw them carry out missile strikes on targets in the war-ravaged country on August 19. A Russian naval frigate pictured in the port of Sevastopol, Ukraine on March 6, 2014 Filippo Monteforte (AFP/File) A spokesman for Russia's Black Sea Fleet told Russian news agencies that the ships left their home port in Crimea on Tuesday as part of a "planned rotation" of Moscow's naval forces in the region. Russia said last month that it will also send its only aircraft carrier to the region as it looks to bolster support for its bombing campaign in Syria. The latest moves come as talks on reviving a failed ceasefire were suspended by Washington over Moscow's support of the regime in Damascus. Cheques for Bangladesh militants for return to normal life Two Bangladeshi Islamist militants received cheques from the government on Wednesday in return for pledging to return to normal life, under a new scheme attempting to halt rising extremism. Police said Abdul Hakim, 22, and Mahmudul Hasan, 17, had been members of banned local Islamist outfit Jamaayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), blamed for a cafe siege that left 20 mostly foreign hostages dead. Elite Rapid Action Battalion spokesman Mufti Mahmud Khan said the pair had recently reached out to police for assistance as part of a new scheme announced by the national police chief. Bangladeshi police stand guard in Dhaka on November 22, 2015 Munir Uz Zaman (AFP/File) "They were involved with the organisational activities of JMB. They issued a plea to us through their parents to return to a normal life, therefore, we facilitated their return," Khan told AFP. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan handed the pair cheques each for 500,000 taka ($6,350) to restart their lives in a ceremony in the northern district of Bogra and broadcast on television. A string of attacks by Islamist groups targeting religious minorities, secular and liberal activists as well as foreigners have blighted Bangladesh over the last three years. The government was left reeling after Islamist militants hacked to death and shot the hostages in the siege on an upmarket Dhaka cafe in July. The Islamic State organisation claimed responsibility but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's secular government blamed the JMB. Little is known about the two recruits, but Hakim told the ceremony he had chosen "a dark path when there was no aim in life and he had no wish to live". "We made a mistake. We don't want anyone else to come to this path," Hakim said. Three siblings belonging to another banned outfit, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, also surrendered to police on Monday, authorities have said. Security analyst Shahab Enam Khan applauded the scheme which comes after the government's hardline crackdown on opposition activists that has seen thousands arrested and raised allegations of human rights abuses. Pentagon probes pro-govt Iraq fighter deaths in coalition strike The US military said Wednesday it was conducting an investigation into a US-led coalition air strike that may have killed pro-government Sunni tribal fighters south of Mosul. Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, said it had conducted an air strike on a building near Kharaib Jabr, a village south of Mosul, that was being used by IS. "We are aware of the reports that Sunni tribal fighters were in the building that was struck, and we are taking those reports seriously," OIR said in a statement announcing a joint investigation with Iraqi security forces. The Pentagon admitted the coalition may have struck Syrian military positions inside the country, after Russia accused it of killing at least 62 Syrian troops Haidar Hamdani (AFP/File) "The coalition takes extraordinary precautions to avoid friendly or civilian casualties, applying rigorous standards in its targeting processes," the statement added. According to an Iraqi commander and a local minister, the strike killed 21 fighters in a raid around 1:00 am local time Wednesday (2200 GMT Tuesday) east of the town of Qayyarah, which was recaptured from the Islamic State group in August. A senior defense official earlier told AFP the strike had probably killed about 20 pro-government Sunni tribal fighters. "This most likely was from a coalition air strike. Right now, we are still getting information," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the incident. The official added the strike likely was "what we unfortunately call a blue-on-green incident" -- a case of mistaken identity where a coalition force inadvertently struck partners on the ground. - Bombed after fighting IS? - Sheikh Nazhan Sakhr al-Lihaybi, the commander of the fighters who were killed, said they had succeeded in repelling an attack by IS jihadists in the area, and were bombed when they gathered after the fighting ended. Agriculture Minister Falah Hassan Zaidan, whose tribe resides in the Qayyarah area, also said that 21 tribal fighters were killed and confirmed the timing of the strike. Lihaybi said the air raid also wounded five fighters, while Zaidan put the number at four. The US-led coalition has been carrying out strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria since 2014. Last month the Pentagon admitted the coalition may have struck Syrian military positions inside the country, after Russia accused it of killing at least 62 Syrian troops. That strike, which came during a doomed truce, saw coalition aircraft allegedly hit a Syrian military position near the Deir Ezzor airport in the country's east. Wednesday's strike in Iraq comes as local forces prepare for a final push to retake Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country. The Mosul operation -- which Western officials have indicated could start this month -- will involve a heterogeneous coalition of sometimes rival Iraqi forces including soldiers, police, Kurdish peshmerga fighters, and both Sunni and Shiite militiamen. After it is launched, these forces will have to fight their way through IS-held territory -- sometimes over distances of dozens of kilometers (miles) -- before surrounding the city and then launching an assault to retake it. The issue of which forces will actually enter the city is a contentious one, and there has been no public announcement of the roles the various forces will play. Canadian Brigadier General David Anderson, who was speaking on behalf of the coalition from Baghdad, told reporters it would take an estimated 30,000 to 45,000 forces to hold Mosul following its "inevitable liberation." "Plans are being finalized for the Mosul liberation while shaping operations, positioning of forces, logistics and ammunition and the relentless employment of coalition strikes all set the stage for success in Mosul," Anderson said in a videocall. Chinese-built railway links Ethiopia to the sea With Chinese conductors at the helm, a fleet of shiny new trains will on Wednesday begin plying a new route from the Ethiopian capital to Djibouti, in a major boost to both economies. The 750 kilometre (460 mile) railway, built by two Chinese companies, which will link Addis Ababa to the Red Sea port city of Djibouti, was inaugurated at a newly built station just outside the Ethiopian capital. Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and his counterpart from Djibouti Ismael Omar Guelleh were welcomed by the uniformed Chinese personnel who will be operating the trains until their local counterparts have been trained. The new 750 kilometre (460 mile) railway, built by two Chinese companies, will link Addis Ababa to the Red Sea port city of Djibouti Zacharias Abubeker (AFP) "This train will (speed up development of) our country's manufacturing industry and it will provide huge benefits to the industrial parks and modern farms that will be built in the future. It will give employment opportunities for our citizens," Desalegn said at the ceremony. While coffee production remains Ethiopia's biggest earner and agriculture its main employer, the Horn of Africa nation is working on diversifying exports and boosting its manufacturing industry. The new railway, the first electrified railroad in Africa, will take products between Ethiopia and Djibouti in about 10 hours, a far cry from the current excruciating multi-day trip along a congested, pot-holed road. "We're so excited! It takes two or three days for a truck to come from Djibouti," said Ethiopian importer Tingrit Worku. "The train could make a huge difference." Some 1,500 trucks a day currently lumber along the road which carries 90 percent of imports and exports from landlocked Ethiopia to the port -- a key trade hub to Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa. "This train is a game changer. Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The connection to the ports (of Djibouti) will give a bounce and our economy will grow faster," said Mekonnen Getachew, project manager of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation. - All Chinese staff - The Horn of Africa country was the world's fastest growing economy last year at 10.2 percent, however the International Monetary Fund estimates that the worst drought in 30 years is likely to see this plummet to 4.5 percent in 2016. Both countries benefit from economic integration, with Ethiopia gaining access to the sea and Djibouti gaining access to Ethiopia's emerging market of 95 million people. The new railway means the end of the historic French-built diesel line constructed in 1917, which fell into disrepair in later decades, with frequent derailments. Wednesday's inauguration will be followed by a three-month test period, with no paying passengers and carrying only cargo. However when the line is fully functional, uniformed Chinese controllers will welcome passengers to the spotless platforms of newly built stations all along the route, while Chinese technicians and stationmasters will keep things running behind the scenes. "We don't yet have the management experience yet. We have a management contract with Chinese staff for five years, with an Ethiopian counterpart in training," said Getachew. - A first step - China has invested heavily in infrastructure in Ethiopia, funding sub-Saharan Africa's first modern tramway -- which opened last year -- as well as motorways and dams. The new $3.4 billion (three billion euros) railway, with its red, yellow and green trains evoking the Ethiopian flag, was 70 percent financed by China's Exim Bank and built by China Railway Group and China Civil Engineering Construction. A high-level Chinese delegation, in Addis Ababa for the inauguration of the railway, on Tuesday signed further agreements worth $100 million for the construction of roads, the state-controlled Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported. Natural resources from Africa have helped fuel China's economic boom, and it became the continent's largest trade partner in 2009. However direct investment in Africa slumped more than 40 percent last year, as growth slowed in the Asian giant. The railway is the first step in a vast 5,000-kilometre-long network of rail which Ethiopia hopes to build by 2020, connecting it to Kenya, Sudan and South Sudan. Djibouti, the smallest state in the Horn of Africa, sees the project as the start of a trans-African railway crossing the continent from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, a journey which takes three weeks by boat. However this dream appears far off, as the railway would have to pass through war-torn countries like South Sudan or the Central African Republic. The new railway, the first electrified railroad in Africa, will take products between Ethiopia and Djibouti in about 10 hours Zacharias Abubeker (AFP) Chinese workers pose at the inauguration site of a train linking Addis Ababa to Djibouti, 20 kilometres from the centre of Addis Ababa on October 5, 2016 Zacharias Abubeker (AFP) China has invested heavily in infrastructure in Ethiopia, funding sub-Saharan Africa's first modern tramway -- which opened last year -- as well as motorways and dams Zacharias Abubeker (AFP) Germany to open Niger base to support UN Mali mission Germany will build a military base in Niger to support the UN mission fighting jihadists in neighbouring Mali, Berlin's ambassador to Niamey said Wednesday. Bernd von Munchow-Pohl also announced in a speech to mark the anniversary of Germany's reunification seen by AFP that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would visit Niger in the next few days. "With the establishment of a German military airbase in Niamey in support of the MINUSMA mission in Mali, which Niger has supported since the beginning, a new chapter in our cooperation has begun," he said, using the acronym for the UN mission in Mali. Pilots from the French Air Forces detachment (DETAIR)stand next to a Mirage 2000D fighter jet at an air base on November 23, 2014 Miguel Medina (AFP/File) "(Germany) is ready to engage more in the Sahel region (and) assume even more responsibility," he said. "Niger is a central partner for us in this respect (and) a key country in the fight against terrorism and illegal migration" from West Africa. The US and France already operate bases in Niger as part of the battle against jihadists in the Sahel region -- principally in Libya and Mali. They have also deployed drones to Niamey and Agadez in the north to monitor jihadist movements. ICC announces visit to Israel, Palestinian territories A delegation from the world's only permanent war crimes court is visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, the chief prosecutor said Wednesday, against the backdrop of a probe into the 2014 Gaza war. The trip from Wednesday until October 10 will be the first to the region by officials from the prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the conflict. But chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda was quick to stress the trip was "not linked" to her preliminary examination into the war launched last year which "is ongoing". Israeli security forces stand guard at the entrance of the West Bank village of Bani Naim, east of Hebron, on September 20, 2016 Hazem Bader (AFP) The team will travel to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah, Bensouda said in a statement and hold "meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials at the working levels." But she made no mention of whether the delegation would travel to the impoverished Gaza Strip. At the request of the Palestinians, Bensouda's office opened an initial probe into alleged war crimes by both sides during the July-August 2014 conflict. Some 2,251 Palestinians, including 551 children, were killed in fighting between Israel and Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas and other factions, according to UN figures. On the Israeli side, 73 people were killed, mostly soldiers. "Not to visit the Gaza is an insult to the victims of Israeli terrorism," said Fawzy Barhoum, the spokesperson for Hamas in Gaza. "The delegation should do its duty and travel to Gaza to see the scene of the crime, to hear from witnesses and to understand the reality of Israeli crimes against Gaza's civilians," he told AFP. But Bensouda, who is believed not to be accompanying the team, said the aim of the "visit will be to undertake outreach and education activities with a view to raising awareness about the ICC and in particular, about the work of the office". The delegation "will not engage in evidence collection in relation to any alleged crimes," she added. "Neither will the delegation undertake site visits, or assess the adequacy of the respective legal systems to deal with crimes that fall within ICC jurisdiction." - Complex issues - Israel and the Palestinians have traded accusations of war crimes, and Bensouda said the initial probe working to see if there is enough evidence to merit a full investigation involved "a number of complex legal issues and a review of large volumes of documents." She asked that her office be given the "necessary space and time to conduct its activities... independently and impartially." Israel is alleged to have used force indiscriminately in Gaza in 2014, while Hamas is accused of firing rockets at Israeli civilian population centres and of using Palestinians as human shields. The Palestinians formally asked the ICC last year to investigate the Jewish state, which is not a party to the treaty that governs the court, for alleged war crimes. Israel vehemently opposes any ICC investigation, but officials have said they will cooperate with the body to convince it of the competence of the state's own courts. The ICC team will also visit UN agencies, and intends to give television and newspaper interviews in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. The ICC was set up in 2002 to investigate and try those responsible for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, where national authorities cannot or will not prosecute Niger opposition anger over new delay to local elections Niger's opposition on Wednesday accused the government of trying to "indefinitely postpone" local elections in the West African country after it delayed them for a fourth time without setting a new date. Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said the municipal polls, scheduled for January 8, had to be delayed to allow time to set up a biometric voters' register. Opposition groups, which boycotted the meeting where the new delay was agreed, said in a joint statement that the move was a tactic to "indefinitely postpone the organisation of these elections". Nigerien Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said the municipal polls, scheduled for January 8, had to be delayed to allow time to set up a biometric voters' register Sia Kambou (AFP/File) The statement was drafted by the Niger Democratic Movement, a coalition led by former speaker of parliament Hama Amadou. It also criticised the recent appointment of a purportedly pro-government official, Alkache Alhada, to head the Council of State, which adjudicates local election disputes. Flash Herve Ladsous [File photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn] The UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, on Tuesday called on all Sudanese parties to implement a political roadmap, which serves as the basis for the peace process, including ceasefire, in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur regions. Ladsous, in his briefing to the UN Security Council on Sudan's Darfur region, noted that the security situation remained volatile and the humanitarian impact of the conflict significant. Despite access and reporting restrictions, the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) remained focused on its objective of protecting civilians and continued to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, while engaging the parties to immediately cease hostilities, he said. Meanwhile, Ladsous noted that an important step in the peace process had been reached with the signing by all Sudanese parties of the political roadmap proposed by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP). In order to consolidate those gains, he said, the parties should now implement the document and commit to resuming negotiations in order to quickly reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities and on modalities for humanitarian access to conflict zones. The African Union (AU)-proposed roadmap stipulates arrangements related to cease-fire at South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur regions, entering a peace process and involving the armed movements in the national dialogue currently convened in Khartoum. The opposition Sudan Call Alliance in August signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa the roadmap, ending months of controversy over the deal. Last March, the AUHIP proposed the roadmap agreement for the Sudanese rivals aiming at ending the war in Sudan. The Sudanese government unilaterally signed the roadmap agreement, but the Sudan Call, an alliance bringing together Sudanese armed groups and opposition parties, then refused to sign the deal. The signing of the deal by the opposition opens a window of hope for the possibility of reaching a comprehensive political settlement that ends the Sudanese issues, particularly at Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions. Miller leads South Africa past Australia in epic run chase David Miller hit a sensational century as South Africa pulled off the second highest ODI run-chase of all time on Wednesday in a four-wicket triumph over Australia at Kingsmead. Miller hit 118 not out off 79 balls as South Africa chased down what had been a ground record 371 for six by Australia with four balls to spare. "It took a freakish innings to win the game. It was an amazing knock," said South African captain Faf du Plessis. South Africa's batsman David Miller (R) celebrates scoring a century on October 5, 2016 in Durban Gianluigi Guercia (AFP) David Warner and skipper Steve Smith hit centuries for Australia and seemed to have done enough to get their team back into the series after losing the first two matches of the five-game series. "I said at the toss that we needed one batsman to get a hundred and two of us did it," said Smith. "You don't lose too many games with 370 on the board but credit to South Africa. David Miller played an absolute blinder." The match seemed all but won for Australia when 20-year-old Andile Phehlukwayo joined fellow left-hander Miller with South Africa precariously placed at 265 for six. Phehlukwayo survived a confident appeal for a catch behind the wicket off Chris Tremain before he had scored but Australia did not have a review left. Replays showed a clear edge. Phehlukwayo made 42 not out and helped Miller see South Africa home with an unbeaten partnership of 107 off 74 balls as Australia's inexperienced bowling attack once again failed to contain the home team's batsmen. The left-handed Warner hit 117 off 107 balls and captain Smith made 108 off 107 deliveries. It was only the third time in 42 one-day internationals that a team had made 300 or more at Kingsmead, a ground which seldom yields big totals. South Africa were always close to the required rate, with opener Quinton de Kock making 70 off 49 balls, but the hosts kept losing wickets. Miller, though, was undeterred despite hobbling between wickets because of a groin strain. He hit ten fours and six sixes, one of them bouncing off a grandstand roof out of the ground, in making his third one-day international century. "It was the best win that I have been involved in," said Du Plessis. "Most teams would have felt they were dead and buried." Warner made his runs off 107 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes, while Smith, who said at the toss that "every match is a final for us" after they lost the first two games, faced 107 balls and hit nine fours and a six. Warner and Aaron Finch gave Australia a blazing start, putting on 110 for the first wicket off 81 balls, with fast bowler Dale Steyn coming in for particularly heavy punishment, with both batsmen hitting sixes off him. Although Steyn picked up two wickets late in the innings, he conceded 96 runs in ten overs, the most by a South African in one-day internationals. Fellow fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was also expensive, taking one for 86 in ten overs. American killed in Ethiopia as protests surge after stampede An American woman was killed by a rock thrown in a town outside the Ethiopian capital, the US embassy said Wednesday, as anti-government anger sparked fresh protests after a deadly stampede. Protesters stoned the vehicle the woman was travelling in as demonstrations sprung up in parts of the capital and the restive Oromia region on Tuesday, several targeting foreign companies, after the weekend stampede blamed on police. "A passenger van was hit by rocks thrown by unknown individuals on the outskirts of the city of Addis Ababa. One of the passengers, a US citizen, was struck by a rock and subsequently died from her injury," said a statement from the embassy. A man is rescued from a ditch after a deadly stampede in Bishoftu, Ethiopia this week Vehicles were stoned in several parts of the tense capital, and on Wednesday the mobile internet network was down in Addis Ababa -- a measure regularly taken by authorities to stop the spread of calls to protest. Ethiopia is facing its biggest anti-government unrest in a decade, from the majority Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups which feel marginalised by a minority-led government. An Oromo religious festival on Sunday ended in tragedy when police fired tear-gas on anti-government protesters, sparking panic in the massive crowd and triggering a stampede. Medical sources and authorities gave differing death tolls of between 52 and 58, however the opposition believes it is much higher. "Given the contradictory accounts, it is critical that an investigation be held to unearth the truth and to identify law enforcement officers criminally responsible," said Michelle Kagari of Amnesty International's regional office. - Foreign companies targeted - Protests have subsequently broken out in several parts of the Oromia region and elsewhere, some targeting foreign companies which are regarded as supporting and being backed by the central government. In the southern Awash valley a Dutch fruit juice company AfricaJuice was attacked by protesters. "The farm was targeted by a very large group of people. Two of our staff have been injured," chief executive officer Harry Van Neer told AFP on Wednesday, adding there had been extensive damages and looting. State-controlled Fana radio reported the looting of a cement company owned by Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote. Last month a Dutch flower farm was attacked by anti-government protesters in the northern Amhara region. The company, Esmeralda Farms, decided to pull out of the country, which investors have long considered one of the most stable on the continent. "Investors are worried. Some of them are starting to ask for tighter clauses in their contracts, asking the government to take responsibility if their installations are damaged," a diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. However Zhang Huarong, the president of Chinese company Huajian, which exports three million pairs of shoes from Ethiopia every month, said he was not worried. "Ethiopian ministers are calling me saying they will handle this. We are confident Ethiopians will handle this. We won't leave," he said. Together, Oromos and Amharas make up 60 percent of the population of Ethiopia. The protesters accuse the country's leaders, who largely hail from the northern Tigray region, of monopolising power. World donors pledge $15 billion for Afghanistan International donors pledged $15.2 billion at a conference in Brussels on Wednesday to get Afghanistan through the next four years, urging the Taliban to make peace after years of war. As fresh fighting raged in the strategic northern city of Kunduz, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was in the Belgian capital seeking aid from officials from 75 countries and more than 20 global organisations. Despite fears of donor fatigue due to the Syria war, the amount pledged is only slightly less than the four billion dollars a year that world powers promised at the last Afghanistan conference in Tokyo in 2012. Afghanistan's President Mohammad Ashram Ghani (C) arrives for a conference on Afghanistan at the European Council in Brussels on October 5, 2016 John Thys (AFP) "Some were sceptical that we are going to face donor fatigue after 15 years," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told a press conference alongside Ghani after the conference. "And here we are today being able to announce that international countries pledged... 15.2 billion dollars, which is exceeding our most rosy pictures of even yesterday." The EU was the biggest pledger with $5.6 billion, followed by the United States. In return for the money, Afghanistan promised reforms on corruption and human rights, and also agreed to take back migrants from Europe more quickly. - 'An end to aid' - Ghani hailed a "remarkable day" and vowed that his government would fulfil its commitments. "It is our responsibility to carve a future and deliver," he said. "That means also proposing an end to aid, not a perpetual dependence on aid." Afghanistan remains dependent on foreign cash and support from a limited NATO military presence. For security, NATO nations already committed at a summit in Warsaw in July to maintain troop numbers in Afghanistan at around 13,000 and uphold a pledge of $5 billion a year to fund local forces until 2020. But the country remains wracked by violence. Afghan forces battled the Taliban for a third day in Kunduz on Wednesday as food ran short and scores fled the city, witnesses told AFP. Meanwhile in Kabul a suicide bomber targeted a minibus carrying government officials, wounding four people, a day after a US soldier was killed by a bomb in the east. Fifteen years almost to the day since the start of the US-led operation to topple the Taliban after 9/11, US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Taliban militants to make an "honourable" peace with Kabul. He said they should follow the "model" example of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the notorious Afghan warlord and US-designated "global terrorist", who signed a peace deal with the Afghan government in September. Moves for a peace settlement also got a push from Mogherini, who said a dinner of regional players including China, India and Pakistan on Tuesday had "found common ground" for the Afghan peace process. She added that the EU "will try to facilitate this as much as possible in the coming months". - 'Lost opportunity' - In exchange for the money pledged in Brussels, donors will expect the Kabul government to make efforts to tackle spiralling corruption and waste, while working on political reform and human rights. The United States has spent around $110 billion on Afghanistan's reconstruction since 2001, more than the cost of the Marshall Plan that rebuilt a devastated Europe after World War II, but with limited results. Sayed Ikram Afzali, executive director of Integrity Watch Afghanistan, the sole anti-corruption watchdog until now, said donors should have set tighter conditions. "This very conference itself is a lost opportunity in terms of fighting corruption because a lot could have been done better in terms of setting up benchmarks," he said. On the eve of the conference the EU and Kabul announced they had struck a controversial deal to speed up Afghanistan's taking back of migrants from Europe, which faces its biggest refugee crisis since World War II. The plan involves possibly building a dedicated terminal for deportees at Kabul airport. EU officials have however denied that aid pledges will depend on Kabul accepting the return of 80,000 asylum-seekers. Afghan civil society groups have criticised the plan. "We call on the European countries but also the Afghan government to suspend the deportation of Afghan refugees who are in Europe," said Maiwand Rahyab, executive director of the Afghan Institute for Civil Society. Corruption and aid money for Afghanistan's reconstruction Laurence Chu, John Saeki (AFP) An Afghan National Army commando aims his weapon amid ongoing fighting between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces in Kunduz on October 5, 2016 Bashir Khan Safi (AFP) Syria army seizes rebel territory in heart of Aleppo Syrian government forces advanced against rebels inside Aleppo on Thursday, making their biggest gains in the ravaged city in years just hours after announcing they would ease their air bombardment. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said loyalist fighters now controlled around half of the Bustan al-Basha district near the centre of the divided metropolis. "It's the most important advance for the regime in Aleppo since 2013," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. Syrian civil defence volunteers search for victims amid the rubble following government air strikes on a rebel-held neighbourhood of Aleppo, on October 4, 2016 Thaer Mohammed (AFP/File) The advances come two weeks after the government announced an operation to recapture the rebel-held east of the city following the collapse of a short-lived truce negotiated by Russia and the United States. The assault has seen rebel-held areas pounded relentlessly with air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire that have killed more than 270 people, according to the Observatory. On Wednesday, the army said in a surprise announcement it would reduce its bombardment "after the success of our armed forces in Aleppo and cutting off all terrorist supply routes into the eastern districts". "The military command has decided to reduce the number of air and artillery strikes on terrorist positions to allow civilians who want to leave to reach safe areas," a statement said. "Anyone who does not take advantage of the opportunity to lay down their arms or leave will meet their inevitable fate," it added. The Observatory said there had been fewer air strikes on Thursday, but that heavy clashes were underway in Bustan al-Basha, with the army now controlling several key vantage points and half of the neighbourhood. - Army announcement a 'gimmick' - Analysts dismissed the army's announcement of a reduction in its bombardment as a "PR gimmick". "The regime and its allies have made a decision to conquer as much of eastern Aleppo as possible and they're moving ahead on that," said Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "I think such announcements are actually marginal. They are a PR gimmick." Syria expert Thomas Pierret said the move could be intended to undercut growing international pressure for action over the plight of civilians in east Aleppo, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon has described as worse than "a slaughterhouse." The bombardment has damaged or destroyed several hospitals, including the largest facility serving the estimated 250,000 remaining residents, who have been under near-continuous siege since mid-July. "The aerial onslaught on Aleppo... has bolstered Western proponents of a tougher approach" on Syria, said Pierret, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. "A temporary halt or reduction of bombings could prevent interventionists from gaining further influence." Washington responded to the bombing campaign by announcing early this week that it would suspend bilateral talks with Moscow on reviving the failed ceasefire. - US-Russia 'engagement remains' - But the US State Department acknowledged on Wednesday that Secretary of State John Kerry had called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss Syria despite the announcement. "Engagement remains," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "What we talked about the other day was bilateral engagement with regard to Syria. That remains suspended, but it doesn't preclude the Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Lavrov from talking." Moscow has said the "responsibility for the collapse of the truce lies with the US" and has shown no signs of easing its support for Assad, more than a year into its military intervention in Syria. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was to travel to Moscow on Thursday and Washington on Friday to try to garner support for a UN resolution on a ceasefire for Aleppo, his office said. More than 300,000 people have been killed since the conflict began with fierce repression of anti-government protests in March 2011. It has since evolved into a complex multi-front war that has drawn in regional and international forces including, most recently, Turkey. Ankara launched its Operation Euphrates Shield on August 24, saying its forces and allied Syrian rebels would fight both the Islamic State jihadist group and Kurdish militia in northern Syria. On Thursday, at least 29 rebels involved in Ankara's operation were killed in a blast claimed by IS at the Atme border crossing between Turkey and Syria, the Observatory said. It was the second deadly attack against rebels at the crossing in recent months. At least 32 were killed in an August suicide attack there that was also claimed by IS. The onslaught on Aleppo has come under fierce international scrutiny amid accusations the joint air strikes by the Syrian regime and Russia were destroying the east's civilian infrastructure Ameer Alhalbi (AFP/File) A US-Russia brokered deal aimed at ending bloodshed and increasing aid fell apart after Moscow and Washington failed to see eye-to-eye Bryan R. Smith (AFP/File) The United Nations concluded an air strike was responsible for the devastating attack on an aid convoy in northern Syria last month that killed nearly 20 people Omar Haj Kadour (AFP/File) White Helmets volunteers work around destroyed buildings following reported air strikes on the rebel-held town of Douma on October 5, 2016 Sameer Al-Doumy (AFP) Running mate did Trump 'proud' in VP debate: campaign Donald Trump's running mate Mike Pence made the Republican nominee "proud" during the vice presidential debate, the campaign insisted Wednesday, as Trump and rival Hillary Clinton claimed victory on the morning after the showdown. Pence and Clinton's number two Tim Kaine launched bitter attacks on the opposing camps during their fiery debate, essentially fighting a proxy war for their nominees, scrapping for every vote ahead of Election Day November 8. Several pundits, experts and other observers agree that Pence, the governor of Indiana, outshone his vice presidential rival Kaine by presenting a methodical and level-headed case for a Republican administration, and reassuring core conservatives who have grown nervous about how Trump would govern in the White House. Republican candidate for Vice President Mike Pence exchanges with Democratic candidate for Vice President Tim Kaine (L) during the first vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia on October 4, 2016 Andrew Gombert (POOL/AFP/File) It proved a sharp contrast with the normally genial Kaine. The 58-year-old US senator from Virginia repeatedly reminded viewers of Trump's year-long stream of insults about Mexican immigrants, women and Muslim refugees, his position on nuclear weapons and his fondness for Russian President Vladimir Putin. In doing so he interrupted Pence dozens of times, earning rebukes from the moderator and assessments from observers that he came off as overly aggressive. Pence, 57, repeatedly deflected Kaine's demand that he defend Trump, instead redirecting the attacks into critiques of President Barack Obama's administration and Clinton's record as secretary of state. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway was quick to knock down reports that Trump, widely seen as losing the first presidential debate to Clinton, was irritated at being upstaged by his running mate. "Absolutely not," Conway insisted on MSNBC Wednesday, adding that she spoke with Trump after the debate and that he expressed "how excited he was, how proud of him he was." - Pence 'won big' - Trump, who attends two rallies Wednesday in the battleground state of Nevada, himself tweeted after the debate that Americans "should all be proud of Mike." On Wednesday the brash billionaire added: "The constant interruptions last night by Tim Kaine should not have been allowed. Mike Pence won big!" Clinton seized on Pence's apparent refusal to defend Trump's various comments, tweeting that she was "Lucky to have a partner like @timkaine who stood up for our shared vision tonight -- instead of trying to deny it." Her supporters released an online video eviscerating Pence for insisting several times that he and Trump did not make certain controversial statements during the campaign, such as that Putin was a stronger leader than Obama. The video shows Kaine calling out Trump and Pence for making such a comment, and Pence shaking his head and insisting "No we haven't." It then shows Pence telling CNN in September that "Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country." Trump trails Clinton in nearly all major national polls and is losing in several key battleground states, as the rivals head into their second presidential debate, on Sunday. - 'Insult-driven' - Polls show Clinton gaining in the wake of a punishing week for Trump, who has been hammered by controversies over his taxes and his treatment of women. Kaine aimed to put Trump and his rhetoric in the spotlight from the beginning, saying the idea of the brash Republican as commander-in-chief "scares us to death." "I can't imagine how Governor Pence can defend the insult-driven, selfish, me-first style of Donald Trump," Kaine said. "You would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign," an imperturbable Pence shot back, highlighting Clinton's relentless criticism of Trump and how she painted half of her Republican rival's supporters as "deplorables." Kaine sought to drill down on issues that appeared to have given Clinton a bump in the polls demanding Trump release his tax returns and mocking the White House hopeful for some of his impulsive social media missteps during the campaign. "Donald Trump can't start a Twitter war with Miss Universe without shooting himself in the foot," Kaine said, referring to Trump's rants against Alicia Machado, a beauty queen whom he called "Miss Piggy" when she gained weight after winning her crown. Pence stressed that a Trump administration would act more forcefully against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "If Russia chooses to be involved and continue... in this barbaric attack on Aleppo, the United States of America should use military force to strike the targets of the Assad regime," he said. Hillary Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine repeatedly reminded viewers of Trump's year-long stream of insults about Mexican immigrants, women and Muslim refugees, his position on nuclear weapons and his fondness for Russian President Vladimir Putin Andrew Gombert (POOL/AFP/File) Obama warns Hurricane Matthew a 'serious storm' President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged residents in the southeastern United States to prepare for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Matthew and to heed evacuation orders. "This is something to take seriously. We hope for the best, but we want to prepare for the worst," he said, describing Matthew as a "serious storm" that could have "devastating effect." Matthew has already hit Haiti and Cuba, with fatal results, and is barreling towards Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. A man tries to cross the overflowing river Rouyonne, in Haiti on October 5, 2016 Hector Retamal (AFP) "If you get an evacuation order, just remember that you can always rebuild. You can always repair property. You cannot restore a life if it is lost," Obama said at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The hurricane forced Obama to cancel a visit to Florida on Wednesday. Instead, he made the short trip across Washington to FEMA headquarters. "We've already got response teams and supplies prepositioned and ready to help communities in the region," Obama said. "I want to emphasize to the public, this is a serious storm. It has already hit Haiti with devastating effect. It is now in the process of moving through the Bahamas. "Because it's not going to be hitting enough land it is going to be building strength on its way to Florida." "Even if you don't get the full force of the hurricane, we are still going to be seeing tropical force winds, potential for storm surge and all of that could have a devastating effect." Zuma to be quizzed by S.Africa watchdog South African President Jacob Zuma will be questioned by the country's top watchdog Thursday over alleged misconduct including allowing a wealthy Indian migrant family to choose ministers, officials said. Zuma, 74, has survived a series of damaging corruption scandals while in office, but he has faced increasing criticism over the last year as the economy stalls and after the ruling ANC party suffered unprecedented losses in local polls. Public Protector Thuli Madonsela will quiz Zuma in the final stages of her probe into allegations that the Gupta family were granted undue influence over the government. South African president Jacob Zuma, 74, has survived a series of damaging corruption scandals while in office, but he has faced increasing criticism over the last year as the economy stalls and after his party suffered unprecedented losses in polls Gianluigi Guercia (AFP/File) "She will meet the president tomorrow (Thursday). The meeting forms part of the investigation into the so-called 'state capture' matter," Madonsela's spokesman Oupa Segalwe told AFP. The three Gupta brothers, Ajay, Atul and Rajesh, have built a business empire in mining, media, technology and engineering since moving to South Africa in the 1990s. Deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas alleged in March that the Guptas had offered him a promotion shortly before Zuma sacked respected finance minister Nhlanhla Nene last year. The president was also alleged to have allowed the family to use a military airport to fly in guests for a wedding in 2013. Both Zuma and the Guptas have denied all the allegations. The president is set to stand down when the next general election is held in 2019 after serving the maximum two terms in office. "We will hear his version of events and he may have information for us that we will need to consider," Madonsela, who steps down at the end of this month, told the Business Day newspaper. White House accuses Israel of betraying trust The White House accused Israel of a betrayal of trust, in an unusually sharp rebuke over its plans to build hundreds of new settlement homes deep in the West Bank. Days after President Barack Obama approved a $38 billion Israeli military aid package and attended former president Shimon Peres's funeral in Jerusalem, the White House railed at the construction of 300 housing units on land "far closer to Jordan than Israel." Warning that the decision jeopardizes the already distant prospect of Middle East peace as well as Israel's own security, press secretary Josh Earnest said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's word had been called into question. Washington has long opposed Israel's policy of building Jewish settlements on land in the West Bank that would be claimed by the Palestinians in any negotiated "two state" peace deal Drew Angerer (Getty/AFP/File) "We did receive public assurances from the Israeli government that contradict this announcement," he said. "I guess when we're talking about how good friends treat one another, that's a source of serious concern as well." The sharper-than-normal comments come as the White House weighs a last-ditch effort to get the peace process back on its feet before Obama leaves office in January. While serious talks seem unlikely, US officials are weighing the possibility of a major speech outlining the parameters for peace. Peace efforts have been comatose since a US-led initiative collapsed in April 2014. A sharper tone over settlements now could help put Israel on notice that future ties are at risk and give Washington more credibility with Palestinians and their Arab allies. - 'Perpetual occupation' - In a similarly strong-worded statement, the State Department said building the units "is another step toward cementing a one-state reality of perpetual occupation." The plan not only undermines hopes for peace with the Palestinians but "is fundamentally inconsistent with Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state," spokesman Mark Toner said. Washington has long opposed Israel's policy of building Jewish settlements on land in the West Bank that would be claimed by the Palestinians in any negotiated two-state peace deal. US officials have adopted a more forceful tone with Netanyahu's government in recent weeks, accusing it of recklessly accelerating construction despite international concern. The Middle East Quartet -- a contact group comprising the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- issued a report in July calling on Israel to halt settlement building. But the practice has only accelerated since then, Washington says, with new housing blocks being approved, local administrative boundaries moved and unauthorised outposts retroactively approved. The 300 units the White House was referring to would constitute a new settlement in the heart of the West Bank, roughly halfway between the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Nablus, according to settlement watchdog Peace Now. Plans for 98 of the 300 units have so far been advanced, the group said. The Israeli foreign ministry denied that the planned units amounted to a new settlement, insisting they were to be located in an existing one, although Peace Now said the site was around a kilometre (more than half a mile) away. "Israel remains committed to a solution of two states for two peoples, in which a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes the Jewish state of Israel," the ministry said. Washington has condemned a recent deadly wave of Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians and police, urging Palestinian leaders to refrain from incitement or provocative language. Obama and Netanyahu have had an extremely difficult relationship during the last eight years. The White House was apoplectic when the Israeli leader agreed to address the Republican-controlled Congress to lobby against Obama's signature nuclear deal with Iran. There were fresh tensions when Netanyahu -- seeking reelection at the time -- said that Palestinians would never get their own state on his watch. Some considered that pandering to right-wing voters, others said it was Netanyahu showing his true colors. At last week's funeral for Peres, Obama pointedly spoke of the "unfinished business of peace." "He believed that the Zionist idea would be best protected when Palestinians, too, had a state of their own," he said of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. "Of course, we gather here in the knowledge that Shimon never saw his dream of peace fulfilled." Washington has condemned a recent deadly wave of Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians and police, urging Palestinian leaders to refrain from incitement or provocative language Gali Tibbon (AFP/File) US spy agency contractor arrested in top-secret data theft probe The FBI has arrested a man who worked as a private contractor for the National Security Agency in a probe into the theft of top-secret government information, the US authorities said Wednesday. The Department of Justice released a criminal complaint against Harold Thomas Martin III, 51, of Maryland, charging him with theft of government property and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. Martin, who has now been fired, worked for Booz Allen Hamilton -- the same firm that hired the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. "A criminal complaint has been filed charging Harold Thomas Martin III with theft of government property and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials," the Department of Justice said Yuri Gripas (AFP/File) The case is an embarrassing new blow for both the NSA and Booz Allen, which the New York Times said helps build and operate many of the NSA's most sensitive cyber operations. According to the criminal complaint, investigators found hard copies and digital files of top-secret documents in Martin's home and car. He was arrested August 27 following the search. Six documents "were produced through sensitive government sources, methods and capabilities, which are critical to a wide variety of national security issues," the complaint states. Booz Allen said it reached out to offer full cooperation with the authorities as soon as it learned of the arrest. "And we fired the employee," it said in a statement. "Booz Allen is a 102-year-old company, and the alleged conduct does not reflect our core values." The NSA declined to comment. Martin initially denied charges, but admitted to taking the files when confronted with the documents, stating "he knew what he had done was wrong," investigators wrote. Martin's lawyers said they had not seen any evidence. "But what we know is that Hal Martin loves his family and his country," they said in a statement to US media. "There is no evidence that he intended to betray his country." Prosecutors said unauthorized disclosure of the documents could cause "exceptionally grave" damage to US national security. The arrest came after investigators began looking into the theft of source code used by the NSA to hack adversaries' computer systems, such as those of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Such access would enable the NSA to plant malware in rivals' systems and monitor -- or even attack -- their networks. Investigators are still puzzling over a motive for the alleged crimes, which do not look like an espionage case, The Times said. It is also unclear whether Martin is thought to be behind the leak of classified NSA code attributed to a group calling itself the "Shadow Brokers." If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison for the unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials, and 10 years in prison for the theft of government property. He appeared in a Baltimore court on August 29 and remains in custody. Former NSA contractor Snowden has been living in Russia since shortly after leaking documents revealing the scope of the agency's monitoring of private data. 'Smashed cranes' slow aid flow to Yemen: UN aid chief "Smashed cranes" at Yemen's rebel-held Hodeida port are hindering the entry of relief supplies to ease a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, the UN aid chief said Wednesday. On a visit to Saudi Arabia, Stephen O'Brien told reporters that aid flow needed to increase at the Red Sea port, through which 80 to 90 percent of Yemen's supplies transited before the war. "The real issue is the restriction of unloading capacity at the port because the cranes are smashed," said O'Brien, who heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Mr O'Brien, pictured, also accused Russia and Syria of using bombing and starvation tactics in the east of Aleppo in a UN Security Council meeting in New York He did not mention the cause of the damage to the cranes, but in August last year he said coalition air strikes on the port were in contravention of international humanitarian law. The United States and the European Union at the time expressed concern over the bombing, which Washington said hit "critical infrastructure" at the port. Saudi Arabia has for 18 months led an Arab military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government against the Huthi rebels who seized much of the country. The war has killed more than 6,600 people, displaced 3.15 million and left about a quarter of Yemen's population "not sure where the next meal is coming from", O'Brien said after talks with Saudi officials. His remarks came a day after he said it was "a matter of urgency" that flows of food, medicine and fuel increase into Yemen. O'Brien said efforts were being made to find "a better unloading capacity, as well as make sure there are no administrative burdens which are slowing the process". The Saudi-led coalition has imposed a sea blockade on Yemen to prevent weapons reaching the rebels who it says are backed by Iran. But O'Brien said a UN inspection mechanism to check commercial ships bringing supplies was working well, "with many ships now cleared to come into Hodeida". - Averting famine - Aid into Yemen via air was however limited, O'Brien said. The coalition in August said it would allow humanitarian flights into Sanaa's international airport after several days of closure due to hostilities around the capital. O'Brien -- who arrived in the kingdom from Yemen -- said he saw the impact of malnutrition in Hodeida. There were "many children some of whom we thought were babies, (but) were in fact seven or eight years old". He said the United Nations and its partners were providing assistance, every two months, to six out of the seven million people in Yemen most in need of food so as to avert famine. In Riyadh, O'Brien met Yemen's President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi "to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the need to ensure the protection of civilians as hostilities sadly continue and even intensify". Some of the heaviest combat is around Yemen's third city of Taez, which is almost completely surrounded by the rebels, but loyalist forces have opened a road on the western side of the city, allowing aid to be brought in. "Despite people suggesting otherwise, a very large quantity of aid is reaching Taez, both in the past and indeed as we speak this evening," O'Brien said. He met the head of a Saudi government aid agency, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, to discuss "how our two entities can better work together in a more complementary and efficient way". Riyadh faces mounting international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its Yemen air campaign. Flash The UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Stephen O'Brien, on Tuesday concluded his three-day visit to Yemen, calling for all parties to grant humanitarian access and uphold their responsibilities to protect civilians in a conflict that has displaced three million people, injured and killed thousands of innocent civilians, a UN spokesman told reporters here. Relevant parties should be also held accountable for shattering the civilian infrastructure, and destroying livelihoods in a country which was already suffering from endemic poverty, the deputy UN spokesman, Farhan Haq, said at a daily news briefing here. In Hudaydah on Monday, O'Brien, who is also the UN emergency relief coordinator, was able to go to Al Honood, where he saw the devastation and terrible losses suffered from the airstrike on Sept. 21, Haq said. Meanwhile, in Taiz, Yemen, at least 10 civilians, including six children, were killed, and 17 others wounded on Monday afternoon after an artillery shell struck a busy street next to a market in Bir Basha, Al Mudhaffar district, he said. "The shell appeared to have been fired from an area in Al Ta'iziyah district, where the artilleries of Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis and Army Units loyal to former president Saleh are positioned," he said. The overall casualty figures verified by UN human rights staff in Yemen from March 2015 up until Sept. 30, 2016 stand at a total of 10,963 civilian casualties, including 4,014 people killed, he added. US to deport ex-navy chief drug trafficker to Guinea-Bissau A former Guinea-Bissau navy chief convicted of drug trafficking in the United States is likely to be released from prison in early 2017 and returned to his country, US authorities said Wednesday. Jose Americo "Bubo" Na Tchuto was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Richard Berman in a New York federal court to four years in prison, according to a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor. But because Na Tchuto has been imprisoned since April 2013, he has already served the bulk of his sentence and was expected to be released in April 2017, when he will be deported to Guinea-Bissau, the spokeswoman said. Jose Americo Na Tchuto, a US-designated international "kingpin," was captured off the West African coast by agents of the US DEA in April 2013, to which he pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance If he returns to the United States, his sentence requires that he be placed "under supervision for five years," she added. Na Tchuto, a US-designated international drug "kingpin," was captured off the West African coast by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration in April 2013. Na Tchuto pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance, which could entail a life sentence. The conditions under which he pleaded guilty were not revealed, and the corresponding documents have been sealed. His arrest, and the US indictment two weeks later of General Antonio Indjai, head of the Guinea-Bissau army, highlighted the rise in drug trafficking in West Africa, and the country's role as a transit point for the cocaine trade. UN peacekeepers failed to protect civilians in S.Sudan: rights group UN peacekeepers cowered in their bases rather than risk doing their job of protecting civilians during an outbreak of fighting in South Sudan in July, a rights group said Wednesday. Some peacekeepers in the capital Juba abandoned their posts inside "Protection of Civilian" sites -- where tens of thousands have sought safety from successive bouts of fighting -- while outside the fortified bases, peacekeeper presence was "non-existent." They refused to help when foreign aid workers were attacked and some of them gang-raped in a hotel close to a UN base. Peacekeeper troops deployed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), patrol on foot outside the premises of the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Juba, South Sudan, on October 4, 2016 Albert Gonzalez Farran (AFP/File) "The United Nations needs to ensure transparency and accountability for the inadequate response of its peacekeepers," the Washington-based Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) said in a statement. CIVIC also called for a UN arms embargo on South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011 and was plunged into conflict in December 2013, when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup d'etat. A patchily implemented August 2015 peace deal saw Machar return to the capital earlier this year, but fresh fighting between his forces and government soldiers loyal to Kiir erupted in July. During four days of fighting between the rival forces, artillery rounds and gunfire hit two UN bases, killing two Chinese peacekeepers. Civilians died both inside and outside the UN bases and soldiers outside raped many women -- some within sight of UN sentries. The failings in July were nothing new, CIVIC said. The group previously investigated an incident in February, when peacekeepers from Ethiopia, India and Rwanda stood by as government soldiers attacked another Protection of Civilian site in the northern town of Malakal, killing at least 30 civilians. Months later, the UN admitted to peacekeeper "inaction, abandonment of post and refusal to engage" during the Malakal attack, but failed to hold any commanders or troops to account. CIVIC said the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is hampered by "inadequate support" from UN headquarters and has been "repeatedly blocked, harassed, and, at times, even attacked by the parties to the conflict." UN peacekeeping officials said the report "raises a number of important issues," noting that an independent investigation of the Juba violence is due to present its findings shortly. The UN sites offering civilians refuge were "unsustainable and cannot provide a reliable option for the physical security" of tens of thousands of South Sudanese, the peacekeeping department said in a written response. "The investment we urgently need to make and prioritize in South Sudan is putting the peace process back on track," it added. Rebel leader Machar is currently exiled in Khartoum, from where he has called for "armed resistance" against Kiir's government. World powers 'misuse' World Bank, IMF Europe and the United States have "misused" the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for their own ends, according to an executive at a new bank launched by major developing countries. While such an accusation is hardly new, it is unusual for it to come from a rival institution. "The Washington institutions fundamentally reflect the point of the view, the interest, the ideology of the North Atlantic powers, the Europeans on one hand the Americans on the other," Paulo Nogueira Batista, vice president and chief risk officer at the New Development Bank, told AFP in an interview. The New Development Bank was launched in 2015 by the "BRICS" countries to upset the established order, pushing back against the underrepresentation of developing countries in the major international financial institutions Zach Gibson (AFP/File) The remarks come as the World Bank and IMF, long-standing pillars of the post-war global economy, gather this week in Washington for their annual meetings -- and as Washington and Brussels confirmed their de facto monopoly on the institutions' leadership. As has been the case since their creation, an American man, Jim Yong Kim, has just been reconfirmed as World Bank president, while in July France's Christine Lagarde also began a second term as head of the IMF. -'Unwritten rule'- "The unwritten rule shows that change in these institutions is slower and the expectation that they will change has been reduced compared to what it was during the 2009-2010 crisis," said Nogueira Batista, who served as Brazil's representative to the IMF for eight years. "When we see these things happening in Washington, we say, well we were right to start our own bank." Based in Shanghai, the New Development Bank was launched in 2015 by the "BRICS" countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- to upset the established order, pushing back against the underrepresentation of developing countries in the major international financial institutions. During the economic crises of 2009-2011, Europeans and Americans, fatigued from economic storms, promised to cede more ground to China and India. But these hopes were soon dashed despite long-delayed governance reforms at the IMF and the recent inclusion of China's yuan currency in the IMF reserve assets basket. "The BRICS would not have gone so far as to create their own development bank if they were fully satisfied with the existing institutions," said Nogueira Batista. - 'Not the same old mistakes' - The birth of the "BRICS bank" and of their own monetary fund marked a small revolution, according to Nogueira Batista. "It's the first time that a development bank of global scope is established by emerging market countries alone with no participation of the industrialized countries," he said. China and its allies of course remain full-fledged members of the World Bank and IMF but expect "seek to build our own path." "If we make mistakes, we hope to make at least new mistakes, not the same old mistakes that the old institutions have made." The greater challenge will be to avoid the "politicization" of the bank. "One of the problems of the Bretton Woods institutions is that they have been misused as vehicles of the bilateral agendas of their major members," he said. He pointed out that neither Russia nor Iran, which are at odds with Western powers, have access to World Bank financing. To guarantee a political balance, none of the five founding member countries of the New Development Bank will hold the same veto power that is wielded by the Americans at the World Bank and IMF. The new lender, which is approving its first projects this year and has an authorized capital of $100 billion, also wants to stand out from others by emphasizing cooperating with borrowing countries, according to Nogueira Batista. The World Bank and IMF "often have a notion of what is required and they impose policies," he said. The new bank is still a minnow compared to the IMF and World Bank, with their 189 member states. And its success is far from being a foregone conclusion, as its own vice president concedes. "It's still an open question whether we will be successful because the goal is quite broad," said Nogueira Batista. "Only time will tell." During the economic crises of 2009-2011, Europeans and Americans, fatigued from economic storms, promised to cede more ground to China and India Johannes Eisele (AFP/File) Texas inmate set to die amid decline in US executions The southern US state of Texas, which has the busiest death chamber in the nation, was set to execute an inmate Wednesday who had dropped all appeals and asked to be put to death for murdering his neighbors 13 years ago. The scheduled execution of Barney Fuller, 58, at 6 pm (2300 GMT) comes amid a decline in the use of capital punishment across the country. It will be the first execution carried out by Texas authorities in six months. Fuller was convicted in the grisly murders of his neighbors, Nathan and Annette Copeland, in May 2003. The scheduled execution of Barney Fuller comes amid a decline in the use of capital punishment across the country. It will be the first execution carried out by Texas authorities in six months Scott Halleran (Getty/AFP/File) According to the indictment, the couple had filed a complaint after receiving a threatening phone call from Fuller, a weapons enthusiast. Fuller, who was enraged about an order to appear in court, drank all night before going to their home armed with several guns. He used a semi-automatic rifle to spray the front of the Copeland home with some 60 bullets, reloading three times. - Two survivors - Fuller then forced his way inside. He shot the husband in the bedroom, and the wife in a bathroom where she was hiding, court documents said. Just before being shot, Annette Copeland had dialed 911 and the operator clearly heard Fuller say "Party's over, bitch!" Fuller then twice shot the couple's 14-year-old son, who survived. He was not able to find their 10-year-old daughter because he couldn't locate the light switch in her room. Fuller last year gave up all appeals, saying the living conditions on death row were unbearable. He would be the 16th prisoner to be executed this year in the United States, and the 143rd death row inmate to "volunteer" for execution since 1977, according to the Death Penalty Information Center website. - Support for death penalty - The low number of executions carried out so far this year reflects a combination of factors: a shortage of the drugs used in lethal injections, a decline in the number of capital punishment verdicts and indictments, and an uptick in appeals which raise the final cost of executions. A study published last week by Pew Research Center found that support for the death penalty in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in 40 years. Most notably, a majority (51 percent) of Americans aged 18 to 29 say they are against the death penalty. Among the population as a whole, 49 percent of Americans still support capital punishment for people convicted of murder, versus 42 percent who are opposed. The United States executed 28 inmates in 2015, the lowest figure in 24 years and far from a high of 98 executed in 1999. Death penalty opponents hope the punishment will become even more rare if Democrat Hillary Clinton wins the White House in November and nominates a liberal justice to fill a vacancy on the divided Supreme Court. US military sends help to hurricane-battered Haiti The US military said Wednesday it is sending helicopters, an aircraft carrier, troops and other equipment to Haiti to provide humanitarian assistance after the impoverished Caribbean nation was lashed by Hurricane Matthew. Nine Army and Marine Corps choppers were expected to arrive in Haiti on Thursday, and will conduct surveys to figure out which areas are hardest hit before delivering aid, the military's head of its Southern Command, Admiral Kurt Tidd, told reporters. "We have reports indicating that roads and communications infrastructure along the southern coastline are impassable," Kurt said. A man carries a woman across a river at Petit Goave where a bridge collapsed during the rains of the Hurricane Matthew, southwest of Port-au-Prince, October 5, 2016 Hector Retamal (AFP) Between 150-200 US troops will be on the ground in Haiti, and operations in the country will be directed from a center at Port-au-Prince airport. Additionally, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, the USS Comfort hospital ship and the USS Mesa Verde amphibious transport ship were all en route to the seas around Haiti. A Navy official said the ships were yet to receive formal requests for help from Haiti. "They are underway, heading south, to be prepared to provide disaster response. They haven't yet received any orders," the official said. Hurricane Matthew -- the Caribbean's worst storm in nearly a decade -- pounded Haiti this week, and aid organizations are bracing for "catastrophic damage" in the impoverished nation's hardest hit regions. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is coordinating the US response and has dispatched an elite team to the poorest nation in the Americas. Top US court hears racial bias challenge of death row case The US Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared receptive to defense arguments that a 53-year-old death row inmate was sentenced to die two decades ago because he is African American. Incarcerated in Texas, Duane Buck could be executed due to a conviction based in part on a psychologist's testimony in the 1997 trial that he presented a higher risk of committing violent crimes because he was black. Buck is appealing the death sentence, although his guilt is not at issue -- he was convicted of the brutal 1995 shooting deaths of his former lover and the man who was with her. Duane Buck speaks on the phone from his prison cell in Livingston, Texas "This is a... very unusual case, and what occurred at the penalty phase of this trial is indefensible," said Samuel Alito, one of the eight Supreme Court justices hearing the case. Several other justices expressed surprise that the state of Texas continues to refuse Buck's requests for a new trial. "Is there some good reason why this person shouldn't have been able to reopen his case?" said Stephen Breyer, pushing the lawyer representing Texas. The Supreme Court's hearing of the case Wednesday comes amid an intense national debate over racism in law enforcement after a wave of police killings of black suspects. Sentenced in Texas's Harris County, where nine percent of all US executions occur, a record in the country, Buck has become another symbol of a judicial system seen as tinged with racial bias. - 'Un-ring the bell' - Buck's defense lawyers included Christina Swarns of the NAACP, the nation's leading black civil-rights group, whose appearance Wednesday before the highest US court was in itself something of an event. It is rare for an African-American attorney, and a woman at that, to present oral arguments to the justices -- of whom only one is African American. "It is impossible to un-ring the bell," Swarns said of Buck's case -- and the "explicit appeal to racial bias" that she said factored into his conviction. According to Texas law, Swarns noted, a person can only be condemned to die if the prosecutor can prove he or she represents a future danger to society. The testimony of psychologist Walter Quijano, who claimed that Buck was a high risk for recidivism because he was black, "put the thumb heavily on the death scale," she said. Her adversary, Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller, focused his arguments on the fact that the psychologist had been presented as a witness by Buck's defense lawyer himself. "In the context of a prosecutor offering the testimony and using it as an aggravator, that would be an equal protection and due process violation," Keller said, pointing out the state was not responsible for errors committed by Buck's attorney. But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg took issue with that. "I don't know why it should make a difference that the petitioner's counsel introduced this evidence. This evidence, everyone agrees, should not have -- not have come in," Ginsburg said. At the time of his conviction, Buck was represented by two court-appointed lawyers. One of them, Jerry Guerinot, had won no acquittals over the course of his career and had no fewer than 20 clients who were sentenced to death. The Supreme Court's decision on the Buck appeal will come during its annual session that began Monday and will end in late June 2017. The Supreme Court's hearing of the Duane Buck case comes amid an intense national debate over racism in law enforcement after a wave of police killings of black suspects Alex Wong (Getty/AFP/File) US flight evacuated after another Samsung phone fire A US flight was evacuated prior to takeoff when a passenger's Galaxy Note 7 -- reportedly a replacement in Samsung's global recall -- caught fire, landing the company in new controversy. Samsung has been struggling with a recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 handsets due to complaints of exploding batteries, a problem the replacement phones are supposed to fix. But on Wednesday, a Southwest Airlines flight leaving Louisville, Kentucky was evacuated after a passenger's new Samsung phone began emitting smoke. Samsung has recalled 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 handsets due to complaints of exploding batteries Jung Yeon-Je (AFP/File) Brian Green, the owner, told tech news website The Verge that the phone was a replacement, which he picked up on September 21. He also provided a picture of its box, which has a black square symbol indicating that it was a replacement. Some 60 percent of US consumers had swapped their devices for replacements by the end of last month. The Verge reported Green had powered down the phone for takeoff, an account The New York Times confirmed through other eyewitnesses. The heat damage from the apparent explosion was so severe that a fire official could not independently verify the model of the phone, according to ABC News. "Until we are able to retrieve the device, we cannot confirm that this incident involves the new Note7," Samsung said in a statement. "We are working with the authorities and Southwest now to recover the device and confirm the cause," the company added. "Once we have examined the device we will have more information to share." The unprecedented recall, the first involving Samsung's flagship smartphone, has struck a blow to the reputation of the South Korean electronics giant, the world's largest smartphone maker. With ever-fiercer competition, Samsung is desperate to avoid a full-blown disaster that could hammer its reputation. Meanwhile the recall could cost the firm $3 billion in the long run, some analysts say. "The continued news reports about the Note 7 aren't good for Samsung, especially for its brand reputation," Park Kang-ho, an analyst at Daishin Securities Co. told Bloomberg. "If the noise continues even as phones are replaced, consumers will start raising doubts over the next Galaxy S model, so the faster Samsung settles things the better for its business." US calls for probe into attack on aid workers in South Sudan WASHINGTON (AP) The White House is calling for an internationally supported investigation into who was behind an attack against humanitarian workers in South Sudan in July. White House national security adviser Susan Rice met Tuesday with Sudan's vice president, Taban Deng. The White House says Rice expressed "grave concern" about conditions and fighting in South Sudan. Rice says South Sudan's government has continually obstructed the U.N. mission there. She says she's deeply concerned about allegations that government forces took part in the attacks and is calling for a regional protection force. Rice says those responsible must be held accountable. Mexico City rounds up gypsy cabs after Spaniard killed MEXICO CITY (AP) Police and inspectors in Mexico City have rounded up 80 gypsy cabs on the capital's west side, where a Spanish woman was abducted and later killed after getting in an unregistered taxi last month. The city's inspection agency says the unlicensed cabs were taken to impound lots Tuesday after being caught around the upscale Santa Fe neighborhood. Maria Villar Galaz got into what she believed was a taxi in Santa Fe on Sept. 13. A man entered the car and immobilized her with a stun gun. She was held for ransom and her body was found Sept. 15. The driver was arrested last week. AP FACT CHECK: Kaine on fighting IS WASHINGTON (AP) A claim from the vice presidential debate between Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine, and how it stacks up with the facts: KAINE on fighting the Islamic State: "Donald Trump doesn't have a plan." THE FACTS: Hillary Clinton also doesn't have a plan that is materially different than what President Barack Obama is already doing. She's described a three-part strategy that involves crushing IS "on its home turf" in the Middle East, disrupting its infrastructure on the ground and online, and protecting America and its allies. All are current elements of the Obama administration's strategy, so it's not clear what would change or if she would accelerate any portions of it. Flash Cross-cultural dialogue in particular between Greece and China, the two cradles of the world's civilization, can help the governments and citizens across the globe to review their approach to current crises and find most effective solutions, an acclaimed Greek expert has said. Konstantinos Tsoukalas, president of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation, made the remarks Monday while addressing an event here entitled "China-Europe: Cultural dialogues in Greece". Greek and Chinese senior officials and scholars convened at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens to exchange views on enhancing cultural collaboration between the East and the West to support mutual understanding and cooperation in more fields. Culture is a sound vehicle to reach solutions regarding the main challenges the world faces today, said Tsoukalas, President of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation. He noted that the recent global economic crisis revealed that at the root of the problem was a crisis of values. "The financial crisis is not strictly the outcome of wrong choices in the economic field, but the result of the ideological and cultural crises. It is a crisis of values the world is faced with in our times," the professor of sociology said. The increasing and deepening Sino-Greek cultural dialogue can help the two nations and the entire international community to discover alternative ways to tackle problems, he added. "The dialogue at the roots of the two civilizations can be proved very beneficial not only from a historic and academic aspect, but also regarding the ways we are dealing with the problems today," Tsoukalas said. Looking for substance, voters tune in for VP debate DENVER (AP) It wasn't the headliners, but some political groupies took time Tuesday to gather and watch the vice presidential candidates debate. The 90-minute showdown is the only time the two will face off: Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Republican Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana. The contest was expected to have a much smaller viewership than last week's first meeting between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, which drew a record-setting television audience of 84 million people. But some voters said it was well worth their time. Students and faculty watch the Vice Presidential debate during a watch party at Walker's Pub, on the campus of Regis University, a private Jesuit university in Denver, Colo., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) "One of them will be the second most powerful person in the world ... it's very important to hear what they have to say," says Carson Clabeaux, 21, a senior at the University of Scranton and president of the school's Republican club. "I should be studying but you can always study. There's only one VP debate, so it was important for me to come see this." Here are some of the scenes across the U.S. as people watched the event: ___ DENVER, Colorado: A small group of students at Regis University, a Jesuit school, debated whether faith and politics should intersect after the vice presidential debate left most still undecided who they'll vote for. Both vice presidential candidates are deeply religious, Kaine a Catholic who served as a missionary with the Jesuits in Honduras from 1980 to 1981, and Pence an evangelical Christian who fought against Planned Parenthood funding while in Congress and signed a state law that many people saw as allowing discrimination against gay people. "Tim Kaine tried to keep faith away from our politics," said Tim Smith, a freshman focusing on education who plans to vote for the Democratic ticket. "I think he did that. Mike Pence definitely is not that way. He wasn't really at all about separation of church and state." "Religion does say who we are," countered Chad Deline, a sophomore economics major and head of Regis' Republican club. "Mike Pence is pro-life, and it showed tonight, and I support that." Watch party organizer Daniel P. Justin, who teaches philosophy and religious studies, urged students to reflect on where faith's place is in this election and politics in general. "The question is: How does faith animate and influence your political life?" Justin said. ___ DES MOINES, Iowa: Organizers for a young professionals group had low expectations on turnout for their bipartisan event at a downtown bar. "I'll be happy if we get 20 people," said Josh Strief, 27, civic chair of the Young Professionals Connection group. In the end, roughly 30 showed up to watch Kaine and Pence. Some attendees had high expectations for this debate and came away a little disappointed. Stephen Molitor said he watched the presidential debate last week and thought Trump wasn't well received because he kept interrupting Clinton. As he watched Tuesday, he thought it was a repeat, but flipped. "I'm not sure if Kaine interrupting Pence is working for him. I think it's doing the same thing it did for Trump," said Molitor, 33, who works in insurance. He said he was leaning toward voting for Clinton, but he could also end up supporting a third-party candidate. "If I was scoring this right now, I'd call it a draw," Molitor said. Kyle Hurst, 27, of Des Moines, said he thought the debate was more amicable than the presidential debate. "I didn't know a lot about these two, then I came out and saw them and I was surprised how ... much more evenhanded both of them were," said Hurst, who is leaning toward voting for Clinton after supporting Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary. "It felt a lot more like a debate than the last one." ___ SCRANTON, Pennsylvania: Though Pence's mention of Scranton drew cheers, the reaction from a few dozen first-time voters watching the debate at a University of Scranton campus auditorium was otherwise muted. "They seemed pretty informed," said Chris Mezzanotte, a freshman studying computer science. Mezzanotte, who initially leaned toward Trump, is planning to vote for Gary Johnson. The debate Tuesday didn't change his mind. "They just have to reflect the views of their running mate, so nothing too special at this point," he said. Other students also were frustrated by the focus on Trump and Clinton. "Unfortunately, we're seeing the same thing as the presidential debate," said Emily Lundeen, a freshman and die-hard Democrat who turned out to learn more about Kaine. "They're just attacking each other's candidates." ___ GAMBIER, Ohio: Those attending a debate watch party at Kenyon College were handed a "Vice-presidential Debate Bingo" card when they entered the venue, a campus art gallery. The card featured terms or topics that could be explored at the debate. They included: "Benghazi," ''Mexico will pay for it" and "ISIS." The first person who was able to get five across, down or diagonally won a reserved seat to the next debate watch party on campus. Senior political science major Emily Margolin was the winner. The 21-year-old from New York City noted attendance was markedly down compared with the presidential debate party held in the same location a week earlier. "It's the vice presidential debate literally a less important role," said Margolin, adding that students have midterms Wednesday before heading out for a four-day fall break that begins on Thursday. Jess Lane, a Kenyon freshman from Raleigh, North Carolina who supports Clinton, said that while Tuesday's debate was not as exciting as the presidential one, "I think there's a lot more substance there for sure." ___ TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Hoping to get more answers, Republicans and Democrats attended separate watch parties in Tallahassee. Will Watson said he supports Trump but went to a Republican-sponsored debate party at a restaurant because it was important for him to hear the views of both sides firsthand. "You can't just go off of what your friends tell you because if you don't see what actually it is, you could be voting for someone you actually don't agree with," the 19-year-old said. But Jaylen Smith said even after watching the two vice presidential candidates he was left with questions. "The parties are really talking around the questions," the 21-year-old said while at a Democratic-sponsored party at Florida A&M University. "There really is no clarity." ___ Kang reported from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Also contributing: Barbara Rodriguez in Des Moines, Iowa; Mike Householder in Gambier, Ohio; Joe Reedy in Tallahassee, Florida. AP FACT CHECK: Claims in the VP debate WASHINGTON (AP) Not all the claims in the vice presidential debate stand up to scrutiny. A look at some of them and how they compare with the facts: REPUBLICAN MIKE PENCE: "The fact that under this past administration, we've almost doubled the national debt is atrocious.... Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine want more of the same." THE FACTS: As a share of the total U.S. economy, the national debt has gone up 35 percent; not a doubling. Republican vice-presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence, right, and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine speak during the vice-presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. (Andrew Gombert/Pool via AP) Still, the debt has ballooned to $19.6 trillion. This largely reflected efforts by the Obama administration to stop the Great Recession. Would Clinton similarly increase the debt? Not according to an analysis by the independent Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The Clinton plan with its tax increases would increase the gross debt both privately and publicly held by $450 billion over 10 years. Mind you, that is on top of an $8.8 trillion increase already projected by the government under current law. As for Donald Trump, the committee says his tax-cut-heavy plan would increase the gross debt by $4.3 trillion nearly 10 times more than Clinton's plan would do. ___ DEMOCRAT TIM KAINE on immigration: "Our plan is like Ronald Reagan in 1986." THE FACTS: There are similarities for sure but Clinton's proposal would have far broader impact. The estimated population of immigrants living in the United States illegally is now roughly 11 million. In 1986, the so-called Reagan amnesty bill legalized the immigration status of about 3 million people. There are also some notable differences between the law signed by President Reagan and Clinton's proposal. The Reagan law included a provision that made it illegal for businesses to hire workers who don't have the legal right to work in the United States. Enforcement of that provision has never fully materialized. Clinton's plan as laid out in her campaign website does not address workforce enforcement. ____ KAINE on Trump's tax plan: "The second component of the plan is massive tax breaks for the very top, trillions of dollars of tax breaks for people just like Donald Trump. The problem with this ... is that's exactly what we did 10 years ago and it put the economy into the deepest recession the deepest recession since the 1930s." THE FACTS: There's no serious argument that the Bush tax cuts brought on the recession. The recession was driven largely by the bust in the housing market. Critics might blame lax oversight by the Bush administration of the financial markets and of lenders, but the tax cuts were not a major factor in the recession. It's true they failed to spur significant income growth before the housing bubble popped nearly a decade ago, leading to a wave of foreclosures as the economy plunged into its deepest downturn since the Great Depression. But President Barack Obama chose to extend some of them in order to deal with the recession and its aftermath. ___ DEMOCRAT TIM KAINE, on fighting the Islamic State: "Donald Trump doesn't have a plan." THE FACTS: Clinton also doesn't have a plan that is materially different than what President Barack Obama is already doing. She's described a three-part strategy that involves crushing IS "on its home turf" in the Middle East, disrupting its infrastructure on the ground and online, and protecting America and its allies. All are current elements of the Obama administration's strategy, so it's not clear what would change or if she would accelerate any portions of it. It's also the case that Trump has not laid out a clear plan, though he claims to have a "secret" one that he won't detail. ___ PENCE: "The Trump Foundation is a private family foundation. They give virtually every cent in the Trump Foundation to charitable causes. Less than 10 cents on the dollar in the Clinton Foundation has gone to charitable causes." THE FACTS: Rather than send money to other charities, the Clinton Foundation tends to spend its money on its own charitable programs. Pence's claim ignores these internal initiatives, overlooking the Clinton Foundation's work on African farming, climate change and AIDS treatment. Many non-profits spend the bulk of their charitable money on their own efforts rather than on outside charitable groups. As for Trump's foundation, multiple questions have been raised about its namesake's generosity. Money has been used to buy paintings of Trump and a signed football helmet that belonged to Tim Tebow. Money from the foundation has also helped settled legal cases against Trump's for-profit businesses, according to The Washington Post. Trump even paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty this year after it was uncovered that the foundation broke tax laws by giving a political contribution to Florida's attorney general. ___ PENCE, calling Clinton the "architect of the Obama administration's foreign policy," says the crisis in Syria was the result of a "failed and weak foreign policy that Hillary Clinton helped lead." THE FACTS: Clinton, as secretary of state, actually pushed for increased U.S. intervention after Syrian President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons against rebels. But Obama is the commander in chief and nothing has swayed him thus far. Whatever her failings might be on foreign policy, it's a stretch to accuse her of helping to lead a weak policy on Syria. ___ PENCE: "Hillary Clinton had a private server in her home that had classified information on it about drone strikes. Emails from the president of the United States of America were on there, her private server was subject to being hacked by foreign ..." KAINE: "A Republican FBI director did an investigation and concluded ... there was no reasonable prosecutor who would take it further." THE FACTS: Both are right, but they left out key details. Of 30,000 emails examined from Clinton's private server, more than 2,000 did contain some classified information. But nearly all were designated classified long after they were either sent or received by Clinton. FBI Director James Comey also said the FBI found that Clinton's server was vulnerable to hacking by foreign powers but found no evidence that her system was breached. Comey indeed concluded that no reasonable prosecutor would have recommended that Clinton or others face prosecution in the email probe. As for his being a "Republican FBI director," he was a Republican for most of his adult life, but says he's no longer registered with the party. ___ PENCE: "We've seen an economy stifled by more taxes, more regulation, a war on coal." THE FACTS: The coal industry's woes don't come solely from onerous federal regulations. Pence omitted the effects of steep competition from cheap natural gas. A string of major coal companies have filed for bankruptcy in recent years, including Arch Coal, Alpha Natural Resources and Peabody Energy. Layoffs and cutbacks have spread economic suffering through coal country in the Appalachians and Wyoming's Powder River Basin. By contrast, these are boom times for natural gas extraction, mostly due to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Still, the Obama administration has implemented rules that aren't making the coal industry's life any easier. Obama last year imposed a rule requiring coal-fired power plants to cut their carbon emissions as part of his effort to combat climate change. The rule has been suspended pending a legal challenge. Obama also has halted new coal leases on federal lands until it completes a comprehensive review. ___ PENCE, saying he's proud that "the state of Indiana has balanced budgets." THE FACTS: True, but that's not exactly to his credit as governor of Indiana. A balanced budget is required by law, as it is in every state except Vermont. ___ Officials: 2 inmates assault 2 Rikers correction officers NEW YORK (AP) Two correction officers at New York's Rikers Island have been assaulted by two inmates. It happened Tuesday evening at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center inside the jail complex. Both officers were taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released. FILE - In a June 20, 2014, file photo, the Rikers Island jail complex stands in New York with the Manhattan skyline in the background. Two correction officers at New Yorks Rikers Island have been assaulted by two inmates. It happened Tuesday evening, Oct. 4, 2016, at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center inside the jail complex. Both officers were taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) Department of Correction Commissioner Joseph Ponte says in a statement that this "unprovoked attack on our officers will not be tolerated." He says officials are "committed to creating a culture of safety" at the department. Officials say the inmates, who are both suspected gang members, were immediately arrested and will face charges. The attack remains under investigation. Australian bank reinstates traders still under legal cloud CANBERRA, Australia (AP) An Australian bank chief executive told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that traders implicated in market manipulation allegations had been suspended then reinstated without those accusations being judged by a court. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the financial regulator, is suing the ANZ Banking Group in the Federal Court for unconscionable conduct and market manipulation in relation to ANZ's involvement in setting the bank bill swap reference rate from 2010 to 2012. The bank has denied the allegations. The rate sets the price of business between banks and other institutions. Rigging the rate can increase profits for both banks and traders. ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott told the House Standing Committee on Economics that the bank initiated an internal investigation and suspended "a handful of people" after the regulator raised its allegations. Media reports said seven traders had been suspended on November 2014. All but two traders were reinstated, despite the court case remaining unresolved, Elliott said. "We reinstated those employees because they'd done nothing wrong," Elliott said. Elliott said the two traders that were fired, Etienne Alexiou and Patrick O'Connor, were guilty of breaches of the bank's code of conduct that had nothing to do with the regulator's allegations of market manipulation. Both Alexiou and O'Connor are suing the bank for wrongful termination. They allege the bank condoned a culture of drugs, alcohol and strippers among senior staff on the trading floor. Elliott said "a small number" of traders in the global markets section of the bank "behaved appallingly and when we found out about those, we acted immediately." The bank had responded with more ethics training and increased monitoring of the markets business, he said. The ANZ is one 17 banks and two international broking houses named in a class action suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that alleges rigging of the bank bill swap reference rate. The ANZ has said it will defend the U.S. action and notes that the Australian regulator's case does not allege that the bank colluded with others. Regulators expand protections to prepaid debit card users NEW YORK (AP) Federal regulators announced new rules Wednesday governing the quickly growing prepaid debit card industry, an effort more than two years in the making which should bring basic account protections to its customers, who are often financially disadvantaged. Prepaid debit card issuers will have to provide their users with basic account information like balances and transaction history free of charge to customers. Protections for lost or stolen cards will also be expanded to prepaid debit cards. Fees for the cards will have to be more clearly disclosed on the packaging. "Before today ... many of these products lacked strong consumer protections under federal law," Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said in a prepared statement. "Our new rule closes loopholes and protects prepaid consumers when they swipe their card, shop online, or scan their smartphone." This Monday, March 7, 2016, photo, shows an American Express Serve prepaid debit card for sale at a store, in New York. Federal regulators announced new rules Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, governing the quickly growing prepaid debit card industry, an effort more than two years in the making, which should bring basic account protections to its customers that are often the poor and financially disadvantaged. (AP Photo/Swayne B. Hall) Once a product whose only purpose was to function as a gift card, prepaid debit cards have become increasingly popular over the last 15 years and have effectively replaced a traditional checking account for millions of Americans. Roughly $65 billion was loaded onto prepaid cards in 2012, the most recent year for which data are available. That's more than double the amount loaded in 2009, only three years before. The amount loaded is expected to double again by 2018. Sold in most grocery or convenience stores, the cards are largely used by lower income Americans, who are statistically more likely to be young, a racial minority and likely to earn less than $25,000 a year, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. As the industry has grown, it has had more than its fair share of controversy. Early prepaid cards carried extremely high monthly fees, even sometimes fees to load money onto a card. The RushCard, a card backed by hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, suffered a massive technical glitch a year ago that locked more than a hundred thousand customers out of their funds, sometimes for weeks. The industry's missteps have allowed more traditional banks and financial services companies to come out with their own prepaid cards, including JPMorgan Chase and American Express. The industry did win one significant concession. The CFPB will allow prepaid debit cards issuers to provide overdraft services, which would legitimize a small, controversial part of the prepaid debit card industry. Only 2 percent of all prepaid debit cards allow for their customers to overdraft, according to the National Consumer Law Center. With the CFPB's blessing, that percentage will likely expand. Consumer advocates had been pushing hard to ban overdraft in prepaid cards, arguing that many prepaid customers used the card specifically to avoid being exposed to overdraft. But by making overdraft available, it makes prepaid debit cards nearly synonymous in their features as traditional checking accounts. The new rules go into effect October 1st, 2017. "Research shows many consumers turn to prepaid cards to control spending and to avoid overdraft fees. Moving forward, we strongly encourage the bureau to rein in these harmful fees for checking accounts, the most widely used financial product in the U.S.," said Nick Bourke, director of consumer finance at Pew Charitable Trusts. Industry reaction to the finalized rules was mixed. Green Dot, the largest provider of pre-paid cards, said they "embrace" the new regulations and that the new rules provide a more "level playing field" for card issuers compared to traditional checking accounts. The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, the lobby group for the larger industry, expressed some concern saying the rules could burden the industry with more regulation, particularly smaller issuers of prepaid cards. ___ Aussies appear in Malaysian court for partying in briefs KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Nine Australians who stripped down to skimpy briefs and drank beer from shoes at the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix appeared in a Malaysian court Thursday, where they are likely to be charged for public indecency. The nine were detained Sunday after they partied in Budgy Smuggler-brand swimsuits decorated with the Malaysian flag in full view of thousands of spectators at the Sepang track after Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo won the race. Police say the men were being investigated for intentionally causing insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and public indecency. They face up to two years in jail, a fine or both if they are found guilty. Nick Kelly, second left, and Thomas Whitworth, center, two of the nine Australian men arrested arrives at the Sepang Magistrate in Sepang, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. Nine Australian friends who have spent four nights in Malaysian police detention will appear in a court for the first time on Thursday after stripping down to their briefs and drinking beer from shoes at the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix, an official said. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul) The men, mostly Sydney University graduates, were dressed in suits when they appeared in court Thursday. John Walker, the father of one of the men, Jack Walker, told reporters he was "hopeful" of their release. Jack Walker is an adviser to Australian Defense Industry Minister Chris Pyne. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade First Assistant Secretary Jon Philp said he did not know what would happen in court today. "Something could happen quickly, but it's entirely up to the magistrate and the legal authorities," Philp told Nine Network television. "We'd like to think that they'll be home soon, but it's up to the Malaysian authorities to decide what to do now," he added. The men could be charged or police could ask the magistrate for their detention to be extended while they continue their investigation. Ricciardo, the driver whose success inspired the Australians' beer-fueled revelry, described the incident as "pretty harmless." "I respect the laws of Malaysia, but beyond that I don't think they deserve any further punishment," Ricciardo told Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper. "In Australia, it's a bit different, but I'm very sure they didn't intend to offend anyone," he added. The Australian media has dubbed the men the Budgie Nine, using a spelling variation of the abbreviated name of the budgerigar, a small Australian parrot. The name plays on nine Australians arrested in Indonesia for heroin trafficking in 2005 who became known as the Bali Nine. Nick Kelly, center left with glasses, and Thomas Whitworth, center right, of the nine Australian men arrested arrives at the Sepang Magistrate in Sepang, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. Nine Australian friends who have spent four nights in Malaysian police detention will appear in a court for the first time on Thursday after stripping down to their briefs and drinking beer from shoes at the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix, an official said. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul) In this Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 photo, Australian men pose for a photo in Budgy Smuggler-brand swimsuits decorated with the Malaysian flag at the conclusion of the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia. Malaysian authorities who have detained nine Australians for three nights would regard their actions in stripping down to their briefs and drinking beer from shoes as premeditated, Australia's foreign minister said Wednesday. (AP Photo) In this Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 photo, Australian men celebrate in Budgy Smuggler-brand swimsuits decorated with the Malaysian flag at the conclusion of the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia. Malaysian authorities who have detained nine Australian men for three nights would regard their actions in stripping down to their briefs and drinking beer from shoes as premeditated, Australia's foreign minister said Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (AP Photo) In this Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 image made from video supplied by Umar Akif Jamaludin, an Australian man dances in Budgy Smuggler-brand swimsuits decorated with the Malaysian flag at the conclusion of the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia. Nine Australians, including a government adviser, have been arrested in Malaysia for stripping down to their briefs and drinking beer from shoes after Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo won the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix, officials said Tuesday. (AP Photo) Malaysian Muslim students walk past the Sepang district police headquarters in Sepang, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Nine Australian men have been in police custody since Sunday when they stripped down to Budgy Smuggler-brand swimsuits decorated with the Malaysian flag in full view of thousands of spectators at the Sepang race track Sunday after Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo won the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul) Hurricane Matthew hitting Bahamas as Haiti tries to dig out PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Rescue workers in Haiti struggled to reach isolated towns on Haiti's southern peninsula and learn the full extent of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew as the powerful storm lashed at the Bahamas on Wednesday and triggered large-scale evacuations along the U.S. East Coast. At least 16 deaths were blamed on the hurricane during its weeklong march across the Caribbean, 10 of them in Haiti. Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, head of Haiti's civil protection agency, announced Wednesday that Haiti's confirmed death toll had doubled from five to 10. But with a key bridge washed out, roads impassable and phone communications down, the western tip of Haiti was largely cut off a day after Matthew made landfall and there was no full accounting of the dead and injured in its wake. People stand in a street flooded by a nearby river overflowing from the heavy rains caused by Hurricane Matthew, in Leogane, Haiti, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Rescue workers in Haiti struggled to reach cutoff towns and learn the full extent of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew as the storm began battering the Bahamas on Wednesday and triggered large-scale evacuations along the U.S. East Coast. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) But Jean-Baptiste indicated her agency was starting to get a better handle about what happened in hard-hit Grande Anse department on Haiti's southern peninsula and expected to soon release more information about what rescuers were finding. After moving past Haiti, Matthew rolled across a corner of Cuba and began pounding the southern Bahamas with heavy wind and rain. Weakening a bit, it had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) late Wednesday as it spun on a course expected to take it near the capital city of Nassau during the night. It was expected to regain strength overnight. Forecasters said the storm could hit Florida or come dangerously close Thursday evening and then sideswipe the East Coast all the way up to the Carolinas over the weekend. Matthew could become the first major hurricane to blow ashore in the U.S. since Wilma slashed across Florida in 2005, killing five people. Nearly 2 million people along the lower East Coast were urged to evacuate their homes. "If you're able to go early, leave now," Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned. On Tuesday, Matthew swept across a remote area of Haiti with 145 mph (230 kph) winds, wrecking homes and swamping roads. But government leaders in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere said they weren't close to fully gauging the effect in the flood-prone nation where less powerful storms have killed thousands. "What we know is that many, many houses have been damaged. Some lost rooftops and they'll have to be replaced, while others were totally destroyed," Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph said. Late Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. military announced that a small advance team would start preparing for the arrival of roughly 100 military personnel and nine helicopters currently in the Cayman Islands. The U.S. government said it sent experts to Haiti to assess the damage and is providing $1.5 million in food and other disaster assistance. Mourad Wahba, the U.N. secretary-general's deputy special representative for Haiti, called the hurricane the biggest humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the devastating earthquake of 2010. The Haitian government postponed Sunday's presidential election, in part because some schools and churches that are used as polling stations are serving as shelters and police can't get election materials to some districts. A new date for the vote was not expected to be announced until next week. Aid groups with representatives in the area said it was clear that many homes and crops were destroyed but that the extent was impossible to gauge, especially in the Grand Anse area on the southwestern tip, which Matthew's eye raked over. "We have people in Grand Anse that we cannot reach," Hervil Cherubin, country director for Heifer International, a nonprofit group that works with local farmers. While the capital, Port-au-Prince, was essentially back to normal in many spots, there was still widespread flooding across southern Haiti. "There's absolutely nothing we can do to protect ourselves here," motorcycle taxi driver Joseph Paul said as he watched torrents of brown water wash over a road and deluge his low-lying neighborhood in Leogane. "This storm was too much for us, and we are at its mercy." The hurricane blew across the sparsely populated eastern tip of Cuba on Tuesday night, destroying dozens of homes in Cuba's easternmost city, Baracoa, and damaging hundreds. People stood amid the rubble of their homes, weeping, hugging or staring into the distance. Others scoured piles of concrete and rebar for any possessions they could recover. Some carried cooking pots and rolled-up mattresses through the streets on their way to a shelter. "I've never seen something like this in my life," Elva Perez, a 55-year-old homemaker said as she stood by what remained of her home. "For more than 200 years, here in this house, nothing like this has ever happened." At the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the storm knocked down trees and caused road flooding but no injuries or major damage, said Julie Ripley, a spokeswoman. At 11 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT), Matthew was centered about 125 miles (205 kilometers) south-southeast of Nassau in the central Bahamas. It was heading northwest at 10 mph (17 kph). Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 45 miles (75 kilometers) from the center, meaning Matthew could wreak havoc along the East Coast even if it did not actually come ashore. Along the East Coast, people boarded up beach homes, some schools closed and residents began clearing out. The office of Florida's government said 1.5 million people were being encouraged to move to safer spots. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announced plans to evacuate a quarter-million people from the coast, not counting tourists, starting Wednesday afternoon. ___ Associated Press writers Ben Fox in Miami; Evens Sanon in Haiti; Ramon Espinosa in Baracoa, Cuba; and Joshua Replogle in the Bahamas contributed to this report. A man stands next to a home flatten by Hurricane Matthew, in Grand Goave, Haiti, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Rescue workers in Haiti struggled to reach cutoff towns and learn the full extent of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew as the storm began battering the Bahamas on Wednesday and triggered large-scale evacuations along the U.S. East Coast. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) Men push a motorbike through a street flooded by a river that overflowed from heavy rains caused by Hurricane Matthew in Leogane, Haiti, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Rescue workers in Haiti struggled to reach cutoff towns and learn the full extent of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew as the storm began battering the Bahamas on Wednesday and triggered large-scale evacuations along the U.S. East Coast. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) People watch from both sides of the La Digue river as water roars past where the Petit Goave bridge once stood, destroyed by Hurricane Matthew, in Petit Goave, Haiti, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Rescue workers in Haiti struggled to reach cutoff towns and learn the full extent of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew as the storm began battering the Bahamas on Wednesday and triggered large-scale evacuations along the U.S. East Coast. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) A man begins the task of removing mud from his home flooded by Hurricane Matthew, in Grand Goave, Haiti, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Rescue workers in Haiti struggled to reach cutoff towns and learn the full extent of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew as the storm began battering the Bahamas on Wednesday and triggered large-scale evacuations along the U.S. East Coast. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) Water cascades from the upper floors of a home partially destroyed by the passing of Hurricane Matthew in Baracoa, Cuba, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. The hurricane rolled across the sparsely populated tip of Cuba overnight, destroying dozens of homes in Cuba's easternmost city, Baracoa, and leaving hundreds of others damaged. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Kayja Algreen sits with her 3-month-old child Nathan Marsh and watches over Demarchio Smith, Adonis Smith and Alrica Algreen as they wait inside a shelter set up for residents at a church ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Matthew in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. The storm began battering the Bahamas on Wednesday and triggered large-scale evacuations along the U.S. East Coast. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen) Thailand denies entry to teen Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong HONG KONG (AP) Thailand stopped Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from entering the country to give a talk and sent him home, raising questions about whether it acted at China's behest. An activist and a Thai immigration official said Bangkok responded to a request from Beijing, though a Thai government spokesman denied that. Wong, a 19-year-old activist who rose to global prominence by spearheading huge 2014 street protests against Beijing's plan to restrict elections, arrived around midnight Tuesday at Bangkok's main airport. He said he was immediately taken into custody by 20 police and immigration officers and then put on a flight back to Hong Kong about 12 hours later. He was due to give a talk at Chulalongkorn University about lessons from Hong Kong's "Umbrella Movement" protests as part of Oct. 6 commemorations of a Thai government crackdown on student demonstrators 40 years ago. Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks to media after arriving at Hong Kong airport from Bangkok, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thailand stopped Wong from entering the country and sent him back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, a Thai activist who had planned to greet him at the airport, said police informed him that Wong was detained after Thailand received a notice from the Chinese government. The deputy commander of Suvarnabhumi Airport's immigration office, Pruthipong Prayoonsiri, said Wong was blacklisted after China asked the Thai government to deny him entry, according to a report in The Nation newspaper. An officer at the airport department, speaking on condition of anonymity because staff are prohibited from commenting to media, confirmed that Pruthipong made the comments at a briefing. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters that "it's China's business," without elaborating on how Thai officials made the decision to deny Wong entry. Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, however, said there was no order to detain Wong. He said authorities were aware Wong had been "active in resistance movements against other foreign governments, and that if such actions were taken within Thailand, they could eventually affect Thailand's relations with other nations." Wong, who turns 20 next week, was one of the student leaders behind pro-democracy protests two years ago that marked the former British colony's most turbulent period since China took control in 1997. In August, a Hong Kong court sentenced him to community service for his role in the protests, which brought parts of the city to a standstill for months. Wong said authorities took his passport and "illegally detained" him in a windowless holding cell at the Bangkok airport. He said he was not given a clear explanation for his detention and was not allowed to contact his family or a lawyer. "I actually had a lot of discussion with a Thai official, but because he didn't speak English very well, I couldn't hear him very well. But there was one word I heard very clearly: blacklist," he told reporters after arriving at Hong Kong's airport. Wong, who last year was prevented from entering Malaysia, said he was relieved he did not end up like five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared and later turned up in custody in mainland China. While four have been freed, Chinese-born Gui Minhai, a naturalized Swedish citizen who vanished from his holiday home in Thailand, is still detained. "If I hadn't returned to Hong Kong, I can't imagine what kind of situation I'd be in," Wong said. "Fortunately, I did not become another missing person." At a news conference later, Wong said, "of course I think Beijing played an important role in this incident," which he believed was a result of closer ties between Thailand and China. The bookseller case and other incidents have intensified fears in Hong Kong that Beijing is overstepping its boundaries and undermining a "one-country, two systems" formula that governs the territory's relationship with the mainland. Nathan Law, who co-founded the political party Demosisto with Wong earlier this year, demanded an explanation and apology from the Thai government. He condemned Beijing for "exerting inappropriate influence and diplomatic pressure" on Thailand. Law, 23, was elected Hong Kong's youngest legislator last month while Wong, who is Demosisto's secretary general, was two years too young to run under election rules. Their party wants a referendum on "self-determination" on the future status of Hong Kong, which is in the middle of a 50-year transition period to Chinese rule. Amnesty International said the decision to block Wong, who inspired student activists in Thailand, "underscores the government's willingness to suppress the right to freedom of expression and raises serious concerns about how China is using its influence over Thai authorities." China's Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that it was aware of the case, but did not say whether China had asked Thailand to detain him only that it respected Thailand's ability to manage the entrance of people into the country "in accordance with law." Wong's detention "sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing's bidding," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. Refusing entry to Wong would also be in line with recent moves by Thailand's military rulers, who seized power in a 2014 coup. The government has shown zero tolerance for dissent and has cracked down hard on its own student activists who have protested the military rule. It has detained students and stopped speeches from taking place. Last month, Thai authorities threatened to arrest Amnesty International speakers who planned to hold a news conference to release a report detailing allegations of torture at the hands of the military and police, causing the rights group to cancel the event. ___ Natnicha reported from Bangkok. AP video journalist Tassanee Vejpongsa in Bangkok and AP researcher Henry Hou in Beijing contributed to this report. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, center, shows the letter from Thailand Immigration office after arriving at Hong Kong airport from Bangkok, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thailand stopped teen pro-democracy activist Wong from entering the country and sent him back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, right, arrives at Hong Kong airport from Bangkok, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thailand stopped the teen pro-democracy activist rom entering the country and sent him back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, center, arrives at Hong Kong airport from Bangkok, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thailand stopped Wong from entering the country and sent him back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, center, arrives at Hong Kong airport from Bangkok, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thailand stopped the teen pro-democracy activist from entering the country and sent him back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, second right, speaks to media after arriving at Hong Kong airport from Bangkok, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thailand stopped Wong from entering the country and sent him back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, red shirt, leads a protest emulating the 2014 Hong Kong style umbrella protests, at the detention and deportation of Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thai security officials say Wong has been sent back to Hong Kong after being barred from entering the country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Student activists hold a protest emulating the 2014 Hong Kong style umbrella protests, at the detention and deportation of Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thai security officials say Wong has been sent back to Hong Kong after being barred from entering the country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, centre, leads a protest emulating the 2014 Hong Kong style umbrella protests, at the detention and deportation of Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thai security officials say Wong has been sent back to Hong Kong after being barred from entering the country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal gestures as he talks to the media on Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong's detention at Bangkok's airport, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thai authorities, reportedly acting on a request from Beijing, detained the Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist on his arrival at Bangkok's airport in the latest sign of what rights groups said Wednesday is China pressuring neighbors as it tries to quash dissent at home and overseas. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal gestures as he talks to the media on Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong's detention at Bangkok's airport, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thai authorities, reportedly acting on a request from Beijing, detained the Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist on his arrival at Bangkok's airport in the latest sign of what rights groups said Wednesday is China pressuring neighbors as it tries to quash dissent at home and overseas. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal gestures as he talks to the media on Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong's detention at Bangkok's airport, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thai authorities, reportedly acting on a request from Beijing, detained the Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist on his arrival at Bangkok's airport in the latest sign of what rights groups said Wednesday is China pressuring neighbors as it tries to quash dissent at home and overseas. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Protesters raise placards against the Thai government in Hong Kong Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 after Thailand stopped teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from entering the country. Thailand sent Wong back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. Thai officials and Wongs political party said he was put on a Hong Kong Airlines flight back to the specially administered Chinese region on Wednesday about 12 hours after he arrived at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) Protesters raise placards against the Thai government in Hong Kong Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 after Thailand stopped teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from entering the country. Thailand sent Wong back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. Thai officials and Wongs political party said he was put on a Hong Kong Airlines flight back to the specially administered Chinese region on Wednesday about 12 hours after he arrived at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) Extracting data from recorders in train crash may take days HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) Federal investigators are working to extract data from an event recorder on board a New Jersey commuter train that crashed last week, killing a woman and injuring more than 100 others, but say it may be a few days before they release the information. National Transportation Safety Board investigators recovered the data recorder, a video recorder and the train engineer's cellphone from the front car of the NJ Transit train on Tuesday afternoon. The equipment was sent to an agency lab in Washington for analysis, officials said. "We are extracting the data and will be providing a characterization of the data within the next few days," NTSB spokesman Chris O'Neil said Wednesday. In this photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), James Southworth, Investigator-in-Charge for the National Transportation Safety Boards investigation, is handed the lead cars video recorder in an anti-static bag from NTSB investigator Michael Hiller, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in Hobokon, N.J. Federal investigators recovered a data recorder, video recorder and the engineer's cellphone Tuesday from the commuter train that crashed into a New Jersey rail station last week. The items were sent to an agency lab for analysis. (N.J. Transit Police Det. Laquan Hudson/NTSB via AP) At a news briefing on Tuesday afternoon, NTSB Investigator James Southworth said he didn't yet know whether the recorders had any useful data. A second event recorder that was retrieved from the locomotive in the rear of the train wasn't functioning on the day of the crash, officials have said. The recorder that was retrieved on Tuesday appeared to be in "fairly good shape," Southworth said. "We expect the recorders will be able to provide the investigators with speed information, throttle positions, braking system information, and about 100 other parameters, as well as a video image of the accident," Southworth added. A woman standing on a platform at Hoboken Terminal was killed by debris in Thursday's crash as the train smashed through a concrete-and-steel bumper and caused a section of the station's roof to collapse. More than 100 people were injured. The train's engineer, Thomas Gallagher, told investigators that he had no memory of the crash and only remembered waking up on the floor of the engineer's cab, but said he was operating at 10 mph as he approached the station, said T. Bella Dinh-Zarr, the NTSB's vice chair. A U.S. official told The Associated Press on Tuesday that based on the damage caused to the station, investigators estimated the train was going between 20 and 30 mph above the station's 10 mph speed limit. The official, who was briefed on the investigation, wasn't authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. That estimate was based on the extent of damage caused by the crash, not on information from the train's instruments, the official said. Last Thursday's crash caused far more damage than a 1985 crash at the station in which a train hit an end-of-track bumper at 10 mph. That crash buckled a concrete platform and toppled a few metal gates, but the train remained within the track area, according to photos, video and witness accounts at the time. Federal investigators blamed that wreck on slippery gel left on the tracks after wheel testing, NJ Transit has not responded to repeated requests for comment. ___ Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak in Philadelphia contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to show the dateline is Hoboken, N.J, not Hoboken, N.Y. In this photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a video recorder, recovered from the control cab of the lead car from N.J. Transits Pascack Valley Line train No. 1614, is removed from the train as part of the National Transportation Safety Boards investigation, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in Hobokon, N.J., into last week's commuter train that slammed into the New Jersey rail station. Federal investigators recovered a data recorder, video recorder and the engineer's cellphone from the front car of the commuter train Tuesday afternoon and sent them to an agency lab for analysis. (N.J. Transit Police Det. Laquan Hudson/NTSB via AP) In this photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), National Transportation Safety Board investigator Michael Hiller places the event recorder, recovered from the control cab of the lead car from N.J. Transits Pascack Valley Line train No. 1614, into an anti static bag, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in Hobokon, N.J. Federal investigators recovered a data recorder, video recorder and the engineer's cellphone Tuesday from the commuter train that crashed into a New Jersey rail station last week. The items were sent to an agency lab for analysis. (N.J. Transit Police Det. Laquan Hudson/NTSB via AP) In this photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), National Transportation Safety Board engineer William Tuccio removes the event recorder memory board and video recorder hard drive, recovered from N.J. Transits Pascack Valley Line train No. 1614 lead car, from protective cases after the items arrived at an NTSB laboratory, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in Washington. Federal investigators recovered a data recorder, video recorder and the engineer's cellphone Tuesday from the commuter train that crashed into a New Jersey rail station last week. The items arrived at the lab for analysis. (Chris ONeil/NTSB via AP) In this photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), National Transportation Safety Board engineer William Tuccio removes the event recorder memory board and video recorder hard drive, recovered from N.J. Transits Pascack Valley Line train No. 1614 lead car, from protective cases after the items arrived at an NTSB laboratory, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in Washington. Federal investigators recovered a data recorder, video recorder and the engineer's cellphone Tuesday from the commuter train that crashed into a New Jersey rail station last week. The items arrived at the lab for analysis. (Chris ONeil/NTSB via AP) In this photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the video recorder hard drive, recovered from N.J. Transits Pascack Valley Line train No. 1614 lead car, is displayed at an NTSB laboratory, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in Washington. Federal investigators recovered a data recorder, video recorder and the engineer's cellphone Tuesday from the commuter train that crashed into a New Jersey rail station last week. The items arrived at the lab for analysis. (Chris ONeil/NTSB via AP) In this photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the event recorder memory board, recovered from N.J. Transits Pascack Valley Line train No. 1614 lead car, is displayed at an NTSB laboratory, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in Washington. Federal investigators recovered a data recorder, video recorder and the engineer's cellphone Tuesday from the commuter train that crashed into a New Jersey rail station last week. The items arrived at the lab for analysis. (Chris ONeil/NTSB via AP) Monument a rare but clouded window into Indonesia massacres PLUMBON, Indonesia (AP) In a country pockmarked with hidden graves from one of the 20th century's worst mass killings, the village of Plumbon has something that sets it apart: a monument that names some of those believed killed when the nationwide bloodletting engulfed this hamlet half a century ago. Down a rutted track that passes a flimsy stall selling sugary tea, then penetrates into lush forest, the waist-high marker sits in the center of a rectangular clearing. An edge is broken off; locals blame that on children's mischief. It lists eight names: Moetiah, Soesatjo, Darsono, Sachroni, Joesoef, Soekandar, Doelkhamid, Soerono. And it adds that as many as 24 people could be buried here. In this Sept. 3, 2016 photo, Yunantyo Adi, right, an Indonesian activist, and Sukar, an eye witness to the aftermath of an execution of local communist party members and sympathizers in 1965, clean up around the monument erected at the site of a mass grave in Plumbon village, Central Java, Indonesia. In a country pockmarked with hidden graves from one of the 20th centurys worst mass killings, the village of Plumbon has something unique: a monument that names some of those believed killed when the nationwide bloodletting engulfed this hamlet half a century ago. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Erected in 2015 after activists persuaded villagers, religious leaders and local officials, the monument is a rare acknowledgement of the victims of Indonesia's anti-communist massacres, which historians estimate killed half a million people. And yet, it also illustrates how thoroughly the history of that brutal period has been erased. Are those eight men, and victims of related atrocities, truly buried there? The fog of memory may have placed it in the wrong place entirely. Political expediency and the passing of time may prevent anyone from ever knowing for sure. An abortive coup on Sept. 30, 1965, ignited a months-long bloodbath by soldiers, militias and Islamic groups. The military blamed communists for the coup attempt, and in a time of high Cold War tensions, the killing spree and mass incarcerations ensured that pro-Western general Suharto would sideline and ultimately replace President Sukarno, a socialist and anti-colonialist at odds with the U.S. After decades of distorted victor's history in which the events of 1965-66 were depicted as a heroic uprising, the government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo this year permitted an unprecedented symposium that brought together survivors, the military and Islamic groups. Organizers had hoped to pave the way for reconciliation and justice. But there was a conservative backlash, followed by a possible death blow: A cabinet reshuffle installed a former military chief with a checkered human rights record to the ministry overseeing work to locate mass graves. Even if reconciliation efforts are revived, old age whittles the ranks of witnesses every year. Facts blur and slip further from grasp. Sabar, a frail, shrunken 83-year-old with milky eyes, can barely bring himself to remember. In the mid-1960s, he was a member of the Peasants Front, one of the mass organizations of Indonesia's Communist Party, the world's third-largest at the time and a powerful player in the nation's politics. Sabar's lips trembled as he recalled being arrested in October 1965. He was held in the Kawedanan, or offices, of the Kendal district government with at least six of the men named on the monument. Plumbon is part of the district in Central Java province. To the jailers, "we were just animals. Maybe lower than that. And for us, they were the most violent devils," Sabar said at his home in a village of traditional low-slung Javanese houses. Sabar said he is certain only of the fate of one man on the monument: Soesatjo, whom he remembered as a Kendal district official and Communist Party member. He said the killings occurred during the fasting month of Ramadan, which places them between late December 1965 and late January 1966. Sabar said guards would call out names of condemned prisoners at midday and isolate them until taking them away in the evening. "I remember Soesatjo because he was the highest rank of the local administration jailed in Kawedanan," he said. "I heard his name called out and saw him being isolated. Later, I heard from a guard that Soesatjo had been shot to death in Plumbon." Sabar recounted how before his own arrest he saw members of an Islamic militia kill the teenage son of a local Communist Party member by dragging him behind a jeep. Yunantyo Adi, one of the activists behind the monument, believes all eight men named on it are buried there, but concedes there's no proof unless the site is exhumed. The land is government-owned, and it's unclear if and when officials will begin work to examine mass graves in Plumbon and elsewhere. Adi said the bigger point of the monument is to serve as a symbol and draw attention to a crime against humanity for which no one has ever been called to account. Few people alive witnessed the killings in Plumbon. One of them, Supar, is now toothless and aged beyond his 68 years. "I never want to see it (the gravesite) again. Some people even say grass won't grow there," he said. Interviewed at his spartanly furnished home while cradling a young relative, Supar said he was a naively curious 17-year-old at the time. He knew that an older friend with government ties was "going around doing things" in the aftermath of the abortive coup. "I asked, 'Can I go with you?' 'Just wait,' he said. 'Your time will come.' And then my time came." It was 11 p.m. or later and raining heavily when 12 alleged communists were pulled from the truck that had delivered them to Plumbon. Their burial place had already been dug. "They were told to sit down on the ground side by side. They prayed or recited whatever verse they knew," Supar said. "After the execution I was told to shine the flashlight. I couldn't look so I turned my face away, but the soldier yelled at me, 'Don't look away!' Those still moving, the soldiers shot them again. "We buried the bodies, but it wasn't perfect," he said. "I heard that some people buried them properly the next day." Another witness, Sukar, lived in Plumbon, then a village of less than two dozen houses, at the time of the killings. He spoke to the AP while sitting on the ground where he remembers covering partially buried bodies. He recalled his father-in-law, a government official and village leader, warning everyone to stay indoors one evening. "My father-in-law told us, 'All of you must stay at home tonight. If you go out of the house I will arrest you myself.'" Still, Sukar was able to see from his porch a small convoy of military jeeps and trucks pass by. It's not certain that Sukar and Supar remember the same event, but Sukar also remembered a rainy night. The next morning, his father-in-law told him to gather some men and "go bury the PKI," the acronym for the Communist Party. "I was scared. But I was also scared of my father-in-law," Sukar said. When he and three other men went to the spot, they were struck with horror. "Blood was splattered around. The legs were sticking out of the dirt," he said. "I couldn't see their faces." Many who were spared execution still suffered wretched deaths. Sabar and another former prisoner, Eko Sutikno, said they were crammed into a fetid cell with 100 or so other alleged communists and fed only 60 to 70 corn kernels daily. Whenever an inmate died, Sutikno said, they would cover up the body to get their food ration until the smell alerted the guards. "I could feel the cavities between the bones in my hands," said Sabar. "I was a live skeleton." In the decades of the Suharto "New Order" era that followed, the scale and ferocity of the killings were expunged from national consciousness. After Suharto's ouster in 1998, another narrative began seeping into the national conversation, but slowly. The creation of the Plumbon monument remains a rare act of compromise in a society where political and religious leaders still say even symbols of communism threaten social order. Agus Widjojo, an organizer of the symposium on the massacres and the son of a general killed in the abortive 1965 coup, said progress on reconciliation will continue once the lackluster economy improves and the government can focus on other issues. "We have reached an objective, and that is people came out to express and state what they think about the tragedy of 1965, whereas before nobody dares to say anything," he said. Sutikno, 75, who was imprisoned until 1979, said learning the truth is not about revenge. Those who tortured him are dead now or senile. "I don't know who was in the mass graves, but when I visited them, my heart grieved," Sutikno said. "Why were they treated like that? They were human. They deserve to be buried properly." ___ AP photographer Dita Alangkara and video journalist Andi Jatmiko contributed to this report. In this Sept. 3, 2016 photo, Asrori, left, and Sukar, eye witnesses to the aftermath of an execution of local communist party members in 1965, clean up dry leaves around the monument erected at the site of a mass grave in Plumbon village, Central Java, Indonesia. In a country pockmarked with hidden graves from one of the 20th centurys worst mass killings, the village of Plumbon has something unique: a monument that names some of those believed killed when the nationwide bloodletting engulfed this hamlet half a century ago. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) In this Sept. 3, 2016 photo, 80-year-old Muchran poses for a photo with the monument marking a mass grave where he believes his uncle Sachroni was buried with other victims of 1965-1966 anti communist massacre, in Plumbon village, Central Java, Indonesia. In a country pockmarked with hidden graves from one of the 20th centurys worst mass killings, the village of Plumbon has something unique: a monument that names some of those believed killed when the nationwide bloodletting engulfed this hamlet half a century ago. Writings on the monument read: "Containing 12-24 bodies. Names: Moetiah, Soesatjo, Darsono, Sachroni, Joesoef, Soekandar, Doelkhamid, Soerono and others. Died in 1965 event, may their souls accepted by God. Erected on the initiative of human rights activists, historians, journalists, students, interfaith leaders and local government." (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, Supari, a former political prisoner and member of People's Cultural Institute (LEKRA), an organization associated with Indonesian Communist Party, demonstrates a dance used to be performed to "Genjer-Genjer" a popular folk song which became part of Indonesian communist propaganda in 1960s, at the site of a mass grave believed to be containing 40 bodies at a teak forest in Darupono, Central Java, Indonesia. Indonesia is pockmarked with hidden graves containing the bodies of the victims of executions carried out across Indonesia in 1965 and 1966 in the name of fighting communism. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, former political prisoners Supari, left, Sabar, center, and Eko Sutikno walk in the teak forest where a mass grave is located, in Darupono, Central Java, Indonesia. Indonesia is pockmarked with hidden graves containing the bodies of the victims of executions carried out across Indonesia in 1965 and 1966 in the name of fighting communism. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) In this Sept. 3, 2016 photo, Supar, an eye witness to a execution of the members of Indonesian Communist Party in Kaliwungu, Central Java, poses for a photo at his residence in Kaliwungu, Indonesia. Supar, who was 17 years old in 1965, is one of the few witnesses to the event still living, said naive curiosity got him entangled in the massacre of 12 people accused of being communists. I wanted to see how they are killed, but after seeing it I regretted it. I couldnt go out to work. I couldnt do anything for days, he added. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, Sabar, former political prisoner who was jailed for eight years without trial for being a member of the Peasants Front, one of the mass organizations of Indonesias Communist Party, lights up a cigarette during an interview with The Associated Press at his residence in Kaliwungu, Central Java, Indonesia. Many of Sabar's cell mates were killed and became victims the communist purge in 1965 and 1966, one of the 20th centurys worst mass killings with up to half a million people dead. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, Sabar, former political prisoner who was jailed for eight years without trial for being a member of the Peasants Front, one of the mass organizations of Indonesias Communist Party, stands on a site believed to be a mass grave containing 40 bodies at a teak forest in Darupono, Central Java, Indonesia. The country is pockmarked with hidden graves containing the bodies of the victims of executions carried out across Indonesia in 1965 and 1966 in the name of fighting communism. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, Sabar, former political prisoner who was jailed for eight years without trial for being a member of the Peasants Front, one of the mass organizations of Indonesias Communist Party, walks in the teak forest where a mass grave is located, in Darupono, Central Java, Indonesia The country is pockmarked with hidden graves containing the bodies of the victims of executions carried out across Indonesia in 1965 and 1966 in the name of fighting communism. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) In this Sept. 30, 2016 photo, a visitor looks at a diorama depicting the torture of Siswondo Parman, one of six army generals killed in an abortive coup in 1965 that the military blamed on Indonesias Communist Party, at Pancasila Sakti Monument in Jakarta, Indonesia. The killing of the generals led to the worst atrocities of the 20th century, with up to half a million people killed in a communist purge in 1965 and 1966, that swept dictator Suharto into power. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) This Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 photo shows a diorama depicting the torture Indonesian Army generals in an abortive coup in 1965 that the military blamed on Indonesias Communist Party, at Pancasila Sakti Monument in Jakarta, Indonesia. The killing of the generals led to the worst atrocities of the 20th century, with up to half a million people killed in a communist purge in 1965 and 1966, that swept dictator Suharto into power. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) This Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 photo, visitors look at an old well where six Indonesian Army generals were buried after being killed in an abortive coup in 1965 that the military blamed on Indonesias Communist Party, at Pancasila Sakti Monument in Jakarta, Indonesia. The killing of the generals led to the worst atrocities of the 20th century, with up to half a million people killed in a communist purge in 1965 and 1966, that swept dictator Suharto into power. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Flash Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan meets with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Athens on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua] Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan met with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Athens on Tuesday, agreeing to deepen cooperation between the two countries at various levels and respect each other's core interests. Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, conveyed best regards from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pavlopoulos, saying China-Greece relations have stood the test of ever-changing international situations and achieved constant progress on cooperation since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 44 years ago. China is ready to conduct closer cooperation with Greece at various levels, share mutual understanding and support on issues related to each other's core and major interests, said Liu. Liu highlighted enhanced dialogue among different civilizations, saying China and Greece, as two ancient civilizations in the world, should learn from each other and play an active role in jointly forging four major China-Europe partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization. Pavlopoulos, for his part, appreciated China's stance on Greece's debt crisis, saying he is satisfied with the sound development of bilateral relationship. Greece and China both should take advantage of their cultural influence and set an example for other countries to give importance to cultural exchanges, said Pavlopoulos. Liu is on an official goodwill visit to Greece that began Sunday. On Monday, Liu met with Greek parliamentary speaker Nikos Voutsis. Liu told Voutsis that China and Greece should enhance cultural exchanges, which would in turn help deepen traditional friendship and inject positive energy into world peace and development. Both Liu and Voutsis attended the China-Europe Civilization Dialogue held in Athens on Monday. Ex-Arizona firefighter's 2nd ex-wife testifies against him TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) The trial against a former Arizona fire captain who rose through the ranks as police suspected him in three murders concluded its first day with emotional testimony from the defendant's second ex-wife, who had provided him with an alibi. David Watson is accused of killing his first ex-wife, Linda Watson, in August 2000 and then gunning down her mother and her mother's friend three years later. The prosecution says both murders were tied to Watson's desire to keep full custody of his daughter with Linda Watson. David Watson, right, leans in to speak with attorney Michael Storie during opening statements, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at Pima County Superior Court in Tucson, Ariz. The trial against a former Arizona fire captain who rose through the ranks as police suspected him in three murders concluded its first day with damming testimony from the defendants one-time alibi. David Watson is accused of killing his ex-wife, Linda Watson, in August 2000 and then gunning down her mother and her mothers friend three years later. (Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star via AP) Rosemary Watson, his second ex-wife, said in court on Wednesday that she had covered for her husband on both occasions. "There was no way that I wanted to believe that it was possible that he was involved," she said through tears. Her testimony came after opening statements in which prosecutors said sufficient evidence will show David Watson killed Linda Watson during a bitter custody battle over their then-four-year-old daughter and Marilyn Cox three years later during a long legal battle over grandparent visitation. Renee Farnsworth, a friend of Cox who frequently accompanied her to her visits with the girl, was also shot dead. "These murders were carefully concealed, no doubt about that. These murders were well-executed. But the killer left some stuff behind. He made some mistakes," prosecutor Jonathan Mosher said. The defense says there's no evidence linking David Watson to the killings. Attorney Michael Storie said Linda Watson was struggling with alcoholism and had just lost her job when she disappeared. He said that her off-and-on boyfriend was volatile and that Linda Watson feared him. He painted Rosemary Watson as a scorned woman after a divorce who was vengeful when she went to police in 2007 to say she had falsely provided his alibi on the nights of both murders. "She was crushed. She was shattered," Storie said. "Rosemary goes to police in 2007 and changes her story." Authorities said they believe that David Watson killed Linda Watson on Aug. 20, 2000, four days before a crucial court hearing in an ongoing custody battle over the couple's child. "It was not your average fight. As nasty as those things can be, this one was worse," Mosher said. Linda Watson's skull was found in the desert in 2003 in an area where migrants who cross from Mexico into Arizona have been found dead in the past. It would be eight years before she was identified through DNA because of a backlog at the medical examiner's office. Cox and Farnsworth were shot dead in front of Cox's house on May 7, 2003, following an unsupervised visit she had with her granddaughter. Prosecutors say Cox was worried for her safety and would ask her friend to accompany her when she had to see David Watson. That visit came after a two-year legal battle Cox waged seeking grandparent visitation rights. The judge ruled in her favor and forced David and Rosemary Watson to allow the girl to see her grandmother unsupervised. Detectives from the Pima County Sheriff's Department suspected David Watson all along, but they never told the Tucson Fire Department about their concerns. Watson worked for the department for 20 years and in 2007 was promoted to captain. He resigned shortly after his arrest in April 2015. Rosemary Watson said in court that she woke up the night Linda Watson went missing, that her husband wasn't in bed and that he was nowhere to be found. She went back to sleep, woke up around twilight and saw him cleaning out the back of his sports utility vehicle through a window, she testified. She said that she lied to police the night Cox and Farnsworth were gunned down when she said her husband had been home since before the women dropped off the girl. Instead, she said, David Watson came home later than expected. She said he was pale, shaken up and acting strangely, asking her to wash his clothes immediately after he arrived. "There was kind of terrifying fear factor that went with this whole thing not just of Dave but of this whole situation. I was terrified of the outcome of what would be," Rosemary Watson said. "Clearly, years and years later, we're here." Rosemary Watson's testimony will continue on Thursday. David Watson has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder. Defense attorney Michael Storie gives his opening statement in the murder trial of David Watson, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at Pima County Superior Court in Tucson, Ariz. The trial against a former Arizona fire captain who rose through the ranks as police suspected him in three murders concluded its first day with damming testimony from the defendants one-time alibi. David Watson is accused of killing his ex-wife, Linda Watson, in August 2000 and then gunning down her mother and her mothers friend three years later. (Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star via AP) Defense attorney Michael Storie gives his opening statement in the murder trial of David Watson, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at Pima County Superior Court in Tucson, Ariz. The trial against a former Arizona fire captain who rose through the ranks as police suspected him in three murders concluded its first day with damming testimony from the defendants one-time alibi. David Watson is accused of killing his ex-wife, Linda Watson, in August 2000 and then gunning down her mother and her mothers friend three years later. (Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star via AP) Judge Richard Fields observes as prosecuting attorney Jonathan Mosher presents his opening statement in the murder trial of David Watson, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at Pima County Superior Court in Tucson, Ariz. The trial against a former Arizona fire captain who rose through the ranks as police suspected him in three murders concluded its first day with damming testimony from the defendants one-time alibi. David Watson is accused of killing his ex-wife, Linda Watson, in August 2000 and then gunning down her mother and her mothers friend three years later. (Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star via AP) Prosecuting attorney Jonathan Mosher gives his opening statement in the murder trial of David Watson, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at Pima County Superior Court in Tucson, Ariz. The trial against a former Arizona fire captain who rose through the ranks as police suspected him in three murders concluded its first day with damming testimony from the defendants one-time alibi. David Watson is accused of killing his ex-wife, Linda Watson, in August 2000 and then gunning down her mother and her mothers friend three years later. (Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star via AP) New FBI head in San Francisco was key figure in iPhone hack SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Special Agent Jack Bennett was at the FBI's computer investigation lab in Quantico, Virginia, on a Sunday in March when an outside company showed the bureau how it could hack into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. The tool would end the FBI's high-profile fight with Apple over access to the phone, but Bennett said there was no celebration. "There wasn't high fives, and there weren't people singing down the hallways," he recalled. "It was very much business. 'OK, let's move forward to the next steps. Let's get on the phone. What do we need to do to purchase the tool?'" In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, FBI Special Agent Jack Bennett answers a question while posing in one of the bureau's modernized offices in San Francisco. The FBIs new leader in San Francisco is a former drug investigator who developed expertise in technology that put him at the center of the governments effort to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. Bennett now has oversight responsibilities for Silicon Valley. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) The iPhone fight exposed a rift between the FBI and Silicon Valley technology companies over encryption, and sparked a debate about the right balance between privacy and national security. Bennett, 52, was a key figure in that battle as head of the bureau's digital forensics labs, which extract evidence from computers and other devices and were tasked with accessing the San Bernardino shooter's phone. Bennett is now in charge of the agency's San Francisco division, where he views his role, in part, as trying to bridge the divide between Silicon Valley and the FBI. He took over as special agent in charge of San Francisco in May after nearly 30 years in law enforcement. He started his career as a narcotics investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and did a stint with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration eradicating cocaine smuggling operations in South America. He has investigated child sex crimes and animal rights extremists for the FBI and previously served as an assistant special agent in San Francisco. "The U.S. government sometimes loses sight of what is important to corporations ... and privacy is incredibly important," Bennett said during a recent interview at his office, where a Thompson submachine gun like the type used by agents in the 1930s sits in a glass display case on a coffee table. Still, he was unapologetic about the bureau's desire to access the phone. "We were pretty surprised that this turned in such a way that it became this national debate," Bennett said. "It was never intended to be. ... We were trying to get on one phone because we had 14 murdered people." The fight between Apple Inc. and the FBI centered on the work-issued iPhone 5c of Syed Rizwan Farook, who with his wife killed 14 people at a 2015 holiday gathering of county workers. The U.S. Justice Department demanded that Apple create software to bypass security features on the phone. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the FBI was asking his company to create a "back door" that could be used to unlock other phones, exposing customer data. Agreeing to the FBI's demand would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to other calls for Apple's help to obtain private information, Cook said. Apple vowed to fight a judge's order granting the FBI's request. It received support from technology giants including Google, Facebook and Microsoft, which warned in a court brief on Apple's behalf that the order would undermine the security of the country's most sensitive data. The two sides were gearing up for a court battle when the Justice Department announced in March that it potentially found a way to get into the phone without Apple's help. The Associated Press and two other news organizations sued the FBI in September to learn who the government paid and how much it spent to hack into the phone. Bennett declined to say who helped the FBI, though he said the business was among a number of U.S. and international companies that approached the bureau with potential solutions. FBI Director James Comey has hinted that the agency paid more than $1 million for the tool. Investigators found nothing of significant value on the phone, Bennett said. He disputed that the FBI was asking Apple for a tool that could access other iPhones, calling it a "one-shot deal." Bennett's desire to build a stronger relationship with Silicon Valley companies is laudable, but the two sides might never agree about encryption, said Denelle Dixon-Thayer, chief legal and business officer at Mozilla, which makes the Firefox web browser. "We can still have some healthy tension," she said. "I think that's positive." Ted Schlein, a venture capitalist with Kleiner Perkins who invests in computer security firms, said Bennett's technology background could help the bureau make better decisions about what to ask of Silicon Valley companies and how to get their help. Bennett acknowledged technology firms and the FBI might continue to disagree over data access, but said the need for dialogue will remain. "There are absolute, good reasons why companies have concerns about cooperating with the FBI. But there are also opportunities we should be able to talk to each other," Bennett said. "What's comfortable for a private corporation that will still provide an investigator the ability to stop or prevent a terrorist attack, a missing child or a national security incident?" In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, FBI Special Agent Jack Bennett poses in his office in San Francisco. The FBIs new leader in San Francisco is a former drug investigator who developed expertise in technology that put him at the center of the governments effort to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. Bennett now has oversight responsibilities for Silicon Valley. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, FBI Special Agent Jack Bennett poses behind an encased Thompson Submachine gun in his office in San Francisco. The FBIs new leader in San Francisco is a former drug investigator who developed expertise in technology that put him at the center of the governments effort to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. Bennett now has oversight responsibilities for Silicon Valley. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) The Latest: Hong Kong activist glad he didn't disappear BANGKOK (AP) The Latest on Thailand preventing Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from entering the country and sending him back (all times local): 3:20 p.m. Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong says he's glad he didn't go missing after being stopped and turned back at Bangkok's airport, in a reference to the recent case of five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared and later turned up in custody in mainland China. Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal gestures as he talks to the media on Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong's detention at Bangkok's airport, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thai authorities, reportedly acting on a request from Beijing, detained the Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist on his arrival at Bangkok's airport in the latest sign of what rights groups said Wednesday is China pressuring neighbors as it tries to quash dissent at home and overseas. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Wong spoke briefly to reporters after arriving back at Hong Kong's airport on Wednesday. He said that after his plane touched down in Bangkok, 20 Thai police and immigration officers were waiting for him. He said they didn't allow him to contact his family or a lawyer, or give a clear reason why he was being turned away. ___ 1 p.m. A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok said that they were monitoring developments surrounding Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and that they were urging Thai authorities to clarify his status. Steve Castonguay said, "We support individuals exercising their universally recognized fundamental freedoms of opinion expression peaceful assembly and association throughout the world." Thai authorities prevented Wong from entering the country late Tuesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. ___ 12:45 p.m. A report from Thai security officials says Joshua Wong was sent back to Hong Kong on a Hong Kong Airlines flight that departed Bangkok at 11:40 a.m. The flight is scheduled to land at 3:45 p.m. Hong Kong time. Thai authorities prevented Wong from entering the country late Tuesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. ___ 11:20 a.m. Laurent Meillan, the acting Southeast Asia representative for the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, called Thailand's refusal to allow Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong to enter the country an unnecessary move, saying he was coming to Thailand to attend a peaceful event. "We call for the immediate release of Mr. Joshua Wong," Meillan said. ___ 11 a.m. A Thai security report obtained by The Associated Press says that more than 10 police officials from the Royal Thai Police Special Branch and Immigration Police were waiting for Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong when he arrived at Bangkok's main airport. Thai authorities prevented Wong from entering the country late Tuesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. The security report said that Wong was questioned and was not allowed to use his cellphone or computer. It said he was expected to be sent back to Hong Kong on an Emirates Airline flight later Wednesday as that was the airline he flew to Thailand on. ___ 10:45 a.m. Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said in response to questions about Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong that permission for foreigners to enter Thailand "involves various factors and has to be in line with the relevant immigration laws and regulations." He added that the ministry is reviewing the facts with the Immigration Bureau and other authorities. Thai authorities prevented Wong from entering the country late Tuesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2016 file photo, Hong Kong student pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong shouts slogans outside a magistrate's court in Hong Kong. Wong has been detained by Thai officials after arriving to give a talk at a university, his political party said. Demosisto said in a Facebook post that the party was unable to contact Wong after he arrived at Bangkok's main airport late Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. The group said it got word early Wednesday, Oct. 5 from a Thai student activist who was expected to meet Wong that he had been detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport after Thai authorities received a request from the Chinese government about his visit. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File) Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal gestures as he talks to the media on Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong's detention at Bangkok's airport, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Thai authorities, reportedly acting on a request from Beijing, detained the Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist on his arrival at Bangkok's airport in the latest sign of what rights groups said Wednesday is China pressuring neighbors as it tries to quash dissent at home and overseas. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) 2 Ohio college students shot, wounded in apparent robbery OXFORD, Ohio (AP) Two Ohio college students have been shot in an apparent robbery at a house near campus. Police say the two male students were shot Tuesday night near the campus of Miami University. The victims told police that two other males shot them and then took off. The victims were taken to area hospitals. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Police have not released their names. It's unclear what led to the shooting. No arrests have been made. Police are encouraging students to use caution and report any suspicious activity. Air Berlin to discuss merging part of business with TUI unit BERLIN (AP) Germany's struggling Air Berlin says it will discuss transferring part of its fleet to a new group that would be set up by tour operator TUI Group and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, a major shareholder. Air Berlin's announcement came after it said last week that it plans to cut its 144-strong fleet nearly in half and eliminate some 1,200 jobs as part of a restructuring to develop a leaner operation and focus on its most profitable routes. The company said Wednesday that the discussions with TUI and Etihad could result in Air Berlin's tour business comprising 35 aircraft, 14 of them leased from TUI's airline TUIfly, being merged with TUIfly. WHY IT MATTERS: Islamic State WASHINGTON (AP) THE ISSUE: The Islamic State group seized swaths of land in Iraq and expanded its territory in Syria in a dramatic blitz in 2014, taking advantage of unrest in both countries. The militant group slaughtered civilians in its march to try to establish a radical caliphate, and has spawned a string of deadly attacks across Europe, the Middle East and the United States. In response, the U.S. and a coalition of allies launched a sustained campaign of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in 2014, and have been training, advising and supporting local forces in both countries. Recently, the U.S. added Libya to its airstrike targets to root out extremists at the request of the Libyan government. While still a potent force, IS militants have lost much of the territory they overran. Meantime. they've stepped up attempts to inspire followers abroad to strike on their own, with some devastating results. ___ FILE - In this June 16, 2014. file photo, demonstrators chant pro-Islamic State group slogans as they carry the group's flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul, Iraq. The Islamic State group seized swaths of land in Iraq and expanded its territory in Syria in a dramatic blitz in 2014, taking advantage of unrest in both countries. The militant group slaughtered civilians in its march to try to establish a radical caliphate, and has spawned a string of deadly attacks across Europe, the Middle East and the United States. (AP Photo, File) WHERE THEY STAND: Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, has described a three-part strategy that involves crushing IS "on its home turf" in the Middle East, disrupting their infrastructure on the ground and online, and protecting America and its allies. All are current elements of the Obama administration's strategy, so it's not clear what would change or if she would accelerate any portions of it. She's vowed: "We are not putting ground troops into Iraq ever again. And we're not putting ground troops into Syria. We're going to defeat ISIS without committing American ground troops." Donald Trump promises to "bomb the hell" out of IS, also known as ISIS, and level the oil facilities it controls. He has provided no details, including whether he would increase U.S. airstrikes or commit ground troops. And U.S. airstrikes have already been doing precision bombing of oil facilities for some time. Trump has also said he believes in enhanced interrogation techniques, which can include waterboarding and other types of torture that are against the law and that many experts argue are ineffective. ___ WHY IT MATTERS The Islamic State group has specifically targeted the U.S. and the West, using its networks, online communications and social media to attract foreign fighters to the front lines and followers in other countries to take up the fight overseas. As the group comes under increasing pressure from the airstrikes and U.S.-backed forces in Iraq and Syria, it has turned greater focus on inspiring lone-wolf attacks that are far more difficult to predict and prevent. In San Bernardino, for example, investigators found that Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militants before the December attack that left 14 dead. The group has also been linked as a possible inspiration, or claimed responsibility, for the November attacks in Paris; the subway and airport bombings in Brussels; the Orlando, Florida, nightclub shootings, the Bastille Day truck attack in Nice, France, the knife attack at a mall in Minnesota, and more. There are signs that accused New York bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami was radicalized abroad by Islamic extremists, though any ties to IS are tenuous. President Barack Obama says IS militants have figured out that if they can persuade "a handful of people or even one person to carry out an attack on a subway, or at a parade or some other public venue, and kill scores of people as opposed to thousands of people, it still creates the kinds of fear and concern that elevates their profile." The administration, however, has been criticized by some for not moving more aggressively and quickly to drive the group from its strongholds in Iraq and Syria. Some members of Congress have called for a stronger U.S. military response. And officials have expressed frustration over the slow-moving effort to disrupt the militant group's online presence. ___ After testy VP debate, Trump rebuffs claim he 'loves' Putin HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) Donald Trump pushed back Wednesday on Hillary Clinton's accusation that he's cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin after the charge put Trump's running mate on the defensive during the vice presidential debate. Trump offered effusive praise for Mike Pence's performance but also claimed credit for it even as both campaigns acknowledged that the sole vice presidential debate was unlikely to alter the race's trajectory. The celebrity businessman said his relationship with Russia's leader would be determined by how Moscow responds to strong U.S. leadership under a Trump administration. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) "They say Donald Trump loves Putin. I don't love, I don't hate. We'll see how it works," Trump told a rally outside Las Vegas. Clinton on Wednesday shrugged that off, saying Trump has "this weird fascination with dictators." "My opponent seems not to know the difference between an ally and adversary," Clinton said at an evening fund raiser in Washington. "There seems to be some misunderstanding about what it means to have a dictatorship and provide leadership." The billionaire candidate sought to take away an argument that Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine, have ramped up in the final weeks of the campaign as they work to portray Trump as dangerous for American interests overseas. While U.S.-Russia relations nosedive over failed diplomacy in Syria, Trump has complimented Putin, calling him a strong leader and even encouraging him to track down Clinton's missing e-mails, though Trump later said he was being sarcastic. "You guys love Russia," Kaine said in Tuesday's debate. "You both have said Vladimir Putin is a better leader than the president." In a forceful rebuke, Pence described Putin as a "small and bullying leader," but blamed Clinton and President Barack Obama for a "weak and feckless" foreign policy that had awakened Moscow's aggression in Ukraine and meddling in the Middle East. The U.S. and Russia back opposing sides in Syria's civil war but both are fighting the Islamic State group there. The U.S. cut off talks with Russia about Syria this week after the latest cease-fire collapsed, blaming Russia for failing to fulfill its commitments under the deal. "I can say this: If we get along and Russia went out with us and knocked the hell out of ISIS, that's OK with me folks," Trump said, using an acronym for the extremist group. Since last week's debate, Trump has faced a barrage of questions over a leaked tax return showing he lost more than $900 million in 1995. In turn, he's sought to reframe his life story as a comeback tale he hopes to recreate on behalf of a faltering nation. "America needs a turnaround. American needs a comeback. America needs a change. And that's why I'm running," Trump said. Taking the stage in Henderson, Nevada, Trump took his own victory lap for Pence's performance, which he called "phenomenal. Pence's cool demeanor contrasted with Trump's bluster during his own, top-of-the-ticket showdown against Clinton. However strong Pence's performance, Trump made clear he considers it a reflection of himself. "I'm getting a lot of credit, because that's really my first so-called choice, that was my first hire," Trump said of Pence. Even Clinton's team wasn't claiming that Kaine had come out on top. Former President Bill Clinton, for example, his wife's running mate "did just fine." Kaine acknowledged that even his wife gave him a hard time for his constant interruptions during the debate. But Kaine said he was effectively able to block Pence from attacking Clinton. "I've never played hockey but I think I'd be a good goalie, based on last night," he said. The big moment for their running mates behind them, both Clinton and Trump were shifting focus back to each other and to Sunday's debate, the second of three showdowns between the nominees. Clinton was deep in debate prep Wednesday at her Washington home. She was huddling with campaign chairman John Podesta, top policy aid Jake Sullivan and her debate advisers. Trump, meanwhile, was on the campaign trail, making several stops across Nevada. In Reno, the New Yorker appeared to lecture Nevadans on how their state is correctly pronounced and then did an exaggerated version of his preferred pronunciation of "Neh-VAH-da," though most residents of the Silver State pronounce it, "Neh-VAD-uh." He then declared that "nobody says it the other way." Campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said, despite Trump's travels, the candidate was preparing "constantly" for the debate. Trump planned his own town hall in New Hampshire on Thursday, in an apparent dress rehearsal for the big event. ___ Lederman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Bill Barrow, Alan Suderman, Jill Colvin and Ken Thomas contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jonathan Lemire at https://twitter.com/JonLemire and Josh Lederman at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP ___ This story has been corrected to reflect $900 million, not billion. Republican vice-presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence shakes hands with Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine during the vice-presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Nearly 2M urged to evacuate as Matthew edges toward US MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. (AP) Hurricane Matthew marched toward Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas and nearly 2 million people along the coast were urged to evacuate their homes, a mass exodus ahead of a major storm packing power the U.S. hasn't seen in more than a decade. Matthew was a dangerous and life-threatening Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) as it pounded the central Bahamas early Thursday. Forecasters said it's expected to strengthen over the coming day or so into an even more potent Category 4 hurricanes as it approaches Florida's Atlantic coast. At least 16 deaths in the Caribbean have been blamed on the storm, with heavy damage reported in Haiti. The storm was forecast to scrape much of the Florida coast and any slight deviation could mean landfall or it heading farther out to sea. Either way, it was going to be close enough to wreak havoc along the lower part of the East Coast, and many people weren't taking any chances. Andrew Esser boards up the glass doors at the entrance of Sky King Fireworks in preparation for Hurricane Matthew, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Cocoa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) In Melbourne Beach, near the Kennedy Space Center, Carlos and April Medina moved their paddle board and kayak inside the garage and took pictures off the walls of their home about 500 feet from the coast. They moved the pool furniture inside, turned off the water, disconnected all electrical appliances and emptied their refrigerator. They then hopped in a truck filled with legal documents, jewelry and a decorative carved shell that had once belonged to April Medina's great-grandfather and headed west to Orlando, where they planned to ride out the storm with their daughter's family. "The way we see it, if it maintains its current path, we get tropical storm-strength winds. If it makes a little shift to the left, it could be a Category 2 or 3 and I don't want to be anywhere near it," Carlos Medina said. "We are just being a little safe, a little bit more cautious." About 20 miles away in the town of Cape Canaveral, John Long said Hurricane Matthew is just hype as his neighbors in his RV park packed up and evacuated inland. Even though his 32-foot RV is just feet from the Banana River and a half mile from the beach, he had no plans to leave. Long, who owns a bike shop and has lived along the Space Coast for 30 years, said he has a generator and enough food and water for himself and his cats to last a week. "There's always tremendous buildup and then it's no stronger than an afternoon thunderstorm," he said. "I'm not anticipating that much damage." In Fort Lauderdale, about 200 miles south, six employees at a seven-bedroom Mediterranean-style mansion packed up for an evacuation fearing any storm surge could flood the property. The homeowners planned to move to another home they own in Palm Beach that's further from the water. Two Lamborghinis and a Ferrari had been placed inside the garage, but employee Mae White wasn't sure what they would do with a Rolls Royce, Mustang and other cars still parked in the driveway. "This storm surge. It's scary," White said. "You're on the water, you've got to go." The last Category 3 storm or higher to hit the United States was Wilma in October 2005. It made landfall with 120 mph (190 kph) winds in southwest Florida, killing five people as it pushed through the Everglades and into the Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach area. It caused an estimated $21 billion in damage and left thousands of residents without power for more than a week. It concluded a two-year span when a record eight hurricanes hit the state. As of 2 a.m. Thursday, Matthew was centered about 295 miles (480 kilometers) southeast of West Palm Beach and moving northwest at 10 mph (17 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center . Hurricane-force winds extended 45 miles (72 kilometers) from the center, it said, adding Matthew is forecast to strengthen over the next day or so and become a Category 4 hurricane while approaching Florida's Atlantic coast. "When a hurricane is forecast to take a track roughly parallel to a coastline, as Matthew is forecast to do from Florida through South Carolina, it becomes very difficult to specify impacts at any one location," said National Hurricane Center forecaster Lixion Avila. Florida can expect as much as 10 inches of rain in some isolated areas. In South Carolina, Gov. Nikki Haley reversed the lanes of Interstate 26 so that all lanes of traffic were headed west and out of Charleston. It was the first time the lanes had been reversed. Plans to reverse the lanes were put in place after hours-long traffic jams during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. The governor planned to call for more evacuations on Thursday, which would bring the total to about 500,000 people in the state. Florida urged or ordered about 1.5 million to leave the coast, said Jackie Schutz, spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Scott. Georgia had around 50,000 people told to go. At Folly Beach, South Carolina, southwest of Charleston, Gaby Trompeter loaded her car at her beachfront home preparing to evacuate to Augusta, Georgia. Trompeter, a 50-year-old goldsmith who designs and makes jewelry, remembers Hurricane Hugo when she stayed in Savannah, Georgia, in 1989. A year ago when what has been described as a 1,000-year flood inundated South Carolina there was so much water on the road near her house she couldn't get out for three days. "If it brings a lot of rain, more than the storm last year, why would I want to stay?" she said. President Barack Obama visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency's headquarters Wednesday to be briefed on preparations. FEMA has deployed personnel to emergency operation centers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. On the Georgia coast, 92-year-old Lou Arcangeli saw two of his adult children come to his home on Tybee Island to help prepare and evacuate if necessary. "It's serious," said Arcangeli, who has lived in the Savannah area since 1979, when Hurricane David became the last hurricane to make landfall on Georgia's 100-mile coast. "I'm going to keep an eye on it and not wait until the last minute. As far as I'm concerned, what's going to happen is going to happen." Farmers in Matthew's path scrambled to protect their crops. In South Carolina, Jeremy Cannon was harvesting his soybeans a week early after waiting too long before last year's record rainstorm. He watched his soybeans and cotton crops slowly drown as 20 inches of rain fell, costing him $800,000. "I don't want to lose a single soybean this year if I don't have to," Cannon said. "The Lord says pray without ceasing. And that's what I've been doing in the fields, near the barn just praying all the time. I don't want to find out what I'll have to do if I get wiped out for another year." ___ Kennedy reported from Fort Lauderdale. Associated Press reporters Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Freida Frisaro in Miami, Jennifer Kay in Miami Beach, Florida, Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, Martha Waggoner in Raleigh, North Carolina, Jeffrey Collins, Jack Jones and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina; Bruce Smith in Charleston, South Carolina. Beth Johnson fills up her car after waiting in line at a Sunoco gas station in advance of Hurricane Matthew in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. Hurricane Matthew is expected to affect the South Carolina coast by the weekend. Gov. Nikki Haley announced Tuesday that, unless the track of the storm changes, the state will issue an evacuation order Wednesday to help get 1 million people inland from the coast. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) Gas pumps are empty at a Shell gas station after customers filled their gas tanks in advance of Hurricane Matthew in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. Hurricane Matthew is expected to affect the South Carolina coast by the weekend. Gov. Nikki Haley announced Tuesday that, unless the track of the storm changes, the state will issue an evacuation order Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Matthew, so that 1 million people can safely and comfortably leave the coast. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) Eric Dunn sit on the northern end of Tybee Island's beach watching larger than average waves roll in as a result of approaching Hurricane Matthew, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 in Tybee Island, Ga. Hurricane Matthew was on track to rake Florida before spinning up the East Coast. The Category 4 storm packing winds of 145 mph pummeled parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Tuesday and is expected to head north over Cuba and the Bahamas before nearing the Florida coast by Thursday. (Josh Galemore/Savannah Morning News via AP) Surf and wind from Hurricane Matthew crash on the waterfront in Baracoa, Cuba, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. The dangerous Category 4 storm blew ashore around dawn in Haiti. It unloaded heavy rain as it swirled on toward a lightly populated part of Cuba and the Bahamas. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Farmer Jeremy Cannon checks his combine as he gets ready to rush the harvest of his soybean crop on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, at his farm in Turbeville, S.C. Cannon and other farmers are worried Hurricane Matthew could flood fields and knock down crops. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins) South Carolina National Guard vehicles head east on U.S. Highway 378 after leaving their headquarters on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, near Columbia, S.C. Guard units are helping with traffic and other preparations for Hurricane Matthew. South Carolina authorities are preparing to evacuate more than 1 million people, or about a quarter of the state's population, from low-lying coastal areas as Hurricane Matthew threatens. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins) President Barack Obama speaks after getting a briefing on Hurricane Matthew during a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. From left are, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Kathy Sullivan. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) President Barack Obama attends a briefing and is updated on Hurricane Matthew during a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) John Smith hangs his hurricane shutters, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, at his Pompano, Fla., Beach home in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew. (Joe Cavaretta /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) President Barack Obama, accompanied by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, speaks after being updated on Hurricane Matthew during a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) President Barack Obama speaks after getting a briefing on Hurricane Matthew during a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. From left are, Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate, and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Selen Hernandez of Deerfield Beach loads water into his car at BJs Wholesale Club in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Water was flying off the shelves in the tri-county area in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew. (Joe Cavaretta/Sun Sentinel via AP) Brent Cousins takes his boat out of the water at the Carolina Beach Wildlife boat ramp as Hurricane Matthew comes up the east coast Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Carolina Beach, N.C. The storm is projected to be in the Wilmington area by Friday. (Ken Blevins/The Star-News via AP) Ryan Clemmons with The Home Depot in Monkey Junction near Wilmington, N.C., helps Tyler Shuping load plywood onto a truck as Hurricane Matthew comes up the east coast Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. The storm is projected to be in the Wilmington area by Friday. (Ken Blevins/The Star-News via AP) Shoppers load up on supplies Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, at the Publix Supermarket in Pompano Beach, Fla. Water and other supplies were flying off the shelves in the tri-county area in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew. (Joe Cavaretta /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Bret Hansen reads over the specs of a generator at The Home Depot in Monkey Junction near Wilmington, N.C., as Hurricane Matthew comes up the east coast Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. The storm is projected to be in the Wilmington area by Friday. (Ken Blevins/The Star-News via AP) Brevard County residents line up for sandbags in preparation of Hurricane Matthew, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Cocoa, Fla. The line stretched for almost five miles and the wait was around two hours for the bags, according to a Brevard County Sheriff deputy. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Shoppers crowd the entrance to the Costco store in Altamonte Springs, Fla. as central Floridians stock up on supplies ahead of the anticipated strike of Hurricane Matthew, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP) Patrons wait in line for gas at the Costco store in Altamonte Springs, Fla. as central Floridians prepare for the anticipated strike of Hurricane Matthew, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP) Henry Mack on the ladder Darrin Green and Ronald Brown are in the process of installing boards on the windows and doors of a property in Charleston, S.C., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, to protect it from storm damage. Leroy Burnell/The Post and Courier via AP) Tanner, left, and Debbie Hrobak, of Port St. Lucie, install storm shutters ahead of Hurricane Matthew on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at Billy Bones Bait-N-Tackle South in Stuart, Fla. (Leah Voss/The Stuart News via AP) People in vehicles make an evacuation route over 520 bridge heading west from Merritt Island, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, as Hurricane Matthew approaches Florida. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) Rene Anger fills and stacks sandbags in front of her Cherry Street home in Neptune Beach, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 05, 2016 as Hurricane Matthew approaches. (Bruce Lipsky/The Florida Times-Union via AP) Bus drivers with the Greenville, S.C. school district wait by their buses in the parking lot at the North Charleston Coliseum for word when to start evacuating people to Greenville from North Charleston, S.C., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in advance of Hurricane Matthew. Officials moved approximately 250 school buses to the Charleston area to help with the evacuation. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) Iraq, Turkey summon each other's ambassadors in protest BAGHDAD (AP) Turkey and Iraq summoned each other's ambassadors on Wednesday to protest statements by one country's prime minister and the other's parliament, a move reflecting growing tensions between the two neighbors, both fighting the Islamic State group. Iraq's Foreign Ministry summoned Turkeys' ambassador to Baghdad to condemn allegedly "provocative" comments made by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Tuesday about the planned operation to dislodge IS militants from the northern city of Mosul, said the ministry's spokesman, Ahmad Jamal. Yildrim told ruling party legislators in parliament that the Iraqi operation could spark Shiite-Sunni sectarian tensions if the majority Sunni region around Mosul were to be placed under Shiite militia control after the offensive. FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 photo, an army commander informs Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, left, on a Turkey-Iraq border map, in Cukurca, Turkey. Iraq's Foreign Ministry has summoned Turkeys' ambassador to Baghdad over "provocative" comments by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim about the planned operation to dislodge Islamic State militants from the city of Mosul. (Prime Ministry Press Service, Pool photo via AP, File) However, it is still unclear if the Shiite militias, the core of the Iraqi paramilitary forces battling IS, will take an essential part in the Mosul operation. Relations between Iraq and Turkey have become strained since late last year when Turkey sent unauthorized troops to the region of Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul to train anti-IS fighters there. Baghdad considers this a "blatant violation" of Iraq's sovereignty and has demanded Turkish withdrawal, a call Ankara has ignored. Yildrim comments on Tuesday echoed those of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan days earlier during a parliamentary session in which Turkish legislators extended the mandate of Turkish forces in Syria and Iraq for one more year. Erdogan expressed Ankara's willingness to join the imminent battle for Mosul. In Iraq, the parliament on Tuesday adopted a resolution denouncing the extension of Turkish troops' presence and asking the government to consider them as "occupation forces." Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi later told reporters the presence of Turkish troops "is one of the challenges" ahead of the Mosul operation, warning that Ankara's insistence could lead to a "regional warfare." In Ankara, the Iraqi envoy was summoned for a protest over the Iraqi parliament resolution. The Foreign Ministry said Turkey has for years suffered from terror threats arising from instability in Iraq and had strongly supported Iraq's territorial integrity, stability and security. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus defended the Turkish presence in Iraq and also Syria, saying it's "not meant as an invasion." "We have no intention of interfering in those countries' interior affairs," he said. Turkish Foreign Ministry Mevlut Cavusolgu justified the Turkish presence in Bashiqa saying more than 750 IS militants have been killed in assaults conducted from the base. He added the base was established with consent of Iraqi authorities to train local forces. Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city about 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, is the last remaining IS urban stronghold in Iraq. The government is now gearing up for a major offensive to retake Mosul from IS and has pledged to recapture the city this year. ____ Witness says father not sincere in hot car death case BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) A witness testified Wednesday that a Georgia man showed grief after his toddler son died inside a hot SUV, but she didn't think his tears were sincere. Atiyka Eastland said Justin Ross Harris' tears were "on and off" after the death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper, news media outlets reported. Cooper was left for seven hours in a vehicle parked outside the father's Cobb County workplace. Testifying in the trial's third day of questioning, Eastland said Harris' calm demeanor was unusual. Another witness, Dale Hamilton, testified that Harris' SUV pulled in front of his car before the father pulled Cooper out of the car seat. Hamilton says a distraught Harris kept asking "What have I done?" while the toddler lay lifeless on the asphalt. Justin Ross Harris listens to Cobb County Senior Assistant District Attorney Chuck Boring's opening remarks during his trial at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga., Monday, Oct. 3, 2016. Harris is charged with murder after his toddler son died two years ago while left in the back of a hot SUV. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool) Harris' lawyer says the witnesses don't know his client well enough to know his mannerisms. Prosecutors said Harris intentionally killed Cooper, and have charged him with murder. Harris' defense lawyer Maddox Kilgore told the jury in his opening statement Tuesday that Harris is certainly responsible for his son's death, but insisted it was an accident and Harris committed no crime. Judge Mary Staley Clark said before testimony began Wednesday that the trial will be put on hold starting at noon Thursday and will reconvene Friday due to Hurricane Matthew, which was heading toward the southern region of the U.S. The trial is being held in coastal Brunswick, Georgia, which is expected to be in the path of the hurricane. The case was moved 275 miles from the Atlanta suburbs because of pretrial publicity. Harris moved to Georgia from Alabama in 2012. The Glynn County Board of Commissioners called for a voluntary evacuation of St. Simons island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island. Clark said she will remain in the St. Simon area throughout the weekend. Indonesia arrests man for broadcasting porn on billboard JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian police said Wednesday that a man they arrested for broadcasting pornography on an electronic billboard in the country's capital gained access to the system after it displayed its log-on credentials. Jakarta Police Chief Muhammad Iriawan said the suspect, 24-year-old Samudera Al Hakam Ralial, admitted he hacked the IT system of the billboard operator but claims that the broadcast of the porn movie was accidental. Eleven people, including employees of the company responsible for the billboard, were questioned after the movie was displayed for a few minutes on the giant video screen in southern Jakarta just after last week's Friday prayers in the Muslim-majority country. Twitter in social media-mad Indonesia was set alight by the incident. Many users posted clips of the billboard as it displayed a Japanese porn movie to passing traffic. Iriawan said Samudera had passed by the billboard earlier in the day and saw it was displaying user credentials and other information, which he recorded with a photograph. He then logged in to system from his office. According to Iriawan, Samudera said he didn't realize a pornographic website he viewed was uploaded to the billboard. Israel strikes Gaza after rocket fire on Israeli city JERUSALEM (AP) Israel carried out airstrikes on Hamas posts in the Gaza Strip after a rocket fired from the Palestinian territory landed in a street in the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Wednesday, the Israeli military said. Tall plumes of smoke from the Israeli strikes rose up from Gaza following the rare series of airstrikes during daylight. There were at least nine Israeli airstrikes on Hamas posts and open spaces throughout the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian eyewitnesses, but there were no reports of injuries. In Israel, no one was wounded by the rocket fire, but it marked an unusual incident of rocket fire penetrating Israel's aerial defense system. Only a handful of projectiles have struck the previously battered town since the conclusion of a 50-day war between Israel and Gaza militants in the summer of 2014. Sirens wailed in Sderot warning of the incoming rocket, which landed near a school. A small Islamic group that says it is inspired by, but not officially connected to, the Islamic State group, claimed responsibility for the rocket launch via a statement posted on its Twitter account. The claim could not be independently verified and the group, which calls itself Grandsons of the Companions, is not known to have carried out any previous attacks. Since the 2014 war, a cease-fire has largely held. But militants in Gaza occasionally launch rockets toward Israel. Israel holds Gaza's Hamas rulers responsible for all attacks emanating from the territory. Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said the rocket fire was "the direct result of Hamas' terror agenda in the Gaza Strip that encourages deliberate attacks against Israeli civilians." "We condemn the Israeli escalation against the Gaza Strip," Hamas said in a statement. "We can't stand idle if it continues." Also Wednesday, an Israeli air force pilot was killed during a plane crash at an Israeli air force base in southern Israel, the military said. The circumstances of the crash were unclear. According to the military, the pilot and his navigator were landing at the base when they ejected from their F-16I jet. The pilot was killed as a result and his navigator was lightly wounded. The army declined to comment on the cause of the crash, and would not say whether the pilot had participated in the airstrikes in Gaza. It said the incident was under review. __ World's oldest man celebrates bar mitzvah, 100 years late JERUSALEM (AP) The world's oldest man has finally celebrated his bar mitzvah a hundred years later than usual. Israel Kristal, 113, has lived through both World Wars and survived the Auschwitz concentration camp. Earlier this year, Guinness World Records awarded him a certificate as the world's oldest man. But there was a ceremony the supercentenarian observant Jew longed for even more. Born in Poland in 1903, Kristal missed his bar mitzvah the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony celebrated when a boy turns 13 because of World War I. His daughter, Shulamith Kuperstoch, said his children, grandchildren and nearly 30 great-grandchildren gathered over the weekend to mark the occasion. She said he was very pleased as he recited the traditional Jewish prayer of gratitude while draped in a prayer shawl and surrounded by loved ones. "Everyone sang and danced around him. He was very happy," she told The Associated Press. "It was always his dream to have a bar mitzvah and he really appreciated the moment." Kristal was born to an Orthodox Jewish family near the town of Zarnow in Poland. He was orphaned shortly after World War I and moved to Lodz to work in the family confectionary business in 1920. During the Nazi occupation of Poland he was confined to the ghetto there and later sent to Auschwitz and other concentration camps. His first wife and two children were killed in the Holocaust. Kristal survived World War II weighing only 37 kilograms (about 81 pounds) the only survivor of his large family. He married another Holocaust survivor and moved with her to Israel in 1950 where he built a new family and a successful confectionary business. A devout Jew, he has wrapped phylacteries daily for the past century. Kuperstoch said her father still has a curious spirit and keeps a regular schedule, but she asked that reporters not burden him with questions. She said he was still in good health and could regale in stories from the early 20th century about, for example, how he saw his first car at the age of nine and wondered why it wasn't attached to horses. Kuperstoch also said that her father had no explanation for his incredible longevity. Poles end talks on multibillion deal with Airbus Helicopters WARSAW, Poland (AP) Poland says it is backing off from the multi-billion-euro purchase of French-made Caracal helicopters, quoting unsatisfactory offset deal negotiations. Poland's Development Ministry said late Tuesday it was breaking off the vital offset negotiations with Airbus Helicopters that produces the Caracal. It said the negotiating positions of the two sides were so different that "further talks are pointless." The offset deal had been a major condition for Poland's purchase of 50 Caracal helicopters for 13.5 billion zlotys (3.14 billion euros). In an offset agreement, the seller of a product or service agrees to invest in sectors or goods on the buyer's side, as a way of compensating or enhancing the value of the deal. Offset deals usually accompany large deals in the military industry. The ministry said that offers made by Airbus Helicopters failed to properly secure Poland's economic and security interests. Polish officials earlier hinted the value of the offset should approximately match the value of the purchase and should help develop the nation's defense industry. The decision means that Poland will need to open new negotiations with other producers of helicopters. It also delays the purchase of the much-needed multi-task helicopters for Poland's armed forces that are in the process of being modernized. The decision to buy the helicopters from Airbus was made by the previous government, led by the pro-European Civic Platform party. It drew protests from trade unions in two Polish aviation plants linked to firms that were not chosen, one linked to the U.S. producer of the Black Hawk, the other to a British-Italian consortium AgustaWestland, now Leonardo Helicopters, making the AW149 helicopter. Workers in those plants fear layoffs. The conservative Law and Justice party backed those protests and indicated it might cancel the deal when it won elections last year. Google scraps 100,00-euro bill run up by Spanish kid MADRID (AP) Google has written off a 100,000-euro ($112,000) bill run up by a 12-year-old Spanish boy who mistakenly believed he was earning money through an advertising account he opened with the internet giant to promote videos of his municipal band. News reports said the boy from the eastern city of Torrevieja ran up the Google AdWords bill over two months. His mother, Inma Quesada, told the El Pais newspaper that her son, Jose Javier, said he wanted to become a "rich youtuber" but did not realize what he was doing. The story came to light when the bank notified his parents that Google was looking to charge the amount to the boy's account. Google confirmed Wednesday that it studied the case and had canceled the bill. ___ Kid Cudi checks into rehab for depression, suicidal urges Kid Cudi says he has checked himself into rehab for "depression and suicidal urges." The 32-year-old rapper made the announcement on his Facebook page Tuesday, one day after he says he checked in, and signed the post by his real name, Scott Mescudi. Mescudi describes himself in the note as "a damaged human swimming in a pool of emotions everyday of my life." He says, "anxiety and depression have ruled my life for as long as I can remember and I never leave the house because of it." FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2015, file photo, Kid Cudi performs at the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Grant Park in Chicago. The rapper announced on Facebook Oct. 4, 2016, that he had checked into rehab for "depression and suicidal urges." (Photo by Steve C. Mitchell/Invision/AP, File) He says his upcoming album "is still on the way" and says he squared away business before entering rehab so he could focus on his recovery. Ivory Coast mulls draft constitution on who can be president ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) Ivory Coast lawmakers on Wednesday began reviewing a draft constitution that would alter a clause determining who is eligible to be president one at the center of a political crisis that turned deadly. President Alassane Ouattara, who once was barred from running for that office amid claims that he was a foreigner, presented the draft to the National Assembly. A referendum is planned for late October. Under the existing constitution, both parents of presidential candidates must be Ivorian. Ouattara has always said he was eligible, but he vowed to change the constitution during his campaign for re-election last year. The new draft says candidates must claim Ivorian nationality exclusively and have an Ivorian-born father or mother. When Ouattara was first elected in 2010, former President Laurent Gbagbo refused to acknowledge the win, leading to months of violence that claimed more than 3,000 lives. Gbagbo is currently on trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Government spokesman Bruno Kone has described the current constitution as a "carrier of the germs of conflict." In his remarks Wednesday, Ouattara said the new constitution would consolidate peace. "Ivorians must understand that this is done in their interest and in the common interest of everyone," he said. The Latest: Nobel winner Stoddart: Research is 'a long haul' STOCKHOLM (AP) The Latest on the 2016 Nobel prize in chemistry (all times local): 7:15 p.m. It's been a busy day for Northwestern University scientist Fraser Stoddart, one of three winners of the 2016 Nobel Prize for chemistry. Fraser Stoddart speaks at a news conference at the Rebecca Crown Center at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Stoddart, a Scottish-born chemistry professor at Northwestern University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Stoddart says Wednesday he's hasn't had time to take a shower or read the 500-600 emails he's received. He says he's also hoping he'll get away with violating university parking rules for a day. The chemistry professor says he was shocked when he got the call about 4 a.m. and thought maybe it was a hoax. But he says he eventually relaxed and "the day has gone quiet crazy from there." Stoddart spoke at a news conference at the suburban Chicago university. He urged continuing investment and support of science because he says research is "a long haul." ___ 6:30 p.m. Scientist Fraser Stoddart used a news conference about his 2016 Nobel Prize in chemistry to speak out about Brexit Britain's impending departure from the 28-nation European Union. The Scottish-born professor at Northwestern University outside Chicago said Wednesday that the U. K. is "in a real mess because it thinks it can raise borders to people coming into it." Stoddart says that's not good for science, because it will eliminate millions of people and their talents. He says "science is global" and said his research group includes scientists from around the world. Britain's prime minister says the U.K. will trigger a formal clause to begin exit negotiations with the EU by the end of March. British officials have promised to provide more financial support to scientists in the U.K., since they are expected to lose millions in EU funding. ___ 5:40 p.m. Scientist Fraser Stoddart says he thinks the Nobel Prize chemistry committee recognized "fundamental chemistry" when it honored him, Dutch scientist Ben Feringa and French scientist Jean-Pierre Sauvage with this year's prize. The professor spoke from his office at Northwestern University outside Chicago after winning the Nobel on Wednesday. He says his colleagues in the field are all waiting "for the killer application" of their discoveries. He says he thinks the committee's recognition of "blue sky fundamental science" should be "applauded and should be listened to." Northwestern plans to honor the chemistry professor later Wednesday and put his picture on the front of the university's website . ___ 4:50 p.m. Dutch scientist Ben Feringa has two reasons to celebrate. Not only was he named a joint winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday, but his youngest daughter got her bachelor's degree in movement science at the University of Groningen's medical school. Feringa told reporters in Groningen that "unfortunately I had to skip the ceremony" where she was awarded her degree, adding "I am very proud, but I could not be present." He vowed to his daughter "I promise I will be there when you get your master's thesis." ___ 1:20 p.m. Speaking to French TV channel itele, Jean-Pierre Sauvage called his Nobel Prize for chemistry a memorable moment and a big surprise. "I have won many prizes, but the Nobel Prize is something very special, it's the most prestigious prize, the one most scientists don't even dare to dream of in their wildest dreams," he said. French President Francois Hollande congratulated Sauvage, calling the prize "a sign of recognition of the excellence of French and European research." Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte took to Facebook to congratulate laureate Ben Feringa. "Fantastic news," Rutte said. "All of the Netherlands is proud." ___ 12:55 p.m. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has congratulated Jean-Pierre Sauvage for his "avant-garde" work. "French research has once again been celebrated with a Nobel Prize," Valls tweeted. Sauvage was a researcher from 1973 to 2009 with France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) which tweeted its congratulations. ___ 12:35 p.m. Stoddart's daughter, Alison Stoddart, is also a chemist and said she was called by her father and that he was "absolutely ecstatic, absolutely delighted." "He was a little bit in shock, obviously early in the morning (in Chicago). He was very happy about the people he won the prize with," said Alison Stoddart, speaking with the AP by phone from Cambridge, England. She noted that Jean-Pierre Sauvage is a close family friend and colleague in particular. As a chemist, Alison Stoddart, said she was pleased to see the work recognized. "It's just really lovely, it's fundamental chemistry; it's synthesis in making these machines. ... What it could make in years to come is very exciting." She described the winners as impassioned chemists "They just make really interesting molecules and they love doing it and it's just really nice they won together," she said. ___ 12:20 p.m. Officials at the University of Strasbourg, where Sauvage is a professor emeritus in the Institute of Science and Supramolecular Engineering, said they were overwhelmed and honored by the news. They said Sauvage plans to speak publicly in Strasbourg later Wednesday. Sauvage's wife, contacted by telephone, was on the verge of tears as she told people that her husband had won the prize. ___ 11:55 a.m. Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart and Bernard Feringa have won this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing molecular machines. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences says molecular machines "will most likely be used in the development of things such as new materials, sensors and energy storage systems." This undated photo provided by Northwestern University, shows Fraser Stoddart, one of the scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionize computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Stoddart and Bernard "Ben" Feringa share the prize for the "design and synthesis of molecular machines," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. (Evanston Photographic Studios/Northwestern University via AP) This is a image taken on Nov. 28, 2013 made available by the University of Groningen on Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 of Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa. Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionize computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (Jeroen Van Kooten/University of Groningen via AP) In this Oct. 2014 photo, provided by the University of Strasbourg (Unistra) Nobel laureate Jean-Pierre Sauvage speaks during an interview in Strasbourg, eastern France. Frenchman Jean-Pierre Sauvage, British-born Fraser Stoddart and Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa share the 8 million kronor ($930,000) prize for the "design and synthesis of molecular machines," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionize computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (Catherine Schroder/Unistra via AP) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa speaks during a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa, centre, Elmer Sterken, the Rector Magnificus at the University of Groningen, right, and Sibrand Poppema, the President of the University, toast with champagne after a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa gestures as he speaks during a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa toasts with champagne after a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) France's Jean-Pierre Sauvage speaks during a press conference at the Strasbourg university, eastern France, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016. Sauvage, British-born Fraser Stoddart and Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa share the 8 million kronor ($930,000) prize for the "design and synthesis of molecular machines," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa, centre, gestures as he speaks during a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa toasts with champagne after a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) France's Jean-Pierre Sauvage speaks during a press conference at the Strasbourg university, eastern France, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016. Sauvage, British-born Fraser Stoddart and Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa share the 8 million kronor ($930,000) prize for the "design and synthesis of molecular machines," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) France's Jean-Pierre Sauvage arrives for a press conference at the Strasbourg university, eastern France, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016. Sauvage, British-born Fraser Stoddart and Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa share the 8 million kronor ($930,000) prize for the "design and synthesis of molecular machines," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa takes his seat for a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa speaks during a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa speaks during a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa gestures as he speaks during a press conference at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 Feringa was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionise computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) France's Jean-Pierre Sauvage poses in a chemistry laboratory of the Strasbourg university, eastern France, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016. Sauvage, British-born Fraser Stoddart and Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa share the 8 million kronor ($930,000) prize for the "design and synthesis of molecular machines," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) Fraser Stoddart answers questions at a news conference at the Rebecca Crown Center at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Stoddart, a Scottish-born chemistry professor at Northwestern University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Fraser Stoddart, right, talks with people and media after a news conference at the Rebecca Crown Center at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Stoddart, a Scottish-born chemistry professor at Northwestern University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Fraser Stoddart arrives at the Rebecca Crown Center at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Stoddart, a Scottish-born chemistry professor at Northwestern University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Fraser Stoddart, right, talks with the media after a news conference at the Rebecca Crown Center at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Stoddart, a Scottish-born chemistry professor at Northwestern University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Fraser Stoddart listens to a question during a news conference at the Rebecca Crown Center at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Stoddart, a Scottish-born chemistry professor at Northwestern University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Fraser Stoddart answers questions at a news conference at the Rebecca Crown Center at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Stoddart, a Scottish-born chemistry professor at Northwestern University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Latest: Pence delivers blistering attack on Clinton WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on the 2016 presidential campaign (All times EDT): 9:15 p.m. Mike Pence is finishing his first day campaigning after the vice presidential debate with a blistering indictment of Hillary Clinton. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Reno, Nev. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Playing off Clinton's reference last month to half of Trump's supporters as a "basket of deplorables," Pence thunders, "You cannot lead people that you loathe." Pence is rallying more than 400 people in the rural southern part of Pennsylvania. The audience waited for more than an hour for Pence, whose bus was late. Members of the audience shouted to Pence, "You did great," praising his debate performance versus Democratic counterpart Tim Kaine. Pence is accusing Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, of spending 30 years "perfecting the politics of personal profit." He says "it's all going to come crashing in the day Donald Trump is elected." ___ 7:43 p.m. New York native Donald Trump is lecturing his supporters in Nevada that their state is correctly pronounced "Neh-VAH-da." The Republican presidential candidate performed an exaggerated form of his preferred pronunciation from the stage of a rally in Reno. He declared that "nobody says it the other way." But the confused silence from the crowd mixed with a few shouts of disagreement indicated that quite a few Nevadans pronounce their home state "Neh-VAD-uh." American Bridge, a group that supports Hillary Clinton, immediately put up a web video declaring that Trump was "looking like an idiot" for getting the name wrong. ___ 6:54 p.m. Hillary Clinton says Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence "bobbed and weaved" when he was asked to defend GOP nominee Donald Trump in Tuesday night's debate. Clinton says at a Washington fundraiser that Pence was trying to get out of the way of defending his running mate because defending Trump "is an impossible task." Pence stood up for Trump's leadership qualities but let some of Kaine's criticisms of Trump's remarks on Mexicans and women stand. ___ 6:44 p.m. Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine says he won the debate against Mike Pence. But acknowledged that even his wife gave him a hard time for interrupting Pence so much. Hillary Clinton's running mate joked to supporters Wednesday at a Philadelphia sheet metal workers union hall that being Irish is to blame for his feisty approach. The Virginia senator has been widely criticized for his aggressive style at the debate. Kaine kept up his criticism of Pence on Wednesday for not sticking up for his presidential candidate, Donald Trump. Kaine said, "Your running mate ought to be able to defend you." Kaine compared himself to a good hockey goalie who blocked Pence from scoring any substantive attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. ___ 6:15 p.m. Democrats are courting organized labor in eastern Ohio by highlighting Donald Trump's use of Chinese steel and aluminum in his construction projects. Newsweek reported on the Republican nominee's dealings earlier this week. It came up throughout Bill Clinton's bus tour in an area of Ohio critical to Hillary Clinton's chances against Trump. The billionaire businessman has railed against international trade. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown told union workers Wednesday in Canton that Trump stiffed Americans by buying illegally subsidized materials from overseas. Brown said all Trump does "is run his mouth and pad his pocket." Bill Clinton said "they knew they were selling that steel illegally." The former president argued Hillary Clinton's proposals would foster economic growth in the United States without abandoning international trade. ___ 5:45 p.m. Sen. John McCain is defending Donald Trump after the GOP nominee seemed to suggest that veterans suffering from mental health issues may not be as strong as those who don't. The Arizona senator says in an interview with the Arizona Daily Star's editorial board that Trump's comments were misconstrued by the press. He calls it "the classic example of the media feeding frenzy that is going on. The bias that is in the media." Trump drew criticism from some veterans groups when he said earlier this week that some who have served are "strong" and "can handle it. But a lot of people can't handle it." Trump thanked McCain on Twitter for his "kind remarks." Trump and McCain have had a stormy relationship, with Trump at one point questioning whether McCain should be considered a war hero because the former prisoner of war was captured during the Vietnam War. ___ 5:03 p.m. Donald Trump is calling the Federal Reserve "a political organization" and suggested that Chairwoman Janet Yellen was keeping interest rates low at the Obama administration's behest. Trump was sharply critical of the Fed during a Wednesday luncheon with Latino business leaders at a Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas. The Republican nominee bemoaned how hard it was for minority-businesses to receive bank loans and then criticized the Fed, calling it "another political arm of the administration." The Federal Reserve is an independent organization and Yellen last week denounced Trump's previous claim that she was considering politics when making decisions about interest rates. ___ 3:55 p.m. Donald Trump is once again pushing back on characterizations by his Democratic rivals that he's too cozy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He says at a rally in Henderson, Nevada, that people say, "Donald Trump loves Putin. I don't love, I don't hate, we'll see how it works." Trump says that maybe he and Putin will have "a good relationship. Maybe we'll have a horrible relationship. Maybe we'll have a relationship right in the middle." But he is repeating his willingness to work with the strongman to combat Islamic State group militants despite disagreements between the two countries. Trump says, "If we got along with Russia and Russia went out with us and knocked the hell out of ISIS, that's OK with me." Washington this week suspended direct U.S.-Russian talks on a Syria cease-fire in a move blamed on Russia's rejection of diplomacy in favor of helping the Assad government. ___ 3:50 p.m. Republican Mike Pence has emerged from the vice presidential debate newly energized. He's set on winning over small-town and rural conservatives in big, influential states for Donald Trump. But the praise Pence is receiving after Tuesday's debate is also an awkward reminder of Trump's failings in his own debate. Unlike Trump, the understated Pence kept calm during the debate, never getting riled during the stream of attacks from Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine. That has some Republicans wishing he was atop the ticket and thinking that he may be in the future if Trump doesn't win this year. Pence kept up his subdued tone on a bus tour Wednesday through Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. At a Virginia rally, he joked: "I'm the other face on the bus." ___ 3:35 p.m. Donald Trump is taking credit for Mike Pence's strong debate performance because it was "my first hire." Trump, speaking Wednesday in Nevada, said Pence did "an incredible job" and "I'm getting a lot of credit" because the Indiana governor was his choice to be vice president. The Republican nominee also said that Tuesday's debate allowed voters "to look first-hand at my judgment." And he said "you need judgment for people, for deals." Trump chose Pence in July after days of very public ruminations about whom he should select as a running mate. Pence squared off with Democrat Virginia Senator Tim Kaine in the lone vice presidential debate. Trump will hold his second debate with Hillary Clinton on Sunday in St. Louis. ___ 3:30 p.m. Mike Pence is making a pit stop that is, barbecue pit stop in the northwest Virginia city of Harrisonburg. Pence stopped at the Bar-BQ Ranch, a roadside restaurant where a sign proclaims: "Pigs are beautiful." Pence and his daughter Charlotte -- followed by Secret Service and press --grabbed pulled pork sandwiches, topped with coleslaw, and worked the late lunch group at the 68--year-old joint popular with the James Madison University crowd. Pence poked his head through the order window and said: "I've heard you got some good barbecue here." Pence stopped to talk to Gerald Spence, a JMU math instructor. Spence congratulated Pence on his debate performance against Tim Kaine the night before. He said: "You laid some good ones on him." Pence replied: "I did my best." ___ 2:21 p.m. Donald Trump is praising his running Mike Pence's performance in the vice presidential debate. The Republican nominee, speaking Wednesday at a church in Las Vegas, said he was "very proud" to watch his running mate square off against Hillary Clinton's ticket mate, Tim Kaine. Trump said Pence "won on the issues." "Some say he won on style but style doesn't matter," said Trump, who noted that Pence was getting "great reviews" in the media. The celebrity businessman spoke as he visited with a group of pastors at the International Church of Las Vegas. Trump also praised Pence as a "good Christian" before reading a verse from the Bible. ___ 2:05 p.m. Donald Trump is warning that a Hillary Clinton victory in November would "endanger religious liberty" across America. The Republican presidential nominee said that if Clinton won "religious liberty wouldn't be there" and the result would be "a different country." Trump again vowed to overturn the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits houses of worship advancing specific candidates or political parties. He made the remarks at a visit to the International Christian Academy, a charter school affiliated with the International Church of Las Vegas He also visited an indoor soccer practice and a 1st grade classroom, where the students greeted him with the gift of a Bible and then recited both the Pledge of Allegiance and an adaption of that called Pledge to the Bible. ___ 12:50 p.m. Hillary Clinton is at her Washington home, preparing for the second presidential debate. Campaign chairman John Podesta, top aide Jake Sullivan and debate team advisers Ron Klain and Karen Dunn arrived at the Democratic nominee's home around lunchtime Wednesday. Podesta told reporters that the town hall setting for Sunday's debate in St. Louis "is a natural format for her." Podesta said "that's a format that Donald Trump isn't as used to." ___ Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a Women for Hillary fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., speaks at a campaign event at the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 19 Hall, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine walks off the stage with his wife Anne Holton following the vice-presidential debate with Republican vice-presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence at Longwood University in Farmville, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Former President Bill Clinton embraces newly registered voter Bethany Tomsich, as he campaigns on behalf of his wife Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, at the Western Reseve Building Trade Hall in Youngstown, Ohio. (Nikos Frazier/The Vindicator via AP) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Republican vice-presidential nominee Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at a rally on the Rockingham County Fairgrounds Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Harrisonburg, Va. (Nikki Fox/Daily News-Record via AP) Pastors from the Las Vegas area pray with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a visit to the International Church of Las Vegas, and International Christian Academy, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) John Podesta, campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, talks to reporters outside Clinton's Washington home, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Podesta told reporters that the town hall setting for Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, debate in St. Louis "is a natural format for her." (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Greece sees jump in migrant border crossings THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) Greek police detained 214 Syrian refugees after they crossed a river that forms a natural border with Turkey, authorities said Wednesday. The announcement marked the second recent mass crossing of the Evros River 107 refugees were detained in the same border area last week. A police official told The Associated Press that refugees and other migrants were taking advantage of current low river levels near the border town of Orestiada. The official wasn't authorized to speak to the news media and asked not to be identified. In this Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 photo, a Greek police officer patrols next to the border fence between Greece and Macedonia, near the northern Greek border station of Idomeni. Despite Macedonia's construction of a fence, dozens of people try to sneak across the border every day, hoping to make their way to Europe's prosperous heartland. Police have been detaining about 50 people daily, and arresting members of smuggling gangs that promise to get migrants to their destinations. About 60,000 refugees and other migrants are trapped in financially-struggling Greece. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Migrants are seeking alternative routes to the European Union after a crackdown on crossings to the Greek islands started in March, as part of an agreement between the EU and Turkey to stop the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe. More than a million migrants and refugees crossed through Greece and on to other EU countries since the start of 2016, while over 60,000 have been stranded in the country since the EU-Turkey deal took effect and the Balkan transit route north was closed. According to Greek police estimates, about 200 people try to cross the border into Macedonia every day, seeking breaks in the razor wire frontier fence as it runs along rugged terrain. Police in the Greek border area recently stepped patrols and are checking all the trains passing from Greece to Macedonia. In their attempts to cross borders, some migrants are paying people traffickers. But others, like 35-year-old Afghan refugee Kazem Gasig, are trying to find their own way through the mountains. "I set off last night from Athens to Thessaloniki, then from here I plan to go to (the border town of) Idomeni, then I will cross the Macedonia border on foot," he told the AP. "I have decided to go forward with the help of Google Maps, as far as I can. If I reach a point where I see I can't move on by my own, I'll have to go with human traffickers and use a guide." ___ Mstislav Chernov in Idomeni, Greece contributed. Follow Kantouris at http://www.twitter.com/CostasKantouris In this Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 photo, a Greek police officer patrols next to the border fence between Greece and Macedonia, near the northern Greek border station of Idomeni. Despite Macedonia's construction of a fence, dozens of people try to sneak across the border every day, hoping to make their way to Europe's prosperous heartland. Police have been detaining about 50 people daily, and arresting members of smuggling gangs that promise to get migrants to their destinations. About 60,000 refugees and other migrants are trapped in financially-struggling Greece. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) In this Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 photo, a child looks on in an unfinished building site, near the train station at Thessaloniki, Greece, which migrants and other refugees use as a temporary shelter before their attempt to illicitly cross the Greek-Macedonian border. Despite Macedonia's construction of a fence, dozens of people try to sneak across the border every day, hoping to make their way to Europe's prosperous heartland. Police have been detaining about 50 people daily, and arresting members of smuggling gangs that promise to get migrants to their destinations. About 60,000 refugees and other migrants are trapped in financially-struggling Greece(AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov) PICTURED: Exiled in despair: Migrants in Greece losing hope HAKLKIDA, Greece (AP) Ritsona, a 6-month-old Syrian girl with large brown eyes and a quick smile, was named after the refugee camp where her family stayed when she was born. Still there, she's faced with a future that looks increasingly grim. Ritsona spent the first few weeks of her life in and out of hospital, after doctors were alerted to serious birth defect in her lower spine. In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, 35 year-old Syrian woman Majla Khalil Tamo, holds her six-month-old baby girl Ritsona Khalil Isa, at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. The baby was named after the camp, where she was born with a birth defect in her lower spine that has paralyzed her from the waist down. Doctors have told her parents she will never be able to walk. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) At the camp in central Greece, she spends her days on a flimsy foldout bed, as her father, Mohammed Khalil Isa, tends to his other four children, including 15-year-old Ahmed who uses a wheelchair and suffers from a similar illness. Other fathers try to protect their tents from rain and overnight cold. Like dozens of refugee camps hastily created around the country, Ritsona started with tents set up in an abandoned military facility. But signs of permanence along with boredom and despair are setting in as European Union countries fall further behind on commitments to take in those who fled from war. More than 60,000 refugees and migrants are stuck in Greece, stranded by measures designed by the European Union to stop more traveling to the continent. Only 4,500 people less than 10 percent of the total have been placed so far in EU countries, where anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise. Greece's government is scrambling to provide container huts before the winter, while camp dwellers have turned the tent city into a tiny shanty town: hammering furniture together out of scrap wood, cooking on cinder block stoves and hoisting tarp covers for roofing. After a recent downpour, Syrian refugee Yousef Hanash cleared mud away from the base of his tent. On quiet days, he spends the afternoon teaching two of sons how to play chess. A father of four, Hanash said he came to Europe as a last resort, unable to keep his family safe after his cheese factory was destroyed in the war and he moved around Syria. He paid smugglers to make it across Turkey, reaching Greece by dinghy just before a late March deadline, after which new arrivals were detained for deportation. "Our plan was to go to any country in Europe, to save our children from war and give them a better life," Hanash said. "But there is nothing for us to do here. No jobs or opportunities. Life here is miserable. All we can do is deal with the weather, the heat, the cold and the rain," he said. "We escaped from war and an immediate death. But here we are dying every day." __ Follow Petros Giannakouris at http://www.twitter.com/PGiannakouris In this Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 photo, a Syrian child plays in front of graffiti at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. About 600 people _ including 160 children _ live in the camp. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 photo, Syrian children play on the top of a tent at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. Like dozens of refugee camps hastily created around Greece, Ritsona started with tents set up in an abandoned military facility. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, Syrian refugees walk among tents at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 photo, a Syrian man prepares food outside his tent as his son looks at a smart phone screen at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. Although residents are provided with meals by camp authorities, most deplore the quality and instead cook for themselves on open fires. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo, Syrian refugee children play on a trestle bed, as a line of washing hangs from tents behind them, at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 photo, a Syrian woman uses her mobile phone inside a tent at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. Residents have access to free wifi services, and keep up to date on developments in their homelands. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, 43-year-old Yousef Hanash from Ibdil in Syria walks in mud near his tent after rainfall at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. Hanash said he, his wife and three children _ a fourth was born to them in Greece _ came to Europe as a last resort after fighting destroyed his cheese factory. "But there is nothing for us to do here, life here is miserable," he said. "All we can do is deal with the weather, the heat, the cold and the rain." (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, a Syrian couple and visiting friends sit in their tent at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, a Syrian woman prepares food for her family of eight inside a makeshift tent at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. More than 60,000 people are stuck in Greece, stranded by a series of Balkan border closures and measures designed by the European Union to stop the unchecked migratory flow towards the continent. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo, 15-year-old Ahmed Khalil Isa, a disabled Syrian teenager, sits in his wheelchair outside his family's tent at the Ritsona camp for refugees and other migrants north of Athens. The family from Al Hasakah in Syria reached the Greek island of Chios on an overcrowded dinghy from Turkey on March 13, 2016, and have since been stranded in Greece.They were planning to reach Germany, where many of their relatives already live. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) In this Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo 30-year-old Rima Al Basir, a Syrian mother from Alepo, enters her makeshift tent carrying her five-month-old baby boy Mohamed Ahmed Bashar at the Ritsona camp north of Athens. Her baby is one of at least seven born in the camp of about 600 since it was set up earlier this year. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) 3 share Nobel Prize in chemistry for tiniest machines The Nobel Prize in chemistry has been awarded to three scientists who helped develop the smallest machines known to man. They are Frenchman Jean-Pierre Sauvage, 71, of the University of Strasbourg; British-born Fraser Stoddart, a 74-year-old chemistry professor at Northwestern University in Illinois in the United States; and Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa, 65, a professor of organic chemistry at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Here's a look at why they won and the importance of their achievements: The Royal Academy of Sciences members, from left to right, Professor Sara Snogerup Linse, Professor Goran K Hansson and Professor Olof Ramstrom present the 2016 Nobel Chemistry Prize at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, in Stockholm, Sweden, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart and Bernard Feringa have been awarded the Nobel chemistry prize. (Henrik Montgomery /TT via AP) SIGNIFICANCE The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the three developed tiny molecular machines that will likely be used for the development of new computer chips, batteries and energy storage systems. They are credited with designing and synthesizing molecules with controllable movements that can perform tasks when energy is added. It is almost impossible to imagine how small the machines are roughly one thousand times smaller than the width of a strand of human hair. REACTION Alison Stoddart, the chemist daughter of Fraser Stoddart, said her father called her and was "absolutely ecstatic" about the news. She said she was pleased to see the promising work of the three laureates recognized. "It's just really lovely, it's fundamental chemistry; it's synthesis in making these machines. ... What it could make in years to come is very exciting," she told The Associated Press by telephone from Cambridge, England. "They just make really interesting molecules and they love doing it and it's just really nice they won together," she said. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls praised Sauvage for his "avant-garde" research and phenomenal results. "French research has once again been celebrated with a Nobel Prize," he tweeted. Sauvage told French TV the award had not been anticipated. "It's obviously a memorable moment of happiness and a big surprise," he said. "I was not expecting at all to be one of the lucky prize winners this year, or even in the future." PRIZE The Nobel Prize carries with it an 8 million kronor ($930,000) prize in addition to a medal and a diploma that is handed out at the award ceremonies each December. The chemistry prize is the last of three science prizes to be awarded. Still to come are awards for literature and economics and the Nobel Peace Prize. In this Oct. 2014 photo, provided by the University of Strasbourg (Unistra) Nobel laureate Jean-Pierre Sauvage speaks during an interview in Strasbourg, eastern France. Frenchman Jean-Pierre Sauvage, British-born Fraser Stoddart and Dutch scientist Bernard "Ben" Feringa share the 8 million kronor ($930,000) prize for the "design and synthesis of molecular machines," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 for developing the world's smallest machines, work that could revolutionize computer technology and lead to a new type of battery. (Catherine Schroder/Unistra via AP) Supreme Court judge locked in dispute with right-wing party VIENNA (AP) Drawing Austria's supreme court further into a political fray, a powerful right-wing party announced legal action Wednesday against a court justice over his refusal to stop making a claim the party thinks is hurting its image. The Freedom Party wants Constitutional Court Judge Johannes Schnizer to stop saying it prepared a legal challenge to May's presidential election long before announcing it was formally protesting the election's outcome. If true, the party's timing would suggest it was less worried about the validity of the vote and more interested in finding a way to give its candidate a second chance, should he lose. FILE - In this May 20, 2016 file photo Norbert Hofer candidate for presidential elections of Austria's Freedom Party, FPOE, and Heinz-Christian Strache, from left, head of Austria's Freedom Party, FPOE, look out at supporters during the final election campaign event in Vienna. An Austrian supreme court justice has rejected the powerful right-wing party's demand that he stop repeating a claim that the party views as harming its image. The Freedom Party wants Johannes Schnizer to stop saying that it prepared a legal challenge to results of presidential elections long before announcing it was doing so. His lawyer said Thursday, Oct. 5, 2016 Schnizer would not meet the demand. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) With the Constitutional Court intended to be above politics, the dispute between Schnizer and the Freedom Party appears unprecedented. The justice originally raised questions about the timing of the party's lawsuit during a state television interview last week in which he also discussed the court's decision to order a rerun of the election. Freedom Party candidate Norbet Hofer narrowly lost the May contest to left-leaning rival Alexander Van der Bellen. Court justices do not usually speak publicly about rulings, a convention Schnizer breached by talking about why the court ruled in favor of Freedom Party claims of widespread election irregularities. The judge went further. Noting that the party submitted complex legal objections to the vote within the legally prescribed deadline of a week, he said, "You cannot do something like this within the time frame of a week, but maybe I'm mistaken." On Monday, Schnizer expressed his regrets to Chief Justice Gerhard Holzinger for going public with his views. In rejecting the party's demand Wednesday, Schnizer's attorney, Michael Pilz, said his client was only expressing his personal opinion. That was rejected by Freedom Party officials, who said the judge's comments hurt both Hofer and party leader Heinz-Christian Strache. A party statement alleged Schnizer was guilty of defamation, slander and reputation discrediting. The Freedom Party said it would take Schnizer to court just a few hours after the judge's lawyer said Wednesday that his client would not meet the party demand. Recent polls show Hofer with a narrow lead ahead of the Dec 4 rerun vote. The government postponed it for a month after discovering that some envelopes for absentee ballots wouldn't seal. __ Germany: Man spent decades at parents' home, now in hospital BERLIN (AP) A 43-year-old man who lived in isolation at his parents' home in Bavaria for three decades has been taken to a psychiatric hospital and German police are investigating whether his parents did anything wrong. Police went to the home in Freienfels, in southeastern Germany near Bayreuth, on Sept. 21 after receiving a tip and found the man in a neglected condition, police spokesman Juergen Stadter said Wednesday. "The man was unkempt, unwashed, but well nourished," Stadter said. "But he wasn't constrained and had several rooms to himself where he could move around freely." The Oct. 4, 2016 photo shows the town sign of Freienfels near Bayreuth, southern Germany, where a 43 years-old man was found who didn't leave his parents' house for many years. (Nicolas Armer/dpa via AP) Police are now investigating whether the man stayed inside for all those years of his own will or if his parents forced him to stay at home. The man's parents, who are in their late 70s, are under investigation on suspicion of possible deprivation of freedom and causing bodily harm by neglect. "We assume that he was suffering from some kind of handicap," Stadter said, adding that as a boy the man went to elementary school, but then stopped attending school at 13 because he was declared unfit to attend. Stadter would not give further details on what exactly kept the man from attending school, citing privacy concerns. The man's mother, who wasn't named, was quoted as telling the local Nordbayerischer Kurier newspaper that the parents' didn't lock him up and "he didn't want to go outside." She said she "always wanted to protect him," and indicated that as a little boy, her son was treated badly by his schoolmates, the newspaper said. The Latest: Education for refugee children starts in Greece THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) The Latest on the migration flow in Europe (all times local): 7:45 p.m. Greece's education minister says a program to provide schooling for refugee children will start Monday and will include those whose families are due to be deported under an agreement between Turkey and the European Union. A rescue boat is filled with migrants taken from a vessel in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya in this Tuesday Oct. 4, 2016 image taken from video. At least 33 people died on Tuesday trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya. (AP Photo) Minister Nikos Filis said Wednesday that the EU-funded initiative would start at six schools in Athens and three other towns, before being expanded to the rest of the country through October. Classes will take place at state schools in the afternoon, he said. More than 60,000 refugees are stranded in Greece due to European border closures, including some 10,000 confined to islands facing the Turkish coast. Parent associations at several schools around Greece, as well as the country's extreme right Golden Dawn party, have expressed objections to the refugee integration plan. But Filis described the objections as "marginal." "As long as they are in this country, refugee children will play with Greek children," he said. "Regardless of the circumstances any child is in, we are obliged to look after them and provide them with an education. It's a legal obligation and a moral obligation." ___ 3:15 p.m. An Italian coast guard ship has come ashore with three more passengers than it picked up at sea after three rescued mothers gave birth on board. Datillo's commander, Capt. Alessio Morelli, said the mothers were among the 1,004 migrants most of them Eritrean and Nigerian rescued north of Sabratha, Libya. Once aboard, they gave birth "so we went from 1,004 to 1,007, two baby boys and one baby girl." The Datillo pulled into port in Catania, Sicily on Wednesday. Also Wednesday, Italy's coast guard reported that another 28 bodies were recovered during rescue operations a day earlier that saved 4,655 people. The operations followed the recovery of 10 bodies when more than 6,000 would-be refugees were picked up on Monday, according to the International Organization of Migration. ___ 3 p.m. Serbia's police say they have caught 71 migrants and arrested two people smugglers who transported them in vans. A police statement said Wednesday one vehicle carried 34 migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and another had 37 people from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Iran. The two drivers were detained and face criminal charges. Serbian officials have vowed to step up military and police patrols on the borders with Bulgaria and Macedonia to stem the continuing influx of migrants. The Balkan route, used by nearly 1 million migrants last year to cross to mainland Europe, was closed in March. Since then, hundreds still try to enter illegally daily in an attempt to reach the EU. An estimated 6,000 migrants are stranded in Serbia after Hungary further tightened its borders this summer. ___ 2:35 p.m. More than 100 migrants who set off on foot toward Hungary to protest EU's closed borders have agreed to end their march and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. The migrants on Wednesday boarded two buses in the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of Belgrade, where they camped overnight at a local gas station. Serbian authorities say some will be taken to centers for asylum-seekers. Hundreds initially took off Tuesday from Belgrade toward the border with EU member Hungary 200 kilometers (120 miles) away to demand that the border open for people fleeing war and poverty. More than 6,000 migrants remain stuck in Serbia after Hungary this summer introduced strict limits for asylum-seekers. ___ 2 p.m. Police in northern Greece say 214 Syrian refugees have been detained after crossing a river that forms a natural border with Turkey. Wednesday's announcement marked the second recent mass crossing of the Evros River 107 refugees were detained in the same border area last week. A police official told The Associated Press that refugees and other migrants were taking advantage of current low river levels near the border town of Orestiada. The official was not authorized to speak to the news media and asked not to be identified. Migrants are seeking alternative routes to the European Union after a crackdown on crossings to the Greek islands started in March, as part of an agreement between the EU and Turkey to stop the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe. Migrants are crowded on to the vessel in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya in this Tuesday Oct. 4, 2016 image taken from video. At least 33 people died on Tuesday trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya. (AP Photo) Migrants rest at a local gas station near the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. More than one hundred migrants who set off on foot toward the Hungarian border have agreed to end their protest march, demanding the border to be opened for people fleeing war and poverty, and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) Migrants rest at a local gas station near the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. More than one hundred migrants who set off on foot toward the Hungarian border have agreed to end their protest march, demanding the border to be opened for people fleeing war and poverty, and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) Migrants rest at a local gas station near the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. More than one hundred migrants who set off on foot toward the Hungarian border have agreed to end their protest march, demanding the border to be opened for people fleeing war and poverty, and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) A migrant holds a banner at a local gas station near the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. More than one hundred migrants who set off on foot toward the Hungarian border have agreed to end their protest march, demanding the border to be opened for people fleeing war and poverty, and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) Migrants rest at a local gas station near the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. More than one hundred migrants who set off on foot toward the Hungarian border have agreed to end their protest march, demanding the border to be opened for people fleeing war and poverty, and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) Migrants board a bus at a local gas station near the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. More than one hundred migrants who set off on foot toward the Hungarian border have agreed to end their protest march, demanding the border to be opened, and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) Migrant children play at a local gas station near the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. More than one hundred migrants who set off on foot toward the Hungarian border have agreed to end their protest march, demanding the border to be opened for people fleeing war and poverty, and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) In this Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 photo, a Greek police officer patrols next to the border fence between Greece and Macedonia, near the northern Greek border station of Idomeni. Despite Macedonia's construction of a fence, dozens of people try to sneak across the border every day, hoping to make their way to Europe's prosperous heartland. Police have been detaining about 50 people daily, and arresting members of smuggling gangs that promise to get migrants to their destinations. About 60,000 refugees and other migrants are trapped in financially-struggling Greece. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) In this Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 photo, a Greek police officer patrols next to the border fence between Greece and Macedonia, near the northern Greek border station of Idomeni. Despite Macedonia's construction of a fence, dozens of people try to sneak across the border every day, hoping to make their way to Europe's prosperous heartland. Police have been detaining about 50 people daily, and arresting members of smuggling gangs that promise to get migrants to their destinations. About 60,000 refugees and other migrants are trapped in financially-struggling Greece. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) In this Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 photo, a child looks on in an unfinished building site, near the train station at Thessaloniki, Greece, which migrants and other refugees use as a temporary shelter before their attempt to illicitly cross the Greek-Macedonian border. Despite Macedonia's construction of a fence, dozens of people try to sneak across the border every day, hoping to make their way to Europe's prosperous heartland. Police have been detaining about 50 people daily, and arresting members of smuggling gangs that promise to get migrants to their destinations. About 60,000 refugees and other migrants are trapped in financially-struggling Greece(AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov) In this Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 photo, children play outside an unfinished building site, near the train station at Thessaloniki, Greece, which migrants and other refugees use as a temporary shelter before their attempt to illicitly cross the Greek-Macedonian border. Despite Macedonia's construction of a fence, dozens of people try to sneak across the border every day, hoping to make their way to Europe's prosperous heartland. Police have been detaining about 50 people daily, and arresting members of smuggling gangs that promise to get migrants to their destinations. About 60,000 refugees and other migrants are trapped in financially-struggling Greece(AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov) A rescue boat is filled with migrants taken from a vessel in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya in this Tuesday Oct. 4, 2016 image taken from video. At least 33 people died on Tuesday trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya.(AP Photo) South Carolina prosecutor convicted of DUI charge, fined LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) Authorities say the longest-serving prosecutor in South Carolina has been found guilty of driving under the influence. Local media report a magistrate fined Lexington County prosecutor Donnie Myers more than $1,000 Tuesday, rather than impose a 30-day jail sentence. Myers announced his retirement last year, weeks after troopers reported finding his car crashed into a utility pole and the prosecutor smelling of alcohol. Myers said he'd been run off the road, but a trooper's dashcam video showed him struggling to complete sobriety tests. His lawyer says Myers was held to a higher standard because of his role as solicitor. Myers took office in 1976. Arkansas police fatally shoot man who officers say had gun SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) A man on a scooter who was fatally shot after reportedly firing a pistol at police in northwest Arkansas during a traffic stop has been identified as a 26-year-old from Springdale. Police said in a news release Wednesday that Zachary Sutton died after being shot when Sgt. Josh Kirmer and Officer Roger Eubanks returned gunfire Tuesday night. Police say Sutton was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The news release said video from the officers' vehicle shows Sutton aiming and firing a handgun at Eubanks and Kirmer before they returned fire, but said the video will not yet be released. This undated photo provided by the Springdale Arkansas Police Department shows Zachary Sutton. Police said Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 that Zachary Sutton died after being shot when Sgt. Josh Kirmer and Officer Roger Eubanks returned gunfire Tuesday night. Police say Sutton was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. (Springdale Arkansas Police Department via AP) Capt. Ron Hritz said no other information is available. Czech army to deploy medical personnel, instructors in Iraq PRAGUE (AP) The Czech government has approved a plan to send medical personnel and additional military instructors to Iraq. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said Wednesday that the initiative is part of international efforts to help Iraq fight Islamic State militants. The Defense Ministry says a surgical field team of up to 17 people will be sent to a U.S. Navy's base located some 70 kilometers (44 miles) south of Mosul and treat injured Iraqi and coalition soldiers. In 2017, the country will also be in a position to deploy instructors to Iraq depending on the needs of the Iraqi armed forces. Earlier this year, the Czechs deployed 31 instructors to Iraq to train pilots for Czech-made planes. Motorcyclist killed, hits street sweeper obscured by dust CRANBERRY, Pa. (AP) State police say a Pennsylvania motorcyclist has been killed by smashing into the back of a street sweeper which he apparently didn't see because of the dust cloud it generated. Troopers from the Franklin barracks say they're still investigating Tuesday afternoon's crash in Cranberry Township, Venango County, about 70 miles north of Pittsburgh. Police say 55-year-old William Moon Jr., of Oil City, was riding his motorcycle when he came up behind the street sweeper, which had a rotating broom that was cleaning the side of the road. Police say Moon was thrown from the motorcycle when he rear-ended the street sweeper, and was thrown into the machine. Moon was taken to a hospital where he died a short time later. Ex-Baylor official: School undermined sex assault probes DALLAS (AP) The former Title IX coordinator at Baylor University said Wednesday that top campus leaders undermined her efforts to investigate sexual assault claims and were more concerned with protecting the Baylor "brand" than the students. Patty Crawford told "CBS This Morning" that the university set her up "to fail from the beginning." Crawford, who resigned Monday from her role enforcing the federal standards meant to prevent discrimination based on gender, said she received "resistance" from senior leadership but did not identify those leaders. Later Wednesday, Baylor officials announced that they had promoted Crawford's senior deputy, Kristan Tucker, as the university's new Title IX coordinator. FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2016 photo, Patty Crawford, Baylor Universitys first full-time Title IX coordinator, talks in her office in Waco, Texas. Crawford has resigned over a disagreement in her role overseeing changes at the Baptist school following claims it mishandled sexual assault cases over several years, tgee university said in a statement late Monday, Oct. 3, 2016.(Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP) In her televised interview, Crawford said Baylor officials marginalized her by leaving her out of meetings, undermining her authority and making decisions that should be left to a Title IX coordinator. The treatment led her to file complaints with the university and U.S. Department of Education's office for civil rights. Charges that she was the victim of retaliation are included in those complaints. "I never had the authority, the resources or the independence to do the job appropriately," she said. Baylor has received a storm of criticism over claims it mishandled sexual assault cases for several years. An outside review determined school administrators contributed to a "hostile" environment against assault victims. The scandal drew broad attention in large part because former football players were convicted of sexually assaulting women, and an independent review by the Philadelphia law firm Pepper Hamilton determined the football program operated as it if were above the rules. Coach Art Briles was fired earlier this year, as was the athletic director. President Ken Starr was removed from his post by regents and he later resigned as chancellor. Baylor said in a statement that Crawford went public with her grievances only after the school rejected a demand for $1 million and retention of book and film rights. "Baylor University was surprised by the action taken by Patty Crawford given her public comments in August about the strong support she felt from across the University," the statement said. In August, Crawford talked with the Waco Tribune-Herald about her job and the changes Baylor was implementing. In that interview, she said, "I would not have stayed at Baylor through this, something from before I was here, if I didn't know and be encouraged and understand that I still have authority and opportunities to build the best." Crawford's attorney, Rogge Dunn, who appeared with her on the network, said her federal complaint led to a mediation session with the university Monday and that Baylor has broken Texas law by revealing some aspects of the session. State law requires that mediation details remain confidential, with some limited exceptions. "In a desperate attempt to smear Patty, what they've done is violated Texas law," Dunn said. In later comments to The Associated Press, Dunn cited the law in declining to discuss the hearing, but said Crawford is not seeking financial compensation from Baylor and has no plans to seek a film or book deal. Lawyers for eight women who are suing Baylor for allegedly failing to act on their claims of being assaulted seized on Crawford's resignation and her failed mediation talks as a key reason to allow them to pursue documents and interviews for their case. Baylor previously asked a federal judge to halt evidence gathering while deciding if the lawsuit can proceed. "There is no telling how many persons with information have been shackled by a confidentiality agreement accompanied with a large payment," lawyers for the women wrote in a court filing Wednesday. Dunn told AP that the number of sex assault complaints that were lodged since Crawford began as the Title IX coordinator in late 2014 increased by the "hundreds." Awareness campaigns helped, he said, but students also came to learn that Crawford's office would listen to their allegations and follow up. Before Baylor hired a Title IX coordinator, charges of assault were lodged with different administrators and offices, and too often not taken seriously, Dunn said. Crawford's assertion that her office received hundreds of assault complaints during her time with Baylor, which began in November 2014, contrasts with the far lower number of crimes the university reported to the U.S. Department of Education. Schools must report sex assault complaints in which the university has determined that an offense occurred. Baylor did not report a single such instance of sexual assault from 2008 to 2011. Two cases were reported in 2012, six the following year and four in 2014. Baylor officials have previously declined to discuss the numbers, and a spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. While much of the attention about assaults on campus has focused on football players, Crawford says the problem is broader, according to Dunn. "She thinks the Baylor administration thought if they could make athletics the scapegoat then they could say, 'OK, problem solved.'" He added, "The problem was not solved by cleaning house with athletics." In a statement, the new Title IX coordinator said the office's priority under her management will be to educate and serve Baylor students, faculty, staff and supporters. "The Title IX Office's focus is on our students and the entire Baylor community, ensuring that we provide the resources, support and assistance they need. It is vital that our systems support a fair and equitable Title IX process," Tucker said. Before joining Baylor, Tucker was the lead Title IX investigator at East Carolina University and a compliance officer with the University of Tennessee system. ___ Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, and Terry Wallace in Dallas contributed to this report. ___ Follow David Warren on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WarrenJourno One of Italy's most-wanted fugitive mob bosses was arrested after five years on the run on Wednesday, when police found him hiding behind a wardrobe in a home bunker built between the bathroom and his son's bedroom. Antonio Pelle, 54, crawled out of his hiding place on his stomach to the top of a wardrobe that had shielded the bunker at his home in southern Reggio Calabria. Video of his surrender showed at least two dozen police surrounding the wardrobe waiting for him to emerge. After being coaxed down from the wardrobe, he stepped onto a waiting ladder and into the arms of the officers before being patted down for weapons. Pelle, known as 'Mamma,' was serving a 20-year prison sentence for mafia association, arms and drug trafficking when he slipped out of a hospital in the town of Locri in September 2011. Mob boss Antonio Pelle comes out of the closet to surrender himself after five years on the run, in Reggio Calabria, Italy, on Wednesday He had been taken to the hospital to be treated for anorexia, Italian news reports said. The police video shows the tiny bunker he has been hiding out in. It features little more than a cushion, a plastic fan, empty Coca-Cola bottles and a wad of euros. Pelle, who was on the Interior Ministry's list of most dangerous mob fugitives, is considered the boss of the Pelle-Romeo clan of San Luca, in Italy's southern Calabria region. The clan's long-running feud with the rival Nirta-Strangio family erupted in a bloody vendetta in Germany in 2007, when a gangland massacre at an Italian restaurant left six people dead. Pelle peered over the top of the wardrobe as he made his way out of the secret bunker built between his home's bathroom and his son's bedroom Pelle is considered the boss of the Pelle-Romeo clan, whose long-running feud with the Nirta-Strangio family erupted in a bloody vendetta in Germany in 2007 Video of his surrender showed at least two dozen police surrounding the wardrobe waiting for him to emerge The carnage drew international attention to the reach of Calabria's 'ndrangheta mob, which is today considered more powerful than the Sicilian Mafia and has become one of the world's biggest cocaine traffickers. The Reggio Calabria police chief, Raffaele Grassi, said Pelle was the last of the 'strategic protagonists' of the long-running San Luca feud. 'With his capture and the trials underway, each piece of the mosaic has been put in place,' the ANSA news agency quoted Grassi as saying at a press conference announcing the arrest. The San Luca feud cooled between 2000 and 2006, but erupted again when Maria Strangio, the wife of one of the presumed heads of the Strangio clan, was killed on Dec. 25, 2006. The retaliatory massacre in Duisburg, Germany marked the first known time the 'ndrangheta exported a vendetta. Pelle has been among the top 10 most-wanted fugitives since disappearing from a hospital where he was being treated for anorexia in 2011 Witness: Plan was to 'insulate' Christie in bridge scandal NEWARK, N.J. (AP) The man at the heart of the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case concluded eight days of testimony Wednesday by reiterating that a goal in the aftermath of the scandal was to insulate New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's office from blame. David Wildstein, the one person to plead guilty in the alleged political retaliation plot by Christie loyalists against the mayor of the town that abuts the bridge, struck a contrite pose as he described first telling a bridge authority police official not to lie about the plot then reversing field. "I was in a bad place. I was feeling sorry for myself," Wildstein said during questioning by defense lawyers. The official, Paul Nunziato, said in December 2013 the lane closures near the bridge, which caused massive gridlock for four days in the town of Fort Lee, were part of a traffic study suggested by police. FILE - In a Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 file photo, David Wildstein arrives at the federal courthouse, in Newark, N.J. Wildstein testified Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo discussed releasing a false report to tamp down questions over the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal. (Chris Pedota/The Record via AP, File) The overriding goal in the months following the September 2013 closures, Wildstein said, was to keep Christie's office out of any public discussions. That goal, he said, guided the preparation for testimony in November 2013 to a New Jersey legislative committee by Bill Baroni, one of two defendants Wildstein testified against in the current trial. Baroni told that committee the gridlock was due to a traffic study that had been poorly communicated to local officials and motorists. Tying Christie or his staffers to the burgeoning scandal "was never going to happen," Wildstein told jurors Wednesday. "There would be no mention of the governor's office, the governor's office would be insulated." Baroni was Christie's top appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the bridge. His co-defendant, Bridget Kelly, was Christie's deputy chief of staff and headed an office responsible for outreach to county and municipal officials. Testimony by Wildstein and others has portrayed Kelly's office as keeping a list of Democratic mayors targeted for endorsing the re-election of Christie, a Republican, in 2013. Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich was one of those mayors, and the government contends Kelly and Baroni schemed with Wildstein in August 2013 to create gridlock in Fort Lee after Sokolich declined to endorse Christie. Kelly and Baroni face charges including conspiracy, fraud and deprivation of civil rights. The most serious charge, wire fraud conspiracy, carries a 20-year maximum prison sentence. They contend the scheme was conceived and executed by Wildstein, a career political operative and blogger their attorneys have characterized as Christie's hatchet man at the Port Authority, a powerful bistate agency that runs bridges, tunnels, ports, airports and the World Trade Center. Christie wasn't charged and has denied any involvement in the scheme or its cover-up. Wildstein testified several members in the governor's inner circle knew about the plot beforehand or soon after, and that Christie himself was told about the traffic jams on Sept. 11, 2013, on the third day of the lane closures. Christie reiterated last week he "had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments." Among Wildstein's claims during his testimony Tuesday was that Christie and Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo discussed using a bogus report to defuse questions surrounding the traffic scandal as it unfolded. Food prices are falling. How are shoppers benefiting? NEW YORK (AP) Food prices are falling, but how is that translating to your grocery bill? The cost of groceries is down an average of about 2 percent over the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, including a nearly 9 percent drop for raw ground beef and 4.3 percent drop for roasted coffee. But how store prices play out varies greatly, depending on where you live and shop. Here's a look at what's affecting how much you're paying for groceries: FILE - In this June 17, 2014, file photo, a shopper looks at an item in the dairy section of a Kroger grocery store in Richardson, Texas. Food prices are falling, but what does that mean for your grocery bill? The government says that food costs are down, but Kroger says people arent noticing the drop in prices. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) WHAT'S CHEAPER? The biggest price drops are for protein sources, according to government data; the index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs was down nearly 7 percent in August from a year ago. That's largely a reflection of how high prices had previously climbed because of tighter supplies. Egg prices, for instance, reached all-time highs last year following an avian flu outbreak that led to a sharp reduction in hens. The average wholesale price for a dozen eggs shot up to $2.29 last September, from $1.29 the previous year, said Russ Whitman, a senior editor at commodities research firm Urner Barry. That dampened demand, which has persisted even as production recovered, Whitman said. As a result, the average wholesale price for a dozen eggs was 79 cents in September. Similar factors have affected beef and pork, where supplies are being rebuilt after being hurt by a drought and pig virus, respectively, Whitman said. Record availability of items including pork, eggs and chicken into next year, Whitman said, means prices will likely stay low for the near future. Costco Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said the company expects food deflation to persist for five or six more months. Other items may cost more, though. The price of fresh fruits overall rose 1.7 percent in August from a year ago, and butter and margarine increased 2.1 percent. SALES, SALES, SALES It's not just that food costs are falling. Supermarkets could easily keep prices steady and pocket the savings. But because of how competitive the industry has become, grocers are using those lower costs as a chance to run sales and promotions trying to steal customers away from rivals. "There is a greater availability of food in different locations, I think, than there has ever been before," Supervalu CEO Mark Gross said at the Goldman Sachs Global Retailing conference in September. Even Whole Foods has been working on affordability to appeal to a broader customer base as natural and organic products become more widely available. Sprouts Farmers Markets CEO Amin Maredia told of a rival grocery store deepening its discounts on meat as costs have remained low, from "buy one get one free, buy one get two free, buy one get three free." It's a situation where "the winner is the consumer," he said at the same conference. That said, there's great variance in what shoppers see. Grocery store operators often adjust pricing based on what local competitors are doing. Some regions are far more competitive than others Maredia cited Houston as one of the most competitive areas. MEAT, IT'S WHAT'S FOR DINNER Shoppers seem to be taking advantage of the meat promotions. Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen told analysts in September that people are buying beef and pork in a "very, very strong way," because of the lower prices and called volume growth in those areas "incredible." In other cases, he noted that lower prices haven't spurred more buying. "If you think about eggs, for an example, people only eat a certain number of eggs," he said. The availability of cheaper beef may even have shifted people's behavior. McDonald's and Burger King were among companies that recently reported weaker-than-expected domestic sales growth, and Wendy's CEO Todd Penegor cited cheaper groceries for the industry softness. "It's gotten a lot more cheaper, relatively speaking, to go get fresh beef at your local butcher and go home and grill it," Penegor said this summer. But the big savings on meat don't necessarily mean overall groceries are a lot cheaper. Kurt Jetta, CEO of consulting firm TABS Analytics, said grocers often reduce prices on items that bring in shoppers, then try to make up for it elsewhere. McMullen, the Kroger CEO, also noted a counterintuitive finding from the company's research: Most people are saying their groceries cost more, not less even though that isn't the case. ___ Athletes representative says anti-doping system 'not broken' LONDON (AP) The head of WADA's athlete commission contends the global anti-doping system is not "broken" and laments that politics surrounding the Russian doping scandal has sown "discord" in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs. Beckie Scott, who chairs the World Anti-Doping Agency athlete committee, urged all sides on Wednesday to put aside their differences and work together to combat "an undeniable threat to the integrity of sport today." In an op-ed released by the Montreal-based agency, the former Olympic cross-country skier from Canada noted that WADA "has come under intense criticism and scrutiny" in the wake of the allegations of state-backed doping in Russia. FILE This is a Thursday, May 12, 2016 file photo of Canadian Olympian Beckie Scott as she speaks to reporters following a World Anti-Doping Agency meeting in Montreal Canada. Scott the head of WADAs athlete commission said Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016 that the global anti-doping system is not ``broken and laments that politics has brought ``discord to the fight against performance-enhancing drugs. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press, File via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT "'Why?" Scott said. "For successfully fulfilling their mandate and taking the necessary decisions." "To be clear, 'the system' is not broken," she added. "If it were, the exposure of systematic and state-controlled doping in Russia by WADA would never have happened." Several IOC members have blasted WADA, accusing the agency of failing to act sooner on the Russian doping problems. They also criticized WADA for releasing investigator Richard McLaren's report on systematic Russian doping just weeks before the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. McLaren's report led WADA to call for the exclusion of the entire Russian team from the Rio Games. The IOC rejected the recommendation, instead asking individual sports federations to determine which Russian athletes could compete. "It is unacceptable that when it comes to clean, fair sport, there is a sense of discord when there should be harmony," Scott said. "Almost every day someone new from the Olympic family takes to the media with the critical claim that the global anti-doping 'system is broken.'" International Olympic Committee members Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Sergei Bubka and Gerardo Werthein have all issued highly critical assessments of WADA in recent weeks. "The issue has become so deeply divisive and conflicted among stakeholders that it seems athletes have another competitor in the ring politics," Scott said. "Cynicism alone will not win the fight." Scott's comments were released three days before an Olympic summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, that the IOC says will focus on developing "a more robust, more efficient and more independent" worldwide anti-doping system. IOC President Thomas Bach has called for the entire testing system to be independent from sports organizations. "We have to be solution focused and can no longer afford to become subject to the politics, conflicted interests and game-playing that has held us back for so long," Scott said. With WADA's future role and status under scrutiny, Scott said the agency should be given the autonomy to effectively monitor compliance with global anti-doping rules, apply sanctions and serve as the "regulatory body" for anti-doping efforts around the world. Scott also said WADA needs better funding. The agency's annual budget, covered 50-50 by the Olympic movement and national governments, is about $27 million. "We need to ask ourselves, what is the cost?" she wrote. "What price are we willing to pay for clean, legitimate sport? We must find new ways of funding the quest for a level playing field." Clinton more liked than Trump in China, according to survey BEIJING (AP) A survey released Wednesday found that Hillary Clinton is better liked than Donald Trump in China, where the U.S. presidential election and the criticisms both candidates have made of Chinese policy have generated intense attention. Clinton was seen favorably by 37 percent of respondents in a survey in mainland China conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based Pew Research Center, while just 22 percent saw Trump favorably. At the same time, 35 percent of respondents saw Clinton unfavorably, while 40 percent had an unfavorable impression of Trump. The survey found that Chinese interest in America comes with strong skepticism. More than 80 percent of respondents said they considered the U.S. to be a threat to China. FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, file photo, Chinese students chat as they watch a live broadcast of the presidential debate between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, at a cafe in Beijing. A survey released Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, found that Hillary Clinton is better liked than Donald Trump in China, where the U.S. presidential election - and the criticisms both candidates have made of Chinese policy - have generated intense attention. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) While the Pew survey has no bearing on the U.S. election, it offers a rare glimpse of the opinions of ordinary Chinese, whose views can be hard to discern due to China's censorship of the media and social media channels. State-sanctioned newspapers often publish nationalistic commentaries that deride American policies, but the survey suggests the public has a more nuanced opinion of the U.S. President Barack Obama was seen favorably by 52 percent of respondents, up from 31 percent in a similar survey in 2013 but still below 62 percent shortly after he took office in 2009. The next president will have to work with China on several important fronts. On issues like climate change, both countries have found some common ground and jointly announced last month that they would join an international agreement to cut carbon emissions. On others, like the South China Sea and North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Beijing and Washington are deeply divided. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV provides selective and largely sporadic coverage of the U.S. presidential election. But ever-growing numbers of Chinese tourists, immigrants and students are traveling to the U.S. and seeking information about the country on the internet. Pirated versions of American political dramas such as Netflix's "House of Cards" are widely watched in China. Among the reported fans of "House of Cards" is Wang Qishan, a member of China's highest decision-making body, the Politburo standing committee. Pew's survey was conducted between April 6 and May 8 and included in-person interviews with more than 3,100 Chinese. Pew said it had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points. Participants were asked how much confidence they had in Obama, Clinton and Trump to "do the right thing regarding world affairs." Clinton has a longer history of engagement with China than Trump, dating back more than two decades to her famous 1995 speech in Beijing in which the then-first lady declared that "human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights." As secretary of state, Clinton oversaw the American "pivot" to the Pacific, a hallmark of Obama's foreign policy that's been derided by China. Trump has made some of his signature clothing line in China and boasted during the campaign of his dealings with Chinese businessmen. But he has repeatedly blamed China for the loss of American jobs and accused China of cheating at global trade. His campaign website says he would use "every lawful presidential power" to punish China if it "does not stop its illegal activities, including its theft of American trade secrets." While Chinese leaders have not publicly indicated their preference, the state-run Global Times newspaper, published by the Communist Party, has ripped both candidates, though Trump has generally received tougher criticism than Clinton. A September commentary on the first U.S. presidential debate called Trump "seemingly unprepared and ill-informed," but dismissed Clinton for "her poor performance as secretary of state, let alone her credibility issues." China has also lashed out at the Republican Party over its criticisms of Beijing, accusing it of leveling groundless accusations and meddling in China's internal affairs. Zhang Ming, a political science professor at Beijing's Renmin University who was not involved in the Pew survey, said he's found opinions vary widely on the two candidates, depending in large part on how people feel about China itself. "Some Chinese agree with government policies, so they hope the candidate who wins the election will be friendly toward China," Zhang said. "Some people may want the new president to interfere in some issues in China if they disagree with government policy." ___ Associated Press researcher Henry Hou contributed to this report. ___ Follow Nomaan Merchant on Twitter at twitter.com/nomaanmerchant Germany's Merkel calls for push on EU-US trade deal BERLIN (AP) German Chancellor Angela Merkel has renewed calls to press ahead with discussions over a sweeping trade deal between the European Union and the U.S. that her deputy said as recently as August had effectively failed. The planned Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is unpopular among many Germans. While Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel's center-left party is skeptical about it, Merkel's conservative bloc is standing by the proposed pact. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel arrive for the weekly cabinet meeting of the German government at the chancellery in Berlin, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Merkel said in a speech Wednesday to German exporters that the most difficult questions are always tackled at the end of negotiations. Merkel added that, while TTIP is controversial in Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and France, "it is not the case that all 28 member countries of the European Union are equally skeptical." 'Dancing with the Stars' pros get engaged on Tuesday show LOS ANGELES (AP) "Dancing with the Stars" pros Emma Slater and Sasha Farber took the floor during Tuesday night's results show both to dance and to get engaged. The pair kicked off the show with a dance to Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are." Afterward, Farber told Slater that he's "wanted to do this for such a long time" before revealing a ring. Slater quickly accepted the proposal and the rest of the cast joined the couple on stage. Farber later said on Instagram that it was "one moment in my life I will cherish for ever!!!!" Slater says on Twitter she "can't believe it's true." In this image released by ABC, Sasha Farber, left, proposes to Emma Slater during a broadcast of the celebrity dancing competition series, "Dancing with the Stars," in Los Angeles. The pair kicked off the show with a dance to Bruno Mars Just The Way You Are. Afterward, Farber told Slater that hes wanted to do this for such a long time before revealing a ring. Slater quickly agreed and the couple was joined on stage by the rest of the cast. (Eric McCandless/ABC via AP) Slater was paired with former Texas Governor Rick Perry this season. He was eliminated last week. Farber is dancing with reality star Terra Jole. The Latest: Superhero funeral honors boy shot at school TOWNVILLE, S.C. (AP) The Latest on the funeral of a boy fatally shot at a South Carolina elementary school (all times local): 12:20 a.m. The Rev. David Blizzard has delivered the eulogy for Jacob Hall, the 6-year-old boy killed when a teenager opened fire at his elementary school in South Carolina. Starr Henderson, 12, of Belton, cries after seeing her nephew Jacob Hall during a wake service at Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville, S.C., Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2016. Jacob, a classmate and a teacher were shot last Wednesday as they left for recess. Authorities say the suspect, a 14-year-old boy, had shot his father to death before driving to Townville Elementary. The other student and teacher were treated and released from a hospital that day. (Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) Blizzard says Jacob loved everybody, and would "pretend he was a superhero. He imagined himself being the good guy and sure enough, it's almost surreal to think what's happened. This little boy has spoken to us and said, 'I want you to love each other like Jesus loves us.'" Blizzard also referred to the nine people killed last year inside the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, North Carolina. He said their families forgave that shooter. He said "we have the same Jesus that Mother Emanuel had, and we can do the same thing if we choose to." Why forgive? Because, he said, "a superhero story is about good versus evil. The good always wins. We live in a dark world, but the good's going to win." ___ 11:20 a.m. The family of Jacob Hall has arrived at the funeral of their 6-year-old boy, who was struck by gunfire at his South Carolina elementary school. At the Hall family's request, mourners are wearing superhero costumes to celebrate Jacob, who is being laid to rest dressed as Batman. A fellow 6-year-old, Lily Gunby, says Jacob "was really sweet," and "new a lot about Jesus." She's sitting in the pews of Townville's Oakdale Baptist Church, wearing a pink and black superman shirt in her friend's honor. Lily's uncle Derek Gunby says Jacob was "the cutest thing ever" at the church's Bible school. The mourners include some people who drove for hours to attend the funeral. John Buckland drove his Batmobile from West Virginia, and wearing full Batman garb, gave the kids posters saying "Tough things make me stronger." Townville Elementary school teachers also are in the church, wearing handmade blue capes with a Ninja Turtle face and Jacob's name on the back. ___ 9:45 a.m. People dressed in superhero costumes are arriving at the funeral of a 6-year-old boy who died after a teen gunman opened fire at a South Carolina elementary school. The church was filling up an hour before Jacob Hall's funeral Wednesday. It comes a week after authorities say a 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children and a teacher as recess began. Jacob died Saturday. The other student and teacher were treated and released the day of the shooting. Jacob's family has encouraged people to celebrate his life by dressing as the superheroes he loved. The front of the funeral program reads "God's Super Hero," with the words of the song "Jesus Loves Me" printed inside. Photos from his life are on display on two large screens. Jacob's blue casket is decorated with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle stickers, and a bright floral spray on top includes large figurines of Ninja turtles and Captain America. Jacob is being laid to rest as Batman, another favorite. ___ 4 a.m. A 6-year-old boy who died after a teen gunman opened fire at a South Carolina elementary school is remembered as a superhero. Jacob Hall's family has encouraged people to dress as superheroes to celebrate his life, and many people obliged at his visitation Tuesday. His funeral Wednesday comes a week after authorities say a 14-year-old boy killed his own father before driving to Townville Elementary School. Jacob, a classmate and a teacher were struck as they left for recess. That student and the teacher were treated and released from a hospital later that day. A bullet struck Jacob in a main artery in his thigh. District Superintendent Joanne Avery says there will be a district-wide moment of silence at 1:42 p.m. to mark one week since the shooting. Renae Hall, left, mother of Jacob Hall, talks to Starr Henderson, 12, of Belton, S.C., during a wake service for Jacob Hall, at Oakdale Baptist Church, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 in Townville, S.C. Townspeople and classmates filled a church Tuesday evening to say goodbye to Jacob Hall, a 6-year-old boy who died in a school shooting, filing past a casket adorned with large photos, balloons and a life-size figure of one of his favorite superheroes, Batman.(Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) Zowie Sanders, gives a fist bump to John Suber, left, of Greenville, dressed as Superman, with her sister Lindsey Sanders, center, and their mother Brooke Starks, right, of Townville, during a wake service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville, S.C., Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2016. Jacob, a classmate and a teacher were shot last Wednesday as they left for recess. Authorities say the suspect, a 14-year-old boy, had shot his father to death before driving to Townville Elementary. The other student and teacher were treated and released from a hospital that day. (Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) Campaign to give workers paid sick leave gains momentum NEW YORK (AP) The campaign to give workers paid time off when they're sick is picking up momentum. A bill that would give workers for the Illinois county that includes Chicago one hour of paid sick time for each 40 hours they work was approved Wednesday. Sick leave referendums are on the November ballot in Arizona and Washington state. Proposals are also expected to be voted on next year in Duluth, Minnesota, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, says Ellen Bravo, executive director of Family Values @ Work, an organization that advocates for paid sick leave. Most companies do give their employees paid time off when they're sick. The Labor Department estimates that last year, 61 percent of workers in private companies got sick time averaging six to 10 days a year. But there's no federal law mandating that all companies give staffers paid leave, and those businesses that don't tend to be very small, often with blue-collar workers. In this Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, photo, Olivia Colt, owner of catering company Salt & Honey, center, poses for photos as members of her cooking staff work in the kitchen in Berkeley, Calif. The campaign to give workers time off when theyre sick is picking up momentum. Before California enacted its law, Colt had given paid leave to her salaried managers as a way to retain employees in an industry with high turnover. Now, hourly employees get sick leave as well, accruing one hour for each 30 hours they work. Colt sees several benefits: She has less staff turnover, and her 20 workers take better care of their health. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The move toward paid sick leave has accelerated in the last three years as 31 states, counties and cities approved laws, according to Bravo's group. All told, 38 jurisdictions have such laws, starting with San Francisco in 2006 and now other places like New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, Oregon and Vermont also have laws. These measures tend to have an impact at smaller companies that are less likely than mid-size or large enterprises to offer sick leave. They generally allow workers to accrue sick time according to the number of hours they work each week. Many grant workers five days off a year. Before California enacted its law, caterer Olivia Colt had given paid leave to her salaried managers as a way to retain employees in an industry with high turnover. Now, hourly employees get sick leave as well, accruing one hour for each 30 hours they work. Colt, the owner of Salt & Honey in Berkeley, sees several benefits: She has less staff turnover, and her 20 workers take better care of their health. "They're not coming to work in the middle of the flu and getting everyone else sick," she says. But there's opposition to the laws. Some small business advocacy groups say mandatory paid sick leave can drive up companies' expenses for example, if they have to hire replacement workers. Bills introduced in Congress to mandate paid sick leave have failed. President Barack Obama signed an executive order requiring companies with contracts or subcontracts with the federal government to give workers up to seven paid sick days each year. That order takes effect Jan. 1. Very small companies with manual or industrial jobs are the most likely to not offer paid sick leave, says David Lewis, CEO of OperationsInc, a human resources provider based in Norwalk, Connecticut. Owners may be cash-strapped. "A lot of these companies are incapable of offering what they view as a luxury-type of benefit," Lewis says. Owners with staffers in different states or cities and who are required to provide sick leave in some locations may decide to give everyone the same benefit, even though that may increase expenses. Emily LaRusch has one employee in California, and 10 scattered among Florida, Texas and Arizona, which don't have sick leave laws. She used to give staffers 10 days off to be used for illness or vacation. In light of the California law, she has added three sick days for everyone. "If this one person gets preferential treatment for sick time, vacation, I couldn't do it for that one and not for the rest of the team," says LaRusch, owner of Back Office Betties, which provides receptionist services like remote phone answering. LaRusch says sick time raises her expenses by $4,000 a year, a lot of money for a small company. But she recognizes that by providing sick time, she's making her business more competitive in an industry not known for giving generous benefits. Rocana, which creates systems to monitor computers and other technology, has about 60 workers in about two dozen states, including some with sick leave laws. The company gives workers unlimited vacation and sick leave they take as many days as they need, and the company keeps track of what category each one falls into. Managers believe it's a good policy for employee relations, and it has also made it easier to comply with the varying sick leave laws, Chief Financial Officer Steve Wietrecki says. In places with sick leave laws, companies must also report to the government how much time staffers accrue and take. Giving staffers more time than the law mandates doesn't relieve companies of that duty. Many companies ask their payroll providers to handle the paperwork. "It's a minor burden," Wietrecki says. _____ Follow Joyce Rosenberg at www.twitter.com/JoyceMRosenberg . Her work can be found here: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joyce-m-rosenberg A ranger, poacher and investigator explain pangolin trade KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Commercial trade in the pangolin, a scaly anteater with a distinctive coat of hard shells, is now forbidden following decisions made last week at a conservation meeting in Johannesburg. The pangolin is the world's most heavily trafficked mammal, with rampant poaching driven by demand for its meat, considered a delicacy in Vietnam and some parts of China, and its scales, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The Associated Press spoke to a former pangolin poacher, a park ranger trying to curb poaching, and an undercover investigator about the trade. FILE - In this Thursday, June 19, 2014 file photo, a pangolin carries its baby at a Bali zoo in Bali, Indonesia. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of the pangolin, an anteater with a distinctive coat of hard scales, doubts remain whether that will stop the illegal traffic of pangolins in Africa fueled by a growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly Chinese. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati, File) ___ THE FORMER POACHER Michael Ojara, a 20-year-old farmer, said police arrested him in April after he caught a pangolin near his village in northwestern Uganda and tried to sell it. Ojara, whose village of Lagaji is near Murchison Falls National Park, said he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. "I don't want to engage in poaching anymore, because I feel that if I do again, I will get arrested," Ojara said in an interview late last month. Ojara said he had also killed an elephant a few years ago that wandered into his village from Murchison Falls because it was ruining his crops. ___ THE RANGER Denis Odong, 30, is a Ugandan ranger who said he has only spotted a pangolin once in his eight years on the job. Odong, who works at the Kidepo Valley National Park, bordering South Sudan, said local villagers need to be provided with incentives to preserve wildlife. But buyers of pangolin scales, which are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, play a greater role, he added. "Even the Chinese themselves, they know that poaching the pangolins will endanger the species," Odong said. ___ THE UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATOR Rebecca T. works as an undercover investigator into the trade of pangolins for the Natural Resource Conservation Network, a Ugandan nonprofit group. The 27-year-old agreed to an interview on condition of partial anonymity because revealing her identity could undermine her investigations. Posing as a potential buyer, Rebecca connects with traffickers and travels across Uganda to meet them, see the products usually live pangolins or scales and negotiate prices. Once a deal and meeting has been set up, the group works with police to mount an operation and arrest the traffickers. "They have big people behind them, they are not alone," the investigator says of the traffickers. "They use expensive dogs, sometimes guns, and if you trace these guns you find that they come from the authorities." ___ The International Women's Media Foundation supported Franchineau in her reporting in Uganda as part of its Africa Great Lakes Initiative. In this Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 photo, park ranger Denis Odong stands in an open area in Kidepo Valley National Park in northern Uganda. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of pangolins, doubts remain whether that will stop their illegal traffic in Africa fueled by growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly in China. (AP Photo/Helene Franchineau) FILE - In this Monday, April 27, 2015 file photo, a pangolin climbs out of a cage upon its release into the wild in Sibolangit, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of the pangolin, an anteater with a distinctive coat of hard scales, doubts remain whether that will stop the illegal traffic of pangolins in Africa fueled by a growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly Chinese. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara, File) In this Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 photo, pangolin scales are displayed at a home in Gulu in northern Uganda. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of pangolins, doubts remain whether that will stop their illegal traffic in Africa fueled by growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly in China. (AP Photo/Helene Franchineau) In this Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 photo, Edgar Buhanga, deputy director of planning for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, stands in their offices in Kampala, Uganda. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of the pangolin, an anteater with a distinctive coat of hard scales, doubts remain whether that will stop the illegal traffic of pangolins in Africa fueled by a growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly Chinese. (AP Photo/Helene Franchineau) In this Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 photo, motorcycle taxi driver Michael Komakech holds pangolin scales he acquired while working as a driver for a pangolin trafficker in Gulu in northern Uganda. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of pangolins, doubts remain whether that will stop their illegal traffic in Africa fueled by growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly in China. (AP Photo/Helene Franchineau) In this Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 photo, dusk falls over Kampala, Uganda, a transit point in pangolin trafficking. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of pangolins, doubts remain whether that will stop their illegal traffic in Africa fueled by growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly in China. (AP Photo/Helene Franchineau) In this Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 photo, park ranger Denis Odong uses a pair of binoculars to scan the horizon in Kidepo Valley National Park in northern Uganda. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of pangolins, doubts remain whether that will stop their illegal traffic in Africa fueled by growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly in China. (AP Photo/Helene Franchineau) In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, a woman walks past an anti-pangolin trafficking billboard in an underground walkway in Beijing. Although a global wildlife summit banned all trade of pangolins, an anteater with a distinctive coat of hard scales, doubts remain whether that will stop the illegal traffic of pangolins in Africa fueled by a growing demand from Asian consumers, particularly Chinese. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Albania police with electric cars, but no recharging spots TIRANA, Albania (AP) In a first for Albania, some police will soon be driving electric cars through the streets. Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri on Wednesday proudly introduced a small fleet of Volkswagen electric cars to be used by police, "the only one in the region and one of five in Europe." He said the cars will not use "a single drop of fuel" and will cost "just a coffee" 120 leks (less than 1 euro) per 100 kilometers (62 miles). New electric cars on display to be used by the Albanian police in the capital Tirana, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Interior Minsiter Saimir Tahiri said Albanian police will be the first in the region, and one of five countries in Europe, using electric cars that use not a single drop of fuel. But they have to return to police stations to be recharged, as there are no recharging facilities at fuel stations or around the cities. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) There's only one catch there's no recharging spots at Albanian fuel stations or around Albanian cities, so the cars have to head back to the police stations to be recharged. America's largest shopping mall has announced it will be closed on Thanksgiving - perhaps heralding the end of the trend for increasingly early Black Friday shopping. Thousands of employees and tenants at the Mall of America in Minnesota were told the mall, amusement park and movie theaters, will shut for the holiday. Executives said they took the bold stance at the Bloomington mega-mall because they believe Thanksgiving should be a 'day for families'. It marked a significant departure from its standpoint in the past few years which saw the Mall of America fiercely compete for consumers' holiday spending. Scroll down for video Thousands of employees and tenants at the Mall of America in Minnesota were told the mall, amusement park and movie theaters, will shut for Thanksgiving. It is a sign that the trend of Black Friday sales starting on the holiday may be coming to an end The mall, anchored by Macy's and H&M, was among a crop of retailers and malls that swung open their doors on Thanksgiving night to stretch Black Friday from 2012. But its new position could inspire other malls and stores to follow suit. The Mall of America will re-open at 5am on the Friday after Thanksgiving. 'We think Thanksgiving is a day for families and for people we care about,' Jill Renslow, the mall's senior vice president of marketing, told AP. 'We want to give this day back.' The move could impact as many as 14,000 employees who work at the mall or at one of its tenants - such as the shops and Nickelodeon Universe. Over the past few years, malls have started opening on Thanksgiving in a fierce battle for consumers' holiday spending The malls 520-plus stores will have the option to open on Thanksgiving, but mall officials expect few will choose to do so, the Star Tribune reported. The Friday after Thanksgiving had traditionally served as the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season. But over the past few years, Thanksgiving has become the new tradition as malls and stores try to outdo others to get first dibs on the shoppers. Many major stores like Macy's, Target and J.C. Penney have opened increasingly earlier on Thanksgiving. But the move has also been controversial as many workers have voiced complaints and signed petitions that stores are putting profits over workers' time to be with their families. Office supplies retailer Staples announced last month that it will close on Thanksgiving for the second year in a row, though it will offer deals on its website. High-end stores like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue have remained closed on that day. GAt Mall of America, the mall opened for the first time on Thanksgiving at midnight in 2012 and then in 2013 opened at 8pm. Reported Yahoo email scanning revives surveillance concerns NEW YORK (AP) Yahoo's reported willingness to search user email to assist U.S. government investigators has revived concerns about court-approved surveillance programs that companies aren't allowed to disclose to the people using their services. Last year, Yahoo modified an existing version of its email security program to flag the appearance of a digital "signature" the U.S. had linked to a foreign terrorist group backed by another government, according to a report published Wednesday by The New York Times. Copies of any incoming email containing the signature were stored in Yahoo's system and made available to the FBI. The Times quoted an unnamed government official, following up an earlier Reuters story that had revealed Yahoo's email scanning activity without specifying what kind of information the government sought. In this Tuesday, July 19, 2016, photo, flowers bloom in front of a Yahoo sign at the company's headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif. Yahoo responded again on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, to a report that it scanned incoming email to hundreds of millions of accounts for the U.S government. In a carefully worded statement that stops short of a denial, the company said a Tuesday Reuters report is misleading, saying that the mail scanning described in the article does not exist on our systems. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) SEEN THROUGH A PRISM The revelations have conjured memories of a data-collection program set up by the National Security Agency and major internet companies a few years ago under other court orders issued in secret. That program, called "Prism," only became public knowledge in 2013 after former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked slides revealing that the government had been authorized to grab emails, videos and pictures stored by Google, Yahoo and Facebook, among other companies. As with Prism, the U.S. government appears to have demanded Yahoo's cooperation in an effort to sniff out terrorist threats and protect public safety. The government said Prism targeted the specific online accounts of foreigners. The Yahoo hunt may have cut a much broader swath, scanning through hundreds of millions of incoming emails in search of the signature used by the foreign terrorist group, said Kurt Opsahl, general counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group. He likened it to the government getting a court order to rifle through the documents stored in millions of homes in search of a particular piece of information. BIG COMPUTER IS WATCHING YOU "This is a troubling vision of the future where there might be massive government surveillance done with computers," Opsahl said. "The government may well say they were only targeting a string of characters used by a foreigner, but it just so happened that hundreds of millions of innocent people also had their emails examined too." Patrick Toomey, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement that the government order appears to be "unprecedented and unconstitutional." Odia Kagan, a Philadelphia-based data privacy attorney, said that it's impossible to judge the legality of the government's request, because the facts surrounding it remain murky. The Justice Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday. Bulk collection of data isn't allowed and the government cannot indiscriminately review the emails or phone calls of ordinary people, Richard Kolko, deputy director of public affairs for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said in a statement. The U.S. government can gather information about non-U.S. citizens under the Foreign Intelligence and Surveillance Act, but those powers are supposed to be narrowly focused, Kolko said. Yahoo hasn't explained what it did under the government order. It called Reuters' original story "misleading," but declined to comment on the Times' disclosure about the government's quest for the digital signature. GAGGING ON SECRECY The company probably wishes it could say more, but can't because of a court order forbidding the company from discussing the surveillance, Opsahl said. Google and Microsoft have issued statements disavowing any involvement in a government-ordered surveillance program similar to Yahoo's. While companies have a duty to abide by the law, they also have a duty to protect the privacy of their users, Kagan said. The trick is to balance those two things. And sometimes that means putting up a fight when it comes to government requests, even if they ultimately lose, in order to preserve their users' trust in them. Not long ago, Yahoo also resisted government demands. The Sunnyvale, California, company initially challenged the program that became Prism in a battle dating back to 2007, despite threats of being fined $250,000 per day if it didn't comply. Yahoo was under different management then. It has been run by a former Google executive, Marissa Mayer, for the past four years. "The big takeaway is that that we really don't know what is going on between any of these companies and the government," said Forrester Research privacy analyst Fatemeh Khatibloo. "It sort of a shadowy world threatening our Fourth Amendment rights" protecting against unreasonable search and seizures. MORE TROUBLE FOR YAHOO The news is just the latest email bombshell for Yahoo, which was already reeling from its recent admission that computer hackers swiped personal information from at least 500 million of its accounts. That attack is believed to be the biggest digital break-in ever suffered by an email provider. This week's revelations could also affect Yahoo's operations in Europe, Kagan said. User data there is protected by a data privacy agreement struck this summer between the U.S. and EU regulators known as the Privacy Shield. Yahoo is also in the process of selling its online operations to Verizon for $4.8 billion. Verizon so far has had no comment on the email-scanning reports. ___ 4 uterus transplants from live donors done in Texas; 3 fail Texas doctors have done the first womb transplants using live donors in the United States. Four women who had been born without a uterus received one in operations last month at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. Three of the wombs have had to be removed because of poor blood flow. But the hospital said in a statement Wednesday that the fourth recipient still has hers and is showing no signs of rejection. The hospital would not identify any of the donors or recipients. In this September 2016 photo provided by Baylor Scott & White Health, surgeons perform a uterine transplant during a clinical trial at the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. On Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, the hospital said four women who had been born without a uterus received one in operations in September. Three of the wombs have had to be removed because of poor blood flow, but a hospital statement says the fourth recipient still has hers and is showing no signs of rejection. (Baylor Scott & White Health via AP) There have been at least 16 previous uterus transplants worldwide, including one in Cleveland from a deceased donor that had to be removed because of complications. Two doctors from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, which has done the most of these operations, were in Dallas to assist with the four transplants there. At least five births have resulted from the womb transplants in Sweden. Dallas doctors are hopeful the patient who still has her transplanted womb will become the first successful case in the U.S. She is part of a clinical trial that Baylor announced in January that aims to enroll 10 women born without a uterus or with a faulty one. Womb donors can be dead or alive, and the Baylor study aims to use some of both. The first four cases involved "altruistic" donors unrelated and unknown to the recipients, a hospital spokesman said. The ones done in Sweden were from live donors, mostly from the recipients' mother or a sister. Doctors hope that womb transplants will enable as many as several thousand women born without a uterus to bear children. To be eligible for the Baylor study, women must be 20 to 35 years old and have healthy, normal ovaries. They will first have in vitro fertilization to retrieve and fertilize their eggs and produce embryos that can be frozen until they are ready to attempt pregnancy. After the uterus transplant, the embryos can be thawed and implanted, at least a year after the transplant to make sure the womb is working well. A baby resulting from a uterine transplant would be delivered by cesarean section. The wombs are not intended to be permanent having one means a woman must take powerful drugs to prevent organ rejection, and the drugs pose long-term health risks, so the uterus would be removed after one or two successful pregnancies. Womb transplants are one of many newer trends in a field that has advanced many frontiers in recent years. On Wednesday, doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston said they performed a double-arm transplant for a retired Marine sergeant who lost all four limbs to a bomb in Afghanistan. It was not a first, even for the hospital at least 85 hand or arm transplants have been done globally since the first one nearly two decades ago. Doctors from Houston Methodist Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2014 did the world's first partial skull and scalp transplant to help a man who suffered a large head wound from cancer treatment. More than two dozen face transplants have been done since the first one in France in 2005; the first one in the U.S. was done in Cleveland in 2008. A host of patients have received transplants or implants of 3-D printed body parts, ranging from blood vessels to windpipes. ___ PSA group reaches deal to make 200,000 cars a year in Iran TEHRAN, Iran (AP) French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen has reached a deal with Iran's biggest carmaker to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles a year, renewing an old partnership with Iran Khodro Co following the lifting of international sanctions. The two companies showcased five models on Wednesday to be produced by IKAP, a joint venture first announced in January during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Peugeot was a major player in Iran's car market before sanctions were imposed. PSA group says negotiations for the deal began before the sanctions were lifted. The managing director of Iranian car maker, Iran Khodro, Hashem Yekke Zare, left, and the chairman of the managing board at the French carmaker Peugeot Citroen PSA Carlos Tavares shake hands after a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Peugeot Citroen PSA has reached a deal with Iran's biggest carmaker to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles a year, renewing an old partnership with Iran Khodro Co following the lifting of international sanctions. The two companies showcased five models to be produced by IKAP, a joint venture first announced in January during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) During the Paris auto show last week, French carmaker Renault announced it had reached a deal to make at least 150,000 vehicles a year with the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran. Workers inspect a Peugeot 508 at the Iran Khodro car factory in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Peugeot Citroen PSA has reached a deal with Iran's biggest carmaker to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles a year, renewing an old partnership with Iran Khodro Co following the lifting of international sanctions. The two companies showcased five models to be produced by IKAP, a joint venture first announced in January during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Iranian car workers inspect a Peugeot 508 at Iran Khodro car factory plant in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Peugeot Citroen PSA has reached a deal with Iran's biggest carmaker to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles a year, renewing an old partnership with Iran Khodro Co following the lifting of international sanctions. The two companies showcased five models to be produced by IKAP, a joint venture first announced in January during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) The managing director of Iranian car maker, Iran Khodro, Hashem Yekke Zare, left, and the chairman of the managing board at the French carmaker Peugeot Citroen PSA Carlos Tavares sgive a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Peugeot Citroen PSA has reached a deal with Iran's biggest carmaker to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles a year, renewing an old partnership with Iran Khodro Co following the lifting of international sanctions. The two companies showcased five models to be produced by IKAP, a joint venture first announced in January during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) The managing director of Iranian car maker, Iran Khodro, Hashem Yekke Zare, right, and the chairman of the managing board at the French carmaker Peugeot Citroen PSA Carlos Tavares give a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Peugeot Citroen PSA has reached a deal with Iran's biggest carmaker to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles a year, renewing an old partnership with Iran Khodro Co following the lifting of international sanctions. The two companies showcased five models to be produced by IKAP, a joint venture first announced in January during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Indonesian prosecutors seek 20-year term in cyanide murder JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian prosecutors recommended a 20-year jail term on Wednesday for an Indonesian woman charged with murdering a former classmate at an Australian school. Former Australian resident Jessica Kumala Wongso is accused of poisoning Wayan Mirna Salihin, a fellow student at Billy Blue College of Design in Sydney, who collapsed and died Jan. 6 after drinking coffee ordered by the defendant at a Jakarta cafe. Police say laboratory tests showed the drink contained cyanide. Wongso has denied any wrongdoing. Prosecutors told the court Wednesday that Wongso had committed premeditated murder but had not confessed or expressed remorse. They say Wongso committed the crime because of the victim's advice that she sever her relationship with her troublesome boyfriend. Wongso's lawyers have ridiculed the prosecution's contention that Salihin's advice led to the murder. They said the explanation "could not be accepted by common sense." Superheroes honor school shooting victim dressed as Batman TOWNVILLE, S.C. (AP) Six-year-old Jacob Hall was dressed as Batman for his funeral on Wednesday, and many of more than 1,000 mourners appeared as superheroes to honor the school shooting victim. The first-grader's mother, choking back tears, wore a Robin costume. Jacob's family had asked mourners to celebrate the boy's life by dressing as the superheroes he loved, and so they did. Captain Americas and Wonder Women filed past his small blue casket, along with Supermen and Supergirls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers. Renae Hall, mother of Jacob Hall, reacts after a superhero-themed funeral service for her son at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Townville, S.C. A 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children and a teacher as recess began. Jacob died Saturday. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt) His teachers came in handmade blue capes with a Ninja Turtle face and Jacob's name. Jacob loved to pretend he was a superhero, imagining himself as the good guy, the Rev. David Blizzard recalled. He encouraged mourners to honor his wishes by forgiving the 14-year-old boy charged with killing him at Townville Elementary School. "Preacher, I know what Jacob would say to me," Blizzard said Jacob's mother, Renae Hall, told him. "He'd say, 'Mama, forgive that boy and love him like Jesus loves him because Jesus loves him.' That's exactly what Jacob would probably say." Blizzard also referred to the nine people killed in last year's church shooting inside the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, reminding the crowd that their families forgave that shooter. "We have the same Jesus that Mother Emanuel had, and we can do the same thing if we choose to," Blizzard said, because "a superhero story is about good versus evil. The good always wins. We live in a dark world, but the good's going to win." Jacob died Saturday from a bullet that struck the main artery in his thigh. Authorities said the 14-year-old killed his own father, then drove to the school and sprayed gunfire. Jacob's classmate and a first-grade teacher also were struck by bullets, and were treated and released from a hospital. The teen faces charges of murder, attempted murder and weapons possession. A capacity crowd of more than 500 squeezed into the church's sanctuary. Hundreds more watched live feeds in the gym and the youth building, and still others waited outside the Oakdale Baptist Church. A thousand programs were handed out before the funeral began. A 6-year-old friend from church, Lily Gunby, wore a pink and black Superman shirt. She said Jacob "was really sweet," and "knew a lot about Jesus." Lily's uncle Derek Gunby says Jacob was "the cutest thing ever" at Bible school. John Buckland drove his Batmobile from West Virginia to attend the funeral. Wearing full Batman garb, he gave the kids posters saying "Tough things make me stronger." "Keep an eye on each other. Care about each other, love each other. If someone's in trouble, reach out and give them the help they need, because Jacob would," Buckland said. Students won't return to Townville Elementary until Thursday. But the district's other five schools planned to honor Jacob by participating in Superhero Day, with all employees and students invited to come to school in costume. A Facebook page created for Superhero Day said schools across the state planned to participate, but in central and coastal South Carolina, schools were closed in advance of Hurricane Matthew District Superintendent Joanne Avery also announced a moment of silence at 1:42 p.m. Wednesday, to mark one week since the shooting. ___ This story has been corrected to remove an erroneous reference to Charleston being in North Carolina. Renae Hall, right, mother of Jacob Hall, reacts as her son is placed into a hearse during a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Townville, S.C. A 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children and a teacher as recess began. Jacob died Saturday. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt) Renae Hall, right, mother of Jacob Hall, reacts as her son is placed into a hearse during a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Townville, S.C. A 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children and a teacher as recess began. Jacob died Saturday. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt) Tim Marcengill, Associate Pastor Evangelism and Education, speaks at funeral for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Townville, S.C. Jacob's family has encouraged people to celebrate his life by dressing as the superheroes he loved. A 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children and a teacher as recess began. Jacob died Saturday. ( Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) A man dressed as Batman arrives during a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Townville, S.C. Hall's family has encouraged people to dress as superheroes to celebrate what he enjoyed. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt) Friends and family arrive before a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Townville, S.C. Jacob's family has encouraged people to celebrate his life by dressing as the superheroes he loved. A 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children and a teacher as recess began. Jacob died Saturday.(AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt) Kortnie Lanclos, of Liberty, S.C., wears a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shell before a superhero-themed funeral service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Townville, S.C. Jacob's family has encouraged people to celebrate his life by dressing as the superheroes he loved. A 14-year-old boy killed his own father, then drove to Townville Elementary and fired on two children and a teacher as recess began. Jacob died Saturday. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt) Katie Olvera, left, dressed as Wonder Woman, Aaron Sloan, middle, of Seneca, dressed as a Power Ranger, and John Suber, right, of Greenville, dressed as Superman, pay their respects during a wake service for Jacob Hall, at Oakdale Baptist Church, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 in Townville, S.C. Townspeople and classmates filled a church Tuesday evening to say goodbye to Jacob Hall, a 6-year-old boy who died in a school shooting, filing past a casket adorned with large photos, balloons and a life-size figure of one of his favorite superheroes, Batman.(Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) Zowie Sanders, right, stands near John Suber, left, of Greenville, S.C. dressed as Superman, with her sister Lindsey Sanders, middle, and their mother Brooke Starks, right, during a wake service for Jacob Hall, at Oakdale Baptist Church, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 in Townville, S.C. Townspeople and classmates filled a church Tuesday evening to say goodbye to Jacob Hall, a 6-year-old boy who died in a school shooting, filing past a casket adorned with large photos, balloons and a life-size figure of one of his favorite superheroes, Batman.(Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) Renae Hall, left, mother of Jacob Hall, talks to Starr Henderson, 12, of Belton, S.C., during a wake service for Jacob Hall, at Oakdale Baptist Church, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 in Townville, S.C. Townspeople and classmates filled a church Tuesday evening to say goodbye to Jacob Hall, a 6-year-old boy who died in a school shooting, filing past a casket adorned with large photos, balloons and a life-size figure of one of his favorite superheroes, Batman.(Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) Renae Hall, left, mother of Jacob Hall, hugs friends and family during a wake service for Jacob Hall, at Oakdale Baptist Church, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 in Townville, S.C. Townspeople and classmates filled a church Tuesday evening to say goodbye to Jacob Hall, a 6-year-old boy who died in a school shooting, filing past a casket adorned with large photos, balloons and a life-size figure of one of his favorite superheroes, Batman.(Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) Friends and family line up during a wake service for Jacob Hall at Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville, S.C., Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2016. Jacob, a classmate and a teacher were shot last Wednesday as they left for recess. Authorities say the suspect, a 14-year-old boy, had shot his father to death before driving to Townville Elementary. The other student and teacher were treated and released from a hospital that day. (Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP, Pool) 4 migrants die of apparent suffocation in eastern Mexico MEXICO CITY (AP) Four migrants died in Mexico's eastern state of Veracruz, apparently suffocating in a truck that was carrying them and dozens of others to the border with the United States, Mexican officials said Wednesday. The National Immigration Institute said in a statement that the four were among 55 migrants abandoned by their smugglers near the town of Tres Valles. Many of those who survived were severely dehydrated and had not had food or water for two days when they were found Tuesday evening. Ten migrants remained hospitalized, including three still unidentified because of their delicate condition. Guatemala's foreign ministry said three of the dead were Guatemalans and had suffocated inside the truck. It said the fourth person who died was from Ecuador. Mexican immigration authorities said one of the migrants said there were 53 Guatemalans, one Ecuadoran and one Salvadoran in the group. There has been heavy immigration from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala to the United States in recent years, with a main migration route passing through Veracruz. The migrants were locked in the back of a truck made to look like it was from Mexico's mail service, the immigration agency said. Halloween attractions: virtual reality and interaction Virtual reality, spooky Airbnb rentals and the start of a final season for Disneyland's Twilight Zone of Terror are all part of this Halloween's freaky fun. Here's a sample of what's happening around the country. Check with individual venues for dates, times, prices and ages. ___ This undated image provided by Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia shows a scene from the sites Terror Behind the Walls Halloween attraction. The building was a real prison, built in the 19th century. Its now a historic site and museum that hosts a variety of tours, exhibitions and attractions throughout the year, including its freaky Halloween haunted house event. (Eastern State Penitentiary via AP) DISNEY It's the final Halloween season for Twilight Zone of Terror at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. If you visit after twilight, you'll get a chance to free fall in the haunted elevator shaft in total darkness. The tower closes for good Jan. 2. Also at Disneyland this season is the "Frightfully Fun Parade" at Mickey's Halloween Party, featuring grinning ghosts, Disney villains and the headless horseman from Sleepy Hollow. Two other attractions have been given holiday makeovers: Space Mountain is Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion is now Haunted Mansion Holiday, combining themes from Halloween and Christmas. In addition, there's a giant Mickey Mouse jack-'o-lantern on the theme park's Main Street, U.S.A., and the Mexican "Dia de los Muertos" tradition is celebrated with a skeleton display in Frontierland, near Rancho del Zocalo restaurant. In Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Walt Disney World hosts Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade and a green-and-orange fireworks display called HalloWishes. ___ UNIVERSAL Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles include the transformation of the theme park's famous tram ride into a "Terror Tram," themed on the story of a celebrity clown turned murderer, created by horror-genre filmmaker Eli Roth. The Hollywood park also features a "Walking Dead" attraction that opened this past summer. New for Halloween at Universal Orlando Resort is The Repository, a virtual reality experience in which participants undo an ancient curse by following clues through rooms in an old warehouse. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal parks on both coasts also feature haunted houses, scare zones and freaky mazes. Many attractions are themed on horror films like "The Exorcist" and "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." ___ ZOMBIES, VIRTUAL REALITY AND MORE According to the Haunted Attraction Association, technology and interactive experiences are playing a bigger role in Halloween than ever before, with escape rooms, virtual reality monsters and zombie battles. It's Fright Fest season at Six Flags parks. At Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia, in addition to mazes, scare zones and more than 400 zombies and monsters, guests can don VR headsets to experience an interactive virtual reality roller coaster, Rage of the Gargoyles at Dare Devil Dive, that includes a simulated helicopter ride and a futuristic battle with gargoyles. At Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, the "Terror Behind the Walls" attraction challenges guests to become part of the story of escaping what was once an actual prison. Guests can either explore the prison and watch, or they can mark themselves for interaction with the freaky prisoners. At Creepy Hollow Haunted House outside Houston, guests can play a virtual reality zombie first-person shooter game wearing VR headsets. The Fear Factory in Salt Lake City offers a VR haunted house. Lake EERIE Fear Fest at Ghostly Manor Thrill Center in Sandusky, Ohio, offers five haunted houses including "The Haunted Mine Ride," a motion-theater experience using VR technology to create a roller coaster with 4-D effects. Derailed Haunted House in Ramer, Tennessee, is offering a new technology that lets users control colors, flickers and strobe lighting they see. Zombie laser tag is part of Shocktoberfest in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh, at "The Basement" at the Scarehouse, guests 18 years and older must sign a waiver allowing themselves to be touched, restrained and blindfolded. For those who don't mind being scared silly all night, the Wisconsin Fear Grounds in Waukesha are offering an overnight event called "Night Terrors: 13 Hours of FEAR!" on Oct. 8, complete with tents, fright trail, bonfire ghost stories and scary movies. Nashville Nightmare in Tennessee is offering Night Terrors Haunted House, billed as "an industrial horror complex." ___ HAUNTED SCREENS If you prefer Halloween with an artsy veneer, the Milwaukee Art Museum is hosting a show called "Haunted Screens: German Cinema in the 1920s." The traveling exhibition, opening Oct. 21, looks at a groundbreaking period in filmmaking during the Weimar era in Germany after World War I. The display of art and artifacts from the Expressionist movement includes set design drawings, photos, posters, documents, equipment and film clips. The aesthetic is very much in keeping with Halloween sensibilities, including what the museum describes as dramatic lighting, shadows, off-kilter framing and distorted perspectives. Classics explored in the show include "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" and the murder mystery "M." ___ AIRBNB Airbnb hosts are offering some spooky accommodations for Halloween. Listings include a 600-year-old dwelling in Yorkshire, England, billed as a "madness chamber"; a rental in New Orleans' Parks-Bowman Mansion that the owners advertise as "The Haunted Bedroom"; and a Victorian home in the "Haunted Castle House" in Brumley, Missouri, that cheerfully claims to have more than "a century of paranormal activity." This undated photo provided by Disneyland in Anaheim, California, shows The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at night. Its the final Halloween season for the attraction. A new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission: Breakout! is planned for the site for summer 2017. (Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland via AP) In this Sept. 27, 2016 photo provided by Universal Orlando, an unidentified woman, left, experiences the new immersive interactive experience, "The Repository," at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fla. "The Repository" attraction is available on select nights through Oct. 31. (Octavian Cantilli/Universal Orlando via AP) Lawyer to file complaint in German probe over Erdogan poem BERLIN (AP) A lawyer for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday he will challenge a decision by German prosecutors to drop an investigation of a TV comic who wrote a crude poem about the president. Erdogan's lawyer, Michael-Hubertus von Sprenger, told The Associated Press that he would file a complaint objecting to the decision on the president's behalf, but he didn't say when it would be filed. Comic Jan Boehmermann's ditty described the Turkish leader as "stupid, cowardly and uptight" and contained crude sexual references. FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2016 file photo TV comic Jan Boehmermann arrives for the German TV awards in Duesseldorf, Germany. German prosecutors said Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, they have dropped an investigation of Boehmermann who wrote a crude poem about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, citing insufficient evidence that he committed any crime. (Henning Kaiser/dpa via AP, file) Prosecutors dropped their investigation of Boehmermann on Tuesday, citing insufficient evidence that he committed a crime. "If a joke triggers a state crisis, it's not the problem of the joke, but that of the state," Boehmermann said in a statement posted on YouTube Wednesday. He added that "in comparison to what critical journalists, comedians and members of the opposition are going through in Turkey back then and especially right now, this whole drama about the 'Boehmermann affair' has already become one big, sad joke." Chancellor Angela Merkel in April granted a Turkish request to allow the possible prosecution of the comedian for insulting a foreign head of state. German law required the government to give permission before prosecutors could consider charges. The decision to allow Boehmermann's possible prosecution was awkward for Merkel as she sought Ankara's help in reducing Europe's migrant influx but also expressed concern about the state of media freedom in Turkey. In granting her fellow leader's request, she underlined the independence of the judiciary and said her government plans to repeal the German law criminalizing insults of a foreign head of state. Probable next UN chief widely seen as modernizer LISBON, Portugal (AP) Soon after he was elected leader of Portugal's center-left Socialist Party in 1992, Antonio Guterres added a red rose motif to the clenched, raised fist which was the party's traditional symbol. It was a political re-branding that also captured the softer, kinder image of Guterres. And it paid dividends: after a decade out of power, the Socialists won a 1995 election and went into government with Guterres as their prime minister. Guterres, 67, has now been tapped to succeed Ban Ki-moon as the next U.N. secretary-general. The U.N. Security Council will meet Thursday morning to formally approve Guterres and recommend his candidacy to the 193-member General Assembly, which must give final approval. FILE - In this June 20, 2015 file photo, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, right, arrives for a visit at the Midyat refugee camp in Mardin, southeastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, Saturday, June 20, 2015. Gutierrez visited the camp which is sheltering those who have fled the 4-year conflict in neighbouring Syria, on the World Refugee Day. The U.N. Security Council will meet on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, to formally approve Guterres as the next U.N. secretary-general and recommend his candidacy to the 193-member General Assembly, which must give final approval. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File) Guterres made his name in the 1990s as one of a new European generation of modernizing Socialists that included British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Guterres was admired for being eloquent, smart and moderate. But over eight years as Portuguese leader, he also became known as a politician who shied away from unpopular decisions and sometimes found it hard to say no. He resigned halfway through his second term, when his party's popularity began to fade. Under Guterres' leadership, the Socialists jettisoned their extreme leftist policies and became a moderate party occupying the political center ground. Guterres fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, and with a keen interest in medieval history, cinema and opera appealed to Portugal's new middle-class, which had emerged on the back of a surge in wealth following the country's 1986 membership in the European Union. Guterres, a staunch supporter of Europe's moves towards closer political and economic integration, called for EU member nations to surrender more power to centralized institutions. As prime minister, he adopted business-friendly policies and pursued extensive privatizations of state companies, while pouring money into social issues such as public education and health care. He passed a law establishing a minimum income for families, with the government providing funds for the poorest so they could meet that threshold. Perhaps Guterres' greatest feat in Portugal was pushing through the financial reforms and insisting on the government spending limits required to qualify the country for membership in the euro, Europe's shared currency, when many observers had predicted the country was too fiscally lax and wouldn't make the grade. His minority government engaged in some tough political horse-trading to get its policies approved by parliament. Famously, Guterres had to promise an opposition lawmaker government funds for a cheese factory in his district to ensure the passage of the annual state budget. His detractors in Portugal accused him of failing to undertake tough and potentially vote-losing reforms, including an overhaul of the country's inefficient health service and snail-pace legal system. His critics also complained that he lacked steel. One newspaper described Guterres' time in power as "a permanent balancing act" of trying not to upset anyone. Guterres was minded, for example, to accept scientific research that argued the alcohol limit permitted for driving should be lowered to ensure road safety. But after an outcry from the wine-growing country's drinks industry, which said the measure would cost jobs, he backed down. After seven years, the short, jowly politician had had enough of the political tension. Guterres unexpectedly resigned as prime minister after the Socialists lost heavily in municipal elections in 2001. In his resignation speech he gave a mysterious explanation for his decision, and he has never clarified what he meant: "I am doing it to avoid the country falling into a political swamp," he said. He then turned his back on Portuguese politics, choosing a career far from home as the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, a post he held for 10 years up to 2015. That post was as much a calling as a job. Even while he was at Lisbon's prestigious Technical University, where he was an outstanding student, Guterres found time to help out people in poor neighborhoods, organize children's summer camps and assist flood victims. Volunteering wasn't enough, however, and he once said he turned to politics in search of a more effective way of fighting poverty and misery. "I also found out that politics has its limits," he said. Nevertheless, as the U.N. refugee chief Guterres stood at the heart of international emergencies that were far more politically complex than the domestic aggravations he turned his back on. Guterres was in the thick of the Syrian refugee crisis in recent years. He appeared in the spotlight alongside actress Angelina Jolie as the UNHCR special envoy issued pleas for help for the refugees while he aimed sharp rebukes at the EU's lack of tolerance and generosity. His two terms in office brought wide praise, including from Ban, the outgoing U.N. secretary-general, who described him as "one of the U.N.'s great leaders." Guterres has seen the U.N. from the inside, and he has plans to change it: he wants more funding for the institution and wants to work with the World Bank, non-governmental organizations and private companies to ensure it. He also wants more reliable contributions from donor countries that sometimes are reluctant to write checks. In return, he can show he's no extravagant spender: he reduced staff at UNHCR's Geneva headquarters by over 20 per cent and made the organization's cost effectiveness a priority. FILE - In this Oct. 1, 1995 file photo, Portuguese Socialist Party leader Antonio Guterres is cheered by supporters as he leaves a Lisbon hotel after his party won the Portuguese general elections, ending 10 years of Social Democratic rule. The U.N. Security Council will meet on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, to formally approve Guterres as the next U.N. secretary-general and recommend his candidacy to the 193-member General Assembly, which must give final approval. (AP Photo/Santiago Lyon, File) FILE - In this July 10, 2011 file photo, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres is surrounded by Somali refugees as he speaks to the media in an area where recent arrivals from Somalia have settled, on the outskirts of Dagahaley Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya. The U.N. Security Council will meet on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, to formally approve Guterres as the next U.N. secretary-general and recommend his candidacy to the 193-member General Assembly, which must give final approval. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) Black Texas inmate seems likely to win at Supreme Court WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court left little doubt Wednesday that it will side with a black Texas prison inmate who argues improper testimony about his race tainted his death sentence. The justices often are divided on death penalty cases, but conservatives and liberals alike agreed that inmate Duane Buck is entitled to a new court hearing. The only issue in arguments at the high court appeared to be whether to throw out Buck's sentence altogether and order a new punishment hearing. The court also could merely instruct lower courts to decide whether the death sentence can stand. This undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows death row inmate Duane Buck. Nearly two decades after a Texas jury sent Buck to death row for killing two people, including his ex-girlfriend, the U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to look for a third time at whether the his sentence improperly was tainted by testimony and evidence referring to his black race. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP) Buck has been trying for years to get federal courts to look at his claim that his rights were violated when jurors were told by a defense expert witness that Buck was more likely to be dangerous in the future because he is black. In Texas death penalty trials, one of the "special issues" jurors must consider when deciding punishment is whether the defendant they've convicted would be a future danger. "What occurred at the penalty phase is indefensible," Justice Samuel Alito said in a comment that was widely shared by the six other justices who asked questions Wednesday. Justice Clarence Thomas asked no questions, as is his custom. The high court appeal is not a broad challenge to the death penalty in Texas, the nation's leader by far in carrying out 537 executions since the Supreme Court in 1976 allowed capital punishment to resume. Rather, it shows the justices' heightened attention to the process in capital cases, from sentencing to execution. This is especially true in older cases, like Buck's, in which the quality of defense lawyers is at issue. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused attempts by Buck's attorneys to reopen the case, blocking them from moving forward with an appeal contending Buck's constitutional right to a competent lawyer was violated. Buck's case was among six in 2000 that then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn in a news release said needed to be reopened because statements by the expert witness, Dr. Walter Quijano, were racially charged. In the other five cases, new punishment hearings were held and each convict again was sentenced to death. Cornyn, a Republican, is now the state's senior U.S. senator. Buck's lawyers contended the attorney general, by then Cornyn's successor Greg Abbott, broke a promise by contesting his case, although the 5th Circuit said while that circumstance was "odd and factually unusual," they could find nothing in the case record to indicate the state made an error or promised not to oppose any move to reopen the case. Abbott now is the state's governor. Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller defended the appellate ruling Wednesday because he said there is ample evidence to support a death sentence. Buck, now 53, does not dispute that he shot and killed his ex-girlfriend, Debra Gardner, 32, about a week after breaking up with her, and another man in 1995. He also shot his stepsister, who survived. Buck at the time was on parole after serving about a year of a 10-year prison term for delivery of cocaine. He also had a previous conviction for unlawfully carrying a weapon. Still, no justice appeared to endorse Keller's argument that the appellate ruling should be upheld. Christina Swarns, Buck's lawyer at the Supreme Court, sought at one point to place Buck's case in the broader context of issues of race in the criminal justice system, telling the justices that the need to eradicate racial prejudice "is as urgent today as at any time in our nation's history." The debate at the court was mostly over how the justices might rule in Buck's favor. The justices could decide there was a "constitutional violation in this case and the court of appeals was wrong to say there wasn't," Chief Justice John Roberts said. Such a ruling would result in a new sentencing hearing for Buck. Justice Elena Kagan said a decision instead could focus on the appeals court's approach to inmates who wish to reopen their cases in unusual circumstances, which would leave the decision on the death sentence to a lower court. Such a ruling might affect other inmates in the three states covered by the 5th Circuit Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Kagan cited figures produced by Buck's lawyers that prisoners in the 5th Circuit are far less likely to be allowed to pursue their appeals than prisoners in other Southern states. ___ Joseph Polisi to step down as Juilliard president in 2018 NEW YORK (AP) Joseph W. Polisi says he'll step down as president of The Juilliard School at the end of June 2018. Polisi made the announcement Wednesday. He has been president of the Manhattan school since September 1984. He's Juilliard's sixth and longest-serving president. Juilliard's board of trustees has formed a committee to search for a successor. Polisi previously served as dean of the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music . Obama wants to make sure people take storm threat seriously WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged residents of Florida and other states along the path of Hurricane Matthew to take the threat seriously. Government officials are worried about complacency, especially in South Florida, which hasn't seen a major hurricane in 11 years. Obama said the hurricane will be building in strength as it makes its way to Florida. Even if states don't see the full force of the hurricane, there is still the potential for devastating effects from tropical force winds and storm surge. President Barack Obama, accompanied by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, speaks after being updated on Hurricane Matthew during a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) "If you get an evacuation order, just remember that you can always rebuild, you can always repair property, we cannot restore a life if it is lost," Obama said. Obama received a briefing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's headquarters. Some of the officials in attendance included Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Craig Fugate, the administrator for FEMA. Matthew is now a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph and is expected to be near Florida's Atlantic coast by Thursday evening. At least 11 deaths in the Caribbean have been blamed on the storm. FEMA has deployed personnel to emergency operation centers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. It's also positioning commodities and other supplies at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and in Albany, Georgia. "We hope for the best but we want to prepare for the worst," Obama said. Obama also asked Americans to remember that Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world, has been hit hard by the hurricane. He asked them to visit the website for the Center for International Disaster Information cidi.org to learn how to help. "We anticipate they are going to need substantial help," Obama said. "There may be similar needs in places like the Bahamas." President Barack Obama speaks after getting a briefing on Hurricane Matthew during a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. From left are, Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate, and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) President Barack Obama speaks after getting a briefing on Hurricane Matthew during a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. From left are, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Kathy Sullivan. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Jordan Peele debuts trailer for racial-themed horror film LOS ANGELES (AP) Comedian Jordan Peele has unveiled the first trailer for his upcoming racially themed horror film, "Get Out." The preview released Tuesday reveals some of the movie's plot, in which a black man visits his girlfriend's white suburban family only to find other black people who had gone missing trapped in the town. The movie stars Daniel Kaluuya as the protagonist alongside Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener. Peele, who's half of the former Comedy Central duo, "Key and Peele," wrote and directed the film. He told Playboy in 2014 that the movie would deal with "the fears of being a black man today." FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2016, file photo, Jordan Peele arrives at night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. The trailer for Peele's upcoming film, "Get Out," debuted online on Oct. 4, 2016. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) Harold Thomas Martin III (above) was arrested by the FBI in August after authorities say he admitted to having taken government secrets A contractor for the National Security Agency has been arrested on charges that he illegally removed highly classified information and stored the material in his house and car, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday. Harold Thomas Martin III, 51, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, was arrested by the FBI in August after authorities say he admitted to having taken government secrets. But a defense attorney said Martin did not intend to betray his country. Martin worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, the same consulting firm that employed Edward Snowden when he revealed the collection of metadata by the National Security Agency, The New York Times reports. Snowden addressed the story on Twitter, writing: 'This is huge. Did the FBI secretly arrest the person behind the reports NSA sat on huge flaws in US products?' FBI agents seized documents and information stored on electronic devices during a raid at Martin's house on August 27, the Justice Department said. Scroll down for video Martin is accused of removing highly classified information and storing the material in his house and car, federal prosecutors said Among the classified documents found with Martin, the government says, were six that contain sensitive intelligence meaning they were produced through sensitive government sources or methods that are critical to national security issues and date back to 2014. All the documents were clearly marked as classified information, according to the criminal complaint. The arrest could turn into another embarrassment for the U.S. intelligence community. It would be the second case of an intelligence worker stealing secret data from the NSA in recent years. The criminal complaint does not identify the agency Martin worked for as a contractor, but a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed it was the NSA. Martin worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, the same consulting firm that employed Edward Snowden (above) when he revealed the collection of metadata by the NSA Snowden addressed the story on Twitter, writing: 'This is huge. Did the FBI secretly arrest the person behind the reports NSA sat on huge flaws in US products?' At Martin's home, investigators found stolen property valued at 'well in excess of $1,000,' the complaint said. He voluntarily agreed to an interview. 'Martin at first denied, and later when confronted with specific documents, admitted he took documents and digital files from his work assignment to his residence and vehicle that he knew were classified,' according to the complaint, despite not having the authorization to do so. 'Martin stated that he knew what he had done was wrong and that he should not have done it because he knew it was unauthorized.' Martin has been in custody since a court appearance in August, when he was arrested. All the documents seized at Martin's home were clearly marked as classified information, according to the criminal complaint (above) 'There is no evidence that Hal Martin intended to betray his country,' his public defenders, James Wyda and Deborah Boardman, said in a statement. 'What we do know is that Hal Martin loves his family and his country. He served honorably as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, and he has devoted his entire career to serving his country. 'We look forward to defending Hal Martin in court.' Speaking at a cybersecurity panel on Wednesday, the Justice Department's top national security official, John Carlin, confirmed the arrest of 'an individual who's involved in taking classified information.' He said the arrest generally pointed to the threat posed by insiders. The complaint charges Martin with unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials, which carries a maximum one-year sentence, and theft of government property an offense punishable by up to 10 years. In 2013, NSA contractor Edward Snowden stole 1.5 million classified documents from NSA. H e leaked them to journalists, revealing the agency's bulk collection of millions of Americans' phone records. That set off a fierce debate that pit civil libertarians concerned about privacy against more hawkish lawmakers fearful about losing tools to combat terrorism. Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans pushed through a reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act last year that ended the program. Trump Tower: Home to family, empire and claims of kickbacks NEW YORK (AP) Six years after George Gjieli left federal prison, where he'd been sent for trying to break out a triple murderer, Donald Trump gave him a job running Trump Tower, where the billionaire businessman lived and worked. For a decade, the Albanian immigrant, whom federal prosecutors had described as having "utter disdain for the laws of our country," was the live-in residential superintendent of Trump's most prized Manhattan high-rise. Meanwhile, he was accused in court papers of coordinating a cash-for-jobs racket inside the building, an Associated Press review has found. Trump's decision to entrust responsibility of his namesake Fifth Avenue skyscraper to Gjieli adds to a growing public accounting of men with questionable backgrounds whom Trump has hired or partnered with. The AP and others have reported they include a Mafia-linked government informant whom Trump named as a senior adviser and a convicted cocaine dealer whom Trump supported in a letter to a federal judge. FILE - In this March 16, 2016 file photo, Trump Tower is seen in New York. Trump once hired a man convicted of trying to break a triple murderer out of prison to oversee residential operations inside Trump Tower. The man was later accused by former workers of perpetuating a cash-for-jobs scheme. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) Gjieli, who said Trump wrote him a recommendation letter when he left Trump Tower in 2001, denied taking kickbacks including cash in envelopes delivered to his 29th floor office. In an interview, he called the allegations "bulls--t," likely made by Romanian building workers harboring generations-old European ethnic rivalries. The AP uncovered no evidence that Trump knew of money being paid for jobs. His presidential campaign spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, declined to address whether Trump ever conducted a background check before hiring Gjieli. She said Trump wasn't familiar with the kickback allegations. "Mr. Trump's management style has led to the creation of one of the great private companies anywhere in the world," she said. Trump himself has said he cares more about his supervisors' ability to get things done than their tactics or pasts, writing approvingly in his best-selling "Art of the Deal" about a "con man" project manager who likely stole $50,000 annually from the company, including from his secretaries' funeral fund used to buy flowers. "Even so, I was probably getting a bargain," Trump wrote, saying the con man it was not Gjieli was a good manager. When Trump hired Gjieli after a face-to-face interview in 1991, the man didn't mention his criminal past and Trump didn't ask him about it, Gjieli said. Records of his conviction were publicly available at the time, and recently reviewed in detail by the AP. They show that government wiretaps from the 1980s captured Gjieli's efforts to bribe a U.S. Treasury agent with $100,000 to get a fellow Albanian immigrant serving life terms for triple murder out of a Michigan state prison. Gjieli told the agent that the imprisoned man "shot the f k out of them. Boom," using a racial epithet to describe the three black men killed during a 1976 robbery attempt, according to a transcript. Gjieli and two associates were later convicted in the jailbreak plan. "The fact that (Gjieli and his associates) offered a special agent a bribe lets you know what they think of law enforcement," said Jim Covert, then an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent, according to excerpts from the grand jury testimony from the 1980s. "They just figure they can buy anybody." Paying kickbacks was also at the center of a wrongful termination lawsuit against Trump and the Local 32BJ labor union, which is associated with the Service Employees International Union, filed in 2004 by a fired elevator operator named Ioan Ghilduta. He alleged Gjieli had forced workers to pay for their positions. "Sure, all the guys pay the money," Ghilduta said in a 2005 deposition , according to court documents obtained by AP, describing the $1,000 in cash and a gold crucifix he said he was made to give to his boss in 1994. "It was a common practice when you get the job." Ghilduta didn't respond to phone calls, text messages and an in-person visit to his home. The Local 32BJ union declined to comment for this story. The lawsuit was settled shortly after a judge ruled there were issues of fact a jury should hear. Ghilduta walked away with $7,500 apiece from Trump and the union, neither of which admitted wrongdoing. In a close-knit service industry, word of Gjieli's influence spread, drawing in workers like Gabriel Mitrea, who recalled in an interview with the AP taking the elevator up to Gjieli's Trump Tower office in the late 1990s with $2,000 cash in an envelope to secure a doorman job at a non-Trump-owned building near Central Park. Internal Trump Tower employee manuals show workers are expected to remain discreet about their duties, and some workers declined to discuss their experiences with the AP because they said they didn't want to get into trouble. Discretion remains a Trump imperative: Earlier this year he settled a lawsuit against a campaign worker whom the billionaire had sued for $10 million, claiming he violated a non-disclosure agreement. Still, some workers, like Cornel Nedelcu, spoke glowingly about Trump and recalled receiving gifts from him, such as pairs of used Gucci shoes and trousers. Nedelcu was named in a deposition as having known about kickbacks. He denied to the AP that he paid for his job but acknowledged that "others may have." Ilie Malancea did pay, according to his family. His wife recalled that, in the early 1990s, they had to purchase a gold chain that cost between $500 and $1,000 as a mandatory "gift" for Gjieli. For Malancea, who worked at Trump Tower for two decades, that payment foreshadowed further troubling interactions with his bosses, including Gjieli's successor, according to journal entries provided to the AP. In one case, Malancea raised concerns of a faulty elevator and wrote he was lambasted for suggesting to a resident it was unsafe rather than merely out of order. In another, he complained his pay was withheld after coming late from a doctor's appointment following heart surgery. He wrote in an undated journal entry that a supervisor was hostile "towards me (without apparent reason) lately using threats of being fired, choice words, constantly accusing me of breaking the rules, not being a team player?!?, being late etc." "Gjieli had a criminal past," said Jennie Malancea, 27, the daughter of the elevator operator, who is now deceased. "That's a pretty big deal for someone that you're hiring, and is hiring other people." ___ Associated Press researchers Jennifer Farrar in New York and Monika Mathur in Washington, and AP writer Alison Mutler in Bucharest, Romania, contributed to this report. ___ Read related documents at http://apne.ws/2bBtfJo . ___ Follow on Twitter: Jake Pearson at https://twitter.com/JakePearsonAP and Jack Gillum at https://twitter.com/jackgillum Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tours a classroom during a visit to the International Church of Las Vegas, and International Christian Academy, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) FILE - In this June 16, 2015 file photo, Donald Trump announces that he seek the Republican nomination for president, in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York. Trump once hired a man convicted of trying to break a triple murderer out of prison to oversee residential operations inside Trump Tower. The man was later accused by former workers of perpetuating a cash-for-jobs scheme. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) FILE - In this April 9, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump acknowledges supporters while leaving Trump Tower in New York. Trump once hired a man convicted of trying to break a triple murderer out of prison to oversee residential operations inside Trump Tower. The man was later accused by former workers of perpetuating a cash-for-jobs scheme. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) The Latest: Witness alleges hardball tactics by Christie NEWARK, N.J. (AP) The Latest on the trial of two former allies to Gov. Chris Christie charged with shutting down lanes to the George Washington Bridge as part of a political vendetta (all times local): 2:05 p.m. A former state government employee is alleging some hardball tactics by New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Christopher Stark is testifying in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial of two former Christie allies charged with causing traffic gridlock to punish a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse Christie. Stark testified Wednesday his office received a profanity-laced voicemail from a Monmouth County elected official referring to Christie's weight and accusing him of "only holding press conferences" in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Stark testified he was told Christie responded by leaving an equally profane message for the official reminding him that Christie was governor and Christie would "destroy him" if he didn't fall into line. Stark worked for former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly, who is on trial. ___ 1:20 p.m. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is denying an allegation that he and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie discussed using a false report to defuse questions surrounding the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal. Cuomo, a Democrat, told reporters Wednesday the claim from a key witness in the trial of two former Christie aides amounts to inaccurate "gossip" and hearsay. David Wildstein, who pleaded guilty in the bridge scheme and is cooperating with authorities, testified Tuesday that former Port Authority Chairman David Samson told him the two governors discussed issuing a report when reporters began scrutinizing the lane closures. That report was never published. Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly are charged with orchestrating the September 2013 lane closures to punish a New Jersey mayor who didn't endorse Christie's re-election bid. They have pleaded not guilty. ___ 11 a.m. The government's key witness in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial says a goal in the aftermath of the scandal was to insulate New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's office from blame. David Wildstein is testifying Wednesday in the trial of two former Christie allies charged with orchestrating traffic jams to retaliate against a mayor who didn't endorse the Republican governor. In the conclusion of eight days of testimony, Wildstein said defendant Bill Baroni's testimony before a New Jersey legislative committee in November 2013 was meant to blame the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and make "no mention" of the governor's office. Baroni, who is a former Port Authority executive, and former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly face fraud and conspiracy charges. Christie wasn't charged. ___ 9:30 a.m. The government's key witness in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial is back on the stand. David Wildstein is expected to finish testifying Wednesday in the trial of two former allies of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie charged with orchestrating traffic jams to retaliate against a mayor who didn't endorse Christie in 2013. Wednesday will mark the eighth day on the stand for Wildstein, who has pleaded guilty On Tuesday, Wildstein testified he was told of a conversation in which New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Christie apparently discussed releasing a false report to tamp down questions over the unfolding scandal. Cuomo's office denied the allegation. Q&A: Polluted water pours into sinkhole at fertilizer plant GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Hurricane Matthew's heavy rains are predicted to soak much of Florida, and that could complicate efforts to manage the pollution flowing into a sinkhole that opened up beneath a fertilizer plant's massive pile of toxic waste. The plant's owner, Mosaic Co., is pumping out water through a well while preparing to plug the huge hole under one of its gypsum stacks. But millions of gallons of contaminated water have already drained into Florida's main drinking-water aquifer. So far, the company and state environmental officials say no contamination has migrated off Mosaic's property. The company says test results on 260 private wells have shown contaminant levels within legal drinking water standards. Still, more than 850 concerned neighbors want their wells tested for contaminants and radioactivity. Water continues to flow into a large sinkhole on the Mosaic Co. property shown in this aerial photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in Mulberry, Fla. Neighbors of the huge sinkhole sending cascades of contaminated water and fertilizer plant waste into Florida's main drinking-water aquifer are fearful and fuming that it took weeks for them to be notified about the disaster. Many are still waiting anxiously for results from tests for radiation and toxic chemicals in their well water. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Here are some questions and answers about the situation. What are gypsum stacks and why do they exist? Mosaic and other fertilizer makers use sulfuric acid to break down phosphate rock. This creates phosphoric acid and a radioactive byproduct called phosphogypsum that contains small amounts of naturally occurring radium and uranium. The stacks also can release large concentrations of radon gas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows a small amount of phosphogypsum with low radioactivity to be used as a soil additive in peanut farming, but the rest must not be reprocessed or used for other purposes, so it's stacked in piles as high as 500 feet that cover hundreds of acres. How many of these gypsum stacks are there in the U.S.? There are at least 70 gypsum stacks in the United States and about 27 in Florida; of these, about 20 are located within the sinkhole-prone region of west-central Florida, and the older ones among them are unlined, according to the USGS. Six of the Florida stacks were actively being used last year; other active stacks are in Idaho, Louisiana, North Carolina and Wyoming. Who make sure this waste is contained? The industry is responsible for managing the pollution flowing from these piles during storms. Both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA regulate the companies under the Clean Water Act. Newly constructed stacks are required to have liners underneath to keep waste from seeping into groundwater. Mosaic settled a nearly $2 billion environmental lawsuit with the EPA last year over company-wide management of pollution, including its New Wales facility where this sinkhole formed. In the settlement, EPA cited a need for the company to prevent the release of hazardous, highly corrosive wastewater, and to improve its detection of potential leaks and spills. Why does Florida have so much phosphate mining and fertilizer production? More than half of the U.S. reserves of phosphate rock are found beneath Florida, which has about 63 percent of the country's production capacity, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The mineral is a key element of fertilizer used in commercial agriculture, and is an important building-block of the nation's food supply. "Not enough can be said about our food security and this industry," said Guerry McClellan, an emeritus professor of geology at the University of Florida. "Fertilizers and smart farmers have kept our on-table food the cheapest, percentage wise, of any country." Have gypsum stacks leaked pollution before? Yes. A major spill during Hurricane Frances in 2004 near Tampa Bay sent an estimated 65 million gallons of acidic waste from a gypsum stack into nearby waterways, killing thousands of fish and other marine life. Another sinkhole in Polk County, Florida, in 1994 opened underneath a gypsum stack and sent tons of waste into the Floridan Aquifer. That hole was eventually plugged and tests on water afterward found the contamination fell to pre-accident levels quickly and never violated drinking water standards, according to a 1997 study. Toxic waste from fertilizer production was also dumped directly into the Mississippi River in Louisiana for years until the 1972 Clean Water Act banned the practice. Later, the city of New Orleans and others had to fight to stop a renewed effort to dump such pollution into the city's chief drinking-water source. Mosaic now owns some of these polluted sites, and while it admitted no fault when settling the lawsuit with EPA, it has assumed responsibility for their environmental management. How environmentally dangerous is the pollution from the current sinkhole? The waste pile in Central Florida contains radioactive radium and uranium, radon gas, sulfates and other contaminants, according to the EPA. So far more than 200 million gallons of wastewater have been dumped into the Floridan Aquifer, a key drinking-water source for millions of people. The company has found contaminants in a well being used to recover polluted water that is within a quarter mile from the hole, which means the contaminated water has reached the aquifer. The company and state officials say there is no indication that the pollution has migrated from below the company's property, but testing continues. How will Mosaic stop the flow of water into the hole? Plugging a sinkhole in the middle of a gypsum stack presents difficult engineering challenges, said geologist Sandy Nettles, a sinkhole expert. Mosaic announced plans to inject a concrete mixture into the "neck of the sinkhole" to plug it from above. In the 1994 sinkhole that opened beneath another gypsum stack in Florida, contractors had to shoot gravelly concrete through pipes that extended 400-feet beneath the pile to stop it up. Mosaic said it is studying the depth and contours of the current sinkhole. Water has continued to flow across the gooey, quicksand-like waste pile and down the hole, which could complicate the effort. If this hurricane season's weather sends heavy rains to central Florida, much more contaminated water could flow through the unplugged hole. Water continues to flow into a large sinkhole on the Mosaic Co. property shown in this aerial photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in Mulberry, Fla. Neighbors of the huge sinkhole sending cascades of contaminated water and fertilizer plant waste into Florida's main drinking-water aquifer are fearful and fuming that it took weeks for them to be notified about the disaster. Many are still waiting anxiously for results from tests for radiation and toxic chemicals in their well water. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Mosaic Co. property is shown in this aerial photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in Mulberry, Fla. Neighbors of the huge sinkhole sending cascades of contaminated water and fertilizer plant waste into Florida's main drinking-water aquifer are fearful and fuming that it took weeks for them to be notified about the disaster. Many are still waiting anxiously for results from tests for radiation and toxic chemicals in their well water. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A large sinkhole on the Mosaic Co. property is shown in this aerial photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in Mulberry, Fla. Neighbors of the huge sinkhole sending cascades of contaminated water and fertilizer plant waste into Florida's main drinking-water aquifer are fearful and fuming that it took weeks for them to be notified about the disaster. Many are still waiting anxiously for results from tests for radiation and toxic chemicals in their well water. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A future strawberry field in seen in the foreground near the Mosaic Co. property, shown in this aerial photo Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in Mulberry, Fla. Neighbors of the huge sinkhole sending cascades of contaminated water and fertilizer plant waste into Florida's main drinking-water aquifer are fearful and fuming that it took weeks for them to be notified about the disaster. Many are still waiting anxiously for results from tests for radiation and toxic chemicals in their well water. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Latest: Witness says father not sincere in hot car case BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) The Latest on a trial involving a Georgia man charged with murder after his toddler son died inside a hot SUV (all times local): ___ 6:45 p.m. Justin Ross Harris listens to Cobb County Senior Assistant District Attorney Chuck Boring's opening remarks during his trial at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga., Monday, Oct. 3, 2016. Harris is charged with murder after his toddler son died two years ago while left in the back of a hot SUV. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool) A witness has testified that a Georgia man showed grief after his toddler son died inside a hot SUV, but she didn't think his tears were sincere. News media outlets quote Atiyka Eastland as testifying Wednesday that Justin Ross Harris' tears were "on and off" after the death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper, who was left seven hours in a vehicle parked outside the father's Cobb County workplace. In the trial's third day of testimony, Eastland said Harris' calm demeanor was unusual. Dale Hamilton was another witness who took the stand. He testified that Harris' SUV pulled in front of his car before the father pulled Cooper out of the car seat. Hamilton says a distraught Harris kept asking "What have I done?" while the toddler lay lifeless on the asphalt. Harris' lawyer says the witnesses don't know his client well enough to know his mannerisms. Harris is charged with murder. ___ 2 p.m. The trial of a Georgia man charged with murder after his toddler son died inside a hot SUV will go into recess as Hurricane Matthew heads toward the southern region of the U.S. According to news media outlets, Judge Mary Staley Clark said before testimony began Wednesday that the trial will be put on hold starting at noon Thursday and will reconvene Friday. The trial is being held in Brunswick, Georgia, which is expected to be in the path of the hurricane. The Glynn County Board of Commissioners called for a voluntary evacuation of St. Simons island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island. Clark says she will remain in the St. Simon area throughout the weekend. Prosecutors say Justin Ross Harris intentionally killed his 22-month-old son, Cooper, by leaving the child for seven hours in a vehicle parked outside the father's Cobb County workplace. Harris' defense lawyer Maddox Kilgore told the jury in his opening statement Tuesday that Harris is certainly responsible for his son's death, but insisted it was an accident and Harris committed no crime. ___ 4:05 a.m. Testimony is scheduled to resume in the trial of a Georgia man charged with murder after his toddler son died inside a hot SUV. The trial of Justin Ross Harris enters its third day Wednesday in coastal Brunswick, where the case was moved 275 miles from the Atlanta suburbs because of pretrial publicity. Prosecutors say Harris intentionally killed his 22-month-old son, Cooper, by leaving the child for seven hours in a vehicle parked outside the father's Cobb County workplace. Harris' defense lawyer Maddox Kilgore told the jury in his opening statement Tuesday that Harris is certainly responsible for his son's death, but insisted it was an accident and Harris committed no crime. The trial of Harris, who moved to Georgia from Alabama in 2012, is expected to last several weeks. Iraq tribal leader: strike kills 19 pro-government fighters BAGHDAD (AP) A tribal leader said Wednesday that an airstrike killed 19 pro-government tribal Sunni fighters south of the town of Mosul, which is held by the Islamic State group. Sheikh Nazhan al-Lihaibi said the airstrike took place at 2 a.m. Wednesday, following hours of clashes between his troops and IS militants in the Haj Ali area to the east of the town of Qayara. Al-Lihaibi said five more fighters were wounded. The U.S.-led coalition said it had carried out strikes in the area at the request of Iraqi security forces, adding that it had destroyed a building and killed eight enemy fighters. "We are aware of the reports that Sunni tribal fighters were in the building that was struck and we are taking those reports seriously," a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition said. He said the Coalition and Iraqi security forces were carrying out a joint investigation into the incident. Mahmoud Ali, an officer with al-Lahaibi's militia, said that U.S special forces troops arrived in the area warning them of a future airstrike and telling them to keep away. It was unclear if the tribal fighters acted on this advice. Ali said that the airstrike killed 20 fighters, some of whom were inside a house. Al-Lihaibi said his fighters had repelled an attack by IS late Wednesday, and another two of his fighters had been killed in the clashes. With aerial support from the U.S.-led coalition, Iraqi government forces and paramilitary troops retook the town of Qayara in August. The town, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) south of Mosul, is key for the long-awaited military operation to dislodge IS militants from Mosul. UN peacekeepers fled, used tear gas on South Sudan civilians JUBA, South Sudan (AP) United Nations peacekeepers abandoned their posts when fighting erupted in South Sudan's capital in July and then used tear gas on frightened civilians who sought shelter at the center of the U.N. base, a new report says. Wednesday's report by the U.S.-based Center for Civilians in Conflict adds to a growing list of incidents where U.N. peacekeepers have been accused of failing to carry out their mandate in South Sudan, where civil war erupted in December 2013. More than 12,000 U.N. peacekeepers are in this East African country. More than 200,000 civilians are sheltering in U.N. camps in the capital and elsewhere. FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 file photo, United Nations peacekeepers from Rwanda wait to escort members of the U.N. Security Council as they arrive at the airport in the capital Juba, South Sudan. A new report says United Nations peacekeepers fled their posts when fighting erupted in South Sudan's capital in July, then used tear gas on frightened civilians who sought shelter within the U.N. base. The report on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 by the U.S.-based Center for Civilians in Conflict adds to a growing list of incidents where peacekeepers have been accused of failing to carry out their mandate in South Sudan. (AP Photo/Justin Lynch, File) The new report, based on interviews with 59 South Sudanese civilians and 21 officials with the U.N. mission, among others, says some peacekeepers refused orders to protect civilians during the July chaos in Juba. Hundreds of people died in the fighting between government and opposition forces. Peacekeepers with the U.N. force in South Sudan, or UNMISS, largely remained confined to their base during and immediately after the violence, and struggled to patrol the capital for weeks afterward, the report says. The Associated Press has reported that peacekeepers also refused to respond to pleas for help as government soldiers looted and raped aid workers at the nearby Terrain compound. Separately, the new report found that Chinese peacekeepers at a U.N. camp "fled en masse" from their positions in response to heavy fighting nearby, leaving behind some weapons and ammunition. With those peacekeepers gone, and with nowhere in that part of the U.N. camp to seek shelter from gunfire, about 5,000 civilians "fled over fences and barbed wire" into the heart of the camp where administrative offices are located, the report says. Overwhelmed peacekeepers then struggled to manage the crowd, and civilian witnesses said some looting occurred. A response came the next day. "According to seven independent witness accounts, on the morning of July 12, UNMISS fired tear gas on the civilians with little or no warning," the report says. In response to questions from the AP, a spokeswoman for the U.N. mission, Yasmina Bouziane, said two tear gas shells were used by peacekeepers to assure the safety of U.N. personnel, and there were no injuries. She also that in response to some direct and indirect heavy fire, some peacekeepers took cover as a self-defense measure. Two Chinese peacekeepers died during the July fighting, and six others sustained major injuries. The new report raises concerns that peacekeepers have been unable to learn from past mistakes. After South Sudanese government soldiers in February attacked a U.N.-protected camp in Malakal that sheltered 48,000 civilians, a report by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon found that peacekeepers had a "lack of a proactive mindset" for civilians and experienced "confusion with respect to command and control and lack of coordination." "There is very little accountability for peacekeeping failures in terms of protection of civilians," Matt Wells, a senior adviser on peacekeeping at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, told The Associated Press. "As long as there is little consequence to failing to perform under a mandate, events like Malakal and Juba are unfortunately likely to happen again." His organization advocates for protecting civilians in conflicts around the world. At the same time, South Sudan's government has repeatedly hampered the U.N. mission, according to a recent confidential letter from the U.N. chief to the U.N. Security Council. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said during the council's recent visit to the country that she had "never seen a mission that is as obstructed as UNMISS in its movement." In August, the Security Council warned South Sudan's government to accept 4,000 additional peacekeepers and remove restrictions on the U.N. mission or face an arms embargo. On Wednesday, Martin Elia Lomoro, South Sudan's minister of Cabinet affairs, told the AP that the government had accepted the force in principle, and that most of the deployment's technical areas had been agreed to. "If you insist on bringing 4,000, OK. Let's see what they are going to do," Lomoro said. FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 30, 2013 file photo, a United Nations armoured vehicle passes displaced people walking towards the U.N. camp in Malarial, South Sudan. A new report says United Nations peacekeepers fled their posts when fighting erupted in South Sudan's capital in July, then used tear gas on frightened civilians who sought shelter within the U.N. base. The report on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 by the U.S.-based Center for Civilians in Conflict adds to a growing list of incidents where peacekeepers have been accused of failing to carry out their mandate in South Sudan. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File) The Latest: First day of testimony in firefighter trial over TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) The Latest on the murder trial against a former Arizona firefighter charged with killing his wife, mother-in-law and her friend. (all times local): 5 p.m. The first day of a murder trial against a former fire captain in Arizona accused of killing three women has concluded with testimony from a one-time alibi for the defendant. FILE - This April 26, 2015 file photo provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department shows, David Dwayne Watson, in Tucson, Ariz. The criminal case against the former Tucson Fire Department Capt., Watson, who built his career while he was a murder suspect in the cold case killings of his ex-wife, her mother and her mother's friend, begins with opening statements in Tucson on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Pima County Sheriff's Department via AP, File) Rosemary Watson said on Wednesday that she covered for her then-husband David Watson in 2000 when his first wife went missing and in 2003 when his former mother-in-law and her friend were gunned down. Her testimony will resume on Thursday. The defense says there's no evidence linking Watson to the murders of Linda Watson in 2000 and Marilyn Cox and Renee Farnsworth three years later. Attorney Michael Storie painted Rosemary Watson as heartbroken and vengeful when she went to authorities in 2007 after her divorce. David Watson has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder. ___ 3: 15 p.m. The first witness in the murder trial against a former Tucson fire captain says the defendant often told her that his ex-wife needed to disappear. Rosemary Watson, the second wife of David Watson, testified Wednesday that her husband and his first wife were often fighting about custody and money during their divorce. The prosecution says Rosemary Watson will testify that she lied when she provided an alibi for her husband during the August 2000 disappearance of his first wife, Linda Watson, and during the 2003 fatal shooting of Linda Watson's mother, Marilyn Cox, and her friend, Renee Farnsworth. Cox and Farnsworth were gunned down in 2003 after a visitation with Linda and David Watson's daughter. Rosemary and David Watson divorced in 2007, and Rosemary went to police to say that she had covered up for her husband. The defense says there's no evidence linking Watson to the murders. ___ 3 p.m. The attorney defending a former Arizona fire captain charged with killing his ex-wife and later gunning down her mother and mother's friend says police are pointing to the wrong person. Michael Storie said Wednesday there isn't evidence to prove that David Watson killed ex-wife Linda Watson and her mother, Marilyn Cox, along with her friend, Renee Farnsworth. Watson is charged with three murder counts and has pleaded not guilty. Storie said Linda Watson was battling alcoholism and lost her job the day she was last seen. He said her ex-boyfriend was volatile and that Linda feared him. Storie painted the state's witness, Watson's second wife, as heartbroken and vengeful when she went to police to recant the alibi she had provided during the investigation into the killings. Linda Watson went missing in August 2000. Cox and Farnsworth were gunned down in 2003. ___ 12 p.m. A prosecutor says the one-time alibi of a former Arizona fire captain charged with killing his ex-wife and three years later gunning down her mother and her mother's friend will testify that she lied on his behalf. Jonathan Mosher said during opening statements that David Watson's second ex-wife, Rosemary Watson, went to police years after the murders and said she had covered for her then-husband. Rosemary and David Watson were married after he was divorced from Linda Watson, whom he is charged with killing and burying in the desert. Mosher says there is plenty of evidence to prove Watson, a former Tucson Fire Department captain, killed Linda Watson to keep full custody of their young daughter and later killed Linda Watson's mom, Marilyn Cox, to keep her from having unsupervised visits with the girl. Rosemary Watson is set to testify on Wednesday afternoon. The defense hasn't delivered opening statements yet. ___ 10 p.m. Tuesday Attorneys are set to deliver opening statements Wednesday in the trial of a former Arizona fire captain who rose through the ranks while police worked to solve three cold-case killings he is now charged with committing. David Watson is charged with killing his ex-wife, Linda Watson, in August 2000 during a custody battle over their only child and disposing of her body in the desert. Her remains were found in 2003 in an area where migrant bodies have been found in the past and were not identified until 2011. Three years after his wife was reported missing, Watson and his former mother-in-law, Marilyn Cox, were embroiled in a legal battle over the couple's daughter. Actor Jamie Foxx visits Venezuela President Maduro CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Actor Jamie Foxx has met with President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Foxx, who won the Oscar Award for "Ray" in 2004, visited Maduro in the presidential palace in Caracas. State media said Foxx was there to support the country's socialist revolution and attend the signing of an agreement between Venezuela and its allies for the construction of houses for the poor. Foxx posed for photos with the deeply-unpopular president of the economically embattled South American country. FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2015 file photo, Jamie Foxx attends the Launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 Event in West Hollywood, Calif. Foxx, who won the Oscar Award for "Ray" in 2004, visited President Nicolas Maduro in the presidential palace in Caracas. State media said Foxx was there to support the countrys socialist revolution and attend the signing of an agreement between Venezuela and its allies for the construction of houses for the poor. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP, File) In a national address Tuesday, Maduro praised Foxx's work. Foxx hasn't commented publicly on what motivated his visit. For Clinton, election likely to be won or lost in October WASHINGTON (AP) Each night, Hillary Clinton's data experts head to a conference room on the 11th floor of her Brooklyn headquarters, to start counting votes. The sessions in the "early voter boiler room," as it's been dubbed by campaign aides, stretch into the early hours of the morning. The team pores over turnout patterns in states where advance voting is already underway, projects how many votes Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have already received, and updates crucial targeting lists of the voters she still needs. For Clinton, October is when she's likely to win or lose the election, not Nov. 8. By the third week of this month, Clinton's campaign hopes to have a solid enough sample of the early vote to know whether the Democrat is on track to win the White House. FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks in Harrisburg, Pa. For Clinton, October is the month when she's likely to win or lose the election, not the official Election Day on Nov. 8. By the third week of this month, her campaign hopes to have a solid enough sample of the early vote to know whether the Democrat is on track to win the White House. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) "Many battleground states are already voting so every day is Election Day," said Matt Dover, Clinton's voter analytics director. In several competitive states, including North Carolina, Iowa, Colorado, Florida and Nevada, at least 45 percent of the total vote is expected to come in early. Initial metrics show good news for Clinton in North Carolina, a must-win state for Trump. There are modestly positive signs for the Republican in Iowa, but that's a state the Democrat can likely afford to lose. The Republican National Committee, which oversees early voting and turnout operations for Trump, is also encouraging supporters to take advantage of opportunities to cast ballots before Nov. 8. The party has significantly stepped up its analytics and voter targeting operations since being outmatched by Democrats in the past two presidential elections, but the 2016 race is the first test of its strength in a national election. Despite improvements, the RNC system was always intended to be a complement to whatever operations the eventual GOP nominee brought to the table. Trump arrived in the general election with intense enthusiasm among his core supporters but few ways to harness it into trackable voter data. Unlike Clinton, whose travel schedule is being built around voter registration deadlines and the start of early voting in key states, Trump's battleground stops haven't been pegged to those benchmarks. However, there is a noticeably more robust registration effort at Trump rallies and the candidate himself is making explicit early voting appeals to supporters. "Get those ballots in because the only way this is going to be taken away (is) if we're foolish or if we let people take it away from us," Trump said Monday during a rally in Colorado. "I hate to interrupt my speech with these minor details but they're very important, right?" Republicans traditionally do well initially with mail-in absentee balloting before Democrats surpass them during in-person early voting. That makes the start of in-person voting a key indicator as to whether core Democratic constituencies, such as young people and non-whites, show up. "For me, voting early is a matter of convenience, and if I don't do it I'm unlikely to vote at all," said Joseph Wozniak, 23, of Macon, Georgia. A recent college graduate who declined to say who he is supporting in the election, Wozniak is working on early vote efforts for the non-partisan organization Democracy Works. Thirty-seven states allow voting with little restriction before Election Day, either in person or via mail. By the third week in October, 34 of those states will be voting. Iowa was the first of the battlegrounds to start in-person voting last Thursday. Of the 39,435 people who have cast ballots, 58 percent were Democrats and 25 percent were Republicans but that was much closer than in 2012. In North Carolina, buoyed by strong voter interest, Clinton appears to hold an edge with Democratic ballots submitted so far currently leading Republican ones, 40 to 35 percent. At this point in 2012, Republicans had opened a wide lead over Democrats in ballots, due in part to strong support among older whites. For 2016, Clinton officials pointed in particular to a 13 percent increase in African-American and a 40 percent jump in Latino mail-in ballot requests. To them, it's a hopeful sign that non-whites and young people will be engaged this election, part of a shift in campaign strategy to more strongly mobilize less reliable, sporadic voters first. Still, the campaign said it will have a much clearer picture once in-person voting begins in the state on Oct. 20. Similarly in Florida, absentee balloting began only Tuesday, but already more than 2.5 million people nearly one-third of the total number of votes cast in 2012 have requested ballots. In-person voting doesn't begin until Oct. 24, so state Democrats are now strongly urging voters to vote by mail including in a letter from President Barack Obama paid for by the party. "In Florida, voting is easier than ever because now you can vote by mail," he writes. "It's the fastest and most convenient way to make your voice heard." In Obama's historic 2008 race, he ran up such big early voting advantages in four battlegrounds Colorado, Florida, Iowa and North Carolina that his rival, John McCain, couldn't catch up, despite winning the Election Day vote in those states, according to AP data. If all goes according to the Clinton campaign's plan, early ballots soon enough will start to unequivocally point in the same direction. ___ AP writer Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report. ___ Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Hope Yen at http://twitter.com/hopeyen1 Kerry, Lavrov discuss Syria despite US suspension of talks WASHINGTON (AP) Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart resumed discussions on Syria on Wednesday despite a U.S. decision earlier this week to suspend direct talks with Moscow on trying to end the conflict. Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to each other by phone about Syria and several other issues, but the State Department maintained the chat was outside the engagement that Washington put on hold just 48 hours earlier due to continued bombardment of the besieged city of Aleppo. "It would be irresponsible for us, given what's happening in Aleppo, not to touch base with Foreign Minister Lavrov periodically," spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. He noted that Kerry and Lavrov also discussed North Korea and Ukraine. Toner said Kerry had also spoken about Syria with the top diplomats from Britain, the European Union, France, Germany, Turkey and Qatar. The call with Lavrov "was part of those multilateral efforts now that are going to continue because we recognize they got to be part of the conversation," Toner said. He said the suspension of contacts with Russia had to do only with implementing a cease-fire that Kerry and Lavrov had agreed to on Sept. 9 but that quickly broke down. Some see Pence, post-debate, as top-of-ticket material HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) Republican Mike Pence emerged from the vice presidential debate Wednesday an energized No. 2 set on using his Midwestern reserve to win over small-town and rural conservatives in battleground states. But the praise Pence is receiving after Tuesday's debate against Democrat Tim Kaine is also an awkward reminder of Trump's failings at his own top-of-the-ticket showdown against Hillary Clinton. That has some Republicans wishing for a ticket flip with Pence the one running for president and looking ahead to Pence's prospects in 2020. "Some people say they wish the ticket were reversed. I can see that," said Jim Wood, a retired Army officer and Iraq War veteran from nearby Waynesboro, Virginia. "People got to see that last night. For all of Trump's anger, this guy plays it cool." Republican vice-presidential nominee Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at a rally on the Rockingham County Fairgrounds Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Harrisonburg, Va. (Nikki Fox/Daily News-Record via AP) The understated Pence kept calm during the debate, offering only an indignant "Oh, come on" at Kaine's assertion that Trump's "personal Mount Rushmore" includes the faces of dictators including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The more a wound-up Kaine challenged him to defend Trump's statements and policies, the calmer Pence seemed to get. And as the political intelligentsia debated which man won, Pence offered a gracious deflection. "People are saying that I won the debate," he said Wednesday in Harrisonburg, Virginia. "I can tell you from where I sat, Donald Trump's vision to make America great won the debate." Trump concurred that Pence's performance was about Trump. "Mike Pence did an incredible job and I'm getting a lot of credit because that's really my first so-called choice, that was my first hire, as we would say in Las Vegas," the real estate mogul told supporters at a rally Wednesday in Henderson, Nevada. "He was meant to be doing what he's doing and we are very, very proud of Gov. Mike Pence." But in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the audience cheered for Pence when the Indiana governor mentioned his showdown Tuesday night against Kaine. Still, Pence strayed not an inch from his mission to champion Trump, even when some see presidential material in the Indiana governor. A Pence-for-president campaign four years hence is not even a whisper on Pence's lips, senior Pence adviser Nick Ayers said. After all, that assumes Trump loses the election on Nov. 8. "There's been zero consideration from the moment he took that phone call from Donald Trump to anything beyond this election," Ayers said. Pence's performance Tuesday night preserved some distance between him and the man at the top of the GOP's 2016 ticket. Pence did not defend Trump's oft-criticized remarks about Mexican immigrants, Sen. John McCain and women. Clinton spokeswoman Karen Finney suggested Pence was acting out of concern for his own future. "Was he there to do his job or was he thinking about 2020?" Finney asked. Ayers dismissed the swipe, saying Pence dispatched Kaine's jabs quickly then pivoted to put Clinton's team on defense. Still, Pence is impressing conservative audiences, maintaining and expanding a network of key conservative leaders and donors and receiving increased media attention, all in the service of Trump. For instance, Pence helped raise money with Republican establishment donors to boost Trump's stepped-up battleground advertising. Pence also was instrumental in securing endorsements of Trump by Christian conservative James Dobson to Trump and onetime bitter rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Others are watching his movements with the future in mind. Gwen Ecklund, Republican chairwoman in Crawford County, Iowa, said Republicans in this conservative western Iowa county have told her they'd like to see Pence at the top of the ticket. "I've heard the same top-of-the-ticket comments," Ecklund said. "In general, I hear people will support Trump, but wish the ticket was reversed." At the debate, Pence demonstrated familiarity with international affairs and national security, even going so far as to suggest a somewhat stronger U.S. position with respect to Russia's support for the Assad regime in the five-year-old civil war that has displaced and killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians. "The United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike military targets of the Assad regime to prevent them from this humanitarian crisis that is taking place. Pence's work for Trump and any residual benefit to himself are not mutually exclusive. But, it requires a soft touch, considering Trump's notoriously sensitive ego, said Bonnie Barlow, a Newmarket, Virginia, supporter who attended the rally. "I love him, more after the debate. He was such a gentleman," Barlow said. "But we can't let talk of him overshadow Trump. That would be bad." "Plus, he'll get his turn," she said. Melinda Fox, of Harrisonburg, Va., a member of the Republican Women of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, shows her excitement to meet Republican vice-presidential nominee Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, left, at a rally on the Rockingham County Fairgrounds Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Harrisonburg, Va. (Nikki Fox/Daily News-Record via AP) A supporter of Republican vice-presidential nominee Indiana Gov. Mike Pence holds a sign at a rally on the Rockingham County Fairgrounds Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Harrisonburg, Va. (Nikki Fox/Daily News-Record via AP) Bernie Sanders urges Democratic unity in return to Wisconsin MADISON, Wis. (AP) Bernie Sanders urged party unity, while also delivering a sharp rebuke of Donald Trump, on Wednesday during his first visit to Wisconsin since winning the state's primary over Hillary Clinton six months ago. "We are not going to allow Donald Trump to divide us up," Sanders told a crowd of about 1,200 people, saying that Trump has made bigotry the cornerstone of his campaign. Sanders' campaign stop comes as Trump has put a renewed focus on Wisconsin, campaigning in the state last week with another visit planned for Saturday. Polls show the race between Clinton and Trump in Wisconsin is about even. Clinton has deployed Sanders and other surrogates, including first lady Michelle Obama, to swing states to help her, particularly with millennials. Sanders made a couple of stops at University of Minnesota campuses on Tuesday before hitting Iowa and Wisconsin on Wednesday. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., greets the crowd after speaking during a campaign stop for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Russ Feingold, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) While his message was not specifically geared toward a college audience, Sanders reiterated his support of Clinton's plans to allow student loan debt to be refinanced and to make tuition free for families earning up to $125,000. Russ Feingold, the Democratic candidate for Senate who introduced Sanders, urged young people to vote for Clinton to prevent "right-wingers" from controlling the Supreme Court for a generation. Feingold served with Sanders in the Senate and is running in a rematch this year against Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who defeated Feingold in 2010. Sanders touted both his and Clinton's support for raising the minimum wage, protecting the environment, curbing the influence of money in politics and ensuring equal pay for women. He saved his harshest words for Trump, saying "we will not accept insults to Latinos, to Mexicans. We will not accept insults to Muslims, we will not sit back and allow women to be called slobs." "Donald Trump wants to take us back," he said. "We will not allow bigotry to resurface in the United States of America. ... We have come too far, we have struggled too hard, too many people have died in these struggles, have gone to jail." The Republican Party of Wisconsin cast the Sanders visit as a desperate move. "Bernie Sanders is trying to throw Hillary Clinton a lifeline in Wisconsin, but many of his supporters see her for who she is scandal ridden and out of touch with everyday people," said state party spokesman Pat Garrett. Clinton's problem with young voters is particularly acute in Wisconsin, where Sanders defeated her by 13 points. Exit polls showed Sanders beat Clinton by 64 points among voters under age 30. Six months later Clinton still faces hurdles. A Marquette University Law School poll released two weeks ago showed that nearly 30 percent of Wisconsin voters under the age of 30 support either Green Party candidate Jill Stein or Libertarian Gary Johnson, mirroring a national trend. An Associated Press-GfK poll this month found 14 percent of likely voters under 30 supported Johnson while 3 percent backed Stein. Overall, the poll showed Clinton to be running about even with Trump in Wisconsin. Josh Spitzer-Resnick, a 19-year-old college student from Madison who attended Wednesday's rally, said he already cast his ballot for Clinton in early voting and called her the candidate who "isn't going to destroy our country." But he says many of his friends aren't planning to vote or will vote for a third party candidate. "There's a lot of people that will just get stuck in the middle," Spitzer-Resnick said. Randi Timerman, a 25-year-old medical student at the University of Wisconsin, said she voted for Clinton during the primary and plans to next month as well. "Most of my friends are going for Hillary," Timerman said. "I can't think of any of my close friends who aren't voting for her. If any of them are voting for Trump, they're not making it publicly known." While there were many younger people at the rally, Spitzer-Resnick noticed another demographic that was heavily represented. "I'm looking around here and I'm seeing a lot of gray hair," he said. ___ Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sbauerAP and find more of his work at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/scott-bauer Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., greets Russ Feingold, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, as he enters the stage to campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaksas he campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Russ Feingold, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks to a crowd as he campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Russ Feingold, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks to a crowd as he campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Russ Feingold, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks as he campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Russ Feingold, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) Russ Feingold, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, makes an appearance at a rally where Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) DuVernay turns her lens on mass incarceration in 'The 13th' NEW YORK (AP) Ava DuVernay's documentary "The 13th," on mass incarceration and its deep, historical roots in America, has been welling up in her a long time. The film, which DuVernay secretly worked on the last few years, is her third major work to deal with the subject. Her second feature, "Middle of Nowhere," is about a woman coping with her husband's imprisonment. Her recently debuted OWN series, "Queen Sugar," features a character six months out of jail. But DuVernay traces the film's origin back further, to when she was a child in Compton. "Even as a little girl, I'd always tell my mom two things," DuVernay said in a recent interview. "Sometimes we'd pass by a place around the neighborhood and I'd say, 'If I'm ever homeless, I'm going to put my sleeping bag and shopping cart there,' like under the freeway pass. And I'd say if I ever go to jail, I'm going to try to bring this one thing. FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2015 file photo, director Ava DuVernay attends the 2015 ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards in Los Angeles. Duvernay's latest project, "The 13th," is a documentary about mass incarceration and its deep, historical roots in America. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) "I saw homeless people and I saw people going to jail," she says. "So it's always been on my mind." DuVernay's feature film follow-up to her acclaimed, Oscar-nominated (and famously Oscar-snubbed) civil rights epic "Selma," isn't an awards-friendly period drama or some other predictable next step, but a powerfully holistic documentary about race and imprisonment. Debuting in theaters and via Netflix on Oct. 7, "The 13th" takes its name from the amendment that abolished slavery "except as a punishment for crime." In the film, criminalization from Reconstruction-era to modern day police brutality is subjugation by other means. Mass incarceration (the U.S. makes up 25 percent of the world's prisoners despite being 5 percent of its population) has emerged as a rare bipartisan issue in recent years. But "The 13th," the first documentary to ever open the New York Film Festival, seeks to put the problem in a broader social and racial context that dates back to slavery. "There are some real clear-cut, widely known, academically vetted cultural seeds that were planted way back that are blossoming now," DuVernay says. "We can no longer say that prison is a place bad people go because it's much more complicated than that." The two years between "Selma" and "The 13th" bracket considerable turmoil for both race in America and equality in Hollywood. The perceived snub of David Oyelowo for "Selma" helped kick off the "OscarsSoWhite" backlash that drove the Academy of Motion Pictures to diversify its membership. DuVernay was involved in that effort, as well as others to make the movie business more inclusive. But the Oscars, she says, are no longer on her mind. "Since 'Selma,' I think about it hardly ever," says DuVernay, a publicist before she was a filmmaker. "I don't know if it's been being supremely and incredibly busy or if it's just been: 'Did it, saw what it is and I'm good.' There are other ways to measure achievement in my mind these days." DuVernay is currently in preproduction on Disney's "A Wrinkle in Time," an adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's 1963 fantasy classic. She earlier flirted with directing Marvel's "Black Panther" before ultimately passing. "At times, things have come up that on the surface looked attractive," she says. "To me, I always try to think about my day. Life is short. That's kind of how I looked at it, from a very personal place as opposed to a strategic, professional, this-will-get-me-further-on-the-board place." Having come out of independent film, where her biggest budget was $20 million for "Selma," DuVernay is relishing her Disney experience. "There are parts of filmmaking that I never even knew existed," she says laughing. The film is the first $100 million-plus movie to be directed by a woman of color. "Those things first black woman at Sundance, Golden Globes, Oscar best-picture don't really get my blood up just because it's bittersweet," DuVernay says. "It's ridiculous these things are happening in 2016 when there have been so many talented women not given the opportunity. It's not about my achievement, it's because someone decided it was the time and I was there." DuVernay grants that releasing "The 13th" in an election year is "purposeful." Donald Trump is shown in the film, pledging that he's the "law and order" candidate, the kind of language, the film argues, that has long been a kind of code. "What I hope it does is just change people's minds," says DuVernay. "If we all start to think about a social ill differently, it can change. And I know that to be true from the civil rights movement, the women's movement, the LGBT movement. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP Study: Good heart attack care could add a year to your life Going to the right hospital for heart attack care could add a year to your life, a new study suggests. Using Medicare records, researchers found that roughly 17 years after a heart attack, average life expectancy was 9 to 14 months longer for patients who had been treated at hospitals that do best on widely used quality measures than for those treated at low-rated ones. "Where you go really does matter," not just for surviving the heart attack but also long-term, said Dr. Emily Bucholz, a study leader and researcher at Boston Children's Hospital. FILE - This Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 file photo shows an emergency room entrance at a hospital in Santa Clarita, Calif. In a study published on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 researchers found that about 17 years after a heart attack, life expectancy was 9 to 14 months longer for those who had been treated at hospitals that do best on widely used quality measures than for those at low-rated ones. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond) A year of life from high-quality care is a big deal; consider that some cancer drugs won approval for adding a few months or weeks. But if you're having possible heart attack symptoms, don't delay getting help because you're worried about which hospital to go to, said another study leader, Yale cardiologist Dr. Harlan Krumholz. "Just call 911. Too many people wait at home too long," and any delay means more risk of permanent heart damage, he said. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Results were published Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine. Hospitals often are rated based on their heart attack death rates at 30 days, taking into account how sick their patients were, such as how many had diabetes. But it's not known whether doing well in the short term translates to a lasting benefit. The new study finds it does. Researchers compared life expectancy for 120,000 Medicare patients treated between 1994 and 1996 at roughly 1,800 hospitals. The difference in life expectancy at top and low performing hospitals emerged at 30 days and remained over time. "This is really an important study," said an independent expert, Dr. Ralph Brindis, a University of California at San Francisco cardiologist and former president of the American College of Cardiology. "Delivering better care not only saves lives, but that the gain persists over 17 years, independent of how sick the patients were initially." Heart attack care has improved a lot since the 1990s, but more recent comparisons of short-term hospital mortality rates show that big differences still exist. "Where the good hospitals in your community are is worth knowing," Bucholz said. And they're not necessarily the ones that advertise on TV. Medicare has a website that lets you check how they do in your area and be prepared, especially if you or someone in your family is at high risk for a heart attack. Heart attack symptoms can be sudden, but many start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort, according to the American Heart Association. Signs can include pressure, squeezing or pain in the chest, one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath; breaking out in a cold sweat; nausea, or lightheadedness. ___ Online: Journal and study: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1513223 Hospital compare: https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/About/What-Is-HOS.html How to choose a hospital: https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10181.pdf ___ Standoff leader: Carrying guns let larger message to get out PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The leader of a 41-day standoff at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon testified Wednesday that he orchestrated the takeover to take "a hard stand" against the federal government's control of public lands and said the occupiers would not be successful unless they carried guns. Ammon Bundy's two days of testimony have taken jurors from his family's high-profile 2014 standoff with federal agents in Nevada to this winter's occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, revealing the connections between the two. Bundy asserted the Nevada standoff triggered the activism that led him to Oregon. Though U.S. District Judge Anna Brown has tried to keep jurors focused on the criminal charges, the charismatic Bundy has repeatedly tried to use the platform to amplify his message that Western states must win more control over vast federal land holdings. FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2016, file photo, Ammon Bundy speaks during an interview at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, near Burns, Ore. Bundy the leader of an armed takeover of a national wildlife refuge took the witness stand in his own defense, tearfully telling jurors he was initially reluctant get involved in the plight of an Oregon ranching family, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) Bundy, 41, is among seven people accused of conspiring to impede federal workers from doing their jobs at the refuge during the occupation that lasted nearly six weeks. Four of the seven, including Bundy, are also charged with possessing a gun in a federal facility. If convicted, they face years in prison. Bundy said he did not conspire with anyone in the weeks prior to the Jan. 2 occupation. That morning, he met a group at a restaurant 30 miles from the refuge and suggested they take it over during a rally supporting two ranchers set to return to prison for arson. "I proposed to them that we go into the refuge, and we basically take possession of it, and we give these lands back to the people," Bundy said. He said he wasn't armed on the refuge but acknowledged telling others to carry guns. Otherwise, the occupation had no chance of success, he said. "Without the guns, they would have come out in a paddy wagon and put us in zip-tie handcuffs," Bundy said of authorities. "We would never have been able to tell people why we were there." Bundy testified that interfering with federal workers was never a consideration. He wanted to generate media coverage of the treatment of Dwight and Steven Hammond, father-and-son ranchers convicted of setting fire to public land, and his belief that the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government very limited right to own land within a state. "This issue is the issue," Bundy told the judge when she tried to limit his testimony about the Constitution. "This is why we went onto the refuge and did what we did." Bundy maintains he tried legally to keep the Hammonds out of prison before deciding he had no choice but to take what he repeatedly called a "hard stand." Prosecutors contend the conspiracy began two months before the occupation, when Bundy met an Oregon sheriff on Nov. 5 to discuss the plight of the Hammonds. Bundy said that was not true. He testified that a police official helped ease tensions during a 2014 standoff with federal agents at his father, Cliven Bundy's Nevada ranch. The federal agents tried to round up the elder Bundy's cattle but backed off as they faced a large armed group. A video played for jurors showed the police official appearing to broker the deal that allowed Cliven Bundy's cattle to go free. Ammon Bundy said that official protected his family, and he figured Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward in Oregon would do the same for the Hammonds. But he said the discussion with Ward got no results, and neither did his efforts to contact elected officials. Bundy also discussed how his religious faith played a role in his decision to help the ranchers. The judge, however, stopped him from reading Scripture on the stand. After the jury left for its lunch break, Bundy co-defendant Neil Wampler stood to applaud, saying, "We all love you Ammon. Thank you so much for what you're doing." Prosecutors: Sheriff isn't entitled to his pick of judges BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) A south Louisiana sheriff isn't entitled to have his criminal case reassigned to the federal judge who was mysteriously pulled off the high-profile case without explanation, Justice Department prosecutors argued Wednesday. Last week, a federal appeals court asked prosecutors to respond to Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal's claim that U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi was improperly removed from his civil rights case. Her removal occurred four days after an unusual interruption in Minaldi's courtroom, during a routine hearing related to the Justice Department's case against Ackal and 11 of his subordinates. Prosecutors urged the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to deny Ackal's petition to have the case transferred back to Minaldi. But their 20-page court filing Wednesday didn't shed any light on why she was removed in March. Chief Judge Dee Drell, of the Western District of Louisiana, didn't explain in his one-sentence orders why he reassigned the cases against Ackal and his subordinates to U.S. District Judge Donald Walter. The 5th Circuit also invited Drell to respond to Ackal's petition by Thursday. As of Wednesday afternoon, Drell hadn't submitted his own response. Four days before Minaldi's removal from the cases, she was in the middle of accepting guilty pleas by two former sheriff's deputies when a prosecutor cut her off mid-sentence and asked to speak to a defense attorney. Then, after a short break and private discussion with the attorneys, Minaldi adjourned the March 7 hearing in Lake Charles without giving a reason on the record. Those two former deputies pleaded guilty later that day in Lafayette, more than 70 miles away, in front of Drell. At the start of those proceedings, Drell noted that the hearing before Minaldi was "unable to be completed" but didn't specify a reason. Ackal's attorney, John McLindon, argued Minaldi's removal violated court rules and apparently was done without her consent. McLindon also is challenging Walter's decision to hold Ackal's trial in Shreveport instead of Lafayette, where the case originated. Prosecutors in Montana said Wednesday they have dropped a driving under the influence charge against a former Navy SEAL who said he shot and killed Osama bin Laden. Rob O'Neill was found asleep behind the wheel of a running car at a Butte convenience store at 2:30am on April 8. He has said he took a prescription sleep aid to treat severe insomnia. Both sides in the case agreed that medication prescribed to treat symptoms related to O'Neill's military service formed the basis for the DUI charge,The Montana Standard reported. A DUI charge has been dropped against former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill (pictured) who says he killed Osama bin Laden O'Neill was found asleep behind the wheel of a running car at a Butte convenience store at 2:30am on April 8. He has said he took a prescription sleep aid to treat severe insomnia At the time of the incident, O'Neill failed sobriety tests and refused a Breathalyzer test. He at first told police he had one drink but later said he may have taken sleep-aid Ambien. Butte-Silver Bow County prosecutors instead charged O'Neill with negligent endangerment and deferred prosecution for up to a year while he undergoes treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs. If O'Neill successfully follows the terms of the agreement, the endangerment charge will be dropped. 'I am pleased that the charge has been dropped and the case dismissed without prejudice,' O'Neill said in a statement. 'I look forward to putting this matter behind me.' Sheriff Ed Lester said he believes it was a reasonable resolution of the case. Deputy County Attorney Anne Shea said both sides agreed there was probable cause to charge O'Neill, but her office didn't have faith it could win a conviction at a jury trial. She did not say why. Prosecutors agreed that medication prescribed to treat symptoms related to O'Neill's military service formed the basis for the DUI charge In 2014, O'Neill said he was the SEAL who shot bin Laden in a May 2, 2011, raid on a compound in Pakistan. Bin Laden was found hiding in a walled compound in Abbottabad less than a mile from Pakistan's elite military academy after a long, worldwide hunt for the leader of the militant Islamist group - which were responsible for the September 11 attacks He was finally found and shot by Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011. The decorated ex-solider, who has been involved in more than 400 combat missions and deployed a dozen times, was also profiled in the channel's documentary The Man Who Killed Osama Bin Laden, last year. The former Navy SEAL had told The Montana Standard at the time that he had not been scared to make his role in the mission which killed bin Laden public as he was 'good friends with a lot of the local law enforcement and local SWAT team'. O'Neill came forward in 2013 and claimed he killed Osama bin Laden (pictured) with three shots to his forehead during the raid O'Neill has received more than 52 military decorations, including two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars with Valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, three Presidential Unit citations and two Navy/Marine Corps Commendations with Valor. He was with his team in Miami for diving training in 2011 when he and a several other senior SEALs got the call to deploy for a special mission. At first, military officials only gave the team a vague understanding of the mission, leading them to believe they were going to Libya to capture Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi since it was around the time of the Arab Spring. But eventually it dawned on the team that they could be after a much bigger target, someone who had evaded capture for nearly a decade. The team was trained for the mission on a replica of the Abbottabad compound where it was believed bin Laden was hiding. O'Neill called the team the 'Martyr's brigade' and that nearly everyone wrote letters home to their family, believing they wouldn't be coming home. On the historic May 2, 2011, raid, O'Neill revealed that he looked Bin Laden straight in the eyes before he shot him dead. O'Neill said: 'He was standing there two feet in front of me, hand on his wife, the face I've seen thousands of times. I thought, "We got him, we just ended the war.'' While his three bullets helped bring closure to the many Americans who lost loved ones at the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, that moment continues to torment O'Neill every day. 'I'm still trying to figure out if it's the best thing I ever did, or the worst thing I ever did,' O'Neill told Fox News' Peter Doocy last year. While O'Neill is proud that he was a 'big part' of the successful mission that brought bin Laden's reign of terror to an end, he remains hesitant on how that monumental action will impact his life in the long term. 'I don't know what's going to happen. I did something I'm going to have to live with every day,' he said. Officials: West Virginia infant dies after sexual assault RIPLEY, W.Va. (AP) Authorities in West Virginia say a 9-month-old sexual assault victim has died. Jackson County Sheriff Tony Boggs said the girl died of her injuries at a hospital Wednesday. Thirty-two-year-old Benjamin Taylor of Cottageville was charged Monday with first-degree sexual assault. Taylor is the boyfriend of the victim's mother but is not the child's father. An additional charge is pending. According to a criminal complaint, the baby had extensive bleeding and a body temperature of 90 degrees. The complaint says the injuries indicated a violent sexual assault, as well as shaking or striking of the face. Taylor told deputies he took the baby to the basement of an apartment while doing laundry. He said he "blacked out" and didn't know how the baby's injuries occurred. The Latest: Texas man who killed 2 neighbors put to death HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) The Latest on the execution of a convicted killer in Texas (all times local): 7:05 p.m. An East Texas man who pleaded guilty to killing a neighbor couple during a shooting rampage 13 years ago has been put to death. This undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows death row inmate Barney Fuller. On Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, Fuller, 58, is set for lethal injection for the May 2003 killing rampage outside Lovelady, about 100 miles north of Houston. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP) Barney Fuller Jr. had asked that all his appeals be dropped to clear the way for his lethal injection Wednesday evening. It's the seventh execution this year in Texas and the first in six months. A federal judge ruled earlier this year, after a hearing in which Fuller testified, that the 58-year-old prisoner was competent to make the decision to end his appeals. Fuller pleaded guilty and then refused to participate in his trial where jurors decided he should die for a May 2003 shooting rampage in which his neighbors, 43-year-old Nathan Copeland and Copeland's 39-year-old wife, Annette, were killed in their home about 100 miles north of Houston. ___ 5 p.m. An East Texas man set to die for killing a neighbor couple 13 years ago during a shooting frenzy remains adamant about moving forward with his execution. Barney Fuller Jr. has told prison officials he's not changing his mind about dropping court appeals. He was taken Wednesday afternoon from the prison that houses the state's male death row inmates and moved about 45 miles west to the Huntsville Unit prison in downtown Huntsville where executions are carried out. Prison agency spokesman Jason Clark says the 58-year-old Fuller has been in good spirits and has said he doesn't want to talk with his lawyer. Fuller has been taken to a small holding cell a few feet from the Texas death chamber to await his lethal injection scheduled for Wednesday evening. ___ 12:30 a.m. An East Texas man who pleaded guilty to killing a neighbor couple during a shooting rampage 13 years ago appears headed for an execution that he wants. Barney Fuller Jr. asked that his appeals be dropped to expedite his lethal injection set for Wednesday evening. The 58-year-old Fuller would be the seventh prisoner executed this year in Texas and the first in six months in the nation's most active death penalty state. It would be only the 16th execution this year nationally amid a downturn in capital punishment. Alaska marijuana sales close, pending opening of test labs ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Alaska is nearing its first legal sales of marijuana, nearly two years after voters approved the recreational use of pot by adults. Retails stores are being permitted by the state Marijuana Control Board, and just a few hurdles remain until commercial sales begin. The biggest obstacle is waiting for labs to test the raw product. Two labs have been licensed by the state, both in Anchorage. FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, file photo, store owner Caleb Saunders answers questions in front of his shop, Green Jar in Wasilla, Alaska. Saunders hopes to sell marijuana from the shop and opposes a ballot measure that would ban sales, cultivation, testing of marijuana in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Alaska's fastest-growing municipality will decide Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, whether to ban commercial marijuana enterprises. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File) One of those, CannTest, should be open by mid- to late October, said co-owner Mark Malagodi. The facility is awaiting final inspection from the municipality and state and final approval from an accrediting lab. "If we're going to start testing by definitely the beginning of November, I think it rolls in pretty well with everything else," he said. Arctic Herbery received the first-ever marijuana retail store license from the city of Anchorage on Tuesday evening. There was no public opposition to the license, even though the city had initially raised concerns that the business only has five parking spots. "It was shocking to me," owner Bryant Thorp said of the quick approval, adding he didn't know why the process was so smooth. "Maybe people have come to terms that I'm not such a bad guy." He plans to open his store around Nov. 1, and he anticipates a huge opening akin to when national chains open in Alaska's largest city, and lines of customers snake around the business for days. "When Krispy Kreme opened, Cabela's or Kmart back in the day, people freak out, they go nuts," he said. The first retail license conditionally approved by the state was for Nick and Destiny Neade of Fairbanks for their Frozen Budz store. Destiny Neade said Wednesday they are awaiting a final inspection next week from city officials. "That will finalize our retail license, but like everybody, we're just waiting on the testing labs," she said. Once the labs open, she anticipates beginning sales about a week later. The testing process takes about 72 hours, and then the marijuana will have to be driven from Anchorage to Fairbanks. The first store to complete all its paperwork and is ready to open is The Remedy Shoppe in the southeast Alaska tourist town of Skagway. But like everyone else across the state, owner Tara Bass has to wait for marijuana to be cleared by a testing lab. "Right now, the plan is to go spend some time with family until there's things available. All the work is done until the product arrives, right?" she told the Juneau Empire. Besides Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington state and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana. Voters in five states Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada will consider making recreational pot legal in November. During local elections on Tuesday, voters in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough north of Anchorage approved allowing for the sale of marijuana in unincorporated areas, but one city in another part of the state put the brakes on sales. Voters in North Pole rejected pot sales in the Christmas-themed community where light poles are decorated year-round like candy canes. North Pole is about 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks. Tim Hinterberger was one of the sponsors of the initiative to legalize marijuana, and is now a co-owner of the other Anchorage lab that is waiting to open. "It's pretty exciting for me personally to see this progress. I know people are eager to get the things going and frustrated they're not happening faster, but from my point of view, we're making great strides over the many years I've been involved with this," he said. "Things are finally happening." He says AK Green Labs is about a week behind CannTest in the race to open. "I'm sure people will be patient, and things will fall in place real soon," he said. For Destiny Neade, she's not going to wait until she is totally stocked with edibles and concentrates and will open with just marijuana on the shelves. "We're just trying to get weed to the people," she said. FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, file photo, former Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss tours his farm in Palmer, Alaska. DeVilbiss was instrumental in placing a ballot measure before borough voters that would ban commercial marijuana enterprises. Voters in both the city of North Pole and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are deciding Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, whether to allow marijuana businesses. The state approved the recreational use of marijuana in 2014. The measure approved statewide allowed municipalities to opt out, and that's what this vote is about today. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File) Senators ask DOJ to intervene over voter deadlines Two Democratic senators on Wednesday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure that 10 states do not violate federal law with their mail-in voter registration deadlines for the November election. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Patrick Leahy of Vermont said they were concerned that thousands of people could be disenfranchised under plans that would block applications as many as three days earlier than other states. A department spokesman said officials would review the request as soon as it's received. The senators said deadlines in 10 states violate the National Voting Rights Act, which calls for mail-in voter registration applications to be accepted if they are postmarked 30 days before the election. That falls on a Sunday this year. The next day happens to be Columbus Day, when there will be no postal service. Other states have adjusted their deadlines to account for the long holiday weekend, accepting applications postmarked by Tuesday, Oct. 11. The 10 states cited in the senators' letter are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah and Washington. Officials in Utah have said they already changed the deadline, while officials in Washington and Arkansas have said they also will accept applications postmarked on Oct. 11. Officials in Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii and Rhode Island have said the mail-in deadline would not be changed. "We're confident that we're following the law that the Legislature wrote, and that's not disenfranchising anyone," said Matt Roberts, spokesman for Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan. Last week, the senators sent a similar letter to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. ___ Associated Press writer Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report. ___ North Carolina police enlist foundation to review policies CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Police in North Carolina's largest city have invited the Police Foundation, an independent, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C., to review its policies and procedures following the shooting death of a black man by a police officer. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg police statement on Wednesday said The Police Foundation also will examine the department's relationship with the community, seeking input and making recommendations. The officer, also a black man, shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott on Sept. 20, setting off two nights of unrest. Police: Kim's Paris robbers saw jewels on social media Thieves who robbed Kim Kardashian West at gunpoint were targeting possessions seen on social media, police said after the multi-million pound jewellery raid. The reality TV star left Paris on a private jet just hours after she was robbed of jewellery reportedly worth 9 million at an exclusive private apartment building. Police in the French capital have described the incident as "extremely rare" and said the robbers were focused on "possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media". Kim Kardashian West left Paris on a private jet hours after the robbery Four days ago, Kardashian West posted a close-up photograph of a huge diamond ring on her left hand captioned with three diamond emojis. The TV star, who was attending Paris Fashion Week, was ''badly shaken but physically unharmed'' after masked men dressed as police officers robbed her, her spokeswoman said. Johanna Primevert, chief spokeswoman for the Paris police department, told the Associated Press: "This is the result of people who obviously posed as policemen and who assaulted Ms Kardashian in a private hotel in her room by threat of a weapon. "This kind of incident is extremely rare in Paris. This is a star who is famous worldwide. Do not confuse what happened to Ms Kardashian and probably was the result of an organised team who had planned their action with the assault of a tourist in front of Notre Dame (cathedral) or another tourist spot in Paris." She said the losses were estimated at several million euros, adding: "Clearly when you have a star like Kim Kardashian who has, I think, more than 48 million followers on Twitter ... I think this could have happened abroad just as easily as in Paris. "It was really the celebrity who was targeted, with possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media, and it was these goods that the attackers targeted." Only two of the five suspects forced their way into the apartment, in the eighth district of Paris behind the Madeleine church, according to the city's prosecutors' office. Two police officials told the Associated Press that robbers tied up Kardashian West and locked her in the bathroom before escaping on bikes. Kardashian West's husband, rapper Kanye West, was performing at the Meadows Music and Arts Festival in New York when he was told the news on stage. He abruptly stopped his set, in the middle of his song Heartless, and told the crowd: ''I'm sorry, family emergency, I have to stop the show.'' Just days before the attack, Kardashian West heaped praise on her German bodyguard Pascal Duvier after he protected her from a notorious celebrity prankster who tried to accost her while she was entering a restaurant. She wrote on Twitter: ''My security @PascalDuvier is a G.'' Hours before the armed raid she shared a photograph of herself on Twitter, with Duvier in the background, captioned: ''This guy is always in my shot!''. He was photographed accompanying Kardashian West's sister Kourtney on Sunday night and has since been seen climbing on to the private plane in Paris. 'French N-subs contract' betrays British steelworkers - union A union boss has said British steelworkers have been betrayed as it was reported that a foreign firm will supply metal for the new fleet of nuclear submarines. Construction work is poised to begin on the Successor submarines that carry the controversial Trident missiles. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon announced 1.25 billion to begin the first building phase of the new fleet for the nuclear deterrent system and t he money for BAE Systems will be used to build the part of the submarine that controls the reactor as well as completing designs and investing in facilities at its Barrow-in-Furness yard. A computer generated image shows what the Successor submarines may look like (Ministry of Defence/PA) The Daily Mirror said French firm Industeel had won a contract to supply steel for the new fleet. Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of the Community union, told the newspaper: "The Defence Secretary is boasting about cutting steel while in reality these submarines have snubbed British-made steel. This is a betrayal of British steelworkers." A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "It is an early stage of the programme, but there will be British steel in the new submarines." Renewal of the continuous-at-sea deterrent is predicted to cost 31 billion, with a 10 billion contingency fund also set aside. The Scottish government is fiercely opposed to the "immoral" weapons system, but 140 Labour MPs voted with the Conservative government in Westminster to back renewing the deterrent in a Commons vote in July. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn voted against the plans and has previously said he would not push the nuclear button if he took the keys to No 10. Sir Michael told Channel 4 News: "There wasn't a British bid for that particular type of steel. "But let me reassure you, 85% of these boats, the contents of these submarines, will be built here in Britain. "There will be firms involved in this 31 billion investment, firms as far apart from Scotland, the north east of England, the North West, the Midlands, the South East, will all get a share of this project. 'Watershed for NHS' as controversial junior doctors' contracts are rolled out The controversial new contract for junior doctors in England will begin to be rolled out from today. The new deal for training medics sparked the biggest walk out of doctors in the history of the NHS. From today, some obstetrics and gynaecology trainees will transition to the new terms and conditions of service. The controversial new junior doctors' contracts are being rolled out from today The British Medical Association (BMA) described it as a "watershed moment for the NHS". The union's junior doctor committee chairwoman Dr Ellen McCourt said that the Government was "ploughing ahead" with the new deal "ignoring the outstanding areas of concern raised by junior doctors". The BMA has written to all NHS trust chief executives across the country requesting that they pause the introduction of the new contract if certain conditions are not in place. The letter states that trusts are not compelled to use the new deal and reminds them that certain requirements must be in place before they can legally introduce it. The BMA has also provided training medics a letter template so they can write to their bosses and press them to delay the introduction of the contract until all the requirements are met. It has also provided an email template for juniors to notify their HR directors that they are "working under protest" if they do not wish to accept the 2016 terms and conditions of service. Dr Ellen McCourt, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said: "Today is a watershed moment for the NHS, as some junior doctors will be moved on to a contract which they have rejected. It couldn't come at a worse time, as a recent BMA study found that almost half of junior doctors are looking to move overseas, given their morale is at an all-time low. "As the Government ploughs ahead with the contract, ignoring the outstanding areas of concern raised by junior doctors, many hospitals trusts may feel they have little choice but to rush to implement the new terms and conditions. "A great deal of preparation is required for the new contract to be put in place, but very little time has been allowed for this, due to the Government's politically imposed deadline. "We know that a number of trusts have decided not to start using the contract in October and the BMA is calling on all trusts to hold off the introduction of the contract if any of the required arrangements are not in place. "Introducing a new contract requires major systemic change and will affect a generation of junior doctors. It is vital for the time to be taken to get it right, rather than rushed, for no other reason than to meet a political timeline." Since January, junior doctors have staged a series of strikes protesting against the new contract, which is being brought in for all doctors below consultant level. The BMA had also planned a series of five-day strikes in the run-up to Christmas but called them off due to patient safety fears. The new deal will be rolled out from today, initially to obstetrics and gynaecology trainees going into their fifth year of training, with other junior doctors transitioning to the new conditions throughout the rest of 2016 until October 2017. Last week, NHS Improvement said it had been supporting trusts across the country to prepare to introduce the contract, with many junior medics getting involved in the contract implementation. Yesterday, Neena Modi, professor of neonatal medicine and president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said the staffing contract is "damaged goods". In an editorial published in The British Medical Journal, Prof Modi said the document should be "discarded and replaced with one drawn on a clean sheet". Last week, the campaign group Justice for Health - founded by five junior doctors - lost a High Court challenge against the Secretary of State over the new deal. Justice for Health said that Jeremy Hunt had acted beyond the scope of his powers by compelling NHS employers to adopt the contract. But Mr Justice Green dismissed the claim. The judge concluded that Mr Hunt had approved the contract, but had not compelled employers to adopt it. Jetpack pilot puts on 'Iron Man' show above skies of London The "ultimate boy's toy" has soared into the London skies as the UK's first jetpack flight took off. David Mayman, an Australian ex-commercial pilot and mastermind behind the turbine jet engine-powered JB-10 jetpack, flew 30 metres up into the sunshine. After the four-minute flight, Mr Mayman was met with cheers and congratulations from the jetpack's designers and engineers. David Mayman pilots the JB-10 Jetpack flying machine over the Royal Victoria Docks in east London He said: "It feels absolutely amazing, awesome - it's freedom." He took off from the Royal Victoria terminal of the Emirates Air Line cable car over the Thames in east London and made two short trips back and forth towards the ExCel centre. Having completed more than 400 test flights, Mr Mayman hopes to make an electric version of the jetpack commercially available for 250,000 US dollars (196,000), with development starting in April next year after a 300,000 crowdfunding investment. "This is for the city boys who grew up in the 70s and 80s and dreamt of being a real-life Iron Man," said Lucy Sharp, communications director at Seedrs Investment, the firm behind the fundraising for the electric jetpack. "He's in talks with the US navy to give it a use beyond commercial flights. "David is an ex-commercial pilot and this has been a dream in the making for him for a decade. He's done over 400 test flights and they've all gone smoothly but it is jet fuel on his back so it can be dangerous. "It retails at around the price of an Aston Martin and it is the ultimate boy's toy. It'll be a choice - either Aston Martin or jetpack to work today?" Mr Mayman has previously flown close to the Statue of Liberty in New York and more recently in Monaco. Two engines - worth around 25,000 each - power the JB-10 jetpack using the same fuel as commercial planes. The jetpack was designed in California and manufactured in the Netherlands by AMT, which currently manufactures military applications worldwide. Engineer Bennie Van De Goor said Mr Mayman's "passion for a long time has been to develop a small man-carrying vehicle that he can put in his car, take out and fly. "He's flown several things - rockets, for example". They hope to make it available to the public as early as 2019. Aviva handed 8.2m fine for failings on protection of client assets Aviva has been slapped with an 8.2 million fine for failings linked to the protection of client assets. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said Aviva Pension Trustees UK and Aviva Wrap UK did not have the right controls in place after outsourcing the administration of its custody assets. Mark Steward, the FCA's director of enforcement and market oversight, said: "Aviva outsourced the administration of client money and external reconciliations in relation to custody assets, but failed to ensure that it had adequate controls and oversight arrangements to effectively control these outsourced activities." The Financial Conduct Authority said Aviva did not have the right controls in place after outsourcing administration of its custody assets The FCA said Aviva breached the Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS) rules between January 1 2013, and September 2 2015. It said the insurance giant failed to put in the place the right controls over third party administrators (TPAs) and did not "sufficiently challenge" the performance and resources of the TPAs. Aviva was also delayed in discovering risk and compliance problems linked to the TPAs because it did not provide enough resources and technical expertise to enforce CASS rules. The FCA said it had discovered issues with Aviva's internal reconciliation process, leading to under and over-segregation of client money. It added that under-segregation peaked at 74.4 million between February 10 2014, and February 9 2015. "Other firms with similar outsourcing arrangements should take this as a warning that there is no excuse for not having robust controls and oversight systems in place to ensure their processes comply with our rules when CASS functions are outsourced," Mr Steward said. "This is the first CASS case in relation to oversight failures of outsourcing arrangements and we will continue to take action against firms that fall short of our CASS rules." Aviva was handed a 30% discount on its fine after reaching an early settlement with the FCA, meaning it will pay 8,246,800 instead of 11,781,262. Aviva said it had tackled the problems with its UK life adviser platform and customers had not suffered any financial loss. It added that it had strengthened governance and controls surrounding the administration of customer money and assets on the platform. It has also carried out a review of all CASS processes and recruited a specialist team to focus on oversight of customer money and asset processes. Andy Briggs, chief executive of Aviva UK Life, apologised and said the insurer had accepted the FCA's findings. "This should not have happened and we are sorry. Aviva's customers have not suffered any loss and there has been no impact on advisers. Partner to die in jail for murdering EastEnders actress and two young sons The partner of former EastEnders actress Sian Blake will spend the rest of his life behind bars for brutally murdering her and their two young children. Cannabis dealer Arthur Simpson-Kent received a "whole-life" sentence for killing Ms Blake, 43, and their sons, Zachary, eight, and four-year-old Amon, after the actress, who was terminally ill with motor neurone disease, planned to leave him and take the boys with her. All three were repeatedly hit on the head before being stabbed in the neck or throat by Simpson-Kent, 49, who painted over bloodstains to hide the slaughter at their bungalow in Erith, south-east London. Arthur Simpson-Kent has been given a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey (Metropolitan Police/PA) He then buried them in the back garden and told relatives and the police they had gone to see friends before fleeing to his native Ghana. There were tears in the public gallery at the Old Bailey on Wednesday as judge Mr Justice Singh said he had been left "in no doubt" that Simpson-Kent should receive the most severe punishment available for his "truly horrific" crimes on the night of December 14/15 last year. The court had previously heard that Ms Blake's condition meant she would have been physically incapable of defending herself from a violent attack. In a statement read outside afterwards, Ms Blake's family said "no sentence will bring them back" and called Simpson-Kent a "monster" who attacked them in a place "where they should have felt safe and secure". "Arthur has robbed us of our dreams and aspirations, everything we wished for Sian and our precious boys," they said. "He stood in the dock with a smirk on his face and showed no remorse." The court had heard that Simpson-Kent told a psychiatrist after his arrest that he used a small axe to bludgeon his three victims unconscious before using a knife. Simpson-Kent told Dr Philip Joseph "something just snapped in me", adding: "I felt as if I had just been pushed off a diving board and was falling. "I grabbed hold of a small axe that was kept on a ledge in the kitchen. Sian's head was bent low down and she was bent over looking at the floor. I approached her from the side and hit her at the back of the head as hard as I could and she fell unconscious at the first blow. After that I hit her repeatedly on the head. "My mind was blank and I was focusing on doing and not thinking. It was like I was there but not there." However, Mr Justice Singh said he rejected Simpson-Kent's account, and his claim that he was depressed and had planned to also kill himself, before bottling it. As the impassive triple-killer looked on, the judge told the court Ms Blake, though depressed, had been "planning for the months ahead both in relation to her own interests and in relation to the boys' education." He said: "In my judgment this was indeed a case where each murder involved a substantial degree of premeditation or planning. "At the very least that must be true of the murder of each of the two little boys individually, and in turn after the defendant had already killed Sian Blake. "Further, and in any event, there were serious aggravating features of this case. "Each of the victims was particularly vulnerable because of age or disability. There was an abuse of position of trust. There was concealment of the bodies. He made efforts to remove evidence of his crimes at the house, including repainting. "He sought to lay a false trail by using Sian Blake's mobile phone. He lied to the police and others about the whereabouts of the family." Ms Blake played Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of EastEnders between 1996 and 1997. She went on to work as a voice-over artist and sign language interpreter. The court heard that the murders happened the day after she visited her mother and asked to move back in with her, along with Simpson-Kent and the boys. When Mrs Blake said Simpson-Kent could not, her daughter agreed to move anyway. She was never seen alive by her family again. In the days following her death, her family received texts from her mobile phone saying she had gone away and did not want to speak to them, in what the prosecution said was "a deliberate attempt to mislead". Bearded Simpson-Kent then flew to Ghana, where he was seen "really partying" on New Year's Eve. He was held by local police days later, and extradited back to the UK. George Osborne claims democracy and capitalism are 'in crisis' Former chancellor George Osborne has claimed democracy and capitalism are "in crisis", as he announced the launch of a new book. Mr Osborne dubs the current state of politics the "Age of Unreason", the provisional title of the book, with "populist nationalism and prejudice on the rise". He also points specifically to controversial US presidential candidate Donald Trump, with Mr Osborne suggesting Mr Trump poses a risk to "peace, prosperity and security". George Osborne dubs the current state of politics the 'Age of Unreason' The key ally of former prime minister David Cameron has now returned to the Tory backbenches, after six years as chancellor. Announcing the book, Mr Osborne called for the forces of free markets and open society to take back control of the political debate. Mr Osborne said: "My book is about the future. I want to apply the lessons I've learnt in victory and defeat to the urgent challenge of this Age of Unreason. "Capitalism and democracy is in crisis. The West is in retreat. The forces of populist nationalism and prejudice are on the rise, amplified by new technology. "The likes of Donald Trump say to people, what the hell have you got to lose. The answer is, a lot. Peace, prosperity and security. "It's time to say so. It's time for the defenders of open societies and free markets to fight back." He will take a year to write the book. Mr Osborne has recently launched a new think tank to promote the Northern Powerhouse, one of his key policies as chancellor. 2-Hurricane Matthew hammers Haiti and Cuba, bears down on U.S. By Makini Brice and Sarah Marsh LES CAYES, Haiti/GUANTANAMO, Cuba, Oct 4 (Reuters) - H urricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in almost a decade, hit Cuba and Haiti with winds of well over 100 miles-per-hour on Tuesday, pummeling towns, farmland and resorts and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to take cover. Dubbed by the U.N. the worst humanitarian crisis to hit Haiti since a devastating 2010 earthquake, the Category Four hurricane unleashed torrential rain on the island of Hispaniola that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic. As it barreled towards the United States, the eye of the storm had moved off the northeastern coast of Cuba by Tuesday night, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. At least four people were killed in the Dominican Republic by collapsing walls and mudslides, as well as two in Haiti, where communications in the worst-hit areas were down, making it hard for authorities to assess the scale of the damage. "Haiti is facing the largest humanitarian event witnessed since the earthquake six years ago," said Mourad Wahba, the U.N. Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Haiti. Over 200,000 people were killed in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, by the January 2010 earthquake. Matthew was blowing sustained winds of 140 mph (230 kph) or more for much of Tuesday, though as night fell, the windspeed eased to about 130 mph, the NHC said. Early reports suggested that Cuba had not been hit as hard as Haiti, where the situation was described as "catastrophic" in the port town of Les Cayes. In the Cuban city of Guantanamo, streets emptied as people moved to shelters or inside their homes. Matthew is likely to remain a powerful hurricane through at least Thursday night as it sweeps through the Bahamas towards Florida and the Atlantic coast of the southern United States, the NHC said. The storm is expected to be very near the east cost of Florida by Thursday evening, the center added. The governor of South Carolina ordered the evacuation of more than 1 million people from Wednesday afternoon. With communications out across most of Haiti and a key bridge impassable because of a swollen river, there was no immediate word on the full extent of potential casualties and damage from the storm in the poorest country in the Americas. But Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told reporters in Washington the U.S. Navy was considering sending an aircraft carrier and other ships to the region to aid relief efforts. The United States has already offered Haiti the use of some helicopters, said Haitian Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph, who added that damage to housing and crops in the country was apparently extensive. Twice destroyed by hurricanes in the 18th century, Les Cayes was hit hard by Matthew. "The situation in Les Cayes is catastrophic, the city is flooded, you have trees lying in different places and you can barely move around. The wind has damaged many houses," said Deputy Mayor Marie Claudette Regis Delerme, who fled a house in the town of about 70,000 when the wind ripped the roof off. One man died as the storm crashed through his home in the nearby beach town of Port Salut, Haiti's civil protection service said. He had been too sick to leave for a shelter, officials said. The body of a second man who went missing at sea was also recovered, the government said. Another fisherman was killed in heavy seas over the weekend as the storm approached. STARTING FROM SCRATCH As much as 3 feet (1 meter) of rain was forecast to fall over hills in Haiti that are largely deforested and prone to flash floods and mudslides, threatening villages as well as shantytowns in the capital Port-au-Prince. The hurricane has hit Haiti at a time when tens of thousands of people are still living in flimsy tents and makeshift dwellings because of the 2010 earthquake. "Farms have been hit really hard. Things like plantains, beans, rice - they're all gone," said Hervil Cherubin, country director in Haiti for Heifer International, a nonprofit organization that is working with 30,000 farming families across Haiti. "Most of the people are going to have to start all over again. Whatever they accumulated the last few years has been all washed out." Matthew was churning around 20 miles (32 km) northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba at 11 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT). It was moving north at about 8 miles per hour (13 kph), the NHC said. Cuba's Communist government traditionally puts extensive efforts into saving lives and property in the face of storms, and authorities have spent days organizing teams of volunteers to move residents to safety and secure property. The storm thrashed the tourist town of Baracoa in the province of Guantanamo, passing close to the disputed U.S. Naval base and military prison. The U.S. Navy ordered the evacuation of 700 spouses and children along with 65 pets of service personnel as the storm approached. U.S. President Barack Obama had earlier canceled a trip to Florida scheduled for Wednesday because of the potential impact of the storm, the White House said. A hurricane watch was in effect for Florida from an area just north of Miami Beach to the Volusia-Brevard county line, near Cape Canaveral, which the storm could reach on Thursday, the hurricane center said. Tropical storm or hurricane conditions could affect parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina later this week, even if the center of Matthew remained offshore, the NHC said. Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Florida on Monday, designating resources for evacuations and shelters and putting the National Guard on standby. U.N.'s rights boss warns Russia over Syria air strikes By Tom Miles and Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights chief told Russia on Tuesday that air strikes on civilian targets in the Syrian city of Aleppo may amount to crimes against humanity which could be brought before the International Criminal Court. High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said initiatives to resolve the situation in besieged, rebel-held eastern Aleppo should include proposals to limit the use of the veto by the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. This would enable major powers to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court, a step previously blocked by Russia and China. "Such a referral would be more than justified given the rampant and deeply shocking impunity that has characterised the conflict and the magnitude of the crimes that have been committed, some of which may indeed amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity," Zeid said in a statement. In New York, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin dismissed Zeid's proposal, telling reporters: "It's not his responsibility to discuss veto powers." "Unfortunately my good friend has been overstepping the limits of his responsibilities quite a bit and this is unfortunate." The Russian Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. When asked how Russia viewed the suggestion of limiting the veto rights of permanent Security Council members, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Negatively". Last week Peskov said the Russian air force would continue to support Syrian government troops and that what he called the "war on terror" would continue. Russia is the main military backer of President Bashar al-Assad. Zeid said Syria's government and its allies attacked targets protected by international law, including medical units, aid workers and water-pumping stations. BANNED BY TREATY He said that dropping indiscriminate incendiary weapons in heavily populated areas was particularly concerning, as well as being banned by a treaty that Russia is bound by. He compared Aleppo to the World War Two battles of Warsaw and Stalingrad and the attack on Dresden, and said calling the enemy a "terrorist organisation" was not an excuse to ignore the laws of war. The rebels' use of inaccurate "hell-fire cannons", homemade mortars that fire gas cylinders packed with explosives and shrapnel, was also totally unacceptable, he said. The World Health Organization said that between Sept. 23 and Oct. 2, 342 people had been killed in eastern Aleppo, including 106 children, and 1,129 had been wounded, including 261 children. Those figures were based on reports from functioning health centres and the true figures were probably much higher, spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said. "As of yesterday, we have now only six partially functional hospitals that are in service, only one hospital that offers trauma care services," Chaib told the briefing. WHO still hopes to be able to evacuate sick and wounded from Aleppo, she said. The Syrian government has yet to respond to a U.N. plan for aid convoys in Syria during the month of October, U.N. spokesman Jens Laerke said. WikiLeaks' Assange signals release of documents before U.S. election By Andrea Shalal BERLIN, Oct 4 (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Tuesday the group would publish about one million documents related to the U.S. election and three governments in coming weeks, but denied the release was aimed at damaging Hillary Clinton. Assange, speaking via a video link, said the documents would be released before the end of the year, starting with an initial batch in the coming week. Assange, 45, who remains at the Ecuadoran embassy in London where he sought refuge in 2012 to avoid possible extradition to Sweden, said the election material was "significant" and would come out before the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election. He criticised Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, for demonising his WikiLeaks group's work after a spate of releases related to the Democratic National Committee before the Democratic political convention this summer. Assange said her campaign had falsely suggested that accessing WikiLeaks data would expose users to malicious software. But he denied the release of documents relating to the U.S. election was specifically aimed at damaging Clinton, saying he had been misquoted. "The material that WikiLeaks is going to publish before the end of the year is of ... a very significant moment in different directions, affecting three powerful organisations in three different states as well as ... the U.S election process," he said via a video link at an event marking the group's 10th anniversary. He said the material would focus on war, weapons, oil, mass surveillance, the technology giant Google and the U.S. election, but declined to give any details. "There has been a misquoting of me and Wikileaks publications ... (suggesting) we intend to harm Hillary Clinton or I intend to harm Hillary Clinton or that I don't like Hillary Clinton. All those are false," he said. Assange had told Fox News in an interview conducted by satellite in August that the group would release significant information related to Clinton's campaign. Assange also signalled changes in the way WikiLeaks is organised and funded, saying the group would soon open itself to membership. He said the group was looking to expand its media ties beyond the 100 outlets it already works with. He told journalists gathered at a Berlin theatre that the group's work would continue, even if he had to resign in the future, and he appealed to supporters to fund its work. He also held up copies of several forthcoming books. Assange and his attorney said Britain's vote to leave the European Union could complicate his situation by limiting his ability to appeal to the European Court of Justice or the Council of Europe, a European human rights body. Asked how he felt after four years in the embassy, he said "pale" and joked he would be a good candidate for medical study since he was otherwise healthy but had not seen the sun in over four years. Assange is wanted in Sweden for questioning about allegations that he committed rape in 2010. He denies the charges, and says he fears subsequent extradition to the United States, where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is underway. Sarepta partners with UK's Summit on Duchenne drugs By Natalie Grover Oct 4 (Reuters) - Sarepta Therapeutics Inc said it secured the European rights to Summit Therapeutics Plc's experimental Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) drug as it looks to build on its lead in treating the fatal muscle-wasting disease. Summit's shares doubled, to 262 pence on the London Stock Exchange, while its U.S. stock jumped 128 percent to $19.75. Sarepta's shares inched up about 1 percent to $61.60. The deal is significant for Summit, given its constrained balance sheet and the strong rationale for a potential combination of the companies' DMD treatments, analysts said. The deal gives Sarepta rights to Summit's utrophin modulator pipeline, including its lead experimental drug, ezutromid, in Europe, Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Sarepta and Summit will share all research and development costs, the companies said on Tuesday. The collaboration could give Sarepta access to an additional 20 percent of DMD patients outside the United States, said Debjit Chattopadhyay, an analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott. Ezutromid could act as a foundational therapy applicable to all DMD patients, he added. Sarepta's drug - the first to secure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to treat DMD - targets patients with a form of the disease who are amenable to what is known as exon 51 skipping. DMD is believed to be caused by a lack of dystrophin, a protein needed to keep muscles healthy. Sarepta's Exondys 51 is designed to enhance dystrophin production and slow progression of the disease. Utrophin is a protein with function similar to dystrophin. Sarepta's drug targets about 13 percent of all DMD patients, or some 1,300-1,900 patients in the United States. PTC Therapeutics Inc's DMD drug, Translarna, which targets a different subset of patients, received conditional approval in Europe in 2014. As part of the deal, Milton Park, Oxfordshire-based Summit will get $40 million up front and is eligible to receive up to $522 million in milestone payments. RBC Capital analyst Simos Simeonidis said the deal made Sarepta an even more attractive takeover target. The partnership is a "smart move" and a small price for Sarepta to pay to buy into potential competition, he said. DMD typically emerges in boyhood, causing weakness in the arms and legs and eventually the lungs and heart. Patients frequently die in their 20s or 30s, according to the National Institutes of Health. IFM Global to boost stake in OHL Mexico with 8.6 bln peso purchase MEXICO CITY, Oct 4 (Reuters) - IFM Global Infrastructure Fund will boost its stake in the Mexican unit of Spanish construction firm OHL with an 8.64 billion peso ($448 million) purchase, OHL Mexico said in a statement on Tuesday. Kerry urges Britain and EU to maintain strong ties By Robin Emmott and David Brunnstrom BRUSSELS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Britain on Tuesday to maintain the closest possible links with the European Union as it negotiates to leave the bloc, saying the unity of Europe was paramount for transatlantic relations. Speaking in Brussels, Kerry sought to make the case for the European Union despite the rise of anti-EU populist parties and Britain's vote to exit. He said there could be no place for isolationist policies. "We will not be shy about where our interests lie: We need the strongest possible EU, the strongest possible UK and a highly integrated, collaborative relationship between them," Kerry said in a speech. "We should never take for granted the good achieved by the unity of Europe," he said, adding that "some people do so too quickly," recalling his youth as the son of a U.S. diplomat growing up in divided Berlin in the 1950s. Britons' decision to leave the 28-member bloc on June 23 dealt a huge blow to the European project of greater unity, and alarmed Washington which feared that the post-war stability it helped to underpin was at risk. The departure of Washington's closest ally in the bloc comes as the European Union and the United States are negotiating a trade pact that could encompass almost half the world's economy. Anti-EU political parties, who are placing unprecedented pressure on the centre-left and centre-right establishment in Europe, have seized on the proposed pact as a sign of unbridled capitalism, saying it will lower standards and benefit only multinational companies. While Kerry said that the West needed to move on from the British referendum result, he criticised European politicians who he said failed to promote the benefits of the European Union over the past six decades. Echoing an intervention by President Barack Obama last April in London in support of the EU, the world's biggest trading bloc, Kerry said the continent's post-war recovery and its ensuing prosperity was "one of the greatest stories in the history of human kind". Teen rail odysseys for all? EU thinks it over STRASBOURG, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The EU will look into a plan to give all Europeans a free continental rail pass for their 18th birthday but officials made clear on Tuesday that the idea faces numerous obstacles. "We admire the boldness and the level of ambition, and we are ready to explore it further," Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc told the European Parliament in a response to a resolution backed by lawmakers, including the main conservative bloc. They say free InterRail tickets - typically month-long passes letting young people travel across Europe's rail network at will - could rekindle enthusiasm for the European Union and bring youngsters together to counter the rising nationalism seen in Britain's vote to quit the bloc and in many other countries. "People all around Europe must get to know and learn to cherish each other. Our wish is that as many youngsters as possible...get to know other countries and make new friends," said Manfred Weber, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel who leads the biggest group in the EU legislature. He acknowledged it would not be easy and require cooperation from rail operators. Bulc said the Commission, the EU executive, would look at the cost and possible funding sources. A summer rite of passage for millions of Europeans since the 1970s, the InterRail system is now used by some 300,000 people a year and costs those under 26 years old 479 euros ($536) for a full month. Black artists' exploration of race and segregation on show in Paris Oct 4 (Reuters) - A new exhibition in Paris spotlights racism and segregation through the works of African-American artists and comes amid tense race relations in the United States. "The Color Line," which opened on Tuesday at the Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac Museum and runs through Jan. 15, features artists such as Robert Duncanson, Aaron Douglas and Lois Mailou Jones. The exhibit showcases the issues faced by the black community throughout history and resonates with the present-day Black Lives Matter movement that arose from police slayings of mostly unarmed black men over the past three years. The exhibition's curator, art critic Daniel Soutif, said that while African-American artists had diverse styles, they shared a common history which animated their work. "The role of these artists was essentially to construct an image of the black person that was different from the one transmitted by racist images, by stereotypes," Soutif told Reuters. As early as the 19th century, African-American painters were highlighting racial struggles. Duncanson's "Uncle Tom and Little Eva," completed in 1853, is viewed as the artist's depiction of salvation for both white men and slaves, mirroring the theme of the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Aaron Douglas's "Into Bondage" from 1936 is his rendering of enslaved Africans bound for the Americas, in optimistic blue tones viewed as a symbol of hope. Lynchings between 1880 and 1980 were a strong theme in African-American art - featured in the celebrated portrait "Mob Victim" by Lois Mailou Jones and the striking linographs of Hale Aspacio Woodruff. The exhibition takes viewers through a sweep of the civil rights movement, the rise of Harlem, and introduces the new millennium with contemporary art work, and media featuring Barack Obama's presidency. "He's a president that will be remembered in history, not simply because he was the first Afro-American president, but because of the policies that he put forward. But Obama himself did not succeed in eradicating the racist mentality among a number of Americans," Soutif said. Colombia's "no" to peace deal could hit U.S. aid By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Colombia's rejection of a deal to end 52 years of civil war will not end U.S. plans to send significant aid next year, although it might prompt lawmakers to keep back some of the $450 million that had been expected, congressional aides said on Tuesday. While spending plans for fiscal 2017 will not be final until late this year, the Senate and House of Representatives had been expected to approve $400 million in development aid, and roughly $50 million in counternarcotics assistance for Colombia for the year ending on Sept. 30, 2017. That money was viewed as a way to support the Colombian peace process, and boost a country seen as an essential U.S. ally in Latin America by both Democrats and Republicans. U.S. support for Colombia is expected to remain strong, although Congress could reduce the appropriation if renewed peace efforts go badly, the aides said. Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Marxist guerrilla group went back to the drawing board in Havana on Tuesday after the peace deal they negotiated over four years was narrowly rejected as too lenient on the rebels in a referendum on Sunday. There is also uncertainty within Washington because of the Nov. 8 elections, in which the White House, every seat in the House and one-third of the seats in Senate are up for grabs. "There's a well of support for Colombia. Congress will find a way to make something work that's helpful and constructive," one aide said. "But a lot is going to change between now and December," he added, referring to the prospect of some aid being held back. Some lawmakers were quick to express their continued backing of the peace process after the shock referendum result. Senator Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the subcommittee that oversees foreign aide, said he thought there was no turning back for Colombia despite the vote. "I have confidence that President (Juan Manuel) Santos, who has shown great political courage to get to this point, will find a way to bring the process to a satisfactory conclusion," Leahy said in a statement. Duterte's enforcer says "we are at war", has no regrets about killings By Andrew R.C. Marshall and Neil Jerome Morales LA UNION, Philippines, Oct 4 (Reuters) - When Philippines police chief Ronald Dela Rosa gave a rousing speech to his men at a regional headquarters in Luzon, they rewarded him with a gift: a replica of the sword used by actor Mel Gibson in the movie Braveheart. The barrel-chested police chief grinned and gave the weapon, which is almost as long as he is tall, a practice swing. A voice on the camp's loudspeaker declared him "the bravest of bravehearts". Dela Rosa acts as the enforcer for Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, whose war on drugs has led to more than 3,400 people being killed in just over three months. Dela Rosa's tour of Luzon, the country's largest and most populous island, was the latest in a series of trips to stiffen the resolve of police officers at the campaign's bloody frontline. "I have to encourage them to do our job," he told a Reuters reporter who went on the trip last month. "We are at war." Police said on October 3 they had shot dead 1,375 people in operations since President Duterte took office on July 1. They also report a further 2,066 "deaths under investigation", many of which human rights activists attribute to vigilante killings. Reuters was unable to confirm the accuracy of these numbers or the extent to which the killings have been committed by vigilantes. The campaign has sparked outrage abroad, but in the Philippines it has won praise from a crime-weary population and only muted criticism from civil society groups. In a country where the police are generally despised and feared because of their reputation for corruption and violence, Dela Rosa is popular. After only two months as police chief, the national media is already touting him as Duterte's possible successor, an idea that the president's spokesman Martin Andanar described as "speculative". Duterte has often called for the killing of drug dealers. And Dela Rosa has echoed the incendiary remarks. At a speech last month, he encouraged users and pushers to kill drug lords who had grown rich from exploiting the poor. "You know who are the drug lords here, go to their houses, pour gasoline, set it on fire, show them you are angry at them," he said. Still, Dela Rosa's close operational knowledge of the drug war could make him a focus if there is ever an independent investigation into the killings, said Rose Trajano, secretary general of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, a nationwide coalition based in Manila. It is unclear, though, whether anyone will be in a position to hold such an investigation. "He is a good soldier of the president, but there will also be fear in him," she said. Dela Rosa told Reuters he was confident that killings during police operations were legitimate, and that the "deaths under investigation" were mostly the work of drug syndicates. "They are killing each other," he said. FEELS THE PRESSURE In person, Dela Rosa is intense but courteous, and says he is under pressure. "My worry is that I won't be able to deliver what is expected of me," he told Reuters. Duterte vowed on September 18 he would extend his anti-drug campaign for another six months, but Dela Rosa said he still felt pressed for time. The biggest obstacles to the campaign, he said, were providing rehab services for the many users of crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug known locally as shabu, and halting its influx from abroad, particularly the flow from China. More than 700,000 drug users and pushers have registered with the authorities in a process termed "surrendering". But there are very few programs or facilities to help most of them, and local media have reported the killing of scores of people who have registered. Dela Rosa told Reuters the number of drug-war killings would continue to rise. "Every day the number of dead increases," he said. "Every day the arrests increase and those who surrender." Dela Rosa bristles at the mention of foreign critics. The United States has said it is "deeply concerned" by the killings, while two United Nations experts have accused Duterte of incitement to violence, a crime under international law. "They're making us out to be killers," said Dela Rosa. "It really broke my heart. We're doing this for the good of the Filipino people." Before the anti-drug campaign, he said, people were scared to leave their houses. "Now the situation has been reversed. Law-abiding people are going out. Criminals are hiding. See the difference?" But while other serious crime has declined, the murder rate has soared, and in some communities residents told Reuters that police and vigilante killings had made them too frightened to go outside after dark. "WE BECAME FRIENDS" Dela Rosa, 54 - whose earliest ambition was to be a boxer - is popularly known as "Bato", after his hometown south of Davao City. It also means "rock" in the national language Tagalog. His late father was a pedicab driver who could barely afford to send him to school, said Dela Rosa in a tribute on his Facebook page in June. Davao City is where President Duterte spent 22 years as mayor, unleashing a brutal anti-drugs campaign that the hard-charging Dela Rosa joined as he rose through the ranks of the local police force. "I liked what he was doing and he liked what I was doing, so we became friends," Dela Rosa recalled. Duterte made him Davao's police chief in 2012. The Coalition Against Summary Execution, a Davao-based watchdog, has documented 1,424 vigilante-style killings in the city, including 162 in 2012-13 when Dela Rosa was chief. Asked about the findings, Dela Rosa said: "I will look into that." Adding: "I don't memorize that data." Duterte appointed Dela Rosa his national police chief over other more senior officers, giving him free rein to roll out Davao's harsh crime-fighting model across the country. GUN COLLECTOR At a police camp in Baguio, in the Philippines' ethnically diverse highlands, Dela Rosa donned a tribal headdress and robe to hand out awards to officers for their anti-drug efforts. Hundreds of officers asked to take selfies with Dela Rosa, who always obliged. Sometimes only his trademark shaven head was visible amid a scrum of well-wishers. However, even in the police camps, Dela Rosa is circled by six bodyguards. Drug traffickers, he told Reuters, "can kill me anytime". Dela Rosa said in an interview with popular Philippines talkshow host Boy Abunda that he twice tried marijuana at college and got high but decided to stop because it could ruin his future. In another of his regular television appearances, this time on a show called "Get It Straight", Dela Rosa declined to say how many people he had shot in his police career "because people might say the (police) chief is a killer." Filipino journalists covering Dela Rosa told Reuters they have never seen him smoke or drink. His main hobby is collecting guns. Honduras homicides set to fall; anti-crime drive wanes -report TEGUCIGALPA, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Murders in Honduras are on track to decline in 2016 even as the government's military drive against organized crime is running out of steam, the Observatory of Violence at the National Autonomous University of Honduras said on Tuesday. A report by the observatory, which analyzes crime statistics in the country, showed 2,568 violent deaths in the first half of 2016, down 3.4 percent from the year-ago period. If the pace persists, Honduras would end 2016 with a homicide rate of 59.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, Migdonia Ayestas, director of the observatory, said in an interview. In 2012, Honduras was the world's most murderous nation, with a rate of 90.4 per 100,000. Neighboring El Salvador is now more violent, with more than 100 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants last year, statistics show. Since taking office in early 2014, President Juan Hernandez has deployed a new military police force to combat organized crime, and has increased the defense budget. However, after the capture of local cartel bosses, their second-in-commands have taken over, and the gangs are devising new ways of evading security forces, Ayestas said. "The strategy of using the military against organized crime has exhausted itself," she said. Thailand bars entry to teenage HK activist "at China's request" By Venus Wu and Cod Satrusayang HONG KONG/BANGKOK, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Thailand on Wednesday barred entry to a Hong Kong student activist who helped organise pro-democracy protests in the Chinese-ruled city in 2014, with a Thai newspaper saying he had been deported and "blacklisted" at China's request. Bespectacled Joshua Wong, 19, was detained in Bangkok where he had been invited to speak at universities about Hong Kong's "Umbrella Movement" street protests and on setting up his political party, Demosisto. He was later put on a plane back to Hong Kong where he told reporters Thai authorities had not given him a reason for refusing him entry but had shown him a document citing a security law. One officer had mentioned a "blacklist", he said. "As a Hong Kong person, I did not expect that even if I do not enter mainland China, I would be inside a foreign detention centre, detained by other police. This is unbelievable," he said. The protests that Wong helped lead in Hong Kong, a former British colony which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, presented Communist Party rulers in Beijing with one of their biggest political headaches in decades. Wong was given 80 hours of community service by a Hong Kong court in August on a charge of unlawful assembly for taking part in a sit-in at the height of the protests in the Asian financial hub. Thailand has been ruled by a junta since a 2014 coup which was widely condemned by the West. Since then, the generals running Thailand have forged closer ties with China. Thailand's Nation newspaper quoted a deputy commander of airport immigration police, Colonel Pruthipong Prayoonsiri, as saying China had sent a request "to seek cooperation to deny" Wong entry. "As a result, the Immigration Bureau blacklisted him and held him for deportation," Pruthipong was quoted as saying. But Pruthipong later told Reuters he had not spoken to the newspaper, did not know if Wong had been blacklisted and declined further comment. The Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement permission for Wong to enter Thailand "involves various factors". Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Wong's expulsion was a matter for China, not Thailand. "Why he was sent back is China's issue," Prayuth said. China's Foreign Ministry, when asked about Wong's detention, said it had "noticed the relevant reports". "China respects Thailand's exercise of immigration control according to the law," it said in an email. 'LUCKY' Wong flew in to Bangkok just before midnight on Tuesday and arrived back in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon. Suspicion of China's involvement in his expulsion would add to concern in Hong Kong that mainland authorities are clamping down on dissent despite a "one country, two systems" formula, meant to preserve the city's freedoms. Wong referred to the case of five Hong Kong booksellers, specialising in works critical of Chinese leaders, who disappeared only to emerge in custody in mainland China. One of them disappeared while in Thailand and is the only one still in detention. "I'm lucky I did not become the next person to disappear," Wong said. Wong was denied entry by Malaysia in May 2015 when he was due to give talks on democracy in China. Wong was invited by the politics faculty at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University to speak on the 40th anniversary of a bloody crackdown by the Thai army on student protests. Human Rights Watch condemned Wong's detention. "Thailand's arrest of Joshua Wong ... sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing's bidding," its China director, Sophie Richardson, said in an email. A spokesman for the U.N. Human Rights Office in Asia said the prevention of Wong from attending the university talks "raises further concerns about restrictions on peaceful freedom of expression and assembly in Thailand". At Samsung, strong Q3 chip sales to ease sting of Note 7 hangover By Se Young Lee SEOUL, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Scarred by the global recall of its flagship smartphone, Samsung Electronics Co is set to report on Friday it still expects a small rise in third-quarter profit, analysts say, with healthy sales of memory chips and displays easing the pain. Lost sales and expenses tied to the recall of at least 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 handsets to fix battery problems could cost the firm nearly $5 billion this year, some analysts have said. That could sap momentum from a nascent recovery in Samsung's mobile business, an underperformer in recent years. But a pickup in the memory chip market, led by demand from rival smartphone maker Apple Inc, will buttress earnings, company watchers say. A Thomson Reuters SmartEstimate, derived from a survey of 20 analysts, tips overall July-September operating profit to have edged up 0.7 percent from a year earlier to 7.4 trillion won ($6.65 billion). Samsung will report its estimates for third-quarter revenue and operating profit, without further details, on Friday. "So long as the operating profit number comes in at a low 7 trillion won level, the market will look at it and think some of noise surrounding the Note 7 recall issue has cleared," said HDC Asset Management fund manager Park Jung-hoon. Analysts have lowered their expectations for Samsung's mobile division since the Sept. 2 recall made global headlines. Some have cut their mobile division profit forecast by 1 trillion won or more to reflect the lost sales and costs of recalling a smartphone that had won rave reviews and made a strong sales start since its launch in Aug. 19. Korea Investment analyst Jay Yoo forecast Samsung's third-quarter mobile division operating profit at 2.6 trillion won, up from 2.4 trillion won a year earlier but down from 4.3 trillion won in April-June. But analysts say Samsung's chips division - the firm is the world's biggest memory chip maker - will soothe the Note 7 woes as other smartphone makers filled chip order books and drove prices higher ahead of the peak year-end shopping season. Analysts estimate the division could report quarterly operating profit of 3 trillion won or more - its highest in four quarters. Analysts said the semiconductors uptrend was more pronounced for NAND memory chips - used for long-term data storage - as demand started to outpace supply during the quarter due to orders from Apple and Chinese smartphone makers. Demand for solid-state drive storage chips for mobile devices also grew. Samsung stands to benefit from the upswing - especially in the NAND market, where it dominates rivals such as Japan's Toshiba Corp and U.S. firm Micron Technology Inc in the market for high-end 3D products such as enterprise servers and storage. Samsung's display business earnings also likely picked up some of the slack from the mobile division thanks to increasing adoption of its organic light-emitting diode displays (OLED) by rising Chinese smartphone makers such as OPPO and VIVO, analysts said. "While the Galaxy Note 7 recall is a painful blow, the third quarter will show that components including DRAM, NAND and displays did better than expected," Dongbu Securities said in a report, tipping operating profit for the chips division to be at 3 trillion won. ($1 = 1,113.3000 won) Hong Kong stocks rise in thin trade; oil shares shine HONG KONG, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks rose slightly on Wednesday, outperforming regional markets, lifted by energy shares after an overnight surge in oil prices. The benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 0.5 percent at 23,796.21 points by lunch break, while China Enterprises Index gained 0.9 percent to 9,843.22 points. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.2 percent. Energy stocks account for 14 percent of Hong Kong's benchmark index, a much higher percentage than in many other markets. Wednesday's gains came in relatively thin trade as mainland markets are shut for a week due to Golden Week holidays. Investors remain broadly cautious on the outlook for Hong Kong equities in the near term after those rose by more than 20 percent in the past three months. "We are a bit more conservative on the outlook for the Hong Kong market than the region due to our cautious view on the property sector," said Tai Hui, chief Asia markets strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management in Hong Kong. In terms of valuations, Hong Kong trades broadly in line with regional peers. On a price-to-book basis, the Hong Kong stock market trades at 1.2 times book, a shade below its 15-year average of 1.3 times. In comparison, the broader Asia-ex Japan market trades at 1.4 times book compared to a 15-year average of 1.7. Stocks of Petrochina, Kunlun Energy, CNOOC and Sinopec Corp were among Wednesday's top gainers, though their advances were trimmed by the end of the morning. A sub-index measuring property stocks was down 0.2 percent, falling for the third consecutive day. Shares of China Resources Land eased 0.7 percent and China Overseas Land was broadly flat. China's Shenzhen has rolled out new steps, including higher mortgage down payments and home purchase restrictions, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday, joining other Chinese cities attempting to cool soaring home prices. Turnover has been very low this week with volumes over the past two days struggling to hit the 50 billion Hong Kong dollars ($6.45 billion) mark compared to 70 billion Hong Kong dollars of shares traded last Friday, before China's week-long holiday began. Warnings issued for Florida as Hurricane Matthew turns from Cuba Oct 5 (Reuters) - Southeastern Florida was under hurricane and tropical storm warnings on Wednesday as the eye of powerful Hurricane Matthew moved off of the northeastern coast of Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. Hurricane Matthew was about 20 miles (30 km) northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba with winds of 130 miles per hour (215 kph), the center said. The storm was expected to turn toward the north-northwest during the day, followed by a northwest turn on Wednesday night, the hurricane center said. The current threat to life and property was high, the National Weather Service warned, predicting tropical storm- force winds of up to 70 mph (115 kph) and 4 inches (10 cm) of rain for parts of the area. UAE says Houthi attack on ship in shipping lane was "act of terrorism" DUBAI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday Yemeni Houthi forces had attacked a UAE vessel in a strategic Red Sea shipping lane off the coast of Yemen at the weekend and called the incident an "act of terrorism." Hundreds of Emirati soldiers in a Saudi-led coalition have been fighting Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis, who control the capital, besides training Yemeni troops in the port of Aden to help rebuild a state loyal to exiled president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The vessel, an Australian-built high speed logistics catamaran under lease to the United Arab Emirates military, was attacked by Houthi fighters near the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen's southern coast on Saturday. The coalition rescued its civilian passengers. No crew were hurt. "The targeting of the civilian ship in an international channel has serious implications for freedom of navigation, and is an act of terror," the UAE foreign ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency WAM, without elaborating. The Houthis said their forces had fired a missile that had destroyed a UAE military vessel that was advancing towards the Red Sea port of Al-Mokha. The UN on Wednesday condemned the attack on the vessel and said it took threats to shipping around Bab al-Mandeb "extremely seriously". The Security Council stressed the need for exercise of freedom of navigation in and around the strait. Slovak Republic - Factors To Watch on Oct 5 BRATISLAVA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Wednesday. 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: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/1C/events-overview =========================EVENTS================================ BRATISLAVA - Government will discuss next year's budget at a regular session. Related stories: =========================NEWS================================== BUDGET DRAFT: Slovakia's Finance Ministry plans to cut the public finance deficit to 1.29 percent of gross domestic product next year from 2.07 percent gap expected this year, a budget draft posted at the ministry's website showed on Tuesday. Story: Related stories: SLOVENSKE ELEKTRARNE: Slovakia's Economy Minister Peter Ziga wants to meet with the management of the country's biggest electricity producer Slovenske Elektrarne next week to discuss a proposed cost increase for the Mochovce nuclear power plant expansion project. Story: Related stories: UNITED NATIONS: A sixth secret ballot by the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday will signal whether former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is likely to be the next U.N. Secretary-General, or whether one of the five permanent Security Council members might veto his bid. 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) Rocket from Gaza Strip hits Israeli border town - police JERUSALEM, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Israeli border town of Sderot on Wednesday, causing no casualties, police said. Militants in the Gaza Strip last fired a rocket into Israel on Aug. 21 in an incident that also caused no casualties and drew an Israeli air strike and tank shelling. Israel has a declared policy of responding militarily to any attack from the enclave. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday's attack, which triggered warning sirens in the town. The rocket struck an open area and no one was hurt, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said on Twitter. Hamas controls the Gaza Strip and has observed a de facto ceasefire with Israel since 2014, but some small armed cells of Jihadist Salafis have continued to occasionally fire rockets into Israel. More than 11,000 migrants rescued off Libya this week By Crispian Balmer ROME, Oct 5 (Reuters) - More than 5,000 migrants were saved on Tuesday and Wednesday off the Libyan coast and 28 bodies recovered, bringing the total number of people rescued this week to more than 11,000, Italy's coast guard said. More than 20 people were reported to have suffocated in the hold of one overloaded fishing boat, bringing the total death toll for Monday and Tuesday to 50. Italian officials said three women saved on Monday had given birth over the past 24 hours on a coast guard vessel that was bringing some 1,000 refugees to Sicily. The women and their three children were all reported to be in good health. The coast guard said the 4,655 migrants rescued on Tuesday were taken from 33 overcrowded boats, including 27 rubber dinghies and one wooden boat that was believed to have been carrying around 1,000 people. More than 6,000 migrants were rescued on Monday, but on Wednesday the number fell sharply to about 368 from six different boats, the coast guard said. A photographer working for Agence France-Presse, who was aboard a ship chartered by a Spanish non-governmental organisation to help with the rescue missions, was quoted as saying he had counted 22 bodies on that boat. He told Italian media he thought other corpses were still in the hold. At its closest, Libya is 290 km (180 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa and people smugglers have taken advantage of the chaos in the north African state to use it as their main staging post in the region for journeys to Europe. "Obviously the good weather has played an important role in explaining the large number of recent arrivals," a coast guard spokesman said. The latest surge in new arrivals means at least 142,000 migrants have reached Italy since the start of the year and around 3,100 have died making the perilous trip. An estimated 154,000 came to Italy in 2015 and 2,892 died. The vast majority of refugees come from Africa, including Nigeria, Eritrea, Guinea, Gambia, Sudan, Ivory Coast and Somalia. The migrants are brought to Italy, where EU and Italian officials work together to identify and fingerprint the asylum seekers. European law says migrants must stay in the country where they first enter the bloc and Italy is increasingly struggling to deal with the growing numbers. As part of a deal to relieve pressure on Europe's frontline states in the migration crisis, the European Commission last year devised a plan aimed at moving thousands of new arrivals away from Italy and Greece towards other EU members. Italy service sector growth slows in Sept as economy falters -PMI ROME, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Italian service sector activity slowed in September, a survey showed on Wednesday, suggesting the country's stuttering economic growth is unlikely to accelerate significantly in the near future. The Markit/ADACI Business Activity Index (PMI) for services companies fell to 50.7 in September from 52.3 in August, below expectations and not much above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. The index level was the lowest since May and compared with a median forecast of 51.9 in a Reuters survey of 12 analysts. The survey showed the influx of new business slowed in September, while employment levels declined marginally for the first time for a year. The sub-index for new business fell to 51.5 from 52.7 in August. Markit's sister survey for manufacturing, released on Monday, showed that sector posted a slight recovery after contracting in August for the first time in a year and a half. The composite PMI for services and manufacturing declined in September to 51.1 from 51.9 in August to post its lowest reading since May. Italy's chronically sluggish economy - the third largest in the euro zone - stagnated between April and June. More recent data has been patchy at best, although the Bank of Italy said on Monday it expected some moderate growth in the third quarter. Italian gross domestic product expanded by 0.7 percent last year, less than half the rate across the 19-nation euro zone. The government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi last week cut its forecast for 2016 growth to 0.8 percent from 1.2 percent, after weaker than expected data in the first half of the year. - Detailed PMI data are only available under licence from Markit and customers need to apply to Markit for a licence. To subscribe to the full data, click on the link below: http://www.markit.com/Contact-Us Many dead in air strikes on IS-held village near Turkey border - monitor BEIRUT, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Air strikes on an Islamic State-controlled village with a mainly Kurdish population near Syria's northern border with Turkey killed and injured dozens on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The group has so far documented the deaths of 13 civilians but said the death toll is likely to rise as there are serious injuries among the roughly 60 casualties. Both the Turkish military and the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State international coalition have been launching air strikes in that region, but it was not clear which nation's aircraft carried out the strikes, the war monitor said. Turkish military intervention to clear Islamic State from the Syrian side of the Turkish border aims to eventually oust the hard-line Sunni Muslim militants from the town of al Bab, 16 km (10 miles) south-east of the village. Turkey, which is fighting a Kurdish insurgency at home, is working with western-backed rebels in the push, hoping also to stem the expansion of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia into areas of Syria formerly controlled by Islamic state along the border. Turkish troops clash with Islamic State in Syria ANKARA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Turkey's army said it clashed with Islamic State over the border in Syria, leaving one soldier and 23 militants dead, as Ankara stepped up an operation to clear insurgents from the frontier region. Three other Turkish soldiers were wounded in the battle near the Syrian village of Ziyara over the past 24 hours, part of Ankara's "Euphrates Shield" offensive, the military added on Wednesday. A Syrian rebel commander taking part in the "Euphrates Shield" operation told Reuters that Islamic State had fought furiously during a battle for the village of Turkman Bareh, which was captured by rebels this week. The commander said Islamic State had drafted in reinforcements to the area, not far from Dabiq, a village with symbolic importance to the militants since it is cited in the Koran as the scene of an apocalyptic battle. "We expect resistance in the remaining villages," the commander said. Turkey's entry into Syria has raised concerns of a further escalation in an increasingly fraught regional conflict. Ankara says its efforts to cleanse its border region of Islamic State militants are legitimate under international law as self-defence after months of rocket attacks and bombings in cities along the boundary. President Tayyip Erdogan has also made it clear that Turkish forces are in Syria to prevent the Syrian Kurdish militia, which is backed by the United States to fight Islamic State, from expanding areas under its control. Two Syrian rebel fighters backed by Turkey died in other clashes with Islamic State along the boundary, the Turkish military statement said. The Ankara-backed rebels had seized control of around 980 square km (378 square miles) of territory since Euphrates Shield began on Aug. 24, it added. Hungary welcomes wealthy Chinese despite migrant hostility By Marton Dunai BUDAPEST, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Viktor Orban is known for his outspoken hostility to migrants and has built a razor-wire border fence to keep them out, but he has also quietly opened Hungary's doors to foreigners rich enough to pay to live in the country. A "residency bond" scheme, launched in 2013, has attracted thousands of mostly affluent Chinese keen to enjoy the cleaner air, educational opportunities and the more relaxed pace of life that Europe offers - and, unlike the refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East, these immigrants feel very welcome. "It's a successful scheme because it brings money into the country and not a penny leaves the country," Orban told parliament on Monday in reply to opposition questions. Yan Ding, who arrived in Budapest with his wife and young daughter in April 2015, is not untypical of the nearly 10,000 Chinese who have moved to Hungary under the scheme. After selling property he had inherited from his parents, Beijing native Ding bought a bond worth 300,000 euros that gives him and his family the right to live for five years in Hungary, which is a member of the European Union. "I came not for myself but solely for my daughter's education, her future," he told Reuters through an interpreter. His daughter, Xue Er, now enrolled in a local school and able to speak some Hungarian, has received warm support from teachers and administrators who have gone out of their way to accommodate her, Ding said. "In China the economy is developing rapidly but pollution is bad and the cities are growing so fast that you can't get the kind of education you would like for your child," he said. He said he wanted to spare his daughter the extreme competition among students in China which he attributed to the high number of pupils in each class. Hungary typically has up to 25 pupils in a class, which he said was very low by Chinese standards. Participants in Hungary's residency scheme must stomp up funds not only for the bond but also for a hefty commission fee of 50,000 euros to the agency processing their application. But when their bond is redeemed after five years, they recover their 300,000 euros and keep the right to stay in Hungary. RED CARPET Several other EU countries operate similar schemes but Hungary's is less expensive than most and offers residency rights straight away. The red carpet rolled out for these well-heeled foreigners - the vast majority are Chinese, official statistics show - is in stark contrast to the opprobrium Orban has heaped on the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have fled to Europe over the past year, mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Orban says those migrants, who are mostly Muslims, pose a threat to Europe's security and Christian civilisation. He successfully lobbied Hungarians to reject in an Oct. 2 referendum migrant quotas the EU had proposed for member states. Turnout was too low to make the poll valid but he shows no sign of compromising on his refusal to take in migrants. Ding rejects any comparison between the migrants now barred from Hungary by the new fence and bond purchasers like himself. "Chinese immigrants are in completely different shoes," said Yan. "They have savings in China, property, therefore they have expectations. It is a different demographic." "I doubt either the government or Hungarian society fail to see the difference ... Things are positive here (for us), nothing negative happens." Many of the Chinese bond buyers have an entrepreneurial background and are keen to seek new investment opportunities. Ding has co-founded a company to advise new arrivals on ways to invest their money in Hungary and beyond. "We want to export Hungarian technology, good solutions to China," said Zhang Jinjun, Ding's business partner, adding that the new arrivals had invigorated commercial ties between Hungary and China, the world's second biggest economy. "I have been here for 20 years. We have gone the classic route, clothes, shoes, and we are deep in that business. With new people come new ideas ... The money is just hanging around here and we are yet to put it to work." One recent sunny day Ding showed two newly arrived couples around a Budapest loft by the Danube where Chinese-owned businesses have offices to consider investment opportunities. Among companies examined was Oxytree, which sells a fast-growing tree bio-engineered for industrial and energy use. Wang Minjun, who arrived in Hungary in February after selling audio systems in Guangzhou, China's largest metropolitan area, said he was optimistic about the business prospects ahead. Baghdad bridles at Turkey's military presence, warns of "regional war" By Maher Chmaytelli and Tuvan Gumrukcu BAGHDAD/ANKARA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has warned Turkey that it risks triggering a regional war by keeping troops in Iraq, as each summoned the other's ambassador in a growing row. Relations between the two regional powers are already broadly strained by the Syrian civil war and the rise of the Islamic State militant group. Turkey's parliament voted last week to extend its military presence in Iraq for a further year to take on what it called "terrorist organisations" - a likely reference to Kurdish rebels as well as Islamic State. Iraq's parliament responded on Tuesday night by condemning the vote and calling for Turkey to pull its estimated 2,000 troops out of areas across northern Iraq. "We have asked the Turkish side more than once not to intervene in Iraqi matters and I fear the Turkish adventure could turn into a regional war," Abadi warned in comments broadcast on state TV on Wednesday. "The Turkish leadership's behaviour is not acceptable and we don't want to get into a military confrontation with Turkey." Turkey says its military is in Iraq at the invitation of Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdish regional government, with which Ankara maintains solid ties. Most of the troops are at a base in Bashiqa, north of Mosul, where they are helping to train Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga and Sunni fighters. Turkey's deputy prime minister, Numan Kurtulmus, said the deployment had become necessary after Islamic State's seizure of Iraq's second city, captured in 2014 "Neither Turkey's presence in Bashiqa nor its operation right now in Syrian territory are aimed at occupying or interfering with the domestic affairs of these countries." Iraq's central government in Baghdad says it never invited such a force and considers the Turkish troops occupiers, an argument Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also challenged. "Bashiqa camp was set up within knowledge of Iraqi administration," Cavusoglu told a news conference. "It was realised to train local forces to fight Islamic State in that area. Baghdad officials visited this camp and have even given financial support to it in the past," he said. More than 750 Islamic State militants have been killed from Bashiqa camp, Cavusoglu added. MOSUL TENSIONS Tensions between Iraq and Turkey have risen with expectations of an offensive by Iraq and U.S.-backed forces to retake Mosul. Turkey has said the campaign will send a wave of refugees over its border and, potentially, on to Europe. Ankara worries that Baghdad's Shi'ite Muslim-led forces will destabilise Mosul's largely Sunni population and worsen ethnic strife across the region, where there are also populations of Turkmens, ethnic kin of the Turks. Turkey is also uncomfortable with the arrangement of Kurdish forces expected to take part in the offensive. In northern Syria, where Turkey is backing rebels fighting Islamic State, Ankara has warned that Kurdish militias are "filling the vacuum" left by Islamic State. Fearing that this will boost the Kurdish rebellion across the border in southeast Turkey, it has threatened to "cleanse" them. Turkey announced late on Tuesday that it was summoning Iraq's ambassador to complain about the parliamentary vote. "We believe this decision does not reflect the views of the majority of Iraqi people, whom Turkey has stood by for years and attempted to support with all its resources," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said. "We find it noteworthy that the Iraqi parliament, which has not said anything about the accepted mandate for years, puts this on the agenda as though it were a new development in times when terror is taking so many lives in Turkey and Iraq." Israeli aircraft attack Hamas in Gaza after rocket hits Israeli town By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft attacked Palestinian militant targets in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, wounding at least one person, witnesses said, after a rocket fired from the enclave hit an Israeli border town. Israeli police said there were no casualties in the rocket strike on Sderot. But Israel has a declared policy of responding militarily to any attack from the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Three Hamas training camps and a security complex were targeted in the air strikes and a passerby was hurt, witnesses said. The Israeli military blamed Hamas for the rocket. "Today's (rocket) attack ... is the direct result of Hamas's terror agenda in the Gaza Strip that encourages deliberate attacks against Israeli civilians," spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said in a statement. Hamas has observed a de facto ceasefire with Israel since 2014, when 2,100 Palestinians and 73 Israelis were killed in a war over the territory. But small jihadist cells in the Gaza Strip occasionally fire rockets across the border. The Palestinians hope to establish an independent state in the occupied West Bank along with the Gaza Strip. But U.S.-sponsored talks on a final peace agreement between the two sides have been frozen since 2014. Israel has also continued building settlements in the West Bank, in moves opposed by the United States, which says such moves damage prospects for a two-state solution. A previously unknown group in Gaza, "The Grandchildren of the Followers of the Prophet" said in a statement posted on several websites that it carried out the Sderot attack in the name of "oppressed brothers and sisters" under Israeli occupation. In Sderot, metal fragments and a small crater in a street marked the spot where the rocket exploded. The blast shattered windows in a nearby home and damaged a car. Shortly after the attack, Israeli tank shells struck a Hamas observation post near the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. Local residents said there were no casualties. Several hours later, Israeli aircraft hit the training camps, in the southern and central parts of the Gaza Strip, as well as a security complex in the north, witnesses said. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri issued a statement warning Israel against continuing what he termed its aggression. "Hamas stresses it can not keep silent if the escalation continues," he said. Militants in the Gaza Strip last fired a rocket into Israel on Aug. 21, in an incident that also caused no casualties, and drew an Israeli air strike and tank shelling. Separately on Wednesday, the Israeli navy, which maintains a maritime blockade in the Mediterranean off the Gaza Strip to prevent munitions being smuggled in, stopped a yacht sailed by a dozen women hoping to reach Gaza and was towing it to the Israeli port of Ashdod, the military said. Male and female forces boarded the "Zaytouna-Olivia," a small yacht which set sail from Barcelona last month. A military spokeswoman said no force was required to stop the vessel. Israel has stopped previous attempts to sail to Gaza and most people on board boats were deported after brief questioning. Hurricane Matthew kills 26 in Caribbean on destructive path to U.S. By Makini Brice and Sarah Marsh LES CAYES, Haiti/GUANTANAMO, Cuba, Oct 5 (Reuters) - H urricane Matthew twisted toward the Bahamas and Florida's east coast on Wednesday after killing at least 26 people and damaging a majority of homes in Haiti's south, prompting the hard-hit country to postpone a long-awaited presidential election. The powerful Category 3 hurricane, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, whipped Cuba and Haiti with 140 mile-per-hour (230 kph) winds and torrential rains on Tuesday, pummeling towns and destroying livestock, crops and homes. In the United States, more than 1.5 million people were urged to evacuate the southeastern coast and Florida Governor Rick Scott warned residents to prepare for a possible direct hit that could be catastrophic. Hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated from the path of Matthew, which caused severe flooding and killed four people in the Dominican Republic as well as at least 22 in Haiti. The two countries share the island of Hispaniola. The storm carved a path of devastation through southwestern Haiti, dumping boats and debris on coastal roads hit by surging seas and flooding residential areas heavily. Some 80 percent of homes were damaged in Haiti's Sud Department, which has a population of more than 700,000, a government official said in a meeting with U.N. officials. Some 11,000 people were in shelters in the province. In the town of Jeremie, people were cooking and sleeping outside because most houses were either knocked down or severely damaged. Similar scenes were reported across the coastal towns of the south. Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, had been set to hold a repeatedly postponed presidential election on Sunday, but the country's electoral council delayed it again in the aftermath of Matthew. No new date has yet been set. STORM COULD STRENGTHEN Matthew was downgraded early on Wednesday from a Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of intensity, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The storm had sustained winds of about 115 mph (185 kph) on Wednesday evening, but the NHC said it could strengthen as it approaches Florida. The eye of the storm was about 270 miles (435 km) south-southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas at 8 p.m. EST (0000 GMT) and was expected to be very near the east coast of Florida by Thursday evening, the NHC said. "Everyone in our state must prepare now for a direct hit," Florida Governor Scott told a news conference in Tallahassee. "If Matthew directly impacts Florida, the destruction could be catastrophic and you need to be prepared." It was difficult to assess the full extent of Matthew's impact in Haiti because it knocked out communications in many of the worst-affected areas, including the main bridge that links much of the country to the southwest peninsula. Haiti was a particular concern because it is prone to mudslides due to extensive deforestation, and tens of thousands of people are still living in tents and makeshift dwellings after the 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the Haitian government estimated 350,000 people needed immediate assistance. Chris Bessey, country representative at charity Catholic Relief Services, said on-the-ground reports from the small coastal town of Dame Marie indicated that much of the town had been destroyed. The death toll in Haiti included at least eight people killed by falling trees and six others swept away by swollen rivers, authorities said. Mourad Wahba, the U.N. secretary-general's deputy special representative for Haiti, said the storm had triggered "the largest humanitarian event" witnessed in Haiti since the 2010 quake. The U.S. government said it was ready to help the afflicted, and about 300 U.S. Marines set off on the USS Mesa Verde to provide disaster relief in Haiti, the Marines said on Twitter. CUBA'S OLDEST TOWN GUTTED There were no immediate reports of deaths in Cuba but Matthew devastated the picture-postcard tourist town of Baracoa, Cuba's oldest colonial settlement, in the province of Guantanamo. It gutted many houses there, dumping hunks of cement, wooden beams, roof tiles and fallen electrical lines on the streets. "This is unbelievable. The little we have we tried to look after, we know we don't have the means to get more," said Hector Toirac, 45, a carpenter in a nearby fishing village where residents rummaged for belongings in the rubble of collapsed homes. The storm passed close to the U.S. naval base and military prison in Guantanamo and was on track to plow through the central and northwestern Bahamas, the NHC forecasts showed. Officials in the Bahamas urged residents to evacuate to higher ground and the Ministry for Grand Bahama said on Facebook that government offices in New Providence and Grand Bahama were closed until further notice. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings have been extended along a large stretch of Florida's east coast ahead of Matthew's forecast arrival there on Thursday. Tropical storm or hurricane conditions could affect parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina later this week, even if the center of Matthew remained offshore, the NHC said. Communists might govern with us next year, Czech premier tells paper PRAGUE, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic's ruling party might consider forming a government with the Communist Party (KSCM) next year, the prime minister told a newspaper, contemplating an alliance that would break a 27-year-old taboo. Bohuslav Sobotka told daily Hospodarske Noviny his Social Democrats did not rule out joining forces with the KSCM after national elections due by October 2017. He made the prospect conditional on the Communists dropping their anti-EU agenda and opposition to the NATO military alliance - a policy cornerstone of the party that ruled the country from 1948 until the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, when it was a satellite state of the Soviet Union. "I can imagine cooperation with the Communists on the basis of clear boundaries concerning the security of the Czech Republic, mainly not doubting NATO membership and a pro-European government stance," Sobotka said. While the Communists have given no indication they would consider meeting such conditions, the prime minister's comment suggests a softening of a broad-based opposition to giving the party a place in a democratically elected government. It may also reflect the state of opinion polls. The latest, a CVVM institute survey from September, showed the Social Democrats on 23 percent, lagging their current main coalition partner - the centrist ANO party - on 28.5 percent, with the Communists third with 15 percent. The Communists have been part of several regional governments but remain a pariah for other parties at national level given the country's totalitarian past and their foreign policy views, including support for Russia. Sobotka said his party was ready to cooperate further with the Communists at regional level, ahead of regional elections taking place on Friday and Saturday. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and its government has kept its distance from Russia at a time when KSCM lawmakers have made frequent visits to separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. Sobotka's Social Democrats joined forces with the ANO, led by billionaire businessman Andrej Babis, and the centrist Christian Democrats after national elections in 2013. Babis and Sobotka have pledged to keep their alliance together until the next election, but the start of a new campaign cycle has revealed wide cracks as the two parties battle for leadership of the next government. Babis, who runs a conglomerate that is the biggest private employer in the country, upended traditional party politics with the rise of his ANO movement in 2011. His critics accuse him of conflicts of interest. South African watchdog to question Zuma in Gupta inquiry By Joe Brock JOHANNESBURG, Oct 5 (Reuters) - South Africa's public protector will question President Jacob Zuma on Thursday over allegations he was influenced by the wealthy Gupta family in making government appointments. The Gupta family became household names in South Africa after Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said they offered to secure him his boss's job. Zuma says the Guptas are his friends but denies they have influenced political appointments. Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, having already quizzed Ajay Gupta for four hours on Tuesday, said she would meet with Zuma on Thursday, she told 702 Talk Radio. Madonsela said the interview will be on allegations that Zuma allowed the Gupta family to play a role in the selection and appointment of ministers of board members of state-owned enterprises. She said she will also ask about the allegation that Zuma either enabled or turned a blind eye to the Gupta family using the relationship with him to gain favours in terms of tenders, payments and licences. Madonsela had earlier told Business Day newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday that: "We will hear his version of events and he may have information for us that we will need to consider against our own findings." Presidency spokesman Bongani Majola confirmed the meeting would take place, Business Day said. Majola did not respond to a request for comment. Zuma has come under criticism in recent months from opponents and members of his own African National Congress (ANC) party over a series of corruption scandals. The chairman of AngloGold Ashanti, Sipho Pityana, on Wednesday became the latest business leader to call for Zuma to resign, calling him the "sponsor in chief" of corruption. "Zuma must go," Sipho Pityana said to a round of applause from delegates at a mining conference. "We must seize the moment and save South Africa." Some members of the ANC have also called for a change of leadership in recent weeks as internal divisions widened following the party's worst ever local election results in August. Zuma still has the backing of the top echelons of the ANC and millions of diehard supporters in rural regions. Markets have been spooked by allegations Zuma is locked in a power struggle with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan over, among other things, the issuing of government tenders to the Gupta family and its influence over the ANC. The Guptas, who moved to South Africa from India after apartheid fell in 1994, run businesses ranging from uranium and coal mining to media and information technology. Madonsela has already interviewed Gordhan, his predecessor, Nhlanhla Nene, and Jonas. She will interview at least 20 other top officials and members of Zuma's cabinet, according to local media. Her report should be released by Oct. 14, her chief of staff told Reuters. Madonsela, whose term as public protector ends this month, previously received public support in South Africa for taking Zuma to task over the spending of 240 million rand ($17 million) of state money on upgrading his private home. She was vindicated in March when South Africa's highest court said Zuma had breached the constitution by ignoring her recommendation that he repay some money that was spent on non-security upgrades. Once rivals, Honda, Yamaha Motor announce scooter tie-up By Naomi Tajitsu TOKYO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Japan's Honda Motor Co Ltd and Yamaha Motor Co Ltd on Wednesday said they were joining forces to develop scooters for the domestic market, burying the hatchet on a decades-old rivalry and consolidating production in response to a shrinking motorcycle market. Honda, the world's largest motorcycle brand by sales, said it would start producing Yamaha's 50-cc engine scooter models for the domestic market at its plant in southern Japan by the end of 2018, based on the manufacturing platform for Honda's small scooter models. The two companies said that pooling resources would be a way to mitigate increasing costs to develop new scooter technologies and keep pace with ever-tightening emissions regulations in the face of falling domestic scooter sales. "The slowdown in the scooter market seen in the past few years has made business in the sector very difficult for both companies, so partnering will have merits," Honda operating officer Shinji Aoyama told reporters. Both companies said they would continue to market scooters separately, and that the partnership was limited to Japan. By far the largest market for both companies is Asia ex-Japan, where a growing demand for scooters from an expanding middle class has created their biggest battleground. Yamaha managing executive officer Katsuaki Watanabe said having Honda manufacture Yamaha models on contract would likely be more cost efficient than Yamaha's current arrangement of producing the vehicles in Taiwan and exporting them back home. The two companies said they would also jointly update their respective delivery scooter models, which Honda may also manufacture for Yamaha, while also considering collaboration on electric scooter projects. The partnership stands in contrast to a bitter rivalry between Honda, the top seller of scooters in Japan, and second-ranked Yamaha which dates back to around 1980, when both companies released dozens of motorcycle models and competed over distribution and pricing to increase market share. "There's absolutely no bad feeling or ill will left over from that period," Yamaha's Watanabe said. Since then, overall domestic sales of motorcycles and scooters have fallen sharply due to a slump in demand from a rapidly growing elderly population and falling interest in vehicle ownership among younger consumers particularly in the past few years. Sales fell 10.6 percent to 373,000 motorcycles in the year ended March 2015, their second year of decline and a drop from the 1.2 million motorbikes sold in 1995. Aleppo will eventually fall, but Syrian war will go on By Samia Nakhoul BEIRUT, Oct 5 (Reuters) - It may take weeks or months, but Aleppo is likely to fall to Syrian government forces backed by Russian air power and the most lethal bombardment in nearly six years of war. Capturing the strategically important city, an economic and trading centre which is key to controlling Syria's northwest, would be an important military triumph for President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. It would be a crippling setback for the Western-backed Syrian rebels who, without quick reinforcements from their foreign backers, look set to be bombed out of their stronghold. But the fall of Aleppo will not mean an end to the war, military and political analysts say. Instead it is likely to give way to a long-term Sunni guerrilla insurgency in which the remaining moderate rebel groups, backed by the West and the West's regional allies, are driven into the arms of militant jihadis. In a war with so many global and regional actors backing local clients, Assad will survive as leader of a shrunken, broken and fragmented country enduring the world's worst refugee crisis since World War Two. "The Russians are doing in Aleppo and Syria what they did in Grozny -- it is the same", said Robert Ford, the U.S. ambassador to Syria in 2011-14, referring to the fierce bombardment that all but destroyed the capital of Russia's Chechnya region during Moscow's 1999-2000 war against Islamist separatists there. The opposition to Assad, he told Reuters, will "go from holding territory ... to being an insurgency, a guerrilla war, and that will continue a long time." Syria's war began in 2011 after a popular uprising, against the Assad family's more than four-decade rule, that was inspired by the Arab Spring revolts across the Arab world. The war, pitting rebels mostly from Syria's Sunni majority against a minority rule rooted in Assad's Alawite community, has killed more than 300,000 people. Half the population has been displaced and much of urban Syria has become a wasteland. There have been moments during the conflict when it looked like Assad might be toppled. Russia sent its air force to bolster Iran-backed militias a year ago when Moscow and Tehran feared Assad was on the point of succumbing to rebel offensives. The bombing of eastern Aleppo, with a pro-Assad force on the ground spearheaded by seasoned Iran-backed fighters such as Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, is meant to deal a decisive blow against the rebels. ASSAD LUCKY WITH FRIENDS AND ENEMIES Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's clerical leaders have not wavered in their support for Assad. But the backers of the rebellion -- ranging from the United States to Turkey and the Gulf -- have been wary of being sucked into a Levantine quagmire and unnerved by concerns that Islamic State will fill the vacuum if Assad's rule implodes. Yet, despite the ferocity of the bombardment of eastern Aleppo, it may be too soon to count the rebels out. Assad loyalist forces encircled the opposition enclave in July. But with manpower shortages, the Syrian army could not keep step on the ground with the Russian aerial assault. In August, rebels broke through government lines southwest of Aleppo, opening a corridor and briefly lifting the siege. As a harbinger of the future, the rebel counter-offensive was led by Nusra Front, the jihadi force that had just split from Al Qaeda and rebranded itself as the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, or Front for the (Islamic) Conquest of the Levant. Even while negotiating the terms of a short-lived ceasefire with Washington, Russia kept bombing the corridor south of Aleppo. When the brief break in hostilities ended, the intensity of the bombing increased. The Russian and Syrian forces have been using much more powerful "bunker-buster" bombs, which residents of opposition-held areas say have the force to bring down entire buildings. Western countries say Syria's government and its Russian allies are guilty of war crimes for targeting civilians, aid deliveries and hospitals. Moscow and Damascus say they target only militants and deny they have hit hospitals. Despite the intensity of the bombing, the opposition are unlikely to stop fighting, not least because the Syrian establishment has left it nowhere else to go. "Aleppo is not a turning point, not yet," said Ford, who is now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington who has criticised U.S. President Barack Obama for failing to arm the mainstream rebels. "It shows that the (Assad) regime is winning the war now but there will be no end to the war because the opposition will continue to fight," he said. "Aleppo will fall but it may not be quick, it may take one year but it will fall." Rolf Holmboe, a former Danish ambassador to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan who is now a research fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, says Aleppo's fall would be devastating for the rebels, who have used it as a major hub throughout the war. "The rebels will be isolated in enclaves. The regime will continue attacking one after another without difficulty," he said. "If Aleppo falls, it will be a strategic loss for the rebels ... Now there is no getting around the fact you have to make peace with Assad -- basically he would have won the war." Holmboe considers it would be very difficult for the West or Turkey to resupply rebels in Aleppo -- even supposing they wanted to -- and that Russia and Assad have unleashed a two-pronged attack on eastern Aleppo. Like Ford, he drew comparisons with Russia's bombardment of Grozny. CHANGING DYNAMICS Crucial to the outcome of the war in Syria is the stance of external powers: how much they support their Syrian proxies and how they interpret their interests in a conflict with regional and global ramifications. Russia and Iran not only want to salvage Assad but also hope to establish themselves as regional or global powers, though such goals leave Moscow with little way out of a conflict that could be a huge financial burden. Under Obama, whose presidency ends in January, the United States seems to have more limited goals -- the main one being to drive Islamic State out of its strongholds in Iraq and Syria. Washington's attention is divided, with the U.S. presidential election campaign nearing a climax and U.S. forces also focusing on driving IS out of Mosul and Raqqa. Gulf Arab countries, which supply weapons and funds to the Syrian opposition, have also been distracted -- by a war in Yemen against Houthi rebels aligned to Iran, their regional foe. Ford said some regional powers could have more influence in Syria but no longer had the stomach for the war. Jordan, he said, has all but shut down a supply route it ran for the so-called southern front of the rebel Free Syrian Army. Turkey, which backs the Syrian rebels, is now preoccupied with halting Syrian Kurdish advances near its border. It has diverted its proxies away from Aleppo to fight Kurdish militia crossing west of the Euphrates river at the Syrian city of Jarablus, a move seen by some Syrian rebels as ruinous. But it remains important for Ankara that the rebels are not defeated, not least because this could increase the flow of refugees to Turkey, which is already sheltering 3 million people who have fled the conflict. Holmboe foresees the rebels becoming "isolated in various enclaves", with Assad in control of all big cities and "able to dictate a peace solution on his own terms". "Maybe it's going to take five years, maybe it will take 10 years ... (but) he (Assad) will be the leader of a broken country," Ford said. Sarkis Naoum, a leading Arab commentator, predicted a protracted conflict and the de facto partitioning of the country. But he suggested countries in the region would opt to increase their arming of rebel groups. "The Gulf states are not pleased with the way things are going. They're willing to repeat the experience of Afghanistan," he said in reference to the 1980s when they supplied arms for the Mujahideen to fight the Soviet Union. "For them this is the war of the century." Norway should join UK in moving away from EU, centrist party says OSLO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A eurosceptic party that could play a key role in forming Norway's next government wants the country to negotiate alongside Britain to further distance itself from the European Union, its leader was quoted as saying on Wednesday. Norway is not in the EU, but has to pay into its budget and abide by many of its rules, including on freedom of movement, to gain access to the single market. The Centre Party said it would only join a government that aimed to loosen those ties. "We must work together with Britain to obtain a better deal. That will of course be a key issue in any negotiations to form a government," party head Trygve Slagsvold Vedum told financial daily Dagens Naeringsliv. "Reality has changed after Brexit," he said, referring to the British decision to withdraw from the EU in a referendum that has sent political shockwaves across Europe. The Centre Party, popular in rural areas, typically polls around 6-7 percent nationally and would be crucial for power to switch from the current centre-right coalition to a centre-left one at an election scheduled for September next year. As part of a leftist coalition government from 2005 to 2013, the Centre Party reluctantly agreed to abide by the European Economic Area (EEA) treaty which tightly integrates Norway into the EU's rules on goods, services, labour and capital. But the Brexit vote has emboldened the party to push for changes that will be hard for the larger parties to ignore. Norway's top opposition Labour Party is a fervent defender of the EEA arrangement however, and is expected to fight to keep it in place even as it seeks to win back power in 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would trigger the process to leave the EU by the end of March, setting a deadline of two years to leave the bloc, a tight schedule that many analysts believe is likely to mean a "hard Brexit", ending free movement of people, and therefore, possibly, automatic free trade. Britons in favour of a "soft" Brexit have argued in favour of adopting the Norwegian model and joining the EEA, but May has rejected that, saying her country needs a tailor-made solution. Islamic State claims responsibility for U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan CAIRO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Islamic State claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an explosion that killed a U.S. service member in Afghanistan on Tuesday, the organization's Amaq news agency said. The soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province while carrying out operations against the militant group, according to a statement by the U.S. military on Tuesday. The explosion killed three Afghan soldiers as well, Amaq said. Taiwan appoints pro-China politician as APEC envoy TAIPEI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday appointed a pro-China politician to represent her at a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders next month, offering an olive branch to Beijing amid an impasse in relations. Official communications between Taipei and Beijing have halted since Tsai, distrusted by China as the leader of a pro-independence party, took power in late May, and refused to stick to Beijing's principle that Taiwan is part of China. James Soong, leader of the People First Party, a splinter group from the China-friendly opposition Nationalists, is to represent Tsai at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping set for mid-November in Peru. "Soong's rich academic background, experience and contacts will enable him to precisely convey to the international community the all-round status of our development," the Presidential Office said in a statement. APEC meetings have traditionally offered an opportunity for senior officials from Taiwan and China to meet, because the grouping categorises Taiwan as a member economy, not a nation. China views self-ruled Taiwan as a renegade province and forbids moves toward independence, never having renounced the use of force to take it back if necessary. Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to the island in 1949 following defeat in a civil war against the Communists. Soong, once the English interpreter for Chiang, is reviled by hardliners in Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which traditionally advocates an independent Taiwan, and who are a key support base for Tsai. But Tsai is also seen as a shrewd negotiator who has remained unfazed by Beijing's cold shoulder, urging instead for talks to resume. Since coming to power, Tsai's approval rating in opinion polls has dipped as Taiwan's trade-reliant economy has struggled to recover momentum, hit partly by a fall-off in mainland Chinese tourists. Slovenia's number of jobless falls to seven-year low LJUBLJANA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The number of jobless people in Slovenia fell to 95,125 in September, the lowest level since October 2009, the National Employment Service said on Wednesday. It said the number of unemployed was down 2.8 percent from August and 9.2 percent compared with September 2015. The jobless rate will be published by the statistics office in November. In July, the latest data available, the rate was 10.8 percent with 99,117 people unemployed. "The number of jobless has been falling for eight months in a row," the service said. Most of the new jobs in September were for teachers, waiters and truck drivers, it said. The government expects joblessness to keep falling over the next two years as the economy continues to expand, more evidence it has recovered since 2013, when Slovenia narrowly avoided an international bailout of its banks. The government's macroeconomic institute had forecast gross domestic product will grow 2.9 percent in 2017 and 2.6 percent in 2018, up from the 2.3 percent seen this year. Exports, higher household consumption and a growth of investments from 2017 onwards are expected to underpin growth. Prime Minister Miro Cerar told parliament earlier on Wednesday the government's main goals in the coming two years were to promote further economic growth with higher investments, which will be based on higher inflows from European funds, and to further consolidate public finances. UK government to make a decision on new runway "shortly" BIRMINGHAM, England, Oct 5 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said the British government would soon make a decision on where to build extra airport capacity in southeast England. "We will shortly announce a decision on expanding Britain's airport capacity," May told the Conservative Party conference on Wednesday. Two London airports, Heathrow, Britain and Europe's busiest airport, and smaller rival Gatwick, have been battling for government approval to build an extra runway. World Bank urges Croatia to focus on budget, restructuring ZAGREB, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The World Bank on Wednesday urged Croatia's new cabinet, likely to be formed this month, to act quickly to tackle fiscal imbalances and restructure public spending so as to draw more investment and boost persistent low growth. The international lender said growth over the next two years was unlikely to surpass this year's forecast 2.4 percent. Next year the bank expects it to fall to 2.0 percent before recovering to 2.4 percent in 2018. "Next year we expect a major effort in fiscal consolidation to affect growth ... Croatia's large refinancing needs require a credible fiscal consolidation programme," said Sanja Madzarevic Sujster, the World Bank's chief economist for Croatia. Croatia's budget gap is seen coming in at 2.7 percent of gross domestic product this year, falling to 2.1 percent in 2017 when it will need to refinance some 30 billion kuna ($4.49 billion) in maturing bonds and interest payments alone. "Croatia has a good probability to exit the (European Union's) excessive deficit procedure next year, which would strengthen investors' confidence," Madzarevic Sujster said. The European Commission has put Zagreb under strict monitoring for macro-economic imbalances and deficits. Croatia's public debt is now at around 85 percent of GDP. The conservative HDZ and a small centre-right reformist party, Most ("Bridge"), are in talks on forming a new cabinet, and leaders have said they hope to strike a deal within days. The World Bank also said that Croatia should strive to achieve higher growth levels for which, besides addressing fiscal and debt drags, a new government will have to strongly improve the investment climate. The main efforts, it said, should be focused on simplifying regulatory framework, reducing non-taxation fees and improving court efficiency, in particular related to land registries and bankruptcy framework. Top Vietnam brewer Sabeco could list by early December By Mai Nguyen HO CHI MINH CITY, Oct 5 (Reuters) - State-owned Sabeco, Vietnam's biggest brewer, may list on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange by late November or early December, its chief executive said, as the government moves towards loosening its tight grip over one of Asia's most sought-after beer markets. Ho Chi Minh City-based Sabeco, formally known as the Saigon Beer, Alcohol, Beverage Corp, is one of the last profitable assets owned by the Vietnamese government, which has said it would sell its entire 89 percent in Sabeco by 2017. The stake is worth an estimated $1.8 billion. All shares of Sabeco, known for its Bia Saigon and 333 brews, could be listed on the exchange, CEO Le Hong Xanh told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. The government has said it wants to list Sabeco before selling 53.59 percent this year and the remainder in 2017, but Xanh said all options for the government's stake divestment were being considered and the government had yet to approve any particular course of action. "The listing could be in late November, early December, according to the consulting contract and agreement, but how fast it is depends on many other factors, like transparency in management and other conditions like tax," Xanh said. With a leading 43 percent share of Vietnam's beer production, Sabeco's net profit jumped 27 percent in the first-half of 2016 to 2.39 trillion dong ($107 million), and the CEO forecast full-year profit could grow 14 percent. Xanh's comments come a day after a Vietnam deputy minister said listings of Sabeco and smaller brewer Habeco could be delayed until the first quarter of 2017. The brewers' share debuts had been scheduled for the end of 2016. Vietnam's beer market grew at an average compound annual rate of 7 percent from 1999 to 2015, touching about 4 billion litres in 2016. Growth is slowing, however, and is anticipated at around 4 percent to 2021, data from research firm Canadean quoted by investment bank Liberum showed. Several major foreign brewers are eyeing Sabeco since the government earmarked it for privatisation, but potential partners keen to exploit changing lifestyles and a fast-growing middle class have faced repeated delays. Kirin, Asahi Group Holdings, Thai Bev and Heineken had previously expressed interest in the stake sale. But Xanh said the process has restarted and interested buyers would have to bid again, declining to name any specific investors. "There are many interested investors but we haven't started talking specifically with anyone; many financial institutions, funds, foreign beer firms, but all are waiting for the government," Xanh said. Asahi spokesman Takuo Soga said his company has earlier acknowledged interest in buying shares of Sabeco and that stance has not changed. A Kirin spokesman declined to comment on Sabeco. Heineken, which holds a 20 percent market share in Vietnam via its local joint-venture according to Liberum, declined to comment. A banking source having close connections with Thai Bev and who has direct knowledge about the deal said Thai Bev is one of the interested investors. Thai Bev did not respond to Reuters' queries for comment. German lawmakers visit Turkey's Incirlik air base after row ends ISTANBUL, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A delegation of German lawmakers visited Incirlik air base in southern Turkey on Wednesday, state-run Anadolu Agency said, defusing a months-long row that had prevented them meeting troops serving in the coalition against Islamic State. Turkey in June barred the politicians from the base, where about 200 German troops are stationed, in response to a resolution in the German parliament declaring the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide. In July, Turkey briefly grounded coalition airplanes at Incirlik after an abortive military coup and amid concerns that rogue troops might try to flee the country from the base. The U.S. Air Force has around 5,000 airmen at Incirlik, which serves as a critical hub in the U.S.-led coalition trying to defeat Islamic State over the borders in Syria and Iraq. Chancellor Angela Merkel in September persuaded President Tayyip Erdogan to allow the parliamentarians to visit. Their trip is taking place with little publicity, with Anadolu saying it was closed to the press. The NATO allies have crossed swords in recent months over the flow of migrants to Europe through Turkey and German criticism of the response to the coup attempt, which has included a purge of security and civil service personnel and the arrests of more than 30,000 people. German prosecutors said on Tuesday they had dropped an investigation of a comedian who was accused of offending a foreign leader after reciting an obscene poem about Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on national television. Erdogan had filed a complaint against the comedian, Jan Boehmermann. U.S. citizen killed when vehicle hit by stone-throwers in Ethiopia NAIROBI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A U.S. citizen was killed on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital when the vehicle she was in was struck by rocks thrown by people in the area, the U.S. embassy said in a message to citizens. The embassy did not give details about Tuesday's incident in its message to U.S. citizens that was sent to Reuters, but sporadic protests and violence has flared for a year or more in the Oromiya region, near Addis Ababa, over land and political rights. Residents say there have been reports in recent days of people hurling stones at vehicles after at least 55 people were killed in a stampede, when police fired teargas and shots in the air to disperse protesters during a festival in Oromiya region. Crowds attack Turkish-owned factory in Ethiopia as protests rage By Aaron Maasho ADDIS ABABA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Crowds attacked and partially destroyed an Ethiopian factory run by Turkish textile firm Saygin Dima, its manager said, as a wave of protests about land and political rights raged on in the Oromiya region near the capital. The assault on Tuesday wrecked about a third of the plant in Sebeta, general manager Fatih Mehmet Yangin told Reuters, days after a stampede at an anti-government demonstration in the state killed at least 55 people. Oromiya, south of the capital, has been a focus for industrial development that has fuelled Ethiopia's sturdy economic growth, but locals have protested at what they say are seizures of their land to build factories and housing blocks. The death toll from a wave of unrest and clashes between police and demonstrators over the past year or more runs into several hundred, according to opposition estimates. The government says such figures are inflated. "A large crowd attacked the factory," burning the weaving section and three vehicles, said Yangin. The plant, which employs about 1,000 people about 35 km southwest of Addis Ababa, opened in 2012 and exports yarn and fabric - one of the sectors Ethiopia is seeking to develop. LAND AND POLITICS The attack on a factory will cast a shadow over Ethiopia's ambitions to draw in more investment to industrialise a nation where most people still rely on subsistence farming, and have been struggling with a severe drought in the past two years. To draw in business, the government has been building new infrastructure, including an electrified railway connecting the capital of the landlocked nation with a port in neighbouring Djibouti, which was inaugurated on Wednesday. At least seven foreign-owned flower farms in Ethiopia's Amhara region, another area where protests have flared, were burnt to the ground or partially damaged in the political violence at the start of September. Protests in Oromiya and other regions have increasingly turned to broader political complaints, in a country where rights groups and opposition figures accuse the government of stamping on political freedoms, a charge officials deny. The opposition failed to secure a single seat in a parliamentary election in 2015, down from just one seat in the previous assembly. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists called for on Tuesday for the authorities to free Seyoum Teshoume, the latest case of a blogger who is critical of the government being detained. Seyoum writes for the website Ethiothinktank.com. Congo demands deportation of S. Sudan rebels by U.N. mission By Aaron Ross KINSHASA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Authorities from the Democratic Republic of Congo have issued an ultimatum to the country's U.N. peacekeeping mission to deport South Sudanese rebels rescued by U.N. forces, the mission (MONUSCO) said on Wednesday. Opposition leader Riek Machar and more than 750 supporters fled into Congo in August following fierce fighting in the South Sudan capital of Juba. They were evacuated by MONUSCO from notheastern Congo to receive medical care and most are being held on three U.N. bases in eastern Congo, the mission said. "There was an official document that was submitted to the Special Representative of the Secretary General setting an ultimatum, in a general manner, for the departure of these troops," spokesman Felix Basse told reporters in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa. "They must leave Congo -- everyone knows that," he said. He did not specify when the ultimatum expires, adding that talks were continuing with the Congolese and South Sudanese governments as well as regional organisations to find a solution. However, no third country has yet stepped up to take them in, raising fears that the situation could threaten regional stability. The influx of rebel fighters from volatile neighbors is a sensitive theme in Congo, where the flow of Hutu militiamen from neighboring Rwanda after its 1994 genocide helped trigger years of regional conflict in eastern Congo that killed millions. Government spokesman Lambert Mende said the government has decided that the South Sudanese must leave Congo but declined to provide additional details on the government's ultimatum. The spokesman for Machar's rebel force, the SPLM-IO, said on Tueday that it was prepared to receive those that had fled back in South Sudanese territory that it claims to control. "We have hundreds of our military personnel on (our) side of the Congolese border. We want the U.N. to transport them to our controlled areas," James Gatdet Dak told Reuters from Nairobi. South Sudan's government applauded Democratic Republic of Congo's ultimatum. "We would like to warmly welcome and appreciate the government of (Congo) for the wise decision to expel the remnants of Riek Machar from their soil," deputy government spokesman Akol Paul Kordi told Reuters. Hundreds have been killed in battles that broke out in the world's youngest nation in July between troops loyal to Machar and President Salva Kiir, his long-time political foe. More than 20,000 South Sudanese refugees have crossed into Congo this year, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency. World powers pledge $15 bln for Afghanistan, EU seeks peace By Robin Emmott and Hamid Shalizi BRUSSELS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - World powers raised $15 billion for Afghanistan on Wednesday to fund the country over the next four years, while the European Union said it won support to revive a stalled peace process after almost 40 years of conflict. With the government in Kabul facing a resurgent Taliban 15 years after U.S. forces helped oust the militants, more than 70 governments in Brussels led by the United States and the European Union promised more financial support for a country that governments see as strategic to global security. "The war for the future is being fought in Asia. We must stand our ground in Afghanistan," India's deputy foreign minister, M.J. Akbar, told the donor conference, which raised more than the $13 billion the United States initially expected. "India does not believe in an exit option," he said, echoing a growing recognition that there is no immediate end in sight to the U.S.-led coalition's involvement in Afghanistan. Despite such largesse, Afghanistan is required to sign up to a host of political, economic and social reforms in return for the money. Most contentious, the European Union wants Kabul to take back its nationals who are not considered refugees, although EU donor money is not linked to such demands. Several hundred members of Afghanistan's mainly Shi'ite Hazara minority, which has been targeted by Taliban and Islamic State militants, protested outside the conference venue, rejecting a new agreement between the EU and Afghanistan that makes it easier to return Afghans whose asylum requests fail. "(President) Ashraf Ghani and his government is here for European and other countries' aid in return for accepting a deal to send us back to a war zone," said Ali Reza, holding a banner with the words: "We Will Not Go Back". European governments, facing increasing opposition from voters to immigration at home, have pressed Afghanistan to accept more repatriations, saying that many parts of the country, including the capital Kabul, are safe. "I hope that the newly signed repatriation agreement with Afghanistan will be implemented in practice," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters. The policy has faced sharp criticism from aid groups and others who point to the widening Taliban insurgency across the country and the frequent suicide attacks that hit Kabul. "NO TALIBAN VICTORY" In the margins of the conference, the EU focused on getting peace negotiations back on track by bringing together the United States, China, India, and Pakistan at a dinner on Tuesday night. Federica Mogherini, who coordinates EU foreign policy, said there was an understanding "to work on a common basis for regional political support for the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan." There have been several attempts in recent years to broker a settlement between the Western-backed government in Kabul and the Taliban, but all have failed. Without the militants at the table, experts say it is hard to envisage a meaningful solution. Two people briefed on Mogherini's dinner, attended by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon among others, told Reuters that Chinese and Indian officials were willing to consider peace talks. But difficulties abound. Pakistan continues to harbour Afghan Taliban, the United States says. India is unconvinced the militants have changed, judging by the way they rule the 10 percent of Afghan territory they control, one official said. There remain divisions about if, or when, to include Taliban militants. Even if they were invited, it is unclear whether the movement would take part. "There are several countries that actually can help come together, and I urge Russia, China, Pakistan, India and Iran to think about the special role that they could play in this region... in reaching peace with the Taliban," Kerry told the donor conference. Hope was briefly raised in 2015 when Taliban officials met the Afghan government in neighbouring Pakistan, but that process was short lived, and the Taliban insist that foreign forces must leave Afghanistan before peace talks can begin. They are also on the offensive, and battlefield successes have exposed the defensive limits of Afghanistan's NATO-trained armed forces which are supposed to number 350,000 personnel but which have been heavily depleted by casualties and desertion. Militants briefly reached the centre of the northern city of Kunduz on Monday, and they are testing the defences of two other provincial capitals in the south of the country. Ivory Coast president asks parliament to "turn page" with new constitution ABIDJAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara called on parliament on Wednesday to approve a new constitution that he says will draw a line under years of turmoil and war but which the opposition calls a backward step for democracy. Ouattara promised during his re-election campaign last year to remove the constitution's requirement for presidential candidates to have parents who are both natural-born Ivorian citizens, a sore point in a country that has long attracted immigrants from neighbouring countries. Nationality was at the heart of a crisis that began with a 1999 coup and included a 2002-2003 civil war that split the West African nation in two for eight years. The draft constitution submitted to parliament by Ouattara softens the clause, which had been used by his opponents to bar him from elections and was a symbol of exclusion, particularly of northerners like him, whose family ties often straddle borders. "This is the occasion to definitively turn the page on the successive crises our country has known, to write new pages in our history by proposing a new social pact," Ouattara told lawmakers at the National Assembly. Ouattara finally won election in 2010, although his victory sparked a second war that killed more than 3,000 people after then president Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat. Gbagbo is now on trial at the International Criminal Court accused of crimes against humanity. "Today, the time has come for us to define together what kind of nation we want to build. The time has come to decide what we want to leave behind for our children," Ouattara said. Parliament has until Oct. 15 to approve the text in order to submit it to the public in a referendum on Oct. 30. Other revisions include removing a maximum age of 75 for presidential candidates and making it easier to change the constitution in future. Opposition politicians and some civil society groups have criticised the drafting process as lacking consensus and transparency. Pascal Affi N'Guessan, the head of Gbagbo's FPI party, now the main opposition, criticised the proposed creation of the post of vice-president and a senate, a third of whose members would be appointed by the president, among other changes. He said they would allow Ouattara to entrench the political coalition between his RDR and the other main party, the PDCI. Swiss private bank Falcon says not for sale ZURICH, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Falcon Private Bank is not up for sale, the bank said on Wednesday, knocking down a media report its new chief executive is under pressure to find a buyer days into the job. "Falcon Private Bank is not and was not for sale," the Zurich-based bank, owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC), said in a statement. Swiss finance blog InsideParadeplatz on Wednesday reported its owners had given Chief Executive Walter Berchtold, in the job since Oct. 1, a directive to sell the bank. The report cited Geneva-based Banque Heritage as a possible buyer. Falcon said it had never held talks with Heritage over a possible sale. Banque Heritage was not immediately available for comment through an external communications representative. InsideParadeplatz's author, Lukas Haessig, said he is standing by the story. Falcon is under scrutiny in Singapore after the central bank disclosed in late July that an on-site inspection of the group in April 2016 found "substantial breaches" of anti-money laundering regulations. Singapore said Falcon's management of key client relationships were done from the bank's head office in Switzerland and that the examination was still ongoing. The inspection was part of Singapore's money laundering probe linked to Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), under which the central bank has questioned several banks since last year. Belgium investigate police stabbing as possible terror attack By Robert-Jan Bartunek BRUSSELS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Two police officers were stabbed in Brussels on Wednesday in what prosecutors said could have been a terrorist attack. Brussels is on high alert after bombings in March killed 32 people at the city's airport and in a subway carriage. According to public broadcaster VRT, one officer was stabbed in the neck and another in the stomach. The attacker then broke the nose of a third policeman who had arrived on the scene. The attacker, identified as 43-year-old Belgian Hicham D., was shot in the leg and taken away by ambulance, prosecutors said in a statement, adding that the police officers' wounds were not life-threatening. "The provisional results of the investigation indicate that it could be a potential terrorist attack," federal prosecutors said without elaborating further. In another statement, prosecutors said they searched one house in Brussels but did not find any firearms or explosions. They did not give more details. Qatar sees foreign intervention "changing equation" of Syria war SINGAPORE, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Outside powers need to act fast to protect Syrians because foreign military backing for the government is "changing the equation" of the war, Qatar's foreign minister said on Wednesday. For 14 days, a Russian-backed Syrian government offensive has been underway to capture eastern Aleppo and crush the last urban stronghold of a revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that began in 2011. The collapse of the latest Syria ceasefire has heightened the possibility that Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and Qatar - backers of Syrian rebels - might arm the opposition with shoulder-fired missiles to defend themselves against Syrian and Russian warplanes, U.S. officials have said. Qatar's foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, a member of the royal family, told a news conference in Singapore on Wednesday that the Friends of Syria group - an alliance of mainly Western and Gulf Arab countries who oppose Assad - had since February "stopped and minimized" its supply of weapons to rebels. "On the other hand, the regime is continuing to receive supply from its allies, and that is what is changing the equation right now, and we hope that we can do something to protect them," al-Thani said in answer to a question. "We are very much concerned that the international community doesn't have a Plan B for the Syrian conflict and the bombing and the shelling of the Syrians will continue. We need to act very fast to protect the Syrian people." The United States maintains that negotiations are the only way to end the violence in Syria. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who announced on Monday that Washington was suspending talks with Moscow due to Russia's role in the offensive, has said peace efforts must carry on. 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 man-portable air defence systems, or MANPADS, to opposition groups. Western nations, mindful of how weapons spread from Libya after its Western-backed revolt in 2011 to unstable nations such as Mali, say arming rebels is risky because it is hard to tell militants from moderates in a disorganized array. Colombia's Santos to meet rival Uribe in bid to save rebel peace deal BOGOTA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos will meet with opposition rival Alvaro Uribe on Wednesday in a bid to resolve differences over a peace deal with FARC rebels that was rejected in a shock vote this week, leaving the country in limbo. The surprise plebiscite result, which confounded pollsters and is a political disaster for Santos, has plunged the country into uncertainty over the future of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, who had been expected to disarm once the deal was passed by voters. The country's 52-year war has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions more. Uribe, a former president and current senator, opposed Santos' peace talks from the start and says the final deal, which was reached in August after four years of painstaking negotiations in Havana, gives too many concessions to the rebels. He spearheaded the "no" campaign, urging Colombians not to approve the accord, which would have given the FARC guaranteed congressional seats and immunity from traditional jail sentences. "No" carried the day by less than half a percentage point. The future of the deal seems to hang on whether the FARC will accept tougher conditions for demobilization, perhaps combined with a softening of Uribe's hard-line demands. Santos once served in Uribe's cabinet, but the two have not met since late 2010. The government has said the decision to re-open talks lies with rebel leadership. Lead government negotiators Humberto de la Calle and Sergio Jaramillo went back to Havana on Tuesday to confer with guerrilla commanders, who appeared worried about an announcement by Santos regarding a ceasefire between the two sides. Santos decreed late on Tuesday that a government ceasefire put in place in August would be extended until the end of October to allow time to salvage the deal. The original ceasefire was nullified when the peace accord was rejected at the polls. But rebels questioned what would happen after Oct. 31, although it is possible the ceasefire could be extended beyond that date. "From then on, does the war continue?" FARC leader Timochenko tweeted. Rebel commander Pastor Alape advised rebel fighters to seek safe positions to avoid provocations. Odebrecht nears $2 bln plea deal in Brazil graft case -report SAO PAULO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Brazilian industrial conglomerate Odebrecht is on the verge of reaching a plea deal that includes a fine of more than 7 billion reais ($2.2 billion) for its role in the country's biggest-ever political graft scandal, a newspaper reported on Wednesday. Brazilian business daily Valor Economico reported, without saying how it obtained the information, that Odebrecht would pay the fine over 15 years. The long-awaited accord is expected to provide investigators with some of the most revealing testimony yet about the vast bribery scheme centered around state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras,. Newspaper Estado de S.Paulo also reported that Odebrecht lawyers and anti-corruption investigators based in the southern city of Curitiba had traveled to Brasilia to complete a deal that is expected to be formalized by the federal prosecutor general and signed by participants by Friday. Odebrecht representatives declined to comment. A spokesman for the federal prosecutors' office in Curitiba said no deal had been finalized and the prosecutor general's office in Brasilia had no immediate comment on the reports. The vast portfolio and deep political connections of the Odebrecht group, which includes Latin America's biggest construction company, have fed speculation that an eventual plea deal could bring down a huge swath of Brazil's political elite. Syrian rebels face stiff IS resistance near Dabiq BEIRUT, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels are expecting stiff resistance from Islamic State near a northern Syrian village that is of great symbolic significance to the group, a rebel commander said on Wednesday, signalling a tough battle ahead to capture it. With Turkish backing, rebels fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner have advanced to within a few kilometres (miles) of the village of Dabiq, the site of an apocalyptic prophesy central to the militant group's ideology. The rebels this week captured the village of Turkman Bareh, 6 kilometres (4 miles) east of Dabiq, after heavy clashes - part of a wider Turkish-backed operation to clear Islamic State from the border area. "The battles in Turkman Bareh were fierce. There is great resistance in these villages after reinforcements were brought to the region a week ago. We expect also resistance in the neighbouring villages," the commander told Reuters. Although Dabiq, a village in relatively flat countryside northeast of Aleppo, holds little strategic value, it is seen by Islamic State as the place where a final battle will take place between Muslims and infidels, heralding Doomsday. France's Ayrault travels to Russia, U.S. to push Syria U.N. resolution By John Irish PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - France's foreign minister will travel to Russia and the United States on Thursday and Friday to try to persuade both sides to adopt a U.N. Security Council resolution to impose a ceasefire in Syria. The trip by Jean-Marc Ayrault comes after the collapse of a ceasefire brokered by the two powers last month, which has been followed by intense Syrian and Russian bombing of rebel-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo. Washington broke off talks with Moscow on Monday, accusing Russia of breaking its commitments. "This trip is in the framework of efforts by France to get a resolution adopted at the U.N. Security Council opening the path for a ceasefire in Aleppo and aid access for populations that need it so much," Ayrault's ministry said. The 15-member council began negotiations on Monday on a French and Spanish draft resolution that urges Russia and the United States to ensure an immediate truce in Aleppo and to "put an end to all military flights over the city." Russia and China have previously protected the Syrian government from council action by blocking several resolutions, including a bid to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Monday that Moscow was engaged in discussions on the draft text even if he not especially enthusiastic on its language. Ayrault, who has accused Syria, backed by Russia and Iran, of carrying out war crimes as part of an "all-out war" on its people, travels to Moscow on Thursday and Washington on Friday. French officials have said that if Moscow were to oppose the resolution they would be ready to put it forward anyway to force Moscow into a veto, underscoring its complicity with the Syrian government. The draft text, seen by Reuters, also asks U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to propose options for a U.N.-supervised monitoring of a truce and threatens to "take further measures" in the event of non-compliance by "any party to the Syrian domestic conflict." The draft resolution urges Russia and the United States "to ensure the immediate implementation of the cessation of hostilities, starting with Aleppo, and, to that effect, to put an end to all military flights over the city." A French diplomatic source said: "It's all that's left. We're not fools. The Russians aren't going to begin respecting human rights from one day to the next, but it's all we have to put pressure on them." Ethiopia opens new rail line to Djibouti in industrial drive ADDIS ABABA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Ethiopia opened a new train line on Wednesday linking its land-locked capital to the Red Sea state of Djibouti, part of Addis Ababa's infrastructure programme aimed at turning the poor, agrarian nation into an industrial hub. Ethiopia's economy is one of the fastest growing in Africa, even though it has suffered a severe drought for at least the past two years. Growth has been fuelled by construction of railways, roads and hydro-electric dams to power industry. Ethiopian Railways Corporation spokesman Dereje Tefera said the $4 billion, Chinese-built 750-km (470-mile) electrified line "will minimise the cost of the transport and the transport time and it's free from pollution, it uses renewable energy." "It's part of the trans-African railway network so it will give an opportunity for connecting Ethiopia with other neighbouring countries," Dereje said of the line which will be operated by Chinese workers until Ethiopians are trained. Ethiopia's economic development has long been hampered by poor roads and an ageing fleet of trucks, which ply the route between the industrial heartlands in the centre of the country and Djibouti, Ethiopia's main import and export route. The government is facing a wave of protests, often involving clashes with police, over land rights and other political issues. Locals say the authorities grab land for new industry but offer them little compensation. U.S. citizen killed, foreign factories attacked in Ethiopia By Aaron Maasho ADDIS ABABA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A U.S. citizen was killed and foreign-owned factories and equipment damaged during a wave of protests over land and political rights in Ethiopia this week. The U.S. Embassy said the American woman was killed on Tuesday when stones were hurled at her vehicle on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, where residents said crowds have attacked other vehicles since a stampede at a weekend protest killed at least 55 people. The weekend crush took place when police fired teargas and shots in the air to disperse anti-government demonstrations during a festival in the Oromiya region, south of the capital. The embassy did not give further details or a precise location for the incident. Oromiya has been a focus for demonstrations by locals who say land has been seized to build factories and housing blocks. Also on Tuesday, crowds damaged a factory run by Turkish textile firm Saygin Dima and the BMET Energy cable plant, which also has Turkish investors, officials from firms in the area said. Both plants are in the Oromiya area. A third of the Saygin Dima plant in Sebeta, 35 km (20 miles) southwest of Addis Ababa, was destroyed by fire, General Manager Fatih Mehmet Yangin said. "A large crowd attacked the factory," he said, adding three vehicles were also destroyed. Yangin said a flower farm nearby was also attacked. The Oromiya Regional Administration said vehicles and some machinery at a plant owned by Nigeria's Dangote Cement were vandalised. Oromiya has been a focus for industrial development that has fuelled Ethiopia's economic growth, but locals say they receive little compensation when land is grabbed. Protests have also increasingly turned to broader issues of political freedom. The death toll from unrest and clashes between police and demonstrators over the past year or more runs into several hundred, according to opposition estimates. The government says such figures are inflated. CASTING A SHADOW The attacks will cast a shadow over Ethiopia's ambition to draw in more investment to industrialise a nation where most people rely on subsistence farming, and have been struggling with a severe drought in the past two years or so. The government has been building new infrastructure, including an electrified railway connecting the capital of the landlocked nation with a port in neighbouring Djibouti, which was inaugurated on Wednesday. At least seven foreign-owned flower farms in Ethiopia's Amhara region, another area where protests have flared, were damaged in political violence at the start of September. The government blames rebel groups and foreign-based dissidents for stoking violence. Rights groups and opposition politicians accuse the government of excessive force in dealing with demonstrations, crushing opponents and stifling free speech. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) called on authorities on Tuesday to free Seyoum Teshoume, a blogger critical of the government, who writes for the website Ethiothinktank.com. CPJ said he was reported detained on Oct. 1. Officials could not immediately be reached for comment, but the government says it only detains people who threaten national security and says it guarantees free speech. The opposition failed to win a single parliamentary seat in the 2015 election and had just one in the previous parliament. Bulgaria could take up to 25 pct stake in Greek LNG project SOFIA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Bulgaria could take up to a 25 percent stake in a project to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal off the coast of northern Greece, the Bulgarian energy minister said on Wednesday. The 380 million euro ($425 million) floating facility will be linked to a gas pipeline due to be built by Greece and Bulgaria and would help Bulgaria reduce its reliance on Russian gas. It will also aim to supply gas to southeastern Europe. Bulgaria's state-run energy holding company BEH has set up a taskforce with Greek natural gas company Gastrade, which plans to build the terminal, to consider joint participation. The team is due to come up with a proposal by the end of this month and Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said Sofia would then consider its options. Gastrade, part of Greek energy group Copelouzos, plans to build the terminal off the coast near the northern Greek city of Alexandroupolis. "The end of October is the deadline, when the taskforce should come up with a proposal which should give us clarity about the possibilities for Bulgaria's participation," Petkova said at a press briefing with her Greek counterpart Panos Skourletis. "We have declared readiness to participate as an investor, as a shareholder with up to a 25 percent stake," she said. The facility, with an estimated annual capacity of 6.1 billion cubic metres (bcm), will aim to supply gas to southeastern Europe via another natural gas pipeline scheme that will cross through Greece, the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB). Bulgaria and Greece signed the final investment agreement for the IGB link last year and binding bids for the pipeline are expected by the end of this month. Gastrade would not necessarily hold a majority stake in the project, but would like to involve the main market players in Greece and Bulgaria, Konstantinos Sifnaios, a business development manager at Gasgrade, said. Cheniere Energy, a U.S-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, has also expressed interest in becoming a shareholder, Sifnaios said. Kenyan election commissioners quit after months of protests By Humphrey Malalo and George Obulutsa NAIROBI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - All 10 members of Kenya's election commission have resigned, the government said on Wednesday, after months of protests by the opposition which accused the body of bias that made it unfit to oversee elections due next August. The resignations at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) are the result of cross-party talks to address grievances voiced at weekly protests that began in April in which at least four people were killed, raising concerns of a return to election-related violence. The government said last week that a negotiating committee had agreed with IEBC to "facilitate the orderly and dignified exit of current commissioners and ensure a seamless transition". President Uhuru Kenyatta's chief of staff, Joseph Kinyua, said on Wednesday all 10 of them had submitted their resignations. "The Government ... reiterates its unwavering commitment to pursuing a seamless and lawful transition within the IEBC and to having the 8th August 2017 general election proceed on schedule," Kinyua said. Violence has often been a feature of Kenyan elections. After the 2007 vote, 1,200 people were killed in ethnic fighting. The opposition Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD), led by former prime minister Raila Odinga, tried but failed to overturn the result of a 2013 presidential election won by Kenyatta. CORD, which organised the protests against the election commission, complained about the failure of electronic voter identification devices and other technical glitches, which they blamed on the shortcomings of the commission and on corruption. EU's Juncker seeks to win over Austria on EU-Canada trade deal STRASBOURG, Oct 5 (Reuters) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker sought to overcome Austrian concerns about a contentious free trade deal with Canada on Wednesday, and expressed optimism that EU governments would agree to the arrangement this month. Juncker said that the EU needed to ensure that a deal agreed with Canada two years ago entered into force within months and that he would discuss the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday and Thursday. "I do think that we will reach a final agreement, which will take on board - in a specific declaration - the concerns of all the member states," he said in the European Parliament, referring to the 28 nations that make up the EU. Some EU countries, notably Austria, have baulked at accepting the deal after mass demonstrations by labour unions and protest groups who say it will spark a 'race to the bottom' in standards and allow big business to challenge governments across Europe. After a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, Juncker said the Commission and Austria shared the view that public services such as water should not be affected by the trade agreement. The Commission, which negotiates trade deals for the EU, and Canada have agreed to produce a binding declaration that spells out the limits of the pact to dispel public concerns. "It would be too early now to say we have reached an agreement," Kern told Austrian news agency APA. He said he would wait to present the declaration to his Social Democrat party. However, he subsequently said on Twitter that vehement Austrian lobbying appeared to be bearing results. Juncker said the declaration should be ready soon. The deal, named the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), needs approval from EU governments, as well as the European Parliament, before it can come into force provisionally next year. It would still need later ratification by national parliaments to be applied in full. EU trade ministers are expected to decide on the deal at an extraordinary meeting on Oct. 18, allowing it to be signed during Trudeau's visit to Brussels on Oct. 27. The European Parliament would then probably vote on CETA in December or January. Turkey dismisses 540 soldiers from naval, air forces over alleged links to failed coup ANKARA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Turkey dismissed 540 soldiers from its naval and air forces command over suspected links with U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen and his network, accused by Ankara of orchestrating a failed coup in July, the defence ministry said. In the latest of a stream of removals targeting those suspected of ties to the coup attempt, HSYK, Turkey's highest judiciary board, removed 66 judges and prosecutors from duty. On July 15, a rogue faction within the military staged an attempted coup in which more than 240 people were killed. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies government accusations he was behind the action. GPEDC reviews mandate due to new Sustainable Development Goals Oct 5 (Reuters) - E20/2016 GPEDC to review mandate in light of new Sustainable Development Goals Vienna, October 3, 2016. The Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) needs to review its mandate in order to help accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It should also consider modernizing the Partnership's monitoring framework to reflect the challenges for 2030 and to unleash the potential of development cooperation as a catalyst for public-private partnerships for development. These were the main conclusions of a two-day GPEDC providers' conference, hosted by the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) at its headquarters in Vienna, September 29-30. The outcome of the deliberations will be presented to the second high-level meeting of the GPEDC, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, November 28-December 1. The conference was attended by a diverse group of over 40 development cooperation partners from members of the European Union, the OECD's Development Assistance Committee, the Arab Coordination Group and OFID, and multilateral organizations. In his opening remarks, OFID Director-General Suleiman J Al-Herbish highlighted the deep economic, social and political transformations taking place in partner countries. "It is important and timely that as providers, we take stock of these changes and understand commonalities and differences in this new context," he stated. "We need to define what effective cooperation means for us and for our partner countries now that we have-in the SDGs-a reference framework for all." The conference included a presentation of the Partnership's 2016 monitoring report, which looked at the degree to which development partners were implementing their commitments as agreed in 2011at the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan. The monitoring exercise involved 81 countries and over 125 development partners. One of the key findings indicated that providers showed a good level of alignment to national priorities and a focus on results. However, it also showed that development partners needed to strengthen their work in other areas, such as predictability of assistance and use of country systems. They also had to provide support to further enable the contribution to development by the private sector and civil society. Conference participants agreed that with the adoption of Agenda 2030, the GPEDC needed a new vision in order to re-galvanize collaboration by all actors to advance the effectiveness of development cooperation. The future success of the partnership would depend on its ability to further deepen the interplay between traditional development assistance, southern development actors, private investment, and civil society. Participants also had the opportunity to discuss the draft outcome document of the Nairobi high-level meeting, as presented by Mr Macharia Kamau, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations in New York and Chief Negotiator of the said document. Emphasizing his belief in the validity of the GPEDC, Kamau reiterated the necessity of a new deal that would position the partnership effectively in the 2030 Agenda and ensure the transparency, accountability and predictability of both donors and recipients. The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) P.O. Box 995 A-1011 Vienna, Austria Telephone: +43-1-515 64-0 Fax: +43-1-513 9238 Email: info@ofid.org www.ofid.org Apple, Google, Coca-Cola top list of 100 most valuable brands -report By Malathi Nayak NEW YORK, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc's Google and Coca-Cola Co topped the list of the world's 100 most valuable brands in 2016, while technology and automotive brands dominated the overall rankings, according to a new report from brand consultancy Interbrand. Microsoft Corp, Toyota Motor Corp, IBM Corp, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Amazon.com Inc, Mercedes-Benz and General Electric Co were also on the Top 10 list, according to Interbrand's 2016 Best Global Brands report. Social network Facebook Inc, e-commerce giant Amazon and toy company Lego were the top growing brands. This year, technology and automotive took 29 of 100 rankings on the annual list. The report ranks brands based on financial performance, its influence on customers and its power to command a premium price or drive company sales. Apple's brand value rose 5 percent from a year ago to $178 billion and Google's brand value was up 11 percent from a year ago to $133 billion, according to the report. Apple, Google and Coca-Cola are the most valuable brands as "their finances are strong, their brand is a powerful driver of choice and they are very strong compared to competitors," Jez Frampton, Interbrand's global chief executive officer, said. Hitting the Top 100 for the first time, French fashion brand Dior and Silicon Valley automaker Tesla Motors Inc at Nos. 89 and 100 respectively. Hugo Boss, Chevrolet and Kleenex dropped off the list, the report said. Zambia opposition leaders arrested - police LUSAKA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Zambian police said on Wednesday they had arrested the president and deputy leader of the country's main opposition party. United Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema and his deputy Geoffrey Mwamba were arrested on suspicion of sedition, the police said. U.S. condemns new Israeli plan on settlements -State Dept. WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The United States strongly condemned the Israeli government's decision to advance a plan that would create up to 300 new settlement units deep in the West Bank, the State Department said on Wednesday, saying it would damage prospects for a two-state solution. Snam signs natural gas pump deal with Fiat Chrysler, Iveco MILAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Italian gas grid company Snam has signed an agreement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and truck maker IVECO to boost the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in fueling vehicles. ** Snam will invest about 200 million euros ($224 million) over five years to help double the number of CNG pump facilities in Italy to more than 2,000, the three companies say ** The growth in the number of stations will be the main driver in growing Italy's CNG fleet to more than 3 million vehicles from the current 1 million ** FCA, which has the development of alternative fuel motors as a key pillar in its strategy, and IVECO both plan to develop their ranges of natural gas vehicles ** Italy is Europe's biggest market for gas-fueled vehicles; the latter consumed more than 1 billion cubic meters of gas in 2015 ** Snam manages Europe's biggest gas pipeline network stretching more than 32,000 km France makes new push for Aleppo ceasefire By John Irish, Lidia Kelly and Angus McDowall PARIS/MOSCOW/BEIRUT, Oct 5 (Reuters) - France is to launch a new push for United Nations backing for a ceasefire in Syria that would allow aid into the city of Aleppo after some of the heaviest bombing of the war. As diplomatic efforts resumed, the Syrian military said army commanders had decided to scale back air strikes and shelling in Aleppo to alleviate the humanitarian situation there. It said civilians in rebel-held eastern Aleppo were being used as human shields and a reduced level of bombardment would allow people to leave for safer areas. Intense Syrian and Russian bombing of rebel-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo followed the collapse last month of a ceasefire brokered by Moscow and Washington, which backs some rebel groups. The United States broke off talks with Russia on Monday, accusing it of breaking its commitments. France said Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault would travel to Russia and the United States on Thursday and Friday to try to persuade both sides to adopt a Security Council resolution to impose a new truce. Ayrault has accused Syria, backed by Russia and Iran, of war crimes as part of an "all-out war" on its people. Damascus rejects the accusation, saying it is only fighting terrorists. Speaking to French television channel LCI, Ayrault said: "If you're complicit in war crimes then one day you will be held accountable, including legally. I think with the Russians you have to speak the truth and not try to please them." The former prime minister said he would also ask Washington to be "more efficient and engaged" and not allow a laissez-faire attitude to take over just because presidential elections were approaching in November. "ALL THAT'S LEFT" Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed Syria by telephone on Wednesday, but no details emerged. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Lavrov would meet Ayrault in Moscow on Thursday. The two-week-old Russian-backed Syrian government offensive aims to capture eastern Aleppo and crush the last urban stronghold of a revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that began in 2011. Half of the estimated 275,000 Syrians besieged in the rebel-held eastern part of the city want to leave, the United Nations said, with food supplies running short and people driven to burning plastic for fuel. Mothers were reportedly tying ropes around their stomachs or drinking large amounts of water to reduce the feeling of hunger and prioritise food for their children, the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in Geneva. The Security Council began negotiations on Monday on a French and Spanish draft resolution that urges Russia and the United States to ensure an immediate truce in Aleppo and to "put an end to all military flights over the city". "This trip is in the framework of efforts by France to get a resolution adopted at the U.N. Security Council opening the path for a ceasefire in Aleppo and aid access for populations that need it so much," the French foreign ministry said. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Monday that Moscow was engaged in discussions on the draft text even if he was not especially enthusiastic about its language. The draft text, seen by Reuters, urges Russia and the United States "to ensure the immediate implementation of the cessation of hostilities, starting with Aleppo, and, to that effect, to put an end to all military flights over the city." The draft also asks U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to propose options for U.N.-supervised monitoring of a truce and threatens to "take further measures" in the event of non-compliance by "any party to the Syrian domestic conflict". A senior Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "In the experts' negotiations they (Russia) have opposed every single dot and comma of the resolution." French officials have said that if Moscow were to oppose the resolution they would be ready to put it forward anyway to force Moscow into a veto, underscoring its complicity with the Syrian government. "It's all that's left," said a French diplomatic source. "We're not fools. The Russians aren't going to begin respecting human rights from one day to the next, but it's all we have to put pressure on them." GULF STATES Ayrault said in the television interview that the situation was unacceptable. "It is deeply shocking and shameful," he said. "France will not close its eyes and do nothing. It's cynicism that fools nobody." The collapse of the latest Syria ceasefire has heightened the possibility that Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and Qatar - backers of Syrian rebels - might arm the opposition with shoulder-fired missiles to defend themselves against Syrian and Russian warplanes, U.S. officials have said. Qatar's foreign minister said outside powers need to act fast to protect Syrians because foreign military backing for the government is "changing the equation" of the war. A United Nations expert said that analysis of satellite imagery of a deadly and disputed attack on an aid convoy in Syria last month showed that it was an air strike. Some 20 people were killed in the attack on the U.N. and Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy at Urem Al-Kubra near Aleppo. The United States blamed two Russian warplanes which it said were in the skies above the area at the time of the incident. Moscow denies this and says the convoy caught fire. "With our analysis we determined it was an air strike and I think multiple other sources have said that as well," Lars Bromley, research adviser at UNOSAT, told a news briefing. In northern Syria, rebels were expecting stiff resistance from Islamic State in their attempt to capture a village that is of great symbolic significance to the jihadists, a rebel commander said. Portugal's Guterres poised to be next U.N. Secretary-General By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is poised to be the ninth United Nations Secretary-General and is expected to be formally recommended to the 193-member General Assembly for election by the Security Council on Thursday, diplomats said. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, president of the 15-member council for October, said he hoped the council would unanimously recommend Guterres, who was also the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015. Guterres, 67, would replace Ban Ki-moon, 72, of South Korea, who will step down at the end of 2016 after serving two terms. Guterres was prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002. "Today after our sixth straw poll we have a clear favorite and his name is Antonio Guterres," Churkin told reporters with his 14 council colleagues standing behind him on Wednesday. "We wish Mr. Guterres well in discharging his duties as the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the next five years," Churkin said. The council has been holding informal secret ballots since July in a bid to reach consensus on a candidate. Members had the choices encourage, discourage or no opinion. Guterres has come out on top of all the polls and on Wednesday received 13 encourage votes and two no opinion votes. "In the end, there was just a candidate whose experience, vision, and versatility across a range of areas proved compelling," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters. "If we have these trans national threats and we don't have somebody at the helm of the United Nations that can mobilize coalitions, that can make the tools of this institution ... work better for people, that's going to be more pain and more suffering and more dysfunction than we can afford," she said. Diplomats said one of the no opinion votes was cast by one of the five veto wielding powers, which are Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain. The Security Council will adopt a resolution, traditionally behind closed doors, recommending that the General Assembly appoint Guterres for a five-year term from Jan. 1, 2017. The resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes to pass. "We hope it can be done by acclamation," Churkin said. Thirteen people were nominated in the race to become the next U.N. chief, but three had already withdrawn before Wednesday's secret ballot. In a bid for more transparency in the opaque selection process, the candidates were for the first time able to make election campaign-style pitches to the General Assembly. When Guterres spoke to the General Assembly in April, he said he was a candidate to become secretary-general because "the best place to address the root cause of human suffering is at the center of the U.N. system." He spoke in English, French and Spanish during the two-hour long town hall meeting. Guterres, a devout Catholic, spoke about his decade as the U.N. refugee chief as "an extraordinary privilege but a terrible frustration because there was no humanitarian solution for their plight." He said the solution was always political. He described a U.N. chief as "acting with humility, without arrogance, without giving lessons to anybody, but working as a convener, as a facilitator, as a catalyst and behaving like an honest broker, a bridge builder and a messenger for peace." Seven of the candidates for secretary-general were women amid a push by civil society groups and a third of the 193 U.N. member states for the first female U.N. chief in the 71-year history of the world body, which has had eight male leaders. The WomanSG lobby group described the win by Guterres as "a disaster for equal rights and gender equality" and said it was an outrage that it appeared the female candidates were "never seriously considered." In April, Guterres pledged to present a roadmap for gender parity at all levels of the United Nations if elected. Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft paid tribute to all the candidates and in particular the women. "Although it's high time for a woman ... the most important thing for the UK was the qualities of leadership of this position," he told reporters. He said Guterres was the person to "provide a convening power and a moral authority at a time when the world is divided on issues, above all like Syria." The U.N. Director at Human Rights Watch, Louis Charbonneau, said: "Ultimately, the next U.N. secretary-general will be judged on his ability to stand up to the very powers that just selected him, whether on Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, the refugee crisis, climate change or any other problem that comes his way." Brexit legal challenger to PM May: We are not subverting democracy By Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The investment manager behind a legal challenge over Britain's exit from the European Union said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Theresa May was wrong to suggest that people bringing such cases were attempting to subvert democracy. May said on Sunday that those who are arguing that parliament should first approve triggering the formal divorce from the EU were "not standing up for democracy, they're trying to subvert it". Gina Miller, the lead claimant in a group of litigants hoping to get the courts to force May to let parliament decide when, how and whether to trigger Article 50 of the EU Lisbon Treaty, said such criticism was wrong. "We are not trying to halt Brexit. The prime minister is being very misleading to say we are subverting democracy," Miller told Reuters in an interview in London. "In a democracy I have the right to stand up and speak, which is what I am doing," said Miller, a co-founder of London fund manager SCM Private. Legal challenges to Brexit are currently underway in Northern Ireland, and the Lord Chief Justice, England's most senior judge, will hear Miller and others argue their cases at London's High Court next week. Lawyers anticipate that the final decision will be made by the Supreme Court, Britain's highest judicial body, in December. May said on Sunday she would trigger Article 50 by the end of next March, ushering in a two-year negotiating period to decide Britain's terms for exiting the club it joined in 1973. The argument for parliamentary approval before invoking Article 50 is based on a view that Britons' EU rights established by parliament cannot be withdrawn by the government alone, using a power known as royal prerogative. Government lawyers dispute that and say the executive alone has the right to notify the EU of Britain's intention to leave. The government has rejected a petition signed by more than four million people demanding a second referendum. May said such challenges were trying to kill Brexit. "They're not trying to get Brexit right, they're trying to kill it by delaying it," she said on Sunday. "They are insulting the intelligence of the British people." When asked about those comments, Miller said: "I thought it was unnecessary. It's incredibly emotive to say it could stop Brexit as that patently is not true. I don't see how a court case can block Brexit. "I am saying we have parliament, scrutiny and then a vote rather than an antiquated power which is secretive and bypasses parliament," she added. Syrian army says it will reduce Aleppo air strikes BEIRUT, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Syria's army will reduce air strikes and shelling on rebel-held eastern Aleppo on humanitarian grounds, it said on Wednesday, after mounting international criticism of it and Russia. Last month, the army - backed by Shi'ite militias from Lebanon and Iraq, and by Russian jets - launched a new offensive involving one of the five-year-old war's heaviest bombardments in eastern Aleppo after a week-long ceasefire collapsed. Air strikes and shelling on rebel-held eastern Aleppo, and insurgent shelling of the government-held west of the city, have killed hundreds of civilians since the offensive began on Sept. 19, according to residents and war monitors. The ferocity of the bombardment, which has included repeated air strikes on hospitals in rebel-held areas, has drawn intense criticism from aid agencies, with the U.N.'s rights chief on Tuesday warning it may amount to a war crime. It has also created new friction between the United States, which backs some rebel groups, and Russia, which supports President Bashar al-Assad and led to Washington breaking off talks with Moscow over renewing the ceasefire. In a statement distributed by a Syrian military source, the army's general command said its decision on Wednesday to reduce air strikes and shelling came after it had succeeded in cutting off all entry roads into Aleppo used by insurgents. It said the decision had been taken to improve conditions for civilians, whom it said were being used as human shields, and to allow people who wanted to leave to get to safer areas. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half the country's pre-war population. The rebel-held eastern zone of the city has been effectively besieged by the army and its allies since mid-September, and about half of its approximately 275,000 inhabitants may want to leave as food and fuel runs short, the U.N. said on Wednesday. Since the offensive began, the army and its allies have made territorial gains in the northern part of Aleppo, capturing the Handarat refugee camp, and have also taken control of smaller areas in the south and in the city centre. The Syrian military source also said the army had on Wednesday gained control of several factories in the industrial district of al-Oweija, south of Handarat camp. U.S. government condemns new Israeli plan on settlements By Doina Chiacu and Ori Lewis WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The United States sharply criticized Israel on Wednesday over plans to build a new Jewish settlement in the West Bank that it said would damage prospects for peace with the Palestinians and contradicted assurances made to Washington. The White House and State Department "strongly condemned" Israel's decision to advance a plan that they said would create a new settlement "deep in the West Bank" and undermine a two-state solution. In unusually harsh words for its Middle Eastern ally, Washington also accused Israel of going back on its word. "We did receive public assurances from the Israeli government that contradict this announcement," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a news briefing. "I guess when we're talking about how good friends treat one another, that's a source of serious concern as well." U.S. President Barack Obama raised concerns about West Bank settlements when he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York last month. A senior U.S. official told reporters afterwards those concerns included the "corrosive effect" settlement activity had during 50 years of occupation on prospects for negotiating a peace deal based on a two-state solution. The United States contends that the project constitutes the establishment of a new settlement in the West Bank, contrary to assurances by Netanyahu that no new settlements would be built. Israel regards the planned housing units as part of an existing settlement called Shilo, which is about halfway between the Palestinian seat of government in Ramallah and Nablus farther north. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement the new housing units do not constitute a new settlement. "This housing will be built on state land in the existing settlement of Shilo and will not change its municipal boundary or geographical footprint," the statement said. It added that Israel remains committed to a two-state solution. The municipal boundaries of many settlements in the West Bank are extensive, enabling Israel to argue that housing units built near the fringes of those boundaries are not new settlements, but only neighborhoods of exiting ones. In its tough words on Wednesday, the Obama administration is effectively challenging that practice. The State Department statement cited Israeli authorities' retroactive authorization of nearby settlements and the redrawing of local settlement boundaries. The new settlement would be closer to Jordan than Israel and link a string of Jewish outposts, dividing the Palestinian region, the statement said. "It is deeply troubling" that Israel would make this decision shortly after it reached an agreement with Washington on U.S. military aid designed to bolster Israel's security, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in the statement. The United States will give Israel $38 billion in military assistance over the next decade, the largest such aid package in U.S. history, under a landmark agreement signed on Sept. 15. Toner also noted it was "disheartening" for the decision to come as the world mourned former President Shimon Peres, a passionate proponent of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Earnest attributed the strong U.S. reaction as being driven by the location of the proposed settlement and the timing of the announcement. "All of that combined would explain why the United States is so disappointed and even sharply critical of this decision announced by the Israeli government," Earnest said. Israelis have to choose between expanding settlements and a peaceful two-state solution with the Palestinians, Toner said. Italy captures mafia fugitive hiding in secret room in own home ROME, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Italian police said on Wednesday they had captured a fugitive Calabrian mafia boss hiding in a secret room in his own home five years after he escaped the clutches of the law during a hospital visit. The 54-year-old boss, Antonio Pelle, was on the Interior Ministry's list of the country's most dangerous fugitives. He faces a 20-year sentence for drug and arms smuggling, and for being a member of a mafia clan. A police video of the arrest showed Pelle's head peak out from the top of a large wardrobe in his home in Benestare, a small town on the toe of Italy's geographical boot. As he talks to police, he climbs down and is handcuffed. "Fifty of us searched the two-storey villa where Pelle had always lived (prior to becoming a fugitive), but it took a very attentive eye to discover his hiding place," police commander Francesco Ratta said in comments broadcast on TV. Pelle had been silently lying in a niche built behind the wardrobe during the police search until he was discovered, police said. The room contained a mattress, a fan, some bottles of water and cash, the video showed. First arrested and jailed in 2008, Pelle slipped away from captivity three years later when he was sent to hospital for urgent medical treatment. Prosecutors said he was the acting head of the Pelle-Vottari crime family, of which six members were murdered in Duisburg, Germany, in 2007 as part of an ongoing feud with a rival clan from the Calabrian town of San Luca. Over the past two decades the Calabrian mafia, known as the 'Ndrangheta, has become Italy's most powerful and wealthy organised crime group thanks to its role as one of Europe's biggest importers of South American cocaine, investigators say. Paris climate accord to take effect; Obama hails 'historic day' By Alister Doyle and Roberta Rampton OSLO/WASHINGTON Oct 5 (Reuters) - A global agreement to combat climate change will take force after support from European nations sent the accord across an important threshold on Wednesday, prompting U.S. President Barack Obama to hail it as a "historic day" for protecting the planet. European nations, Canada, Bolivia and Nepal raised backing for the 2015 Paris Agreement to countries representing 56.87 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions, above the 55 percent needed for implementation, a United Nations website showed. The deal will formally start in 30 days on Nov. 4, four days before the U.S. presidential election in which Republican Donald Trump opposes the accord and Democrat Hillary Clinton strongly supports it. China and the United States joined up last month in a joint step by the world's top emitters. Obama called Wednesday "a historic day in the fight to protect our planet for future generations" and he told reporters on the White House Rose Garden: "If we follow through on the commitments that this Paris agreement embodies, history may well judge it as a turning point for our planet." Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Portugal and Malta - European Union nations which have completed domestic ratification and account for about four percent of emissions - formally signed up on Wednesday. In total, 73 countries out of 195 have ratified the agreement, according to the U.N. website. "Great job!" tweeted European Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete. The Europeans brought forward a formal submission of documents to the United Nations from a ceremony planned on Friday, fearing that other nations might ratify and trigger entry into force without them. "We didn't want to be upstaged," an EU diplomat said. Many praised the rapid ratification of an agreement meant to cut global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, to limit floods, droughts, more powerful storms and rising ocean levels. "What once seemed unthinkable is now unstoppable," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement. But all said more work was needed. "It is no exaggeration to say we are in a race against time," said Thoriq Ibrahim, Environment Minister for the Maldives and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States which fears the impact of rising sea levels. By contrast, it took eight years for the previous U.N. climate deal, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, to gain enough backing to take effect. It obliged only rich nations to cut emissions and the United States stayed out of it. Opposition continues in the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress to Democrat Obama's climate change policies. "The Paris climate deal would be disastrous for the American economy," said House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican. By contrast, Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever and Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, said ratification showed that a shift to a low-carbon economy is "urgent, inevitable, and accelerating faster than we ever believed possible". Still, current national pledges for cuts in emissions are insufficient to achieve a Paris goal of limiting a rise in world temperatures to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times. Top Zambia opposition leaders arrested -police LUSAKA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Zambian police said on Wednesday they had arrested the top two leaders of the main opposition party, two months after it denounced President Edgar Lungu's re-election as fraudulent and tried to block his inauguration. Hakainde Hichilema, president of the United Party for National Development (UPND), and his deputy Geoffrey Mwamba were arrested on suspicion of sedition, police in the copper-producing southern African state said. Sedition is a crime in Zambia defined by conduct inciting people to rebel against the authority of the state, and carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. "They have been arrested and detained for seditious practices and unlawful assembly which occurred on Sept. 26. They will appear in court tomorrow," Copperbelt police chief Charity Katanga told Reuters. Hichilema continues to dispute the August election outcome and in a statement before his arrest compared the government's conduct to the limitation of freedoms experienced when Zambia was still a British colony. "...We are telling Lungu and his disputed regime that we shall not stop moving around the country to meet our structures and greet our people," Hichilema said. Katanga said another 61 opposition supporters were arrested after they threw stones at police following the arrest of the two UPND leaders. Last month the Lusaka High Court threw out an attempt by Hichilema to overturn a Constitutional Court decision not to give him more time to legally challenge Lungu's re-election. Lungu said last month that Zambians should put the divisive elections behind them and work as one to develop the country. He said after being sworn in for a new five-year term that he would focus on unlocking agricultural potential in Zambia to reduce its dependence on copper mining. France's Ayrault says Russian cynicism on Syria fools nobody PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Wednesday he would tell his Russian counterpart in Moscow that the situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo could not continue, describing Russia's action as "cynicism that fooled nobody". Ayrault, who is travelling to Moscow on Thursday, is seeking support for a United Nation's Security Council resolution to revive a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid. German lawmakers visit Turkey's Incirlik air base after row ends ISTANBUL/BERLIN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A delegation of German lawmakers visited Incirlik air base in southern Turkey on Wednesday, defusing a months-long row that had prevented them meeting troops serving in the coalition against Islamic State. Karl Lamers, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats, said the visit had paved the way for parliament to vote to extend the deployment of nearly 240 German troops stationed at the base. "The Bundestag has got access to the troops and that means nothing stands in the way of an extension of the German military mission in December," Lamers told the RND newspaper group. Lawmakers had threatened to end the deployment when its mandate expires in December. The German Air Force has kept Tornado surveillance jets and a refueling plane at Incirlik to contribute to the fight against Islamic State. The German soldiers are at Incirlik to help defend Turkish troops against possible attacks from Syria. Turkey in June barred the politicians from the base in response to a resolution in the German parliament declaring the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide. In July, Turkey briefly grounded coalition planes at Incirlik after an abortive military coup and amid concerns that rogue troops might try to flee the country from the base. The U.S. Air Force has around 5,000 personnel at Incirlik, which serves as a hub for the U.S.-led coalition trying to defeat Islamic State over the borders in Syria and Iraq. Merkel in September persuaded President Tayyip Erdogan to allow the parliamentarians to visit. Their trip is taking place with little publicity. Anadolu said it was closed to media. Lamers said German lawmakers had an "open, honest" dialogue with Turkish officers and there were no restrictions on their ability to move around the base. Another German lawmaker, Agnieszka Brugger, a member of the Green party, told RND housing facilities for the German troops at the base were not satisfactory. Germany plans to invest 58 million euros to improve infrastructure at the base, including new quarters for troops. NATO allies Germany and Turkey have crossed swords in recent months over the flow of migrants to Europe through Turkey and German criticism of the Turkish response to the coup attempt, which has included a purge of security and civil service personnel and the arrests of more than 30,000 people. German prosecutors said on Tuesday they had dropped an investigation of a comedian accused of offending a foreign leader after reciting an obscene poem about Erdogan on national television. Erdogan had filed a complaint against the comedian, Jan Boehmermann. Berlin pursues discreet talks with U.S. officials on Deutsche Bank By Paul Carrel and Noah Barkin BERLIN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The German government is pursuing discreet talks with U.S. authorities to help Deutsche Bank secure a swift settlement over the sale of toxic mortgage bonds, according to sources in Berlin. Until now, German officials have played down their role in the standoff, saying it is up to Deutsche to work out a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which is demanding up to $14 billion to settle claims the lender mis-sold mortgage-backed securities before the financial crisis. But government officials in Berlin, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters they hoped to facilitate a quick deal that would buy Deutsche Bank time to regain its footing. One senior government official told Reuters there was "contact at all levels" between German and American officials. Another source said Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was not planning to meet DOJ officials during a trip to Washington this week for International Monetary Fund meetings, but added: "You can hold talks. It doesn't have to be the minister." Deutsche has been engulfed in crisis since news of the $14 billion U.S. demand emerged last month. It is fighting the fine but could have to turn to investors for more money if it is imposed in full. The resolution of the crisis through a reduced settlement is crucial for Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces a federal election next year. It could be political poison for her government to rescue a bank that got into trouble through speculating. At the same time, officials recognise that Germany's biggest bank, which employs around 100,000 people, cannot be allowed to fail. "Everyone knows the significance of the bank," said a third government official. Berlin is hoping a near-term settlement well below the mooted $14 billion will ease pressure on Deutsche Bank. The first government official said the ideal solution for Germany in the longer term would be a merger between Deutsche and its smaller domestic rival Commerzbank, even if it would be better to wait several years until both banks were cleaned up before sealing such a deal. Berlin has previously declined to comment on the topic of bank mergers. The official's comments about an all-German tie-up mirror the view of others in Berlin who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, although it is unclear whether they represent official policy in the Chancellery. "We are not Austria," the official said. "We are the biggest economy in the European Union, one of the world's leading exporters. We need a big bank with a European and international presence but which is anchored here in Germany." The official added that merging Deutsche with a European rival was fine in principle but only if Germans controlled the combined entity. OPPOSITION Worries over a major bank in Europe's largest economy have stirred painful memories of the 2007-2009 financial crisis and sent tremors through global markets. For Merkel, Deutsche's woes could hardly have flared up at a worse time. Her Christian Democrats are losing support to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and are at loggerheads with their Bavarian allies over migrant policy. With her strength in a fractured post-Brexit European Union also sapped, the last thing Merkel needs in the run-up to the election is Deutsche turning to her government for help. "Rescuing Deutsche Bank would not be popular," the senior government official said. "No government in the world ... wants to have to save banks before an election. But I don't believe this will be necessary." The German Finance Ministry has denied it is working on a rescue plan for Deutsche. But government sources said it was crucial that trust was restored in the bank. While this will take time and Deutsche's business model still needs work, agreeing a settlement with the DOJ would help alleviate the pressure on the bank, buying time for asset sales and possibly another capital hike. Comments on Sunday from Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, a Social Democrat, accusing Deutsche of making speculation its business, were a signal that Merkel's opponents will not hesitate to use the Deutsche issue to score political points. "The German government would face stiff opposition if it decided to help Deutsche Bank," said Joerg Rocholl, president of the ESMT business school in Berlin and member of an economic advisory board to the German finance ministry. "I would expect opposition parties to seize on this in a massive way to question the credibility of the government in the run-up to the federal election next year," he added. In an Emnid survey for Focus magazine on Saturday, 69 percent of those polled opposed state aid for the bank, with 24 percent in favour. Lawmakers in Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) have said they do not want to see the government jump to Deutsche's aid. "Deutsche Bank caused these problems itself," said Eckhard Rehberg, a budget expert in the CDU parliamentary party. "At the present time, I rule out capital assistance." Complicating the calculus are new EU bail-in rules meant to shield taxpayers from shouldering the cost of failing banks. Germany pushed hard for rules that say investors and creditors representing 8 percent of a bank's balance sheet must be tapped before there can be any government support. LESSONS LEARNED As the German government considers its next moves, officials say that a number of previous cases involving European firms and U.S. authorities are shaping its approach. In pushing for a settlement with the U.S. DOJ, Berlin is opting for a discreet approach, in part because it saw how France's aggressive public lobbying several years ago against a $9 billion fine imposed on BNP Paribas for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran, Cuba and Sudan seemed to backfire. The lessons of the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal have also left their mark. The Wolfsburg-based carmaker initially tried to resolve the costly dispute by dispatching lower level officials to negotiate with the United States. When VW CEO Matthias Mueller finally addressed the issue during a visit to the Detroit car show in January, he stumbled during an English-language interview with NPR, attributing the scandal to a "technical problem" and denying the company had deliberately deceived. The ensuing storm forced him into an embarrassing backtrack. "I think it has been understood after the VW case, that you can't send third-level people. The chief must go himself," said the senior government official, referring to Deutsche CEO John Cryan, a Briton who will also be in Washington this week. "The advantage in this instance is that he's a native speaker. This could help resolve this despite all the challenges," the official added. "VW gave the impression they weren't taking it seriously." For Merkel, the case of German carmaker Opel, may also be influencing her thinking. France's Isabelle Huppert to receive AFI festival tribute LOS ANGELES, Oct 5 (Reuters) - French actress Isabelle Huppert, known for films such as "La Ceremonie," "The Piano Teacher" and "Amour," will receive a tribute honoring her career from the American Film Institute (AFI) at this year's festival, the organization said on Wednesday. Huppert, 63, will be honored at a gala ceremony on Nov. 13 in Hollywood that will include a screening of her latest film "Elle," directed by Paul Verhoeven. It will be part of the AFI's annual film festival in Hollywood, which showcases key films in contention for awards. Nominated for a record 15 Cesar Awards, France's top acting honor, Huppert won best actress for 1995's thriller "La Ceremonie." Her English-language films include 2004's "I Heart Huckabees," 2013's "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" and last year's "Louder than Bombs." "Isabelle Huppert is a masterful actress," Jacqueline Lyanga, director of the AFI festival, called Huppert a "masterful actress" in a statement and said she "exemplifies the best of world cinema." "Her fearlessness and precision shine in "Elle," and we are thrilled to honor her illustrious career," Lyanga said. Huppert has twice won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival, and was made an officer of France's highest award, Legion d'Honneur. She has yet to be nominated for Hollywood's top acting honors, the Oscars, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild, but her role in "Elle," in which she plays a businesswoman pursuing the man who raped her, has been garnering awards buzz. The AFI aims to preserve the heritage of American cinema. Austria's Raiffeisen banks give go-ahead for merger By Francois Murphy VIENNA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Austrian lender Raiffeisen Bank International and its unlisted parent Raiffeisen Zentralbank have decided to go ahead with their proposed merger aimed primarily at boosting RZB's capital buffer, the companies said on Wednesday. Only Italy's Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Allied Irish Banks fared worse than the two Raiffeisen banks combined in a stress test of 51 major European lenders, results of which were published in July, increasing pressure on Raiffeisen to take action. "The management and supervisory boards of Raiffeisen Zentralbank Oesterreich AG (RZB) and Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) have passed in principle a resolution to merge RZB and RBI," RBI said in a statement. Under the plan agreed on Wednesday, which will be put to shareholders for final approval in January, parent company RZB will be merged into central and eastern Europe specialist RBI, with RZB shareholders receiving RBI stock in exchange. RBI will issue new stock with which to make that payment, increasing its shares in issue by roughly 10-13 percent, meaning many existing RBI shareholders' stakes will be diluted. The exact number of shares that will change hands will not be announced until December but the combined bank would have a free float of between 34.6 percent and 35.7 percent, compared with RBI's current 39.2 percent, the banks said. The plan is in large part a response to pressure from European regulators for RZB to increase its capital reserves and simplify the group's complex structure. RBI, which operates across central and eastern Europe, and RZB announced in May that they were considering a merger, and RZB has since said it plans to sell shares in insurer Uniqa , a step also aimed at increasing its capital buffer. RZB, part of the cooperative Raiffeisen group of banks, has complained that those measures were not taken into account in the European Banking Authority's stress test, which was based on data from the end of last year. The merged entity would have a fully loaded common equity tier 1 (CET) capital ratio, a measure of financial strength, of 11.3 percent at the end of June this year, the banks said. That is more than Raiffeisen's 10.6 percent and less than RBI's 12.2 percent at the same point. A Yahoo operation in 2015 to scan the incoming email of its customers for specific information requested by the U.S. government was authorized under a foreign intelligence law, parts of which will expire next year, two U.S. government officials familiar with the matter said. Reuters on Tuesday reported that the Yahoo program was in response to a classified U.S. government request to scan emails belonging to hundreds of millions of Yahoo users. The revelation rekindled a long-running debate in the United States over the proper balance between digital privacy and national security. On Tuesday, Reuters revealed that Yahoo Inc last year secretly built a custom software program to search all of its customers' incoming emails for specific information provided by U.S. intelligence officials. Above, Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer The collection in question was specifically authorized by a warrant issued by the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, said the two government sources, who requested anonymity to speak freely. Yahoo's request came under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the sources said. The two sources said the request was issued under a provision of the law known as Section 702, which will expire on December 31, 2017, unless lawmakers act to renew it. Mayer's decision to obey the directive roiled some senior executives and led to the June 2015 departure of Chief Information Security Officer Alex Stamos (above). The law that enabled the spying is set to expire in December 2017 The FISA Court warrant related specifically to Yahoo, but it is possible similar such orders have been issued to other telecom and internet companies, the sources said. In a statement on Wednesday, Yahoo said the Reuters report was 'misleading' and that the 'mail scanning described in the article does not exist on our systems.' When asked to identify any specific way in which the story was misleading, or whether the operation described by Reuters had previously existed, Yahoo declined to comment. Former Yahoo employees told Reuters that security staff disabled the scan program after they discovered it, and that it had not been reinstalled before Alex Stamos, the company's former top security officer, left the company for Facebook last year. The intelligence committees of both houses of Congress, which are given oversight of U.S. spy agencies, are now investigating the exact nature of the Yahoo order, sources said. Section 702 of the FISA governs a program exposed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden known as Prism, which gathers messaging data from Alphabet Inc's Google, Facebook Inc, Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc and other major tech companies that involves a foreign target under surveillance. Some surveillance experts said this represents the first case to surface of a U.S. Internet company agreeing to a spy agency's demand Another type of spying the authority allowed under Section 702 is known as 'upstream,' and allows the NSA to copy web traffic flowing along the internet backbone located inside the United States and search for certain terms associated with a target. Privacy advocates expressed alarm at the reported Yahoo program, saying it amounted to an unprecedented use of the authorities granted to the NSA by Congress. 'The NSA has said that it only targets individuals under Section 702 by searching for email addresses and similar identifiers,' Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said in a statement to Reuters on Monday. 'If that has changed, the executive branch has an obligation to notify the public.' Speaking to students at Georgetown University on Tuesday, Snowden, who leaked a trove of classified documents to journalists in 2013 exposing NSA surveillance programs, said the Yahoo report renewed questions about whether government surveillance programs are subject to sufficient congressional oversight and public scrutiny. 'That's not to say that this Yahoo program is sinister,' Snowden said via satellite: 'It could be related to cyber security, where it is related to known malware actors.' Government officials on Wednesday sought to defend U.S. surveillance operations as appropriately balanced and transparent, though they did not deny the Reuters report. 'The United States only uses signals intelligence for national security purposes, and not for the purpose of indiscriminately reviewing the emails or phone calls of ordinary people,' Richard Kolko, a spokesman for the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said in a statement. It will squeeze your heart and then expand it like an accordion, Mira Nair told me about her new film Queen of Katwe. What she didn't say is that it also puts a snap in your fingers, a spring in your step and tears in your eyes. If Nair's Salaam Bombay was the intellectual precursor to Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, then Queen of Katwe is its emotional inheritor. Life in Katwe, a slum of Kampala in Uganda, is desperate - chickens, children, cycles, vegetable carts jostle for space amidst shanties made of wooden planks, but families still say their prayer to God before beginning to eat. Lupita Nyong'o in a still from Queen of Katwe. (Photo credit: YouTube screen grab) They may have no water to bathe in but when they step out of their homes, they still want to look smart. And if someone asks them how life is, they will say with a smile and a wave that it is fine. For one such family, where a single mother (Lupita Nyong'o) struggles to raise four children, one of them, Phiona Mutesi, turns out to be a chess prodigy. The illiterate, unschooled girl finds a mentor in an engineer-turned-sports-evangelist Robert Katende (played by the wonderful David Oyelowo) and blooms under him. She can visualise a chessboard in her mind and is urged to find her safe square through chess. It isn't easy. The world she is exposed to through tournaments she wins - good hotels, clean clothes, delicious food - makes her a misfit in her own environment, a ghost who belongs neither here nor there. It also brings her into conflict with her mother, played by Nyong'o with a stubborn tilt to her chin and a proud light in her eyes. Her husband has died and she sells maize for a living, using the help of her children. But she won't surrender her honour or her soul - she won't even accept money from her older daughter, Night, who finds a rich boyfriend who takes her away from Katwe. Madina Nalwanga, like every actor Nair falls in love with (and she has a long history of producing stars from Denzel Washington to Riz Ahmed, from Irrfan Khan to Sarita Chaudhary) is soulful, stoic and fun as the young chess champion. Madina Nalwanga plays the chess prodigy, Phiona Mutesi. (Photo credit: YouTube screen grab) Her open face shows all her emotions - fear of losing, resignation at seeing her makeshift home being flooded once again, happiness at having porridge fill her stomach, and intelligence that helps her plot her strategy. Chess is a metaphor for life in Queen of Katwe, where the small one can become the big one, and the queen is the most powerful piece in the game. Nair's film is heart-warming but it is also political - like all local films that are universal. An honest engineer in a government job is like a white rhino; poor children cannot mingle with rich children in a privileged school; and the sports authorities do not have money to invest in good training for bright children. It's a film with heart, soul and spirit. Where losing doesn't mean failure, and where the pieces can be reset and play can commence again. When the Pakistani high commission re-issued a reporter's walkthrough, it probably foresaw that the video from a sanitised location in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) would at least stir India's chronic, colonial hangover because of its global branding. And it did, to an extent. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted slyly: BJP, I m convinced that strikes took place. But intl media publishing Pak propaganda that no strike took place. Lets expose Pak propaganda https://t.co/oIGa2yLhO0 Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 4, 2016 The AAP leader shrewdly latched on to the reportage by the global press from a small radius of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir along the 770-km Line of Control. Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam went a few steps ahead in this low-grade demagoguery, labelling India's swift cross-LoC operations "fake". He went on to tweet: Every Indian wants #SurgicalStrikesAgainstPak but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by #BJP.Politics over national interest pic.twitter.com/4KN6iDqDo5 Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) October 4, 2016 Having spent 18 years in journalism, I was unable to fathom anything explosive or penetratingly investigative in the third-party footage that the Pakistani high commission circulated on its WhatsApp group for Indian media. It's a message that bear hugs with world leaders and CEOs of multinationals mustn't be construed subservience. Photo credit: Reuters Other international news outlets were no startlingly different either. They too published what Pakistani military fed them from a valley neighbourhood of PoK. If standards of western journalism are higher than in the developing world, none of those media houses, in the first place, should have accepted the offer of a PoK trip sponsored and guided by a military engaged in hostilities with a neighbouring nation. They should have gone on their own, if they could. How can you expect objectivity from reporting coming out of a tour organised by a defensive army to a select, picturesque mountain hamlet ensconced in what in reality is a highly dangerous de facto border between nuclear India and Pakistan? It goes without saying the military on the other side of the LoC will never show terror assets to the outside world or the annihilation that India's special forces unleashed on a few of them last week. The operative part that lay buried in the forest of words several media of international repute characteristically published from their rare visit to PoK was nothing more than a "he-said, he-added" narrative. Still, some of India's shrewd politicians and so-called analysts lapped up the western reportage in their bid to fuel suspicions over India's swoop on the other side of the LoC. Kejriwal was one among those who led this wily campaign. The AAP convenor is a product of media publicity, both positive and negative. But he and trolls who support his tactics take no time to pounce on journalists who speak about his alleged administrative incompetence. India's media, which some members of foreign press in Delhi scornfully refer to as local media, has come of age. It has forced judiciary to act, voters to react. It has built and demolished leaders. Who would have known Kejriwal if he wasn't covered protesting alongside Anna Hazare when the UPA was in power? Who would have known Sanjay Nirupam either had there not been "local media" around? Their pictures and foot-in-mouth outbreaks are beamed into Indian homes by Indian stations and not global. Our "local" journalists have far deeper access in the country's security, political and business establishments than foreigners could ever have. What western press is gifted with is only superior packaging and, of course, better English, perhaps. But in journalism, content is king. Junk food is never healthy even if it's served in some of the world's most popular eating joints. Unfortunately, Kejriwal, the likes of him and fellow citizens who placed higher credence on the west's "he-said, he-added" reporting over their nation's own DGMO suffer from inferiority complex. And this condition probably stems from colonial hangover. They can learn a lesson or two from Baba Ramdev, who has nearly overwhelmed the MNC reign of the FMCG sector. The western press that once mocked his untamed beard, saffron loin and yogic posture stands in awe of him now. But he remains untouched. And that's wonderful. Questions are being raised on both the veracity and efficacy of India's cross-Line of Control (LoC), surgical strikes undertaken by Indian Special Forces (SF) on the night of September 28-29. The para forces struck at seven or eight terrorist locations across the LoC at distances ranging from 1.5 to 4 kilometres. There are three different constituencies within the country and abroad raising these doubts. My aim is to address all of them. First is the political constituency; largely the opposition, which sees in the claims an attempted overdrive by the ruling NDA to use these strikes to garner political space on the eve of the crucial state elections, where the stakes are obviously high. Questioning the veracity of the strikes with little or no consideration to the larger national and international consequences is deemed as fair play to prevent the ruling dispensation from exploiting the success to their political advantage. India fully conscious of associated escalation dynamics, including their impact on nuclear thresholds. Photo credit: Reuters Then there is a very interesting constituency comprising largely Indians of foreign origin working in think tanks and other institutions abroad, who are questioning not so much the veracity but the efficacy of the strikes - possibly driven largely by the obtaining American or the British narrative in terms of deterrence, strategic stability and the escalation dynamics based essentially on the western discourse? Questions are being raised on what has been the broader strategic logic of these strikes and their implications for the cross-border terror/proxy war? Will it change the existing narrative of Pakistan using terrorism to bleed India through thousand cuts merely on account of a single shallow strike? Their conclusion is that it will change little implying thereby that giving up the policy of strategic restraint could, in the long run, be counter-productive. Thus in effect questioning the broader strategic rationale of the Indian action. In my view, this is not purely an academic conviction but one driven by the broader ideological biases of the institutions to which they belong. Discourse is being driven by South Asia as a flashpoint with the worry that were the Indian retaliation to become a norm, the region could stumble into a nuclear conflagration. So fears of India resorting to punitive response without thinking through the consequences and the fears of escalation are the drivers of their concerns and narrative. Then comes the so-called foreign correspondent class, which is basing its claims on Indian press reports, and ideological and other concerns essentially aimed at highlighting the consequences of escalation. Reporting is centered around the same logic employed by academics of Indian origin, hence the apparent resonance! Reality versus myth Let me take the liberty of analysing both the operational reality of the strikes and their broader strategic consequences. At the outset, it is important to disabuse all constituencies that Indian security is not sanguine about the implications of military response and its escalation dynamics. Now, for years India has developed a punitive response strategy and is fully conscious of associated escalation dynamics, including their impact on nuclear thresholds. There is no doubt cross-border "incursions" are par for the course and have been happening all along. The Indian Army's action this time is different, whose import is important to understand. First, it needs to be realised that these were politically mandated and their full responsibility lay on the political leadership of the day. Hence, importantly, political hesitancy and vacillation were substituted by clear guidelines to the armed forces. Second, and a factor that has not been adequately highlighted, is this was an integrated and synergised political, intelligence and military operation. Three critical steps were taken prior to the launch of the offensive. First, intelligence was gained through combined aerospace and terrestrial means in which satellites and drones played an important part. This highlights the credibility of Indian Intelligence and their Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability, which we lacked earlier. Should it be a reason for worry for Pakistan that sub-metric resolution was obtained and round-the-clock surveillance maintained? Second, and more importantly, detailed operational preparations were in place. When the strikes took place, the Indian navy was operating in Gulf of Gujarat, in a state of operational preparedness. Similarly, the Air Force, which had recently conducted an exercise, was asked to continue with the maintenance of its operational readiness with sensors and radars. This essentially implies that the armed forces were prepared to deal with any contingency in the event of Pakistan escalating the situation or the operation going horribly wrong. There should thus be no doubt that Indian action was a planned politico-military response. Further, the fact that Pakistan was forced to upgrade its defensive posture by moving its defensive formations, put its offensive formations on high alert, deploy its Air Force - including the closing of air space over Lahore and Karachi - are enough indicators of Pakistan being rattled despite its denial. The rubbishing of the strikes as a wild Indian fantasy and a media-managed exercise are part of the disinformation campaign often indulged by Pakistan - reminiscent of their denials during Kargil. Coming to the efficacy of strikes - Hindustan Times story dated October 4 vividly details the entire operation. Confirmation about the effects and casualties are provided in today's edition of The Indian Express. In addition, the Indian Army has agreed to share evidence of the cross-LoC strikes in public space, leaving the final choice to the government. This should reasonably rest doubts about the veracity of the strikes. Given the existing political discourse, no doubt as and when the information is put out in public domain, quibbling in all probability will continue. Now let me come to the strategic import of the strikes. The proxy war being waged by Pakistan is a low-cost option to bleed India by a "thousand cuts". Pakistan believes this to be a credible strategy of coercion to put India on a strategic backfoot, while leveraging nuclear deterrence and brinkmanship for managing escalation and war avoidance. So long as this strategy holds, the situation from Pakistan's perspective is largely favourable as it limits India's strategic and operational space and options. This has forced India to respond to Pakistani terror and machinations in J&K through defensive means - be it Mumbai, Gurdaspur or Pathankot - thus the euphemism of strategic restraint and high thresholds of tolerance. This politically ordered and militarily calibrated strike has changed this narrative. By clearly outlining the Indian policy of punitive retaliation and the right of self-defence, India has outlined that both proxy war - and Uri and Mumbai-like terrorist attacks - will invite retaliation. Does it mean India has finally created space below the nuclear threshold to execute military options? To understand this we need to have clarity about Pakistan's nuclear agenda, which is to deter India from exercising its military option. It realises that over time, the conventional asymmetry could become stark and strategic balance unfavourable. It wants to stymie such a situation through what it calls "development of full spectrum nuclear capability". Strategic signalling from the strike for Pakistan should be clear. India has demarcated its thresholds of tolerance, which it can overlook at its own peril. Nuclear sabre-rattling, brinkmanship et al will not work. Having played a number of war games and Track II discussions with Pakistani interlocutors, my understanding is that beyond bravado they understand the limits of their rhetoric. After Salman Khan and Nasiruddin Shah, it was the turn of veteran actor Om Puri to inject some volatility into the madhouse that's Indian national discourse. When asked if he supported the Pakistani artists such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Atif Aslam, among others at a time when the country is reeling under the aftermath of Uri attack and has given a "befitting reply" in the form of the September 29 surgical strike, the ace Bollywood actor said that no one forced the armymen to join the armed forces, and while he fully respected their role, taking it out on artists is a bad idea. One of India's greatest actors, Puri's comment on martyrdom of Indian soldiers has caused an uproar in the social and mainstream media. The 65-year-old actor recently, was part of a televised debate about the IMPPA's (Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association) sine die ban on Pakistan artists from working in India on various projects, of course under valid work visas issued by Government of India. While IMPPA's ban was a reaction to the Uri attack, Puri reiterated the point that the two aspects were incomaparable. "Who had asked the soldiers to join the army? Who told them to pick the weapons?" Puri said, in his momentary brush with belligerence. Along with Om Puri, filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor also came out in support of Pakistani actors, saying art and politics should be kept separate and banning the artists will not change the situation. Puri meanwhile added Pakistani artists were working legally in India, and in case they are not allowed to work, the industry will suffer losses to the tune of crores and the Indian producers, who have signed them for their films, will incur financial loss. "When the government is taking an action, we all should stay quiet. It hardly matters if we send back the artists from Pakistan, who are working here, or let them stay. I have been to Pakistan six times and have met people from all strata," Puri had said. "I have always received love and warmth. If the Pakistani actors leave the projects they are doing here in middle, then people in India (filmmakers) will also face financial loss. Hence, this is insignificant. The actors have not come here through any illegal way. They have valid visa. But, if the government will ask them to leave, then it is different," he added. As a result, a police complaint has been filed against Om Puri! Om Puri has incurred nationalist wrath on social media for allegedly 'insulting' Indian Army martyrs. [Photo: Agencies] Does it sound all that outlandish? We opened up the debate to our readers and there are many divergent responses. We give you some of the best of the lot. DailyO readers weigh in: Indradeep Bhadra: I think that taking the service boots of the martyred soldier slapped against the cheeks of Om Puri will be a proper salute and respect for the soldier who sacrificed his life to protect us. Satya Upadhyay: Everybody is entitled to an opinion, no matter how divergent it is. While army does its job even at odds with all other institutions of our democratic country, it's the responsibility of citizens to ensure respect and thanksgiving towards soldiers. It's laughable to say that we didn't force them to fight for nation or join army, at the same time the soldiers didn't force someone to become fidayeen and breach the national security. Om Puri is a learned and staunch liberal but the manner in which he entered the debate was not well suited to contextual reality. Momin Arif: A vs B, this vs that is the policy of current regime whose entire diplomacy lies on divisiveness. No room for disagreement at all. Till this sickness will not be cured such idiotic debates will keep happening so that no one remembers where that promised development is. #EnjoyAchheDin Warda Malik: Bravo to Salman Khan, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri for taking a stand on peace and sanity in front of the war-mongering Indian media and government. I am PROUD of the fact that we Pakistanis have never disrespected our Indian guests and artists even at a time of conflict. And by the way, Congress leaders are demanding proof of Surgical Strike from the terrorist Modi Govt, hope people of India will wake up to this surgical stupidity of Modi very soon. #FreeKashmir Bala Ramakrishnan: Not sure. We should not give importance to film personalities' utterances. Who are they? Kartikay Vijayvargiya: He talked like an anti-nationalist. He supported Pakistanis. Said: "Who has told the armymen to join army?" Foolish person. Shift him to a mental hospital in Pakistan... he deserves that only. Ch Shabbir Ahmed: He talked like a man of peace. Indian Army said they did strike. Pakistan said yes there was LoC firing but not strike. Our two army jawan [ended up] dead. And then Pakistan reply to India was you started it. Puri saab said don't fight, it's not in anyone's favour. And if an army jawan is dead, then it happens on a routine baiss, everyday you kill theirs, they kill yours. Kavita Jitani: People who indulge in corruption while buying coffins for martyred soldiers, who buy sub-standard ammunition and equipment, people who misroute funds meant for welfare of our soldiers are the real traitors. Vivek Sahu: Arvind Kejriwal: Support PM on surgical strikes, however there's need to counter propaganda by Pakistan regarding surgical strikes. Pak media interpretation: Arvind Kejriwal questions authenticity of surgical strikes. Indian media interpretation of Pak media interpretation: Arvind Kejriwal a hero in Pakistan media for questioning authenticity of surgical strikes. Arvind Kejriwal is doing politics over India's security. Bhakt interpretation of Indian Media interpretation of Pak media interpretation: Arvind Kejriwal speaks the same language as Hafeez Saeed.Meanwhile, BJP is happily putting up bill boards from UP to Goa to show how Modi single handedly led the surgical strikes and that supposedly is not politicising surgical strikes. Seriously, we live in bizarre times. [You can read the full thread on our Facebook page.] Of the many architectural and historic attractions in Beijing, the city's Christian churches may not be on the regular tourist agenda, but they are well worth a tour. Christianity was first introduced into China the 7th century. The first Protestant missionaries came in 1807. The efforts of Western missionaries to spread Christianity in China reached a peak at the dawn of the 20th Century and were concurrent with incursions by the imperialist powers which semi-colonized parts of the country. Many Christian institutions established beachheads throughout China, building churches, schools and other institutions. Most Beijing churches were built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and have been refurbished many times. The following are the seven major churches in Beijing: (2) Wangfujing Catholic (St. Joseph) Church Address: No 74, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng district The Wangfujing Catholic Church, also well known as the East Church, is nestled in the midst of the department stores, fancy boutiques and hubbub of the busiest commercial streets in the city. The East Church was built in 1655 by Ludovicus Buglio (1606 - 1682) and Gabriel de Magalhaens. When they first came to China, they mainly did missionary work in Sichuan Province. In the early period of Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), they were captured by soldiers and then worked in the Prince Su's Mansion. In 1655, Emperor Shunzhi granted them a piece of land, on which they later built the East Church to facilitate the religious activities of Catholics. Tang Ruowang (Johann Adam Schall von Bell), a famous German missionary in Qing Dynasty spent his late years in the East Church. Nan Huairen (Ferdinand Verbiest), Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione) and many other western missionaries once lived there too. Lang Shining's masterpiece, the portrait of 'Jesus Christ with a Kind Heart' is hung over the side-altar. In 1720, East Church collapsed as a result of earthquake and was rebuilt the following year. In 1807, the priests' house was ruined by a big fire caused by carelessness. Bishop Tian rebuilt it in 1884. In 1990, the church was burnt down again during the Yihetuan Movement. In 1905, France and Ireland jointly rebuilt the it as we see now. The restored East Church and its surroundings have formed the largest outdoor leisure space in the commercial street of Wangfujing Area. Its architectural style is Romanesque with Chinese architectural features. The whole building is of gray brick and wood structure. It is a typical model of the fusion of Chinese and western architecture style. After the original surrounding walls were removed, the European-gray-spire building takes off its mysterious coat and comes into the sight of tourists. The Catholic Church is situated in the middle of the East Church, facing the west. The church sits on a bluestone base. There are three crosses on the top, among which the middle one is bigger than the side ones. The hall is supported by 18 round brick columns. The diameter of each column is 65 cm (2 feet) and the base of each column is square. On both sides of the hall hang many oil paintings like Crucifixion of Jesus or Passion of the Christ. Besides, many precious religious paintings drawn by Giuseppe Castiglione are preserved. The square in front of the church, covering over 8,000 square meters ( 8,6000 square feet), is now completed. The square is surrounded by trees and on both sides there are benches for pedestrians. Now, it is not only a convenient mass center for the catholic, but also a place for visitors to explore the religious culture and even a popular scene for some youths in Beijing to take wedding photos. Location: 74, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District. Transportation: 1.Take Bus 103, 102, 104, 803, 814, 808 and get off at Dong'anmen Market, then head north about 300 meters. 2. Take Subway Line 5 and get down at the Dengshikou, then head toward Cypress Hutong for about 300 meters. Opening Time: every morning (times may vary) Mass Times: Weekdays 06:30 & 07:00 (Chinese), Saturday 06:30 & 07:00 (Chinese), Sunday 06:15 (Latin), 07:00 & 08:00 (Chinese) (All Photo Credit: China Christian Daily) Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, renewable generation, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. It also engages in the wholesale of electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities. This segment serves approximately 8.2 million customers in 6 states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States covering a service territory of approximately 91,000 square miles; and owns approximately 50,259 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation natural gas customers; and owns, operates, and invests in pipeline transmission and natural gas storage facilities. It has approximately 1.6 million customers, including 1.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as 550,000 customers in southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The Commercial Renewables segment acquires, owns, develops, builds, and operates wind and solar renewable generation projects, including nonregulated renewable energy and energy storage services to utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and corporate customers. It has 23 wind, 178 solar, and 2 battery storage facilities, as well as 71 fuel cell locations with a capacity of 3,554 MW across 22 states. The company was formerly known as Duke Energy Holding Corp. and changed its name to Duke Energy Corporation in April 2005. The company was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Experian plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a technology company. The company operates through two segments, Business-to-Business and Consumer Services. It provides data services to identify and understand the customers, as well as to manage the risks related with lending. The company also offers analytical and decision tools that enhance businesses to manage their customers, minimize the risk of fraud, comply with legal requirements, and automate decisions and processes. In addition, it provides financial education, free access to Experian credit reports and scores, online educational tools, and applications to manage their financial position, access credit offers, and protect themselves from identity fraud. The company serves customers in financial service, direct-to-consumer, health, retail, automotive, software and professional services, telecommunications and utility, insurance, media and technology, government and public, and other sectors. It operates in North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as Experian Group Limited and changed its name to Experian plc in July 2008. Experian plc was founded in 1826 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Conservative media has dramatically changed the political game and it has helped Donald Trump, according to Milwaukee talk-show host Charlie Sykes. Weve basically eliminated any of the referees or gatekeepers. Theres nobody, said Sykes, perhaps the most popular conservative talk show host in Wisconsin. He said Trump can make a statement and everybody knows its a falsehood. The big question of my audience, is it impossible for me to say that? Sykes told journalist Oliver Darcy of Business Insider in a late summer interview. Listeners will say they saw the falsehood on Facebook or heard it on a different show, he said. Or they wont believe a New York Times fact check. You cant go to anybody and say, Look, here are the facts. I have to say thats one of the disorienting realities of this political year, continued Sykes, who has challenged some of Trumps statements. You can be in this alternative-media reality and theres no way to break through it. And I swim upstream because I cant say these things from some of these websites, then suddenly I have sold out. Then they (the audience) will ask whats wrong with me for not repeating these stories that I know not to be true. Theres got to be a reckoning on all this. Weve created this monster. And look, Im a conservative talk-show host. All conservative hosts have basically established their brand as being contrasted to the mainstream media, he said. So we have spent 20 years demonizing the liberal mainstream media. And, by the way, a lot of it has been justifiable but at a certain point you wake up and you realize you have destroyed the credibility of any credible outlet out there. And I am feeling, to a certain extent, that we are reaping the whirlwind out there, Sykes said. And I have to look in the mirror and ask myself to what extent did I contribute. As an example, a recent poll by the Marquette University Law School showed large numbers of people thinking that there could be significant illegal voting in next months presidential election. There are no facts to prove wide-scale irregularities in American elections. But over the years Americans have shown they love conspiracy theories. Casting more than one vote can net a prison sentence of up to three years. And there seems no major financial gain from such a felony. Recently leaked information from a John Doe investigation showed how conservatives discussed using talk radio in the 2011 State Supreme Court race. When the early results were close, conservative figures suggested floating talk or messaging widespread reports of election fraud. In an e-mail former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen said, Talk radio needs to scream the Dems are trying to steal the race. Jensen, who resigned his office and pled guilty to an ethics charge related to a misconduct in office investigation, also said: Anything fishy should be highlighted. Stories should be solicited by talk radio hosts. At one point in his career, Jensen was considered a prime GOP gubernatorial candidate. 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Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Transocean: 15375 Memorial Corporation, Agon Shipping Inc., Aguas Profundas Limitada, AngoSantaFe - Prestacao de Servicos Petroliferos Limitada, Angola Deepwater Drilling Company (Offshore Services) Ltd, Arcade Drilling AS, Asie Sonat Offshore Sdn. 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Read More Toyota Motor Corporation designs, manufactures, assembles, and sells passenger vehicles, minivans and commercial vehicles, and related parts and accessories. It operates in Automotive, Financial Services, and All Other segments. The company offers hybrid cars under the Prius name, fuel cell vehicles under the MIRAI name; and conventional engine vehicles, including subcompact and compact cars under the Corolla and Raize names. It also provides mini-vehicles, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and auto parts under the Toyota name; mid-size cars; luxury cars; sports cars under the GR Yaris, Corolla Sport, Corolla Cross, and Supra names; and recreational and sport-utility vehicles under the Highlander name. In addition, the company offers pickup trucks under the Tacoma name; minivans; and trucks and buses. Further, it provides financial services, such as retail financing and leasing, wholesale financing, insurance, and credit cards; and designs, manufactures, and sells prefabricated housing. Additionally, the company operates GAZOO.com, a web portal for automobile information. It operates in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Toyota, Japan. 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. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. It also offers ProxyEdge, an electronic proxy delivery and voting solution; data-driven solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and omni-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional information, as well as mutual fund trade processing services; data and analytics solutions; solutions for public corporations and mutual funds; SEC filing and capital markets transaction services; registrar, stock transfer, and record-keeping services; and omni-channel customer communications solutions, as well as operates Broadridge Communications Cloud platform that creates, delivers, and manages communications and customer engagement activities. The company's Global Technology and Operations segment provides solutions that automate the front-to-back transaction lifecycle of equity, mutual fund, fixed income, foreign exchange and exchange-traded derivatives, order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral management, asset servicing, compliance and regulatory reporting, portfolio accounting, and custody-related services. This segment also offers business process outsourcing services; technology solutions, such portfolio management, compliance, fee billing, and operational support solutions; and capital market and wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Lake Success, New York. 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. The city of Chippewa Falls honored Mark Johnson, a retired Chippewa Falls police officer, with a plaque for his 27 years of service to the community at the City Council meeting Tuesday night. Police Chief Matt Kelm said Johnson has been a fixture of the city and face of the community. Everyone knows him, Kelm said. He went out of his way to make sure he was a part of the community he served, not just on but off duty. Johnson was also the senior-most officer at the time of his retirement Sept. 6 and certainly had a lot of experience. Mayor Greg Hoffman presented the plaque, commending Johnson on his hard work with the department and ability to always put the community first. Johnsons 27 years with the Chippewa Falls Police Department marked his entire career. I feel very blessed to complete a career all at one place, a lot of people dont get to do that, Johnson said. Its been a wonderful place to work and live. City to honor Arbor Week Hoffman also signed a proclamation declaring the week of Oct. 10-14 Arbor Week in Chippewa Falls. The proclamation celebrates the value of trees as an aesthetic and economic enhancement to the city. Were very fortunate the city and community had the foresight to take care of our trees, Hoffman said. All citizens are urged to plant, care and protect the citys trees and woodlands. Arbor Day is traditionally celebrated in April. California marked Arbor Week in March. The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: APM Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Accelerated Production Systems, Acme Cryo Intermediate Inc., Acme Cryogenics, Acme Cryogenics Inc., Acme Elevator, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o., Advansor Germany GmbH, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International, Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Audax ECII Blocker Inc., Auto Glanz Solutions LLC, AvaLAN Wireless Systems Incorporated, BELVAC CR spol s r.o., BSC Filters Limited, Belanger, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., Blackmer, BlitzRotary GmbH, Blue Bite LLC, Blue Bite LLC, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CDS Visual, CDS Visual Inc., CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., Cryogenic Experts LLC, DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DESTACO UK Limited, DFH Corporation, DFS Netherlands B.V., Datamax International Corp, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Dositec Sistemas SL, Dosmatic U.S.A. Inc., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services Europe S.R.L., Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Products Segment Inc., Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings, Dover France Participations, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover Imaging & Identification Segment Inc., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Pumps & Process Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover Switzerland Participations GmbH, Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dresser Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dresser Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ECI - IGT Holdings LLC, ECI Holding Company LLC, ECI RegO S. de R.L. de C.V, ECI RegO Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., ECII (Mexico) LLC, EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty Ltd, Em-Tec, Engineered Controls International LLC, Espy, Ettlinger, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems Company, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Industrial Motion Control LLC, Innovative Control Systems, Innovative Control Systems Inc., Inpro/Seal LLC, JK Group, JK Group S.P.A., JK Group USA Inc., K S Boca Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Knowles Electronics, LIQAL, LIQAL B.V., Liquip, Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MAAG, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM-IMAJE Corporation, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions, MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag, Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Gala Inc., Maag Germany GmbH, Maag Italy S.R.L., Maag Pump Systems, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Reduction Inc., Maag Service (Malaysia) Sdn. Bdn., Maag Service (Taiwan) Ltd., Maag Systems (Thailand) Limited, Macro Technologies LLC, Malema, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje - Unipessoal Lda, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Philippines Corporation, Markem-Imaje Pty. Ltd., Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l., Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn. Bhd., Markem-Imaje Singapore Pte. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A., Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Midwest Cryogenics Inc., Mouvex, Northeast Services Inc., Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International, OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OK International Ltd., OPW Engineered Systems LLC, OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluid Transfer Solutions (Jiang Su) Co. Ltd., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing, PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSD Codax Holdings Limited, PSD Codax Limited, PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG California LLC, PSG Germany GmbH, Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Production Control Services, Pump Management Services Co. LLC, Quantex Arc Limited, Quantex Patents Limited, RAV France, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, RegO (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., RegO Holding GmbH, RegO Products, RegO Valve (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Rego GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario, Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd., SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP France, SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Shanghai RegO Flow Technology Company Ltd., Shine Bloom - ECI A Blocker Corp., Shine Bloom - ECI Blocker Corp., Shine Bloom - ECI S Blocker Corp., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Soft-Pak, Solaris Laser, Solaris Laser S.A., Somero Enterprises, Sound Solutions, Sound Solutions, Space S.R.L., Spirit, Start Italiana S.R.L., Superior Holding LLC, Superior Products LLC, Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions, Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., Systech, TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Espy Corporation, The Heil Co., Tokheim, Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Triton Systems, Tulsa Winch Inc., UPCO Inc., US Synthetic, Unattended Payment Solutions LLC, Unified Brands, Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vehicle Service Group UK Limited, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., WSCR Corp., Warn Automotive LLC, Warn Industries, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Corporation, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems, Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., WellMark, WellMark, and em-tec GmbH. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Pearson: AEL (S) PTE Limited, ATI Professional Development LLC, Addison Wesley Longman Inc., Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., Aldwych Finance Limited, Americas Choice Inc., Atkey Finance Limited, Author Solutions, Axis Finance Inc., CAMSAWUSA Inc., CTI Education Group (Pty) Limited, Camsaw Inc., Casapsi Livraria e Editora Ltda, Centro Cultural Americano Franquias e Comercio Ltda., Century Consultants Ltd., Certiport, Certiport China Co Ltd, Certiport China Holding LLC, Certiport Inc., Cogmed Systems AB, Connections Academy of Arkansas LLC, Connections Academy of Florida LLC, Connections Academy of Iowa LLC, Connections Academy of Maine LLC, Connections Academy of Maryland LLC, Connections Academy of Minnesota LLC, Connections Academy of Missouri LLC, Connections Academy of Nevada LLC, Connections Academy of New Jersey LLC, Connections Academy of New Mexico LLC, Connections Academy of New York LLC, Connections Academy of Oregon LLC, Connections Academy of Pennsylvania LLC, Connections Academy of Tennessee LLC, Connections Academy of Texas LLC, Connections Education Inc., Connections Education LLC, Connections Education of Florida LLC, Dominie Press Inc., Dorian Finance Limited, Dorling Kindersley Australasia Pty Limited, EBNT Canada Holdings ULC, EBNT Holdings Limited, EBNT USA Holdings Inc., Edexcel Limited, Edexcel South Africa Pty Ltd, Education Development International plc, Education Resources (Cyprus) Limited, Educational Management Group Inc., Educational Publishers LLP, Embanet ULC, Embanet-Compass Knowledge Group Inc., EmbanetCompass, Embankment Finance Limited, English Language Learning and Instruction System Inc., Escape Studios Limited, FBH Inc., Falstaff Holdco Inc., Falstaff Inc., GED Domains LLC, GED Testing Service LLC, George (Shanghai) Commercial Information Consulting Co. Ltd, Global Education, Global George I Limited, Global George II Limited, GlobalEnglish, Globe Fearon Inc., Guangzhou Crescent Software Co. Ltd, Heinemann Education Botswana (Publishers) (Proprietary) Limited, Heinemann Publishers (Pty) Ltd, INTELLIPRO INC., Icodeon Limited, IndiaCan Education Private Limited, Integral 7 Inc., Integrated Analytics LLC, J M Solucoes Exportacao e Importacao Ltda, K12 Learning Services LLC, Kagiso Education Pty Ltd, Knowledge Analysis Technologies LLC, LCCI International Qualifications (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., LCCIEB Training Consultancy. Ltd, Learning Catalytics, LessonLab Inc., Lignum Oil Company, Linx Brasil Distribuidora Ltda., Longman (Malawi) Limited, Longman Australasia Pty Ltd, Longman Group(Overseas Holdings)Limited, Longman Indochina Acquisition L.L.C., Longman Kenya Limited, Longman Mocambique Ltda, Longman Romania S.R.L., Longman Swaziland (Pty) Limited, Longman Tanzania Limited, Longman Zambia Educational Publishers Pty Ltd, Longman Zambia Limited, Longman Zimbabwe (Private) Ltd, Longmaned Ecuador S.A., Major123 Limited, Maskew Miller Longman (Pty) Limited, MeasureUp LLC, Modern Curriculum Inc., Multi Holding, Multi Treinamento e Editora Ltda, NCS Information Technology Services (Beijing) Co Ltd, NCS Pearson Inc., NCS Pearson Pty Ltd, NCS Pearson Puerto Rico Inc., National Computer Systems Japan Co. Ltd, Ordinate Corporation, PN Holdings Inc., PT Efficient English Services, Pearson (Beijing) Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Pearson (Guizhou) Education Technology Co. Ltd., Pearson Affordable Learning Fund Limited, Pearson America LLC, Pearson Amsterdam B.V., Pearson Australia Finance Unlimited, Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd, Pearson Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Pearson Australia Pty Ltd, Pearson Benelux B.V., Pearson Books Limited, Pearson Brazil Finance Limited, Pearson Business Services Inc., Pearson Canada Assessment Inc., Pearson Canada Finance Unlimited, Pearson Canada Holdings Inc, Pearson Canada Inc., Pearson Central Europe Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Pearson College Limited, Pearson DBC Holdings Inc., Pearson Desarrollo y Capacitacion Profesional Chile Limitada, Pearson Deutschland GmbH, Pearson Digital Learning Puerto Rico Inc., Pearson Dollar Finance Two Limited, Pearson Dollar Finance plc, Pearson Educacion SA, Pearson Educacion de Chile Limitada, Pearson Educacion de Colombia S A S, Pearson Educacion de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pearson Educacion de Panama SA, Pearson Educacion de Peru S.A., Pearson Education (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Pearson Education Achievement Solutions (RF) (Pty) Limited, Pearson Education Africa (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Education Asia Limited, Pearson Education Botswana (Proprietary) Limited, Pearson Education Hellas SA, Pearson Education Holdings Limited, Pearson Education Inc., Pearson Education Indochina Limited, Pearson Education Investments Limited, Pearson Education Korea Limited, Pearson Education Limited, Pearson Education Namibia (Pty) Limited, Pearson Education Publishing Limited, Pearson Education S.A., Pearson Education SA, Pearson Education South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Education South Asia Pte. Ltd., Pearson Education Taiwan Ltd, Pearson Education do Brasil S.A, Pearson Educational Measurement Canada Inc., Pearson Educational Publishers LLC, Pearson Egitim Cozumleri Tikaret Limited Sirketi, Pearson Falstaff (Holdings) Inc., Pearson Falstaff Holdco LLC, Pearson France, Pearson Funding Five plc, Pearson Funding Four plc, Pearson Funding Two Limited, Pearson Holdings Inc., Pearson Holdings Southern Africa (Pty) Limited, Pearson IOKI Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Pearson India Education Services Private Limited, Pearson India Support Services Private Limited, Pearson Institute of Higher Education, Pearson International Finance Limited, Pearson Investment Holdings Inc., Pearson Italia S.p.A, Pearson Japan KK, Pearson Lanka (Private) Limited, Pearson Learning China (HK) Limited, Pearson Lesotho (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Loan Finance No. 3 Limited, Pearson Loan Finance No. 4 Limited, Pearson Loan Finance No.2 Unlimited, Pearson Loan Finance Unlimited, Pearson Longman Uganda Limited, Pearson Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Pearson Management Services Limited, Pearson Management Services Philippines Inc., Pearson Maryland Inc., Pearson Netherlands B.V., Pearson Netherlands Holdings B.V., Pearson Nominees Limited, Pearson Online Tutoring LLC, Pearson Overseas Holdings Limited, Pearson PEM P.R. Inc., Pearson PRH Holdings Limited, Pearson Pension Nominees Limited, Pearson Pension Property Fund Limited, Pearson Pension Trustee Limited, Pearson Pension Trustee Services Limited, Pearson Professional Assessments Limited, Pearson Real Estate Holdings Inc., Pearson Real Estate Holdings Limited, Pearson Schweiz AG, Pearson Services Limited, Pearson Shared Services Limited, Pearson South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Strand Finance Limited, Pearson Sweden AB, Pearson VUE Philippines Inc., Pearson in Practice Holdings Limited, Pearson in Practice Skills Based Learning Limited, Pearson in Practice Technology Limited, Penguin Capital LLC, Phumelela Publishers (Pty) Ltd, ProctorCam Inc., Reading Property Holdings LLC, Rebus Planning Associates Inc., Reston Publishing Company Inc., Rycade Capital Corporation, Shanghai AWL Education Software Ltd, Silver Burdett Ginn Inc., Skylight Training and Publishing Inc., Smarthinking Inc., Sound Holdings Inc., Spear Insurance Company Limited, Stark Verlag GmbH, Sunnykey International Holdings Limited (BVI), TQ Catalis Limited, TQ Clapham Limited, TQ Education and Training Limited, TQ Global Limited, TQ Group Limited, TQ Holdings Limited, The Financial Times (I) Pvt Ltd, The Learning Edge International pty Ltd, The Waite Group Inc, Trio Parent Holdings LLC, US Learning Services LLC, USLS Holdings LLC, Virtual Nerd, Vue Testing Services Israel Ltd, Vue Testing Services Korea Limited, Wall Street Institute Kft., Williams Education GmbH, eCollege.com, and Editions Du Renouveau Pedagogique Inc.. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group Public: 360 Connect S.A., 3@ Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. 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Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V.. Read More The following editorial appeared last week on Bloomberg View. No matter how often the U.S. is hit with storms, wildfires and other natural disasters, cities and states remain poorly prepared. Houses are destroyed, transit systems are swamped, roads and bridges are wiped out. The Federal Emergency Management Agency sweeps in to help with cleanup, temporary shelter and rebuilding. But then life goes on, with little concern for next time because the political and financial incentives work against being prepared. Consider whats happened this year in Texas. Since January, the state has received federal assistance four times to cope with damage from heavy storms, winds and flooding. And FEMA has provided more than $120 million in aid to households, plus $30 million to rebuild infrastructure and public buildings. Still, the state has neglected to mandate a building code to make sure homes can withstand wind and flooding. Many areas have no building standards at all. Texas stands out only for its bad luck this year. Across the U.S., few states and cities require common-sense precautions to protect against extreme weather or wildfires. Thirty states lack mandatory statewide residential building codes. With sea levels rising along the Atlantic Coast, almost 60 percent of its low-lying land remains zoned for more development. State and local leaders have reason to resist imposing restrictions: Their voters dislike expensive rules to make houses more resilient or, worse, to abandon or refrain from developing flood- or fire-prone areas. Such measures can also reduce local tax revenue. And as long as the federal government pitches in after a disaster, state and local governments face little pressure to act beforehand. But consider the cost of inaction. From 2002 to 2015, extreme weather killed more than 8,300 Americans and injured 43,000. Natural disasters destroyed more than 147,000 homes and damaged another 3.6 million. FEMA spent $142 billion on disaster relief, and the U.S. Forest Service is devoting an ever-growing share of its budget to firefighting. The federal government will always have the responsibility to help out whenever any part of the country suffers a natural disaster. But it can also provide incentives to make America better prepared. FEMA has suggested, for example, imposing a deductible on states seeking disaster assistance, which would be waived for those that take as-yet-unspecified steps to protect themselves. Those steps should include enacting tougher building codes, more funding for buyout programs, or imposing risk-disclosure requirements on sellers. Further incentives could be provided through the National Flood Insurance Program. Over the past decade, more than 83,000 buildings have received at least two flood-insurance payouts, and some 19,000 have gotten four or more. Congress should require local governments with the most of these repetitive loss properties to improve their planning including by relocating homes that keep getting flooded or lose access to the program. Another way the federal government can help is to see that everyone has the information they need to plan well. This includes data on the effectiveness of various strategies (everything from elevating homes and erecting flood walls to buying out properties) and up-to-date assessments of regional flood and wildfire risks (a public-private database announced last week will help with this). Congress should especially make sure that taxpayers know the cost of inaction, perhaps by including a separate surcharge on federal income taxes to fund disaster relief, as Australia has done. Some places are moving ahead without prodding. Mississippi passed a statewide building code two years ago. And Maryland became the first state to require fire sprinklers in new homes. In Charlotte, N. C., the local water utility uses ratepayer funds to buy houses at the greatest risk of flooding, tear them down and turn the land into flood buffers. And communities in fire-prone parts of Washington and Oregon have required homebuilders to use less flammable materials. States and cities need to do more of such planning. Climate change will only increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather and fires. There should be no excuse not to prepare. From 2002 to 2015, extreme weather killed more than 8,300 Americans and injured 43,000. Natural disasters destroyed more than 147,000 homes and damaged another 3.6 million. The 7th Annual Longest Married Couple Project, Sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Begins Monday October 10, 2016 Contact: Dick & Diane Baumbach, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, 321-544-3440, dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- For the seventh year in a row the annual search for the Longest Married Couple (LMC) in the United States begins on Monday, October 10, 2016, it was announced today by Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME), the original faith-based marriage enrichment program in the world. The project will run from Oct. 10, 2016 to Jan. 10, 2017 with the national winners named in February 2016. There also will be 50 state winners that will be announced in the same time period. The highly acclaimed activity of recognizing couples for their long marriages, which is in its seventh year has drawn media attention from around the world. The first national winners for the project, which started in 2011, were Marshall & Winnie Kuykendall from Lordsburg, New Mexico who were honored for 82 years of marriage, while in 2012 Wilbur & Theresa Faiss of Las Vegas, Nevada were honored for 78 years of marriage. In 2013 John & Ann Betar of Fairfield, CT were honored for 80 years of marriage. In 2014 Harold & Edna Owings of Burbank, CA were recognized for their 82 years of marriage, while in 2015 Dale & Alice Rockey of Olathe, KS were saluted for their 81 years of marriage and in February of this year (2016) Maury & Helen Goosenberg of Carlsbad, CA were the named the national winners with 80 years of married life. The state winners are recognized for their longest marriages also in the February time frame by Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples from their states. There have been over 1800 couples nominated for the honors during the last five years. Winners of the LMC project are selected solely from nominations submitted. "As we begin the seventh year of this wonderful project of recognizing long marriages we want to honor the longest married couple in the United States, as well as in each of the 50 states and territories." explained Dick & Diane Baumbach and Fr. Dick Morse, the U.S. coordinators for the special project. The national winners will be recognized during Valentine's Week 2017, which coincides with World Marriage Day, which is always the second Sunday of February. An Alumni Group has been established for previous national and state winners. Previous state winners can vie for the national title, but they also are now considered members of the alumni of longest married couples in their individual states. This allows for new couples to be recognized for both state and national recognition. "Over the years it has been such a joy and inspiration to recognize a husband and wife who have been married for many, many years," the coordinators explained. The 2017 national winners will be formally recognized in person by WWME's United States Leadership/Ecclesial Team Joe & Sue Talarico of Concord, CA and Fr. Tom Ogg from Ten Sleep, WY. They will present the winning couple special gifts at a ceremony to be held at the winner's location during Valentine's week. The state winners will also receive personal recognition and a special certificate of achievement from the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement. Nominations, which are open to all husband and wife couples regardless of religious affiliation, may be submitted by email, regular mail or by calling a special phone number. The contact information for sending in a nomination, which simply requires the name of the couple, their wedding date and where they currently reside- plus a contact phone or email address of the individual nominating the couple, is as follows: email wwmelmc2017@gmail.com, regular mail Dick & Diane Baumbach 188 Pinellas Lane, Suite 401 Cocoa Beach, FL 32931, and special phone number 321-804-2310. Nominations must be received by January 10th, 2017. Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 47 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in almost 100 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages. Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. Priests are also encouraged to attend a WWME weekend, which offers insights into their relationship with the church and their parishioners, and how their Sacrament of Holy Orders interacts with the Sacrament of Matrimony. WWME offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today's world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to wwme.org, or contact the WWME national office at (909) 332-7309. Media inquiries should be directed to: Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net Share Tweet Hope For The Heart Celebrates 30 Years of Changing Lives Contact: Tammie McAdams, Hope For The Heart, 281-433-9117 DALLAS, Oct. 5, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Hope For The Heart, a worldwide biblical counseling ministry, celebrates 30 years of providing biblical hope and practical help to those searching for answers to life's most difficult challenges. June Hunt, whose lifework has yielded landmark contributions in the field of biblical counseling, founded the organization in 1986. Photo: June Hunt "Looking back over the past 30 years, it's humbling to see how God has used Hope For The Heart to continually help people find practical answers for their problems. We present 'Commonsense Christianity' for real people with real issues offering real solutions by addressing relevant topics from grief and guilt to fear and forgiveness ... from abuse and addictions to self-worth and suicide," shares Hunt. Hope For The Heart serves not only those struggling with critical life issues, but also those seeking direction on decision making, time management, employment and purpose in life. Hunt continues, "My hope has always been for God to use our counseling resources to serve the needs of both those who are searching for real answers to their real-life questions and also those wanting their lives to be transformed to be more Christlike. We've seen lives change. We've seen people find hope and a new purpose because of what Christ has done in their lives." After years of teaching and research, Hunt developed 100 topical "Biblical Counseling Keys" revealing definitions, characteristics, causes and steps to solutions for each topic. Today, the "Biblical Counseling Library" has become the foundation for the ministry's expansion, including its "Biblical Counseling Intensive" conferences and two popular radio programs: "Hope For The Heart" and "Hope In The Night," Hunt's live two-hour call-in counseling program. These two broadcasts are heard on more than 300 radio outlets around the nation. An accomplished teacher, speaker and author, Hunt has written numerous books, including the "Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes" devotional, the "Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook" and "How to Forgive When You Don't Feel Like It." One of her most recent publications, the Aspire minibooks, addressing 42 counseling topics, have sold over 1 million copies. Aspire Press is also currently Beta testing a new line of Bible studies based on several of her most popular topics. In addition, the Hope For The Heart Resources App, launched this fall, provides free, quick, easy-to-access, basic counseling references on 20 challenges experienced in everyday life. Today, Hope For The Heart continues its mission to equip people with biblical principles to renew lives, restore families, revitalize churches and reproduce influencers worldwide. Its impact of changing lives is seen across cultures, races and ages reaching 6 continents in over 30 languages. "No matter what country someone lives in or their cultural dynamics, if they embrace how God's truth works 'in us and through us,' these life-changing truths will make a profound difference in their hearts and lives," Hunt adds. In recognition of the ministry's 30th anniversary, Hope For The Heart will host a special dinner on October 6, 2016, at The Hope Center in Plano, Texas. "This anniversary celebration for Hope For The Heart is the first of its kind for this ministry. The event will celebrate not only all the work done by Hope For The Heart over thirty years through God's grace, but also the ministry's efforts in the future. We prayerfully hope God will continue through His grace to transform and strengthen lives and families around the world," shares Harriet Miers, Chair for the event. Highlighting the evening, Hunt will present the first Ambassador of Hope Awards to this year's two recipients, Dr. Jim Leininger and Cindy Brinker Simmons, whose actions have benefitted people throughout the world. This award is an expression of Hope For The Heart's deep gratitude for their unwavering Christian faith, which has transformed our world and our future with the hope of Jesus Christ. For more information about Hope For The Heart visit www.HopeForTheHeart.org or email publicrelations@hopefortheheart.org. Share Tweet NEW YORK Got a live carp in your bathtub? Planning on losing a day to food prep for the October Jewish holidays? We dont think so, and neither do Jeffrey Yoskowitz and Liz Alpern. Theyre 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 familys 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. 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 didnt 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, gefilte fish had practical aspects. Its often poached or baked, when it doesnt come from a jar. Lake fish is commonly used, including carp and pike. The two dont use carp because, Yoskowitz said, its 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. Thats 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 youd want to eat, Alpern said. The first thing I would say to someone who is unfamiliar and maybe unwilling is youll see that this is a fish pate. Prep time for their gefilte dishes? Usually less than 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. Were 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. In researching gefilte fish which, in Yiddish, translates to stuffed fish (theres a recipe for that, too) the two delved into what they describe as The Gefilte Line. The line: Do you make your gefilte fish sweet or peppery? 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. A Buckingham County man faces charges after being accused of videotaping a woman trying on clothes at Urban Outfitters on the Downtown Mall. Charlottesville police arrested Adam F. Jamerson, 25, last week after receiving a report on Sept. 22 about a man taping a woman without her permission while she tried on clothing at Urban Outfitters. Jamerson faces one charge of unlawfully photographing or filming another. Jamerson is scheduled to appear in Charlottesville General District Court on Nov. 7. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call city police Detective Will Cole at (434) 970-3280 or Crime Stoppers at (434) 977-4000. An Ashland man is in custody after Buckingham County sheriffs deputies said he robbed a bank in Dillwyn last week. Authorities from the Buckingham County Sheriffs Office and the Ashland Police Department arrested 40-year-old David Allen Garland at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday in Hanover County. He faces one charge of armed bank robbery, which carries a possible sentence of 20 years to life in prison, according to police. Just after 4:30 p.m. Friday, deputies said a man walked into The Farmers Bank of Appomattox on North James Madison Highway in Dillwyn and passed a note to a teller, demanding money. The teller complied and the man made away with an undisclosed amount of money, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Buckingham Sheriffs Office at (434) 969-1772. A Charlottesville man has pleaded guilty to robbing the Virginia National Bank on Seminole Trail last spring. In Albemarle Circuit Court on Wednesday, Justin Hunt Sproull, 32, pleaded guilty to robbery, with the agreement that prosecutors would drop a second, lesser charge against him. Police say that at about 5 p.m. April 14, Sproull walked into the bank wearing dark clothing and demanded money. He did not show a weapon during the robbery and quickly left the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Prosecutors said during Wednesdays plea hearing that Sproull had taken roughly $2,500 worth of bait money and was quickly identified because earlier in the day he had gone to the Wells Fargo across the street and opened an account. While there, he told bank staff where he was working. Police went to his workplace the following Friday and arrested Sproull without incident. Sproulls attorney told Judge Cheryl Higgins that the robbery was clearly not well-thought-out and that his clients robbery was the product of a substance abuse issue. He added that he intended to have an hour-long sentencing hearing to address some of those issues. Higgins has set a pre-sentence hearing in the matter for Dec. 5. A Charlottesville man has been sentenced to more than a year in prison after pleading guilty in a federal interstate wire fraud case. Court records indicate that Carmelo Carmine Carrozza, 57 years old at the time of his plea, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release for having lied about a cancer diagnosis that enabled him to leave a job that continued to pay him for some period of time. Carrozza was hired as the director of fine dining at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia in 2013. In June of that year, Carrozza told his superiors that he had been diagnosed with cancer and needed to leave for treatment. The following August, while continuing to receive a salary from The Greenbrier, Carrozza was hired by the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation. He worked there while maintaining contact with his Greenbrier employees, updating them on his condition and treatment. He no longer works for the foundation, a spokeswoman said in May. An investigation by the FBI exposed Carrozza, who has admitted to unduly receiving more than $48,000 from The Greenbrier. Per Wednesdays sentencing, Carrozza will pay $48,355.73 in restitution to The Greenbrier. LYNCHBURG A former Nelson County Sheriffs Office lieutenant pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally recording a former Nelson investigator and candidate for sheriff in a Lynchburg motel room without his knowledge or consent. Rebecca Adcock, 59, of Piney River, was found guilty on one misdemeanor count each of unlawful creation of an image of another and obstruction of justice in Lynchburg Circuit Court. As part of a plea agreement, a felony count of perjury against Adcock was dropped. Adcock, who left the office following the November 2015 election of Sheriff David Hill, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, with all time suspended. Judge F. Patrick Yeatts said the condition of her suspended sentence is that she serve 50 hours of community service within six months, be on two years of good behavior and allow her law enforcement certification to expire and not seek any position in law enforcement for the next five years. Charges against Adcock and former Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks stem from an October 2013 incident involving Malcolm Mac Bridgwater, a former deputy for Nelson and Amherst counties who unsuccessfully ran against Brooks in 2007 and 2011, according to indictments against the two from a multi-jurisdictional grand jury and filed in Lynchburg Circuit Court. Brooks, who left office at the end of 2015 after two terms, is charged with one misdemeanor count each of unlawfully creating an image of another, unlawful dissemination of images of another and malfeasance and one felony count of embezzlement of public funds. He is scheduled to face a Nov. 28 jury trial in Lynchburg and was not in present in the courtroom Wednesday during Adcocks hearing. Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney Michael Doucette, the special prosecutor in the case, said evidence would show, if the case had gone to trial, that in the fall of 2013 Adcock became aware of a relationship with a woman and Bridgwater and wanted to know about what was going on. The defendant wanted to set up Mr. Bridgwater, Doucette said. She took the information to Brooks, who instructed her and former Nelson Sheriffs Office Investigator Scott Bradner to set up Bridgwater, Doucette said. The intent was to get a bad cop off the street, Doucette said. Adcock and Bradner, who Doucette said was not charged in the case because of his immediate cooperation with the subsequent investigation, got in touch with the woman to serve as an informant, the prosecutor said. In the course of carrying out the plan to catch Bridgwater in a sexual encounter, Adcock took part in renting two rooms at the Econo Lodge just off the Lynchburg Expressway in October 2013, and one of the rooms was set up with hidden camera and surveillance equipment, Doucette said. She and Bradner posed as the woman through online and phone contact to lure Bridgwater to the motel, according to prosecutors evidence. Hidden recording devices were placed in a tissue box in the room with Bridgwater and the woman, Doucette said. The woman was never paid for the operation, but one reason the offenses came to light was because a Nelson County-issued credit card was used to pay for the hotel room, Doucette said. After the incident was recorded, Adcock showed it to Brooks, who said good job and later contacted then-Amherst County Sheriff Jimmy Ayers, Doucette said. Bridgwater at the time was employed by the Amherst County Sheriffs Office and a rule of Ayers, who retired last year, was for officers not to engage in extramarital affairs, Doucette said. Brooks met with Ayers, showed him photos Adcock took part in recording and said to Ayers Thats your man, in referring to Bridgwater having sex with a woman other than his wife, said Doucette. Bridgwater resigned from the Amherst County Sheriffs Office after the incident, Doucette said. He was never charged with any offense because he committed no crime, said Doucette. During the course of the investigation in 2015, Adcock instructed the woman not to talk to anyone about the Bridgwater case, Doucette said. She violated her oath of office and oath of honor as a law enforcement officer, Doucette said of her role in the case. Following the hearing Wednesday, Doucette said Bradner no longer is serving in the Nelson County Sheriffs Office or law enforcement. Doucette would not have charged Adcock if she had cooperated with the investigation, but she did not, he said. Bridgwater, who was not present in the courtroom Wednesday, worked for the Nelson County Sheriffs Office from 1994 to 2008 and then worked for the Amherst County Sheriffs Office prior to Dec. 1, 2013. He since has worked as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He was a very capable police officer, in any aspect, Ayers said when reached for comment Wednesday. Any time you lose a capable officer it hurts you. Ayers described the case Wednesday as a bad situation all the way around. Doucette said that, in more than 30 years of prosecuting in Lynchburg, he has never seen a case such as this one. I dont want her to be a law enforcement officer ever again, he said of Adcock. FARMVILLE Virginia U.S. Sen. Timothy M. Kaine and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the Democratic and Republican nominees for vice president, respectively, sparred over their unpopular running mates Tuesday night during a debate at Longwood University. Kaine, a former Richmond mayor and Virginia governor argued that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is ready to be president and that Republican nominee Donald Trump is unqualified and temperamentally unfit for the job. Pence said Trump would restore American leadership on the economy and on the world stage and that Clinton cannot be trusted. Kaine and Pence both have sons who are officers in the U.S. Marines. Kaine said he and his wife, Anne Holton, trust the life of their son, Nat, with Clinton as commander in chief. The thought of Donald Trump as commander in chief scares us to death, he said. Pence said the American people know that we need to make a change. For the last seven and a half years weve seen Americas place in the world weakened, Pence said. Weve seen an economy stifled by more taxes, more regulation, a war on coal and a failing health care reform come to be known as Obamacare. The debate pitted against each other two seasoned politicians whose first mission was to do their own ticket no harm. Kaine and Pence both have served in Congress and as governors. At the outset of the 90-minute debate, moderated by Elaine Quijano of CBS News, Kaine alluded to Farmvilles place in civil rights history. He told the story of Barbara Johns, a 16-year-old African-American student a young, courageous woman who led a walkout in at Moton High School April 1951 to protest the segregated schools substandard facilities. She believed our nation was stronger together and that walkout led to the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that moved us down the path toward equality, Kaine said. I am so proud to be running with another strong, history-making woman, Hillary Clinton, to be president of the United States. Early on, the debate became contentious over the issue of Clintons trustworthiness and Trumps invective. I cant imagine how Governor Pence can defend the insult-driven, selfish, me-first style of Donald Trump, Kaine said. Pence responded: Senator, you and Hillary Clinton would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign. Pence also criticized Kaines tenure as governor from 2006 to 2010, citing Kaines attempts to raise taxes to fund transportation improvements. Kaine said the choice on the economy is simple. Do you want a youre hired president or a youre fired president? he said. The vice presidential debate came as Pence sought to steady the GOP effort. In recent days Trump took to Twitter to criticize a former Miss Universe and The New York Times reported that partial tax records showed Trump sustained $900 million in losses in 1995. At Longwood, Pence said Trump used the tax code brilliantly. Kaine sought to help maintain the momentum that has seen Clinton edge ahead in several battleground states following the first presidential debate Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in New York. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who campaigned Tuesday morning for Clinton and Kaine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, was one of Kaines guests at the debate. In addition to Kaines wife, and Kaines parents, Al and Kathy, Kaines guests included people who symbolize the push in Virginia for civil rights and gay rights. Kaines other guests included Okianer Christian Dark, an African-Amercan who was a University of Richmond professor when Kaine represented her in a housing discrimination case; former Henry L. Marsh III, Richmonds first African-American mayor; and Carol Schall, Mary Townley and Emily Schall Townley. Schall and Mary Townley, a Chesterfield County couple, were in the forefront of the fight for same-sex marriage. Emily is their daughter. Another Kaine guest was Lily Habtu, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the April 2007 attack at Virginia Tech. Kaine, who was governor at the time, spoke at a memorial service on campus after the shootings and later signed an executive order to bar people found to be mentally ill from possessing guns. In the hours leading up to the debate, Longwood was transformed into a giant political spin cycle. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, saw the big event as a boon to Virginias image and his efforts to build a new Virginia economy. You couldnt pay for this publicity were having here, said McAuliffe standing outside sun-dappled Willett Hall, site of the debate, after doing a series of local television interviews. Were telling the foreign correspondents the weather is like this every single day. To have Tim Kaine the first time in a hundred years to have a Virginian on the ticket - is so special, McAuliffe said. Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., a Trump-Pence surrogate, was already thinking ahead to the next presidential debate, Sunday at Washington University in St. Louis, and the next month of the campaign. He said the Trump campaign will be successful if it focuses on the issues, and doesnt get distracted by these rabbit trails that Hillary Clinton has thrown out in the last debate. Falwell said of the Trump-Pence ticket: I think if they can stick to the issues, they win. She just doesnt have anything to say policy-wise. Her only strategy last time was to bring up Miss Venezuela and taxes, and that was an insult to the American people. Falwell said Virginia is still in play because the polls do not accurately measure Trump supporters. I think they are not on this lists of likely voters. I think they are going to show up on election day, and I think they are going to have a lot of surprises. While Pence stayed in a downtown Richmond hotel following his appearance in Ashland Monday, Kaine had the benefit of spending several nights at his home in Richmonds Ginter Park. Kaines dayside preparation in Richmond was fueled by M&Ms and coffee. He relaxed with friends and staff at night, highlighted by a trip Monday evening to Buz and Neds Real Barbecue. On Tuesday a smattering of protesters lined the heavily patrolled Main Street of Farmvilles downtown, and some businesses got into the act ahead of the debate. A local coffee shop advertised the Pence Pumpkin Spice Latte, and the Sugar Kaine soda, while a local print shop created T-shirts with caricatures of Pence and Kaine below the headline: I SURVIVED. With nearly every seat filled in the Paramount Theater on Tuesday evening, Rooting Out Injustice: Poverty, Race and the Role of Legal Aid brought a diverse cast of speakers, including the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, to talk about the hardships faced by black Americans and the need for equality. Best-selling author and Albemarle County resident John Grisham emceed the talk and spoke about his experiences as a young lawyer, just starting out, and representing people who couldnt always pay, including people of color and immigrants. Praising Central Virginia Legal Aid, Grisham said the organization helps people who often cannot help themselves. I always had trouble saying no to people, but when I had to, legal aid was there, Grisham said. Legal aid is there for the little people for those without a voice. Speaking about the current turmoil of social change, Andrea Douglas, executive director of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, took the audience through the past and current disenfranchisement of African-Americans in Charlottesville. Douglas told the audience about efforts after the Civil War to make sure black citizens had equal access to public education and that the rules of law and evidence apply to all people alike. Unfortunately, she said, the country is still not seeing the equality those early activists hoped for, but todays social movements are trying to change that. Black Lives Matter is taking up the mantle of their forbearers, Douglas said. Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, also spoke Tuesday night and started by clearing the air about what the movement actually wants and its origins. This did not happen by somebody waking up one day and thinking, Lets just add water and start a social movement, Garza said. Its about the violence against black bodies in America. Garza said Black Lives Matter really started after the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida. For Garza, that incident felt personal and sparked outrage. I have a brother. Hes 27 years old, hes tall, hes brilliant and he has a huge afro, but he still lives, works and loves in a place that is not unlike Sanford, Florida, Garza said. He is still seen as a target and criminalized, even though he has never hurt a fly. And yet, the stories about people like the Martin family are not isolated incidents, she said. They are the result of culture and a set of laws that allows for some lives to be valued and others not to be valued. Garza also spoke about eliminating the concept of white supremacy and how systemic racism affects the lives of people of color in everything from the legal system to the education system. Dismantling white supremacy is not an attack on white people, Garza said. In fact, its a benefit. Its a burden and its a disadvantage. Its a skewed look at how the world functions. We are not fighting for black supremacy; we are fighting for the right of all of us to live with dignity. We have to be courageous enough to face what whiteness means and what the impact is on our everyday lives, she said. For white people who want to help, the first and best thing you can do is to face what whiteness means. We cannot win justice on our own we cannot continue to be the inspiration for justice without the full participation of everyone in our society. Acknowledging the vice presidential debate happening down the road in Farmville, Garza also told the audience to make a difference with their vote. To cast a vote, she said, means to have a say in things. You have a choice, Garza said. You can vote for fear, anger and anxiety or you can vote for hope. You can vote for a different kind of vision where all people get the dignity they deserve. That is a power you have in your hand. Its important that you make a clear statement that hate is not in the interest of this country. Closing out her talk about Black Lives Matter and the need for change, Garza reiterated the point of the movement. Black Lives Matter aims to end state-sanctioned violence once and for all, Garza said. We are fighting for the sanctity and dignity of all of us, and not just for black men. We are fighting for black women, black queer people, black trans people, immigrants and the disabled community. Those people need to be at the forefront of any social movement many of them are not the perfect victims. This movement is not about making people feel comfortable. CULPEPER The menacing clown trend recently made its way to Orange, thanks to a pair of 13-years-old with access to social media. Authorities and school officials are nonetheless taking the phony social media posts seriously, though they say there is no credible threat of harm to anyone. According to Orange Police Chief James Fenwick, there have been no reported sightings of clowns in the town or county of Orange. Our investigation started as a result of numerous parents contacting me about the posts that their children were seeing, being sent, etc., Fenwick posted on the agencys Facebook page Tuesday. Several parents reported that some of these clown Instagram pages were sending follow requests and such to their children as well as seeing other kids asking these various clowns to come to certain schools, areas, etc. We were also made aware that two specific Orange County Public Schools buses were mentioned in some of the conversations, which is what prompted us to take action. Monday afternoon, Orange County Public Schools made system-wide calls to parents about the social media posts being prompted by similar reports nationwide in conjunction with the Halloween season. Our top priority is the safety of our students; therefore, we take this issue very seriously, the school system said. We are working closely with local law enforcement agencies to identify individuals involved with these inappropriate social media postings. At this time, there are no credible threats against our schools or students; however, we will continue to monitor the situation and work with law enforcement to ensure the safety of your children. The school system encouraged parents to speak with their children about appropriate use of social media. Fenwick posted a portion of the Instagram posts created by two kids having fun. He responded directly to the pair of posters whom he confirmed were, in fact, 13-year-olds. This is Chief Fenwick you are talking to. My suggestion is that you delete this account right away. We are wasting a lot of time dealing with this from parents who are concerned. Be smart, he wrote. Fenwick also asked parents to monitor their childrens social media. You would not believe the number of kids asking these various clowns to come to different locations, he said. Someone is going to get hurt over this nonsense. The Instagram page spawned several others like it around the same time, all of which have since been removed, according to Fenwick. He said charges are not anticipated at this time and that any subsequent actions would come from the school system. In the event that someone does see something, they should call 911, the chief said. We will also have extra personnel out on Halloween to help ensure a safe and pleasant night for all, Fenwick posted on Facebook. Even Stephen King, author of the creepy clown story It, is weighing in on the craziness. Hey, guys, time to cool the clown hysteria most of em are good, cheer up the kiddies, make people laugh, he posted Monday on Twitter. home Entertainment Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo dating rumors: Secret wedding in the works; Hye Kyo pregnant? For months, fans and the media have speculated that the "Descendants of the Sun" lead stars Song Joong-Ki and Song Hye-Kyo are dating. Recent rumors even suggest that a secret wedding is in the works because the 34-year-old actress is pregnant. Social media platforms went crazy over photographs showing Joong-Ki and Hye-Kyo wearing matching bracelets and couple outfits, the Inquisitr reported. The publication also stressed that the co-stars went away to the mountains of Norway to celebrate Joong-Ki's birthday. The actor's birthday is on the 19th of Sept. The actress shared picturesque sceneries on Instagram, not photos of the both of them. In addition, she did not add captions to her posts. According to the report, the photo of the log cabin on a mountain might have been taken in Norway. Even though Hye-Kyo could have been in Norway, there has been no proof that the actor was with her on this trip. Furthermore, news outlets were saying that a wedding is underway because of Hye-Kyo's pregnancy, but it has since been debunked by their agency. A representative responded to the latest speculations, saying that the rumors are definitely untrue. Both parties even added that the co-stars are still just good friends. Hye-Kyo and Joong-Ki's chemistry on KBS 2TV's "Descendants of the Sun" got them the Best Couple Award at the 2016 APAN Star Awards, which was held in South Korea on Oct. 2. Hye-Kyo was not able to attend the awarding ceremony with the actor. "It is my first time getting the Best Couple Award, it's a pity I was not able to receive this award together with my comrade, Song Hye Kyo," Joong-Ki said in his speech, adding, "I am here receiving it alone, but I am still very thankful." Watch out for more updates on Hye-Kyo and Joong-Ki's dating life. ROCKINGHAM In a post-debate appearance Wednesday at a rally outside Harrisonburg, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said that Donald Trump won the first and only vice presidential debate. "Some people think I won, Pence said of his nationally televised match-up with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., drawing a cheer from the crowd of hundreds at the Rockingham County fairgrounds. But I'll leave that to others. "What I can tell you is that from where I sat, Donald Trump won the debate. Donald Trump's vision to make America great again won the debate. Pence traveled to the Shenandoah Valley for his first rally since Tuesday's feisty debate at Longwood University in Farmville, where Pence calmly withstood Kaine's barrage of Trump criticism without defending many of Trump's controversial statements. The mood at the rally was celebratory, with several people excitedly applauding and waving to a bus carrying reporters, thinking Pence was on board. When Pence emerged from a second bus around noon, he was greeted by cheers. But in his stump speech, delivered under cloudy skies from a podium spiced up with pumpkins and hay bales, he sought to turn the attention back toward the top of the ticket. "I know I'm not the main event, Pence said. "I'm the other picture on the bus." Pence said Trump called to congratulate him after the debate, a call Pence said "meant the world." Kaine, campaigning on Wednesday evening at a union hall in Philadelphia, said Pence did not score during the debate "I've never played hockey, but I think I'd be a good goalie based on last night," Kaine said. "Nothing was going in the net last night." Kaine said that repeatedly during the debate Pence had declined to defend Trump's statements. "If you can't defend your own running mate, how can you ask one person to vote for your running mate?" Kaine asked. Kaine noted "I got dinged a little bit, even by my wife, for interrupting too much" during the debate. He added that at some points during the face-off at Longwood he felt like both he and Pence "were debating Donald Trump." In Rockingham, Pence mainly stuck to the standard campaign speech he delivered in Ashland on Monday night, deviating in just a few places to reference his debate against the former Virginia governor and Richmond mayor. Despite receiving generally positive reviews of his debate performance, Pence again criticized the media as unfair to the Trump campaign. "I don't know the issue that will be fluttering on the news tonight," Pence said. "I don't have any idea. It'll be something." The mood at the rally was celebratory, with several warm-up speakers saying it was clear that Pence beat Kaine. Ed Gillespie, a leading Republican candidate for governor in 2017, painted Kaine as a flip-flopper, joking that hed like to see a debate between Kaine the senator and Kaine the Clinton running mate. He also made a dig against Kaines debate demeanor. "I know there's a job waiting for him at ESPN as the new host of 'Pardon the Interruption', said Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman who has largely kept Trump at arms length but encouraged the crowd Wednesday to support the Trump-Pence ticket. Before the opening prayer, Harrisonburg-area pastor John Sloop offered a biblical analysis of the debate. "The Bible says that Cain killed Abel, Sloop said. But last night in Farmville, able Pence killed cantankerous Kaine! State Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, served as the events emcee, telling the crowd that hard work is will be necessary to win Virginia, where polls show Clinton with a fairly comfortable lead. Obenshain said Democrats have figured out the secret sauce of winning close elections by turning out extra votes in their strongholds in Northern Virginia. To counter that, he said, Republicans need to get out the vote in rock-ribbed conservative areas like the Shenandoah Valley. I predict that we will defy the polls," Obenshain said. In 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried Rockingham County will 24,186 votes, or 69.37 percent, to President Barack Obamas 10,065, for 28.87 percent. Obama carried the city of Harrisonburg with 8,650 votes, or 55.7 percent, to Romneys 6,564 votes, or 42.2 percent. Several rally-goers said the debate gave them newfound respect for Pence, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight since he was announced as Trump's running mate in July. Helen Stanley, 61, of Front Royal, said she was particularly pleased by how Pence responded to Kaine's statement about Trump running an "insult-driven campaign" due to Trump's string of comments perceived as offensive to women and minorities. Pence turned the exchange into an attack on Clinton's "basket of deplorables" comment referring to half of Trump's supporters. "He stood up for us without going and being really hateful toward Kaine. I like how he makes his point without being really, really unkind to others," Stanley said. "I know Mr. Trump does get over-extreme. But hey, he's a person." After Pence's 30-minute speech, Jessica Mook, 24, of Lacey Spring maneuvered through the crowd to get Pence to autograph her Bible. "He wasn't insecure like Kaine. He didn't need to always get his point in like Kaine had to," she said. "He had a quiet confidence to him." C.G. Jones, a self-described "senior" visiting from Ohio and staying at the nearby Massanutten Resort, said she found Kaine "obnoxious" and Pence effective. "I think oftentimes it's how you say things as much as what you say," Jones said. Tim Kaine and Mike Pence sounded as if they prepared for two different debates. The two vice-presidential candidates clashed at Longwood University in Farmville Tuesday night, each trying to disparage the candidate at the top of his opponents ticket. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump carry the heavy baggage of damage-laden histories, giving plenty of opportunities to find negatives about their campaigns or characters. But Democrat Kaine did a much better job of attacking Donald Trump than Republican Pence did in either defending Mr. Trump or attacking Hillary Clinton. For most of the 90-minute debate, Mr. Kaine kept his opponent on the defensive. The encounter was labeled a debate, and Mr. Kaine treated it as the kind of free-form give-and-take that outside the realm of formalized political encounters the layperson might associate with the word. In fact, after being called to order by the moderator for interrupting Mr. Pence one too many times, Mr. Kaine said he thought the format allowed for that sort of argument. Mr. Pence seemed to have prepared for the typical political debate in which a moderator asks questions, the candidates respond and rebut, and the questioning moves on to another topic. Thats not to say that Mr. Pence, governor of Indiana, didnt interrupt his opponent as well. But Mr. Kaine came across as far more aggressive even abrasive. That assertiveness served him well in getting his points across, but it also sometimes made him seem like a bully an approach that might or might not backfire. We had predicted that the encounter could produce a substantive discussion of issues. That turned out to be only partly accurate. Moderator Elaine Quijano of CBSN asked thoughtful and pointed questions that sometimes succeeded in eliciting specific, detailed responses. But candidates also employed the annoying technique of ignoring questions and using the allotted time to make the statements they wanted to make. As the first candidate to speak after winning a coin toss, Mr. Kaine did this markedly in his response to a question about his qualifications to serve as vice president and, potentially, as president. He launched into a prepared statement about his ties to the civil rights movement and Farmvilles place in that history, before finally trying to tie the answer back to the question. Mr. Pence followed suit with a statement about his own story as the product of a small-town upbringing and as a son of the common people. Subsequently, however, Mr. Kaine did a better job than Mr. Pence of citing statistics and laying claim to facts. Various national news organizations have pointed out that each candidate stretched the truth about his own ticket and distorted the truth about his opponents. Well leave it to you to search out those commentaries. But as for winning the debate if winning is defined as domination wed say Mr. Kaine had the edge. Tom Garrett, state senator and Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District, opposes Medicaid expansion in Virginia. According to a study conducted by The Commonwealth Institute, the failure of Virginia to accept 95 percent funding from the federal government meant that 12,610 poor adults in Garretts 21st District would not be eligible for Medicaid coverage. Since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, some 20 million uninsured people have gained health coverage nationwide. Medicaid expansion is an important reason for these gains. Prior to passage of the ACA, individual states set the eligibility rules. Virginia set the income bar so high that thousands of poor citizens were left with no choice but to purchase private insurance the cost of which could easily exceed their entire income. Of course, poor people without insurance simply go to hospital emergency rooms, where we all end up paying for their health care through higher insurance premiums. A provision of the Affordable Care Act extends Medicaid access to people making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line roughly $16,390 for an individual and $33,530 for a family of four. If the state were to expand Medicaid, coverage would be newly available for about 462,000 of the states lowest-income residents. Tom Garrett and his right-leaning allies chose to reject the federal governments generous offer to pay the entire cost through 2016, then pay a sliding scale where the states share of the cost would never exceed 10 percent. Thirty-one other states and the District of Columbia accepted this offer. As a result of this refusal, Virginia is ranked 48th in per capita Medicaid spending. In 2014, the United States ranked dead last among 11 industrial countries in measures of health system quality, efficiency, and other factors, while having the highest per capita spending. Access is a big reason. In this election, it is very important that we support Democratic candidates Jane Dittmar for the Fifth District congressional seat and Hillary Clinton for president, who support Medicare and the extension of affordable health care to everyone regardless of age, income, or current health condition. Dick Bucci Fluvanna County References: CANTERBURY - England - Theologians have revealed why an all seeing God in the Bible knew nothing about Australia or America. Miles Pendrith, a senior fellow at the Christian Institute of Theology, a leading Christian authority in religion, revealed in a research paper on Tuesday, the findings of the study. The bible is a book containing the supposed words of an all seeing all knowing god, written by numerous European people during the Medieval era. The bible does not mention Australia, or America, simply because they had not been discovered thousands of years ago by the Israelites, or by the Emperor Constantine, post Roman Empire Medieval Europeans who wrote the bible hundreds of years later. Unfortunately, even though god is an all seeing being, he never mentioned kangaroos, wombats or North American Indians in the bible. We are not sure why this omission would occur however, come to think about it, the Chinese are not mentioned either. During our study, we also addressed the Noahs ark tale. Yes, it is mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh on Sumerian cuneiform thousands of years before the bible was knocked up, but in the Christian bible, Noah received all the animals in the world before the great flood that god kindly created. If Australia is not mentioned in the bible, how did the kangaroos travel thousands of miles to Palestine across oceans to be included in the ark? What about pandas from China or the flightless Dodo from the island of Mauritius? Were these creatures, in their myriad of forms, magically transported to the Middle East by teleportation? We must also remember the Galapagos Islands, the Flightless cormorant does not have the ability to fly, so how the hell did it make its way to Noahs Ark? The bible is therefore restricted to a very small part of the known Roman world and has no cause for the Aztec or Mayan civilisations in South America either. Certainly this is a strange thing because one would have hoped that the Christian god would know everything and everyone, to be timeless, and have all knowledge. Our firm conclusion is not to our liking but it can be the only answer. The bible was written by numerous people who had limited knowledge of the earth as a whole at the time. They did not know about America, they did not know that kangaroos existed in Australia, and they certainly did not know that the Mayan civilisation were building pyramids like the ancient Egyptians. We are sad to conclude, that the bible has very little to do with god, and is just a man made book filled with archaic nonsense, moral tales for ancient people, and myths. Oh shit. According to the Monty Python arch duke of satire, surrealism and the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Scots have colonised every part of major media operations in Britain. Nowhere will you not find some duplicitous Scot undermining English interests than in key editorial/producer positions in all major newspapers and TV production studios. The thing is hes right. John Cleese, may be an old fuddy duddy escaped from a half filled dusty coffin buried in some apartment in Monaco, or wherever he is now, but hes bang on the money, despite the outrage and ridiculous accusations of racism, he hit the nail on the head so hard it went through the floor. The Scots have colonised the press, they influence the English population on what is read and what is not read, and these Scot editors manipulate the news that you read/watch every day. Go through the list of all major news publications in the UK today and bang you hit a Scot dead centre as the editor. Of course, Scots have as much right as anyone to work anywhere they want in the United Kingdom, however the sheer proliferation of them within high positions in the news industry in England does beg questions. In a time where it is okay to be a proud Scot or Welsh person, unfortunately to be a proud Englishman is frowned upon and sneered at. This is the crux of John Cleeses dilemma. Scottish Rite Its not only journalism. Look at politics. Naming a few names, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, Alistair Campbell, and on and on. One must consider the damage committed on Britain, on England by these politicians, who played the long game in inviting half the worlds population into tiny, overcrowded Britain. Lest we forget, Blair who was responsible for the biggest influx of people into the UK in modern history and a murderous war that we are still fighting. The stain of Gordon Brown is still very much around today, this was the man who sold off Britains remaining gold reserves at the bottom of the market losing the treasury billions in revenue and impoverishing the country further. He certainly did not have Englands good fortune in mind, and one can imagine him sniggering as the Queens gold was sold off for a pittance. Another one up for Scotland. Damage England bit by bit is possibly the Scottish agenda, and now that there is a little separation going on in mind and in political reality, the English must awaken to the parasites embedded in their system. Certainly, many of these plants have even lost the vestiges of their Scottish accents but they will damn well continue to undermine whats left of England in their positions of power. John Cleese has every right to castigate the Scots, as much as Nicola Sturgeon continues to do her best to undermine the English. Here is a woman who supported Scottish Independence which would have resulted in Scotland leaving the UK and EU a few years ago, but is now calling for Scotland to stay in the EU all because of the positive Brexit EU referendum result. It is certainly good to see an Englishman fighting back. In this day and age of PC cultural Marxism, Cleese is a breath of fresh air, as for too long, the English have been so subdued, and fodder for cheap shots by all and sundry. As a race, the English do not know where to look now, they have almost become an amorphous race, invisible, angry and most of all tired of all this shit. Fucking get up and hit that ball for a six. Dals Mawiomi or gathering is a highlight of the fall events calendar on campus, and an exciting way to celebrate Mikmaq History Month. But this years seventh-annual edition of the event is particularly special. Thats because the Mawiomi which takes place Thursday, October 6, during Mikmaq History Month will be preceded earlier that morning by a celebration at which the Mikmaq flag will be raised permanently on Dals Studley Campus. This will be the second such installation on Dals campuses, following the Agricultural Campus earlier this year. More details: Flag raising ceremony, Mawio'mi Valerie Armstrong, an International Development Studies student at Dal, recognizes this as a step in the right direction toward greater respect for Mikmaq cultures and traditions. The fact that the flag is being raised permanently is very symbolic of how Mikmaq culture has gone from marginalized within an education setting to being prominently displayed at a university, she says. (Ryan McNutt photo) Valerie, who is from the Paqtnkek Mikmaw Nation, stresses the importance of the celebration. Indigenous peoples, including the Mikmaq of Nova Scotia, have fought to preserve traditions and culture. This permanent flag raising is a testament to the strength that Mikmaq peoples have, as we have culturally persevered through colonialism this strength is now being displayed as Mikmaq culture, through the flag, will be a visible feature on campus. The flag raising takes place at 9:30 a.m. in the Studley Quad (rain location: LeMarchant Place galleria). The event will include speakers, traditional music and a smudging, along with the flag raising itself. A campus celebration Afterwards, the Studley Quad will host the annual Mawiomi powwow, hosted by the Dalhousie Indigenous Student Collective (DISC). The event (11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Studley Quad rain location McInnes Room, SUB) commemorates Treaty Day, held annually on October 1, which honours peace and friendship between the Mikmaq and the Crown. It is important to recognize and remember the treaties, and how the Mikmaq did not cede the land of Mikmaki to the Crown, says Valerie. The treaties were signed between the Mikmaq and the Crown to celebrate peace and friendship. In the spirit of this peace and friendship, as well as reconciliation, it is important for non-indigenous community members to learn more about Mikmaq culture and become educated on Indigenous issues. The theme for this years Mawiomi is "Education holds the key to reconciliation." Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a traditional Mikmaq feast, along with performers including Eastern Eagle, Smokey Point and Stoney Bear, Armadno Lucio, Chastity Lucio, and Halifax Poet Laureate Rebecca Thomas. Dr. Arig Al Shaibah, vice-provost student affairs and Frank Harvey, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, will open the ceremony, and Michael Denny will serve as MC. And this Friday (September 30), Canadian Roots Exchange and Dalhousie Elders in Residence, in collaboration with Human Rights, Equity and Harassment Prevention (HREHP) Office are hosting a Mass Blanket Exercise, open to all. The event is an interactive opportunity to learn about how the colonization of the land we now know as Canada has impacted the Indigenous peoples who lived here long before settlers arrived. (Dalhousie University sits on traditional, unceded territory of the Mikmaq.) The event also honours Orange Shirt Day (Sept 30) in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children's sense of self-esteem and well-being. For more information on Mikmaq History Month visit mikmaqhistorymonth.ca From ghosts to Big Foot, The Library explores the odd and unexplained this month. With October comes Halloween and thoughts of haunted happenings DAYTON CITY BRANCHES: Belmont, Burkhardt, East, Electra C Doren, Madden Hills, Northwest, Westwood, Temporary Downtown Branch The Dayton Metro Library has many seasonal activities scheduled for all ages. For teens, the Ohio Ghost Hunters group visits many branches of the Dayton Metro Library to discuss the tools and techniques they use in their investigations. There are so many people who have an interest in the paranormal, but never get the chance to experience an investigation first-hand, The Ghost Hunters organization says. We love sharing our experiences with them. For adult audiences, guest speakers will discuss their research into local and regional haunted places. And for young children, the Library offers plenty of not-too-spooky Halloween parties, puppet shows, storytimes and crafts costumes encouraged. All programs are free. For more information on these or any Library program, visit the Events Calendar at DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call (937) 463-BOOK. FOR CHILDREN: Wump Mucket Kooky Spooky Puppet Show - THUR, 10/13 | 4-5:30 PM | Temporary Main Library, all ages Halloween Storytime - SAT, 10/22 | 10:30-11 AM | Burkhardt, all ages Halloween Haunting - MON, 10/24 | 4-5 PM | Northwest, ages 5-12 A skeleton scavenger hunt, creepy crafts and treats. Halloween Gaga Ball - WED, 10/26 | 3:30-4:30 PM | East, ages 8-18 Kinder, gentler dodgeball game in costume! Spooktacular October - SAT, 10/29 | 3:30-4:30 PM | Madden Hills, ages 5-12 Harvest games and crafts Creepy, Howl-y Halloween Fun - MON, 10/31 | 4-5 PM | Westwood, all ages Crafts, treats and fun! FOR ADULTS AND TEENS: Ohio Ghost Hunters THUR, 10/20, 4-5:30 PM | Belmont MON, 10/24, 4-5:30 PM | Electra C Doren MON, 10/24, 6-7 PM | Northwest SAT, 10/29, 2-3 PM | Temporary Main SAT, 10/29, 4-5 PM | Burkhardt? How do the Ohio Ghost Hunters investigate the paranormal? Team members will bring a variety of instruments, plus photos and stories of their experiences. Teens, tweens and adults are welcome. Ghosthunting Ohio - THUR, 10/13, 6:30-8 PM | Northwest Ghost hunter and author John Kachuba tells tales of some of Ohios most haunted locations. Ohio Spirits - MON, 10/17, 6:30-8 PM | Northwest Jim Kleefeld brings artifacts, antiques and stories of haunted Ohio places. Jim is the author of Ohio Spirits: Stories Legends and Tales of Haunted Ohio Places. Dayton Ghosts - SAT, 10/22, 2-4 PM | Northwest Karen Laven recounts her experiences researching her book Dayton Ghosts. Big Foot in Ohio - SAT, 10/29 | 2-4 PM | Northwest Learn about this mysterious creature from the experts of the Ohio Night Stalkers. Peugeot eyes an India launch and so the French carmaker is on the hunt for prospective partners. Though it surveyed its possibilities in 2011, for its re-entry into the Indian market, it had to hold its plans due to financial crisis. It even set up its office in Mumbai and earmarked land for setting up a manufacturing facility in Gujarat. So, after five long years, Peugeot is eyeing a re-entry into India. Confirming its re-entry, Carlos Tavares, Chief Executive, Peugeot, said, Yes, we are seriously looking at coming back. In fact, I can tell you we will come back to India in the next two or three years. Right now it is only a matter of finding the right partner. The investment is quite huge as well, which is why the Peugeot is looking for a partner in India. It will spend up to Rs. 4,000 crores ($600 million) to set up its plant in the country. Once if Peugeot gets an investor, it will go on to create unique products for the Indian market for which a local alliance would augur well for the French carmaker. This will help the Peugeot locally make and price their products better with better economies of scale. Although put on hold for now, Peugeot has reportedly held talks with Tata Motors. If the alliance comes through, Peugeot will make use of Tata Motorss X4 platform. Many models will share this X4 underpinning in the future. Peugeots last stint in India was with the heavily unsuccessful Peugeot 309 in the year 1997. With the talks with Tata Motors suspended, it is turning out to be quite a challenge for the Peugeot to find a partner and make a re-entry into the projected worlds third largest automobile market, by 2020. New Delhi: Hinduja group flagship Ashok Leyland expects its defence business to log four-fold jump in revenues at over Rs 2,000 crore in next five years as it gears up to provide an entire range of mobility solutions, including missile carrying vehicles, to the armed forces. "In defence, we have got tremendous growth. We have won 13 out of the last 15 tenders..we are today a Rs 500 crore company in defence and in five years we should be well above Rs 2,000 crore," Ashok Leyland MD Vinod Dasari told PTI. The company aims to accomplish its revenue targets even as it remains entirely focused just on the mobility part, he added. "We are not going to make guns, we are not going to make ammunition. Anything in armed forces that requires movement we will move. This is an extension of our core competency. We are not going to diversify, mobility will be the focus," Dasari said. The company has moved up the value chain from just the rovider of 4X4 vehicles to the army and now provides a range of solutions, including products to move large missiles. "We have gone from just making 4X4 vehicles to 6X6 and 8X6. We make bridge launchers on 10X10. We have already won tenders for that, we have 12X12 that can carry a missile," Dasari said. Ashok Leyland Defence Systems (ALDS), a division of Ashok Leyland, manufactures various products catering to all logistics requirements including troop/load carrying vehicle, light recovery vehicles, field artillery tractor and truck fire fighting, among others. The airline hopes to get better valuation from investors as it has secured flying permit from aviation regulator directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) to have pan-India operations. New Delhi: Regional carrier Air Costa could strike a deal with a foreign airline as early as end-December to either sell a part of its stake or forge a marketing alliance for feeding their international flights, company CFO Vivek Choudhary said. The airline hopes to get better valuation from investors as it has secured flying permit from aviation regulator directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) to have pan-India operations. We have been talking to them (foreign carriers) for the last 3-4 months. With pan-India permit, we hope to get better valuation and close the deal early, maybe in a month or two, Mr Choudhary said. But industry watchers said that it would not be easy for Air Costa to get funds arguing that most of the carriers from Gulf & Middle East countries like Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways go to most of the points in the country and may not need a carrier with 3-4 aircraft fleet. They are not very confident of the airline securing foreign fund given its poor financial health. Apart from Gulf-based carrier, Air Costa is also in talks with an airline in the South East Asia. Kapil Kaul, India head of global aviation consultancy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, however, feels it (a deal with foreign airline) looks tough and does not seem to be feasible. The airline currently has a fleet of three Embraer aircraft and is expected to induct fourth jet by end of this month. Hyderabad: Terming the declarations of Rs. 65,250 crore under the black money disclosure scheme as a "tip of the iceberg", tech investor T V Mohandas Pai feels the government now needs to demonetise Rs. 1,000 notes and abolish capital gains tax on property and gold sales to drive more money into the formal system. "I think it's a tip of the iceberg because India has physical cash in circulation of Rs. 17 lakh crore...that is 12 per cent of this year's GDP. Very, very high for any country," the former board member of Infosys told PTI. Of this Rs. 17 lakh crore, 85 per cent is in Rs. 100, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes. "I would estimate that at Rs. eight lakh crore of the Rs. 17 lakh crore - around 50 per cent - is black money," he said. "The government should look at demonetising Rs. 1,000 notes and come out with a scheme now to say that anybody with Rs. 1,000 notes should deposit them into banks regulated by RBI (and not cooperative banks) with PAN and Aadhaar numbers," said Mr Pai, former CFO of Infosys. He said the government must abolish capital gains tax on the sale of property, if held for more than three years. "Black money report released in Parliament says that 40 per cent of all black money generation happens in real estate. One major factor is capital gains tax. If capital gains tax is abolished, the seller will demand full cheque payment because he does not have to pay tax and the entire sector will be reformed in three years," Mr Pai said. According to him, India has $1 trillion (Rs. 70 lakh crore) of gold. "Total gold value of India at 25,000 tonnes is Rs. 70 lakh crore". India imports 750-1000 tonnes of gold every year. "The government should have a scheme to say if anybody has got gold on their balance-sheet declared for wealth tax or otherwise and hold it for three years and sell, there will be no capital gains tax. This will make more and more people look at gold as an investment rather than gold as an asset to hold black money because if it's made tax-free it will be like stock, it will drive black money out of circulation." In such a scenario, imports would come down because there would be large local sales. Out of 25,000 tonnes, even if three per cent is sold locally, it would be 750 tonnes, noted Mr Pai, also member of the board of directors of NSE. "These reforms - de-monetising Rs. 1000 notes, abolition of capital gains tax on property and abolition of capital gains on gold sales by people who hold it- will reduce black money in the next five years by 40 to 50 per cent," he said. "Because we need policy changes to tackle this problem and unless policy changes come, things will not improve. The lowering of tax to 30 per cent from 45 per cent has greatly improved compliance and reduced black money in the economy. But now black money is in real estate and gold, and these areas need to be tackled now," Mr Pai said. He noted that the government has got enormous data through central excise, new GST, income tax, and the banking system. "If they collate all this data, they can find out where black money is generated, where black money is stored, and where black money can be tackled." The government should set up a high-quality revenue analytics unit, to look at Big data, apply artificial intelligence and machine-learning, create integrated data bases and totally crack the flow of money like the US does. "Catch these people and put them in jail," Mr Pai said. "Because we need data analytics to find out sources of black money. The government should have a trained group of people to prosecute these people." "Today, if you do a raid, they go to court and take a stay and for 20 years nothing will happen. It's a broken system. So, we need trained people to prosecute using these data and we need special courts with simple process to try them and put them in jail. This is required to reduce black money in the economy," he said. A very strong leadership is needed, because the success of the scheme has shown that strong leadership from the prime minister, the finance minister and the revenue secretary has really worked, he said. Mr Pai said the disclosed undeclared assets of Rs. 65,250 crore is a "very pleasant" surprise as not many people thought it will be successful primarily because 45 per cent tax rate was high. "It is very obvious that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's relentless focus on execution of policies is paying off. He has put pressure on the system to perform and the system has performed." Calling for transparency in political funding, Mr Pai said the substantial amount of donations received by parties is by cash without any receipts being given, indicating that most of this is all black money. "We need a reform to say as in the UK, all money received by political parties should have the name of the person, PAN number, or Aadhaar number. Now, 100 crore people have Aadhaar number. Now there is no excuse for not mentioning Aadhaar number for any receipt by an political party," he said. New York: India-born chief of Microsoft Satya Nadella saw his pay packet shrinking to USD 17.7 million (about Rs 117.7 crore) in the fiscal ended June, including a bonus of USD 4.4 million. Nadella, who is betting on technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence to steer the software major's growth, had a compensation of USD 18.3 million in the year ended June 2015. This year's compensation includes a base salary of USD 1.2 million, along with bonus (USD 4.46 million), stock award (USD 12.01 million) and other compensation (USD 14,104), according to a preliminary proxy statement filed on October 3. The stock award value is calculated on the basis of market price as of the date of grant of common stock awarded and other criteria. Assuming that the highest level of performance conditions are met, the value of Nadella's performance stock award would be little over USD 13.83 million, as per the filing. "Nadella received when he was promoted to CEO, with a grant date fair value of USD 59,184,000; he will not be eligible to receive any part of this long term performance stock award compensation until 2019, if he continues to serve as CEO," it added. Microsoft Executive Vice President and CFO Amy E Hood's compensation stood at USD 10.37 million, while that of Chief Operating Officer B Kevin Turner was at USD 12.95 million for 2016. New Delhi: Shares of Adani Transmission surged nearly 8 per cent today after Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure signed an agreement to sell its power transmission assets to Adani Group for over Rs 2,000 crore. Adani Transmission's scrip soared 7.36 per cent to settle at Rs 43.05 on BSE. During the day, it jumped 11 per cent to Rs 44.55 its 52-week high. At NSE, shares of the company zoomed 7.61 per cent to end at Rs 43.10. Shares of Reliance Infrastructure went up by 0.22 per cent to close the day at Rs 591.05. RInfra owns two electricity transmission lines spanning Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and has a 74 per cent stake in another in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. "Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra) today announced the signing of a binding term sheet with Adani Transmission Ltd (ATL) for 100 per cent stake sale of its transmission assets," the company said in a statement. While the two companies did not give valuation of the deal, banking sources said the sale consideration was in excess of Rs 2,000 crore. The 30-share index, Snesex, resumed higher and was trading at 28,293.46 at 1143 hours. Mumbai: Showing sharp swings, the Sensex gave up gains and slipped 41 points after profit-booking in IT and technology sectors kept the forward momentum in check. Investors were also wary of slower September growth in the services sector as pace of new orders moderated amid competitive pressure and unfavourable weather conditions. The Nikkei India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which tracks services sector companies on a monthly basis, stood at 52 in September, down from August's 43-month high of 54.7, pointing to a slower and moderate rate of expansion. However, buying interest was seen in realty, metal, auto, telecom and FMCG counters. The 30-share index resumed higher and was trading at 28,293.46 at 1143 hours, down 41.09 points, or 0.15 per cent, from its last close. The NSE 50-share Nifty was trading lower by 12.55 points, or 0.14 per cent, to 8,756.60. Major losers were ONGC (1.79 per cent), followed by Axis Bank, M&M, Wipro and Dr Reddy's. Notable gainers were Asian Paints (2.2 per cent), HUL (1.24 per cent), SBI (1.22 per cent) and Tata Motors (1.08 per cent). Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) snapped up shares worth a net Rs 344.13 crore yesterday, showed provisional data. Overseas, most Asian stocks were trading lower as concerns shifted to the likelihood of a US Federal Reserve rate increase by the year-end. Mainland Chinese markets remained closed for the National Day holiday. US stocks were closed lower yesterday as investors digested data from the International Monetary Fund and remarks from a Federal Reserve official. Mumbai: In the wake of Uri attacks, many demanded a ban on Pakistani artists in India. Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, who was embroiled in this controversy, finally has a reason to smile as the actor is now a proud parent to a baby girl. According to recent reports, on Tuesday, Fawad Khans wife Sadaf gave birth to their second child. The couple, who got married in November 2005, have a son named Ayaan. Amidst the controversy, Fawad had reportedly flown back to his country Pakistan after Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) threatened Pakistani artists to leave the country or be kicked out. While many came forward in support of the demand, few also stood by the art and requested people to not let the political conflicts affect cinema. Due to the on going hullabaloo surrounding cinema and Pakistani artists, the release of Fawad Khans upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil along with Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan faces trouble. Hrithik Roshan was to co-star Bachchan in 'Thugs of Hindostan,' but ultimately gor replaced by Aamir Khan. Mumbai: Hrithik Roshan might still be reeling under the after-effects of his monstrous debacle Mohenjo Daro, but the actor has nevertheless been working all guns blazing on his upcoming Sanjay Gupta directed Kaabil. The actor reportedly plays a dubbing artist who also happens to be an excellent mimicry artist. When Hrithik did a voice imitation of Big B, he was so uncannily close to the original that everyone on the sets assumed that sound designer Resul Pookutty had somehow engineered the voiceover, DNA quoted a source as saying. The source adds, Hrithiks character Rohan Bhatnagar in Kaabil is a blind man who lives a normal life in the city much like many others there and earns by being a dubbing artiste. Apart from Mr Bachchans voice, Rohan is seen mimicking other celebrities as well. Mimicry, incidentally happens to be another talent of the multi-faceted actor. The actor, hence, reportedly insisted on doing the job himself and was adamant a professional mimicry artist wasnt hired for the job. Hrithik and Resul worked hard on the impersonations and it reportedly has worked out convincingly. On mimicking Amitabh Bachchans voice for the reel, Hrithik was quoted to have said, I guess this is just a reflection of the kind of impact Mr Bachchan has had on my generation, and of course, the fact that hard work equals results. Kaabil, produced by Rakesh Roshan, and also starring Yami Gautam, is scheduled to release on Janurary 26, 2017. Mumbai: Fashionista Neha Dhupia, who is now the host of a celebrity talk show that has #NoFilterNeha as its title, spilled some beans about the secret lives of Bollywood stars. While Nehas show is sure to gain momentum over time, Karan Johar telling Neha that he went shopping right after having sex will be something everyone would be looking forward to hearing from the man himself. Dhupia, who is known for her charismatic personality and drop-dead gorgeous looks, accepted that 'sex' and Shah Rukh both still sell, and they sell well. She also revealed that the otherwise shy Ranbir Kapoor spoke a thing or two about both his celebrity exes, Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone. Unlike other celebrity talk shows, #NoFilterNeha is on the American digital distributor Saavn that has a reach in over 20 countries in the world. The title of the show is self-explanatory; Neha gets her guests to reveal some of their most guarded secrets. Karan Johar, the bold persona that he is, admitted to the former beauty queen, that he rejected her marriage proposals (yes, she jokingly proposed him thrice) because none of her body parts interests him. Dhupia was quoted as saying, He said this on my show. I have proposed marriage to Karan thrice at different places as a joke and each time he has turned me down. He is the only man who I have proposed marriage to. Apart from all the reasons he gave for turning me down, one of them was this. Neha said her being friends with the stars helped in getting the best out of them. She added, "I feel it has got a lot to do with me because I am friends with them and its different when they chat up with me. Everything is dealt with wit and humour and there is no controversy Some of the revelations that we have on my show from the celebs are amusing, shocking and humourous They are not as unfiltered when the cameras are rolling." The Julie star feels that be it the film industry or the world outside of it, everyone refrains from saying things they want to. But her show will have no filters attached to it, Neha promised. Rakesh Roshan had last directed the Hrithik starrer 'Krrish 3'. Mumbai: Rakesh Roshan, whos officially announced Krrish 4 with Hrithik, has revealed that hed never make a superhero film with a female protagonist. If I have a superhero in my film, then I can have a superheroine. I dont think I can make a female-based film, as I believe the audience wont accept that, he told Hindustan Times. However, it isnt clear if the ace director was referring to the social construct or the financial viability of such a project. Rakesh also said that he believes newcomers like Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, Shraddha Kapoor et al. should choose their projects wisely and not fall for the illusion of easy stardom. Newcomers wish to become stars overnight. Hence, they tend to take up a lot of films at once, which isnt right, he opined. Rakesh is currently producing Sanjay Guptas Kaabil, starring Hrithik and Yami Gautam, scheduled for a Republic Day, 2017 release. "...king of the hate left..."-- "As my friend Capper -- the best Wisconsin blogger ever -- says, there will be more. There's always more." - karoli "...the psychiatrically attuned Capper..."-- "This is really great of you! I'm so proud to know someone like you"-- "Capper, a reasonable (and maybe even likeable) Lefty..."-- "capper, the Sidney Freedman of the hate left..."-- "I love capper because, well, what's not to love. But I also hate capper for alerting me to nonsense like this."--- "Capper, you really have a knack for this kind of writing. Really."-- "Crap. I agree with capper. Can Armageddon be far behind?"-- "capper is right. OMG, did I actually say that?"-- Muzaffarnagar: Film actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui who is facing allegation of harassing his younger brother's wife for dowry today appeared at a police station here and produced documentary evidence in his defence. Earlier, the matter was referred for mediation and both the parties were asked to appear at the women police station for resolving the dispute. Afrin, wife of Minazuddin, brother of Nawazuddin, on September 30 had alleged that her husband, brothers-in-law Nawazuddin, Faizuddin, Majuddin and sister-in-law Saima were harassing her for dowry, while the actor has refuted the allegation saying she has done it for publicity. Afrin will also appear at the police station today. "The matter was referred for mediation and both the parties were asked to appear with evidence at the police station," SHO Mamta Goutam said. Earlier, Nawazuddin Siddiqui refuted the allegations made by his sister-in-law that the actor beat her for dowry, saying she has done it for the publicity. The 42-year-old star, who has come under the scrutiny for reportedly harassing his younger brother's wife, Afrin, on September 28, claimed she has deliberately charged him with the allegations because he appeared to be a soft target to her. "I'm falsely charged by my sister-in-law because I'm a soft target for her and she could have easily made the news out of me. I'm an actor so, that could also be a reason for her allegations. Had it happened with a common man, it would not have made the headlines on television and newspapers," Nawazuddin had said during a press conference. The actor also clarified that he has never asked for any dowry and in fact it was Afrin's uncle, who tried to mint money from his brother Minazuddin on a regular basis. Nawaz presented a CCTV footage of September 28, which shows that he was in high fever that night. The actor explained the whole incident through the clip. "On the night of September 28, My sister-in-law's uncle and his wife came at our place with a proper plan of robbery. They entered Minazuddin's room to meet her. Then we heard a noise in a while and we all ran to see what exactly happened. The moment I reached, I saw my sister-in-law's uncle was rushing towards the main door with Afrin. I didn't have any conversation with her nor did I touched her," Nawaz had said. Tannishtha had revealed on social media that she had walked out midway through the recording of the show. Mumbai: Coming out in support of her co-star Tannishtha Chatterjee who was roasted for her dark skin on a TV comedy show, actress Radhika Apte feels one shouldnt crack jokes on someones colour and body structure. Tannishtha had revealed on social media that she had walked out midway through the recording of the show Comedy Nights Bachao because she was roasted for her skin tone. The 35-year-old internationally acclaimed actress was on the show to promote her film recently released film Parched, produced by Ajay Devgn. I think jokes on colour or body shaming shouldnt be made. Its not funny to crack such jokes. Do you crack a joke on fair skin (people)? No, right? So dont do it (joke on dark skin people). There has to be a limit, Radhika told PTI. Meanwhile, following the Uri terror attack, Bollywood seems to be divided over Pakistani artistes working in India. The 31-year-old actress feels talent across the border should be encouraged. When asked if one should encourage talent or impose a ban in such a scenario, Radhika says, What has happened in Kashmir is terrible. But it shouldnt determine other things (working of artistes in India) as its a political debate. I feel art has the power to bind us. We should encourage talent. Radhika is elated with the response to Leena Yadavs directorial venture 'Parched'. I feel every film has an audience and it feels great that people today love to watch kind of cinema as well. The 'Phobia' actress said she will be going on a break for few days. The actress inaugurated a store of Swatch, a leading Swiss watch maker, in suburban Kurla here. I do get a lot of offers for endorsing a brand but for me the credibility of the brand matters the most. A brand should live up to the expectations of people, it should deliver what it promises. I choose to be selective in it (endorsing brand) as it also requires commitment, she added. Mumbai: Shah Rukh has been shooting for Imtiaz Alis film opposite Anushka Sharma tentatively titled The Ring. While pictures of the shoot of the film in Prague, Amsterdam and Lisbon have been doing the rounds on the internet , Shah Rukh has also shared interesting pictures and videos on social media, some in which he is enjoying his own company and some where he is having fun with his son AbRam, Anushka, or the cast and crew of the film. He has now shared a fun picture of his hair when he wakes up. Shah Rukh has given it an interesting caption, talking about how he is a star as his pillow styles his hair when he sleeps, making him look like he's getting ready for a punk rock festival. We have definitely seen that the frequency of Shah Rukhs pictures and videos have increased since he has set out for the shooting of the film. We just hope that he continues it even once he returns home. Fawad Khan might be in the news for the wrong reasons, but the actor had something to rejoice after he left for Pakistan. Khans wife, Sadaf, who was pregnant has reportedly delivered a baby girl on Tuesday. The couple, who got married in November 2005, also have a son named Ayaan. Back in India, Khans film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, directed by Karan Johar could face some trouble during the release due to the ongoing hullabaloo surrounding films and Pakistani artistes. It has been four years since her debut film Poppins reached theatres. Though Parvathy Nair has acted in a couple of films in her first innings in Malayalam, it was her projects in Tamil industry Ajith Kumars Yennai Arinthal and Kamal Hassan-starrer Uttamavillain that made her more popular among film buffs. Now the actor is back in Malayalam with her first solo heroine film Tham Thakam Pathakam. About her new project, she says, Even in Ne Ko Nja Cha and Poppins, I got heroine roles.But it is in Tham Thakam Pathakam that I essay solo heroine for the first time. It was last year that I got a call from its director John to this project. Parvathy recollects that it was Johns wife who had suggested her name for this film, when it was under pre-production. Though I had gone to Johns studio, for the post production works of my previous films, we were not friends until I got call to his film. In fact, if I am not mistaken, I was not his first preference for this role. It was then that his wife suggested my name and that was how I became part of this project. The actor will be seen as Radhika, wife of Vijay Babus character. Unlike her earlier films, she had to do many risky shots. Though the basic thread of the film has some connection with Steven Spielbergs Duel, the script was written afresh. I had to do be part of many stunt sequences. Another interesting thing is that the body double, who was supposed to face camera instead of me, scooted from the shooting set just before the shoot. At last I did that action portion too, she laughs. Parvathy, who is currently acting in actor Parthiban-directed Tamil film Koditta Idathai Nirappuga, will have yet another release in Ktown Enkitta Mothathe. Enkitta Mothathe is a film set in the 80s. It depicts the story of two fans of Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth. In fact that role came to me around two years back. But I had to decline that offer, as I had committed to a film in Malayalam. That film failed to take off then and the makers of Enkitta Mothathe came to me again, asking me to choose one of the two leading roles the fans of Kamal sir and Rajini sir. Since I have acted with Kamal sir in Uttamavillain, I chose his fans role, says the actor, who has signed two Telugu films, too, which are under production. On October 14, the much awaited Hollywood film Inferno is releasing. For the Telugu version, Rana Daggubati has lent his voice for Tom Hanks character in the film. Rana has been busy shooting for Baahubali but when he saw the films trailer, he agreed to lend his voice. In fact, he had to do the dubbing at night, since the days were packed with the shooting schedule but the actor isnt complaining. Ive enjoyed all the books by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks is a legendary actor and to be a part of his legacy in this way made for an exciting partnership. I will be able to look back and feel proud of having memorable characters like Bhallaldev and Robert Langdon to my credit, says the actor. A lot of Bollywood actors like Priyanka Chopra, Irrfan Khan and Om Puri have given voiceovers for many Hollywood films in the past. As an actor, I learnt a lot while dubbing for an actor of the calibre of Tom Hanks. Before they recorded my voice, I did a small test for myself where I recorded my voice and that helped me, says Rana. Watch out for Bhallaldev Rana Daggubati, who is currently busy shooting for Baahubalis sequel, recently shared a photo where he looks all beefed up. The photo also features his trainer Kunal Gir. The actor captioned it, Here goes the new and improved me!! #BiggerMeanerStronger for @BaahubaliMovie with @KunalGir. The infant had been delivered at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College on Monday morning and weighed about 2.5kgs at the time of birth. (Photo: Pixabay) A baby boy with two heads, who was born in Ajmer, Rajasthan in India, only lived up to 32 hours after his parents chose not to heed doctors advice to let him remain in the hospital. The infant had been delivered at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College on Monday morning and weighed about 2.5kgs at the time of birth. Dr Jaiprakash Narayan, an assistant professor of the paediatric medicine department, explained that since this was the couples first child, they had not taken extra precautions and consulted a doctor during the pregnancy. Although the 20-year-old mother completed pregnancy full-term and was recovering well post-surgery, the baby had breathing difficulties. Moreover, an operation was simply not possible. Despite having two pairs of all of their internal organs they were all trapped in one body, with only one pair of arms and legs. You cannot separate such children, Dr Narayan told the Daily Mail. The boys parents decided not to keep him in the intensive care unit and took him home in spite of warnings from hospital staff. Tragically, the baby passed away 32 hours after his birth. His mother and father are yet to come to terms with their loss. Washington: According to a recent research, increased exposure to community violence in minority teen boys leads to symptoms of violent behaviour while abating the signs of depression. The results add evidence to a model demonstrating the desensitization to violence that can occur with greater exposure. Lead author of the study Noni Gaylord-Harden said, "Community violence disproportionately impacts minority teen boys; but until now, we weren't sure of the long-term effects of repeated exposure to violence on the mental health of these children," "This study is unique because it is the first to test this theory of desensitization in a sample consisting entirely of males of color over a long period of time," he said. Adding, "as a result, we have gained valuable insight into the mental health implications of repeated exposure to violence for this vulnerable population, as well as the critical time points and factors for detection and prevention." The study examined the associations between exposure to community violence, depressive symptoms and violent behavior among 285 African American and Latino male youths in Chicago for five consecutive years starting at fifth or seventh grade. All participants were from urban neighborhoods characterized by high violence and high poverty. The researchers used the Pathologic Adaptation Model (PAM) to examine the emotional desensitization process that occurs in youth who are repeatedly exposed to community violence. PAM demonstrates that youth may initially express affective depressive symptoms, such as sadness, crying or feelings of worthlessness and guilt, but become emotionally numb to community violence as they witness more incidents. The findings also suggest that there is a positive association between violence exposure and subsequent violent behaviour. "These findings point to the importance of early identification of youth exposed to community violence in the formative early and middle adolescent years," said Harden. Adding, "Selective prevention programs are needed to address depressive symptoms and reduce potential violent or aggressive behaviors. Efforts to reduce the likelihood of these behaviors may, in turn, reduce rates of school suspension, expulsion, and incarceration in males of color." The research was published in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. This also makes it difficult for pilots to land in Jammu (Photo: AFP) Jammu: Amid rising tensions after the terrorist attack on an Indian army base in Uri which followed a surgical strike by Indian army across the LoC, governments on both sides have refrained from going for an all out war despite tough statements. But meanwhile, netizens have already been hurling accusations as war mongering is rising on the social media. This online war seems to have escalated quickly with hackers hitting Indian government websites, and managing to tap into the frequency on which pilots communicate with Jammu air traffic control. They went on to break into the frequency and transmitted songs, forcing pilots to listen to songs like Dil Dil Pakistan, a popular song by a 90s pop group called Vital Signs, making it difficult for pilots to land in Jammu. But to solve the issue, Northern Control in Udhampur contacts Jammu ATC via landline and gets alternate frequency which helps pilots land in Jammu since hackers cannot tap into the new frequency quick enough. Kanpur: Armed robbers struck three trains passing through the district, looting at least 12 passengers and assaulting those who resisted them in the wee hours on Wednesday. Government Railway Police said the robbers first barged into the Mumbai-bound Lucknow-LTT Express and started looting passengers. When one of the passengers Ramashankar Pandey resisted the robbery bid, he was thrashed by the robbers, a GRP spokesperson said. The accused then boarded the Vaishali Express and robbed passengers travelling in the sleeper class. They also attacked and injured Devi Singh, who was going to Gorakhpur, when he protested their act, he said. Later, they robbed passengers of Lucknow-Kanpur passenger train and beat up Unnao-resident Lala, the spokesperson said. The robbers escaped after looting the passengers. As the incident took place between Unnao and Kanpur districts, GRP officials were busy deciding the jurisdiction. Later, Kanpur GRP sent the three injured to railways' Kamla Nehru Hospital. At least 12 passengers in the three trains were robbed, Kanpur GRP in-charge Shyamvrat Yadav said. Out of the three injured, two were sent home after first aid while one of them is admitted to the hospital, he said. An FIR has been registered in the matter by Government Railway Police, he said, adding the number of passengers robbed and booty taken away is yet to be ascertained. In college, Dr. Victor Thoendel considered a few options when he was looking at the medical field. He had grown up on a farm, familiar with animals and living things on the farm. He was gifted in science. He was inspired by a hometown doctor who had cared for his family and his rural community. If he didnt make it on the medical school entrance exam, he thought, he could fall back on an interest in a pharmacy degree. At the young age of 20, the product of a country school and the Ewing High School graduating class of 16 students in 1963 was admitted to the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, now known as the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His medical career took a twist from his internship to the Navy at the end of the Vietnam War, and then he and David City found each other. The rest is history, not just for Thoendel but for many residents of Butler County and the area. Their histories run parallel. I felt many times over the years. . . I dont know what I would do if I wasnt practicing medicine. It is just so fulfilling, Thoendel said in an interview this week. I dont know any other career that I would have had as much fun. And up until the last year or so, going to work was not work. I never shuddered at the idea of having to go in to work. Now Thoendel and his wife Ruth have cleared the calendar for visiting children and grandchildren and enjoying their cabin near the Platte River. Thoendel hung up his stethoscope recently after 42 years of serving the community through the Butler County Clinic and Butler County Health Care Center. About to turn 71, Thoendel began working shorter weeks a year ago, so the change won't be too dramatic, but he said that it has been tough consulting patients recently. Some of them are the children and grandchildren of the people who welcomed him 42 years ago. Although he looks forward to taking more time on his woodworking projects and having more freedom to travel, the decision to retire wasnt easy. Hell miss his colleagues at the hospital and clinic and the patients he sees on a regular basis. When you start seeing some of these patients who have been patients of yours since day one, and both of us tear up he said, not finishing the sentence. Thoendel doesnt get into stories about particular patients, but Ruth couldnt resist one of the tales. About a year ago, Dr. Robert Daro joined Thoendel and doctors Mark Carlson, Matt Summers and physicians assistant Leah Hays. And then theres longtime colleague Dr. Gerald Luckey. Robert comes and shows me an old photo of a woman holding a small child, Thoendel said. I said, who is that? Yes, the baby was Dr. Daro, and Thoendel delivered him. Health care history Thoendel said that the Butler County medical facilities in place today make recruiting professionals less challenging than some other rural locales. Thats because of the county-owned hospital's nearly 45-year track record of improvement and innovation. The past 15 years have brought many upgrades. It was the same situation in 1974, when Dr. Larry Rudolph flew to Texas where Thoendel was in his second year of serving in the Navy. He was a flight surgeon. Rudolph was in David City and the county was building a new hospital. Had the new hospital not been in the process, Im not sure I would have been here either, Thoendel said. Thoendel arrived in June 1974. Dr. Luckey arrived a month later. Its well documented that they hit it off real well with Rudolph and that Butler County Health Care Center benefited from the consistency of the trios experience for nearly four decades. Rudolph passed away in 2013. Thoendel said he and Luckey had a great working relationship. He brought up the point he could not remember anybody in our state who is in family practice (this long), Thoendel said. The two of us came together and practiced for 42 years together. If not unique, thats extremely unusual. The Butler County Clinic has been a harmonious place, he said. One of the things that I think made our clinic, from the very start, and today, nobody has the big ego, Thoendel said. If someone needed to share or ask questions or share patients, we were not worried about the fact that this patient went to Dr. Luckey or me. Even today with Dr. Carlson and Dr. Summers or Leah, we all have different personalities and attract different patients. It has been a huge factor in the success of the clinic. Practicing over four decades meant witnessing the evolution of health care. The hospital has developed from an inpatient facilty to outpatient care with a wellness and physical therapy department attached. New technologies, medicines, new surgical techniques. Added up, the elements of change have been dramatic. The things we are able to do today, he said. The medicines we have today. When I started we had three blood pressure medications. Now we have a hundred of them. New doctors brought in procedures the older doctors didnt study in medical school. They also came familiar with computer technology and electronic records. The veterans, in turn, convey their experience to the new doctors. You dont learn everything in medical school. You have to experience the experiences. You learn from that. Even today I feel I can help the students and I think Dr. Summers and Dr. Carlson both felt they gained from Gerrys and my experiences, Thoendel said. Thoendel said he enjoyed being in family practice and had main interests in obstetrics and cardiology. Fortunately for David City, he said, the town is remote enough so family physicians are needed, and yet it is in close proximity to larger hospitals and specialists. You have got to know your limits, he said. I have areas that I really enjoyed and Ive got areas where, if I havent figured it out very quickly, I dont have any problems (with patients) going down the road to Omaha or Lincoln. Thoendel also attributes the local health care success to the leadership at Butler County Health Care Center, both in administrators and in the board of directors. Both have been future-oriented since the early 1970s. BCHCC Administrator Don Naiberk said that the impact of Thoendels service will be felt far beyond his retiremement. He served as the Chief of Staff for the Medical staff of Butler County Health Care Center for 42 years, Naiberk said. He has led the medical staff through many changes. He has participated in quality improvement programs, credentialing committees, and has provided guidance to staff and fellow providers. He has always been very gracious, and willing to do what was best for the community, the health care system, and his patients. We are grateful and fortunate to have him involved in our hospital and health care community for such a long time. Early days Thoendel grew up on a farm at the edge of the Sandhills near Ewing. He was one of six kids. In his country school, he was the sole member of his country school class from kindergarten to eighth grade. That meant he absorbed much "by osmosis" from the older students. And then he moved on to Ewing High School to a crowd of 16 classmates, graduating in 1963. His farm background might have primed him for veterinary school, but he turned to medicine. He was good in science. Math was another story. What really sealed it for Thoendel was the influence of Dr. Dwain Peetz, a surgeon and family physician in Neligh. I saw what he did for both my parents, Thoendel said. Moving on to the University of Nebraska was humbling, especially the failing grade on his first chemistry test. He must have been a good student, though, to qualify for medical school at the age of 20. Everybody in your classes was older than you, his wife Ruth added. Following medical school he was in his internship when he was drafted into the Navy. He served in Pensacola, Florida and was a flight surgeon based in Beeville when Rudolph came calling. Rudolph tried shortening Thoendels Navy stint, but the Navy made him wait. Thoendel said returning to practice in Nebraska was his main priority. The medical experience in the Navy wasnt great but the hunting and fishing down there was great, Thoendel said. Along the way during his medical career, Thoendel had a keen interest in education that was sparked by his father's longtime school board service. He served on the David City Board of Education for 32 years, and was board president for 20 years, stepping down in 2010. The commitment to education is evident in the family of Ruth and Vic, with all 10 kids earning college degrees. Four of them are in medical or related fields. Open House An retirement open house for Dr. Thoendel is scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 at Winfield's in David City. New Delhi: The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the bail granted to suspended RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav by the Patna High Court in the rape case of a minor girl. A bench of justices A R Dave and L Nageswara Rao agreed to list the appeal of Bihar government for hearing on Friday as it was prayed there was an urgency in it. Bihar government counsel Gopal Singh said that Patna High Court has erred in granting bail to Yadav in a heinous case like this. Yadav had allegedly raped the minor girl at his residence in Biharsharif on February 6, this year. After evading arrest for considerable time he surrendered after a local court issues proclamation notice and an order to attach his properties for not surrendering before the police. The Bihar Police, in its charge sheet has also named a woman and her relatives as accused on the ground that they have been supplying women and girls to the RJD MLA representing Nawada Assembly constituency. The RJD suspended Yadav from the party on February 14, a day after his arrest warrant was issued. The grant of bail to Yadav created a furore in the state as opposition parties led by BJP accused the Nitish government of facilitating the relief to him. The state government had come under severe criticism recently after RJD leaders like Yadav and Shahabuddin managed to get bail from the High Court in separate cases. New Delhi: A stalker who was harassing a victim on social media and pressuring her to get intimate with him has been arrested by the Delhi police from the Kirti Nagar area. The accused, Jagdeep Singh, a 22-year-old man from Punjab, used to befriend female Facebook users by posing as a girl and then harass them by threatening to leak their morphed photographs, the police said on Tuesday. The police said Singh, who is a B.Sc. (final year) student in Punjab, is a habitual child-stalker, who used to target school-going girls through the Internet. DCP (West) Vijay Kumar said the matter came to light after a man filed a complaint at Kirti Nagar police station stating someone was sending derogatory messages through Facebook to one of his female relatives and pressuring her to have physical relationship. The officer said the accused threatened her to circulate her morphed pictures with a sexually explicit caption on social media if she didnt give in to his demands. A case under relevant sections of Pocso Act and Section 354A of the IPC (punishment for sexual harassment) was registered, the police said. Kumar said they laid a honey trap with members of the investigating team chatting with the accused from the Facebook messenger of the victim to gain his trust. He was arrested on his way to Delhi. Police is checking whether any traffic violations had been booked against him in the past. (Representational image) Hyderabad: A day after their car knocked down a woman and her five-year-old daughter at Pedda Amberpet, the Hayathnagar police on Tuesday apprehended the three suspects. Police found that B.N. Venkat Ramana, a software engineer from Hayathnagar who was driving the car, and his two friends had consumed alcohol at Choutuppal before driving back to Hyderabad. Since it was Gandhi Jayanti, a dry day, the trio had purchased alcohol earlier to party on Sunday. Before producing them in court, they were tested for alcohol levels. The police has booked two cases against them. Hayathnagar police said that based on a complaint lodged by the victims father, Mr S.V. Sivananda, a case was registered under Sections 337 (inflicting injury through an of endangering the life or safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering the life or personal safety of others) of IPC and other relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. At 7 pm, the trio went to an open plot at Choutuppal and consumed alcohol. While coming back all the three were drunk. Despite being intoxicated Venkat Ramana decided to drive, said an investigation official from the Hayathnagar police station. Venkat Ramana, who works in a private firm in the city, owns the Santro car. Police is checking whether any traffic violations had been booked against him in the past. Meanwhile, the condition of five-year-old S.V. Sanjana remained critical. She is still on ventilator support. Her mother, Ms S.V. Sridevi, who suffered multiple fractures, is recovering. Sanjana and her mother were hit by Ramanas car while they were crossing the road at Pedda Amberpet on Sunday night. After the mishap, Ramana and his two friends abandoned the vehicle and fled the accident spot. Culprits were drunk New Delhi: A Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force has been arrested by the NCB from Maharashtra in connection with its probe in an international drug racket involving a scientist and his wife. Officials said Wing Commander G Rajasekhar Reddy was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in coordination with Nanded Police on Monday and brought to Hyderabad today, based on investigations after a drug racket was unearthed in Hyderabad two days back. They said Reddy, posted at Air Headquarters in Delhi, was the alleged "kingpin" of the racket and his purported involvement was revealed after the questioning of the duo in Hyderabad. Some mobiles and Rs 7.5 lakh in cash were recovered from him. Officials said Reddy was produced in a court in Hyderabad today which sent him in NCB's custody. The NCB had on Monday seized 231 kg of the banned narcotic drug amphetamine, worth about Rs 45 crore, from Hyderabad and Bengaluru and arrested three persons including a research scientist and his wife. NCB first seized 221 kg of amphetamine from two persons at Miyapur area here on September 30. Venkat Rama Rao, a research scientist in a reputed private chemical firm of Bengaluru, had come to Hyderabad to collect the contraband from Ravi Shankar Rao, NCB said. After Venkat and Ravi Shankar were arrested, 30 grams of amphetamine and Rs 1.23 crore in cash were seized from a house rented by Venkat near Electronic City in Bengaluru, and his wife was also arrested. Further, 10 kg of amphetamine was seized from a manufacturing lab in Bollaurm area here on October 1.The seized amphetamine was worth about Rs 45 crore. A man allowed his friend to rape his wife to settle a loan of Rs 5,000. (Representational image) New Delhi: A man in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly let his friend rape his wife to pay off a loan of Rs 5000 he owed him. According to a report in India Today, the incident took place on September 29 when the man, identified as Naresh, brought his friend Pintu home. He allegedly forced his wife to go with Pintu to settle the debt. Pintu then raped Nareshs wife. She was beaten up by Naresh when she objected to it. The woman filed a complaint against Naresh and Pintu at Loni border police station in Ghaziabad on October 1, following which police arrested both the men. Bengaluru: A minor college girl staged an abduction and attempt to rape drama that landed her boyfriend and his friend in prison. The Cottonpet police have booked the two youngsters, Farhan Ahmed (18), a resident Haleguddadahalli, and Sandeep Sen (18), a resident Chandra Layout under Section 363 (kidnapping) and have remanded them to judicial custody. The police said that the mother of the minor girl, who is a II PUC student in Adarsha PU College, filed a missing complaint when her daughter didnt return home on Tuesday night. The girl had left home around 10.30 pm and when she did not return after some hours, her parents panicked and filed the complaint. The girl came home around 2.30 am and told her parents that she was kidnapped and there was an attempt was to rape her. The mother got worried and took the girl to the police station. The minor girl told the police that she was kidnapped by three people in an Innova car that did not have registration plates and took her to an isolated place where they tried to rape her. The police grew suspicious and grilled her to get to the truth. They found out that the girl was in love with Farhan for the last two years and her family had decided to marry her off as soon she turned 18. When the girl came to know about the marriage plans of her family, she called Farhan and asked him to come near the Santoshi Maa temple. He arrived with his friend on a scooter around 10.20 pm. They spent time till 2 am at Farhans garage. While returning home, the girl injured herself in the hand and cooked up the story. The police said, There were rounds of Whatsapp messages between the girl and her boyfriend to fix the location to meet each other, and there was enough conversation to say that both were in love. Eventually, the girl confessed to it. The two youngsters were arrested as the mother did not withdraw the complaint and the girl was taken away without the consent of the parents, a police officer said. Md Azhar Hussain, who works in a hotel at Saidabad, is married and has children. Police said he had been following the girl and harassing her. (Representational image) Hyderabad: A man from Odisha, who had been allegedly stalking a teenaged college girl for two months, was arrested on Wednesday by the SHE team on Wednesday. Md Azhar Hussain, who works in a hotel at Saidabad, is married and has children. Police said he had been following the girl and harassing her. He came to Hyderabad for taking up a job. But since the last two months, he had been stalking a minor girl who is studying Intermediate first year. He used to go to her college daily and follow her to her residence, additional commissioner of police (Crimes and SIT) Swati Lakra said. He tried to strike up a conversation with her and also started throwing papers at her with his phone number and asked her to call him. The victim got frightened at this and stopped going to college. Her mother, who is a widow, and is struggling to educate her daughter informed her relatives about the stalker and sought their help, she said. Her cousins started accompanying the girl but Azhar continued to stalk her. After that her cousins beat him up warned him to keep off. Though he stopped following her for two days he started it again. The girl was afraid to go to college and her mother also got frightened. After a complaint from her relatives SHE teams booked a case under IPC Section 354-D and arrested him. He has been remanded to judicial custody, Lakra added. Hyderabad police set up SHE teams in October 2014 to take action against eve-teasers and stalkers. A SHE team consists of a male or female sub-inspector, a woman constable and three constables who carry hidden cameras for video recording. The 56th City Civil and Sessions Court on Wednesday pronounced the quantum of punishment against Bilal, who was arrested by the CCB in 2007. (Represntational image) BENGALURU: A Bengaluru court on Wednesday sentenced LeT terrorist Imran Bilal to life imprisonment until death for waging war and conspiring against India. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 2,75,000. Bilal was convicted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and various other charges. The 56th City Civil and Sessions Court on Wednesday pronounced the quantum of punishment against Bilal, who was arrested by the CCB in 2007. Judge Kotrayya M. Hiremath ordered Bilal to undergo 10 years rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 for the offences punishable under Section 5(b) of the Explosives Substances Act. Bilal was also sentenced to 10 years simple imprisonment each under Section 24(1A) and 26(2) of the Arms Act and a fine of Rs 25,000 each. The officer also confessed that the crores of rupees he had earned from the illicit drug trade had been invested in land and financial institutions. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: Wing Commander G. Rajasekhar Reddy, arrested by the NCB in connection with its probe into an international drug racket, wanted to start a pharma lab with his childhood friend Venkat Rama Rao at Jeedimetla. But when he came to know that Venkat was a kingpin in the drug smuggling world, he decided to go for an illegal lab to produce banned drugs. He was my classmate in Satyavani Vidya Niketan School. When I got posting in Bengaluru, I met him. I came to know that he was going to start his own business besides his scientists post in Bengaluru. When I mentioned about my plans to start a lab, he told me about manufacturing narcotics. I invested Rs 1.2 crore, Rajasekar Reddy stated in his confession. The officer also confessed that the crores of rupees he had earned from the illicit drug trade had been invested in land and financial institutions. In the last week of September, they got a buyer. A buyer wanted 250 kg of amphetamine. It was prepared and ready to be smuggled out when we were arrested by the NCB officials, he said. Hyderabad: Three Shirdi-bound pilgrims were killed and two others were injured seriously when their car collided with a truck at Malkapuram in Medak district on Wednesday. The victims, belong to RC Puram, Medak. Police said the truck drivers negligence led to the mishap. Circle inspector I. Anjaneyulu said the five started their journey from Ramachandrapur town and were driving on the Hyderabad-Mumbai NH when the accident occurred. When they reached Malkapur, a truck rammed their vehicle, said the inspector. The cars front was heavily damaged and the victims got trapped inside. Two people who were sitting in the front died on the spot. Another person died while the rescue was going on, police said. The victims are N. Venkatesh, N. Shekhar and P. Kumar, said a police official. The group was going to the Saibaba temple in Shirdi and had planned to return before Dussera. Police registered a case. The truck driver was arrested by the police. Sheriffs from at least 38 Nebraska counties have added their names to a list showing support for restoring the death penalty. The list includes Sheriffs John Westman of Merrick County, Marcus Siebken of Butler County, Denny Johnson of Boone County, Dwaine Ladwig of Polk County and Paul Kruse of Colfax County, as well as the sheriffs in Lancaster, Douglas and Sarpy counties. It was compiled by the group Nebraskans for the Death Penalty and released Tuesday at the Nebraska Sheriffs Association's annual conference in Kearney. Several sheriffs also appeared at a news conference on the subject. For corrections officers in particular that are housing inmates, or are even in the jails, there is nothing to lose for a prisoner that is already sentenced to life in prison," Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning said in a news release. "The death penalty means those prisoners have something to lose. The other fear that I have is that prosecutors will lose a hammer in negotiating cases if the death penalty goes away. State lawmakers abolished capital punishment last year, but death penalty supporters petitioned to place the issue on the ballot. Voters will decide this Nov. 8 whether to retain the Legislature's law or repeal it. Almost immediately after Tuesday's announcement by the sheriffs, the anti-death penalty group Retain a Just Nebraska issued a statement by former Bellevue police officer and homicide investigator Joe Jeanette. He called the death penalty expensive and fiscally irresponsible at a time when state agencies are being urged to cut their budgets. We should keep the death penalty gone, and invest the millions we will save in more officers on the streets," Jeanette said. "No state law is going to protect someone from a violent crime, but a cop can. The under-construction building was located in a residential area with many IT firms. (Photo: Videograb) Bengaluru: Two people were killed and several others trapped when a seven-storey building collapsed in Bengaluru's Bellandur area on Wednesday. According to reports, as many as six people remain trapped inside the building. Police and firefighting authorities are at the location trying to rescue them. Five people have so far been rescued. The under-construction building was located in a residential area with many IT firms. Bengaluru: The month-long Cauvery river dispute that had paralysed the state, seems to have taken a toll on Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah. This was evident, when the CM took a day off on Tuesday cancelling all his appointments. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior bureaucrat disclosed that Mr Siddaramaiah was monitoring the Cauvery dispute by remaining constantly in touch with Water Resource minister, M.B. Patil, who was in Delhi. "Mr Patil was updating Mr Siddaramaiah with minute details. Mr Siddaramaiah's biggest worry was lead counsel for Karnataka, Fali S. Nariman taking umbrage to remarks passed by party leaders in the special legislature session on Monday. Even Congress leader V.S. Ugrappa and BJP leaders had lambasted Mr Nariman for deciding to recuse himself when the case came up for hearing on Sept. 30. As a result, Mr Siddaramaiah had sent Mr Patil on Monday evening to initiate a dialogue," the source explained. The source added that Mr Patil did everything possible to convince, Mr Nariman. "Once, Mr Nariman agreed that he would appear in court, Mr Siddaramaiah's immediate reaction was: Call off all my appointments today. It was evident, that the CM needed rest as the mental and physical fatigue had taken a toll on him. Despite this, he kept tabs on the case until the order was pronounced in the court hall. Mr Siddaramaiah had been on antibiotics for the last 10 days due to viral fever," the source explained. Meanwhile, farmers in Mandya, furious over the decision to release water to TN, decided to block the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway on Dasara procession day. As much as 2,843 cusecs water is being released into canals for farmers in the Cauvery catchment area and 3,404 cusecs into the river leading to TN. Miffed nariman gives in, appears in Supreme Court It took the efforts of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Water Resources Minister, M.B. Patil and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, T.B. Jayachandra to persuade miffed senior counsel, Fali S Nariman, to continue to represent the state in the Cauvery dispute before the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Deeply hurt by the opposition, the public and a section of the media holding him responsible for the repeated orders of the Supreme Court directing Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu despite the poor storage in its reservoirs, Mr. Nariman and his team refused to appear before the court on Tuesday. But the CM intervened to do some damage control. He not only tried to personally persuade him to continue to represent Karnataka, but also sent Mr Patil, Mr Jayachandra and Advocate General, M.R.Naik to his home in New Delhi to convince him. Former Prime Minister, H.D.Deve Gowda, too played a role, shooting off a letter to Mr Nariman Monday night, requesting him to appear before the court on behalf of Karnataka ignoring the criticism. The persuasion worked and Mr Nariman finally changed his mind, according to sources in the states legal team. He went on to vehemently argue Karnatakas case before the Supreme Court, informing it about the distress of farmers in the state. Hyderabad: The Union home ministry is learnt to have started fresh moves to bring in a legislation to amend the AP Reorganisation Act to facilitate increase of Assembly seats in both TS and AP by the 2019 elections. With Chief Ministers K. Chandrasekhar Rao and N. Chandrababu Naidu separately meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh and requesting increase in the number of Assembly seats in their respective states, the home ministry has started an exercise to prepare a note. Sources said before preparing a draft amendment Bill, Mr Singh will obtain clearance from the PM. Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has been working towards getting the legislation through, and persuaded Mr Singh who ordered his department to prepare the note. Once we get a nod from the Prime Minister, we will prepare a draft amendment Bill to the AP Reorganisation Act and it will likely get Parliaments approval in the next session, said a source. Section 26 of the AP Reorganisation Act provides for increasing the number of Assembly seats in TS from the existing 119 to 153 and in AP from 175 to 225. There is however, a rider stating that it should be in accordance with Article 170 of the Constitution. Article 170 (C) states there shall be no delimitation of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats till 2026. To overcome this obstacle, a few months ago the Union home ministry had written to the Attorney-General seeking his opinion on how to proceed with increasing Assembly seats in both states without triggering Article 170. The A-G had advised against the move, stating that similar demands might crop up from other states too. After this, there was no activity on that front. Recently, after the two Chief Ministers met PM Modi and Mr Singh and due to the lobbying by Mr Venkaiah Naidu, the home ministry has once again started moving on the proposal. Unconfirmed reports say that Mr Rao told the PM that the TRS would extend support to the NDA if needed after the 2019 election and requested him to consider the amendment for hiking Assembly seats as it was a political necessity for him. More than 25 legislators from Opposition parties have switched over to the TRS in the last few months and the Chief Minister was confident of accommodating them by promising an increase in Assembly seats. It is also being rumoured that during recent consultations with Union ministers, Mr Chandrababu Naidu was given an assurance about the fresh amendment to the Act to increase Assembly seats. Even on Monday, Mr Chandrababu Naidu had told TS TD leaders that an increase in Assembly seats in both states would happen soon. Mr Venkaiah Naidu, in his meetings with the PM and Mr Singh on the issue, reportedly told them that in order to contain the YSRC and to strengthen the TD-BJP alliance in AP, such an amendment was necessary. The YSRC had openly alleged that the increase of Assembly seats was meant to accommodate political turn-coats. The T-BJP leadership is against an increase in the number of Assembly seats and it has represented the matter to Mr Singh. We have been opposing the move as it will only help the TRS to further encourage defections, it doesnt serve the peoples purpose, said BJP official spokesperson M. Sridhar Reddy. BJP insiders say any increase of Assembly seats will result in their political rival MIM increasing its tally due to shrinking of existing constituencies, and the chances of the BJP simultaneously increasing its tally will be doubtful. Khem Karan, Punjab: Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spell out whether India was at war with Pakistan even as he denounced the "forcible" eviction and displacement of villagers from the border areas of Punjab. Addressing a series of meetings in villages in Khem Karan and Tarn Taran along the International Border today, the former chief minister also said the surgical strikes were carried out across the LoC even during the Congress regime "but nobody tried to take political mileage out of it". "Are we really at war with Pakistan?" Amarinder Singh asked the Prime Minister. "On one hand the Prime Minister is emphasising the need for de-escalation, on the other the poor villagers are being forcibly evicted. Please clarify your stand," he said. The former chief minister said, he and his party had strongly supported the surgical strikes and will again support it if the need arises. "But we will certainly not support any move that is obviously aimed at the attempts to reap political dividends at the cost of people's lives and well being," he said. Besides, he added, "even during Congress regime surgical strikes were carried out across the LoC but nobody tried to take political mileage out of it". Mr Singh claimed the PM and the BJP were deliberately trying to "create war hysteria" with an eye on the elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. "Unfortunately Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is blindly following Modi's and BJP's diktats without bothering how much harassment and difficulties they have caused to the people, particularly the farmers whose crop is ready for harvesting," he said. "There is no troop movement anywhere whether on this side or across the border. Besides, the armies of both the countries are in their respective peace zones. The only reason for uprooting you is to create war hysteria so that the BJP gets some advantage in the UP election," he told the villagers at Chhinna Bidhi Chand near the IB. Punjab shares a 553-km border with Pakistan and there are six districts in the state which lie close to the IB. Nearly 1,000 villages which fall within 10-km radius of the IB were asked to be evacuated in apprehension of retaliation from Pakistan after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes across the LoC. Panaji: AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Wednesday alleged that BJP and the media attributed words to Delhi Chief Arvind Kejriwal which he never uttered on the issue of the surgical strikes by the Army across the LoC. Referring to a video message of Kejriwal, Sisodia told reporters in Goa that the AAP convener never uttered the word "saboot" (proof), but was asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight the propaganda unleashed by the international media with Pakistan questioning the authenticity of the operations. Kejriwal had on Monday released a video message "saluting" the Prime Minister for the surgical strikes across the LoC and urging him to "unmask" Pakistan's propaganda. However, BJP yesterday said his remarks amounted to "seeking proof" of the Army action, while AAP hit back saying their rival party was playing politics. "We have only demanded that PM should stringently fight back the propaganda by the international media on behalf of Pakistan suspecting the authenticity of the surgical strikes. It is BJP and the media which have attributed word 'saboot' which is not there at all in the footage," Sisodia said. "Those who have watched Arvind Kejriwal's video footage, they have appreciated him. They (who have seen the video) have said it is true that at the international level, the media is poking fun at the surgical strikes. There is a propaganda happening at the international level. "So the way the Indian soldiers have bravely gone into the territory of Pakistan and eliminated terrorists, in similar fashion, the PM or the Indian government should fight back the propaganda," the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi said. "Where are words like 'video' or 'saboot' in the entire footage? They (media) are attributing these words on their own," he alleged. Sisodia said Delhi, places like Goa and the entire India are safe because of the soldiers who are braving all the difficulties on the border. "When they are risking their lives on the border for our safety, cannot we expect the (Union) government to at least counter the propaganda against the operation carried out by them (soldiers)," he said. The BSF patrol in the creek area in Bhuj noticed a wooden fishing boat which had ventured into the Indian waters. (Photo: Representational Image) New Delhi: Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday apprehended nine Pakistani fishermen after their boat entered a creek area in Gujarat. The BSF patrol in the creek area in Bhuj noticed a wooden fishing boat which had ventured into the Indian waters, sources said. The force personnel challenged the fishermen and caught them near Chouhan Nala near G-43 pillar, they said. The nine Pakistani nationals were being questioned even as the sources said nothing objectionable had been recovered from them, except some fishing equipment. New Delhi: Hitting out at those "seeking proof" of the surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said further discussions on the operations will be an "insult" to the "commendable" task carried out by the Army. "There is no need to respond to such irresponsible comments and demands. Fortunately, Congress has also realised its mistake and distanced itself from the comments of its leaders...AAP has also made it very clear," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event. He said nobody has any doubt about the "credentials and commitment" of the Indian Army which has done a "commendable" job and further discussions on the operations will be an "insult" to the force. "I don't think any Indian citizen has got any doubt. Nobody is doubting the credentials and commitment of the Indian Army. It did a commendable job...It would be an insult to the Army if we further discuss," he said. Read: Here is proof: Eyewitnesses across LoC recount surgical strikes Naidu said the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) himself had given the statement about the operations in full details and also shared the information at an all-party meeting. He wondered if giving further details will be in the interest of the nation. Observing that entire country is happy about the surgical strikes, he said the world has also acknowledge the step taken by India. "Only Pakistan is saying something because they have to say something. They are not in a position to conduct funeral or last rites of their own citizens...This is their culture," he said. Earlier, addressing the event, the minister said India does not want war with anybody, but will give a befitting reply if continuously provoked. "...We never want a war with anybody. If somebody continuously provokes us, we will give them a befitting reply like our jawans gave the reply recently," he said. Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had accused the BJP of indulging in politics over national interest and called the surgical strikes on terror camps as fake, the comments which were slammed by his own party. Congress leader P Chidmabaram had also reportedly said it was up to the government to give proof of the surgical strikes in which seven terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir were destroyed by the Army. Also, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday released a video message "saluting" Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the surgical strikes across the LoC and urging him to "unmask" Pakistan's propaganda. Pakistan has denied that the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes against terrorist units on its side of the border on the intervening night of September 28 and 29. AIADMK on Wednesday hit out at the Centre and Karnataka government for not abiding by the Supreme Court directive to set up the Cauvery Management Board. Chennai: AIADMK on Wednesday hit out at the Centre and Karnataka government for not abiding by the Supreme Court directive to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). Protests were held in several parts of Tamil Nadu against the NDA-led Union government for its stance in the apex court regarding the setting up of the CMB, with a farmers' body launching an indefinite fast on the issue in Chennai. In a write-up in AIADMK mouthpiece, Namadhu MGR said that by declining to set up the CMB, even after the apex court's order, it was clear that the saffron party was treating Tamil Nadu with a "step-motherly attitude". "It is clear that the BJP-led Centre will also follow the obstinacy of Karnataka in not heeding to the directive of the Supreme Court," AIADMK alleged. It wondered about the kind of grave situation that may emerge if common people too took a stand that they will not bow to court orders when the Central and Karnataka governments ruled by national parties showed adamance by not abiding the Supreme Court directive. AIADMK said people were aware that the convergence of stance of the Central and Karnataka governments on the issue of setting up the CMB was aimed at the "Karnataka Assembly electoral harvest". "National parties like BJP and Congress imperilling India's unity for the sake of votes and seats has led to a big concern among the lovers of the nation," it said. Farmers of Tamil Nadu All Farmers' Federations (TNAFF) began an indefinite fast in Chennai, urging the Centre to immediately set up the CMB. "This is an indefinite fast. We want the Centre to set up the CMB immediately," TNAFF president P R Pandian told PTI. Fifteen farmers, including those from the Cauvery delta districts of Tiruvarur and Tiruchirappalli, are on the fast. Volunteers of All India Students Federation, affiliated to the CPI, staged a protest in Chennai and Pro-Tamil and farmers' outfits staged demonstrations in Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Puducherry on the issue, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition M K Stalin said they would stage a fast on October 7 in Thanjavur to condemn the Centre's stand on setting up of the CMB. "We will show our opposition through the fast," he told reporters in Chennai. PMK chief Ramadoss said he would lead a protest demonstration here on October 8 to urge the Centre to immediately set up the CMB. "The protest is also to condemn the Centre for its betrayal of Tamil Nadu on the issue and the Tamil Nadu government for having lost the state's rights by being negligent," he alleged. BENGALURU: Think twice before availing the WhatsApp service to reach Bengaluru police, as you could land in trouble. A complaint raised on the police WhatsApp number shook up an HR professional with a leading MNC after he complained to the police higher authorities about the lax attitude of two police constables attached to the HAL police station. The complainant was summoned to the station and was allegedly slapped and tortured for over four hours by the head constable, who threatened him to withdraw the complaint. The cop also took away the complainants phone. The incident occurred around 2 pm last Friday. Partha Nayak, a resident of HAL and an HR professional, posted on WhatsApp that he was threatened by two police constables on duty. How dare you raise a complaint against us to the commissioner? Now bear the consequences, was what the policemen told Mr Nayak when he questioned them about his ill-treatment. Mr Nayak told Deccan Chronicle, I had reported about an issue that happened at the Marathalli Reliance Digital store. A few miscreants were misbehaving and were threatening the people standing in a queue to get a newly launched SIM by Reliance. I immediately sent a message on the Bengaluru police WhatsApp number seeking help. As no one came to the spot, I messaged again saying that the police had not reached the spot. He said, Two police constables in a Hoyasala patrolling vehicle reached the store. There were over 50 witnesses, but the head constable didnt even get down from the jeep. When I narrated him about misbehaviour by some men, he said, Dont try to be smart. I have spoken to the manager and now, I need not talk to you. I immediately posted a message on the WhatsApp about the head constables misbehaviour. In no time, Mr Nayak received a call from HAL police station, asking him to visit the station. He said, I went to the HAL police station to meet the station house in-charge, but he was not available. A policeman came up to me and asked whether I was the one who raised a complaint on WhatsApp. I told him yes, and he started abusing me. He snatched away my phone and dragged me inside, telling the other men to make me sit next to the cells. I had not eaten since morning and as I was on medication, I asked for water, but the head constable, Sadashivappa, came up to me and slapped me hard in the face. I was shocked, and when I asked him what my mistake was and he should not humiliate me, the head constable said, Your mistake was to complaint to the police commissioner and to warn you against doing such things in the future. They threatened me that I would have to face serious consequences if I didnt withdraw my complaint. Meanwhile, Mr Nayaks wife and a friend serving in the Air Force rushed to the HAL police station and got him released around 8.30 pm, but only on the condition that he should withdraw the complaint against the policemen. Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed the pleas of some private companies challenging Coal Ministry's decision to club all sectors, barring power, under a single category for coal block auctions. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed the pleas of some private companies challenging Coal Ministry's decision to club all sectors, barring power, under a single category for coal block auctions, observing that these firms had participated in the tender process which was known to them. However, a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva also said that clubbing of different specified end-uses together "runs counter" to the logic of the classification itself. Dealing with the issue of categorisation by the government through its December 18, 2014 order, the bench said, "in our view, the specified end-uses could not be clubbed together. Each coal mine had to be classified for a specific end-use." The bench observed this while dismissing a separate plea of Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd. Besides Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd, three other firms -- Utkal Coal Ltd, Jayaswal Neco Industries Ltd and Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd -- had approached the court on various issues pertaining to the government's decision on coal block auction. The firms had argued that the decision to club all end- uses, except power, under 'non-regulated sector' has led to a "skewed" bidding process in which unequals were competing with each other for mines. In its judgement, the court observed that these firms had participated in the tender process. Regarding the contentions advanced by Monnet Ispat about coal mine at Gare Palma IV/5, the court said the auction of the mine, in which Hindalco Industries was the successful bidder, cannot be interfered with as the petitioner had participated in the tender process and had even succeeded in respect of Gare Palma IV/7. During the hearings on Monnet Ispat's plea, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain had argued that the company cannot challenge the conditions of tender or auction, having participated in it. COLUMBUS A perceived lack of cooperation between city and county elected officials was discussed Tuesday by the Platte County Board of Supervisors. The topic came up when Jim Scow, chairman of the board, said during committee reports that Platte County Sheriff Ed Wemhoff is entertaining the idea of consolidating 911 dispatch services with Merrick County. A meeting will be held later this month to discuss the proposal further. That sparked a conversation about ongoing efforts to create a joint 911 dispatch center for public service entities in Columbus and Platte County. In May 2015, the county approved a resolution supporting such a center inside the Nebraska Public Power District building to be operated by an independent body of elected and administrative representatives from the city and county. There has been little movement on the plan since then, which has frustrated some on the county board. The city has not done anything. Im sure they wont do anything now that the only person in the city who does anything is going to be leaving, and thats Mr. Mangiamelli, said Supervisor Jerry Micek, referring to City Administrator Joe Mangiamelli, who was recently appointed by Bellevue Mayor Rita Sanders to fill the city administrator position there. The Bellevue City Council is expected to vote on the appointment next week. Scow, who serves on the joint city/county committee, said city officials have not shown any interest in a consolidated 911 dispatch center. They get the money, they use it for any benefit they can within the rules, and I believe that they like the control they have because of the location of where it is at, he said. Emergency 911 calls are answered by Columbus Police Department dispatchers. A second dispatch center in the Platte County Sheriffs Office receives calls routed for sheriff's deputies and Humphrey Police Department. In the countys resolution, the NPPD site was the preferred choice because the dispatch center would be in a building capable of withstanding tornado-strength winds. Access to the statewide radio system was another plus. Scow said the accomplishments are few with the joint committee, and a consolidation of the dispatch center between the city and county might only happen if there's a push from taxpayers. I havent come up with a really good solution other than the fact that the citizens of Columbus need to come to grips with that they are paying for the dispatch center in the city and the one in the county. And whenever theyve decided theyve had enough of that, maybe well look at consolidation, he said. Also during committee reports, Supervisor Jerry Engdahl said several items were discussed at the last road and bridge committee meeting. He reported that 18 of the 19 one-year road plan projects will be completed as scheduled. Also, a proposal was accepted from the county engineer to complete 152 of the 202 required bridge inspections in the county, while the county highway superintendent and another county employee will inspect the remainder. The county engineer is charging $135 per bridge. It was suggested that Fred Liss, former assistant county highway superintendent, be contacted to see if he could conduct the inspections at a lower cost. The board also approved a contract with Creston to repair a 900-foot section of road near the village with a 2-inch cold-mix overlay at a cost of $17,200. German Ambassador to India Martin Ney on Wednesday said that Germany will stand with India in its fight against terrorism. (Photo: PTI/Representational) Hyderabad: German Ambassador to India Martin Ney on Wednesday said that Germany will stand with India in its fight against terrorism. Responding to a query on the recent surgical strikes by the Indian Army across LoC, he told reporters here, "There is a clear international norm that every state has the right to defend its territory from international terrorism." "Let me put it this way..It is absolutely clear that there are two norms in international law governing this issue (cross-border terrorism). The first clear norm is that every state under legal occupation should ensure that no terrorism is emanating from its territory. "Secondly, there is a clear international law that any state has the right to defend its territory from any form of global terrorism," Ney said. "When it comes to counter terrorism, Germany stands side by side with it its strategic partner (India). And these (statements) are not empty words. It is quite clear in the political declaration signed by Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merkel," he said. "I can assure you standing with India side by side against terrorism are not empty political words but backed with concrete projects," Ney said. On the bilateral trade between India and Germany, the German envoy said his country was the sixth largest partner of India and the largest trading partner in European Union. Ney was speaking at a function held here to appoint Cyient Ltd Founder and Executive Chairman and former NASSCOM Chairman BVR Mohan Reddy as the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany. New Delhi: Amid a raging debate over whether the government should release evidence of the army's surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC, Congress on Wednesday favoured use of all "information, evidence and instruments" to call Pakistan's bluff. The party, however, said the government should do it "subject to the considerations of national security". "Subject to the considerations of national security, we again request the government to use all information, evidence and instruments at their disposal in calling the Pakistani bluff," Congress spokesman R P N Singh told reporters here. Insisting that it is time to "expose the malicious lies and false propaganda" of Pakistan, he said the party has emphasised its unequivocal support to the armed forces and the government in the surgical strikes and has "unquestionably supported our armed forces at all times". Read: Pakistan admits to surgical strikes by India, names areas of operation Asked whether the party would take action against Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam for dubbing the surgical strikes as "fake", Singh merely said that the party has taken "note" of it. Yesterday, the party had disassociated itself from Nirupam's remarks and had taken a serious note. Targeting the BJP which is projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "strong" leader in the wake of the surgical strikes, Singh said, "These are challenging times and the entire nation should speak in one voice and support the armed forces in demolishing the terror infrastructure instead of making loud claims to gain political mileage." He alleged that the BJP has attempted to politicise the issue for "myopic political gains". "Before pointing fingers, BJP should reflect upon the immature conduct of its Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and other Cabinet Ministers who are attempting to repeatedly politicise the sacrifice of our armed forces," he said. Seeking to project the BJP in poor light, he reminded that the BJP chief had assured the nation claiming "Pakistan has made serious effort in Pathankot terror probe". Earlier in the day, Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala insisted that the party never questioned the authenticity of the strikes but steered clear of the demand for the release of evidence, saying it would give appropriate advise in the best interest of national security if consulted by the government. New Delhi: Union Minister Jayant Sinha on Wednesday said that no land would be acquired "forcefully" as he expressed anguish over the killing of four persons in police firing during a protest against land acquisition in his Hazaribagh Lok Sabha constituency in Jharkhand. "It is very tragic and unfortunate that people have been hurt and injured. Four people have died and several have been injured. I express my anguish over what has happened. We fully accept that no land will be taken from anyone forcefully," Sinha, who is the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. He said he has been working with the state government and Chief Minister Raghubar Das to ensure appropriate compensation and medical relief are provided to the victims. Four villagers were killed and more than 20 injured in police firing in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district on October 1 during a protest against land acquisition. Police also took into custody Congress legislator Nirmala Devi who had been staging a protest at the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant gate against land acquisition. Sinha accused the Congress lawmaker and her husband Yogendra Sao, a former legislator, of "instigating" the violence. A high-level committee has been set up to look into the causes of incident and the people responsible it, he said. "Whoever is guilty in this will be prosecuted," he said. "Obviously, this tragic set of event was precipitated by the fact that after Nirmala Devi was taken to station by the police, a group of people mercilessly and brutally attacked the police that led to the very, very tragic incident," he claimed. "We have been working very hard over the last many years to ensure that these mining activities are run peacefully and with the full concurrence of the local people," Sinha said. He said he had been working with the local people to put together a set of demands which they have. "Our discussions have been moving forward very peacefully and with a great deal of understanding with the local people and NTPC as well as the local administration," he said. He said that only a few days ago he had presented a comprehensive compensation package which was very "warmly received" by the people of that area. New Delhi: Amid the ongoing chaos over opposition leaders demanding proof of surgical strikes conducted by the security forces across the Line of Control, a report in The Indian Express on Wednesday said that the bodies of those killed in strikes were loaded onto trucks for secret burials. Intense fire engagements destroyed makeshift buildings that housed jihadists, the report quoted eyewitnesses living across the LoC. The eyewitnesses accounts corroborate Indias claims that it carried out surgical strikes on terror launch pads on September 29. They also provided details of targeted locations which have not been made public by the government of India and Pakistan. Five to six bodies were loaded onto a truck early next morning, and possibly transported to the nearest major Lashkar camp at Chalhana, an eyewitness said he was told by local residents. Another eyewitness said that Friday prayers at a Lashkar-affiliated mosque in Chalhana ended with a cleric vowing to avenge the deaths of the men killed the previous day. The Lashkar men gathered there were blaming the Pak Army for failing to defend the border and saying they would soon give India an answer it would never forget, said the eyewitness. However, Pakistan has denied Indias surgical strikes claim, saying its militarys forward positions were targeted with small-arms and mortar fire. "There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross border fire initiated and conducted by India which is existential phenomenon. As per rules of engagement, the same was strongly and befittingly responded by Pakistani troops," Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said in its press release after India announced conducting the strikes. After praising the Army for surgical strikes across the Line of Control and backing the government over the dismantling of launchpads, some in the Congress and Arvind Kejriwal have now tacitly started asking questions. The first salvo was fired by Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam, who said every Indian wants surgical strikes against Pakistan, but not a fake one just to extract political benefit. The AAP had on Monday adopted a similar line. While saluting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the attack, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had asked the government to produce evidence to stop the propaganda being carried out by Pakistan that there had been no surgical strike. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the situation in the state in wake of mounting tensions between India and Pakistan and repeated ceasefire violations by the latter along the LoC and International Border. The meeting lasted for nearly an hour during which the Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister of the law and order situation gripped by unrest after the killing of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander, on July 8, official sources said. The Chief Minister also discussed with the Prime Minister the ongoing developmental projects in the state and thanked him for continued support for the uplift of the people of the troubled state, the sources said. Mehbooba met the Prime Minister for the first time after Indian army carried out surgical strikes across the LoC and destroyed seven terrorist launch pads in PoK. Mehbooba, who is in the national capital since yesterday, also informed him about the steps taken by the her government for evacuating people from the border villages to safer places in view of the escalation of tension between the two countries. Pakistan has been repeatedly violating the ceasefire, using mortars and small arms, resulting in injuries to five civilians and some defence personnel. Patna: The 15-year-old girl who was raped by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav, sent frantic Whatsapp messages to journalists and others hoping to reach Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Yadav was granted bail by the Patna High Court last weekend, which caused the girl to panic. "He is out of jail... I am scared and afraid for my family. What will happen to them? I am already dead after what happened to me. I have nothing more to lose," she wrote in the message, according to reports. She said that Yadav can kill me and my family anytime adding that even the police were afraid of him. The girl, who has cleared her Class 10 exams, was allegedly raped by Yadav at his residence in Biharsharif on February 6, this year. The Nitish Kumar government on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the bail granted to suspended RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav by the Patna High Court in the rape case of a minor girl. A bench of justices A R Dave and L Nageswara Rao agreed to list the appeal of Bihar government for hearing on Friday as it was prayed there was an urgency in it. Bihar government counsel Gopal Singh said that Patna High Court has erred in granting bail to Yadav in a heinous case like this. After evading arrest for considerable time he surrendered after a local court issues proclamation notice and an order to attach his properties for not surrendering before the police. The Bihar Police, in its charge sheet has also named a woman and her relatives as accused on the ground that they have been supplying women and girls to the RJD MLA representing Nawada Assembly constituency. The RJD suspended Yadav from the party on February 14, a day after his arrest warrant was issued. The grant of bail to Yadav created a furore in the state as opposition parties led by BJP accused the Nitish government of facilitating the relief to him. New Delhi: Nearly 100 terrorists are being prepped to cross the Line of Control (LoC) and launch attacks in India. According to a report in NDTV, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was informed on Wednesday with a report by NSA Ajit Doval, detailing the terrorists plans to infiltrate into India. The NSA had briefed the PM and the Home Minister on the information, collected from intelligence agencies, prior to the meeting of the CCS. The CCS, which met for the second time since the Army launched surgical strikes across the LoC, was told that after India's action, the Pakistani infantry is protecting launch pads near the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Locations of nearly a dozen more launch pads have been identified, said the report. On September 29, India launched surgical strikes across the LoC, killing 38 terrorists who were planning conduct attacks in India. This was retaliation for the deadly terror attack on an army camp in Uri last month in which 19 soldiers were killed. Pakistan has denied that any such strikes took place, calling it Indian propaganda. On the other hand, Opposition parties as well as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have called on the government to provide proof of the strikes. Footage of the strikes-filmed in part by drones - was submitted last week to PM Modi, said the report. Intelligence agencies and the military are concerned that before winter sets in, covering the passes into India with snow, Pakistan will send across a large number of terrorists to launch fresh attacks against the Indian army, and also to re-instigate unrest in the Kashmir Valley. New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of an accused in the Dadri lynching case at a hospital in Delhi. 22-year-old Ravi aka Robin died at Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital in Delhi on Tuesday of kidney and respiratory failure, doctors said. He was lodged in the district jail in Gautam Buddh Nagar and rushed to LNJP Hospital yesterday from a district hospital in Noida in Uttar Pradesh after he was "suspected to be suffering from dengue", police said. Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, NHRC issued notice to the Director General of Prisons and the Director General of Police and sought a report within four weeks. Read: Dadri lynching accused dies, family claims he was beaten up in custody The NHRC has observed that the content of the report raises a serious issue of "violation of human rights" of the prisoner. In a statement, the Commission also observed that "the reported different versions and opinions of the jail and the hospital authorities, and the suspicion raised by the family members of the deceased prisoner indicate that the matter requires a thorough probe to determine the facts, which led to his death." Ravi's family has alleged foul play and that "he was kept in a separate cell by the jail authorities and mercilessly beaten up by some police officials inside jail on September 30, due to which his condition deteriorated". "Allegations regarding beating of the prisoner by some police personnel in judicial custody are also serious in nature," the NHRC said. "Even in the judicial custody, a prisoner cannot be deprived of his right to life, which is also ensured by the Constitution. The family members have all the rights to know about ill-health of the prisoner. "Someone, who is suffering from illness in judicial custody cannot avail the medical treatment of his own choice. Therefore, the Commission observed, it is the duty of the authority under whose guardianship he is being detained, to protect his right to life, which cannot be exercised, if proper medical treatment is not provided to him in time." NHRC said reportedly, the hospital authorities have said that Ravi died due to "kidney and respiratory failure". The NHRC further said that "according to the media report, the authorities did not inform the family about the deteriorating condition of the prisoner. It was only after his death on October 4 that his family was informed". In Dadri's Bishada village, Mohammed Akhlaq was dragged out of his house and killed by a mob in September last year on suspicion of eating beef, triggering communal tension in the region. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday warned ministers against chest-thumping on the Indian Armys surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC). According to a report, Modi also said that ministers should not speak out of turn on the issue. At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the PM made clear that only those authorised should speak on the strikes. India attacked terrorist launch pads across the LoC on September 29, with the security forces killing 38 terrorists. However, Pakistan has refused to acknowledge that surgical strikes took place in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling it Indian propaganda. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal have also questioned the Centre on the strikes, saying that proof of the strikes must be shared by the government. Footage of the strikes-filmed in part by drones - was submitted last week to PM Modi, said reports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, poses with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe for a photo next to his wife Maitree Wickremasinghe in New Delhi. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: Asserting a war was not an option between India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka on Wednesday said cross-border terrorism was a core issue on the table for SAARC and the members of eight-nation grouping have to discuss it and its impact before moving forward. Interacting with media after talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on key regional and bilateral issues including security situation in the region, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also stressed that even if SAARC falls apart, cross-border terrorism will not end so India has to see how to move forward in dealing with it. "Cross-border terrorism is on the table. SAARC has to look at it and discuss what has happened (cancellation of the SAARC meet). How we are going to handle it...SAARC has to decide on two issues -- cross-border terrorism and areas in which we can work together. "If we don't do it, there is no future for SAARC," he said while noting that in last few years, nothing has moved in the grouping due to friction between two India and Pakistan. Asked about his reaction on the possibility of military escalation between India and Pakistan in view of the Uri attack, the Lankan PM said, "I don't think war is an option for anyone" and observed that Modi has taken a lot of steps to diffuse the tension. On why Sri Lanka was late in its response on holding of SAARC meet in Islamabad and was not categoric in condemning Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, he said Afghanistan and Bangladesh had a problem of their own internal security which was not the case with Sri Lanka, but Colombo did say that the atmosphere was not conducive for the meet. LINCOLN The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is monitoring the movement of a bull moose in eastern Nebraska. A moose was observed Tuesday near Dixon, which is 12 miles north of Wayne in Dixon County. This follows one report of a moose sighting last week south of Platte Center and another in recent days near Wayne in Wayne County. The commission urges the public to keep a safe distance from any moose, and not approach it. Even if moose appear to be docile, the animals have been known to become aggressive. Commission staff will periodically monitor the movement of the moose as it explores rural areas of northeastern Nebraska, said Karie Decker, the commissions interim wildlife division administrator. It is expected that if the moose, as with most wildlife, encounters a more urban area, it will pass through to more rural environments. Pakistan once again violated ceasefire on Wednesday, this time in the Rajouri district of Jammu. (Photo: AFP/ Representational Image) Jammu/Srinagar: Pakistan troops on Wednesday violated the border ceasefire four times as they resorted to heavy shelling and firing on Indian posts and civilian areas in Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian troops retaliated to the firing which was still on. "Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in Sunderbani and Krishnagati sectors in Rajouri and Poonch district from 1700 hours and 1730 hours today," Defence PRO Manish Mehta said. A senior army officer said ceasefire violations have also taken place in Mendhar sector of Poonch and Macchil sector of Kupwara. There have been eight ceasefire violations since Tuesday along LoC. Mehta said Pakistan troops shelled mortar bombs and fired from automatic and small weapons. Indian Army appropriately responded and there were no causalities on this side, he said. In wake of the increasing violations, BSF has increased deployment of its troops along IB and technical equipment have been reinforced. "We have increased the deployment (along IB)," BSF Director General K K Sharma said. On Tuesday, Pakistan troops violated ceasefire five times and targeted 10 forward areas with mortar shelling and firing on Indian posts and civilian areas along LoC in Jammu, Poonch and Rajouri districts. One jawan is reported to have suffered minor injuries in the action by Pakistani troops on Tuesday. Samana in Bhimber, Hazira in Poonch, Dudhniyal in Neelam and Kayani in Hathian Bala are some of the areas named by the Mirpur SP in his conversation. (Photo: AP/ Representational Image) New Delhi: A senior Pakistani police official has said that surgical strikes by the Indian army across the Line of Control (LoC) did indeed take place, and killed at least five Pakistani soldiers and an unspecified number of militants. According to a report in CNN News18, a senior police official in PoK, under the impression he was speaking to his superior, rattled off the events of the night of September 28 and confirmed every single claim made by the Indian Army over the last week. On tape, Ghulam Akbar, Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) of the Mirpur Range in PoK, is heard admitting that the surgical strikes had indeed taken place in many sectors on the early hours of September 29. Akbar further states that the Pakistani Army was caught unawares by the Indian attack and lost 5 soldiers. He says that the Pakistan Army removed bodies of several terrorists from the area following the operation. Samana in Bhimber, Hazira in Poonch, Dudhniyal in Neelam and Kayani in Hathian Bala are some of the areas named by the Mirpur SP in his conversation, which were attacked by Indian security forces during the surgical strike. Akbar states that the Pakistan Army immediately cordoned off the areas following the strikes. The SP also said Pakistani Army put the dead bodies in ambulances and took them away, and buried them in villages. "Sir, that was night...you can say roughly 3-4 hours... between 2 am and 4 or 5am... the attack continued between that time. There were attacks on separate places... several places were attacked... they also met resistance," CNN News 18 quoted Akbar as saying. But in probably what is the worst indictment of Pakistans hand in sponsoring terrorism, the SP stated that the Pakistani Army facilitates jihadi movement in forward areas and arranges for their crossing over to India. "The Army brings them, sir... it is in their hands," he was quoted as saying. Finally, he admits that the Pakistani Army also protects the jihadi infrastructure in PoK, even from the local police and authorities. Kolkata: In a major relief to Saradha chit fund scam accused Kunal Ghosh, the Calcutta High Court granted interim bail to him on Wednesday. The period of the bail has been set up to November 11. The suspended Trinamool Congress MP, who is now in custody, is likely to walk out of jail on Thursday. Ghosh, who was arrested by the Bidhannagar City Police on November 23 in 2013 and was later chargesheeted by the CBI in the Saradha scam, has already spent more than two years in custody. He was granted bail against a bond of Rs 2 lakhs by the division bench of Justice Asim Kumar Ray and Justice Malay Marut Banerjee of the high court. The high court however imposed some conditions while granting bail to Ghosh. The MP has to submit his passport to the CBI and has to appear before the agency once a week. The high court also empowered the CBI to call Ghosh for questioning whenever required. He has also been barred from travelling outside the jurisdiction of Narkeldanga police station where his residence is located. The high court's order came a day after it observed that there was no need to keep him behind bars any more. The division bench held that the law of the land does not provide for any ground to keep Ghosh in custody further. On Tuesday Justice Ray chastised CBI lawyer K Raghavacharyulu who opposed the MP's bail prayer and sought more time for hearing. Earlier, former Trinamool minister Madan Mitra was granted bail by the Alipore Court on September 9. New Delhi: Tamil Nadu suffered a setback on Tuesday with the Supreme Court putting on hold its earlier direction to the Centre to set up the Cauvery Management Board to assess the ground realities in the Cauvery river basin. The court, however, directed Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu from October 7 to 18, taking note of the fact that by October 6 the State would have complied with the order and released 36,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. The Bench asked the Supervisory committee to undertake an inspection of the Cauvery river basin to study the ground realities and submit a report on October 17, ahead of the hearing on October 18. A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Uday Lalit, despite strong opposition from Tamil Nadu, accepted the submissions of the Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on behalf of the Centre that the apex court could not have passed an order for the constitution of the CMB as there is an embargo under Article 262 of the Constitution, read with Section 11 of the Inter-State River Disputes Act, 1956 to pass such an order. The AG also contended that the constitution of a CMB by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on the lines of Bhakra-Beas Management Board was only a "recommendation", which the Centre could choose to either accept or reject. He said setting up of a Board is a part of legislative exercise. This order had denuded the Centre of its power under the Inter State Water Disputes Act of 1956 to frame a scheme based on an award which goes through a legislative process by placing thereof before the Parliament and final say is vested in the Parliament. The AG said the order should be recalled or deferred for the time being to be decided in the final hearing of the appeals coming up for hearing on October 18. Senior counsel Fali Nariman who had recused himself from representing Karnataka on September 30 till the State complied with the order, today informed the court that the State had already released 24,000 cusecs and by October 6, TN will get the balance 12,000 cusecs and thereby the orders have been complied with. He, however, cautioned the court from passing further orders relating to release of water which cannot be implemented as it will cause misery and create problems to the people. Mr. Nariman said during the last hearing he had requested the court not to pass orders for release of water, but despite his opposition, this court directed release of water and he had to draw flak. The State Advocate General M.R. Naik, after taking instructions from the government, informed the bench that 1,500 cusecs of water can be released for 10 days from October 7 to 16 till the technical committee submits its report. He said in September the state had released 17.5 tmcft and another 3.1tmcft will be released by October 6. Sharif expressed support for Kashmiris in his speech and said the issue should be resolved according to the wishes of people of Kashmir and the UN resolutions. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: India on Wednesday said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's comments describing Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani, whose encounter killing by security forces triggered the current unrest in the Valley, as "son of the Kashmiri soil" shows that country's attachment to terrorism. "The speech by Sharif at the joint session of Parliament shows Pakistan's continued attachment to terrorism," senior government sources said. Their remarks came after Sharif, while addressing a joint session of Parliament convened to discuss the security situation in the wake of increasing Indo-Pak tensions, accused India of running away from dialogue and instead creating a war-like environment by blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed last month. Sharif expressed support for Kashmiris and said the issue should be resolved according to the wishes of people of Kashmir and the UN resolutions. "The Kashmiri youth have taken it upon themselves to carry on the movement of freedom against Indian aggression and atrocities...The death of Burhan Wani, son of the Kashmiri soil, had reminded India to give Kashmiris their right to self- determination," Sharif said. New Delhi: Facebook India, Google, YouTube and Twitter India were on Wednesday restrained by Delhi High Court from publishing or showing any derogatory photographs of expelled AIADMK lawmaker Sasikala Pushpa after she alleged that some unknown persons were threatening to tarnish her image by uploading her morphed photos and videos. Justice RK Gauba also asked these social media platforms to pull down her photos immediately, observing that "such alleged material is likely to cause irreversible grave and irreparable prejudice to the fair name and reputation of the plaintiff". "While issuing notice to the defendants, (Facebook India, Google, YouTube India and Twitter India) injunction is granted in favour of the plaintiff. "The defendants are restrained from publishing, broadcasting, distributing or disseminating in any form or manner whatsoever any defamatory material including the purported photograph...referred in this plaint, relating to or arising from, in connection with any alleged acts or behavior relatable to the plaintiff," the court said, making it clear that the defendants were obliged to take steps to remove such photographs. The court's order came on a plea by the Rajya Sabha lawmaker who has sought injunction order against the four platforms on the ground that they have not made any attempt to verify the authenticity of the photographs before uploading it. Senior advocate Sachin Puri, appearing for Ms Pushpa, alleged that after she refused to resign as a party lawmaker, some unknown persons threatened that they would distribute the pictures to all media houses and upload them on social media, which would severely defame and embarrass her. "It is to victimise me and throw me out of the party," the counsel argued. Ms Pushpa, who was expelled from AIADMK on August one this year, said in her plea that the issue arose after she informed Parliament that she had been slapped by a AIADMK leader in Chennai and was facing death threats. She also said that a false complaint was filed against her and her family members for allegedly ill-treating and sexually abusing two domestic aides in the year 2011. Her counsel said she was protected from arrest in the case by the Supreme Court, which has asked her to join the probe. The plea filed through advocate D Abhinav Rao stated that on September 19 Sasikala Pushpa received a phone call with the caller saying he would update few photographs and videos on YouTube and cause physical and mental harm to her. "The person threatened her to resign from her constitutional post or else he will start spreading false rumours and allegations against plaintiff, including false statements regarding her moral character. Further, he will also upload lot of pictures on social media," the plea said. It said these acts were violative of her fundamental rights under the Constitution. "Such conduct has been actuated by malice against the plaintiff. The above said acts tantamount to blatant scandal mongering and are per se defamatory as they seek to denigrate both the plaintiff and harm her impeccable reputation in the public estimation," the plea added. New Delhi: Amidst rising tension, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban import of cement from Pakistan in the interest of domestic industry and national security. "I request you to ban import of cement into the country not only in the interest of growth and sustenance of domestic cement industry but also in keeping with the imperatives of national security. Ban of import from Pakistan will be in the interest of the country's security in the present juncture," Swamy said in a letter to Modi. He said import of cement without levy of customs duty was introduced in 2007 to augment supply in view of high demand. He said the situation has since changed and the domestic industry has added a lot of capacity which is not being utilised, with around 116 million tonnes cement capacity lying idle due to stagnating demand in the country. He also referred to reports of recovery of drugs like heroin and fake Indian currency notes concealed in cement bags imported from Pakistan. "Allowing imports of cement from Pakistan, therefore, carried with it the additional risk in that it provides an effective cover for smuggling of contraband goods and harmful weapons and ammunition concealed in cement bags which comes in rakes and trucks, in the hands of disruptionist elements," he said. The BJP leader said the industry today has a capacity utilisation of less than 70 per cent with units in South India posting even lesser capacity utilsation. He further said that capital investment of more than Rs 90,000 crore required for creation of this capacity is lying stranded. "India has become a dumping ground for imported cement, particularly from Pakistan, China and Bangladesh. It is ironical that while on every front Pakistan continues to trouble us, India continues to allow duty-free import of cement from Pakistan at the cost of Indian cement industry," he said. Swamy said importing cement with higher margins from Pakistan also goes against the 'Made in India concept'... This also strikes at the very root of your vision of the concept of 'Making in India'," he said. The BJP leader said there is reverse charge duty structure as material required for cement manufacture attracts import duty while the finished product is not. RC Puram DSP S. Surender Reddy said the police will enquire into the allegations against the ASI. (Representational image) Hyderabad: A 38-year-old short film editor, who went to the RC Puram police station to file a complaint against the local MLAs aides, was beaten up by an ASI inside the station. The film editor, K. Yadagiri, had gone to the police station after he was beaten up by the driver and gunman of Patan-cheru MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy, when he asked them to move their vehicle aside. K. Yadagiri, a resident of Lingampally, was driving towards BHEL on Tuesday morning. When he reached the Hanuman temple in Lingampally, he found the MLAs car parked and driver Mahender Reddy inside. As the vehicle was blocking traffic, he asked the driver to move it aside and this led to an argument. He drove the vehicle some distance and parked it. After that a gunman and two others came to me and abused me. They beat me up severely, he said. After the fight he went to the RC Puram police station to file a complaint and met the station writer. The writer snatched his mobile phone and asked him to sit. Meanwhile, the MLAs driver Mahender Reddy came to the police station and met ASI Balakrishna Reddy. Later, he came inside and tried to assault me. When I tried to defend myself, the ASI slapped me and abused me in vulgar language. The CCTV cameras at the reception will reveal what happened there, Yadagiri said. Yadagiri filed a complaint with the RC Puram police against the MLAs driver Mahender Reddy, gunman and two others for assaulting him and also against ASI Balakrishna Reddy for attacking him. Police registered a case in the first complaint. RC Puram DSP S. Surender Reddy said the police will enquire into the allegations against the ASI. New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal saluted Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the Indian armys surgical strikes on September 29 across the Line of Control (LoC). In a video released online, Kejriwal said, I may have a hundred differences with the Prime Minister but I salute him for the will he has shown in this matter (surgical strikes on Pakistan). However, he also pointed out how Pakistan and the international media were denying that the strikes took place, and urged Modi to unmask Pakistans propaganda. He asked the Centre to counter Pakistans claims and also asked people not to believe Pakistans reports on the surgical strike. After Kejriwal praised Modi, the hashtag #AKBackModiOnPak started trending on Twitter, but soon after, #KejriwalDoubtsIndianArmy started trending. Twitterati lashed out at Kejriwal for indirectly calling on the PM to prove the strikes happened. #KejriwalDoubtsIndianArmy Grow up sirr.. its our own country and let's be proud of it. Why jealousy shown thins way??! @ArvindKejriwal Sumanth (@sumanthkatti) October 5, 2016 Dear #Kejriwal, how about you also give video evidence of how Modi is not letting your party work? #KejriwalDoubtsIndianArmy Payal Khullar (@p4yal) October 5, 2016 #KejriwalDoubtsIndianArmy Thank God @ArvindKejriwal did not ask for names of Special Forces men who conducted surgical strike against Pak. Suresh Kochattil (@kochattil) October 3, 2016 Dear @ArvindKejriwal , Pakistan denies that Hafiz Saeed is a terrorist, please ask Modi to submit proofs #KejriwalDoubtsIndianArmy Neetish (@Neetish) October 3, 2016 In this Diwali two things should be banned- one Chinese product second Kejriwal both are harmful to country #KejriwalDoubtsIndianArmy mohit wadhera (@mohitwadhera) October 5, 2016 #KejriwalDoubtsIndianArmy and asks for proof which is like peddling same thing the enemy is doing what exactly are you trying to prove here? St. Ankur Jain (@vastalitech) October 3, 2016 Three people died and a few more are feared trapped under a five storeyed under-construction building that crashed at Bellandur near Eco Space on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo: R. Samuel) BENGALURU: Three people died and few more are feared trapped or dead along with six others, who were injured and rescued, from a five-storied under-construction building that collapsed in Bellandur near Eco Space on Wednesday afternoon. The incident happened around 12.30 pm when three to four groups of construction workers, totally around 15, working at the building were about to leave for lunch, the police said. The deceased have been identified as Ashok Mahanta, 27, a native of Assam, who worked as a security guard at the adjacent residential complex Meenas Imperial Orchids nearby. The other deceased was identified as Sameer, aged about 20, a labourer who hailed from West Bengal. Another body of a construction worker was retrieved from the debris, but is yet to be identified by the police. The building, which was meant to be a paying guest accommodation, initially tilted to the left and collapsed with floor after floor sliding down on to the adjacent road and a vacant plot nearby on the Cafe Coffee Day Road. Everything was over in 5 to 10 seconds, an eyewitness said. Ashok was inside the security cabin when it happened. The building fell right over the cabin and he died on the spot. The body was retrieved hours later, after the rescue workers drilled through the thick concrete slabs and moved them with earthmovers. The other deceased, Sameer, was identified later at the Sakra Hospital, while the police are yet to identify the third deceased. The rescue workers have even found a leg of a person, presumably of a male who was trapped, and officials fear he too may have died. Some still trapped Few others still believed to be trapped in the debris according to the headcount provided by labourers to the police and the rescue workers, at the time of this report going to press. The workers have identified them as Radhe and Dipankar. The injured were identified as Nagaraj, his eight-year-old son Bannappa, his brother Bheemaraya, Aditya Pramanik, Chandan, and Bishnu P. Mahiti. A man being rescused by Fire and emergency forces personnel from the collapsed building in Bellandur on Wednesday. (Photo: R. Samuel) Lucky escape for driver A driver of a Tata Sumo cab had a providential escape. He had come to pick up few software employees, who were at a PG accommodation nearby. As the employees were not ready yet, he had parked his vehicle next to the building and gone to a nearby hotel to have food. But when he came back, his vehicle was not to be seen as it got crushed under the debris. Ran out just in time... Around 12.30 pm, we heard a deafening sound of walls cracking and breaking and we started running out of the building, said Aditya, a granite tile layer, who was injured. He, Chandan and Bisnu Padhamayi slid down the floors and escaped, even as the building was tiling and crashing to the ground. Three of our workers Sameer, Radhe and Dipankar, who were laying tiles on the third and fourth floors have gone missing, he said. Personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Civil Defence and the police carried out the rescue operation. As the building had six floors, a large amount of rubble had to be cleared before the rescue teams pulled out the survivors. We had heavy equipment, but we could not use them as the building could collapse further, said P.R.S. Chetan, Officer Commanding, Karnataka Civil Defence. Rescue operations will continue till Wednesday early morning. The rescue teams are searching for more victims feared trapped, said Mr M.N. Reddi, DGP, Fire and Emergency Services. Poor construction BBMP officials, including Chief Engineer Parameshwariah and Assistant Executive Engnineer Shashikumar of Mahadevpura zone were busy flipping through the survey maps to identify the owners of the 2,000 sqft plot. There are eight partners and the main ones are Harish Kumar, Srinivas Reddy and Vinay. All of them will be booked for negligence. The BBMP granted permission to construct ground plus three floors, but the builder had raised two additional floors. The building collapsed because of low-quality construction materials, a BBMP official said. Rs 5 lakh to kin of deceased Mayor G. Padmavathi has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the three deceased, one of them is yet to be identified, in the Bellandur building collapse and to bear the treatment cost of all the injured. After visiting the building collapse site and the hospital, the Mayor said the five-storied building fell like a pack of cards and blamed it on the use of sub-standard material and shoddy workmanship. Two engineers, Raghavendra (assistant engineer) and Kodanda Reddy (Assistant Executive Engineer), have been suspended for dereliction of duty. A police complaint has been lodged against the builder, she added. The builder had violated the building bye-law and constructed two additional floors. He was authorised to build ground and three floors, but he added two additional floors. However, he had purchased Transferable Development Rights (TDR) for one floor, while the other floor was unauthorised, the Mayor added. 7-year-olds heroism Seven-year-old Bannappa got injured but exhibited rare presence of mind in saving the life of his brother. Both Bannappa and his brother Bheema were playing inside the under construction building. Upon hearing a deafening noise, Bannappa pulled out Bheema and saved his life too, the Mayor said. Bannappa, with his head in bandage rescued his brother Bheema. (Photo: R. Samuel) More casualties? The rescue team said that they had heard the voice of a woman crying for help, which went silent after some time. They fear she may be dead. The rescue team will take up late night operations to pull out the injured and deceased, if any. New Delhi: Any evidence provided at this stage would be analysed by the Pakistani agencies and they will not only point out further loopholes in it but also try and understand the modus operandi of our security forces. It is for this reason that the intelligence agencies are strongly opposing releasing evidence in any form. Even the domestic constituency which is asking the government for evidence needs to understand this, a senior security official said. Top government sources confirmed to this newspaper that the security establishment has enough evidence regarding the military operations, both in terms of video footage as well as still photographs, and one of the two agencies has also provided the government with satellite images of the launchpads which were targeted at four different locations in Lipa, Kel, Tatapani (Hotspring) and Bhimber by the Special Forces commandos. One of the two intelligence agencies was closely monitoring developments at the launchpads through satellite images and shared it with the Army to help them plan their operation. The manner in which intelligence for the surgical strikes was developed was a critical component of the entire operation. Meanwhile, a case was on Wednesday filed in a district court here with a prayer to prosecute Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Sanjay Nirupam under sedition law for their statements on the surgical strike in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir by the Army. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday sought to rein in his colleagues sabre-rattling in the face of Opposition naysayers by instructing his ministerial colleagues to restrain themselves and avoid creating hysteria around the sensitive issue of surgical strikes. Mr Modis reaction to the on-going political slugfest over the surgical strikes came during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, while the feasibility of releasing some evidence of the strikes was being deliberated upon. The PM said only authorised people should speak on the matter. Despite a section of the Congress and the Aam Admi Party questioning the authenticity of the surgical strikes, sources said the government is not likely to take any hasty decision on releasing the evidence. The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by the PM, also met on Wednes-day and discussed possibilities, including the fallout in case some edited portions of the evidence is released. The CCS also took note of a report submitted by Research & Analysis Wing and the IB strongly advising against releasing any form of evidence related to the surgical strikes. The intelligence agencies report, shared with the CCS by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, categorically stated that releasing any evidence would hugely compromise the possibility of any such operations in the future. The NSA also informed the CCS on Wednesday that Pakistan is planning to push around 100 militants into the Kashmir Valley before the onset of winter for which the Pakistan Army has activated 12 launchpads close to the border again. Hyderabad: With two Zika virus patients reported in Thailand, the Health ministry has ordered improved surveillance at airports. However, no screening is being carried out. The ground unit at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) targets passengers who reported fever, cold or cough. A senior member of the unit said, We take down their details and refer them to a higher centre for screening. They arrive in the city and may get in touch with others. There is no screening mechanism set up at the airport. The unit has two nurses, one junior doctor and an official from the district medical and health office of Hyderabad. The World Health Organisa-tion has asked the government to strengthen screening at airports due to the huge traffic between South East Asian countries and India. A senior officer said, The WHO guidelines state that there must be dedicated medical centres to scan passengers coming in from these regions with viral infections and must be referred to laboratory tests. It also states that people must not be wary of isolation if suspected of a vector borne infection as it has the chances of spreading. But presently we are merely taking down details and following up later, which is not the right method. District medical and health officer in-charge of Hyderabad, Dr Padmaja, refused to comment on the subject stating that she was yet to receive any new orders from the state ministry. Mumbai: Putting to rest the growing clamour to present the evidence for surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army across the Line of Control, sources in defence have warned against sharing proofs of the military action, as the Pakistani defence establishment is waiting with bated breath to identify Indias operational techniques. Speaking to NDTV, former Army chief General Shankar Roychowdhury, who was army chief from 1994 to 1997, said that the Pakistan Army was keeping a close watch on Indian media to gather as much information as possible regarding our operational techniques, as 80 per cent of all intelligence comes from open sources. Reiterating the view, another former Army chief, General JJ Singh, said, I don't believe anybody has right to question the fact that we have conducted the operations and that we should show them evidence. Meanwhile, the Army has handed over the video clips of cross-LoC operation to the government as per the laid down procedure. Talking to reporters, Union Minister Hansraj Ahir said "The laid down procedure has been followed. The DGMO briefed (about the surgical strikes). It was not the Defence Minister nor the Prime Minister and not the Home Minister. It was the DGMO who briefed (the media). That was the right thing to do and they (Army) did it. "There was a time when written documents were submitted. Now the times have changed. Now clips are given and the clips have been given," he told reporters here. A political slugfest broke out yesterday over surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam calling it "fake", provoking stinging criticism from BJP even as his own party said it "totally dissociates" from his remarks. The Congress leader went on to demand "some evidence" to prove the surgical strikes did take place and accused the Centre's ruling BJP of indulging in politics over the issue. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too had asked the government to release the proof of the cross-LoC surgical strikes to counter the Pakistani propaganda against the operation. With patriotic sentiments running high amid soaring tensions with Pakistan, Union Minister Uma Bharti said leaders who cast "doubt over the Army's surgical strike should take Pakistani citizenship". Chennai: A simmering ganja turf war in neighbouring Tiruvallur district has come to the fore following the murder of a youth. The death came to light only 21 days after the murder had been committed when the cops stumbled upon the skeleton of the victim near the railway tracks on Tuesday. The cops recovered a skull and other bones of the deceased who was identified as Vinoth (21), a resident of Mettupalayam village in Vannipakkam Panchayat. Sources said the deceased youth and his friend Jawahar were marked by the rival gang operating from Melur, Nalur and Ponneri since they wanted to break into the ganja market in Pallam, a lucrative trove which was being controlled by the duo. Police recover a skull. (Photo: DC) Vinoth was reported missing on September 15 by his father Venkatesn, who stated that a rival gang had taken his son away in an autorickshaw two days earlier and brought his two-wheeler home saying it had been found abandoned near the village. Based on inputs from the family, Minjur Police picked up a gang of 7 persons from a Melur pocket near Ponneri and the gang confessed to have abducted and murdered Vinoth. They had dumped the body on the Gummidipoondi line and saw it getting mutilated by a speeding train on September 13. On Tuesday, Minjur Police scoured the tracks between Anuppampattu and Minjur railway stations managed to locate a skull, a dislodged jaw and a thighbone from the bushes in the vicinity of the tracks near Akkarampedu. The mutilated body had turned into feed for stray dogs and birds and the mortal remains were subsequently reduced to a few bones. Torn pieces of his T-shirt and trousers the youth was wearing when he went missing were also recovered from that spot. The family confirmed the youths identity with the help of the clothes. The locals charged the cops with sitting idle on Venkatesans complaint, which categorically stated that an abduction had taken place and had also named a few from the rival gang who were part of the group who had picked up Vinoth. The deceased is survived by his father who works as ornamental tile worker and his mother. Further investigations are on. Srinagar: Defying the diktats of the separatists, people in many parts of the city came out on Wednesday to resume their day-to-day activities even as the separatist-sponsored strike that has affected normal life in the Valley for the 89th consecutive day remained in force. The unrest, which started a day after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8, is showing signs of fatigue in the civil lines areas of the city as more people were coming out to resume their normal life. As the authorities lifted curfew across the Valley a few days ago, there has been a significant increase in the movement of private and public transport, except buses, in uptown Srinagar including in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, officials said. The situation in Kashmir is improving with each passing day. Normal movement of people and vehicular traffic was observed in parts of Srinagar yesterday, the officials said. Many street vendors and hand cart vendors have set up their stalls along the TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis in the city, selling goods like fruits, vegetables, fresh juice, tea and snacks at many places and continue with their business activities throughout the day, they said. The officials said some shopkeepers also opened their shops in the civil lines areas of the summer capital and at few areas in the outskirts of the city. They said while there were no restrictions on the movement of people anywhere in the Valley, security forces have been deployed at some places, including market places, to instill a sense of security among the people so that they can carry out their day-to-day activities without fear. Meanwhile, in some parts of Kashmir, including in downtown city and district headquarters and towns, normal life remained affected for the 89th straight day due to the shutdown call of the separatists, who have been spearheading the ongoing unrest in the Valley. Most of the shops and business establishments in these areas were shut. While students across the Valley were not attending the schools due to the strike, the government educational institutions at most places were open and teachers were attending their duties, the officials said. The attendance in other government offices and banks has also considerably improved, they said. 83 persons, including two cops, have been killed and thousands others injured in clashes between protestors and security forces since the unrest began. Mumbai: Members of a civil society here decided to boycott an event on a civic issue organised by Congress' Mumbai unit in the wake of its chief Sanjay Nirupam calling the Army's surgical strikes across the LoC as "fake". However, the party later cancelled the panel discussion, on alleged "abduction of open spaces" in the city, which was scheduled at Patrakar Bhavan here at 3 pm today. No reason was given for cancelling the event. The civil society members, including former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, Anandini Thakur, RTI activist Bhaskar Prabhu and others had yesterday decided to pull out as panelists from the event after Nirupam's remarks. Gandhi, in an e-mail sent to Nirupam yesterday, expressed their decision not to attend the discussion. "It pains all Indians to hear an Indian national talking in such a manner and providing support to Pakistan's stand," he said in the e-mail. "We found Nirupam questioning the authenticity of the surgical strikes and terming them fake as extremely unwarranted and avoidable. After having consultation with other members of the civil society, we decided to keep ourselves away from the meeting organised by Nirupam," Gandhi said. However, he said the civil society members will continue their opposition to the alleged abduction of public open spaces in Mumbai. The opposition parties as well as members of the civil society are not in favour of the Mumbai civic body's fresh plan to regulate open spaces in the metropolis, and to raise the issue the city unit of Congress had planned a panel discussion over it later today. A political slugfest had yesterday erupted over the surgical strikes targeting terror launch pads across the LoC with Nirupam calling them "fake", provoking stinging criticism from BJP even as his own party said it "totally dissociates" from his remarks. "Every Indian wants surgical strikes against Pakistan but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by BJP. politics over national interest(sic)," Nirupam had tweeted. Chennai: With a view to prevent persons with criminal background contesting election, the Madras high court has directed the state election commission to write to all political parties asking them not to field any candidate with criminal background and the political leaders are duty bound to see that such candidates are not chosen as candidates. Already the state election commission issued notification dated September 1, 2006, requiring details of candidates including their criminal background by an affidavit. It is the duty of the election commission to prevent criminal elements getting elected to Parliament, state Assembly and local bodies. In exercise of its Constitutional power, the state election commission will write to the recognised and registered political parties asking them not to field and support candidates with criminal background, as many political parties are shamelessly fielding habitual offenders, land grabbers, goondas as candidates of their parties, said Justice N. Kirubakaran while passing orders on a petition from DMK and two others. The judge said the candidates fielded by the political parties should be persons with integrity, honesty and a sense of commitment to serve the society. However, invariably, many candidates, who contest the elections, were chosen by political parties, based on their affluence and muscle power and they were also found to be persons with criminal antecedents. Of late, media reports reveal many elected representatives of local bodies belonging to various political parties, being done to death, due to their criminal antecedents or illegal mining operations or real estate business, the judge added. The offices of local bodies are not places for profit making but for doing service to society. The framers of our Constitution reposed faith in the political leaders and they are only elected by the people with utmost trust and faith in them. Therefore, it is their duty and responsibility to avoid criminal elements and choose appropriate candidates, who will be in a position to serve the public, the judge added. Mumbai: Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Wednesday attacked BJP even as he continued to face flak from several quarters for suggesting army's surgical strikes could be "fake" with Shiv Sena demanding sedition case be slapped against him. His party had to call off a meeting on civic issues after panelists pulled out of it over his remarks. Unfazed by the heat, even from within his party, Nirupam fired a fresh salvo accusing BJP of trying to extract political mileage out of the national security issue with eyes set on ensuing elections. "BJP's political tamasha over national security is on. Raksha Mantri Parrikar to b felicitated by UP #BJP. Elections to be held there next yr(sic)," he tweeted. Seizing on the issue, Shiv Sena called for sedition charges to be slapped on Nirupam for "doubting the integrity of the army" and asked the Congress high command to sack him immediately. "It is surprising that he can dare question the veracity of army's operations at a time when even Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) and Vice-President (Rahul Gandhi) have made their stand very clear on this issue," Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said. "We demand that a sedition case be slapped against Nirupam as he is only toeing the line of an enemy nation which says surgical strike never took place. He has disgraced the nation in front of world leaders," she said. In a snub to Nirupam, members of a civil society here decided to boycott a meeting over civic issues organised by the Congress party to register their displeasure over the comments, forcing the party to cancel the event. The party had planned a discussion on 'abduction of open spaces' in the city. No reason was given for cancellation of the event. The civil society members, including former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, Anandini Thakur, RTI activist Bhaskar Prabhu and others decided to pull out as panelists from the event over Nirupam's remarks. "It pains all Indians to hear an Indian national talking in such a manner and providing support to Pakistan's stand," Gandhi said in the e-mail to Nirupam. However, Nirupam sought to know as to why defence minister Manohar Parrikar is visiting Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab "where elections are very near". "Why he is not going to Bihar? He is going to only election-bound states and being facilitated with flowers, garlands, banners and posters," Nirupam said. "On one side Venkaiah Nadu says that there should not be discussions over the surgical strike, but his partymen and leaders are carrying out series of political campaign, that's what I am strongly criticising," he said. "The truth is that BJP is extracting political mileage over the issue of national security which no other party ever did. BJP has been involved in the politicisation of the defence activities...and being a citizen of the country, I have every right to ask these questions," he said. The Congress-led UDF ended the ongoing fast by its MLAs in the foyer of the Kerala Assembly on the fee hike in self-financing medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI) Thiruvananthapuram: UDF legislators called off their indefinite fast in the Legislative Assembly as the session will resume only after puja holidays on October 17. Some leaders favoured an end to the strike at the UDF Parliamentary party meeting in the morning. Later, at the UDF meet, it was decided to intensify the strike outside the Assembly. UDF will be holding a Secretariat march against the LDF governments policy on self-financing medical colleges on Thursday which will be inaugurated by Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala. The UDF meet has also decided to hold peoples meet in 14 districts on October 15 16. Mr Chennithala said it was the Chief Ministers arrogance which worsened the situation. The peoples meet will show the dirty game of the LDF government. Instead of solving the issue, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is pouring oil into fire. He is responsible for the failure of talks with managements, Mr Chennithala said. He also claimed that the strike by the Opposition on the issue was a big victory. The UDF will convene on October 17 to decide the future course of action. The self-financing private medical college managements came for talks as per the directive of health minister K.K. Shylaja. However, the CM blasted at her and spoke harshly. The CMs statement in the Assembly was a lie. Representatives of the management who met Opposition leaders were ready to reduce fees. According to that, the Opposition conveyed the issues to the CM, added Chennithala. He added that the CM misled the Assembly by holding managements responsible for the failure of talks. Mr Chennithala challenged the CM that people of Kerala will not pardon him for his folly. CMs bad behaviour towards the health minister and the departmental secretary Rajeev Sadanandan was witnessed by almost 30 people, Mr Chennithala said. The two fasting MLAs, V. T. Balram and Roji M. John were given a rousing reception at the Martys Column at Palayam in the evening by the UDF leadership. Shafi Parambil and Hibi Eden were shifted to the hospital on Tuesday evening as their condition worsened. Congress, BJP, TD, YSRC and MIM activists took part in the bandh and organised a rally during which business establishments were requested to down shutters. (Representational image) Hyderabad: Cutting across party lines, political leaders joined the general public in supporting bandh on Wednesday demanding Shamshabad be the new districts name as against Ranga Reddy. Congress, BJP, TD, YSRC and MIM activists took part in the bandh and organised a rally during which business establishments were requested to down shutters. Speaking to media, the leaders urged the government to not cheat the public by considering requests of an MP and a minister. Later, they organised Vanta Vaarpu on the NH-44. In an ideal world, perfect balance can be maintained if India claims it has conducted what it calls a surgical strike on September 28-29 by crossing the Line of Control in retaliation for the September 18 Uri attack, and Pakistan says this is just not true. In such a scenario, Pakistan need do nothing further and there will be no escalation. Indian public opinion felt vindicated with the governments claim of a surgical strike, and there the matter would rest. To its own nationalist constituency the Narendra Modi government could show off with satisfaction that it delivered on its word of not tolerating terrorism, and this will give it a political boost. But life proved to be less smooth than that. Pakistan not only insisted there was no surgical strike, or indeed anything out of the ordinary, it took a contingent of international journalists to the LoC. The BBC and the Washington Post, among others, reported that while the Pakistans generals version was not verifiable, the Indian claim too proved hard to determine on the basis of talking to civilians in the area. Pakistan also cited the UN Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to say the latter had seen no unusual activity from the Indian side. This has suddenly created a cadre of sceptics. Indians who initially accepted the governments claims are harbouring some doubts. Its not just Opposition personalities. Apparently, doubts are also being voiced in social media groups of security officials, who are raising technical issues. Senior BJP figures admonished questioners by suggesting that the Indian Army should not be doubted. It seems to have escaped them that the Armys bravery and devotion to duty is not in doubt; what is being questioned is the governments version of the event. The source of the trouble seems to be the official use of the dramatic expression surgical strike. Typically this entails penetrating deep inside hostile territory using air power and neutralising installations of crucial military value in a precise manner. The September 28-29 Indian attack was anything but that. It was only a few hundred metres into the Pakistani side of the LoC a minor retaliation at best for Uri. Army installations werent hit, only terrorist launchpads, their last mile berthing area before infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. These are flimsy, tinny structures that can be moved or pulled down at short notice. A surgical strike is too exalted or exaggerated a description in this context. The use of this term is clearly to gain political mileage. The UPA government had made similar raids but not crowed about it to avoid escalation. To retain credibility, the government can think to officially amend its lexicon. Indian army soldiers take positions during their patrol near the Line of Control in Nowshera sector, about 90 kilometers from Jammu. (Photo: AP) It will keep exporting terror S.S. Saxena In the past 70 years, Pakistan has been instrumental in trying to repeatedly bleed us despite disgraceful defeats in 1965 and 1971. After the 1971 war, Pakistan chose to use terrorism as the covert weapon to fight us and on many occasions has been able to inflict damage and get away. Two main reasons for our inability to contain cross-border terrorism are lack of demonstrative political will combined with neglect of taking recourse to the military option to effectively counter and pre-empt terror activity and attacks and the abiding fear of a full-scale war, including use of nuclear weapons by the adversary. Our diplomatic pressure has not succeeded in declaring Pakistan a terrorist state and it continues to get aid from countries like the US on one or the other pretext. There is no denial that once Pakistan is declared as a terrorist state, the international community will have to stop funding Pakistan to promote its terror activities. However, Pakistan has and will still retain enough determination and strength to inflict damage on us. In many ways, Pakistan is a strange case. Although it is seen as a close ally of the United States in the war against terror, it has nurtured jihadis of various hues. Terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba are banned by international organisations, yet they thrive under the patronage of Pakistan. This terror network sponsored by Pakistan straddles at least India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. For instance, there are more than 150,000 madrasas or schools in Pakistan that churn out committed fundamentalists who take to religious extremism and violence under the name of jihad. Therefore, whether terror attacks will stop if we declare Pakistan a terrorist state is an easy no-brainer. Until and unless state policy in Pakistan changes drastically and there is an end to the jihad factories, Pakistan will continues to export terror. At the same time, India will have to demonstrate a very strong political will with unified support from all parties and, most important, projection of a very strong, well-equipped armed forces capable of taking independent, swift and decisive action to destroy the military power of the enemy, cross-border terrorism will not be contained. To be able to give a befitting reply to any terror action, the nation also needs to be disciplined to show strong solidarity and courage. Successive governments have failed to govern, perform their executive role, and ensure the rule of law. We seem to be a democratic country for the benefit of only those who can spend money, have muscle power and win elections on the basis of caste and religion. It is equally imperative for our elected representatives to discipline themselves first. For our elected leaders, religion and caste are the tools to remain in power. It is unfortunate but true that we as a nation are genetically indisciplined. It is natural for us to break rules and look the other way when someone else is doing the same. It has become our national character to disregard even the basic norms of civic wisdom. Our adversary not only sees our weak national fibre but also knows where to hit us at the place and time of his choice. The mere declaration of Pakistan as a terrorist state is just one step towards containing cross-border terrorism, and this alone is not enough. Air Commodore S.S. Saxena (Retd) is a veteran of the 1965 and 1971 wars. No need to pamper Pak any more Rakesh Sinha The world is facing a binary of modernity and medievalism. A modern mind believes in freedom, social and cultural pluralism and the medieval mind is its counter-narrative. The latter uses a culture of honour to establish its domination. This mindset is being represented by organisations like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Taliban, ISIS and other Islamic organisations. There are some pertinent questions: Who funds and patronises these organisations? What is the source of latest weapons used by them? And who are the sovereign states that give or allow training for destruction of others? The answer to these questions unravels the real force and face behind the emerging challenge of terrorism. One country where the headquarters of all such organisations operate with impunity is Pakistan. It is also a recruiting and training ground for terrorist organisations and also provides safe hideouts for them. Does any one need extra evidence for this? It is a myth and a farce to say that Pakistanis are not anti-India and are peace-loving. There may be a handful of such people in Pakistan, but they do not represent the collective conscience of society. There is not a single example in the history of Pakistan that their civil society, artistes and editors stood up against terrorism and taken a rational view on the India-Pak relationship. A majority of them are India-haters and as long as they consider the two-nation theory was morally, politically and psychologically justified, they cannot adopt multiculturalism and secular democracy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi genuinely used all formal and informal modes to create a friendly atmosphere between India and Pakistan even at the risk of criticism in domestic politics. But Pakistan remained unchanged. Terrorist organisations enjoy religious sanctity, military support and political patronage. They are the extended hands of the Pakistani state. Moreover, their terror strike is no longer limited to a particular nation or people, but a threat to the human race. Nato in general and the United States in particular failed to detect its malignancy until they ferreted out Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Therefore, Indias move to declare Pakistan a terrorist state is not due to conflict over a piece of land. It is also a struggle of mind and heart. You cannot expect the end of terrorism and at the same time negotiate with Pakistan. Terrorism and Pakistan are synonyms. It should be renamed as Terroristan. It is only when the world isolates Pakistan and declares it a terrorist state that its terrorist networks and its Army will be weakened. It is only then that a churning in their civil society can be expected. A secular, democratic Pakistan is more than an utopia. A policy of deprivation, discrimination and denial is the only way to deconstruct their destructive mindset. Those taking training in terrorist camps are not motivated by any mission to serve the poor, helpless, strengthen gender justice and peaceful world order, but to destroy humanity and blackmail the free world. The world has till now pampered Pakistan, but now its time to dampen it. Rakesh Sinha is director of the India Policy Foundation, an RSS-affiliated think tank. The GSAT-18 will have 48 communication transponders to provide services in the normal, C, Upper Extended C and Ku bands. Nellore: Indias latest communication satellite, the 3,404-kg GSAT-18, which will bolster Indias telecommunications, will be hoisted into space on a massive Ariane-5 VA-231 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. The launch, scheduled between 2 am and 03.15 am on Wednesday, was postponed by a day due to heavy cross winds, according to sources. The GSAT-18 will have 48 communication transponders to provide services in the normal, C, Upper Extended C and Ku bands. While the Ku band is for fixed and broadcast services, the C band is used for long-distance radio telecommunications, satellite transmissions, some Wi-Fi devices, some cordless telephones, and some weather radar systems. It also has a Ku band beacon to help ground antennae tune accurately to the satellite. GSAT 18 will add to Isros current fleet of 14 operational telecom satellites. The desig-ned in-orbit operational life of GSAT-18 is about 15 years. After it is injected into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, about 36,000 km above the earth, control will pass on to Isros Master Control Facility at Hassan which will place the satellite in its space home. Appendages such as the solar panels and antennae as well as three axis stabilisation devices will be deployed. GSAT-18 will be the 20th Isro satellite to be launched by Arianespace since the Apple experimental satellite in 1981. GSAT-18 will be the second satellite to be launched by the Ariane-5 VA-231 rocket, the first passenger being the 6.4 tonne Sky Muster II, which will provide communication services in Australia. Mr M. Nageswar Rao, project director of the space segment of the Indian Regional Naviga-tional Satellite System, said Isro had been paying special attention to produce and lau-nch communication satellites in quick succession in view of the requirement for 200 transponders to address the demand within the country. Speaking to this newspaper Mr Nageswar Rao said Isro was gearing up to launch GSAT-19 on board GSLV Mark III from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in December. Isro is keen on doubling the transponder capacity within next two or three years, he added. Communication satellite In a communications satellite, a transponder gathers signals over a range of uplink frequencies and re-transmits them on a different set of downlink frequencies on Earth. Among others, a majority of the banks, firms involved in direct to home services, television channels and newspapers have been availing the services of Indian communication satellites. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The prizes are named after dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and have been awarded since 1901 for achievements in science, literature and peace. (Photo: nobelprize.org) A trio of European scientists has won the 2016 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for developing molecular machines that could one day be injected to fight cancer or used to make new types of materials and energy storage devices. Frenchman Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Scotland's J. Fraser Stoddart and Dutchman Bernard Feringa developed molecules that produce mechanical motion in response to a stimulus, allowing them to perform specific tasks, the Nobel Academy said on Wednesday in awarding the 8 million Swedish crown ($931,000) prize. Such molecular machines can be developed in smart medicines that seek out disease or damage and deliver drugs to fight or fix it, and in smart materials that can adapt in response to external triggers such as changes in light or temperature. "There are endless opportunities," Feringa, a professor of organic chemistry at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, told reporters when asked to predict what his work could eventually be used for. "Think of a tiny micro-robot that a doctor in the future will inject into your blood and that goes to search for a cancer cell or goes to deliver a drug, for instance." Goran Hansson, a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences which conferred the award, said this year's recognition was "all about the world's tiniest machines". Bernard Feringa, one of the winners of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, is seen on this handout picture provided by the University of Groningen on October 5, 2016. "The sky's the limit," he said when asked where the discovery could lead. The Nobel committee's statement said the science of molecular machinery was now "at the same stage as the electric motor was in the 1830s" - when scientists displayed various spinning cranks and wheels, unaware that they would lead to electric trains, washing machines, fans and food processors. "We can still only guess at the thrilling developments ahead of us," it said. "However, we do have a definite answer to (the) initial question - how small can you make machinery?: At least 1,000 times thinner than a strand of hair." Sauvage is professor emeritus at the University of Strasbourg and director of research emeritus at France's National Center for Scientific Research. Stoddart, born in Edinburgh and now professor of chemistry at Northwestern University in the United States, said the prize was "quite unexpected". "When it happens, it takes your breath away," he said in a phone interview as he watched the ceremony live from his home outside Chicago. Chemistry is the third of this year's Nobels. Japan's Yoshinori Ohsumi won the medicine award on Monday, while three British-born scientists, including two Scots, took the physics prize on Tuesday. The prizes are named after dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and have been awarded since 1901 for achievements in science, literature and peace, in accordance with his will. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Samsung C&T is the defacto holding firm of the Samsung Group. Activist investor Elliott Management urged Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to explore a "demerger", splitting into a listed holding company and a listed operating company. Elliott, in a letter to Samsung Electronics' board on October 5, also said the new holding company should look at a possible all-stock merger with Samsung C&T Corp. Samsung C&T is the defacto holding firm of the Samsung Group. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Amazon is the biggest e-book distributor in Europe, while the market is growing rapidly. Amazon is talking to European Union antitrust regulators about settling a year-long investigation into its e-book deals with publishers without a fine, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The move comes as Amazon is also under scrutiny over its tax deal with Luxembourg, which may result in the US online retailer paying millions of euros in back taxes. "Amazon is in talks to settle the e-book case but it is too early to say whether it will reach an agreement," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Under the EU's settlement rules, the company would not face any fine or finding of wrongdoing if it can offer concessions to allay regulatory concerns. European Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso declined to comment. The EU competition watchdog opened an investigation into the case in June last year, saying Amazon's e-books contracts with publishers giving it terms as good as those for its rivals may make it difficult for other e-books distributors to compete. The focus is on Amazon's e-books in English and German. The company is the biggest e-book distributor in Europe, while the market is growing rapidly. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Lenovos CEO Gianfranco Lanci has rubbished rumours about making a new Windows smartphone, saying the company is in doubts whether Microsoft will be able to develop a supporting OS in future. The Chinese company is one of the biggest hardware supporters for Windows 10 on the PC and tablet platform and there was a plan to manufacture a new Windows phone, dubbed SoftBank 503LV, in China. However, The Next Web has quoted Lanci, who now says that the companys plans have changed. Although plans were in place to build the device, Lenovos CEO seems unconvinced about Microsofts future OS endeavours. He said: I don't see the need to introduce a Windows Phone and I am not convinced Microsoft is supporting the phone for the future. While this might come as a setback to Microsoft, the company has made it clear repeatedly that it plans to continue developing and supporting Windows 10 Mobile. It even revealed some OS improvements last week at its Ignite IT conference. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 sales at Verizon and Sprint started just a few days ago. The company experienced a sale of up to 45,000 units in the first three days itself. Just when we thought Samsung was gaining momentum in terms of reviving its days of glory, another woman from Southern Seoul stated that the battery inside her Galaxy Note 7 started melting after the device was charged overnight. Her husband was quick to record a video of the whole incident. Heres the video: Samsung then contracted SGS worlds leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company to investigate the case. The device was apparently scanned with a CT and X-ray as well. SGS finally concluded that the incident was caused by an external shock. In other words, the battery inside wasnt the cause of the melt. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Polls show Clinton gaining in the wake of a punishing week for her Republican rival Trump, who has been hammered by controversies over his taxes and his treatment of women. (Photo: AP) Farmville: on the reputations and policies of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Tuesday during a fiery debate five weeks from Election Day. Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence sought to highlight their capabilities as the men who could be a heartbeat away from the presidency, but essentially they were on stage fighting a proxy war for their running mates scrapping for every vote on November 8. Polls show Clinton gaining in the wake of a punishing week for her Republican rival Trump, who has been hammered by controversies over his taxes and his treatment of women. Kaine, a senator from Virginia, took aim at Trump from the beginning, saying the idea of the brash Republican as commander-in-chief "scares us to death." "I can't imagine how Governor Pence can defend the insult-driven, selfish, me-first style of Donald Trump," Kaine said. Kaine sought to portray himself as a deeply experienced local, state and national politician who would be the "right-hand person" for Clinton, whom he described as trustworthy and more than capable in the role of commander in chief. An imperturbable Pence, governor of Indiana and a Christian conservative, calmly shot back. "You would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign," he said, highlighting Clinton's relentless criticism of Trump and how she painted half of her Republican rival's supporters as "deplorables." "We see entire portions of the world, particularly the wider Middle East, spinning out of control. The situation we're watching hour-by-hour in Syria today is the result of the weak foreign policy that Hillary Clinton helped lead in this administration and create." For many Americans, the debate was their first prolonged exposure to the men who would be next in line for the presidency if their side wins in November. 'Shooting Himself In The Foot' Pence is as modest and polite in style as Trump is brash and insulting, while Kaine, who also has a calm style on Capitol Hill, appeared to take a more aggressive stance than Pence in attacking the rival camp. He sought to drill down on issues that appeared to have given Clinton a bump in the polls demanding Trump release his tax returns and mocking the White House hopeful for some of his impulsive Twitter missteps during the campaign. "Donald Trump can't start a Twitter war with Miss Universe without shooting himself in the foot," Kaine said, referring to Trump's rants against Alicia Machado, a beauty queen whom he called "Miss Piggy" when she gained weight after winning her crown. The two men repeatedly talked over each over as they clashed about Trump's failure to release his tax records, social security, how to handle an aggressive Russia, and the prospect of mounting debt, forcing moderator Elaine Quijano to intervene. "Senator Kaine could not stop interrupting Governor Pence," Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told CBS news after the debate. "It was really unhinged and really unfortunate." Kaine, 58, and Pence, 57, are about 10 years younger than the presidential nominees. They each have sons serving in the US military, and they are seen as more religious than Clinton and Trump. Trump has suffered from what has been seen as a mediocre performance in his first debate with Clinton, revelations of a $916 million loss in 1995 that may have meant he paid no taxes for several years and criticism of his demeaning treatment of Machado. Pence, who spent a dozen years in Congress, is known for his discipline. He prepared intensively for the debate, unlike Trump, who did little to practice for his September 26 encounter with Clinton. Trump, who live tweeted throughout the political showdown, posted that "Mike Pence won big. We should all be proud of Mike!" Clinton countered on Twitter that she was "Lucky to have a partner like @timkaine who stood up for our shared vision tonight -- instead of trying to deny it." 'Strike' Assad Regime' Pence stressed that a Trump administration would want the United States to "use military force to strike the targets of the Assad regime" if Russia continues its involvement in "this barbaric attack on Aleppo." But the Republican clearly distanced himself from Trump's praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, hailing the US system as "superior to the crony corrupt cabal system in Russia in every way." Kaine hammered away though, insisting that "Donald Trump, again and again, has praised Vladimir Putin and it's clear that he has business dealings with Russian oligarchs." "Trump has business dealings with Russia that he refuses to disclose," while "Hillary Clinton has gone toe to toe with Russia." Pence assailed Clinton while pushing a larger theme of change -- something many Americans say they want -- including his call for "repealing Obamacare lock, stock and barrel." Since the first presidential debate, support for Clinton has risen to 44.3 percent against 40.6 percent for Trump, according to an average of recent national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics. A second round of presidential debates is set for Sunday. The format will be a bit different, with candidates fielding questions put to them by people in the audience. A bat-twirling clown was nowhere to be found when Lincoln Police were sent to Wilderness Park on Monday afternoon. But someone did tell dispatch they saw him -- or her -- about 3:45 p.m. Even if officers had found the clown, its possible they wouldnt have been able to do much. Its not illegal to dress as a clown, Officer Katie Flood said Tuesday. However, if someone dressed as a clown is threatening someone or acting suspicious, people should call police. Since August, people in at least 20 states have reported seeing scary clowns, some of whom have threatened people or tried to lure children into the woods, according to news reports. Police nationwide have encouraged caution amid reports of clowns acting suspiciously. In Grand Island, Police Capt. Jim Duering said police investigated three separate incidents since Friday in which clowns threatened or chased people. The first happened Friday night at 9 just south of downtown. On Saturday, someone reported knife-wielding clowns about 8 p.m. in nearly the same place. And on Sunday afternoon, police got a report of a third sighting, this one involving a BB gun. The juveniles were copycatting what they were seeing from social media posts and media stories about clowns, he said Tuesday morning. They went too far and actually caused some fear in some of the people they were terrorizing and they were brandishing weapons ... luckily no one was hurt." Grand Island police cited four people -- ages 14, 15 and 16 -- and referred them to the Hall County Attorneys Office. "This was not your normal Halloween prank given the current atmosphere surrounding clowns and the fact they brandished weapons," Duering said. In Lincoln, the Wilderness Park sighting was the first report Lincoln Police got. On Tuesday, scanner traffic indicated a woman heard a banging on her back door and saw a clown mask tapping on a window. She ran into the basement and called 911. Other reports of clowns seen across town have been posted on Facebook including claims of sightings near 84th Street and Cornhusker Highway Wednesday night and near Northeast High School. Capt. Jerry Plessel with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department said someone reported a clown on campus just after 10 p.m. Wednesday. There were no threats and no clown was found. "It looks like it was some kind of prank, someone wearing a clown mask," he said. Tuesday morning, Lincoln Public Schools sent an email to all parents assuring them they'll take any reports of clown sightings seriously. "At the same time please know: We have excellent security measures in place at all of our buildings and we work closely with our school district security director to ensure the safety of all our students," the email stated. The email also reminds parents that LPS policy prohibits students from wearing clown outfits to school. Spokeswoman Mary Kay Roth said the system wanted to stay on top of any possible rumors, and in a Tweet, La Vista's police chief said, "In these times of instant information, please don't perpetuate the stupid rumors." The Omaha Police Department said while there's been no actual sightings in Omaha, investigators have looked into online threats from people dressed as clowns. While some people might think it's fun to dress up like a clown and scare people, Teresa Forst, also known as Shades the Clown, says the practice is hurtful to her and other professionally trained clowns. "It really hasn't affected my business yet, I have things booked in advance, but it has the potential to affect our business later," she said Tuesday. Forst said the new scary trend is heartbreaking to those who spend their lives trying to make others happy. "There's so much negativity in the world," she said, addressing the people who are dressing up to imitate clowns. "You're just creating fear. Let's make this a happier world and not bring people down, especially when you're doing it on purpose. ... It doesn't do any good." Forst belongs to many online professional clown groups and said they're lending each other their support. "People are saying, 'Don't lose heart, just keep doing what you're doing. Keep making people happy.'" As a professional, Forst said she's spent numerous hours in education classes and in her free time, she learns new skits, how to make new balloon animals and new face painting techniques. "We put a lot of time and effort into our art," she said. "We don't want it to go sour on us, we want to keep making people happy and bringing smiles to people who are hurting. ... The people doing evil clown stuff, they're not clowns. They're just dressed up in costumes and we have nothing to do with any of them." Washington: More than 50,000 new signatures have been added to the final count of the White House petition seeking to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, making it the most popular US petition so far. The petition, We the people ask the administration to declare Pakistan, State Sponsor of Terrorism (HR 6069), was archived by the White House on Monday with 613,830 signatures. By Tuesday afternoon, the number of signatures on the petition had increased to 665,769, a jump of 51,939 signs. This is believed to be the most popular White House petition so far as the highest number of signatures received by any White House petition so far had not crossed 350,000. There has been no explanation from the White House so far. However, it is possible that these signatures, which were signed before the petition was closed by the White House, were added to the final tally after being duly verified. In that case, the chances of a fraud being committed appears unlikely. Another possibility could be that the petition was flooded with signatures. And since the petition had already reached the mandatory threshold of 100,000 to earn a response from the Obama administration, a decision could have been taken to archive it stop accepting any new signature. The White House is expected to have an official response to the petition within stipulated 60 days. Meanwhile, the White House is still looking for signatures that did not meet the criteria for the petition which was created on September 21 by someone who identified himself with initials R G, after Congressman Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher introduced a bill in the US House of Representative, seeking to designate Pakistan as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. It met the threshold of 100,000 signatures in less than a week. With various groups both inside and outside the US actively campaigning on the social media for people to support the petition, the signature count increased at a fast pace, sometimes more than 100,000 signatures in less than 24 hours. In the process, it became the first-ever petition to cross half a million mark. A day after it was closed for signature, the final count as of now stands at 665,769 signatures. While there is no official ranking of popular petitions, the one seeking charges against the 47 US Senators in violation of the Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement in April 2015 appears to be the second most popular petition with 320,000 signatures. According to a website WHpetitions.info, that keeps track of unanswered petitions, so far 323 White House petitions have met their signature thresholds. The White House has responded to 318 of them (98 per cent) with an average response time of 117 days. Average waiting time so far for five unanswered petitions is 36 days. This does not include the latest petition. Baloch-Americans have also launched their own petition on Free Balochistan from Pakistans illegal occupation002E Atlanta: Officials with a Georgia school district say an employee has been fired after she described first lady Michelle Obama as a gorilla on Facebook. Forsyth County Schools said in a statement that elementary school paraprofessional Jane Wood Allen was fired Monday. The statement says "racism and discrimination are not tolerated" in the school district. District spokeswoman Jennifer Caracciolo confirmed Monday that the decision to fire Allen was made after officials learned of the Facebook postings. "This poor Gorilla. How is she going to function in the real world, by not having all of her luxurious vacations paid for anymore? She needs to focus on getting a total makeover (especially the hair) instead of planning vacations. She is a disgrace to America!," Allen wrote on her Facebook wall. She further wrote , "I admire a gorilla more that I admire her. (Wait I forgot, she is a gorilla)! She is the worst example of a First Lady ever! (Oh sorry, I meant gorilla not First Lady)!" No one answered the phone Monday at a number listed for Allen. The number wasn't set up to allow voicemail messages. News media outlets first reported the posts last week during the district's fall break. Allen's Facebook page was no longer visible Monday. A sentencing hearing for Litt, who has been in custody since April 2012, is set for later this month, the Toronto star reported. (Representational image) Toronto: A 67-year-old Indian-origin man in Canada has acknowledged his role in covering up the 2009 murder of his pregnant daughter-in-law by helping his daughter to get rid of the body. Kulwant Litt from Brampton, Ontario admitted that he helped dispose of his 27-year-old daughter-in-law Poonam Litt's body and said that he lied repeatedly to the police and court. Charges of accessory after the fact to murder and perjury were dropped. A sentencing hearing for Litt, who has been in custody since April 2012, is set for later this month, the Toronto star reported. On February 5, 2009, Poonam Litt was reported missing after she failed to appear for work. Her husband, Manjinder Litt, was in India with his mother at the time. The Peel Regional Police commenced an extensive investigation and public appeal. During an argument in the family in 2009, Mandeep Punia, 35, sister-in-law of Poonam Litt, stabbed her in the neck with a box cutter and watched her bleed out on the floor, a judge found when sentencing Punia to 12 years in prison in August. A jury found Punia's husband Skinder guilty of accessory after the fact to manslaughter. He was also sentenced to seven years. They both were tried together. Litt admitted to the following facts read to the court by the Crown: He was home at the time of the argument. He had gone upstairs to get Punia's husband to intervene, and when he returned Poonam was bleeding. He changed the girl's bloodstained clothes and hid them in the basement ceiling, it reported. Peel police's investigation went cold until February 2012 when Litt admitted to a relative in India that he believed his daughter had killed his daughter-in-law and that he'd helped get rid of the body. The relative taped part of the call and informed Poonam's husband Manjinder who went to the police. Litt would likely be deported from Canada as a result of his conviction. The incident took place at the couple's home in McKeesport in Pennslyvania. (Photo: Facebook) McKeesport, Pennsylvania (US): A frantic call made by a seven-year-old girl to her teacher asking for help after she failed to wake up her parents, led US cops to a dead couple. Police believe that the couple died after a drug overdose. The incident took place at the couple's home in McKeesport in Pennslyvania. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the incident came to light when the couple's seven-year-old daughter made a call to her school teacher and told her that she was not able to wake her parents. The teacher then called up police officials and informed them about the incident, following which the authorities rushed to the crime scene. They said that they were shocked to find a nine-month-old girl, three-year-old boy and one more child in the house. Police suspect that the couple might have been dead for a day or two, believed to be due to heroin overdose. Authorities said that an autopsy of the dead bodies will determine to cause of death and they are not suspecting any foul play. Earlier, in February, a woman claiming to be a relative of the dead couple said that both of them were drug addicts and that they kept their children in filthy conditions. She also posted photographs of the couple's home on her Facebook wall and wrote about the dirty rooms. The woman also claimed that one of the couple's daughters had to be admitted to hospital soon after her birth as she had a huge amount of drugs in her body. Police officers walk outside a security fence around Longwood University before the vice-presidential debate between Republican vice-presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine in Farmville. (Photo: AP) Washington: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trumps running mates carried the race for the White House on Tuesday, preparing to face off in their only debate of the campaign with the US elections five weeks away. Polls show Clinton, the Democratic candidate, gaining in the wake of a punishing week for her Republican rival Trump, who was hammered by controversies over his taxes, his charitable foundation and treatment of women. The candidates number twos -- Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence -- will take their place in the spotlight on Tuesday evening when they battle before a national television audience. For many Americans, it will be their first prolonged exposure to the little-known men who would be next in line for the presidency if their side wins on November 8. Kaine, 58, is an affable senator from Virginia whose liberalism stems in part from his Catholic faith and experiences as a volunteer working in poor communities in Central America. Pence, 57, is the Christian conservative governor of Indiana, as modest and polite in style as Trump is brash and insulting. Pences job will be to reassure prospective Republican voters at a time when Trump is mired in difficulties, many of his own making. Weighing heavily against the New York billionaire are a mediocre performance in his first debate with Clinton, followed by revelations of a near billion dollar loss in 1995 that may have meant he paid no taxes for 18 years, and criticism of his demeaning treatment of a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado. His campaign manager Kellyanne Conway promises the Kaine-Pence debate will be fiery. I think youll see in Mike Pence somebody who is able to defend Donald Trump the running mate, but at the same time, take the case right to Hillary Clinton, she said on CBS. Pence, who spent a dozen years as a member of Congress, is known for his discipline. He has prepared intensively for the debate, unlike Trump, who did little to practice for his September 26 encounter with Clinton. We expect them to throw a lot of mud, said Clinton campaign manager Robbie Mook, ahead of the debate in Farmville, Virginia. Its going to be very interesting to see how Mike Pence responds to questions about Trumps behavior in the last week, he added, also speaking on CBS This Morning. Defending Trump has become second nature for Pence: hes had to put out fires on multiple occasions over the past months. When Trump became embroiled in a bitter feud with the family of a Muslim-American army captain killed in Iraq, it was Pence who put out a statement hailing Humayun Khan as an American hero. Reassurance Besides reassuring voters turned off by Trumps volcanic temper, Pence must attack Clinton while pushing a larger theme of change -- something many Americans say they want -- and laying out the Republican agenda. Kaine, who served as governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, appears to have the easier task of the two. Since the first presidential debate, support for Clinton has risen to 44.3% from 40.6% for Trump, according to an average of recent national polls compiled by Real Clear Politics. Clinton is also leading in several key swing states. Kaines role so far has been to attack Trump. But he must also use Tuesdays debate to defend Clinton against attacks on her for using a private email server as secretary of state, as well as in other controversies that have undercut voters confidence in her honesty and trustworthiness. After the vice presidential debates, Americans will have a second round of presidential debates on Sunday to look forward to. The format will be a bit different, with candidates fielding questions put to them by people in the audience. Beijing: Days after extending its blockade on India's move to impose a United Nations ban on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, China on Wednesday called for a stronger global response to curb cross-border movement of foreign terrorists. Speaking at a meeting on counter-terrorism in New York, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN said frequent cross-border flow of foreign terrorists has caused ever greater harm to international security and stability, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The report defined foreign terrorists as individuals who travel to a state other than their states of residence or nationality for the purpose of participating in terrorist acts. "The UN and the relevant international agencies should set up counter-terrorism data bases as soon as possible and share intelligence so as to create conditions for effectively curbing the cross-border movement of foreign terrorist fighters," he said. Wu's speech against the cross border movement for foreign fighters followed Beijing extending the "technical hold" on India's pending petition to ban Azhar for his involvement in the Pathankot terrorist attack. Announcing the extension of the technical hold on October 1, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said, "China always maintains that on the listing matter, the 1267 Committee should stick to the principles of objectivity, impartiality and professionalism, base its judgments on solid evidence and decide upon consensus among the members of the Security Council". China, a veto-wielding member had put a technical hold on the move to impose a ban on Azhar six months ago in the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council (UNSC) comprising of 15 members of the council including the five permanent members. China was the lone country which put the technical hold at the last minute which drew strong criticism from India. However China's stand against movement for foreign terrorists could raise eyebrows in Pakistan as both Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed are Pakistanis. India has been highlighting the cross-border terror threat emanating from Pakistan and tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad is on the rise since last month's Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir which killed 19 Indian soldiers. Last month, India and China held their first counter- terrorism dialogue. Police officers investigate the scene where a man stabbed two police officers, in the Schaerbeek neighborhood in Brussels, Wednesday. (Photo: AP) Brussels: A knife-wielding man stabbed two police officers in Brussels Wednesday in a possible terror incident before being shot in the leg, Belgian prosecutors said. "We have elements to believe that the incident was a terrorist attack," Eric Van Der Sypt, a spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor's office, told AFP. Police said the officers, who were wearing plain clothes, did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. The suspect was in police custody, Van Der Sypt said. A police official told AFP that the attacker tried to escape the scene but was shot by a police officer. A third officer was injured when he tried to stop the man, the official said. The attack happened in the Schaerbeek area in the north of Brussels. It comes two months after two policewomen were wounded in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi by a machete-wielding man who shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest). That attack was claimed by the Islamic State group. Brussels is still reeling from ISIS suicide bombings at the city's airport and a metro station in March which killed 32 people. A bomb-making factory for the Brussels bombings and the November 2015 attacks in Paris was located in Schaerbeek. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, shakes hands with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani after signing of bilateral agreements in New Delhi earlier this year. (Photo: AP) Brussels: Asserting that peace is essential to development and terrorism is anathema to development, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar hit out at Pakistan for becoming an obstacle in the path of trade relations between India and Afghanistan. Speaking at the Regional Integration and Prosperity at Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, Akbar stated that the scale of terrorism and violence unleashed against Afghanistan is of a magnitude that does not allow easy project implementation, efficient delivery of assistance or the rapid inflow of investments into an economy that has huge resources and obvious potential. Talking about Afghanistans exports that have traditionally found their most lucrative market in India, up to Calcutta at the other end of the Grand Trunk Road, the Union Minister mentioned that Afghanistan is much loved and respected India. He further said that India has offered a special facility at its border at Attari for Afghan products coming to India via Pakistan , but unfortunately this access has been blocked for political reasons by Pakistan . Nations cannot become walls aborting a trade and culture that is as old as written history, and as powerful as the lore etched in common memory. But, we will continue to work with Afghanistan for assured and reliable access for Afghanistan s products to India s markets through land, sea and air, Akbar said. Asserting that the full utilization of Afghanistan s transit rights as a member of WTO will enable greater prosperity, he added that those who deny transit hurt Afghanistan s economy, with negative resonance for the larger region. Emphasising that India s commitment to Afghanistan is abiding, as is its desire to work with the people and Government, Akbar further said that India has dedicated its efforts and resources into bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan , with improvements of internal capabilities and provision of year-round regional connectivity. We have already completed significant development projects including scientific water management through dams and infrastructure projects like highways, worth over US$ 2 billion. We have recently committed to US$ 1 billion more. This is the essence of Prime Minister Narendra Modis neighbourhood first policy, he said. An Australian imam was beaten up by an Egyptian lawyer for saying women should not be forced to wear headscarves. (Photo: YouTube screengrab) Cairo: A lawyer beat up an Australian imam with a shoe during a live debate show on an Egyptian channel for saying Muslim women should not be forced to wear the veil. According to a report in Middle East Eye, Egyptian lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh and imam Mostafa Rashid from Sydney were discussing if women should wear headscarves or not. During the debate, Rashid said wearing veil is a cultural tradition and not a religious duty so they should not be forced to wear headscarves. Wahsh, however, got offended and took off his shoes and hit Rashid on the head. Television presenter Mohammed al-Ghaiti tried to pacify the two men, but he had to call others for assistance as two were fighting aggressively and he failed to intervene. It was a free fight in the middle of the studio. I never expected that something like this could happen on air, Ghaiti told viewers after the incident. A member of the production team was injured while breaking up the fight and a pane of glass broke, Ghaiti said. Rashid, a scholar in Islamic theology, has stoked controversy in the past as well. He had once said that drinking alcohol is not forbidden in Quran. Afghan refugees enter Afghan territory after leaving Iran at the Islam Qala border crossing in Kohsan, Herat, west of Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: More than 200,000 Afghan refugees have been repatriated from Pakistan this year, nearly half of them in September alone, UNHCR said Tuesday, the highest number since 2002, after the fall of the Taliban regime. The tsunami of refugees returning to the war-torn country comes after Pakistan tightened its border controls in June and began cracking down on undocumented Afghans. The vast majority -- more than 185,000 -- returned after July, with nearly 98,000 crossing the border in September alone, UNHCR spokesman Qaisar Khan Afridi said. "From January until today, the number of refugees voluntarily repatriating to Afghanistan has crossed the figure of 200,000," Afridi said. More and more appear to be going every day, with officials saying that the first four days of October saw up to 5,000 returnees daily. An Amnesty International report Tuesday said Pakistan hosted 1.6 million refugees, making it the third largest refugee hosting nation in the world. But UNHCR said the figure, based on its own data, was already out of date and should be revised to 1.4 million after the movement since July. A further one million undocumented refugees are estimated to be in Pakistan. Since 2009, Islamabad has repeatedly pushed back a deadline for them to return, but fears are growing that the latest cutoff date in March 2017 will be final. Pakistani officials said the increase came after they vowed to tighten border controls, particularly at the porous Torkham Gate crossing. However UNHCR cited an array of other reasons that could be helping drive the rush back into Afghanistan, including increasing anxiety and insecurity for refugees about life in Pakistan. Other factors include the UNHCR decision to double its cash grant for voluntary returnees from $200 to $400 per individual in June, and a campaign by the Afghan government to lure its citizens back with the slogan "My country, my beautiful country". In Afghanistan, however, torn apart by more than three decades of conflict, authorities warn the number of displaced people has outpaced the capacity of the government and aid agencies to cope. Meanwhile the EU said Monday it has struck a tentative deal with Afghanistan to take back migrants ahead of a conference in Brussels aimed at securing international financial aid for the war-ravaged nation. However, European Union officials have denied that aid pledges would depend on the Kabul government accepting the return of tens of thousands of Afghans from an overstretched Europe. Tahmid Hasib Khan (centre) was cleared of all charges related to the Dhaka cafe attack, in which 20 people were killed. (Photo: AFP/File) New Delhi: A Bangladesh court has cleared a university student of all allegations related to the restaurant siege three months ago in which 20 hostages were killed. Metropolitan Magistrate Nur Nabi passed the order on Wednesday after an investigator appealed for clearing Tahmid Hasib Khan, an undergraduate at the University of Toronto who has Canadian residency. Prosecutor Abdullah Abu said Khan was cleared of suspicion that he was involved in the attack July 1 on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka. He had walked free on Sunday after a court grant him bail. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack but the government has blamed local militant groups. Five of the attackers were killed. Dhaka: Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said it would stand beside friend India should it come under attack. Bangladesh would stand beside India if it was attacked, because the two neighbouring countries are friends and India has always provided support to Bangladesh on several occasions and in different issues, the Dhaka Tribune quoted Kamal, as saying on Tuesday. We do not share a border with Pakistan, and their land territory is 1,200 miles away from us. What they do does not affect us. We [Bangladesh] defeated them and sent them back in 1971; we dont need to think about them any further, he added. Kamal said the unrest between India and Pakistan began when a militant attack took place on an army base at Uri in Kashmir on September 18. Following the attack, India claimed to have conducted surgical stikes along the LoC on September 29, which Pakistan denied vehemently. Since, then both the Indian and the Pakistani armies have been on standby at the border in Kashmir. Islamabad: Pakistan does not want to go to war against India, but peace will not be achieved unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif said in his address to the countrys Parliament on Wednesday. "We are against war but we would like to resolve all the issues with India including Kashmir. Peace cannot be achieved in the region without resolving the Kashmir dispute," Sharif said according to a report. Stating that UN resolutions on Kashmir are still on the agenda of the UN Security Council, he called on the international community to take immediate steps for implementation of these resolutions. Kashmir is burning like a volcano and a convoy of Hurriyat is on its way to achieve the objectives", Sharif said, adding that the Indian security forces cannot suppress the right of Kashmiris to self-determination. Sharif also named slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in his address to the joint session of Pakistan Parliament. Sharif blamed India for not letting any dialogue on Kashmir proceed. "We have done everything to make India come to the dialogue table, but India did not let it happen," he said. Sharif also said India blamed Pakistan "within hours" of the Uri army camp attack without conducting any investigation. 19 Indian soldiers were killed when terrorists attacked an army camp in Uri on September 18. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a Indian Air Force officer near the Telangana-Maharashtra border in a multi-state drug racket. Wing Commander G Rajasekhara Reddy, currently posted in Delhi, was apprehended in a joint operation by a team of NCB officials from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. The NCB team had recently arrested three persons Bengaluru-based scientist Venkata Rama Rao, his wife and an associate Ravi Shankar Rao for their involvement in the racket. The scientist and his accomplice were caught in Hyderabad while they were transporting 231 kg of amphetamine to Bengaluru. The scientists wife was taken into custody from a rented house in Hebbagodi in the city. The NCB team seized Rs 1.23 crore in cash and 30 grams of amphetamine from her. She was handling the logistics and finance part of the racket, the officials said. Rama Rao, a native of Hyderabad, had shifted to Bengaluru a year ago after joining a reputable company as a research scientist. A senior NCB official told DH: Based on the information provided by the arrested persons, Rajasekhara Reddy was arrested when he was trying to flee in his car. He is from Andhra Pradesh and is suspected to be funding the manufacture of the drug. During investigation, it was found that Reddy used to visit Hyderabad once in three months. But he is still being questioned and his background verified, the official said. Sources in the NCB said it was a well-knit racket spread across various states, perhaps also involving international racketeers. Rama Rao used to manufacture amphetamine in a laboratory in Hyderabad and would supply it to dealers in Chennai, Kerala, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities. As of now, we know they have set up a laboratory in Bolarum in Hyderabad. We have locked it and taken it into our possession. The NCB is investigating whether they operated similar labs elsewhere and whether they were manufacturing only amphetamine or any other drug, said another official, adding that the racket was also operating in South West Asian countries. The NCB sleuths have informed the IAF about Reddys arrest and the Air Force authorities are waiting to know about his role in the racket, said the official. DH News Service In a marked departure from the precedent prime minister Narendra Modi was likely to attend Dussehra celebrations in poll bound Uttar Pradesh instead of Delhi and witness the historic Aishbagh Ramlila in Lucknow on October 11. The visit, if it takes, place, will be the first by any prime minister. According to the Aishbagh Ramlila Committee, the prime minister may visit the Ramlila on the last day and spend some time there. Modi was also likely to be present at 'Ravana Dahan' (burning of effigy of Ravana, the demon king on Dussehra) in the state capital. Much political significance was being attached to Modi's visit to the state capital and attend the historic Aishbagh Ramlila. Although the BJP leaders here maintained that Modi's program was at the invitation of the Ramlila Committee and had nothing to do with politics, the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress saw it as an ''attempt to rake up the Ram temple issue''. ''The prime minister's visit is purely apolitical...so far there is no other program except witnessing the Ramlila and Ravan Dahan,'', said a senior state BJP leader here while speaking to Deccan Herald. He, however, added that the PM's visit was yet to be finalised. The SP, however, was not convinced. ''BJP has always tried to rake up the temple issue before the polls...there is nothing new in it,'', said a senior SP leader here. Congress leaders also echoed similar sentiments. BJP has earned the wrath of the saffron outfits for what they alleged ''abandoning'' the Ram Temple issue. The All India Hindu Mahasabha has even declared that it will oppose the BJP nominees in the next assembly polls in UP if the latter did not take a clear stand on the issue. UP BJP president Keshav Prasad Maurya has said that Ram Temple was ''never on the electoral agenda'' of the party. Senior BJP leader and union minister Kalraj Mishra, however, said that BJP was ''committed'' to the Ram Temple construction. ''Development will be our plank in the forthcoming UP assembly polls....as far as Ram Temple is concerned...it has always been on top of our priority,'' he had said recently. Maurya was under so much pressure from a section of the party as well as the saint community that he visited the temple town of Ayodhya a few days back and declared that the BJP had not ''abandoned'' the issue. The saffron outfits and a section of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have been pressing the BJP for enactment of a law by the Parliament to pave the way for the construction of the temple. Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday appeared before the Income Tax department in connection with his investments in Kolkata-based companies under tax evasion scanner and denied doing anything wrong. The ruling AAP called it another instance of harassment of AAP legislators on the lines of filing a false FIR against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. My life is like an open book. I have been an honest architect for 20 years. If you are bent upon calling someone a hawala operator, you may continue to do so. I will continue to serve people, Jain told reporters. The Minister, who was earlier given a clean chit by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said he was only summoned as a witness and not as an accused. I have cease to be a director or a shareholder in the companies about three-and-a-half years ago, he said. They want to defame in politics, said Jain, denying doing anything wrong. He said the the I-T officials asked him about a few people and institutions. They wanted to know if those people worked with me. I denied having any idea about these people, said Jain. The Minister was summoned last week by the IT department which directed him to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case and furnish personal financial details and ITRs for the last four years. Officals said the department reportedly recovered documents relating to some transactions being made by at least three firms and had a link to Jain. Jain has been summoned over proceedings against three firms Indo Metallmpex, Paryas Infosolutions and Akinchan Developers. The Health Minister, accompanied by party leaders Sanjay Singh and Ashutosh, arrived at the I-T office. This is a case of harassment and he is being punished for his honesty. He is the most honest minister who saved Rs 400 crore in the construction of five flyovers, said Sanjay Singh said, likening the I-T proceedings against Jain with the alleged implication of AAP MLAs in criminal cases. Singh defended Jain and said the Minister invested Rs 32 lakh over five years in these companies when he was working as an architect. He disclosed the investment in his election affidavits in 2013 and 2015. An attempt is being made to defame an honest person. The entire party is standing behind him, said Singh. The IT department officials had claimed that they have 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. Armed robbers struck three trains passing through the district, looting at least 12 passengers and assaulting those who resisted them in the wee hours today. Government Railway Police said the robbers first barged into the Mumbai-bound Lucknow-LTT Express and started looting passngers. When one of the passengers Ramashankar Pandey resisted the robbery bid, he was thrashed by the robbers, a GRP spokesperson said. The accused then boarded the Vaishali Express and robbed passengers travelling in the sleeper class. They also attacked and injured Devi Singh, who was going to Gorakhpur, when he protested their act, he said. Later, they robbed passengers of Lucknow-Kanpur passenger train and beat up Unnao-resident Lala, the spokesperson said. The robbers escaped after looting the passengers. As the incident took place between Unnao and Kanpur districts, GRP officials were busy deciding the jurisdiction. Later, Kanpur GRP sent the three injured to railways' Kamla Nehru Hospital. At least 12 passengers in the three trains were robbed, Kanpur GRP in-charge Shyamvrat Yadav said. Out of the three injured, two were sent home after first aid while one of them is admitted to the hospital, he said. An FIR has been registered in the matter by Government Railway Police, he said, adding the number of passengers robbed and booty taken away is yet to be ascertained. The UN's highest court today narrowly threw out landmark cases brought by the tiny Marshall Islands against India, Pakistan and Britain for allegedly failing to halt the nuclear arms race. In majority decisions, the 16-judge bench at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled there was no evidence that Majuro had had a prior dispute with any of the three nuclear giants or sought bilateral negotiations on the issue. "The court upholds the objection to jurisdiction" raised by each of the countries, presiding judge Ronny Abraham said in separate rulings, and therefore the tribunal "cannot proceed to the merits of the case." The tiny Pacific island nation was ground zero for a string of devastating nuclear tests on its pristine atolls between 1946-58, carried out by the United States as the Cold War arms race gathered momentum. After the hearings at the tribunal based in The Hague, the Marshalls said it will now "study the ruling" which is final and without appeal. "Obviously it's very disappointing," Marshall Islands lawyer Phon van der Biesen told reporters. Initially in 2014, Majuro had accused nine countries of failing to comply with the 1968 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which seeks to inhibit the spread of atomic bombs. But the ICJ already refused to take up cases against the other countries - China, France, Israel, North Korea, Russia and the United States - as they have not recognised the court's jurisdiction. Israel has also never formally admitted to having nuclear weapons. The Marshall Islands had argued that by not stopping the nuclear arms race Britain, India and Pakistan had breached obligations under the treaty - even if New Delhi and Islamabad have not signed the pact. The treaty commits all nuclear weapon states "to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament." At a March hearing, Majuro's lawyers painted a vivid picture of the horrors seen after 67 nuclear tests were carried out on Bikini and Enewetak atolls. "Several islands in my country were vaporised and others are estimated to remain uninhabitable for thousands of years," Tony deBrum, a former Marshall Islands foreign minister, told the court. The so-called "Operation Castle" tests in March and April 1954 were particularly devastating and resulted in massive contamination because of the nuclear fall-out. "There is no need to respond to such irresponsible comments and demands. Fortunately, Congress has also realised its mistake and distanced itself from the comments of its leaders...AAP has also made it very clear," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. He said nobody has any doubt about the "credentials and commitment" of the Indian Army which has done a "commendable" job and further discussions on the operations will be an "insult" to the force. "I don't think any Indian citizen has got any doubt. Nobody is doubting the credentials and commitment of the Indian Army. It did a commendable job...It would be an insult to the Army if we further discuss," he said. Naidu said the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) himself had given the statement about the operations in full details and also shared the information at an all-party meeting. He wondered if giving further details will be in the interest of the nation. Observing that entire country is happy about the surgical strikes, he said the world has also acknowledge the step taken by India. "Only Pakistan is saying something because they have to say something. They are not in a position to conduct funeral or last rites of their own citizens...This is their culture," he said. Earlier, addressing the event, the minister said India does not want war with anybody, but will give a befitting reply if continuously provoked. "...We never want a war with anybody. If somebody continuously provokes us, we will give them a befitting reply like our jawans gave the reply recently," he said. Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had accused the BJP of indulging in politics over national interest and called the surgical strikes on terror camps as fake, the comments which were slammed by his own party. Congress leader P Chidmabaram had also reportedly said it was up to the government to give proof of the surgical strikes in which seven terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir were destroyed by the Army. Also, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday released a video message "saluting" Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the surgical strikes across the LoC and urging him to "unmask" Pakistan's propaganda. Pakistan has denied that the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes against terrorist units on its side of the border on the intervening night of September 28 and 29. Hitting out at those "seeking proof" of the surgical strikes in PoK, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said further discussions on the operations will be an "insult" to the "commendable" task carried out by the Army. A group of international publishing houses and publisher associations has said they will file an appeal against a Delhi High Court judgement rejecting their plea against sale of photocopies of their textbooks. "We have carefully considered the Hon'ble Delhi High Court's judgement, dated September 16, and have decided to file an appeal against this judgement," a statement issued jointly by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Taylor & Francis, Association of Publishers in India, Federation of India Publishers and Indian Reprographic Rights Organisation, said. "The decision was taken after careful deliberation, particularly regarding the longer-term interests of students, educators, academics, authors and the publishing industry, and it is fully supported by the Association of Publishers India, the Federation of Indian Publishers and the Indian Reprographic Rights Organisation, which also represents authors," it said. On September 16, the high court had rejected their plea against the sale of photocopies of their textbooks, saying copyright in literary works does not confer "absolute ownership" to the authors. "Through this appeal, we seek assurance that copyright law in India will balance the interests of those creating learning materials here in India as well as globally, with those requiring access to them in a fair and sustainable manner," the publishers said. The high court had also lifted a ban on a photocopy shop located on the Delhi University campus from selling photocopies of chapters from textbooks of some international publishers to the students. "We agree that equitable access to knowledge is important. But such access would not exist without the efforts of content creators, authors, illustrators, designers, publishers and everyone else involved in the creation and dissemination of original content, and their rights must be respected. "Access to knowledge will be reduced if this ceases to happen, which we believe is detrimental to the interests of India's knowledge economy," it said. "We fully understand that it is not possible for every student to buy every book they require. That is why we have long invested in local publishing options that aid in the development of low-cost editions, course-packs, adaptations and reprint titles, as well as supporting local and university libraries -- all of which provides access to the best-in-class learning material at a fraction of the original cost," they said in the statement. The publishers had moved the court in 2012 alleging that Rameshwari Photocopy Service on DU campus was infringing their copyright over the text books. The Army has handed over to the government video clips of the cross-LoC surgical strikes as per laid down procedure, Union Minister Hansraj Ahir said today, amid a growing chorus that evidence of the operation on terror launch pads in PoK be made public. Ahir, the Minister of State for Home, said there is a process for putting such issues in perspective which was duly followed by the Army as well as the government. Separately, Kiren Rijiju, also a MoS for Home, said everyone should have faith in the government and allow the Army to take its own call. "The laid down procedure has been followed. The DGMO briefed (about the surgical strikes). It was not the Defence Minister nor the Prime Minister and not the Home Minister. It was the DGMO who briefed (the media). That was the right thing to do and they (Army) did it. "There was a time when written documents were submitted. Now the times have changed. Now clips are given and the clips have been given," Ahir told reporters. The statements by Ahir and Rijiju came amid demands that government release the footage of Army's recent surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Have faith in the government and leave it to the Army," Rijiju told reporters here when asked about the demand for release of proof of the surgical strikes by the Army. A political slugfest erupted yesterday over the surgical strikes with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam calling it "fake", provoking stinging criticism from BJP even as his own party said it "totally dissociates" from his remarks. As the government mulled options on the issue of release of the video footage of the surgical strikes, a debate raged with BJP leader Subramanian Swamy favouring putting out an edited version of the video on the operation while most experts spoke against it. Rejecting the demand, the BJP attacked some Congress leaders and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for raising questions over the strikes and accused them of giving a handle to Pakistan to advance its false propaganda. The Congress, on its part, insisted that it never questioned the authenticity of the strikes but steered clear of the demand, including from within its own ranks, for the release of evidence, saying it would give appropriate advise in the best interest of national security if consulted by the government. Swamy, a Rajya Sabha member, said anybody questioning the operation should prove prima facie evidence to support his allegation but added that an video should be released following a newspaper report today that gave details of the operation. "I think they should edit the video of the logistics value of it and show the other part, showing explosions, the dead body... they have got in the video. So all these parts can be released," he said. Former army chief Gen V P Malik slammed those questioning the credibility of the strikes saying, "The video should not be released just because some stupid people have sought so." He told PTI it was "utter nonsense" that people are asking the army to prove the operation and wondered what is wrong with the political class. In the backdrop of a string of gun violence in the US, three American mayors visited India to study the philosophy of non-violence championed by Mahatma Gandhi and learn as to how it could be implemented back in their country. "The three civic heads, two from the state of New York and one from Georgia, had arrived here on September 30 and during the five-day trip visited Jama Masjid, Akshardham, Sisganj Gurudwara and a Ramlila celebration in Delhi. "On October 1 and 2, they visited Sabaramati Ashram in Ahmedabad and a neighbouring village where they met its sarpanch too," said Mandar Apte, a US-based engineer and a peace activist. Mumbai-born Apte, 41, who raised funds for their trip, says the recurring violence in the US weighed on his mind and he approached several mayors for a trip to the "land of Mahatma" on the trail of legendary Martin Luther King. "King had called his India visit in 1959 a pilgrimage to the land of Gandhi. But nearly six decades later, senseless violence still continues in the US - Sandy Hook, Dallas, Charlotte, Baltimore, Chicago, Minneapolis, Oakland, Baton Rouge, Milwaukee, the list goes on. "During the trip, the mayors had a series of meetings with many civic leaders and studied how the principles of non- violence could be adapted for solving today's challenges. They flew back to the US last night," he told PTI. Mayor of Cobleskill Linda Holmes (New York), Mayor of Bluffton Freddie Odom (Georgia) and Mayor of Middleburgh Matthew Avitabile (New York) also met Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Lok Sabha member Maheish Girri and yesterday attended an East Delhi Municipal Corporation event. "All three of them have indirectly seen violence in one form or the other in their regions. So after the India sojourn, they took back the lessons of peace and harmony and dealing with social tensions in an amicable manner, besides the ideas they exchanged with civic leaders on various municipal issues," he said. King's historic visit had helped him deepen his understanding of Gandhi's teachings of non-violence. After over a month-long trip, he had returned to the US with new insights, inspiration and a deeper commitment to apply non-violent methods for the civil rights movement. "Freddie (34), who heads a municipal region of 3,500 people, is incidentally the first person with autism to be elected in the US. Matthew (28) earns his living teaching history at the State University of New York. And Linda (61), a passionate educator for over 30 years, has worked with children of all ages," Apte added. Linda on her experience in India said, "We are hoping to bring back new insights that will reinvigorate my personal energy and commitment to the principles of non-violence." "Violence can take place anywhere today, in a school, residential complex, shopping mall, movie theatre or even at a coffee shop. We need a global vigil on non-violence," Apte said. "Don't dig the well when the house is on fire," the Supreme Court today observed as it warned the Centre of not repeating last year's "mistakes" in tackling the drought situation in various parts of the country this time. Asking the government to be ready with relief measures for drought in certain parts of country this year, the apex court said, "we are concerned about the approach. You should change your mindset. Don't repeat last year's mistake of not declaring drought on time. Don't dig the well when the house is on fire." The observation by a bench of Justices M B Lokur and N V Ramana came when it was pointed out that several districts in country have had deficient rainfall and a situation like last year may emerge again which may catch the government napping. Additional Solicitor General P S Narsimha, appearing for the Union government, said, "it is wrong to say that Centre is not dealing with the drought-like situation. The process is going on as directed by the court. We are revising our drought manual as per suggestions and recommendations made by experts and other bodies." Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO 'Swaraj Abhiyan', pointed out that several districts have reported deficient rainfall as per the data of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). To this, the bench told the ASG that by now the Centre must have got an idea of rainfall details across the country and asked whether it had issued any advisory to the affected states in this regard. The bench said that as per data supplied to it, 12 districts in Bihar, 32 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Punjab and 13 in Gujarat have received deficient rainfall. Narsimha pointed out that advisories have been issued to these states which have been told about the emerging situation. "Our idea is that you are ready for the future. Past mistakes are not repeated. You should be prepared for the situation, although the condition is not as bad as it was last year," the bench said. A central government official informed the court that over 35 lakh hectares of farm land have been sown and the Centre was providing all technical assistance to states. The apex court, is hearing a PIL on the plight of farmers in 12 states which were affected by drought last year. The apex court also questioned Maharashtra over its failure to give response on the appointment of District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) under the National Food Security Act. "How is it that you don't have any instructions? Is this how you treat people? People are dying of malnutrition and you don't care about them. There is a huge population and some people die, it doesn't matter to you? How is that the state government has not given you any instruction," the bench asked after the counsel appearing for Maharashtra said he has no instruction on the issue. The bench also inquired from counsel for parties about a news report on several children dying due to malnutrition. Bhushan said there were some death reported due to malnutrition from Uttar Pradesh, but he had no idea of Maharashtra. In its PIL, NGO Swaraj Abhiyan has alleged that parts of 12 states -- Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana and Chhattisgarh -- were hit by drought and the authorities were not providing adequate relief. The apex court had earlier issued a slew of directions to provide relief to the farmers in drought-affected states. In strong observations, the court had then said if state governments maintained an "ostrich-like attitude" towards disasters like drought, the Centre cannot wash its hands off from the constitutional responsibility as the "buck stops" with it in matters concerning common people. Investigators probing the Rs 230 crore worth international drug racket in which a Wing Commander of the IAF was arrested today hinted at the role of few more individuals who may be soon questioned and they could include few defence officials. Officials said Wing Commander G Rajasekhar Reddy was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in coordination with Nanded Police in Maharashtra on Monday and brought to Hyderabad today, based on investigations after an international drug racket was unearthed in that city two days back. They said Reddy, posted at the Information Technology wing at the Air Headquarters in Delhi, was the alleged "kingpin" of the racket and his purported involvement surfaced after the questioning of the other arrested accused in Hyderabad. The NCB had on Monday seized 231 kg of the banned narcotic drug amphetamine and has estimated the value of the drugs as being worth about Rs 230 crore in the international market (Rs 45 crore in domestic). It had been seized from Hyderabad and Bengaluru and three persons including a research scientist Venkat Rama Rao and his wife were arrested. "Reddy has been booked under Sections- 22(C) (Possession of manufactured drugs in commercial quantity), 27-A(Financing of drugs offences), 28(Attempt to trafficking) and 29 (conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and P Physchotropic Substances Act and remanded to judicial custody," the NCB said. The agency said Rs 7.5 lakh in cash, five mobiles, multiple SIM cards and a laptop were recovered from him during the arrest when he was boarding a bus to Goa from Nanded. The NCB further said its investigations, under its zonal office in Chennai, has found him "to be in contact with many known drug traffickers of Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. "Reddy appears to be involved in financing the whole activity and using the expertise of his friend and one of the accused Venkat Rama Rao who is working as a research scholar in Bengaluru for getting the drugs synthesised," it said. The NCB said the racket was under its surveillance for long and multiple foreign links are suspected as the contraband could have been transported to offshore locations in coordination with foreigners. "The IAF has been officially informed about the arrest of Wing Commander Reddy," it said. NCB first seized 221 kg of amphetamine from two persons at Miyapur area in Hyderabad on September 30. Venkat Rama Rao, a research scientist in a reputed private chemical firm of Bengaluru, had come to Hyderabad to collect the contraband from Ravi Shankar Rao, NCB had said. After Venkat and Ravi Shankar were arrested, 30 grams of amphetamine and Rs 1.23 crore in cash were seized from a house rented by Venkat near Electronic City in Bengaluru, and his wife was also arrested. Further, 10 kg of amphetamine was seized from a manufacturing lab in Bolarum area in Hyderabad on October 1. The seized amphetamine was estimated to be worth about Rs 45 crore. Reddy is suspected to have been involved in drug syndicate for around four years, Nanded police said, adding Reddy and Rao are school mates. Asserting a war was not an option between India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka today said cross-border terrorism was a core issue on the table for SAARC and the members of eight-nation grouping have to discuss it and its impact before moving forward. Interacting with media after talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on key regional and bilateral issues including security situation in the region, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also stressed that even if SAARC falls apart, cross-border terrorism will not end so India has to see how to move forward in dealing with it. "Cross-border terrorism is on the table. SAARC has to look at it and discuss what has happened (cancellation of the SAARC meet). How we are going to handle it...SAARC has to decide on two issues -- cross-border terrorism and areas in which we can work together. "If we don't do it, there is no future for SAARC," he said while noting that in last few years, nothing has moved in the grouping due to friction between two India and Pakistan. Asked about his reaction on the possibility of military escalation between India and Pakistan in view of the Uri attack, the Lankan PM said, "I don't think war is an option for anyone" and observed that Modi has taken a lot of steps to diffuse the tension. On why Sri Lanka was late in its response on holding of SAARC meet in Islamabad and was not categoric in condemning Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, he said Afghanistan and Bangladesh had a problem of their own internal security which was not the case with Sri Lanka, but Colombo did say that the atmosphere was not conducive for the meet. Emphasising that Sri Lanka has also been impacted by terrorism, Wickremesinghe said it takes a long time and efforts should be made to ensure that cross-border terrorism was stopped. "Since we have looked at it in overall context, what I discussed with your government is how does SAARC move from here...And ensure that there was no cross-border terrorism in India or any country," he said. On whether SAARC can be salvaged if a member leaves the grouping, the Lankan PM said if any country leaves it, then it won't be South Asia (association). "The issues on the table have to be handled otherwise it (SAARC) will become non-functional. It is not an issue of someone leaving or joining. We have to address and find the solution acceptable to all," he said. He also said India thanked Sri Lanka for its position on the SAARC meet. On Lanka-China ties, he said the relationship with China is an economic one, not military and Chinese were involved in the infrastructure development projects in his country. He also asserted that Sri Lanka had ensured that there was no free-hold land rights. Noting that India is unique and can make South Asia a better place, he said it was up to India whether it wants to do this or walk away. He further added that India was going through a crucial time and Sri Lanka will be there to work with it. Asked if the emotive issue of fishermen was discussed during his meeting with Modi, he said the matter was deliberated upon and it was reiterated that there will be talks between ministers of foreign affairs and fishermen associations of the two countries. Days after extending its blockade on India's move to impose a UN ban on Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar, China today called for a stronger global response to curb cross-border movement of foreign terrorists. Speaking at a meeting on counter-terrorism in New York, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN said frequent cross-border flow of foreign terrorist fighters has caused ever greater harm to international security and stability, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The report defined foreign terrorist fighters as individuals who travel to a state other than their states of residence or nationality for the purpose of participating in terrorist acts. "The UN and the relevant international agencies should set up counter-terrorism data bases as soon as possible and share intelligence so as to create conditions for effectively curbing the cross-border movement of foreign terrorist fighters," he said. Wu's speech against the cross border movement for foreign fighters followed Beijing extending the "technical hold" on India's pending petition to ban Azhar for his involvement in the Pathankot terrorist attack. Announcing the extension of the technical hold on October 1, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said, "China always maintains that on the listing matter, the 1267 Committee should stick to the principles of objectivity, impartiality and professionalism, base its judgments on solid evidence and decide upon consensus among the members of the Security Council". China, a veto-wielding member had put a technical hold on the move to impose a ban on Azhar six months ago in the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council (UNSC) comprising of 15 members of the council including the five permanent members. China was the lone country which put the technical hold at the last minute which drew strong criticism from India. However China's stand against movement for foreign terrorists could raise eyebrows in Pakistan as both Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed are Pakistanis. India has been highlighting the cross-border terror threat emanating from Pakistan and tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad are on the rise since last month's Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir which killed 19 Indian soldiers. Last month, India and China held their first counter- terrorism dialogue. India has slammed Pakistan for its "unacceptable" remarks that persistent human rights violations could justify violent extremism in Kashmir, asserting that no cause can justify terrorist acts and terrorism is the biggest violation of human rights. "Yesterday we heard a delegate cloak territorial aggrandisement in an integral part of my country, i.e., Jammu and Kashmir, in an unacceptable manner," Counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to the UN M K Rao said at a session on 'Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism' in the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly. Rao was referring to the remarks by Pakistan's envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, who had said in the session on October 3 that the international community agrees that "continued and persistent violations of human rights contribute to violent extremism". "Yet the killings continue in Kashmir and in Palestine. Brutalisation and oppression of people struggling for their legitimate right to self-determination constitutes state terrorism. That too needs to be addressed," Lodhi had said. Rao, in his statement yesterday, rejected the Pakistani envoy's assertion that persistent violation of human rights could justify terrorism or violent extremism. "Terrorist acts are criminal acts; no matter whenever, wherever and by whomsoever these are committed. 'Cause' does not justify terrorist acts. In fact, terrorism is undoubtedly the biggest violation of human rights," he said, adding that the resort to the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy cannot be tolerated. Rao told the committee that nations that support and sponsor or provide safe havens to terrorists or terrorist groups should be held responsible for their wrongful acts. "The perpetrators of terrorist attacks must be brought to justice," he said, underscoring that the international community needs to adopt a policy of "zero-tolerance" towards terrorism. "Our collective condemnation of terrorism must be loud, clear and without any ambiguity. It is our firm conviction that no belief, justification, political cause or argument can be used to justify the acts of terrorism, which should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group," he said. "The fight against terrorism has to be unrelenting and fought across all fronts. The international community cannot afford selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups or in dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism," Rao said. He stressed that the international community must step up its collective efforts with real time cooperation among member states to confront the scourge of terrorism squarely and decisively. There can be no objection to the right of divorce. But conferring this right on women, by itself, would be unmeaning and probably more productive of harm than of good, wrote a commentator in a floridly-worded essay in May 1949 on the changing status of women and divorce in India. Writing in the respected journal Economic Weekly, Roma Mehta said women in India were more protected and much better cared for than in the West, that they found more happiness more often than not in her home, and her troubles and heartaches were solved in family, where she lived. The incompatibility may sometimes be very great indeed; but in spite of it all, the family is maintained. She argued that divorce did not concern the very vast majority of people in a country where the economy is fundamentally rural, people are uneducated with no contact with the outside world, and the clamour for better living is absent. So, wrote Mehta, the problems of love and hate, of marriage and remarriage, are solved on a simple plan which is worked out for the community only. That was then. The landmark Hindu Code Bill passed in the parliament in the mid-1950s gave women property rights, outlawed polygamy and allowed partners to file for divorce. The laws were further tweaked in 1976 to allow divorce by mutual consent. Over time, the traditional joint family has given way to nuclear families in cities and towns; and more and more women are going to work or setting up their own businesses. Many urban women no longer have to depend on their spouses for financial security, men are sharing household chores; and gender equations are slowly changing. Now a significant study by economist Suraj Jacob and anthropologist Sreeparna Chattopadhyay has examined data from Indias census to offer possibly for the first time some insights into divorce and separation in India. Indias census gives its citizens the following choices to select their status: never married, separated, divorced, widowed, married. It is true that some women may not report separation or divorce because of the stigma attached to the status. But here are some of the more salient findings of the study: 1.36 million people in India are divorced. That is equivalent to 0.24% of the married population, and 0.11% of the total population. More strikingly, the number of people separated is almost thrice the number of people divorced 0.61% of the married population and 0.29% of the total population. More women are divorced and separated than men. Divorce rates in north-east states are relatively higher than elsewhere in India: Mizoram has the highest divorce rate (4.08%), more than four times that of Nagaland, the state with the second highest rate (0.88%). Gujarat reports the maximum number of divorce cases among bigger states with a population of more than 10 million followed by Assam, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. Meghalaya has the most number of cases of separation, followed by Mizoram, Sikkim, Kerala and Chhattisgarh. Three of these five states are in north-eastern India. What does this tell us about breakdown of marriages in todays India? For one, more people are separated than divorced in India because of stigma associated with divorce, and the time taken in resolving disputes in the slow-moving Indian courts. The gender gap more women divorced and separated is even more striking, and tells a story about Indias gender biases and how patriarchy operates. This essentially means that either women are choosing to stay divorced or are not finding partners for remarriage, unlike men. It is consistent with the bias that women face in India, says Chattopadhyay. You have the right to divorce, but remarriage remains tough because of prejudices against a divorcee. Thirdly, the gap between divorces and separations in cities and towns and villages is very low a finding that has come as a big surprise to the researchers. So class may or may not make a difference, but residence does not seem to make a huge difference, they say. Not surprising Thirdly, divorce and separation rates vary wildly across states and regions. Divorce and separation rates in the north-eastern states where tribal laws allow for informal relations and women sometimes enjoy a relatively higher status because of a matrilineal system are relatively higher than elsewhere in India. Northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Rajasthan which are known to be deeply patriarchal, have much lower divorce and separation rates. An international study of divorce rates of 71 countries one of the few studies showing global comparisons showed that they range from a low of 0.04% of the total population in Georgia to a high of 0.46% in Belarus. Interestingly, Gujarats divorce rate is greater than of Belarus, and Bihars closer to Georgia suggesting a striking level of regional diversity. Also, say the researchers, the divorce rates in India are neither surprising nor unsurprising. Although there is a lot of anecdotal evidence about skyrocketing divorce rates in aggregate terms, we are not particularly high globally in terms of the rates of divorce, say Jacob and Chattopadhyay, who teach at Bengalurus Azim Premji University. India is somewhere in the middle. Also given that rates of living together before marriage are extremely low in India and marriage is universal, it wouldnt be surprising that for some members of the younger people, first marriages can end up in divorce. Nupur Dhingra Paiva, a Delhi-based clinical child psychologist, tells me that when she started out three years ago, she would barely get one case every two months of divorced parents bringing in their troubled children for counselling. Now I get one such case every week. The couples are all middle and upper-middle class, and both the man and woman are working. Adultery and incompatibility are the two common reasons that are cited for the breakup. Less than one in 1,000 marriages end up in divorce in India, but the times, they are a-changin. Chinas announcement that it has blocked the Xiabuqu river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, to facilitate a hydroelectric project at Lalho in Tibet has again caused some concern in India. The Brahmaputra, known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, is a lifeline for Assam and Bangladesh where the river joins the sea. The dam is not far from the Indian border. The report attracted more attention because it appeared immediately after some statements in India about reviewing the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. It was suspected that China was reminding India of its vulnerability on the eastern sector where the latter is the lower riparian country. But this does not seem to be the case because the construction of the dam had started in 2014 and the blocking of the water is according to a pre-determined schedule. But the concerns are not completely out of place in view of Chinas known plans to harness the waters of the rivers in Tibet. The Lalho dam is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project and therefore may not reduce the water flow in the river. Indias main concern has been that the dams China is constructing in Tibet would reduce the availability of water downstream. Tibet is a source of major rivers, including the Mekong. The lower riparian countries of the Mekong also have similar fears. China has planned a series of dams on the plateau. It has already built one at Zangmu, and has proposed three other major dams on the Brahmaputra. It has been stated that none of them would reduce the water flow in the river. But there are other kinds of impact like the changes in the flow of silt. This has not been studied. In fact the Brahmaputra river system, or any other river system, has not been studied in detail over a period of time in India. India has received assurances from China that its dams would not affect the flow of water in the Brahmaputra. But there is no water sharing and usage treaty between the two countries. There is an agreement on a mechanism for exchange of hydrological data and emergency management. But this is not enough, and India should take the initiative to work out a treaty with China, with Bangladesh also as a partner, which will form the legal basis for water sharing among all three countries. This is important because of persistent reports about Chinas plans for diversion of waters from Tibet to its water-scarce regions. It is also necessary to ensure that the flow of water in the Brahmaputra is maintained in future in all situations. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved ONGC Videsh buying an additional 11% stake in Russias Vankor oil field for $930 million. Vankor is Russias second biggest oil field. The acquisition of stake in Vankorneft will provide 3.2 million tonnes of oil equivalent to OVL by 2017. It will also provide an opportunity to Indian public sector oil and gas companies to acquire new technologies from Rosneft, an official source said after the Cabinet meeting. The acquisition is in line with ONGCs stated objective of adding high-quality international assets to Indias exploration and production (E&P) portfolio, and thereby augmenting Indias energy security, said a government statement after the meeting. Recently, an Indian consortium comprising of Oil India (OIL), Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), and Bharat PetroResources (BPRL) acquired 23.9% stake in Vankorneft at a cost of $202 billion, which will give them 6.56 million tonnes of oil. Earlier in May, ONGC Videsh (OVL) completed the formalities on acquisition of 15% stake in Vankorneft at a cost of $1.284 billion which gave OVL 4.11 million tonnes of oil. The move is expected to help India achieve reduction in oil imports in the coming years. Tension gripped Dadris Bisada village after an accused in last years lynching case died in police custody, prompting the NHRC to issue notice to the Uttar Pradesh police. Ravi alias Robin, who was among the 15 people arrested over lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq last year following rumours of cooking beef, died at Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital in Delhi of kidney and respiratory failure on Tuesday, doctors said. Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, the NHRC issued notice to the Director General of Prisons and the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, and sought a report within four weeks. The NHRC observed that the content of the report raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of the prisoner. In a statement, the Commission also observed that the reported different versions and opinions of the jail and the hospital authorities, and the suspicion raised by the family members of the deceased prisoner indicate that the matter requires a thorough probe to determine the facts, which led to his death. Protest over death Hundreds of people staged a demonstration in the village on Wednesday in protest against Ravis death and burnt effigies of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Sources said security personnel have been deployed in Bisada and senior district officials were camping in the village to monitor the situation, which was stated to be tense. Police sources said entry of outsiders has been banned in the village and people were being advised to remain indoors. Police said Ravi was admitted to the hospital in a serious condition on Tuesday where he died at night following renal failure. They said he was suspected to be suffering from dengue. Sources said a large number of people, including some saffron leaders, took out a procession in the village and later held a panchayat at the local temple. The locals alleged that Ravi died after he was beaten by the jailor. They demanded the arrest of the jailor. The news of Ravis death triggered tension in the village. The women whose sons and brothers were lodged in jail had been on a dharna at the village temple demanding the arrest of Akhlaqs brother Jan Mohammed for slaughtering cow. They alleged that cops were persecuting the accused in the lynching case. A few months ago, a court in Gautam Buddh Nagar district had ordered registration of a case against Akhlaqs kin for slaughtering cow. The order came after a forensic laboratory in Mathura said in its report that the piece of meat that was recovered from Akhlaqs house was of cow or its progeny. People in the border areas of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday as the vehicular movement, which was stopped following the Cauvery row, resumed after nearly a month between the two states. All transport vehicles, including private buses and trucks, with Tamil Nadu registration number plate started their operations from Sathyamangalam border area in Erode district to Mysuru. Likewise, vehicles bearing Karnataka registration also entered Tamil Nadu with passengers welcoming the return of normalcy in the border areas. However, state-owned buses are yet to resume services with officials planning to operate their services from Chennai, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Erode and Nilgiris to Karnataka. We will decide on the matter this evening, a senior official from Transport Department said. Tamil Nadu State Lorry Owners Federation of Tamil Nadu, which claimed that the truck owners have incurred loss of more than Rs 2,000 crore, also decided to operate the lorries from Wednesday. Normal life was affected in Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border areas since September 6 following the agitation over release of Cauvery water. In a great escape, an 11-year-old boy managed to extricate himself from the claws of a python, which had partially swallowed him, at Kolake in Bantwal taluk on Tuesday evening. The brave boy is Vaishak, son of Suresh of Kolake Kudoor and a student of Adarsh English Medium School. It all happened when Vaishak was returning home around 6.30 pm after visiting his grandparents house nearby, which is surrounded by bushes and trees. Just a little away from his home, a python, which was probably on a tree, fell on him and owing to the pythons weight, he fell on the ground. Soon, the python started coiling itself around Vaishaks leg and tried to swallow him. Even before the boy could realise what was happening to him, the python had almost swallowed his leg. When the boy tried to free his leg, the python tried to bite his hand. However, the boy, determined not to be scared, decided to blind the snake with the help of a stone. I thought if I blinded the snake, it would not be able to see me and so hit hard at the snakes eyes, he told the doctor in hospital. Soon afterwards, the snake loosened its grip and the boy claimed that he pulled his leg out from the snakes mouth. At this point, his cousin, who was passing by, saw him writhing in pain and summoned help. His parents rushed him to a hospital on B C Road, where he was referred to Fr Muller Hospital in Mangaluru. The boy is recuperating. I had seen a python in my neighbourhood in the past. So I was sure that it was a python which attacked me, said Vaishak. I gathered all my strength to save myself from the clutches of the python. The battle with the python lasted for about 20 minutes, he said. Dr Uday Kumar, Medical Superintendent of Fr Muller Hospital, told DH that the boy suffered wounds when the pythons fangs grazed his thighs and hands. Vaishak has a lot of snake bite marks all over his leg and a hand. Manipurs human rights crusader Irom Sharmila Chanu has finally been freed from all legal tangles. For, the chief judicial magistrate court in Imphal West on Wednesday quashed a charge of attempt to suicide under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code against Sharmila. On August 9, the same court had granted her bail in the case. I am a free woman now. Ill convene a new political party on October 10 to fight the coming election and the evils of the political system in Manipur, and will continue my struggle against the AFSPA politically, Sharmila told reporters after the judgement was passed. All these years I was in isolation. Now, I want to meet people, student bodies and other organisations, and connect with their hearts and minds, Sharmila said. According to the court verdict, Sharmila was found not guilty of the charge of attempt to suicide. In March, a trial court in Delhi acquitted her of the same charge levelled during a fast-unto-death in the national capital in 2006 demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). Only last week, Sharmila had met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi and discussed her decision to join politics. The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the Union government to change its mindset to act promptly on tackling the drought situation in various parts of the country. Dont dig the well when the house is on fire, the apex court said as it warned the Centre of not repeating last years mistakes in handling the situation. We are concerned about the approach. You should change your mindset. Dont repeat last years mistake of not declaring drought on time, a bench of Justices M B Lokur and N V Ramana said as it was pointed out that several districts in the country received deficient rainfall and a situation like last year may emerge again. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Narsimha, appearing for the Union government, said: It is wrong to say that the Centre is not dealing with the drought-like situation. The process is going on as directed by the court. We are revising our drought manual as per suggestions and recommendations made by experts and other bodies. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Swaraj Abhiyan, pointed out that at least 149 districts have reported deficient rainfall as per the data of the India Meteorological Department. To this, the bench told the ASG that by now the Centre must have got an idea of rainfall details across the country and asked whether it had issued any advisory to the affected states in this regard. The bench said that as per data supplied to it, 12 districts in Bihar, 32 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Punjab and 13 in Gujarat have received deficient rainfall. Narsimha pointed out that advisories have been issued to these states, which have been told about the emerging situation. Our idea is that you are ready for the future. Past mistakes are not repeated. You should be prepared for the situation, although the condition is not as bad as it was last year, the bench said. A central government official informed the court that over 35 lakh hectares of farm land has been sown and the Centre has been providing all technical assistance to states. The apex court was hearing a PIL on the plight of farmers in 12 states, including Karnataka, affected by drought last year. DH News Service Sri Lanka on Wednesday said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) has no future unless it could address the issue of cross-border terrorism. If we dont do it (address the problem of terrorism), there is no future for the Saarc, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. His comment came at a time when Indias move to boycott the 19th Saarc summit proposed to be hosted by Pakistan next month added to the uncertainty over the fate of the eight-nation bloc. Wickremesinghe, who is visiting New Delhi, had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concerns. The escalation of tension between India and Pakistan and its impact on South Asia region figured prominently in the discussion between the two prime ministers. The prime minister of Sri Lanka is the first South Asian leader to visit New Delhi after the 19th Saarc summit had to be postponed due to India pulling out of the conclave. Indias move came in the wake of the September 18 terror attack on Indian Army brigade headquarters at Uri in north Kashmir. The attack was carried out by terrorists who had sneaked into India from areas under the control of Pakistan, resulting in the death of 19 soldiers. Cross-border terrorism is on the table. (The) Saarc has to look at it and discuss what has happened. How we are going to handle it...Saarc has to decide on two issues cross-border terrorism and areas in which we can work together, said Wickremesinghe, noting that Sri Lanka, too, suffered due to terrorism and shared the pain of India in the wake of the recent terror strikes. I dont think war is an option for anyone, Wickremesinghe told journalists at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, adding that Modi had already taken a lot of steps to diffuse the tension between India and Pakistan. He was replying to a query about Sri Lankas views on the surgical strikes that the Indian Army carried out on the terror infrastructure in areas under the control of Pakistan in the early hours on September 29. Indias move to boycott the Saarc summit in Pakistan was quickly supported by Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Sri Lanka, too, came out with a statement, albeit a bit late, asserting that the situation was not conducive for the summit to be held in Pakistan. DH News Service A Bengaluru court on Wednesday sentenced Bilal Ahmed Kota alias Imran Jalal, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative, to life imprisonment. He is convicted for hatching a criminal conspiracy to attack Information Technology companies and other installations in Bengaluru. Additional city civil court judge Kotrayya M Hiremath had convicted Bilal on all charges, including criminal conspiracy, possession of assault rifles, ammunition and hand grenades on Tuesday. The court sentenced Bilal to undergo life imprisonment, which is the maximum punishment awarded for the charges proved against him and slapped a fine of Rs 2.75 lakh on him. Prime accused in the case, Bilal was arrested by the anti-terrorism cell of the Bengaluru police on January 5, 2007. Five other accused in the case are absconding, including Pakistani nationals Alqama alias Lala Khan, Khalid and Azam Cheema. A native of Jammu and Kashmir, Bilal had travelled to Pakistan in September 2005 using a fake passport. Bilal had received directions from LeT commanders to carry out a recce of IT companies, Vidhana Soudha and the airport in Bengaluru. After his return from Pakistan, Bilal created e-mail IDs to communicate with his handlers there. The police had retrieved 68 pages of e-mail printouts from a cyber centre at Hampi in Ballari district. In one of the e-mails, Bilal had requested LeTs operational commander Lala Khan to financially help the family of Tariq Dar, who was arrested in the Delhi blast case. In another e-mail, Bilal confirmed receiving Rs 50,000 from Khan, an official said. Bilal was arrested at Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru, when he was alighting from a private bus that arrived from Hampi. The police had seized an AK-47 rifle, 200 rounds of ammunition and a satellite phone from him. The Congress appears to be reserving its fire power against the Modi government on its Pakistan policy even as it is grappling with a perception problem caused by statements by leaders such as Sanjay Nirupam, who described surgical strikes carried out by the army as fake. In line with the statement by party president Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders feel that the time is not right to rip off the governments strategy until such time the full import of the army action is ascertained. Even as it sought to distance itself from Nirupams stand for the second consecutive day, the Congress has also realised that its strategy to bare details of earlier cross-border operations of the army is fraught with contradiction. On Tuesday, the Congress lifted the veil from the surgical strikes carried out during the UPA tenure and also gave dates of the army operations. We are proud that even in the past, our forces have successfully conducted such surgical strike on numerous occasions, particularly on September 1, 2011, July 28, 2013 and January 14, 2014, Congress chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said. However, he appeared to be at loss of words when asked why the Congress had chosen to take political ownership of the surgical strikes carried out during the UPA tenure now. The Congress was also battling the perception that it was demanding that the Modi government make public the evidence of the surgical strikes. Besides Nirupam, senior leader Digvijay Singh and former MP Sandeep Dikshit, too, had asked the government to make the videos of the surgical strikes public. We have not a shred of doubt in the capabilities and calibre of our armed forces, Singh said reading out from a prepared text. He also requested the government to use all information, evidence and instruments at their disposal in calling the Pakistani bluff. Drifting of Pakistani boats into Indian waters on the western coast is giving the BSF anxious moments with the third such case in the last four days reported on Wednesday. The interception of the Pakistani boat and the apprehension of the nine Pakistanis at the Sir Creek area adjoining Kutch district, close to the Pakistan maritime border, is the latest incident. The BSF patrol in Chauhan Nala, Creek area of Bhuj, Gujarat, spotted a boat in the Indian waters (on Wednesday morning). This place is near the International Boundary reference Boundary Pillar No G-43. The inhabitants of the boat were challenged and subsequently apprehended, an official statement said. During questioning, it came to light that they were Pakistani nationals. The recoveries included an engine fitted wooden boat, fuel and water and fishing implements with some catch of crabs, the statement said. However, with the relations between India and Pakistan in a flux, the security agencies are not taking any chances. Sources said that a detailed interrogation would reveal the real intent as the boat appeared to be relatively smaller in size for 8-9 people to venture out for fishing. DH News Service Disputed area The Chauhan Nala, from where nine Pakistanis were apprehended, is near the disputed Sir Creek area in Kutch district. An officer by name Girish had given his initial G to these pillars, originally erected as border pillars between the then Bombay and Sindh provinces during the British regime. Despite multiple wars, Pakistan continues to raise a dispute over the boundary laid down by these pillars. Signs of easing of tension on the international border were evident on Wednesday following orders by the state government to reopen hundreds of schools that were closed owing to apprehensions of a war. The decision to reopen schools in the border areas of Punjab was taken following the approval from the Centre, said sources. Interestingly, while children can go to schools, the government is silent on asking relocated people to return to their villages citing escalating tension with neighbouring Pakistan. Opposition leaders question the rationale of the government to reopen schools if the build-up on the border was for real. If school children could return to normal regime in the border belt, Congress leaders questioned the governments intent on not shunning the war hysteria and ask people to return to their houses from camps. Close to 270 schools reopened on Wednesday. All schools within 10 km of the border zone were ordered to close down a day after surgical strikes by the army across the Line of Control (LoC). Punjab Education Minister Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema said his department felt a need to reopen schools in border zones given that many people did not relocate to camps. It is going to be a tricky time for the government while deciding on whether the Gokarna Mahabaleshwara temple in Uttara Kannada district should be taken back into the custody of the religious and charitable endowment department. Presently, it is being managed by the Ramachandrapura Mutt. The government denotified the temple in 2008, when the BJP was in power. The decision of the government has been questioned in the High Court. No less than half-a-dozen petitions are filed in the High Court, questioning the notification to remove the ancient temple from the jurisdiction of the Muzrai section of the endowment department. The division bench of the court, which is hearing the matter, has asked the government to submit its views. The case is coming up for hearing on November 11. Sources in the secretariat said a final decision would have to be taken by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. As the matter is sensitive in nature, the government may buy time to take a call. It has received complaints regarding the upkeep of the temple, it is said. Unaware of earnings If sources in the endowment department are to be believed, the revenue of the temple is not less than Rs 10 crore a year. However, as the temple is in the custody of the Mutt, the government is unaware of the earnings in recent years. When contacted by DH to find the take of his department in getting back the custody of the temple, Minister of State for Muzrai Rudrappa Lamani said so far, no decision has been taken. I have heard many people expressing their views in this regard. I will visit the temple to find out how it is being managed. I am planning to interact with people to get their views. Later, I will hold a meeting with the law minister, the advocate general and officials to decide on the matter. I must equip myself to legally handle it, he said. In a letter to Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, Major Industries Minister R V Deshpande had said that the government should not take over the temple. The temple is run by the Mutt well. It is conducting many religious activities which are appreciated by the devotees, he has argued. Bhatkal MLA Mankala Vaidya has also opposed any change in the administration of the temple. As soon as the Siddaramaiah government came to power, the government had announced that it was under pressure to take the custody of the Gokarna temple and Krishna temple in Udupi. The Ashta Mutts (eight mutts) are managing the Krishna temple. However, the government did not pursue the issue as there was stiff opposition from the BJP, among others. When Prakash Hukkeri was the Muzrai minister in 2013, he had told the Assembly that the government had no proposal before it to take over the Gokarna temple and the Krishna temple and that they had been denotified as per law. The BJP may frown officially at attempts by its leaders to cash in on surgical strikes, but this remains its best bait in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh (UP). The BJP has decided to use proxy organisations to drum up patriotic fervour in UP, given the initial feedback that the response to surgical strikes has the potential to give a push to the partys electoral prospects. And to execute that electoral strategy, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will be felicitated at various functions in UP by independent organisations, beginning Thursday, for the successful surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). A senior party leader involved in the strategy said Parrikar will be honoured at public functions in Agra and later Lucknow both on Thursday for the action carried out by the army in PoK. The BJP strategy is to avoid its platform for this purpose so that the party is not accused of politicisation of army action which it is using against the Opposition. Earlier, BJPs Goa units decision to felicitate Parrikars had come in for sharp criticism from the Opposition. The Congress had charged that the ruling party was selling anti-terror operation for political mileage. The defence minister, who has the habit of shooting his mouth, has been cautioned not to speak beyond giving credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the army for the successful surgical operations. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday sought an apology from Parrikar for what he said was a disgraceful remark suggesting that the ...armed forces realised their power post the surgical strikes. In a series of tweets, Singh said; Mr Parrikar withdraw your statement and apologise to the Indian Army. No defence minister of India has made such a disgraceful statement, and that Is he aware of the glorious history of our Army?. Posters have come up in Varanasi and other places in the state eulogising Modi. In one such banner in Varanasi, which is Modis constituency, the prime minister is featured as Lord Ram carrying bow and arrow, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as Ravana and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as Meghanada. As per Hindu mythology, Meghanada was the son of Ravana. DH News Service Hundreds of students of Government Pre-university College in Doddaballapur boycotted their classes on Wednesday and staged a protest on the college premises against suspension of one of their lecturers. The protesting students said Sociology lecturer T R Gowda had not made objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad while delivering a lecture on Hindu-Muslim Marriage Act on October 3.Though there were 90 students in the class, the police registered a case against Gowda based on the version of just four students, they charged. The Doddaballapur town police station inspector S Shivakumar rushed to the spot. He clarified that the lecturer was not suspended. The students called off the protest after the inspectors clarification. Four girls had raised objections to Gowdas observations and walked out of his class. The girls later informed their parents about the incident. The police registered a case against Gowda under Section 153A of the IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and arrested him based on a complaint by the Muslim Youth Association. However, Gowda obtained bail. A section of locals staged a protest in front of the police station on Tuesday seeking action against Gowda. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait, who was in the city for a function, met the protesters and told them that a departmental enquiry would be ordered against Gowda. One can now sign up for skin donation at the Skin Bank at Victoria Hospital in the city with just the click of a button. In an attempt to draw more volunteers to come foward for donation, a website was launched by the hospital. After conducting several awareness programmes in colleges, multinational companies and other hospitals, doctors found a need to take it online. Speaking to DH , Dr K T Ramesh, head of the department, Plastic Surgery and Burns Ward said the website has been operational for nearly three weeks now. Previously, the hospital handed over forms manually seeking volunteers to sign up as skin donors. In just four months, 11 donors have come forward for skin donation. Dr Ramesh said, Even last week, we had a family volunteering for skin donation. The donor was a 50-year-old male who was admitted to the Trauma Block in Victoria Hospital. It is the willingness of the family that plays a key role, he added. Dr Ramesh explained that this family wished to donate the liver and other organs but since they were not in a condition to be harvested, doctors suggested a skin donation to which the family readily agreed. The hospital has seen deceased donors from across age groups. The youngest donor was 23 and the oldest 90. Unlike organ donation, there are minimal factors that are taken into consideration at the time of skin donation. There is no age bar to donate skin nor is there any restriction on the blood group, he said. Collection centres A majority of donations that the Skin Bank has witnessed are from the Victoria Hospital campus itself. Out of the 11, samples were harvested from three patients from PMSSY, three from burns ward and two donors from the mortuary. A senior doctor at Victoria Hospital said that as the hospital needs at least 30 donations every month, there is a need for sub-centres for harvesting skin across the state. Of the three to five admissions every day, at least one needs a skin transplant. Volunteers can sign up on http://skinbankbangalore.in/ or call 080-26703633 to donate. The passengers, who were injured by dacoits in Nagercoil Express near Shahabad in Chittapur taluk in Kalaburagi district, were treated at a hospital in Yadgir late on Tuesday night. The dacoits, who struck at the general bogie, robbed the passengers of jewels and cash. They have also tried to attack the passengers who refused to part their belongings. Twelve passengers have been injured in the melee. It is said the dacoits escaped near Wadi. The train was halted at Yadgir railway station to provide treatment to the injured passengers. The victims are said to be natives of Tamil Nadu. No case has been registered in this regard. A high-level panel headed by Central Water Commission (CWC) chairman G S Jha will hold its preparatory meeting in Bengaluru on Friday. The team will meet in Bengaluru at 9.30 am on October 7 for a preparatory meeting and subsequent visit to the Cauvery basin area for assessing the ground realities and submitting a report to the Supreme Court on October 17, said a statement from the Union Ministry of Water Resources. The team will comprise CWC member S Masood Husain, Krishna and Godavari basin organisation chief engineer R K Gupta, Chief Secretary or his representative from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and one Chief Engineer each from the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry, said the statement. The Ministry has instructed all Cauvery basin states to nominate their representatives for the team and ensure that the officials reach Bengaluru on Thursday. The central team will also arrive in Bengaluru on Thursday, sources said. The state government on Wednesday constituted a three-member team of officials to coordinate with the high- level technical team of the Centre, which is scheduled to assess the ground reality in the Cauvery basin area on October 7. The team comprises Principal Secretary to Water Resources Department Rakesh Singh, Cauvery Niravari Nigam Managing Director Chikkarayappa and Water Resources department Chief Engineer, Mysuru Division, Shivashankar. The states team will accompany the technical team on its visit to the basin region and provide necessary information, a source in the government said. Team of ministers Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is learnt to have told his Cabinet colleagues that he would form a team of ministers to coordinate with the technical team. The Siddapura police on Wednesday said they have arrested five youths in connection with abduction and robbing of a bank employee. The arrested are Vinay Kumar (23), Satish (24), Vishnu (24), Dorai Kumar (23) and Lakshman Kumar (23). They were all unemployed. The police have also recovered 40 grams of silver valuables and Rs 11,500 in cash. According to the police, on September 27 Tiptur resident Ramachandra, a Syndicate Bank employee, had come to the city on an official duty for a day. He was on VV Puram Main Road when the gang abducted him and took him to an under-construction building near Lalbagh West gate. They assaulted him and took two silver chains and Rs 1,500 cash from him. They also took away his ATM card and forced him to reveal the password at knifepoint, said the police. After getting the password, the youths abandoned Ramachandra and fled the spot. They visited nearby ATM kiosk and withdrew Rs 40,000. Ramachandra approached Siddapura police and registered a complaint. CCTV footage A special team was formed and the CCTV footage were obtained from the ATMs located near Lalbagh. Ramachandra identified two youths when the police showed him the footage. They were traced and picked up for questioning. During the interrogation, they confessed to the crime. Based on the information provided by the two youths, rest of them were arrested. They wanted to make a quick buck to lead a lavish life, the police said. The police arrested five persons for threatening and injuring Infosys Limiteds employees during Cauvery riots on September 12 in the city. The suspects have been identified as Venkatesh, 46, Puttaswamy, 24, Chethan BL, Rakesh, 19 and Basavaraj, 40, all residents of Mysuru. The Kengeri police arrested them on Tuesday and produced them before a court. The judge remanded the suspects in judicial custody, the police added. The companys regional manager Balakrishna P had lodged a complaint on September 29 with the police stating that 10 buses were ferrying the companys employees to drop them at their houses on September 12. About 200 persons had accosted the buses on NICE Road near PES College tollgate. The miscreants had directed the employees to join them in the protest and raise slogans against the government. They even stoned the buses in which two women employees were injured. The employees were forced to get down from the buses and walk to their houses, Balakrishna had added in the complaint. The police established identity of the suspects based on photographs and CCTV footage from nearby areas and arrested them. If you are someone who jumps signals when there are no traffic police around, think twice. The Bengaluru Traffic Police will launch the Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD) cameras at 10 junctions to check traffic violations from Thursday. Unlike enforcement cameras already installed at various junctions, RLVD cameras, besides capturing the image, also convert it into text format which will be automatically transferred to their server at the Traffic Management Centre (TMC). Lanes are marked digitally inside the RLVD cameras based on the stop line and the pedestrian crossing line on roads. The RLVD camera captures the image of the vehicles number plate soon after it jumps the signal or violates the red light. The TMC staff will then analyse the image and the text format, generate a challan for the violation and send it to vehicle owners. The camera operates so fast that it generates the data of a vehicle the moment it touches these two lanes, said the police. The RLVD cameras with Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) facility will be used for the first time in the city to curb major violations like jumping traffic signals and lane indiscipline, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra told DH. RLVD cameras have been fitted at five junctions in the central business district and five other junctions in other parts of the city. The facility would be extended to other junctions in the coming days. Mysuru was the first city in the state to have RLVD cameras from April. The police chose the 10 junctions after a careful survey. These junctions are straight and wide and witness a lot of traffic violations. We want to convert these junctions into zero-tolerance and accident free zones. The facility helps the police trace blacklisted vehicles and other traffic offences, Hithendra said. The police have spent Rs 35 crore for introduction of RLVD cameras under B-Trac project. Matrix Security and Surveillance Pvt Ltd has been assigned to instal cameras, print challans and maintain the facilities for five years. DH News Service 1 MG Road-Brigade Road Junction 2 Shanthinagar Junction 3 Adugodi Junction 4 ASC Junction 5 KR Puram-Battarahalli Junction 6 Ejipura (Koramangala Inner Ring Road) Junction 7 Parappana Agrahara (Electronics City Road) Junction 8 PES College (Outer Ring Road) Junction 9 Doddaballapur Road Junction (Yelahanka) 10 Chalukya Junction Cases of Jumping Signals Cases of Lane INDiscipline 2014: 6,88,027 2014: 5,29,201 2015:5,67,201 2015:4,67,015 2016: 3,15,882* 2016: 2,73,649* (Till August 31) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday offered to mediate between Karnataka and Goa to resolve the long-standing Mahadayi river water-sharing dispute. Fadnavis, in a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said he is willing to mediate between the two states and requested him to consider the offer. Fadnavis also said that he had spoken to Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who agreed to attend the meeting. Sources said the meeting is likely to be held in Mumbai on October 21. Apart from the chief ministers, water resources ministers and officials of the respective states will attend the meeting. Confirming the receipt of Fadnaviss letter, Karnataka Water Resources Minister M B Patil told DH, We have given our consent to attend the meeting. Karnataka is hopeful to resolve the matter amicably. Earlier, the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal, headed by J M Panchal, suggested the three states Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka resolve the issue through talks with or without a third-party mediation. Following this, Siddaramaiah had written to his counterparts in Maharashtra and Goa and invited them for talks. Siddaramaiah had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention. While the JD(S) and Congress have been demanding the prime ministers intervention, the state BJP leaders were trying to organise the meeting as the party has high stakes in the North Karnataka region. It is learnt that the BJP top brass instructed the Maharashtra chief minister to mediate and asked the Goa chief minister to attend the meeting. The Mahadayi or Kalasa-Banduri project is undertaken by the Karnataka government to improve the drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and irrigation of parts of Belagavi and Gadag districts. The project involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, two tributaries of the Mahadayi river, to divert 7.56 tmcft of water to the Malaprabha river, which supplies water for drinking as well as irrigation to parched areas. In 2002, the Centre gave clearance to Karnataka to divert the water from the Mahadayi river. However, the project was stalled after Goa raised objections, saying the proposed project would lead to the drying up of its lifeline Mandovi river, which is also called Mahadayi in Karnataka. The Union Ministry of Water Resources had constituted the tribunal, which is hearing the matter. Amid a political row over proof of Indias military action across the border, the parliamentary standing committee on defence has sought a briefing on the surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the Uri terror attack. But the defence ministry has turned down the committees demand on the grounds that sensitive operations cannot be discussed openly. BJP Member of Parliament and head of the parliamentary committee, retired Maj General B C Khanduri, said sources had called up Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar on October 3 asking him to arrange a visual presentation by the Army for the committee members on Thursday on the surgical strikes across the Line of Control. Kumar wrote back to Khanduri on Tuesday saying the surgical operations are secret in nature and cannot be divulged, said the committee sources. He also requested the parliamentary panel, which acts as a watchdog of the armed forces, to drop the listed item from the agenda of its meeting. Khanduris move raised eye brows in the BJP with leaders wondering why he took this initiative at a time when the Opposition parties are clamouring for evidence of the September 29 dawn strike by para-commandos to kill terrorists and destroy launch pads across the LoC in PoK. It is more surprising, said party sources, since Khanduri has served the Army and retired as a Major General. Now, the committee members have been informed that the meeting, which was scheduled for Thursday to have a briefing by the representatives of the Ministry of Defence on the surgical strike across Line of Control, has been postponed to October 14. The 31-member committee, which has 21 members from the Lok Sabha and the rest from the Upper House, will meet at 11.30 am in the main committee room of the Parliament House annexe. The panel is also believed to have dropped the topic from the agenda and instead would have the MoD representatives apprising the members of the shortage of ammunition for the army, including Mountain Strike Corps, said a message shared among the members. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir, meanwhile, said in Mumbai that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take a call on whether or not to make public the video of the surgical strikes. Modi cautions ministers Prime Minister Narendra Modi has again advised his ministers not to indulge in chest thumping or create hysteria over the success of last weeks surgical strikes, reports DHNS. During the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, he said only authorised people should speak on the issue. The collapse of an under-construction building killing three people and injuring several labourers near Bellandur on Wednesday, has again brought focus back on the safety of construction workers. According to police sources, at least, 200 construction labourers have died in the last four years (2013 to till July 2016) in Bengaluru. N P Samy, president of Karnataka State Construction Workers Central Union, said, The labourers work in pathetic conditions without any safety measures. The building owners and engineers do not follow any rules, he said. There are technical specifications like testing soil, to check how many layers of foundation have to be laid and how many pillars have to be erected are not followed. Buildings are constructed without following specified standards. The Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, has made it mandatory to register construction labourers to get benefits. Over nine lakh labourers have registered after the Act came into effect in 2007. Samy, however, insists that registration of labourers is yet to pick up. Building owners and site engineers should be made responsible for compulsorily registering labourers working for them. Its high time for the government to wake up and implement the rules strictly, he said. Another officer mentioned that whenever a labourer is killed due to a building collapse, fellow labourers dont come forward to register a complaint. They are either offered money to keep mum or threatened by the owners. In most cases, labourers dont understand the local language and take whatever money they get and leave the place. Relatives and friends of the dead labourers too receive some money from the owners and leave the place, he said. Poor quality construction material and artificial materials like white sand, which are less durable, are causing an increasing number of accidents, said a senior police officer. Previous incidents *July 4, 2012: An under-construction building collapsed in Garudacharpalya, Mahadevapura leaving a building contractor and labourer dead. *July 5, 2012: Venkatesh and his wife Narayanamma died after a wall of a building collapsed at Ambedkarnagar in Whitefield. *August 5, 2013: Three labourers were killed when they were carrying out centring work of a wedding hall in Kengeri. *August 19, 2013: Three labourers were killed after a portion of a wall of an under-construction apartment collapsed in Someshwaranagar in Jayanagar. *September 19, 2014: Three labourers were killed when the wall of an under-construction factory collapsed in Bommasandra. *May 14, 2014: Two labourers died after a wall collapsed at an apartment near Byrathi, Hennur. *July 9, 2016: Three labourers died when the mud wall collapsed while they were digging the ground for laying foundation for a building in Koramangala 5th block. The site allottees of Arkavathy Layout laid siege to the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) office on Wednesday demanding that their plots should be handed over to them. The protesters also sought a CBI enquiry into the allotment of sites by the BDA in Arkavathy Layout. Unhappy over the decision taken by the BDA to give plots already alloted to farmers, the protesters continued their agitation raising slogans against the BDA. The protesters were also agitated as the officials had turned a deaf ear to their concerns. A protester said, We had informed our decision about staging a protest to the BDA. Despite that, Commissioner Rajkumar Khatri was not present. The previous secretary, who had assured us that the matter would be solved, has been transfered. The post remains vacant. Tell us with certainity whether or not the sites would be handed over to us. BDA Deputy Commissioner G Lingamurthy said 43 acres of land which is not under legal dispute has been identified. The land would be developed and about 40 % would be handed over to the farmers and the rest would be distributed to the allottees, he added. The allottees demanded that they be given the sites that they were originally allotted. How can a site, once allotted to us be given back to farmers? another protester questioned. They argued that until the disparities in the allotments in Arkavathi Layout are addressed, Kempegowda layout allotment should not be made. A divided house on protest There was a divide among the protesters themselves regarding the way forward. Nagaraj, who was leading the protest, said: We have already waited for 12 years now. Once the commissioner is back after the Dasara leave, we will have a word with him. If he refuses to give us any assurance, we will lodge a complaint against the Bangalore Development Authority and fight a legal battle. Meanwhile, another group of protesters was of the opinion that there was a need to act immediately and submit a writ petition in the court under the leadership of Bhaskar Reddy. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday held a rare meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal discussing chikungunya and dengue, which have assumed an epidemic-like situation in Delhi. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had directed Jung to hold a meeting to discuss issues related to vector-borne diseases in the city. During the review meeting on Wednesday, Jung asked the chief minister to ensure weekly monitoring of the situation of vector-borne diseases in the city by Health Minister Satyendar Jain. There has been an increase of nearly 1,600 more chikungunya cases in the past one week across the city, according to a weekly municipal report released on Monday. So far, vector-borne diseases have claimed 40 lives in Delhi this season 18 people died of chikungunya, 17 succumbed to dengue, and malaria claimed five lives. Jung also directed the civic agencies and the Delhi governments health department to intensify efforts to check the breeding of mosquitoes in the wake of recent rain in the city. The medical superintendents of major hospitals told the lieutenant governor that the fever clinics and fever wards are operational round the clock and there is adequate supply of testing kits and medicines at the hospitals. They also said that the rush of fever patients has come down by 40 to 50% in the last few days. This is a general trend across all hospitals, said Raj Niwas in a statement. Jung had directed the civic agencies concerned to lift garbage twice a day during the last review meeting that took place on September 26. On Wednesday, chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council and the three municipal commissioners told the lieutenant governor that the civic agencies have been taking anti-larval measures to check the breeding of mosquitoes. The health secretary informed the lieutenant governor that 25% beds dedicated to fever patients are lying vacant as per the reports collected at 10.30 am on October 5 from across hospitals, the statement said. The meeting ended with the lieutenant governor insisting on making the awareness programme more robust since mosquito breeding has still not abated. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) A United Nations official says Hurricane Matthew has caused the biggest humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the devastating earthquake of 2010. Deputy Special Representative for Haiti Mourad Wahba says in a statement that many people have been forced from their homes and communications systems have been knocked out in the countrys hard-hit southwestern peninsula. He says at least 10,000 people are in shelters. Wahba says officials have received reports of destroyed houses and overflowing hospitals, with shortages fresh water. He also says the hospital in the city of Les Cayes had its roof blown off. The Latest: Storm seen as biggest Haitian crisis since quake By Pam Wright 5 October 2016 (weather.com) Leaving Haiti in total disaster, Hurricane Matthew slammed into Cuba Tuesday night. Hit in some areas by 24-foot waves, Cuba faced high winds, strong storm surge and torrential downpours as the storm marched across the country. Hurricane Matthew Leaves Catastrophic Devastation in Haiti, Pounds Parts of Cuba; 11 Deaths Blamed on Storm Apart from Baracoa, there were no other reports of extensive damage, the AP reports. However, a large shipping container was washed three blocks inland from storm surge. At least 11 deaths have been attributed to the storm. Five deaths were reported in Haiti, including a 26-year-old man who drowned trying to rescue a child who fell into a rushing river, authorities said. The child was saved. Two people died in Petit Goave, including a woman who was by a falling electrical pole, reported the mayor of the town, according to the Associated Press. Four deaths were recorded in the neighboring Dominican Republic, including three children, and one each in Colombia and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Haiti Libre reported on Wednesday that one person remains missing and dozens have been injured. Its difficult to determine the number of casualties from the storm in Haiti after a key bridge was washed out, roads became impassable and phone communication was cut off from Haitis hardest-hit areas, but major damage has been reported, according to the AP. Its the worst hurricane that Ive seen during my life, Fidele Nicolas, a civil protection official in Nippes, told AP. It destroyed schools, roads, other structures. According to Haiti Libre, 14,530 people have been displaced, 2,703 families are affected and 1,885 houses are flooded. [] Major flooding was reported in several southern towns, including Petit Goave, where the Ladigue Bridge collapsed Tuesday, isolating southwest Haiti from the rest of the country, reports Haiti Libre. The river has overflowed all around us, church pastor Louis St. Germain told CNN. Its terrible a total disaster. [] Les Cayes was reportedly underwater after being inundated by the storm, which is being blamed for triggering landslides, AFP reports. We have already recorded a landslide between Les Cayes and Tiburon in Haitis Sud department, director of civil protection Marie-Alta Jean-Baptise told AFP. [] Haitian Sen. Nenel Cassy told the Miami Herald the situation in the Nippes [region] is truly catastrophic. The amount of rain were seeing accumulate is enormous, the assistant director of the aid organization CARE in Haiti, Laura Sewell, told NPR Tuesday morning. Speaking from Port-au-Prince, she said she had heard informal reports of mudslides elsewhere in the country. What were looking at here is a lot of flooding, said Sewell. Haiti is very mountainous so theres a good chance of landslides and mudslides. [more] Hurricane Matthew Leaves Catastrophic Devastation in Haiti, Pounds Parts of Cuba; 11 Deaths Blamed on Storm By Paul Schemm and Brian Murphy, with additional reporting by Carol Morello, William Branigin, and David Filipov 5 October 2016 (Washington Post) Emergency teams in Haiti struggled Wednesday to reach hurricane-ravaged areas cut off by washed-out bridges and mudslides after Hurricane Matthew roared over the nations western tip and began a devastating island-hopping path that arcs toward the U.S. coast. The full extent of Matthews blow to Haiti remained unclear, with communications almost fully severed to some regions in the Western Hemispheres poorest nation where tens of thousands of people still live in tents after an earthquake six years ago killed 200,000 people. At least 11 deaths including at least four in the neighboring Dominican Republic have been blamed on the hurricane, which packed winds of up 145 mph when it hit Haiti on Tuesday and then moved on toward Cuba and the Bahamas. A weakened Matthew was expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday. What we know is that many, many houses have been damaged, Haitian Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph said. Some lost rooftops and theyll have to be replaced, while others were totally destroyed. [] Many people live in rudimentary shacks crowding the hillsides that are especially vulnerable to the high winds and lashing rains of a hurricane as well as the landslides that often occur afterward. The U.N. deputy special representative for Haiti, Mourad Wahba, called Matthew the largest humanitarian event in Haiti since the earthquake and said that much of the population has already been displaced. [] Jean-Michel Vigreux, director in Haiti for the aid group CARE, said estimates on damage have reached as high as $1 billion even before the full extent of the devastation is tallied. It is very scary, he said in a statement. [] Were seeing enormous amounts of flooding, enormous amounts of wind damage, said John Hasse, national director for the aid organization World Vision in Haiti. Before Matthew made landfall, staffers had been trying to persuade people to get to safe structures, he said. Yet right up until the storm hit, we still heard many people saying, Were waiting on God and not making preparations, Hasse said. He said the charity has warehouses stocked with blankets, tarps, water cans and hygiene kits to assist nearly 100,000 people, but we expect it to go well over a million to even millions of people affected by this. Relief officials said many people rejected pleas to evacuate, fearing that they would lose their meager belongings to looters. For some, who changed their minds as the storm unleashed its fury, it was now too late to help them, the officials said. [more] Aid teams in Haiti struggle to reach regions slammed by Hurricane Matthew By Jeff Masters 4 October 2016 (Weather Underground) Powerful Hurricane Matthew made landfall on the southwestern tip of Haiti near 7 am EDT October 4, 2016 as a Category 4 storm with 145 mph winds. Matthews extreme rains, large storm surge, and Category 4 winds are likely to be catastrophic for Haiti. The hurricane is the third strongest one ever recorded in the impoverished nation, and their strongest hurricane in 52 years. The only Haitian hurricanes stronger than Matthew were two Category 4 storms with 150 mph winds: Hurricane Cleo of 1964 and Hurricane Flora of 1963. The last major hurricane to make a direct hit in Haiti was Category 3 Hurricane David of 1979, which crossed over the nation from east to west with 115 mph winds. [more] Matthew Hits Haiti, Their Strongest Hurricane in 52 Years By Bob Henson and Jeff Masters 4 October 2016 (Weather Underground) Colossal amounts of rain are soaking Haiti and the Dominican Republic as Category 4 Hurricane Matthew heads for an encounter with the western end of Hispaniola. As of the National Hurricane Centers update at 8:00 pm EDT Monday, Matthew was located about 200 miles south of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, moving just east of due north at 8 mph. Matthews top sustained winds were holding at 140 mph, solidly in the Category 4 range. Just before 8 PM EDT, a Hurricane Hunter flight found a minimum surface pressure of 934 millibars, down from the 940 mb reported in the 8 PM EDT advisory. However, surface winds measured by the SFMR instrument had not yet increased. Matthew may be completing an eyewall replacement cycle, with the original small eye decaying and a larger outer band taking over. Hurricane Hunters described the new eye as ragged, elliptical and kidney-shaped, about 17 by 30 miles across. Depending on how soon this cycle is completed, its possible that Matthews winds could either increase or decrease by 5 10 mph prior to the storm making landfall in southwest Haiti around 8 am EDT Tuesday. [more] Matthew Slamming Hispaniola; Southeast U.S. Landfall a Growing Threat 13 Bollywood Actors Who Have Won The National Award More Than Once Boeing CEO says first man to arrive on Mars will be on a Boeing spacecraft There might just be a modern day space race in the making, the only difference being that this one might be between corporate companies instead of countries. SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk last week revealed his plans for colonising Mars by 2020, including the SpaceX craft that will take us there, welcoming competitors along the way. His welcome has been taken up by a company that once helped the U.S beat the Soviet Union in a race to the moon - Boeing. In a conference on Tuesday, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg charted out a future that seems right out of a science fiction animated series. His vision sees a booming space travel market with multiple destinations orbiting our planet and supersonic aircrafts bringing travel time between continents down to two hours. Along with this, Boeing very well intends to be a part of the race to Mars, maybe even beating newcomers like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to the red planet. Im convinced the first person to step foot on Mars will arrive there riding a Boeing rocket, Muilenburg said at the conference. The aerospace giant based out of Chicago is working with NASA to build heavy duty rockets to be used for deep space exploration. Interestingly, both Boeing and SpaceX are companies chosen by NASA to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. Looking at the claims made by Musk and the vision laid out by Muilenburg, NASAs initial estimate of sending the first astronauts to Mars by 2030 might turn out to be an overestimation of the time needed. Although it has been accepted by Musk that there is a good chance that man wont be reaching Mars in the next 10 years, as he had claimed earlier. The only major hindrance evident in the road to commercial space travel are the costs involved. Reusable rockets and further such developments might solve that much before we think it can be solved. Yahoo secretly developed a custom program capable of searching for specific queries inside in users incoming emails What could be a major blow to the trust of hundreds of million users with Yahoo accounts, the company had secretly built a secret program to monitor all incoming emails for the US Intelligence officials. Its not clear whether it was the NSA or FBI who approached the company for surveillance, and this news has come through an exclusive report from Reuters through former employees. Theres no information on what the officials were looking for but usually such requests include certain words or phrases or a set of characters in emails. Theres also no information on what information was shared by Yahoo to the officials or even whether they handed over any information. The report says that the surveillance program began back in spring after a classified government order was received. This apparently led to the resignation of Chief Information Security Officer, Alex Stamos back in 2015, who went on to take over an important role in Facebooks security. Yahoo maintains a transparency report over government requests from various countries on its website, but theres no mention about these requests. After the order was received, Mayer and other executives bowed down to the request which upset many employees back then. Along with Yahoo General Counsel Ron Bell, they went on to have the program built without the knowledge of the companys security team. Later in May 2015, the security found out about the program eventually and thought they had been hacked. This triggered Stamos to leave his role for compromising with users security who also mentioned that a programming flaw could have given hackers access to stored emails. Reuters also received statements from Google and Microsoft, both confirming that they dont have any such email scanning programs in their services. Mobile VR has many shortcomings. The only VR headset to work with phones and give a fairly decent experience has to the Gear VR from Samsung. You know, the makers of the explosive phones. One of the coolest features of the Gear VR was the ability to play games, watch Netflix and YouTube videos and of course, VR porn. But the device had its limitations. Gaming was limited to just turning your head or using the touch sensitive buttons on the right side of the headset. The device was also compatible with Samsung smartphones only, and that too a select few so the experience was for the niche that owned Samsung devices. For the rest, we had to resort to devices such as Google Cardboard, or the numerous clones available in the market. The experience from these devices was gimmicky and lackluster. Today, I got to to experience Googles VR headset, the Daydream View and straight off the bat Id like to say that the experience is very smooth and far richer than what Ive seen on the Gear VR. This is with regards to clarity on the screen, comfort of wearing the headset, easy adjustability and smooth frame rates when turning my head. So is the device any good? Well, you will have to wait for our review to find out. But here are my initial thoughts after experiencing the Daydream View for about half an hour. To begin with the Daydream View only works with the new Pixel phones and thats a bummer, but Google says that other OEMS will launch Daydream specific VR headsets and smartphones too in the future. The Pixel phones are a benchmark for Daydream so dont expect the headset to work with your old smartphone or Nexus device. The Snapdragon 821 touts its mobile VR capabilities and even though Google hasnt officially said it, we think this is a benchmark processor requirement for the Daydream experience. When you get the Daydream View in your hands for the first time you will notice that it is built mostly out of premium fabric. There is no plastic on the exterior and that is a good thing as it makes the device a lot lighter than other plastic built VR headsets Ive tried on. The smartphone housing connects to the Pixel phones via NFC so there is no need to open an app and calibrate the VR headset. Just snap the phone in, close the housing and you are good to go. Another interesting feature is that there is no focus ring on the headset. Initially I thought this would be a problem, but after trying on the headset, I realized that you can adjust the strap, so the headset fits comfortably on your head and the focus is fine. There was a little bit of light bleeding into the headset but nothing that hampered the experience. So literally, the process of getting the headset working is - put your phone in, strap it on and start enjoying. Thats it. One interesting feature of the Daydream View is that even if the phone is slightly crooked, it auto-adjusts and calibrates. So you dont need to be specifically precise with positioning the smartphone. A very cool addition to the VR experience is the motion controller. Firstly, Id like to say that its awesome that the remote can be housed in the headset when not in use. This will give you less of an excuse to lose the remote. Secondly, if I had to describe the remote control to you, Id say that if the Apple TV remote and Nintendo Wii controller had a love child, it would be the Daydream views remote control. The controller has a touch sensitive section at the top, which also has a button. Below this rest two more buttons, one of which is the action button and the other is the home button. To the right of the remote is the volume rocker. I have to say, the ergonomics of the remote are very good considering the fact that you wont be looking at it while using it. The remote control also has 9-axis motion control which is great for gaming and navigation. The controller connects to the smartphone via Bluetooth and has a battery life of 12 hours. It charges via a USB-C cable. During my experience, I got to see a YouTube video in VR, play a simple racing game and experience the magic of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. All of the demos looked absolutely stunning. From simply turning my head to experience the depth of content in the VR YouTube video, to waving my hand in the air to tilt the race track, the experience was very immersive. I would say it is as immersive as some of the low graphically intensive games I have experienced on the HTC Vive. Thats saying something considering the price difference and power of the Vive when compared to the Google Daydream View. The best experience has to be Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I was in the center of a chamber where I could wave my magic wand to cast spells, read parchments and look around the room. Now remember, unlike the Vive there is no room scaling here so you will have to sit in one position to experience the VR headset. The best part about the VR headset is that the center position can be realigned after you sit in a comfortable position. So lets say I want to sit down or lie down and change the center position of the headset, I can do so by firstly changing my position and then with the simple hold of a button to re-center the headset. No need to to get out of the app or reset the headset like one has to in the Gear VR. So is the headset perfect? Well not really. Despite being priced at $79 the device will initially work will only the Pixel phones, which means that it wont have the same mass appeal as the Google Cardboard VR. But thats the trade off for quality I guess. Also, there is no information about when the headset will be available in India and thats a bummer. Overall, Id like to say that the Daydream View is a leap in the right direction when it comes to mobile VR. We will however pass our final judgment on battery life (of the Pixel Phones in VR) and overall performance once we review the headset. West Africa-focused mineral exploration and development company Kodal Minerals announced on Wednesday that it has received the results of the wide-spaced surface geochemical sampling programme recently completed at its 100% owned Korhogo Project in northern Cote d'Ivoire. The AIM-traded firm said surface geochemical sampling has returned four new gold anomalous zones with assay values up to 92 parts per billion Au and strike lengths exceeding 3.5km. A total of 640 geochemical samples were collected, with three rock chip samples and 34 quality assurance and quality control samples for a total of 677 samples dispatched to the SGS laboratories in Bamako, Mali. This area of Cote d'Ivoire has been very under-explored and this exploration confirms our view on the potential of this area to contain gold mineralisation, said CEO Bernard Aylward. Although exploration at Korhogo is still at an early stage, our sampling programme has now been completed targeting major geological features, areas of artisanal workings and identified shear zones. We are pleased to have defined four new gold anomalous zones as a result, and follow-up exploration is now required to define these zones and prioritise targets for first pass drilling. Aylward said the companys current exploration programme is designed to target its highly prospective Bougouni Lithium projects in Mali, having recently raised 750,000 to rapidly advance the project towards JORC compliant status in the near term. However, we will also continue to advance our prospective gold projects to unlock the upside potential and ensure we realise value for our shareholders and the exploration expenditure. At 1118 BST, shares in Kodal Minerals were up 5% at 0.1p. The arrival of Tesco s first half numbers today means that we can take a clear look at the two listed firms that dominate the supermarket space in the UK (apologies to fans of Morrisons and Ocado, but the real battle is all about Sainsbury vs Tesco). The orange-branded supermarket saw sales fall 1.1% in its second quarter, which was a deterioration from the 0.8% drop in its first quarter. Sainsbury's clothing sales were also weaker, while the only real bright spot was the jump in like-for-like sales at new acquisition Argos, which rose 2.3% compared to a rise of 0.1% in the first quarter. Tesco, by contrast, seemed to have nothing but good news, at least where sales were concerned: the group reported a third consecutive quarter of sales growth, up 1.1%, while operating profit jumped 38% to 515m. The fly in the ointment was the ballooning pension deficit, which grew to 5.9bn, a rise of nearly 100%, thanks to lower bond yields. Tesco has promised to work to boost margins, and the trend looks encouraging, as operating margins rise from a low of below 1% in February of 2015 to their current level above 2%. However, there is still a lot of ground to be made up to get back to the targeted 3.5-4%, and even this would be disappointing compared to the margins seen in the heady days of 2011 and 2012. The problem for investors right now is Tescos valuation. It currently trades on a forward p/e ratio of around 24, compared to 16.9 for the UK supermarket sector as a whole and against a Sainsburys p/e of 12. Tescos current valuation is more than one standard deviation from the average, a level not seen since October 2015 and April 2016. Between 9 October and December 15 2015, the shares fell 26%, while they dropped 17% from mid-April 2016 to mid-June. Tesco, having surged 11% on the release of interim numbers on Wednesday and a whopping 40% in the year-to-date, now looks decidedly expensive, with much of the good news baked into the price. By contrast, Sainsburys is, at 12 times forward earnings, only a whisker above its long-term average of 11.6. While this might not suggest boom times ahead, Sainsburys is not priced for disappointment, whereas Tesco most certainly is. With Argos likely to make an increasing contribution, the fundamental case is much more supportive of Sainsburys than Tesco. Momentum investors will probably stick with Tesco for the time being, but the value case for Sainsburys will appeal to many, while income hunters will be much more excited by the Sainsbury yield of 4.8% versus Tescos 3.6%. A devastating hurricane has rampaged its way through the Carribean, leaving tens of thousands of people displaced in Haiti , and is set to head towards Cuba and the USA in the coming days. Reports suggest that 11 people have been killed by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, although it has been difficult for authorities to ascertain exact figures given the devastation to transport links in the area. The hurricane brought winds of up to 145mph to the region, just six years after an earthquake left 1.5m people in the country homeless. "What we know is that many, many houses have been damaged," said the country's interior minister, Francois Anick Joseph. "Some lost rooftops and they'll have to be replaced while others were totally destroyed." #Matthew appears to be growing in size tonight around the center (L). Much larger system versus 24 hours ago (R). pic.twitter.com/kszTDGnuYn HurricaneTracker App (@hurrtrackerapp) October 4, 2016 The hurricane has also affected areas of Cuba, but reports would suggest that the impact is not as severe. The storm caused the collapse of the main bridge link between Port-au-Prince and the southern region of the country. Fears are increasing that Haiti's cholera crisis will be accentuated as a result of Matthew, with up to 27,000 current suspected cases. Haiti prime minister Perry Christie admits that he and government is worried by the disaster. "Were worried because we do not control nature," he said. Air Berlin agreed to discussions for the transfer of its tourism arm to a new carrier to be formed by Etihad Airways PJSC and TUI AG . The 35 aircraft it was now operating would be combined with TUIfly, "TUI AG, Etihad Aviation Group and Air Berlin PLC intend to finalise an in-principle agreement in due course. Any agreement entered into will be subject to all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals," TUI AG said in a statement. No transaction value was given for the deal. In the previous week, Air Berlin anounced 1,200 layoffs and another deal by which it would rent 40 aircraft to its main domestic rival, Deutsche Lufthansa. Cumulative losses of 1.2bn since 2012 were the chief factor behind the budget carriers recent decisions. An investor forum of fund managers will in November discuss the impact of Brexit on investments and outcome of the Chancellors Autumn Statement. The WiseAlpha VCT & EIS Investor Forum 2016 will debate issues affecting the future of tax-efficient early-stage investing in the UK in a post-Brexit environment. Key speakers will include Baroness Karren Brady and personal finance expert Leonora Walters. The event will be held in London on 24 November, a day after Phillip Hammond delivers his Autumn Statement. Delegates will have a chance to debate with fund managers on the implications of the Autumn Statement. More information at http://bit.ly/vcteisforum2016 After avoiding sterling assets since the referendum vote MM Warburg & Co said it intended to continue doing so, the bank's head of asset management and chief economist has said. In an interview with Bloomberg, Carsten Klude said a so-called 'hard' Brexit was increasingly likely and would send assets crashing. Trade negotiations are very, very complicated. [...] I wouldnt be surprised if Brexit negotiators come to realize after two years that they havent executed the whole program. Nevertheless, Klude admitted to having been wrongfooted by the Footsie's 18% jump since from its post-Brexit lows. For Klude, the "major sticking-point" would be Britains financial sector, given the Prime Ministers hard stance on immigration and the European Unions own rigid stance on the subject. In the German brokers favour perhaps, it was one of the few to correctly predict the result of the UKs referendum vote. The Prime Minister pitched to the centre ground in her conference speech on Wednesday, as she rebranded the Conservatives the party for the working class. May said Britain voting to leave the European Union in Junes referendum said something broader than merely about membership of the trading block, but a protest vote against an economic policy fixed to work for the privileged few. Our society should work for everyone but if you cant afford to get on the property ladder or if your child is stuck in a bad school it doesnt feel like its working for you. The prime minister said the Labour party was too divided to make the country work and did not have a monopoly on compassion. Lets have no more of Labours absurd belief that they have a monopoly on compassion. Lets put an end to their sanctimonious pretence of moral superiority. Lets make clear that they have given up the right to call themselves the party of the NHS, the party of the workers, the party of public servants. May said she wanted to build a new united Britain rooted in the centre ground where everyone plays by the same rules as she indicated a curb on working conditions, corporate responsibility and tax avoidance. If you are a boss who earns a fortune but doesnt look after your staff, an international company that treats tax laws as an optional extraa director that takes out massive dividends while knowing that a company pension is about to go bustI am putting you on warning. A change has got to come and this party is going to make it. She said the Conservatives believe in free markets but she said if markets are dysfunctional, the government should be prepared to intervene. Where companies are exploiting the failures of the market in which they operate, where consumer choice is inhibited by deliberately complex pricing structures, we must set the market right. It's just not right, for example, that half of the people living in rural areas, and so many small business, cant get a decent broadband connection. Its just not right that two thirds of energy customers are stuck on the most expensive tariffs. And its just not right that the housing market continues to fail people wither. She repeated that Article 50, the clause which starts two-year divorce proceedings with the EU, till the end of March 2017 but said it was too early to see what an agreement would look like. Business leaders are no pantomime villains Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, said in response to the speech that government action can help make Mays vision a reality and must be developed hand-in-hand with industry. Fairburn added: Government must build on the great things so many firms are already doing and not impose approaches that look good on paper, but dont make a difference in practice. Placing workers or consumers on boards can be a solution for some firms, but may not be the only or even best way of changing company culture. James Sproule, the Institute of Directors director of policy said he welcomed the Mays focus on how corporate leadership can aid economic and social success. However, Sproule maintained business leaders are not pantomime villains who evade taxes and employ cheap labour from abroad out of some destructive desire to do Britain down. For every Mike Ashley or Philip Green there are hundreds of thousands of hard-working entrepreneurs who are more likely to re-mortgage their homes than own a super yacht. Those people will now be watching the autumn statement and the chancellor like a hawk, expecting more measures to promote enterprise and investment than we saw in this speech. Pat McFadden, the Labour MP and an Open Britain spokesman, said the centrist language May used in her speech could not cover up the direction towards hard Brexit which had been signalled this week. She praised a series of sectors and firms all of whom have warned her about the dangers of leaving the European single market and customs union. There is no point in talking up industrial strategy when your central economic direction threatens industrys capacity to export freely to its biggest market. This was echoed by Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who said the Conservatives had moved to the right despite Mays centrist rhetoric as they were utterly divorced from the partys actions over the last few days. Our NHS needs a new deal to secure its future and yet we heard nothing, and the chancellor shelved George Osbornes confused and damaging spending plans but has left us nothing but a blank sheet of paper. I was surprised though that the prime minister did not take the time to thank the one person who helped create her agenda: not David Cameron, but Nigel Farage. Barclays has completed the sale of its Egyptian business to Moroccos Attijariwafa Bank as part of its shift towards focusing on the US and Britain. The sale will mean a cut of about 2bn in Barclays risk-weighted assets, boosting the banks core capital ratio by about 0.1%. Guardian Global central bank policymakers have turned world financial markets into a casino with their unprecedented monetary policies, the bond investor Bill Gross has warned. Gross, who oversees the $1.5bn (1.2bn) Janus Global Unconstrained Bond Fund, recommended bitcoin and gold for investors who are looking for places to preserve capital. Guardian SVG Capital has agreed a deal to sell half of its assets to the private equity firms Pomona and Pantheon and wind itself down, in the latest twist in its race to block a hostile takeover by HarbourVest. The FTSE 250 company has been in urgent talks with several groups of possible bidders to find a white knight transaction following HarbourVests 1bn proposal in mid-September. Telegraph British motorists last month faced the highest road fuel costs this year as global oil prices continue to creep higher from historic lows. The cost of unleaded petrol and diesel rose for a second consecutive month to drive the average price of diesel the highest level for the year so far, while petrol ended the month only slightly shy of 2016 highs. Telegraph The government is to restart the sale of 16 billion of Bradford & Bingley mortgage loans, offering a further sign of renewed confidence in the economy. The Treasury had put the sale on hold in the summer, but yesterday it gave the green light to the agency that manages its nationalised bad bank loans to seek out buyers. The Times The British boss of Deutsche Bank was in the United States last night trying to negotiate a deal over a $14 billion fine, even as a political battle raged back in Germany over the lenders problems. John Cryan, chief executive, and a small team of Deutsche officials were hoping to talk down the enormous sum being demanded by the US Department of Justice over mortgage mis-selling. - The Times Theresa May will make a renewed pitch for the centre ground of British politics as the prime minister seeks to capitalise on the disarray in the ranks of the opposition Labour party. The Conservative leader will give her keynote speech to the party conference in Birmingham on Wednesday less than three months after assuming control over the party in the wake of the Brexit vote. Financial Times 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. HDR Bao Andersen Zapel Warnock Morsell Borovansky In Seattle, HDR hired Sally Morsel as a senior regulatory specialist, Cory Warnock as a project manager and fisheries biologist, and Ed Zapel as hydraulic design lead. In Portland, it hired Emily Andersen as a senior regulatory specialist, and Le Bao as a project manager and senior fisheries biologist. In Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, the firm promoted Jenna Borovansky to Northwest hydropower regulatory and environmental manager. Morsel has worked on hydropower project licensing and relicensing projects for over 20 years. She has a background in zoology, hydrogeology, water chemistry and the National Environmental Policy Act, and on rural transportation and mining projects in Alaska. Warnock has 16 years of experience in regulatory and natural resource issues with hydropower clients in the Northwest and Alaska. He manages hydropower licensing and relicensing. Zapel has over 10 years of experience with the Corps of Engineers and 20 years in consulting, with projects in Alaska, the Northwest, California and the Midwest. He has focused on river engineering projects. Andersen has 15 years of experience as a hydropower licensing and regulatory consultant, with work in the Northwest, Oklahoma, Tennessee and North Carolina. Bao has 18 years of federal, utility and consulting experience, including Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing and compliance. He has worked with hydropower clients in the Northwest, California and Alaska. Borovansky has 17 years of experience with FERC licensing, multi-stakeholder process facilitation and negotiation support, and water quality permitting in the west and Alaska. HDR provides engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services, with over 225 locations. Subscriber content preview But there are still people fighting the project because they don't want to lose views, object to taking private property or say it's not needed. By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press TOMS RIVER, N.J. Almost four years after Superstorm Sandy pummeled his neighborhood so badly that Britain's Prince Harry had to stop by for a look at the damage, Paul Jeffrey is ready to sleep soundly again. His Ortley Beach community in Toms River, New Jersey called itself ground zero of the 2012 storm that washed entire neighborhoods off the map and in some cases, into the bay. . . . Dobbins hosts Georgias 10th District representative, showcases mission Members of the 94th Airlift Wing welcomed Congressman Jody Hice of Georgias 10th District to Dobbins Air Reserve Base Oct. 4, 2016. The base tour was part of a three day congressional delegation visit to Dobbins ARB, Robins and Moody Air Force Bases. With 80 percent of the wings Airmen living in Georgia, the Congressman sought to gain a deeper understanding of the Air Force Reserve, and its role in supporting Air Force core capabilities. Our strength comes from our Airmen, said Col. Steven Parker, 94th AW commander, during a wing mission briefing to Congressman Hice. Our goal is to provide mission ready forces-ready and trained Airmen who are properly equipped for any mission. Parker boasted the wings participation in recent exercises and deployments, its uniqueness in owning and operating its own airfield, and its one-of-a-kind training facilities. We [Dobbins] receive unwavering support from our local community, the commander added. We strive to be a good neighbor, and constantly make cooperative efforts to promote corporate growth. Congressman Hice thanked the Airmen for their professionalism and hard work. This visit gave me a much better understanding of the 94th AW mission, said Hice. Ive always been impressed with the men and women of our military. Regardless of the many obstacles and challenges you encounter, you do what it takes to keep our country safe, and you do it extremely well. In addition to the 94th AW, Congressman Hice also visited Lucius D. Clay National Guard Center and Lockheed Martin/Air Force Plant #6. About Dobbins Air Reserve Base Dobbins Air Reserve Base consists of 1,663 acres in Cobb County in north-central Georgia. With units from the Air Force Reserve Command, Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, Dobbins ARB is one of the few multi-service training bases remaining in the continental United States. Located 16 miles northwest of Atlanta, Dobbins ARB supports more than 10,000 Guardsmen and Reservists from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. The base is home to the 94th Airlift Wing, which is the host unit, and tenant organizations including the 22nd Air Force headquarters, Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta and the Lucius D. Clay National Guard Center. A garda based in Donegal town has been fined 300 for not having insurance on his car. A garda based in Donegal town has been fined 300 for not having insurance on his car. Keith Harrison, 33, admitted not having insurance or road tax at Sene Lane, which is located next to the garda station in Donegal town, on February 24, 2012. He appeared before Judge Kevin Kilrane at Manorhamilton District Court during yesterday, During the hearing, he was referred to as an employee of the State. Donegal town station sergeant in charge Anthony Cornyn said his attention was drawn to a car owned by Mr Harrison where the details on the insurance disc didnt match the vehicle registration. Mr Harrison told him the car was insured but he hadnt got the document and would have to contact the insurance company. During inquiries by Sgt David Durkan, the insurance company said the car wasnt covered. Insurance had been taken out on February 11 and Mr Harrison was told his driving licence and other documents would have to be supplied within seven days. That didnt happen and the company subsequently failed to make contact with Mr Harrison. Sgt Cornyn said the insurance disc exhibited on the car, bought in January last year, referred to a vehicle previously owned by Mr Harrison and it had been cancelled. Defence solicitor Frank Dorrian said Mr Harrison understood he remained covered while everything connected with his application was being completed. He was a family man with an address at Ballymaleel, Letterkenny, operated within the community and was a volunteer with a counselling service for disadvantaged people. As an employee of the State, he was concerned about his driving licence. Mr Dorrian said it was a fairly careless approach by all parties concerned in the insurance application. He added: There was some sort of tacit acknowledgement that he was still covered. Judge Kilrane said it would appear there was a degree of misunderstanding between Mr Harrison and the insurance company. He added: Driving without insurance is a very serious matter but there are mitigating circumstances. It wasnt just a blatant case of driving without insurance. The judge said that for the reasons put before the court he was not going to impose a driving ban. He imposed a 300 fine and the offence of having no tax was taken into consideration. The mystery winner of half of last Saturday night's Jackpot, who bought his ticket in Donegal, has claimed his prize of 2,266,323. He called into the National Lottery offices in Dublin today, one day after the winners, two members of a family from Kerry, claimed their half of the 4.5 million jackpot. Todays winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, was visiting Donegal to attend a wedding on Saturday and bought a Quick Pick Lotto ticket at Centra Foodmarket in Carrigart. He described how it feels to have struck it lucky. "It surreal, like Im in a dream. Crazybut a good crazy! "I checked my ticket on Sunday after the news went around the wedding the night before that a winning ticket was sold in the shop. I couldnt believe it when I saw I had the winning numbers. I kept checking the ticket. I rang my girlfriend and then my sister to share the news. He has fairly modest plans for celebrating: It will make life more comfortable but Ill keep my feet on the ground, and think about my future. Ill buy a new car that will be my first big purchase. Its amazing to win,he said. Since Lotto began, over 113 million in jackpot and top prizes has been won by players in Donegal. The biggest jackpot winning ticket sold in Donegal was for 12.1 million. It was bought in American House in Bundoran in June 2014. This is the second Lotto jackpot prize to be sold in Centra Foodmarket in Carrigart. They previously sold a ticket worth 450,000 in November in November 2005. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A member of the Regional Health Forum West has said that those in authority need to take decisive action in relation to the issue of overcrowding at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH). This afternoon, the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital remains very busy this afternoon with significant numbers of patients awaiting admission to the hospital and the 'Full Capacity Protocol' has been implemented. A statement from the communications department, on behalf of the hospital reads: "We apologise to patients and their families for these delays." Councillor Gerry Crawford has said that those in responsible positions within the HSE "and above" need to implement a plan when such occasions arise. He said: "It has happened so often that a plan needs to be put in place to deal with this issue because whatever plan is in place is simply not working. "Those in positions of authority in the HSE and above need to take decisive action." He added that overcrowding will have a knock on other services. "It's no good constantly apologising about this - there needs to be another solution," he said. All efforts continue to be made at the Letterkenny hospital to identify patients who are appropriate for discharge. Management at the hospital would like to advise people who are attending the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital that they can expect delays. Members of the public are being encouraged to attend the Emergency Department only in the case of real emergencies and contact their GP or GP Out-of-Hours service in the first instance. Letterkenny University Hospital again apologises to all patients and their families for any distress caused as a result of these delays. 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. At long last, Nissan has finally locked in plans to bring its high-performance Nismo brand to Australia. The new GT-R Nismo arrives locally in February, packing race-honed aerodynamics and a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 441kW and 652Nm of grunt - more power, but less torque than Porsche's top-end 911 Turbo S. Nissan's new flagship features plenty of track-derived technology including carbon fibre elements for the bodywork and large turbochargers borrowed from the Bathurst 12 Hour-winning Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. Priced from $299,000 plus on-road costs, the model is the most expensive Nissan in Australian history, an exclusive proposition that will initially be restricted to existing owners of the current GT-R coupe. Nissan Australia boss Richard Emery says the model will be sold through select Nissan Performance dealers, and that the waiting list for the hand built machine is likely to extend well beyond 12 months. Emery defended delays in Nismo's local launch, saying its local plan centred on "making sure the timing was right". "There's always been the motivation, from our perspective, to launch Nismo in Australia. I think I've been on the record saying I would like to have it happened faster," he says. "We think now is the right time. We can see the follow-up and the future of the line up into the future. "We believe Nismo has a significant opportunity to provide an emotional connection to our brand that hard perhaps been missing." The GT-R Nismo will be joined by other models in following years. Without saying exactly which car is on the menu, Emery confirmed that the next Nismo model will be based on a current production car offered in Australia. Expect the Nissan Juke Nismo RS or Nissan 370Z Nismo to arrive locally in 2018. The Nissan boss says local Nismo models must be authentic. "Nismo can't be about spoilers and alloy wheels and a stripe. It needs to be bedded around real performance offerings," Emery says. "We wanted to ensure that we had a Nismo product plan that just didn't deliver one car. "I would have an expectation that we will add another car in the next 12 months." 2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo pricing and specifications Price: $299,000 plus on-road costs Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol Power: 441kW at 6800rpm Torque: 652Nm at 6500-5600rpm Transmission: Six-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive Fuel use: TBA Suzuki will welcome a new baby in early 2017. The Japanese brand has confirmed it will add the city-sized Ignis SUV, positioning it beneath the Vitara to expand its SUV range. Details of the new Ignis for Australia are yet to be confirmed but European models were revealed at last week's Paris motor show. The European engine range includes the 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine from the Baleno as well as a mild-hybrid version. In keeping with its SUV image it will be available with all-wheel drive and the choice of a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Ignis is less than four-metres long, making it one of the smallest SUVs on the market and positioning it underneath compact crossovers such as the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and Nissan Qashqai. Suzuki will help it stand out by offering high levels of customisation to buyers. Andrew Moore, Suzuki Australia general manager, confirmed the Ignis will offer the same levels of personalisation as the current generation Vitara that has performed well for the brand. "Vitara has been an outstanding SUV success for Suzuki, with customers enjoying the performance of the turbo and it's personalisation options," explained Moore. "With the new Ignis SUV we'll be adding another style icon to the range, with its retro looks, bright colours and immense personalisation sure to be popular amongst Australian motorists." The Ignis is due to arrive in the first quarter of 2017. Pricing and specifications will be revealed closer to launch. Home Four wheelers GM India Export Highest Number Of Beat Models In September oi-Ajinkya General Motors has achieved a new milestone with their Indian facility. Over 7,661 Chevrolet Beat hatchbacks have been exported from India during September 2016. This is the highest number of exports for Beat by General Motors India. {photo-feature} Home Two wheelers Honda And Yamaha Join Hands To Produce Small-Size Scooters In Japan oi-Sukesh Honda Motor and Yamaha Motor has stated that the two firms are in discussions towards a possible business alliance in Japan. {photo-feature} According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) there are currently nine newly refurbished beds in St Oliver Plunketts Hospital, Dundalk and nine beds in Drogheda Cottage Hospital Transitional Care Unit closed due to the refusal of the HSE to sanction the filling of vacant staff nurse posts. The refusal of general management to approve the filling of these posts is in stark contrast to the continuing drive to create and fill general management posts in the region. The current reality is that Directors of Nursing have to await 8 layers of management to approve the filling of one nursing post. It is the view of the INMO that this is totally indefensible and, critically, compromising patient care. In the past if a nurse retired, or resigned, the Director of Nursing for the facility would be the decision maker with regards to the filling of that vacancy. In the meantime, patients are left without adequate nursing cover and now beds have been closed in Louth as we head into the busy winter months. The bed closures in Louth are having a direct impact on patients in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda as those on trolleys in the Emergency Department cannot get access to a bed and those in a bed, who are finished the acute phase of their care, cannot be discharged to step down or community facilities. The ability of the reduced numbers of nurses working in the community, to provide adequate care, is further compromised by the fact that some of the Health Centres in which they work are dilapidated, inadequate and not appropriate for nurses to meet with their patients/clients. The IT infrastructure, available to nurses in the frontline, is also wholly inadequate resulting in delays in accessing patient information and forwarding referrals to other parts of the system. Additionally, a significant amount of PHN and Community RGNs time is taken up completing assessments for patients to obtain home help only for their recommendation to be rejected at administration level. This is causing severe frustration for the nurses and their patients and is totally unacceptable as it amounts to interference with the clinical judgement of the registered nurse. Central to all of this is the on-going attempt by the HSE to establish management structures, in Louth and across the country, which are cumbersome, bureaucratic and do not involve nurses in any operational managerial role. The INMO is opposing this, not only in Louth, but also nationwide, as we need flattened management structures and empowered frontline professionals. Sydney-based healthtech start-up CancerAid has closed its Seed B funding round at $1.25 million, bringing its total valuation to $4.25 million. Founded in August 2015 by doctors Nikhil Pooviah and Raghav Murali-Ganesh of the Chris OBrien Lifehouse cancer hospital, the company last month launched an app that manages a patients cancer journey, including their treatment and expectations, in line with their diagnosis and with oversight from their clinician. The app incorporates a form of telemedicine that enables specialists to monitor patient progress and provide care remotely once they are nominated as their Medical Champions. It will evolve to include a journey organiser allowing patients to take control of their medical records, manage symptoms, keep a journal of their events and connect with others who are experiencing their own journey. Dr Murali-Ganesh said the Seed B funding round was preceded by six months of hard work and closing it with funding from a mix of strategic investors validated the business. The round was led by Clinton Capital Partners whose principle, Randolf Clinton, was impressed with experienced, hands-on practitioners involved in developing a solution to a real issue for the wellbeing of the broader cancer community. Dr Murali-Ganesh said CancerAid has been incredibly well received within the Australian medical field with 17 customers signing up, including the Chris OBrien Lifehouse Hospital, the MetroRehab Hospital, as well as the startups first international customer, the Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Center. Although other apps exist in the oncology and cancer sector, Dr Murali-Ganesh said CancerAid is one of the only apps to be designed by doctors, with input from over 300 cancer specialists. Something that also sets CancerAid apart from other apps in the medical field is that it will be completely free for patients, he said. Our unique revenue model allows us to offer our product free for the end user, making us a socially-responsible business which is one of the most appealing aspects of our initiative. CancerAids initial and overarching vision is to offer the first-of-its-kind resource for anyone diagnosed with cancer. Down the track we will look to cross expand the CancerAid platform onto other chronic diseases because there is certainly a need for it and we have the capabilities to meet these needs. The first CancerAid iPhone version is available to download from the Apple store. For more information, visit www.canceraid.com.au Halewood house hunters urged to act fast Fast-acting Halewood house hunters have already snapped up seventeen luxury properties at Countrysides highly anticipated Goddard Chase development. Prices start at 269,950. Home builder Countryside has unveiled the second of its three Knowsley developments to be launched for sale on the open market this year, offering local families the opportunity to reserve one of 113 high-quality new homes off-plan. The three and four bedroom homes have already proven popular amongst the areas residents, with many keen to secure their Goddard Chase home ahead of the show village launch. Countryside is set to open the doors to its Lightoaks Drive show homes later this year, with all properties available through a range of home buying initiatives, including the popular Help to Buy scheme, which only requires a 5% deposit. Families looking to trade in their existing property for a new, more spacious home are able to do so using Countrysides Part Exchange scheme, through which buyers receive a helping hand in selling their house and save on estate agents fees. Peter Vella, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Countryside, commented: The launch of Goddard Chase is part of an exciting partnership with Knowsley Council to bring 583 new homes into the borough. The development was designed to meet the huge and increasing demand from local families in need of a larger home within a welcoming community. Were seeing great demand for this development and have already made a really good number of sales prior to its launch. We would therefore urge families to act quickly if they want to secure their home at this popular location. Knowsley Councils Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, Cllr Mike Murphy, said: Its fantastic to see the Goddard Chase development ready to launch and already proving to be extremely popular with house-hunters. "This is another outstanding development being delivered through Knowsley Councils partnership with Countryside and supports our ambition of meeting the increasing demand for high quality homes both from existing residents and people who want to move to Knowsley. Located near Halewood train station, Goddard Chase boasts excellent transport links into Liverpool City Centre, Manchester and Warrington. The sales and marketing suite is open 11am 6pm, Monday to Thursday, at Lightoaks Drive, Halewood, Liverpool, L26 1DY. For more information, visit oddardchase.co.uk. Visit to Mexico City and Monterey focuses on business development The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Sir Suma Chakrabarti, has used a visit to Mexico to present the activities of the Bank to the local business community and to point out the advantages of joint engagements in the more than 30 countries where the EBRD invests. His message was that Mexico has been a success story for diversification from oil and gas that some EBRD countries of operations could benefit from studying closely. He also praised Mexico as a good example for successfully implementing structural economic reforms. President Chakrabarti started his engagements with a meeting with Mexicos Minister of Finance, Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena, who is also his countrys EBRD Governor, and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Vanessa Rubio Marquez. President Chakrabarti said: We have always enjoyed a close relationship on an institutional level and now it is time to also increase our business cooperation. The EBRD regions offer huge opportunities and Mexico has many companies which would fit these opportunities perfectly well. Sir Suma also met with Mexicos Minister of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, and underlined the EBRDs readiness to strengthen its outreach to Mexican companies. Mexico is a founding member of the EBRD and has been a shareholder of the Bank since its establishment in 1991. The Presidents meetings with firms included business promotion agency ProMexico and Bancomext. With ProMexico an agreement was reached to strengthen cooperation and, in the near future, sign a Memorandum of Understanding outlining an action plan for the next steps in working together. Sir Suma also joined two well-attended business development seminars, one in Mexico City and the other in Monterey, which attracted the attention of the business and diplomatic communities. We have always admired Mexican businesses sense of entrepreneurship and we think there is a lot for our countries to learn here. To date, the EBRD has one large project with a Mexican investor, a 50 million loan for a cement producer in Egypt which has transformed production standards and led to improvements in energy efficiency. In recent years Mexican companies have started to look more closely at opportunities in countries and sectors where the EBRD invests. The EBRD opened its first Representative Office for North America in Washington, D.C., continuing its drive to increase the flow of investment to emerging economies in the Banks regions. From the new office, the EBRD is stepping up cooperation with US, Canadian and Mexican companies and forging stronger ties with existing and potential commercial partners. From Mexico President Chakrabarti travelled on to Washington, D.C. where he will attend the World Bank/IMF Annual Meeting from 7-9 October. Salesforce has agreed to acquire its Marketing Cloud partner Krux, which offers a data management platform. Salesforce will pay US$340 million in cash and issue between 3.4 million and six million shares of common stock to consummate the deal, according to documentation filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. Thats worth an estimated $700 million in all. Benefits to Both Krux will extend the Salesforce Marketing Clouds segmentation and targeting capabilities to power consumer marketing with even more precision at scale, said Krux CEO Tom Chavez. Further, Krux will feed Salesforces new artificial intelligence system, Einstein, with billions of new signals, providing corporations with more data about their users. Krux will continue supporting its partner ecosystem. The acquisition was absolutely needed and expected, said Sheryl Kingstone, a research director at 451 Research. Its a great addition to not just the data cloud, but also the marketing cloud, as the world demands contextual 1:1 intent-driven engagement, she told CRM Buyer. Its all about the data for the future of intelligent business applications. Salesforce is making a big push into AI, having developed Einstein to integrate AI into all of its products and serve as a nervous system across its entire business. Einstein includes product recommendations; Predictive Sort, which turns up sort and search results based on how likely customers are to make a purchase; and Commerce Insights, which helps retailers understand product purchase correlations to help improve their store planning and merchandising. Data lies at the heart of those efforts, and that is just what Krux offers. Through its data management platform, it serves as an intelligent marketing center that corporations can leverage to deliver media, content and commerce experiences to deepen customer engagement, strengthen At the Crux of Krux Every month, Krux interacts with more than 3 billion browsers and devices, supports more than 200 billion data collection events, processes more than 5 billion CRM records, and orchestrates more than 200 billion personalized consumer experiences. Krux uses AI to analyze all of those signals to identify audiences for targeted marketing and advertising efforts. Clients include Kellogg, ConAgra, JetBlue, Time Warner and Peugeot-PSA. Happier Together When Salesforce unveiled its next-generation marketing cloud last year, Krux was one of the partners in its digital marketing and digital advertising ecosystems. Krux earlier this year deepened its integration with the Salesforce Marketing Cloud, empowering advertisers to match third-party data with customer information on their Salesforce instances. Krux also entered the Salesforce independent software vendor partner program, which enables customers of both firms to use their customer data to target consumers on the open Web, while also enriching their customer profiles with online engagement data. The resulting two-way data exchange between the data sets let Salesforce clients consistently increase the value of both their online and offline data. It made sound business sense for Salesforce to extend the partnership by purchasing Krux. Kruxs technology has real-time access to extensive customer data, which is crucial to understanding the process a consumer goes through when making a purchase, said Anne Moxie, a senior analyst at Nucleus Research. Salesforce will be able to leverage this data with its artificial intelligence offering, Einstein, she told CRM Buyer, to potentially either make its marketing campaigns more dynamic, so that it can respond to consumer actions in real time, or for highly granular customer segmentation. It will make targeting more accurate, Moxie noted, because the neural networks and deep learning models in Einstein can use the real-time data thats collected from Krux for improved campaigns. Social media has sharpened humans age-old appetite for public shaming, providing a stage and unlimited seating for a seemingly unending stream of immorality plays. Those who share even the simplest identifying details about themselves are vulnerable to being pushed into the glare of the spotlight. The anonymity the Internet provides frees many individuals of the consequences they might face offline for being abusive to other people. Perhaps appearing to their friends, family and connections as ordinary people in the real world, these Jekyll-and-Hyde netizens transform into trolls to carry out their online assaults. Anonymity has been a hot button issue for just about the entire life of the Internet, and although there is no 100 percent solution in sight, the situation is not entirely hopeless, according to Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. So long as public sites enable user anonymity, pathological behavior will continue, because it thrives in the shadows, he told TechNewsWorld. Forcing abusers into the sunlight may be difficult or impossible but changes in rules, laws and enforcement practices could make their lives more complicated and less comfortable. Deep Dive Into Dirt We know what the problem looks like, thanks to big data and analytics. Arecent analysis identified more than17,000 tweets related to body shaming, for example, and ranked the most common terms Twitter users lobbed at others to shame them for their weight. Artificial intelligence soon might be able to catch and moderate cruel posts mere moments after publication, suggested a University of Lisbon team of researchers who have leveraged machine learning to teach AI to suss out sarcasm. For now, the moderation and reporting tools available arent set up to prevent or discourage online abuse, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. Reputation protection services can be used, but that doesnt scale well they target one person at a time and it can be really expensive if you have to litigate and your attacker has no money, he told TechNewsWorld. What to Do? It appears Reddit currently has the best system in place, in Enderles view, as its shadow-blocking tools shield users from whomever they wish to block, while allowing offenders to keep their accounts. Offenders are none the wiser, barring some detective work. Of course, publicizing shamers so they lose their jobs, gym memberships, and get attacked themselves does work, he acknowledged, and if it is done enough, that should change behavior. However, that approach so far hasnt been used enough to make a difference, Enderle said. That could change if social media sites and other forums were willing to make some changes. They could take proactive steps that might make a difference, noted King, who pointed to a list of suggestions for Twitter, posted online by Randi Lee Harper, founder of the Online Abuse Prevention Initiative. Those changes might result in a significant decrease in the prevalence of abuse on Twitter, but what will it take to inspire websites and their parent companies to intercede? Many, if not most, technology vendors bend over backward to avoid favoritism and maintain level playing fields for users of all stripes, King pointed out. I respect that attitude, but its often subject to being gamed by some users and in some circumstances has resulted in online environments that amplify abusive behavior. Societal Shift Machine learning tools one day might be capable of rejecting abusive comments before their intended targets ever see them. However, even if the companies running social networks work strenuously to stomp out online abuse, its ultimately up to humans to ensure that humanity prevails. The best line of defense against social shaming starts at home, suggested counselor Scott A. Spackey. Family validation and bonding, and personal achievement with sports, school work and personal goals is the antidote to ANY source of social shaming, he told TechNewsWorld. People are more immune to criticism from outsiders when they have evidence to the contrary, provided by self knowledge and by those in their inner circles, Spackey said. For example, its easier to brush off being called stupid when ones grades indicate otherwise. We all need to remember theres no law against unfriending a social network contact at any time, he noted. Virtual life has same rules as non-virtual life: You get to have the final say on who you interact with and what you are exposed to. While its ideal to teach those lessons in the home, its never too late to improve oneself with education and re-education. Pity the Fool? When Playboy Playmate Dani Mathers snapchatted an image of an older woman nude in a locker room, that was an opportunity for education, according to relationship and etiquette expert April Masini. It was a moment to talk about what happens, naturally, to our bodies, she told TechNewsWorld. There is a lesson for Ms. Mathers to learn that bodies age and they dont look the same at 20 as they do at 60 or 70 or 80, and that its important to celebrate the changes of a healthy and aging human being, Masini said, instead of mocking the change that is often difficult to endure because its a signal life is slipping away as it should. Mathers undoubtedly was afraid of what she saw to some degree, she suggested, and might not even be conscious of the aging of her own body. The impetus for body shamers and bullies is usually fear, Masini said. We see bravado and mean-spirited posts we dont acknowledge the fear behind the person posting. 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The Arctic is a thriving, diverse landscape filled with life. It is home to iconic species including seals, walruses, polar bears and bowhead whales. It is also home to vibrant Alaska Native communities which have depended for millennia on the ocean for their way of life. A ringed seal is on the lookout for polar bears as it surfaces. Photo credit: PAUL NICKLEN / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE Today, the Arctic is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, putting tremendous strain on its wildlife and people. There is currently no offshore oil and gas development in Americas Arctic Ocean. And for the sake of our warming world and irreplaceable species, there should never be. 1. Our fight to protect Americas Arctic is stronger than ever as Shell Oil gears up to drill in the Arctic Ocean this summer, even though there is no effective way to clean up an oil spill in the Arctics icy waters. An alpha male Arctic wolf bounds across the ice floes. Photo credit: JIM BRANDENBURG / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE Oil spills know no boundaries, making it especially important to protect communities, wildlife and our planet from the risky drilling that is set to occur in this fragile ecosystem. Operating in extreme conditions, oil drilling and exploration in Americas Arctic Ocean places whales, seals and countless other species in danger. 2. Americas Arctic Ocean is ground zero for climate change. Drilling in the Arctic will not only promote continued reliance on fossil fuels, but it will also release black carbon pollution directly onto Arctic ice, accelerating the melting of ice so many animals depend on for giving birth, raising their young, feeding, hunting and avoiding predators. Arctic Ocean oil development undermines the Obama Administrations efforts to address climate change during this crucial time of transitioning our country to a cleaner energy future. Unable to find sea ice, approximately 35,000 walruses haul out on the northwest coast of Alaska, near the Inupiat village of Point Lay, on Sept. 27, 2014. Photo credit: COREY ACCARDO / NOAA The science is cleardrilling in the Arctic Ocean is incompatible with meeting our climate goals. Drilling for oil in the Arctic will only make it harder to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. 3. The melting of Arctic sea ice is a powerful indicator of the rapid warming already occurring throughout the Arctic and is creating calamitous consequences for Chukchi Sea walruses. The species depends on sea ice to raise its young, feed, and avoid predators. With dwindling amounts of sea ice, walruses have been forced onto coastal areas in large numbers where food is scarce and conditions are dangerous. A young walrus returning from feeding on clams. Photo credit: PAUL NICKLEN / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE In a previously unseen phenomenon, approximately 35,000 walruses crowded together on the U.S. Arctic coast in September 2014. That year, Earthjustice filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service challenging a rule permitting oil companies like Shell Oil to harm Pacific walruses during Arctic Ocean oil drilling in crucial walrus feeding areas. About 95 metric tons of oil leaked into the North Sea on Sunday from BPs Clair platform, and it will be left in the ocean. BP says the oil is moving away from land and dispersing naturally, but the spill is a reminder that accidents happen as more oil development is eyed for the Arctic. Oil slick visible from spill off BP Clair platform in the North Sea. Maritime and Coastguard Agency In what BP called a technical issue, oil was released into the North Sea, located about 46 miles, west of the Shetland Islands. BP shut down the oil rig and said it is investigating the accident. The oil company said it had conducted five aerial surveys with three more planned for Tuesday to monitor the oil slick. It is considered that the most appropriate response remains to allow the oil to disperse naturally at sea, but contingencies for other action have been prepared and are available, if required, BP said. In addition to Clair, BP operates the Quad204 facility in the North Sea, 108 miles west of Shetland, in a field that has been drilled since 1998. The North Sea has seen oil and gas extraction for decades, with about half of the estimated reserves having already been taken. Oil production peaked in 1999, but production has been on an upswing in recent years. A recent discovery off Norway, the Johan Sverdrup oil field, is expected to begin production in 2019. According to energy consultancy Crystol Energy, The Johan Sverdrup field is expected to be one of the most important industrial projects in Norway over the next 50 years. Crystol Energy From 2000 to 2011, there were 4,123 separate oil spills in the North Sea, according to an investigation by The Guardian. Oil companies were fined for just seven of them. No single fine was greater than about $25,000. There have been a number of major oil spills in the North Seathe largest of which was the 1977 Bravo blowout that released an estimated 80,000 to 126,000 barrels of oil. The well spewed oil for seven days. In 2011, Shell spilled more than 200 metric tons from the Gannet Alpha platform, and a 2007 mishap while a tanker was loading oil resulted in a spill of 4,000 metric tons, or about 25,000 barrels of oil. None of these spills were alleged to have any ecological impact, and all but the Bravo blowout were allowed to disperse, unchecked, by the sea. As the Arctic Ocean warms, oil giants are eyeing the northern seas for more oil exploration and development. It is a dangerous environment in which to drill. As Greenpeace stated, The long history of oil spills around the world has made one thing clear: the only way to prevent an oil spill is to keep oil in the ground. The Arctic lacks the infrastructure to stop, mitigate or clean up a major oil spill, or even to quickly aid workers on a damaged platform. But that isnt stopping oil companies. Today, Caelus Energy boasted of a world-class discovery that could turn out to be one of the largest finds in Alaska. In a press release, Caelus CEO Jim Musselman called the find really exciting and the company said the Smith Bay complex could produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day. Without the state tax credit programs, none of this wouldve happened, and Im not sure Caelus wouldve come to explore in Alaska, Musselman added. In June, 400 scientists signed a letter urging President Obama to stop any further oil development in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. A 2014 study found that the polar bear population in the Southern Beaufort Sea had dropped by an astounding 40 percent from 2001 to 2010. Accidents can and do happen, and in this extreme environment, the only truly safe approach to protect the unique and fragile Arctic offshore environment is no drilling whatsoever, Brad Ack, World Wildlife Funds senior vice president for oceans, said in July. People in Californias Central Valley could be drinking water tainted by cancer-causing chemicals used in oilfields, and current water-testing procedures would not detect these substances, according to a scientific report released Tuesday by researchers at PSE Healthy Energy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the University of California and the University of the Pacific. More than 100 farms in the Central Valley use oil wastewater for irrigation. The report identified dozens of hazardous chemicals used in oilfields that supply waste fluid used to irrigate food crops and recharge underground water supplies in California. Researchers note that produced fluid from these oilfields is recharging regional aquifers used for agriculture that can also be used for domestic water supply (including drinking water). Many of the chemicals used on oil fields do not have standard analytical protocols for their detection in water, so current water quality monitoring programs are mainly focused on naturally occurring contaminants, the report noted. Given these shocking findings, California regulators should immediately halt the use of oil-waste fluid in any procedure that could contaminate the water we drink or the food we eat, said John Fleming, a staff scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity and member of the Protect California Food coalition and Californians Against Fracking. Its absolutely unacceptable that people in the Central Valley could be drinking dangerous oil-industry chemicals right now without even knowing it. Oilfield wastewater has been used to irrigate food crops in the Cawelo Water District since the mid-1990s, the report noted. The practice recently spread to the North Kern Water Storage District, and state officials have said they hope to further expand it. But there has been little evaluation of risks posed by the threat of chemicals in such fluid. Researchers noted that many chemicals used in these oilfields cannot be evaluated for hazards because oil companies have withheld key information. But more than 40 percent of those substances that can be identified can be classified as potential threats to human health or the environment. This report shines an important light on a troubling realitythe state of California is allowing the oil industry to experiment on consumers of our food products and the agricultural workers that grow them, said Madeline Stano, a staff attorney with the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment. The report demonstrates that the use of oil wastewater adds serious risks to both consumers and agricultural workers health and safety. The state should stop this practice immediately. Ten of the oilfield chemicals evaluated by this research team have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as either carcinogenic or possibly carcinogenic in humans. More than 100 farms in the Central Valley use oil wastewater for irrigation. Some of the U.S. most popular brands grow food in the Cawelo and North Kern water districts, including Trinchero Family Estates (makers of Sutter Home wines) and Halos Mandarins (formerly known as Cuties). After nearly 20 years, scientists have finished their survey of an area of deep coral reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago and what they have found is really amazing. Down past the shallow reefs surrounding the islands, researchers discovered the largest known continuous coral reef system on Earth measuring more than three square miles with some areas showing 100 percent coral cover. The system contains more than twice the number of distinct species that can be found on shallow Hawaiian reefs, and in one spot, nearly every single species they found was unique to that region, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Kure Atoll, the northernmost reef in the Hawaiian archipelago, hosts mesophotic reefs with the most species unique to a specific location found in any marine ecosystem on Earth. NOAA and Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory In recent years, there has been a greater effort to document coral reef ecosystems at depths of 100 feet to more than 500 feet, now referred to as Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs), or the twilight zone. Those efforts from a team of geologists, biologists and botanists were revealed Tuesday in the journal, PeerJ. What is unique about this study is how vast and dense the coral cover is, lead researcher Richard Pyle from Bishop Museum in Honolulu told the Associated Press. Although there was a bit of a hint that corals could survive down at those depths, these reefs off Maui were far and away much more dramatic both because they were deeper and they had higher coral cover percentage. Mesophotic coral ecosystems, such as this one found at 230 feet in Mauis Auau Channel, are populated with many of the same fish species found on shallow reefs. NOAA and Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory Expeditions to discover and investigate MCEs were challenging in the past because they are too deep to reach using traditional scuba gear, and too shallow to justify the costbetween $30,000 to $40,000 a dayfor most deep-diving remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and submersibles. However, NOAA said advances in undersea technologies in the past decade now make it possible to investigate these ecosystems. In this study, scientists used a rebreather, which recycles the helium thats mixed in with a scuba tanks oxygen. With this system, divers can manage to stay submerged for seven hours, which is necessary when you have to ascend slowly to avoid the bends, Wired reported. They also used NOAA-funded submersibles that carried extra tanks and helped illuminate the area. Much of what researchers know about coral reef ecosystems comes from those in shallow water, and what theyve seen up until this point is discouraging. Overfishing, pollution, coastal development and climate change have threatened coral reef ecosystems worldwide, which are being obliterated due to bleaching. NOAA: World's Worst Coral Bleaching Event to Continue 'With No Signs of Stopping' https://t.co/qRJHk1Q1nn @climatesavers @climateprogress EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) June 22, 2016 Scientists now hope that increased knowledge of MCEs will help characterize the health of coral reefs in general, particularly in the face of increasing stress. With coral reefs facing a myriad of threats, these findings are important for understanding, managing and protecting coral-reef habitat and the organisms that live on them, Kimberly Puglise, an oceanographer with NOAAs National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, said. Some species studied can live in both shallow and mesophotic reefs, and the species could potentially replenish each other if one population is overexploited. Join our newsletter The best of EcoWatch, right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter! What Are GMOs? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been modified in a laboratory in order to produce a specific result. For example, many types of food sources, especially corn and soybean crops, are genetically modified in order to withstand herbicides and insects. This method stems from the concept of selective breeding and dates back to at least 8000 BCE, although genetically altering DNA didnt happen until 1973. Austrian monk Gregor Mendel is credited with identifying the founding principles of genetics when he crossbred two pea breeds in 1866. In 1922, hybrid corn made its commercial debut, while plant breeders discovered how to alter DNA with radiation and chemicals in 1940. After 1973, the FDA approved insulin in 1982 as the first genetically engineered product for human use. However, genetically modified food didnt get FDA approval until 1994, when a GMO tomato became the first to go commercial. While on the surface it appears that GMOs are 100 percent positive, they have been surrounded by controversy for decades. How Are GMOs Made? Creating GMO plants first involves identifying and isolating a desired trait, from the aforementioned herbicide resistance to drought resistance to disease tolerance. That trait is then copied and inserted into the plant DNA thats being modified, with the final result initially grown in a lab. The seeds from successful modifications are then sold to farmers. Current Use of GMOs Besides corn and soybeans, other commonly grown GMO crops in the U.S. include cotton, canola, potatoes and sugar beets. The latter are used to make granulated (or white) sugar; in fact, more than half of this type of commercially sold sugar comes from GMO sugar beets. GMO-derived ingredients are also prevalent in processed foods, such as lecithin and emulsifiers from soybeans; canola and cottonseed oil used in packaged goods; and high-fructose corn syrup, which is found in everything from soft drinks and salad dressing to bread and sweetened yogurt. While its often thought that GMOs are only found in processed food and drink, genetically modified produce exists as well: apples, summer squash and papaya are among the ones grown in the U.S. GMO grains are also fed to the majority of livestock (cows, chickens) used in the meat and dairy industry, with corn, soybeans and alfalfa ranking as the most popular choices. The FDA claims that livestock fed a GMO diet pose no greater risk to human health than ones that arent, and so far there havent been any conclusive studies that prove otherwise. In the meantime, the benefits appear to outweigh any possible risks, although these might be more apparent to farmers and the agricultural industry than to consumers, since GMO crops can be altered to better withstand drought conditions and pests, require less pesticide, cost less money to grow and even increase nutritional value. Are GMOs Safe? Though unproven, GMOs have been tied to everything from reduced fertility to cancer. GMOs are considered safe by the FDA, but long-term effects are still being studied, and these studies have only been performed on animals. Cancer Although correlations exist, there are currently no definitive studies that GMOs cause cancer, and this is the stance of cancer organizations in the U.S., UK and Australia. A 2013 study raised concerns when it studied the effect of glyphosate, the active ingredient used in most herbicides on GMO crops, in human breast cancer cells. The results suggested that glyphosate could cause breast cancer, but the lab study also used breast cell tissue that was already cancerous. Another study, this time from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2015, reported that glyphosate doubled the risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. It connected the highest risk to farmers and farm workers, and California has since added glyphosate to its list of cancer-causing chemicals. It should be noted that glyphosate is the main ingredient in the popular weedkiller Roundup, which has been linked to thousands of cases of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Despite this, the EPA has declared glyphosate isnt likely to pose a cancer risk in people. The question remains whether or not GMO crops require more pesticides (including herbicides and insecticides) than non-GMO crops. A 2016 study examined this issue. On the one hand, GMO crops altered to resist insects technically dont require additional insecticide. On the other hand, it turns out that farmers sprayed more weedkillers on glyphosate-tolerant corn after 2007. The same goes for glyphosate-tolerant soybeans. As to why, a co-author of that study suggested it was due to weeds becoming more resistant to glyphosate over time. Organs In 2011, the journal Environmental Sciences Europe reviewed 19 studies involving animals that were fed GMO diets of corn and soybeans. It concluded possible links between this diet and kidney and liver disorders, as well as altered body weight and genital cancer in second-generation females, but that further research was needed. A more recent 2019 study published in GMO Science also suggested a link between liver and kidney damage in rats fed a GMO corn diet. However, this particular diet involved Monsanto-engineered corn for the Egyptian market containing a pest-deterring insecticide. The earlier study also fed rats an insecticide variant. Fertility Problems A 2014 study possibly linked fertility issues to GMO-heavy diets, while a 2018 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that pesticide-tainted food, often associated with herbicide-tolerant GMO crops, might have been the cause behind 100,000 unsuccessful pregnancies at fertility clinics. While the study recommended that pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid pesticides and GMOs where possible, it didnt measure how much of participants pesticide consumption came from GMO foods that were pesticide resistant. Offspring According to a 2015 Harvard University article, various studies havent proven any causation between GMO consumption and negative impacts on offspring. The article cites a South Dakota State University study that tracked rats eating GMO corn for four generations, including pregnant rats, and did not find any changes in offspring size or organ damage. It should be noted that GMOs can be found in non-organic baby food, and just like other food studies, the long-term effects are unknown at this time. Allergies An early study in the 90s found a possible allergic reaction to GMO soybeans, but that was only upon adding a nut protein, and only affected people with specific nut allergies. The FDA states that people are only apt to be allergic to a GM food if theyre already allergic to the non-GM version, such as soy. DNA Mutations There have been some concerns that eating genetically altered food would alter human DNA. Bruce Ames, a Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California in Berkeley, developed a test to track mutations from food, and this test has been used on GMO corn and tomatoes without any findings to suggest a connection. The Royal Society, one of the worlds oldest scientific organizations, asserts that one doesnt affect the other, and that the DNA in GM food is no different from the DNA in non-GM foods. Pros and Cons of GMOs Pros of GMOs As touched upon earlier, GMO crops are meant to provide benefits. For example, certain GMO crops technically require less pesticide, while other GMO crops can achieve higher yields or withstand droughts. Added Nutritional Value Some GMOs can also boost a foods nutritional value, although this area has been mired in controversy. Take Golden Rice, which is just white rice thats been modified with Vitamin A to help prevent blindness and other Vitamin A deficiencies, especially in children, in developing countries. While a good idea in theory, Golden Rice has been caught in a 20-plus-year battle due to opponents who question the rices safety and effectiveness. Although the Philippines approved Golden Rice for the commercial market in 2020, it has yet to reach consumers. Increased Food Supply Besides the potential to add nutritional value, GMOs are another way to possibly reduce world hunger. Food demand is expected to grow 70 percent by 2050, and that requires even more deforestation going forward. However, GMO crops could prevent that in a number of ways, such as employing modifications that would double production yields without requiring additional land. Thats already the case with cotton crops in developing countries, where GMO cotton has increased yields in India and China. Although GMO food crops are currently banned in India and other nations that could benefit from an increased food supply. Combat Climate Change Then there are climate crisis considerations. There are studies indicating that GMO crops have reduced pesticide spraying by 8.7 percent, while less soil tillage and fuel dependence have decreased greenhouse gas emissions that are the equivalent to 15 million fewer cars on the road. Additionally, larger GMO crop yields resulting from drought resistance, among other reasons, have reduced the need for farmers to acquire more land. Scientists are also researching ways that GMOs can actively fight climate change, such as altering plants that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, require less sunlight or convert nitrogen for growth purposes. GMO crops could even reduce methane emissions from livestock by employing plants that create less methane from consumption. Cons of GMOs Besides the negative health implications and increased herbicide usage already covered, there are additional drawbacks for the environment and farmers. Superweeds There have been claims connecting GMO crops to superweeds, where, instead of reducing a reliance on pesticides, certain crops have become more herbicide resistant, thus requiring greater usage of weedkillers such as Monsantos Roundup. The elephant in the room is the fact that until recently Monsanto owned the majority of the countrys GMO seeds. Roundup has been linked to thousands of cases of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, leading to a $10 billion settlement from Bayer, who acquired Monsanto in 2018. A 2018 study stated that 38 global weed species have become resistant to glyphosate. Decreased Pest Resistance Insects, similar to weeds, are becoming increasingly tolerant of pest-resistant GMO crops, particularly cotton and corn. Known as Bt crops (Bacillus thuringiensis), due to the type of bacteria that makes them pest-resistant, they initially worked to resist common threats such as bollworms and rootworms, and reduced the need for insecticides. However, new strains of these pests are no longer deterred by GMO crops modified to resist them, re-upping the need for insecticides. Biodiversity Loss Increased Roundup and herbicide usage has also been tied to dwindling monarch butterfly populations, one of many biodiversity issues. Thats because the toxin also kills milkweed, the main diet for monarchs and commonly found in crop fields. Farmer Suicides In recent decades, India has attracted attention for its farmer suicide rate, which some have attributed to the GMO industry. There have been about 300,000 farmer suicides in the past twenty years, and biotech opponents blame these on the GMO cotton sector, which is the only industry allowed to use GM crops. The majority of the countrys cotton comes from modified Bt cotton seeds. The supposed problem is the rising cost of these seeds, which many farmers cant afford and often go into debt for in order to buy them; bad crops and fluctuating global cotton prices often create a debt spiral thats hard to recover from. Yet there are studies that dispute a connection between Bt cotton and farmer suicide rates, instead suggesting that the reverse is true due to higher crop yields. Besides the theory that Bt cotton is sending growers into debt, theres the other issue of bollworms becoming resistant to GMO cotton, requiring heavier doses of pesticides. Due to different regulations, its not uncommon for fieldworkers to apply toxic chemicals without the proper protection, or even shoes and masks. Adding another layer, a different paper found that small farms were at a higher risk for suicide rates than large ones since they depend more on rainwater for successful crops than large operations, which use irrigation pumps. If anything, the study authors found the bigger problem is the threat of groundwater shortages for large farms, since groundwater usage is unregulated. Seed Sovereignty Not least is the matter of seed sovereignty, giving farmers the freedom to use whatever seeds they wish, thereby decreasing reliance on major seed companies who favor patented GM seeds. Seed sovereignty is an ongoing issue thats been ceding control to large corporations concerning which seeds farmers can plant. Which Foods Might Contain GMOs? Though GMOs appear prevalent, there are only a small number of GMO crops grown in the U.S. The most common are corn, soybeans, sugar beets, canola and cotton. However, about 90 percent of these crops use GMO seeds. There are also GMO alfalfa crops, used mostly for livestock feed. GMO versions exist for some produce, including apples, summer squash and papaya. Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank and Atlantic potatoes all have GMO versions, and are sold under the White Russet label. While it appears easy to avoid some GMO foods, such as produce sold under a particular label, others, including GMO corn, soybeans and canola oil, can turn up in unexpected places. For example, corn can pop up in anything containing high fructose corn syrup, dextrose or glucose, and encompass bread, cereal, soda, frozen meals and even Vitamin C supplements. GMO soy can be found in infant formula, protein drinks, tofu, edamame, canned tuna and salad dressing. Its a safe assumption that unless an item is sold under an organic label or is considered a whole food, it likely contains GMOs. Then there are GMO foods which are marketed as healthy vegan alternatives to meat, such as the popular brand of Impossible Burgers. Sold by major chains, from White Castle to Bareburger, the plant-based burgers contain GMO soy protein and heme, the molecule responsible for replicating the realistic beef-like taste and appearance. This molecule is genetically engineered by combining soybean DNA with yeast. In 2015 the FDA approved AquAdvantage Salmon, a genetically engineered Atlantic salmon. This new salmon grows faster than non-GE Atlantic salmon due to a hormone from Chinook salmon. The FDA asserts that this GE salmon will be labeled as bioengineered. AquaBounty, the company behind the new salmon, plans to sell it to consumers sometime in 2021. So far many entities, from Aramark and Walmart to supermarkets and restaurants, have refused to carry the salmon. Its worth noting that GMOs arent limited to food. Most cotton, whether produced in the U.S. or abroad, actually comes from the aforementioned Bt cotton seeds. So unless organic cotton was used, most clothes, bedding and towels are GMO goods. Although GM cotton also enters the food supply via cottonseed oil derived from cotton seeds, and the oil can be found in potato chips, baked goods and pasta sauce. What Is Being Done About GMOs? GM Labeling Due to the unknown long-term health effects from GMOs, along with environmental protestors and preliminary studies linking them to health risks such as cancer, theyre banned, or partially banned, in 19 out of 27 EU countries, including France, Greece, Italy, Germany and much of the UK. Additionally, GMOs are currently banned in Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Venezuela and most African countries. The EU also requires GMO labeling, something the U.S. has resisted, but will start adding in January 2022. At that point foods containing certain types of GMO ingredients will be required to display a bioengineered label. CRISPR CRISPR is a type of gene editing technology that can precisely alter cells; a new technique allows for plant alteration without introducing foreign DNA, hence the end result is not a GMO. While this new technology could positively alter the current GMO landscape, its still in the rudimentary phase. Monitoring There are some organizations such as the Non-GMO Project that independently monitor products for GMOs and verify whether or not certain standards are met. The site also facilitates checking specific food items for their GMO status and provides guidance for identifying potential GMO foods. In the meantime, the FDA continues to monitor and regulate GMOs, which involves working with other government agencies to ensure that the same safety standards are met as non-GMO foods. This includes monitoring pesticide usage. Otherwise, beyond ongoing independent studies, the American Medical Association, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the World Health Organization, among others, have all deemed GMOs safe and as such no further action is being taken at this time in the U.S beyond GMO labeling. What Can You Do? Consumers can err on the side of caution by choosing organic food and goods whenever possible, buying from local farms, looking for non-GMO certification labels and reading ingredient lists. The Non-GMO project also breaks down which crops are deemed most likely to be genetically modified, along with listing high-risk, animal-derived ingredients. Some of the items might be surprising, including honey and eggs, due to the amount of GMOs used in crops and livestock feed. Takeaway At of time of publication there is no conclusive evidence that GMOs as a whole are more harmful than non-GMOs, whether to ones health, the environment or farmers, so it appears that avoiding GMOs entirely would have a negligible impact based on the current facts available. Meredith Rosenberg is a senior editor at EcoWatch. She holds a Masters from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC and a B.A. from Temple University in Philadelphia. Many hail the Paris agreementset to cross the threshold this week to come into effectas a panacea for global climate change. Yet tragically, this perspective neglects to take into account the scientific reality of our climate system, which tells a much different story. Our latest research, Young Peoples Burden: Requirement of Negative CO2 Emissions, appeared Monday as a Discussion paper in Earth System Dynamics Discussion, and outlines howif national governments neglect to take aggressive climate action todaytodays young people will inherit a climate system so altered it will require prohibitively expensiveand possibly infeasibleextraction of CO2 from the atmosphere. Global temperatures are already at the level of the Eemian period (130,000 to 115,000 years ago), when sea level was 6-9 meters higher than today. Considering the additional warming in the pipeline, due to delayed response of the climate system and the impossibility of instant replacement of fossil fuels, additional temperature rise is inevitable. Continued high fossil fuel emissions place a burden on young people to undertake negative CO2 emissions, which would require massive technological CO extraction with minimal estimated costs of $104-$570 trillion this century, with large risks and uncertain feasibility. Continued high fossil fuel emissions unarguably sentences young people to either a massive, possibly implausible cleanup or growing deleterious climate impacts or both, scenarios that should provide incentive and obligation for governments to alter energy policies without further delay. The paper provides the underlying scientific backing for the Our Childrens Trust lawsuit against the U.S. government, which argues that climate change jeopardizes the next generations inalienable rights under the U.S. Constitution to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The paper offers an opportunity to examine the current state of the planet with respect to climate change. Four key takeaways include: 1. The Paris Climate Accord is a precatory agreement, wishful thinking that mainly reaffirms, 23 years later, the 1992 Rio Framework Convention on Climate Change. The developing world need for abundant, affordable, reliable energy is largely ignored, even though it is a basic requirement to eliminate global poverty and war. Instead the developed world pretends to offer reparations, a vaporous $100B/year, while allowing climate impacts to grow. 2. As long as fossil fuels are allowed to be held up as the cheapest reliable energy, they will continue to be the worlds largest energy source and the likelihood of disastrous consequences for young people will grow to near certainty. 3. Technically, it is still possible to solve the climate problem, but there are two essential requirements: (1) a simple across-the-board rising carbon fee collected from fossil fuel companies at the source, and (2) government support for RD&D (research, development and demonstration) of clean energy technologies, including advanced generation, safe nuclear power. 4. Courts are crucial to solution of the climate problem. The climate problem was and is an opportunity for transformation to a clean energy future. However, the heavy hand of the fossil fuel industry works mostly in legal ways such as the Im an Energy Voter campaign in the U.S. Failure of executive and legislative branches to deal with climate change makes it essential for courts, less subject to pressure and bribery from special financial interests, to step in and protect young people, as they did minorities in the case of civil rights. For a deeper dive, click here. Polandhome to some of the most bike-friendly cities in the worldunveiled a gorgeous, glowing bike path near Lidzbark Warminski in the Mazury region last week to help nighttime cyclists get from A to B. Poland debuts its first bicycle path that lights up at night. Gazeta Wyborcza screen grab The 100-meter track, created by construction company TPA Instytut Badan Technicznych in Pruszkow, is still in test phase. Next Nature Network reported that the bike path illuminates at night thanks to blue luminophores, a synthetic material that emits light after being charged by the sun. The color blue was chosen for the path because the engineers thought it would best suit the scenic Mazury landscape. TPA president Ruttmar told Polish publication Gazeta Wyborcza that the material used for their track can emit light for more than 10 hours, meaning it can radiate throughout the whole night and re-charge the next day as it absorbs the suns rays. Pierwsza w Polsce sciezka rowerowa, ktora swieci sie noca. Swietny pomys! #Mazury pic.twitter.com/4o4Hq97u1d Pawe Jagieo (@JagielloPawel) October 3, 2016 The engineers drew inspiration from a similar solar-powered bike path in the Netherlands known as the Starry Night bike lane that was unveiled by Studio Roosegaarde about two years ago. The two paths, however, are different in a notable way. While the Dutch path lights up via solar-powered LEDs, the Polish path requires no additional power supply, Waldemar Krolikowski, director of the Board of Regional Roads in Olsztyn, said. According to Inhabitat, TPA designed the path with sustainability in mind. The company is also researching ways to optimize production costs since this illuminated bike path indeed costs more than conventional ones. Check out the bike lane in the video (in Polish) below. (Photo: Peter Kenny)Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque and university and the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit at the WCC's Ecumenical Institute in Bossey on Oct. 1, 2016. Speech by Ahmed al-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, 1 October 2016 04 October 2016 Read this text in Arabic In the name of Allah the Merciful Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary, Ladies and gentlemen May peace and the blessing of Allah be upon you. I am glad to welcome you, having just used this expression, which conveys love, brotherhood and peace, and to present to you, in my name and on behalf of the delegation of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Muslim Council of Elders, my warmest compliments, thanking you for your kind invitation to attend this historic and unprecedented meeting. I hope that we will achieve our goals with practical results, enabling us to follow our path as believers from different parts of the world, so that we may realize the hope of humanity, in overcoming those obstacles to civilization which could take us back to an era of darkness, ignorance and the law of the jungle. The WCC is to be commended for inviting us to this important meeting, with the presence of eminent scholars and religious leaders representing the monotheistic religions, meeting in the heart of Europe, in the beautiful and peaceful city of Geneva, so that we may assume our responsibilities both to our conscience and to the message of Allah the Almighty. In this way, may we contribute to the revival of hope in the hearts of millions of people living in fear and distress and restore happiness to the faces of those in despair, orphans and widows, who regrettably become victims of armed conflicts imposed on them. No doubt, the world nowadays is in need of your wisdom and your inter-vention more than ever before to reduce the suffering of people. Many world statistics reveal the huge amounts of money allocated to the arms race, causing people suffering from poverty to contribute these amounts to the economies of big countries, carelessly ignoring the suffering and weeping of women and children. We are also facing unjust policies that do not heed the destiny of poor and miserable people, causing disruption in society, exploiting resources, and taking away freedom of choice. These unjust policies are gambling with the present and future, using openly new philosophies and theories such as the "Clash of Civilizations," the "end of history" and "creative chaos" all fabricated modern theories reminding us of those used by the occupying powers in the last century to convince themselves and the occupied peoples that occupation is not a form of domination and imperialism but a message of civilization and modernization brought by the white man in order to save his Semitic brother from poverty, ignorance and disease. We thought that the leaders of the free world and the defenders of liberty, global peace and human rights would never permit the confiscation of the fundamental right to live in freedom, justice and peace, particularly after the creation of the UN in the wake of the Second World War. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that the UN Charter will save humanity from suffering, protect their human rights, and provide them with welfare and progress. The first article in this charter called for the protection of world peace and security and the implementation of the principles of justice and equality among the member states, banning the use of force and violence or even the use of menace as well as the interference in "local affairs of states." No one of my generation would have thought that this international chartewith its commitment to protect the oppressed and to combat the oppressorswould become a mere piece of paper unable to be implemented in relation to developing countries in the African continent and in both Arab and Islamic worlds. In fact, these commitments, which were presented and introduced with great hope for the oppressed peoples, are now, after nearly 70 years, no longer capable of fulfilling its obligations to combat injustice. Though the United Nations Charter was signed 68 years ago, it committed itself to combating all the different threats against world peace, putting an end to military aggression among nations, and imposing stability and peace worldwide. Unfortunately, the states empowered to safeguard the UN charter give peace to parties of their choice on the basis of their interests and the logic of hegemony and dictatorship which constitutes a new "logic of partiality" based on the immoral principle of "the end justifies the means." I am sure that you agree with me, ladies and gentlemen, that the real plague is the issue of peace worldwide that is wrongly linked with the interests of some states estranged from the firm moral and spiritual principles called upon by all monotheistic religions. "And this is the main difference between the philosophy of the divine messages ensuring cohabitation in peace and the deceptive meaning of 'peace' in the context of modern policies leading to conflicts and wars." Ladies and gentlemen, I will not repeat all that is mentioned in the holy books about the concept of peace and its central role in the equilibrium of the whole planet, including mankind, animals, plants and indeed all things. The word "peace" is repeated many times in diverse contexts in the Old and New Testament and in the holy Qur'an. All the messengers and prophets were sent with a message of peace, love and fraternity. All the divine messages are based on the idea of enshrining peace among individuals and tribes. Allah warns the transgressors with severe sanctions, so that throughout history all empires that used oppression, injustice and brutality as a policy in order to rule have ultimately collapsed and lost everything. In fact, humankind is the creation of Allah, we are God's children and in this context, our prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) said, "Human beings are God's children and he who takes care of them surely is the most beloved to God." Allah the Almighty defends his believersthough I know that such ex-pressions, nowadays, make no sense to many people, particularly young people living in the West and also some young people in the Orient, because they are far away from the message of Allah, have forgotten the moral principles of religions and have even become influenced by the messages of derision and sarcasm encouraged by atheists and their advocates simply because they have a feeling of hatred against religions. This group of people is rejecting God's precepts, thus entering in an alliance with Satan to serve moral decay and wickedness. We must, as believers and messengers of peace and love among individuals and peoples, combat these evildoers, their message of hatred, and their misuse of religion to spread terror and violence, and we must together strongly fight terrorism across the whole world. Ladies and gentlemen, we need to take up once more the philosophy of the religions, with its rich principles defending peaceful coexistence and shared security among the peoples, recognizing that our modern age has suffered a lot by adopting worldly principles, thinking that these principles can be sufficient. And even if these worldly principles can realize modernity technological and scientific development they failed to grant humankind security, stability and peace. I will not remind you the chaotic results of the two world wars and the death of more than 70 million victims during a period of less than three decades. In fact, these two wars were not caused by religion or by moral religious precepts. Indeed, the religions and their believers suffered a lot from the effects of these wars, from oppression and ill-treatment. Humanity has experienced different political, economic and social regimes that have led to the happiness of a limited category of individuals at great cost to the majority of people living in extreme poverty. But these regimes did not grant to humanity stability and coexistence among the peoples; and what is noticeable here in Switzerland through the eyes of the elders of the West, is that this minority is controlling the world economy, monopolizing its markets, imposing "new forms of spoliation and plundering the resources of poor countries, pushing many companies and pension funds to bankruptcy and ruin ... and the firing of thousands of workers." This means, as explained by the eminent religious scholar Hans Kung in the New York Times Magazine, that "the principle of supply and demand does not lead necessarily to balance and that market philosophy can never replace ethics."He rejoices to hear the voices of people in the USA warning of the mounting policy of egoism and selfishness and the greed of a rich minority. We need to ask the following question:"What will we expect from peoples living in poverty and whose destiny is put in the hands of world policy-makers who ignore the notion of suffering, poverty, disease and illiteracy?" We cannot forget on the one hand the images of bloodshed, the abject situations of distress of orphans and oppressed people fleeing in the desert with no shelter or food and, on the other hand, the images of those living in extravagance and luxury in their ivory towers. Ladies and gentlemen, In this world, witnessing the suffering of people worldwide, I recognize the importance of this meeting with you and the necessity of assuming our responsibility to reduce the suffering of humanity with a hope that we will take together the right path with individuals of good will and strong faith. The Al-Azhar Institute [delegation] has come to Geneva, bringing with it the focus on the important issue of peace and presenting this to the WCC in order to discuss the issue in the framework of this high-level meeting, gathering both elders and scholars from the Al-Azhar and from the WCC. This meeting, with our Christian brothers and sisters, is the third one: last year, we met with the Church of England with a group of eminent scholars and priests under the chairmanship of the Archbishop of Canterbury. A second meeting took place this year with Pope Francis at the Vatican. After these two meetings, the Al-Azhar called for the convening of an international conference on peace in Abu-Dhabi (UAE) next year, with the will of Allah, as well as a peace conference in Egypt in the middle of next year, with the presence of the Pope, and I am glad to invite the WCC to participate in these two conferences. I hope that young people from the WCC will have an effective participation in your official delegation. Truly speaking, the last visit of the WCC youth delegation to the Al-Azhar from 18-22 of August 2016 was a success and left a good impression on Al-Azhar's students in Cairo and a good echo in the Egyptian and world media as well as the social media network. I was glad to hear from this delegation of youth its willingness and enthusiasm to participate within the capacity of the young people - in Islamic projects, advocating for a message of love instead of hatred. Dear daughters and sons, young people, Please do not let your minds and thoughts accept those false messages that link Islam with terrorism; you are best at understanding that religion and violence are inconsistent. I do not have any doubt that you all admit that all religious messages have one unique aim, which is the happiness of humankind and to avoid falling into tragedy and disbelief. I am underlining the fact that religious armed groups advocating religious messages are in reality betraying their religions and their souls; that using religious messages in order to perpetrate crimes, slaughter, destruction is to be seen as unacceptable and reprehensible. All of you know that the horrible and abject deeds perpetrated in the past in the name of Christianity, using a false interpretation of the holy books, and causing the killing of many Muslims can never be linked to Christianity, and no Muslim has ever accused this religion of all that happened. I am reiterating from this forum my firm position: that all these forms of terrorism with their different names and slogans are rejected by Islam and we have to find the real roots of terrorism outside the context of the holy Qur'an and the precepts of Islam; otherwise the approach will be an aber-ration of sound logical reasoning. The parties that are promoting these false accusations need to find the real causes of terrorism that are linked, as mentioned before, in biased policies and double standards as well as the greed of a minority defending its international and regional interests through the arms race and flourishing arms markets, forgetting the divine message of all religions and instead using mockery against God's prophets, books and messengers. Thank you so much for listening. Peace and the blessings of Allah be upon all of you. Al-Azhar Institute 26 Dou-Hijja 1437 Hegira year 1 October 2016 Ahmed al-Tayyeb Grand Imam of Al-Azhar How do graduation rates in Houston compare with those in Miami? What does the average teacher salary in Cincinnati look like next to the average in Seattle? Finding comparable data to answer those questions can be a tough slog if youre a mayor, education activist, or involved parent. But a new, interactive website from the Dallas-based George W. Bush Institute attempts to make it easier for those with a vested interest in educationparticularly mayors and school administrators who have to make decisions about how to spend limited resourcesto find key data on how their cities stack up against others. Called State of Our Cities, the website ( www.bushcenter.org/stateofourcities/) is a one-stop shop that provides education data for 114 cities in 49 states and the District of Columbia, and uses more than a dozen different indicators. Website users, for example, can compare graduation rates, per-pupil spending, teacher salaries, and the availability of early-childhood-education programs in Chicago; Des Moines, Iowa; and San Francisco. This country should know the top urban school districts that are improving just like they know who won the Super Bowl last year, said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. Education is too important to not be clear about it. Rawlings, who chairs the Educational Excellence Task Force at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and is a former CEO of Pizza Hut, believes access to education data helps mayors make better decisions and spot successful strategies elsewhere. Those data should be easy to find, he said. Championed by Dallas Mayor The website is geared primarily toward mayors, local policymakers, school administrators, and state education officials, but will be valuable to parents, community advocates, and anyone with an interest in education, said Holly Kuzmich, the executive director of the Bush Institute. The data trove also comes at an opportune time, Kuzmich said, as state and local policymakers will have a lot more say about how schools are run and held accountable under the new federal K-12 education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act. Paige Kowalski, the executive vice president of the Data Quality Campaign, said the tool fills a void. There are so many things that businesses and community leaders and parents hold mayors accountable for, and without mayors having a real grasp on how their city is actually serving kids eight hours every day, its hard for them to understand how they can plug in and affect those outcomes, she said. So having that data is really important. But Betheny Gross, a researcher at the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington-Bothell, wrote in a critique that the website presented only a narrow snapshot of the education landscape in cities. By mostly using data from the largest school district, she wrote on CRPEs blog The Lens, the report misses the fact that multiple school districts sometimes crisscross cities and, in others, including Denver and Cleveland, growing numbers of students attend charter schools, not just traditional district schools. The website grew from Rawlings efforts to expand his footprint in education in Dallas, where he works with the district on some initiatives like a summer internship program. He said that finding data to compare Dallas schooling outcomes with those of other cities was difficult. He approached the Bush Institute about compiling a report card of sorts for big-city mayors who wanted to know more about the educational performance of their cities. The first report, Mayors Report Card on Education, appeared as a slim publication in January 2015 and included basic education information on 33 cities. More mayors asked to be included in an updated report. They have to think about how they are going to use their bully pulpit and time in their communities, ... but they dont really have a sense of where is the biggest effect for me if I lend my time and effort and voice to this issue, Kuzmich said. In the past year, institute researchers scoured multiple sources to compile a more comprehensive set of education facts and figures and present it in a way that is simple to update and easy for the public to sort through. No Grading The data were not always easy to come by. SAT scores, for example, are not included for all the cities because the Bush Institute had to contact individual districts to obtain that information, and not all responded. It was also difficult to get data on early-childhood education because no single organization collects that kind of information, Kuzmich said. Even when the data existed, they were not necessarily comparable across state lines in some cases, she said. As a result, the institute did not assign grades to cities. Among other measures that users can see across cities: percentages of new teachers, chronic student-absenteeism rates, completion of federal financial-aid forms, performance on state tests in reading and math, and middle school algebra-completion rates. Users can further compare cities using filters such as geography, population, race, child-poverty rates, median income, and charter school enrollment. They can see how their citys performance in reading and math stacks up on the Global Report Card, an index that ranks districts against 25 developed countries. The tool has results from the Trial Urban District Assessment program, a national report card for a group of urban systems. The Bush Institute plans to update the dataset every two years. The data were culled from a number of sources, many from within the U.S. Department of Education, including the federal Common Core of Data, the Civil Rights Data Collection, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, EdFacts, and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data. Information from the U.S. Census and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools was also used. Kowalski of the Data Quality Campaign said the data will help people ask smarter questions. Still, she said, shed like to see more information on student progress after graduation. One of the things we have learned over time is the more data that you put out there, the more data people want, she said. I have to imagine that this is sparking a lot of conversation, more about whats not here because people are going to want to know more, and thats a good thing. Every other Wednesday night, the questions and the messages of support and encouragement roll in. Thats when beginning teachers across the countryand experienced teachers looking to helpare tuning into #ntchat, a biweekly Twitter chat geared to new teachers, in which moderators ask questions and respondents answer, sharing whats worked (and what hasnt) in their classroom, offering advice, and soliciting tips. Its not based on pedagogy, thats not what new teachers are looking for in a [Twitter] chat, said Lisa Dabbs, the chats founder and an adjunct professor at the University of La Verne, near Los Angeles, as well as an educational consultant who specializes in new-teacher support. Without fail, the most requested topic for a chat is classroom management, she said. New teachers also frequently ask about lesson planning and building relationships. Ive found that the needs are so basic, Dabbs said. Theyre not asking how to use the latest application; theyre asking what kind of lesson plan to do. Dabbs founded the new-teacher Twitter chat in 2010 after noticing that while there was a general #edchat for teachers, there was nothing on Twitter that specifically targeted new teachers, who she said need support. Since then, the interest in supporting new teachers has grown. I didnt see that six years ago, she said. New-teacher mentoring has gotten more attention in recent years from state policymakers and education officials as a way to retain teachers and improve their practices. While 29 states require some type of support for new teachers, just 15 states require support during teachers first and second years, according to a recent report by the New Teacher Center, a nonprofit that provides mentoring services. Progress has been slow, the report says: Just four statesConnecticut, Delaware, Iowa, and Hawaiimeet the centers main criteria for providing and funding a high-quality system of new-teacher support. Since the quality and quantity of school or district mentoring can be hit or miss, many beginning teachers are looking for other ways to get support and helpful resources. The internet has helped fill some of that void. In addition to the #ntchat on Twitter, new teachers can tune in to other education chats on specific subjects. Several message boards are online for new teachers to congregate, including Reddits forum for teachers, where new teachers requests for advice and reassurances are consistently among the most popular posts. And plenty of private social-media groups have sprung up for new teachers to post messages of despair and encouragement, questions and lessons learned. Asking for Help Going online for support taps into the conflict that many new teachers experience, said Roxanna Elden, a former teacher and an author who provides resources for beginning teachers. They want advice, she said, but it can be intimidating to admit that they are struggling or dont know everything. New teachers are sensitive to asking questions, Elden said. [There are] questions everyone has, and nobody wants to ask. Elden recommends that new teachers develop a board of advisers for mentorshipand that not all the members should be virtual. Its also important for new teachers to be able to observe an effective teachers classroom in person and talk to other teachers in their school. But, she said, online communities do often provide concrete, specific advice that is often not available in schools. Sometimes, new teachers are asking [teachers at their school] for a specific type of help, and instead, theyre getting really general pieces of advice, Elden said. The common advice at the beginning of the year is, Dont phrase rules in negative language. Not a lot of people step up and say, Here are the six rules you should post on your classroom wall. To help new teachers find supportive and nonjudgmental mentors, Dabbs has a also started an online-mentoring group for them to virtually connect with veteran educators. Experienced teachersabout 170 so farcan give their contact information and area of expertise on a Google Doc, and new teachers can privately reach out to the mentors. There are many new teachers who dont receive a mentor, or the mentor theyve received is not someone they feel connected to, she said. What if a new teacher could just reach out to someone in the same state, across the country, or around the world who has the same interests or teaches the same subject? No hard data exist on how many mentees have taken advantage of the group, Dabbs said. New teachers can privately contact the mentors, she said, in case they dont want anyone to know that they are looking for mentorship beyond what has been assigned by their school. Sometimes, the new teachers just have a specific question to ask the mentors, and its a short interaction. Other times, Dabbs said, the initial connection can lead to an ongoing relationship, where the mentor teachers will Skype with their mentees and stay in touch throughout the year. Of course, there are also more formal online-mentoring programs. The New Teacher Center runs an online program called e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS), which connects teachers to virtual mentors. The program has a fee, which is typically paid by school districts, schools of education, or other educational organizations, said Alyson Mike, the vice president of educational technology at the center and the director of eMSS. Special education teachers, who might be the only ones in their field in their district, are the largest and fastest-growing group in the program, she said, but it also attracts teachers from rural or small districts, too. While exact data on how many districts are using the program are unavailable, Mike said about 300 teachers on average use the program every year. If somebody is not comfortable using technology to engage with others, its probably not a good fit, Mike said. But other new teachers prefer the convenience of the online-mentoring program and like hearing different perspectives from teachers outside their school or district, she said. The program is one of the few of its kind, Mike said, although some states have their own versions of online mentoring for districts to use. The structures and support of eMSS distinguish it from informal online mentoring, like Twitter chats or message boards, Mike said. Oftentimes [in those virtual communities], you will see a new teacher post a question, and sometimes, itll sit there for days, weeks, months, and go unanswered, she said. Our goal is to have everything answered within 24 hours. Starting Early Online mentoring can also appeal to preservice teachers. For example, many education students join the new teacher Twitter chat, either independently or at the suggestion of an education professor. Ben Brown, a preservice teacher at Indiana University, tuned into a chat for the first time in September. He said the moderators questions challenged him to think more deeply about his teaching practices, and he got some ideas from other respondents. He hasnt participated in other online-support groups yet, he said, but hes open to the idea. Hes gone to some in-person educational workshops that have been helpful, he added, but felt like they could have been better briefed online, where more people would have access to the information. When youre a teacher and required to be in the classroom, these in-person events are difficult to attend, Brown said. Online tools could be more useful for everyone. Replica coin to raise money for TT charities John McGuinness signs the coin A giant replica of a Manx 50p coin is being auctioned off for charity. More than 70 riders, officials and members of the media have signed 91cm giant coin, which is a replica of the 2015 TT Legends edition. TT stars John McGuinness, Conor Cummins and Bruce Anstey are among those to have put their signature on the item. Over 800 has been bid since the auction started on Saturday - the auction will remain open until Monday. The coin has been listed on eBay by the Isle of Man Post Office, with the proceeds being split between the TT Marshals Association and TT Riders Association. Rumors about the Microsoft Surface Phone have been making the rounds on the internet lately, with speculated specs, features and the device's upcoming release date becoming a very popular topic not only among Microsoft fans, but among smartphone fans as a whole. The Surface Phone is coming, and it is poised to make a very big splash when it does. Surface Phone Rumors: Specs Considering that the Surface Phone is Microsoft's first homegrown foray into the flagship smartphone business, the expectations for the device are extremely high. With the notable success of the Surface line over the years, the Surface Phone would have to fill in some pretty big shoes. If rumors are to be believed, however, the Surface Phone would indeed be up for the job. Speculations about the device's specs are encouraging, with rumors stating that the Surface Phone would pack Intel Kaby lake processors matched with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. With specs like these, the Surface Phone would not look out of place at all when placed beside Microsoft's esteemed Surface line, such as the Surface Book and the Surface Pro 4. Surface Phone Rumors: Features With the rumored device's Surface brand, numerous fans are speculating that the Surface Phone would feature a kickstand and a compatible keyboard accessory. However, these features have received polarizing reviews from fans. Numerous fans of the Surface line have voiced out their reservations about the possibility of the Surface Phone having a dedicated keyboard case, just like the one that is utilized in the Surface Pro devices. This is due to the Surface Phone's rumored size, which is speculated to be around the 5.5-inch to 6.0-inch range. Making a keyboard accessory for a smartphone has always been tricky, after all. As for the rumored kickstand, however, fans have been unanimous in the notion that the feature would be very useful in the device, especially since rumors of the Surface Phone being compatible with the Surface Pen have been abounding. The release date for the Surface Phone has not been confirmed by Microsoft as of date. However, speculations are high that the device would be unveiled sometime within the following months or during the first quarter of 2017. Apple's battle against jailbreaking teams has reached a new, interesting chapter. With popular teams such as Pangu and TaiG unable to release working jailbreak tool since iOS 10 was rolled out by the tech giant, it appears that Apple might have finally curbed jailbreaking once and for all. iOS 10 Jailbreak Tools Apple's latest mobile OS, iOS 10, has proven very difficult to crack, so much so that the world's most prominent iOS hackers such as the Pangu team from China have been unable to fully exploit the system. Though independent iOS hackers such as Luca Tedesco have released statements saying that they have successfully jailbroken an iPhone running iOS 10, a fully workable jailbreak tool is yet to be revealed to the public. This has caused numerous iOS 10 users to feel somewhat disappointed. After all, the wait for an iOS jailbreak tool has been very significant. In Pangu's case the group has not released a working jailbreak tool in months, prior to the last iOS 9 update was released. Apple Winning Battle Against Jailbreakers? One thing that has been very notable thus far is Apple's chosen strategy to curb the jailbreaking threat to its devices. In a lot of ways, the tech giant's strategy has been very simple, and yet, it has been extremely effective as well. Since Apple released iOS 10 to the public, the tech giant has simply made it a point to roll out updates in a pace that was far quicker than before. Thus, only weeks since the original iteration of iOS 10 rolled out, iOS 10.1 was released. Right now, less than a month since the iPhone 7 was unveiled, the new mobile OS is now at version 10.2. This has made it extremely difficult for jailbreaking groups such as Pangu and TaiG to fully exploit Apple's new mobile operating system. Simply put, the tech giant has simply gotten far too fast for hackers to find a workaround to its OS. With this, one has to wonder if the age of jailbroken devices is finally over. 5 October 2016 SIPO Commissioner Shen and EPO President Benoit Battistelli On Friday 30 September, President Benoit Battistelli welcomed Commissioner Shen of the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO) to Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. The visit was held on the occasion of the annual EPO-SIPO Heads of Offices meeting, this year hosted by the EPO in Europe. The meeting is an annual fixture for the two offices and offered a valuable opportunity to discuss strategic topics of mutual interest and to take stock of the results achieved within the framework of both IP5 and bilateral co-operation. The President reported on EPO progress in reducing pendency times and underlined the valuable results achieved this year in bilateral cooperation with SIPO. This included rapid adoption of the CPC, with SIPO expanding its CPC classification to all fields of technology in 2016. In addition there have been further joint efforts to improve the scope of data provided by EPO's Global Dossier service. Following the bilateral meeting, the President and the Commissioner signed an ambitious new Work Plan on bilateral co-operation 2017, covering seven different Projects, including Data Exchange, Classification, Capacity Building and Patent Information. Speaking at the meeting, President Battistelli said, We are honoured to have hosted Commissioner Shen and the SIPO delegation here in St-Germain-en-Laye. The Strategic Partnership we have developed with SIPO is of great benefit to European innovators and inventors wishing to access the Chinese market. This broad new work plan that we have signed for 2017 will help to ensure that we make further advances in more areas of cooperation and that our bilateral relations continue to grow in strength.' Co-operation between the EPO and SIPO has also seen major achievements in areas such as staff training and exchanges, the sharing of data, and the development of state-of-the-art automated systems. It has also provided greater access to the rapidly growing amount of Chinese patent data, and has made the Chinese patent system more accessible to European companies and inventors. The rapid development of the Chinese economy has underlined the strategic importance of EPO-SIPO bilateral cooperation, which started 31 years ago. SIPO received more than 1.1 million patent applications last year and this year it expects to receive approximately 1.3 million. The applications from China to the EPO are also growing rapidly. In 2015, 5721 patent applications to the EPO originated from China and in 2016 a further increase is expected. Despite the increasing applications, patent applications from Europe to SIPO continue to outstrip the number of applications that the EPO receives from China, indicating that Europe is a net exporter of patents and an innovation hub. Fabrizio Tassinari (Danish Institute of International Studies) Even before the current refugee crisis, immigration policy had been one of the most complicated, most politicized and least integrated policies in the European Union. Asylum policy is a sensitive topic for the Member States and its functioning and implementation is highly dependent on the latters will. Therefore, it often happens that the outcome of negotiations is a sort of compromise between the proposals of the EU and those put forward by the Member States. Crises are therefore often solved in a very inefficient way, which only leads to more problems. This does not concern only asylum policy but also the overall character of security that is thus heavily influenced by individual states. But which countries have most influenced European security through their policies? The first good example is Italy under Mr Berlusconis government. The Italian-Libyan relations have always been key for the European migration policy. Already back in 2008, the two countries signed an agreement to deport immigrants back to Libyas shores. The change occurred after the departure of Berlusconi when the Mare Nostrum naval operation was launched. Germany is yet another example of a country having a national impact on EU policy. Even before the current refugee crisis, Germany had received more asylum applications than any other EU country. Under Chancellor Merkel, Germany opened itself to refugees but this was not without problems. In September last year, when the number of refugees reached 1.2 million, Germany resorted to border controls. Later in October, Chancellor Angela Merkel launched negotiations with Ankara on cooperation designed to tackle the refugee crisis. In the same year, Mrs Merkel announced a new plan to tackle the crisis with the name We can handle it. The Union certainly responds to the attitudes and actions of its members. Despite all the problems, it is still failing to reform the outdated Dublin system, which only further complicates the already tense political situation. The relocation mechanism was supposed to bring about a change aiming to relieve overloaded Greece and Italy. The system is so inefficient that the redistribution of all refugees would not come earlier than in 2101. The new global EU strategy should be another change that could help unify their different approaches to safety. However, there will always be EU members at the beginning of every effort to deal with the migration crisis, without whose consent a radical change cannot occur. (The study can be downloaded here:http://www.diis.dk/en/research/the-disintegration-of-european-security) The EU has released a new assistance package worth 50 million in support of the empowerment of Egyptian women and the improvement of water resources management. Brussels adopted the funding for development projects in Egypt, aiming to support socio-economic development and civil society in the country and thus improve the lives of the population, targeting in particular womens rights and water resources management. The aid is the first part of the 2016 bilateral assistance package designated for Egypt. The newly released funding consists of two programs Advancing Womens Rights in Egypt and National Drainage Program. The former is worth 10 million and will support efforts to put an end to female circumcision. The latter worth 40 million will contribute to increase Egypts agricultural production by providing adequate drainage infrastructure and enhancing the capacities of different stakeholders to rehabilitate and extend underground drainage networks. These two programs are a continuation of the EUs effort to support Egypts socio-economic development and civil society. The EU and Egypt started diplomatic relations in 1966 and both sides seek to develop a strong partnership due to geographical proximity. The mutual ties emphasize close cooperation on democratic reform, economic modernization, social reform, and migration issues. The current agenda of EU-Egypt relations is formulated in an Action Plan under the European Neighborhood Policy. Trade relations between both sides are governed by the EU-Egypt Association Agreement of 2004 that established a free-trade area with the elimination of tariffs on industrial products and significant concessions on agricultural products. Since 2004, bilateral trade has more than doubled and reached its highest level ever in 2012 from 11.8 billion in 2004 to 23.9 billion in 2012. On the last day of September, the European Council prolonged restrictive measures against Libya for an additional half a year targeting three individuals Agila Saleh, President of the Libyan Council of Deputies in the House of Representatives; Khalifa Ghweil, Prime Minister and Defense Minister of the internationally unrecognized General National Congress; and Nuri Abu Sahmain, President of the internationally unrecognized General National Congress. These three persons are considered as obstructing the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement of 17 December 2015 and the formation of a Government of National Accord in Libya. Libya is one of the 16 European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) partner countries, though negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral Framework Agreement have been stalled. Therefore, Libya is not currently participating within the structures of the ENP but it is instead taking part in the Barcelona Process, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, as an observer. The EU remains concerned about the situation in Libya, mainly security and stability in the country. Brussels also condemns all the actions that impede or undermine the successful completion of Libyas political transition. The EU, together with other major payers of the international community, signed a joined communique at the end of September in support of the leadership and the decision of the Presidency Council (PC) to liberate Sirte from Daesh and secure the country from other terrorist groups. The signatories also reaffirmed their solidarity with the Libyan people and expressed sympathy for those who lost their lives in the fight against terrorism and welcomed the efforts against terrorist groups as listed by the UN in other parts of Libya, including Benghazi, and commit to collectively pursue those efforts. Written by ACM *Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- A New phenomenon, of an almost "Total Solidarity" between various Christian Minorities of the Middle East area, has practicaly United recently, as never before in recent History, all the Christians living there, (some among the Most Ancient Churches of the World), while Facing harsh Persecution and other Dangers now, mainly from several Threats and/or Attacks, Oppression, etc., by the Islamistic Extremists' Terrorism of ISIL, etc., told EU Parliament's "PanEuropa" Working Group meeting the Experienced ArchBishop of Dijon (France), Mgr Roland Minnerath, who holds also several Important Missions at the Vatican (See Infra). Mgr Minnerath, who comes from Strasbourg's Region and holds a Double PhD both on Theology and Canonic Law in addition to Paris' University Studies in History, has served as Special Secretary at the Vatican's Worldwide Bishops' Synod already on 2005, and is, until now, Member of its International Commission on Theology, while, since 2011, he has been elected President of France's Council for Canonic Law, during the currently Emeritus Pope Benedict, as well as New Member of the Holy See's prestigious Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, where he was appointed since May 2015 by new Pope Francis. The "PanEuropa" WG at EU Parliament is currently Chaired by Experienced, Long-time MEP Paul Ruebig from Austria, a mainstream Member of the Biggest Political Group of MEPs, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP. Historicaly, Christians used to be essentialy United for more than a Millenary, until 1.054, and it was during that period that Byzantine Empire's World-Famous Monks Cyril and Method helped Russians acquire a Written Alphabet for their Language, (which became the Cyrilic), and be Christianized since the 9th Century AC, starting from Kiev (nowadays Ukraine), and extended afterwards to Moscow, etc. On 1453, (i.e. when the Ottoman Turcs, coming from a far away Central Asian area near Mongolia, notoriously Invaded and occupied Byzance's overMillenary Capital Constantinople, massacrating its last defensors, including its Last Emperor Constantin Paleologis, who had Married with a Roman Latin Wife of Catholic confession - while that Historic City was renamed "Istanbul" after a 1955 "Pogrom" against Christians fueled on Pretext of Cyprus' National Independence Movement developments), almost all former "Eastern" Christian Orthodox Churches had reportdly SIgned, at Florence (Italy), an Exceotional Agreement to immediately Re-establish European Christians' Unity, Mgr. Minnerath reminded, but this was, then, finaly Refused to be Ratified, later-on, mainly by the Russian ArchiBishop, Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, afterwards followed in that also by the older, Greek-Orthodox Patriarche of Constantinople (Istanbul). However, after various Efforts during the Following Centuries, (including, more recently, under former Popes Jean-Paul II, who was the 1st Catholic Pope in History to ever make an Official Visit to predominantly Orthodox Greece, back on 2001, just after a landmark Ecumenial Declaration, agreed and signed by Top Representatives/Emmissaries of the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Confessions in Strasbourg, including a Meeting held then at the PanEuropean CoE's Headquarters here : Comp. "Eurofora" co-Founder's relevant NewsReports from those Historic Events, published then at Other Media, including "StraCy", "EWEM", "TCW", etc, as well as current Emeritus Pope Benedict's welcome of then Russia's Patriarch Alexis, who had made an Historic Visit at the CoE in Strasbourg, Paris and Rome, etc., back on 2007 : Comp. f.ex. "Eurofora" Co-Founder's Publication of a Statement that Patriarch Alexis gave us then on Cultural Heritage, at "Cyprus Weekly", etc), Recently, on February 2016, New Pope Francis and Russian Patriarch Cyril met and signed a landmark Joint Declaration on the Rapprochment of Catholic and Orthodox Christian, last February 2016 in Cuba, (See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReport at ....). That exceptionaly important, Top Declaration of February 2016 at Cuba, (which includes also crystal-clear References even to Modern BioEthical Concerns of Christians vis a vis some BioTechnology Moral Issues of Vital Interest for all Humanity : Comp. related Abstracts from the Original Text and observatins by "Eurofora" at the above-mentioned NewsReport), is "certainly a valuable Sign given by the Religious Leaders", but, afterwards, in real Practice, it depends, in fact, from the Competent collegial Commissions of each Church, who regularly meet Together each 2 Years, to Try to Translate all that more Concrete Terms in order to Start to be Really Applied in Everyday Life of all Priests and faithful : Something which hasn't been always Easy, but still remained a quite Delicate matter to solve better in the foreseable Future, realisticaly observed Mgr. Minnerath. In these Conditions, another Step Forward is the Latest Joint Text adopted by a Top Ecumenical Collective Gathering, just a Few Months Earlier this Year (2016) in Rome, he anounced moreover. => Speaking, later-on, to "Eurofora", at the Conclusion of that exceptional Meeting in EU Parliament, ArchBishop Minnerath, agreed on the Double Point that, Nowadays, at least 2 Different but Both Topical Challenges of ISIS' Deadly Terrorism (which notoriously Kills and Threatens even many Innocent and Defenseless Civilian People, recently both in Europe and even in the USA, in addition to the Middle-East area near Turkey's borders and later-on also in some African areas), as well as Recently Growing "BioEthical" Concerns, raised by some Controversial aspects on certain Crucial Points on the Way that some Might Abuse of Fast-Developing Modern Bio-Technologies, which might Affect all Humankind, inciting, in Fact, all Christians to Urgently Find Was to ReUnite their relevant Activities, at least on the most Essential Issues. Earlier, Replying also to various Participants' Questions, he also Acknowledged Europe's a.o. proximity of Judeo-Christian Traditions, as well as a quite Differend kind of Theology in the Islamic Religion, but made also a Clear Distinction between an Historicaly and basicaly Peaceful Muslim Belief, shared by a Majority of mainly Traditional Muslims in various Countries, and anOther, Extremist and Aggressive Version, which has, more Recently, been Diffused mainly by a "Wahabit" intolerant pathway via Saudi Arabia, (which is one of the Few who haven't even signed UNO's World-wide Declaration on Human Rights), etc., some difformed Parts of which were Distorded and Abused by openly Violent Terrorism as that of Al-Quaida and particularly ISIL's atrocious BeHeaders even of innocent Civilian People. However, in addition to Different MonoTheistic Religions' references to One God, it's mainly by Focusing on the Essentials of a Worldwide "Humanism" and basic Human Values, that a Joint Struggle, bringing Together all Religions through Honest Dialogue, against Deadly and Destructive Terrorism, may Succeed, Mgr. Minnerath Highlighted in Conclusion. *** Confidence in the Pound Canadian Dollar (GBP CAD) exchange rate has been severely dented by the latest Brexit news, with investors driven away from the currency by the increased prospect of a hard exit from the EU. The British Pound to Canadian Dollar (GBP CAD) exchange rate is recovering from a significant fall overnight, and is seen to be trading at the 1.64287 level. Reported trader algorithm trading saw the GBP/CAD touch the 1.5's in the early hours. The pound sterling extended its monthly lows on Thursday afternoon, but rebounded from its worst levels as lower demand for risk-correlated currencies weighed on the CADs advances. Prices of Canadas primary commodity export, oil, continued to advance on Thursday. US oil futures improved to US$50.29 per barrel, rising above the key level of U$50 for the first time since June 2016. GBPCAD held position near its worst levels since August on Thursday morning. Positive comments from members of OPEC have continued to shore up hopes that a production deal could be on the table in the near future. As a result the Canadian Dollar has been boosted against many of its rivals, unhampered by the relative strength of the US Dollar. Canadian Dollar investors were cheered throughout the day as foreign exchange markets reacted to optimistic oil price news. Brent crude was up 2% in the afternoon and traded at almost US$52 per barrel. It has been a rather mixed bag for Pound Sterling (GBP) in recent days as positive domestic data contrasts with increasingly pessimistic investor sentiment. While Septembers raft of UK PMIs all bettered expectations to point towards a continued shaking off of the post-referendum shock and a resilient domestic economy, this was not enough to particularly boost the GBP CAD exchange rate. Although risk appetite has been generally limited this week the Pound Sterling to Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD) exchange rate has also come under pressure from the continuing rally in oil prices, with Brent crude trending back above the US$51 per barrel mark. Latest Pound/Canadian Dollar Exchange Rates On Monday the Canadian Dollar to British Pound exchange rate (CAD/GBP) converts at 0.634 The GBP to CAD exchange rate converts at 1.578 today. FX markets see the pound vs us dollar exchange rate converting at 1.158. The pound conversion rate (against australian dollar) is quoted at 1.805 AUD/GBP. Please note: the FX rates above, updated 31st Oct 2022, will have a commission applied by your typical high street bank. Currency brokers specialise in these type of foreign currency transactions and can save you up to 5% on international payments compared to the banks. The Pound has fallen against the Canadian Dollar (GBP CAD), Euro (GBP EUR) and US Dollar (GBP USD) amid increasing concerns that the UK is heading for a hard Brexit in the wake of comments from the Conservative party conference. The prospect of a loss of access to the single market is weighing heavily on the Pound. As Oliver Harvey, Macro Strategist at Deutsche Bank, notes: Our takeaway from the conference was that May believes the threat of rebellion from hard-line eurosceptic Conservative MPs is significantly greater than from the more centrist wing of the party or a divided opposition the corollary being a much tougher negotiating stance. The risk is that this does not play well with EU partners, particularly given French and German elections next year. These worries are likely to maintain the Pounds downside bias for the foreseeable future, muting the impact of positive signs of recovery coming from the economy. Even hawkish commentary from members of the Bank of Englands (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has not been enough to rescue the Pound from its bearish trend on Wednesday morning, despite the chances of another rate cut seeming diminished. Canadian Dollar May Trend Higher on Declining Oil Stockpiles Support for the Canadian Dollar (CAD) could falter somewhat on Wednesday afternoon, however, with the release of the latest US crude oil inventories data. Should stockpiles have continued to build up over the last week then the price of oil is likely to take a hit, with the problem of the global oversupply glut still far from over. On the other hand, a greater drawdown would encourage investors to continue piling into the commodity and could drive the Canadian Dollar higher against its rivals. GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Forecast: Canadian and US Employment Data in Focus Volatility for the GBP/CAD exchange rate should also be expected in response to Fridays Canadian employment data, which could increase pressure on the Bank of Canada (BOC) to consider easing monetary policy in the near future. If the labour market fails to show particular signs of improvement then the Loonie is likely to trend lower, particularly if market risk appetite is adversely impacted by the latest US Non-Farm Payrolls report. Should the odds of an imminent Fed rate hike mount further then the GBP/CAD exchange rate could recover some ground, with positive US data likely to result in greater US Dollar bullishness. I keep getting calls from the number 0097125518065 - when I answer they hang up. It's been going on for months and it's now becoming more and more frequent throughout the day. When I call back there's no answer. Has anyone else had calls from this number or know who's calling? Hi All I am quite new to this forum and We are vising from Melbourne and want to ask these questions: What are the chance of Indian Citizen getting Visitor Visa if they are in Australia ? how long usually NZ immigration takes for visitor visa if all the documents provided in Application? What are the best places to go if staying for 7 days to make most of it? What are the best accommodation options in Taknini? Thanks, Garry A four-year pilot scheme for a new visa for innovation-based ventures in New Zealand will start in early 2017, it has been confirmed.Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will partner with the Edmund Hillary Fellowship to launch the visa aimed at entrepreneurs, investors and start-ups to launch their business in New Zealand. The Global Impact Visa (GIV) will be limited to just 400 over the four-year pilot with the first applicants expected to arrive in the country in the second half of next year.Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said that the Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) has been selected as the private sector provider to deliver the attraction, selection and integration programme for GIVs.EHF will identify potential applicants and build a regional network which will support participants across the country, while INZ will be responsible for processing and making decisions on visas, he explained.The EHF is a collaboration between the Hillary Institute for International Leadership, a not-for-profit organisation that identifies and celebrates mid-career leaders from around the world and Kiwi Connect, an organisation promoting and connecting high impact entrepreneurship in New Zealand.These partners have an exceptional combined record of recognising, rewarding and nurturing emerging entrepreneurs and leaders. By drawing on private sector strengths and knowledge in this space, the government is better positioned to accelerate innovation and continue to grow the contribution migrants make to the economy, Woodhouse added.In addition to the 400 GIVs, up to 80 New Zealand entrepreneurs and investors will be accepted into EHF over the four years, providing the opportunity for collaboration between GIVs migrants and New Zealand entrepreneurs and investors.Woodhouse also announced that he has signed a Working Holiday Scheme with Luxembourg to allow up to 50 young people aged 18 to 30 from the two countries to work and live in each and will start in April 2017.It is Luxembourgs first Working Holiday Scheme. We are pleased to be the first country to sign a Working Holiday Scheme with Luxembourg. This reflects our positive relationship, which has been developed and strengthened through our wider interactions with the European Union, said Woodhouse.Working Holiday Schemes provide young New Zealanders with opportunities to live and work in Europe, while working holiday makers from countries like Luxembourg contribute positively to New Zealand through tourism, cultural, and interpersonal links, he added.The Working Holiday Scheme will be open to 18-30 year olds and is expected to start in April 2017. From: Arnie Wexler -- Compulsive Gambling Addiction Expert Lake Worth , FL Wednesday, October 5, 2016 Gambling Addiction is now becoming the major addiction in America ! You can now read the ONLY BOOK on gambling addiction where a spouse of a gambler shares her story with no holds bared. Sheila lets you live thru her life the 1st 7 years of there marriage and how his gambling addiction drove him and his wife, Sheila, to the edge of life. IF U MIGHT LKE A COPY OF OUR BOOK E MAIL ME YOUR MAILING ADDRESS ( ASWEXLER@AOL.COM ) "All Bets Are Off "Losers, Liars, and Recovery from Gambling Addiction Wexler's compulsive gambling once spiraled out of control. Now after 48 years in recovery, he's become a nationally known expert on gambling addiction. Arnie Wexler's life as a gambler began on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, flipping cards, shooting marbles, and playing pinball machines. At age fourteen he found the racetrack, a bookie, and started playing the stock market. His obsession with gambling accelerated until a fateful day in 1968 when it all came crashing down. Wexler placed his last bet on 4/10/68 when the METS played the S F GIANTS on opening day. Wexler's gripping narrative leads us through the dungeon of a compulsive gambler's worldchasing the big win and coming up with empty pocketsand how his addiction drove him and his wife, Sheila, to the edge of life. With help, they managed to escape, and together they have devoted themselves to helping others with the problem they know so well. From the Foreword by Rob Hunter, PhD, Founder, Nevada Psychological Associates and Problem Gambling Center of Las Vegas "Arnie is always available, responding not just emotionally, but physically, to gamblers still suffering. He is a good and loving man, but he is also a tough guy. He's a guy tough enough to have survived the gambling story you are about to read and tough enough to make twelve-step calls that have involved cancelling family plans, driving through blizzards, and facing the underbelly of gambling straight on. Arnie is tireless in his efforts to help others. "He is alive with his desire to share the joyous freedom that his recovery has brought him, while still remembering well the horror of his late-stage gambling. When Arnie sees a person walk into a twelve-step program for the first time, he remembers how he felt that first day he came for help. You are about to read the story of a legendary recovering addict." The Wexlers run a national help line ----888 -- LAST BET IF YOU MIGHT LIKE 2 TALK TO ARNIE 954== 5015270 ASWEXLER2AOL.COM WWW.ASWEXLER.COM << == WEB AND BLOG Malzberg | Arnie & Shelia Wexler discuss Arnie's new book, "All Bets Are Off:" - YouTube We need to not let our addiction define us, but have our recovery define us. We need to not let our addiction define us, but have our recovery define us. Arnie and Sheila Wexler have provided extensive training on Compulsive, Problem and Underage Gambling, to more than 40,000 gaming employees (personnel and executives) and have written Responsible Gaming Programs for major gaming companies. In addition, they have worked with Gaming Boards and Regulators, presented educational workshops nationally and internationally and have provided expert witness testimony. Sheila Wexler is the Executive Director of the Compulsive Gambling Foundation. They also run a national help line (888 LAST BET) Tuesday, October 4, 2016 Lisa Anderson MBA, CSCP, president of LMA Consulting Group, will participate in the strategic U. S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics summit that gathers information, data and insights on the U. S, supply chain from experts in material handling and logistics, equipment and software suppliers, academia, associations and government. Anderson, a sought after speaker on supply chain, customer service, skills gap, ERP, SIOP, and the Amazon Effect and its impact on business operations of manufacturers and distributors, will be asked to address new issues like cybersecurity as well as explore the core competencies companies will have to develop over the next decade to grow jobs, increase America's global competitiveness and advance our country's standard of living. "The first Roadmap was called by some 'the most important document to be published by the industry in more than 20 years,'" recalls Gary Forger, who spearheaded the original effort to develop the document. "It established a baseline of key disruptors faced by supply chain practitioners today and in the approaching decade. While it was comprehensive for the time, the staggering rate of change in the field during the recent past has prompted us to begin work on the second edition." Anderson is board approved in supply chain strategy, an advisory board member for the Advanced Supply Chain Certification program, and was named a top 100 supply chain blogger on SupplyChainOpz. Recognized as the 16th most influential person in supply chain management and sustainability by technology leader SAP's "Top 46 Resource and Optimizations Influencers (Plus a Few Others)," she has conducted primary research on customer service expectations, skills gaps and how Amazon is impacting businesses. "I'm honored to be selected to participate in this high-quality group of supply chain professionals to provide expertise and collaborate on supply chain management trends, disruptors and opportunities," explains LMA Consulting President Lisa Anderson. "By identifying the most important disruptors, manufacturing and distribution executives can think ahead to avoid serious pitfalls and to prepare for long-term, sustainable success. Knowledge is power - if executives understand what's most likely to occur 10 years into the future, they can set the appropriate strategy and prepare their people, processes and protocols to delight the customer and maximize profit." Upon completion of four regional summits, the gathered information will be used as the basis for the writing of the second edition of the Roadmap. The report will be released during MHI's ProMat tradeshow and exposition, held April 3-6, 2017 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Celebrating its eleventh year, LMA Consulting Group helps growing companies elevate overall business performance while creating a customer service edge. Anderson, also known as The Manufacturing ConnectorSM, is currently working on a book entitled "The Amazon Effect" detailing a business roadmap to thriving in an ultra-competitive marketplace. She actively posts educational blogs three times weekly and has two newsletters, Profit through PeopleSM and "I've Been Thinking." For information about Lisa Anderson, go to http://www.lma-consultinggroup.com/ or call 909.630.3943. Far too many agents are overlooking discussing a short-term care insurance option when helping individuals plan for the risk of needing long-term care. "Almost none of the consumers we spoke with are being offered this as an option," declared Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. Slome was speaking to a group of long-term care insurance professionals urging them to broaden the solutions they offer to consumers. "We speak daily to consumers who are in the process of investigating long-term care insurance options," Slome notes. "Affordability is key to a large number of the callers and we started informally polling consumers to see whether insurance agents were offering them solutions that would be more affordable." According to the Association head and a long-standing consumer advocate, almost none of the consumers were being educated about the short-term care insurance option. "Airlines offer economy and first class seating and car dealers have low-priced and luxury car models because they recognize that price is always a consideration," Slome acknowledged. He urged the insurance agents to stop approaching consumers with a 'one-size-fits-all' long-term care solution. "It's hard enough to get consumers to purchase long-term care insurance," Slome acknowledged. "When the only option you show costs $2,000 or $3,000 a year per-person, you are going to significantly limit your market," he added to the group. Slome urged agents to learn more about short-term care insurance options which can affordably provide up to one year of home care, assisted living care or skilled nursing home benefits. "Some 40 percent of long-term care insurance claims end within one year so for many people, this is all the coverage they will need," Slome told the agents. "And, it's going to be a much more affordable option, which means more consumers will do some planning." To learn more about short-term care insurance Slome recommended agents contact the National Advisory Center for Short-Term Care Insurance's website www.shorttermcareinsurance.org or call the organization to learn which insurance companies offer short term care insurance products in their particular state. The organization is headquartered in Los Angeles and can be reached at 818-597-3205. A liquefied natural gas tanker plying the waters of the Mediterranean has created a guessing game for energy traders. The Maran Gas Delphi has taken a meandering course after loading up on U.S. shale gas a month ago at Cheniere Energy Inc.s Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana. The ship anchored off the coast of Greece for several days, prompting speculation that it would deliver its supplies to a port in the region. Instead, the tanker is now bound for the Red Sea, raising the prospect that it may instead travel to the Middle East or Southeast Asia. The winding track of the Maran Gas Delphi is a testament to how a gas glut fed by surging production from countries including U.S. and Australia is complicating global trade of the fuel. The rise of so-called homeless LNG, or supplies not already committed to customers, is confounding efforts by traders and analysts to get a grasp of the market and make bets. Its bit of a mystery, Jason Feer, head of business intelligence at ship broker Poten & Partners in Houston, said of the Maran Gas Delphi. Normally LNG logistics are pretty well-rehearsed, and having an LNG carrier cooling its heels is expensive. Cargoes of LNG not committed to customers will peak at 80 million tons by 2020, up from 50 million now, Feer said. This comes as buyers demand more flexible terms and long-term contracts expire amid the global market oversupply, he said. The Maran Gas Delphi is not the only example of how LNG cargoes are taking a longer or diverted route to find a home. The Stena Clear Sky, also with a cargo from Sabine Pass, spent a month circling South America before unloading on Mexicos Pacific coast, instead of taking a shorter route via the now opened Panama Canal, which would have saved it about 21 days. More complicated routes highlight how flexible LNG trade is becoming, with more demand for short-term trade to place cargoes in an oversupplied market, said Malcolm Johnson, a Guildford, England-based faculty member of The Oxford Princeton Programme, an energy training provider. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. U.S. volumes are flexible and dont have destination restrictions and charter rates are low, which means the buyer wins time to find the best market, he said. A tanker thats carrying an LNG cargo can effectively be used as a storage. What we are likely to experience is that they do divert cargoes at a certain short notice where demand may arise, Johnson said by phone. The tanker charter rates are very low, they are extremely low; they give a cargo owner a bit of space to decide which market to potentially move the cargo to. Anangel Shipping Enterprises, owner of the vessel, and Royal Dutch Shell, which chartered the ship, declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Cheniere wasnt immediately able to provide comment. The contract terms of the cargo were unclear. Everybody is working to track the vessels, Feer from Poten and Partners said. From a traders point of view, understanding whos long, whos short and where volume is moving is obviously really critical. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Valero Energy Corp. is accusing the city of Benicia, California of violating the law when it denied the companys application Sept. 20 to build a train terminal to transport crude to its refinery there, derailing four years of planning. While Valero didnt outright threaten to sue the city, Benicia officials said they are ready to battle it out in court. Benicia will defend itself and we may request assistance, said community development director Christina Ratcliffe. Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson said the 5-0 vote against the crude-by-rail project was not against Valero a major employer in the city but against the companys proposal. It was a vote against an oil terminal on site that the city felt was inappropriate, Patterson said. The city received a four-page letter on Oct. 3 from one of Valeros attorneys John J. Flynn III accusing the city of legal missteps after Benicia denied Valeros permit application to build a crude oil rail terminal at its Benicia refinery. The letter came after the city council denied Valeros permit application, which was originally filed in December 2012. In the letter, Flynn accused the city of violating multiple state and federal laws, including the 1977 Permit Streamlining Act. If the city did, indeed, violate permitting rules, Valeros permit would get automatically approved, he said. Patterson called the letter sloppy. She said the city proceeded with full confidence that what we have done is defensible. Valero spokeswoman Lillian Riojas wouldnt say whether the company plans to sue the city, but she also didnt rule it out. At this point, Valero continues to consider all of its options, Riojas said in an email. The Benicia facility refines an average of 165,000 barrels of oil a day. The crude-by-rail project would not increase capacity at the facility but would have replaced some maritime shipping. The company projected rail shipments would be around 70,000 barrels a day. Flynns letter also accuses San Francisco-based lawfirm Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo of working with representatives from the city to craft the Citys staff proposal. Flynn points out that city staff submitted a proposal on Sept. 27 that he claims is similar to a Sept. 28 plan Adams Broadwell submitted on behalf of the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. Flynns claim is that the staff proposal is an embellishment of the Adams Broadwell document and raises the worrisome and possibly unlawful prospect of a coordinated effort between certain City representatives and Adams Broadwell. Mayor Patterson said Flynns claim has no basis. She said the city attorney didnt receive the letter from Adams Broadwell until after the city presented its own plan. A message left with Adams Broadwell attorney Rachael E. Koss, who wrote the proposal, was not returned. Even though Valero is one of the largest employers in Benicia, Ratcliffe said I dont think theyre going anywhere. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. The city believed that a lawsuit would have been filed regardless of which way it had ruled on Valeros crude-by-rail proposal, said Ratcliffe. The issue has also divided the community, something she hopes the city can now work on mending. I think now is a great time that its finally settled to heal that split, she said. There are folks in the industrial district and other portions who felt that this project should have gone forward, and there were folks that for a multitude of reasons felt that it should not. rdruzin@express-news.net @druz_journo This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN FRANCISCO Google launched an aggressive challenge to consumer electronics giants such as Apple and Samsung on Tuesday, introducing a new line of smartphones called Pixel and other gadgets designed to showcase a digital helper the company calls Google Assistant. The new devices represent a big push by Google to make and sell its own hardware, instead of largely just supplying software for other manufacturers. At a starting price of roughly $650, the new Pixel phones are aimed at the same markets as Apples iPhone and Samsungs Galaxy flagship phones. During a media event Tuesday, Google executives showed off a series of gadgets in rapid succession: Its new Home device is a sleek internet-connected speaker thats designed to respond to voice commands, like Amazons popular Echo. A new virtual reality headset called Daydream View will work with the new Pixel phones and other devices based on Googles Android software. The company also unveiled a new Wi-Fi router and an update to the companys Chromecast streaming media device. In announcing the new Pixel phones, Google executives touted features such as a powerful camera, a long-lasting battery and a dedicated headphone jack, which Apple recently eliminated from its latest iPhones. The Pixel phones will be sold in two screen sizes 5 inches and 5.5 inches and three colors: black, silver and blue. But theyre clearly hoping the new Pixel phones and other devices will be distinguished by their use of Googles software. A central element of all the new gadgets is the Google Assistant, which uses artificial intelligence to deliver what CEO Sundar Pichai described as a personal Google for each and every user. Pichai said the companys goal is to let customers interact naturally and seamlessly with artificial intelligence through devices such as the Home device and their smartphone. Still, while Google showed its new Assistant performing a variety of impressive tasks, analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy cautioned that similar services, which include Apples Siri and Microsofts Cortana, dont always live up to their early promises. On the other hand, Moorhead said in an email that Google was smart to emphasize the performance of the new smartphone cameras since consumers care about this a lot. But he said other features in the new phones didnt seem that much different from what Samsung and Apple have offered in their latest devices. The products announced Tuesday also underscore Googles hope that its products and services will work better if the company designs its own hardware and software together something Apple has long done. Thats also a model that Microsoft has begun following, with its own brand of Surface tablets and laptop computers that use Microsofts Windows software. But analysts warned that Google runs the risk of alienating partners such as Samsung, LG and other companies that sell competing Android gadgets. Android now powers the majority of smartphones sold around the world. But Samsung, the biggest maker of Android phones, has increasingly been adding more of its own software even its own Samsung Pay mobile wallet on the phones it sells. Another big rival, Apple, has built its own services, such as online maps and its own Siri personal assistant, to replace Googles apps on the iPhone. Google, which is best known for its widely used internet search engine, makes most of its money from online software and digital ads. But its putting more emphasis on hardware as it competes for consumers attention with other leading tech firms. In recent years, Google has sold smartphones and tablets under the Nexus brand, which it launched in 2010 as a way to show off the best features of its Android software. But it put relatively little effort into promoting those devices, which have mostly ended up in the hands of Google purists. The new Pixel phones will be sold online, through retail chains such as Best Buy and various wireless carriers around the world, although the company said it has an exclusive deal with Verizon in the United States. Like the Pixel phones, the Home device uses the digital Google Assistant service, a voice-activated personal butler that can search the internet, play music or perform other useful tasks. Google Assistant is the companys answer to similar concierge services from rivals, including Siri, Amazons Alexa and Microsofts Cortana. Google said the Home device will sell for roughly $130 online and at electronics retailers starting next month. Along with answering questions and playing music, the device can be used to control streaming video through Googles Chromecast device, at voice command. Home-based systems like the Echo are taking on more importance as voice technology has improved, said analyst Julie Ask of Forrester Research. You cant assume somebody is going to go sit down at a computer or pick up a phone and type in a question anymore, she said. Looking to finally enter the smartphone hardware business, Alphabet Inc.s Google is going after a familiar foe: Apple Inc. The Mountain View-based maker of the Android mobile operating system unveiled new smartphones Tuesday, the Pixel and a larger Pixel XL, that compete head on with the iPhone. The Pixel phones feature thin aluminum and glass frames that come in black, silver or blue (a limited edition for the U.S.). The smaller model, which starts at $649 for 32 gigabytes of storage, features a 5-inch screen, while the bigger model, priced at $769, has a 5.5-inch screen to match the iPhone 7 Plus. A 128-gigabyte storage option is also available, with the larger device topping out at $869 also in line with the equivalent iPhone 7 Plus. The models feature high-resolution displays that Google said are sharper than the iPhones, along with 12-megapixel rear cameras, 8-megapixel front cameras and Qualcomm Inc.s Snapdragon processors. The phones are the first to run Googles new Siri-like digital Assistant and include new features for editing photos. The Pixel phones are the first conceptualized, designed, engineered and tested in-house by Google. Similar to Apples partnership with Foxconn in China, Google is getting HTC Corp. to assemble the Pixel devices, Googles hardware chief Rick Osterloh, said in a recent interview. Besides similar functionality and pricing, Google is going right after Apple customers with a new option to automatically transfer data such as contacts and photos from an iPhone to the Pixel when its first switched on. Google included a physical adapter in the box that plugs the new devices into iPhones to conduct the process. Apple added a similar feature to the iPhone last year, allowing users to port their information over from Android gadgets. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Premium is a very important category, Hiroshi Lockheimer, head of Android, said in a recent interview. Its where Apple is also very strong. Is there room for another player there? We think so. The Pixel phones run a new version of Android, called Nougat 7.1, and have a user interface customized by Google. The home screen includes a translucent launcher that reveals circular icons as it gradually blurs the background wallpaper when users swipe up from the bottom. Theres also a shortcut to summon technical support and a digital home button to wake up Googles digital Assistant. The Android update will be available for other Android partners, but getting the new features will be dependent on support from those other phone manufacturers. The update includes a mechanism that adjusts the screens lighting based on time of day, and support for a virtual reality headset that Google also debuted Tuesday. The Pixel phones can be pre-ordered Tuesday via Googles website and will be available in retail stores Oct. 20, according to the company. They will be available in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada and Germany this month, and the phone will arrive in India in November. The phones can be purchased in the U.S. as part of a monthly wireless plan from Verizon Communications Inc., Google said. They can also be bought through Project Fi, Googles own wireless service. As for its virtual reality headset, Daydream View, will be available for $79, well below products from HTC Corp. and Facebook Inc.s Oculus, which cost hundreds of dollars. The headset and controller allows users to view virtual reality media with a smartphone. Google has had some success distributing its Cardboard device, an even cheaper VR viewer with fewer capabilities. The new headset will enable a broader range of VR experiences, such as gaming and movies. The controller could also help match some of the features of higher-end VR devices. The launch coincides with the release of Daydream, software that Google hopes will replicate the far reach of its Android mobile operating system. By making its VR gadgets cheap, the company aims to get its system used by as many people as possible. Still, the only phone that currently works with Daydream View is Googles new Pixel. Google had to meet certain hardware and software requirements, such as display latency and heat dissipation, to operate VR on phones, Android chief Hiroshi Lockheimer told Bloomberg in a recent interview. More Android phones will be compatible with the viewer soon, according to the company The significance of Daydream is it should move the VR theme forward because it raises the hardware bar on phones needed for VR, Gene Munster, an analyst with Piper Jaffray, wrote in a research note. In 3-5 years most Android hardware will be Daydream-enabled. Also Tuesday, Google introduced a new hardware system, dubbed Google Wifi, that uses a wireless technology called mesh networks to spread Wi-Fi internet signals more evenly around homes. Google billed the system as an alternative to existing bulkier wireless routers, pitting the search giant against a crop of startups trying to grab their own piece of the market. Last year, Google released a solo router, OnHub. Both products were developed by engineers in an Alphabet unit called Access, which focuses on spreading internet connectivity. But the devices were moved under the companys new hardware chief Rick Osterloh earlier this year. Google Wifi is only sold in the U.S. for now and costs $129 for a single device and $299 for a set of three. That pricing undercuts mesh router systems from companies such as Eero, Ubiquity Networks and Luma, a startup backed by Amazon.com Inc. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It was just a first step down an endless, expensive road. Commissioners Court on Tuesday spent $812,000 on software development and data storage capability to prepare for the proliferation of body-worn cameras by Bexar County sheriff's deputies. Most of the sum goes to Microsoft to develop ingestion software for the secure transfer of video from officers to prosecutors. Using leased and on-site cloud storage, the county plans to develop a repository for sheriff and San Antonio Police Department videos to smoothly feed them into the district attorney's system. Up to 23.5 TB of video evidence a month may need to be stored, officials estimated. Thats roughly the equivalent of 5,500 dvds. Currently bodycams are worn by only a dozen deputies, including motorcycle officers, but the devices eventually will be carried by all deputies. By the end of the month, 51 officers will be equipped and the program will gradually grow from there, said Chief Deputy Manuel Longoria. In December 2015, at a cost of $900,000 the county ordered 300 bodycam, along with 200 vehicle-based hubs that include a dash camera. At the time, officials warned that the initial investment was minor compared to long-term data storage costs. Their concerns remain, with County Judge Nelson Wolff admonishing staff to closely monitor expenses. But theres also puzzlement why its taken this long to put the cameras on more deputies. I have to say Im disappointed in the pace of the rollout, said Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert. SAPD and others have deployed theirs in a much more robust way, he said. Pressed to estimate when all 300 cameras would be in the field, Sheriffs Lt. Aaron Von Muldau, whos overseeing deployment of the equipment from Utility Corp., said thats not possible because of pending uncertainties regarding the interface with the DAs office. Hopefully, as long as the interface goes like its supposed to, within the next six months it will be a full implementation, Von Muldau said. Forty percent of the body camera projects that were started have failed, usually because of storage costs, Von Muldeau said. We are not going to fail. We are taking a very measured pace in order to get this, he said. County planners estimated that 35-40 percent of recorded incidents will become criminal evidence. Collaborating with Microsoft, the county plans to develop a system to export county and SAPD evidence from the repository to the DAs digital evidence management system. Commissioners authorized $562,685 for Microsoft to develop the automated ingestion system. It allotted $250,000 to Sirius Computer Solutions for cloud storage space. A briefing document for commissioners said the introduction and expansion of video cameras (in-car, body-worn, interrogation room, etc.) for BCSO and SAPD will generate quantities of digital data that will soon exceed the countys storage capacity. The county must expand its storage capacity to meet the planned increase in digital evidence. More discussions are planned on balancing leased versus county-owned storage space. jgonzalez@express-news.net Twitter: @johnwgonzalez This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The city of San Antonio is seeking a River Walk boat operator for a 10-year contractthat would include reliable and affordable barge service, retail sales, charters and tours. The right operator should be able to run a legitimate transportation option linking the River Walks Museum Reach to its downtown stretch and continue to promote the barges role in enhancing the River Walk experience that is nationally recognized as a top Texas destination. Those are a few of the key points in a press release from the Center City Development and Operations Department, which on Tuesday released a Request for Proposals, or RFP. Selecting an operator is the next major step as San Antonio moves to replace its mid-1990s era fleet of propane-powered barges. Earlier this year, the city selected a design by Houston-based METALAB from a national design competition to bring an innovative boat to the San Antonio River. Ultimately, the city picked a pill-shaped modular barge that has removable walls inspired by papel picado patterns and is accessible to the disabled. The new fleet of electric-powered barges should be motoring up and down the river before San Antonio celebrates its tricentennial in 2018. District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino, who represents the downtown area, said that the current barge operators arent to blame, but the citys structure of the barge contract has stifled innovation until now. It was keeping us from getting what we wanted, he said. Creating a split process for design of the new barges and operational programming will allow the city to create something thats more attractive to locals and tourists alike, Trevino said. Now we can focus on what the experience is going to be like, he said. Maggie Thompson, executive director of the nonprofit Paseo del Rio Association, said theres a lot of excitement about the new barge fleet. The boats are colorful and fun, she said. And it just brings a whole new spark to the River Walk. Its unclear exactly what respondents to the citys RFP might pitch for programming. But both Trevino and Thompson said the new barges could be configured in multiple ways restaurant seating and bar seating, among other ways and wide open for yoga or other exercise programming. Moving forward on the contract, the councilman said, is one of the most important things weve done in years. Its time to evolve, he said. The city will host a pre-submittal conference and site tour for interested bidders on Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. There will be a second tour on Oct. 25 at 9 a.m., and written questions about the RFP will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Nov. 14, according to a city press release. The proposals are due on Jan. 6. Gary C. Ligons two-day absence from San Antonio State Hospital where he was being treated after he was judged insane in 2007 in the killing and dismembering of his wife has Kerr County authorities and her kin more than a little upset. Ligons unauthorized departure Sunday morning marked the third time in 13 months hed absconded from the facility on South New Braunfels Avenue, said a spokeswoman there, who noted: Its not a prison. San Antonio police took Ligon, 62, into custody Tuesday morning in the 8200 block of City Base Landing and returned him to the hospital small comfort to the family of Rebecca Becky Ligon. One of her siblings, Judy Clark, now lives more than 1,000 miles away but was shaken to learn Monday night that Ligon was at large. He said he would kill the rest of our family if he ever got out and had the chance, Clark, 52, recalled by phone Tuesday. They told us in 2007 that he was going to a maximum security facility. Besides wanting to know what can be done to prevent future escapes, shes worried what Ligon might have done unsupervised for nearly 48 hours. Its maddening, she said. It seems like the systems failed us since day one. No public announcement that Ligon was missing was made until Kerr County Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer found out about it Monday. When there are patients who leave our campus grounds, we typically notify local law enforcement and it's in their hands, said Christine Mann of the Texas Department of State Health Services. Hierholzer recognized the name. As a deputy, he had investigated Becky Ligons grisly slaying in her home outside Kerrville on June 1, 1990. Youd have to consider him dangerous, Hierholzer said Tuesday before Gary Ligon was recaptured. Becky Ligon was killed after picking up her husband at the Kerrville State Hospital, where they both worked. He also had been a patient at the hospital who had checked out about one week earlier. Authorities said evidence proved Ligon killed his wife, dismembered her body with a circular saw, left her torso in a field near their home and then burned her head in a washtub on their back porch. At his trial, a court-appointed psychiatrist said Ligon was undergoing schizophrenic delusions during the crime. It appears he believed he was doing the right thing at the time, testified Dr. John Sparks, the psychiatrist. He was suffering from a severe mental disease and, as a result, did not know his conduct was wrong. The state didnt contest the insanity defense because, prosecutors said, a murder conviction would have resulted in Ligon getting credit for the 16-plus years he had spent as an involuntary mental patient after the slaying and before trial. District Attorney Scott Monroe, whose predecessor Ron Sutton prosecuted Ligon, said he wants to know how Ligon wound up at the San Antonio hospital and what kind of security is in place there. There are serious questions that need to be explained, Monroe said. Mann said security guards are on duty at the hospital, which is surrounded by a 6-foot-tall chain link fence, with a gate normally kept open. Theres a second interior fence for holding forensic patients like Ligon, who sometimes are escorted to buildings outside of it, she said. Our hospital staff are not tasked with physically restraining a patient that is fleeing, Mann said. She said Ligon left the facility about 10 a.m. Sunday. Our hospital staff attempted to communicate with the patient and attempted to get him to stay, but ultimately the patient successfully left the grounds and San Antonio police were contacted, Mann said. Ligon had also walked off in September 2015 but staff quickly convinced him to return, and when he left again the next month, police returned him a few days later, she said. Amos Barton, who helped prosecute Ligon in 2007, said the courts commitment orders specified the defendant be sent to the maximum security unit at Vernon State Hospital. After that, one can only assume that the state hospital has transferred Ligon to a less restrictive facility based on their own determination, he said by email Tuesday. It is unbelievable that the San Antonio State Hospital would permit an insane murderer to walk out the door, regardless of how feeble an old man he is now, added Barton, who served as district attorney between Sutton and Monroe Hierholzer also concluded that security is definitely lacking at the San Antonio facility. People who are found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity should not be able to just walk away, he said. Some of these people are extremely dangerous and there should be better security than that. zeke@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A historical marker celebrating a landmark federal court case in San Antonio that upheld voting rights and U.S. citizenship for Mexican-born residents was unveiled Tuesday by the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building in Alamo Plaza. The marker, funded by Bexar County and approved by the Texas Historical Commission and General Services Administration, acknowledges Ricardo Rodriguez, a local laborer who filed a suit to attain citizenship, and Thomas S. Maxey, a federal district judge who ruled in his favor in 1897. An 1872 federal statute had specified that Anglos and African descendants could become citizens, but did not specifically deny access for Mexicans. The legal question before Judge Maxey was whether Ricardo Rodriguez was white for purposes of the naturalization statute. Now, complicating this disgraceful racial analysis was politics, said U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez, who is not related to the man at the center of the court case. The marker sits just within the boundary of the 1836 Alamo, at the site of the old federal courthouse, where the case was heard. That courthouse, built in the late 1880s, was replaced in the 1930s with the building that stands today. The marker notes that San Antonio lawyers A.J. Evans and T.J. McMinn submitted briefs arguing Rodriguez was ineligible for naturalization based on his ancestry. Some historians have suggested that their motivations were based on disenfranchising Mexican-Americans, because it was expected that people of Mexican descent would favor a third party, Rodriguez said during a ceremony in one of the buildings historic courtrooms, prior to the unveiling outside. Before Maxeys ruling, federal courts had concluded that Chinese immigrants and American Indians who were half white did not meet naturalization standards of the time, the judge said. But Maxey, a Confederate army veteran, ruled that Rodriguez was entitled to U.S. citizenship, under naturalization laws dating to 1836 during the Republic of Texas, as well as congressional resolutions that took effect with U.S. annexation in 1845. His ruling also cited the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, between the United States and Mexico, and the Fourteenth Amendment, from 1868. Little is known of Rodriguez, an illiterate 37-year-old who spoke no English and was thought to have lived in San Antonio for 10 years. He was described as a copper-colored man, with dark eyes, straight white hair and high cheek bones, Rodriguez said. By all accounts, Ricardo Rodriguez was an industrious, law-abiding citizen. We are left to imagine what prompted him to file this lawsuit, and what fears he may have faced in having to overcome it, he added. Sylvia L. Hernandez, Greater Southwest regional administrator with the GSA, said the marker will be a reminder of cultural change and unity at the building, which was designed by San Antonio native Ralph Haywood Cameron and now considered the gem in the Southwest. County Judge Nelson Wolff noted the markers location, where the north wall of the 1836 Alamo compound had stood, and the initial filing of the case 60 years after the siege and battle for independence from Mexico. Virginia Nicholas, chairwoman of the Bexar County Historical Commission, said Rodriguez was critical in securing the GSAs support for the marker. Its placement, at the site of the old courthouse and the Alamo, a symbol of freedom, is ideal, she said. I thought was extremely important to have it exactly where it is, particularly at this point in time in our history, Nicholas added. See a guide of historical markers in Bexar County here: shuddleston@express-news.net Twitter: @shuddlestonSA This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Neighborhoods across San Antonio on Tuesday hosted National Night Out gatherings that drew thousands for games, food and camaraderie to celebrate the events 33rd year. Mingling with attendees at the neighborhood parties more than 700 groups in San Antonio registered for the National Association of Town Watch event in recent years were members of law enforcement and city officials. National Night Out, which is marked on the first Tuesday of October in Texas, aims to strengthen the relationship between community members and law enforcement, a cause that could be considered especially important in a year of several high-profile incidents of alleged police brutality. Maverick neighborhood Leo Miera leaned on a counter of coolers, doling out soda to residents and showing the little ones his vampire Mickey Mouse, which walked when its hand was pushed. Im a clown at heart. My wife is always getting after me for being a baby, Miera said, revealing a goofy smile under his blue shark hat. A Maverick neighborhood resident since 1992, his face turned serious when he spoke of the importance of having neighborhood events like the one on Tuesday. Weve gotten away from knowing our neighbors, he said. We get busy taking kids to swimming and all that stuff and we forget our community. This brings us together. A few stands down from Mieras was a more somber one: the missing persons unit of the San Antonio Police Department. Next to a poster of the missing people in the area, Patricia Dominguez and Margie Montez, agents with the unit, encouraged passers-by to pick up their pamphlets. They said they hope to educate the public about human trafficking and missing persons and also hope to break down some misconceptions of police that have come up as of late. This is a chance to soften the image, Dominguez said. This is letting you know were here to help you. Were here to offer you the services you need I think thats gotten lost here in the conversation. Dominguez said she personally felt the antagonism of the public toward the police at a Walmart recently when a woman began blaming her for what a police officer did to her son. Theres people that dont respond well to us, but what can you do? Downtown senior center Toni Botello, 91, and her daughter Mary Valdez, 72, were two of more than 50 people just getting started with a game of bingo at the Commanders House. It was their first time attending the event at the senior center, which many seniors there called a second home, when they were greeted by San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, City Manager Sheryl Sculley and Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti. This is the one night of the year that we have the chance to formally get together with members of the community to send a message that were not going to tolerate crime, McManus said. The San Antonio Fire Departments Technical Rescue Team, which responds to incidents such as high water rescues and others requiring further expertise, displayed their equipment and trucks as classical tunes blanketed conversations. I think there are more people celebrating tonight than any other night the community seems to be more engaged, Sculley said, having stopped at several gatherings. Jay High School More than 100 people celebrated at Jay High School, the first time the school has hosted the event, according to officials. Stands representing school and community organizations lined the front of the school, and the food was plentiful: chicharrones, chilito straws, flechazos and more. Northside Independent School District officers Rick Mendoza and Zachary Castillo stood at the periphery of the crowd, talking between themselves and with the occasional resident. The way the world is today, the way people view police officers, some appreciate what we do and some are timid to come up to us, Mendoza said. He said the night was about showing people that hes just like them a guy doing his job, which in his case is to help prevent crime. We need the community to be the eyes and ears, Mendoza said. Its not about race or color, were here to keep people safe. East Side Food, dancing and games encouraged more than 125 people to get to know one another at Lily of the Valley Baptist Church, 134 Cardiff Ave. We tried to mix people up you sit over here and you sit over there, Pastor Steven Owens said. Jeannette Stinson, 69, said they played a game of bingo with questions instead of letters and numbers that required them to mingle. We had a little bingo card, and on that card you had to go around and ask different ones, Stinson explained. The Knights of Columbus and SAPD officers were among the guests who joined the event, which was topped off with dancing and food. Owens said this years night was bigger than last as they hosted it both in and outside the church. Next year were gonna do something bigger and better, Owens said. sfosterfrau@express-news.net jbeltran@express-news.net A third mosquito has tested positive for the West Nile virus in Bexar County, officials said Tuesday. In the last 30 days, three mosquitoes have tested positive for the sometimes-deadly virus, officials said in a news release Tuesday. All three confirmed reports were found north of Loop 1604 in an unincorporated area off Shaenfield Road. The second mosquito to test positive for the virus was found Sept. 30 in a trap placed by the county. Officials maintain nearly 30 traps in the county to check for disease-bearing mosquitoes. The county, which has been spraying in unincorporated areas since spring for disease-bearing mosquitoes that carry Zika and West Nile viruses, will continue to hit the area with an array of mosquito abatement efforts and treatments, officials said. The efforts usually continue through breeding season and when overnight temperatures start dipping into the mid-60s. Spraying is concentrated in unincorporated areas on 4,200 acres of public ditches, public rights-of way, drains and county parks. First responders have gone door-to-door in the area to share information about the mosquito-borne diseases. Health officials urge the public to protect themselves against mosquitoes and to discourage their breeding by removing standing water. In August, Texas Department of State Health Services said Bexar County was one of about four dozen Texas counties with confirmed West Nile virus activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent West Nile infection, which often has no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms. Less than 1 percent of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness, the CDC said. Staff writer John Gonzalez contributed to this report. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 I had never seen that look on Donald Trump's face before. I have seen the Republican presidential nominee look self-satisfied, angry and amused, but something strange happened to his mug in the middle of last week's presidential debate. Immediately after blurting out, That makes me smart, when Hillary Clinton suggested he might not be paying any income tax, Trumps face contorted into an involuntary grimace. It was as though the brash mogul had taken a bite from what he thought was a bowl of spaghetti and just realized that hed swallowed worms. Self-awareness is not one of Trumps great strengths. His mind is a marble-walled penthouse, with thick drapes blocking out any external evidence that he is not universally beloved. At the debate, however, self-awareness briefly took control of Trumps facial muscles. Trump seemed to realize, possibly for the first time in his 16-month campaign, that he had said something politically foolish. The issue has only intensified over the past three days, with a Sunday New York Times story revealing that Trump claimed losses of nearly $916 million on his 1995 tax returns, an accounting trick that might have allowed him to legally avoid paying federal income taxes for up to 18 years. Its easy to rip Trump over the tax revelation, given his self-described billionaire status and his pattern of attacking others who avoid paying income taxes. HALF of Americans dont pay income tax despite crippling govt debt, Trump tweeted in 2012, offering no clue that he might be among their ranks. At the same time, if were really honest with ourselves, theres no denying that most of us, in the same position, would have employed the same tax provision known as the net operating loss exploited by Trump. When was the last time you worked on your taxes and decided not to accept an available deduction, because you considered it your civic responsibility to share more of your income with the federal government? Of course, Trump is operating on a more grandiose scale than most of us can even contemplate, so his deduction strategy cant help but look like a fat cat gaming the system while middle-class Americans cover for him. But its simply human nature regardless of your tax bracket or ideology to figure out the smallest amount of tax you are legally required to pay, and pay that amount. Anyone who tells you different is lying or running for office (or both). The big issue is not whats on Trumps tax forms, but the way he has dealt with it. For example, he has resisted calls to honor the four-decade tradition of presidential nominees releasing their tax records by offering the bogus excuse that a federal audit prevents him from doing so. At last weeks debate, when Clinton pressed him on releasing his tax returns, he cited the audit as an impediment, then turned around and offered to release his returns if Clinton provided 33,000 deleted emails from the nonsecure server she used during her stint as secretary of state. So much for the audit excuse. In a new CNN poll, 73 percent of Americans say Trump should release his returns. That brings us to the line which caused Trump to recoil in self-awareness. That makes me smart will never be a good answer for a wealthy politician accused of paying no income tax. It might be agreeable to the Trumpian diehards who love the idea of their man beating a system they despise. But as my old colleague Jonathan Gurwitz said last week on KTSA, this election is now being fought between the 40-yard lines. In that part of the field, Trump came off like an aristocrat gloating about how hes cannier than the chumps who pay their taxes. The Trump campaign has tried to refine that message in the past three days, with two of his most prominent sycophants, Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christie, calling him an economic genius for working the tax code to his advantage. Their argument goes like this: Trump knows the tax systems flaws better than anyone, and once hes working for you, hell be the best equipped to fix them. That claim is not bolstered by an interview his old accountant, Jack Mitnick, gave to the Times in which he said that Trump showed little interest in the particulars of the tax code, and that it was Trumps ex-wife, Ivana, who tended to ask questions about their returns. Mitnick, not Trump, came up with the net-operating-loss trick. I guess hes the smart one. ggarcia@express-news.net Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Bottom line of agriculture in Cuba? Direct control of Cubas key agricultural resources remains a governmental priority to ensure a rational, planned economy. Land is still mostly in state hands or is state-controlled, and independent farmers must work within a state monopoly on purchasing and distribution. Note: Editor Susan Crowell was selected to travel to Cuba in September with a group of 20 agricultural communicators. The trip was coordinated by the American Agricultural Editors Association, and she received a partial travel stipend from the associations Professional Improvement Foundation to participate. Read more: The paradox of Cuba Trade with Cuba: Its complicated The Cuban ag reality Approximately 61% of Cubas land area is considered farmland, according to a 2011 measurement by the World Bank. An older source puts the total farmland number at 10 million hectares (24.8 million acres). There are roughly 5 million farmers or farm workers in Cuba, a figure that has held steady since 2008. (Most of that number, however, is farm labor, not independent farm owners.) Cubas population is comparable to Ohio, at 11.2 million. Cooperatives are everywhere. But they might not be co-ops as we think of co-ops. The early co-ops after the 1959 Revolution varied in some, members have a collective voice in cooperative affairs; in others, members were only advisers; and in many, the administrator had absolute authority. Basically, they served as employers of farm workers (laborers), and were run as state farms by the central government. Today, co-ops still depend on subsidies, and depend on the government for seeds, fertility inputs, credit and machinery. Local organizations/unions are a big deal: National Association of Small Scale Farmers (ANAP, Asociacion Nacional de Agricultores Pequenos), for example, is a local, grassroots organization, or union, of individual farmers or peasants, who are also typically members of production cooperatives. These small-scale farmers, according to one source, control only 25 percent of Cubas farmland, yet produce more than 65 percent of the countrys food. Land reform Heres where it gets confusing, so this is only my take on it (but I think Im close): After Castro took control of the government in 1959, a great deal of attention went into economic development, specifically agricultural expansion. There was an Agrarian Reform Act in 1959 and a second in 1961 that expropriated (took) land from at least 2,000 to 3,000 private landowners. About 6 million hectares (14.8 million acres), or 60 percent of the total, were confiscated, expropriated or purchased from mid-1959 to late 1963. Much of that land included holdings by U.S. cattle or sugar cane operations. One million hectares were transformed into the state sugar cane farms; 2.8 million hectares of grazing land and old rice, tobacco and other properties were given to Peoples Farms, or state farms. Another 400,000 hectares were given to Cubas smallest farmers, and 475,000 hectares to medium farmers. Another 1.4 million hectares were turned over to tenant farmers. In the end, though, the Cuban government controlled the best farmland. Fast forward to 1991, and the collapse of the Soviet Union and the resulting loss of the Soviet trade relations. Another set of land reforms by the Cuban government encouraged individual farms in addition to the collective, or centralized farms. Most recently, in 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture dismantled inefficient state companies and redistributed some of this land as well as unused state lands. The Cuban officials told us they were giving farmers the land, but, in fact, it is simply the right to use the land. Individuals could receive up to an initial 13.2 hectares (33 acres) for up to a renewable 10-year term, and if they were able to show success, they could get additional land, up to 67 hectares (165 acres). According to Dr. Jorge Mario Sanchez, professor of economics at the University of Havana, who spoke to us Sept. 20, many people who received 13.2 hectares, however, have given that back to the state because they cant make a go of it. Of the initial 200,000 private producers who received a land grant, he estimates 156,000 people are still participating in that land program. The right to use this land and buildings will transfer to descendants. Dr. Armando Nova Gonzalez, economics professor at the University of Havana, told us Sept. 20 that each individual who received a land transfer brings 3 to 4 family members to that unit, which means there have been 800,000 new assignments in farm work. Today, agricultures contribution to Cuban GDP is only 4% Cuba imports more than $2 billion in food. Sugar accounts for the majority of Cubas agricultural exports to the world. According to the USDA, from 2012-14, Cubas sugar exports averaged $470 million/year, accounting for 89 percent of the countrys total ag exports. Natural honey, with exports of $19 million/year, was the second leading exported product. There are more than 400 state-owned companies in the ag sector, and 5,000 co-ops. 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. The history of agriculture is the story of humankind's development and cultivation of processes for producing food, feed, fiber, fuel, and other goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. Historian journalist Deborah Barham Smith gives FarmingUK an exclusive in depth journey into the history of humankind's greatest invention. Farming first developed around 9000 BC in an area described by archaeologists as the Fertile Crescent, to the east of the Mediterranean Sea and near Mesopotamia; a crescent-shaped strip of land that stretched across the Levant region (now known as Israel, Lebanon, and Syria). Why did farming begin in the Fertile Crescent? It was an area with a regular rainfall making it perfect for certain grains, emmer 1 and einkhorn 2 and for raising herbivores such as sheep and goats. In Mesopotamia, soil was more fertile but farming could only develop as irrigation methods developed to supply water to the land. Nearer home in England, in upland areas such as the Peak District, farming only began around 4000 years ago - whether because of news only gradually filtering through via early trade routes or as a natural evolution from hunter gathering days. The journey through to current times had several major milestones, as later with the invention of the wheel. Advent of farming - the Neolithic Revolution The advent of farming is often called the Neolithic Revolution. The word Neolithic derives from the Greek for new (neo) and relating to stone (lithic); this period is often also known as the New Stone Age. Innovations in stone-making technology meant that people started polishing stones, rather than just chipping them, as they had done before. This was significant because, as well as making axes and arrowheads for hunting, they were now able to make tools for farming, such as scythes and hoes. For these, the stones needed polishing, to give them a flat but sharp edge. The transition from hunter-gathering to farming is described as a revolution because it constituted the one crucial breakthrough from which all later human advances evolved, transforming every aspect of peoples lives. Types of farming, whether arable or mixed, are determined due to topography and climatic conditions. With its regular rainfall the Fertile Crescent was ideal for growing grains, and for raising herds of grass-eating animals such as sheep and goats. Evolution of early farming It is interesting to note this lengthy timeline for the evolution of early farming: 9000 BC wheat & barley in the Fertile Crescent 8000 BC potatoes in South America 7500 BC Goats & sheep in the Middle East 7000 BC Rye in Europe 6000 BC Chickens in South Asia Crucial to the development of early agriculture was the invention of the plough The Neolithic Revolution also gave rise to a second kind of economy - the raising of domesticated animals or pastoralism, probably originating in areas unsuited to arable farming. Hunter-gatherer groups began to supplement their traditional way of life with keeping domesticated sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, horses and so on. Pastoralists sometimes used fire as a way of turning forest into pasture, and of rejuvenating pasturelands. This can have a significant impact on the type of plants present in such a landscape; fire and grazing can also prevent forests from growing, and if on mountain slopes, can lead to erosion. It is very doubtful whether the people involved in this revolution actually noticed that they were living in a time of change since transition took place over many generations. For hundreds, even thousands of years, early farmers would have continued to forage for fruit and berries and hunt wild game, and only gradually did their economy shift more towards agriculture; to graze a few sheep and cattle and to grow limited crops such as pulses, beans and cereals. Once domesticated, early farmers bred their animals to improve their usefulness to humans, and soon they were yielding not only meat for food and skin for clothing, but also milk for additional nutrition. They also produced manure, an excellent fertiliser and fuel. Textile technologies - superior in every way Textile technologies were also very important to early farmers. Whereas hunter-gatherers had used the skins of animals for clothing, the domestication of plants and animals gave farmers access to new textiles, superior in every way. Flax (for making linen) was one of the first recorded crops; and with sheep and goats, people then had regular access to animal wool. Farmers now began to settle creating larger habitations wherever the land was more fertile, such as in river valleys All these fibres required processing to make them fit to wear, with spinning and weaving being the core activities. Hunter-gatherers knew simple spinning techniques, which only required small sticks around which to wrap fibres. These gradually evolved into hand-spindles, a process completed by 5000 BC at the earliest. A form of enclosure in England started as far back as the Royal forests in the Conquerors time and before, when the king would require those areas to be maintained solely for his and the nobles use in which to hunt. Around the 13th century granges, (farming estates belonging to the monastery) were set up by abbeys and monasteries, with the monks farming huge flocks of sheep, exporting their valuable fleeces as wool to Europe; this invariably followed the eviction of the peasant farmers who had previously farmed there. Around 1500 enclosed fields began to appear, able to contain animals and allow more intensive farming methods to be established. Some of these fields can still be seen and often contain terraces and strip lynchets. The latter were S shaped banks of earth that built up on the downslope of a field ploughed & furrowed over a long period of time and could conceivably assist in acting as a rainwater reservoir to aid irrigation. By the 18th century more fields were taken in and enclosed by stone walls and hedges; man has always wished to show his ownership and these served two important purposes: both to define tenure but also to contain stock. The invention of the plough Crucial to the development of early agriculture was the invention of the plough. Very early farmers had used sticks to dig and hoe trying to prepare the ground for cultivation. This was far from satisfactory as the land soon became exhausted, so to create new ground fire was used to clear stumps and brush left from tree felling, leaving the soil rich in lime & potash. The new land would then last through a few good harvests and the process would need to start over again. This was known as slash and burn shifting farming (or swidden - late 18th century word, variant of dialect verb swithen to burn). From around 4000 BC, using cattle transformed farming, enabling larger areas to be ploughed so cultivating the soil deeper. Castrating bulls turning them into oxen seems to have happened in Northern Iraq simultaneously which also assisted ploughing. A later invention of the yoke in Mesopotamia revolutionised further with the ability to bind two beasts together, so pulling heavier ploughs. This was the first intensive farming since the deeper the ground was turned the more slowly it became exhausted. Cattle and other animal manure was also being utilised to help fertilise. In later centuries when the system of regular crop rotation was introduced, this also helped to replace the nutrients in planting areas. Irrigation fluctuated in complexity in different areas according to the terrain and amounts of rainfall. The Lake District is not an area known for water shortages for instance, however in arid areas, man had to be inventive digging wells and channels, and building apparatus (such as the shadoof in Egypt - a pole with a bucket and counterbalance used especially for raising water). The domestication of the horse Between 4000 and 3500 BC, groups of people first domesticated horses. They did so for their meat and milk, rather than for riding. Some however may have been used to drag primitive sledges along the ground, to help carry goods. Most notably, the wheel had arrived by 4000 BC, and a few hundred years later they were being fixed to ox carts. One animal that receives very little credit historically but was a key player in the evolution of farming and (according to George Powell, a public speaker and farming aficionado) so deserves far more recognition is the humble ox, which will be explored in part. By 3500 BC most human beings had become farmers of sorts, remaining so until the 19th or even the 20th century, depending on which part of the world; agricultural methods having been largely spread by the slow migration of the farmers themselves. It therefore took several millennia for agricultural techniques to spread throughout Western and Southern Asia, across Northern Africa into Europe. Wherever farming developed, the more reliable food source it produced which led to a massive upswing in population. But on the downside there were dramatic reductions in the variety of local flora and fauna, as more and more land was given over to fewer varieties of plants and animals. Humans deliberately altering the land For the first time, humans were deliberately altering the land for their own purposes. Farming radically transformed society; hunter gatherers had previously lived in small family groups building temporary shelters and being fairly nomadic, whereas farmers now began to settle creating larger habitations wherever the land was more fertile, such as in river valleys. Neolithic farming practices had been very unproductive, with early farmers generally able to grow only just enough food for their own needs; meaning that almost everyone had to spend their time in agriculture or related activities. Only with the spread of iron tools, (less expensive than bronze) in the centuries after 1000 BC, could Neolithic practices at last be developed. The spread of agriculture would have greatly stimulated trade; the benefit of growing cereal staples such as wheat and barley was that it could be stored for a long time before eating, unlike fruit, berries or meat. Newly built granaries now enabled humans to survive extremes such as drought and also to trade with their neighbours, encouraging the growth of trade routes over longer distances. North versus South In the UK, farming differs between the northern uplands and southern lowlands. The north is not noted for arable farming, with the terrain lending itself more to rearing beef and dairy cattle, grazing sheep and growing animal feed crops such as hay and silage; although the occasional field of maize, root crops or cereal can be seen as well as the occasional pig or poultry farm. In the lowlands, areas can sustain larger fields of rich pasture that can support dairy herds as well as beef cattle and sheep. One of the most notable historic events to influence Britain was the introduction of the General Enclosures Acts of the 1800s which resulted in wall building on a wide scale. This gave people the right to enclose common land, claiming it for themselves. Since this was invariably done by the nobility, it was a tragedy for the small man, who lost his right to pasture on commons apart from the bestowing of stints 4. An anonymous 17th poet coined the lines: The law locks up the man or woman Who steals the goose from off the Common. But lets the greater felon loose Who steals the common from off the goose. This really identified the upper classes robbing the Commoners rights by legal trickery. The advent of mechanisation However the real revolution in farming, now known as an industry, was the advent of mechanisation, firstly with the steam engine and then the tractor. In 1892, John Froelich invented and built the first gasoline/petrol-powered tractor in Clayton County, Iowa, USA. A Van Duzen single-cylinder gasoline engine was mounted on a Robinson engine chassis, which could be controlled and propelled by Froelich's gear box. The tractor transformed what had been more of a village industry up until then. The agricultural tractor is specifically designed to deliver a high torque (tractive effort) at slow speeds, for the purpose of pulling a trailer or other machinery. Many farming tasks now became mechanised, originally for tillage the preparation of soil by mechanical agitation of various types, digging, stirring, and overturning. Implements could be towed behind, or mounted on the tractor such as a bale lifter. The enormous machines that are now available can cut down several processes into one sweep of a field such as a combine harvester. With vast cost prices, and numbers of extras taken as standard such as on-board computers that know where to drive within the field, CB radios, etc it is no wonder that many farmers choose to use contractors for some of the more intensive jobs. New Holland Agriculture reclaimed the Guinness World Records title, harvesting an impressive 797.656 tonnes of wheat in eight hours with the worlds most powerful 653hp CR10.90 combine. When launched it cost a staggering 566,896. 'Humankind's greatest invention': The History of Agriculture - Part Two will be published tomorrow (6 October). The biostimulants market is expanding rapidly, becoming more professional and offering potential for growers, according to a new research review. Funded and published by AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds, the review explains the market, reviews commercially available biostimulant products and assesses claims made on labels. The review, crucially, also evaluated a wide variety of literature sources to find evidence of benefits associated with the use of biostimulants. Although product diversity made the process of detecting significant benefits challenging, some positive yield results were identified in cereal experiments. The biostimulants market The term biostimulant covers anything added to the plant or soil that stimulates natural processes which benefit crops excluding any fertilisation and pesticidal action. There is currently no specific framework for regulating biostimulant products In 2015, the global biostimulant market was estimated to have a value of $1 billion, with its value predicted to double by 2020. In 2012, The European biostimulants market was estimated to be worth 400500 million, making it the largest market for biostimulant products. Dr Sajjad Awan, who manages natural resources work at AHDB, said: "The fuel for this market growth is mixed but the development of targeted biostimulant products by major agrochemical companies is playing an important role. "Its no longer just about high-value horticulture crops or organic production either products are being targeted more and more at conventional arable crops. "As market expansion has created a wake of academic literature, we commissioned this review to help growers judge whether the current suite of commercial products lives up to its claims." The benefit of biostimulants? Evidence for yield impacts associated with the use of biostimulants was reviewed for 11 broad product categories. As limited data was available for UK field conditions, evidence from controlled experiments and non-UK field conditions was also used. The reviewers found that nine of the 11 product categories were associated with a statistically significant increase in yield in at least one experiment. For the most common product categories seaweed extracts, humic substances, phosphite and plant growth promoting bacteria statistically significant yield responses were observed for 3/7, 3/4, 4/17 and 13/15 cereal experiments, respectively. Data for oilseed rape was found to be lacking for all products and no firm conclusions could be made. Dr Kate Storer, who led the review at ADAS, said: "Unfortunately, the nature of these products makes it hard to demonstrate significant and consistent yield impacts in trials. "Its also worth noting that some products were associated with an improved tolerance to stresses, such as drought, and may help protect against yield losses. "We need to better understand, however, management requirements of these products under UK field conditions to improve consistency of performance, both under experimental and commercial conditions." Regulation There is currently no specific framework for regulating biostimulant products but EU regulations may come into force as early as January 2018. Dr Storer added: "It is likely that most products sold in the UK will fulfil these proposed regulations automatically, as they will be available across Europe. "The regulations will help ensure that products meet minimum safety and environmental requirements. "It will also mean, importantly, that label claims are backed up by product efficacy data. "Developments like this make the market more professional and will help growers gain confidence and make better product choices." The full report contains a list of biostimulant products marketed for use on cereals and oilseed rape crops in the UK, along with claims published on the product labels and detailed sections for each of the biostimulant product types. Dairy farmers lost 2.71p/litre in 2015/16 and are set to lose a further 2.81p/litre in 2016/17, according to analysis by farm accountant Old Mill. Despite a marginal increase in milk prices towards the end of 2016, extended low returns and higher production costs mean dairy farmers fortunes arent making the sharp improvement they would like. Based on analysis of clients accounts with a March 2016 year-end, and working with the Farm Consultancy Group to predict future trends, Old Mill calculated that milk prices averaged 26.34p/litre in 2015/16 and will only rise to 26.50p/litre in 2016/17. That compares to a cost of production of 29.05p/litre and 29.31p/litre, respectively. However, when non-milk income from calf and cow sales, for example - is included, producers averaged a small profit of 0.99p/litre in 2015/16, which is set to rise to 1.08p/litre in 2016/17. "Its important to bear in mind that these figures do not include the single payment, rent, interest charges, drawings or tax but do include depreciation and an imputed charge of 28,000 per person for unpaid labour," says Andrew Vickery, head of rural services at Old Mill. Top and bottom producers The figures also show a marked difference between the top and bottom 25% of producers. Cash flow is 'one of the most significant issues' many producers are facing Production costs among the lower quartile were a hefty 33.87p/litre, against 22.84p/litre in the top 25%. "Feed costs were 2.02p/litre higher and power and machinery expenses were 3.34p/litre higher, says Mr Vickery. The bottom 25% also received 2.29p/litre less for their milk, at 25.01p/litre. This meant they made a loss of 5.65p/litre in 2015/16 including non-milk income - compared to the top quartiles average profit of 8.75p/litre. "Its encouraging to see that, even in these tough times, the UKs top dairy farmers are still managing to make a profit," says Mr Vickery. "All producers have looked hard at their cost base and found ways to reduce expenditure. "However, while many have improved efficiencies, there is now very little meat left on the bones for any further cost reductions." Cash flow Following the prolonged period of low milk prices, cash flow is one of the most significant issues many producers are facing, he warns. "Thats why it is important to look forward and plan ahead rather than focus solely on past data." According to Phil Cooper, partner at the Farm Consultancy Group, milk yields have dropped back as farmers have fed less concentrates over the summer, and are likely to remain suppressed over the winter due to the lower energy silage. "Feed costs in 2016/17 are expected to increase by 0.72p/litre due to the weaker pound, but farm maintenance costs are set to remain low as businesses put off expenditure until milk prices improve." With another lean winter ahead, farmers are being urged to safeguard their business in anticipation of better times. "Looking at the top and bottom 25% of producers, the main areas to focus on are cutting feed costs by making better use of forage," says Mr Cooper. "Other key issues include vet and medicine costs, labour, machinery and contracting expenses, and insurance." Improved dairy commodity values are now starting to filter through to farm-gate milk values, so producers need to make sure their business is in the best possible shape going forward, he adds. The current fall in milk production has been coming for some time, and will continue into the New Year, Ulster Farmers Union has warned. This claim is based on an analysis of global trends, and it says that while the EU voluntary milk production reduction programme may have some impact, it is global events that are driving a better balance between supply and demand and that these were in place before the Commission scheme was implemented. "Australian milk production for August was down more than 12 per cent, year on year," said UFU dairy chairman, William Irvine. "In New Zealand production was down 2.7 per cent and both these translate into big volume reductions. "Globally, April to July saw a major slowdown, and August shows this pattern continuing with Danish production back almost six per cent." "Volatility and how we respond to it is still very much on the agenda" The latest UK figures show milk production down seven per cent. "Production has fallen significantly since the early spring both here and in Great Britain," said Mr Irvine, "this should be sustained into 2017. "From April to July last year 854 million litres of milk was produced in Northern Ireland. "This year that is down by almost 30 million litres, despite this including the peak production months. "If this trend continues we could see production here down by 50 million litres since April, by the end of this month," said Mr Irvine. 'Reaction to poor prices' The UFU says the reduction in UK production is a normal reaction to poor prices. It says it reflects changes to feeding strategies and culling plans in response to pressure on profitability. "There is a however critical level of milk reduction that is practical. "Once you get beyond this you may have made irreversible decisions in relation to your herd. "As a result you may well have sacrificed the opportunity to benefit from a price recovery", said Mr Irvine. He added that this was why, when the voluntary reduction scheme was announced, the UFU said the decision had to be based on individual farm circumstances for example whether a producer could alter calving patterns. "Since we have now reached a significant volume reduction, the likelihood is that when prices recover, milk production will not be ramped up again in either the short or medium terms. "That said, volatility and how we respond to it is still very much on the agenda," concluded UFU dairy chairman. Farmers remain the single biggest group of buyers of farmland in England, but now account for less than 50% of transactions - with private and institutional investors playing a growing role in the market. Michael Fiddes, Head of Estates & Farm Agency for Strutt & Parker, said analysis of the Farmland Database showed that farmers accounted for less than half of all land transactions during the first three quarters of 2016. "Farmer buyers now account for just under 50% of the market, the lowest level since we started tracking the market in 1996. Arable land prices are down 7% on Q2 and are about 10% lower than a year ago "Agriculture has been going through a very difficult time with lower commodity prices putting severe pressure on cashflow and profitability. "As a result, farmers ability to service the debt needed to acquire land has become more challenged." Fall in farm profitability Mr Fiddes said while there had been a drop in arable land values between the second and third quarter of 2016, he believed it was influenced more by a fall in farm profitability than the outcome of the EU referendum. Farm profitability, more than Brexit, thought to be critical factor "Three months after the EU referendum result, it is still too soon to say what the effect on farmland values has been. "While Q3 saw a 7% drop in arable land values compared with Q2, the majority of the land exchanged over the past three months was under offer prior to 23 June. "The Brexit debate has contributed to a slowdown in the amount of land coming forward about 30% less has come to the market in 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 but there is no real evidence of deals falling through as a consequence of the leave vote. "We will have to wait a while longer before we can assess the full impact." Mr Fiddes said non-farmer and rollover buyers (the latter being individuals with money to spend after selling land for housing development) continued to play a growing role in the market. This means in the right areas of the country farmland is still selling very well. 'Demand can be very localised' However, demand can be very localised and the amount of unsold land on the market has increased in recent months. In Q4, Mr Fiddes said he expected to see more land coming to the market than during the last three months of previous years. "There is evidence that sellers who have waited to see the impact of Brexit on values are now feeling sufficiently confident to proceed even if some are choosing to market privately, rather than launch their farms publicly. "However, as we have been saying for some time, location, rather than quality, is the critical factor in what people are prepared to pay for land which has contributed to a widening range of values." Strutt & Parkers Farmland Database tracks private and publicly marketed farmland over 100 acres in England. It records sold prices as well as guide prices, so is more accurate reflection of actual market conditions as guide prices can overstate or understate the prices that buyers are willing to pay. The average price of farmland sold in England during the third quarter of 2016 was 9,300/acre. This compares to a market high of 10,700/acre in Q2 of 2015. Dairy farmers should enter into franchise agreements in order to share the risks involved in milk production, Defra minister George Eustice has said. Speaking during a meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Mr Eustice said farmers too often bear the brunt of the risk. "Franchise farming creates an opportunity for new entrants, but also shares risks more fairly in the system," he said. "There are some interesting models out there that share risk more fairly, so farmers dont end up being the tail-end Charlie who bears the brunt of taking all the risk in a downturn. Mr Eustice also hinted in 2015 of a 'futures market' for the industry to control price fluctuations "What happens at the moment is that the processor still gets their margin and the retailer still gets their margin and it is the farmers who take the brunt. "We have to start thinking creatively about how we deal with that." Mr Eustice also hinted in 2015 of a 'futures market' for the industry to control price fluctuations. He made the example of US farmers who have used futures markets to insure themselves over the last 20 years. Huge concern After two years of turmoil in the dairy sector, during which time milk prices fell to their lowest point for a generation, commodity markets have very quickly turned. "Disappointingly, all milk buyers in Scotland are lagging behind in passing on the huge lifts in market prices to their suppliers with the scale and speed that the current market merits," NFU Scotland said. "That is a huge concern as producers enter the winter period when costs of feeding and housing dairy cows escalates. "To illustrate the disappointing response of milk purchasers to date, figures produced by the milk levy body AHDB Dairy indicate that, in 2007, when prices for commodities such as butter and cream last reached the levels being seen today, the average farmgate milk price was in excess of 25p per litre." As Prime Minister Theresa May announced the timetable for withdrawal from the European Union by the summer of 2019, farming unions from abroad have shown their intentions for trade agreements. Representatives from New Zealand's unions are in Britain, France and Ireland this week to meet with their counterparts. Beef + Lamb New Zealand Eastern North Island farmer director George Tatham said $2 billion of red meat and wool exports were sent to the EU, which represents half of its global sheep meat exports. "There are a lot of talented people working on our behalf to retain market access," he said. "Access into the EU and UK cannot be eroded as a result of Brexit. But only time will tell how this will play out." 'Make matters worse' Phil Stocker, National Sheep Association chairman said Brexit needed to bring tighter controls on New Zealand lamb But a free trade proposal between the UK and Australia has caused alarm among National Sheep Association members who fear a further increase in foreign lamb products. NSA in the UK said Brexit needed to bring tighter controls on New Zealand lamb. They said a situation allowing new foreign products to be imported into UK retailers would make matters worse. "Recent figures from Meat and Livestock Australia show the country produced 516,366 tonnes of lamb and 196,040 tonnes of mutton in 2015/16, exporting 56% of total lamb production (worth $1.78 billion) and 91% of mutton production ($700 million)," said Phil Stocker, NSA chairman. "The main destinations were the Middle East, USA and China. "The UK is currently an importer and exporter of lamb, which helps balance supply and demand through the year and exploits ideal sheep producing conditions in the UK," he said. Beef + Lamb New Zealand said they were 'keenly interested' in the UK's exit from the EU 'Inextricably linked' Sam McIvor, CEO of Beef + Lamb New Zealand said: "Our sheep and beef trade to both the UK and EU are inextricably linked through quota access and both are likely to be affected." New Zealand's sheepmeat quota to the EU of around 228,000 tonnes represents over half of New Zealand's sheepmeat exports. The UK currently takes half of that. "As the UK negotiates its exit from the EU over the next couple of years it will likely be negotiating how much of these quotas will be transferred solely to them and on what terms," said Tim Ritchie, CEO of the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand. There will be no immediate change to the export conditions to the UK and the EU as the UK will not officially leave the EU until they negotiate the terms of their 'exit'. It will be Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and the Meat Industry Association's top priority to work with the New Zealand Government to ensure New Zealand's access to the EU and UK is protected during this transition. We will also be working hard to understand the wider impact of Brexit on the markets. The New Zealand Meat Board and B+LNZ will be using their offices in the UK and EU to assist with this. "Under WTO rules, New Zealand expects that our overall levels of sheep and beef access to both the EU and UK will remain the same," said Sam McIvor. Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chairman, James Parsons said they were keenly interested in the UK's exit from the EU and how this will be negotiated. "Our priority is keeping the channels of communication open and ensuring the relationships that weve built up over many years remain strong. "The visit to the market this year is as important as ever with Brexit and as we look to launch FTA negotiations with the EU next year," he said. 'Foreign imports' Australia currently has a quota to export just under 20,000 tonnes of sheep meat to the EU, which it fulfills every year. With an annual production of more than 700,000 tonnes, the country is very keen to open up more trade opportunities and is seizing on Brexit as an opportunity to renegotiate its EU quota. But Phil Stocker, National Sheep Association Chief Executive, says a trade agreement would send a larger amount of sheep meat to UK retailers when the market is 'already suffering.' "NSA understands Australia has been pushing to increase its EU quota for many years now, so there is no doubt it would send larger amounts of sheep meat to Europe and the UK given the opportunity," Mr Stocker said. "The UK sheep sector is already suffering unacceptably high levels of imports of New Zealand lamb, much of which is sourced by retailers at times of the year when UK product is in plentiful supply." The NFU Welshpool team are on a high after securing the Agricultural Business of the Year Award at this years prestigious Powys Business Awards. After battling against other agricultural businesses, NFU Welshpool was shortlisted back in the summer and on Friday was announced as the winner. On Friday 30th September the team from Welshpool headed to the Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines in Brecon for the awards presentation. The awards, organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group and sponsored by Powys County Council, celebrate excellence in business across the county. 240 guests attended this years awards ceremony with TV weather personality Derek Brockway compere for the evening. Cllr Avril York, Powys County Councils Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, congratulated all 37 finalists in the award categories, saying they represented everything that was good about the countys businesses. The Agricultural Business Award, sponsored by Lanyon Bowdler, was looking for businesses that demonstrated commercial success, evidence of growth, sustainability and support for the rural economy and community. The judges for the category said that NFU Welshpool was "driven by strong and effective leadership in Steve Kenyon. "This branch of NFU in Welshpool has transformed its operations to see it climb to one of the top performing branches in the UK. "His enthusiasm and energy is a motivator for staff and they have introduced a number of innovative schemes to support the farming community including its Farm Watch Scheme and Dog Line." Steve Kenyon, NFU Welshpool, commented: "It is fantastic recognition for NFU Welshpool to be crowned as winner of the Agricultural Business of the Year in the Powys Business Awards - and were all extremely thrilled with the win. "It was a pleasure to welcome the judges to our office in Welshpool to meet my team, to see what we do on a daily basis to support our farming members and to show them how our branch has grown over the last 5 years." "It is a privilege to accept this award; our trophy now takes pride of place in our office! Food valued at 1.8bn wasted on UK farms each year, report says "We tend to do more of the practical type of research which means the adoption from some of the outcomes of the research is pretty good," he said. While harvest is on the radar, cooler and wetter than average weather has slowed cereal crop growth, and for most of the State this is likely to continue. "We sold more rams than last year and to new clients and for good values. It's been a fantastic year for sheep and they presented really well," he said. The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Support That faint gobble, gobble youre hearing in the distance can only mean one thing: Thanksgiving is near! Both ACTS and SERVE are gearing up for their holiday programs, and your help is needed. Did Cumberland County Commissioners break the NC Open Meetings Law? The commissioners met behind closed doors to discuss a pay raise for the vice chair position. The Anti-Corruption Law Interest Group of the American Society of International Lawyers Law (ASIL) invites proposals to its Writers Conference in Miami. The conference is Controlling Corruption: Possibilities, Practical Suggestions & Best Practices. Its being held on January 13-14, 2017 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The event is co-sponsored by: The Business Ethics Program, University of Miami School of Business Administration The Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research, Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Richmond School of Law and Bentley University The conference will examine the state of international and domestic efforts to reduce corruption, with a focus on practical applications and emerging best practices. We invite proposals for papers that approach the topic with fresh perspectives that promote productive action. The goal of the conference is to help develop publishable papers and to foster dialogue between academics and practitioners engaged in anti-corruption and compliance efforts. Topics might include, but are not limited to: The Mossack Fonseca (Panama) Papers, Evidence of Corruption and Resulting Enforcement Action The future of the UK Bribery Act Goals Gone Wild: Rethinking Incentives to Combat Corruption Data-driven Compliance Business Continuity Plan & Global Practices Driving a Culture of Compliance from the Top/Down The McDonnell Fallout on Compliance and Enforcement Conference Format: Starts at 1 pm, Friday, January 13, panels and presentations until 6 pm Continues on Saturday, 9 am late afternoon Hotel block reserved for participants for Friday and Saturday nights; can be extended for early arrival and/or late departure based on availability Important Dates: October 7, 2016: Two page proposal and CV to Ms. Ginny Ryan [email protected] October 15, 2016: Invitations to participate will be extended December 1, 2016: Five page paper due, which will be circulated to co-panelists for their review, comment, etc. ___ 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. Christopher Walken and Robert De Niro are teaming up again for new movie 'The War With Grandpa'. Christopher Walken The two screen legends famously appeared together in Oscar-winning Vietnam War drama 'The Deer Hunter' - which was released in 1978 - and they are now reuniting for a far more light-hearted romp. The film is based on Robert Kimmel Smith 1984 novel of the same name and it follows the tale of young boy Peter who has to give up his bedroom when his beloved grandfather moves in and tries a series of pranks to force him out but soon realises his grandpa is more than a match for his mischief. The Grandpa character is to be played by De Niro, 73, with Walken portraying his best friend. It is not yet known who will be taking on the role of Peter. The comedy is being produced by Marro Films and distributed by Dimension, while 'Kid Robot' creators Matt Ember and Tom Astle have penned the script. The film is De Niro's latest foray into comedy, which has been a prominent genre in his later career with roles in films such as 'Little Fockers', 'The Family', 'The Intern' and 'Dirty Grandpa. Walken has also tried his hand at comedy as he has gotten older with his last big screen role in 'Nine Lives' in which he starred with Kevin Spacey. The 73-year-old 'King of New York' actor is famous for portraying a host of evil characters on the big screen, such as James Bond nemesis Max Zorin in 1985's 'A View to a Kill', corrupt businessman Max Shreck in 1992's 'Batman Returns and as a quadriplegic gangster in 1995's 'Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead' but he insists he's very different in real life. He said: "I do often play villains. I guess it's how my career in films started ... that was my introduction to the movies and I played disturbed people in both. I got started on something there which was lucky. It's not a reflection on my own life - I live quietly. My wife and I have been married for 50 years. I've never really played anyone like myself." Queen Elizabeth has returned from Balmoral. Queen Elizabeth The 90-year-old monarch headed back to Buckingham Palace yesterday (04.10.16) after a long summer break at her Scottish residence, where she entertained Prince William, Duchess Catherine and her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton among others. Elizabeth was seen driving Catherine - who has children, Prince George, three, and 17-month-old Princess Charlotte, with William - to a family picnic just above Loch Muick. And, also in her Range Rover, the queen was spotted driving Carole back from a grouse shoot. A source said: "It's very unusual for in-laws to be welcomed so warmly into the Royal Family. "This personal invitation shows how much regard Her Majesty has for the duchess' family. I can't recall them staying at Balmoral before, so this is a real sign of affection." The monarch may well be watching more TV on her Buckingham Palace return after having further satellite channels installed at the house while she was away. A planning report recently stated: "Televisions within Buckingham Palace are fed by a signal distribution system that runs throughout the building. "The system is now 12 years old and is to be replaced. "We are looking to install the new satellite dishes during the summer recess when the Queen is at Balmoral." Elizabeth is known to be a big fan of TV and counts 'EastEnders', 'Midsomer Murders' and 'Doctor Who' as some of her favourite programmes. Switzerland based specialty chemicals and dyes producer Archroma celebrated its third anniversary on October 1, the day, when SK Capital Partners acquired Clariant's textile , paper and emulsions businesses in 2013. In the interim, Archroma acquired 49 per cent of M. Dohmen, a producer of textile dyes and also the global textile chemicals business of BASF.The company now operates 25 production facilities across the world of which 11 are in the Americas, eight in the EMEA region, and six in Asia. Switzerland based specialty chemicals and dyes producer Archroma celebrated its third anniversary on October 1, the day, when SK Capital Partners acquired Clariant's textile, paper and emulsions businesses in 2013. In the interim, Archroma acquired 49 per cent of M. Dohmen, a producer of textile dyes and also the global textile chemicals business of BASF.# Since its inception, Archroma has been bringing onto the market new products and services aimed at improving product quality and sustainability for its customers.In 2014, the company launched a new range of biosynthetic dyes for cotton and cellulose-based fabrics named 'EarthColors', designed to provide rich red, brown and green colours to denim and casualwear.In March 2015, Archroma introduced a new water repellency agent for outdoor clothing in cotton and synthetic fibres, based on non-fluorine chemistry. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Although world cotton area is expected to fall by 1 per cent to 30 million hectares in 2016-17, the lowest acreage since 2009/10, world production in 2016/17 is expected to rise 7 per cent to 22.6 million tons. The increase in global output is driven by an expansion of average yield, which is projected to improve by 9 per cent to 753 kg per hectare.In 2016/17, world cotton usage is projected to remain unchanged from 2015/16 at 23.8 million tons, but is forecast to exceed production by 1.3 million tons. As a result, world stocks are projected to drop 7 per cent to 18.1 million tons. Although world cotton area is expected to fall by 1 per cent to 30 million hectares in 2016-17, the lowest acreage since 2009/10, world production in 2016/17 is expected to rise 7 per cent to 22.6 million tons. The increase in global output is driven by an expansion of average yield, which is projected to improve by 9 per cent to 753 kg per hectare.# Exports from the US are expected to rise 26 per cent to 2.5 million tons while exports from India, the second largest exporter, are forecast to decline massively by 35 per cent to 820,000 tons. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The Statue of Liberty Priyanka Chopra becomes a tourist in New York city and visits the Statue of Liberty along with her friends. Liberty & Freedom The Statue of Liberty signifies liberty and freedom in the United States of America and is the most viewed statue around the world. Liberty Statue Priyanka Choprai s seriously one lucky girl who is roaming around New York city for both work and as a tourist as well. She's Liberty! Priyanka Chopra stands tall and firm as the Statue of Liberty and is making India proud by being there in the US for work. PeeCee priyanka Chopra and her girl gang hired a boat and cruised into the Husdon river in New York city to visit the Statue of Liberty. Chilling Priyanka Chopra is surely living the American dream and we're all happy for her! Friends Visiting tons of places with friends is the best thing that can happen ever! American Goals Priyanka Chopra is giving us major holiday goals to visit the United States of America. The Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty stands tall and firm with the flame of Liberty enlightening the world. Cruising Priyanka Chopra and her friend are seen cruising on a boat on the Hudson river on their way to the Statue of Liberty. Princess Kareena Kapoor Kareena Kapoor recently shot for an ad in Mehboob Studios, Mumbai. She was looking like a real princess in her red dress. Amazing Fashion Sense Post the announcement of her pregnancy, Kareena Kapoor has made effortless fashion statements. The actress is making sure that she's looking stunning as ever in her maternity clothes. Balancing Her Life Kareena Kapoor Khan has also proved to many critics that she knows how to balance her professional and personal life. No Break The diva has also announced that she will not take any break from the movies just because she is pregnant. Acting Career Kareena Kapoor's acting career has not suffered post marriage with Saif Ali Khan and she believes that pregnancy too won't affect it. Kareena's Message Talking about the break, Kareena Kapoor had told a daily, "I'm pregnant, not a corpse. And what maternity break? It's the most normal thing on earth to produce a child.'' Kareena Upset Kareena Kapoor had added, ''It is high time the media back off, and stop treating me any different than I ever was. Anybody who is bothered shouldn't work with me...'' Stop Making It A National Casualty: Kareena An upset Kareena Kapoor also said in the same interview, ''My work goes on as is, like always. Stop making it a national casualty." Kareena's Veere Di Wedding As far as her work is concerned, Kareena Kapoor has already signed Veere Di Wedding with Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar. Kareena's Due Date Kareena Kapoor is expecting her baby in the first week of December. Well, we are super excited for her baby, what about you guys? Kareena Kapoor Khan This is the latest picture of Kareena Kapoor Khan from an event in Kolkata. There's no denying that post her pregnancy Kareena has become the trendsetter of industry, and once again and we can't stop adoring her! Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is one of the most gorgeous mommies of B-town. Here's the flashback picture of Sarbjit actress, when she was seen sporting a baby bump and she's looking cute as a button. Twinkle Khanna When Mrs Funny Bone aka Twinkle Khanna was seen flaunting her cute baby bump in her casual best! Twinkle had also made a public appearance with hubby Akshay Kumar at an event. Karisma Kapoor You are all going gaga over Kareena Kapoor's babay bump as of now. But have you wondered, how Karisma used to dress up during her pregnancy? See yourself and you can thank us later. Shilpa Shetty Here's the picture of one of the most fittest actresses of B-town! When pregnant Shilpa Shetty Kundra was spotted with hubby Raj Kundra at a B-town event. Shilpa & Raj are the proud parents of a boy named Viaan Raj Kundra. Kajol Here's the rare picture of Kajol, sporting a baby bump in an orange coloured salwar kameez while, Jaya Bachchan is also seen in the frame. Kajol is a proud mother of two kids; Nysa and Yug. Amrita Arora Actress Amrita Arora, who is also the bestie of Kareena Kapoor Khan has two sons, Azaan born on 5 February 2010 and Rayaan born on 20 October 2012. Lara Dutta A perfect picture of actress Lara Dutta during her pregnancy which is too good to motivate all the pregnant ladies out there! Rani Mukerji Last year, when Rani Mukerji was clicked outside her bunglow sporting a baby bump. The actress gave birth to a daughter 'Adira' on December 9, 2016. Genelia D'Souza Here's the cutie-pies of B-town! See how adorably hubby Riteish Deshmukh is posing for the cameras along with her wifey Genelia and her cute baby bump! Mira Rajput She isn't an actress but her baby bump pictures went viral just like the other actresses of B-town. Shahid & Mira are blessed with a baby girl and they named her 'Misha'. Chinas local government financing vehicles, or LGFVs, were virtually unheard of among overseas investors four years ago. But they have rapidly become among the most prominent, and active, mainland issuers in the dollar bond market. They raised $8bn in the dollar bond market last year, four times the amount they issued in 2014, according to Dealogic. Investors are hovering up their deals, attracted by implicit government support and strong ratings. In the last week alone, Jinan West City Group joined the rush to the international bond markets, raising $300 million from its debut. That followed successful issues by Xi'an Municipal Infrastructure Construction Group, which raised $500 million, and Chongqing Western Modern Logistics, which built up a peak order book of $3.8 billion for its $500 million debut issue. But not all investors are comfortable with this surge in supply. This is partly because of their wider fears about Chinese credits. Defaults or missed payments are rising in the onshore market. Many deals have been pulled as a result. But the real hot-button topic for investors is the issue of government support. Some international investors admit they are unsure quite how far local governments will stand by LGFVs in the event of default. It is possible executives at these issuers themselves dont know the answer. The problems at Bohai Steel a company owned by the Tianjin government that is negotiating a restructuring plan with its creditors to deal with Rmb19.2 billion ($2.87 billion) debt has only exacerbated these fears. These questions have been asked for the last few years, but their urgency is growing. The reason for that is simple supply from Chinas LGFVs is about to explode. Support network In the early 1990s, local governments in China moved to set-up their own debt issuing vehicles. These governments were responsible for investing in local infrastructure, but their hands were tied by Chinese regulations. They were banned from issuing debt themselves and could not take loans from commercial banks. The creation of LGFVs seemed a sensible solution. These vehicles gradually became frequent issuers in Chinas domestic bond market. They now account for about a third of total non-financial corporate issuance onshore, according to data provider Wind. It was inevitable that they would eventually tap the dollar bond market. The first LGFV to issue bonds offshore was Beijing Infrastructure Investment, which sold a $300 million five-year note in March 2014. But other issuers soon followed it to the market, and volumes blossomed. These issuers are attracted by the cheap funding on offer, thanks to low dollar interest rates and a captive audience among international investors. The average three-year dollar bond from an LGFV pays around 3%, according to data from Wind. The average yield for the same maturity in the onshore market is 4.02%. In this context, it is little surprise the LGFV supply has boomed. Chinas LGFV is a new sector that we cannot avoid, said Angus Hui, a Hong Kong-based portfolio manager at Schroders. But as issuance from the sector has risen, so have questions about quite how to value these deals. Hui said the rise of LGFV issuance reminded him of the rush of dollar bonds from Chinese property companies over the last decade. These deals could generally rely on strong demand. But investors sometimes struggled to weigh up the risk and return, he said. The usual assumption and the easiest one is that Chinas provincial and central governments will stand by LGFV borrowers. Some bankers and investors point to the prolonged need for infrastructure investment in China as a reason these deals will not be allowed to fail. After all, that would cut off a key future source of funding for Chinese infrastructure. The default risk among LGFV is considered to be low given the projects undertaken are mainly government-related, hence the relatively high international rating granted, said David Yim, Greater China DCM head at Standard Chartered. Rating agencies certainly appear comfortable with the risks. When Tianjai Binhai New Area Construction came to the market with an $800 million bond last year, it was given an A3 issuer rating by Moodys and a Baa1 bond rating. That was a big jump from the stand-alone credit assessment of B2. S&P, meanwhile, assigned a BBB+ rating on Chongqing Nanan Urban Construction & Developments US dollar notes. The rating agency said there is an almost certain likelihood that Chongqing Nanan district government will provide support to the company in the event of financial distress. But some market participants stress that the risks cannot be overlooked and that some local governments may be less likely to support their LGFVs when things go wrong. Whats the difference? We are not of the view that the government will bail out every LGFV, said Ivy Thung, head of credit research at Nikko Asset Management. It seems obvious that the chances of bail-outs will be different from province to province, and will depend a lot on the language used in the documentation. But at this point, investors seem to be taking a fairly blanket approach. The buyers of the dollar-denominated LGFVs are predominantly Chinese investors with money offshore. They are often cash-rich and insensitive to aggressive pricing, bankers and investors said. But they are also prone to ignore differences in guarantee structures and local government credit strengths. This is something that is likely to change, said Hui. It will be helped by the fact that the LGFV market is going to keep growing at a wild rate. In a recent research note, HSBC analysts forecast that dollar denominated issuance from Chinas LGFVs is likely to double to more than $20 billion in the next twelve months. Bankers tend to agree. For investors, there is a supply-side risk as there may be a large pipeline of LGFVs coming to the market, said Sean Liu, head of debt capital markets at China Everbright Bank Hong Kong branch. While there will certainly be some repeat issuers, bankers said most of this supply is going to come from new names. That could aid greater credit differentiation, but it may also increase the risk that things will go wrong. The credit profile of recent issuers is already getting weaker, said a fund manager. This only exacerbates fears over local government support fears that have been growing over the last year amid a rise in funding problems at Chinese state-linked issuers. Bohai Steel, which was created in 2010 through the merger of four manufacturers, is seeking a government bailout to restructure its debt after failing to make a payment. China City Construction failed to make a coupon payment on time after a change of ownership. Neither of these issuers is an LGFV but both came with implicit government support. That has made investors more cautious about quite how to value LGFVs. Most bankers and investors think these problems are surmountable. The rampant growth in LGFV looks set to continue apace. But investors are determined that as each new name is added to the market, they will be more careful about credit risks and more demanding about yields. Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC has signed a definitive agreement with AZZ Inc. to acquire Nuclear Logistics Inc. (NLI), the largest third-party supplier of safety-related equipment solutions to the nuclear industry. The acquisition supports Westinghouse's global commitment to develop practical, long-term solutions that deliver customer value for new construction and operating plants. "We are pleased to support our customers as they extend plant operations and need products for the long term," said David Howell, Westinghouse senior vice president, Operating Plants Business. "We welcome NLI's employees to join in Westinghouse's commitment to provide forward-thinking solutions to our new construction and operating plant customers and help ensure a bright future for the nuclear industry." Approximately 180 professional and technical employees will join Westinghouse as a result of the acquisition, as will the Texas facilities that comprise the current NLI footprint. The transaction is expected to close later this year. This acquisition brings two nuclear industry leaders together for a stronger, better equipped company that offers customers the confidence that comes from the original equipment manufacturer, and the flexibility and responsiveness that has been provided by NLI. Tom Ferguson, chief executive officer of AZZ, said, "We are pleased to have reached an agreement where Westinghouse, a leader in the nuclear industry, has acquired these assets, which will seamlessly integrate into their existing operations and will enable us at AZZ to drive growth as we increasingly focus on our core businesses. I am convinced that Westinghouse will be a great partner to the NLI customer roster, as well as a good employer for NLI's employees." To learn more about Westinghouse Electric Company and our vision to be the first to innovate the next technology, practice or solution that helps our customers generate safer, cleaner, more reliable energy visit www.westinghousenuclear.com. AZZ Inc. is a global provider of galvanizing, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services to the markets of power generation, transmission, distribution and industrial in protecting metal and electrical systems used to build and enhance the world's infrastructure. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161004006666/en/ Contacts: Westinghouse Electric Company Courtney Boone Vice President, Global Communications +1-412-374-2707 booneca@westinghouse.com Google Home Launch Helps to Drive Market for Digital Voice Assistant Devices to 15 Million Units Annually by 2020 BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --On Tuesday, Google announced Google Home, its always-listening digital voice assistant device and competitor to Amazon Echo, helping to expand the market for digital voice assistant devices. Strategy Analytics' research indicates that the digital voice assistant device category is one that will grow quickly, with annual shipments totaling 15.1M units by 2020, up from 1.8M units in 2016. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161004/415281-INFO Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130207/NE56457LOGO-b At retail, Google Home is expected to sell for $129, which is $50 less than the Amazon Echo. However, Amazon is also offering a pared down version of Echo, the Echo Dot, in packs of six for $250. The low price point is meant to drive adoption by making it affordable for users to put an Alexa device in every room of the house. At such low prices, it's unlikely that either company will turn a profit on hardware sales, but that's beside the point for both Google and Amazon. For Amazon, Alexa provides customers with an easy-to-use interface to order the digital and physical products the company offers today as well as those, like flights, that they might offer in the future. Google already helps users to purchase flights, and with new offerings like Google Express, which provides same day delivery from a long list of retailers, the company is encroaching on Amazon's core business.Google Home will provide a natural language interface for all of the company's services. "Amazon was first to market, and has already sold millions of Alexa-enabled devices. The market, however, is still nascent, and an early presence won't guarantee success over the long term, especially given that Google Home offers some unique benefits," said Joe Branca, Senior Analyst, Smart Home Strategies Service. "One of the biggest is the ability to recognize a specific user and offer a personalized response - something that's going to be useful in a lot of smart home applications." Google Home will also support synchronized multi-room audio and interactions with Chromecast, like starting a video stream to the TV. "Google Home is not hugely different in spec to Amazon's Echo, however its ability to control any cast-enabled device makes it a highly compelling offering for existing Google device owners," said David Watkins, Director, Connected Home Devices Service. While critics note that Google has frequently failed to gain traction with its hardware products in the past, its Chromecast device has been a standout success. Strategy Analytics estimates that the company has sold more than 30 million Chromecast devices to date, and the Cast technology is now integrated into a growing number of wireless speakers, soundbars, and receivers. About Strategy Analytics Strategy Analytics, Inc. provides the competitive edge with advisory services, consulting and actionable market intelligence for emerging technology, mobile and wireless, digital consumer and automotive electronics companies. With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Strategy Analytics delivers insights for enterprise success. www.StrategyAnalytics.com US Contact: Joseph Branca, +1 617 614 0798, jbranca@strategyanalytics.com European Contact: David Watkins, +33 1 53 40 99 50, dwatkins@strategyanalytics.com Please replace the release with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161004006163/en/ Hotel W in Barcelona, Spain (Photo: Business Wire) The corrected release reads: T.Y. LIN INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRES MAJORITY INTEREST IN IDEAM S.A. IN MADRID, SPAIN T.Y. Lin International (TYLI), a globally recognized full-service infrastructure consulting firm, announces that TYLI has acquired a majority interest in IDEAM S.A. (IDEAM). Based in Madrid, Spain, IDEAM is a premier structural engineering consultancy that specializes in the design and construction of major bridges and complex structures. The company also operates in the Latin American and Middle East markets. IDEAM has an international reputation for excellence in steel, steel-concrete composite, cast-in-place concrete, and precast concrete technologies. Since its founding in 1938, the company has overseen the design, construction, and management of a wide range of infrastructure projects, including major and complex bridges (vehicular and pedestrian), roadways, conventional and high-speed rail systems, and facilities such as stadiums and high-rise buildings. The company also provides services for the inspection, analysis, maintenance, and rehabilitation of existing structures. "IDEAM is grounded in the same values that have defined and driven T.Y. Lin International for more than 60 years innovation, quality, and technical excellence. Both firms also have outstanding track records in focusing on the needs of our clients," said Alvaro J. Piedrahita, P.E., TYLI President and Chief Executive Officer. "With this transaction, T.Y. Lin International is well-positioned to increase our global presence throughout Europe and Latin America." "IDEAM is delighted to be joining forces with T.Y. Lin International," said Francisco Millanes Mato, President of IDEAM. "For our clients, it will be business as usual as they continue to work with IDEAM's exceptional team of engineers. Moving forward, our clients will also benefit from T.Y. Lin International's worldwide network of engineering talent, which provides the most comprehensive local support in the industry." For more information about IDEAM's projects, please visit http://www.ideam.es/projects. About T.Y. Lin International: Founded in 1954, T.Y. Lin International is an internationally recognized, multi-disciplined full-service infrastructure engineering firm committed to providing innovative, cost-effective, constructible designs for the global infrastructure market. With more than 2,500 employees working in offices throughout the Americas and Asia, the firm provides support on projects of varying size and complexity. For more information about the company, please visit www.tylin.com. About IDEAM S.A.: Based in Madrid, Spain, IDEAM S.A. is a company of structural engineers that specializes in major bridges and complex structures. Innovation, creativity, quality, and engineering excellence have been the hallmark of the firm's projects since 1938. IDEAM is recognized internationally as a premier structural engineering firm with expertise in steel, steel-concrete composite, cast-in-place concrete, and precast concrete technologies and prefabricated systems. For more information about the company, please visit www.ideam.es. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161004006163/en/ Contacts: Maribel Castillo Associate Vice President Director of Corporate Communications T.Y. Lin International +1.415.291.3873 maribel.castillo@tylin.com Regulatory News: United Company RUSAL Plc (Paris:RUSAL) (Paris:RUAL): Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement. UNITED COMPANY RUSAL PLC (Incorporated under the laws of Jersey with limited liability) (Stock Code: 486) CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS REPAIR SERVICES Reference is made to the announcements of the Company dated 2 July 2015, 30 December 2015, 12 January 2016, 5 February 2016, 30 March 2016, 20 May 2016, 5 July 2016, 2 September 2016 and 13 September 2016 in relation to the Previously Disclosed Repair Services Contracts. The Company announces a member of the Group entered into contracts additional agreements with an associate of En+, pursuant to which the associate of En+ agreed to provide repair services to the member of the Group. THE REPAIR SERVICES CONTRACTS Reference is made to the announcements of the Company dated 2 July 2015, 30 December 2015, 12 January 2016, 5 February 2016, 30 March 2016, 20 May 2016, 5 July 2016, 2 September 2016 and 13 September 2016 in relation to the Previously Disclosed Repair Services Contracts. The Company announces that a member of the Group entered into contracts / additional agreements with an associate of En+, pursuant to which the associate of En+ agreed to provide repair services to the member of the Group (the "Repair Services Contracts"), details of which are set out below. No. Date of contract/ additional agreement Customer (member of the Group) Contractor (associate of En+) Term of contract/ additional agreement Repair services Estimated consideration payable for the year ending 31 December 2016 excluding VAT (USD) Payment terms 1. Contract dated 4 October 2016 Limited Liability Company "Russian Engineering Company" Joint-Stock Company "Irkutskenergoremont" Up to 31 December 2016 Installation and commissioning works on replacement of pump cold water WAV-1 3,947 (note 1) Within 40 calendar days upon signing of the performed works certificate by the customer against an invoice 2. Additional agreement #1 dated 4 October 2016, which is an additional agreement to contract No. 1 above between the same parties Limited Liability Company "Russian Engineering Company" Joint-Stock Company "Irkutskenergoremont" Up to 31 December 2016 Installation and commissioning works on replacement of the network pump at the pumping station BLPK-Braz 2,595 (note 1) Within 40 calendar days upon signing of the performed works certificate by the customer against an invoice 3. Additional agreement #2 dated 4 October 2016, which is an additional agreement to contract No. 1 above between the same parties Limited Liability Company "Russian Engineering Company" Joint-Stock Company "Irkutskenergoremont" Up to 31 December 2016 Installation and commissioning of replacement submersible pump for oil-fired station NV-50/50 542 (note 1) Within 40 calendar days upon signing of the performed works certificate by the customer against an invoice Total estimated consideration payable for the year 7,084 Note: 1. The estimated consideration payable is calculated on the basis of cost of one labour hour which is estimated at USD1.21 (excluding VAT). The consideration under the Repair Services Contracts is to be paid in cash via wire transfer, bill of exchange or set-off. THE ANNUAL AGGREGATE TRANSACTION AMOUNT The contract price payable under the Repair Services Contracts has been determined with reference to the market price and on terms no less favourable than those prevailing in the Russian market for repair services of the same type and quality and those offered by the associates of En+ to independent third parties. The basis of calculation of payments under the Repair Services Contracts is the price of contract offered by the associates of En+ which is based on the estimated costs (including labour costs and the necessary materials) for the relevant repair works. The Company invited several organizations to take part in the tender in relation to the required repair services and chose the contractor offering the best terms and conditions (taking into account the price, quality offered by the contractor and availability of professionals with the required skill and experience) and then entered into the contract/addendum with the chosen contractor. Based on the terms of the Repair Services Contracts and the Previously Disclosed Repair Services Contracts, the annual aggregate transaction amount that is payable by the Group to the associates of En+ for the financial year ending 31 December 2016 is estimated to be approximately USD14.413 million. The annual aggregate transaction amount is estimated by the Directors based on the amount of repair services to be received and the contract price. THE AGGREGATION APPROACH Pursuant to Rule 14A.81 of the Listing Rules, the continuing connected transactions contemplated under the Repair Services Contracts and the Previously Disclosed Repair Services Contracts should be aggregated, as they were entered into by the Group with the associates of the same group of connected persons who are parties connected or otherwise associated with one another, and the subject matter of each of the contracts relates to the receipt of repair and maintenance services by members of the Group. REASONS FOR AND BENEFITS OF THE TRANSACTIONS The Directors consider that the Repair Services Contracts are for the benefit of the Company, as the contractor offered a competitive price. The Directors (including the independent non-executive Directors) consider that the Repair Services Contracts have been negotiated on an arm's length basis and on normal commercial terms which are fair and reasonable and the transactions contemplated under the Repair Services Contracts are in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Group and in the interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. None of the Directors has a material interest in the transactions contemplated under the Repair Services Contracts, save for Mr. Deripaska, Mr. Maxim Sokov, Ms. Olga Mashkovskaya and Ms. Gulzhan Moldazhanova, who are directors of En+, being the holding company of Joint-Stock Company "Irkutskenergoremont". Mr. Deripaska is also indirectly interested in more than 50% of the issued share capital of En+. Accordingly, Mr. Deripaska, Mr. Maxim Sokov, Ms. Olga Mashkovskaya and Ms. Gulzhan Moldazhanova did not vote on the Board resolution approving the Repair Services Contracts. LISTING RULES IMPLICATIONS Joint-Stock Company "Irkutskenergoremont" is directly or indirectly held by En+ as to more than 30% of the issued share capital and is therefore an associate of En+ which is a substantial shareholder of the Company and thus is a connected person of the Company under the Listing Rules. The estimated annual aggregate transaction amount of the continuing connected transactions under the Repair Services Contracts and the Previously Disclosed Repair Services Contracts for the financial year ending 31 December 2016 is more than 0.1% but less than 5% under the applicable percentage ratios. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 14A.76 of the Listing Rules, the transactions contemplated under these contracts are only subject to the announcement requirements set out in Rules 14A.35 and 14A.68, the annual review requirements set out in Rules 14A.49, 14A.55 to 14A.59, 14A.71 and 14A.72 and the requirements set out in Rules 14A.34 and 14A.50 to 14A.54 of the Listing Rules. These transactions are exempt from the circular and the independent shareholders' approval requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules. Details of the Repair Services Contracts and the Previously Disclosed Repair Services Contracts will be included in the next annual report and accounts of the Company in accordance with Rule 14A.71 of the Listing Rules where appropriate. PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES The Company is principally engaged in the production and sale of aluminium, including alloys and value-added products, and alumina. Joint-Stock Company "Irkutskenergoremont" is principally engaged in activities for supporting of operability of thermal power plants. DEFINITIONS In this announcement, the following expressions have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires: "associate(s)" has the same meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules. "Board" the board of Directors. "Company" United Company RUSAL Plc, a limited liability company incorporated in Jersey, the shares of which are listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange. "connected person(s)" has the same meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules. "continuing connected transactions" has the same meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules. "Director(s)" the director(s) of the Company. "En+" En+ Group Limited, a company incorporated in Jersey, a substantial shareholder of the Company. "Group" the Company and its subsidiaries. "Listing Rules" the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange. "Mr. Deripaska" Mr. Oleg Deripaska, an executive Director. "percentage ratios" the percentage ratios under Rule 14.07 of the Listing Rules. "Previously Disclosed Repair Services Contracts" the repair services contracts between members of the Group and the associate of En+, pursuant to which the associate of En+ agreed to provide repair services to member of the Group during the year 2016, as disclosed in the announcements of the Company dated 2 July 2015, 30 December 2015, 12 January 2016, 5 February 2016, 30 March 2016, 20 May 2016, 5 July 2016, 2 September 2016 and 13 September 2016. "Stock Exchange" The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. "substantial shareholder" has the same meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules. "USD" United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States of America. "VAT" value added tax. By Order of the Board of Directors of United Company RUSAL Plc Aby Wong Po Ying Company Secretary 5 October 2016 As at the date of this announcement, the executive Directors are Mr. Oleg Deripaska, Mr. Vladislav Soloviev and Mr. Siegfried Wolf, the non-executive Directors are Mr. Maxim Sokov, Mr. Dmitry Afanasiev, Mr. Len Blavatnik, Mr. Ivan Glasenberg, Mr. Maksim Goldman, Ms. Gulzhan Moldazhanova, Mr. Daniel Lesin Wolfe, Ms. Olga Mashkovskaya, and Ms. Ekaterina Nikitina, and the independent non-executive Directors are Mr. Matthias Warnig (Chairman), Mr. Philip Lader, Dr. Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Mr. Mark Garber, Mr. Dmitry Vasiliev and Mr. Bernard Zonneveld. All announcements and press releases published by the Company are available on its website under the links http://www.rusal.ru/en/investors/hkse/, http://rusal.ru/investors/info/moex/ and http://www.rusal.ru/en/press-center/press-releases.aspx, respectively. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161004006534/en/ Contacts: United Company RUSAL Plc SINGAPORE, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Newgen Software, a leading global provider of Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Customer Communication Management (CCM), and Case Management (CM) solutions, will host APAC Conclave on October 07, 2016 for the very first time at Amara Sanctuary Resort, Singapore. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130912/638839 ) The Conclave will bring together senior industry leaders, consultants, Newgen customers and partners from various sectors like banking, government, shared services for an evening of knowledge sharing session, practical debates, keynote sessions and thought leadership panels to understand latest innovations and their applicability across businesses. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Diwakar Nigam, MD & CEO - Newgen Software said, "Ever evolving demands of digital savvy customers are forcing businesses to reinvent their workplaces. Customer centricity has become synonymous with business revenue and profitability across the region. Our solutions allow them to exactly do that by connecting systems, processes, people and things of their business." The Conclave attendees can look forward to the insightful panel discussions at the Breakout Sessions on digital transformation in banking, best practices in Knowledge Management and Information Governance and how organizations can reinvent workplaces with emerging technological solutions such as RPA and digital sensing. It will be followed by a Gala Event and dinner. Newgen experts will be engaging with the audience, understand their challenges and give a highlight on Newgen's future product road maps. They would focus on product lines such as records and grants management, mobility, lending. One of the highlights of the event is the customer speak session, allowingNewgen's APAC customers to come onto this platform to share their journey and experiences with Newgen. It will be followed by an award ceremony felicitatingthe prestigious clients. Few ofthe esteemed clients in the APAC region are Coca-Cola, AstraZeneca, East West Bank, Security Bank, Robinsons Bank, and Dai-ichi life. For detailed agenda, please click here. About Newgen Newgen Software Technologies Pte Ltd. is a leading global provider of Business Process Management(BPM), Enterprise Content Management(ECM), Customer Communication Management(CCM) and Case Management with a global footprint of 1300+ installations in over 61 countries with large, mission-critical solutions deployed at the world's leading banks, insurance firms, BPO's, healthcare organizations, government, telecom companiesand shared service centers. Newgen's Quality Systems are certified against ISO 9001:2008 and Information Security Standard, ISO 27001:2013. Newgen has been assessed at CMMi Level3. For more information, visit: http://www.newgensoft.com. Media Contact: Asif Khan Asif.khan@newgensoft.com DENVER, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/04/16 -- Resolute Energy Corporation ("Resolute" or the "Company") (NYSE: REN) today reported that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Acquisition Agreement") with Firewheel Energy, LLC ("Firewheel"), a portfolio company of EnCap Investments, to acquire certain oil and gas properties located in Reeves County, Texas, for a purchase price of $135 million (the "Firewheel Properties"). The transaction is expected to close on October 7, 2016. The Firewheel Properties consist of 3,293 net acres in our highly productive Delaware Basin operating area, and include interests in thirteen horizontal and fifteen vertical wells, which produce approximately 1,200 net Boe per day. Approximately 95% of the acreage and substantially all of the production and proved reserves are located within the Resolute-operated Mustang project area in Reeves County. The remainder of the acreage is also in Reeves County. The Firewheel Properties contain estimated proved reserves of 6.2 MMBoe with PV-10 of $45.8 million, using strip pricing at June 30, 2016. The acquisition also includes Firewheel's interest in the Earn-Out Agreement (to which we are also a party) with Caprock Permian Processing LLC and Caprock Field Services LLC (collectively, "Caprock"). Following the closing of the acquisition, Resolute will receive 100% of all payments from Caprock under the Earn-Out Agreement. The purchase price for the acquisition is $135 million, consisting of $90 million payable in cash and the issuance to Firewheel of 2,114,523 shares of our common stock, equal to $45 million, based on 90% of the volume weighted average price of our common stock as traded on the NYSE for the 15 trading days ending on October 4, 2016. We expect to finance the cash portion of the acquisition price with the net proceeds of a private offering of a newly created class of preferred stock of the Company, and borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility (which is currently undrawn). The acreage to be acquired represents an approximately 25% increase in our net acreage in Reeves County while leaving our gross acreage position essentially unchanged as the Company already owns interests in all of the same properties. The completion of this acquisition will result in a higher interest in the production and cash flow generated from our operated wells, further leveraging the work of our field staff. The Acquisition Agreement contains terms and conditions customary to transactions of this type. Subject to our right to be indemnified for certain liabilities for a limited period of time and for breaches of representations and warranties, we will assume substantially all liabilities associated with the acquired properties. The closing of the acquisition is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary conditions, including the material accuracy of the representations and warranties of us and Firewheel. The Acquisition Agreement contains certain customary termination rights for each of us and Firewheel, including the right of either party to terminate in the event that the acquisition has not been completed within five business days of execution of the Acquisition Agreement. The transaction has an effective date of September 1, 2016. Nicholas J. Sutton, Resolute's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "This acquisition adds materially to our prospective acreage in one of the most exciting U.S. oil and gas basins, with 95% of the acquired acreage operated by Resolute. Our Mustang project area, covering more than 12,400 gross acres, is one of our two concentrated acreage positions in the Delaware Basin. This transaction allows us to add acreage, production and opportunity without either the uncertainty associated with acquiring more speculative acreage or adding to our staffing and infrastructure needs. We believe that the Firewheel acquisition is exactly the kind of targeted, focused, consolidating opportunity that leverages the strengths of our team and our assets." BMO Capital Markets and Petrie Partners, LLC acted as financial advisors to Resolute on the Firewheel acquisition transaction. Operations Update The following information is an update of data that appears in our investor presentation dated September 1, 2016, that is available on our website. Production from our Delaware Basin properties in Reeves County, Texas, increased 115% to 4,979 Boe per day in the quarter ended June 30, 2016, as compared to the prior quarter. For the third quarter of 2016 we estimate that our Delaware Basin properties produced on average between 9,250 and 9,650 Boe per day. At the midpoint of the range, this would be an increase of approximately 90% from the second quarter of 2016. We estimate total Company production for the third quarter of 2016 to be between 16,000 and 16,500 Boe per day. At the midpoint of the range, this would be an increase of approximately 37% from the second quarter of 2016. Recent increases in Company production and estimated proved reserves are primarily attributable to our successful horizontal Delaware Basin drilling program. As of the date of this release, we have drilled and completed nine of our planned fourteen gross wells in the 2016 drilling program. The ninth well, the South Mitre 02 2102H, is currently flowing back. The tenth well, the Boucher 2-3H, has reached total depth and is currently waiting on completion. We spud the eleventh well, the Uinta 0204H, on September 22, 2016. The Boucher and the Uinta are both 7,500 foot Wolfcamp A laterals in eastern Mustang and represent our first 80-acre spacing test. Upon completion of the Uinta, the rig will move to our Appaloosa project area to drill one well before returning to Mustang for the remainder of the year where we plan to drill a pair of Wolfcamp A 7,500 foot laterals in East Mustang where we will test 80-acre offset stack spacing. Each of the Mustang well pairs described above will be drilled sequentially and completed simultaneously. These projects will serve to further delineate our inventory of Wolfcamp horizontal locations. Because we plan to drill four of the incremental wells as pairs, completion of these wells will be delayed somewhat more than has been typical for our previous single well development. This will have the effect of limiting the production contribution from these wells in 2016. Production from our South Goat 02 2204H, a 10,000 foot lateral in Appaloosa, which at the time of our last public release of information was still increasing, has established a 24-hour peak production rate of 2,902 Boe per day. The North Elephant 02 1001H, a 10,000 foot Wolfcamp A lateral in Appaloosa, which had established a peak 24-hour rate of 2,449 Boe per day at the time of our last public release, has continued to improve and has now established a new peak 24-hour rate of 2,768 Boe per day and a 30-day peak production rate of 2,254 Boe per day. The Thunder Canyon 0204H, a 7,500 foot Wolfcamp A lateral in Mustang, has established a peak 30-day rate of 1,558 Boe per day. Looking forward to 2017, subject to Board approval, management currently expects to continue the drilling program in Reeves County with the same rig and plans to add a second rig in the first quarter. A two-rig program would allow us to spud approximately 21 gross (16.3 net) wells during 2017. The number of wells and the pace of drilling in 2017 will primarily be a function of our liquidity which in turn is influenced by commodity prices and production. Were we to progress in 2017 with a single rig program, we estimate that the program would spud approximately 11 gross (8.6 net) wells during the year. Either program would result in substantially all of our Delaware Basin acreage being held by production. Third Quarter 2016 Preliminary Results and Updated Guidance Estimated Production for Third Quarter 2016 We estimate total Company production for the third quarter of 2016 to be between 16,000 and 16,500 Boe per day. At the midpoint of the range, this would be an increase of approximately 37% from the second quarter of 2016. Estimated Lease Operating Expense for Third Quarter 2016 We anticipate that aggregate lease operating expense ("LOE") for the third quarter of 2016 will be approximately 5% higher than the second quarter. Higher third quarter 2016 total Company LOE is expected primarily from handling higher volumes of oil, gas and water from our successful horizontal wells in the Delaware Basin. While total Company LOE has risen, LOE per Boe is expected to decrease from $14.46 per Boe in the second quarter of 2016 to approximately $11.00 per Boe in the third quarter of 2016. Impacts from Increases in Cash-Settled Long Term Incentive Awards As part of our 2015 and 2016 long term incentive program, due to the low stock price environment Resolute issued certain cash-settled awards in place of our normal practice of issuing restricted stock awards. These awards included performance-based restricted cash awards granted in May 2015, paid out based on our average stock price compared to targets from $10.00 to $40.00 per share and cash-settled stock appreciation rights granted in February 2016 with an average strike price of $2.84. These long term incentive awards were previously disclosed in our SEC filings. GAAP requires that these instruments be marked-to-market to reflect fair value at the end of each quarter. Resolute's common stock price rose from a closing price on the NYSE of $2.97 on June 30, 2016, to $26.06 on September 30, 2016. As a result, we expect to recognize $15 million to $16 million of expense in the third quarter of 2016 for these awards based on their fair value at the end of the quarter, compared to $1.4 million of such expense in the second quarter of 2016. Actual cash payments expected to be made in 2016 are approximately $3 million, but they may be higher depending on increases in the price for our common stock. Production Guidance Update As of the date of this release, we expect our production for full year 2016 to be between 13,600 and 14,000 Boe per day, before accounting for the acquisition. The midpoint of this range would be an increase of approximately 400 Boe per day above the high end of our previously announced range of 11,600 Boe per day to 13,400 Boe per day. Estimated Capital Expenditures for 2016 Pro forma for the acquisition, we expect our capital expenditures for the year will remain within our previously announced guidance range of $115 million and $135 million, excluding the purchase price for the acquisition. Investor Presentation Supplement We will post a supplement to our investor presentation tonight on our website at www.resoluteenergy.com. Cautionary Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "poised," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward looking statements include statements regarding the timing of the closing of our acquisition of the Firewheel Properties, our production and cost guidance for 2016; anticipated capital expenditures in 2016 and the sources of such funding; anticipated drilling program for the remainder of 2016 and 2017; our expectations regarding our development activities and drilling plans; anticipated lease operating expenses, production taxes, general and administrative expenses, and depletion, depreciation and amortization rates; anticipated proved reserve additions, rates of return, cash margins, net asset values and PV-10 values of our projects. Forward-looking statements in this press release include matters that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by this press release. Such risk factors include, among others: currently depressed commodity prices; the volatility of oil and gas prices including the price realized by Resolute for the oil and gas it sells; inaccuracy in reserve estimates and expected production rates; potential write downs of the carrying value and volumes of reserves as a result of low commodity prices; the discovery, estimation, development and replacement by Resolute of oil and gas reserves and the risks associated with the potential writedown of reserves; the future cash flow, liquidity and financial position of Resolute; Resolute's level of indebtedness and our ability to fulfill our obligations under the senior notes, our credit facility, our second lien facility and any additional indebtedness that we may incur; potential borrowing base reductions under our revolving credit facility; the success of the business and financial strategy, hedging strategies and plans of Resolute; the amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures of Resolute, including future development costs; the availability of additional capital and financing, including the capital needed to pursue our drilling and development plans for our properties, on terms acceptable to us or at all; the effectiveness of Resolute's CO2 flood program; uncertainty surrounding timing of identifying drilling locations and necessary capital to drill such locations; the potential for downspacing, infill or multi-lateral drilling in the Permian Basin or obstacles thereto; the timing of issuance of permits and rights of way; the timing and amount of future production of oil and gas; availability of drilling, completion and production personnel, supplies and equipment; the completion and success of exploratory drilling on our properties; potential delays in the completion, commissioning and optimization schedule of Resolute's facilities construction projects or any potential breakdown of such facilities; operating costs and other expenses of Resolute; the success of prospect development and property acquisition of Resolute; timing of installation of gathering and processing infrastructure in new areas of development, including Resolute's dependence on third parties for such items; the success of Resolute in marketing oil and gas; competition in the oil and gas industry; the impact of weather and the occurrence of disasters, such as fires, floods and other events and natural disasters; environmental liabilities; anticipated supply of CO2, which is currently sourced exclusively under a contract with Kinder Morgan CO2 Company, L.P.; potential power supply limitations or delays; operational problems or uninsured or underinsured losses affecting Resolute's operations or financial results; adverse changes in government regulation and taxation of the oil and gas industry, including the potential for increased regulation of underground injection, fracing operations and venting/flaring; potential climate related change regulations; risks and uncertainties associated with horizontal drilling and completion techniques; the availability of water and our ability to adequately treat and dispose of water during and after drilling and completing wells; changes in derivatives regulation; developments in oil-producing and gas- producing countries; Resolute's relationship with the Navajo Nation and the local communities in the areas in which Resolute operates; cyber security risks; and the risks associated with potential NYSE delisting. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements in this press release. Resolute undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. You are encouraged to review "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements" and "Item 1A - Risk Factors" and all other disclosures appearing in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for further information on risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's businesses, financial condition and results of operations. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Production rates, including 24-hour, 30-day peak IP rates and 90-day peak IP rates, for both our wells and for wells that are operated by others are limited data points in each well's productive history. Also, different operators have different operating philosophies, particularly early in the life of a well. The way we calculate and report peak IP rates and the methodologies used by others may not be consistent, thus the values reported may not be directly and meaningfully comparable. As a result, these metrics may not be indicative or predictive of future production rates, EUR or economic rates of return from such wells and should not be relied upon for such purpose. Lateral lengths described in this release are indicative only. Actual completed lateral lengths depend on various considerations such as lease-line offsets. Finally, reserve estimates mentioned in this release were prepared internally using price and cost assumptions and methodologies that are different from what would be required if prepared in accordance with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the estimation of proved reserves, and such reserve estimates do not include probable and possible reserves. About Resolute Energy Corporation Resolute is an independent oil and gas company focused on the acquisition, exploration, exploitation and development of oil and gas properties, with a particular emphasis on liquids focused, long-lived onshore U.S. opportunities. Resolute's properties are located in the Paradox Basin in Utah and the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. The Company periodically provides supplemental information by posting presentations and other material on the Company website at www.resoluteenergy.com. Contact: HB Juengling Vice President - Investor Relations Resolute Energy Corporation 303-534-4600 Email Contact Figure: Overview of smart manufacturing project Figure: The Intelligent Dashboard visualizing the operational status of production lines for the entire factory (Location: Central monitoring room in INESA Display Materials Co., Ltd.'s color-filter manufacturing plant). Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5259 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/ TOKYO, Oct 5, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu (China) Holdings Co., Ltd., and INESA (Group) Co., Ltd.(1), a large-scale, state-owned company in China that provides smart city solutions, today announced that they are collaborating on a Smart Manufacturing Project known as "Made in China 2025,"(2) a strategic framework which aims to strengthen competitiveness in manufacturing.In response to the rapid changes in corporate business models and the market environment, the government of China has set forth "Made in China 2025", which aims to combine cutting-edge ICT with manufacturing, shifting China from a manufacturing giant that mass-produces products to a manufacturing powerhouse that focuses on production quality. In the midst of this effort, using their abundant experience in the ICT and manufacturing fields, Fujitsu and INESA Group are jointly promoting their Smart Manufacturing Project, contributing to realizing the "Made in China 2025" plan.As a member of a group of large-scale, state-run companies under the jurisdiction of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shanghai Municipal Government, INESA Group has a history in the electronics manufacturing industry of more than fifty years. In order to adapt to the innovations of recent years, INESA Group, while manufacturing, is driving the development of the information industry, and has established the strategic goal of contributing to the building of smart cities as its business model, working to create a new industry that fuses ICT and manufacturing.At a color-filter manufacturing plant of INESA Display Materials Co., Ltd., an INESA Group company, Fujitsu established a plan to turn the plant into a smart factory suited to current operations, by studying current processes and issues. Based on information from existing automated production lines and manufacturing management systems, Fujitsu is connecting the entire manufacturing process, including product manufacturing processes and production line placement, with technologies, such as big data and IoT. This is to achieve digital transformation, building a system that visualizes the efficiency of the factory with the use of tools such as Fujitsu's sensors, network technologies, a dashboard solution, and a big data analysis platform, to advance INESA Group's move toward smart manufacturing.The three companies began this project in January of 2016, and aim to complete it in 2018. In the first stage of this project, Fujitsu organized and improved INESA Group's existing information systems, advanced the deployment of IoT in the factory, and built a big data analysis platform. As a result, it has become possible to share data within the factory and visualize operations in real time. The constructed platform will support higher levels of factory intelligence in the future.The specific initiatives implemented under the current project are as follows:Figure: Overview of smart manufacturing projecthttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fig1100516.jpg- Building IoT platforms that utilize data in the factoryUsing Fujitsu's unique intelligent network communications technologies, the companies have improved the slow and unstable communication in the existing large-scale network, building a low-cost system to automatically collect energy consumption data, including for electricity, water and gas. In addition, by collecting and managing data through the IoT platform, energy consumption has been reduced, supporting the realization of a green factory.- Building a big data analysis platformThis system aggregates and centralizes the manufacturing progress data collected through the IoT platform, such as from sensors. This aggregated big data is processed and analyzed in real time under advanced security, enabling the detection of warning signs of problems in manufacturing equipment.- Building a system for visualizing efficiencies throughout the factoryUsing FUJITSU Enterprise Application Intelligent Dashboard, Fujitsu Limited's solution that supports the overall optimization of factories, with the big data analysis platform, this system displays important key performance indicators, such as manufacturing, energy consumption, quality, facilities status, and expenses, in an integrated fashion. At the same time, it monitors the status of the production lines in real time, visualizing the efficiency of the factory as a whole.- Establishing standards for evaluating the degree of maturity of the smart factoryFujitsu assisted in formulating standards and an evaluation model for the degree of maturity of INESA Group's smart factory using the three criteria of technology, implementation, and integration, based on INESA Group's definitions and goals for smart manufacturing. In addition, during this smart manufacturing model factory project with INESA Group, the companies are carrying out studies and evaluations, extracting content and technology common across the industry and standardizing it, aiming to popularize a shared INESA Group standard within the industry.Figure: The Intelligent Dashboard visualizing the operational status of production lines for the entire factory (Location: Central monitoring room in INESA Display Materials Co., Ltd.'s color-filter manufacturing plant).http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fig2100516.jpgUsing the Fujitsu Limited Intelligent Dashboard to visualize efficiency for the factory as a whole, managers can control the operational status of the manufacturing lines across the entire factory from the factory's central monitoring room. The project's first stage of development has now gone online, and is already producing results in actual production management. For example, a great deal of time used to be spent on such tasks as collecting production status and statistical data, but with Fujitsu's Intelligent Dashboard, it has become possible to intuitively grasp the situation. This can be expected to play a significant role in improvements in productivity and management going forward.Owing to its cutting-edge technologies and as a model initiative for the industry, this project was chosen as a Smart Factory Model Project for 2016 in an evaluation by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Fujitsu and INESA Group will continue to contribute to the digital transformation in China's manufacturing industry going forward.In addition, the three companies, as strategic partners, will spread this successful model to more manufacturing companies in China, working together to achieve the goals of "Made in China 2025."Comment from Cai Xiaoqing, President of INESA GroupINESA Group is focusing its efforts on creating smart factories, positioning this business as a core infrastructure business supporting INESA Group's smart cities, while also advancing initiatives in our factories.Through this project, by working with Fujitsu, I believe we will meet the business transformation needs of our many customers in the manufacturing industry, and contribute to transforming the manufacturing industry of China.(1) INESA (Group) Co., Ltd.Official Website: http://www.inesa.com/index.html(2) Made in China 2025On May 8, 2015, China's State Council unveiled its first 10-year national plan for transforming China's manufacturing, entitled "Made in China 2025." The plan is designed to put China on a new path to industrialization, with greater emphasis on innovation, expanded use of new-generation information technology, intelligent manufacturing, consolidation of the industrial base, integration of industrial processes and systems, and a robust multilayer talent development structure. Measures taken in this respect will facilitate China's transformation from a manufacturing giant with a focus on quantity to one with a qualitative edge.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 159,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702; ADR:FJTSY) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. DALLAS (dpa-AFX) - AT&T Internet Services has reached a tentative agreement with the Communications Workers of America on the National Internet Contract or NIC. The agreement covers nearly 1,200 CWA-represented wireline employees in 16 states who work on areas of AT&T's business related to products such as IPTV and DSL. It will be submitted to the union's membership for a ratification vote in the coming days. The agreement is the latest to be reached covering union-represented AT&T employees. The company has now reached 19 agreements with the CWA and IBEW in 2015 and 2016, collectively covering over 95,000 employees. 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. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen continued to be lower against its major rivals in the European session on Friday. The yen weakened to more than a 10-month low of 115.16 against the greenback and a 3-day low of 145.10 against the pound, from yesterday's closing values of 114.03 and 143.49, respectively. The yen dropped to 121.69 against the euro and 113.05 against the Swiss franc, compared to Thursday's closing quotes of 121.02 and 112.19, respectively. The yen declined to a 1-year low of 82.52 against the kiwi, 7-1/2-month lows of 86.09 against the aussie and 87.36 against the loonie, down from Thursday's closing values of 81.79, 85.09 and 86.44, respectively. If the yen extends slide, it may possibly find support around 118.00 against the greenback, 148.5 against the pound, 126.00 against the euro, 116.00 against the franc, 84.00 against the kiwi, 88.00 against the aussie and 89.00 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. Manchester-based company will perform property management and accounting, plus online marketing and resident services, from an integrated platform urbanbubble anticipates gaining a competitive edge in the Build to Rent Sector (PRS), with two new Yardi products: Yardi Voyager 7S, a cloud-based property management and accounting platform; and RENTCafe, an online leasing and resident services solution that includes marketing, rent payments and maintenance requests. "Voyager and RENTCafe will let us execute effective marketing that will put us a step ahead of the competition in the fast-developing Build to Rent (PRS) market," said Michael Howard, managing director of urbanbubble. "urbanbubble can centralise property management and financial information, leverage mobility, capture and convert leads, and provide superior resident services with one platform. The efficiency arising from this full integration will help urbanbubble stand out from the crowd and win business," said Neal Gemassmer, vice president of international for Yardi. Please click here to learn how Yardi Voyager can help enhance value for office, industrial and retail portfolios. More information about RENTCafe is available here. About urbanbubble urbanbubble of Manchester, England, is a multi-award winning residential property management agent that provides services to residential apartment schemes across the Northern Powerhouse, with one eye on expansion across the UK. It is the fastest growing residential property management company in the North West. For more information, visit www.urbanbubble.co.uk. About Yardi Yardi develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. Established in 1984, Yardi is based in Santa Barbara, Calif., and serves clients worldwide from offices in Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. For more information, visit www.yardi.com/uk. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161107005248/en/ Contacts: Yardi Martin Gedny Marketing Manager (Europe Middle East) +44 (0) 1908 308400 martin.gedny@yardi.com CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday. The NZ dollar fell to nearly a 1-1/2-month low of 1.5635 against the euro and a 2-day low of 73.77 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.5529 and 74.16, respectively. Against the U.S. and the Australian dollars, the kiwi dropped to nearly a 2-month low of 0.7175 and more than a 1-1/2-month low 1.0634 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.7208 and 1.0564, respectively. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.58 against the euro, 71.00 against the yen, 0.70 against the greenback and 1.07 against the aussie. 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. Study follow-up completed for 50% of patients All primary and secondary radiological and clinical endpoints met Regulatory News: BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris:BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in bone fracture repair, fracture prevention and spinal fusion, today reports positive efficacy data for the Phase IIA spinal fusion trial with ALLOB. Results of the first half of patients in the study show evidence of successful fusion and important clinical improvements in function, pain and general health as early as six months after treatment and all patients reached the primary and secondary endpoints at the end of the 12-month follow-up period. Enrico Bastianelli, Chief Executive Officer of Bone Therapeutics, commented: "Seeing evidence of fusion and the clinical improvements in these patients as early as six months strengthens our confidence in the potential of ALLOB to become an important addition to the current standard of care. These results give us great confidence for the remainder of the trial for which we expect the full set of data in Q2 2017." Spinal fusion is the current standard of care for degenerative disc disease to relieve pain and improve function. However, progression to fusion with current treatments is slow, usually taking 18 to 24 months. Furthermore, the surgery may result in lack of fusion and continuing pain, leaving up to 30% of patients unsatisfied with their surgery. Dynamic x-rays revealed absence of motion of the vertebral bodies (i.e. fusion) in six out of eight patients at 6 months and in all patients at 9 and 12 months. Fusion was further evidenced by CT scans that show the presence of bone bridges as from 6 months in 75% of assessable patients. Back and leg pain improved dramatically, by over 50% and over 80% respectively, as from 6 months throughout the follow-up period. In addition, clinical evaluation demonstrated a 33% improvement in functional disability score (using the Oswestry Disability Index) at six months, which further increased to 40% at 12 months. General health status improved 50% after 6 months and this level was likewise maintained up to 12 months. The Phase IIA trial in lumbar spinal fusion is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the addition of ALLOB to the standard of care procedure for degenerative disc disease in which an interbody cage with bioceramic granules is implanted to achieve fusion of the lumbar vertebrae. Primary endpoints of the study are radiological evaluation of fusion, improvement in pain and functional disability and safety. The Company was able to demonstrate in preclinical studies that the combination of bioceramics with ALLOB cells significantly increased new bone formation and fusion in comparison with bioceramics alone. About ALLOB ALLOB is a first-in-class allogeneic differentiated osteoblastic (bone-forming) cell therapy product developed for the treatment of orthopaedic conditions and bone diseases. Allogeneic cell therapy involves the harvesting of cells from a healthy donor, rather than from the treated patient. ALLOB is currently being evaluated in three Phase I/IIA clinical trials for delayed-union fractures, spinal fusion and the revision of failed spinal fusions. ALLOB has been classified as a tissue engineered product under the ATMP regulation 1394/2007EMA and received orphan drug designation from the EMA (Europe) and FDA (US) for two indications, osteonecrosis and osteogenesis imperfecta. About spinal fusion Spinal fusion is considered the gold standard surgery for treating a broad spectrum of degenerative spine disorders, including degenerative disc disease to relieve pain and improve function. Spinal fusion consists of bridging two or more vertebrae with the use of a cage and graft material, traditionally autologous bone graft, for fusing an unstable portion of the spine or immobilizing a painful vertebral motion segment. Despite the fact that spinal fusion surgery is routine, non-union and failure to relieve lower back pain are unfortunately still frequent as up to 25 to 30% of spinal fusion patients are not completely satisfied with their surgery. Bone Therapeutics' products are intended to decrease the failure rate of spinal fusion surgeries. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotechnology company specializing in the development of cell therapy products intended for bone fracture repair and fracture prevention. The current standard of care in this field involves major surgeries and long recovery periods. To overcome these problems, Bone Therapeutics is developing a range of innovative regenerative products containing osteoblastic/bone-forming cells, administrable via a minimally invasive percutaneous technique; a unique proposition in the market. PREOB, Bone Therapeutics' autologous bone cell product, is currently in pivotal Phase IIB/III clinical studies for two indications: osteonecrosis and non-union fractures, and in Phase II for severe osteoporosis. ALLOB, its allogeneic "off-the-shelf" bone cell product, is in Phase II for the treatment of delayed-union fractures and lumbar fusion for degenerative disease of the spine, including a minimally invasive therapy for failed spinal fusions. The Company also runs preclinical research programs and develops novel product candidates. Founded in 2006, Bone Therapeutics is headquartered in Gosselies (South of Brussels, Belgium). Bone Therapeutics' regenerative products are manufactured to the highest GMP standards and are protected by a rich IP estate covering 11 patent families. Further information is available at: www.bonetherapeutics.com Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors' current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161004006280/en/ Contacts: Bone Therapeutics SA Enrico Bastianelli, Chief Executive Officer Wim Goemaere, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +32 (0)2 529 59 90 investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com or For Belgium and International Media Enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications Jonathan Birt, Jessica Hodgson, Lindsey Neville and Hendrik Thys Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5701 bonetherapeutics@consilium-comms.com or For French Media and Investor Enquiries: NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Nicolas Merigeau Tel: 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 bone@newcap.eu LONDON (dpa-AFX) - SVG Capital plc (SVI.L) said that it has received a proposal from certain investment funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management's Alternative Investments & Manager Selection Group and certain investment entities managed by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for the acquisition of 100 per cent of SVG's investment portfolio. The Proposal is being evaluated urgently by the Company and the Board will update the market as soon as possible. The Board continues to recommend that shareholders do not accept HarbourVest Bidco's offer. 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. PALAISEAU, France, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Systematic digital competitiveness cluster is opening an office on the campus of the Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) in Beijing and launching an investment fund in Hangzhou together with the Zhejiang Equity Exchange. Both operations serve a single goal: creating Franco-Chinese support and co-development platforms to help French startups, SMEs and ISEs develop their innovations on an industrial scale and rapidly address the global market. Following the signature of a Memo of Understanding on 8 June between Systematic Paris-Region and the Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI), the Paris Region competitiveness cluster will open an office on BICI's Beijing campus on September 26. The office will provide the cluster's members with support directly from China for their expansion and development projects, notably by forging close ties with BICI's R&D, business acceleration and technology commercialization teams. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160219/335212LOGO ) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161004/415154 ) Systematic has undertaken partnerships with the BICI since 2015. These two ecosystems share common principles: promoting collaborative innovation, supporting entrepreneurial spirit and developing innovation leaders. This operation will foster the emergence of cutting-edge innovations and their transition to industrial scale. The inauguration of the Beijing office has provided the occasion for Systematic Paris-Region and Optiva Darna to initiate sales and investment negotiations for seven of Systematic's members with CETC, a large Chinese industrial firm, Capital Fortune, for the investment component and CFLD, a major player in the development of new industrial cities in China. To further support the growth of French Systematic members in China, an investment fund will also be launched in Hangzhou on September 23. The OdZeiTi (Optiva Darna Zhejiang Europe Technology Innovation Institute, Investment Management Co., Ltd.) will fund projects led by actors from the two ecosystems, addressing forward-looking themes such as the smart city, transportation of tomorrow, energy efficiency and the factory of the future. This will enable the development of innovative French technology companies in the Chinese market. "Today, China must meet the crucial challenges of the energy transition, industrial transformation, urbanism and the conversion of its domestic market toward an economy with more innovations, services and international collaborations. This opens up tremendous opportunities for French players who are addressing these same challenges and global development issues. Systematic's activities in this market, combined with the creation of this new investment fund, will help to support and commercialize the export of French innovations that are keys to the development of Chinese megacities, and to promote the expansion of our startups in China," said Fadwa Sube, Systematic Executive Board Member with responsibility for International issues, President of Optiva Darna and co-fonder of OdZeiTi. The next meeting will take place 31 October during the Franco-Chinese summit, which will be held in the presence of Chinese government authorities. It will offer innovative French SMEs a fresh opportunity to sign contracts and procure investments from French and Chinese investment funds, as well as international industrial players. About Systematic Paris-Region - http://www.systematic-paris-region.org -@Pole_SYSTEMATIC | LinkedIn With its Open Innovation focus, the Systematic Paris-Region innovation and technology cluster is there to bring together and promote an ecosystem of excellence that counts over 800 members. Systematic connects stakeholders from software, digital and industry, and boosts digital projects through collaborative innovation, SME development, networking and business sourcing, across a range of future growth sectors: energy, telecoms, healthcare, transport, information systems, factory of the future, digital city, and security. The cluster is also there to promote its members, its region and its innovation projects, with the aim of raising their profile and enhancing the attractiveness of the Paris Region and its ecosystem. About the Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) The BICI was founded 28 August 2014 on a model inspired by the Peking University Innovation Education and Research Institute. Federating more than 40 Chinese universities, it ensures the commercialization of research and technological innovations from their laboratories in the form of industrial applications. It also provides training and support services for foreign startups seeking to develop in China. Headquartered in Beijing, it has offices in Baotou, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Shaoxing. The BICI is also present in the United States, where it works to promote startups in Silicon Valley. Project Focuses on Development of Gene Expression Profiling Tool to Predict Treatment Outcomes for Patients with Multiple Myeloma ROTTERDAM, Netherlands and LAGUNA HILLS, California, Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --SkylineDx today announced it has been awarded a multi-million euro Horizon2020 grant from the European Commission to develop a new, and novel gene-expression profiling technology, which is intended to predict the most effective treatment strategy for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The consortium of European partners includes Erasmus MC (EMC, Rotterdam), Myeloma Patients Europe (MPE, Brussels), University of Turin (Unito, Turin) and the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment (iMTA, Rotterdam). The announcement comes as SkylineDx prepares for their sponsorship and support at the European School of Haematology's 3rd International Conference on Multiple Myeloma in Milan, Italy on October 7-9, 2016. SkylineDx has also developed and is currently offering MMprofiler with SKY92, a gene expression-based risk identification signature that determines the level of risk for patients with multiple myeloma by classifying them into a "high" or "standard" risk group. The performance of the SKY92 gene signature to risk stratify these patients exceeds that of standard clinical parameters that include FISH, and earlier gene expression signatures utilized in myeloma.1-2 Research will be conducted to expand MMprofiler technology to include the prediction of treatment effectiveness in individual patientsbased on Gene Expression Profiling (GEP). "SkylineDx appreciates all of the support of our partners and is looking forward to expanding the portfolio to help physicians personalize treatment options for those who receive a diagnosis of multiple myeloma," said Dharminder S. Chahal, Chief Executive Officer of SkylineDx. "Helping healthcare professionals make precision medicine treatment decisions for their patients has always been the forefront of SkylineDx's mission and we believe that this test will give patients the chance to improve their survival and quality of life." As MM is a very heterogeneous disease, not every treatment will be suitable for each patient. The availability of multiple (>20) treatment options complicates treatment decision-making even more, and treatment strategies are often based on trial-and-error. "We need to incorporate tools like the MMprofiler in order to best identify those patients who may benefit from a more aggressive treatment regime versus those who may benefit from a less aggressive treatment," said Andrzej Jakubowiak, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and director of the University of Chicago's myeloma program. "Tools like the MMprofiler are absolutely important to help us not to lose sight of what's best for our patients." About Multiple Myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer that arises from plasma cells, a type of white blood cell made in the bone marrow. In patients with MM, the plasma cells become abnormal, multiply uncontrollably, and release only one type of antibody - known as M-protein - which has no useful function. It is often through the measurement of M-protein that MM is diagnosed and monitored. Most medical problems related to MM are caused by the build-up of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow and the presence of the M-protein in the blood or urine. The most common symptoms of MM include bone pain, recurring infection, kidney damage, and fatigue. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, an estimated 114,000 people around the world are diagnosed with MM annually, and the disease represents 0.8% of all cancers globally. For more information about MM, visit www.hematon.nl/myeloom(information available in Dutch only), www.themmrf.org , www.myeloma.org.uk, www.mpeurope.org, or www.myeloma.org About MMprofiler MMprofiler with SKY92 is the only gene-based signature proven superior to the biomarkers currently used to risk stratify newly diagnosed and relapsed multiple myeloma patients into a "high" or "standard" risk category. The MMprofiler is CE-IVD registered and available in Europe and is coming soon as a laboratory developed test (LDT) in the United States. For more information, please visit www.mmprofiler.com . AboutSkylineDx SkylineDx is a commercial-stage biotech company based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Originally a spin-off of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the company specializes in the development and marketing of innovative gene signature-based diagnostic tests to assist healthcare professionals in making personalized treatment decisions for individual patients. These tests are designed to accurately determine the type or status of the disease or to predict a patient's response to a specific treatment. Based on the test results, healthcare professionals can tailor the treatment to the individual patient. MMprofiler is the company's lead product. To learn more, please visit www.skylinedx.com. 1. Van Beers EH, et al. SKY92 GEP, iFISH, and ISS comparisons for risk stratification in multiple myeloma. Poster p661 presented at 2015 European Hematology Association Congress. 2. Kuiper R, et al. Prediction of high- and low-risk multiple myeloma based on gene expression and the International Staging System. Blood. 22 October 2015, Volume 126, Number 17, Pages 1996-2004 LONDON, Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global brand strategy, design and experience firm Siegel+Gale (www.siegelgale.com) today announced the completion of a refreshed brand platform and visual identity for Andrews Property Group (https://andrewsonline.co.uk). Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161004/415186LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120123/NY39544LOGO Veterans of the property industry, Andrews faced a number of business challenges in an ever-changing marketplace. They engaged Siegel+Gale to help them evolve into a more dynamic and interactive property partner. Siegel+Gale conducted research which showed a disconnect between key customer drivers and employee focus. To address this, Siegel+Gale developed a brand strategy around Andrews' 'Refreshingly Reassuring' approach to property management. This encapsulates their ability to match people with property through reassuring advice and expert service. Also, this established a standard for Andrews' employees reflective of their longstanding respect for integrity and community. "To bring the brand platform to life, we distilled Andrews' old logo into a simpler, stronger shape charged with confidence, but imbued with added meaning," commented Dan Vasconcelos, Associate Creative Director, Siegel+Gale. "The refreshed mark serves as an active symbol of guidance-indicative of the way forward in property." "The Andrews brand identity had not been reviewed for 35 years, so we were understandably nervous," commented Ronda Green, Marketing and Customer Services Director, Andrews. "This has been a truly rewarding and enlightening experience. Siegel+Gale worked seamlessly with the Andrews team and ensured a fully inclusive process.We are all, without exception, delighted with the outcome, which has provided us with a clear point of view in a highly competitive marketplace and a great source of great pride amongst our staff," added Green. About Andrews Established in 1946, Andrews Property Group is a collection of over 700 specialists who, from their 80 offices located throughout the South of England, offer national reach with local knowledge to provide customers with a complete property services offering beyond sales and lettings. About Siegel+Gale Siegel+Gale (www.siegelgale.com) is the simplicity company. We seek it, defend it and embrace it in everything we do to help brands reach their true potential. Simplicity is the centrepiece of the strategies we develop that reveal the unique truths of an organisation, the engaging stories we create that connect brands with their audiences and the meaningful experiences we deliver that are both unexpectedly fresh and remarkably clear. Since 1969, Siegel+Gale has championed simplicity for leading corporations, nonprofits and government organisations worldwide. We have offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai, but we're willing to fly just about anywhere. We're also not alone. As part of the DAS Group of Companies, we have strong partners all around the world. About the DAS Group of Companies The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries. Nichola Seeley Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, Siegel+Gale T: +44 (0)20 8618 1951 M: +44 (0)77 1091 7186 E: nseeley@siegelgale.com SINGAPORE -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- PSB Academy (PSBA), one of Singapore's leading private education institutions, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore's chamber for Public Relations and Communication practitioners, the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) to launch a student chapter. The PSBA-IPRS chapter will enable PSBA students to gain access to thought leaders in the Public Relations and Communication sectors and help students to gain a first-hand understanding of the needs of the industry. Practitioners that serve at IPRS include the heads of Singapore's most reputed Public Relations firms such as Ogilvy Public Relations and Weber Shandwick, as well as communication leaders in organizations like Temasek Holdings and the Singapore Business Federation, among others. More than 6,000 students from PSBA's diploma and degree programmes in areas of marketing, public relations, events marketing and other communication-related disciplines will be eligible to join the chapter and benefit from mentorship, extra-curricular training and networking opportunities with these IPRS-accredited practitioners. "PSB Academy has always been committed to preparing students for the real world with our unique brand of industry-ready education - in which industry partnerships form a key component. We are delighted to partner with IPRS in the launch of our very own student chapter for both full and part-time students. By gaining access to the networks of thought leaders and training programmes by industry chambers such as IPRS, our students will be well-placed to better compete and thrive in an increasingly challenging future economy," said Derrick Chang, Acting CEO, PSB Academy. As members of the chapter, students will automatically receive associate membership from IPRS which entitles them to enjoy similar benefits as full members. In addition, students will have the opportunity to co-organise and attend closed-door events specifically organized for the chapter, such as, breakfast sessions, symposia or learning forums, to encourage open dialogue with relevant industry professionals. Affirming the importance of industry-readiness that students will receive through this collaboration, IPRS President Mr Robert Conceicao said: "We are encouraged by this initiative by PSB Academy to pro-actively prepare aspiring PR and Communication practitioners for the realities of the future workforce. IPRS is proud to partner with PSB Academy in the development of talents for the industry, and through this chapter, give students access to accredited and experienced professionals who are today shaping the industry. The students today will be the PR and Communication professionals of the future." "The launch of the PSBA-IPRS Student Chapter brings together a perfect confluence of interest for IPRS, PSBA and most importantly, our students. While this student chapter marks a milestone in our industry engagement efforts, PSBA is in a great position to be scaling from a solid track record of graduating students who are sought after by industry," said Marcus Loh, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communication at PSB Academy. PSBA's graduate and employment survey in 2015 found that about nine in ten students found employment within six months of graduation, while six in ten students enjoyed pay increments and/or improved prospects in their career developments. Source: http://psb-academy.edu.sg/media/6295/psb-establishes-iprs-student-chapter-20161005.pdf Image Derrick Chang, Acting CEO, PSB Academy and Robert Conceicao, President, IPRS sign an MOU to set up an IPRS Student Chapter at the Academy http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/5718 Logo http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/4694 About PSB Academy (PSBA) Productivity is at the heart of PSB Academy. Once known as the Productivity and Standards Board, PSB Academy today ranks as one of Singapore's leading private education institutions. Our full-time and part-time diploma, degree and post-graduate programs focus on what really matters: performance in the real-world. We aim to appeal to millennials looking for an industry-ready education as well as early to mid-career professionals looking to upgrade themselves. We have over 300 part-time and full-time lecturers delivering lessons to over 11,000 local and international students. Our main campus is situated at Delta and our city campus is in Marina Square. Learn more at: www.psb-academy.edu.sg. About Institute of Public Relations Singapore (IPRS) The Institute is a professional body representing Public Relations (PR) and Communication practitioners in Singapore. Its primary objective is to recognize and promote professionalism among its Members and the PR industry. This is achieved through the IPRS accreditation process; the industry's premier awards - PRISM; and the development and delivery of certification courses, workshops and talks. Find out more at: http://www.iprs.org.sg/ Media contact: Melody Uy Email Contact +65 6213 6997 BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 3:45 am ET Wednesday, Markit Economics is due to release its final PMI figures for Italy. PMI reports for France and Germany are due at 3:50 am ET and 3:55 am ET, respectively. The services and composite PMI for the Eurozone is due 4:00 am ET. Ahead of the reports, the euro rose against the other major currencies. As of 3:40 am ET, the euro was trading at 0.8819 against the pound, 1.0962 against the Swiss franc, 1.1221 against the U.S. dollar and 115.30 against the yen. 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. SANTA CLARA, California, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthware International is honored to announce that our CEO and founder Roberto Ascione was recognized as Best Industry Leader at The Health 2.0 10 Year Global Retrospective Awards. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161004/414950LOGO ) For ten years, Health 2.0 has showcased and connected with thousands of technologies, companies, innovative thought leaders, and patient activists through many events and conferences. At this 10-year milestone, Health 2.0 wanted to take an opportunity to reflect on and recognize the accomplishments of this powerful community and movement, and thus launched a nomination and voting process to its members which culminated in this award. Roberto Ascione's recognition by his industry peers comes after a career dedicated to health marketing and innovation that spans 20 years. Launched in 1997 by Mr. Ascione in Salerno, Italy, Healthware International has grown to a position of global leadership by partnering on digital projects with the world's top pharmaceutical companies and ushering in digital technologies and innovations in healthcare well before the rest of the industry caught up. As of the last years, Healthware international has expanded its traditional activities beyond pharmaceutical marketing to include strategy consulting and marketing support for digital health startups, insurance companies and VC groups in a quest to create the type of collaborative partnerships and innovation ecosystem that the industry will need to grow into the next decade. During the award ceremony, Mr. Ascione said that one of the most important recent developments in health innovation is the amount of attention and funding that is finally arrived from the investment community in the US, and the hope that this trend expands on a global scale. He also expressed his vision of what is required of the industry to continue to innovate over the next decade, which includes moving towards an open collaboration model. As the award was announced, Mr. Ascione was humbled by the honor received from his peers and subsequently paid tribute to all the women and men of Healthware International whose work and dedication over the years have been instrumental in bringing the dream of transforming healthcare one step closer to reality. About Healthware International Healthware International is a next-generation healthcare communications agency, combining in a unique blend consulting and creative services with innovation and technology capabilities able to deliver value to existing and emerging healthcare stakeholders. Established about twenty years ago in Italy, Healthware is now an independent global company consistently ranked among the top healthcare communications agencies worldwide, with presence in London, Milan, New York, Rome and Salerno. For media inquiries: Antonietta Pannella - Marketing & External Relations, Healthware International E-mail: antonietta.pannella@healthwareinterantional.com Mobile: +39-349-0648276 Gerry Chille - General Partner, HealthwareLabs US E-mail: gerry.chille@healthwarelabs.com Mobile: +1-917-7191911 Regulatory News: Alfa Laval (STO:ALFA) Alfa Laval invites analysts, investors and media to its capital markets day, which will be held at the Hilton Copenhagen Airport Hotel, Denmark, November 22nd. It will start at 10:30 a.m. CET and end at approximately 4:45 p.m. CET. The morning session will include presentations by Tom Erixon, President and CEO, and Thomas Thuresson, CFO. After the lunch break Peter Leifland, Nish Patel and Susanne Pahlen Aklundh will talk about the scope and direction for the new divisions that will be coming into effect January 1st, 2017. After the divisional presentations, three seminars will run simultaneously three times in a row covering topics such as the service presence in the Middle East; energy, environment and food in India as well as waste water and industrial waste. How to sign up: register on our website www.alfalaval.com/investors, November 15, the latest. If you have any questions, please contact Beata Ardhe. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005005528/en/ Contacts: Alfa Laval Gabriella Grotte Investor Relations Manager +46 46 36 74 82 +46 709 78 74 82 or Beata Ardhe Investor Relations +46 46 36 65 26 +46 709 36 65 26 beata.ardhe@alfalaval.com NEUHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND and CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Tyco Retail Solutions (www.tycoretailsolutions.com), part of Johnson Controls, today announced the integration of its ShopperTrak and FootFall businesses to form a single business unit that will go to market solely as ShopperTrak, providing actionable insights that enable customers to optimize operations and improve profitability. ShopperTrak and FootFall are leading providers of consumer behavior insights and location-based analytics, serving retailers and property management organizations in 100 countries and territories. The new combined global traffic insights business unit counts approximately 40 billion shopper visits annually, offering unprecedented insights into shopper traffic and behavior. Bjoern Petersen, President of Tyco Retail Solutions, shared his perspective on what it takes to exceed customer expectations. "The retail industry is moving through a period of remarkable change. At the same time, technologies are advancing faster than ever before. Tyco Retail Solutions has an unmatched number of data capture devices in retail stores to provide insights on shoppers, inventory and loss -- critical for enhancing topline performance and the customer experience. With our recent analytics integrations, we are able to offer unparalleled traffic intelligence solutions that will set the standard in the marketplace and serve as an essential piece to achieving success in physical retail." As a fully aligned organization, ShopperTrak offers global scalability with the capacity to rapidly roll out solutions across all major international markets. ShopperTrak offerings support a wide variety of perimeter and interior devices to address the diverse needs of retailers and shopping centers around the world, all while maintaining an industry-leading level of accuracy. Additionally, the ShopperTrak Analytics Suite provides a customizable reporting platform that merges shopper traffic, market benchmark and additional contextual data sets. This advanced platform creates unique visualizations and reporting options. Armed with these powerful insights, malls and retail organizations will be able to identify areas of opportunity and make informed decisions that positively impact revenue and optimize store operations. Nick Pompa has been appointed general manager of the new global traffic business unit at Tyco. "The combined global traffic insights business unit offers best-in-class solutions that enable retailers and shopping centers to increase traffic, sales and conversion," said Pompa. "Our commitment to physical retail is paramount and our capabilities under Tyco Retail Solutions are limitless." Pompa will leverage his knowledge of the diverse market to serve retail customers and help grow their businesses. On a global scale, functional leaders with local expertise will guide operations in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. As a result, the traffic business unit will possess an in-depth understanding of market nuances and offer a tailored approach that best meets customer needs. For more information about ShopperTrak, visit http://www.shoppertrak.com. About ShopperTrak ShopperTrak is the leading global provider of location-based analytics, offering insights into consumer behavior to improve profitability and effectiveness. Through the use of analytics, ShopperTrak enables clients to better understand their customers, enhance the shopping experience, and ultimately increase traffic, conversion and transaction size. ShopperTrak is now part of Tyco Retail Solutions, the leader in retail performance and security solutions. Find out more at http://www.shoppertrak.com. About Tyco Retail Solutions Tyco Retail Solutions, part of Johnson Controls, is a leading provider of integrated retail performance and security solutions, deployed today at more than 80 percent of the world's top 200 retailers. Customers range from single-store boutiques to global retail enterprises. Operating in more than 70 countries worldwide, Tyco Retail Solutions provides retailers with real-time visibility to their inventory and assets to improve operations optimize profitability and create memorable shopper experiences. For more information, please visit TycoRetailSolutions.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and our YouTube channel. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3062945 Contact: Jennifer Braner North America Email Contact 312.676.8342 Sarah Cole Europe Email Contact 0044 (0)1892 786917 Anne Lines Matter Communications (Tyco Retail Solutions) Email Contact 978.518.4512 BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 4:30 am ET Wednesday, Markit releases U.K. services PMI for September. The PMI is expected to come in at 52.1, compared to a reading of 52.9 in August. Ahead of the data, the pound traded mixed against its major opponents. While the pound declined against the yen and the Swiss franc, it recovered against the greenback and the euro. The pound was worth 1.2734 against the greenback, 130.93 against the yen, 1.2440 against the Swiss franc and 0.8808 against the euro as of 4:25 am ET. 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. LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - October 05, 2016) - Eco-Safe Systems USA, Inc. (OTC PINK: ESFS) is pleased to announce signing a contract with Epic Financial Funding, LLC, in Cincinnati, OH. Michael Elliot, CEO of Eco-Safe Systems USA, Inc., said, "Phillip R. Carson, CEO of Epic Financial Funding, LLC, came on board with Eco-Safe in August, and within the last 30 days has enlisted the services of 15 professional Finders and international marketing, sales, and financing experts." Elliot continued, "Through website and personal promotional contacts, Epic has introduced Eco-Safe technology into more than 10 countries including Canada, Mexico, throughout South America, and India, as well as Dubai, Kuwait, and Egypt. This would add to Eco-Safe's presence already in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Kuwait. Epic's primary goal is to bring in 10 Million dollars for additional working capital. At the moment, Eco-Safe is preparing its first proposal for seafood processing in India. This level of international promotion is unprecedented for Eco-Safe and stands to create vastly greater markets for us." About Eco-Safe Systems: Eco-Safe Systems, based in Los Angeles, is the manufacturer of patent pending water treatment and water reclamation systems. Our technologies produce ozonated water for food disinfection and water purification at significantly less maintenance cost and greater energy savings than our competitors in a completely green and organic manner. We currently offer supermarkets and restaurants a cost-effective way to safely extend the shelf-life of meat, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables. Our Food Industry products are National Sanitation Foundation, International (NSF) Registered. Please visit us at www.ecosafeusa.com for more information. The foregoing contains forward-looking information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results (expressed or implied) will not be realized. Eco-Safe Contact: Michael Elliot CEO Eco-Safe Systems USA, Inc. www.ecosafeusa.com Email contact Epic Financial Funding, LLC Contact: Phillip Carson CEO Epic Financial Funding, LLC www.energyfunding123.com Email contact VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Global Copper Group Inc. ("Global Copper") (TSX VENTURE: ICU) is pleased to report that property visits to the recently acquired Smith Cobalt and Proteus projects have been completed. The Smith Cobalt and Proteus are cobalt-silver properties located in the historic Cobalt mining district in Ontario. Site Visit: The objective of the visit was to familiarize management with project logistics and to initiate exploration programs for these properties. During the site visit, the muck pile created from the previous underground development and mining of the North and South veins on the Smith Cobalt property was examined. Samples from the muck pile show a considerable amount of erythrite (an oxidation product of cobalt minerals commonly referred to as "cobalt bloom"). Cobalt bloom is used by prospectors as an indicator mineral for associated cobalt and silver veins. Historical Information: In 1927, a 400 foot deep shaft was sunk and limited underground development was completed. In 1934, the underground was de-watered, a winze was sunk on the South Vein to a depth of 452 feet and drifting was carried out on the North and South Veins. In 1935, a winze was sunk from the 452 foot level to the 500 foot level and limited drifting was completed on the North Vein. During the development of the underground working, four steeply dipping veins were intersected. These veins strike nearly east-west. Two of these veins referred to as the 'North' and 'South' veins contained cobalt and nickel but had negligible silver values. Most of the cobalt produced came from the 'North' vein and both the 'North" and 'South' veins were reported to be more productive in the Keewatin than in the cobalt conglomerate. On surface, three additional veins were located. Two of the veins strike east - west and the third vein strikes north - south. All three veins were tested for silver content by diamond drilling and trenched. No significant silver values were found. Information on cobalt content was not noted for these veins. During the period of underground development 10,027 pounds of cobalt was produced with most of it being from the 452 foot level on the North Vein. Source of the historical information: "Summary Report Prepared for Phaeton Exploration Ltd., Cobalt Ontario Option, Formerly Smith Cobalt Property," dated May 7, 1985 prepared by C.W. Archibald, B.A.Sc. "The recently completed site visit has reinforced Global's commitment to further develop the Smith Cobalt and Proteus projects," comments Dr. Andreas Rompel, President & CEO. "We were pleased to see the amount of historical data available and the encouraging state of the infrastructure as these factors will allow us to initiate an exploration program almost immediately." Exploration Plan: The company is currently accumulating and compiling the historical data from the Smith Cobalt property. A significant number of old mine plans have been acquired. These mine plans provide the location and the strike and dip of the veins intersected in the underground workings. The Company is also compiling the historical data from properties surrounding the Smith Cobalt property to determine if veins present on these properties extend onto the Smith Cobalt property. A number of the veins on the adjoining property to the northwest have been interpreted to trend towards the Smith Cobalt property. The Phase I exploration program, slated to begin immediately, consists of: i) continuation of the collecting and interpreting historical data and ii) completion of a combined high-resolution airborne magnetic and VLF-EM survey to better map the known veins and their extent and to locate new veins, and gain an understanding of the structural control on the vein intrusion. The airborne survey will also cover the adjoining Proteus property. The company plans to undertake a study to determine the cost and activities required to rehabilitate the Smith Cobalt shaft and underground workings to allow mapping and sampling of the veins. Chris M. Healey. P.Geo, a Director of Global Copper Group is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this release and consents to its dissemination. About Global Copper Group Inc. Global Copper Group Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian exploration company listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (TSX VENTURE: ICU) focused on the exploration and development. The company plans to acquire, de-risk and advance assets in mining friendly jurisdictions prior to seeking joint venture partnerships. On behalf of the Board of Directors Dr. Andreas Rompel, President and CEO Global Copper Group Inc. www.globalcoppergroup.com We seek safe harbor. The company's profile may also be viewed on www.sedar.com. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Forward Looking Information The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release. WARNING: The Company relies on litigation protection for "forward looking" statements. Actual results could differ materially from those described in the news release as a result of numerous factors, some of which are outside the control of the Company. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell 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 "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Contacts: Global Copper Group Inc. Daniel Caamano, VP Corporate Communications or Judy A. McCall, Corporate Secretary 604.620.7737 www.globalcoppergroup.com 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. NEW YORK, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Five-week, Game-based Learning Challenge Open to all Engineering Graduates and Under-graduates Around the World Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced it has opened registration for the Engineering Academic Challege (EAC) 2016 - which officially begins on 10th October 2016. The annual five-week challenge gives engineering professors, instructors and librarians around the world the chance to integrate real-world engineering and science problem-solving into their STEM education communities, by immersing students in a practical problem-solving environment. Cross-disciplinary questions based on National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges cover themes that include Future of Energy, Future of Making, and Future of Medicine, and have been drafted by a team of engineering students at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. Participants will compete to solve questions for five consecutive weeks, with prizes awarded to top performing students. Now in its 11th year, the Engineering Academic Challenge, previously known as the Knovel Academic Challenge, expands benefits to participants by providing the option to not only access Knovel's engineering information and tools as they solve challenges, but also access to Engineering Village's flagship database, Ei Compendex. Another key enhancement is a new challenge platform that enables participants to more seamlessly register and set up their profiles with avatars, track competition globally between individuals and other universities, and share results over a variety of social media channels. A survey from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) found only 23% of employers believe graduates are skilled at applying knowledge to real-world problems. The challenge is aimed at promoting active learning based on practical examples of inter-disciplinary scenarios, helping to prepare students for future careers in academia and industry. The prizes for this year's Engineering Academic Challenge include: Weekly winners with the highest points receive a $100 Amazon gift card: The 1st Place Grand Prize winner with the highest accumulation of points at the end of the challenge will receive an Apple iPad. The 2nd Place Grand Prize winner with the second highest accumulated score at the end of the challenge will receive a SONOS speaker. "Today, students are digital natives - by the time they are 21, the average person has played 10,000 hours of games," commented Ann-Marie Roche, Director of Customer Engagement at Elsevier. "The Engineering Academic Challenge has been designed to reflect this, and to make learning as interactive and effective as possible. We are committed to developing students' skills to make sure that they are ready for the workplace. The challenge will help support engineering professors and educators to create interactive learning experiences and improve student outcomes by working on real-world problems." Dr. Antonios Kontsos, director of Drexel's Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Group and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, commented, "Gaming is the closest analogy to how students learn today. The traditional model of teaching, where we require students to sit in a chair for two or three hours at a time, bears no resemblance to what students do in daily life, so game-based learning - such as Elsevier's Engineering Academic Challenge - helps to best prepare students for the workforce." All participants can view the following EAC webinar to quickly learn how to use both databases when solving the weekly questions. The webinar provides an overview of how to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. Engineering Village is the home of Ei Compendex, the broadest and most complete engineering literature database available to engineers. Ei Compendex comprises over 18 million records from thousands of publications published worldwide, spanning 190 engineering disciplines, 1970-present. Content is indexed specifically for engineers using the Ei Thesaurus, enabling precise search and discovery of relevant engineering research. Knovel is an engineering decision-support solution enabling engineers to confidently answer technical questions drawing upon trusted data from more than 120 providers through a cloud-based platform with powerful search and interactive analytical tools. Engineering and science students from academic institutions across the globe who wish to participate in this year's challenge, can register at: eac.elsevier.com. About Elsevier: Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make ground-breaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions - among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Research Intelligenceand ClinicalKey - and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 35,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries.www.elsevier.com Media contact Christopher Capot Director, Corporate Relations, Elsevier +1 917-704-5174 c.capot@elsevier.com VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - European stocks fell after recent gains on Wednesday, as fears of Brexit fallout, Fed rate uncertainty and fresh worries over possible monetary tightening by the European Central Bank sapped investors' appetite for risk. Disappointing regional data also weighed on markets. While a measure of Eurozone private sector expanded at the weakest pace in twenty months in September, Eurozone retail sales declined for the first time in five months in August. British service sector activity expanded for the second straight month in September, but at a slower pace than in the previous month. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.9 percent in midday trading after six consecutive sessions of gains. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 was down half a percent after climbing 1.3 percent in the previous session to close at its highest level since 2015. The German DAX and France's CAC 40 were down about 0.6 percent each. SVG Capital shares fell over 3 percent in London. The investment firm announced a proposed sale of 50 percent of the investment portfolio and a wind-down of the company to maximize returns for shareholders. Precious metals miners Randgold Resources and Fresnillo dropped about 2 percent each after gold prices tumbled overnight to their lowest level since June. Tesco shares soared nearly 12 percent. The retailer posted positive sales growth in the first half of 2016 and said it is on track to hit its full-year profit target. Telecommunications operator Orange dropped 2 percent in Paris after it received approval to take majority control of Groupama Banque. Telecoms group SFR tumbled 4.5 percent after securities regulator AMF blocked an all-share buyout offer for the French telecoms group by Altice. Air Liquide fell over 1 percent on saying it has entered into exclusive negotiations to sell its diving-equipment business Aqua Lung to Montagu Private Equity. Air Berlin rallied 3.5 percent. The German carrier said it would join discussions regarding the transfer of its touristic business to a new airline group to be established by TUI Group and Etihad Aviation Group. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de PALO ALTO, CA and LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Jumio, the leader in digital ID verification, today announced that Novum Bank Limited, an ambitious and fast growing Malta-based bank that offers loans and prepaid cards, is now using Jumio's Netverify to enable a swift, secure and more diligent mobile on-boarding of customers within its key German market. The bank holds a license from the Maltese Financial Services Authority, which allows them to passport into other countries, including Germany. The German financial market is one of the most highly regulated in the World, especially regarding ID and verification. As a result, before taking out a Novum prepaid MasterCard, customers would have to be verified via methods cumbersome to both the customer and Novum Bank Limited. The Bank, which passports its Maltese licence via the freedom of services, decided to adopt a professional, reliable and secure system to verify their clients' identity. With the implementation of Jumio's Netverify, the process became quicker, more secure and in line with regulatory expectations. Netverify allows customers to simply scan their IDs with a laptop or mobile device. The scans are then swiftly verified, with the whole process taking no more than two minutes. Mark Wallace-Jones, Director and CFO, Novum Bank Limited, said: "The German market is one of our strongest, but it is also very highly regulated. So, for this reason, we wanted a solution that would be more supportive of the regulatory requirements, whilst also allowing for a swift and seamless sign-up process. Using Jumio's Netverify has been instrumental in addressing these challenges, and as a result we have seen a significant fall in fraudulent attempts to sign up for our prepaid MasterCard cards." Phillip Pointer, VP Products, Jumio, said: "Meeting anti-money laundering and know-your-customer regulations is challenging for financial services providers, especially when focused on online banking transactions. Yet, Netverify has again demonstrated that this need not be a challenge for banks or their customers. With Jumio's computer vision technology, compliance requirements can be met without compromise on either speed or safety." About Novum Bank Limited Novum Bank Limited is a credit institution that operates under, and applies, the European Union banking regulatory framework. The Bank is licensed and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and is allowed to passport into all EU and EEA Members States. The Bank's business is focused on Prepaid Cards/Stored Value and Lending. Novum Bank Limited operates its lending business through its brand Cashper and is also a principal member authorised to issue any product under the MasterCard brand. The Bank is positioned to offer a wide range of prepaid solutions for individuals looking for an alternative financial solution to traditional bank accounts and for businesses looking to expand their brand, create affinity and loyalty and improve their overall profitability. Novum Bank Limited launched its Money2Go MasterCard in Germany and in the Netherlands and, in addition, manages a number of programs for strategic partners. The Bank has the capability to issue either closed loop cards, with restricted use, or open loop cards, that are operative wherever the MasterCard brand is accepted. Also, the Bank can issue prepaid cards as a traditional plastic card, for POS and ATM use, or as a virtual card, for e-commerce use only. Plastic cards can also be issued with the latest contactless technology. Novum Bank Limited's mission is to provide innovative financial products, make them easily accessible and deliver those products and services in a simple and efficient manner, leveraging technology to achieve this. The Bank strives to be transparent in its product offerings, responsible in the way it operates and also ensures a high standard of security to safeguard its own and its customers' interest. About Jumio Jumio delivers the next-generation in digital ID verification, enabling businesses to reduce fraud and increase revenue while providing a fast, seamless customer experience. Jumio uses computer vision technology to verify credentials issued by over 200 countries in real time web and mobile transactions. Jumio's solutions are used by leading companies in the financial services, sharing economy, retail, travel and online gaming sectors. Based in Palo Alto, California, and Funded by Centana Growth Partners and Millennium Technology Value Partners, Jumio operates globally, with offices in the US and Europe, and has been the recipient of numerous awards for innovation. For more information, please visit www.jumio.com. CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Human Resource Executive magazine, the premier publication focused on strategic issues in HR, today announced the 10 winners of its Top HR Products of 2016 Awards, an annual award competition to uncover the best new HR products. The winning companies will be honored at an award luncheon on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 during the 19th Annual HR Technology Conference & Exposition at McCormick Place in Chicago. "Vendors in the HR technology space understand the need to continually innovate in order to keep up with the competition and, most importantly, address the evolving needs of the HR profession," said David Shadovitz, editor of Human Resource Executive. "This year saw a record number of submissions representing some truly cutting-edge solutions to solve today's biggest HR pain points, making it difficult to select just 10. However, the winning companies represent the best of what HR technology can do, and we congratulate them for introducing the most innovative, impactful and transformative solutions of 2016." Each year, the editors of Human Resource Executive perform an extensive evaluation of the Top HR Products submissions. They also include as a part of the decision-making process input from a panel of outside experts and analysts. Winning solutions are selected based on their level of innovation, value added to the HR function, intuitiveness for the user and ability to deliver on what they promise. After considering many strong submissions, the judges selected the following 10 solutions as the Top HR Products of 2016: Benchmarking, powered by the ADP DataCloud ADP, Roseland, N.J. As its name suggests, Benchmarking delivers customizable HCM benchmarks based on aggregated and anonymized pay and HR data from ADP's database of more than 95,000 client organizations. The data can be filtered "on the fly" by geography, industry, company size and salaried vs. hourly, so users can quickly arrive at better workforce-related decisions. Features include visual comparisons between company data and benchmarks, and the ability to see how specific compensation elements (base pay, bonus, overtime and total cash) have changed over time. Data being used is no more than three months old. www.adp.com Vizi ViziRecruiter Inc., Troy, Mich. ViziRecruiter is designed to entice candidates to apply for jobs by making text-heavy job descriptions more visually appealing and compelling. Users can create a "Vizi" by copying, pasting and entering their job descriptions on the ViziRecruiter platform. They can then choose from a variety of templates that offer different colors, fonts and other elements. Users can work solo in creating a Vizi or invite colleagues to collaborate as a team in creating one. Once it's finished, the Vizi can be posted to the organization's careers page and shared via social media and mobile. www.vizirecruiter.com Phenom TRM Cloud Platform Phenom People, Horsham, Pa. Using e-commerce, marketing automation and customer relationship management best practices, the Phenom TRM Cloud Platform is designed to help employers manage the entire talent relationship lifecycle so they can find, engage and hire the right candidates for the right jobs. The solution includes Phenom Hub, which lets candidates search for jobs that fit their career needs; Phenom Pro, which provides sourcers, recruiters and hiring managers with insights into career-site visitors; Phenom Market, which enables employers to build their web presence; and Phenom Exchange, which integrates the platform with applicant tracking systems and other applications. It uses predictive intelligence and machine learning so employers are better able to engage with their talent pool. www.phenompeople.com Navigator Suite ComplianceHR, New York Navigator Suite includes modules that provide automated legal advice about two common issues for employers. Navigator IC assesses the risk that state or federal agencies would judge a worker to be an employee, rather than an independent contractor. Navigator OT assesses the risk that agencies would decide that the company has improperly classified an employee or position as exempt from overtime. Employers -- and the workers themselves -- provide facts needed for the assessments by answering a series of questions. (Data for multiple positions can be batch-uploaded in a spreadsheet.) The software also creates an audit trail that demonstrates the employer did its due diligence in deciding how to classify a worker. www.compliancehr.com PayActiv App PayActiv, San Jose, Calif. PayActiv App is a mobile application providing a voluntary benefit that allows employees to access their yet-to-be-paid earned income in order to pay bills, transfer money and start savings accounts. Employers do not front the funds, therefore no Social Security numbers or any other personal information is exchanged. They confirm with PayActiv, through the app, that the employee requesting an advance on earned income has, indeed, earned the amount being requested. Employees can access up to 50 percent of what they have earned at no cost or risk to the employer and are limited to two advances in one pay period. They are charged a flat $5 fee per usage of the service, regardless of the amount they access. www.payactiv.com Everwise Everwise, San Francisco Everwise is an integrated talent development platform designed to combine data, technology, curated learning resources and experience guidance to help employees reach their full potential. Everwise uses a multi-factor, data-based matching process to set up partnerships between employees and mentors; and assists employees in identifying their top development goals, which feeds the matching process and helps mentors and proteges set expectations for their partnership. The platform also provides online tools and training intended to optimize mentoring interactions, and aids high performers in building balanced personal advisory boards. Overlaying all of this is a team of managers who oversee matching and introductions, monitor progress and help handle issues that arise during mentoring partnerships. www.geteverwise.com GoodHire True Me GoodHire Inc., Redwood City, Calif. GoodHire True Me is a background-check platform that combines an interactive, mobile-optimized interface with features designed to help job seekers take ownership of their information and enable employees to avoid unintentional discrimination in the hiring process. With GoodHire, either an employer or job seeker can initiate a background check. In either case, the candidate and the organization receive the same information, and the applicant can review his or her results to spot any inaccuracies that could slow the hiring process. www.goodhire.com hiQ Control Center hiQ Labs Inc., San Francisco hiQ Control Center is a cloud-based SaaS platform for people analytics. It is designed to use publicly available information about a company's employee population, labor market and other data sources, along with proprietary machine learning algorithms, to predict employee turnover months before it happens. The process considers an innovative "pull" factor -- how much an employee is discoverable by recruiters, how in demand their skills are, etc. This is in addition to the more conventional "push" factor -- the internal causes of voluntary employee turnover, such as compensation, dissatisfaction with a current manager, etc. hiQ Control Center measures and combines both factors to provide employers with insights into which talent pools should be protected, nurtured or even defended. www.hiqlabs.com Great Hires Candidate Interview Experience Platform Great Hires Inc., Oakland, Calif. The Great Hires Candidate Interview Experience Platform consists of a candidate app and an interview app designed to give companies and candidates everything they need for a positive interview experience. The candidate app lets candidates learn more about the company they'll be interviewing with, the job they're interviewing for and the people they'll be meeting with. It also lets them submit feedback about their experience post-interview. The interview app helps companies coordinate and schedule interviews, and make schedule adjustments as needed. An enterprise version of the product allows interviewers to share notes, comments and evaluation guides. Although the platform is designed for use on mobile devices, it's also accessible via desktop browsers. www.greathires.co CulturePath Deloitte Consulting LLP, New York CulturePath is a cloud-based, mobile-enabled solution designed to provide employers with a comprehensive assessment of their organization's culture. Using data-driven analytics, organizations are able to measure their culture, pinpoint strengths and gaps, and drive behaviors that are aligned to the business' objectives. Building off of Deloitte's culture transformation methodology, the tool consists of two categories of indices. One involves four core factors (culture focus, risk and governance, external orientation, and change and innovation) that measures the cultural connectedness between the organization and its workforce. The other involves four differentiating factors (courage, commitment, inclusion and shared beliefs) that measure the emotional connectedness between the two. www.deloitte.com For additional information about the 19th Annual HR Technology Conference & Exposition visit www.HRTechConference.com or call toll-free 1-800-727-1227. About the HR Technology Conference & Exposition The HR Technology Conference covers all the latest trends -- SaaS, The Cloud, social, mobile, analytics, video, gamification and Big Data -- as well as the more traditional technologies and processes. Whatever is changing the way work and HR gets done is what is featured. All sessions are created and delivered by senior executives from many leading organizations -- no speaking slots are sold -- resulting in a high-caliber learning experience with real-world lessons and practical takeaways. The conference attracts industry experts, thought leaders, software vendors, senior HR executives, HR generalists, HR systems leaders and more. Additionally, the HR Tech Conference is home to the world's largest Expo of HR technology products and services -- many vendors even choose to announce their latest products for the first time at the conference. There is no better place to touch, compare and contrast the latest solutions from leading vendors in every category, as well as start-ups. For more information, visit www.HRTechConference.com. PALO ALTO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Bioz, Inc., a company that recently launched from stealth with the introduction of the world's first search engine for life science experimentation, today announced its inaugural Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) members. Three of the members are Nobel Laureates in Chemistry. "The Bioz Scientific Advisory Board members, all accomplished leaders in their respective fields, share Bioz' vision of advancing and improving life science experimentation by predicting which products will work best in experiments based on millions of published scientific research articles," said Dr. Karin Lachmi, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Bioz. The SAB's members have joined as strong believers in Bioz' objective of bringing transparency and clarity to the process of selecting the optimal products for experimentation. The SAB will advise Bioz as it continues to disrupt the life science research market by guiding researchers in making faster and smarter decisions when performing experiments, ultimately speeding up drug discovery and increasing the rate of success in finding cures for diseases. "In mere months, Bioz' software has changed how 40,000 researchers and scientists around the world find experimentation information. With the support of our new Scientific Advisory Board members and their expertise, we are able to accelerate the disruption of this space, and help researchers perform better, faster, and more cost-effective experiments," said Daniel Levitt, co-founder and CEO of Bioz. Inaugural Bioz SAB members include: 1. Professor Roger Kornberg - Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2006. He is a professor of Structural Biology at Stanford University School of Medicine and co-founder of Cocrystal Pharma. He is a foreign member of the British Royal Society and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. 2. Professor Ada Yonath - Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 - the first female winner in 45 years. She is a professor of Structural Biology at the Weizmann Institute of Science and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. 3. Professor Michael Levitt - Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2013. He is a professor of Structural Biology at Stanford University School of Medicine and a professor of Computer Science. He is a Fellow of the British Royal Society and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. 4. Professor James Spudich - Professor of Cardiovascular Disease at Stanford University School of Medicine. He received the Albert Lasker Award, the Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences and the Massry Prize. 5. Professor Jevin West - Assistant professor of Information Sciences at the University of Washington. He is a big data expert focusing on data science, network analytics, scholarly communications and information visualization. He co-founded Eigenfactor, a research platform for mapping science and identifying influential material. 6. Professor Adam de la Zerda - Assistant professor of Structural Biology at Stanford School of Medicine. In 2015, he was selected as the Pew-Stewart Scholar for Cancer Research. He also received the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Award. "I'm proud to be part of Bioz' Scientific Advisory Board and to work alongside such an esteemed and accomplished board who share the mission of advancing life science research by implementing modern technologies, ultimately leading to faster cure rates for diseases and improving lives," said Professor Ada Yonath, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. "I have been a life scientist for over 50 years and wish that Bioz' technology would have been available earlier, as it could have saved me years of work trying to identify and select the best reagents, and in deciding how to use those reagents in my experiments." Bioz' technology helps researchers quickly select products, plan experiments, write papers, apply for grants and collaborate, ultimately speeding up experimentation and drug discovery. The software architecture taps the latest advances in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to mine and structure hundreds of millions of pages of complex and unstructured scientific papers placing an unprecedented amount of summarized scientific experimentation knowledge at researchers' fingertips. Bioz Stars provides unbiased and objective algorithmic ratings that are displayed for over 200 million life science products, tools, reagents, lab equipment, instruments, assays and kits. The technology is based on the analysis of millions of peer-reviewed papers using a groundbreaking algorithm with weighted quantitative and qualitative parameters. Bioz' technology is available free to researchers and scientists. Visit www.bioz.com, and start using Bioz today to find the best products for your experiments. Helpful Links Bioz Bioz Stars Bioz Ambassadors Bioz on Twitter Suggested Tweet: @BiozPage announces distinguished Scientific Advisory Board made up of multiple NobelPrize winners http://bit.ly/2dBIC3H About Bioz, Inc. Bioz, Inc. offers the world's first search engine for life science experimentation. The patent-pending software platform combines the work of scientists with advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to help life scientists in academia and biopharma make faster and smarter experimentation decisions, ultimately speeding up drug discovery and increasing the rate of success in finding cures for diseases. Founded in 2013 by Stanford research scientist, Karin Lachmi, Ph.D., and CEO Daniel Levitt, Bioz is a StartX accelerator company. Bioz is used by 40,000 researchers from over 4,000 universities and companies in 170 countries. Try Bioz at www.bioz.com. Media Contact: Shannon Campbell Kulesa Faul for Bioz Email Contact 916-521-7058 MISSISSAUGA, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Axios Mobile Assets Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AXA) ("Axios" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an operational update for the third quarter ending September 30, 2016. Q3/16 Operational Highlights Secured $3 million loan for working capital and general corporate purposes, and an additional $2 million loan to build tooling to increase pallet production capacity; Pallet issuances (rentals) estimated to increase by approximately 85% over the previous quarter due to the start of the implementation of our largest egg vendor contract that was announced on May 26, 2016; Completed roll-outs for the Company's largest retailer's U.S. Mid-West and North-East regions; Expanded into the Company's largest retailer's U.S. South-East and South-Central regions; Secured lease for new pallet washing facility in Atlanta area, and; Began pilot of active pallet sensors, which will enable the Company to track and trace actionable data for clients' products through the supply chain. "The third quarter's operational milestones generated increased interest in Axios from customers and prospects," said Richard MacDonald, Axios' President and CEO. "Our ability to secure capital allowed us to meet some of the increasing demand for our products, and we are confident that we can continue to drive revenue growth and improve operational efficiency in Q4 and beyond." Q3/16 Operational Detail The Company secured a $3 million loan on July 22nd, 2016, which financed working capital and general corporate expenses as the Company drove increases in its pallet issuances and expanded its pallet issuances to new customers and regions. The Company expects that the number of pallet issuances in Q3 will increase by approximately 85% over the previous quarter. During Q3, the Company also secured a $2 million loan from Export Development Canada. Loan proceeds will be used for additional tooling that will increase production capacity, a new assembly line, and for equipment needed to open additional pallet wash facilities. The Company expects that these expenditures will lay the foundation for continued growth and help Axios drive toward profitability in the future. One of the main drivers for adoption in recent months, as cited by both egg vendors and retailers, has been the Safe Quality Foods ("SQF") certification the Company received for the wash/sanitization process at the Ohio wash facility (announced April 14th, 2016), which ensures a bio-secure pallet delivered to the Company's client production sites. The certification was granted following a third-party audit of the sanitization process and facility in Ohio, and the Company plans to seek SQF certification at each new wash facility it opens to ensure consistency of biosecurity qualifications across its entire pallet pool. Axios has the only pooled pallet service and offering to wash/sanitize its pallet after each and every use. With the roll-out of the Mid-West and North-East regions completed, Axios is now driving into the South-East and South-Central regions of the United States. All of Axios' largest retailer's Distribution Centres in these areas are supplied by vendors currently under contract to Axios. Therefore, as the Company continues its expansion into these areas, it expects that all additions to the Axios pallet inventory will quickly flow into the circulation and begin producing revenue. Axios has secured a lease in the Atlanta area and is working to install wash/sanitization equipment at that facility. Once operational, this will be the third wash/sanitization facility being used by Axios, in addition to two existing facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, which service the Mid-West and North-East regions respectively. Axios plans to begin the process of opening additional wash/sanitization facilities in both Texas and Florida after Atlanta is operational. Having additional wash facilities will decrease the average mileage required to fulfill each pallet rental, which the Company expects will result in an increase in the frequency of pallet rentals and a decrease in logistics expense per rental. The steps taken during Q3 - specifically, borrowing to invest in production equipment and to work to open additional wash facilities -- are consistent with management's goals to reduce pallet production costs and logistics expenses as the Company works toward achieving profitability in the future. Product Updates The product and service offering has been and continues to be met with highly favourable reaction, and the conversion of the egg producers to the Axios Solution has been steady and ongoing. Axios now has 10 service agreements in place with fresh egg producers in the U.S. Axios has captured 4 of the top 5 and 10 of the top 40 largest U.S. egg vendors. One of the key components of value of the Axios solution is the mitigation of risk to cold chain products as they are transported through the supply chain. The Company's process of sanitizing pallets after each use decreases the risk of food-borne illness and assists in the production location's bio-security efforts and protocols against the spread of pathogenic diseases like avian influenza. This also improves the safety and stability of the supply chain for retailers who manage a large and complex vendor base for their supply of cold chain food products. Building upon the availability of actionable data and the Axios Internet of Things ("IoT") Solution, Axios has begun introducing an active sensor into the pallet and is currently piloting a trial at one of its contracted vendors. The sensor is expected to provide impactful measurements and readings of data such as shock, vibration, and temperature, and it has the potential to replace the RFID functionality that currently manages the track and trace element of the pallet service. It is also expected to provide the data points for carbon credit measurement, in keeping with the Axios carbon protocol (VM0020). Upon successful completion of the active sensor pilot, data services will be sold as a premium to the base rental rate on a per pallet rental basis and the Company believes that the data and software services, in combination with its pallet pooling and logistics services, will be a future driver of growth and profitability for the Company. About Axios Mobile Assets Axios Mobile Assets Corp. is a supply chain logistics company that is rapidly becoming a key supplier of pooled pallets, primarily to the perishable food industry. The Company's proprietary pallet-based tracking and information system delivers actionable data to help improve supply chain visibility and food safety. Unique attributes of the system include lower total cost, high biosecurity standards, real-time data and lighter weight. Axios is the only pallet pooler in the world with SQF certification in the Provision of Sanitation and Hygiene Services category. Further information concerning the Company can be found at www.axiosma.com and www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements in respect of among other things, the Company's estimate of pallet issuances increasing by 85% over the previous quarter, the Company's ability to drive revenue growth, reduce expenses and achieve profitability in the future, the Company's ability to build new pallets and to quickly flow those new pallets into circulation to produce revenue, the opening of additional wash facilities in Atlanta, Texas and Florida, plans to seek SQF certification at each new wash facility, the impact of additional wash facilities as it relates to decreasing mileage, increasing frequency of pallet rentals and decreasing logistics expenses per rental, the impact of the Company's investments in production equipment and wash facilities as it relates to decreasing pallet production costs and logistics expenses, the ability of the Company's active sensor to provide measurements, to replace RFID functionality and to provide data points for carbon credit measurement upon completion of the initial pilot, and the potential for the Company to earn revenue from software and data services upon completion of the pilot of its active sensors. In addition, the Company has a history of net losses and negative working capital. The Company's continued viability, therefore, is dependent on its ability to drive improvements in operating efficiency going forward to achieve profitability, and on its ability to continue to secure new financing to fund operations until profitability is achieved. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of the Company as at the effective date of such statements and, in certain cases, information provided or disseminated by third parties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this document, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risk factors set forth in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period ended June 30, 2016 under the heading "Risk Factors", a copy of which is filed on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements are made as at the date hereof and unless otherwise required by law, the Company does not intend, or assume any obligation, to update these 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 NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Richard MacDonald President & CEO Email Contact 877-762-9467 x601 Peter Murray Shareholder Contact Email Contact 778-839-8382 DUBAI, UAE, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- No glitter, no glamour, Malabar Gold & Diamonds' latest brand film, which went viral in the last week and hasbeen a trending topic in India, is positioned around a telephonic conversation between a husband and wife, but both the husband and wife happen to be the Bollywood celebs - Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7941951-malabar-gold-diamond-kareena-kapoor/ All the jewelers were focusing on the end user - the woman, often shown as a bride. In its latest ad film, the jewelry brand Malabar Gold & Diamonds takes an unconventional route and shifts focus to a very important segment of the buyer pool - men looking to gift jewelry to their partners. As the brand is all geared to focus more on diamond gifting it tries to position itself as a man's choice for his better half. Celebrate the beauty of life! Swearing by their tagline, the brand raises its volume saying, 'Every woman in this world likes two things - surprise and diamonds!' Imbibing this mindfully in their campaign, the KareenaSurprised film captures the tale of a surprise! Placing their brand ambassador Kareena Kapoor Khan in the one minute film, Malabar Gold & Diamonds brightens a new phase in the jewelry advertisement. In any marriage, things can start to feel a bit routine after a while. It's easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day grind of work and chores. Making an effort to give your spouse a nice surprise now and then can help keep marriage fun and exciting. It's true even if you are a Bollywood celebrity or an ordinary woman, every lady would love to have surprises. Here Saif Ali Khan shows the way, How to keep your wife happy! While the ad has Kareena Kapoor looking bedazzled, speechless and stunned when she sees the glittering diamonds giftfrom her hubby, the actual fact remains that, besides Malabar's glittering collection, it is Kareena Kapoor herself who has the viewers looking bedazzled, speechless and stunned to the core. The campaign has garnered more than 8 million views on YouTube and social media in a week and even becamea nationwide trending topicin India. It has managed to open conversations and there are a lot of positive sentiments on social media with regards to the campaign. More than 10,000 tweets floated in the virtual platform with the following hashtags - KareenasAnniversarySurprise, WhoSurprisedKareena, KareenaSurprised Bollywood film director and writer Vinil Mathew has directed the film for Malabar Gold & Diamonds' brand communication agency Takashi Waltar / Local. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161005/415375 ) Video: http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7941951-malabar-gold-diamond-kareena-kapoor/ RICHMOND, VA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Richmond Aesthetic Surgery has been serving the residents of Central Virginia since 2007, offering a wide range of plastic surgery procedures and non-surgical rejuvenation treatments. Neil J. Zemmel, MD, FACS and Steven J. Montante, MD, the lead plastic surgeons at the practice, say they plan to build upon their record of success with their second location in Short Pump, Virginia. After careful planning and construction, the grand opening for the new office is scheduled for Monday, October 24, 2016. Dr. Zemmel says he and Dr. Montante chose the Short Pump location to improve the convenience for both current and prospective patients. "Patients from Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Hampton Roads, Roanoke, and Lynchburg can all easily access our new location at the intersection of highways I-64, I-295, and I-288," says the board-certified plastic surgeon. Situated directly on Broad Street, the Short Pump branch of the practice is on the main thoroughfare of Richmond, adjacent to a popular mall that functions as a commercial hub for the city. In addition to a more accessible location, the offices will now be open on Saturdays to give their patients more flexibility with their schedules. Dr. Zemmel reassures current patients that both locations will continue to be staffed by the same surgeons that they have trusted since the opening of Richmond Aesthetic Surgery. Dr. Montante also highlights that all nurse practitioners that work for the practice are fully licensed with at least ten years of experience in cosmetics. At the new Short Pump location, the office will be divided into two spaces: one for surgical procedures, such as breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and facelift surgery, and another for patients of Dermlounge. The plastic surgeons are happy to be able to offer the men and women throughout the Virginia and Washington, D.C. area the same diverse array of cosmetic procedures and med spa treatments that their current patients have enjoyed for a decade. About Richmond Aesthetic Surgery Dr. Neil J. Zemmel, founder of Richmond Aesthetic Surgery, provides patients a full range of plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures for the breasts, body, and face along with his colleague Dr. Steven J. Montante. Both doctors are board-certified plastic surgeons and active members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Zemmel is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and belongs to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Dr. Zemmel and Dr. Montante are available for interview upon request. To view the original source of this press release, click here: https://www.richmondplasticsurgery.com/latest-news/richmond-plastic-surgeons-announce-grand-opening-of-new-short-pump-office Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3063194 Richmond Aesthetic Surgery 611 Watkins Centre Parkway Suite 350 Midlothian, VA 23114 (804) 423-2100 11934 W Broad Street Suite 110 + Suite 200 Richmond, VA 23233 (804) 424-2000 Rosemont Media (858) 200-0044 www.rosemontmedia.com SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP), an automotive aftermarket parts provider, announced Wednesday that it has appointed Thomas Okray as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, effective October 31. Okray will succeed Mike Norona, who will remain with the Company in an advisory role until the end of the year. Okray, 53, most recently served as Vice President, Finance, Global Customer Fulfillment at Amazon, where he was the finance lead overseeing the optimization of key elements of Amazon's Global Fulfillment Network. He joined Amazon in 2015 as Vice President, Finance, North American Operations. Prior to Amazon, Okray spent the majority of his career at General Motors in a variety of finance and supply chain related roles. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Constellation Brands Inc (STZ) released a profit for its first quarter that gained ground compared to the same period last year. The company said its bottom line came in at $317.0 million, or $1.54 per share. This was up from $256.4 million, or $1.26 per share, in last year's first quarter. The company said revenue for the quarter rose 14.7% to $1.87 billion. This was up from $1.63 billion last year. Constellation Brands Inc earnings at a glance: -Earnings (Q1): $317.0 Mln. vs. $256.4 Mln. last year. -Earnings Growth (Y-o-Y): 23.6% -EPS (Q1): $1.54 vs. $1.26 last year. -EPS Growth (Y-o-Y): 22.2% -Revenue (Q1): $1.87 Bln vs. $1.63 Bln last year. -Revenue Change (Y-o-Y): 14.7% 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. QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- H2O Innovation Inc. (TSX VENTURE: HEO)(ALTERNEXT: MNEMO:ALHEO)(OTCQX: HEOFF) ("H2O Innovation" or the "Corporation") is proud to announce that it was awarded, during the first quarter ended on September 30, 2016, five (5) new contracts in Canada - in Nunavut, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec respectively, as well as two (2) new contracts in the United States - in Minnesota and Iowa. These new contracts bring the Corporation's projects sales backlog to $42.2 M, included in the $99.1 M consolidated backlog. The first contract was awarded by a leading company in the mining industry. The Corporation will provide a potable water system and wastewater treatment system, each treating 39.63 gpm (216 m3/day) for a 400-person workers' camp in Nunavut. This wastewater system will be using the Corporation's containerized membrane bioreactor (CMBR) process combining the use of advanced biological processes and submerged membranes. Systems using this process create high quality effluent capable of meeting the most stringent effluent requirements. Using the CMBR enables faster system integration and delivery, reduces footprint, and provides better effluent quality. The second project is with an important oil company from Alberta, for an ultrafiltration (UF) system that will produce 550.36 gpm (3000 m3/day) of potable water. This system will feed the steam generator as well as act as the pre-treatment to their existing nanofiltration (NF) plant. The system will ultimately be delivered in skid mounted buildings, similar to H2O Innovation's past projects. The remaining five (5) contracts awarded to the Corporation are municipal and industrial contracts. Disraeli, a town located in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region in the province of Quebec, has awarded the Corporation with a contract to provide a drinking water system capable of producing 330.22 gpm (1800 m3/day) for the municipality. H2O Innovation distinguished itself from its competitors thanks to its competitive price, its expertise in the municipal sector and its many achievements made in the industry in Quebec and in North America. Additionally, the Corporation will provide Hydro-Quebec with a custom-built water treatment system that will produce drinking water for the employees of the La Romaine 3 hydroelectric power plant, located on the North Shore of Quebec. A water treatment system that will produce 175 gpm (953.9 m3/day) for the municipality of Sherburn, Minnesota was also awarded to the Corporation. Lastly, H2O innovation will supply drinking water systems for the municipality of Slate Falls First Nation, Manitoba, as well as for a Midwestern American university. About H2O Innovation H2O Innovation designs and provides state-of-the-art, custom-built and integrated water treatment solutions based on membrane filtration technology for municipal, industrial, energy and natural resources end-users. The Corporation's activities rely on three pillars which are water and wastewater projects, specialty products & services, including a complete line of specialty chemicals, consumables, specialized products for the water treatment industry as well as control & monitoring systems, and operation & maintenance services for water and wastewater treatment systems. For more information, visit www.h2oinnovation.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the Alternext Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Source: H2O Innovation Inc. www.h2oinnovation.com Contact: Marc Blanchet +1 418-688-0170 marc.blanchet@h2oinnovation.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Unigold Inc. ("Unigold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: UGD) is pleased to announce results from ongoing exploration drilling at the Candelones Extension deposit, within the Company's 100% owned Neita Concession in the Dominican Republic. The Company has received results from four holes at Target A, (Ref Figure 1.0) where drilling in late 2015 identified gold and copper rich massive sulphide mineralization. Follow up drilling in early 2016 traced the massive sulphide discovery over 200 metres to the east. Significant results included LP15-93 (15.7 metres @ 7.5 g/t Au; 1.1% Cu); LP15-95 (34.9 metres @ 6.2 g/t Au; 0.6% Cu) and LP16-101 (9.8 metres @ 3.1 g/t Au; 0.6% Cu) (UGD PR# 2016-04). These latest drill holes were designed to test the western limit of the high grade massive sulphides. Hole LP16-114, 25 metres west of LP15-93, intersected 21.2 metres @ 6.0 g/t Au; 0.9% Cu within a broader interval of 52.2 metres @ 3.3 g/t Au; 0.4% Cu. LP16-115, 60 metres west of LP15-93, intersected 5.7 metres @ 3.8 g/t Au; 1.2% Cu within a broader interval of 106.5 metres @ 0.6 g/t Au; 0.1% Cu . The results have added approximately 60 metres of strike length and the mineralization remains open to the west (Ref. Figures 2.0 and 3.0). Joseph Del Campo, Interim President and CEO of Unigold notes: "These latest results have increased the footprint of the gold-copper rich massive sulphides to the west. The massive sulphide mineralization remains open along strike in both directions providing an enticing target for further drill testing. To date, we have completed approximately 70% of the planned 2016 drill program and remain ahead of schedule and under budget. Results to date have exceeded our expectations, not only increasing the footprint of the high grade targets within the current resource envelope but also identifying additional drill targets with the potential to further expand the footprint of the high grade zones. Drilling at the central 'Target B' is complete and drills have moved to the eastern extent of the gold-copper rich massive sulphides to test areas where we believe faulting may have down-dropped the mineralization below the historical drilling. Assay results from 'Target B' should be available over the next few weeks. Drill productivity is 30% higher than expected, costs are tracking below budget and our Health, Safety and Environmental record has been exceptional." Table 1.0 summarizes the analytical results for four of the five holes testing the western extent of Target A. Table 1.0 - Significant Results Target A - Candelones Extension ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interval Hole From (m) To (m) (m)(1) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Zn (%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LP16-114 228.8 281.0 52.2 3.3 6.1 0.4 0.1 including 235.0 240.0 5.0 4.8 1.5 0.3 0.1 AND 256.8 278.0 21.2 6.0 13.3 0.9 0.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LP16-115 204.0 310.5 106.5 0.6 1.6 0.1 0.2 including 288.3 294.0 5.7 3.8 12.1 1.2 0.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LP16-116 213.0 314.5 101.5 1.1 1.7 0.2 0.2 including 214.0 239.0 25.0 1.5 0.8 0.0 0.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LP16-117 214.0 314.0 100.0 0.7 1.1 0.1 0.1 including 250.0 280.8 30.8 1.3 1.6 0.2 0.1 including 290.0 295.0 5.0 1.8 4.9 0.6 0.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LP16-118 Results Pending ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Interval Width is measured down hole and is not True Width. There is insufficient data to estimate True Width at this time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holes LP16-114 and LP16-115 both intersected massive to semi-massive sulphide mineralization similar to that intersected in the discovery hole LPMET-01. Holes LP16-116 and 117 intersected broad intervals of disseminated to semi-massive sulphide mineralzation hosted in a strongly brecciated dacite volcaniclastic at the andesite-dacite contact. The dacite volcaniclastic is the preferred host for mineralization at Candelones and higher-grade mineralization is found where epithermal fluids have pooled under the overlying impermeable andesite. This contact mineralization was the primary focus of the initial drilling at the Candelones Extension in 2010 to 2013. This drilling was completed on a wide spaced pattern (100m x 100m) and failed to properly define the extent of higher grade mineralization that had been intersected within the broader, contact-style mineralized envelope. The gold-copper rich massive sulphides have now been drill traced over a 260 metre strike length (E-W) and a 75 metre width (N-S). The data continues to suggest that the massive sulphide is relatively flat lying, varying in thickness between 5.0 and 30.0 metres. The massive sulphides remain open to the west and at depth to the east, the area currently being tested by the Company's exploration team. The Company currently believes that late sub-vertical faulting has down-dropped the massive sulphides to the east and that much of the historical drilling either stopped short of the mineralization or was collared too far to the north to intersect the down-dropped massive sulphides. To view "FIGURE 1.0 - CANDELONES EXTENSION DEPOSIT DRILL PLAN AND GEOLOGY," please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/unigold_oct5_2016_figure01.pdf To view "FIGURE 2.0 - CANDELONES EXTENSION DEPOSIT SECTION 1850 EAST," please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/unigold_oct5_2016_figure02.pdf To view "FIGURE 3.0 - CANDELONES EXTENSION DEPOSIT CONTOURED LONGITUDINAL SECTION," please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/unigold_oct5_2016_figure03.pdf Premier Mining Destination - Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is host to world-class gold and base metal mines and deposits. The government supports development and exploration in the mining sector. In addition, the country has well established Mining Laws and Environmental Laws. Unigold's wholly owned flagship property, Neita is compliant with all mineral and environmental requirements and work is conducted to internationally accepted environmental and social standards. The Neita concession exploration license is in good standing. QA/QC Diamond drilling at the Candelones Project utilizes both HQ and NQ diameter tooling. Holes are established using HQ diameter tooling before reducing to NQ tooling to complete the hole. The core is received at the on-site logging facility where it is, photographed, logged for geotechnical and geological data and subjected to other physical tests including magnetic susceptibility and specific gravity analysis. Samples are identified, recorded, split by wet diamond saw, and half the core is sent for assay with the remaining half stored on site. A minimum sample length of 0.3 metres and a maximum sample length of 1.5 metres are employed with most samples averaging 1.0 metres in length except where geological contacts dictate. Certified standards and blanks are randomly inserted into the sample stream and constitute approximately 5-10% of the sample stream. Samples are shipped to a sample preparation facility in the Dominican Republic operated by Bureau Veritas. Assaying is performed at Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd.'s laboratory in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. All samples are analyzed for gold using a 50 gram lead collection fire assay fusion with an atomic adsorption finish. In addition, most samples are also assayed using a 36 element multi-acid ICP-ES analysis method. Wes Hanson P.Geo., Chief Operating Officer and Technical Director of Unigold, who is a qualified person under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. About Unigold Inc. - Discovering Gold in the Caribbean Unigold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol UGD, focused primarily on exploring and developing its gold assets in the Dominican Republic. For Further Information please visit www.unigoldinc.com. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements contained in this document, including statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are based on our assumptions and estimates and are subject to risk and uncertainties. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words like "strategy", "expects", "plans", "believes", "will", "estimates", "intends", "projects", "goals", "targets", and other words of similar meaning. You can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. We wish to caution you that such statements contained are just predictions or opinions and that actual events or results may differ materially. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Where applicable, we claim the protection of the safe harbour for forward-looking statements provided by the (United States) Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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: Unigold Inc. Mr. Joseph Del Campo Interim President & CEO 416.866.8157 jdelcampo@unigoldinc.com www.unigoldinc.com WARSAW (dpa-AFX) - The Polish Zloty drifted higher against the U.S. dollar in European deals on Wednesday, as Polish bonds fell on the ECB taper rumors, pushing yields up. There were reports about the European Central Bank probably winding down its $90-billion monthly bond purchases ahead of schedule, but the central bank subsequently denied that the governing council had discussed the subject. The Polish Central Bank decided to keep interest unchanged at a record low of 1.5 percent. The decision was in line with expectations. The Zloty climbed to a 2-day high of 3.8260 against the greenback, compared to Tuesday's closing value of 3.8446.The next possible resistance for the Zloty is seen around the 3.6 mark. 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. LONDON, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Izabel London, the UK's most fashion focused, moderately priced Internet retailer of women's clothing have achieved an impressive boost in sales this year following their launch into India. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161005/415397LOGO ) The UK womenswear brand has seen a 140% growth in sales during their first quarter, following a deal with Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Limited of India, which extends their reach into 145 'Pantaloons' stores across 76 cities in the country. Karan Uppal, founder of Izabel London said, "Expanding internationally was a natural progression for Izabel London. One of the main challenges with this type of scale of expansion is to retain the essence of the brand over multiple channels. Collaboration with Pantaloons gives Izabel London the brand exposure that is needed in Asian Market. As we grow into new markets, it is important not to lose the key part of what makes Izabel unique, and to remain consistent and deliver the same result." Pantaloons is a division of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (formerly known as Pantaloons Fashion & Retail Limited) and is one of India's largest and fastest growing big box fashion retailers. The first Pantaloons store was launched in Kolkata in 1997. Izabel London's wide range of exotic day wear and accessible evening wear is currently available in more than 500 locations across the UK, including prestigious retailers House of Fraser, Dorothy Perkins and Debenhams. The popular women's clothing brand's India launch is part of an impressive global expansion process throughout Europe, Asia and the Pacific region. The brand is currently stocked in more than 1,000 locations worldwide. Izabel London, as a brand, is dedicated to always having the most recent fashion trends in stock the moment they are seen on the catwalk. Whatever a customer is looking for be it casual, dressy, prints or colours, the UK based brand makes sure that their range has it all. Izabel London focuses on providing easy to wear, catwalk inspired women's clothing at the best price. Now, with their plans to extend across the globe firmly in place, the team behind Izabel London are looking forward to what the next year will bring for the brand. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Automatic Data Processing releases private sector payrolls data for September at 8:15 am ET Wednesday. Economists are looking for an addition of 170,000 jobs, slightly down from 177,000 jobs last month. Ahead of the data, the greenback traded mixed against its major counterparts. While the greenback rose against the euro, it held steady against the rest of major counterparts. The greenback was worth 1.1210 against the euro, 1.2718 against the pound, 103.12 against the yen and 0.9772 against the Swiss franc as of 8:10 am ET. 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. PORTLAND, OR -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Eastside Distilling, Inc. (OTCQB: ESDI), a producer of award-winning master-crafted spirits, earned top honors at the 2016 New York Wine and Spirits Competition. The company's Burnside 'Oregon Oaked' Bourbon received a double gold medal, while its Barrel Hitch 'Oregon Oak' American Whiskey earned a silver medal. The New York Wine & Spirits Competition is regarded as among the "Triple Crown" of wine and spirits competitions, which includes The San Francisco International Wine Competition and The San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Judges include top food and beverage buyers, US Bartenders Guild mixologists, educators, beverage directors, columnists, writers, sommeliers and chefs. Entries for this competition were submitted by leading spirits producers from across the country. "It is both humbling and an honor to participate and medal at any competition; but this one, especially with its top pedigreed panel and highly regarded reputation in the industry, is a big win, of which we are all very proud," commented Eastside's master distiller, Mel Heim. "Both whiskies are unique to their categories and in our opinion each award is a validation of the work we do to create masterfully crafted spirits." Burnside 'Oregon Oaked' Bourbon, which won double gold in the competition, starts with the company's award-winning Burnside Bourbon, a barrel-aged straight bourbon, which is then aged for another 60-120 days in heavy-charred, hand made Oregon Oak barrels, adding subtle new flavors to the already great-tasting bourbon. Eastside's Burnside Bourbons, bottled at 96 proof, have more intensity & complexity than many other bourbons on the market. Barrel Hitch 'Oregon Oak' American Whiskey, which won silver in the competition, starts with Eastside's award-winning Barrel Hitch American Whiskey, which is then put through a second four-month aging process in barrels handmade from Oregon Oak. The barrels impart a distinctive vanilla flavor that cannot be duplicated from barrels made from other oak varietals. The remarkable flavor profile of Barrel Hitch 'Oregon Oak' American Whiskey is also the result of a meticulous blending process of carefully selected finished whiskey sources, each contributing a unique scent, flavor, mouth feel and color which is expertly balanced for consistency and quality. "We believe that these new wins are a testament to the passion and creativity of our master distiller, as well as the dedication to quality and excellence of our whole team," said Eastside CEO, Steven Earles. "Our broad portfolio of craft spirits, from whiskeys and bourbons, to vodka, rums and special liquors, has now won more than a dozen awards for quality, taste, creativity and branding at several major competitions across the country." Eastside master crafted spirits are available for purchase at leading retail outlets in more than 22 states nationwide and online. They can also be sampled and purchased at the company's Oregon retail locations and its tasting room on Distillery Row in Portland. About the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition The New York World Wine and Spirits Competition is one of the largest competitions for the retail beverage industry in the world. Judges include top food and beverage buyers, USBG mixologists, educators, beverage directors, columnists, writers, sommeliers and chefs. It is associated with the "Triple Crown of Competitions" that includes The San Francisco International Wine Competition and The San Francisco World Spirits Competition. About Eastside Distilling Eastside Distilling, Inc. (OTCQB: ESDI) is located in Southeast Portland's Distillery Row, and has been producing high-quality, master crafted spirits since 2008. Makers of award winning spirits, the company is unique in the marketplace and distinguished by its highly decorated product lineup that includes Barrel Hitch American Whiskies, Burnside Bourbon, Below Deck Rums, Portland Potato Vodka, and a distinctive line of infused whiskeys. All Eastside spirits are master crafted from natural ingredients for unparalleled quality and taste. The company is publicly traded under the symbol OTCQB: ESDI. For more information, visit: www.eastsidedistilling.com or follow the company on Twitter and Facebook. Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; acceptance of the Company's products in the market; the Company's success in obtaining new customers; the Company's ability to obtain additional capital, the Company's success in product development; the Company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans; the Company's success in integrating acquired entities and assets, and all the risks and related information described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the financial statements and related information contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2016. The Company assumes no obligation to update the cautionary information in this release. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3063956 Company Contact: Eastside Distilling Tel 971-888-4264 inquiries@eastsidedistilling.com Investor Contact: Robert Blum, Joe Diaz or Joe Dorame Lytham Partners, LLC (602) 889-9700 esdi@lythampartners.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Select Sands Corp. ("Select Sands" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SNS)(OTC: CLICF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding agreement with Tutle Holding, LLC and Steve Hackmann, Ozark Premium Sand, LLC ("OPS") pursuant to which Select Sands' wholly owned subsidiary, American Select Corp., will purchase certain of OPS's equipment and shall have the option to purchase OPS's dry processing plant, operating equipment, saleable inventory, and customer lists amongst other miscellaneous assets owned by OPS. Included in the assets in respect of which the Company will have an option to purchase is a 26-acre fully operational drying facility with storage located within 50 miles of Select Sands' "Sandtown" quarry in Arkansas, USA. The 26-acre facility is located on the Union Pacific Rail Line. If the option is exercised, this transaction will transform Select Sands into a fully integrated, self-sufficient Tier 1 sand producer with capacity to process more than 600,000 tons per year with an excellent logistics and storage advantage. In addition, the facility can be easily expanded to increase the amount of sand that can be processed. Rasool Mohammad, President, CEO and Director of Select Sands states, "We are very pleased to come to terms on this transaction that is very favourable for both parties moving forward. In the energy market, Tier-1 regional (40/70 and 100 mesh) sand is in high demand right now, and the market is tightening for this finer sand. Our timing to become a new supplier of high-purity, finer mesh sand couldn't come at a better time for our shareholders." Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Select Sands will pay US$500,000 upon signing of the agreement to the vendors in respect of the purchase of certain heavy equipment. Select Sands will take title to these assets upon payment of the US$500,000. Select Sands will then have 60 days to complete its due diligence on the remaining assets that are subject to the agreement. If Select Sands is satisfied with its due diligence, then before the end of the due diligence period it must pay an additional US$250,000 to the vendors for certain specified additional heavy equipment and US$250,000 as a payment for the option to acquire the remaining assets within the period expiring on the one year anniversary of the date of payment of the above referenced US$250,000 option payment. The purchase price for the remaining assets subject to the option will be US$3,317,000, after deducting the US$250,000 option payment. As per the June 2015 PEA report by Tetra Tech of Golden, Colorado, USA and Vancouver, BC, Canada, the Sandtown property has a pre-tax net present value of US$160 million and a post-tax net present value of US$92 million. The PEA was completed on a portion of the current silica sand mineral resources (see the Select Sands' June 10, 2015 News Release). Within this PEA, the CAPEX for the drying plant, equipment, storage and loadout was approx. US$32M, whereas the total purchase price that encompasses the vast majority of this CAPEX totals US$4,317,000. Mr. Mohammad continues, "This transaction demonstrates our commitment to become a fully integrated producer in the most accretive way possible and demonstrates our aligned interests with shareholders." The Company is fully funded to make the first two payments from treasury and is in the position to fully evaluate all financing options to finalize the proposed transaction as the Company continues to increase sales and ramp production. An up to three percent finder's fee will be paid in respect of this transaction. Completion of the transaction and payment of the finders' fee will be subject to receipt of any applicable regulatory approvals. Mark Horan, P.Eng. of Tetra Tech, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this News Release. About Select Sands Corp. Select Sands' Sandtown property, located in northeast Arkansas, USA, is underlain by the Ordovician St. Peter sandstone formation, which is a major source of Northern White Silica Sand.'). Compared to competitive sand mines located in Wisconsin owned by the largest US frac sand producers, Sandtown has a competitive location advantage as it is approximately 650 rail miles closer to the Texas/Louisiana oil/gas plays as well as the Houston port and industrial hub. The Company has acquired a wet processing plant to produce Northern White 40/70 and 100 mesh silica sand products with daily capacity of up to 1,500 tons per day (see August 23, 2016 News Release). The wet processing plant includes feed hopper, conveyor, classifiers, cyclones, and control building and is optimized to increase its daily capacity at minimal cost as needed. The Company continues to seek additional opportunities in the region to secure strategic assets that will continue to optimize production. The Company has acquired 20 million common shares of Comstock Metals Ltd. pursuant to its sale of its gold assets to Comstock as set forth in the Company's press release issued on Sept. 14, 2016. The 20 million shares were issued at a deemed price of 29 cents per share for total deemed consideration of CAD$5.8-million. After giving effect to the acquisition by the Company of the 20 million common shares, the Company has ownership or control over approximately 35.4 percent of the issued and outstanding common shares of Comstock. As per the June 2015 PEA report by Tetra Tech of Golden, Colorado, USA and Vancouver, BC, Canada, the Sandtown property has a pre-tax net present value of US$160 million and a post-tax net present value of US$92 million. The PEA was completed on a portion of the current silica sand mineral resources (see the Select Sands' June 10, 2015 News Release). Select Sands would like to remind investors that mineral resources for the Sandtown Property are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability and there is no certainty that this PEA will be realized. The PEA is preliminary in nature that it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that the resources development, production, and economic forecasts on which this PEA is based will be realized. Subsequent to the completion of the 2015 PEA, Select Sands announced an updated mineral resource estimate for the Sandtown property totaling 41.98 Million Tons of Indicated silica sand mineral resources (see the Select Sands February 10, 2016 news release). Forward Looking Statements This News Release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Such statements include statements regarding the completion of the transaction described in this press release, the ability to expand the facility that is the subject of the option, targets and future exploration on the Company's properties. Information and statements which are not purely historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. For more information about Select Sands Corp., please visit www.selectsandscorp.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. Contacts: Select Sands Corp. Rasool Mohammad, B.Sc. (Mining) President & CEO Phone: (604) 639-4533 Select Sands Corp. Investor Relations Arlen Hansen SNS@kincommunications.com Phone: (604) 684-6730 www.selectsandscorp.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Midland Exploration Inc. ("Midland") (TSX VENTURE: MD) is pleased to announce the acquisition, by map designation, of three new properties with strong gold potential totalling 553 claims and covering a surface area of 304 square kilometres, mostly located in the northwestern Abitibi region, near the regional Lower Detour and Casa Berardi fault zones. With these new acquisitions, combined to an already significant land position in one of the currently most dynamic areas in the Abitibi, Midland now holds a total of thirteen (13) active projects totalling more than 2,000 claims and covering a surface area of approximately 1,120 square kilometres in the vicinity of the regional Casa Berardi, Lower Detour, and Sunday Lake fault zones. These new strategic land positions were acquired following regional compilation work and cover underexplored and favourable geological assemblages and structures which may potentially host economic gold mineralization. These acquisitions are namely located along the extensions of the Detour Lake and Casa Berardi gold mines, as well as the former Selbaie mine (Zn-Cu-Ag), in addition to many advanced active projects, such as Detour Gold's Lower Detour 58N gold project and Balmoral's Martiniere-Bug Lake project, as well as the Grasset Ni-Cu-PGE project also held by Balmoral. La Peltrie East Project A total of 39 claims covering a surface area of approximately 22 square kilometres were acquired about 2 kilometres south of the Lower Detour Fault. These claims cover 10 kilometres of prospective yet underexplored geology and structures, wedged between the regional Lower Detour Fault and the synvolcanic Brouillan Pluton. The Lower Detour Fault is known for its excellent gold potential and namely hosts Zone 58N, Detour Gold's latest prospect, where high-grade gold values reaching 35 g/t Au over 23.2 metres were obtained in drill hole (see press release by Detour Gold dated July 28, 2016) and where a 25,000-metre drilling campaign was launched last July. Mistaouac Project A large property consisting of several claim blocks totalling 307 claims and covering a surface area of approximately 170 square kilometres was also acquired recently, about 30 kilometres east of the Casa Berardi mine. This property covers the extensions of historical gold occurrences and exhibits favourable geology and structural features similar to other regional structures in the Abitibi that host most of the significant gold deposits in the region. Turgeon Project The new Turgeon Project consists of 207 claims covering a surface area of approximately 112 square kilometres and is located about 40 kilometres southwest of the Casa Berardi mine. This area is characterized by the presence of a felsic to mafic volcanic sequence assigned to the Dieppe 2 Group, which includes several banded oxide-facies iron formation horizons of the Dieppe 3 Group. Significant N-S-trending and NW-SE-trending structures also cross-cut these sequences. In addition, the property is located along the eastward extension of a magnetic signature occurring on the Ontario side of the border, in the south part of the Burntbush property recently acquired by Detour Gold (see press release by Detour Gold dated September 15, 2016). Midland is planning to launch an airborne geophysical campaign in early 2017, including high-resolution magnetic and electromagnetic surveys to cover all of the new acquisitions. Figures showing the location of these three new projects, as well as all of Midland's land positions to the west of Matagami, may be consulted using the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Midland%20acquisitions%20October%202016.pdf About Midland Midland targets the excellent mineral potential of Quebec to make the discovery of new world-class deposits of gold, platinum group elements, base metals and rare earth elements. Midland is proud to count on reputable partners such as Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, Teck Resources Limited, SOQUEM INC., Osisko Exploration James Bay Inc., Japan Oil and Gas and Metals National Corporation and Abcourt Mines Inc. Midland prefers to work in partnership and intends to quickly conclude additional agreements in regard to newly acquired properties. Management is currently reviewing other opportunities and projects to build up the Company portfolio and generate shareholder value. This press release was prepared by Mario Masson, VP Exploration for Midland, certified geologist and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. For further information, please consult Midland's website. Website: www.midlandexploration.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. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Midland's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Midland from time to time with securities regulatory authorities. Contacts: Gino Roger President and Chief Executive Officer 450 420-5977 450 420-5978 (FAX) info@midlandexploration.com www.midlandexploration.com Regulatory News: Uno-X Hydrogen AS, a Nel ASA (Nel) (OSE:NEL) joint venture, announced today it has been awarded a grant of NOK 19.8 million from the Norwegian public enterprise Enova SF, for an expansion of the Norwegian hydrogen network with one hydrogen production facility and two hydrogen fueling stations in Bergen. "Nel is proud to announce that Uno-X Hydrogen has been awarded NOK 19.8 million from Enova for establishing two hydrogen fueling stations and one electrolyser in Bergen, Norway. This will enable important public and private fleet users to include hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for their vehicle fleet. Furthermore, it marks an important next step in establishing a network of hydrogen fueling stations that will enable wide-spread use of hydrogen vehicles in and between the major cities in Norway by 2020. The support is also a positive signal from the government in recognising hydrogen as a important zero-emission fuel for the Norwegian transport sector," says Jon Andre Lkke, CEO of Nel. Uno-X Hydrogen is grateful for Enova's support in Bergen, and hope hydrogen infrastructure will be high on Enova's agenda in the years to come. Uno-X Hydrogen is a strong believer in hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicles as the most user-friendly zero-emission solution in Norway. Our goal is to provide the necessary infrastructure by 2020 to secure that our customers have several zero emission-alternatives to choose from, and to meet the demand for hydrogen fuel in a convenient way at the lowest possible cost for the consumer", says Roger Hertzenberg, CEO of Uno-X Hydrogen. Enova SF is a Norwegian public enterprise responsible for the promotion of environmentally friendly production and consumption of energy. The awarded funds will be allocated towards establishing two centrally located hydrogen fueling stations at Danmarksplass and Asane, two of the busiest areas in the Bergen region, as well as an electrolyser for the production of renewable hydrogen for the two stations. "The market for hydrogen fueling solutions is in an exciting growth phase. For this project, we are working together with important fleet users such as Hordaland Regional Government, Bergen County, as well as Bergen Taxi, and together with other interested parties, a fleet of more than twenty hydrogen vehicles have already been ordered. We look forward to continuing the work through Uno-X Hydrogen to enable a fully zero-emission transportation sector with our hydrogen fueling network across Norway," says Lkke. ENDS About Nel Nel is a global, dedicated hydrogen company, delivering optimal solutions to produce, store and distribute hydrogen from renewable energy. We serve industries, energy and gas companies with leading hydrogen technology. Since its foundation in 1927, Nel has a proud history of development and continual improvement of hydrogen plants. Our hydrogen solutions cover the entire value chain from hydrogen production technologies to manufacturing of hydrogen fueling stations, providing all fuel cell electric vehicles with the same fast fueling and long range as conventional vehicles today. www.nel-hydrogen.com. About Uno-X Hydrogen Uno-X Hydrogen AS is a joint venture, owned by Uno-X, Nel and Praxair with 41%, 39% and 20%, respectively. The joint venture will build a network of hydrogen refueling stations, where fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) can operate between all the major cities in Norway. The stations will be deployed in cities like Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Kristiansand, along with corresponding corridor locations. The target is that FCEVs can drive between the most populated cities in Norway within 2020. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005005708/en/ Contacts: For additional information, please contact: Jon Andre Lkke, CEO, +47 90 74 49 49 or Bjrn Simonsen, Vice President Market Development Public Relations, 47 97 17 98 21 or Roger Hertzenberg, CEO Uno-X Hydrogen, +47 92 40 68 50 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2016) - Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. (OTCQB: ATTBF) (CSE: ATT) (the "Company" or "Abattis") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Global Damon Pharma ("GDP") of South Korea, to distribute and sell Abattis' proprietary PhytoNOS and Sassy Tonics in modified formulations. GDP will engage in the research and creation of necessary components for completion of these two products and will negotiate and enter into a formal Exclusive Licensing Agreement to sell and distribute these two products under licence in South Korea. GDP will identify, and source, marketing, sales and distribution channels, engage in any risk management programs; and, oversee the compliance of these products within the regulatory framework of the Korean territory. GDP will also retain and liaise with all service providers in the Korean territory and will oversee compliance with revenue objectives and overall performance of the marketing, sales and distribution channels. GDP will provide marketing, sales and distribution reports to Abattis on a quarterly basis as well as submitting payments under any Licensing Agreement. The initial research and feasibility stage of this agreement will expire on or after June 30, 2017 after which Abattis has the option to renew the agreement for 24 months, after which it may enter into a separate services agreement. Mr. Sonny Hwang, Vice President of GDP noted that: "GDP also wishes to congratulate Northern Vine, one of Abattis' related companies, on its successful achievement of a Controlled Substance Licence. This access to the R&D of scheduled and regulated ingredients allows GDP to complete formulations efforts in a jurisdiction that it federally legal" About Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. Abattis is a specialty agricultural technology and biotechnology company which aggregates, integrates, and invests in agricultural technologies and biotechnology services for the legal cannabis industry developing in Canada. The Company has successfully developed and licensed natural health products, medicines, extractions, and ingredients for the biologics, nutraceutical, bioceutical, and cosmetic markets. The Company also is also seeking to acquire exclusive intellectual property rights to agricultural technologies to be employed in extraction and processing of botanical ingredients and compounds. The Company follows strict standard operating protocols, and adheres to the applicable laws of Canada and foreign jurisdictions. For more information, visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com. About Northern Vine Labs Northern Vine Labs is licensed by Health Canada for the possession of Cannabis and related active ingredients, as well as the production of extracts for the purpose of analysis. Northern Vine Labs product certification and quality assurances programs incorporate global best practices and procedures for application in the Canadian market. About Global Damon Pharma Co. Ltd.: The Global Damon Pharma Co., Ltd. (GDP) was established in 1995 by Mr. Don Ki Kim after thirty years of dedicated work as President and CEO of Boryung Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., one of the leading Korean pharmaceutical companies. GDP provides biological and pharmaceutical consulting services as well as business development including licensing, marketing, sales & distribution of medicines, medical devices, health food and cosmeceuticals. We are currently working with our many business partners from U.S.A., Canada, EU, Japan and APAC, and have achieved more than twenty (20) licensing deals so far since our company was opened 20 years ago. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Rene David" Rene David, CFO and Interim CEO For further information, contact the Company at (604) 336-0881 or at news@abattis.com. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. 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 can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks various risk factors discussed in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2016) - Darnley Bay Resources Ltd. (TSXV: DBL) ("Darnley Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received an extension to complete exploration expenditures and cash payments required by its concession agreement on the 7(1)(a) lands of its exploration property, located near Paulatuk, N.W.T., from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation ("IRC"). The restructured agreement makes it possible for Darnley Bay to resume exploration at a later date, at such time as funds become available. Highlights of the restructuring are: The Exploration portion of the agreement has been extended to 2023; Darnley Bay has paid $50,000 to the IRC on October 3, 2016, to settle all outstanding amounts currently owing to the IRC (approximately $225,000); Darnley Bay will make no further payments until 2020 or until the S&P TSX Venture composite index reaches a level of 1500, whichever comes first. Once the milestone is reached, Darnley Bay will pay $50,000 each year for five years, for a total of $250,000. Then, in 2025, a lump sum payment of $425,000 will be required to keep the agreement in good standing. The remaining exploration requirements of approximately $6.3 million will be deferred until 2020, by which time Darnley Bay will be required to begin spending a minimum of $1 million each year, and will have until 2025 to complete the $6.3 million expenditure. In addition, Darnley Bay is please to share the report released by the Geological Survey of Canada on September 26, 2016, entitled "Preliminary Results of a Magnetotelluric Survey Across the Brock Inlier, Northwest Territories", authored by J.E. Spratt, J.A. Craven, and R.H. Rainbird (GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA OPEN FILE 8100). The report may be downloaded from the following hyperlink: http://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/GSC Open File 8100 The introduction of the report reads: "The Brock Inlier Project, Northwest Territories, is part of the second phase of Natural Resources Canada's Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program. The Brock Inlier overlaps the eastern edge of the largest gravity and magnetic anomaly in North America, the Darnley Bay anomaly. It has been suggested that the anomaly is a result of a deeply buried Ni-Cu-PGE magmatic sulphide deposit similar to that of Noril'sk in Russia (Jones et al., 1992, Jefferson et al., 1994). Magnetotelluric ("MT") data have been acquired along an east-west transect to trace sedimentary rocks layers westward from the Brock Inlier into the subsurface and to improve our understanding of the nature, size and depth of the Darnley Bay anomaly." The modelling of the MT data shows that the postulated intrusive source of the Darnley Bay gravity and magnetic anomaly ranges from 35 km depth to as shallow as 2.5 km depth, and that it is bounded on the eastern side by a more conductive zone of several kilometers width, interpreted by the authors as a possible zone of deformation (Figure 20, p. 25, OFR 8100). In addition, three discrete conductors lie beneath MT stations DBR02, DBR09 and DBR10, with conductivities in the 0.33 to 1.0 S/m range, at depths between 1,000 and 1,800 m. This places them within the Shaler Supergroup sediments, two located above the intrusion and one centred on the possible zone of deformation. All of the features discussed above lie within Darnley Bay's concession. The conductor at DBR02 is coincident with gravity target G-7 (see Darnley Bay's 43-101 report dated February 29, 2012). The conductors at DBR09 and DBR10 are both coincident with the axis of a large, east-west oriented magnetic target discussed in the same report. We consider these results promising. The three discrete MT conductors may reflect sulphide accumulations located above the intrusion, remobilized from a deeper source. Stephen Reford, P.Eng., Chief Technical Officer of Darnley Bay, Qualified Person under NI 43-101, reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information presented in this press release. Jamie Levy, President and CEO Telephone: (416) 567-2440 Fax: (416) 361-2515 E-mail: jlevy@darnleybay.com Web site: www.darnleybay.com Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that Darnley Bay expects are forward-looking statements. Although Darnley Bay believes the expectations expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. These include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Darnley Bay, investors should review registered filings at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE: SGB) ("Solegear" or the "Company") announced today that it has appointed Mr. Don Holmstrom to serve as Executive Vice-President & CFO of the Company, replacing Mr. Gary Clifford whose resignation has concurrently been accepted by the board. With over 20 years of executive management experience, Mr. Holmstrom has raised close to $100 million in capital for businesses he has operated as well as completed more than 180 M&A transactions representing over $750 million in transaction value. "In preparation of closing the previously announced financing and to help manage our accelerating growth, I am pleased to be supported by Mr. Holmstrom, who brings additional strong experience to the team," said Paul Antoniadis, Solegear's CEO. "Increased consumer demand and regulatory pressure to remove potentially toxic additives, like BPAs and phthalates, are leading retailers and consumer brands to proactively seek out safer alternatives, like our bioplastics. This is amplifying the demand for plant-based materials in market verticals such as food packaging and everyday household goods." The Company thanks Mr. Clifford, who remains an active shareholder, for his many contributions to the business. About Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE: SGB) is an innovator in the field of next generation bioplastics made from annually renewable plant-based sources. Committed to the principles of Green Chemistry, Solegear is driven by its mission to create healthier, safer and stronger communities by fundamentally changing the way plastics are made. Solegear's proprietary bioplastic formulations are designed to meet today's social and corporate requirements to lower carbon emissions, reduce waste and remove toxicity typically associated with traditional petroleum-based plastics. Together with its partners, Solegear custom engineers, produces and distributes its high-performance bioplastics as resin, sheets and finished goods with some of the highest percentages of renewable, plant-based materials currently available in the industry. For more information: www.solegear.ca and www.mygoodnatured.com. On behalf of the Company: Paul Antoniadis, Chief Executive Officer and Director Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibilities for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we do not undertake to update this information at any particular time. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on our current estimates, expectations and projections, which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Contacts: Solegear Bioplastics Inc. Paul Antoniadis Chief Executive Officer and Director 604-998-4058 Investor Contact: Caleb Jeffries Kin Communications 1-866-684-6730 SGB@kincommunications.com Media Contact: Elisha McCallum FleishmanHillard Vancouver 778-668-0185 Elisha.McCallum@fleishman.ca TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Dominic Barton, global managing partner of McKinsey & Company, and Dezso J. Horvath, Dean of the Schulich School of Business at York University, today announced the official release of a thought-provoking new book, Re-Imagining Capitalism, that charts a hopeful and constructive path forward for a capitalist system under increasing pressure to change to address its impact on society, the environment, and prosperity. Edited by McKinsey's Dominic Barton, Schulich's Dezso J. Horvath and Matthias Kipping, Business History Chair at Schulich, Re-Imagining Capitalism brings together renowned academics, global executives and NGO leaders who reflect on the major issues confronting capitalism and who put forward a number of innovative proposals. Acknowledging the growing public distrust of capitalism and its ability to improve wealth and well-being for the many, the editors call for urgent reforms at a structural and global level to re-establish the traditional bonds between business and society and to ensure that the free market system continues to create value for the long term that benefits all stakeholders and communities. "This volume," they write in the introductory chapter, "reflects both the urgency of the needed action and the opportunity to achieve a wide-ranging agreement and lasting movement towards a more responsible, equitable, and sustainable model of capitalism in order to generate long-term value." In addition to contributions from thought leaders at Schulich and McKinsey, Re-Imagining Capitalism includes chapters by many visionary business leaders, including Unilever CEO Paul Polman; Indian business legend Ratan N. Tata, former chairman of Tata & Sons; Loblaw Executive Chairman Galen G. Weston; former Desjardins CEO Monique Leroux; Doug McMillon, President and CEO of Walmart, and Kathleen McLaughlin, President of the Walmart Foundation; and Royal Bank of Canada vice-president and former Globe and Mail Editor John Stackhouse, as well as other world-renowned academics such John Kay, one of Britain's leading economists; Lynn Stout, a legal scholar and well-known critic of an exclusive shareholder value focus; and Ed Freeman, who has been developing and advocating the stakeholder model for many decades. In the book's concluding chapter, "Capitalism Re-Imagined", Horvath and Barton summarize the way forward based on the many suggestions and actions presented by the book's authors: "Whichever direction capitalism ends up taking, it is increasingly apparent that the narrow shareholder model is being gradually eclipsed by a model that is more closely attuned to the complexity and diversity of the world we live in - a model that is more stakeholder oriented and more guided by principles of long-term value creation and sustainability. It is a model where boards and executives act more like owners, and asset owners and managers invest for the long term; where employees are increasingly treated as partners in the profitability and success of the business; where consumers and suppliers are increasingly engaged as co-creators in shaping the products and services that businesses provide; and where corporations are fully integrated into the communities and countries in which they operate." As examples, they point in particular to capitalist systems in Scandinavia that have successfully combined globally competitive and innovative free markets with policies that focus business attention on all stakeholders to better ensure the wealth and well-being of all citizens. And, most importantly, Horvath and Barton provide clear hope for the future: "If there is anything we have learned from history, it is that capitalism is incredibly resilient." The book is published by Oxford University Press. For more information on the book, please visit the Oxford University Press website. About Schulich Known as Canada's Global Business School, the Schulich School of Business in Toronto is ranked among the world's leading business schools by a number of global surveys. Schulich's MBA program is ranked #1 in the world by Corporate Knights, the world's largest circulation magazine with an explicit focus on Corporate Social Responsibility, in a global survey that identifies which schools are doing the best job of preparing future business leaders for the environmental, social and ethical complexities of modern-day business. Schulich's MBA program is also ranked #1 in Canada and among the world's leading schools by The Economist, Forbes, CNN Expansion and America Economia. Schulich is also ranked among the world's top 35 business schools for a career in investment banking in a global survey by eFinancialCareers.com. The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program is ranked #5 in the world by The Economist and #1 in Canada by the Financial Times of London. For complete ranking details, please visit www.schulich.yorku.ca. Global, innovative and diverse, Schulich offers business programs year-round at its state-of-the-art complex at York University; at its Miles S. Nadal Management Centre located in the heart of the Toronto's financial district; and at its new campus in Hyderabad, India. Schulich also operates a number of satellite centres in Beijing and Shanghai, China; Mumbai, India; Seoul, South Korea; Mexico City, Mexico; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Schulich offers undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate business degrees that lead to rewarding careers in the private, public and nonprofit sectors, and has approximately 30,000 alumni working in over 90 countries. The School pioneered Canada's first International MBA (IMBA) and International BBA (iBBA) degrees, as well as North America's first ever cross-border Executive MBA degree, the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA. In addition to Schulich's Master of Finance, Master of Management and Master of Accounting degrees, the School launched one of the world's first Master of Business Analytics and Master of Real Estate and Infrastructure degrees. Schulich's Executive Education Centre provides executive development programs annually to more than 12,000 executives in Canada and abroad. For a media review copy or to arrange an interview with Schulich Dean Dezso J. Horvath, please contact Beth Marlin. Contacts: Beth Marlin Media Relations and Public Relations Schulich School of Business Email: bmarlin@schulich.yorku.ca Phone: 905-717-6278 OAKVILLE, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Saint Jean Carbon Inc. ("Saint Jean" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SJL), a carbon science company engaged in the exploration of natural graphite properties and related carbon products, is pleased to announce the Company has produced two samples of single layer graphene (1) dispersion 20 mL, 0.1%, with pure 100 mL water and (2) a 50 mg of powder. The material was produced without any chemicals or any mechanical systems that would harm the high order of carbon structure and wettability. The material has been sent to National Research Council (see press release dated July, 26, 2016) and will be used to help set the national standard for graphene production and quality. Paul Ogilvie, CEO, commented: "We are very pleased to have both the material of such high quality and the know how to produce one atom thick graphene with zero impurities and be the most conductive and strongest material in the world. This milestone takes us another step forward as we continue to develop faster and more efficient systems to produce the material. More and more research into graphene in lithium-ion batteries continues to make real progress around the world, the better we understand the needs, the better prepared we will be in the future." In simple terms, graphene, is a thin layer of pure carbon; it is a single, tightly packed layer of carbon atoms that are bonded together in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. In more complex terms, it is an allotrope of carbon in the structure of a plane of sp2 bonded atoms with a molecule bond length of 0.142 nanometres. Layers of graphene stacked on top of each other form graphite, with an interplanar spacing of 0.335 nanometres. Graphene is the thinnest compound known to man at one atom thick; the lightest material known (with 1 square meter coming in at around 0.77 milligrams); the strongest compound discovered (between 100-300 times stronger than steel and with a tensile stiffness of 150,000,000 psi); the best conductor of heat at room temperature (at (4.84+/-0.44) x 10^3 to (5.30+/-0.48) x 10^3 W.m-1.K-1) and also the best conductor of electricity known (studies have shown electron mobility at values of more than 15,000 cm2.V-1.s-1). Other notable properties of graphene are its unique levels of light absorption at pialpha 2.3% of white light, and its potential suitability for use in spin transport. The Company plans on producing more graphene from the samples from the recent summer fieldwork. The Company is still waiting on the lab results of the summer work project (see press release dated, September 2016) and hopes to issue the results shortly. Christian Derosier, P.Geo., PhD., is the qualified person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and, acting on behalf of Saint Jean Carbon, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. About Saint Jean Carbon Saint Jean is a publicly traded carbon science company, with interest in graphite mining claims in the province of Quebec in Canada. For the latest information on Saint Jean's properties and news please refer to the website: http://www.saintjeancarbon.com/ On behalf of the Board of Directors Saint Jean Carbon Inc. Paul Ogilvie, CEO and Director 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: This news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Saint Jean's business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "intends" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" 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". These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. The forward-looking statements in this news release assume, inter alia, that the conditions for completion of the Transaction, including regulatory and shareholder approvals, if necessary, will be met. Although Saint Jean believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Statements of past performance should not be construed as an indication of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Saint Jean assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. To view the image accompanying this press release, click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/SJean105.jpg Contacts: Information Contact: info@saintjeancarbon.com (905) 844-1200 MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Osisko Mining Inc. (TSX: OSK)("Osisko" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has appointed three new executive officers. Mr. Robert Wares has been appointed Executive Vice President of Exploration and Resource Development; Mr. Mathieu Savard has been appointed Vice President of Exploration for Quebec; and Ms. Alexandra Drapack has been appointed Vice President of Environment Services and Sustainable Development. Robert Wares, P.Geo., Executive Vice-President of Exploration and Resource Development Mr. Wares is a professional geologist with over 35 years of experience in mineral exploration, research and resource development. Mr. Wares' skills and experience span a broad spectrum of the exploration and mining industry, with the majority of his career in the base and precious-metals sector. He was a co-founder of Osisko Mining Corp. and was directly responsible for the discovery of the Canadian Malartic bulk tonnage gold deposit, which was subsequently developed by Osisko Mining Corporation into one of Canada's largest gold producers. Mr. Wares was President of Osisko Exploration from 1998 to 2006, was Executive Vice President, Exploration and Resource Development from 2006 to 2012, and was Chief Geologist for Osisko Mining Corporation and Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. from 2012 to 2016. Mr. Wares currently serves as the President of l'Ordre des geologues du Quebec (Quebec Professional Geologist Association) and is also a member of the Board of Directors of Arizona Mining, Bowmore Exploration Ltd. and Komet Resources. He is a member of various industry and research organizations, is recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Science from McGill University and has received numerous industry awards, including co-winner of 2007 Bill Dennis Prospector of the Year Award (PDAC), and with his Osisko co-founders was named "Mining Men of the Year" by the Northern Miner in 2009. Mathieu Savard, P.Geo., Vice-President of Exploration Quebec With over 17 years' experience in exploration in Northern Quebec and Canada, Mathieu graduated from the Universite du Quebec a Montreal with a bachelors degree (B.Sc.) in earth sciences and economic geology. Prior to joining Osisko Mining, he was Chief Geologist at Osisko Exploration James Bay Ltd. for all their activities in Quebec. For 15 years prior to working with the Osisko Group, Mathieu was a senior member of the Virginia Gold and Virginia Gold Mines teams and, as Project Manager, was instrumental to the development of the world-class Eleonore gold deposit in Northern Quebec and was part of the discovery team of the Coulon base metal deposit. Mr. Savard and the Virginia team received the AEMQ's prestigious Prospector of the Year Award in 2004 for the discovery of both the Eleonore gold deposit and Coulon base metal deposit. He is a member of the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and is a director of the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (AEQM) where he currently serves as Vice-President. Alexandra Drapack, P.Eng., Vice-President of Environment Services & Sustainable Development Ms. Drapack is a professional engineer with over 20 years of experience in managing mining, environmental and transportation projects in Canada and the USA, spanning operations, consulting and corporate office settings. Alix graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering. She also holds an MBA from Arizona State University, is a member (P. Eng.) of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, and has her Project Management Professional designation (PMP). From 2011 to 2014, as Director of Sustainable Development for Osisko Mining Corporation, she led the combined federal and provincial environmental assessment process for the Osisko Hammond Reef Project and was responsible for Aboriginal engagement, public consultation and government relations. Previously she developed and implemented the Environmental Management Program for TransLink and has had mining operations experience including working as a Mill Shift foreman for Inco Ltd. John Burzynski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Osisko stated: "We are very pleased to welcome Bob, Mathieu and Alix to the Osisko Mining executive team, three highly experienced mining industry professionals with a depth of experience with the Osisko group. We expect all three will help us in our goal of accelerating work on our flagship Windfall and Urban Barry projects as we continue towards our goal of becoming a leading Canadian intermediate mining company." About Osisko Mining Inc. Osisko is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Osisko holds a 100% in the high-grade Windfall Lake gold deposit located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in Quebec and holds a 100% undivided interest in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area (82,400 hectares), a 100% interest in the Marban project located in the heart of Quebec's prolific Abitibi gold mining district, and properties in the Larder Lake Mining Division in northeast Ontario, including the Jonpol and Garrcon deposits on the Garrison property, the Buffonta past producing mine and the Gold Pike mine property. The Corporation also holds interests and options in a number of additional properties in northern Ontario. Osisko continues to be well financed and has approximately $80 million in cash and cash equivalents as well as marketable securities of approximately $60 million. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the potential for significant new mineralization near the Windfall mineral inventory; continued definition and exploratory drilling (specifically in the eastern extension of the deposit and below the Red Dog intrusion); strong mineralization in the Caribou Zone; the extension of the Caribou Zone mineralized corridor; the expansion of the FW3 Zone; the expansion of the drill program at Windfall Lake (including the number of drills and meters of drilling); the potential for Windfall to be a "company maker" deposit for the Corporation; the ability of the exploration team to continue intersecting new extensions and to define new parallel mineralized zones; pending transactions and any interests and options of the Corporation; any potential mineralization; the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic; the ability to complete any proposed drilling or exploration activities and the results of such activities; the continuity or extension of any mineralization; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Osisko, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Osisko to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the quality of drilling results; the ability of drill results to forecast actual mineralization; property interests; our ability to obtain required approvals, complete definitive documentation and complete transactions on the terms announced, ability of Osisko to complete further exploration activities, including drilling; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to mining activities; the global economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks; and community and non-governmental actions. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Osisko cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither Osisko nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Osisko does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. Contacts: John Burzynski President and Chief Executive Officer (416) 363-8653 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Express Employment Professionals released a new white paper today, titled "Great Intentions, Bad Results," highlighting the downsides for workers and businesses of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. "People deserve a raise, but this paper clearly shows the best way to provide it is through a growing economy where workers are in high demand," said Bob Funk, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Express. "Unfortunately, when the government tries to raise wages artificially, some people may win, but many more will lose." Specifically, a minimum wage hike to $15 in Canada will: 1. Target the young, and likely not help the poor. Sixty per cent of minimum wage earners are under the age of 24, 57 per cent live with their family, 58 per cent work part-time, and 2 per cent are unmarried supporting one child. 2. Reduce employment. Studies show a 10 per cent increase in the minimum wage could reduce national employment for minimum-wage earners by 10 to 20 per cent. 3. Wipe out more entry level jobs. Some business will look for cheaper labour alternatives including greater automation and increased use of technology, as well as hiring robots and iWaiters. "Greater automation. Displaced workers. Reduced opportunity. Unemployed youth. The potential consequences do not end there," Funk said. "Small businesses with tight profit margins could be pushed over the edge if they cannot absorb the cost of higher wages through higher prices or smaller payrolls." The Government of Alberta committed to lifting the province's minimum wage by $3.80 to $15 per hour by 2018, becoming the first province to institute a minimum wage increase above $1 during any length of time. "As experts with real-world, day-to-day experience in the labour market, we urge advocates of a $15 minimum wage to seriously consider the consequences," Funk said. "A strong and robust economy is the best recipe for lifting wages for everyone." A full copy of "Great Intentions, Bad Results," can be found here. If you would like to arrange an interview with Bob Funk to discuss this topic, please contact Kellie Major at (613) 222-7488. About Robert A. Funk Robert A. "Bob" Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than 6 million people to work worldwide. Funk served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and was also the Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve. About Express Employment Professionals and Express in Canada Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.02 billion in sales and employed a record 500,002 people in 2015. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. Express launched in Canada in July 1996, with a franchise in London, Ontario, and since then, has expanded and grown across Canada significantly. There are currently 36 Express franchises in Canada -- six in British Columbia, five in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan, 23 in Ontario and one in Nova Scotia. Contacts: Media Contacts: Kellie Major 613.222.7488 kellie@mapleleafstrategies.com Sherry Kast 405.717.5966 sherry.kast@expresspros.com @ExpressPros CanadaEmployed www.ExpressPros.com/CanadaEmployed NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Mizuho has named Mauricio Voorduin as Managing Director and Head of Structuring for its Latin America corporate and investment banking business. In his new role, Voorduin will be responsible for building out Mizuho's structuring advisory capabilities with Latin America corporates and expand the range of value-added and innovative solution offerings for the firm's core client base in the region. He will report to David Costa, Managing Director and Head of Latin America Corporate Finance for Mizuho. Voorduin joins Mizuho with close to twenty years of experience originating, structuring and executing advisory, financing and transactional banking deals across multiple sectors for corporate, institutional and government clients throughout Latin America. Prior to Mizuho, Voorduin held a number of senior positions with HSBC in Mexico and New York, including Managing Director and Head of Financial Institutions in Mexico; Head of Public Sector, Natural Resources and Energy in Mexico; and Head of Americas Public Sector Coverage. He began his career in Citigroup's corporate and investment banking group focusing on financial institutions and public sector clients in Mexico. "Enhancing our structuring and capital markets advisory capabilities is vital to the continued growth of Mizuho's Latin America client coverage business," stated Costa. "With his extensive transaction experience, strong business development track record and comprehensive knowledge of the competitive landscape, opportunities and market dynamics in the region, Mauricio is a significant addition to our expanding Latin America franchise." In Latin America, Mizuho is one of the leading syndicated finance and project finance banks with top bookrunner and lead arranger league table positions and a number of "Deal of the Year" awards for successfully closed client transactions in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and throughout the region. About Mizuho Americas Mizuho Americas comprises several legal entities, which together offer clients corporate and investment banking, financing, securities, treasury services, asset management, research and more. With professionals in offices throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Chile, Mizuho's operations in the Americas connect a broad client base of major corporations, financial institutions and public sector groups to local markets and a vast global network. Mizuho Americas is an integral part of the Japan-based Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Learn more at mizuhoamericas.com. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: MFG) is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, offering comprehensive financial and strategic services including private banking and venture capital through its subsidiaries. The group has over 56,000 employees working in over 900 offices in nearly 40 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA and Asia. At the end of March 2016, its total assets were $1.8 trillion. Contact: Patrick Phalon (212) 282-3867 ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Russia intends to play an active role in the International Specialized Exhibition EXPO-2017 dedicated to Future Energy, which will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan. "We have seen the huge effort made by the Kazakhstani hosts. Let me assure you Mr. Nazarbayev that Russia will be most actively involved in this large-scale international exhibition, EXPO-2017, and is prepared to co-organize over 100 activities as part of the event," stated Vladimir Putin at the13th Forum of Interregional Cooperation of Kazakhstan and Russia in Astana. At the Forum,Akhmetzhan Yessimov,Chairman of the Board of National Company Astana EXPO-2017, told the heads of Russia and Kazakhstan about the progress of preparations for the exhibition. "Construction work is coming to an end. In October, we will start handing over national pavilions to the participating countries. The Russian Pavilion spans an area of1,008.6 square meters," he said. In addition, Mr. Yessimov said that Rosatom andJSC NACKazatompromwill present acorporate "Nuclear Power" pavilion at the exhibition. The EnergyBest Practices Area(eBPa)where state-of-the-art "green" energy technologies will be demonstrated will be one of the main focal points at EXPO-2017. The internationalcommissionfor the selection of participants reviewed 133 applications from 25 countries. 22 projects were approved, includingSuperconductor, the development of Russian innovators. Most foreign visitors are expected to come from the Russian Federation. Organizers of EXPO-2017 have already conducted roadshows to give presentations in these regions, as well as in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Kazan. As part of preparations for the exhibition, National Company Astana EXPO-2017 signed memoranda of cooperation with Tatarstan,the Altay Region, the Astrakhan Region, the Omsk Region, the Orenburg Region, the Tyumen Region and the Sverdlovsk Region. The parties have agreed that they will cooperate in attracting tourists to EXPO-2017, and studying and developing investment projects, renewable energy sources and environmentally-friendly technologies. About Astana EXPO 2017 The International Specialized Exhibition Astana EXPO-2017 dedicated to Future Energy is an expositional and recreational eventthat will take place between 10 June and 10 September 2017 in Astana. The exhibition will last 93 days and will become one of the most spectacular cultural venues in 2017. To date, 104 countries and 17 international organizations have confirmed their intention to participate in the exhibition. TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- The Ontario Federation of Labour has organized a mass lobby at Queen's Park as part of the 'Week for Decent Work' on Wednesday, October 5, where approximately 100 workers, union activists and community advocates will meet with MPPs of all political parties. The lobby day will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The lobby day is the first of its kind organized by the Federation in more than seven years. The focus of the meetings will be Ontario's Changing Workplaces Review, which is currently reviewing the province's long-outdated Employment Standards and Labour Relations Acts. The OFL will be bringing in workers from across the province to talk about their experiences of precarious work, organizing to form a union, the consequences of long term labour disputes, temp agency work and the difficulty that the current jobs climate causes in making ends meet. As part of the OFL's Make It Fair campaign, participants will be engaging all political parties in conversations about the legislative changes that workers desperately need. "This review is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to correct the path the economy is now on - which is increasingly precarious, unstable employment," said OFL President Chris Buckley. "It's important that the Ontario government and all MPPs understand what is at stake here and how a different future is possible." Buckley said that the lobby day represents the multi-pronged approach that the labour movement and community partners such as the Fight for $15 and Fairness are taking when it comes to pushing for changes to employment laws. "We're organizing in our communities, rallying in the streets and calling on decision makers to do the right thing for Ontario workers," said Buckley. The OFL's www.makeitfair.ca campaign takes on issues of inequality in the workforce, and coincides with the province's "Changing Workplaces Review." The campaign gives voice to demands for across-the-board changes to the Employment Standards Act and the Labour Relations Act that would improve standards for every worker and make it easier for them to join a union. The OFL represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook and Twitter. OFL President Chris Buckley, Secretary-Treasurer Patty Coates, Executive Vice-President Ahmad Gaied and a number of worker-advocates from different economic sectors are available for comment/ interview. Contacts: Shannon Devine Assistant to OFL Officers 416-302-1699 (cell) Sdevine@ofl.ca ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg BNA today announced the recipients of its awards for international tax, which were presented at the company's reception on Monday, September 26during the International Fiscal Association (IFA) Congress in Madrid. Jacques Malherbe of Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick received the 2015 Leonard L. Silverstein Award for Distinguished Service in International Tax and Guillermo Teijeiro of Teijeiro & Ballone, Yuko Miyazaki of Nagashima, Ohno & Tsunematsu, and Pascal Faes of NautaDutilh were recognized with 2015 awards for outstanding authorship. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161005/415415 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DC33627LOGO Jacques Malherbe was this year's recipient of the Silverstein Award in recognition of his longstanding contributions to the field of international tax. The award is named in honor of Leonard L. Silverstein, a leading practitioner in the field of taxation for more than 50 years and the founder of the Tax Management Portfolios'. Pascal Faes received the International Tax Portfolio Author of the Year award for his work on Tax Management Portfolio Business Operations in the European Union - Taxation. Guillermo Teijeiro was recognized as a 2015 International Tax Contributor of the Year for his three-part article, "Opening Pandora's Box in the International Tax Field: New Trends," which was featured in Bloomberg BNA's International Tax News. Yuko Miyazaki also received the 2015 International Tax Contributor of the Year award for her articles on "Tax Treatment of Expatriations by Individuals" and "Income and Estate, Gift and Wealth Tax Consequences to Inbound Employees" in Tax Management International Forum. "Bloomberg BNA is delighted to recognize these very accomplished tax practitioners," said Lisa Fitzpatrick, Vice President and General Manager of Bloomberg BNA Tax & Accounting. "Jacques, Pascal, Guillermo, and Yuko are true thought leaders in international taxation, and we are honored to recognize the in-depth analysis and perspectives they have provided our subscribers for their respective jurisdictions.International taxation is highly complex and changing, and these authors exemplify the practical insights Bloomberg BNA's network of more than 1,100 leading practitioners brings to our subscribers." Malherbe is currently a Partner with Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick and a professor Emeritus of the University of Louvain, and a visiting professor at the universities of Hamburg and Bologna and Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales, France. He is the author of many textbooks on international and European taxation and Belgian corporation tax. "I am truly honored to receive the Leonard L. Silverstein Award for Distinguished Service in International Tax," said Malherbe. "I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Leonard for more than 50 years and am proud to have worked with him to provide practitioners a better understanding of the nuances inherent in international tax law." Faes heads the Brussels tax practice group of NautaDutilh and has extensive experience in all areas of tax law including transactional work, with a particular emphasis on tax structuring and international tax planning. He is Special Consultant to Bloomberg BNA. "I am honored to receive the Portfolio Author of the Year award. It seems particularly fitting as this Portfolio was really the culmination of a relationship that started in 1988 when Jacques Malherbe was my mentor and I wrote my first paper for Bloomberg BNA," said Faes. "Over these 30 years we developed a fruitful collaboration, one of the results being the Tax Management Portfolio on the European Union - Taxation." Teijeiro is a founding partner of Teijeiro & Ballone and teaches international taxation at the Master Program in Taxation, Universidad Catolica Argentina. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Master Program in taxation of Univerisdad Torcuato Di Tella, Buenos Aires. A former plenary member of the IFA Permanent Scientific Committee, Teijeiro is currently a member of the IFA General Council. "I have worked with Bloomberg BNA for over thirty years, having published my first English-language article in Tax Planning International Review," said Teijeiro. "I am honored to be recognized by Bloomberg BNA, an organization I deem my second home." Miyazaki is a partner with Nagashima, Ohno & Tsunematsu and has a broad range of expertise and experience in the areas of international taxation and taxation on financial and securities transactions. She is a former visiting professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate Schools for Law and Politics and Kyoto University, and is currently director of the IFA Japan Branch and a member of the Tax Committee of the Japan Bar Association. "Since 1996, I have been fortunate to be able to contribute to Bloomberg BNA's Tax Management International Forum," said Miyazaki. "I'm excited to receive such a distinguished honor, which represents not just my 2015 contributions, but the body of my work with Bloomberg BNA over the last 20 years." About Bloomberg BNA Bloomberg BNA provides legal, tax and compliance professionals with critical information, practical guidance and workflow solutions.We leverage leading technology and a global network of experts to deliver a unique combination of news and authoritative analysis, comprehensive research solutions, innovative practice tools, and proprietary business data and analytics.Bloomberg BNA is wholly-owned by Bloomberg L.P., the global business, financial information and news leader. For more information, visit www.bna.com. Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl elected new chairman of Seldia Seldia, the leading European Direct Selling Association, has a new chairman At their annual meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, October 5th 2016, the members elected Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl, CEO of the international direct selling company LR Health Beauty with its headquarter in Germany, as Chairman for the next two years. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005005855/en/ Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl, new chairman of Seldia. (Photo: Business Wire) "I am looking forward to this exciting new task. Seldia is well-prepared for the upcoming challenges and enjoys high acceptance among the decision-makers in Brussels. Therefore, we have to actively represent our members' interests and set standards for the industry," stated Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl. 14.5 million people in Europe are involved in direct selling. This makes Europe the third-largest market for this business model after the US, also giving it a high relevance on the job market. "Given the great challenges that many European countries are faced with, it is equally important to me to establish direct sales as a modern business model that can be flexibly adapted to individual life situations and offers opportunities for self-determined work," explains Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl. Flexible working models are a big trend on the job market. Independent entrepreneurship allows a high degree of work-life balance. Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl: "In this vein, we need to ensure transparency, establish clear framework conditions and strengthen the confidence in our sector." About Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl is the CEO of LR Health Beauty since September 1st 2015. After his commercial law studies and the following doctorate on European antitrust law the son of an entrepreneurial family founded together with friends an own start-up company in Dusseldorf. An offer from bofrost* convinced him to change to the management team of the direct selling company in Straelen. For 14 years working in different management positions, Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl ranks among the most successful modernizers of the direct selling sector. Seldia in Brussels Seldia the European Direct Selling Association was established in 1968 and represents the Direct Selling industry in Europe. Seldia's mission is to promote direct selling to the EU institutions and to ensure that the EU and national policy makers in Europe are aware of the industry's benefits and advantages, as well as its contribution to national economies. Seldia membership includes 28 national Direct Selling Associations and 18 Corporate Member companies. Seldia is a member of EuroCommerce and a member of the World Federation of Direct Selling Association's (WfDSA). All Seldia Members distribute top quality products, abide by the highest ethical standards and are signatories to the European Direct Selling Codes of Conduct. Direct selling is the marketing of consumer goods and services directly to consumers on a person-to-person basis, generally in their home or the home of others, at their workplace and other places away from permanent retail locations. Direct selling typically occurs through explanation or demonstration by salespeople referred to as direct sellers. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005005855/en/ Contacts: Seldia Katarina Molin Executive Director Katarina.molin@seldia.eu Redesigned third party partner portal, enhanced workflow process engine, IoT "plug & play" connector, enriched crew management, and integration console & toolkit are just a few of the many features that are included in Astea Alliance 14.0 HORSHAM, Pennsylvania, Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Astea International Inc., a global provider of service management and mobility solutions, introduces the release of Astea Alliance 14.0. This is one of Astea's most comprehensive releases, delivering an extensive number of both technical and functional advancements to help companies catapult revenue growth, optimize the employee/customer/partner interaction experience, drive productivity improvements, and boost customer satisfaction levels. This latest release provides more sophisticated capabilities that give companies greater control and flexibility to adapt and extend the Alliance platform to address their critical business needs, whether deployed in the cloud or on-premise. The integration console, plug & play connectors, and implementation templates, will accelerate time to benefit and return on investment. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160212/332698LOGO "Building on our extensive history and expertise in the service management industry, this release is by far one of the most comprehensive releases Astea has introduced. When we see competitors announcing functionality that Astea Alliance has had as standard for years, it reinforces how far ahead of the curve we have been and Astea Alliance continues to be the most comprehensive and complete service management platform available," said Debbie Geiger, VP Global Marketing, Astea International. "Companies that view service as strategic to their operations' survival select Astea, because they know they have the richest set of operational capabilities and sophisticated controls at their fingertips to optimize and run their entire service business, today and in the future. The commitment from our long-standing, global customer base is mirrored by our own commitment to continual innovation - evidenced by our strong record of investment and constant improvement of our solutions. For decades, Astea has been at the forefront of the industry - defining service management automation, and demonstrating thought leadership." The increasing importance of service around the globe, is causing many companies to re-evaluate their service offerings to stay ahead of the competition as well as retain customers. From the initial customer service call to the closing of work orders, customer invoicing and product replacement, every step in the service lifecycle process represents an opportunity for improving customer satisfaction, reducing costs, increasing revenues, and driving competitive differentiation. In order to deliver breakthrough service, organizations need a powerful, proven, adaptable, and comprehensive platform that will support their complete service ecosystem. With Astea Alliance 14.0, companies can manage the entire service lifecycle with a single provider - Astea. Astea Alliance 14.0 delivers a number of noteworthy advancements, such as: Improved Productivity & Collaboration Tools - A more robust workflow engine is one of the key enhancements Astea has added to help companies improve productivity by providing a centralized console to build, automate, and monitor a consolidated view of all workflow rules, alerts and processes. When it comes to mobile field service solutions, one of the most important elements for success is technician adoption. The solution has to provide powerful capabilities, but also be easy to use. With Astea Alliance 14.0, Astea continues to incorporate new functionality that focuses on the user experience as well as adding more configuration capabilities without complexity. Parts management in the field, is extremely important when it comes to improving first-time fix rates and elevating customer satisfaction levels. Additional supply chain features have been added to Astea's mobile solution to further extend its parts management capabilities. Astea has also developed an end-user feedback option, throughout their solution suite, to capture end-user product suggestions and feedback. - A more robust workflow engine is one of the key enhancements Astea has added to help companies improve productivity by providing a centralized console to build, automate, and monitor a consolidated view of all workflow rules, alerts and processes. When it comes to mobile field service solutions, one of the most important elements for success is technician adoption. The solution has to provide powerful capabilities, but also be easy to use. With Astea Alliance 14.0, Astea continues to incorporate new functionality that focuses on the user experience as well as adding more configuration capabilities without complexity. Parts management in the field, is extremely important when it comes to improving first-time fix rates and elevating customer satisfaction levels. Additional supply chain features have been added to Astea's mobile solution to further extend its parts management capabilities. Astea has also developed an end-user feedback option, throughout their solution suite, to capture end-user product suggestions and feedback. Your Service Platform, Your Way -Astea continues to amplify configuration capabilities by enabling non-technical users to easily modify/extend their platform. Organizations benefit by having a feature-rich foundation, out-of-the-box, that can be easily adapted as needed. Organizations can build new modules, as well as import and export customizations to different environments when needed. Astea is also proud to announce that their Astea Alliance cloud solution can also be deployed on the Microsoft Azure cloud. -Astea continues to amplify configuration capabilities by enabling non-technical users to easily modify/extend their platform. Organizations benefit by having a feature-rich foundation, out-of-the-box, that can be easily adapted as needed. Organizations can build new modules, as well as import and export customizations to different environments when needed. Astea is also proud to announce that their Astea Alliance cloud solution can also be deployed on the Microsoft cloud. Drive Proactive Support and Continuous Process Improvement - Astea Alliance extended capabilities to their existing "plug & play" connector to Cumulocity, the global leading provider of 'Internet-of-Things' (IoT). The connected, end-to-end solution enables service organizations to immediately leverage the latest technology advancements to more accurately predict equipment failures, create usage-based maintenance schedules, reduce the number of truck rolls, improve inventory utilization, and meet greater service level agreement (SLA) commitments with fewer resources. - Astea Alliance extended capabilities to their existing "plug & play" connector to Cumulocity, the global leading provider of 'Internet-of-Things' (IoT). The connected, end-to-end solution enables service organizations to immediately leverage the latest technology advancements to more accurately predict equipment failures, create usage-based maintenance schedules, reduce the number of truck rolls, improve inventory utilization, and meet greater service level agreement (SLA) commitments with fewer resources. Easily Manage and Support a Company's Entire Service Ecosystem - In order for companies to ensure complete visibility & control over their entire service network, it becomes mission critical to have a platform that can serve as their single point of truth for all full-time and outsourced stakeholders. With Astea Alliance 14.0, Astea has redesigned its Third Party Vendor Portal in HTML5, delivering a fresh user experience that provides for a sleek, simplistic and personalized navigation, making it even easier for partners to participate in a company's service delivery supply chain. Further enhancements have also been made in the area of Logistics, Scheduling, Contracts, and Performance Management. - In order for companies to ensure complete visibility & control over their entire service network, it becomes mission critical to have a platform that can serve as their single point of truth for all full-time and outsourced stakeholders. With Astea Alliance 14.0, Astea has redesigned its Third Party Vendor Portal in HTML5, delivering a fresh user experience that provides for a sleek, simplistic and personalized navigation, making it even easier for partners to participate in a company's service delivery supply chain. Further enhancements have also been made in the area of Logistics, Scheduling, Contracts, and Performance Management. Lower Total Cost of Ownership - Astea recognizes the importance of being able to easily interoperate within an organization's existing infrastructure. As a result, they have made significant advancements to their integration console & toolkit. They have also added more standardized connectors to accelerate and simplify interoperating with major ERP and CRM solutions. Additionally, Astea has enriched its import and export templates to help organizations optimize, cleanse and maintain their data. This will make it easier and faster for organizations to cleanse and migrate their data during the implementation process. Astea is the only solution provider that offers all cornerstones of service lifecycle management: customer management; service management; asset management; complete forward and reverse logistics management; and mobile workforce management with enhanced scheduling optimization and actionable business intelligence. Whether in the cloud or on-premise, Astea's solutions are seamlessly orchestrated to share and leverage information throughout the service lifecycle - removing the traditional barriers between the field and back office. About Astea International Astea International is a global provider of software solutions that offer all the cornerstones of service lifecycle management, including customer management, service management, asset management, forward and reverse logistics management and mobile workforce management and optimization. Astea's solutions link processes, people, parts, and data to empower companies and provide the agility they need to achieve sustainable value in less time, and successfully compete in a global economy. Since 1979, Astea has been helping more than 600 companies drive even higher levels of customer satisfaction with faster response times and proactive communication, creating a seamless, consistent and highly personalized experience at every customer relationship touch point. For more information about Astea, please visit www.astea.com. Service Smart. Enterprise Proven. 2016 Astea International Inc. Astea and Astea Alliance are trademarks of Astea International Inc. All other company and product names contained herein are trademarks of the respective holders. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Donald Trump Campaign quoted a set of US media reports to claim that Trump's running mate Mike Pence won the vice-presidential debate. Pence, Republican Indiana Governor, and Democratic Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, clashed for 90-minutes for the only VP debate, held at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, Tuesday. New York Magazine's Andrew Sullivan wrote: 'It seems clear to me that this was a huge win for trump-pence.' 'From the very beginning, Pence was the more comfortable of the two men on the debate stage,' Chris Cillizza said on his politics blog on the Washington Post. MSNBC's Chris Matthews commented on Pence's performance: 'His body language was excellent, he was very good on reaction, he looked like a grown-up.' Reid Epstein, in his analysis of the debate in Wall Street Journal, summed up that Mike Pence did what he clearly aimed to do tonight: 'Attack Hillary Clinton as an agent of the Washington establishment no matter what Tim Kaine or moderator Elaine Quijano said about Mr. Trump's past statements or policies.' The Trump Campaign also cited some reports to show that Tim Kaine was the loser Tuesday night. 'We are are hearing a lot of vibe here in the spin room that a lot of people feel that tim kaine was too aggressive. that the impression that the viewers had was that there were too many interruptions,' NBC News' Andrea Mitchell said. 'As for Kaine, I don't think he appeared presidential; he failed to defend the past eight years clearly and aggressively enough; he did nothing to rouse the Obama coalition. He seemed like a classic politician,' Andrew Sullivan said in an analysis on New York Magazine. 'Kaine Leads With The Interruptions Tonight,' CBS News' Erica R. Brown said. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de PORTLAND, Oregon, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Crystalline Silicon (c-Si) PV Market by Type, and End User-Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014-2022", projects that the world crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV market would reach $163 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2016 to 2022. In 2014, Asia-Pacific dominated the world crystalline silicon PV market and commanded more than 45% share of the overall market revenue, followed by Europe and North America. The Asia-Pacific c-Si PV market growth is mainly driven by factors such as increased government incentives & tariffs, and rising PV installation activities primarily in residential sector. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 ) Summary of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic (PV) Market can be accessed on the website at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/crystalline-silicon-photovoltaic-pv-market Crystalline silicon is the foremost semiconducting material widely used in photovoltaic technology. Presently, rise in demand for greater efficiency and increased application of crystalline silicon in photovoltaic (PV) technology as it is more space efficient and cost-effective compared to thin film semiconducting material are some of the major factors that drive the market growth. Moreover, rise in electricity consumption coupled with increase in government expenditure in photovoltaic technology worldwide are expected to provide huge impetus to the market growth. However, high initial investment and fragility are the limitations that restrict the market growth. The utility-scale segment accounted for about 39% of the overall c-Si PV market in 2014. Highest installation capacity of crystalline silicon PV in utility-scale enabled this sector to dominate the overall solar PV market. However, residential sector would be the fastest growing market and is expected to register a CAGR of 12.7% during the forecast period. This is due to the increase in installation of residential PV systems worldwide as these systems are capable to provide enough AC electricity to power a single home. Moreover, Asia-Pacific is the major contributor in residential sector with a significant revenue contribution. Asia-Pacific accounted for the majority of revenue in 2014 and is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to the increased installation capacity, increased government initiatives, and increase in population that in turn increases the electricity demand. Moreover, improvement in renewable energy expenditure further boosts the installation of residential solar PV in Asian countries, particularly in China, Japan, and India. "Crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) represents almost 90-93% of the total solar PV cells market owing to its greater efficiency and durability, hence receiving attention from world's prominent solar cell manufactures. In addition, substantial growth in government spending, rise in electricity prices and customer shift towards natural energy sources to get better cost-efficiency would promote its demand across utility, residential, and commercial sectors. Positive response for installation of solar PV have witnessed momentum in the past few years, largely driven by favorable environmental policies intended to meet burgeoning country's energy demands from natural cleaner sources and this trend is expected to continue in future as well," states Preeti Bisht, Sr. Research Associate, ICT Research at AMR. However, Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing region throughout the analysis period, where major demand is from China, being dominant in the region especially in utility sector power plant PV installation. This is a result of government incentives and tariffs on free grid connectivity for small and medium-size distributed PV solar power producers. Moreover, improvement in solar plant installation capacity and increase in expenditures in the emerging markets (such as India and Japan) to satisfy the unpredictable electricity needs in these countries have bolstered the market growth. Technological advancements for cost-effective PV technologies in these nations offer a lucrative opportunity for the crystalline silicon PV market growth. Key findings of the study: In 2014, multi-crystalline type led the overall crystalline silicon PV market revenue, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period. Residential segment is expected to grow at a notable growth, owing to the increased solar PV installation worldwide to satisfy unpredictable household electricity demand. Presently Asia -pacific leads the world crystalline silicon PV market and it is expected to continue this trend throughout the forecast period owing to the swift rise in electricity demand from several countries including China , Japan and India leads the world crystalline silicon PV market and it is expected to continue this trend throughout the forecast period owing to the swift rise in electricity demand from several countries including , and China is the major shareholder accounting for about half of the market share in overall Asia-Pacific crystalline silicon PV market. The key players in the crystalline silicon PV market are focused to expand their business operations in the emerging countries with new product launches as a preferred strategy. The major players profiled in this report include Hanwha Q CELLS Co. Ltd., Evergreen Solar Inc., JA Solar Holdings, Yingli Solar, Sharp Corporation, Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar Inc., China Sunergy, First Solar Inc., and SunPower Corporation. Summary of Similar Reports can be viewed at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/semiconductor-and-electronics/electronic-systems-and-devices-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: Sona Padmanabhan 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) Fax: +1 (855) 550-5975 E-mail: sales@alliedmarketresearch.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The White House has said that due to the potential impact of Hurricane Matthew, President Obama has decided to postpone his travel to Florida that was scheduled for Wednesday. The President had previously-scheduled events in both Tampa and Miami. In Tampa, the President planned to discuss some of the progress that our country has made as a result of the Affordable Care Act. And in Miami, the President was planning to participate in some campaign activities in support of Hillary Clinton's campaign. White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters that those events will be reschedule relatively soon. The powerful Category Four storm - Hurricane Matthew - is barreling toward the Sunshine State, and is projected to graze the east coast of the United States, traveling up the coasts of Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina. 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. PORTLAND, Oregon, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, ""World Flip Chip Market - Opportunities and Forecast, 2014 - 2022", the global flip chip market is expected to garner $46 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 9% from 2016 to 2022. In the year 2015, Asia-Pacific dominated the global flip chip market and contributed over half of the market share owing to thriving market for semiconductors and electronic devices. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 ) Summary of Mobile Phone Accessories Market can be accessed on the website at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/flip-chip-market Flip chips majorly differ from each other on the basis of bumping technology used in them. Currently, copper bumping is extensively used in market owing to its advantages such as considerably low cost than other methods, high efficiency and compatibility with bond pads. Furthermore, impending need of circuit miniaturization, thriving portable devices industry and technological superiority over wire bond connections are major factors expected to propel the growth in global flip chip market. However, availability of less customization options as well as high capital investment requirements for setting up a new plant are the limitations that restrict the market growth. 2.5D IC packaging technology dominated the overall market in 2015 owing to its several advantages such as enhanced capacity, improved performance, and reduced system space requirements and low power consumption. 3D IC is expected to register highest CAGR as it is equipped with all the advantages of 2.5D IC as well as some additional advantages. In bumping technology segment, copper bumping held over 50% in the year 2015 due to its exclusive advantages of low cost, compatibility with bond pads and applications in technologies such as transceivers, embedded processors, application processors, power management, baseband, ASICs and SOCs. However, Tin-lead eutectic solder is expected to witness low growth rate due to government initiatives to ban toxic substances that have impacted its market heavily. Electronics industry contributed over 45% of the overall flip chip market in the year 2015. Imminent need of size reduction in electronics devices, requirement of higher data transmission speed and improvement in efficiency collectively thrust the replacement of wire bond with flip chips in electronics industry, hence making it dominant in the overall market. However, IT and telecommunication would be the fastest growing segment and is expected to register highest CAGR 12.3% during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing reach of telecommunication services in remote areas as well as introduction of new players in IT industry where flip chips are used in large scale in servers, host systems and data centers. Asia-pacific dominated the market in the year 2015 by accounting over 50% of the total market revenue and it is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is accredited to the presence of various manufacturing facilities in the region, high consumption and production of electronic products where flip chip is steadily replacing wire bond and ongoing research and development in the region. "The exclusive advantages of flip chip such as less space consumption, better efficiency, more I/O options as well as improved heat dissipation make them apt replacement of wire bond. In addition, improved heat dissipation of ball grid array type flip chips makes them suitable choice in applications, where smaller size is available without the presence of external heat sink. With the collective effect of these factors the flip chip market is anticipated to witness a high growth in next 5-6 years" states Rakesh Singh, Assistant Manager, Research at AMR. Key findings of the study: In 2015, copper pillar led the overall flip chip market revenue, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period. Tin-lead eutectic solder is expected to witness low growth rate due to government initiatives to ban toxic substances that have impacted its market heavily. Electronics industry constituted significant share in the overall flip chip market in the year 2015 due to imminent need of size reduction in electronics devices, requirement of higher data transmission speed and improvement in efficiency. In packaging technology of flip chips, 2.5D IC packaging dominated the market in 2015. Asia-Pacific dominated the market in the year 2015 by accounting over 50% of the total market revenue. The key players in the flip chip market are focused on expanding their business operations in the emerging countries with new product launches through various research and development facilities. The major players profiled in this report include IBM, Intel Corporation, Fujitsu Ltd., 3M, Samsung electronics Co., Ltd., Amkor Technology, Inc., TSMC, Ltd., Apple, Inc., Texas Instruments, Inc., and AMD, Inc. among others. Summary of Similar Reports can be viewed at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/semiconductor-and-electronics/semiconductors-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: Sona Padmanabhan 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) Fax: +1 (855) 550-5975 E-mail: sales@alliedmarketresearch.com Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) today announced that it has agreed to sell assets and operations of Actavis Generics in the UK and Ireland to Accord Healthcare Limited (a subsidiary of Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd) for an agreed value of GBP 603 million, subject to final approval from the European Commission. The divestment of certain specified Actavis Generics assets and operations in the UK and Ireland was part of an undertaking that Teva made to the European Commission in the context of the review of the acquisition of Actavis Generics by Teva earlier this year. The sale will include a portfolio of generic medicines plus a manufacturing plant in Barnstaple, England. Teva retains a number of Actavis non-overlapping generic products plus certain specialty medicines and OTC (over-the-counter) products, which have been added to Teva's existing operations. "The sale has been a success for Teva in that we have satisfied the EU Commission's sale requirements for these businesses, subject to their final approval, and agreed on a good price for the assets. With the assets that it will retain, Teva will create an even stronger operation in the UK and Ireland," commented Siggi Olafsson, President CEO Global Generic Medicines Teva. "Teva is the leading provider of medicines to the UK National Health Service, and the addition of the retained Actavis assets strengthens our ability to be the partner of choice in these countries while preserving strong and healthy competition in a competitive marketplace." The transaction is expected to close in the next three months. Greenhill & Co. are serving as financial advisors to Teva, and Pinsent Masons are serving as legal counsel to Teva in respect of this transaction. About Teva Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) is a leading global pharmaceutical company that delivers high-quality, patient-centric healthcare solutions used by millions of patients every day. Headquartered in Israel, Teva is the world's largest generic medicines producer, leveraging its portfolio of more than 1,800 molecules to produce a wide range of generic products in nearly every therapeutic area. In specialty medicines, Teva has a world-leading position in innovative treatments for disorders of the central nervous system, including pain, as well as a strong portfolio of respiratory products. Teva integrates its generics and specialty capabilities in its global research and development division to create new ways of addressing unmet patient needs by combining drug development capabilities with devices, services and technologies. Teva's net revenues in 2015 amounted to $19.7 billion. For more information, visit www.tevapharm.com. Teva's Safe Harbor Statement under the U. S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to: our ability to develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products; competition for our specialty products, especially Copaxone (which faces competition from orally-administered alternatives and a generic version); our ability to integrate Allergan plc's worldwide generic pharmaceuticals business ("Actavis Generics") and to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition (and the timing of realizing such benefits); the fact that following the consummation of the Actavis Generics acquisition, we are dependent to a much larger extent than previously on our generic pharmaceutical business; potential restrictions on our ability to engage in additional transactions or incur additional indebtedness as a result of the substantial amount of debt incurred to finance the Actavis Generics acquisition; the fact that for a period of time following the Actavis Generics acquisition, we will have significantly less cash on hand than previously, which could adversely affect our ability to grow; the possibility of material fines, penalties and other sanctions and other adverse consequences arising out of our ongoing FCPA investigations and related matters; our ability to achieve expected results from investments in our pipeline of specialty and other products; our ability to identify and successfully bid for suitable acquisition targets or licensing opportunities, or to consummate and integrate acquisitions; the extent to which any manufacturing or quality control problems damage our reputation for quality production and require costly remediation; increased government scrutiny in both the U.S. and Europe of our patent settlement agreements; our exposure to currency fluctuations and restrictions as well as credit risks; the effectiveness of our patents, confidentiality agreements and other measures to protect the intellectual property rights of our specialty medicines; the effects of reforms in healthcare regulation and pharmaceutical pricing, reimbursement and coverage; competition for our generic products, both from other pharmaceutical companies and as a result of increased governmental pricing pressures; governmental investigations into sales and marketing practices, particularly for our specialty pharmaceutical products; adverse effects of political or economic instability, major hostilities or acts of terrorism on our significant worldwide operations; interruptions in our supply chain or problems with internal or third-party information technology systems that adversely affect our complex manufacturing processes; significant disruptions of our information technology systems or breaches of our data security; competition for our specialty pharmaceutical businesses from companies with greater resources and capabilities; the impact of continuing consolidation of our distributors and customers; decreased opportunities to obtain U.S. market exclusivity for significant new generic products; potential liability in the U.S., Europe and other markets for sales of generic products prior to a final resolution of outstanding patent litigation; our potential exposure to product liability claims that are not covered by insurance; any failure to recruit or retain key personnel, or to attract additional executive and managerial talent; any failures to comply with complex Medicare and Medicaid reporting and payment obligations; significant impairment charges relating to intangible assets, goodwill and property, plant and equipment; the effects of increased leverage and our resulting reliance on access to the capital markets; potentially significant increases in tax liabilities; the effect on our overall effective tax rate of the termination or expiration of governmental programs or tax benefits, or of a change in our business; variations in patent laws that may adversely affect our ability to manufacture our products in the most efficient manner; environmental risks; and other factors that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005005991/en/ Contacts: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. IR: United States Kevin C. Mannix, 215-591-8912 or United States Ran Meir, 215-591-3033 or Israel Tomer Amitai, 972 (3) 926-7656 or PR: Israel Iris Beck Codner, 972 (3) 926-7687 or United States Denise Bradley, 215-591-8974 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A host of Republican Governors rallied behind Donald Trump's running mate Mike Pence in their assessment of who won Tuesday night's vice-presidential debate. Pence, Republican Indiana Governor, and Democratic Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, clashed for 90-minutes for the only VP debate, held at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. 'Without question, the adult in the room tonight was Mike Pence. He won the debate handily with his grasp of the issues, his statesmanship and his graciousness,' said Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said Pence brought real solutions to problems that matter most to Americans: jobs, the economy and national security. Indiana Governor Terry Branstad said Pence's opponent Tim Kaine displayed a complete inability to explain away Hillary Clinton's endless lies and corrupt ties to the special interests that have controlled her for decades.' Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, Peter Kinder, said Mike Pence showcased why he is the perfect choice to serve alongside Donald Trump. 'Mike Pence's usual steady, deliberate presence clearly won the day, and his view of freedom and opportunity for all Americans stood in stark contrast to Tim Kaine's vision of big government solutions,' according to former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. 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. Presented at 10th International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics (Vancouver, Canada) Regulatory News: Transgene (Paris:TNG), a company focused on designing and developing viral vector-based immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases, presented an original approach to improve the cytotoxic activity of oncolytic viruses at the 10th International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics, Vancouver, Canada October 1-4, 2016. This approach is based on the use of intrabodies, fragments of recombinant monoclonal antibodies designed to act intracellularly and to bypass a mechanism which prevents viral-induced cytolysis that is seen in some resistant tumor cell lines. These results open new possibilities for engineering the next generation of oncolytic viruses. The poster is available on www.transgene.fr or by clicking on this link. Dr. Johann Foloppe, Senior Scientist, Oncolytic Virus Research, Transgene, said: "Despite recent progress in the field of oncolytic virotherapy, there is still a need to design products that could also work in cancer cells resistant to cytolysis. We identified important targets that control cytolytic activity, and have developed an original approach to block these intracellular targets. We believe this approach will allow us to generate the next generation of viral vectors with the ability to lyse cancer cells more effectively and more selectively." The research was conducted with an oncolytic virus candidate, based on the Copenhagen strain of the vaccinia virus (VACV), displaying two key mutations that confer tumor selectivity (TK- and RR-). In the poster, scientists from Transgene and collaborating academic institutions describe the potential of a new approach in designing an oncolytic virus. The research identifies 16 key tumor cell components produced in response to VACV infection, which are implicated in resistance. It also outlines the ability of the construct to express a monoclonal antibody called an "intrabody" in tumor cells, that is able to selectively neutralize one of these tumor cell components by binding to it and re-localizing it into the cell nucleus where it cannot be activated. This relocalizing aims to achieve the same effect as siRNA knockdowns. The research was undertaken in several tumor cell lines that have low susceptibility to VACV-induced cytolysis. These promising results broaden the scope of possible cancer indications that can be targeted using oncolytic viruses. Transgene intends to create a new generation of improved oncolytic virus based therapeutics VACVs capable of intrabody-mediated relocalizing of tumor cell proteins and as a result to enhance cancer killing. Eric Quemeneur, Chief Scientific Officer of Transgene, said: "These original findings that we have presented at this international meeting demonstrate the potency of the vaccinia platform for expressing intracellular antibodies. With this innovative approach, we open new vistas in the field of armed oncolytic viruses. I am confident that the ongoing research effort at Transgene will contribute positioning us as one of the global leaders in the development of new oncolytic virus therapeutics." Transgene's lead oncolytic viral therapeutic Pexa-Vec is in a Phase 3 trial evaluating its potential as a novel treatment for patients with hepatic cell carcinoma. The Phase 3 trial is being conducted by Transgene's partner SillaJen, Inc. Transgene is planning to conduct further trials with Pexa-Vec in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with solid tumors. The second advanced product is TG6002, a second generation of oncolytic virus, is expected to enter Phase 1 trial in H1 2017 in patients with glioblastoma. This study will be conducted at AP-HP with Pr. Delattre as principal investigator, with the support of InCa (French National Cancer Institute). TG6002 is based on the Copenhagen strain of the vaccinia virus (VACV), which has had the TK and RR genes deleted to prevent it from replicating in normal cells. It has also been designed to express the FCU1 gene allowing it to be used in combination with 5FC to locally produce 5 FU, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. About Transgene Transgene S.A. (Euronext: TNG), part of Institut Merieux, is a publicly traded French biopharmaceutical company focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Transgene's programs utilize viral vector technology with the goal of indirectly or directly killing infected or cancerous cells. The Company's two lead clinical-stage programs are: TG4010, a therapeutic vaccine for non-small cell lung cancer and Pexa-Vec, an oncolytic virus for liver cancer. The Company has several other programs in clinical and preclinical development. Transgene is based in Strasbourg, France, and has additional operations in Lyon, as well as a joint venture in China. Additional information about Transgene is available at www.transgene.fr. Follow us on Twitter: @TransgeneSA Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a significant negative outcome for the Company's activities, perspectives, financial situation, results, regulatory authorities' agreement with development phases, and development. The Company's ability to commercialize its products depends on but is not limited to the following factors: positive pre-clinical data may not be predictive of human clinical results, the success of clinical studies, the ability to obtain financing and/or partnerships for product manufacturing, development and commercialization, and marketing approval by government regulatory authorities. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference, available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Transgene's website (www.transgene.fr). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Transgene undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005005982/en/ Contacts: Transgene: Lucie Larguier, +33 (0)3 88 27 91 04 Director Corporate Communications IR investorrelations@transgene.fr or Media contacts: Citigate Dewe Rogerson David Dible Marine Perrier, 44 (0)20 7638 9571 transgene@citigatedr.co.uk Technavio analysts forecast the global premium denim jeans 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 premium denim jeansmarketfor 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the revenue generated from the retail sales of premium denim jeans to individual customers globally was considered. The report also includes market segmentation by end-users, retail format, and geography. Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=53657 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 premium denim jeans market: Recycled jeans from plastic and other materials Rise in demand for stretch jeans Growing demand from HNWI and a status symbol Recycled jeans from plastic and other materials The disposal of used plastics and clothes has become a prime concern globally. Large quantities of hazardous chemicals are used, and greenhouse gases are released during the manufacture of denim jeans. Manufacturers are focusing on regulating such chemicals and are trying to reduce their environmental effects by adopting sustainable practices. "Sustainable jeans are not only a concept for the developed nations but are also gaining prominence in developing countries, including India and China. Indian designers have developed eco-friendly denim that is manufactured using 100% organic cotton without using bleach. One such example is Indie label 11.11," says Brijesh Kumar Choubey, a lead analyst at Technavio for apparel and textile research. Levi's introduced a line of denim jeans made of post-consumer waste such as recycled plastic bottles and food trays under the Waste>Less brand for both men and women. The company had developed a process of incorporating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic sourced from brown beer bottles, green soda bottles, clear water bottles, and black food trays for manufacturing its denim material. The bottles are sorted by colors, crushed into flakes and then made into polyester fibers. Then the polyester fiber is blended with cotton fiber and then finally woven into traditional cotton yarn for making jeans. Levi's is also a member of the Better Cotton Initiative which reduces the water and pesticide use while growing the cotton and economically supports hundreds of thousands of cotton farmers. Levi's also partnered with textile technology start-up Evrnu, SPC to create the world's first jean made of cotton recycled from five discarded cotton T-shirts to make new fiber in the form of a pair of Levi's 511 jeans. "The cutting-edge technology helps to convert consumer waste into renewable fiber, and it also uses 98% less water than virgin cotton products," says Brijesh. Rise in demand for stretch jeans With the rise in cotton prices, the demand for stretch fibers in the jeans is on the rise. Many manufacturers are replacing the cotton with synthetic fibers for manufacturing denim jeans. The cost of manufacturing a stretch denim jean is 10%-15% higher than non-stretch denim. However, consumers demand comfort stretch that retains its style. Sorona delivers comfort stretch fabric, which provides freedom of movement in denim. The stretch fabric retains the shape and personalized fit of denim garments even after frequent washes. Another benefit of stretch fibers is that the apparel maintains its shape without any bagging in the knee or other areas, which the consumers appreciate. Earlier the stretch material was only restricted to women with bottom wear products such as leggings and jeggings. However, the convenience and comfort that the stretch material offers has also started attracting demand from men. The cost of manufacturing a stretch denim using Spandex and Lycra is growing. DuPont is one of the largest manufacturers of such stretch denim textiles globally. Growing demand from HNWI and a status symbol Factors such as the growing upper middle-class population and the growing population of high net worth individuals (HNWI) has reflected growth in the luxury men's wear market. APAC had exceeded North America as home to the largest HNWI population, with a rise to 4.69 million in 2014, an 8.5% increase from a year earlier. China and Japan are the two emerging countries in the global market and are registering a double-digit growth in the HNWI population and ultra-HNWI wealth growth. These countries together accounted for nearly 60% of the global HNWI population growth. The Chinese HNWI consumers are contributing to about 33% of the luxury spending globally, followed by the Americas with almost 25% and the Europeans by 16% in 2015. Brands such as Gucci and Bottega Veneta have opened first full range men's only stores in China. In addition, Dior and Alexander McQueen's have opened men's only stores in China. Browse Related Reports: Global High-visibility Clothing Market 2016-2020 Global Sports Intimate Wear Market 2016-2020 Global Sports and Fitness Wear 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/20161005005466/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - The European markets got off to a weak start Wednesday as concerns over possible monetary tightening by the European Central Bank took its toll on risk appetite. Disappointing regional data also weighed on markets. A measure of Eurozone private sector expanded at the weakest pace in twenty months in September and Eurozone retail sales declined for the first time in five months in August. A Bloomberg report released just before the European close on Tuesday stated that the European Central Bank would probably wind down its $90-billion monthly bond purchases before the scheduled conclusion of its quantitative-easing program. The ECB later said the report was erroneous, but investors remained in a cautious mood. However, the markets pared their early losses in the afternoon and ended the session with mixed results. The European markets had been on a winning streak for the past six sessions. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index weakened by 0.48 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks decreased 0.11 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, lost 0.29 percent. The DAX of Germany dropped 0.32 percent and the CAC 40 of France fell 0.29 percent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. declined 0.58 percent and the SMI of Switzerland finished lower by 0.43 percent. In Frankfurt, Air Berlin jumped 5.11 percent. The carrier said it would join discussions regarding the transfer of its touristic business to a new airline group to be established by TUI Group and Etihad Aviation Group. Commerzbank slipped 0.12 percent after Exane BNP Paribas downgraded its rating on the stock to 'Neutral' from 'Outperform.' In Paris, telecommunications operator Orange dropped 1.39 percent after it received approval to take majority control of Groupama Banque. Air Liquide fell 0.89 percent on saying it has entered into exclusive negotiations to sell its diving-equipment business Aqua Lung to Montagu Private Equity. SFR tumbled 4.37 percent after securities regulator AMF blocked an all-share buyout offer for the French telecoms group by Altice. In London, Tesco soared 9.75 percent. The retailer posted positive sales growth in the first half of 2016 and said it is on track to hit its full-year profit target. SVG Capital shares fell 0.52 percent. The investment firm announced a proposed sale of 50 percent of the investment portfolio and a wind-down of the company to maximize returns for shareholders. RBC downgraded its rating on shares of both Severn Trent and United Utilities Group to 'Underperform' from 'Sector Perform.' The stocks finished lower by 3.17 percent and 4.37 percent respectively. Eurozone private sector expanded at the weakest pace in twenty months in September, as growth eased in Germany, Italy and Spain, final data from IHS Markit showed Wednesday. The final composite output index fell to 52.6 in September from 52.9 in the previous month. This was in line with the flash data published earlier. Eurozone retail sales declined for the first time in five months in August, figures from Eurostat showed Wednesday. Retail sales dropped 0.1 percent from July, when they rose 0.3 percent, revised from 1.1 percent. The latest fall was the first since March, when sales declined 0.5 percent. British service sector activity expanded for the second straight month in September, though at a slower pace than in the previous month, survey data from IHS Markit showed Wednesday. The services Markit/Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply Purchasing Managers' Index, fell to 52.6 in September from 52.9 in August. Shop prices in the United Kingdom were down 1.8 percent on year in September, the British Retail Consortium said on Wednesday. That follows the 2.0 percent decline in August. Private sector employment in the U.S. increased by less than expected in the month of September, according to a report released by payroll processor ADP on Wednesday. ADP said private sector employment rose by 154,000 jobs in September after climbing by a downwardly revised 175,000 jobs in August. Economists had expected employment to climb by about 170,000 jobs compared to the increase of 177,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month. With the value of imports rising by more than the value of exports, the Commerce Department released a report on Wednesday showing that the U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly widened in the month of August. The report said the trade deficit widened to $40.7 billion in August from $39.5 billion in July, while economists had expected the deficit to narrow to $39.0 billion. After reporting a sharp increase in new orders for U.S. manufactured goods in the previous month, the Commerce Department released a report on Wednesday showing that factory orders unexpectedly saw further upside in August. The Commerce Department said factory orders edged up by 0.2 percent in August after surging up by 1.4 percent in July. Economists had expected orders to dip by 0.2 percent compared to the 1.9 percent jump that had been reported for the previous month. Activity in the U.S. service sector expanded at a substantially faster rate in the month of September, the Institute for Supply Management revealed in a report released on Wednesday. The ISM said its non-manufacturing index surged up to 57.1 in September from 51.4 in August, with a reading above 50 indicating growth in the service sector. Economists had expected the index to rise to 52.9. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de RONKONKOMA, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- ExcelAire today announced the addition of a Legacy 600 private jet to its charter fleet. ExcelAire, the premier boutique aircraft management and charter company, operates the largest fleet of Legacy 600s for charter in the Americas. "We are thrilled to add another Legacy to our fleet, accommodating the strong demand for this jet, with its superior comfort, and generous baggage capacity," said Robert Molsbergen, President, ExcelAire. "Our fleet of Legacy 600s is flown and maintained by the nation's leading Legacy experts, delivering the ultimate experience in reliability, safety and service." In addition, it has its own authorized Embraer Service Center, ensuring the highest quality maintenance for the Legacy jets in its charter fleet. Ideal for a nonstop trip from New York City to Los Angeles, the new Legacy 600 jet provides premium comfort and privacy for up to 13 passengers, in three distinct seating areas. It has a large-in-class cabin, lavatory and a spacious inflight-accessible baggage compartment. The newest Legacy in the ExcelAire fleet also features WIFI. ExcelAire provides unmatched levels of service to aircraft owners and charter customers. With a team of private jet travel professionals, ExcelAire exceeds even the highest expectations and ensures that each trip is executed flawlessly. About ExcelAire A Hawthorne Global Aviation Services company, ExcelAire specializes in worldwide jet charters, aircraft management, maintenance, and sales. Further information about the ExcelAire fleet, including photos and individual aircraft specifications, is available at www.excelaire.com, or by calling 631-737-0477. About Hawthorne Global Aviation Services Hawthorne Global Aviation Services is a premier provider of general aviation services, with a rich history in the industry dating back to 1932. Hawthorne operates four premier Fixed Based Operators (FBO) located at L.I. MacArthur Airport, NY (KISP); Cobb County International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. (KRYY), Chicago Executive Airport in Chicago, Ill. (KPWK) and Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, Wis. (KEAU). It also has private jet charter and maintenance operations at MacArthur Airport, NY (KISP) and Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, Wis. (KEAU). For more information on Hawthorne Global Aviation Services, please visit www.hawthorne.aero. For more information, contact: Lisa Hendrickson LCH Communications 516-767-8390 Email Contact DUBLIN, October 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Playout Automation Market 2016-2020" report to their offering. Playout automation is a technology that integrates all the devices involved in a playout chain (such as video routers, switchers, audio servers, channel branding processors, and graphic inserts) in a single device. Playout automation takes control of multiple devices involved in a playout chain, whereas integrated playout automation uses a single device to perform the functions of different devices involved in a playout chain. Playout automation fulfills needs and requirements of a large number of advertisers and viewers by making the programming easy. It can handle complex operations and allows a broadcaster to reduce the operational cost to a large extent. In addition, playout automation is highly flexible in addressing instant changes during events and saves much time and capital expenses. The global playout automation market to grow at a CAGR of 15.7% during the period 2016-2020. Global Playout Automation 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. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of playout automation. According to the report, low capital expenses will be a key driver for market growth. The demand for accurate and high-quality content is high due to an increasing number of channels, rising language variation, and fragmentation of content. Video operators are finding new ways to launch new channels, manage these channels, and deliver programs with fewer resources. With high competition among vendors and a low-profit margin, CiaB enables broadcasters to use the existing IT-based platform for playout automation, reducing the capital expense. The broadcasters are not required to incur additional costs to purchase individual devices to prepare the playout chain. This increases operational efficiency and reduces the cost of a broadcasting system by integrating playout and master controls into a single IT-based platform. Further, the report states that a playout automation device does not have an impressive storage capacity. Many times, broadcasters want or need to reuse content for several purposes, which creates the need to link the playout device to some form of an archive. At this point in time, broadcasters need a system with a fully scalable storage capacity and bandwidth that is capable of storing any amount of data for the plethora of content on different channels. Hence, low or insufficient capacity for storage poses a challenge to the growth of the global playout automation market. 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? Key vendors BroadStream Solutions Grass Valley Harmonic PlayBox Technology Other prominent vendors Aveco Avid Technology Crispin Dalet Digital Media Systems Etere Evertz Microsystems Florical Systems HARDATA IBIS Imagine Communications Konan Digital Media-Alliance NVerzion Pebble Beach Systems Pixel Power Rascular SI Media Skylark Technology Snell Advanced Media VSN For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8vv8tk/global_playout 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 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Western Potash Corp. (TSX: WPX)(FRANKFURT: AHE) ("Western" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the following amendments to the board of directors of the Company effective September 29th, 2016. The new Western Board consists of seven members, with Geoffrey Chang and Bill Xue as executive directors. Mr. Xia Qinglong is appointed an independent member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Zheng Mianping is a newly appointed independent member of the Board. Buddy Doyle remains an independent member of the Board. Patricio Varas and Patrick Power, founders of the Company, will serve as non-executive members of the Board both having resigned from their respective management positions. The board welcomes Mr. Xia Qinglong, CEO of ChinaBlue Chemical Ltd. who brings over 30 years experience in the resource extraction industry beginning a distinguished career after training as a geologist, earning a PhD in geophysics and subsequently training as a professor grade senior engineer at the Chinese University of Sciences Academy. The Western board is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Zheng Mianping, a renowned expert in the salt lake research and extraction industry. Mr. Zheng is a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the President of the International Society for Salt Lake Research. Mr. Zheng is the foremost expert in salt deposits geology and a pioneer in the salt lake mineral extraction industry in China. Under his direction, China's first solution mining lithium extraction technique was also developed at the Zabuye Salt Lake. Recently Mr. Zheng oversaw the Survey of Marine Potash in China, which generated a breakthrough in potash prospecting of a new potash rich gravel brine layer. Mr. Bill Xue and Mr. Patrick Power are re-joining the Board of Directors and will continue to contribute their managerial, organizational and commercial experience. At the management level of Western, the board announces that Geoffrey Chang, Chairman of the Board will assume the position of CEO from Patricio Varas. George Gao will assume the role of Chief Administrative Officer and Jerry Zhang will take on the position of Corporate Secretary. Geoffrey Chang, Chairman and CEO welcomed Mr. Xia and Mr. Zheng, recognizing their extensive industrial, technical and operational expertise. "The contributions that our new board members bring will be particularly valuable as Western transitions towards project construction and commercialization. Western is grateful for the contributions of Mr. Wang Hui and Mr. Wang Yinping who have tendered their resignations from the board as part of this restructuring. With the board and management streamlining, the Company is well positioned for the next critical stage in Western's development." On behalf of the Board of Directors, Geoffrey Chang, Chairman Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the filing and results of the Technical Report. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in 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 statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is set out herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Contacts: Western Potash Corp. Angela Aydon Corporate Communications Manager 778-945-2949 SUNNYVALE (dpa-AFX) - Yahoo reportedly developed a software and used it to spy on all of its customers' incoming emails to help U.S. intelligence agencies. A report from Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter, accuses that Yahoo scanned YahooMail accounts at the request of the National Security Agency or FBI. The software spied on incoming emails of hundreds of millions of accounts. However, Yahoo has denied building any spying software to scan all of its customers' emails. 'Yahoo is a law abiding company, and complies with the laws of the United States,' the company said in a brief statement in response to Reuters. This is the first case that has been reported where a U.S. Internet company agreed to spy all incoming emails for a federal agency. Earlier, tech companies have checked stored messages or scanned a small number of accounts. According to Reuters report, the departure of Chief Information Security Officer Alex Stamos in June 2015 was a protest against CEO Marissa Mayer's decision to help the federal agency. 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. Impact protection developed to provide perfect compatibility for the first Google phone Tech21, the leader in impact protection for mobile devices, today announced the availability of its protective cases for Google's all-new flagship device, the Pixel and Pixel XL. The new cases feature tech21's scientifically proven, impact-absorbing material, FlexShock, delivering thinner, lighter and more stylish impact protection than ever before. In celebration of the launch, tech21's Evo Check case has been designed to work harmoniously with the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, with the latest science and ingenious design for unbeatable performance. Evo Check More protection. More personality. Featuring a unique checkered pattern in two vibrant colors, Evo Check offers advanced impact protection from drops up to 6.6 feet. Ultra thin and lightweight, Evo Check is up to 30 percent slimmer and 60 percent lighter than other cases offering similar levels of protection. The flexible, geometric structures of tech21's FlexShock material allow Evo Check to be shaped around the contours of the device to further enhance aesthetics and usability, while absorbing, dissipating and repelling impact shock. "Google's new smartphones have been highly anticipated and mark a significant shift for the company that we are eager to support," said Jason Roberts, CEO of tech21. "We have a deep commitment to both our partners and customers, knowing they place their trust in our products to keep their smartphones safe which is why we put all of our cases through a rigorous testing program to deliver the best impact protection on the market." Evo Check in Clear/White and Smokey/Black for the Google Pixel and Pixel XL will be available at http://www.tech21.com beginning of October 18. Click here to download the images. About tech21 Since 2005, tech21 has been developing the most advanced, scientifically proven cases and screen shields for mobile, tablet and laptop devices worldwide. tech21 combines science, engineering and British design to create products that address three core consumer benefits: style, protection and performance. As the brand evolves to continue meeting the needs of its consumers, tech21 has developed the most advanced impact protection material on the market FlexShock. The ultra-thin and lightweight material absorbs and dissipates force and can withstand drops up to 13 feet. In addition tech21 puts all its products through a rigorous testing program, and in an industry first has partnered with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to develop its testing methodology. This ensures that the tests tech21 products have to pass are overseen by independent experts. Tech21 is the number one case brand in the UK. For more information, visit tech21.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005006291/en/ Contacts: Atomic PR for tech21 Kelly Mortlock or Anna May +44 (0)20 3861 3800 tech21@atomicpr.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Democratic challengers in the closely watched Senate races in Florida and North Carolina have narrowed the gap against the Republican incumbents and are now in races that are too close to call, according to the results of a Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released on Wednesday. The poll found that Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., leads Congressman Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., by 48 percent to 44 percent among likely Florida voters. However, the four-point gap is within the poll's margin of error of compares to a 50 percent to 43 percent advantage for Rubio in a previous poll. In North Carolina, the Senate race is locked in a dead heat, with Senator Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Democratic challenger Deborah Ross tied at 46 percent. Burr held a 49 percent to 43 percent lead over Ross in a poll conducted from late August through early September. Both polls show significant gender gaps, with men backing the Republican candidates and women favoring the Democrats. Meanwhile, the poll also showed that Republican incumbent Senators enjoy significant leads in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, leads former Governor Ted Strickland by 55 percent to 38 percent among likely Ohio voters, while Senator Pat Toomey, R-Penn., leads Democratic challenger Katie McGinty by 50 percent to 42 percent among likely Pennsylvania voters. 'It looks like the battle to control the U.S. Senate will go down to the campaign's final days,' said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. 'The races in North Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania could decide the matter.' The Quinnipiac surveys of 535 likely Florida voters, 507 likely North Carolina voters, 497 likely Ohio voters and 535 likely Pennsylvania voters were conducted September 27th through October 2nd. The results from Florida and Pennsylvania have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points, while the results from North Carolina and Ohio have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de ST. LOUIS, MO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Going above and beyond the call of duty has netted employees of a prominent hotel near Lambert-St. Louis International Airport recognition through the Explore St. Louis Hospitality Hero Recognition Program. Katie Steinman and Diana Wade were recently named 2016 Hospitality Super Heroes for their exceptional service in assisting guests of the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel. Five associates -- Kevin McCain, Larry Johnson, Mae Atkins, Anthony Kochanowski and Ruby Jackson -- were also among the 153 persons honored throughout the St. Louis market as Hospitality Heroes. Hospitality Heroes who have taken an extra step to accommodate guests with unexpected service in order to create a memorable occasion are named "Super Heroes". Both Steinman and Wade received "Super Hero" recognition at this year's Explore St. Louis Annual Meeting. Katie Steinman, sales administrative assistant at the Renaissance, granted a grandmother's wish by creating special memories for her granddaughter's honeymoon stay. Working with several departments throughout the hotel, Steinman was able to fulfill the grandmother's requests. As a result of her efforts, the newlyweds were greeted with a special honeymoon bag upon their arrival and champagne and strawberries in their room. Steinman also arranged for the couple's room to be furnished with an extra chair so they could enjoy a romantic meal. And, prior to their departure, they received a special early morning breakfast basket of fruit and muffins before being shuttled to the airport. Diana Wade, room service server at the accommodation reached out to assist a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. After a few days of typical St. Louis sightseeing, the couple asked Wade for suggestions of something simple to do, but close to the hotel. After her suggestions failed to excite the guests, she offered her services to be their personal butler for the evening. Wade reminisced with the couple about the meal they shared on their wedding night and worked with the hotel chef to recreate the dinner. After working her morning shift, she came back to work that evening and served the guests a private four-course meal with champagne to celebrate in style. Explore St. Louis' frontline employee recognition program is designed to stimulate and reward exceptional service within the city's hospitality industry. Management personnel of hospitality companies submit nominations each year, which are then judged by a panel of customer service professionals. About the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel Adventure to the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel and discover a culture of customer service that exudes comfort and convenience. Situated adjacent to the airport and close to many top attractions, guests are pampered with free airport shuttle and enjoy easy access to the University of Missouri-St. Louis and St. Charles. The hotel's location is also near Delmar Loop, where art galleries, unique shops, restaurants and live musical performances are abundant. The Renaissance features luxury guest rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a fully-equipped fitness center and 37,462 square feet of high-tech event space. On-site American dining at Norah's Crafted Food & Spirits is also available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For an elevated hotel experience, the Renaissance welcomes travelers with everything needed for an intriguing St. Louis stay. Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel is managed by Schulte Hospitality Group. Schulte Hospitality Group (SHG) is a full service hospitality company specializing in full service hospitality management and consulting services. With 69 hotels throughout the United States, Schulte Hospitality has become one of the fastest growing hotel management companies of its kind. The company manages Full Service as well as select and limited service hotels and resorts under various brands including Marriott, Hilton and Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG). See more at www.schultehotels.com. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3064339 CONTACT: Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel 9801 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis, Missouri 63134 USA http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/stlsa-renaissance-st-louis-airport-hotel/ CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Antioquia Gold Inc. ("Antioquia" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: AGD) wishes to report on progress at its Cisneros Project in Colombia. The following is a summary of additional milestones that have been achieved at the Cisneros Project: Guaico -- Underground Work Activities - Progress to mid-September: -- The main access ramp has advanced to a total length of 678 m and reached an elevation of 1195 a.s.l., some 80 m below the mine portal; -- 90 m of tunnelling was completed to create an underground explosives magazine; 137 m was completed for other internal infrastructure; -- 48 m of raise boring was completed for the first ventilation shaft; -- 219 m of inclines were completed to access ore stopes. An additional 34 m was completed for ore and fill passes; -- The access tunnel to the Manuela structure advanced to a total length of 111 m; -- An access tunnel to the Nus structure was initiated and reached a length of 67 m: Figure 1 showing the mine tunnelling advance is attached as an Appendix and can also be found on the Company's web site (www.antioquiagoldinc.com). -- Other Activities -- The permanent bridge over the Nus River is 80% complete; -- The surface collar of the raise bored ventilation shaft was completed; -- A dewatering system using submersible pumps has been installed; -- The primary mining equipment fleet expanded to the following: -- 2 Atlas Copco jumbo drills (one twin boom, one single boom) -- 2 Scoop trams (Cat R1500) -- 2 haul trucks Guayabito - Guayabito South Assay Results - The Company has received assay results from the 1,209 m drill program carried out on Guayabito South. As previously reported the program has confirmed the extension of the main Guayabito mineral structures by at least 140 m and remains open in a southwesterly direction. These results have been incorporated into the geological data base to update the computerized geology model. Highlights from the program are as follows and can be seen in the Appendix to this release as Figure 2: - GYB10-091: 1.3 m @ 19.6 g/t Au - GYB10-093: 2.6 m @ 19.6 g/t Au - GYB10-094: 2.4 m @ 13.2 g/t Au - GYB10-095: 4.6 m @ 38.1 g/t Au 3.5 m @ 19.6 g/t Au 4.5 m @ 17.5 g/t Au - Plant - Detailed engineering has progressed to the point that the Company has decided to proceed with the purchase of the following key plant components involving long lead time deliveries: - 500 tpd jaw crusher - Vibrating feeder - Cone crusher - Vibrating screen - Ball mill, 10' X 8' - Environmental Permit - The final EIA report was submitted to the regulatory authorities on August 31, 2016. It is anticipated that final approval should be received by November. - Land Acquisition - A total of 34.5 Ha of land was purchased for disposal of tailings from the process plant. The land package is located in an uninhabited valley area west of the plant. Further information and photographs can be found on the Company's website www.antioquiagoldinc.com. Mr. Jim Decker, P. Eng., Vice President Investor Relations and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the contents of this news release. Closing of Shares for Debt Pursuant to the Company's press release dated Septebmer 21, 2016, the Company has now issued 66,686,498 Common Shares to Infinita Prosperidad Minera S.A.C. of Avenida Javier Prado Este No. 3580 San Borja, Lima 41 Peru ("Infinita") to settle CAD$4,501,339 of debt owing to Infinita under an existing operating loan. The Common Shares issued pursuant to this transaction will have a statutory hold period, expiring on February 6, 2016. Prior to the issuance, Infinita owned and controlled 147,868,346 Common Shares, representing approximately 62% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. After this issuance, Infinita owns and control 214,554,844 Common Shares, representing approximately 70% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company. The transaction is a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") and is exempt from the formal valuation approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the securities of the Company are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The transaction is also exempt from the minority approval requirement of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the consideration for the transaction does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. An early warning report disclosing full particulars of this transaction will be filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and a copy of the report may be obtained from Felipe Ferraro at 1.800.348.9657. 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. Reader Advisory This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are made as of the date of this press release and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: capital expenditures, operating costs, and the anticipated project schedule. 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, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "schedule" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions by the Company and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Antioquia Gold to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business prospects and strategies and the environment in which Antioquia Gold will operate in the future, including the price of gold, anticipated costs and Antioquia Gold's ability to achieve its goals, anticipated financial performance, regulatory developments, development plans, exploration, development and mining activities and commitments. Although management considers its assumptions on such matters to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Additional risks are described in Antioquia Gold's most recently filed annual and interim MD&A and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at: www.sedar.com. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. To view the Appendix and Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/agd1005appendix.pdf. Contacts: Antioquia Gold Inc. 1.800.348.9657 www.antioquiagoldinc.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are virtually tied in the key swing state of Ohio, the results of a new Monmouth University poll show. Forty-four percent of likely Ohio voters support Clinton, while 42 percent back Trump. Clinton's slim two-point lead is well within the poll's margin of error. The poll found that 5 percent of likely voters favor Libertarian Gary Johnson, 1 percent support Green Party candidate Jill Stein and 6 percent are undecided. A Monmouth poll conducted in mid-August showed Clinton with a 43 percent to 39 percent lead over Trump in Ohio, although other recent polls have shown Trump with the advantage in the Buckeye State. Monmouth noted Clinton is not doing quite as well as President Barack Obama did four years ago among black, Hispanic, and Asian voters. The poll also showed that Clinton is not performing as well as Obama did in Democratic-leaning northeastern Ohio plus the 9th Congressional district that hugs Lake Erie from Cleveland to Toledo. 'You can draw a direct line between Clinton's relative weakness with the Democratic base and Pres. Obama's scheduled campaign stop in Cleveland next week,' said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. The Monmouth survey of 405 likely Ohio voters was conducted October 1st through 4th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. (Photo: Gage Skidmore) 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. Technavio has announced the top 10 leading vendors in their recentglobal amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) marketreport. In addition, the report discusses the major drivers influencing market growth and the challenges faced by vendors and the market as a whole. AAVs are employed to conduct mechanized operations and for providing combat support in subsequent operations ashore. Such vehicles enable offshore shipping through rough seas and are also capable of traversing beaches, crossing rough terrain, and performing high-speed operations on roads. AAVs are equipped with armor to provide the ground combat element (GCE) as well as land and water operation capabilities. These vehicles are capable of restricting the enemies across land or water. Competitive vendor landscape In-house manufacturing capabilities, product offerings, global footprint network, R&D investments, newer technologies, and strong client base have become the key areas to have an edge over the competitors. Factors like global economic recovery, the growth in the defense sector, and R&D investments have opened the room for opportunities for defense vendors to compete and grow. "The global AAV market is highly competitive, and vendors compete based on cost, product quality, reliability, and aftermarket service. In order to survive and succeed in such an intensely competitive environment, it is crucial for the vendors to provide cost-effective and high-quality AAVs with latest technology and materials," says Moutushi Saha, a lead defense research analyst from Technavio. BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin are the two leading vendors in the market, which compete in terms of availability, price, quality, and technology. Their focus is primarily on the implementation of lightweight materials, more electric technologies, and robust systems. Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=51835 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. Top 10 AAV market vendors BAE Systems BAE Systems was founded followed by a merger between the defense arm of General Electric, Marconi Electronic Systems, and British Aerospace. It operates in 40 countries globally. As of December 2015, the company had a total workforce of 82,500 employees globally. The company introduced its first AAV in 1984, and thereafter the vehicle has earned a reputation for its rugged durability and superior mobility for transporting troops and cargo from ship to shore. General Dynamics The company operates in many countries having contracted upgrade programs worldwide. The company has developed several unique methodologies in the areas of the tank and vehicle upgrades, up-armoring of light vehicles, development of combat engineering equipment, and modernization of artillery systems. Lockheed Martin The company designs and develops a range of manned, unmanned, transport, and combat vehicles. The vehicles are rugged and high-tech, and they offer proven and intelligent capabilities for the users. The company has also developed the DUKW ACV and C-130 Hercules amphibious aircraft (also called as airlifter) that helps in the transport of infantry units and cargo from ship to shore. Northrop Grumman The company provides navigation solutions, tactical vehicle and sustainment-level maintenance, combat equipment maintenance, tactical logistics support planning, repair parts supply and management services, and operations staffing for different classes of armored land vehicles ranging from heavy battle tanks to wheeled vehicles for the infantry. Thales The company furnishes ground vehicle solutions, irrespective of the platform or type of mission to be fulfilled, ranging from stand platform to multiplatform. It has developed military land vehicles such as Recce, infantry carrier, combat support, and recovery transport vehicles. Iveco Iveco Defence Vehicles, an Italy-based company, provides innovative special purpose, logistics, multirole, and armored vehicles for defense and civil protection applications. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) MHI, a Japan-based vendor, provides support in land-based, naval, and airborne national defense, through the development of equipment based on leading-edge technologies. Oshkosh Defense Oshkosh Defense, an US-based vendor, provides heavy, medium, light, and highly protected tactical military wheeled vehicles tactical vehicles and life cycle sustainment services to military forces globally. Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH RMMV, a joint-venture between the German companies MAN Nutzfahrzeuge and Rheinmetall, provides solutions for armored and unarmored military transport, command, and role-specific vehicles for the armed forces globally. Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) SAIC, an US-based vendor, provides scientific, engineering, systems integration, and technical services armed forces globally by supporting in peace keeping and humanitarian missions to major conflicts and combating terrorism, cybercrime, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Browse Related Reports: Global Amphibious Landing Craft Market 2016-2020 Global Military Floating Bridge Market 2016-2020 Global Military Load Carriage Systems 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 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 media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005006040/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Veresen Inc. ("Veresen") (TSX: VSN) expects to release its third quarter 2016 financial and operating results on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 after the close of North American markets. The third quarter 2016 management's discussion and analysis and unaudited consolidated financial statements will be available on the Company's website at www.vereseninc.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Earnings Conference Call & Webcast Details A conference call and webcast presentation will be held to discuss third quarter 2016 financial and operating results at 7:00am Mountain Time (9:00am Eastern Time) on Wednesday, November 2, 2016. To listen to the conference call, please dial 647-788-4919 or 1-877-291-4570 (toll-free). This call will also be broadcast live on the Internet and may be accessed directly at the following URL: http://www.gowebcasting.com/8078 A presentation will accompany the conference call and will be available via the webcast. Alternatively, the presentation will be made available immediately prior to the conference call start time of 7:00am Mountain Time on Veresen's website at: http://www.vereseninc.com/invest/events-presentations. A digital recording will be available for replay two hours after the call's completion, and will remain available until November 16, 2016 21:59 Mountain Time (23:59 Eastern Time). To listen to the replay, please dial 416-621-4642 or 1-800-585-8367 (toll-free) and enter Conference ID 94202117. A digital recording will also be available for replay on the company's website. About Veresen Inc. Veresen is a publicly-traded dividend paying corporation based in Calgary, Alberta that owns and operates energy infrastructure assets across North America. Veresen is engaged in three principal businesses: a pipeline transportation business comprised of interests in the Alliance Pipeline, the Ruby Pipeline and the Alberta Ethane Gathering System; a midstream business which includes a partnership interest in Veresen Midstream Limited Partnership which owns assets in western Canada, and an ownership interest in Aux Sable which owns a world-class natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction facility near Chicago and other natural gas and NGL processing infrastructure; and a power business comprised of a portfolio of assets in Canada. Veresen is also working to advance Jordan Cove LNG, a six million tonne per annum natural gas liquefaction facility proposed to be constructed in Coos Bay, Oregon, and the associated Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. In the normal course of business, Veresen regularly evaluates and pursues acquisition and development opportunities. Veresen's Common Shares, Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series A, Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series C, and Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series E trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols "VSN", "VSN.PR.A", "VSN.PR.C" and "VSN.PR.E", respectively. For further information, please visit www.vereseninc.com. Contacts: Veresen Inc. Mark Chyc-Cies, CFA Director, Corporate Planning & Investor Relations (403) 213-3633 investor-relations@vereseninc.com STOW, OH--(Marketwired - October 05, 2016) - AtNetPlus, Inc., leader in IT, cloud, and web solutions, is honored to be selected as a Cascade Capital Business Growth Award recipient for the ninth consecutive year. Last night, the 22 nd Annual Awards Ceremony was held at the John S. Knight Center. Here, the Cascade Capital Corporation recognized 41 companies this year from Summit, Medina, Portage, Wayne, Stark, Holmes, and Ashland counties. These companies have either increased sales by 100 percent/$5 million or by increasing the employee count by 50 percent/25 people over the past five years. The award highlights local companies that are investing in the Northeast Ohio economy by the way of growing their businesses. AtNetPlus CEO Jay Mellon exclaimed, "Being a part of such a great group of companies is an honor. It is apparent that the economy in Northeast Ohio is doing well and will continue to be strong. AtNetPlus is proud to be recognized for our ninth Business Growth Award. We will continue to bring peace of mind through technology solutions for our customers. It is truly a reflection upon both our great customers and employees to have received this award." About AtNetPlus, Inc. AtNetPlus helps small and medium businesses take control of their technology. We work with clients to build the best possible managed services, web development, online backup, managed security, and hosting solutions for their business. We offer peace of mind through 24 x 7 network and website monitoring; keeping businesses connected, secure, and working - all at a predictable cost. For more information, visit www.AtNetPlus.com. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/10/5/11G117081/Images/jimbobjay-9d825648d39fa35fb75df97c98f64933.jpg CONTACT INFORMATION Anna Richards Marketing Manager AtNetPlus, Inc. Phone: 330-945-5685 Fax: 330-945-5684 Email contact http://www.AtNetPlus.com WEST KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- COLORADO RESOURCES LTD. (TSX VENTURE: CXO) ("Colorado" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the assay results from Inel drillholes INDDH16-46 to INDDH16-53 (see Table 1). The 2016 Inel drill program was focused in a 500 m x 600 m area (0.3 km2) within the 305.0 km2 KSP Property. The KSP Property covers one of three large (greater than 100 km2) strongly altered and mineralized districts in the Heart of the Golden Triangle. Regional gold stream geochemistry highlights the KSM and Brucejack areas, along with the Snip-Johnny Mtn and KSP areas (see Figure 1: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/cxo1005fig1.pdf). Fifty nine (59) drillholes (totaling 8,861.8 m) were completed at KSP in 2016. The emphasis was on the Inel Area where 53 holes were drilled (see Figure 2: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/cxo1005fig2.pdf). Consistent with the Company's three previous news releases, Inel drillholes INDDH16-46 - INDDH16-53 returned several high grade gold intercepts, as well as significant broad intercepts at multiple horizons (as noted in Table 1). Adam Travis, Colorado President and C.E.O. states: "Our 2016 drill program at Inel has tested on broad centres, approximately 20% of the 1.5 km2 Inel gold geochemical anomaly. These latest results continue to add to the previously released intercepts with multi-ounce gold values along with broader intervals of multi-gram gold values. This first phase of drilling in 2016 systematically tested portions of the Discovery Trend and southern extensions of the Inel Creek Trend. Overall the 53 drillholes from Inel had a 60% success rate in returning high grade (greater than 5 g/t Au) gold intercepts. Our drilling in these two zones, along with preliminary surface geological mapping, geophysics and geochemistry highlights six robust sized target zones (see Figure 2). We are continuing to advance the technical understanding of this impressive system as we work on cross sections and incorporate all the geological, geophysical and geochemical data. These developing zones are especially significant since they have only been tested, on average, to shallow depths of approximately 100 m. The Snip Mine(i),(ii),(1) located 15 km to the north of Inel hosted 1 million ounces of gold within an overall strike length of 300 metres and to 500 m depths while averaging 2.5 m in thickness." (Refer to Cautionary Language and Source as outlined hereinbelow.) Additional surface rock chip and soil sample grids and geophysical survey results are being compiled. This data, along with the details of the 2016 geological mapping program, are being assembled with the drill results and cross sections to provide further updates on the exploration potential not only at Inel but across the greater KSP Property. Initial observations from the 2016 work include the discovery and recognition of at least 6 zones: 1. North Discovery Trend (greater than 400 m) - A 400 m north trending zone was tested on approximately 50 m section spacings in 2016 by 13 drillholes of which nine returned intercepts greater than 5 g/t Au over 1.0 m. These drillholes include INDDH16-001 with 11.0 m of 6.12 g/t Au and INDDH16-002 with 2.0 m of 15.60 g/t Au. Broader intervals have also been noted including INDDH16-049 with 64.0 m of 2.73 g/t Au. Surface geological, geochemical and geophysical data suggest that this zone may continue to both the north and south as well as at depth. The results of INDDH16-49 also suggest that a significant gold mineralized zone is developing along the western flank of the North Discovery Trend towards the contact with the Inel intrusion. 2. South Discovery Trend ( greater than 400 m) - A 400 m north trending zone was tested over a 200 m strike length by 7 drillholes in 2016 of which four have returned intercepts greater than 5 g/t Au over 1.0 m. These include INDDH16-003 with 2 m of 24.1 g/t Au and 8.0 m of 9.99 g/t Au, and INDDH16-046 with 3.7 m of 14.59 g/t Au. Broader intervals including INDDH16-046 with 50.0 m of 1.44 g/t Au as well as the entire length of INDDH16-047 returning 159.5 m of 0.59 g/t Au have also been noted. Further drilling is required at depth and along strike to test this trend. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 1: Inel 2016 Drillholes 46-53: Significant(1)Intercepts ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hole Length From To Interval Au Au Ag Zn Hole ID (m) (m) (m) (m)(1) (g/t) oz/t(2) (g/t)(3) (%)(4) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDDH16-046 141.0 39.0 89.0 50.0 1.44 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 39.0 65.0 26.0 2.13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 60.0 62.0 2.0 16.49 0.53 45.30 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 77.0 89.0 12.0 1.09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 113.3 129.0 15.7 3.89 43.92 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 113.3 117.0 3.7 14.59 0.47 181.35 3.95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDDH16-047 171.0 11.5 171.0 159.5 0.59 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 46.0 127.0 81.0 0.87 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 97.9 125.0 27.1 1.03 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDDH16-048 129.0 66.0 129.0 63.0 0.95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDDH16-049 156.0 92.0 156.0 64.0 2.73 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 97.0 98.0 1.0 47.60 1.53 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 118.0 129.0 11.0 4.69 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 123.0 124.0 1.0 17.25 0.55 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 126.0 128.0 2.0 10.17 0.33 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 139.0 140.7 1.7 11.92 0.38 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDDH16-050 174.0 120.6 126.6 6.0 3.75 2.73 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 136.0 174.0 38.0 0.57 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDDH16-051 177.0 107.0 177.0 70.0 0.87 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 159.0 177.0 18.0 1.56 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 159.0 161.0 2.0 9.93 30.75 8.55 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDDH16-052 330.0 6.0 33.0 27.0 0.93 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 122.0 133.0 11.0 2.01 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDDH16-053 159 141.0 159.0 18.0 0.55 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) - Significant Defined as the product of metres x grade greater than 10 with grade greater than 0.5 grams Au, e.g.: greater than 10 g/t Au over 1.0 m or greater than 1 g/t over 10 m (2) - The intervals reported in this release represent drill intercepts and insufficient data is available at this time to state the true thickness of the mineralized intervals and all values are uncut. (3) - Gold Values over 10.00 g/t Au converted to troy ounces per metric ton (Au g/t / 31.10348) (4) - Silver greater than 30.00 g/t Ag Reported (5) - Zinc greater than 1% Reported ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. South Inel Creek Trend (greater than 350 m) - A new 350 m north trending zone was discovered in 2016 and drilled on approximately 50 m section spacings by 12 drillholes of which seven drillholes have returned intercepts greater than 5 g/t Au over 1.0 m. These include INDDH16-029 with 25.7 m of 9.24 g/t Au including 6.0 m of 32.02 g/t Au and INDDH16-025 with 1.0 m of 138.5 g/t Au. Broader intervals include INDDH16-025 with 99.0 m of 2.11 g/t Au. This new zone requires further testing along strike and at depth to follow up on these significant results. 4. North Inel Creek Trend (greater than 300 m/ Only 2 Holes Drilled in 2016) - A 300 m north trending zone was drilled in the 1980s, INDDH16- 012 was collared approximately 100 m south of the historical drilling(ii) with the last 31.7 metres of this drillhole returning 1.36 g/t Au and 1.17 % zinc suggesting that the zone may persist to the west and south of this drillhole. 5. North AK Trend (greater than 150 m / No 2016 Drilling) - A 150 m north trending zone was drilled in the 1980s(ii). Surface geochemical, geological and geophysical data suggests that the AK mineralized trend may continue to the north and south. 6. South AK Trend (Only 1 Hole Drilled in 2016) -INDDH16-042 located 500 metres to the south of the AK Zone has returned 4.0 m of 16.02 g/t Au from 35-39 m and bottomed in 74.0 m of 1.02 g/tAu from 146.0-220.0 m. This is an area of very limited historical drilling(ii) and a significant mineralized trend could develop. Qualified Person Dr. Jim Oliver, Ph.D, P. Geo is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who supervised the work program and/or preparation of the technical data in this news release. QA/QC Statement on Assay Results The 2016 samples were analyzed by ALS Minerals of Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples were prepared by the Prep-31b method, which involves crushing the entire sample to 70% passing -2mm, splitting off 1kg and pulverizing the split to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Base metal assays were first determined using the ME-ICP61 method, which reports results as parts per million (ppm). Any samples containing greater than 10,000 ppm zinc were analyzed by the Zn-OG62 method, which reports results as percent. Any samples containing greater than 100 ppm silver were analyzed by the Ag-OG62 method, which reports results as ppm. The gold assays were determined using the Au-AA25 fire assay method which reports results in ppm and are equivalent to grams per tonne (g/t). Any samples returning greater than 100 ppm gold were analyzed by the Au-GRA21 fire assay method with a gravimetric finish. The analytical results were verified with the application of industry standard Quality Control and Quality Assurance (QA-QC) procedures. For more information on the KSP Property the reader is directed to the Company's website at www.coloradoresources.com. About Colorado Colorado Resources Ltd. is currently engaged in the business of mineral exploration for the purpose of acquiring and advancing mineral properties located in British Columbia and is also seeking opportunities in Southwest USA and Latin America. Colorado's current exploration focus is to continue to advance: the KSP property under option with Seabridge Gold Inc., located 15 km's along strike to the southeast of the past producing Snip Mine(i); its 100% owned KingPin property; its 100% owned North ROK property, located 15 km's northwest of the Red Chris(i) mine development, both located in northern central British Columbia. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COLORADO RESOURCES LTD. Adam Travis, President and Chief Executive Officer Cautionary Notes (i) This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which Colorado has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties. (ii) Historical information contained in this release, maps or figures regarding the Company's project or adjacent properties cannot be relied upon as the Company's QP, as defined under NI-43-101 has not prepared nor verified the historical information. (1) Source: BC Minfile No. 104B-250; Geology of the Snip Mine, and its Relationship to the Magmatic and Deformation History of the Johnny Mountain Area, Northwestern British Columbia, prepared by David Alan Rhys, B.SC, dated October 1993. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release, constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including: that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, that the Company obtains required regulatory approvals, that the Company continues to maintain a good relationship with the local project communities. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, delays in regulatory approval, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis reports filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law. 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. Contacts: Colorado Resources Ltd. Adam Travis President and Chief Executive Officer (250) 768-1511 or Toll Free: (855) 768-1511 (250) 768-0849 (FAX) Colorado Resources Ltd. Terese Gieselman Chief Financial Officer (250) 768-1511 or Toll Free: (855) 768-1511 (250) 768-0849 (FAX) www.coloradoresources.com TORONTO, ON and TAMPA, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Cott Corporation (NYSE: COT) (TSX: BCB) announced today that the Company will release its third quarter ended October 1, 2016 financial results before the markets open on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Cott will host a conference call, to be simultaneously webcast, on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation. To participate, please call the following numbers: Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call North America: (888) 427-9421 International: (719) 325-2298 Passcode: 5027008 This is a live, listen-only dial-in telephone line. Webcast A live audio webcast will be available through the Company's website at http://www.cott.com. The webcast will be recorded and archived for playback on the investor relations section of the website for two weeks following the event. About Cott Corporation Cott is a diversified beverage company with the largest volume-based national presence in the North America and European home and office bottled water delivery industry, the largest share of custom coffee roasting and blending of iced tea for the U.S. foodservice industry, and one of the world's largest producers of beverages on behalf of retailers, brand owners and distributors. Our platform reaches over 2.3 million customers or delivery points across North America and Europe supported by strategically located sales and distribution facilities, fleets, as well as wholesalers & distributors. This enables us to efficiently service residences, businesses, restaurant chains, hotels and motels, small and large retailers, and healthcare facilities. Website: www.cott.com CONTACT: Jarrod Langhans Investor Relations Tel: (813) 313-1732 Email Contact VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Zazu Metals Corporation (TSX: ZAZ) ("Zazu" or the "Company") announced today that, further to the press release of June 14, 2016, and review by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") of the eligibility for continued listing, Zazu has applied to voluntarily delist its common shares from the TSX and list them on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") through the streamlined listing procedures of the TSX-V. The Corporation has initiated discussions with the TSX-V and plans to complete this process within the timing of listing extensions granted by the TSX. It is expected that the common shares will be delisted from the TSX within 30 to 60 days. The Corporation will issue a subsequent news release at least 10 business days in advance of Zazu's delisting from the TSX and the concurrent listing on the TSX-V. Listing of the common shares on the TSX-V is subject to acceptance by the TSX-V. The directors of the Company believe that a listing on the TSX-V will provide for greater operational efficiency and lower costs for the Company while allowing shareholders continued liquidity on a recognized exchange. The delisting is not expected to have any impact on the Company's ongoing operations, nor on its ability to raise further funds, if required, to progress the continued development of its projects. About Zazu Metals: Zazu is a Canadian-based exploration company with a 50% operating interest in the Lik zinc - lead - silver deposit in Northwest Alaska, which is large tonnage, high grade and potentially open pittable. Zazu completed a positive PEA in 2014 and has the exclusive right to obtain 80% of the property by meeting certain spending commitments by 2018. Additional information about Zazu including a company presentation is available at www.zazumetals.com. Forward-looking statements: This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, the ability of the Company to obtain extensions from the TSX while it seeks to list the common shares of the Company on an alternative stock exchange in Canada, the ability to actually list the common shares of the Company on an alternative stock exchange in Canada within the prescribed extensions of the TSX or at all, results of project development, capital and reclamation costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: failure of the TSX-V to list the common shares before or after the expiry of a listing extension granted by the TSX and an inability to find alternative trading market whereupon a holding of common shares of the Company becomes illiquid; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; discrepancies between estimated and actual resources and metallurgical recoveries; uncertainties inherent to economic studies in respect of the preliminary economic assessment; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; ability to construct the necessary extension to the road access and any requirements for port modifications; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory (including licenses and permits), political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Contacts: Matthew Ford President 210 858-7512 mford@zazumetals.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Smart Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: SRU.UN) announced today that it will issue its financial results for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2016 on Wednesday, November 2, 2016. SmartREIT will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. (ET). Participating on the call will be members of SmartREIT's senior management. Investors are invited to access the call by dialing 1-800-524-8950. You will be required to identify yourself and the organization on whose behalf you are participating. A recording of this call will be made available Thursday, November 3, 2016 beginning at 12:00 p.m. (ET) through to 12:00 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, November 10, 2016. To access the recording, please call 1-888-203-1112 and enter the Replay Passcode 3902820#. About SmartREIT SmartREIT is one of Canada's largest real estate investment trusts with total assets in excess of $8.6 billion. It owns and manages in excess of 31 million square feet in value-oriented, principally Walmart-anchored retail centres, having the strongest national and regional retailers as well as strong neighbourhood merchants. In addition, SmartREIT is a joint-venture partner in the Toronto and Montreal Premium Outlets with Simon Property Group. SmartREIT's core vision is to provide a value-oriented shopping experience in all forms to Canadian consumers and over time create high quality mixed use developments in urban settings. With SmartREIT's 2015 acquisition of SmartCentres, SmartREIT has transformed into a fully integrated real estate provider. SmartREIT and SmartCentres have had a long and successful alliance, helping to provide Canadians with value-focused retail shopping centres across the country. Now, the alliance has grown even stronger, the result is a fully integrated real estate provider with expertise in planning, development, leasing, operations and construction - all under one roof. For more information on SmartREIT, visit www.smartreit.com. The Toronto Stock Exchange neither approves nor disapproves of the contents of this Press Release. Contacts: Huw Thomas Chief Executive Officer Smart Real Estate Investment Trust (905) 326-6400 ext. 7649 hthomas@smartreit.com Peter Sweeney Chief Financial Officer Smart Real Estate Investment Trust (905) 326-6400 ext. 7865 psweeney@smartreit.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/16 -- Firan Technology Group Corporation ("FTG") (TSX: FTG) will release the Q3 2016 financial results after close of trading on Tuesday, October 11, 2016. The Corporation will host a live conference call on October 12, 2016 at 1:30pm (Eastern) to discuss the Q3 2016 financial results. Anyone wishing to participate in the call should dial 416-340-2220 or 1-866-225-2055 and identify that you are calling to participate in the FTG conference call. The Chairperson is Mr. Brad Bourne. A replay of the call will be available until October 26, 2016 and will be available on the FTG website at www.ftgcorp.com. The number to call for a rebroadcast is 905-694-9451 or 1-800-408-3053, pass code 4501417. ABOUT FIRAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP CORPORATION FTG is an aerospace and defense electronics product and subsystem supplier to customers around the globe. FTG has two operating units: FTG Circuits is a manufacturer of high technology, high reliability printed circuit boards. Our customers are leaders in the aviation, defense, and high technology industries. FTG Circuits has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Chatsworth, California and a joint venture in Tianjin, China. FTG Aerospace manufactures illuminated cockpit panels, keyboards and sub-assemblies for original equipment manufacturers of aerospace and defense equipment. FTG Aerospace has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Chatsworth, California, Fort Worth, Texas and Tianjin, China. The Corporation's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FTG. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are related to, but not limited to, FTG's operations, anticipated financial performance, business prospects and strategies. Forward-looking information typically contains words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. Such statements are based on the current expectations of management of the Corporation and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors and the Corporation's industry, generally. The preceding list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by the Corporation. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to the Corporation and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as may be required by law, FTG disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information can be found at the Corporation's website www.ftgcorp.com Contacts: Firan Technology Group Corporation Bradley C. Bourne President and CEO (416) 299-4000 x 314 bradbourne@ftgcorp.com Firan Technology Group Corporation Melinda A. Diebel Vice President and CFO (416) 299-4000 x 264 melindadiebel@ftgcorp.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Restaurant operator Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM), Wednesday reported an increase in profit for the third quarter despite lower revenues. Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum! Brands reported third-quarter profit of $622 million or $1.56 per share, up from $421 million or $0.95 per share last year. Adjusted earnings rose to $1.09 per share from $1.00 per share last year. Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, said revenues dropped 3 percent to $3.32 billion from $3.43 billion last year. Yum Brands, which is spinning off its China business, said worldwide system sales grew 4 percent, with same-store sales up 1 percent and new unit sales up 3 percent. Yum China, which generates more operating profit for the company than any other division, reported 1 percent decline in same-store sales. China system sales increased 3 percent. The company said it is on track to finalize China separation with Yum China Holdings, Inc. expected to begin trading on November 1, 2016 on the NYSE under the ticker symbol 'YUMC.' Commenting on the results, CEO Greg Creed said, 'Sales were off to a good start in the first six weeks of the quarter in the China Division. However, anticipated tougher laps in the second half of the third quarter were compounded by an international court ruling on claims regarding the South China Sea, which triggered a series of regional protests and negative sentiment against a few international companies with well-known Western brands.' KFC division same-store sales increased 4 percent, with U.S. same-store sales growing 6 percent. Taco Bell division same-store sales increased 3 percent. The company said it opened 475 new restaurants worldwide, with 78 percent of international development occurred in emerging markets. YUM closed Wednesday's trading at $88.62, down $1.66 or 1.84%, on the NYSE. The stock further dropped $1.65 or 1.86% in the after-hours trading. 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. HONG KONG, October 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- By the end of 2016 more than 40 kiosks will be launched in Asian airports allowing travelers to deposit their leftover foreign coins into their preferred online accounts via TravelersBox Gone are the times when your wallet weighs more than what it should or your trouser pocket is full with left over coins from your trip. TravelersBox, the first and only solution allowing travelers to convert leftover foreign currency into usable digital currency at airports is expanding in Asia. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161005/415424LOGO ) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161005/415422 ) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161005/415423 ) The company announced the launch of new kiosks in Narita International Airport in Japan that will be followed by more than 6 other airports by the end of 2016. The new kiosks are joining the already successful operation in Manila airport in the Philippines. In parallel to the geographical expedition, a new series of products and services, tailored to the Asian market is launched in all of TravelersBox kiosks around the world. Baidu wallet is the first solution out of a series of offers that are created specifically for the Chinese market - the largest traveling population in the world. "The Chinese travelers are excited to explore the world and come back home with new memories. Thanks to our collaborations with TravelersBox, they won't need to carry home their left over foreign coins. Baidu wallet will be available in the TravelersBox kiosks around the world for the benefit of our consumers" Added Baidu representative. Tomer Zussman, co-founder and CEO of TravelersBox: "Asia is a thrilling market for TravelersBox. With the high frequency of traveling from and to Asia, the range of different nationalities and currencies and the innovative environment, it's only natural for us to expand our services and collaborations there". "TravelersBox is always looking for the best solutions for our travelers. For the Asian market we've given specific attention for each of the local travelers' nationalities. Solutions such as Nets Flash Card for Singaporeans, Lazada for the South East Asian travelers and more, will soon be available in the TravelersBox around the world" Added Zussman. TravelersBox currently operates airport kiosks in Philippines, Italy, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, Canada and Japan. In each country the machines accept the local currency and other popular currencies in the area. A complete list of airports with TravelersBox kiosks can be found at http://www.travelersbox.com/map. About TravelersBox TravelersBox is an innovative service that helps you make the most of your leftover foreign currency. With over 75 kiosks that are located in airports around the world, travelers can convert their leftover foreign change into real digital money. PayPal, Skype, iTunes, gift cards such as Gap or Starbucks are only some of the options. In addition, there is the donation button that allows travelers to donate to their preferred cause. For more information about TravelersBox, please visit http://www.travelersbox.com For more information, please contact: Ayana Gisser, Communications manager +33-(0)777986259 Ayana@TravelersBox.com Saurabh Mehta, Head of Business Development and Partnerships, APAC +65-(0)9859-8697 saurabh@travelersbox.com Accion, the global nonprofit dedicated to building a financially inclusive world, announced the appointment of Kevin Saunders as General Counsel. Saunders had previously served as Accions Deputy General Counsel and interim General Counsel. He joined Accion in 2007 and was promoted to Deputy General Counsel in 2013. Throughout his tenure with Accion, Saunders has provided guidance on many different aspects of the organizations work advancing inclusive finance. He has served as the primary counsel for the more than 30 Accion Venture Lab and Frontier transactions and investments in fintech startups; helped close Accion Investments in Microfinance, SPC; coordinated the capital raise and restructuring that improved and expanded Accions microfinance work in China; led investment in Myanmars DAWN; and served as the Secretary to Accions Board of Directors. Prior to joining Accion, Saunders served as a law clerk with Boston Universitys Office of General Counsel, a private law firm, the international health non-profit Partners in Health, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services. He had also provided legal services to veterans and homeless individuals and conducted research with the International Consortium for Law and Development. Saunders holds a B.A. and M.A. from Arkansas State University, and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law. He is a member of the bar of the state of Massachusetts. FinSMEs 05/10/2016 All3DP GmbH, a Munich, Germany-based operator of an English-language Internet platform for 3D printing, completed a seven-figure Series A financing round. Backers included Deutsche Balaton AG, Bayern Kapital, High-Tech Grunderfonds (HTGF) and four private investors. The company intends to use the funds to expand the coverage of the online platform and the e-commerce capabilities. Led by Mathias Plica, Co-Founder and CEO, All3DP publishes an online magazine at All3DP.com that familiarizes broad target groups from the consumer and small business segment with 3D printing and connects users with 3D printing service providers. The startup reaches over 280,000 unique visitors per month (according to Google Analytics). FinSMEs 05/10/2016 Clearpath Robotics, a Kitchener, Ontario-based provider of self-driving vehicle solutions, completed a $30m (USD) funding round. The investment was led by iNovia Capital with participation from Caterpillar Ventures, GE Ventures, Eclipse Ventures, RRE Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank. The company will use the funds to grow its industrial division, OTTO Motors. Led by Matt Rendall, CEO and co-founder, Clearpath provides self-driving technology, products and services to over 500 innovative brands in over 40 countries. The self-driving solutions are offered through a research division, Clearpath Robotics, and industrial division, OTTO Motors. OTTO Motors provides self-driving vehicles for safe and efficient material transport inside factories and warehouses. The vehicles use software and sensors to collaborate with workers and intelligently deliver goods without modifying facility infrastructure or changing current processes. FinSMEs 05/10/2016 CognitiveScale, an Austin, Texas-based provider of industry-specific machine intelligence software, received an approx. $3.2m strategic investment from Microsoft Ventures. The deal part of the Series B round which now totals over $25m will support the development of new AI-powered product experiences on Microsoft HoloLens and Microsoft Azure for consumers and businesses. CognitiveScale and Microsoft will also partner on go-to-market for sales into enterprise and business networks. Through the investment by Microsoft Ventures, the company will explore MR applications for cognitive commerce, enabling retail shoppers to engage with a virtual closet or showroom tailored specifically to their needs and preferences, as well as contextual, cognitive insights for workforce productivity and business processes. Led by Akshay Sabhikhi, CEO, and Matt Sanchez, CTO, CognitiveScale provides CognitiveScale ENGAGE and CognitiveScale AMPLIFY which enable enterprises to improve their customer engagement, decision-making, and self-learning business processes. The company, which has already deployed its industry cognitive clouds with Global 500 companies in financial services, healthcare, and commerce, has offices in the United Kingdom and India, and strategic partnerships with IBM, Deloitte and Microsoft. FinSMEs 05/10/2016 smava, a Berlin, Germany-based marketplace lender, closed a $34m funding round. The round was led by growth investor Runa Capital, with participation from Verdane Capital and mojo.capital as well as existing investors Earlybird Venture Capital. In conjunction with the funding, Andre Bliznyuk, Partner at Runa Capital, and Hendrik Aspen, Partner at Verdane Capital, will join the advisory board of smava. The company intends to use the funds to expand its customer base, hire additional talent and continue enhancing its scoring technology. Led by Alexander Artope, CEO and co-founder, smava is a marketplace lender which offers both bank-branded and funded third-party loans as well as loans which are funded by private individuals (P2P loans) ranging from 1,000 to 120,000 Euros. To date, the company has originated more than $1.75 billion in loans through its marketplace platform. It has more than 180 employees. FinSMEs 05/10/2016 Barcelona, Madrid-based Medical diagnostics company STAT-Diagnostica has closed an extension of its Series C financing with Siemens Venture Capital. The additional proceeds will be used to support the 2017 European launch of its DiagCORE Near Patient Testing system. Led by Gilde Healthcare, the Series C financing round also drew participation from existing investors, including Kurma Partners; Ysios Capital; Idinvest Partners; Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund; Caixa Capital Risc; and Axis. Led by Jordi Carrera, CEO and co-founder, STAT-Diagnostica is advancing DiagCORE, a fully integrated molecular and immunoassay diagnostics system that performs all sample prep steps on board for a wide range of sample types (e.g., whole blood, swabs, BAL, stool, sputum) while offering up to 48-multiplex capabilities via real-time PCR. Time to results can be as low as 30 and up to 80 minutes, depending on the assay type. The company plans to target a range of decentralized testing environments with DiagCORE, including critical care and emergency medicine units within hospitals. The system will also have CLIA-waivable features that will allow it to be used in clinics and physician offices. FinSMEs 05/10/2016 On 20 October, the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star is all set to screen its opening film, Konkona Sen Sharma's A Death in the Gunj at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai, a heritage location which has been shut since 1993. It has been two years since a new committee took over the reigns of the Mumbai Film Festival. Film critic Anupama Chopra is now the festival director and filmmaker Kiran Rao joined her as chairperson of the board. As the two gear up for the 18th edition of Mami (20-27 October), Firstpost spoke to Chopra about the film festival, now in its 18th year and the largest event of is kind in India, and the challenges she faces as its director. The interaction took place after Chopra held a press conference to announce Mami's tie-up with Tata Sky, to broadcast the films that were part of the programme at previous editions of Mami, to viewers at home. Excerpts: More about the film fest this year Chopra explained how the film festival would be different this year: "Well its definitely bigger and we are hoping it will be better. We are scaling up a few things. Our section for children, the Half Ticket section, its definitely different this year. Last year the curator had an arrangement with schools, so children were coming in from schools. This year the festival premises will be open to children so parents can bring in children when they want. The MAMI Movie Mela, which will give fans access to their favourite film's merchandise, books, DVDs and and have conversations with their favourites from the industry, will be open two days instead of last year's one. We are also introducing a special section called Word To Screen. Our aim is to get more books made into films by interaction between publishers who are based in Delhi who want their books to be adapted into films. Through 'Word To Screen' we hope to put these publishers in a room with content creators for a happy arranged marriage union to help more create more films based on books." On opening the Royal Opera House The India's unique 500-seat baroque style theatre was inaugurated by Britains King George, during his visit in 1911. The new restored theatre will be the opening venue for this years MAMI event. How does Chopra feel about the opening film being screened at a historic landmark of Mumbai? "It was so overwhelming. We have been pursuing this idea for six months. The royal family who owns the house, the Gondals, have been great. We just hope it's a magical evening because it's a magical space." The festival's journey Chopra admitted the journey for Mami has been difficult because it is a privately funded festival. "So you need to get a lot of sponsors to put everything in place. We are not asking for a few lakhs. We are asking for a lot of money to manage the whole festival. So that perhaps and especially the financial crisis have made the future of the festival uncertain in the 2014 crisis. I keep emphasising how I want this festival to be place to help filmmakers find their voices. We have always had great local filmmakers signing up to be a part of the festival. The Marathi cinema showcase especially has been great. Court (directed by Chaitanya Tamhane) came out of there. Killa (Avinash Arun's film) came out of there and they won all the top prizes. Our other section, Dimensions Mumbai is one of the older sections of Mami and it was Jaya Bachchan who came up with the idea of engaging young filmmakers (under 25) to come up with shorts (films under 5 minutes). " What about the 'Country In Focus' for this 18th edition, Turkey? "Last year we didnt have a country in focus," said Chopra. "We need 10 films that represent a country and not just any 10 films but films that define the country's persona. Luckily we were in touch with the council general of Turkey who was very enthusiastic about the idea of putting together films and elements from Turkey for the 'Country in Focus' segment. Theres a film from 1973 (The Bride) and a host of contemporary films too, all of which give you a perspective of the country as good films should." Feminism and more Chopra told us that the entire festival is led by women. "We have a very few guys, and this wasnt a conscious decision. It just so happens that all the curators and heads are women. This year Oxfam India is introducing a new award 'Best Film on Gender Sensitivity' where the jury will select the film which is sensitive towards the portrayal of women, as well as men. I do think the portrayal of women onscreen has improved over the years, but theres an immense distance to go as well. With this its always one step forward, two steps back. Women are in a far, far better placed in in the Hindi film industry, but theres still a lot to be done." Bollywood Calling Chopra said Bollywood was of immense help when the Mumbai film festival was facing its crisis. "Everyone from the film industry has supported this festival. They all wrote checks, they all gave time, at the very least they asked people on social media to register for the festival. All festivals need eyeballs. I am very pragmatic about that fact. I know if the festival doesn't get attention, eyeballs and registrations, I cannot go back to my sponsor and say, 'Write me another check'. For me, the Hindi film industry is a huge brand and since this festival is based in Mumbai, if we dont use it for the simple reason of differentiation that it's Bollywood and this is arthouse cinema, it wouldn't work. Anyway the lines between Bollywood and arthouse cinema are getting blurry. What is Dangal? Is it arthouse or mainstream Bollywood film? I think it is wonderful that we can leverage the power of Bollywood for the film fest." Favourites On the subject of the films that were her favourites from this year's line-up, Chopra chose to play safe: "As a critic it's my job to tell you which film to watch, but I just can't seem to pick a favourite one for this festival." New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the European Union in the field of water resources. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting in Delhi chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The MoU envisages strengthening the technological, scientific and management capabilities of India and the European Union in the field of water management on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit," an official statement said. "It provides for technical exchange on water issues, including on integrated water resource management plans within river basins and through study visits," it said. The MoU also aims to identify key environmental issues and approaches to sustainable development where exchange of experiences and cooperation could be mutually beneficial to strengthen and further develop cooperation between the countries on water management. The MoU also envisions a more sustainable management of water resources in India with an objective of tackling the challenges posed by water management in the context of growing population, competing water demands and a changing climate. It said that a joint working group shall be formed to monitor the activities to be carried out in fulfillment of the MoU. Amritsar: Mohammed Tanveer, 12, a village resident from Pakistan's Kasur district bordering India's Ferozepur district, strayed into India last Sunday while trying to find drinking water at a tubewell. Despite hostilities between both nuclear-armed neighbours at their peak, the boy was handed over by the Border Security Force (BSF) to its Pakistan counterparts on "humanitarian grounds" the very next day. Before going back to Pakistan, Tanveer said that he was treated well by Indian border guards after he was apprehended in the area of responsibility of the Dona Telu Mal border out-post (BoP) in Ferozepur sector. "He inadvertently crossed International Boundary and entered Indian territory. The individual was grazing his cattle in Pakistan area near the IB and came inside Indian territory to drink water from a tubewell on Indian side as he was very thirsty," BSF Punjab Frontier Deputy Inspector General RS Kataria said. Why does this happen? Punjab shares a 553-km IB with Pakistan. The entire border has an electrified barbed wire fence which is located 500 metres to 1 km inside Indian territory. "Since the IB is much beyond the fence and our guards are mostly behind the fence, sometimes people stray into Indian territory and are apprehended," a BSF commandant told IANS. Thus, Tanveer is not the only case of inadvertent border crossers from both countries who stray into the territory of the other. Border guards of both nations, India's BSF and Pakistan Rangers, have an established mechanism to repatriate such individuals. This is in sharp contrast to Indian Army jawan Chandu Babulal Chauhan's case, who is in the custody of the Pakistan Army after he inadvertently crossed across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir's Mendhar sector. The BSF has apprehended 26 Pakistani border crossers this year itself. They were handed over to the Pakistan Rangers. In 2015, 12 Pakistani inadvertent border crossers were repatriated by the BSF. In mid-April this year, the BSF handed back Pakistani national Mohammed Waqas Akram of Pati Chak village in Pakistan's Bhawalnagar district, just days after an Indian prisoner, Kirpal Singh, 54, died mysteriously inside a jail in Pakistan's Lahore city. In March, the BSF handed over a five-year-old deaf and dumb Pakistani girl to border authorities in Pakistan after she inadvertently crossed over into Indian territory in Punjab's Abohar sector, Kataria pointed out. The BSF keeps a strict 24x7 vigil along the IB. Alert BSF troopers foiled an infiltration bid by around eight people at the Chakri BoP in Gurdaspur sector on 3 October. In 2016, the BSF has seized nearly 200 kg heroin, valued at Rs 1,000 crore ($150 million) in the international market, killed six Pakistani smugglers and six intruders, apprehended one Pakistani smuggler, killed two Indian smugglers and apprehended 12 Indian smugglers in Punjab's border belt. New Delhi: Hitting out at those "seeking proof" of the surgical strikes in PoK, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said further discussions on the operations will be an "insult" to the "commendable" task carried out by the Army. "There is no need to respond to such irresponsible comments and demands. Fortunately, Congress has also realised its mistake and distanced itself from the comments of its leaders...AAP has also made it very clear," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event. He said nobody has any doubt about the "credentials and commitment" of the Indian Army which has done a "commendable" job and further discussions on the operations will be an "insult" to the force. "I don't think any Indian citizen has got any doubt. Nobody is doubting the credentials and commitment of the Indian Army. It did a commendable job...It would be an insult to the Army if we further discuss," he said. Naidu said the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) himself had given the statement about the operations in full details and also shared the information at an all-party meeting. He wondered if giving further details will be in the interest of the nation. Observing that entire country is happy about the surgical strikes, he said the world has also acknowledge the step taken by India. "Only Pakistan is saying something because they have to say something. They are not in a position to conduct funera or last rites of their own citizens...This is their culture," he said. Earlier, addressing the event, the minister said India does not want war with anybody, but will give a befitting reply if continuously provoked. "...We never want a war with anybody. If somebody continuously provokes us, we will give them a befitting reply like our jawans gave the reply recently," he said. Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had accused the BJP of indulging in politics over national interest and called the surgical strikes on terror camps as fake, the comments which were slammed by his own party. The burden of proof always rests on the claimant. This is one of the most basic principles of logic. The person or party making a claim has to provide substantial evidence backing that claim, irrespective of any counter-claims made. But things are never this simple in international diplomacy, especially when it comes to India-Pakistan relations. The discussion around the evidence for the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army against terror launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has intensified. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked the Narendra Modi government to "unmask Pakistan's false propaganda" in a video message and Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam openly said that he felt that the strike was "fake". It has to be noted that politics over an issue of national security is never constructive. Additionally, there is always a level of secrecy involved with such operations. Evidence cannot be disclosed immediately after the operation. A reason why India may not have done that could have been to avoid escalating tension with Pakistan. Another reason would have been the security of the personnel involved in the strikes (more on this later). But despite the complications involved in releasing sensitive information as evidence, the Indian government obviously realises its burden of proof and thus, India is set to provide strong evidence to show that the surgical strikes did, in fact, take place. The most solid evidence Let's start off with the most solid evidence that the surgical strikes did take place. Nothing can be a bigger proof of the strikes than video footage. According to this report in The Economic Times, the Indian armed forces have now given a green signal to the government to use the video footage from the surgical strikes in any manner required to substantiate India's claims. Moreover, responding to a query on doubts raised by Pakistan over the operation as India did not release the footage of the operation, Home Minister Rajnath has said, Just wait and watch." BJP leaders have also said that the strike video will be out soon, reported CNN-News18. It is now up to the Prime Minister's Office to decide on what to do with the video footage. Needless to say, India seems to have a strong footing when it comes to footage of the strikes. A report in The Quint also states that sensitive parts of the video, which could have revealed the identity of the personnel involved in the strikes or given an idea about the locations which the strike team could have traversed through, have been removed. This also gives an idea on why India did not release the video footage immediately after the attack. As mentioned earlier, releasing the video footage could have harmed the security of the armed forces personnel involved in the strikes. The second solid evidence is the account of the eyewitnesses across the LoC. According to The Indian Express, these eyewitnesses gave graphic accounts of the surgical strikes. "The most detailed account of the fighting" came from two eyewitnesses in Dudhnial, a hamlet four kilometres deep into the LoC. One of the eyewitnesses reported seeing a gutted building across the Al-Haawi bridge, which is the last point where infiltrating terror groups are located with supplies before they begin their journey to the LoC. The report added that local residents told one of the eyewitnesses that loud explosions were heard across the Al-Haawi bridge. Local residents also told the eyewitnesses that five six bodies were loaded on a truck the morning after the strikes and transported possibly to the nearest Laskhar camp at Chalhana. Other evidence Even before the Indian armed forces' green signal for the video footage or the eyewitnesses' accounts, there had been reports suggesting that there was evidence to show that the strikes did take place. According to this Zee News report, the bodies of slain terrorists had secretly been buried in areas near the scene of the operation. Sources had also told ABPLive that satellite images had shown that terrorists had been killed in the surgical strikes. Security officials had said that the Cartosat series of satellites had been used for strategic purposes. Another report in The Asian Age, published on 2 October, had said that top security sources had revealed that India had "credible evidence" of the surgical strikes. And that evidence was not restricted to videos and photographs. "Intelligence agencies also got wireless intercepts of terror operatives discussing about the strikes carried out by the Indian Army at four locations in Lipa, Kel, Tatapani (Hotspring) and Bhimber," said the report. With inputs from agencies So, what if Sanjay Nirupam, Arvind Kejriwal or any 'aam aadmi' raises questions on the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army on 29 September? Raising questions is the privilege a democracy offers to its citizens: The promise of free speech, not an anti-national activity, certainly (in this case) not disrespectful to our jawans who put their lives at risk at every moment of their lives, not just during surgical strikes. Every citizen of India has an absolute right to ask questions to the elected government, and guess what, even the unpleasant ones. That's what differentiates this country from a fake republic in our neighborhood where the government works by remote control. Let's get one thing clear. By making a big controversy out of such questions on an issue of national interest, we are making ourselves an object of ridicule and thus, belittling a brave act by our jawans. That is precisely what Union minister Uma Bharti did when she said in Pune that politicians who "doubt the army's surgical strike should take Pakistani citizenship". "Those leaders who say that if Pakistan is demanding evidence about the surgical strike, they should be given the evidence; such people should take the citizenship of Pakistan," Bharti told reporters in Pune. Now, this isn't the way to silence critics and questioners. The world is watching how the largest democracy in the world deals with criticism. We don't want to send signal that we do so by awarding Pakistan citizenship to the questioners. There are two facts worth mentioning here that tells us why the Narendra Modi government needs to respond to questions on the surgical strikes. First, that this wasn't the first instance of across-the-LoC surgical attacks is something security experts have said on multiple platforms. Even during the time of the UPA government, there were cross-border raids. Former Congress minister P Chidambaram has gone on record as saying that the army had conducted major surgical strikes across the LoC in 2013. It's just that those operations were not announced to the world by the then government. The army was always vigilant and always did its job, whether or not its actions were publicised. Second, no one can deny that for the Modi government, the recent surgical strike has been a major face-saver, after the Uri attack. Emotions were riding high and every Indian craved Pakistani blood war or otherwise. Modi had good political reasons to walk the talk and show the world that the glory of his 56-inch chest isn't a myth. If he failed to act, the inaction would have backfired badly. If we don't behave as a democracy in its true spirit, we are no different than them War isn't an option for either India or Pakistan; the government knew this well. The alternative, besides the diplomatic efforts, was to conduct an army strike in selective areas without escalating tensions beyond a point. This was particularly important ahead of the crucial state elections next year, and to justify his merit and present himself as the nation's best political choice in the 2019 General Elections, which aren't far. Note that the announcement of the surgical strikes was done by the DGMO, not the defence minister. This was designed to give credibility to the entire exercise by letting the army say it in its own words. But that doesn't mean the government isn't answerable to the counter-questions on this subject. The simple reason is the obvious political gain for Modi and his government. This is evident from the way the BJP used this army operation to score a political point. The jawan who risked his life in the darkness of 29 September doesn't expect any congratulatory words or rewards. He does his duty silently and doesn't need to explain this to anyone. The onus, obviously, lies with the elected government to answer the questions. Nirupam and Kejriwal asked for proof of the action. Whether this question doubting an army operation is warranted or not is a matter of larger debate. The question that should be asked is not whether the surgical attacks took place, but whether the attacks were over-hyped by the Modi government for political reasons. Whether or not this was the first-of-its-kind is a different issue. The narrative is what should be scrutinised. But the larger point here is how the government has dealt with the unpleasant questions. In a multipolar political set up, political parties that are not in power are relevant only because they can question the ruling party's actions on behalf of the people. The questions can be unpleasant and tough. If we start branding Kejriwal and Nirupam, or for that matter anyone, 'anti-national' for questioning the actual nature of surgical strikes, we are certainly not acting in the right spirit of democracy. The very idea that patriotism is a patented privilege only for those who toe the government line is flawed, if not alarming for a country that boasts the virtues of its democratic setup. The Modi government should deal with such questions with maturity and a sense of responsibility (to the extent national security permits), instead of letting its ministers award Pakistani citizenship to questioners using the measure of patriotism. Creating an unnecessary controversy, we are making us and our army an object of ridicule. The Pakistani government and the anti-India elements (the real enemies of the State) they nurture, will be having a lot of fun watching the government suppressing questions with contempt, because that's what they do in their country. If we don't behave as a democracy in its true spirit, we are no different than them. It is an unbelievable hubris that we would doubt our own military and howl for evidence of a surgical strike following the 18 September Uri attack. But it's even worse to drag the government and the Indian Armed Forces into petty politics is even worse. It's almost like it is more exciting to disbelieve them than to accept that the teams went in, dismantled eight terrors camps, and got home. Occasionally, one gets the feeling that the need to scoop and sell a story is so overwhelming that we dredge for doubt. And are dismayed when we dont find it. But if this is the sort of 'dog in the manger' attitude the media is going to display in its quest to corner the government on a single four-hour operation and send off little salvos of shak because it is nice and competitive to do so, what will we do during a war? Days have passed since the surgical strike but we seem incapable of moving on. In purely military terms, it is done and dusted, and was, itself, not such a massive action. In tactical terms, it was an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny beautifully timed incision, and it is over. The strikes were ordered to respond to the blatant attack on an army camp in Uri and to show Pakistan, India means business. Period. It was a message and not a major conflagration. It was neither the Battle of Britain nor the landings in Normandie. As far as the fight against terrorism goes vis-a-vis Pakistan allowing them refuge on its territory, this is not even a start and a lot more will have to be done to rid ourselves of the menace. If we cannot accept a singular strategic move on trust without having politicians and others hogging the limelight by scratching doubts on the surface, we are in danger of becoming our worst own enemies. Frankly, many of us in the media and without, are heartily tired of the browbeating and the time and publicity being given to the naysayers. This phrase surgical strike like some heady new wine has become a mantra and it seems we cannot get enough of it. Danger: we will lose sight of the bigger picture by focusing attention on a corner of this canvas. Bigger danger: our troops will look at each other in wonderment and say, why are we risking our lives for these people who dont want to believe us. @#$% them. If I was one of the guys who had gone in that night, and this is what I was hearing and seeing Id be thinking: What the bloody hell do I have to do before these ###wipes believe me? Biggest danger: we are giving Pakistan so much comfort and so much fodder to feed their media cannons and ridicule us. The nonsense we are witnessing over the blaring TV channels and echoing on websites and blogs and newsprint is largely bed-rocked in ignorance and a false sense of entitlement fueled by pro- and anti-Modi factions. The Army does not owe us the showing of classified material, contrary to our arrogant conclusion that anything which happens has to be shared with the press instantly, or, you are covering up. It does not. The government will decide what military matters are to be shared, and when. Seriously, let this surgical strike become a page in military history. A one-goal lead in a game that has only just begun is not the time to scratch the scab or jump up and down with joy. The Indian Armed Forces themselves will tell you: Get over it. Jaipur: Two young men on Tuesday threw ink on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the state's Bikaner city, police said, adding both have been detained. "This incident happened late in the evening at a residential complex when Kejriwal was coming out after meeting his acquaintance. We have detained two persons in this regard," a police official told IANS. Kejriwal was in Bikaner, 350 km from Jaipur, to attend a condolence meeting at the home of a local leader of his Aam Aadmi Party. Questioning of both the persons is going on, said the police officer, noting that the political affiliations of these men who are students are not known as of now. Sources said that Kejriwal was attacked apparently by students affiliated with RSS's student wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for his remarks on Indian Army's surgical strike. Kejriwal in his tweet on ink attack said, " Hmmm... God bless those who threw ink at me. I wish them well." Even though Tarun Gogoi, former Assam chief minister, wrote a letter to the prime minister on 18 September expressing grave concern over Chinas declaration to block a tributary of Brahmaputra, experts are now downplaying the fears over the move by stating that the proposed block in the water flow to the Indian territory may not have a serious impact on the river after all. Soon after Chinese news agency Xinhua declared that Tibet is going to block a tributary of Yarlung Tsangpo, Gogoi wrote the letter to Modi urging him to take up the matter with China as he felt that construction of such a dam over the Brahmaputra would adversely impact the downstream flow, ultimately crippling the economy of the state. The Congress leader also went on to say that a dam on the upper reaches of Brahmaputra will cause grave concern for Assam as well as other parts of the North East. But, in spite of Gogoi's concerns over the dam, experts are now presenting a different take on the situation. Dr Bhagwat Pran Dowerah, a geologist who has conducted extensive research on hydro-water projects and dams and was appointed as a member of the expert committee to study the impact of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project by the government, says that this fear emerges from the notion that Yarlung Tsangpo itself is the Brahmaputra. Yarlung Tsangpo is only a tributary of the Brahmaputra. The river Brahmaputra gets its name only after the three major tributaries meet, Dowerah said. China has said that it is going to block a tributary of Yarlung Tsangpo. The river Yarlung Tsangpo, that is known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh in India, contributes only 30 percent of water the Brahmaputra drains. Even this amount of water is not entirely fed by glaciers in China, Dowerah said. He pointed out that the foothills of Himalayas in North East India get much more rainfall than its upper reaches based in China. A major portion of the water in the Siang comes from these rains. Though there is no proper scientific study to show exactly what amount of water is generated in China to feed the river and what amount in India, still I do not think that blocking a tributary will bring a substantial difference to the water flow of Brahmaputra. For Brahmaputra drains much more water than we use from it, Dowerah added. The said dam to be built in Tibet is about 42 megawatts of power. The amount of water to be blocked is 295 million cubic metre. We in India are envisaging projects bigger than that on the tributaries of Brahmaputra. For example, the Subansiri Lower Project aims to store 4.5 times more water than the dam in Tibet, Dowerah said. He also said that the only matter of concern here is that all the tributaries of the Brahmaputra originate in China. India needs a transparent treaty with China to ensure that the water needed here is not blocked by the neighbouring country. China has the right to build dams on the rivers that flow through it. But we need to ensure that we continue to get our due share of water. Only a water treaty can make it possible, he said. Environmentalist Chandan Dowerah, who has written extensively on issues related to environmental impacts of dams, questions the validity of protests raised against Chinas move to build the dam on the tributary of Brahmaputra. We ourselves have made dams on the tributaries of Brahmaputra. But have we raised similar questions about the riparian rights of Bangladesh or even that of Indian states in the downstream of the river? he questions. Dhaka: A consignment of weapons used during the Dhaka cafe attack that killed 20 foreigners, including an Indian girl, was modified in India before it was transported to Bangladesh in mango baskets, a media report claimed on Tuesday. "We have come to know that the modification of these arms was done in Munger city in Bihar state of India and then they came to Chapainwabganj border," Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime chief Monirul Islam said. "A seal from a factory in Bihar was found on the three AK22 rifles recovered after the Gulshan terror attack," Islam was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune. A month before the terror attack in Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, the consignment of AK22 rifles and some small arms reached the militants in the Bangladesh capital. Of these arms, three AK22 rifles were used in the attack while another rifle was used for the security of Neo Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh chief Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the paper said. Investigators are now saying they have finally been able to trace the route of the smuggled arms. "We have finally learned the source of the AK22s supply and have been also able to identify the group primarily," Islam was quoted as saying by the paper. "Now, drive is underway to arrest this group's members," he said. Missing New JMB leader Nurul Islam Marjan, who was the field-level coordinator of the 1 July cafe attack, received the consignment in Dhaka and delivered it to the militant den in Bashundhara Residential Area. "A large amount of mangoes came to Dhaka from Chapainawabganj in baskets at the time and the militants took advantage of that to elude law enforcers," Islam added. The Islamic State (IS) had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack. But police believe that Neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which is close to the IS, was involved in organising the attack. Auto refresh feeds #APFactCheck : Kaine says Trump has no plan to fight IS, but Clinton's isn't that new either #VPDebate https://t.co/Tmwxbv0eyv pic.twitter.com/KNtM2JzcXK "The potential is there to change the direction of this country but it will take great leadership to do it," Pence said. "When Donald Trump becomes President, they're going to see real change happen," Pence said. "From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. When Donald Trump says women should be punished...he is showing you who he is." #VPDebate A society will be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. I couldn't be prouder to stand with a pro-life candidate in @realDonaldTrump . History teaches us that weakness arouses evil. America needs to be strong on the world stage. #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/FJ59o5M4bT Mike Pence won big. We should all be proud of Mike! Democrat Kaine and Republican Pence squared off to highlight their capabilities as the men who could be a heartbeat away from the presidency, but essentially they were on stage fighting a proxy war for their running mates five weeks before Election Day on 8 November. - AFP Vice presidential hopefuls Tim Kaine and Mike Pence launched into their only debate of the campaign, immediately clashing on the reputations and experiences of their bosses chasing the White House. "I think Governor Pence was amazing. I think he represented family," Donald Trump's son Eric told CNN. "We've lost respect. And my father will restore respect. Governor Pence will restore respect," he further said. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's running mates snatched the spotlight for the White House race on Wednesday, preparing to face off in their only debate of the campaign with the US elections just five weeks away. Polls show Democrat Clinton gaining in the wake of a punishing week for her Republican rival Trump, who was hammered by controversies over his taxes, his charitable foundation and treatment of women. The candidates' understudies Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence will take centre stage on Wednesday when they do battle before a national television audience that likely will be the largest to date in their careers. For many Americans, it will be their first prolonged exposure to the men who would be next in line for the presidency if their side wins on 8 November. Kaine, 58, is an affable senator from Virginia whose liberalism stems in part from his Catholic faith and experiences as a volunteer working in poor communities in Central America. Pence, 57, is the Christian conservative governor of Indiana, as modest and polite in style as Trump is brash and insulting. Both will want to convince undecided voters that their bosses are worthy of the Oval Office. Pence's job will be to reassure Republicans at a time when Trump is mired in difficulties, many of his own making. Pence will aim to be a "calming influence" on conservatives nervous about Trump, according to Joel Goldstein of Saint Louis University School of Law, a leading authority on the vice presidency. "His challenge is to steady the ship, convince the American people that there is some adult supervision, some adult presence there, and to appeal to conventional Republicans," Goldstein told AFP. Weighing heavily against the New York billionaire are a mediocre performance in his first debate with Clinton, followed by revelations of a $916 million loss in 1995 that may have meant he paid no taxes for several years, and criticism of his demeaning treatment of a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado. His campaign manager Kellyanne Conway promised a "fiery" Kaine-Pence debate. "I think you'll see in Mike Pence somebody who is able to defend Donald Trump the running mate, but at the same time take the case right to Hillary Clinton," she said on CBS. Pence, who spent a dozen years in Congress, is known for his discipline. He has prepared intensively for the debate, unlike Trump, who did little to practice for his 26 September encounter with Clinton. "We expect them to throw a lot of mud," said Clinton campaign manager Robbie Mook, ahead of the debate in Farmville, Virginia. "It's going to be very interesting to see how Mike Pence responds to questions about Trump's behaviour in the last week," he added, also speaking on "CBS This Morning." Defending Trump has become second nature for Pence: he's had to put out fires on multiple occasions over the past months. When Trump became embroiled in a bitter feud with the family of a Muslim-American army captain killed in Iraq, it was Pence who put out a statement hailing Humayun Khan as an "American hero." Reassurance Besides reassuring voters turned off by Trump's volcanic temper, Pence must attack Clinton while pushing a larger theme of change something many Americans say they want and laying out the Republican agenda. Trump himself framed the showdown in similar terms at a rally in Prescott Valley, Arizona hours before the event. "The debate will be a contrast between our campaign of big ideas and bold solutions for tomorrow, versus the small and petty Clinton campaign that is totally stuck in the past," Trump said. But Trump has also warned that he will be "live tweeting the VP debate," potentially overshadowing his running mate during his moment in the sun. Kaine, who served as Virginia's governor from 2006 to 2010, appears to have the easier task. Since the first presidential debate, support for Clinton has risen to 44.3 percent against 40.6 percent for Trump, according to an average of recent national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics. Kaine's role so far has been to attack Trump, and he will no doubt seek to force Pence into owning the controversial rhetoric of his running mate. But Kaine too will likely be forced into defending Clinton, for using a private email server as secretary of state, as well as in other controversies that have undercut her trustworthiness among voters. While the two men are seen as disciplined and far less blemished than Clinton and Trump, vice presidential clashes can be unpredictable, even though they rarely move the needle. "Vice presidential debates often can be freewheeling, with so much ground to cover," Goldstein said. Americans will have a second round of presidential debates on Sunday to look forward to. The format will be a bit different, with candidates fielding questions put to them by people in the audience. United Nations: The United Nations peacekeeping chief on Wednesday urged Sudan to shed light on allegations of chemical weapons attacks in Darfur, but Russia said the claims must not be taken seriously. Herve Ladsous said he was "very alarmed" by an Amnesty International report that accused Sudanese government forces of carrying out more than 30 chemical attacks this year in villages of Darfur's Jebel Marra region. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in response to the report released last week that it would require further information and evidence to push ahead with a formal investigation. Ladsous told the Security Council that Khartoum -- which has signed the Chemical Weapons Convention -- should "maintain full cooperation with any future OPCW investigation, as it has expressed readiness to do so." Amnesty said that between 200 and 250 people including many children may have died as a result of exposure to chemical agents during the attacks. France and Britain have said the allegations should be thoroughly investigated, but Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the report was unconvincing. "Those allegations are not serious. There are so many reasons to believe they are not serious," Churkin told reporters. Ladsous stressed that the United Nations had no evidence of the use of such weapons but that its peacekeepers from the UNAMID joint mission with the African Union had been barred from traveling to those areas to verify the reports. The peacekeeping chief said UNAMID had once again asked the Sudanese government for access to the mountainous villages where the chemical attacks allegedly took place. Following a closed-door meeting on Darfur, the Russian ambassador said the council "wouldn't mind" if the OPCW decided to open a formal investigation. Churkin, whose country holds the council presidency this month, said a team from UNAMID could also be dispatched to the area and could "come to the conclusion that those reports were not accurate." Up to 194,000 people have been displaced in Jebel Marra since mid-January when the Sudanese army launched a military campaign against the rebel Sudan Liberation Army - Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW) group, the United Nations says. Darfur has been engulfed in a conflict since 2003 when ethnic minority groups took up arms against President Omar al-Bashir's Arab-dominated government, which launched a brutal counter-insurgency. At least 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced, the United Nations says. Google unveiled its Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones few hours back. The company already confirmed that it will be available for pre-order in India starting from October 13th starting at Rs. 57,000 compared to $649 in the US, which converts to about Rs. 43,190. Now Google has announced pricing for the 32GB and 128GB version of both the smartphones. The Pixel has a 5-inch 1080p screen with a 2,770mAh battery, while the Pixel XL has a 5.5-inch Quad HD screen with a 3450mAh battery. Both these are powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 821 processor with 4GB of RAM, run Android 7.1 (Nougat), have a 12.3-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, PDAF, LDAF, 8-megapixel front-facing camera and a fingerprint sensor on the back. Google Pixel and Pixel XL pricing in India Google Pixel 32GB Rs. 57,000 Google Pixel 128GB Rs. 66,000 Google Pixel XL 32GB Rs. 67,000 Google Pixel XL 128GB Rs. 76,000 Google Pixel and Pixel XL will be available in Quite Black and Very Silver colors. In addition to Flipkart, it will also be available from over 1000 organized and multi-brand retail stores including Reliance Digital, Croma and Vijay sales among others. Google will also be offering interest-free EMI programs and attractive upgrade offers. Pixel users will have access to a toll free phone support number along with 54 walk in service centres across 30+ cities in India. Olam Cocoa A leading originator of cocoa beans, a globally leading cocoa processor, and the worlds foremost focused supplier of cocoa beans and cocoa products (cocoa powder, cocoa butter and cocoa mass), Olam Cocoa is a fully integrated cocoa business. Cocoa beans are sourced from all major origins across Africa, Asia and South America, and Olam Cocoas portfolio of respected brands is spearheaded by deZaan, with its heritage of more than 100 years of excellence, as well as African origin brand Unicao, South American origin brand Joanes, the well-established Macao cocoa powders and Britannia confectionery and speciality fats brands, and the recently launched Huysman cocoa powder brand. Olam Cocoa has processing, refining and milling presence in the main cocoa producing countries, as well as in, or adjacent to, primary consumption markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Alongside a substantial operational infrastructure, Olam Cocoa recognises the clear responsibility to operate sustainably, Grow Responsibly and drive change by Re-imagining Agriculture. As one of the worlds leading suppliers of sustainable cocoa, Olam Cocoa is accelerating progress towards the goal of 100% traceable and sustainable cocoa volumes from its direct supply chain by 2020. The deZaan product range is organised around the three key elements of consistency, quality and functionality (flavour, colour and performance in application) and the three ingredient categories of cocoa powders, cocoa masses and cocoa butters. These are available in a wide range of technically specific formulations that cover the entire spectrum of application possibilities, from dairy and bakery to beverages, ice cream, cereals and high-end chocolates. D11BK is the ideal black cocoa powder for perfectly balanced recipes. This is the first ever nib alkalised black cocoa powder that provides superior sensory properties and colour impact without any added sodium. D11BK offers the option for a substantial sodium reduction in recipes and the ability to produce health conscious products that support permissible indulgence trends in categories ranging from biscuits and muffins, to cereals, desserts and ice creams. Having been around for more than a century, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT 3.39%) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW 3.48%) have carved a niche for themselves in their respective industries, even making it to the Fortune 500 list. It hasn't been easy for the industrial conglomerates lately, though, as weak end markets hit portions of their businesses. The market, however, hasn't overlooked the efforts the companies have made to tackle the headwinds, which is why both Caterpillar and Illinois Tool Works are up almost 29% each year to date as of this writing. Both stocks are clearly on an uptrend and look attractive right now, but it's only when you dig a little deeper that you realize one could offer far better value for money than the other if bought today. Before I tell you which stock I'm talking about and why, let's learn a bit about Illinois Tool Works' and Caterpillar's businesses and see where they stand on the global map. Business: Caterpillar vs. Illinois Tool Works Caterpillar is huge in size and scale with more than 300 products and presence in 180 countries. Comparatively, Illinois Tool Works has operations in 57 countries. However, Illinois Tool Works' diversified portfolio serves a larger number of industries than Caterpillar. After divesting several businesses in recent years as part of a major restructuring program, Illinois Tool Works has narrowed down to seven segments: Automotive OEM, food equipment, test and measurement and electronics, welding, polymers and fluids, construction products, and specialty products (mainly packaging). As you might have already guessed, the company serves nearly every key industry. It's a well balanced portfolio where each segment contributes at least 10% to total revenues. Caterpillar is all about heavy machinery. It operates three business segments -- construction industries, resource industries (primarily mining), and energy and transportation (E&T) aside from a financial arm. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, gas turbines, diesel and natural-gas engines, and locomotives. Considering its dominance and global reach, you'd expect Caterpillar to have delivered superior returns than Illinois Tool Works. That's far from truth. Where Illinois Tool Works crushes Caterpillar Unlike Illinois Tool Works, Caterpillar is heavily exposed to the commodity markets through its resource industries and E&T segments. Before Caterpillar's mining-equipment business could recover from the blows of the commodities bubble, oil prices plunged and hit its E&T segment hard. The company's top and bottom lines have fallen off the cliff. Caterpillar's profits have headed in one direction for four years now: south, with almost three-quarters of its profits getting wiped out in the past five years. Illinois Tool Works' bottom line has been more volatile during the period, but flattish overall thanks largely to its diversification. That's a big positive for investors in the long run. In fact, Caterpillar's last quarter was one of its worst, with management downgrading full-year guidance to $2.75 per share at mid-point, representing roughly 21% and more than 50% drops from its 2015 and 2014 EPS, respectively. In sharp contrast, Illinois Tool Works reported record operating profits last quarter, encouraging management to upgrade outlook for the full year: It expects 9% growth in EPS at mid-point. So while Illinois Tool Works is growing like gangbusters, Caterpillar is struggling to stop its profits from falling further. Caterpillar will have to wait for mining and oil and gas companies to start spending again to see its fortunes turn. Illinois Tool Works, meanwhile, has set down its financial goals for 2017 and beyond, which include: Operating margin above 23% (versus 21% in 2015). 100% conversion of net income to free cash flow. Total shareholder returns of 12%-14%. Financials and dividends: It's a tight race I must point out here that Caterpillar has been equally proficient in converting its profits to FCF despite the challenges: It boasts an above 100% conversion rate since 2013. Unfortunately, the growth in its cash flows pales in front of Illinois Tool Works'. Financially, Illinois Tool Works scores an extra point with an interest coverage of 13 times compared to Caterpillar's four times coverage, which means its operating profits are enough to cover 13 times the interest it's paying on debt. In terms of debt, both companies are highly leveraged with total debt-to-equity ratio of above one, which isn't surprising given the capital-intensive nature of their businesses. The strong growth in Illinois Tool Works' cash flows has worked hugely in investors' favor: A Dividend Aristocrat, the company has raised its dividend for 52 straight years, with its dividend growing at a compounded average of 11% since 2012. Caterpillar has a solid track too, having more than doubled its dividend in the past decade. But its dividends look riskier especially after Caterpillar skipped its usual dividend increase in June this year, perhaps because its FCF payout is hitting dangerous levels. Caterpillar's dividend yield of 3.5% is attractive, but I believe Illinois Tool Works' less cyclical and diversified business makes it a lower-risk stock with great returns potential from a long-term perspective. In the past decade, Illinois Tool Works' total returns (stock price plus dividend) jumped threefold compared to Caterpillar's 80% returns. Caterpillar might well be at the bottom of the cycle given the recent developments in commodity and oil markets, but the stock's rally in the past year is misaligned to its operating performance. In other words, Caterpillar's lofty valuations indicate that much of the optimism has already been baked into the stock price. Keeping that in mind, I'd bet on Illinois Tool Works. Last week, OPEC held a regularly scheduled meeting, and for the first time in a while, its members walked away with an agreement to cut production. In this segment from Industry Focus: Energy, Sean O'Reilly and Taylor Muckerman explain how much the cut, if it goes through, would mean compared to the daily global production of oil today. Also, the hosts talk about why the agreement has meaning beyond the possible reduction in crude pumped by cartel members, and how this agreement compares to OPEC members' decision to produce at will in November 2014. A full transcript follows the video. This podcast was recorded on Sept. 29, 2016. Sean O'Reilly: Stop the presses: OPEC agreed to, on a preliminary basis, cut production. What?! Taylor Muckerman: Yeah, that's what they said. There's no details. O'Reilly: There were a few, to be fair. Muckerman: Well, there are some estimates. O'Reilly: Let's take a step back. OPEC surprised everybody yesterday, sent oil up 5% to 6%. They had been talking down these discussions in Algiers for one or two weeks -- "We want to cut, but this is just preliminary, we don't expect to decide anything." Russia and Iran talked it down, Saudi talked it up. It's a little verbal chess game. Then, yesterday [it] hits the wires that they agreed to a preliminary cut. Details are going to be announced in a month. Muckerman: Nov. 30. O'Reilly: The symmetry there is pretty funny. That date, two years ago ... Muckerman: That's their bi-annual meeting, it happens in November. That year, it was Nov. 24. O'Reilly: So, right before Thanksgiving, they were like, "Yeah, we're not going to do anything," and oil plummets. And here we sit, two years later. Muckerman: People were cooking their turkeys by the oil drum fires in 2014. O'Reilly: Because it was so cheap. (laughs) But, correct me if I'm wrong, they're talking about, in a month, agreeing to actually setting firmly about a 750,000-per-day barrel decrease in supply. Muckerman: That's what an Iranian representative suggested. But if you look across the board, there's a lot of people that aren't quite sure it'll even reach 500,000 barrels per day. But even if it was 700,000 barrels a day -- O'Reilly: Or 500,000. Muckerman: Either way, that's only 0.7% of global oil production. It's not a huge, earth-shattering thing. What is the big deal is that OPEC countries have returned to the table and reached a conclusion, rather than just walking away with their hands up in the air. O'Reilly: Right, Saudi Arabia and Iran are actually talking. One of them closed the other's embassy in their country a year ago. They were mean for a while. Muckerman: These countries traditionally don't get along. This isn't totally resigned to just oil markets, when you look at how these countries are playing chess against each other. O'Reilly: The Persian Empire invented chess. Muckerman: Yeah. There's a little bit of historical nature to that suggestion, as well. When you look at what they've been doing, Saudi Arabia is much more reliant, for budgetary reasons, on high oil prices, high oil revenues. Iran is just having a field day because they had all these sanctions against them and now they've been lifted. O'Reilly: This is all free money. Muckerman: Essentially. It's money they didn't have. So, they became less reliant on oil revenues over that time period, and now they can sit on lower prices, higher production, for a little bit longer than Saudi Arabia can. You look at Saudi Arabia cutting ministers' salaries by up to 20%, cutting subsidies across the board to their civilians. O'Reilly: They can no longer buy their solid gold Lamborghinis. I feel terrible for them. Muckerman: I mean, you kind of have to at some point, because oil does represent a significant part of their overall budget. O'Reilly: Their social programs, if you look at the oil ministers, it's everybody. Muckerman: Yeah, everybody benefits when they sell oil at high prices. If you look at 0.7% of oil cutbacks, not a huge deal, especially when you look at the landscape in the United States with so many wells that have been drilled but not completed. You look at a research company like Rystad Energy, [which] suggests that 90% of wells that are drilled but not completed can be economically completed at $50 a barrel, which we're almost at. So, I think supply is going to be able to make up for lost ground, in terms of what OPEC is supposedly going to pull back on. O'Reilly: On the other hand, it's minuscule compared to global daily production size. Muckerman: Yeah. I think it's just the significance of them actually coming to an accord, rather than walking away from the table. O'Reilly: In addition to that, just to play devil's advocate a little bit: When the fateful day occurred two years ago, OPEC said they weren't doing anything and they were going to go for market share, we not going to cut and just to guarantee a price, what was the global oversupply number per day? Muckerman: More than it is today. O'Reilly: That's my point. It was 1.5 million barrels a day oversupply? So, the 500,000 or 750,000 barrels per day that OPEC is talking about cutting -- granted, at this point -- in addition to the gargantuan capital budget cuts that have occurred in the industry, I'm like: is the oversupply done? Muckerman: Long term, you could start to worry about that. But in the near term, like I said, you have almost 4,000, maybe over 4,000 wells in the United States that can be fracked at $50 a barrel. That could drive up U.S. production, which has been pulling back since November 2014, from record highs. So, you're seeing the ability of companies like EOG and Continental Resources, who have already started to complete some of these wells in the $40 range, and then a company like Whiting Petroleum that was shopping itself for what looked to be pretty cheap just several months ago. O'Reilly: But there were no takers. Muckerman: There were no takers. And here they are saying, "Once $50 a barrel comes around, we're going to start completing some these wells." By that, I mean that the wells have been drilled, but they haven't been cemented, encased, they haven't been fracked. So they're not producing. But that's traditionally the more expensive part of the whole process. So companies have been drilling these sites and letting them idle until they reach a certain dollar value per barrel. It seems to be $50 per barrel is that magic number for the broad majority of these wells. It's gotten to be such a big deal that the EIA has actually started to come out with a monthly report of how many wells are drilled but uncompleted. You have seen it come down a little bit since January because the price of oil has risen since January. If you look at January 2014, there were around 2,500 wells that were drilled but not completed. You're looking at a little over 4,000 right now. Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) stock recently touched $90 per share -- just a few percentage points below an all-time high. The consumer goods titan is up 20% in the last 12 months, making it one of the best-performing members of the Dow. That share-price gain seems to clash with P&G's sinking business trends. Organic growth slowed to just 1% in 2016 from 2% the prior year and 3% in fiscal 2014. However, the company is managing important financial and operating wins that help explain why investors are so optimistic about its stock right now. 1. Cost cuts Every blue chip business is looking for ways to cut costs, but few have had as much success as P&G. It has sliced down its expenses on cost of goods sold to the point where it is saving nearly $1.5 billion per year -- beating the $1.2 billion goal management set in 2012. PG Cost of Goods Sold (TTM) data by YCharts. Since 2012, costs in just that category have dropped by $7 billion. P&G plans to achieve even better results ahead, targeting $10 billion of cumulative productivity savings through fiscal 2021. These improvements promise to send profitability higher. 2. Cash flow One of P&G's core long-term financial targets is to achieve cash flow productivity, or the ratio of free cash flow to adjusted earnings, of at least 90%. The company has trounced that target lately. In fact, P&G generated $12.1 billion of free cash in the past 12 months on earnings of $10.5 billion, yielding a ratio of 115% of earnings. This increase has helped keep cash returns to shareholders rising even as earnings decline due to to a weak selling environment, brand divestments, and foreign-currency moves. 3. Marketing P&G is a skilled marketer -- and that success goes far beyond simply putting out effective TV advertisements at global events like the Olympics. While any company with a large budget can make an international splash like that, P&G's marketing reaches an entirely different level. Image source: P&G. For example, its relationships with hospitals across the country helps it get trial samples of Pampers diapers to 70% of new moms. And when it launched a new Gillette razor recently, its marketing department succeeded in getting a trial product into the hands of 80% of young men. 4. Cutting its losses The company has proven itself ruthless when it comes to walking away from market segments that don't offer the right mix of sales and profit growth. This month's $11 billion sale of its beauty business to Cotyis just the single biggest example, but there are over 100 more including P&G's exiting of the value-priced Mexican tissue paper niche. Overall the company has whittled its portfolio down by 105 brands representing 15% of its 2013 sales but just 6% of earnings. Going forward, that shift should produce a leaner, faster-growing, and more profitable company. 5. Cash returns P&G's cash returns have always played a key role in the total returns that shareholders can expect from this stock. In the five years ended in fiscal 2015, the company delivered $60 billion to investors at a pace of about $12 billion per year. Smaller rival Kimberly-Clark, in contrast, has returned about $2 billion per year to shareholders over the last decade. FY = Fiscal year. BN = Billion. Image source: P&G investor presentation. While Kimberly-Clark's return outlook is stable at just below $2 billion, P&G's is soaring. The company expects to deliver $22 billion to shareholders this year on its way to $70 billion in the three years ending in fiscal 2019. These significant wins have helped power solid gains for P&G shareholders lately, but the successes won't mean much if the company can't begin clawing back lost market share. The projected uptick to 2% organic growth this year is encouraging, but it would represent only a small step toward that goal. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Demitrios Kalogeropoulos has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Kimberly-Clark and Procter and Gamble. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Renren Inc. What happened Shares of Chinese social media network Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN) jumped more than 20% Tuesday after the company announced it will spin off social video site woxiu.com. So what More specifically, Renren is forming a new subsidiary that will hold both woxiu.com and "most" of its minority stakes in privately held companies. Renren also revealed it is pursuing the spinoff to reduce the amount of investments in consolidated subsidiaries, as well as to "unlock potential" for its social video business by allowing it to operate separately from its core social networking and internet financing businesses. In turn, this will "minimize the risk that the Company could be deemed to be an 'investment company' under the Investment Company Act of 1940." Now what Renren noted that, following the spinoff -- which should qualify as a tax-free distribution -- the new subsidiary will be a privately held company, and won't be subject to public company reporting requirements, or listed on any stock exchange. Personally, that would make me uncomfortable if I were a Renren shareholder, as I'm generally convinced being afforded greater visibility into any business is an invaluable part of making informed investment decisions. So while Renren might well be unlocking the value of its business and minimizing potential risk, I wouldn't blame investors for taking at least some of their chips off the table after today's pop. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. On Tuesday, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and Alaska Air (NYSE: ALK) kicked off the monthly reporting of airline traffic and capacity. Their reports showed that airlines are quickly getting capacity growth under control now that the peak summer travel season is over. This should lead to strengthening unit revenue trends across the airline industry this fall. Overcapacity undermines unit revenue While the stock market continues to hit record highs, most airline stocks have performed poorly in 2016. That includes Alaska Air shares (down about 15% year to date) as well as Delta Air Lines shares (down about 20%). Delta and Alaska Air year-to-date stock performance, data by YCharts. The culprit has been a long string of unit revenue declines across the airline industry. Falling fuel prices and changing industry dynamics have caused airlines to increase capacity at a fast pace for the past two years, outrunning demand growth. To keep their planes full, airlines have had to slash fares. To be sure, many airlines, including Alaska and Delta, are still earning record profits. That hasn't appeased investors, who recognize that oil prices aren't falling anymore. Rising jet fuel costs will start to pressure airlines' earnings soon, barring an abrupt rebound in unit revenue. Capacity rationalization begins To get unit revenue moving in the right direction again, airlines clearly need to rein in capacity growth. However, most carriers were wary of making those adjustments during the summer peak season, which is their most profitable period of the year. Instead, they scheduled capacity cuts for the fall. The transition was especially abrupt at Alaska Air. In August, the company increased its capacity 10.3% year over year, which wasroughly in line with its growth during the first seven months of 2016. By contrast, in September, Alaska increased its capacity just 3.2% year over year as it retired some of its oldest airplanes. Alaska Air's capacity growth slowed dramatically in September. Image source: The Motley Fool. For Delta, the shift was more subtle. Additionally, Delta's IT meltdown in August caused a huge number of flight cancellations this summer. Still, capacity increased just 1.8% year over year in September, compared to 3.2% growth in Q2. Delta plans to limit capacity growth to 1% in Q4. Unit revenue trends are starting to improve Even with a relatively modest change in capacity growth, Delta saw a big improvement in its unit revenue results last month. The company estimates that passenger revenue per available seat mile declined about 3% in September, compared to a 7% drop in July. (The August results were even worse, due to Delta's technology outage.) Delta's unit revenue trajectory could potentially improve further in Q4. As noted above, capacity growth is set to slow again. Additionally, Delta faced a significant headwind in Q3 related to lower currency-hedging gains. That headwind is set to fade in Q4 and beyond. Offsetting these positives, Delta faces tougher year-over-year unit revenue comparisons in Q4, relative to Q3. Alaska Air hasn't provided an estimate of its September unit revenue performance. But given its sharp reduction in capacity growth, Alaska's unit revenue trend probably also improved significantly. Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air weren't alone in cutting back capacity growth to address weak unit revenue trends. Across the industry, most carriers are set to report slower capacity growth for September and even more modest growth plans for Q4. This caution is likely to continue until unit revenue starts rising again. With most airlines moving toward tighter capacity discipline, the industry is likely to return to modest unit revenue growth by sometime in the first half of 2017. That should help airline stocks overcome their recent malaise. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Alaska Air Group and is long January 2017 $40 calls on Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved a one-year suspension for Wells Fargo & Co from city business because of its scandal over phony accounts, joining the states of Illinois and California in punishing the bank. The ban includes bond underwriting, brokerage, trustee and other services the bank has provided to the city. Wells Fargo has earned $19.5 million in fees from Chicago since 2005. Wells Fargo staff opened checking, savings and credit card accounts without customer approval for years to satisfy managers' demand for new business, according to a $190 million settlement with U.S. regulators and California prosecutors reached on Sept. 8. The bank said it has fired 5,300 employees over the issue. "I hope this action by the city of Chicago will echo around the nation and make it clear to other institutions this conduct is unacceptable," said Alderman Edward Burke, who heads the council's finance committee. Illinois penalized the bank earlier this week while California announced a 12-month sanction against Wells Fargo, that state's oldest financial institution, on Sept. 28. California replaced Wells Fargo as a lead underwriter on two bond sales in the wake of its decision. On Wednesday, Wells Fargo said it would continue to serve Chicago customers and support non-profit community agencies, educational institutions and foundations. "Wells Fargo is disappointed that the Chicago City Council has chosen to suspend a relationship with one of the nations safest and strongest financial institutions at a time when the city needs access to dependable financial partners," the bank said in a statement. Following the vote, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told reporters: "The city's disappointed in Wells Fargo." Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's office, which included Wells Fargo in a pool of senior underwriters for bond sales, said on Sunday the state would not be using the bank for debt deals "until further notice." Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs on Monday suspended $30 billion in state investment activity with the bank. Those activities include investments in Wells Fargo debt and bank broker/dealer services. Also on Wednesday, Connecticut's state treasurer Denise Nappier told Reuters in a statement that Morgan Stanley was added as a co-bookrunner for an October bond sale because of troubles at Wells Fargo. "The addition of Morgan Stanley ... was made in an abundance of caution to help ensure the success of the sale," the statement said. "Wells Fargo had been assigned as the sole bookrunner prior to the recent revelations of regulatory actions against the bank." In addition to outright sanctions, the states of Massachusetts and Oregon, as well as the city of New York, have said they would press for reforms at the bank, await results of investigations while also reviewing their business relationship with the firm. (Reporting by Karen Pierog and Dave McKinney in Chicago and Hilary Russ in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Daniel Bases) The Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved a one-year suspension for Wells Fargo & Co from city business because of its scandal over phony accounts, joining the states of Illinois and California in punishing the bank. The ban includes bond underwriting, brokerage, trustee and other services the bank has provided to the city. Wells Fargo has earned $19.5 million in fees from Chicago since 2005. Wells Fargo staff opened checking, savings and credit card accounts without customer approval for years to satisfy managers' demand for new business, according to a $190 million settlement with U.S. regulators and California prosecutors reached on Sept. 8. The bank said it fired 5,300 employees over the issue. "I hope this action by the city of Chicago will echo around the nation and make it clear to other institutions this conduct is unacceptable," said Alderman Edward Burke, who heads the council's finance committee. Illinois penalized the bank earlier this week while California announced a 12-month-long sanction against Wells Fargo, that state's oldest financial institution, on Sept. 28. California replaced Wells Fargo as a lead underwriter on two bond sales in the wake of its decision. On Wednesday, Wells Fargo said it would continue to serve Chicago customers and support non-profit community agencies, educational institutions and foundations. "Wells Fargo is disappointed that the Chicago City Council has chosen to suspend a relationship with one of the nations safest and strongest financial institutions at a time when the city needs access to dependable financial partners," the bank said in a statement. Following the vote, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told reporters: "The city's disappointed in Wells Fargo." Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's office, which included Wells Fargo in a pool of senior underwriters for bond sales, said on Sunday the state would not be using the bank for debt deals "until further notice." Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs on Monday suspended $30 billion in state investment activity with the bank. Those activities include investments in Wells Fargo debt and bank broker/dealer services. Also on Wednesday, Connecticut's state treasurer Denise Nappier told Reuters in a statement that Morgan Stanley was added as a co-bookrunner for an October bond sale because of troubles at Wells Fargo. "The addition of Morgan Stanley... was made in an abundance of caution to help ensure the success of the sale," the statement said. "Wells Fargo had been assigned as the sole bookrunner prior to the recent revelations of regulatory actions against the bank." In addition to outright sanctions, the states of Massachusetts and Oregon, as well as the city of New York, have said they will press for reforms at the bank, await results of investigations while also reviewing their business relationship with the firm. (Reporting by Karen Pierog and Dave McKinney in Chicago and Hilary Russ in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Daniel Bases) AT&T (NYSE: T) recently announced that it was testing new technology through its Project AirGig. Per the company press release, the core idea is simple: Though the project is still in its early phases, the company believes that the ability to attach small, inexpensive radio stations to existing utility infrastructure could help the company deliver high-speed internet connections to millions of customers, especially those currently living in underserved areas. In this clip fromIndustry Focus: Consumer Goods, Vincent Shen is joined by Motley Fool contributor Daniel Kline to discuss how the technology works and what it might mean for internet users all over the country. A full transcript follows the video. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. This podcast was recorded on Sept. 27, 2016. Vincent Shen: We're talking about big bets here, I want to move on to our next topic. That is with AT&T and their Project AirGig. The news came out about a week ago. The headline here is essentially the ability for them to use power lines to deliver internet to underserved areas. Can you give us a little more detail? Daniel Kline: Yeah. Underserved areas are the ones that make the most sense, because they don't have Internet. But really, these are inexpensive. They didn't provide any specific expense details. Clip-on antennas that use the power lines, they don't directly transmit the Internet through the power line, but they use the power lines to deliver wireless. It creates the ability to bring Internet connection to any place that has power lines, which is the vast majority of the country. So, yes, it could help them bring it to underserved markets, and that would be, 1. meeting legal obligations they were supposed to meet anyway, and 2. it would, in theory, allow them to create a national or at least semi-national Internet competitor where they could go in and say, "Yep, we don't have fiber, we don't have wires, we don't have any of this, but if you want a $39.99 Internet package, we could offer it to you." That could really shake up the system. Shen: Yeah. The company has been pretty mum on the more technical details. Everything they've put out so far, like that press release, there's a video that accompanied it, it's very interesting, but they're very adamant in clarifying that the signal does not travel through the power lines themselves. It has something to do with electricity. The one thing I notice, the only thing they mention with voltage, is that they try to connect the antennas to the medium voltage lines, but that's only because -- Ars Technica covers this -- their location on the electrical utility poles tends to be the highest up with a clear line of sight. So, it basically allows antennas to get the best signal travel from each radio. Kline: It's worth noting that this is in maybe not early testing phases, but AT&T did an awful lot to dial down expectations. This works in their private testing on their facility. They have not brought it out to the widespread, and there's spectrum issues, there's other things that could cause problems here, but this is very promising technology that we're probably about two years away from actually seeing in the field. As someone who spends some of his time in rural New Hampshire where I have satellite Internet that works about as well as dial up, and we do have power lines, a high-speed alternative would be something that would be absolutely perfect for me and my neighbors. In theory, with a two-year time clock, this puts all the incumbents, Comcast, Cox, Charter, whoever is providing your Internet, it puts them on notice and says, "Maybe some better technology is coming." And we already had some vague things out there. Googlehas its blimps, and Facebook has made noise about deploying some mobile Internet options. But, this is a concrete possibility where the infrastructure is already there. If I'm an incumbent who is slowly ticking up broadband prices, maybe this puts a little bit of a check, and maybe it gets me to actually deliver to markets that don't have service right now. Daniel Kline owns shares of Facebook. Vincent Shen has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The New York City pension fund is Wells Fargos (NYSE:WFC) latest victim in the wake of the phony accounts scandal. The fund, which provides benefits to the citys teachers and fire and police departments, has $160B in assets in investment funds. New York City comptroller Scott Stringer reached out to Wells Fargo three weeks ago, demanding the return of $41 million to the funds shareholders. Years ago the New York City pension fund actually put in place claw backs so that we can actually go after the CEO, chair of the board if theyre not doing the right thing. So we sent a letter demanding $41 million in pay to come back to the share owners, and Im glad to say theyre doing that. Weve also looked at one of the vice presidents [Carrie Tolstedt] we want $19 million backtheyre doing that, Stringer said during an interview on the FOX Business Networks Countdown to the Closing Bell. Stringer described the Wells Fargo scandal as an entire scam perpetuated on the people of this country and called for a complete investigation of the third largest bank in the U.S. [New York City] Mayor de Blasio and I have also sent another letter saying, look, if you dont complete an investigation and clean this up, then our pension fund may decide not to do business with you. We are not playing around. The New York City pension fund has taken a hit since Wells Fargos stock plunged 10% as a result of the $185 million fine the bank incurred for creating as many as 2 million fake bank and credit card accounts. Stringer said the pension fund is prepared to end its relationship with the bank unless Wells Fargo ensures the Office of the New York City Comptroller that it will not repeat its fraudulent practice. We understand that they cannot get away with this. Were very concerned. One thing that would make it better for uswe need an independent board. Get rid of the rascals, put in a truly independent board to make the right decisions to how to clean this up, Stringer told host Liz Claman. The New York City pension fund includes 198,000 shares in firefighter funds totaling $11 million, and 1.1 million shares in New York teachers retirement funds equaling $66 million. When asked whether he would drop Wells Fargo stock from the fund if the bank doesnt comply with the comptrollers requirements, Stringer said, We made it clear that if they do not clean this mess up in a real way that this is on the table. At the end of the day we could walk away if they dont do what theyre supposed to do. Last week, OPEC held a regularly scheduled meeting, and for the first time in a while, its members walked away with an agreement to cut production. In this segment from Industry Focus: Energy, Sean O'Reilly and Taylor Muckerman explain how much the cut, if it goes through, would mean compared to the daily global production of oil today. Also, the hosts talk about why the agreement has meaning beyond the possible reduction in crude pumped by cartel members, and how this agreement compares to OPEC members' decision to produce at will in November 2014. A full transcript follows the video. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. This podcast was recorded on Sept. 29, 2016. Sean O'Reilly: Stop the presses: OPEC agreed to, on apreliminary basis, cut production. What?! Taylor Muckerman:Yeah,that's what they said. There's no details. O'Reilly:There were a few, to be fair. Muckerman:Well, there are some estimates. O'Reilly:Let's take a step back. OPECsurprised everybody yesterday, sent oil up 5% to 6%. They had beentalking downthese discussions in Algiers for one or two weeks -- "We want to cut,but this is just preliminary, we don't expect to decide anything." Russia and Iran talked it down, Saudi talked it up. It's a little verbal chess game. Then,yesterday [it] hits the wiresthat they agreed to a preliminary cut. Details are going to be announced in a month. Muckerman:Nov. 30. O'Reilly:Thesymmetry there is pretty funny. That date, two years ago ... Muckerman:That's their bi-annual meeting, ithappens in November. That year, it was Nov. 24. O'Reilly:So,right before Thanksgiving, they were like, "Yeah, we're not going to do anything," and oil plummets. And here we sit, two years later. Muckerman:People werecooking their turkeys by the oil drum fires in 2014. O'Reilly:Because it was so cheap.(laughs) But,correct me if I'm wrong,they're talking about, in a month, agreeing toactually setting firmly about a 750,000-per-day barrel decrease in supply. Muckerman:That's what anIranian representative suggested. But if you look across the board,there's a lot of people that aren't quite sure it'll even reach 500,000 barrels per day. But even if it was 700,000 barrels a day -- O'Reilly:Or 500,000. Muckerman:Either way, that's only 0.7% ofglobal oil production. It's not a huge, earth-shattering thing. What is the big deal is that OPEC countries havereturned to the table andreached a conclusion, rather than just walking away with their hands up in the air. O'Reilly:Right,Saudi Arabia and Iran are actually talking. One of them closed the other's embassy in their country a year ago. They were mean for a while. Muckerman:These countries traditionally don't get along. This isn't totally resigned to just oil markets, when youlook at how these countries are playing chess against each other. O'Reilly:ThePersian Empire invented chess. Muckerman:Yeah. There's a little bit ofhistorical nature to that suggestion, as well. When you look at what they've been doing,Saudi Arabia is much more reliant, for budgetary reasons, on high oil prices, high oil revenues. Iran isjust having a field day because they hadall these sanctions against them and now they've been lifted. O'Reilly:This is all free money. Muckerman:Essentially. It's money they didn't have. So,they became less reliant on oil revenuesover that time period,and now they can sit on lower prices, higher production, for a little bit longer thanSaudi Arabia can. You look at Saudi Arabia cuttingministers' salaries by up to 20%, cuttingsubsidies across the boardto their civilians. O'Reilly:They canno longer buy their solid gold Lamborghinis. I feel terrible for them. Muckerman:I mean, you kind of have to at some point,because oil does represent a significant partof their overall budget. O'Reilly:Their social programs,if you look at the oil ministers, it's everybody. Muckerman:Yeah,everybody benefits when they sell oil at high prices. If you look at 0.7% of oil cutbacks, not a huge deal, especially when you look at the landscape in the United States with so many wells that have been drilled but not completed. Youlook at a research company likeRystad Energy, [which] suggests that 90% of wells that are drilled but not completed can beeconomically completed at $50 a barrel, which we're almost at. So, I think supply is going to be able to make up for lost ground,in terms of what OPEC issupposedly going to pull back on. O'Reilly:On the other hand, it'sminuscule compared to global daily production size. Muckerman:Yeah.I think it's just the significance of them actually coming to an accord,rather than walking away from the table. O'Reilly:Inaddition to that, just to play devil's advocate a little bit: When the fateful day occurred two years ago,OPEC said they weren't doing anythingand they were going to go for market share, we not going to cut and just toguarantee a price, what was the globaloversupply numberper day? Muckerman:More than it is today. O'Reilly:That's my point. It was 1.5 million barrels a day oversupply? So, the 500,000 or 750,000 barrels per day that OPEC is talking about cutting -- granted, at this point --in addition to the gargantuan capital budget cuts that haveoccurred in the industry, I'm like: is the oversupply done? Muckerman:Long term,you could start to worry about that. But in the near term,like I said, you have almost 4,000, maybe over 4,000 wells in the United States that can be fracked at $50 a barrel. That could drive up U.S. production, which has been pulling backsince November 2014, from record highs. So,you're seeing the ability of companies likeEOGandContinental Resources, who have already startedto complete some of these wells in the $40 range,and then a company likeWhiting Petroleumthat was shopping itself forwhat looked to be pretty cheap just several months ago. O'Reilly:But there were no takers. Muckerman:There were no takers. And here they are saying, "Once $50 a barrel comes around,we're going to start completing some these wells." By that,I mean that the wells have been drilled,but they haven't been cemented,encased, they haven't been fracked. So they're not producing. But that's traditionally the moreexpensive part of the whole process. So companies have been drilling these sites and letting them idle until they reach a certain dollarvalue per barrel. It seems to be $50 per barrel is that magic numberfor the broad majority of these wells. It's gotten to besuch a big deal that the EIA has actually started to come out with a monthly report ofhow many wells are drilled but uncompleted. You have seen it come downa little bit since Januarybecause the price of oil has risen since January. If you look at January 2014, there were around 2,500 wells that weredrilled but not completed. You'relooking at a little over 4,000 right now. Sean O'Reilly has no position in any stocks mentioned. Taylor Muckerman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of EOG Resources. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Last week, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) met in Algiers and agreed to a general framework of an oil production decrease. The news spiked U.S. oil prices which are nearing $50 per barrel, while global prices are at the highest point since June. The specifics, however, remain a mystery. If recent history is a guide, nothing substantive may occur at the November 30th OPEC meet to put some meat on the plan's bones. However, the Algiers session may set the stage for important answers about what to expect in the future. The framework agreement envisions OPEC nations cumulatively reducing daily production by 200,000 to 700,000 barrels per day. Given there is a current supply surplus, which has existed for roughly two years, that could put supply and demand in more of an equilibrium and therefore raise prices. However, the daily surplus of oil is currently about a million barrels each day. Roughly 94 million barrels are produced each day, yet the world uses about 93 million. Even with an OPEC slowdown to 700,000 barrels per day, and oversupply would still exist and continue to build (absent any demand reduction, of course). Furthermore, other nations continue to increase production. The US, for example, doubled oil output since 2010. While production is currently not at an all-time peak (9.1 million barrels per day), it remains robust (8.5 million barrels per day). This high US production continues despite prices remaining comparatively low, providing reduced incentives to produce using higher-cost oil extraction methods. It was only a little more than two years ago when prices were over $100 per barrel, encouraging such production. Earlier this year (in February) prices plummeted to a 13-year low at $26 per barrel of West Texas Intermediate. The ultimate answer from Algiers, however, remains unclear because the deal has not been clearly consummated. There are no specifics as to which OPEC nations would be required to cut production, by how much, for how long nor when the reduction would commence. Those are serious and significant questions that remain. It appears we will have to wait until the November OPEC meet in Vienna for other answers. At the same time, it remains uncertain how much impact OPEC can have even if they do drop production. Not only will the US continue to produce, but Russia, Canada, Brazil and many others will do the same. OPEC clearly doesn't have the might, or maybe the fight in them, they have had in the past. In fact, not since 2008 has there even been an OPEC production cap in place. Perhaps the most informing answer from Algiers, even if a cut didn't produce a large or sustaining impact upon prices, is if OPEC can once again be a formidable and forward-acting coalition. It would send a signal that, perhaps, the band is back together and could regain some of their previously influential role. What does all this mean here at home in the US? Well, for the foreseeable future it most likely foretells fairly low oil prices. Those translate to lower cost for consumers. Last year alone, each US driver saved $550 due to reduced oil prices. At a current average of $2.22 per gallon for regular gasoline across the nation, US consumers and businesses which rely upon not only fuel, but petroleum-based products, will continue to reap rewards. That's a great answer from Algiers for the US economy. Former US Trading Commissioner Bart Chilton is now a senior policy advisor at the global business law firm DLA Piper and is the author of Ponzimonium: How Scam Artists Are Ripping Off America. He can be reached at bartchilton@bartchilton.com. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump bashed billionaire investors George Soros and Warren Buffett during a rally in Prescott Valley, Arizona. [George] Soros declared $1.5[B] losses, $1.5 billion in just six months, and Warren Buffett declared $873 million. Ask them, did they write off those losses? Oh, I doubt it, Trump said. The real estate mogul explained why Clinton did not change the tax laws while she was the Senator of New York. She could have changed the laws when she was in the United States senate, but she didnt, Trump said. The reason that she did not do that is her donors and contributors have used those same tax laws as I did. Trump said he wants to fix the tax laws to make it fair and just for everyone. This is not the first time these billionaires have publically sparred. In August, while stumping for Hillary Clinton on his home turf in Omaha, Buffett challenged Trump to a tax return duel. I would be delighted to meet him any place any time between now and [the] election. Ill bring my tax return; he can bring his tax return And just let people ask us questions about the items that are on there, Buffett said. Leading U.S. banks on Tuesday submitted updated "living wills" to regulators who must decide whether Wall Street firms can be unwound without taxpayer help or should be broken up. Eight of the largest banks handed in paperwork on how they would be dissolved in a crisis to the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp before those regulators pass judgment in the months ahead. The eventual ruling from regulators could be definitive for Wall Street, said John Simonson, a former FDIC supervisor. "This is an existential matter for leading banks," said Simonson, now with PricewaterhouseCoopers. "The issue has the attention at the highest level of these banks." In April, five banks were told that their living wills fell short. JPMorgan Chase & Co , Wells Fargo & Co , Bank of America Corp , State Street Corp and Bank of New York Mellon Corp were given until this month to revise their plans. The Fed and FDIC may issue a grade for those banks before the end of the year, Simonson said, though the entire banking sector will hear from regulators next summer. Any leading bank that cannot present a living will faces costly penalties and could be set on a course for a breakup within two years. In documents released on Tuesday, banks detailed how they planned to remedy problems regulators had identified earlier this year. For instance, JPMorgan said it had "meaningfully simplified" the way it funds entities within the company, especially those based in the U.K. Funding foreign subsidiaries during a time of crisis became an important issue after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, whose U.K. trading business created funding problems. Wells Fargo & Co said it had increased staff devoted to resolution planning. The bank also put a senior executive in charge of that office, which now reports directly to the chief financial officer. (Reporting By Patrick Rucker and Lisa Lambert in Washington and David Henry and Dan Freed in York; Editing by Chris Reese and Cynthia Osterman) Ford Motor Co executive chairman Bill Ford Jr. said on Wednesday he has met with Donald Trump to talk about the Republican presidential candidate's extensive criticism of the automaker's investments in Mexico. Ford told the Economic Club of Washington that he thought Trump's criticism of the No. 2 automaker's foreign investments were "infuriating and "frustrating" because of its extensive investments and employment in the United States. Trump has threatened if elected to impose hefty tariffs on Ford imports from Mexico. Last year, Ford said that chief executive Mark Fields had written to Trump to explain its investments in Mexico. Ford announced last month that all of the company's small-car production would be leaving U.S. plants and heading to lower-cost Mexico, drawing another rebuke from the White House hopeful. Ford has repeatedly said no U.S. jobs will be lost because of the move. Trump called Ford's decision "horrible." He has criticized Ford's Mexican investments for more than a year and vowed to pressure the automaker to reverse course if elected. "We shouldn't allow it to happen," Trump said. Many major automakers have announced big expansions in Mexico, where labor rates are much lower than what U.S. workers make. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Alistair Bell) A union-backed group said it had filed complaints on behalf of 15 U.S. McDonald's workers who say they were sexually harassed on the job, in the latest challenge to how the fast-food company and its franchisees treat employees. Fight for $15, which has organized strikes and protests calling for employers to raise wages, said on Wednesday that it filed the administrative complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against McDonald's USA LLC and individual franchisees in eight states over the last month. Cycei Monae, a McDonald's worker in Flint, Michigan, said a manager showed her a picture of his genitals and said he wanted to "do things" to her, according to a complaint provided by Fight for $15. Corporate officials ignored her complaints, Monae said on a phone call with reporters on Wednesday. In another complaint, a worker in Folsom, California, said a supervisor offered her $1,000 for oral sex. Thirteen of the complaints were by women, and two were by men, said Fight for $15, which the Service Employees International Union formed in 2012. As the countrys second-largest employer, McDonalds has a responsibility to set standards in both the fast-food industry and the economy overall, Kendall Fells, organizing director for Fight for $15, said in a statement. McDonald's spokeswoman Terri Hickey said the company takes harassment complaints seriously and was reviewing the allegations. "At McDonalds, we and our independent owner-operators share a deep commitment to the respectful treatment of everyone," she said in a statement. The EEOC, a federal agency that enforces discrimination laws, does not comment on complaints it receives, it said. It can file lawsuits on workers' behalf or grant them permission to bring their own cases. While most of the complaints were filed on behalf of employees at franchised restaurants that McDonald's Corp does not own, all of them say the company is responsible for the harassment because it controls working conditions there. McDonald's is also facing a class-action lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco by 800 workers at several franchised restaurants who say they are owed overtime pay and were forced to skip breaks. The company has denied that it is a "joint employer," a designation that could render it liable for labor law violations by franchisees and require it to bargain with workers at those restaurants if they unionize. In a case before the National Labor Relations Board, Fight for $15 claims the company is a joint employer of franchise workers who say they faced retaliation for joining in nationwide strikes organized by the group. McDonald's has said it neither retaliated against workers at its own restaurants nor instructed franchisees to do so. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Lisa Von Ahn) Toyota has high hopes for the new Prius Prime, the updated version of the Prius Plug-In. If that plug-in hybrid is a success, then the whole tenor of the Prius brand might shift over to plug-in vehicles. But, of course, Toyota is also busy promoting the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Mirai. Just like the Prime contains hints of future products, so does the Mirai. And Toyota's Brian Williams told AutoblogGreen that the company is thinking big. A fuel cell vehicle is basically an EV that gets its electricity from a hydrogen tank and a fuel cell instead of a battery, Williams said, and that means you can scale it up to larger vehicles simply by adding more tanks. These are lighter than batteries, which means you can get more range for less weight. Put in a higher-voltage electric motor and you can drive almost any size vehicle you want. "A fuel cell has a lot of applications especially as the technology increases," Williams said. "A big thing about fuel cells is they actually offer a lot of advantages to fit in to different types of vehicles. While you may have gasoline vehicles that have different range of fueling time, but maybe a larger carbon footprint. You get into that middle ground and EVs," he said, and while they're very clean, they don't have the range. "Fuel cells could potentially give you the range you want, the power output you want, but they can be put into buses. They can be put into semis. You can put those in cargo and package vans. You can put those in buses. [Hydrogen power] is definitely something that we see as meeting the needs of longer range, quicker refueling, lower footprint of emissions. The benefit of it is that it can go in other vehicles." The other side of the hydrogen coin, obviously, is the filling stations. Williams said that there are already dozens in operation in California, and they're becoming more and more reliable. "As the station infrastructures increase, it's becoming less of a thing within Southern California and San Francisco areas," he said. "You're also going to have to have those people who wonder, 'What if I want to go to Phoenix? What if I wanted to go to Vegas? What if I want to go from LA to San Francisco?' There is a station coming in half way in between, so you can actually go from LA to San Francisco." If you follow the Kardashian-Jenner family on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, you will find that they are constantly posting photos that reveal their locations. The famous family has been warned several times not to post locations on social media, but they keep doing it. Now, it may have come back to bite them big time. Greg Boles, associate managing director with Krolls Security Risk Management, told FOX411 that public figures need to find the balance between self-promotion and safety. "There has to be a nice blend between getting your name out in the media and not giving up too much information that can hurt you. You have to be careful about announcing where you are going to be going, he said. Many times they do that because they want to get the media attention, and I understand that, but there is a price to pay for that. There is a lot of advance work that needs to be done. Earlier this week, Kim Kardashians rep revealed the star was held up at gunpoint inside her Paris hotel room by two armed men dressed as police officers. The 35-year-old was robbed of more than $10 million worth of jewelry and her cell phone. Kardashians bodyguard, Pascal Douvier, was photographed accompanying Kardashians sisters Kourtney and Kendall at the Arc nightclub in Paris on Sunday night when the robbery took place at the hotel. And Erik Rasmussen, cyber security leader for Kroll, said it is common for stars to dismiss their security once they are home. It seems like she is very focused like a lot of celebrities on the big fan events and then they sort of drop their guard when they are in the privacy of their own home, he revealed. Think of security as a 24/7 operation no matter where you are, and it needs to be a 360 degree view where you cant say Im home now in a foreign country. I can let my security personnel go home and take the night off or something like that. And the Paris incident isnt the first safety concern the family has had. This season on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kylie Jenners concerns regarding a stalker were chronicled. Older sister Kourtney Kardashian warned her to stop sharing her location. She's one of the most followed people on Snapchat, which shows your location instantly. It's not safe," Kourntey Kardashian said on the show. On the show, the family revealed that the police told the youngest Jenner to stop posting on Snapchat, but she didnt listen. In terms of increasing security moving forward, Rasmussen suggested the Kardashians consider a social media monitoring team. To the social media component: There are tools and technologies out there to monitor peoples social media accounts. I dont know if the Kardashians have it in place but to keep tabs as to whos looking at it and making comments. Kim Kardashian said she was robbed at gunpoint of roughly $10 million in jewelry at the exclusive Hotel Pourtales in the wee hours Monday morning in Paris. Local police are investigating the incident, but a couple of security abnormalities already have people wondering about the events that allegedly transpired. TMZ reported a source close to the situation said there was no surveillance video inside or outside the hotel premises. The only video available is police surveillance footage. This raised a red flag with private investigator Patricia E. DOrsa-Dijamco. It is especially odd that a hotel where celebrities stay and supposedly is so secret you can only book a room if you have a login on their website, but you cannot readily locate the hotel's website or telephone number, does not have security cameras, DOrsa-Dijamco told FOX411. Security cameras, as well as online remote monitoring, are very inexpensive. Follow FOX411 Entertainment on Facebook. Former undercover DEA agent and author of Deep Cover, Michael Levine, is also skeptical. They (Hotel Pourtales) may claim it is because high profile stars are camera shy, Levine said. But let them tell you this, and point out to them that the lack of camera surveillance may also be grounds for a lawsuit blaming the whole incident on lax security. Levine said the reported lack of video security also fits in with a publicity stunt, people setting up a whole scammed robbery, and/or someone on the inside knowing the weakness and exploiting it into for the robbery and/or scam. Video security or not, many are also asking why someone with $10 million in jewelry in their room wouldnt have an armed guard or two outside. Farley Cahen owns the high end body jewelry site MyBellyRing.com. He says the lack of security guards makes no sense. "Any jeweler will tell you that if you loan somebody that amount of goods security measures are in place, Cahen said. It doesn't sound like there was a vault in the room. It would've cost less than $1,000 for the night to have armed guards outside the door or even in the apartment. All very questionable." FOX411 reached out to a rep for Hotel Pourtales who said in an email: At this stage, I confirm to you that there won't be any comment at all from the hotel staff." We also reached out to the Paris police department but did not receive comment. Kardashian's rep has not commented on the investigation since releasing a statement saying Kardashian was shaken up, but had not been physically harmed. She has since flown from Paris to New York where she was reunited with her husband Kanye West, who cut short a concert when he was informed of the incident. After a woman died in April when she mistook meningitis for a hangover, her parents are speaking out so the same thing doesnt happen to anyone else. Jennifer Grays mother, Edwina, told the Daily Record her daughters quick and confusing death is the worst possible thing to happen to someone who has an only child. On April 16, Jennifer told her mother she felt sick, The Independent reports, but she thought it was just a hangover or a cold after a night out with friends. But her symptoms a headache, sore joints, and nausea werent going away, so Jennifer went to the hospital the next day. At the hospital, the Daily Record reports Jennifers symptoms progressed rapidly, and she died soon after. Jennifer was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, which causes swelling of the brain. Many things cause meningitis, but the bacterial form is one of the more serious ones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were about 4,100 cases of bacterial meningitis, including 500 deaths, each year between 2003 and 2007 in the United States. Its spread from person to person, but most of the bacteria that cause the illness arent quite as contagious as viruses that cause a cold or flu. You have to get pretty close to someone with meningitis to catch it. Symptoms of meningitis come on pretty fast, according to the CDC, and include fever, headache and a stiff neck. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and confusion. Its important to get immediate medical treatment if you think you have been exposed to meningitis and start experiencing these symptoms. Because young people like her daughter are particularly susceptible to contracting meningitis (living in close quarters like dorms is a way it can spread), Edwina went public with Jennifers story. I was shocked by the condition she was in. She looked horrendous. Within that hour since I last saw her, there was a rapid increase in symptoms, Edwina told the Daily Record. The hospital said they hadnt seen the illness move as fast as with Jennifer. She came in with vague symptoms and within hours, she was dead. If you suddenly experience the symptoms described above, it's a good idea to call your doctor. They can tell you whether to get checked out or if you should rest. Once you've found the right cancer doctor and team, you may find yourself needing or wanting a second opinion. This is completely normal; it doesn't mean that you're being indecisive. More: Top 10 Breast Cancer Risk Factors Seeking an impartial second opinion means asking other breast cancer specialists for their unique perspectives. Think of it as a way to do additional research and provide an extra measure of confidence and peace of mind when you finalize your medical team and treatment. These are reasons why and when you should seek out a second opinion. There's uncertainty about the type or extent of the breast cancer you have It's hard to feel confident about your treatment options when there are doubts about your breast cancer. You've been given several treatment options and find it hard to choose Another set of eyes, ears, and experience can help make your choice easier. More: 13 Supplements to Help Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence It's difficult to communicate with your doctor This is an anxious time for you and if, for whatever reason, the communication isn't clear, a second opinion may help you sort things out. You've been told you have a less common or rare cancer This is a good time to get a second opinion from a doctor who specializes in your form of breast cancer. Your intuition tells you to get a second opinion There's no doubt you have breast cancer, but you do have some doubts about doctors, treatments, and other options. A second opinion will help you calm the uneasiness that your doubts may generate. Your health insurance requires a second opinion This may be a surprise, but there it isa built-in reason to get one. More: The 10 Best Ways to Prevent Cancer Your doctor says, "Go for it." Many doctors welcome second opinions as a way to ensure that you're getting the best possible treatment plan. Recent research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor suggests that it is worthwhile to opt for a second opinion, particularly if you're getting the second opinion from someone on a multidisciplinary tumor board (made up of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists). More: 8 Ways to De-Stress During a Cancer Diagnosis In the study of 149 breast cancer patients, 77 of the participants (52 percent) were advised, on the second opinion, to change their original treatment plans. The study authors found the initial treatment recommendations often did not consider new surgery techniques, such as delivering chemotherapy before surgery to make breast conservation possible or sentinel lymph node biopsy, a technique to determine whether cancer has spread beyond the breast. The researchers also found that radiologists-- during a second opinionreinterpreted imaging results in 45 percent of patients, in some cases identifying previously undiagnosed second cancers. More than a quarter of the patients were recommended to undergo another biopsy. More: Exercise Can Reduce the Risk of These 13 Types of Cancer Furthermore, pathologists had a different interpretation of testsincluding the stage of the cancerfor 43 patients. The latter was particularly important, since the process of staging assesses the aggressiveness of a malignant tumor, which in turn guides treatment. This article appeared on RodaleWellness.com. A mistake I made as an intern more than 20 years ago still haunts me. Its one that doctors continue to make today, even though a simple solution affordable EpiPens for emergency departments could make these errors a thing of the past. One night during my first year as a full-fledged physician, I took a call in the middle of the night. A young man being treated for cancer was having a severe allergic reaction to a blood transfusion. The nurse and I grabbed a vial of epinephrine from the crash cart. For someone having a potentially deadly anaphylactic reaction, a small dose of epinephrine (0.3 milligrams) can help reverse the rash, wheezing, swelling of the throat, and other symptoms. It should be injected into the muscle or under the skin so it doesnt get into the bloodstream too fast, which can dangerously stress the heart. By comparison, a larger dose (1 milligram) is injected into the bloodstream to try to restart the heart when the heart stops during a code blue. In the stress of the moment, I failed to see that the vial was an extra concentrated form of epinephrine, delivering 1 milligram per milliliter of fluid. Its like concentrated laundry detergent, sold to save on volume and money. One vial of this type of epinephrine costs just $4. The drug is also packaged in a more dilute form, which delivers just one-tenth of a milligram per milliliter of fluid. It is up to doctors and nurses to double check the vial to make sure they know how much of the drug they are actually giving. Read more: EpiPen pricing controversy reflects larger issues in pharma industry In the stress of the moment the patient had dangerously low blood pressure we injected the whole vial into his intravenous line, meaning it went directly into his bloodstream. (To be fair, intravenous dosing for severe anaphylaxis was recommended then; the guidelines have since been changed for safety reasons.) At first, the patient seemed to be making a great recovery: His blood pressure came up, he regained his level of alertness, and color returned to his face. But then he clutched his chest and said he couldnt breathe. His blood pressure skyrocketed to 180 and his heart was beating 200 times a minute. I immediately realized that I had given him three times too much epinephrine. There was little we could do but watch, wait, and reassure him. Thankfully, he recovered fully. In the many times I treated anaphylaxis after that, I was hypervigilant about the dose of epinephrine and always visually confirmed the dilution before it was given. Many health care professionals have made the same mistake that I did. In 2006, the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory published a white paper titled Lets Stop this Epidemic! In it, the committee identified overdoses due to miscalculated epinephrine doses as a major driver of medical error and some deaths. Other researchers have speculated that confusion over epinephrine dosing in anaphylaxis has led to underuse of the drug by emergency room personnel when treating severe allergic reactions. The Pennsylvania group recommended creating prefilled syringes with the specific dose for anaphylaxis and clearly labeling them on the emergency crash cart. This is exactly what Mylan Pharmaceuticalss EpiPens provide. They are an excellent consumer product because they are essentially foolproof. Thats also what makes EpiPens a great product for emergency personnel to use: no need to squint at a bottle label for its strength or to make calculations when someone is dying in front of you. Read more: Anger at EpiPen prices channeled at Mylan CEO in congressional hearing Mylans dramatic price increase for EpiPens has not only made it difficult for consumers with severe allergies to afford them, but it has most certainly prevented some health care systems from buying them. Moreover, the formulation of EpiPens requires that they be replaced every few months due to heat instability, further reducing their affordability on a large scale. My colleagues who work in emergency departments tell me that many still stock epinephrine in vials of different concentrations that doctors and nurses have to dilute in a moment of crisis. And clinicians are still making epinephrine-related errors. It recently happened to a parent from my childs elementary school. After I mentioned that I hadnt seen him for a while, he confided that hed been fighting testicular cancer. They are going to cure me of this cancer, but they almost killed me first, he told me. I asked what he meant. I had an allergic reaction to the chemotherapy in the outpatient infusion center. The nurse gave me the wrong dose of epinephrine, which caused me to have a heart attack. He told me that it was the most frightening experience of his life; he thought he was going to die right there. His heart attack was not trivial, either; his doctors could not rule out the possibility that his heart had sustained irreversible damage. In an era where up to 400,000 people are harmed in the medical system every year, it is unconscionable that we have not taken the simple step of making EpiPens, or another metered dose injection device like it, standard equipment for emergency department crash carts. Now that Mylan has raised the cost of a two-pack of EpiPens to $600, it is almost certain that hospitals and health systems will continue to opt for the more affordable alternative of epinephrine in $4 vials. Unfortunately, that means they may be paying for the difference with patients lives. Jennifer Brokaw, MD, was an emergency physician for 15 years. She is the founder of C2it, a California-based company that helps patients and families get safer, more-value oriented health care. People who are worried about losing their jobs may be more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, according to a new analysis. Compared to people who felt secure in their jobs, people who were experiencing so-called job insecurity had a 19 percent higher rate of new cases of diabetes, which researchers called a "modest increased risk." The study can't prove that job insecurity causes diabetes. Still, said lead author Jane Ferrie, "In an ideal world, the sort of thing I'd like to see come out of this study is a reduction in job insecurity and an increase in secure job contracts and reasonable wages." About one in 10 adults have diabetes, according to the World Health Organization. Most have type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body can't make or process enough of the hormone insulin. For the new analysis, Ferrie, of the University of Bristol and University College London in the U.K., and colleagues compiled data from 19 studies involving a total of 140,825 adults in the U.S., Australia and Europe who were employed and diabetes free when they enrolled in the studies. At the outset, participants were asked if they were afraid of losing their jobs in the near future. Depending on the study, from 6 percent to 40 percent of respondents said yes, they did fear for their jobs. Over the next 10 years, on average, the annual rate of new diabetes cases in the studies ranged from about 9 for every 10,000 participants to about 85 for every 10,000. People who reported job insecurity at the beginning of the study were 19 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes during the follow-up period, after taking age and sex into account, according to the report in CMAJ. When the researchers restricted their analysis to the 15 studies with data on factors other than age and sex that might influence a person's risk, job insecurity was still tied to a 12 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with diabetes. The new analysis fills a gap, Ferrie and colleagues suggest. Job insecurity has already been linked with higher body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight in relation to height. Past studies also found that people experiencing job insecurity had an increased risk of heart attacks and deaths related to heart problems. A high BMI is one risk factor for diabetes, which in turn is a risk factor for heart disease. Job-related stress can cause people to overeat and overindulge in other unhealthy behaviors, and stress hormones can directly promote weight gain as well, all of which could contribute to increased risk for diabetes. Individuals shouldn't be too concerned about the findings, however, since the study looked at diabetes risk across a large group of people, Ferrie told Reuters Health. "This is not going to tell any individual about their risk." "We need a population health approach and to reduce people's exposure to job insecurity," she said. But the new study is something to keep in mind for people facing job insecurity - especially people who are already at high risk for diabetes, such as men and women who are overweight and women who temporarily developed diabetes while pregnant, said Edwin Torres, of Montefiore Health System in New York City. "This is a phenomenon I've seen as a provider and in the literature," said Torres, who was not involved with the new study, but is a nurse practitioner completing his PhD on the subject at Binghamton University in New York. "If you lose your job or have job insecurity, make sure you're exercising," he said. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 When Maddie Demers rare metastatic bone cancer stopped responding to conventional chemotherapy in June, her oncologist advised the young girls parents, Barbie and Mike, to put her under hospice care. But today, after receiving three rounds of a targeted radiation traditionally used to treat prostate cancer, bone scans suggest the cancer has stopped spreading. Were steadily reducing her disease burden, and it may not cure her, but its made her a lot better, Dr. Peter Anderson, Maddies oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Childrens, told FoxNews.com. The treatment, called radium, targets the growth of new bone, which aligns with the spread of cancer. After suffering from a persistent leg ache, Maddie, an outgoing 10-year-old who was the captain of her schools cheerleading squad, was diagnosed in early May with multicentric osteogenic sarcoma, a bone cancer so rare that most doctors never see a case in their lifetime. By the time she received a leg biopsy in Orlando, about 125 miles northwest of her hometown, Port St. Lucie, the disease had spread to her pelvis and spine. Doctors promptly started her on aggressive chemotherapy treatment but gave her only 15 months to live. I was already looking for doctors when they told us it was extremely rare bone cancer, Barbie, 41, told FoxNews.com. I had a friend of mine who was searching all the outlets she [could], and thats when we found Dr. Anderson. When she called Anderson, who has been studying osteosarcoma since the mid-1980s, he recommended the same 10 rounds of the chemotherapy prescribed by Maddies doctors in Orlando, so the family moved forward with that plan. But five weeks into the regimen, a CT scan revealed treatment wasnt working Maddies cancer had spread to her lungs. Doctors recommended ending treatment and putting her under hospice care, Barbie recalled. I went back into [the room] where Maddie was and called Dr. Anderson and I said, We need to come there, said Barbie, who next relayed the unexpected turn of events to Anderson. He said, Be here by Friday. The family took an air ambulance to the Cleveland Clinic, where Anderson placed Maddie on a 14-day chemotherapy drip and accompanying chemo pill, put her on a morphine drip, and cast and put nerve blockers in her leg to help ease the pain. When Anderson suggested radium, Barbies mind flashed back to her early online research of Anderson, as well as a conversation she had with another patients parent in Orlando. Somebody (the parent) said to me, Dr. Anderson used to be at MD Anderson [Cancer Center]. My daughter was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and was given grim chances, and he saved her life. That clicked into my head, Barbie said. This is a rare cancer that nobodys heard of and shes got so many tumors, it cant hurt. So when he said, This is what we want to try, I said, Absolutely, of course. Maddie has undergone three monthly rounds of the radium, and each injection is infused over one minute. She has three more rounds of the treatment to go for a total of six injections, a regimen that follows the typical treatment for prostate cancer and is slated to end in time for the holidays. Side effects of radium include an upset stomach and fleeting pain, the latter of which Maddie has experienced. Anderson has studied radium in osteosarcoma patients before, but he said Maddie is the youngest osteosarcoma patient he knows of who has received the drug. Using sodium fluoride to detect where cancer is spreading, a PET scan suggests the radium has helped eradicate cancer cells in multiple areas of Maddies bone, including her skull base and the top of her spine. We would hope as we continue to do this her quality of life will stay good, and its something that would set her up for being on a chronic but tolerable medical regimen, Anderson said. Its a temporary solution, and if theres new treatments that would benefit her, wed be the first to share that with her family. If the radium ends up failing, Anderson said hed look to use a drug called muramyl tripeptide phosphatidyl ethanolamine (MTP-PE), which is not approved in the United States but is available in other countries such as Mexico, Europe, Taiwan and Israel, and has proven to extend osteosarcoma patients lifespan. He said he would also turn to a new class of drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are showing some promise for melanoma, and a type of oral gene therapy being developed by Ococeutics, a drug discovery and development company. With Maddie, I would say all bets are off on her shes doing better than expected, said Anderson, who added that Maddie is currently being treated on an outpatient basis. Dr. Kurt Richard Weiss, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology, and director of the Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory, said as a 15-year-old in 1999 he was cured of osteosarcoma with MTP-PE, which was being studied in a phase II trial at MD Anderson. After a phase III trial to confirm its efficacy, the Food and Drug Administration was not satisfied with the data presented, so it didnt approve the drug. But Weiss, who now operates on osteosarcoma patients, knows the power of experimental therapy in helping to save lives. He predicted immunotherapy would make waves in osteosarcoma treatment due to the cancers predictable nature of spreading to the lungs. Types of immunotherapy vary, but generally the treatment harnesses the immune systems natural ability to destroy cancer cells. The therapy is at the forefront of cancer research today. Although he hasnt studied radium in a scientific setting, Weiss, said the drug appears to show promise too. Radiation has a poor track record with bone sarcomas but [radium] is a different animal, he told FoxNews.com. This is getting the radiation to the bone from the inside rather than the outside, so its an interesting twist on how to do that. Weiss previously worked with Anderson and at MD Anderson, but he has not treated Maddie. Maddie has weekly checkups with Anderson at the Cleveland Clinic, where she has blood work done. To rebuild her strength, she undergoes physical therapy two times a week. Recently, she walked 100 feet with her walker a task made more challenging due to the leg biopsy in Orlando. Despite the physical discomfort, Maddie is a fighter, her mother said. The day she was diagnosed, Barbie recalled, she had to explain to Maddie the importance of staying strong throughout this battle. I explained to her that, You gotta fight; you can be pissed off and mad all you want, and have bad days, but the one thing we ask from you is to fight, Barbie said. And the girl fights, and shes been fighting since. To learn more about Maddie's fight, visit her website, MaddiesFight.com. To support her family in covering her medical bills, visit Maddie's GoFundMe page. The youngest daughter of former University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer and his wife has died of a rare genetic disorder, making her the third Frohnmayer child to die of Fanconi anemia. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that 29-year-old Amy Winn's mother Lynn Frohnmayer confirmed Monday that her youngest daughter had lost her battle with the disease. Complications from Fanconi anemia killed Katie Frohnmayer in 1991 when she was 12 and took Kirsten Frohnmayer's life in 1997 when she was 24. The Frohnmayer's started the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund in 1989 to study their daughters' illness. Amy Frohnmayer says Winn always knew she had the disease, but that she didn't let it stop her from living her life to the fullest. Dave Frohnmayer died of prostate cancer in March 2015. A new Utah father said Tuesday a hospital charged him to hold his baby after his wife gave birth last month. Ryan Grassley shared a photo of his hospital bill on Reddit, according to Fox 13 Now. The bill showed that Grassley was charged $39.35 for skin to skin contact. The photo has been viewed more than 3 million times in the last day. The nurse let me hold the baby on my wife's neck/chest, he wrote on the website. Even borrowed my camera to take a few pictures for us. Everyone involved in the process was great, and we had a positive experience. We just got a chuckle out of seeing that on the bill. Grassley, of Spanish Fork, told PIX11 that he thought it was funny and a bit ridiculous and decided to share it on Reddit. He even started a GoFundMe to raise $39 to pay for the charge. He added that the money would go to a vasectomy because I never want to go (through) these sleepless new baby nights again." The goal had been reached by early Wednesday. Janet Frank, a spokeswoman for the Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, said in a statement to PIX11 that there was an additional nurse in the room during the C-section which is why there was the charge. In general, Utah Valley Hospital is an advocate for skin-to-skin contact between a mother and newborn directly after birth. Skin-to-skin is a best practice with proven benefits for both mom and baby. We do everything possible to allow skin-to-skin after both vaginal and C-section births, Frank said. In the case of a C-section, where the bedside caregiver is occupied caring for the mother during surgery, an additional nurse is brought into the OR to allow the infant to remain in the OR suite with the mother. This is to ensure both patients remain safe. There is an additional charge associated with bringing an extra caregiver into the OR. The charge is not for holding the baby, but for the additional caregiver needed to maintain the highest levels of patient safety. Click for more from Fox 13 Now. Weve been here before. The alarm clock sounds and its another biased debate presided over by the supposed neutral media. Yes, it was a Groundhog Day debate Tuesday night at Longwood University. Thats where CBS anchor and debate moderator Elaine Quijano did her best Lester Holt impersonation (or was it Candy Crowley or maybe CNBC) throwing hard questions mostly at Republican Gov. Mike Pence and allowing Sen. Tim Kaine to interrupt at will. Quijano turned left from the very first question citing 1988 liberal, Democratic vice presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsens comment about the responsibility of being vice president. She recalled that he said, if tragedy should occur, the vice president has to step in without any margin for error. That set the stage perfectly and signaled viewers that the debate was to be seen consistently from the left. And Quijano didnt disappoint. By a factor of 8-to-1, Quijano peppered Pence with tough question after tough question. She reserved just one for Kaine. For conservatives, it was like Groundhog Day. If viewers saw their shadow, that will mean slightly more than one month more of the most-biased media election in human history. By a factor of 8-to-1, Quijano peppered Pence with tough question after tough question. She reserved just one for Kaine. Quijano started out fine, asking Kaine how he, praised Secretary Clinton's character, including her commitment to public service, yet 60 percent of voters don't think she's trustworthy. Why do so many people distrust her? Is it because they have questions about her emails and the Clinton Foundation? But that was it. Conservatives got their moment and the rest of the debate was either Kaine or Quijano taking turns trying to interrupt Pence. Even The New York Times admitted she took sides: Elaine Quijano, the moderator, helped Mr. Kaine along, opening one question with a recitation of Mr. Trumps statements. Of course, the Times also deleted that quote later in the evening and eliminated any reference to the moderator in the story. Thanks to the helpful site NewsDiffs, its clear how Times editors whitewashed their own reporting. The story sits ironically under the headline: Vice-Presidential Debate: What You Missed. It didnt matter. Nothing Quijano did broke Pences rhythm. The result? Many in the media are admitting Pence won. For now. It was so obvious, that Team Trump posted the comments with links back to the originals. They included fun tidbits such as Times campaign reporter Michael Barbaro: 9:18 and Pence is dominating this debate. Or The Washington Posts Chris Cillizza: Mike Pence direct to camera and conversational = winnng [sic, but, hey, its Twitter]. He also listed Pence among the debates winners. Even MSNBCs thrill-up-my-leg guy, Chris Matthews, said Pence was eloquent, excellent and looked like a grown-up. Not that it will matter either. CNNs Jake Tapper already showed where the media would go post-debate, keying in on Kaines allegation that Pence couldnt defend his running mates position. I wonder what the media coverage is going to be like over the next day or two. The night goes to Pence, but I dont know about the week, said Tapper, alluding to the media that will follow. Tapper understated the case. We all know what the mainstream media will do. At least he admitted it. Not every media outlet gave the night to Pence. Left-wing Fusions Twitter feed was hilariously biased. Univision owns Fusion and its the same network that brings Hispanics a one-sided view of almost everything via anchor Jorge Ramos. Ramos is too adult to be the one handling Fusions juvenile Twitter account, but it was just as biased more than 30 tweets pushing Kaine or attacking Trump/Pence. Just 10 gave Pences message. The running comments during the debate were almost laughably childish. When Kaine talked about protecting Social Security, Fusion ran a gif (a couple-second video) showing the Golden Girls celebrating. When he accused Trump of loving dictators, Fusion posted another gif with the line OOOOOHBURN! Pence was accused of Subtle sexism for referring to broad-shouldered leadership and we learned Tim Kaine schools Mike Pence on Trump's Putin ties. Four-year-olds tweet with more depth. While Quijano allowed Kaine to make Pence look calm and quiet, she also had the occasional good line. The people at home cannot understand either one of you when you speak over each other I would please ask you to wait until it is the other is finished, she chided. Of course, she then allowed Kaine to interrupt Pence another billion or so times. (The actual tally of debate interruptions promises to be entertaining and slightly less than a billion or so.) Last debate, Holt gained mainstream media plaudits for his anti-Trump strategy pushing the birther issue, harassing Trump about his taxes and pushing Trump about not having the look to be president. He avoided being Lauered and now so did Quijano. The third debate on October 9 includes CNN lefty Anderson Cooper as one of the two moderators. Expect to hear I Got You Babe coming from your clock radio. Vice Presidential candidates Republican Gov. Mike Pence and Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine went 90 minutes in the ring Tuesday night in Farmville, Virginia without either side scoring a knockout punch. But Pence won the debate by conveying the Trump tickets vision for the future. He deftly avoided a slugfest over the petty issues that have dominated headlines birtherism, Miss Universe, and the candidates tax returns. Though he was interrupted at least 39 times by Kaine, Pence managed to maintain a statesmanlike composure and stick to the messages he wanted to deliver. Viewers were the ultimate winners. They heard far more about the Trump tickets plan for jumpstarting the economy and securing the nation against foreign threats than during the first presidential debate. Kaine, unfortunately, offered little to convince the audience that a Clinton-Kaine administration would keep the nation safer or produce more jobs. Hillary Clinton and the Virginia senator are running to give the nation a third term of Obamanomics. Its no surprise that Kaine had to stretch the truth to defend Obamas economic record, claiming that the current president has created 15 million new jobs. Not a chance. That claim, uttered often by Clinton and Kaine on the campaign trail, has already been shamed with Three Pinocchios from the Washington Post. Mike Pence won the debate by conveying the Trump tickets vision for the future. Pence looked directly into the cameras and reminded viewers that they personally have experienced the pain of Obamas stagnant economy. Pence promised that a Trump administration would produce 3.5 percent growth or better (compared with the current 1.2 percent) and enumerated four strategies to higher growth: tax cuts, deregulation, unfettered energy production, and better trade deals. Pence reminded the Virginians in the debate hall that a Trump administration would put coal miners back to work. Kaine laid out the Clinton plan for economic revival. Nearly all of it investments by government in infrastructure, education, and child care. In other words, more government spending paid for by higher taxes. Kaine claimed that tax cuts are what caused the recession nine years ago. Thats a whopper -- one that Clinton repeats almost daily on the campaign trail. But no economist would agree that tax cuts caused the economic crash at the end of the Bush administration. Pence summed it up at the end of round one: A Trump administration will lower your taxes. A Clinton administration will raise them. On foreign policy, Kaine tried to gain the upper hand by claiming Hillary Clinton worked a tough negotiation to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program. Huh? The Iranian nuclear agreement was actually the work of Secretary of State John Kerry, her successor. But more important, that agreement does not eliminate Irans nuclear program. The deal expires in 15 years, at which point Iran will be poised to complete its nuclear armament. Worse, Iran continues to threaten Israel with destruction, has launched cyber-attacks against the Unites States, taunts the U.S. Navy, takes our sailors for ransom, and sponsors terrorism worldwide. Now they have $150 billion provided by the U.S. government. Pence also methodically deconstructed Kaines bogus claims that Secretary of State Clinton had gotten the better of Vladimir Putin. All the while, Pence used fancy footwork to keep the debate from bogging down on the same old issues voters hear in the mainstream media day after day. When Kaine questioned a fourth time whether Donald Trump was paying his fair share of taxes, Pence reminded viewers in his quiet, common sense way that nobody pays more taxes than the law requires. Like Clinton does on the stump, Kaine was intent on making racial bias an issue. Debate moderator Elaine Quijano did not disguise her own viewpoint that cops are racially biased citing South Carolina Senator Tim Scotts claim that he is targeted often by cops because he is black. Quijano pressed Pence, coming back to the issue twice. But Pence counterpunched, defending the sacrifice and commitment of most law enforcement officers. Pence didnt cite statistics, but they support his view. Manhattan Institute scholar Heather MacDonalds research shows that police are not more likely to stop an African-American for speeding than a white driver speeding. Data also show that African-Americans committing a crime are less likely to be shot by cops than whites committing the same crime. Kaine and Pence disagreed sharply on many issues, but the most striking contrast was in their demeanors. Kaine the pitbull, interrupted, attacked, and parroted again and again the charges Clinton hurls at Trump on the campaign trail and in paid ads. Pence, choose his shots carefully, declining to jab back at every insult, and keep the debate focused on the future. Thats probably what most voters would want in a vice president. In the canine world, Mike Pence would be the Standard Poodle and Tim Kaine the yappy Chihuahua. Republican Vice Presidential candidate Pence was dignified, smart and likeable during Tuesday nights debate, while opponent Kaine was jumpy and annoying. But the differences went beyond style. Kaine presented a mini-me version of the Hillary Clinton campaign, focused on slamming and demeaning Donald Trump. Pressed to tell voters how his running mate would improve the lives of everyday Americans or rectify the mess she helped create in Syria, Kaine resorted to what Pence correctly described as the insult-driven campaign. While Pence delivered concrete ideas and policies, Kaine fell back on well-practiced one-liners which, oft-repeated, began to sound silly; it turns out you can actually practice too much. But then there is not much substance to the Clinton campaign. When challenged on her lack of accomplishments as Secretary of State, Tim Kaine offered up the killing of Usama bin Laden. When asked how she might make the world safer, he offered up the killing of Usama bin Laden. When asked about temperament and credentials, Kaine volunteered the killing of Usama bin Laden. I could be wrong but Im pretty sure bin Laden only died once, and that Hillary had virtually nothing to do with it. True, she didnt throw herself in the way of the military personnel directing the mission and refuse to let them go forward. Instead, she was in the room consuming oxygen and converting it into CO2. Like a lot of other people. Kaine attempted throughout the evening to put Pence on the defensive over some of the more incendiary comments made over the past year by running mate Trump; Pence skillfully avoided being drawn into a pointless controversy. He also managed to avoid blaming the media for its unprecedented assault on a national candidate. That would have played well to Trump followers, but Pence did not need to go there. Instead, he went where few have dared to tread into a heartfelt conversation about faith and abortion, without a doubt convincing anyone who was watching that he believed in the sanctity of life, and would try to persuade others to forego abortion in favor of adoption. He also criticized Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine for their support of partial-birth abortion, and good for him. Most of the country agrees the practice is heinous, but the pro-choice crowd goes along with it under cover of slippery slope concerns. No, it should be banned and Pence was totally credible on the topic. Pence also managed to do what Trump conspicuously failed to do in the first presidential debate go after the numerous scandals that have destroyed the countrys confidence in the credibility of Hillary Clinton. He reminded viewers of the Clinton Foundations role as Bill and Hillarys political handmaiden and the apparent pay-to-play activities of Clinton while she served as Secretary of State. He also got in some zingers about the Clinton 30,000 emails that were destroyed. Asked how his ticket would get tough on Russia, Kaine trotted out (numerous times) the absurd charge that Trump is a fan of Vladimir Putin. (Yes, Trump has noted that Putin, head of a failing state, has enormously high approval ratings. He has also noted that by comparison President Obama looks and is toothless, as Russia elbows the U.S. out of Syria. ) Pence failed to note that Hillary Clinton enabled the Russians to take over half of Americas uranium supplies, while accepting substantial donations from the purchaser into the Clinton Foundation. But he had plenty of material to charge Hillary as corrupt and, as Secretary of State, inconsequential. Pence made mincemeat out of the Iran deal; Kaine parried that one official in Israel thought it was helpful. Pence noted that Kaine had boycotted Israel Prime Minister Netanyahus speech to Congress; Kaine squirmed. Kaine said blocking refugees by country was unconstitutional; Pence rightly noted that was not true. Pence talked about the ground lost in Iraq under Obama and Clintons failed policies ground won through the sacrifice of American soldiers. Kaine parried by lauding the Iran deal. Oops; American fourth-graders know the nuke deal with Tehran is already falling apart and that a desperate President Obama was taken for a ride by the mullahs. And then he mentioned the killing of Usama bin Laden. And so it went, with Pence combing the fertile fields of Clintonian hypocrisy and scandal, and with Kaine trying to remember the best insults his team has launched against Trump. Perhaps the best line of the night was on the topic of Hillarys careless handling of classified information. He said, as one father of a military man to another: If your son or mine had done this, he would have been court martialed. Just so. The vice presidential candidates are more than nominally important in this election. Both candidates are long in the tooth, and Hillary Clinton, in particular, has suffered some health problems. It is not far-fetched to imagine that either Tim Kaine or Mike Pence could someday have to take over as president. Based on Tuesday nights performance, only Mike Pence is up to the task. More than 200 veterans have died while waiting for medical care at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Phoenix, two years after the facility was at the center of a scandal in which patient records were altered to hide the length of their waiting period. In a report released Tuesday, the VA Inspector General's office (OIG) found that 215 deceased patients had open specialist consultation appointments at the Phoenix facility on the day they died. The report also found that one veteran never received an appointment for a cardiology exam "that could have prompted further definitive testing and interventions that could have forestalled his death." The Phoenix system was at the center of a national scandal in 2014 when Veterans Affairs internal investigations identified 35 veterans who died while awaiting care. Veterans on secret waiting lists reportedly faced scheduling delays of up to a year. The revelations led to the resignation of then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. Despite two years of reform efforts, the OIG report found that the Phoenix hospital still has "a high number of open consults because ... staff had not scheduled patients' appointments in a timely manner (or had not rescheduled canceled appointments), a clinic could not find lab results, and staff did not properly link completed appointment notes to the corresponding consults." Consults include appointments, lab tests, teleconferencing and other planned patient contacts. As of July 2016, there reportedly were 38,000 open consults at the Phoenix VA. The report also found that nearly a quarter of all specialist consultations in 2015 were canceled, in part due to employee confusion stemming from outdated scheduling procedures that were not updated until this past August. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said the report proved that the work environment at the Phoenix VA "is marred by confusion and dysfunction" and the problems won't be solved "until there are consequences up and down the chain of command." Arizona Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain released a joint statement calling the practices described in the report "unacceptable" and "reprehensible." "Today's report confirms that cultural change at the Phoenix VA is still desperately needed," McCain and Flake said. "There is no place at the VA for managers and employees to engage in such misconduct." The VA released its own statement touting its reform efforts and calling for increased support staffing. According to the department, the Phoenix facility has 39 job openings among the support staff responsible for consultation scheduling. The Phoenix system enrolls about 85,000 veterans and announced last week the hiring of yet another new director since the 2014 firing of Sharon Helman. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Mike Pence and Tim Kaine scrambled to defend their running mates temperament and judgment at their first and only face-off Tuesday night an unruly 90-minute session in which the vice presidential candidates routinely talked over each other - and the moderator - as they channeled some of the feistiness from last weeks opening presidential debate. The normally affable candidates sparred on immigration, criminal justice, Social Security, taxes and Russian aggression while accusing each other of running an insult-driven campaign. But they clashed most frequently on two topics: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Pence hammered Clinton over her private email server use as secretary of state and her feckless foreign policy, and pressed Kaine to defend Clintons honesty and trustworthiness. He also invoked former President Bill Clintons recent criticism of ObamaCare and vowed that Trump would repeal the health care law. Kaine pressured Pence to answer for some of his running mates more controversial comments, including praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and calling for a Muslim immigration ban in the United States. He also said Trump needed to make his taxes public, while ripping the GOP presidential nominee over his coarse language and a selfish me-first style. I cannot believe that Governor Pence would defend the insult-driven campaign that [Trump] has run, Kaine said. Pence countered that Trumps comments are small potatoes compared with Clinton calling half their supporters a basket of deplorables. The exchange was characteristic of the debate, in which the lesser-known, lower-key running mates sparred feistily, leaving moderator Elaine Quijano at times struggling to bring order to the forum. Kaine challenged Pence on Trumps decision to break with decades of campaign tradition by not releasing his taxes. "Donald Trump must give the American public his tax returns to show he's prepared to be president, and he's breaking his promise," Kaine said. He also hammered Pence over revelations that Trump may been able to avoid paying taxes for up to 18 years by claiming a $900 million loss in 1995. Pence defended Trump's tax handling and said his running mate used the tax code just the way its supposed to be used, and he did it brilliantly. He also asked Kaine: "Do you not take deductions?" Though its unclear whether Pence and Kaine's performances dramatically changed voters minds about the presidential candidates, the nationally televised debate presented them with the opportunity to energize party loyalists and sway undecided voters. Kaine and Pence both accused the other of running an insult-driven campaign with Kaine calling out Pence for not discrediting Trumps past birther comments about President Obama and saying having Trump in charge scares us to death. Pence shot back, telling Kaine that he and Hillary Clinton would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign. Social issues were a bigger part of the conversation than in the first presidential showdown, reflecting both candidates' religious faith. Kaine, a Catholic who personally opposes abortion but has consistently voted in favor of abortion rights, said of the Republican nominee, "Why doesn't Donald Trump trust women to make this choice for themselves?" He also pointed to Trump's assertion that women should face some kind of "punishment" for abortion, a comment Trump later walked back. Pence stressed his opposition to abortion and said he was "proud to be standing with Donald Trump" on the issue. Both VP hopefuls reportedly held mock debates leading up to the debate. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker stood in for Kaine while Washington lawyer Robert Barnett played Pence. Aides to Kaine told Fox News that the former Democratic National Committee chairman is a policy wonk like Clinton and studied big binders of details to prepare. Pence, who has a decade of congressional experience under his belt, had been sharpening his debate skills and preparing for the political showdown since Labor Day. The most watched vice presidential debate to date was the 2008 matchup between then-Sen. Joe Biden and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. That debate, according to Nielsen Ratings, brought in 69.9 million viewers. Coming in second was the 1984 debate between Rep. Geraldine Ferraro and then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From the opening moments of their debate here at Longwood University, Tim Kaine constantly attacked Donald Trump, while Mike Pence defended his running mate and slammed Hillary Clintons foreign policy and private e-mail server. Within 10 minutes, they were talking over each other, running roughshod over moderator Elaine Quijano. And she allowed the debate to keep careening out of control, with the candidates at one point clashing over who was running the more insult-driven campaign. The moderator especially let Kaine cut off Pence far too often when it was the Republicans turn to talk. The rat-a-tat nature of the rhetoric made it hard to pick a winner. Kaine was more aggressive, but his high-velocity denunciations of Trump sounded forced and scripted at times. Pence, more often playing defense, spoke at a more measured clip, needled Clinton, let some attacks go by, and at one point even uttered a Reaganesque there you go again. These were two usually polite politicians on a mission, to rough up the other side. Kaine, asked whether many people distrust Hillary because of the email scandal and Clinton Foundation, said she has a passion in her life then pivoted to attacking Trump over birtherism and his speech about Mexican rapists. Pence accused the Clinton team of an avalanche of insults and blamed her for what he cast as the Obama administrations failures around the world. CBSs Quijano asked some good questions, but the candidates mostly ignored them and she made only sporadic attempts to follow up, constantly losing control and seeming to vanish. When Quijano asked about Trump apparently paying federal income taxes, the Indiana governor blew off the question and assailed Clintons platform as more taxes, more spending and more government. When Quijano tried again, Pence said Donald Trump is a businessman, not a career politician and went on to say he had created tens of thousands of jobs. The Virginia senator, playing on his home turf, shot back by invoking Trumps debate remark that it was smart to avoid taxes, asking whether it was smart not to contribute toward the military, veterans and teachers. In this bizarre campaign season, this was never really a contest about who would make the best vice president, but rather who could more aggressively attack the other guys running mate while defending his own. Pence had the tougher task, knowing full well he would be pushed to defend all manner of Trumpian statementsand with The Donald live-tweeting from the sidelines. Notwithstanding the RNC accidentally posting a page declaring Pence the winner in advance, that was not the foreordained outcome. The reason the debate drew little advance media buildup stems in part from the way the top of the ticket is dominating the news. They are low-key, low-risk politicians who generate few headlines on their own. But an even bigger factor is that, despite the first question from Quijano, there is no question these two men are qualified for the No. 2 job, and to move into the Oval Office if necessary. Kaine is a senator whos also been a governor and mayor. Pence is a governor whos also been a congressman. There is no drumbeat about them being a heartbeat away. Unlike in past years, when critics questioned the qualifications of Sarah Palin, John Edwards, Dan Quayle and Geraldine Ferraro, these guys cleared the bar the minute they were named. Whats more, the two men remain hazy figures for VP nominees, generating mostly apathy. In a Politico/Morning Consult poll, 41 percent of those surveyed said they didnt know or had no opinion of Kaine, while 30 percent each said they viewed him favorably or unfavorably. As for Pence, one third said they didnt know or had no opinion of him, while 35 percent viewed him favorably and 32 percent unfavorably. There was so much crosstalk in the debate that it became difficult to follow at times. Even when Pence tried to slow down with a thoughtful answer about police shootings, it quickly degenerated into squabbling over why Clinton had spoken of implicit bias after a black officer shot a black resident in Charlotte. Kaine was so determined to deliver his litany of assaults on Trump that he kept rattling them off regardless of the question: Called women dogs, pigs and slobs, insulted John McCain, attacked the Mexican-American judge in the Trump University case, tweeted against Miss Universe. The governor noted that Clinton had ripped half of Trumps supporters as a basket of deplorables. Pence brought up Clintons private server late in the evening, while discussing cybersecurity, leaving Kaine to fall back on the line that not one reasonable prosecutor would bring the criminal case declined by the FBI. Pence also argued against conflicts involving the Clinton Foundation, with his opponent firing back at the Trump Foundation. Kaine engaged in some rhetorical stretches. Kaine invoked the 9/11 attack, that Clinton tried to get federal funding for New York while Trump was fighting to avoid paying taxes. Pence countered that Donald Trump supports our troops and started to say Trump paid what was legally required when he was cut off yet again. After one Kaine attack involving nuclear weapons, a seemingly weary Pence said: Senator, that was even beneath you and Hillary Clinton, and thats pretty low. The more Kaine spoke, the more he interrupted, the less force his attacks carried. Pence overdid the exasperation at times, but as a former radio talk show host, his pacing wore better as the event dragged on. Of course, the debate wasnt really about them, but about the running mates who werent there. Mike Pence used Bill Clintons recent ObamaCare criticism to rap Democratic rival Tim Kaine at Tuesdays vice presidential debate. Saying Kaine and Hillary Clinton want more of the same, Pence tried to draw a contrast between former President Clintons striking comments about the health care overhaul and his wifes platform. Even President Bill Clinton calls ObamaCare a crazy plan. But Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine want to build on ObamaCare, Pence said, at the first and only VP debate, held at Longwood University in Virginia. While Hillary Clinton has appeared open to certain changes in the health care law, her husband raised eyebrows when he told voters in Michigan on Monday that the legislation has created a crazy system one in which millions more people have health care but those unable to qualify for subsidies are getting killed. The people out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half, Clinton said. Its the craziest thing in the world. Donald Trump promised his Twitter followers that he would livetweet Tuesday night's vice presidential debate between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine, but the Republican nominee mostly retweeted his supporters. Trump tweeted "Both are looking good! Now we begin!" in the early moments of the showdown. He then tweeted at Fox News' Megyn Kelly to say he was watching the debate in Nevada. .@megynkelly- I am in Nevada. Sorry to inform you Kellyanne is in the audience. Better luck next time. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2016 Trump's next 17 posts were all retweets. Most were messages from supporters, including one from a Twitter user who compared Kaine, Hillary Clinton's running mate, to a Batman villain. "@Jnelson52722: @realDonaldTrump @Susiesentinel Kaine looks like an evil crook out of the Batman movies" Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2016 Another user retweeted by Trump said Clinton "gets Americans killed." Trump also retweeted graphics favorably comparing Kaine's record as Indiana governor to Kaine's record as Virginia governor. Other tweets included links to campaign press releases about Clinton's policy on Syria and North Korea, as well as a reminder of the Democratic candidate's "basket of deplorables" remark about Trump supporters last month. Trump also backed up Pence's support of law enforcement officers in a segment of the debate devoted to police shootings of African-Americans. I agree Mike - thank you to all of our law enforcement officers! #VPDebate "Police officers are the best of us..."@Mike_Pence Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2016 The billionaire closed the evening with the night's most-retweeted post, according to Twitter's own analytics. An arms dealer who had threatened to reveal potentially damaging information about Hillary Clinton's alleged role in arming Islamist militants until federal prosecutors abruptly dropped their case against him Tuesday, told Fox News the case has cost him everything. Federal prosecutors faced a Wednesday deadline to turn over discovery documents to the legal team of American Marc Turi, who had been charged with selling weapons to Libyan rebels. Late Tuesday, an announcement came that the government was dropping the case, which was set to go to trial on Nov. 8 the day American voters choose between Clinton and GOP nominee Donald Trump. The move may avert a release of potentially explosive documents. I am glad this horrific five-year ordeal is over and I am pleased to be able to move on with my life," Turi told Fox News in a statement. "The American public has the right to know that an injustice was committed against an innocent American." Turi said his legal team advised him to accept the deal and avoid a trial, but insisted that his actions were in furtherance of his ongoing support of U.S. foreign policy. He said defending himself in a case that has now been dropped has cost him everything. "The government took away my life, my savings, and my company that I worked so hard to build to serve our nation, and for what?" he said. "I still dont really know who the unjust actors were who launched this attack against me from the shadows. I just hope that someday there will be someone that will be held accountable." Last year, in his only extended television interview, Turi provided Fox News with documents and email exchanges he had with high-level members of Congress as well as military, and State Department employees to back up his claim that the Obama administration authorized in 2011, at the height of the Arab Spring, a covert weapons program that spun out of control. "That's where I came up with this 'zero footprint' Arab supply chain, whereby, our foreign ally supplies another, Arab country," Turi said. In this case, the US would supply conventional weapons to a U.S. ally-Qatar, who would inturn supply them to Libya, as a kind of workaround. "If you want to limit the exposure to the US government, what you simply do is outsource it to your allies," Turi said, describing the practice. "The partners-the Qataris, and the Emiratis did exactly what they were contracted to do." Turi told Fox he never supplied any weapons to Qatar, and it was in the hands of the U.S. government and the State Department's Bureau of Political and Military Affairs which was headed by a key Clinton aide, Andrew Shapiro. Shapiro was responsible to oversee the export control process at the State Department. They dont want this stuff to come out because it will look really bad for Obama and Clinton just before the election, an associate of Turi told Politico, claiming that information sought by Turis team would show Clintons own role in arming Libyan rebels fighting former strongman Col. Muammar Qaddafi while she was secretary of state. Fox News, citing federal records, reported last year that documents showed U.S. officials supported Turis effort to channel weapons to Libyan rebels while Clinton was secretary of state. Many of the arms destined for Libyan rebels ultimately fell into the hands of Islamist militants, reportedly including those in Syria. "When this equipment landed in Libya, half went one way, and the half went the other way," Turi previously told Fox News, emphasizing that poor oversight, allowed individuals hostile to the United States to get arms. "The half that went the other way is the half that ended up in Syria." In their motion for dismissal, federal prosecutors acknowledged that discovery rulings from U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona Judge David Campbell factored into the decision. The motion includes a request that Campbell accept a confidential agreement to settle the case civilly, further fueling claims the deal was struck to keep potentially damaging disclosures under wraps. Turi adviser Robert Stryk accused prosecutors of bringing the case against Turi in order to cover up Clintons mishandling of Libya. Clinton was secretary of state on Sept. 11, 2012, when jihadists mounted an attack on two American facilities in Benghazi, killing four Americans including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. The attack came just weeks before President Obama stood for re-election against Mitt Romney, and the administration initially and falsely - claimed it was a spontaneous event triggered by an obscure anti-islam video. It later became evident that it was a coordinated terror attack by extremists linked to al Qaeda and Ansar al-Sharia. Neither the Justice Department nor the White House responded to requests for comment on the case or the settlement. Turi was indicted in 2014 on charges of arms dealing in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and lying to the State Department in official applications. Prosecutors said he falsely claimed the weapons were destined for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. His lawyers said the arms shipments were part of a government-authorized effort to arm Libyan rebels. The claims by Turis legal team were supported by documents related to the case and obtained by Fox News last year. "It was then, and remains now, my opinion that the United States did participate, directly or indirectly, in the supply of weapons to the Libyan Transitional National Council," career CIA officer David Manners said in a sworn declaration dated May 5, 2015. The timing was critical, because in the spring of 2011, the Libyan opposition was not formally recognized, and the direct supply of arms was not authorized. At that time, the CIA director was David Petraeus. Manners testified before a grand jury investigating Turi prior to his indictment. Manners was an 18-year CIA officer who had previously been posted in Prague and Amman. At the time of his declaration, he said he was the executive assistant to the deputy director of the National Security Agency." Manners declaration supported statements made exclusively to Fox News by Turi about what President Obama's team and members of Congress knew about weapons flowing into the region during the chaotic Arab Spring of 2011. "When this equipment landed in Libya, half went one way, and the half went the other way," Turi said, emphasizing that poor oversight, allowed individuals hostile to the United States to get arms. "The half that went the other way is the half that ended up in Syria." As part of Fox's ongoing investigation of the 2012 terrorist attack that killed Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith, as well as former Navy Seals Ty Woods and Glen Doherty, Turi spoke exclusively to Fox News. Turi was one of several thousand U.S. arms contractors licensed by the State Department to sell and move weapons around the world. "I got involved in this business in the 1990s," Turi said. "I've been involved in all type of operations, regarding transportation, logistics, and liaising with those foreign governments." Licensed arms contractors require painstaking compliance in order to obtain the necessary approvals set by strict U.S. government regulations. While Clinton served as secretary of state, American arms dealers were awarded a record number of export licenses to sell sophisticated weapons, military parts and technology internationally. "That's actually been a huge, policy position, of the Obama administration," Celina Realuyo, a professor of national security at the Perry Center at the National Defense University, told Fox News in 2012. Realuyo has served two presidents with expertise in tracking down money and weaponry used in what are called "dark networks" that can channel weapons to criminal and designated foreign terrorist organizations. More than 86,000 licenses with a value of $44.3 billion were granted in 2011 . . . a surge of more than $10 billion from the previous year. In the spring of 2011, Turi says his high-level contacts both inside and outside of the U.S. government, encouraged him to explore options to arm the Libyan opposition as they tried to overthrow Qaddafi. He says his associates included Manners, and that the government worked through private contractors to limit its own exposure. As Fox News first reported, Clinton, in a heavily redacted, April 8, 2011, email released to the Benghazi Committee last year, expressed interest in arming rebels using contractors. "FYI. The idea of using private security experts to arm the opposition should be considered," Clinton wrote, using her private email address. Significantly, the emails released by the State Department blacked out this line, but the version given to the Benghazi Select Committee was complete. Turi got approval to sell arms to Qatar which was apparently cover for sending weapons to Libya - in May, 2011. But in July 2011, his Arizona home was raided by federal agents. "They came in the full body armor, and weapons and, they take my computers and my cellphones and that was it. That was the last time I saw them. And they've been chasing me all over the world for the past three years, speaking to associates of mine all over the United States and looking into my records and my past." Turi believes he was being blamed for a program that went off the rails, much as Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, whose Internet film, The Innocence of Muslims, was initially blamed for the Benghazi attack. "At some point, I may be that Internet video excuse," Turi told Fox News. "I don't know. But, it's really strange that the U.S. government would invest three years, a multi-year investigation, fly all over the world interviewing people, for an application." In her only congressional testimony to date on Benghazi in January 2013, Clinton was asked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., about the flow of weapons. "I will see what information is available," then Secretary Clinton responded. "I don't have any information on that." Top-ranking Republicans on Wednesday escalated their inquiry into a controversial FBI agreement to destroy the laptops of two Hillary Clinton aides questioned in the email scandal investigation, pressing Attorney General Loretta Lynch for answers and suggesting the deal obstructed congressional investigators. The agreement to destroy the computers, the lawmakers wrote Wednesday in a letter to Lynch, is simply astonishing given the likelihood that evidence on the laptops would be of interest to congressional investigators. The letter, signed by four Republican committee chairmen, follows allegations Monday that immunity deals for former Clinton chief of staff Cheryl Mills and ex-campaign staffer Heather Samuelson included a side arrangement obliging the FBI to destroy their laptops after reviewing the devices. Sources said the arrangement also limited the search to no later than Jan. 31, 2015. This meant investigators could not review documents for the key period after Clinton's use of a private email and server as secretary of state became public. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., first asked Lynch about the terms in a letter Monday and co-signed the latest letter Wednesday along with House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah; House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif; and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. The lawmakers asked specifically about letters from attorney for the aides Beth Wilkinson that described the restrictive terms -- and were recently reviewed by committee staff. The Republicans expressed concern that the FBI inexplicably agreed to destroy the laptops knowing that the contents were the subject of Congressional subpoenas and preservation letters. The letter repeatedly cited Congress interest in the evidence that may have been jeopardized under the side arrangement. The new letter asked Lynch why the FBI agreed to destroy the laptops and, significantly, what legal authority the FBI has to destroy records subject to a congressional investigation or subpoena. The letter also asked if the FBI followed through and in fact destroyed evidence from the laptops or the laptops themselves. Asked for comment, a Justice Department spokesman said: "We have received the letter and are reviewing it." The side deals were agreed to on June 10, less than a month before FBI Director James Comey announced the agency would recommend no charges be brought against Clinton or her staff. Judiciary Committee aides told FoxNews.com that the destruction of the laptops is particularly troubling as it means that the computers could not be used as evidence in future legal proceedings, should new information or circumstances arise. Fox News Catherine Herridge and FoxNews.coms Judson Berger and Adam Shaw contributed to this report. The Obama administration on Wednesday once again condemned Israel for plans to construct housing on land claimed by the Palestinians, saying a new project announced last week profoundly hurts efforts to forge a two-state solution to the long-running conflict. In unusually strong statements, the White House and State Department lashed out at a proposal announced last week to construct a significant new settlement of up to 300 housing units and establish an industrial zone in the West Bank. Both Israel and the Palestinians responded quickly with statements accusing each other of being the real obstacle to peace. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said every U.S. administration since 1967 has opposed Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories, and the Obama administration has publicly restated that view because of the concern that settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem undermines the goal of a two-state solution. "The actions of the Israeli government in announcing this settlement undermine the pursuit of peace," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. He added that the U.S. had also received public assurances from the Israeli government that contradicted the settlement announcement. "I guess, when we're talking about how good friends treat one another, that's a source of serious concern as well," he said. At the State Department, spokesman Mark Toner said moving ahead with the project would be "another step toward cementing a one-state reality of perpetual occupation that is fundamentally inconsistent with Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state." "Such moves will only draw condemnation from the international community, distance Israel from many of its partners, and further call into question Israel's commitment to achieving a negotiated peace," he said. Toner said the proposal was "deeply troubling" because Israel announced the proposal so soon after the U.S. agreed last month to a new 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel. He also said it was "disheartening" as the announcement came the world was mourning the death of former Israeli leader Shimon Peres. U.S. officials said the administration was particularly disturbed because the announcement came as President Barack Obama was visiting Jerusalem last week for the Peres' state funeral. "It is deeply troubling, in the wake of Israel and the U.S. concluding an unprecedented agreement on military assistance designed to further strengthen Israel's security, that Israel would take a decision so contrary to its long-term security interest in a peaceful resolution of its conflict with the Palestinians," Toner said. "Furthermore, it is disheartening that while Israel and the world mourned the passing of President Shimon Peres, and leaders from the U.S. and other nations prepared to honor one of the great champions of peace, plans were advanced that would seriously undermine the prospects for the two-state solution that he so passionately supported." In Jerusalem, the Israeli foreign ministry said only 98 units had been approved and said they do not constitute a new settlement. It said the new housing would be built on state-owned land in an existing settlement and would not change its boundaries or geographic footprint. It said the construction is necessary to relocate Jewish residents from another area who must leave their homes due to a court order. "Israel remains committed to a solution of two states for two peoples, in which a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes the Jewish state of Israel," the ministry said in a statement. "The real obstacle to peace is not the settlements a final status issue that can and must be resolved in negotiations between the parties but the persistent Palestinian rejection of a Jewish state in any boundaries." Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat fired back, saying the proposal "affirms Israel's resolve to destroy the two-state solution" and demanding the international community take action. "Israel continues to impede international efforts to achieve peace in Palestine and the region amidst the complete inaction by the international community to hold Israel accountable for the crimes it continues to commit against the land and people of Palestine," he said. "Concrete measures and actions against all Israeli settlement activities should be taken in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions." The U.S., which has repeatedly criticized Israel for such projects over decades, has refrained from imposing consequences. On Tuesday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the plans for the construction near Shiloh, west of Ramallah. Palestinians want their new state in the West Bank with east Jerusalem as its capital. An ancient Mayan document long thought to be a forgery was recently found to be genuine. The text, known as the Grolier Codex, was analyzed by researchers from Yale, Brown, and the University of California, Riverside, and, according to their results, is the real thing. The codexa ten page document consisting of Mayan deity/ritual paintings and a calendar that charts the movement of Venusdates back to the first half of the 13th century, making it the oldest surviving document from the Americas. Consisting of amate paper made from fig tree bark, the codex was widely believed to be a forgery partially due to the circumstances in which it turned up back in the late 60s. The story goes that collector Josue Saenz was flown to a remote airstrip somewhere in the Mexican state of Chiapa, where a crew of looters met him. They showed him the ancient Mayan text, claiming to have found it in a dry cave along with several other artifacts including a wooden mask and sacrificial knife (all which later proved genuine). In 1971, Saenz allowed archaeologist (and one of the new studys authors) Dr. Michael Coe to display it in New York Citys Grolier Club. Thereafter, the newly-dubbed Grolier Codex was taken to the basement of the Mexican National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, where it sits to this day. After the unveiling, there were a lot of dismissals of the codex as a forgery, which eventually became a dogma that followed the artifact for decades. Dr. Stephen Houston, a professor at Brown University and one of the researchers who analyzed the text, chalked these up partly to the documents origins. By definition, an object without clear provenance or place of origin opens room for doubt, Houston told FoxNews.com. But there are many other criteria too, and many of these doubts were themselves doubtful. The codex was first unveiled at a time when ancient Mayan documents were being faked, so people had reason to be wary. However, Houston said that forged codices are relatively obvious. There are a number of faked Maya codices from the 1960s and before, he explained. All are obvious, copying from preexisting codices, daubed with garish color. Dr. Michael Coe, study coauthor and Yale professor, agreed. In my career (I'm 87), I've seen over 50 fakes, and they're all sorry, totally naive productions by fakers who know nothing of Maya writing or astronomy, Coe told FoxNews.com. So when I published [a copy of] this manuscript back in 1973, quite a few Mayanists automatically condemned it as a fake. In Coes opinion, the forgery accusations by so-called experts involved a lot of academic and international politics. All of them have failed to realize that the Grolier Codex is a kind of hybrid, made by a priestly scribe living on the frontier between the Maya and other non-Maya peoples in Mexico, [which] shows that when it was painted, it combined Maya and non-Maya ways of writing numbers, etc., he said. In two previous studies reviewed by Coe and Houstons team, the codex had been radiocarbon-dated to prove that the amate paper used was indeed from the first half of the 13th century. The team then spent two and a half years studying highly detailed photographsfull-size Ektachromes of all ten pages, front and backtaken of the codex in 1988 while it was still out of sight in a Mexico City storeroom. The study that emerged should put all objections over the documents authenticity to rest. For one, the Grolier Codex depicts deities that had yet to be discovered in the 60s, which would make it almost impossible for someone at the time to forge. There are details of the gods shown and the system of writing numbers that have only been revealed to archaeologists long after the time that the Grolier Codex first came to light in a Mexican private collection, Coe explained. If this was a fake, the faker would have to have been able to look into the future. Also, technology that could accurately duplicate the blue pigment used in the codexs artwork wouldnt be perfected until the 80s. These are just a few examples of how it would be virtually impossible for con artists in the 60s to forge the document, examples detailed in an article published in the latest issue of Maya Archaeology. Now that the Grolier Codex has been authenticated, Houston believes it should be removed from the National Museums basement and given the reverence it deserves. Coe shares the sentiment. I do hope that the Mexican authorities will realize that they have a national treasure, namely the oldest written book in the New World, he said. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence dominated conversations on Twitter during his feisty debate with Democratic nominee Tim Kaine Tuesday. Data released by Twitter Government show that Pence accounted for 60 percent of Twitter conversations during the faceoff at Longwood University in Virginia. The most tweeted topics during the debate were foreign affairs and the economy, followed by terrorism, reproductive rights, and immigration. Most-Tweeted topics during the #VPdebate: 1. Foreign affairs 2. The economy 3. Terrorism 4. Reproductive rights 5. Immigration Twitter Government (@gov) October 5, 2016 The top retweeted tweet during the debate was Donald Trumps tweet proclaiming Pence as the winner. Mike Pence won big. We should all be proud of Mike! he wrote. This is the top RT'd Tweet during the US vice presidential debate: https://t.co/sGIuohmoOk Twitter Government (@gov) October 5, 2016 Trump also dominated Twitter during the debate compared to Hillary Clinton, with the Republican nominee accounting for 63 percent of conversations. While Indiana Governor Pence has won plaudits for his poised debate performance, Virginia Sen. Kaine topped Google search during the candidates clash. Social media expert and President of JRM Comm Jason Mollica told FoxNews.com that he wasnt surprised by the Kaine search result. If you look at what people searched for on Google about Mr. Kaine (Who is Tim Kaine? What is Tim Kaine known for? Where is Tim Kaine from?), its clear that people dont know much about him, he explained, via email. Mr. Pence has been in the headlines, not only as a VP candidate, but also for his decision to sign the religious freedom measure into law in Indiana. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers Note to tourists: respecting the local culture when visiting a foreign country isnt just the polite thing to do, sometimes its the law. A Dutch tourist is now facing up to two years in prison after pulling the plug on a loudspeaker broadcasting a Buddhist sermon near his hotel in Myanmar, reports Channel News Asia. On Sept. 23, Klaas Haytema was reportedly trying to sleep when he heard a loud noise being blasted into his hotel room so he went outside to uncover the source of the sound. I wanted to sleep desperately. I couldnt stand the noise and checked outside the hotel, Haytema told a court in Myanmar Monday. I saw that children were playing. I thought that they were playing it [the prayer] and disconnected the amplifier. Tourist faces jail over bold move during prayers - https://t.co/sloEM4anUZ https://t.co/KCiPPTE6H1 Myanmar Meta Guide (@meta_guide_mm) October 5, 2016 But Haytema didnt just pull the plug on any announcement. His hotel was situated next to a religious hall and he just happened to pull the plug on a public prayer servicea crime punishable by law in the city of Mandalay. I did not notice that it was a religious building. I am really sorry and I really apologize, Haytema continued. After the plug was pulled, a mob of angry locals gathered outside the visitors hotel. According to the Myanmar Times, soliders were deployed to the area to protect Haytema. But the loud noise may be least of the Dutchmans worries. Police chief of the Maha Aung Myay township confirmed that Haytema was detained for insulting religion under section 295 of Myanmar's penal code. Though he has yet to be charged, the law carries a prison sentence of up two years and a monetary fine. Myanmar is a deeply devout Buddhist society and Haytema isnt the first foreigner to run afoul of the law. In July a Spanish tourist was deported from Myanmar after monks complained about a tattoo of Buddha he had on his leg. In 2015, a New Zealand bar manager spent 10 months in jail for "insulting religion" by using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drink specials. Hundreds of cruise passengers bound for the Bahamas have been stuck in a concrete jungle after Carnival Cruise Line abruptly changed one of its ships itineraries in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. On Saturday, just hours before the Carnival Pride was due to set sail from Baltimore to the Bahamas, the cruise line sent passengers an email alerting them that they would be sailing to New York City instead, then onto New Brunswick, Canada. The ship was originally scheduled to visit Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Freeport in the Bahamas. The ship docked in New York Tuesday but after passengers arrived, they were told the sailing to Canada was also cancelled due to bad weather up north. The Pride is currently docked at Pier 88 in Manhattan but, according to WCBS, it wont be heading back to Baltimore until later this evening. And many passengers, already disappointed about missing out on a beach vacation, are anxious to know why they cant get home sooner. If theyre really concerned about our lives and the danger of the storm, we should be headed back now, said one furloughed cruiser. Others are just annoyed they have to shell out extra cash due to the inconvenience of being stuck in a colder location. We all have bathing suits, flip-flops, sundresses, said passenger Melissa Walker of Lynchburg, Va. Were trying to get sweatshirts. Im walking around New York City in my husbands shoes with toilet paper stuffed in the toes. "I cannot afford to pay $3,500 to ride from Baltimore to New York," Fred Loney told NBC4. He says hed been planning the trip to the Bahamas with his wife for a year. "That's basically what I've done." In a statement to FoxNews.com, Carnival said that "guests had the option of canceling and receiving a full refund. Those who opted to sail on the cruise are receiving a $250-per-person shipboard credit and a 50-percent future cruise discount." The decision was made to stay in New York an extra night to "give those guests who wish to disembark ample opportunity to do so and, for the rest of the guests, to provide an additional day for sightseeing in New York." But Loney isnt satisfied. "I want my money back and to be clear of this, and if you cannot provide the service, you need to provide the funds that we paid you back." Passengers onboard the Pride reported waiting in customer services lines up to two hours for information on their changing itinerary. But Pride passengers aren't the only displaced cruisers facing major trip changes. On Monday, several cruise lines announced itinerary alterations as Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm, approached the Caribbean. The Carnival Pride is scheduled to depart New York City at 5 p.m. Wednesday and head back to Baltimore. A representaive for Carnival Cruise Line reiterated to FoxNews.com that passenger and crew safety is of the utmost importance: "We sincerely apologize for this disruption to our guests vacation plans. Given the unpredictability of tropical weather systems, and with guest and crew safety as our foremost priority, we are taking a prudent course of action to keep the ship out of harms way and provide our guests with a safe and enjoyable vacation experience." Townspeople and classmates filled a church Tuesday evening to say goodbye to a 6-year-old boy who died in a school shooting, filing past a casket adorned with large photos, balloons and a life-size figure of one of his favorite superheroes, Batman. Authorities say a teen shot at a back door of the Townville Elementary school last Wednesday as a class left for recess, hitting Jacob, a classmate and a first-grade teacher. The teacher, shot in the shoulder, and the student, shot in the foot, were treated at hospitals and released the day of the shooting. Jacob died on Saturday. News that a third student had been injured came Monday night in a news release issued by Solicitor Chrissy Adams. That student, who was on the playground during the shooting, did not need medical attention, Anderson County Sheriff's Lt. Sheila Cole said Tuesday. Because of the student's injuries, however, Adams lodged another charge of attempted murder against the teen, who is 14. The teen now faces two murder charges: for Jacob's death and that of the teen's father, whom police say he fatally shot before driving to the school. He faces three attempted-murder charges in connection to the survivors. The teen is charged as a juvenile, and Adams has not said whether she will seek to try him as an adult. The Associated Press generally does not identify juveniles charged with crimes. Jacob's relatives said a favorite superhero was Batman and that he himself told them he was out saving Townville while everyone slept. They invited visitors to attend the visitation wearing superhero costumes, and both children and adults obliged. At least one visitor came dressed in a full-size Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume, while others wore T-shirts with the Superman and Batman logos, and placed Ninja turtle toys beside the casket, the inside of which reads "God's Super Hero." Some family members wore blue T-shirts with Jacob's photo on the front and "Team Jacob" printed on the back. The funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, which can hold about 500 people. Church leaders say a gym and youth building can accommodate several hundred more. "Until we stand before God, we will not know why he was taken from us," his great-aunt, Rebecca Hunnicutt, told the Anderson Independent Mail. "But I have to believe that Jacob's life will send a message about how important it is to love and protect our children, whether they are white, black, green, Hispanic or Asian. Now, Jacob isn't just saving Townville. He's doing things for the world." Two Ohio college students have been shot in an apparent robbery at a house near campus. Police say the two male students were shot Tuesday night near the campus of Miami University. The victims told police that two other males shot them and then took off. The victims were taken to area hospitals. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Police have not released their names. It's unclear what led to the shooting. No arrests have been made. Police are encouraging students to use caution and report any suspicious activity. Miami University is a public university located in Oxford, about 35 miles north of Cincinnati. Two young children have been injured in a drive-by shooting in Cleveland. Police say shots were fired into a home from a dark-colored vehicle Tuesday night, wounding a 3-year-old and 9-year-old who were inside the home at the time. Police say the 3-year-old was shot in the face and the 9-year-old was shot in the back. They were taken to a hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing. You may have startup activities in your city, but building a startup community is hard, intentional work. Once created, startup communities help spur entrepreneurs to build new businesses, connect investors to new opportunities, bring members into the community to support startups and celebrate the success as entrepreneurs excel. Entrepreneurship is a special kind of sport and startup communities provide the network to make your city innovative, vibrant, and a hot bed for employment. Startup activities are a great start, but a real community will define your long-term prosperity. The first rule, without question: The community must be entrepreneur led. As a long-time business builder and startup leader, I became interested in building our Denver startup community. I had been in the trenches, and I wanted to help other entrepreneurs succeed. The throes of startup life are best understood by those who live it. There is a natural sense of belonging between those who blaze the trail of creating something from nothing. This shared experience lays the groundwork for a community to come together when all programming, activities, and resources are built with the entrepreneur in mind. Related: BaubleBar Co-Founders Amy Jain and Daniella Yacobovsky on the Importance of Relying on Your Community However, for a community to grow and thrive, you have to be intentional. Recognizing strengths and weaknesses of the city, identifying resources available to grow companies and identifying partners who can contribute to the greater good is often challenging. Balancing self-interest with collaboration creates magical results, but it takes work, strong leadership and a vision for what the community can be. Here are the four C's needed to make your startup community thrive. 1. Celebrate In 2012, we started Denver Startup Week with the vision to celebrate everything entrepreneurial in Denver. Startups require hard, often thankless work and by creating a community wide-event to celebrate entrepreneurs, we were able to turn up the volume on startups and spotlight founders who were putting in the hours and work to build great companies. So 2. Connect The communication between the stakeholders, job seekers and innovators in a startup community is critical, yet often hard to coordinate. For Denver, we partnered with BuiltIn to launch BuiltIn Colorado to connect entrepreneurs to resources across the community, fill jobs and publish milestones so community members have a pulse on the velocity of startup activity in Denver. Related: The 'Entrepreneur's Obligation': Investing in Your Startup Ecosystem Connecting outside of events makes interactions seamless and amplifies the impact of the community on the city. 3. Convene Startup activities and events need a place to live to be sustainable, especially resources for small business and the underserved. In Denver, the City of Denver, Downtown Denver Partnership and Colorado Technology Association partnered to build The Commons on Champa Denvers public campus for entrepreneurship. This space is open to the community to host events, meetings and activities that promote and connect the Denver startup community. All events are free to the community, easily accessible, and programmed across a wide range of topics. Investing in community space is critical and provides a hub for the community to unite. 4. Collaborate A startup community is just that, a community. There is not a mayor or president of the community, but instead a wide-array of volunteer leaders with aligned interests and passions to support entrepreneurs in building startups. Not everything always goes perfect and a strong ethos of generosity will help bring the community together when things do not go as planned. In Denver, we collaborate at every turn and work to propel the startup community forward with entrepreneurs and their needs at the center of the value and resources being created. Related: 3 Ways Businesses Can Profit From Local Outreach Every startup community is different, with a different set of opportunities and challenges to work through. With intentional activities and a focus on the long game, great startup communities can be built anywhere. Steve Jobs has been the subject of dozens of books and half a dozen movies, and some seriously strange tributes. " Cheese Jobs," anyone? Theres no doubt the eccentric, innovative Apple co-founder, who died five years ago today, left an indelible imprint on the world. Evidence of his legacy is virtually everywhere you look, glowing in the hands of passersby and most likely in your own clutches. After all, there's now 1 billion people who own an electronic doodad made by the Cupertino, Calif., colossus that Jobs launched with Steve Wozniak in 1976. Related: Steve Jobs: An Extraordinary Career Theres also no shortage of creative and bizarre ways fans of the Billion Dollar Hippy have paid tribute to the legendary tech mogul. Here are seven interesting, fun and quirky homages to the man who sold his Volkswagen bus to ignite a computing revolution: 1. Cheese Jobs on a platter We werent kidding. A self-described Apple fanboy really did sculpt a decent rendition of Jobss noggin out of soft, pliable mozzarella cheese. Ken from TheCooksDen.com proudly displayed what he lovingly dubbed Steve Jobs Cheese Head atop a glorious platter smothered in Spicy Steve Nachos, iPad Thai and Apple Cheese. The hot mess, complete with a replica of Jobss iconic wireframe glasses, was a cheesy, yet heartfelt homage to the greatest consumer electronics company of all time. Bon appetit, Apple heads. If you, too, get the urge to hand carve an ooey, gooey cannibalistic His Steveness out of low-moisture mozzarella, perhaps in time for Halloween, Ken the cook kindly left step-by-step recipe instructions behind. Click here to get cookin. 2. Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates Epic Rap Battle In this lively Epic Rap Battles Season Two throw-down, a Steve Jobs impersonator and a Bill Gates impersonator go head to head over who is the bigger nerd and has more techie accomplishments. Much NSFW silliness and insults ensue, ranging from who made the cooler computer to who deserves more credit for revolutionizing the world of computing and beyond. Its a classic Windows vs. iOS shouting match, peppered with swears and sexual innuendos. Not exactly a tribute for the ages, the short clip is a strange if somewhat entertaining diversion, backed by tacky techno beats. Youve been warned. Check out the nerdy action below. 3. The ultimate Steve Jobs tattoo Several fans of Jobs show their devotion to the tech genius by inking his image forever on their skin. Now thats devotion. One of the best tattoos weve seen of Jobs is LA Ink star Nikko Hurtados finely detailed and realistic portrait of the innovator, which comes close to capturing Jobss intensity. Check it out here, along with several other Jobs homage tattoos. Related: The Important Lesson Entrepreneurs Can Learn From the Apple Computer That Sparked a Revolution 4. Young Steve Jobs action figure For those not bold (or crazy) enough to ink the image of Jobs on their skin, Legend Toys 12-inch plastic action figure made in his likeness was, for a time, a less painful and non-permanent way to keep his memory alive. Make that until the Japanese toy was apparently discontinued. The figure featured a '70s era mop-topped Young Steve Jobs sitting cross-legged with a detailed model of the first Apple computer awkwardly balanced on his lap. Several other collectible action figures of Steve Jobs are currently making the rounds on eBay, ranging in price from $15 to $2,000. 5. Hello Kitty-Steve Jobs hybrid The folks at Sanrio, the company behind kawaii cultural icon Hello Kitty, apparently had a soft spot for Jobs. The Japanese licensing powerhouse created a tribute to the tech wizard following his death and aptly called it Hello Stevie. It featured Jobs in a hybrid Hello Kitty form, with the Apple co-founders iconic blue jeans and black turtleneck uniform, and, of course, his glasses. Related: Steve Jobs Commencement Speech, Stanford University, June 2005 (Transcript) 6. Steve Jobs memorial statue In 2014, Serbian sculptor Dragan Radenovic created a bizarre sculpture to honor what would have been Jobss 59th birthday. The effigy is perhaps as eccentric as the innovator was himself. A tall, dark geometric bronze sculpture, it features Jobss head at the top of a long rectangular column. Oddly jutting out of the sides are Serbian letters, a Latin letter and numeric digits in reference to the binary system used in computers. Geeky to the max just about covers it. 7. Steve Jobs in Carbonite iPhone case In perhaps the quintessential nerd combo, a clever artist by the name of Greg Koening concocted a unique iPhone case that replicates the famous carbonite freeze scene from Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back. Instead of Han Solo being frozen, however, it features Jobs imprisoned in carbonite. MTV Cult of Mac plenty of other iPhone cases A former Navy lieutenant who worked as a contractor for the same cyberoperations firm as infamous leaker Edward Snowden was secretly arrested by the FBI in recent weeks in connection with the theft of highly classified hacking codes from the National Security Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday. Thomas Martin III, 51, was arrested on Aug. 27, according to a complaint that was unsealed Wednesday. The Glen Burnie, Md., resident was charged with theft of government property and and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials by a government employee or contractor. "There is no evidence that Hal Martin intended to betray his country," Martins lawyer, Jim Wyda, told The Wall Street Journal. "What we do know is that Hal Martin loves his family and his country. He served the nation honorably in the United States Navy and he has devoted his entire career to protecting America. Martin was deployed twice during his Navy career, serving as a Surface Warfare Officer on the USS Seattle during the early 1990s. He was the recipient of several standard medals, ribbons and commendations, including the Kuwait Liberation Medal. Martin worked for consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton and is suspected of stealing source code used to break into computer systems of numerous U.S. rivals, such as China, Iran, Russia and North Korea, according to The New York Times. Some of the information allegedly stolen by the contractor may have been dated, two officials told The Times. "When Booz Allen learned of the arrest of one of its employees by the FBI, we immediately reached out to the authorities to offer our total cooperation in their investigation, and we fired the employee," Booz Allen Hamilton said in a statement. "We continue to cooperate fully with the government on its investigation into this serious matter." Martin had his initial court appearance on Aug. 29 and is still detained, a DOJ press release stated. Officials found hard-copy documents and digital information during a search of Martin's residence and storage sheds in August, according to the DOJ release. Much of what was recovered allegedly had U.S. government markings and was either classified Top Secret or as Sensitive Compartmented Information. Investigators reportedly also found U.S. government property totaling about $1,000. Six classified documents "obtained from sensitive intelligence" and "produced through sensitive government sources, methods and capabilities" were recovered during the search, according to the complaint. Each of these documents was classified as Top Secret, the DOJ release stated. This is huge. Did the FBI secretly arrest the person behind the reports NSA sat on huge flaws in US products? https://t.co/otgOwB5efm Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 5, 2016 This marks the second time in three years the NSAs classified systems have been infiltrated by a Booz Allen Hamilton contractor. Edward Snowden stole numerous documents in 2013 before fleeing to Russia, where he has been granted asylum. Snowdens leak exposed both domestic and foreign spying programs. The latest theft appeared limited to computer codes. Snowden tweeted Wednesday afternoon wondering if the person arrested was connected to a hacking group that in August allegedly stole secret U.S. government hacking tools and put them up for bid. No motive for the reported theft was immediately disclosed. Martin could face up to one year in prison for the unauthorized removal of classified information and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for theft of government property. Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report. A Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant was shot and killed while responding to a burglary call, authorities said Wednesday evening. A suspect was arrested approximately 90 minutes after the shooting at an apartment complex in Lancaster, about 70 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Sgt. Steven Owen, 53, died at a hospital about two hours after he was gunned down. His mother, adult son and daughter and his wife, who is a detective in the Sheriff Department's Arson/Explosives Detail, were at his bedside when he died, said Neal B. Tyler, the Sheriff's Department interim sheriff and executive officer. "This is the thing we all dread," Tyler said at a news conference. Owen, who also is survived by another adult son, was a 29-year decorated veteran, authorities said. He was shot in the face with a large-caliber bullet that fragmented, said Mayor R. Rex Parris, who knew Owen for 10 years. "I just left 100 officers crying. It's indescribable seeing that many sheriff's deputies in tears," Parris said. "They brought him back three times. They worked on him for an hour but they were never able to stabilize him," Parris said. Another deputy received injuries and was examined at a hospital but he wasn't shot, authorities said. Owen was shot in the backyard at around 12:30 p.m. local time after he answered a report of a burglary in progress at an apartment building on West Avenue J-7. Investigators said another deputy in front heard gunfire, ran around the building and found Owen wounded. It wasn't immediately clear whether Owen managed to shoot back, sheriff's homicide Capt. Steven Katz said. The deputy chased the gunman, who ran to Owen's radio car, got in and tried to steal it. The suspect was shot at twice, once as he tried to take the patrol car and again as he backed up and rammed a second patrol car, Katz said. As deputies sealed off the neighborhood, the gunman ran to a house where a teenage boy and girl managed to hide and use a cellphone to text sheriff's deputies, authorities said. It wasn't clear whether the attacker knew they were there, Katz said. SWAT team members entered the home to rescue the pair and the suspected gunman fled out the back door and was captured after climbing over a wall, officials said. News reports showed a bloody, shirtless man on his knees being handcuffed. The man, identified only as a parolee, was taken to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to his upper body, investigators said. Katz said a weapon was found. In 2014, Owen was one of several deputies from the Lancaster station who were honored by the Sheriff's Department after they captured a gunman in a bulletproof vest who had taken a driver hostage and used him as a human shield after a police chase. Owens and the others received the Meritorious Conduct Medal, Gold. Fox News' Adam Housley and the Associated Press contributed to this report. The body of a Long Island teen who vanished Tuesday was discovered in a wooded area near his home on Wednesday morning, FOX5 reported. Police did not immediately identify the cause of death but said it did not appear to be criminal. BREAKING: Body of missing Long Island teen Nickolas Donnelly found in wooded area in Shoreham. No criminality suspected, says police. pic.twitter.com/p2cvUDYtRG Fox5NY (@fox5ny) October 5, 2016 The body of 14-year-old Nickolas Donnelly was found around 7:50 a.m. near his Shoreham home. Donnelly disappeared after he left home for a jog at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. He was not carrying an ID or cell phone with him, News12 reported. Police used aviation units and K-9s in a search for Donnelly that lasted late into Tuesday, Riverhead Local reported. It wasn't immediately clear who discovered the body on Wednesday. People from Townville, South Carolina, throughout the Upstate, and beyond donned capes, cowls, and superhero-themed clothes on Wednesday to say goodbye to Townville Elementary School shooting victim Jacob Hall. The six-year-old died on Oct. 1, three days after being shot. The first grader was among three students and a teacher injured in the shooting. Jacob was remembered during a superhero-themed celebration of life service at Oakdale Baptist Church. Jacobs mother, Renae Hall, encouraged anyone who wanted to say goodbye to Jacob to wear superhero outfits and attend the funeral for her fallen hero. Batman and Nightwing from Heroes 4 Higher journeyed from West Virginia, and even brought a special Batmobile, nicknamed the Hope-mobile, to be a part of the service. Batman, a.k.a. John Buckland, said a plaque with Jacobs name and information will be added to a memorial section of the vehicle. Batman was the first to speak during the funeral. The caped crusader offered condolences to the family and praised the community for coming together and rallying around the victims in wake of the tragedy. "Out of this community, the world is learning how to do it right, and theyre learning it from a six-year-old boy," Batman said. The comic book hero also told mourners to apply the lessons Jacob offered to their daily lives. "Let's take what we've learned from Jacob and let it make us a better person." Click for more from Fox Carolina. As Hurricane Matthew barreled up the Caribbean Wednesday, people along the Atlantic coast from Florida to South Carolina prepared to move to safer ground, as officials warned that hundreds of thousands of people would have to evacuate. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announced plans starting Wednesday afternoon to evacuate a quarter million people, not counting tourists, from its vulnerable coastline. Officials in central Florida's Brevard County on Wednesday ordered residents on barrier islands and in flood-prone areas to pack up and get out. Florida Gov. Rick Scott said his state could see its biggest evacuation ever. "If you're able to go early, leave now," he added. Matthew was a dangerous and life-threatening Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph, and it was expected to be very near Florida's Atlantic coast by Thursday evening. At 8 p.m. EDT, Matthew was centered about 165 miles south-southeast of Nassau in the eastern Bahamas. It was heading northwest at 12 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 45 miles from the center, meaning Matthew could wreak havoc along the East Coast even if it did not actually come ashore. President Barack Obama was briefed on the federal government's preparations Wednesday. He told reporters that now is the time to "hope for the best but we want to prepare for the worst." Traffic was bumper-to-bumper during morning rush hour on Interstate 26 in South Carolina as people tried to escape ahead of the storm. Gasoline was hard to come by, with at least half a dozen stations in Mount Pleasant out of fuel and lines at others. At one gas station in Mount Pleasant, the line reached about a quarter mile down the street. The state's attorney general warned stations against price gouging. According to Fox Carolina, Greenville County schools werent going to run buses Wednesday for students and instead drivers would be sent to the coast to help evacuate residents. Students expecting buses and have no other mode of transportation would be excused. In South Florida, government officials are worried residents have become complacent after 11 years of near misses. Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina along with Andrew were in the mind of officials as they spoke at a press conference Tuesday. Rep. Carlos Curbelo wants assurances that the federal, state and local governments are working together. Make sure to have a plan and stay informed by watching your local news for evacuation orders. #Matthew Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) October 5, 2016 Find out today if you live in an evacuation zone. #Matthew Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) October 5, 2016 Leave immediately when told to evacuate by local officials. #Matthew Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) October 5, 2016 Plan where you would go and how you will get there if told to evacuate by local officials. #Matthew Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) October 5, 2016 "We just can't take it for granted that that's always going to happen," Curbelo said. From Broward County to the Space Coast -- where hurricane warnings are in effect -- officials already have closed schools for the rest of the week. Some school districts are sending students home early on Wednesday, and after school activities are canceled. Most colleges and universities in the warning areas also have canceled classes starting Wednesday evening. A hurricane watch is in effect from Sebastian Inlet to the Daytona Beach area, meaning hurricane force winds could occur. In South Florida, lines at grocery stores were heavier than usual and some essentials were in short supply. When Simone Corrado and her husband tried to buy water at their Publix in Davie near Fort Lauderdale, they mostly found empty shelves. There were a few bottles of high-end water brands, but there was so much empty shelf space that Corrado lay down and fully stretched out on the bottom shelf. "I got scared because all that was left at Publix was just the pricey water," said Corrado, who lived through 1992's catastrophic Hurricane Andrew, which practically leveled the nearby city of Homestead. "They really put the fear into you here. On the television screen every few minutes is the 'beep, beep, beep' storm alert." Governors in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina declared states of emergency, and the White House said President Barack Obama canceled a campaign and health care events in Florida on Wednesday and would instead visit the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for an update. Some airlines let passengers change travel plans without penalty if their trip might be affected by Matthew. Near Fort Lauderdale, The Home Depot in Davie briefly ran out of propane for gas barbecues and the supply of batteries was dwindling. People bought plywood to cover windows, tarps to put over outdoor furniture and coolers for food storage. Anesthesiologist Darby Lipka lugged a 20-pound propane tank across the parking lot, saying he had already purchased food and water. He installed hurricane windows years ago so he wouldn't need to erect shutters "I am just trying to be prepared," he said. Haley said state officials would reverse lanes on major evacuation routes in South Carolina. It would be the first major evacuation since Hurricane Floyd in 1999, when the governor at the time didn't reverse the lanes and Interstate 26 became a parking lot. A typically two-hour drive from Charleston to Columbia turned into 24-hour nightmare. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Matthew recently a Category 4 storm and at one brief point a fierce Category 5 will remain a powerful storm at least through Thursday night. It added that while maximum winds decreased slightly in recent hours, further fluctuations in intensity are possible in coming days. Click for more from Fox Carolina. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A young Pentecostal congregation that launched three years ago in Indiana had their church building constructed in just 24 hours last week as part of the "Church in a Day" project. Members of the New Life Church in Cumberland celebrate new bldg built in ONE day! Story at 6pm @CIADNAM @UPCIORG @NA_missions @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/vHXh9l7IjX Carrie Cline (@CarrieWTHR) October 2, 2016 Michael Faulk, pastor at New Life Church in Cumberland whose congregation started in April 2013, told The Christian Post that the "walls went up" on Thursday morning and "24 hours later the building was complete with carpet and paint." On Friday the church spent the day "moving into and decorating our new facility." "Having a permanent location within our community will allow us to move forward with reaching our community. It will also allow us to expand our ministry to areas that were previously not possible within the confines of our rented space," said Faulk. "Our building is designed to be a part of a multi-phase building project. During our design phase, we were able to build infrastructure that will be needed as we grow and additional phases are needed." Faulk also told CP that the endeavor involved approximately 350 volunteers connected to the Church in a Day program, a ministry overseen by the United Pentecostal Church International and North American Missions, noting that New Life is "the ninth CIAD recipient church in Indiana since its inception locally in 2003." According to its website, New Life Church purchased the property that became their new site in 2015, with the 4.5-acre property being located just north of US-40. "This will provide space for worship, Sunday school rooms, fellowship, and ultimately a welcoming place for those looking to further their relationship with Christ," explained the site. Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com Indianapolis police say one of the department's district offices was struck by gunfire during an overnight shooting. Northwest District Commander Michael Jefferson says "a few dozen shots" were fired at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's district headquarters on the city's northwest side about 11 p.m. Tuesday. Jefferson tells WTHR-TV (http://bit.ly/2de90gl ) no injuries were reported but the building's front was struck by at least a dozen bullets and at least two windows were damaged. He says a supervisor who was inside the building heard the gunshots, alerted fellow officers to the shooting and then found bullet holes in the building. WTHR reports witnesses told investigators they saw an SUV in the area around the time of the shooting. Indianapolis police did not immediately return messages seeking an update on the shooting. ___ Information from: WTHR-TV, http://www.wthr.com/ Moschino, a high-end Italian clothing company, is known for its provocative branding. But drug addiction activists say the fashion line has taken its marketing too far by selling pill-themed items at top U.S. department stores, claiming it glamorizes prescription drug abuse. The company recently debuted its "Capsule Collection SS17" line featuring an oversized prescription drug bottle shoulder bag -- valued at $950 -- and a similarly-themed mini dress for $950 among other drug-inspired products. "WARNING! Do not take medication on empty stomach," reads a red label across the front of the dress. "KEEP ALL CAPSULES OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN." The clothing and accessories, selling at upscale department stores like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, have drawn fierce criticism from drug addiction advocates, doctors and parents nationwide who charge the fashion makes pill popping look "chic and cool." "It's promoting drug use," said Randy Anderson, an alcohol and drug counselor in Minnesota who started an online petition calling for the merchandise to be pulled from shelves at the Mall of America and other locations. "Im really disgusted that any retail store thinks this is OK, especially when our country is going through what the CDC has called a drug overdose epidemic," he said. Anderson cited an alarming trend known as "Skittles Parties," in which teenagers raid their parents' medicine cabinets and bring whatever prescription drugs they have on hand to a home where they pool them from a communal bowl. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that in 2014, more people died from drug overdoses than in any year on record. Opioids, such as OxyContin and Vicodin -- which are prescription drugs -- and heroin -- an illegal opiod -- killed more than 28,000 people in 2014 alone, according to the CDC. At least half of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid. "While there is definitely a need for pills for many people in many situations, this 'Capsule Collection' makes it appear that pills are always a good thing when the reality is that thousands of people are dying every year from prescription pills," said Judy Rummler, whose son, Steve, died in 2011 from such an overdose. The Moschino pill-themed line was created by American celebrity fashion designer Jeremy Scott, who is based in Los Angeles and from Kansas City. In an email to FoxNews.com Wedneday, the company defended its fashion, saying, "There was never any intent to promote prescription drug abuse." "The Moschino capsule collection was inspired by a play on the word 'capsule' translated literally as a collection of 'capsule-themed' products," the company said. "A lesser exposed but equally relevant piece of the collection clearly states 'Just say MoschiNO' referencing the 'Just Say No' anti-drug campaign. "We are disheartened to hear that there has been a misunderstanding of the underlying theme of the collection," the email said. A prominent display of the Capsule Collection line at Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store in Manhattan drew mixed reactions from customers Wednesday afternoon. "We are a generation of pills and this line cleverly mocks America's obsession with prescription drugs," said one sales associate, as she clutched the bright, over-sized drug bottle shoulder bag in her hands. "It makes you stop and look and start a conversation about it," said the woman. "And it captures Moschino's sarcasm." One customer said the clothing line could "help the stigma" surrounding mental illness and prescription drugs, while another claimed it was offensive and only "glorified" drug use. A spokeswoman for Saks did not immediately reply to a request for comment, while a Nordstrom representative confirmed the store is carrying merchandise from the Moschino line. "At this time we are one of several retailers that offer items from this collection," Nordstrom spokeswoman Tara Darrow said in an email. "We've heard from some customers who have concerns and we're sorry they're disappointed," Darrow said. "We appreciate the feedback." Chris Johnson, an Emergency Room physician and critic of the line, said his first reaction to the clothing was confusion. "I am not certain what impact the creative team at Moschino was trying to make. On the one hand, we are trying to de-stigmatize disease, particularly mental health, and so if people need medicines to help them function in their day to day life, then by all means take them," said Johnson, who is based in Minneapolis. "The problem becomes when we start to identify people by their med list -- that to be an authentic American means to be medicated," he said. "My worry with such fashion statements is that it creates the idea that a person needs to be on medicine first and foremost." "That seems to be the problem with this clothing line," he told FoxNews.com, "Not that medication is inherently bad, but that it is seen as a staple of life and that something is wrong if you are not taking prescriptions." Mary Anne Sause, a Louisburg, Kansas, woman who says she was ordered by local police to stop praying in her home and told that a copy of the Constitution she showed them was "just a piece of paper," has appealed a district court's ruling that officers did not violate her First Amendment. First Liberty Institute appealed the district court's ruling to the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit last Wednesday, arguing that the officers' conduct violated Sause's First Amendment right to pray in her own home and to be free from retaliation for exercising that right, according to information provided by the First Liberty Institute. Sause, a retired Catholic nurse on disability and rape survivor, was at home on the night of Nov. 22, 2013, when two police officers approached her door and demanded to be allowed in. Sause said the officers did not identify themselves, and she could not see them through her broken peephole, so she did not open her door. The officers left, but returned later and demanded that Sause let them in. When Sause came to the door and the officers asked why she didn't answer the first time, she showed them a copy of a pocket Constitution given to her by her congressman. One officer laughed and said, "That's just a piece of paper" that "doesn't work here," while still not explaining the reason for their presence at her home. She said once the officers were inside they continued to harass her, telling her at one point that she should get ready to go to jail. When Sause asked why, the officer told her, "I don't know yet." It was at this point, explained First Liberty, that a frightened Sause asked one officer's permission to pray. The officer allowed the prayer but shortly after she started praying silently the second officer in her home ordered her to "get up" and "stop praying" and she complied immediately. Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com The Latest on the trial of two former Albuquerque police officers charged in the shooting death of a homeless man (all times local): ___ 9:45 a.m. A former officer charged in the on-duty shooting death of a homeless camper says the man had time to react to repeated commands to get down on the ground and instead reached for his knives. The testimony from former SWAT Officer Dominique Perez counters arguments that James Boyd was preparing to surrender or didn't have enough time to follow officers' commands before he was shot. Perez took the stand for a second day Wednesday as his defense team's final witness, saying Boyd posed a threat to a K-9 officer standing near the camper. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys have finished questioning him. Perez and now-retired Detective Keith Sandy are standing trial on second-degree murder charges in Boyd's March 2014 death. Sandy's attorney will begin calling witnesses to the stand Wednesday. ___ 12:10 a.m. A former Albuquerque police officer standing trial on a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of a homeless camper will testify in his own defense for a second day Wednesday. Dominique Perez was one of nearly 20 officers to respond to a 2014 police standoff with James Boyd who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and pulled knives on two officers who were first to respond to reports of his illegal campsite. Perez told jurors Tuesday that he opened fire because a K-9 officer who did not have a weapon in hand appeared to come within arms' reach of Boyd and his knives. Perez was standing downslope from the K-9 officer and Boyd during the standoff in the Sandia Mountain foothills. An analysis later determined that the K-9 handler was roughly 9 feet from Boyd. A Muslim cleric in Maryland, who has openly endorsed the Islamic State terror group and funded at least one Muslim convert who was arrested for buying illegal explosives, has not been charged or arrested because, according to authorities, he hasn't broken any laws. Suleiman Anwar Bengharsa, an imam at mosques in Annapolis and outside Baltimore who also serves as a prison chaplain, has posted gruesome videos showing Islamic State fighters, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh, beheading and burning alive their enemies and praised terrorist attacks overseas, The New York Times reports. The FBI filed an affidavit in federal court saying that the 59-year-old imam gave $1,300 to a 29-year-old Muslim covert, identified as Sebastian Gregerson, in Detroit in June 2015, and the man used it to buy firearms and grenades. Gregerson, who calls himself Abdurrahaman Bin Mikaayl, was arrested in July and indicted on explosives charges, the Times adds. FBI agents suspect the two men were plotting terrorism, according to a court filing. "Based on the totality of the aforementioned information and evidence, there is reason to believe that Bengharsa and Gregerson are engaged in discussions and preparations for some violent act on behalf of" the Islamic State, an agent wrote. Bengharsa received $902,710 in wire transfers in 2014 and 2015, according to court records. The documents also show he sent money three times to an unnamed person in Yemen, the Times says. Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com A 30-year-old man has been arrested after an email was sent threatening to "sever the heads" of two Detroit-area judges. The Macomb County sheriff's office says Mohammad Subhi Alsheleh was arraigned Monday in Sterling Heights on false report or threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime. An investigation was started Sept. 26 after the email threatening Macomb County Circuit judges James Biernat Sr. and Kathryn George was sent to an attorney. The email was forwarded to the court which contacted the sheriff's office. A suspect was developed by looking at cases handled by both judges. Alsheleh, of Sterling Heights, was arrested Wednesday on an outstanding warrant. He is jailed. The Associated Press was unable to determine Monday evening if he has an attorney. An overheated Samsung device created smoke that caused a plane to be evacuated at Louisville International Airport on Wednesday, an official said. The smoke prompted Southwest Airlines to evacuate the plane before it departed for Baltimore, Louisville Metro Arson Capt. Kevin Fletcher told news outlets. A total of 75 passengers and crew were evacuated from the flight, and no one was injured, said airport authority spokeswoman Natalie Chaudoin. Fletcher said there was minor damage to the plane's carpet where the device was dropped. U.S. safety regulators announced a formal recall last month of Samsung's Galaxy Note7 smartphone after a spate of fires led to injuries and property damage. Sarah Green, of New Albany, Indiana, was quoted by The Courier-Journal as saying that her husband, Brian, told her his Galaxy Note7 made a popping noise and started smoking after he powered it down. Green said the phone had been replaced about two weeks ago due to the recall. She said he called her from another person's phone to tell her what happened. Fire department Capt. Sal Melendez said the device overheated during the flight crew's safety demonstration. Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration took the unusual step of warning passengers not to use or charge the Galaxy Note 7 phones while on board, and not to place them in checked bags. Southwest warns on its website that passengers with the Samsung device must carry them on the plane instead of checking them in luggage. They should keep the phone turned off and disconnected from power sources, and passengers should make sure that the power switch can't accidentally be moved to the "on" position. The advisory does not apply to phones that have a green battery icon, which, according to Samsung, indicates that the phone is a post-recall model. Samsung said in a statement that the company can't confirm that the new Note7 was involved in the incident and is working with authorities to recover the device and confirm the cause. A white University of Mississippi student is withdrawing from school and publicly apologizing for his Facebook post about lynching people who were protesting the killing of a black man by North Carolina police officers. The post prompted protests Sept. 23 on the Oxford campus, and Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter condemned it then as "racist, offensive and hurtful." Ole Miss officials sent out a statement to students and faculty Wednesday notifying them that Jordan Samson is withdrawing from classes but will work on "restorative justice activities" with the university's William Winter Center for Racial Reconciliation. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Brandi Hephner LaBanc says the post "may have been protected expression," but Samson wants to take responsibility. The university released an apology from Samson on Wednesday. He says he's deeply sorry for the "lapse of judgment" and doesn't want the post to define him. The parents of a Florida man who died after Georgia sheriff's deputies repeatedly used stun guns on him say they're very disappointed in a prosecutor's decision not to seek charges. Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Peter Skandalakis on Monday announced that no charges would be filed in the case, saying that although Chase Sherman's death was tragic, it was not a criminal matter. Video from the body cameras of Coweta County sheriff's deputies shows deputies struggling with Sherman in the back of an SUV until he's still and they later realize he's not breathing. Sherman was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Sherman's mother, Mary Ann Sherman, said Wednesday that she's angry and disappointed that the district attorney didn't even present the case to a grand jury. A former Albuquerque police officer standing trial on a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of a homeless camper will testify in his own defense for a second day Wednesday. Dominique Perez was one of nearly 20 officers to respond to a 2014 police standoff with James Boyd who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and pulled knives on two officers who were first to respond to reports of his illegal campsite. Perez told jurors Tuesday that he opened fire because a K-9 officer who did not have a weapon in hand appeared to come within arms' reach of Boyd and his knives. Perez was standing downslope from the K-9 officer and Boyd during the standoff in the Sandia Mountain foothills. An analysis later determined that the K-9 handler was roughly 9 feet from Boyd. French woman hostage working for Red Cross released in Yemen next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 A French-Tunisian woman working for the Red Cross has been released after nearly a year in captivity in Yemen, the International Committee of the Red Cross said late Monday. An ICRC statement said that Nourane Houas had arrived in Oman's capital, Muscat, after being freed by her Yemeni captors. Houas was kidnapped by a group of armed men on her way to work in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Dec. 1, 2015. A colleague with her was released unharmed a few hours later but she was held. She appeared in a video in May asking French President Francois Hollande to save her life. Hollande "expressed his gratitude to all those who allowed for a happy ending to this ordeal," notably the Sultan of Oman, according to a statement from Hollande's office. He also cited the efforts of ICRC President Peter Maurer and members of his organization. In a tweet, Maurer thanked everyone who worked to secure her release, saying: "Respect for humanitarian workers and their neutrality is vital." Houas landed in Muscat on an Omani air force flight, stepping off the jet in a simple black robe, according to images released by state media. Hollande praised "Nourane Houas' courage during her long detention," adding that he "shares in her family's joy" over her release. "We are relieved and thankful that Nourane is now back with us, safe and sound," said Alexandre Faite, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen. "Her abduction was a terrible ordeal for her, as well as for her family, friends and colleagues. And it has obviously dealt a real blow to our humanitarian work in Yemen." Faite said her release "has taken a lot of effort, inside and outside Yemen and over many months, but finally we have a positive result." "Our priority now is Nourane's well-being and getting her home to her family," Faite said. "We would ask everyone to respect her and her family's privacy at this time." No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and the ICRC said it will not comment on the identity of the abductors, their motives or the details of her release. Hollande also gave no details about the circumstances of Houas' release. Oman's Foreign Ministry said it used "Yemeni contacts" to free Houas on the orders of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, without elaborating. While ongoing peace talks to end Yemen's civil war have been held in Kuwait, Yemen's Shiite rebels known as Houthis repeatedly have traveled to Muscat to engage in talks. Oman, a country on the western edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has proven itself as a valuable Western ally to negotiate the release of captives in the region. The quiet sultanate, long a go-to negotiator in the Mideast, stands apart from its Gulf Arab neighbors in not joining the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis. It instead has positioned itself as a quiet mediator by hosting talks involving the rebels and other parties. It also was crucial in facilitating negotiations between the United States and Iran over the Islamic Republic's contested nuclear program. Previously, Yemen negotiated the releases of several groups of foreign captives held amid Yemen's war. The abduction of foreigners is common in Yemen, where militant groups such as al-Qaida and tribesmen use hostages to raise funds through ransom payments or bargain for the release of prisoners. The Houthis also have held Westerners captives during the war. Yemen, the Arab world's poorest nation, has been embroiled in fighting that pits the Iran-backed Houthis and forces loyal to a former president against the Saudi-backed and internationally recognized government. The Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the rebels and their allies since March 2015, fearful of Iranian influence spreading across the Arabian Peninsula. The United Nations and rights groups estimated at least 9,000 people overall have died in the war, with the U.N. estimating 3,800 civilians have been killed since the airstrike campaign began. Saudi-led coalition airstrikes were responsible for 60 percent of the civilian deaths over a yearlong span starting in July last year, according to a U.N. report. ____ Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. URL https://www.foxnews.com/world/french-woman-hostage-working-for-red-cross-released-in-yemen Hurricane Matthew made its second landfall at Category 4 strength near the Eastern tip of Cuba Tuesday evening as residents along the east coast of the US brace for impact later in the week. At least 11 deaths have been blamed on the powerful storm during its week-long march across the Caribbean. Forecasters said it could hit Florida toward the end of the week and push its way up the East Coast over the weekend. The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a hurricane watch for a 230-mile stretch from Deerfield Beach near Fort Lauderdale to the Daytona Beach area, meaning hurricane force winds of 74 mph or higher could occur within two days. Only change to the watches/warnings at 5 pm was to include Broward County FL in the #Hurricane Watch https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb #Matthew pic.twitter.com/Wd9Eb0aR7O NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) October 4, 2016 The Category 4 storm -- at one point the most powerful hurricane in the region in nearly a decade brought 20-foot waves along the seafront promenade of Baracoa, Cuba as powerful winds tore ceramic tiles off the corners of some roofs. Hurricane Matthew reached wind speeds of 145 mph Tuesday as it barreled through western Haiti where floodwaters and mud inundated small towns and villages. Hours after Matthew made landfall on Haiti's now-marooned southwestern peninsula, government leaders said they couldn't fully gauge the impact. "What we know is that many, many houses have been damaged. Some lost rooftops and they'll have to be replaced while others were totally destroyed," Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph said. At least five deaths were blamed on the storm in Haiti, including a 26-year-old man who drowned trying to rescue a child who fell into a rushing river, authorities said. The child was saved. The mayor in flooded Petit Goave reported two people died there, including a woman who was killed by a falling electrical pole. Four deaths were recorded in the neighboring Dominican Republic and one each in Colombia and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Mourad Wahba, U.N. secretary-general's deputy special representative for Haiti, said at least 10,000 people were in shelters and hospitals were overflowing and running short of water. Wahba's statement called the hurricane's destruction the "largest humanitarian event" in Haiti since the devastating earthquake of January 2010. Meanwhile, in Florida a tropical storm watch was issued from the Seven Mile Bridge in the Keys to Deerfield. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said Tuesday she plans to issue an evacuation order Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Matthew so that 1 million people can safely and comfortably leave the coast. Haley said at a news conference that she will finalize the order Wednesday morning, unless there is a major shift in the storm's track. Haley says she expects the evacuation to begin at 3 p.m. EDT Wednesday. State officials say lanes on major evacuation routes will be reversed. It would be the first major evacuation since Hurricane Floyd in 1999, when the governor at the time didn't reverse the lanes and Interstate 26 became backed up for hours and traffic was at a standstill. The White House said federal officials were deployed to state emergency operations centers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, where a state of emergency was declared a day earlier. In South Florida, lines at grocery stores were heavier than usual and some essentials were in short supply on Tuesday. Simone Corrado told the Associated Press when she tried to buy water at their Publix in Davie near Fort Lauderdale with her husband, they mostly found empty shelves. There were a few bottles of high-end water brands, but there was so much empty shelf space that Corrado lay down and fully stretched out on the bottom shelf. "I got scared because all that was left at Publix was just the pricey water," said Corrado, who lived through 1992's catastrophic Hurricane Andrew, which practically leveled the nearby city of Homestead. "They really put the fear into you here. On the television screen every few minutes is the 'beep, beep, beep' storm alert." Gov. Rick Scott, speaking in the Daytona area, warned residents they must be prepared to take a direct hit and evacuation orders could be issued as early as Tuesday. Scott said his biggest worry is that residents won't take seriously the threat from Matthew, especially since so many newer residents have never lived through a hurricane. "Don't take a chance. Leave before it's too late," he said. "We have to be prepared to be hit by a catastrophic hurricane." A U.S. official told Fox News on Tuesday that Haiti has requested assistance through the U.S. State Department. The Navy is making preparations to get three Norfolk-based ships underway to help with Hurricane Matthew relief in the Caribbean, officials said. The aircraft carrier USS George Washington, amphibious transport ship USS Mesa Verde and USNS Comfort, a hospital ship, are the three ships the Navy has told to be on standby in case the order is given to head south, one Navy official told Fox News. Roughly 2,000 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, NC have also been given warning orders and have been told to prepare to ship out. At one point a Category 5 storm, Matthew was expected to make landfall in Cuba about 50 miles east of the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, where authorities flew out about 700 spouses and children of service members. Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. American taxpayers have spent more than $100 billion rebuilding Afghanistan, creating schools, hospitals and roads while making millionaires out of a rogue's gallery of warlords, gangsters and corrupt officials. A total of $114 billion, which does not include even more spent on the military effort to oust the Taliban and stabilize the impoverished country, has been appropriated since 2002. While it has likely improved conditions in the country, corrupt builders, security providers, mercenaries and even local bankers have all taken their cuts - and gotten rich in the process. "Injecting tens of billions of dollars into a small country with insufficient oversight and flawed contracting practices created opportunities for the theft and embezzlement of foreign aid, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko told FoxNews.com. Our $114 billion investment in Afghanistan has been plagued by these criminal acts. Sopko's office is responsible for rooting out waste, fraud and corruption, and naming those in both Afghanistan and the U.S. who have had their hand in the cookie jar. Virtually every dollar spent has greedy hands grasping at it, according to Sopko. Warlords and militia leaders who established and guard the U.S. supply chain work the system, and demand their percentage. According to a 2010 report entitled "Warlord, Inc.," from the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, their methods involve providing protection along the supply routes for a fee, turning not-so-veiled threats into cold cash. The partial conversion of Afghan warlords into businessmen resembles in many ways the establishment of mafia networks, which are active both in the legal and the illegal economy and are able to use force to protect their interests and possibly to expand, wrote Antonio Giustozzi, in a London School of Economics research paper entitled "Warlords into Businessmen: the Afghan Transition 2002-2005." Ahmad Rateb Popal and his brother Rashid Popal, ex-cons and onetime jihadists, according to a 2009 Guardian article. run one of the largest security and risk management companies in Afghanistan. The brothers, reportedly cousins of former President Hamid Karzai, are former mujahedeen fighters who fled Afghanistan in the 1980s for the U.S., where they served prison time - in Ahmed's case, nine years for heroin smuggling, according to a 2014 report from Reuters which also reported that Popal had ties with the Taliban as a translator when they were in power. Fast forward to 2009 and Popal and his brother Rashid, became very wealthy heading up the Watan Group -- a telecommunications, logistics company and security company. According to a 2009 article in The Nation, one of Watans major businesses was protecting convoys along the Kabul-Kandahar supply route of Highway 1, and it had a $360 million yearly contract - paid by the U.S. but doled out through the Karzai administration - to do it. The expose, which was also published by the Guardian, claims that the Watan Group paid an estimated 10 percent to the Taliban, the very group they were hired to guard against. Popal denied the allegations at the time, according to an article from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, adding that he did not receive contracts as a result of being a relative to Karzai. The Watan Group has reportedly been able to control Highway 1 due to its relationship with Commander Ruhullah, a militia leader who has dominated the private security business along the main transportation route between the cities of Kabul and Kandahar, Highway 1, according to the "Warlord, Inc" report. Ruhullah was virtually unknown in Afghanistan before September 2001, but over the next decade, he became the single largest security provider in the country. He commands a militia of about 600 armed guards and readily admitted to staffers from the House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs that he has bribed governors, police chiefs and army generals. Locals reportedly refer to him as The Butcher. Ruhullah told the Subcommittee staff that he guards about 3,500 U.S. supply trucks each month and that prime contractors and Afghan-based subcontractors pay $1,500 per truck for his services. The route he and his militia guard is vital, as most supplies from the U.S. are shipped to Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul, and most troops are in Kandahar to the south. Despite his domination of security along this vital route, Ruhullah does not deal directly with the U.S. government, according to the Congressional report. Despite extensive regulation from the Defense of Department to improve oversight and accountability, Ruhullah brashly claims the U.S. rules do not apply to him, which was also noted in the "Warlord, Inc." report. Others have worked their way into the Afghan central government to obtain wealth and power from the coffers of reconstruction efforts. Commander Matiullah Khan positioned himself as the top warlord of the Uruzgan Province, which lies just north of Kandahar. The New York Times dubbed him the most powerful man in the province in a 2010 article. The most powerful man in this arid stretch of southern Afghanistan is not the provincial governor, nor the police chief, nor even the commander of the Afghan Army, reads a line from the article. It is Matiullah Khan, the head of a private army that earns millions of dollars guarding NATO supply convoys and fights Taliban insurgents alongside American Special Forces. Its believed that he was earning as much as $6 million per year on security for NATO convoys alone, according to the report. While he often led the fight against insurgent forces, Khan was often questioned for his methods. Despite being the nephew of then governor of the province, he was notorious throughout Uruzgan for his alleged drug smuggling operation and human rights abuses, according to the New York Times. NATO forces in the area did their business with him at an arm's length, according to the 2010 Oversight Committee report. "Although NATO forces stationed in Uruzgan are totally dependent on Matiullah to permit their supply convoys to travel the roads he controls, they publicly distance themselves from him," read the report. Khan continued to amass wealth as he rose from commander of a small militia to regional police chief before he was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul in March of 2015. Another warlord who has ascended into a position of power during reconstructions efforts is Col. Abdul Razziq. He controls the crucial Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing with Pakistan in the southern Kandahar border. At the relatively young age of 30, Razziq became the chief of the Achakazi tribe while also being chief of staff for the provincial border police, according to the congressional report. According to the Oversight Committee report, he gained control of the supply route and the region while being connected to a ferocious tribal militia and a gang of opium smugglers. Despite his shady dealings, Razziq continued to rake in a major cut from all trucking that passes through the border crossing. U.S. and NATO commanders have admitted that they aware of this but are still dependent on working with him because of his tight control on the border. In January 2010, U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal met with Razziq in the Spin Boldak area to plead with him to increase traffic along the supply route to improve efficiency. The warlords of Afghanistan are not the only ones who have employed questionable tactics to skim their cuts from reconstruction funds. In March 2013, 21 employees and executives of the Kabul Bank were found guilty of fraud after it was discovered that Chairman Sherkhan Farnood and others spent $1 billion of the institution's money on lavish lifestyles for themselves and their families. Described as a Ponzi scheme, the scandal touched members of former Afghan President Hamid Karzis family, according to a 2013 New York Times article. The bank, which was created after the war to pay the salaries of the army and security forces, reached its breaking point in September 2010, when one of the principal owners said that depositors had withdrawn $180 million over the course of two days and that the countrys financial system would be in complete upheaval unless the U.S. helped to stabilize the bank. Two months later, Farnood and chief executive Khalilullah Frozi were fired. At the beginning of 2011, they were placed under house arrest until they were formally charged in July of that year. The central Bank of Afghanistan, which oversaw Kabul Bank, sought to sell the financial institution but after pressure from the International Monetary Fund and U.S. officials, the bank was wound down instead. A year after the government seized control of Kabul Bank, officials had recovered less than a tenth of the missing $1 billion. Despite being convicted of fraud, Frozi was still a free man as of November 2015 and was still earning large sums of money, according to more recent report from The New York Times, when he signed the contract for a creation for a new township that boasted an initial investment of $95 million. SIGAR has been trying to highlight the corruption and abuse in the reconstruction effort, and how it was allowed to happen under U.S. oversight. Last month, Sopko released a report detailing the astronomical amount of post-war waste and how U.S. officials "turned a blind eye" to systemic corruption during rebuilding efforts. The U.S. government was forced to choose between maintaining a hard line against corruption or retreating in the face of the realization that fighting corruption would either require even more political capital than anticipated, or be largely futile in the absence of Afghan political will," the report stated. "The U.S. government chose to do the latter. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Ritsona, a 6-month-old Syrian girl with large brown eyes and a quick smile, was named after the refugee camp where her family stayed when she was born. Still there, she's faced with a future that looks increasingly grim. Ritsona spent the first few weeks of her life in and out of hospital, after doctors were alerted to serious birth defect in her lower spine. At the camp in central Greece, she spends her days on a flimsy foldout bed, as her father, Mohammed Khalil Isa, tends to his other four children, including 15-year-old Ahmed who uses a wheelchair and suffers from a similar illness. Other fathers try to protect their tents from rain and overnight cold. Like dozens of refugee camps hastily created around the country, Ritsona started with tents set up in an abandoned military facility. But signs of permanence along with boredom and despair are setting in as European Union countries fall further behind on commitments to take in those who fled from war. More than 60,000 refugees and migrants are stuck in Greece, stranded by measures designed by the European Union to stop more traveling to the continent. Only 4,500 people less than 10 percent of the total have been placed so far in EU countries, where anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise. Greece's government is scrambling to provide container huts before the winter, while camp dwellers have turned the tent city into a tiny shanty town: hammering furniture together out of scrap wood, cooking on cinder block stoves and hoisting tarp covers for roofing. After a recent downpour, Syrian refugee Yousef Hanash cleared mud away from the base of his tent. On quiet days, he spends the afternoon teaching two of sons how to play chess. A father of four, Hanash said he came to Europe as a last resort, unable to keep his family safe after his cheese factory was destroyed in the war and he moved around Syria. He paid smugglers to make it across Turkey, reaching Greece by dinghy just before a late March deadline, after which new arrivals were detained for deportation. "Our plan was to go to any country in Europe, to save our children from war and give them a better life," Hanash said. "But there is nothing for us to do here. No jobs or opportunities. Life here is miserable. All we can do is deal with the weather, the heat, the cold and the rain," he said. "We escaped from war and an immediate death. But here we are dying every day." __ Follow Petros Giannakouris at http://www.twitter.com/PGiannakouris A British murder over a rare copy of "The Wind in the Willows" sounds like something out of Agatha Christie: Prosecutors say Michael Danaher plotted for months to kill book dealer Adrian Greenwood and steal his $64,000 first edition of Kenneth Grahame's 1908 children's classic, the Los Angeles Times reports. A murder suspect took a selfie after killing a book dealer over a rare edition of Wind in the Willows, a court hears https://t.co/KIJ9lrpLi4 pic.twitter.com/Cc24gSRtLh BBC News England (@BBCEngland) October 5, 2016 Danaher is accused of stabbing and beating Greenwood, who was found dead at his Oxford home in April. Danaher, who was in financial trouble and allegedly targeted Greenwood after seeing the book for sale on eBay, admits killing the man but claims it was in self-defense, reports the Guardian. Prosecutor Oliver Saxby told an Oxford court that after Danaher killed Greenwood, emerging from the bloody attack almost unscathed, "as cool as you like, he helped himself to that first edition of 'The Wind in the Willows,' and Adrian Greenwoods phone, and his laptop and his wallet." Click for more from Newser. A German lawyer says he will challenge a decision by German prosecutors to drop an investigation of a TV comic who wrote a crude poem about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan's lawyer, Michael-Hubertus von Sprenger, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he would file a complaint objecting to the decision, but he didn't say when it would be filed. Comic Jan Boehmermann's ditty described the Turkish leader as "stupid, cowardly and uptight" and contained crude references. Prosecutors dropped their investigation of Boehmermann on Tuesday, citing insufficient evidence that he committed a crime. Chancellor Angela Merkel in April granted a Turkish request to allow the possible prosecution of the comedian for insulting a foreign head of state. German law required the government to give permission before prosecutors could consider charges. Turkey and Iraq summoned each other's ambassadors on Wednesday to protest statements by one country's prime minister and the other's parliament, a move reflecting growing tensions between the two neighbors, both fighting the Islamic State group. Iraq's Foreign Ministry summoned Turkeys' ambassador to Baghdad to condemn allegedly "provocative" comments made by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Tuesday about the planned operation to dislodge IS militants from the northern city of Mosul, said the ministry's spokesman, Ahmad Jamal. Yildrim told ruling party legislators in parliament that the Iraqi operation could spark Shiite-Sunni sectarian tensions if the majority Sunni region around Mosul were to be placed under Shiite militia control after the offensive. However, it is still unclear if the Shiite militias, the core of the Iraqi paramilitary forces battling IS, will take an essential part in the Mosul operation. Relations between Iraq and Turkey have become strained since late last year when Turkey sent unauthorized troops to the region of Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul to train anti-IS fighters there. Baghdad considers this a "blatant violation" of Iraq's sovereignty and has demanded Turkish withdrawal, a call Ankara has ignored. Yildrim comments on Tuesday echoed those of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan days earlier during a parliamentary session in which Turkish legislators extended the mandate of Turkish forces in Syria and Iraq for one more year. Erdogan expressed Ankara's willingness to join the imminent battle for Mosul. In Iraq, the parliament on Tuesday adopted a resolution denouncing the extension of Turkish troops' presence and asking the government to consider them as "occupation forces." Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi later told reporters the presence of Turkish troops "is one of the challenges" ahead of the Mosul operation, warning that Ankara's insistence could lead to a "regional warfare." In Ankara, the Iraqi envoy was summoned for a protest over the Iraqi parliament resolution. The Foreign Ministry said Turkey has for years suffered from terror threats arising from instability in Iraq and had strongly supported Iraq's territorial integrity, stability and security. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus defended the Turkish presence in Iraq and also Syria, saying it's "not meant as an invasion." "We have no intention of interfering in those countries' interior affairs," he said. Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city about 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, is the last remaining IS urban stronghold in Iraq. The government is now gearing up for a major offensive to retake Mosul from IS and has pledged to recapture the city this year. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The Latest on the Nobel prize in chemistry (all times local): 12:20 p.m. Officials at the University of Strasbourg, where Sauvage is a professor emeritus in the Institute of Science and Supramolecular Engineering, said they were overwhelmed and honored by the news. They said Sauvage plans to speak publicly in Strasbourg later Wednesday. Sauvage's wife, contacted by telephone, was on the verge of tears as she told people that her husband had won the prize. ___ 11:55 a.m. Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart and Bernard Feringa have won this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing molecular machines. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences says molecular machines "will most likely be used in the development of things such as new materials, sensors and energy storage systems." next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The Latest on the migration flow in Europe (all times local): 2:35 p.m. More than 100 migrants who set off on foot toward Hungary to protest EU's closed borders have agreed to end their march and return to the Serbian capital of Belgrade after spending the night out in the open. The migrants on Wednesday boarded two buses in the town of Indjija, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of Belgrade, where they camped overnight at a local gas station. Serbian authorities say some will be taken to centers for asylum-seekers. Hundreds initially took off Tuesday from Belgrade toward the border with EU member Hungary 200 kilometers (120 miles) away to demand that the border open for people fleeing war and poverty. More than 6,000 migrants remain stuck in Serbia after Hungary this summer introduced strict limits for asylum-seekers. ___ 2 p.m. Police in northern Greece say 214 Syrian refugees have been detained after crossing a river that forms a natural border with Turkey. Wednesday's announcement marked the second recent mass crossing of the Evros River 107 refugees were detained in the same border area last week. A police official told The Associated Press that refugees and other migrants were taking advantage of current low river levels near the border town of Orestiada. The official was not authorized to speak to the news media and asked not to be identified. Migrants are seeking alternative routes to the European Union after a crackdown on crossings to the Greek islands started in March, as part of an agreement between the EU and Turkey to stop the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Pope Francis is pushing through with an unusually high-powered month of outreach to other Christians, celebrating 50 years of Catholic dialogue with the Anglican Church in between important visits to Orthodox and Lutheran leaders. Francis joined the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, for a vigil prayer service Wednesday at Rome's church of St. Gregory. The church is named for the 6th-century pope who dispatched missionaries to England to spread Christianity. The celebration comes days after Francis returned from Georgia, where he tried to improve relations with the Georgian Orthodox Church, one of the most conservative and hostile to Rome. Francis will shortly travel to Sweden to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Catholic-Anglican relations have been strained by issues including female bishops and same-sex marriage. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen has reached a deal with Iran's biggest carmaker to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles a year, renewing an old partnership with Iran Khodro Co following the lifting of international sanctions. The two companies showcased five models on Wednesday to be produced by IKAP, a joint venture first announced in January during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Peugeot was a major player in Iran's car market before sanctions were imposed. PSA group says negotiations for the deal began before the sanctions were lifted. During the Paris auto show last week, French carmaker Renault announced it had reached a deal to make at least 150,000 vehicles a year with the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran. Thailand stopped teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from entering the country and sent him back to Hong Kong, officials said Wednesday, in a move supporters suspected was triggered by pressure from Beijing. Thai officials and Wong's political party said he was put on a Hong Kong Airlines flight back to the specially administered Chinese region on Wednesday about 12 hours after he arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The 19-year-old activist rose to global prominence when he helped spearhead huge 2014 street protests against Beijing's plan to restrict elections in Hong Kong. Wong, who arrived late Tuesday, was due to give a talk at Chulalongkorn University about lessons from Hong Kong's "Umbrella Movement" protests as part of Oct. 6 commemorations of a Thai government crackdown on student demonstrators 40 years ago. But Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, a Thai activist who had planned to greet him, said he was informed by police that authorities detained Wong after receiving a notice from the Chinese government. Wong, who turns 20 next week, was one of the high-profile student leaders behind pro-democracy protests two years ago that marked the former British colony's most turbulent period since China took control in 1997. In August, a Hong Kong court sentenced him to community service for his role in the protests, which brought parts of the city to a standstill for months. In response to questions about Wong, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sek Wannamethee said permission for foreigners to enter Thailand "involves various factors and has to be in line with the relevant immigration laws and regulations." If it's true Beijing leaned on Thailand, "it will seriously damage the reputation of the Chinese government and it will show a very bad example of how the Chinese government deals with human rights defenders in Hong Kong," said Nathan Law, who co-founded political party Demosisto with Wong earlier this year. Law, 23, was elected Hong Kong's youngest legislator last month. He urged Hong Kong Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen, who departed Wednesday for Bangkok on a previously scheduled three-day, to raise the issue with Thai officials. A Thai security report obtained by The Associated Press said that more than 10 police officials from the Royal Thai Police Special Branch and Immigration Police were waiting for Wong when he arrived. It said that he was questioned and not allowed to use his cellphone or computer. China's Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that it was aware of reports of Wong's detention, but did not say whether China had asked Thailand to detain him only that it respected Thailand's ability to manage the entrance of people into the country "in accordance with law." Wong's case is sure to raise concern in Hong Kong, where residents are growing increasingly worried about Beijing overstepping its boundaries and undermining a "one-country, two systems" formula that governs its relationship with the mainland. Many were shocked at the recent disappearances of five booksellers, including Chinese-born Gui Minhai, a naturalized Swedish citizen who went missing from his holiday home in Thailand and later turned up in mainland Chinese custody. Refusing entry to Wong would also be in line with recent moves by Thailand's military rulers, who seized power in a 2014 coup. The government has shown zero tolerance for dissent and has cracked down hard on its own student activists who have protested the military rule. It has detained students, stopped speeches from taking place and last month Thai authorities threatened to arrest Amnesty International speakers who were set to hold a news conference to release a report detailing allegations of torture at the hands of the military and police, causing the rights group to cancel the event. Wong was also turned back in May 2015 when trying to enter Malaysia to speak at seminars in four cities. Malaysian officials said Wong was banned from entering the country but did not explain why. Demosisto advocates a referendum on "self-determination" on the future status of Hong Kong, which is in the middle of a 50-year transition period to Chinese rule. Human rights activists called for Wong's release. "Thailand's arrest of Joshua Wong, a well-known pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing's bidding. Wong should be freed immediately and allowed to travel and exercise his right to free expression," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. Two years ago, Wong became one of the most prominent leaders of massive pro-democracy protests that shut down major thoroughfares in Hong Kong for 11 weeks. He and other youthful demonstrators demanded that the government drop a Beijing-backed plan to restrict elections for the city's top leader, but their movement fizzled out after authorities refused to grant concessions. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Turkish military officials say two Syrian opposition fighters and a Turkish soldier were killed in clashes with Islamic State militants in northern Syria. At least 18 IS fighters were also killed. The officials said on Wednesday that the two rebels were killed in battles southwest of the town of al-Rai, during which the Turkish backed-opposition forces took control of four residential areas: Turkmen Bari, Kuaybah, Boztepe and Hardanah. Separately, a Turkish soldier was killed and three others were slightly wounded in fighting in the opposition-held area of Ziyara, which a group of IS militants tried to infiltrate. The Turkish military officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Turkey sent troops and tanks into Syria in August to help Syrian rebels re-take IS strongholds near the border. The world's oldest man has celebrated his bar mitzvah 100 years late. The 113-year-old Israel Kristal has lived through both World Wars and survived the Auschwitz concentration camp. Earlier this year, Guinness World Records awarded him a certificate as the world's oldest man. But there was a ceremony the supercentenarian observant Jew longed for more. Born in Poland in 1903, Kristal missed his bar mitzvah the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony celebrated when a boy turns 13 because of World War I. His daughter, Shulamith Kuperstoch, says Wednesday he gathered last weekend his children, grandchildren and nearly 30 great-grandchildren to mark the occasion. She says he was very pleased as he recited the traditional Jewish prayer of gratitude. Kristal's first wife and two children were killed in the Holocaust. Pennsylvanias alcohol regulations continue to be a tough nut to crack but at least now you can pick up a bottle of vino at Sheetz. State officials convened this month at the East King Street Sheetz in Shippensburg to mark the states very first wine sale in a convenience store, the result of legislation passed earlier this year allowing beer sale license holders to upgrade to include wine. Were finally going to start looking like our neighboring states, which is what we hear most from our constituents, said Adam Harris, majority chairman of the House Liquor Committee. Until now, Pennsylvania was just one of two states along with Utah to have wine and liquor sales completely state-run, with such beverages only available at government-owned stores, noted Speaker of the House Mike Turzai. Since Act 39 went into effect in August, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has received 309 applications from beer sale licensees to add wine permits, Turzai said. Of those, 198 permits have been approved and issued, according to LCB Chairman Tim Holden. Sheetz currently has five stores in Pennsylvania that hold restaurant-grade alcohol licenses, which permit the sale of six-packs for off-premise consumption. All of those have applied for wine rights, with Shippensburg being the first to get up and running, according to the companys former vice president of marketing, Louis Sheetz. Its been a big year, Sheetz said. Convenience stores across the state are expanding into beer and wine. Although beer retail by private distributors has been the standard for decades, Pennsylvania has had difficulty coming to terms with the privatization of higher-potency beverages. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has voted four times to allow not just private wine, but also private liquor sales, Turzai noted. Such actions have never made it through the rest of the legislative process, until now. This last vote, the governor was not quite there yet on full privatization, and this was the compromise, Turzai said. I think its a big first step to show the private sector can handle this responsibly adults should have the opportunity to purchase wine and beer at a store where they make other purchases. Beer and wine sales at gas stations and grocery stores in Pennsylvania are still a sticky process, however. Despite their growing popularity, there is no separate class of licenses for such stores rather, they must obtain restaurant- or eatery-grade licenses, and install a requisite amount of seating and a separate cash register. This qualifies them for off-premise six-pack sales in the same way as a bar or restaurant, a distinction that was disputed with the state and only officially resolved this year. Under the states 1939 liquor law, Pennsylvania maintains a limited pool of alcoholic beverage licenses, with the number of licenses of any given type circulating in each county pegged to population. Because of the finite supply, the rush of grocery and convenience stores buying licenses has tightened the market for anyone trying to start a bar or restaurant. With more convenience stores and more places selling, the competition for licenses grows, Harris said. Its a concern were looking at. The last thing you want is for only the richest companies to be able to start an alcohol-serving business. This is particularly acute in counties, such as Cumberland, which have gained population in recent years. Since the initial 1939 legislation, the population ratio for licenses was tightened, from an initial issue of one license per 1,000 people, to the most recent ratio of one per 3,000. Counties that gained population under the latter quota thus have proportionally fewer licenses than if they had grown in earlier decades. Cumberland has only 1.87 licenses per 3,000 people still in excess of the current quota, but by far a much lower availability than rust-belt counties such as Schuylkill, which has 6.64 licenses per 3,000 residents. Some relief is coming, however, as Act 39 also authorized the LCB to auction off nearly 1,200 licenses that had been defaulted on or otherwise taken out of circulation. The first 40 of these will be up for sale on Oct. 31. We are targeting these toward counties with the highest growth, where the highest return will be, Holden said. Because of natural supply and demand, prices for liquor licenses in low-ratio counties are extremely high. Alcohol rights in Cumberland can go for nearly a half-million dollars, restaurateurs say. Our expectation is that the LCB can re-introduce 200 licenses every three to four months to help ease the market, Turzai said. As for Sheetz, the company hopes to expand the number of stores offering beer and wine, when licenses are available. Beer is the major driver. This is as big as it will be, Sheetz said, gesturing toward the rack with a few dozen bottles of wine in the Shippensburg store. Beer was our big fight. Its a much more popular convenience purchase than wine. Daniel R. Meck Daniel Robert Meck, age 73, of Mechanicsburg, passed away on Monday, October 3, 2016 at Holy Spirit Hospital with his family by his side. Born February 20, 1943 in Mechanicsburg, he was the son of the late Edith (Blust) Meck and Miles M. Meck of Enola. Daniel was a 1961 graduate of Cumberland Valley High School and went on to attend Thompson Business School. Following school, he worked in and served as president of the family business, Copenhaver Nurseries, until his retirement in 1988. He was a founding member of the Mechanicsburg Museum Association and was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, the Mechanicsburg Sportsmens Association and the Carlisle Fish & Game Association. An avid shooter, Daniel achieved his expert standing in both high power rifle and high power sporting rifle. He was a former competitor in smallbore rifle. Surviving in addition to his father is his wife of 52 years, Judy (Copenhaver) Meck; his daughter, Stephanie A. Tiffy Meck of Mechanicsburg; his brother-in-law, David Fleming and his wife Pam of Dillsburg; his nephew, David Law and wife Barbara of Chambersburg; his niece, Lisa Dunn and husband Bryan of Cumming, GA; his uncle, Robert A. Meck and wife Sara of Mechanicsburg; and many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Jane Copenhaver Law Fleming. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM Friday, October 7 at Malpezzi Funeral Home, 8 Market Plaza Way, Mechanicsburg, where there will be a viewing from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. Burial will take place in Stone Church Cemetery in Enola. Memorial contributions may be made to either the American Lung Association, 3001 Gettysburg Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011 or to the Mechanicsburg Museum Association, 2 Strawberry Alley, Mechaniscburg, PA 17055. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.malpezzifuneralhome.com Cesare Della Santina Proud To Announce The Expansion Of CDS Foods The new facility offers a state-of-the-art refrigeration system and advanced storage capacity as well as more control and traceability on the products the company imports and sells. -- Founder of CDS Foods and expert in fresh produce imports, Cesare Della Santina explains that culinary traditions help people connect to their national or ethnic group through similar food patterns to retain their cultural identity or build new connections in both formal and informal settings. In view of ever-growing demand for farm-planted crops in Canada, CDS Foods is pleased to announce the expansion of their business as they moved to a brand new warehouse located at the following address: 775 Boul. Lebeau, Montreal, QC, H4N 1S5 Canada. The new facility offers a state-of-the-art refrigeration system and advanced storage capacity as well as more control and traceability on the products the company imports and sells. The new warehouse is fully compliant with Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards and their Global G.A.P. requirements, ensuring confidence in the delivery of high quality food to consumers, while continuing to improve food safety throughout the company's supply chain. Responding to the undersupply of garlic and onion production in Canada in the late 1990-s, Cesare Della Santina initially started as broker of three main produces - garlic, shallot, and ginger. Imported garlic and shallot products are of a greater demand in the country since their domestically planted alternatives are higher in price and more difficult to grow, mainly due to climate threats and fluctuating weather, as these crops are sensitive to moisture and cold. CDS Foods currently imports from regions that have no shortage in supply, including China, Spain, USA, Mexico, Argentina, and is now focusing on new origins, with India, Peru, and Chili at the forefront of agricultural production upsurge. For comparison, 68 percent of Canada's garlic is imported from China. Recent decades have seen a steady increase in popularity of garlic and shallot, among other fresh vegetables of the onion genus, as well as ginger produce both for their culinary consumption and medicinal purposes. Health benefits of garlics are mainly attributed to its antibiotic and antioxidant effects, while also proved effective in the reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Ginger is widely used for improved digestion and absorption of food, along with its antiseptic properties. Today, the company's assortment of products has grown considerably, as have their geographic origins, growers, and partners. Having started with just three signature products, the company's product range has expanded to include pomelo, dragon fruit, Asian pears, peeled garlic, taro, and City Snacks, amongst others. Cesare Della Santina launched his career in the food industry from humble beginnings in the late 80's. He has developed an unmatched professional expertise in the produce business through years of work with retail stores, customer service and wholesale, with passion for delivering naturally grown and farm-planted fruits and vegetables. With inception of his own company in 2000, he rapidly expanded its client base and a variety of agricultural goods, successfully shaping the firm as an importer with a full line of specialty products. Rebranded in 2013, CDS Foods continues to serve their customers with excellence, offering top quality products at an utmost competitive price. Cesare Della Santina - Produce Importer and Executive: http://cesaredellasantinanews.com Cesare Della Santina -- Leads the Expansion of CDS Foods: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cesare-della-santina-leads-expansion-061336998.html Cesare Della Santina -- Attends Benefit for Charles-Bruneau Cancer Centre Foundation: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cesare-della-santina-attends-benefit-031352722.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 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/cesare-della-santina-proud-to-announce-the-expansion-of-cds-foods/136059 Release ID: 136059 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Dr. Saeed Bajwa Joins The North American Spine Society Meeting With almost 30 years of experience, Dr. Saeed Bajwa is Chairman at the Section of Neurosurgery at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, New York, and diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners. -- A highly professional and talented neurosurgeon based in New York, Dr. Saeed Bajwa was in attendance at the annual North American Spine Society Meeting in Chicago, IL. At the event, which took place on October 14-18, 2015, Dr. Bajwa participated in multiple panel discussions involving cutting edge technology being developed in the near future for the purposes of diagnostics and treatment of spinal surgery. The North American Spine Society Meeting is an event that gathers health care professionals from all over the world to share the latest news, innovative techniques, best practices, and new technologies within the industry. With a wide breadth of experience in neurology and neurosurgery, as well as his significant contributions to research in the past, Dr. Saeed Bajwa brought both value and expert insight to the meeting. In 2004, he developed a surgical implant from connectors with DePuy Synthes Spine, a subsidy of Johnson & Johnson. He also participated in artificial lumbar disk development by Pioneer Surgical Technology in 2008 and 2010. Today, Dr. Bajwa remains actively involved in many clinical research studies with academia and industry, such as the upcoming study by Pfizer Pharmaceutical in developing and testing a vaccine which will be used to prevent infections after surgery, and the prospective study with Medtronic for spinal fusion materials. With almost 30 years of experience, Dr. Saeed Bajwa is Chairman at the Section of Neurosurgery at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, New York, and diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners. He also serves on the board of dozens of community services that are dedicated to providing patients with brain and spinal injury treatments. Dr. Bajwa has delivered more than 100 lectures on different topics of neurosurgery and neurology, and is the proud recipient of highest recognition awards from undergraduate students 11 times. Upon attending the North American Spine Society Meeting, Dr. Bajwa has earned certification in advanced training for the Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Operation of the Lumbar and Thoracic Spine. As a professional neurosurgeon and respected lecturer, Dr. Bajwa has been involved in clinical research in CyberKnife, for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia at United Health Services Hospitals. His involvement in the clinical comparison of endovascular coiling versus microsurgical clipping of cerebral aneurysm, as well as other research programs, have made him a highly sought-after medical professional in southern New York. Dr. Saeed Bajwa is a renowned Binghamton-based neurosurgeon with over 30 years of experience in neurology and neurosurgery. A graduate of the Nishtar Medical College of the University of Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan, he has received numerous awards and honors, including the President's Talent Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Secondary School, the Gold Medal for First Position in Preventative Medicine and Hygiene, and the honor of being named valedictorian of fourth year of his Medical School. As the first Vice President of the Medical Staff at United Health Services Hospitals, Dr. Bajwa acts as a valuable leader to his team. He has been praised numerous times for his continuous charity work, and is highly experienced to offer professional medical assistance to every patient who comes to his office. Dr. Saeed Bajwa - Expert Brain and Spine Neurosurgeon: http://drsaeedbajwanews.com 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 Dr. Saeed Bajwa -- Speaks at Meeting of International Neurosurgeons in Dubai: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dr-saeed-bajwa-speaks-meeting-191210971.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-joins-the-north-american-spine-society-meeting/136130 Release ID: 136130 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Apartment Rental Website ApartmentLove.com Announces Toronto Expansion ApartmentLove.com, one of the largest apartment finder websites in the world, expands operations by targeting apartments for rent in Toronto, ON and southern Ontario. Using an easy to navigate rental search site, property managers, landlords and prospective tenants can rent quickly and effortlessly. -- Calgary, AB (October 5, 2016) - ApartmentLove.com, one of the largest house and apartment rental websites in the world, is pleased to announce its expansion into the Toronto rental property market. Based in Calgary, AB; ApartmentLove.com has more than five hundred thousand (500,000) daily active apartment, condo, townhouse and house rental listings across Canada and throughout the United States. ApartmentLove.com Rental Statistics: Five Hundred Sixty Thousand (560,000) daily active house and apartment rental listingsNine Thousand Two Hundred (9,200) active rental markets in Canada and the United States "Southern Ontario and specifically the Greater Toronto Area has long been the country's most populated region. With such a high-concentration of rental properties and prospective tenants, namely students attending the many universities and colleges in Ontario as well as young professionals and new families, growing the ApartmentLove.com footprint in Toronto has been a business goal of ours from day 1," explained Trevor Davidson - President & CEO of ApartmentLove.com. ApartmentLove.com launched in the fall of 2015 and has quickly become one of the largest house and apartment rental websites in the world. A favorite among the coveted millennial generation, ApartmentLove.com is a professional rental website service that includes townhouse, condo, house and apartment rental listings from property managers, private landlords and large-scale apartment owners and operators from across Canada and throughout the United States. Having proven the scalability of the house and apartment finder platform, coupled with the widespread adoption from both landlords and tenants, the Company is now targeting select markets in Canada and the United States as it continues to grow its North American business unit. ApartmentLove.com has secured multiple listing agreements with some of the largest landlords in the province of Ontario, many of them in the Greater Toronto Area. Research compiled by the Company suggests hundreds of thousands of apartments, condos, townhouses and single family rental homes are advertised online each year in the province of Ontario making for one of the wealthiest marketplaces in the rental industry. Furthermore, census materials collected by the Company suggest the rental market will continue to grow for the next several years, making for "very attractive" market conditions according to ApartmentLove.com. Davidson explained that the rising cost of home ownership across the city of Toronto is keeping would be homeowners in the rental property space longer than in previous cycles. In addition, the preference the millennial generation has displayed for the freedoms of rental living as opposed to home ownership are also creating a stronger demand for rental accommodations than in previous years. He added, "Leveraging the many rental listings and daily active users we've already secured in the province of Ontario, we have some pretty big plans for the GTA and are admittedly "bullish" on our ability to continue to grow and add value for both landlords and tenants across the GTA. ApartmentLove.com has more than two thousand (2,000) active house and apartment rental listings in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and is represented in more than sixty (60) unique markets across the province of Ontario. Tenants can search for houses and apartments for rent in Ontario at www.apartmentlove.com/ontario and in Toronto at www.apartmentlove.com/ontario/toronto. -- About ApartmentLove.com Powered by a custom and responsive website design that automatically adjusts to fit any mobile device, ApartmentLove.com is the professional rental solution needed by both landlords and tenants from around the world. Carefully targeted and beautifully styled, ApartmentLove.com resonates with prospective tenants, professional landlords and the coveted millennial generation because of its easy-to-use interface, comprehensive listing inventory and attractive online environment. Bringing together the best qualified tenants and the most desirable apartments and house rental listings from across Canada and throughout the United States, ApartmentLove.com is among the largest apartment rental websites in the world. For more information, visit: www.ApartmentLove.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for the latest in home decor trends, interior design ideas and access to the most breathtaking and desirable apartments for rent from coast to coast. For more information, please visit https://apartmentlove.com/ Contact Info: Name: Trevor Davidson Organization: ApartmentLove Address: 15 Floor 850 - 2nd Street SW Phone: (403) 472-6510 Release ID: 136148 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. A Carlisle family faced Hurricane Matthew head-on the past three days while in Haiti. Julie and Matt Reichard, along with their three children Logan, Austin and Madison, are currently 14 months into a three-year term in Jacmel, Haiti, as part of their duties as in-country mission overseers for Freedom Global Outreach. The Reichards home received minor structure damage and some heavy water damage, but the Carlisle family is OK and working to rebuild the devastation left in Hurricane Matthews wake. I actually just got off the phone with them and they are all safe, said Emily McCann, FGOs United States director. Their home, the orphanage, and the medical clinic all received some water damage, and they have no power or internet. On Tuesday, Matthew swept across a remote area of Haiti with 145 mph winds, wrecking homes and swamping roads. But government leaders in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere said they werent close to fully gauging the effect in the flood-prone nation where less powerful storms have killed thousands. What we know is that many, many houses have been damaged. Some lost rooftops and theyll have to be replaced, while others were totally destroyed, Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph said. Mourad Wahba, the U.N. secretary-generals deputy special representative for Haiti, said at least 10,000 people were in shelters and hospitals were overflowing. He called the hurricane the biggest humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the devastating earthquake of 2010. The Haitian government postponed Sundays presidential election, in part because many of the schools and churches that are used as polling stations are serving as shelters. A new date for the vote was not announced. Ministry Freedom Global Outreach is a Christian ministry that rescues and cares for orphaned and abandoned children, according the organizations website. It provides safe housing, quality medical care and Christian education within a loving family environment. The organization is based in Carlisle and Toronto, Canada. The Reichards duties include overseeing an orphanage and a medical clinic. We have been working in Haiti (on short-term missions) since 2001 with friends to start three orphanages and overseeing them, Matt Reichard told The Sentinel in March. In 2012, we met with local leaders in Jacmel to find out how else we could serve the community. The overwhelming response was the need for pediatric medical care. Because of where the Reichards are located atop a mountain in Jacmel, the danger of mudslides has prevented supplies from being transported to them. McCann said that even on days when the weather is sunny and calm, power issues are frequent. Prior to Tuesdays storm the communication was choppy, but the Reichards assured McCann as well as their parents that they were taking the necessary measures ahead of the storm. I was nervous, Ill admit it, said Jennifer Williams, Julies mother. I knew they were going to take a full hit. Thats why the Reichards boarded up their windows, and hunkered down, documenting the work with Facebook posts. Ive been there, so I know where their house is and how its built, Williams said. And of course, like any grandmother, Williams said one of her biggest concerns was her grandchildren having to experience what was a massive storm. Recovery Aid groups with representatives in the area said it was clear that many homes and crops were destroyed but that the extent was impossible to gauge, especially in the Grand Anse area on the southern tip, which took a direct hit. We have people in Grand Anse that we cannot reach, said Hervil Cherubin, country director for Heifer International, a nonprofit that works with local farmers. While the capital, Port-au-Prince, was essentially back to normal, there was still widespread flooding across southern Haiti. Theres absolutely nothing we can do to protect ourselves here, said motorcycle taxi driver Joseph Paul as he watched torrents of brown water wash over a road and deluge his low-lying neighborhood in Leogane. This storm was too much for us, and we are at its mercy. The U.S. government said it sent experts to Haiti to assess the damage and is providing $1.5 million in food and other disaster assistance. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Hughesville woman was killed in a crash Tuesday afternoon in Watts Township, Perry County. Around 2 p.m., police said Sebastian Macko, 37, of Milton, Ontario, Canada, made a left turn from the Liberty Travel Plaza on Route 11 south, but failed to ensure the roadway was clear before turning, subsequently striking a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. Macko suffered no injuries in the crash, but in the other vehicle, driver Tammy Smith, 48, and 22-year-old Mindy Smith, suffered serious injuries, according to police. Another passenger in Smiths vehicle, Dawn Kinslow, was killed. All three women are from Hughesville, Pennsylvania. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Indianapolis is a sports town, but we were there for the music It just so happened that my gal Vicki and I were in Indianapolis recently. We learned quickly that Indianapolis is a sports town. The NFL football team, the Colts, play... Story Highlights Overall approval has increased from 46% to 52% since last October All Democratic groups more approving, especially conservative Democrats Little to no change in Republican job approval PRINCETON, N.J. -- President Barack Obama's job approval has increased from 46% in October 2015 to 52% last month. His ratings have risen among most party and ideological groups, but his largest gain -- 13 percentage points -- has come among conservative Democrats. Regardless of their ideology, Republicans' opinions of Obama are virtually unchanged. President Barack Obama Job Approval Ratings, October 2015 vs. September 2016 October 2015 September 2016 Change % % pct. pts. National adults 46 52 +6 Liberal Democrats 87 93 +6 Moderate Democrats 80 88 +8 Conservative Democrats 67 80 +13 Non-leaning independents 38 46 +8 Moderate/Liberal Republicans 23 25 +2 Conservative Republicans 6 7 +1 Party groups include independents who lean to the party. Gallup Daily tracking Over the past year, moderate Democrats and liberal Democrats have shown eight- and six-point increases, respectively. Those changes are smaller than the change among conservative Democrats, in part because liberal and moderate Democrats already had high approval ratings of Obama. Approval among non-leaning independents -- those who initially identify as political independents and say they do not lean toward either the Democratic or Republican Party -- also increased significantly over the past year, from 38% to 46%. Liberal Democrats currently give Obama his highest approval rating at 93%. His ratings decrease moving rightward on the political spectrum to a low of 7% approval among conservative Republicans. Although the precise level of support for Obama among the various political and ideological groups has varied over the course of his presidency, the rank order of the groups has been consistent. In this analysis, partisanship is based on a respondent's self-identification as a Republican, independent or Democrat. Independents are subsequently asked if they lean more to the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. Party leaners are grouped with those who initially identify with the relevant party, since partisan leaners often share similar opinions with party identifiers. Ideological orientation is also based on self-identification as a liberal, moderate or conservative. The latest results are based on Gallup Daily tracking interviews conducted throughout September. Obama's 52% average job approval rating last month ties January 2013 and June 2016 ratings as the best monthly averages during his second term in office. The highest monthly average approval rating he has had in his presidency was 65% in May 2009, during the "honeymoon" phase of his presidency. He also averaged 66% job approval between his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009, and the end of that month. The six-point improvement in Obama's job approval rating over the past year is similar to what occurred leading up to his re-election in 2012. His approval rating increased seven points from November 2011 (43%) to October 2012 (50%). Back then, Obama's approval rating increased a substantial 18 points among conservative Democrats -- more than any other political group. He also enjoyed double-digit increases among liberal Democrats, moderate Democrats and non-leaning independents. His job approval rating declined over the course of that year among Republicans, who mostly supported GOP nominee Mitt Romney in his attempt to deny Obama a second term as president in the 2012 election. President Barack Obama Job Approval Ratings, November 2011 vs. October 2012 November 2011 October 2012 Change % % pct. pts. National adults 43 50 +7 Liberal Democrats 83 93 +10 Moderate Democrats 74 87 +13 Conservative Democrats 66 84 +18 Non-leaning independents 31 43 +12 Moderate/Liberal Republicans 22 19 -3 Conservative Republicans 7 5 -2 Party groups include independents who lean to the party. Gallup Daily tracking These trends indicate that opinions of the president become more politicized during a presidential election year, a time when Americans' partisanship is continually reinforced by news coverage and discussion of the campaign. Conservative Democrats likely agree less with a liberal Democratic president's policies and actions than moderate or liberal Democrats do. As a result, they may be less inclined to approve of the job he is doing in nonelection years when political news coverage may be focused more on what the president is doing in office and less on party politics. When the discussion turns to re-electing the president, or choosing his successor, as is the case this year, a person's attachment to the political party becomes more influential than other considerations in how they evaluate the president's performance. Bottom Line For most of Barack Obama's White House career, less than half of Americans have approved of the job he is doing. Now, in his last year in office, as attention turns to finding his successor and evaluating his historical legacy, Americans are seeing him in a more positive light. Obama's recent approval ratings have consistently been above 50% and among the best of his second term. That rise has mostly been fueled by increased support from Democrats of all ideological orientations, especially conservative Democrats. As a result, the gap between Democrats who are conservative and those who are moderate and liberal has narrowed. The increase among Democratic groups has likely been aided by the presidential campaign, which serves to activate Americans' partisanship and thus cause them to view politicians of their preferred party more positively. The most obvious historical parallel to Obama's eighth-year increase from below 50% approval to above it is that of Ronald Reagan. Reagan's job approval ratings pushed above 50% in 1988, creating a favorable political environment for George H.W. Bush to win the political equivalent of a third Reagan term. Democrats surely hope that they can capitalize on a similar trend and see the party win a rare third consecutive presidential election. These data are available in Gallup Analytics. Survey Methods Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Sept. 1-30, 2016, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 14,743 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 1 percentage point at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total samples of 2,735 liberal Democrats and 2,505 moderate Democrats, the margin of sampling error is 2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the sample of 845 conservative Democrats, the margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the samples of 1,610 non-leaning independents and 2,141 liberal or moderate Republicans, the margin of sampling error is 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the sample of 4,267 conservative Republicans, the margin of sampling error is 2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Learn more about how Gallup Daily tracking works. Just a few hours after his fathers opponent, Hillary Clinton, campaigned in Harrisburg Tuesday afternoon, Donald Trumps son Eric took the stage in Camp Hill at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg for the Dauphin Cumberland County Annual Republican Dinner. I have very little aspirations of going into politics, but when I see whats happening in this country I cant stand to not sit by my father s side, or not stand by my father side and fight every single day, he opened, starting his speech just before 7 p.m. Its simple reality: our country is not where it needs to be, our country is going in the absolute wrong direction and thats why you have this kind of passion in a room. That passion was evident, from the long standing ovation Trump received when introduced by the nights emcee, WHP 580 radio host R.J. Harris, as well as when Harris told the crowd: There has never been electricity in a room like there is tonight. The annual dinner serves as a networking opportunity for elected officials, candidates and community and business leaders throughout the Midstate. Megan Sweeney, communications specialist for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, called the dinner one of the last times the Cumberland County and Dauphin County GOP can get together before the election. As one of the Republican candidates in Cumberland County, Im here to support and encourage our Cumberland County Republicans to actively participate in the election this fall, said Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland). At an event like this youre always exchanging ideas, but the realm of getting things done in Harrisburg involves a lot of relationships, so you have opportunities to build those relationships. Youre connecting with people, often, with people who are part of the structure in Harrisburg that will ultimately be needed to get things done. With Clintons event across the river, Sweeney said there was no worry over protesters, nor did any show up for the dinner. There was only support and agreement between those in attendance, especially as Trump rattled off some of the talking points his father constantly hits on. We have 20 trillion dollars of debt as a nation, we all know this; we have an education system thats totally failing our kids; we have a military thats at the lowest level of readiness in modern history, he said before thanking the vets in the room. In America we have 22 vets that commit suicide every day; we have a VA thats in total shambles; we have a median income that hasnt gone up in 15 years. He also touched on taxes he said were increasing and Obamacare failing Americans. Trump couldnt stay to chat with supporters after his speech, because the moment he finished he was to rush from the dinner to head down to Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, for the vice-presidential debate. Sweeney said the main goal of the dinner was to energize those in the ballroom, and while brief, Trumps speech seemed to do just that. 'Crazy Ex Girlfriend' Season 2 Air Date, News & Update: New Airing Schedule Aims To Eliminate Piracy; Scott Michael Foster Rebecca's Next Love? The musical TV series "Crazy Ex Girlfriend," which stars Rachel Bloom and also her creation, has been a big hit in United Kingdom since it was made available in Netflix. For its season second, it can be enjoyed almost same day as the United States. As the "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" Season 2 show will return to air on Oct. 21 at The CW, British fans will be able to see it two days later after the release date, Oct. 23, Sunday. New episodes will then be available every week and U.K. fans will have similar time lapse after U.S. The new "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" airing schedule will reportedly eliminate more cases of piracy which have affected lots of American shows that have long lapses before it is available in the UK, Express reported. "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" enjoyed a well-deserved rating from its premiere, which gained 0.9 million views in October 2015. Its season finale with 0.8M views, the show has been consistent over their 18 episodes in the first season. It also gained much popularity with its repeat viewings and word-of-mouth. Hence, they earned 4 nominations on Primetime Emmys. The series won for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Series, with other additional two nominations. Rachel Bloom also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy in early 2016, TV Fanatic reported. Meanwhile, there are things we should take note about the "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" before its season 2. First, it just won 2 Emmys. Second, Rebecca repaired her shattered heart with a band-aid, which is a metaphor for her supposed happiness with Josh Chan. Another thing is to watch out is that Darryl and White Josh are THE COUPLE. Also, Rebecca and Josh are together, presumably. Fans must also watch out as Britanny Snow is gonna melt hearts and watch out if Scott Michael Foster is the next love potential of Rebecca? There are many more things to watch out for the "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" for its upcoming season which will premiere on Oct. 21 at 9/8c on The CW. Watch "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" Season Two Promo here: Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date, News & Update: Removes 3.5mm Audio Jack Like iPhone 7; Saving Galaxy Note 7 Misfortune? Samsung Galaxy S8 is said to resemble the iPhone 7. Rumor has it that the South Korean tech company is looking into developing their own brand of Lightning-like ports that could support audio removing the 3.5mm headphone jacks from their future devices. Additionally, the device may feature UHD resolution and Edged screens. The USB Implementers Forum revealed that the Audio Device Class 3.0 specs has helped Samsung and other companies to make the jump from the 3.5mm jacks to USB-C for audio. Smartphones, tablets and ultraportable laptops may now opt to ditch the headphone jack without having to worry about having to bake audio support into a USB-C or a new port, BGR reported. Samsung Galaxy S8 moving towards audio over USB-C would also require the use of USB-C headphones as well. The sound quality is expected to improve as well as removing the aging 3.5mm headphone jack that is said to shave up to a millimeter off from a device's thickness. This may also mean slimmer phones in the future. Removing the 3.5mm jack is also believed to help in waterproofing. The Samsung Galaxy S8 may feature a better digital audio support, keyword detection and power-saving features. The USB-C headphones are also said to give a better sound experience with less battery consumption. The upcoming device is also set to facilitate voice-recognition features, Engadget reported. Meanwhile, if rumors are true, Samsung Galaxy S8 may also feature UHD resolution. Samsung is also reportedly fixed on pushing VR for the device. Samsung is also expected to launch a strong flagship phone next year to reverse the misfortunes of the Galaxy Note 7. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is also rumored to feature iris scanning and dual cameras will make it on the flagship phone as well as Edged screens. The Korean Company is said to be removing standard screens for the Galaxy lineup. Samsung Galaxy S8 is rumored to roll out on the first quarter of next year based on previous launching of the Galaxy lineup. Watch Galaxy S8: Everything We Know So Far video here: 'Mulan' Live Action Movie Release Date, Latest News & Update: Cast - Park Shin Hye, Kim Woo Bin Training For English Script? Disney is going the extra mile in turning their favorite animated movies into live-action movies. From "Cinderella," "Maleficent," "Jungle Book" and the upcoming "Beauty And The Beast" and "Lion King" live-action movies, "Mulan" live-action movie is added to the list. The adventures of spunky girl-warrior Mulan is reportedly another project of Disney to be turned into a live-action movie. According The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is already on a worldwide quest to search high and low for an actress to perfectly play the role of Mulan. "Mulan" Live-Action Movie Eyes Korean Cast? Logically, the prospective actress must have Asian lineage at the very least to give justice to the animated film which was oozing with Chinese characters. Korean drama or K-drama fans are getting excited with the possibility that someone from their country might land the lead role in "Mulan" live-action movie. The fans are rooting for Korean actress Park Shin Hye to play the lead actress role in "Mulan" live-action movie. As for Mulan's leading man, Li Shang, Korean actor Kim Woo Bin is the top choice of the fans, especially since he looks very much alike with the animated character. As of now, Disney has not yet finalized their casting list for "Mulan" live-action movie. Foolproof Sequel For "Mulan" Live-Action Movie The popular tandem of Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa, known for their ability to bring new life to rewritten originals and sequels are on board for the "Mulan" live-action movie. Disney is obviously making sure that the "Mulan" live-action movie will be a big success just like its predecessor. The director for "Mulan" live-action movie has yet to be announced so it's safe to say that there are still a lot of loose threads concerning the remake. However, the fans are rest assured that Disney is already on the process of producing "Mulan" live-action movie. "Mulan" live-action movie is set to be released by Nov. 2, 2018 in 3D. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for more "Mulan" live-action movie news and update! 'Street Fighter V' Latest News & Updates: Halloween Costumes, Stage, Prices & More Announced; Cameo Characters Seen? Capcom's "Street Fighter V" has released new content for the avid followers of the fighting game franchise-one which will definitely adhere to the coming Halloween season. Though not everyone will be able to see their favorite characters dressed up spookily, some of them are dressed rather handsomely and fitting. Fans who may have collected enough fight money or have allocated real money for downloadable contents may want to take note of the latest for "Street Fighter V." Regardless of the amount, the said costumes and stage update are all meant to deliver a more eerie experience. According to Polygon, the confirmed characters in "Street Fighter V" to get their share of Halloween costumes include Ryu, Charlie, Vega, Necalli, Alex, Juri and Cammy. So far, these characters are the only confirmed ones and are only a limitd time offer. As per I Tech Post, these "Street Fighter V" costumes will be made available for purchase on the PlayStation Store and Steam starting October 11, all the way to November 29. Fans can purchase each costume priced at $3.99. Apart from it, Capcom will generously launch a Halloween-themed stage for "Street Fighter 5" in the coming week, following the traditional jack o' lantern decorations accordingly. It will also bring forth some sneaky cameos, namely Effie and Necro who will be seen standing by a witch's cauldron-with both characters coming from "Street Fighter 3." "Street Fighter V" rated the Halloween stage at $1.99 real money, but fans can also use 40,000 worth of Fight Money to acquire this particular map. That being said, the saving and spending should be worthwhile for the avid fans for the coming season of spooks. So far, players were given ways on how to make more Fight Money in "Street Fighter V," which then allows them to purchase the necessary perks. One would be the "Daily Targets" which allows players to gain 100 to over 5,000 Fight Money upon accomplishment. "Street Fighter V" is one of Capcom's prime titles for the generation, offering cross-platform play for all the current and next gen console owners. Keep posted for more gaming news and updates. Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo Reuniting in Man To Man Drama Series? Descendants of the Sun Stars To Have Children Too? Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo have been reportedly seeing each other behind the backs of their fans. Now, new reports are claiming that the "Descendants of the Sun" stars are going to reunite in the upcoming JTBC drama titled "Man To Man." Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo Starring in 'Man To Man'? 'Descendants of the Sun' Stars To Act As Couple With Kids? Soompi reports that Song Joong Ki will finally be coming back on screen via the upcoming "Man to Man" drama series. Insiders say that the leading man of Song Hye Kyo is going to work with Park Hae Jin, Chae Jung An, Kim Min Jung, Yeon Jung Hoon and Park Sung Woong in the new JTBC Hallyu. Song Joong Ki, reportedly, wanted to fulfill the request of "Descendants of the Sun" writer Kim Won Suk to make a cameo in the upcoming "Man to Man" drama. Because of this, fans cannot help but speculate that Song Hye Kyo might also join her leading man in the upcoming show. Sources say that Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo might appear together in "Man to Man" as a form of support to Kim Won Suk, who is the heart of the "Descendants of the Sun" TV series. There are even reports stating that the two are going to portray as parents to a kid in the upcoming series. Though these reports could possibly be true, neither Song Joong Ki nor Song Hye Kyo has confirmed anything as of yet. Hence, fans of the "Descendants of the Sun" stars should take everything with a grain of salt until it has been proven true and correct. Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo Spotted Dating? 'Descendants of the Sun' Stars Hiding Relationship? Meanwhile, GamenGuide has previously reported that Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo were spotted dating outside South Korea. Sources have claimed that the "Descendants of the Sun" stars were seen in New York City earlier this year. According to reports, Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo were seen "very touchy and flirty" with each other as they stroll down the streets of the Big Apple. However, both "Descendants of the Sun" stars are yet to comment on these claims until now. Rotary got started in Long Beach in 1917 when seven local businessmen met with a New York Rotarian who talked about his club there. The mid-valley has been on alert for the last few days as we cope with the latest threat to our collective safety. Could it be campaign signs that don't comply with local ordinances? Secretive "dark money" covertly trying to influence elections? A new designer drug with powerful addictive properties? No, this latest threat is an outbreak of reported sightings of people wearing creepy clown outfits. As Dave Barry would say, we are not making this up. Mid-valley law enforcement agencies have been swamped (well, maybe "swamped" is too strong a word) with reports involving sightings of creepy clowns. Not one report actually has panned out, as far as our reporters have been able to determine. On the Oregon State University campus recently, the reports reached such a pitch that students gathered to hunt for creepy clowns. Officers were dispatched to persuade these vigilantes to stand down. The Lebanon Police Department felt compelled to release a statement on Tuesday. The department, the statement read, "is aware of the 'Scary Clown' posts and rumors. As of today, Lebanon Police have received no reports involving people dressed like clowns." A social media post about a clown that specifically mentioned South Albany High School prompted a report to Albany police late Monday. The department added a little extra officer presence there on Tuesday, just in case, but Lt. Brad Liles said the department has received no credible clown-related threats. Liles did offer some advice to anyone who happens to see a person dressed in a clown suit: "Smile and wave. Drive on." Well, it seems that Lt. Liles might want to reread that Stephen King book "It." More seriously although, frankly, it's hard to get too serious about this the law agencies also reminded residents that it is not illegal for people to dress up like clowns, creepy or not. And, after all, Halloween is only about three weeks away, so it wouldn't be completely odd to see somebody in costume this time of year. In an era where the internet serves as an echo chamber in which bogus information such as a clown infestation can bounce around forever, it's probably useless to try to track down the source of these rumors. (And the internet ensures that we'll be hearing about similar clown infestations far into the future, just like that recipe for the Neiman Marcus cookie.) But we note, for the record, that a movie remake of "It," King's novel about a malevolent supernatural force that assumes the shape of a creepy clown and terrorizes a small community, is in the works for a theatrical release next year. Coincidence? You be the judge. But it's not out of the question that this all could be some kind of clever viral publicity campaign. In the meantime, if you can't wait until next year for a dose of creepy clowns, may we suggest the next presidential debate? Kids have to read history books to learn there was once an indelible American excitement to explore the universe. Sure, Transformers stage their animated attack from the moon, but there was once a time when real Americans risked their lives to pave the way for future generations to boldly go where no one has gone before. Now, some of us boldly click Space.com to wonder at the high def Hubble pictures of Europas icy water plume, anticipating JunoCams wondrous eye on Jupiter. Sadly, President Obama has relegated most of NASAs budget to the politically charged mission of proving man-made climate change. President Obamas 2017 budget proposal cuts deep space exploration programs by more than $800 million. Also, the administration proposes even more cuts of more than $100 million to the Planetary Science accounts, which have been used to fund missions like the Pluto flyby. Instead, Obama pushes for over $2 billion for the Earth Science Mission Directorate for global warming science. In other words, the science of space exploration is being replaced with the politics of climate change, of which there is a serious debate among thousands of scientists. Over 31,000 scientists firmly believe that mankinds activity has no significant impact on earths climate. Still, partisan alarmists insist there is only one science in this debate and while they insist on spending billions of dollars to try to convince unconvinced climate scientists just how wrong they are, the governments role in space exploration is diminishing. President Bushs 2004 challenge for NASA to again explore space and extend a human presence across our solar system has been replaced with the private sector picking up the fallen mantle and carrying it into the great unknown. Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneurial founder of Tesla Motors and the Space X program, is such a vision warrior. Ironically, Musk is a proponent of the theory that man is causing climate change.Still, hes not counting on the government to make his life perfect. He has built his own solar company and electric car company. Now, he is proposing his private Space X company design and build a rocket to take humans to Mars and plant a greenhouse to see if Earth plants can grow there. Naturally, hes asking for some government money to help finance this multi-year, $10 billion project. Maybe its time to disband NASA and fund private partnerships. While weve seen billions of dollars thrown away into failed green projects wherein Democratic party bundlers walk away with millions in their golden parachutes, perhaps that money would be better invested in what was once a grand adventure in the history of human beings: space exploration. Musk told reporters each of the SpaceX vehicles would take 100 passengers on the journey to Mars, with trips planned every 26 months. Tickets per person might cost $500,000 at first, and drop to about a third of that later on. 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 between 40 years to a century before the city on Mars became self-sufficient. Musk has been pretty successful launching satellites with his Falcon 9 rocket as well as delivering supplies to the International Space Station. There are dangers, of course. Three of the 29 launches experienced explosive failures to achieve orbit.Not a good day were 100 passengers aboard those flights. These are the risks many would be willing to take and in these times of political unease and general malaise in this country, maybe its time for what was Newt Gingrichs great space vision: a colony on the moon and then Mars. Democrats and liberals laughed at Newts vision when he passionately proposed it on my radio program in 2012.Obama forbade any funding. Perhaps theyll scrape the partisan scales from their eyes when promoted by fellow traveler Elon Musk. Rick Jensen is Delawares award-winning conservative talk show host on WDEL. Email him at rick@wdel.com. Instead of trying to turn Donald Trump into Mitt Romney, I suggest the campaign junta stop trying to construct a Debatetron 5000 and instead get Trump to utilize the assets that won him the nomination: Humor, the ability to connect with an audience and a willingness to say what programmed politicians wont. Hes not trying to convince the New York Times subscriber base to vote for him. Trump is trying to persuade independent voters who arent obsessed with politics to support him and, equally important, go to the polls. Thinks of it this way: Trump isnt after the people who stay in his hotels. Hes after the people who built and work in his hotels. (Assuming theyre citizens.) And speaking of the Times, theyve found another group of anonymous Trump staffers whore going to single-handedly whip him into shape for the next debate. The term used is rigorously prepare. Good luck, I cant see them making a silk tongue out of a rabble-rousers ear. The campaign cant make Trump what he isnt. Hes not going to sit still for some memorize-the-Koran debate workout. Instead of trying to make him into Meryl Streep, accept the fact hes John Wayne and try to find a role that fits the venue. Trump debate preparation should be fun, if the junta expects his willing participation. The bulk of it can consist of him watching his favorite personDonald Trump -, in one of his favorite activities: Speaking to adoring crowds at rallies. Explain to him that when Hillary talks about crime or a crime-related question comes up he should respond with an illegal alien crime sound bite and then play the rally footage. Ask him to repeat what he just heard. The next day rearrange the order of the topics and clips. Instead of treating the debate like Masterpiece Theatre, treat it like a sitcom. Trump can be engaging and funny. Bring those sides out. One of the most memorable occasions in the Bush vs Gore debates was when Albert the 1st invaded Bushs personal space and George W. looked at the camera and made a face. It connected with the audience and expressed what all normal viewers were thinking. Trump should do the same. The debate audiences dont help him because they are so stodgy. Trump feeds on the energy of the crowd. (Hillary feeds, too, but more like what happens in The Strain.) Absent a loud crowd, let him look at the camerasince hes on a split screen anywayand try some non-verbal communication. Its a technique Hillary is constitutionally incapable of adopting (also the only known instance of Hillary obeying any type of constitution). The next debate is where the media will really be looking to trip Trump and make him look callous or insensitive as he relates to the Millennial-in-the-Street. This is the Town Hall session that consists of a crowd of angry leftists moderated by two condescending leftists. The debate commission will assemble probably the only people in America who know less about the Constitution, the federal governments role and how government functions than Trump does and invite them to ask inane questions. These questions typically consist of two parts. The beginning where the independent voter looks at the camera and hopes mom remembered to set the DVR and the conclusion where the independent puts her vote up for auction and the candidates then compete to see who can spend more tax dollars on her behalf. You never see a questioner ask how long it will take to deport all the illegal aliens. Instead they ask why the government hasnt flown the rest of their family up from Bogota. Its a hostile venue with a hostile audience and Trump will have to be better prepared. Right now Trump supporters boast he won the first part of the debate, but being proud of winning the first 30 minutes of a 90-minute debate is like being proud of winning the flat stages of the Tour de France. Hillary probably couldnt have passed the test at doping control after the race, but she crossed the finish line first. Michael Shannon, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate, is a commentator and public relations consultant, and is the author of A Conservative Christians Guidebook for Living in Secular Times. He can be reached at mandate.mmpr@gmail.com. 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. Serious accident on A565 : Father and daughter seriously injured in accident Bonn A lorry drove into a car on the A565 near Lengsdorf on Tuesday evening causing traffic headaches in rush hour. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken A serious accident on the A565 at Lengsdorf early on Tuesday evening led to citywide traffic jams and delays in the rush hour traffic. A 49-year-old man and his 16-year-old daughter were taken to hospital after a lorry drove into their car. The police only reopened one lane of the Beuel-bound carriageway at around 7.30pm, after it had been completely closed for 90 minutes. A motorway police officer said the traffic situation had also been affected by another accident during the morning at Cologne-Heumar. A road tanker crashed resulting in the A4 being completely blocked until evening and many drivers apparently decided to avoid the blockage by using the A565. The policeman said the traffic on that road was therefore particularly heavy. Tailbacks caused the accident at Lengsdorf at around 6.50pm. The 49-year-old car driver noticed the traffic jam; the 34-year-old lorry driver behind him did not. The employee of a crane hire company said he had been blinded by the low-lying sun. He drove into the braking car and then pushed it for several metres. The 49-year-old and his daughter were trapped inside the car and had serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. About an hour later, the fire brigade used hydraulic equipment to first free the young woman and then her father. Both were taken to the University Hospital. Police said the lorry driver was unharmed. Independent Bonn International School : IBIS wants to offer secondary schooling Bad Godesberg The city is supporting plans by IBIS to become a recognised international supplementary school. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken The Independent Bonn International School wants to become a recognised foreign or international supplementary school. This follows from a presentation by the city, which politicians will discuss in October. The relevant application has been submitted to the North Rhine Westphalia schools ministry and the city has also reviewed the request. The conclusion: it is in the public interest for the school to extend beyond the primary/elementary level in the future. The city administration said the offer of secondary schooling at IBIS would probably primarily be taken up by those students who had already completed their primary schooling there. The headteacher estimated in a talk in mid-July that this would amount to about 250 students. In particular, she also sees the potential for winning back for Bonn children from Bonn who currently attend international schools in Cologne. Further, IBIS wants to cooperate with other schools such as the Aloisius College. The city administration said Bonn has 19 UN institutions, a number of internationally oriented companies such as Deutsche Post and Deutsche Telekom and several non-government organisations. It was therefore obvious the city fundamentally has a strong interest in offering international educational opportunities, both at private and public schools. City schools like the Friedrich-Ebert Gymnasium (secondary school) or the Helmholtz Gymnasium already have bilingual programmes on offer. The Bonns Funfte comprehensive school has also made the internationality of its school one of its key future tasks. To date there are only two international private schools, where fees must be paid IBIS for primary schooling and Bonn International School (BIS) for primary and older students. The city said BIS has argued, that the market for wealthy parents, who are financially in a position to pay the fees for a private schooling option of this kind, is limited. At the same time, it has become clear that each year only five students change from IBIS to BIS. Most go on to attend city bilingual secondary schools according to the city administration. There is therefore no competition issue with BIS. But what about the public schools? The administration thinks some schools could be affected. However, the fact that the number of school students in Bonn will rise in future contrary to the statewide trend - also needs to be taken into account. Migrant children, of whom about 550 are of primary school age, have also not yet been taken into account. The city therefore believes there will be no danger to public schools if IBIS expands its schooling offer. Bonn-Center : Replacement building may be 100 metres tall The Bonn-Centers days in its current form are numbered. Foto: Volker Lannert Bonn The Bonn-Center, which has been gutted and should be completely demolished in a few weeks, has 18 storeys. The General Anzeiger has learned that the new building on the same site could have up to 28 storeys. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken At any rate, the city administration wants to give the investor the option in the development plan of building significantly higher than was previously planned. The talk is of a high rise of 101.5 metres. By comparison, the current Bonn-Center measures around 60 metres. The Town Hall said the investor, the Cologne-based Art Invest, had approached Bonn before the summer break to sound out whether it would be possible build higher. Up to now, the plan was always to build a high rise of around 80 metres with up to 18 storeys, surrounded by three lower buildings of six storeys each. The development plan should not specify the number of storeys, but rather the maximum height of the building, explained city spokeswoman Monika Horig when questioned by the General Anzeiger. A maximum height of 101.5 metres is planned, which would amount to 28 storeys. The high rise would be the tallest building on Reuterstrae. Politicians are supportive of the highrise. Hartwig Lohmeyer from the Greens and a member of the Jamaica coalition said that while the topic still had to be thoroughly debated within the party and without wanting to pre-judge the outcome, he would find it both acceptable and economically sensible if the high rise were to have more storeys than previously planned. Werner Hummrich from the FDP agrees. There has always been the idea that besides the Langer Eugen and the Posttower, the city of Bonn would benefit from a further high rise at this location. The company itself said via a spokesman that it only wanted the option to build higher than planned left open. The most likely option is a high rise lower than the maximum height rules. How many storeys it will be is still completely open. A variation under 18 storeys is definitely possible. Ultimately the number of storeys will depend on which tenants they can get for the office complex. There are no definite plans. He did not confirm General Anzeiger information that Art Invest was negotiating with the Postbank as a potential tenant. The Postbank would also not comment. Residents of the Bonn-Center, who did not want to be named, reported to the General Anzeiger that representatives from Art Invest had already approached them with concrete plans. These include a three storey underground carpark, whose size would indicate that a significantly taller high rise is being planned. We have met residents to get to know them better and above all to tell them about the project before works start, responded the Art Invest spokesman. The Bonn-Center was opened in 1969 and was one of the prime addresses in Bonn for a long time. The Steigenberger Hotel occupied the top floors for many years. Aristotle Onassis was among the celebrities who stayed there. The Steinberger Hotel moved out in 1988 and the rooms were changed into offices. Deutsche Post moved in and then moved out five years ago. Since then it has been increasingly empty. Art Invest bought the complex in 2014. Over a month, scientists and students ofTomsk State University (Russia) conducted an excavation in the Novosibirsk Region at one of the largest mammoth graveyards in Eurasia. Remnants of these ancient animals abound in the Wolf Mane area. But this time, researchers stumbled upon a very deep level of bones whose existence no one had suspected. At a depth of about 1.7 to 2.1 meters, paleontologists discovered the bones of young and adult mammoths. Initially, we opened two bone levelsthat is typical for Wolf Mane. We found many interesting instances, and it seemed that there was nothing more, says Sergey Leshchinskiy, head of TSUs Laboratory of Mesozoic and Cenozoic Continental Ecosystems. A week later, we were going to go home, but there is an unspoken rule to check the underlying sediments for at least two shovel depths. We opened one place, then another and realized that we would have 10 days more to dig. Digging deeper, the paleontologists discovered bone-bearing sediments with such a high number of residues that were not known either for Wolf Mane or for another mammoth site in Russia. The concentration per square meter, with a thickness of sediments to half a meter, exceeded 100 samples in some places. The researchers uncovered vertebrae, ribs, limb bones, and other parts. According to the scientist, the remains of wooly mammoths that have been found at such a deep level at Wolf Mane have a very good state of preservation. They were buried under a layer of clay and sand in a small wash several years after the death of the animals. Notably, the researchers found a relatively large amount of anatomic articulation, which will help paleontologists to learn more about the place, find the causes of death of individuals, and determine their age, size, and other characteristics. Paleontologists believe that the bones of the lowest level belong to the animals that came to Wolf Mane several thousand years before the mammoths, the remains of which other scientists began to find in the 1960s. Among the largest pieces is a thigh with the length of almost 1 meter 15 centimeters, says Leshinskiy. Probably, it belonged to a male mammoth aged 45 to 50 years, which weighed five to six tons or more, and its height with account of the soft tissues exceeded three meters. Its remains, perhaps, laid in the formation for 20 to 25 or even 30 millennia. We can determine it more precisely with the help of the radiocarbon analysis. According to scientists, a large difference in size between the mammoths of the lower and higher levels is explained by the fact that at the final period of its existence, this species had powerful pressure from unfavorable environmental factors. Judging by the fact that the signs of osteodystrophy are present in many remains of later mammoths, the animals were suffering from mineral starvation. That is what led them to animal black alkali soils, like Wolf Mane, where dozens of millennia later, TSU paleontologists found the remains of the largest mammals on the planet. At Wolf Mane, scientists and students have revealed not only the remains of at least eight mammoths. Of 785 discovered findings, some teeth and bones belong to bison, horses, predators (probably fox or polar fox) and rodents. According to the researchers, this is only a small part of what Wolf Mane hides. In fact, as a mineral oasis for mammoths, it may yet hide the remains of hundreds or even thousands of individuals. Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Tomsk State University. Editors Note: This guest editorial originally ran in The Sentinel on Nov. 11, 2013. It is being re-run today on the third anniversary of the death of Sgt. Patrick Hawkins, who died while serving in Afghanistan on Oct. 6, 2013. As our nation observes Veterans Day, it is fitting to remember the life of a young American soldier who was among four service members killed in Afghanistan Oct. 6. The usually imposing edifice of the Pentagon was diminished by the foreground of marble headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. One of the last internments of the day was for a young Ranger, Sgt. Patrick Hawkins, of Carlisle. Those gathered to honor Patrick included family and friends, serving comrades in arms, neighbors and retirees, and motorcyclists who accompanied the funeral procession. Although the attending senior officials were the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army, rank did not matter. All joined equally in somberly celebrating the life, service and sacrifice of this young soldier. In an award ceremony earlier in the day, we heard his father recount the life of a son emerging as a young man in the 21st century. Full of passion, Patrick sought to find himself in skateboarding, cars, music, and cookinga typical celebrant of our American pop culture. His dad, a retired colonel, spoke of how he and his wife supported Patrick in his many endeavors. We can readily imagine the pride of his parents when Patrick told them he wanted to join the Army. In our Carlisle community, many sons and daughters follow their mothers and fathers example of military service. At a time when the nations culture seems to neglect building the character and values of our youth, we see evidence to the contrary in Carlisle. Patrick excelled as a soldier. He qualified as an Airborne Ranger and was assigned to a Ranger battalion. He served several combat tours in Afghanistan. His fellow ranger sergeant and buddy informed us that Patrick was not just a tab-and-badge wearer, he was a leader among his peers and of others placed in his charge. His buddy also told how Patrick met and pursued the love of his life, Brittanie, his young bride. Patricks passion for life was intensified by his love for his wife, his family, and his nation. This hardened warrior had a loving spirit. Patricks body tattoos, the artifacts of his generation, displayed the legacy of his familys immigrant past. He was all American. Patricks mother told us that he had another special tattoo added after joining the Army. It epitomized his service especially on the final day of his life as he rushed to the aid of comrades: John 15:13, Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. The Army Secretary and Chief Of Staff spoke briefly to the family of Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins, then stepped aside. After honors were rendered with a 21-gun salute, the presiding officer concluded the ceremony with: On behalf of the President of the United States and the people of a grateful nation, I present this flag as a token of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service your loved one rendered this nation. We too should honor the sacrifice of a warrior-servant as one of our own. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. bayonel3 at 5-10-2016 01:56 PM (6 years ago) (m) A video clip which emerged online few hours ago and has already gone viral, shows a 43-year-old man stomping the head of a 7-year-old boy because he thought the child hurt his son and made him cry. The suspect identified as Amnat Salubthong, was captured on camera running down the stairs and charging at the 7-year-old victim, who was playing with his 6-year-old son. He reportedly kicked the child many times before taking his son back upstairs to his apartment on Panya-Ramintra Road in the Khlong Sam Wa district. After security footage from a housing complex in northeastern of Bangkok, Thailand went viral, the suspect, was finally arrested on Wednesday, Maj. Saowaluck Suwanmanee of Khanna Yao police said, "Amnat came to the police station yesterday and admitted he assaulted the kid." After turning himself in, Amnat told police he ran down from his fifth floor room to where the children were playing because he heard his son crying. He admitted to brutalizing the child because he could not control his rage. A video clip which emerged online few hours ago and has already gone viral, shows a 43-year-old man stomping the head of a 7-year-old boy because he thought the child hurt his son and made him cry. The suspect identified as Amnat Salubthong, was captured on camera running down the stairs and charging at the 7-year-old victim, who was playing with his 6-year-old son. He reportedly kicked the child many times before taking his son back upstairs to his apartment on Panya-Ramintra Road in the Khlong Sam Wa district. After security footage from a housing complex in northeastern of Bangkok, Thailand went viral, the suspect, was finally arrested on Wednesday, Maj. Saowaluck Suwanmanee of Khanna Yao police said,After turning himself in, Amnat told police he ran down from his fifth floor room to where the children were playing because he heard his son crying. He admitted to brutalizing the child because he could not control his rage. Watch the video clip below; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCCAj1lawGE Watch the video clip below; Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. +2348055557203 Posted: at 5-10-2016 01:56 PM (6 years ago) | Hero '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. India, Singapore sign three agreements Published: October 5, 2016 India and Singapore have signed three agreements (MoUs) in the fields of skill development and IPR to boost bilateral relations between them. These agreements were signed in New Delhi during Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongs official state visit to India. Signed MoUs are MoU in the field of Industrial Property Cooperation: It was signed between Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) and Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Singapore It was signed between Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) and Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Singapore MoU on collaboration in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training: It was signed between National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and ITEES Singapore . It was signed between National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and ITEES Singapore MoU on collaboration in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training: It was signed between Government of Assam and ITEES Singapore. Besides, delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong were also held in New Delhi. Key Highlights of delegation-level talks India and Singapore decided to strengthen cooperation in countering threats of rising terrorism. India seeks to enhance cooperation with Singapore in key sectors including trade and investment. Highlighted importance of Defence and security cooperation as the key pillar of strategic partnership between India and Singapore. Raised concern over rising tide of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism and the rise of radicalisation as a grave challenges to our security. India agreed to expedite the second review of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). Month: Current Affairs - October, 2016 Topics: CECA India-Singapore IPR Lee Hsien Loong Narendra Modi Skill Development Terrorism Trade Latest E-Books Secret Yahoo Program Gave US Spy Agencies Access to Millions of Email Accounts Sputnik News 22:24 04.10.2016(updated 22:40 04.10.2016) Under the auspices of a classified government directive, Yahoo Inc. built a secret custom software program designed to scan all of its user's incoming emails for a unique piece of information supplied directly by the National Security Agency or the FBI. According to some surveillance experts, this massive snoop could be the first public instance of an internet company in the US complying with surveillance agencies to monitor incoming emails, instead of searching a smaller number of messages in real time, or searching stored messages. It is not clear what officials were looking for in Yahoo Mail accounts, numbered in the hundreds of millions. All that is currently known is that Yahoo was instructed to look for a certain set of characters. Sources say that this could imply a search for an attachment or a phrase. It also is not known if other internet companies were approached with similar requests, or what information Yahoo turned over to the US spy agencies. In a brief company statement, Yahoo said that they are "a law abiding company, and complies with the laws of the United States," but did not go into detail about the software program or their dealings with the FBI and NSA. Former employees claim that the decision to cooperate with surveillance agencies, made by Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer, was not popular with high-level officers in the company and may have led to Chief Information Security Officer Alex Stamos leaving Yahoo in June 2015. Stamos is now the Chief Security Officer at Facebook. Albert Gidari, a lawyer who has handled surveillance cases for internet and telephone companies for some 20 years, said that companies handing over information to federal agencies en masse is not unusual, but the Yahoo case is unprecedented. "I've never seen that, a wiretap in real time on a 'selector,'It would be really difficult for a provider to do that," he said. A selector is a term used to pinpoint a particular grouping of information, or dataset. ZDNet revealed in March that the US government tried, on numerous occasions, to acquire the source code of tech companies for investigations and surveillance. Requests were made through the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a clandestine court system. Whistleblower Edward Snowden has revealed that every surveillance request made to FISA in 2015 was granted. In 2013 the NSA initiated the classified Prism program, in which the agency collected data "directly from the servers" of major US internet companies including Google, Apple and Facebook, according to The Guardian. Apple officials claimed they have "never heard" of Prism, and Google released a statement saying they "care deeply about the security of our users' data," and that they "disclose user data to government in accordance with the law, and we review all such requests carefully. From time to time, people allege that we have created a government 'back door' into our systems, but Google does not have a back door for the government to access private user data." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan troops fight Taliban to retake Kunduz Iran Press TV Mon Oct 3, 2016 10:21PM Afghan officials say army troops have regained control of most of the northern city of Kunduz city a day after Taliban militants pushed to the city center. Fierce gunbattles raged for a second day Tuesday across the provincial capital as authorities warned militants were hiding in civilian homes. Head of the Kunduz provincial council Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi said Taliban militants have planted mines in different areas of the city and that local people are trapped in their homes. He said the city has become a battlefield, with fighting going on in many different areas. Social media accounts linked to the Taliban said the group's fighters were still inside the city, with clashes ongoing and government troops "on the run." Throughout Monday's attack, Taliban militants have taunted Afghan forces and their Western backers. The assault came just over a year after militants briefly seized the city. It coincided with President Ashraf Ghani's departure for Brussels to meet world leaders for a crucial foreign aid conference. The attack in Kunduz, as well as Taliban gains in areas of Helmand and Uruzgan where they also threaten provincial capitals, have highlighted the militant group's growing strength. There is still a large contingent of US troops and other foreign forces in Afghanistan. On Tuesday, questions were raised about how the Taliban managed to once again penetrate the city's defenses, despite months of military operations aimed at preventing a repeat of last year's debacle. In Washington on Monday, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters the Taliban attack was more of a "Western-movie style shoot-them-up" raid than a concerted military offensive. The US military later said it had positioned a "robust" force of special forces as well as aircraft near the city to provide support to Afghan troops. Some witnesses said many police had simply abandoned their checkpoints without firing a shot as Taliban moved in. In Lashkar Gah, an Afghan policeman said 12 of his men were killed by Taliban fighters who attacked checkpoints around the capital of southern Helmand province. The Taliban attacked four checkpoints late on Monday, killing 12 and wounding another 11 policemen, he said. Lashkah Gah has been under threat of Taliban takeover for months as militants have been slowly taking control of Helmand since the beginning of the year. The provincial spokesman, Omar Zwak, said Khanashin district in the south of the province had fallen to the Taliban after coming under attack on Monday. He said around 45 members of Afghan security forces have been killed in fighting there and more than 15 have been taken captive in recent days. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Work Details Multidomain Battlefield of the Future By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2016 Fighting and winning on a multidomain battlefield must be the focus for the U.S. military moving forward, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting here today. Since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. military has enjoyed unparalleled conventional force dominance, Work said. This was demonstrated by operations in Desert Storm, as well as in Afghanistan and Iraq. "During this period, we had generally unimpeded freedom of action and access on land, in the air and on the sea," he said. Changing Times But that era is ending, the deputy secretary told the audience. Near-peer competitors such as Russia and China, and smaller foes such as Iran and North Korea, are modernizing their forces. They are developing the precision-guided strike power needed to fight a major conventional war, he said, and they are developing capabilities that could erode the U.S.'s military superiority. "Addressing the challenge is, in my view, one of the most -- if not the most -- important challenges facing the Department of Defense," Work said, noting DoD must remain in the forefront of operational and tactical excellence. This means, he said, that the U.S. military must change the way it plans, innovates, invests and fights. Technology plays a part, Work said, "but wars are fought by humans, and not technologies." This means that while new technology is necessary, how it is used tactically and operationally is far more important than the mere possession of it, he explained. Work said the U.S. military is now facing an inflection point. Today, most U.S. combat power is located in the United States, he said, noting that potential adversaries are establishing rough parity in terms of precision-strike and command-and-control systems. Also, today's U.S. military is facing constrained resources, Work said. Added to this are potential enemy advances in the electromagnetic world and in cyberspace, he said. Character of War Changes "The character of war is changing once again," Work said. "This is a big strategic issue, because it threatens our ability to project power across the oceans, which is the very foundation of our conventional deterrent." Work said he does not foresee a war with Russia. "But they are a pacing competitor that tells us where we need to go to make sure that we have operational and tactical superiority," the deputy secretary said. Russia has demonstrated its multidomain tactics, he said, demonstrating its ability to command and control attacks from land, sea and air. The Russians, he added, have developed networks capable of integrating surveillance intelligence. Also, he said, the Russians are using sophisticated countermeasures to jam communications, radars and GPS frequencies. "The old adage was, 'If you can be seen, you can be hit, and if you can be hit, you can be killed,'" Work said. "The new adage is, 'If you emit, you die.'" Survivability To survive and maintain superiority, the U.S. military must examine all domains and find ways to fight across all of them using facilities and capabilities to tie them all together, Work said. "We are going to have to maneuver across all operational domains," he said. This, he added, will allow the joint force the freedom of maneuver needed to achieve effects on the battlefield. "Multidomain battle envisions a future where you synchronize cross-domain fires and maneuver in all domains to achieve physical, temporal and positional advantages," Work said. Potential adversaries think they can keep the United States out, he added. "I am here to tell you they are absolutely wrong," he said. "We will mass effects from the air, from the sea, from the ground [and] from under the sea," Work told the conference audience, "and we will, quite frankly, pound the snot out of them from great range and in the close fight." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Coronado enters 7th Fleet prepared to operate with allied, partner navies Navy News Service Story Number: NNS161004-01 Release Date: 10/4/2016 8:11:00 AM From Task Force 73 Public Affairs SINGAPORE (NNS) -- The littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Coronado (LCS 4) arrived in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Oct. 3, while on its maiden deployment to Southeast Asia. Coronado is the first Independence-variant LCS to deploy to 7th Fleet as part of an initiative to deploy multiple LCS to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region in just a few years. The Freedom-class LCS variants USS Freedom (LCS 1) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) have previously deployed to the region. Coronado, like Freedom and Fort Worth, will operate from Singapore as a maintenance hub and rotationally deploy crews during the deployment. "Similar to the Freedom and Fort Worth deployments, Coronado will participate in exercises and engagements throughout South and Southeast Asia and beyond," said Capt. H. B. Le, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7. "The LCS platform is well suited for this region and provides a unique opportunity for our partner and allied nations to operate alongside one of our Navy's newest and most advanced platforms." The Independence variant boasts a larger flight deck than the Freedom variant, allowing for expanded aviation operations with regional navies, and has more fuel capacity providing increased operational capabilities. Coronado is outfitted with the Surface Warfare (SUW) mission package, comprised of two 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB), two visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) boarding teams, two 30MM machine guns, two MQ-8B Fire Scouts, and, for the first time deployed on board an LCS to Southeast Asia, an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter. Cmdr. Scott Larson, commanding officer, USS Coronado, discussed the opportunities that lie ahead for LCS Crew 204. "We've worked very hard preparing for this deployment and now we have the opportunity to operate alongside our partner nations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific," said Larson. "We'll be able to share our knowledge and skills while learning the operations and tactics of other regional navies, which will make us better prepared to work together in times of crisis." Coronado and its combined crew of about 100 Sailors assigned to LCS Squadron 1 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 began their deployment, June 22, after departing their homeport of Naval Base San Diego. They participated in the Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise, in which the ship conducted a Harpoon Block 1C missile LCS-based launch. The firing of the Harpoon missile from Coronado represented the first time over-the-horizon (OTH) missile technology has been introduced to the LCS class. Fast, agile and mission-focused, LCS are designed to operate in near-shore environments and employ modular mission packages that can be configured for surface warfare, mine countermeasures or anti-submarine warfare. U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific area of operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet, U.S. 7th Fleet interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build partnerships that foster maritime security, promote stability and prevent conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian authorities ban Kashmir newspaper amid unrest Iran Press TV Tue Oct 4, 2016 3:49PM Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have banned the publication of a local newspaper after accusing it of inciting violence in the disputed Himalayan region. The order, handed down by police officials to the office of the English daily Kashmir Reader, said the paper's contents are "of such nature that can easily cause incitement of acts of violence and disturbance of public tranquility in the state." Authorities said they had sent the newspaper a notice a week ago questioning some items it had published. However, Hilal Mir, the newspaper's editor, said on Tuesday that his paper was not given an opportunity to explain its stand. "There was no prior notice or communication from the government," Mir said, adding, "If there was a problem with the content, they could have sought an explanation from us." The move comes weeks after local authorities briefly banned the publication of all newspapers across the Muslim-majority region and stopped Internet services. Journalists have staged a rally in Srinagar, the region's main city to protest the ban, calling it a violation of press freedom. Amnesty: Setback to free speech The human rights group Amnesty International in a statement on Tuesday said that the ban was a "setback to free speech" and called on authorities to revoke the order. "The government has a duty to respect the freedom of the press, and the right of people to receive information," the international rights group said, adding, "It cannot shut down a newspaper simply for being critical of the government." Meanwhile, Aakar Patel, who heads the Indian chapter of Amnesty International, also said that the "order does not specifically mention any news items in Kashmir Reader that incited violence." "This vaguely-worded shutdown order suggests that the newspaper is being targeted for its reporting," Patel noted. The developments come as the restive Muslim-majority region has witnessed an increase in mass protests since early July, when Burhan Wani, a top figure in a pro-independence group, was killed in a shootout with Indian troops. Tens of thousands of government troops have been deployed to the region and nearly 90 people have lost their lives in the ensuing crackdown, which has so far failed to halt the protests. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants fighting for Kashmir's independence from India. Pakistan, however, denies the allegations. Tensions between News Delhi and Islamabad have escalated since a militant assault on an Indian army base killed at least 19 soldiers on September 18. Kashmir has long been at the center of a conflict between the two neighbors. They have fought three wars over the Himalayan region since they gained independence from Britain some 70 years ago. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni Navy 'to target intruding vessels' Iran Press TV Tue Oct 4, 2016 11:18AM The Yemeni Navy has warned Saudi Arabia and its regional allies against deploying military vessels to Yemen's territorial waters in the strategic Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, saying it would hit any such intruding vessels. The Navy, in a statement released on Monday, announced that Yemeni forces will respond to any act of transgression into the waters of the Arab country or entry that has not obtained prior authorization from pertinent officials. The statement added that the Saudi-led military coalition has been committing the most heinous crimes against the Yemeni people over the past one and a half years, ranging from the slaughter of children, women and elderly citizens to the bombing of markets, houses and critical infrastructure besides the killing of fishermen and ordinary people on the coasts and islands of Yemen. The Navy reminded that Yemeni forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, launched missiles at an Emirati HSV-2 Swift catamaran off the shores of the Red Sea port city of Mokha on Friday, sinking it. On October 10, 2015, Yemeni army forces destroyed a Saudi warship in a missile attack in the southwestern coast of Yemen, in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The development came only three days after Yemeni forces managed to destroy another Saudi vessel in the area, with reports saying that the sunken ship had repeatedly fired rockets at residential areas in Ta'izz Province. Meanwhile, Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh has described Saudi Arabia as an "age-old enemy," stating that the Al Saud rulers must stand trial for the ongoing war against Yemen. The Yemeni people must exact revenge on those who viciously attacked their country and killed men, women, and children in cold blood, Saleh wrote in a post published on his Facebook page. The former Yemeni president also warned against attempts to weaken the General People's Congress political party his party calling for vigilance and efforts to frustrate those bids. Yemen has been under Saudi military strikes since late March 2015. The war was launched in a bid to reinstate Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who has stepped down as s president but is now seeking to grab power by force. The United Nations puts the death toll from the military aggression at about 10,000. Houthi Ansarullah fighters, allied Yemeni army factions, and forces loyal to Saleh have united and are fighting back the Saudi invaders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Colombian president vows to save peace deal Iran Press TV Tue Oct 4, 2016 7:45AM Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has pledged to save a landmark peace deal with FARC rebels after voters rejected it in a referendum which shocked many people across the nation. In a televised address, Santos said he had asked the government's chief negotiator to begin discussions with the opposition on changes to the peace deal in order to reach an agreement. Santos's top political rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, led the "No" campaign. His right-wing Democratic Center party wants jail terms for FARC rebels who committed serious crimes and some of rebel leaders to be banned from politics. The president called an emergency meeting with leaders of the country's political parties after Sunday's shock referendum defeat. But Uribe refused to attend the session. A visibly crestfallen Santos said the meeting would seek "common ground and unity" in order to "realize the dream of every Colombian to end the war with the FARC." He called on chief negotiator Humberto de la Calle, who had earlier offered his resignation, to "begin discussions as soon as possible addressing all the necessary issues to have an agreement." The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia also said they would maintain their ceasefire put in place over a year ago and "remain faithful" to the peace accord signed last week with the government. FARC leader Rodrigo Londono said in a video from Havana that the Marxist guerrillas remained committed to the ongoing ceasefire and that they were prepared to "fix" the rejected deal. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "urgently" sent his Colombia envoy to Havana, where the four-year talks have been held, for new consultations. The peace deal was signed last week, formally ending 52 years of bloody armed clashes that that has claimed more than 260,000 lives and left 45,000 missing. The peace deal had been hailed as historic but many Colombians resented the bloodshed by the Marxist guerrillas and the lenient punishment the deal meted out for their crimes. The deal has broadly split the country where the Marxist group exerts notable influence across some poverty-stricken areas. Voters rejected the agreement by a narrow margin, with a turnout of just over 37 percent. Santos, however, said, "With the will for peace from all sides, I am sure we can reach satisfactory solutions for everyone soon." Protest in favor of the deal Commentators compared the result's effect to June's surprise "Brexit" vote for Britain to leave the European Union. On Monday, hundreds of students took to the streets in the capital Bogota to express their dissent over the result of the referendum. They chanted in support of the deal and slammed its critiques, particularly Uribe. Under the deal, the government is obliged to engage in an aggressive land reform, overhaul its anti-narcotics policies, and undertake development programs in neglected rural regions. It also offers small political movements to participate in politics. In return, FARC will help dismantle drug plantation and trafficking, and withdraw its 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts and relocate them into UN disarmament camps. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN peacekeeping chief urges follow-up action to consolidate peace in Darfur 4 October 2016 The security situation in Darfur, Sudan, remains volatile and the humanitarian impact of the conflict significant, the top United Nations peacekeeping official said today, calling on the Government of Sudan and the international community at large to address the current challenges in the country. "With the signing by all the Sudanese parties of the political road map proposed by the high-level panel of the African Union (AU), an important step in the peace process has been crossed," said Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, as he briefed the Security Council. "To consolidate this achievement, the parties should from now on implement both the letter and the spirit of the document and engage themselves in resumed negotiations towards arriving quickly at an agreement on ending hostilities and providing access for humanitarian aid," he added. Providing an overview of the situation in Darfur since his previous briefing to the 15-member body this past June, Mr. Ladsous also introduced the latest report of the Secretary-General on the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur. The Under-Secretary-General noted that despite access and reporting restrictions, the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) remains focused on its objective of protecting civilians and continues to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, while engaging the parties to immediately cease hostilities. "UNAMID continues to be supportive of central and local government initiatives to restore peace and stability in the communities. The Mission remains focused on its core objective of protecting civilians. We call on the Government of Sudan and the international community to work closely, and in good cooperation, to address these challenges," Mr. Ladsous said. Turning to other political developments, the Under-Secretary-General said that President Omer al-Bashir had dissolved some bodies established under the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. On 26 September, the President had officially received the recommendations of the National Dialogue Conference, which he had pledged to implement following its conclusion on 10 October. Due to disagreements over that date, however, the process remained constrained, Mr. Ladsous said. On the security situation, the Under-Secretary-General highlighted that certain areas of central Darfur remained volatile, with fighting between the Sudanese army and the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid, which remained outside the peace process. Calm in other areas was disrupted by sporadic seasonal violence between pastoralists and farmers over the use and management of grazing land and water. In addition, outbreaks of inter-communal and intra-communal violence occurred in some hotspot areas amid a reduction in the number of large-scale conflicts, he said. The local authorities continued to take measures to contain the situation by facilitating peace agreements and ensuring the presence of Government forces in volatile areas, Mr. Ladsous said. The central government in Khartoum had also announced a strategy to address inter-communal conflicts and curb criminality through, among other measures, the regulation and control of weapons. While that announcement was an "encouraging recognition of the seriousness of the situation," Mr. Ladsous said, complex governance and development challenges must be addressed in order to "restore the social fabric and the peaceful coexistence between the communities in a region crippled by a decade of conflict." Regarding allegations that the Government had used chemical weapons in Jebel Marra, Mr. Ladsous said that the UN had not come across any evidence to support such claims. He pointed out, however, that UNAMID had consistently been denied access to conflict zones in Jebel Marra, and that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had stated, in an initial assessment, that it was not possible to draw any conclusions without further information and evidence being made available. In that regard, Mr. Ladsous encouraged the Government, which he noted was a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, to maintain full cooperation with any future OPCW investigation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In 'national interest' for all Palestinians that elections be held in both West Bank and Gaza - UN envoy 4 October 2016 Welcoming today's decision to postpone Palestinian municipal elections, the United Nations senior official coordinating efforts towards the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict called on all Palestinians to work together to resolve differences. "It is in the national interest of the Palestinian people that when such elections take place, they be organized both in the West Bank and Gaza," said Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in a statement issued by his office (UNSCO) today. Earlier in August, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process had said that he was encouraged by the preparations for the polls across the occupied West Bank and Gaza the first such concurrent elections in a decade. The elections were scheduled to take place on 8 October. "Local elections, conducted in line with established international standards, must contribute to advancing Palestinian reconciliation based on PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] principles as well as to ending the occupation and establishing a democratic, unified Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution," noted Mr. Mladenov in the statement. He also called on all Palestinians to work together in good faith to overcome internal divisions and uphold democracy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines' Duterte to Obama: 'Go to Hell' By VOA News October 04, 2016 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has again lashed out at Barack Obama, this time telling the U.S. president that he can "go to hell." In a speech Tuesday, the Philippine leader also slammed the European Union, which he said could "choose purgatory, hell is filled up." The comments were in response to Western criticism of Manila's anti-drug campaign that has killed more than 3,000 people in three months. Since taking office at the end of June, Duterte has consistently painted the Western criticism as interference from colonial powers. The comments come as Manila and Washington on Tuesday launched annual military exercises. Duterte has said the war games with the U.S. will be the last in his six-year term. Duterte has repeatedly threatened to scale back his country's longstanding military cooperation with the U.S., saying he will move closer to Russia and China. The comments have called into question one of Washington's most crucial military alliances in East Asia. However, so far Duterte has failed to translate any of his threats into action. No stranger to profanity Duterte, the former mayor of Davao, has a reputation for hitting out at his critics with profanity-filled tirades. Last month, hours before he was scheduled to meet the U.S. leader, Duterte called Obama the "son of a whore." The U.S. canceled the meeting. Duterte was forced to apologize earlier this week after he compared his war on drugs to the Nazi Holocaust of World War II. Duterte had said: "Hitler massacred three million Jews... there's three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them." On Sunday, he acknowledged that the comments left a "bad taste" in many mouths, and apologized to the world's Jewish community. But he said he will not apologize to the critics of his tough and often violent crackdown on suspected drug users, producers and sellers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India to Start Production of Its Tejas Mark 1A Fighter Jet by 2021 Sputnik News 19:44 04.10.2016 India has yet to produce a working 5th generation aircraft, but it's working towards it. New Delhi (Sputnik) Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha expressed satisfaction over the indigenous capabilities for producing the fighter jet. "Next version of Light Combat Aircraft called Tejas Mark1-A would be an improved version. It will have better radar, weapons avionics. We can start production by 2021. We can have 80 such planes by 2027," said Raha. The Tejas Mark1-A is a 4.5 generation aircraft the Indian government has said will not lead to the development of an indigenous fifth generation aircraft. In August this year, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said in Parliament, "there is a separate program between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from the Indian side and M/s Rosboronexport from the Russian side for Design and Development (D&D) of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)." Air Chief Marshal Raha said that the Indian Air Force is now in a position to continue with research and development of a FGFA. India formed its first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas squadron on July 1, 2016, with two LCA Initial Operational Configuration (IOC) series production aircraft. A further 18 IOC configured aircraft are planned for induction by 2018-19. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India Mulls Rafale or Gripen Combat Aircraft Over F-16 Sputnik News 18:24 04.10.2016 India is looking to fully produce and own the technology behind its next round of fighter jets to be produced in the country. NEW DELHI (Sputnik) In what could be a difficult road ahead for US manufacturers Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha will prefer the company that would not only set up its production line in India but would also be ready to transfer technology. During Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar's visit to the US in August, Boeing and Lockheed Martin made official proposals to manufacture F/A-18 and F-16s respectively under the "Make in India" campaign. Air Chief Marshal Raha said that companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and SAAB had offered to set up manufacturing units for combat aircraft in India. India and France have already signed an intergovernmental agreement for 36 Rafale combat aircraft. The first Rafale is expected to be inducted into Indian Air Force by 2019. "Any air force would be proud to have aircraft of the Rafale class, which is in the mid-weight category. A decision on more numbers of Rafale jets will be taken in the near future which would be based on its capability," said Raha. Raha said that Sweden's Gripen fighter aircraft is a good fighter as compared to others like the F-16, but their final decision will take into consideration whomever gives the best deal, the capabilities and the transfer of technology. Earlier in June this year, Raha inspected the SAAB production facility in Linkoping, Sweden. SAAB offered to develop, manufacture and undertake the final assembly of its Gripen E fighter jet in India. The Indian Air Force currently has 33 active fighter squadrons. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi PM vows imminent 'victory' against terrorists in Mosul Iran Press TV Tue Oct 4, 2016 6:13PM Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has pledged triumph in the near future over terrorists in the northern city of Mosul, the last major city under control of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the Middle Eastern country. "Today we are close to you, and you are close to us, and victory is near, with God's help," Abadi said in a radio address to Mosul residents on Tuesday. He stressed that the Iraqi forces were making gains, saying, "Today we are advancing and tomorrow we will be victorious together, and then we will work together to bring back life and services and stability to every city and village." The Iraqi premier further urged Mosul residents to cooperate with the Iraqi security forces as they were closer than ever to being rescued from Daesh violence. The Iraqi army is gearing up for a major offensive to purge Daesh from Mosul. Iraqi forces have managed to wrest control of several areas from terrorists in the southern parts of the city. Baghdad has not announced a specific date for the beginning of the operation, but some Western officials have indicated it could begin this month. Many believe that the recapture of Mosul, which fell to Daesh in 2014, would signal the terror outfit's defeat in Iraq. Iraqi MPs slam Turkish forces' presence in Arab country In another development on Tuesday, the Iraqi parliament condemned Turkey's recent extension of mandate for its troops in Iraq and Syria. Last December, Turkey deployed some 150 soldiers, equipped with heavy weapons and backed by 20 to 25 tanks, to the outskirts of Mosul. Ankara claimed the deployment was part of a mission to train and equip Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the fight against Daesh, but Baghdad denounced the unauthorized move as a violation of Iraq's national sovereignty. The Iraqi lawmakers have called on the Iraqi government to cut its economic ties with Ankara and summon the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad, urging the government to consider the Turkish military forces in Iraq as an occupation force and undertake the required measures to force them out. Back in August, Turkey launched its offensive in Syria, dubbed "Euphrates Shield," with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying it was aimed at Daesh and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a US-backed Kurdish group based in Syria. Damascus, however, denounced the intervention as a breach of its sovereignty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar abolishes law meant to silence dissent by junta Iran Press TV Tue Oct 4, 2016 1:35PM Myanmar's parliament has abolished a law that the former military government had excessively acted upon to suppress dissent. Parliament speaker, Mahn Win Khaing Than, said on Tuesday that members of the chamber had ratified a resolution that effectively abolished the Emergency Provisions Act, which was passed in 1950 after Myanmar won independence from Britain. Under the controversial law, the former military-led government was allowed to put behind bars or execute anyone, who endangered public morality by spreading false news. The law also stipulated that those, who were involved in acts that damaged public property, including sabotaging railways or telegraph poles, could face life behind bars or even death. The preliminary motion to scrap the act was initiated by lawmakers from the ruling National League for Democracy party, which took office in March under the leadership of Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, and on a platform of promises for more social freedoms. Previous attempts for overturning the Emergency Provisions Act had faced fierce opposition from military lawmakers, who still control a quarter of the seats in parliament. Observers say the suppressing law had become the military's weapon of choice to silence dissent during its half-a-century reign. Many, including Suu Kyi, had faced hefty terms under the law. Since taking office, the NLD has managed to get several other oppressive laws revoked. Last month, the parliament scrapped a law, which enabled searches of houses late at night. The law, which often targeted the opposition, has yet to be fully abolished as activists have reported cases of raids by authorities. Several people have been arrested in such cases over the past months on charges of defaming the army. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defense Ministry Confirms Work on 5th-Generation Nuclear Sub Sputnik News 20:05 04.10.2016(updated 22:40 04.10.2016) Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov confirmed on Tuesday that Russia had begun work on the preliminary design of a fifth-generation nuclear-powered multipurpose submarine. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (UAC) has earlier announced the start of the development of a fifth-generation Husky class nuclear submarine to replace the existing Yasen class boats. "The work on the preliminary design of a fifth-generation nuclear-powered submarine is currently underway; the results of this work will determine the construction schedule," Borisov said in an interview with the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper. Some media outlets have indicated that the new multipurpose subs would be equipped with Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least 22 killed in Daesh bombing attack on wedding in Syria's Hasakah Iran Press TV Mon Oct 3, 2016 11:58PM At least 22 people have been killed in a Daesh bomb attack on a wedding in the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakah, says a UK-based monitoring group. "A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a hall in Tall Tawil village during the wedding of a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), killing at least 22 civilians," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, on Monday. The SDF is an anti-Daesh alliance of Arab, Assyrian, Armenian, Turkmen, and mostly Kurdish fighters belonging to the People's Protection Units, also known as the YPG. Following the blast, Daesh claimed the killing through Amaq news agency, which is affiliated to the terror group, noting that it had attacked a gathering of Kurdish forces. "As the bride and groom were exchanging their vows, I saw a man wearing a thick black jacket pass beside me," said a witness. "I thought he looked strange and a few seconds later there was an enormous explosionPeople had fallen on the ground and I saw bodies torn to bits." Hospital sources have also confirmed the blast, noting that dozens of people were wounded in the incident. The observatory initially reported that the groom had been killed in the blast, but later survivors said both the bride and groom were alive and well. According to UN estimates, over 400,000 people have died so far in the foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which started in March 2011. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia deploys S-300 missile defense system to Syria Iran Press TV Tue Oct 4, 2016 5:17PM Moscow says it has deployed the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system to Syria in a bid to defend Russia's naval base and vessels. "Indeed, the Syrian Arab Republic received an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. This system is designed to ensure the safety of the naval base in [the Syrian city of] Tartus and ships located in the coastal area," Russia's Defense Ministry spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, said in a statement released on Tuesday. The statement came hours after Fox News quoted three US officials as saying that Russia had sent the S-300 systems to Syria at the weekend in its first foreign deployment of such system outside its borders.The officials claimed that Moscow "continues to ramp up its military operations in Syria." Referring to the report, Konashenkov said, "It is unclear why the deployment of the S-300 caused such alarm among our Western partners." He further assured that the S-300 missile system is purely for defensive purposes and poses no threat. Last November, Russia deployed its newest S-400 missile system to Hmeimim Air Base in Syria as part of a security boost following the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey in Syria. On Monday, US State Department spokesman, John Kirby, announced that Washington was suspending its participation in bilateral channels with Moscow that were established to maintain a truce in Syria. The announcement came two weeks after the latest US-Russia brokered ceasefire in Syria came to an end after a week following Damascus' refusal to extend the deal after deadly US-led air raids on its military base near the eastern city of Dayr al-Zawr in violation of the agreement. Russia hopes political wisdom prevails in Washington over Syria In another development on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, expressed hope that "political wisdom" would prevail in Washington regarding cooperation on Syria. Peskov further noted that Washington's suspension of the talks did not mean "Russia will renounce its plans to assist Syria's armed forces in the fight against terrorism." Also on Tuesday, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara will make a proposal to revive the Syrian ceasefire deal. He added that Erdogan may discuss the issue over the phone with US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Since March 2011, Syria has been hit by militancy it blames on some Western states and their regional allies. Moscow and Washington support opposing sides in the crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Responsible for Failed Syria Ceasefire - Russian Defense Ministry Sputnik News 21:25 04.10.2016(updated 21:33 04.10.2016) According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the US has failed in implementing the new Syrian truce deal with Russia. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The United States has completely failed in implementing the new Syrian ceasefire deal with Russia and separating terrorists from moderate opposition, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday. "It is the United States that failed miserably in implementing all the agreements of the September 9 ceasefire, being unable to separate a single of the to-called opposition groups from the Nusra Front [also known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham] and allowing terrorists to carry out another regrouping and resupply," spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. On Monday, the United States announced its decision to suspend bilateral dialogue with Russia resolving the Syrian conflict after the September 9 Russia-US ceasefire deal collapsed within a week and the Syrian army began to advance in Aleppo, responding to militants' ceasefire violations. Later in the day, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said that Russia has not been successful in fighting Daesh. "We would like to return Mr. Earnest back to Earth and remind him that it is due to the United States' feverish imitation of fighting against the IS wghile the terrorist group at first took over the north of Iraq before nearly engulfing entire Syria as the whole world watched," Konashenkov added, stressing that the United States has failed to explain its continued ambivalent attitude to the Nusra Front throughout its existence in the course of the war in Syria. The latest nationwide ceasefire in Syria was agreed by the United States and Russia on September 9. It went into force at the sundown of September 12, but fell apart after repeated violations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon to Track Installations of S-300 Defense Systems by Russia in Syria Sputnik News 21:08 04.10.2016(updated 21:26 04.10.2016) According to the US Department of Defense spokesperson, the US will carefully track installation of S-300 air defense systems in Syria. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US military will carefully track installation of S-300 air defense systems by Russia in Syria, US Department of Defense spokesperson Peter Cook told reporters on Tuesday. "We are certainly aware of their announcement that they plan to install a system in Syria, and obviously we will carefully tack military developments and installations in Syria, particularly as they affect the coalition operations," Cook stated in a briefing. At the same time, the United States hopes to continue to maintain deconfliction in Syria with Russia through the existing Memorandum of Understanding, Peter Cook added. "So far we have been able to deconflict operations over Syria through the Memorandum of Understanding in the midst of our disagreements with Russia that has successfully been able to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, and we certainly would expect that we continue to avoid any misunderstanding or miscalculation," Cook stated. Cook added that the United States continues to do everything it can to ensure the safety of its coalition's aircraft. "We will continue to do so. And those air cruise as well, I should point out, have right to self-defense," Cook added. On October 3, State Department deputy spokesperson John Kirby announced in a press release that the United States is cutting off participation in bilateral channels with Russia on sustaining a ceasefire agreement in Syria. The United States and Russia signed the bilateral MOU in October 2015 to ensure flight safety during combat missions over Syria. The US-led coalition of more than 60 nations has been carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria since September 2014, but without the permission of the legitimate government of Syrian President Bashar Assad or the UN Security Council. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Deploys S-300 Missile Battery in Syria to Protect Naval Assets Sputnik News 19:15 04.10.2016(updated 19:21 04.10.2016) A battery of S-300 air defense systems has been delivered to Syria to protect a naval base in the port of Tartus as well as Russian warships deployed off the Syrian coast, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to media reports, the variant deployed in Syria is S-300V4 (NATO designation SA-23 Gladiator), which is capable of striking tactical and strategic aircraft, medium-range ballistic missiles, tactical missiles, as well as cruise missiles. "S-300 is solely a defensive system and does not pose any threat to anybody," spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. The system reportedly has a range of 250 kilometers (roughly 150 miles) and can simultaneously engage up to 24 aircraft or 16 ballistic targets in various combinations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address : , FIR Russia Regrets Suspension of Syria Ties With US, Hopes Contacts Will Continue Sputnik News 17:34 04.10.2016(updated 18:19 04.10.2016) Moscow regrets the suspension of cooperation on Syria by Washington and hopes that the countries will continue contacts on the issue. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia will continue contacts with the United States on a variety of sensitive issues in Syria, including military contacts to avoid dangerous incidents during combat operations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday. "We are still hoping that the political wisdom will prevail and we will continue contacts on most sensitive issues that are necessary to maintain global peace and security in general," Peskov told reporters in a conference call. He pointed out that Moscow regretted about the US decision to suspend cooperation with Russia on Syria but it was necessary not to dramatize the situation. "As far as we understand, our militaries will continue maintaining contacts to avoid dangerous incidents while operating in Syria," the spokesman added. The US State Department announced on Wednesday that the US was suspending its engagement with Russia on sustaining a ceasefire agreement in Syria. Russia to Continue Fight Against Terrorism in Syria Supporting Gov't Forces Russia has no intention to stop fighting terrorism in Syria or to quit supporting the governmental army despite US refusal to continue bilateral dialogue on the Syrian settlement, Dmitry Peskov said. "The US refusal to continue dialogue with Russia on Syrian affairs in terms of supporting a ceasefire regime, of course, makes the situation there more complicated. This refusal, unfortunately, confirms that it is de facto impossible to separate terrorists from the so called moderate opposition Though, it does not mean that the Russian side intends to drop its plans regarding the fight against terrorism and support of the Syrian armed forces in their anti-terrorist efforts," Peskov told reporters answering the question, whether the US demarche would increase the possibility of incidents between the Russian Aerospace Forces and the US-led coalition aircraft in the war-torn country. Russia's ambassador to the United Nations Vitaliy Churkin said on Monday that he did not see any possible alternative to the Russian-US cooperation on Syria and expressed his regret over the end of talks. Kremlin Spokesman Rules Out Speculation on Suspending More Deals With US Peskov said he would not speculate on the prospects of Russia halting any more agreements with the United States, highlighting the increasing unfriendliness in Washington's stance. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the halting of the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement over Washington's hostile actions. "I would not make ambitious plans," Peskov said when asked whether Russia would halt any more deals with the US side over difficulties in bilateral relations. "Of course, overall, the potential of unfriendly steps, unconstructive steps towards Russia has a tendency to increase and we have repeatedly said and continue saying that all of this does not contribute to normalization of our bilateral relations," he added. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition groups, as well as terrorist formations, such as Daesh, which is banned in Russia and the United States. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aleppo demands 'bold action,' including limiting use of Security Council veto - UN rights chief 4 October 2016 The human rights calamity unfolding in Syria's eastern Aleppo city demands bold new initiatives, including proposals to "limit the use of the veto" by the permanent members of the Security Council, the top United Nations human rights official declared today. "Since the launch of the new offensive on opposition-held neighbourhoods of eastern Aleppo by the Syrian Government and its allies, pictures of suffering and death have filled our screens. Faced with such a ghastly avalanche of violence and destruction, extraordinary steps must be taken," said Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, noting that since 21 September, hundreds of civilians have been killed, including at least 100 children. "I firmly believe that the time has come for strong leadership and bold actions, and that the UN Security Council should, without any further delay, adopt criteria to restrain members from using the veto when there are serious concerns that war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide may have been committed," the High Commissioner said in the statement, which was released by his Office (OHCHR). The UN Security Council has 15 members. The five permanent members China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, widely known as the 'P-5' all have the special power bestowed under the UN Charter to cast a 'negative vote' or veto, by which a Council decision or resolution would not be approved. The 10 elected, or non-permanent members, whose seats are distributed on a regional basis, do not retain this privilege. Mr. Zeid said that such a "crucial initiative" will permit the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, a move he has repeatedly requested. "Such a referral would be more than justified given the rampant and deeply shocking impunity that has characterized the conflict and the magnitude of the crimes that have been committed, some of which may indeed amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity," he said. International law 'does not exist to preserve superfluous rights' The High Commissioner said that the attack on a humanitarian convoy on 19 September, the recent strikes that hit three centres of the 'White Helmets' volunteer rescue group, and those that hit at least three major hospitals in eastern Aleppo including most recently a vital trauma facility, which was struck repeatedly over the weekend all "seem to indicate that the ongoing operations are conducted in complete disregard for the most basic standards of international humanitarian law." "These standards do not exist to preserve superfluous rights; they were agreed by the international community in order to preserve the most minimal element of humanity in the conduct of war," Mr. Zeid said. The attacks over the past 10 days have been the "most intense" the inhabitants of eastern Aleppo have endured since the conflict began, and not a single neighbourhood is now considered safe, the High Commissioner said, emphasizing that the use of weapons such as high-explosive blast bombs and incendiary weapons in heavily populated areas is having a "devastating impact" on the civilian population and structures. Further to the statement, the High Commissioner stressed that the current operation by the Syrian Government and its allies "appears to be intended to force the surrender of fighters in eastern Aleppo by any means necessary." "This apparent aim is reflected in a pattern of attacks that have damaged or destroyed objects that have special protection under international humanitarian law, including medical units and structures vital for people's well-being such as water-pumping stations; and attacks that have killed and injured people involved in providing humanitarian assistance," he added. Use of weapons with indiscriminate effects 'strictly prohibited' The use of weapons with indiscriminate effects such as incendiary weapons in heavily populated areas is of particularly grave concern, Mr. Zeid said, reminding all State parties to the Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, including the Russian Federation, that they are "strictly prohibited from using incendiary weapons in airstrikes on heavily populated areas, and that the use of such weapons by ground forces is severely restricted." "The use by armed opposition groups of what is known as a 'hell-fire cannon,' a homemade mortar that fires gas cylinders packed with explosives and shrapnel, is also totally unacceptable," the High Commissioner said, noting that the use of such weapons constitutes indiscriminate attacks, as they are virtually impossible to aim correctly and have frequently killed and maimed civilians in Government-held areas. "As no military advantage can likely be gained from their use due to their inaccuracy, it must be concluded that their primary purpose is to terrorize the inhabitants of western Aleppo," he added. "If proven to be intentional, the attacks currently launched on Aleppo by all sides, including those against civilians, against medical units and against humanitarian workers, their facilities and equipment, may amount to war crimes," the High Commissioner said. "And if such attacks are knowingly committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population, they may also be found to constitute crimes against humanity," he added. We cannot afford to fail Aleppo. We cannot afford to continue to fail the thousands of children trapped in this city awaiting their slaughter. The High Commissioner said that with a ground offensive against eastern Aleppo by the Syrian Government forces and their allies now apparently under way, "parties to the conflict must at all times and without exception strictly adhere to international humanitarian law, in particular the core principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution." "The failure by the enemy to adhere to international humanitarian law in no way removes the other side's obligation to respect the law, nor does the designation of a particular group as a 'terrorist organization' allow for any derogation from the laws of war," he stressed. "Let us not forget that the destruction of cities like Warsaw, Stalingrad and Dresden, and the horror inflicted upon their civilians contributed to a great extent to the foundation of the United Nations. We cannot afford to fail Aleppo. We cannot afford to continue to fail the thousands of children trapped in this city awaiting their slaughter," Mr. Zeid said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Official Calls for Security Council Veto Limit to Halt Syrian Bloodbath By Lisa Schlein October 04, 2016 The United Nations' top human rights official has called for limits on the use of the veto power by the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members to halt the tragedy unfolding in east Aleppo in northern Syria. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein has called the situation nothing short of calamitous and likened the horrors being inflicted on the citizens of Aleppo to those that occurred in cities such as Warsaw, Stalingrad and Dresden in World War II. "We cannot afford to fail Aleppo," Zeid said. "We cannot afford to continue to fail the thousands of children trapped in this city awaiting their slaughter." The United Nations and human rights organizations have been frustrated by the inability of the U.N. Security Council to act against such atrocities. Russia, often backed by China, has used its veto power in the Security Council to block resolutions it deemed unfavorable to its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The high commissioner's spokesman, Rupert Colville, said Zeid was calling for bold leadership to end this practice. "The U.N. Security Council, in particular, should without any further delay, adopt criteria to restrain members from using the veto when there are serious concerns [that] war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide may have been committed." Question of war crimes Over the past week and a half, inhabitants of rebel-controlled east Aleppo have endured the most intense attacks since Syria's civil war began more than five years ago, with not a single neighborhood considered safe. Commissioner Zeid has condemned the reported use of weapons such as high-explosive blast bombs and incendiary devices by government forces and Russia in heavily populated areas. He said they were "having a devastating impact on the civilian population and structures." Zeid also criticized armed opposition groups for using so-called hell cannons improvised rockets fitted with gas canisters saying they are virtually impossible to aim correctly "and have frequently killed and maimed civilians in government-held areas" of Aleppo. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 342 people have been killed nearly a third of them being children and more than 1,100 people have been wounded 261 of them children in the past two weeks. "These numbers represent only those reported from functioning health facilities," said WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib. "The actual figures are expected to be higher." In addition to the casualties, Chaib told VOA that two of Aleppo's eight partially functioning hospitals have been repeatedly attacked, and only six are in service. She said only one hospital offers trauma care services. She said fewer than 30 doctors remain in Aleppo to treat a population of 270,000, and "they are working seven days a week under very stressful conditions with the fear of being attacked while they are doing their job." Reacting to this situation, Colville told VOA the bombing of medical facilities could be a war crime if proven to be intentional. "The sheer number of hits on these medical facilities in Aleppo really raises the question of war crimes or even crimes against humanity," he said. He said an initiative, which was pioneered by the French government, would "permit the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court." "Such a referral, he said, "would be more than justified given the rampant and shocking impunity enjoyed by those guilty of terrible crimes throughout this conflict." Political settlement in doubt "It's not [Zeid's] responsibility to discuss veto powers," Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said when asked about the high commissioner's remarks. "Unfortunately, my good friend has been overstepping the limits of his responsibilities quite a bit, and this is unfortunate." Before becoming high commissioner for human rights, Prince Zeid was Jordan's U.N. ambassador and sat on the Security Council for part of a two-year term. The United States has broken off talks with Russia, accusing it of failing to implement a cessation of hostilities agreement they had concluded Sept. 9. This has cast additional doubt on the ability of the United Nations to mediate a political settlement to the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced more than 11 million. Jessy Chahine, spokeswoman for the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria, said Staffan de Mistura deeply regretted the "suspension of the American-Russian diplomatic cooperation on the cessation of hostilities in Syria." She noted de Mistura vowed that the U.N. would continue to push for a political solution of the Syrian conflict "regardless of the very disappointing outcome of intense and long discussions among two crucial international stakeholders." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey slashes through police force Iran Press TV Tue Oct 4, 2016 6:26AM Turkey has suspended 12,801 police officers from duty over suspected ties with US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of having masterminded a July coup in the country. The country's law enforcement authorities announced the suspensions on Tuesday, saying they had followed an investigation of the police force by the Interior Ministry. A day earlier, Ankara had also extended by three more months a state of emergency it brought into force after the failed coup. "The decision on continuing the state of emergency [is] beginning on October 19," said Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus. The July 15 putsch saw an army faction deploying helicopters and tanks and clashing with government troops and people on the streets of the capital, Ankara, and the city of Istanbul. More than 270 people were killed and above 2,100 others sustained injuries during the subversive push. A far-and-wide witch-hunt has followed, which has witnessed about 100,000 people being fired or suspended in the military, civil service, police and judiciary, and some 32,000 arrested. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to whom Gulen used to be a mentor, has time and again asked the US to extradite him. "When America asks us to send back terrorists, we ship them as a package but we haven't seen the same response from our strategic partner," he said most recently. "You haven't extradited one terrorist who has lived in luxury for 17 years." Gulen has denied having had a hand in the coup. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey May Send Jets for Possible Operation to Free Raqqa From Daesh Sputnik News 17:56 04.10.2016(updated 17:57 04.10.2016) Ankara may send warplanes to participate in an operation to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from Daesh. ANKARA (Sputnik) The possible operation to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from the Daesh terrorist group will be held with the involvement of the Turkish Air Force, Defense Minister Fikri Isik said on Tuesday. "There is no need to draw parallels between the operations in Raqqa and al-Baba [the area of the Shield Euphrates operation in northern Syria]. Raqqa will primarily be an air operation. Turkey is coordinating its actions with the Free Syrian Army," the minister told reporters. On August 24, the Euphrates Shield operation was launched by the Turkish army with support of US-led coalition aircraft to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus and the surrounding area of the Daesh jihadist group, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Following the move, Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity. At the G20 summit in China, September 4, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Turkey's intentions to assist in the liberation of Raqqa, on the condition that Kurdish self-defense forces did not participate in the operation. The city of Raqqa became the capital of Daesh's so-called caliphate in Syria after it was captured by the group in 2014. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Suspends Over 12,800 Police Officers Over Suspected Gulen Links Sputnik News 09:47 04.10.2016(updated 09:48 04.10.2016) The Turkish government suspended from duty on Tuesday 12,801 police officers, pending a probe into their suspected links to a terrorist group led allegedly by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Of those suspended, 2,523 were police chiefs, the Daily Sabah newspaper reported, quoting a press statement by the Turkish security general directorate. Thousands of civil servants, military and police officers, judges and educators have been laid off or suspended on the same claim in the months following the failed July 15 putsch. The Turkish authorities say the coup attempt by a small military faction was masterminded from abroad by Gulen, a Muslim cleric whom Ankara wants extradited from the United States on charges of terrorism. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK to opt out of European Convention on Human Rights Iran Press TV Tue Oct 4, 2016 9:23AM British military forces will soon be allowed to violate European human rights laws on the battlefield, a move that according to UK Prime Minister Theresa May protects them from "vexatious" legal claims. May and UK Defense Minister Michael Fallon were expected to announce on Tuesday that Britain will opt out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent "victims" from using them to mount "spurious" legal claims against British troops. This means that in future conflicts, London will commit to the Geneva Conventions instead, which condone lethal force as a first resort against enemy forces. According to The Telegraph, breaking from the ECHR will take place on a case-by-case basis. Under the new plan, the UK government would put a time limit for new claims, after which no cases will be accepted. Legal firms will also be discouraged to bring lawsuits against British troops through reducing the financial incentives on a "no win, no fee" basis. "Those who serve on the frontline will have our support when they come home," May will say in a joint statement with Fallon, according to a draft of her speech. "Combined with the biggest defense budget in Europe, the action we are laying out today means we will continue to play our part on the world stage, protecting UK interests across the globe." According to Fallon, the "false" ECHR cases have "cost the taxpayer millions and there is a real risk it will stop our armed forces doing their job." The UK defense ministry has spent more than 100 million on investigations, inquiries and compensations in connection to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, in which the UK played a central role. Lawyers from the law firms Leigh Day and Public Interest Lawyers are facing disciplinary action by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over alleged irregularities after earning millions from such cases. The "no win, no fee" claims allow lawyers to bill extra costs in the event that they win damages for clients. The move was welcomed the by Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, who chairs a parliamentary inquiry into the treatment of Afghan and Iraq war veterans. "To apply European Human Rights law to combat situations has been a grave abuse of both human rights law and our soldiers whom we have asked to fight on our behalf," Mercer said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Government to protect Armed Forces from persistent legal claims in future overseas operations 4 October 2016 The Government will protect our Armed Forces from persistent legal claims by introducing a presumption to derogate from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in future conflicts, the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary have announced. Over the past decade a series of court judgments have extended the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the European Convention on Human Rights to the battlefield. Military advisers warn that this risks seriously undermining the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces. The intention to derogate from the ECHR, if possible in the circumstances that exist at that time, will protect British troops serving in future conflicts from the kind of persistent legal claims that have followed recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan on an industrial scale. Claims that ECHR rights have been breached drive much of the litigation that the MOD faces which causes considerable personal distress to individual servicemen and women, and costs the taxpayer millions of pounds. Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Our Armed Forces are the best in the world and the men and women who serve make huge sacrifices to keep us safe." "My Government will ensure that our troops are recognised for the incredible job they do. Those who serve on the frontline will have our support when they come home." "We will repay them with gratitude and put an end to the industry of vexatious claims that has pursued those who served in previous conflicts." "Combined with the biggest defence budget in Europe, the action we are laying out today means we will continue to play our part on the world stage, protecting UK interests across the globe." Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Our legal system has been abused to level false charges against our troops on an industrial scale." "It has caused significant distress to people who risked their lives to protect us, it has cost the taxpayer millions and there is a real risk it will stop our Armed Forces doing their job." "This will help to protect our troops from vexatious claims, ensuring they can confidently take difficult decisions on the battlefield. And it will enable us to spend more of our growing defence budget on equipment for them rather than fees for lawyers." Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach said: "Extending the jurisdiction of the European Convention on Human Rights to the battlefield risks seriously undermining the operational effectiveness of UK Armed Forces, so this important announcement is very welcome." "Our Armed Forces will continue to be held to the very highest standards. UK personnel will always be subject to the Law of Armed Conflict - which includes the Geneva Conventions - and to UK Service law - which includes the criminal law of England & Wales." "Credible allegations of criminal behaviour will always be investigated properly, so the work of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) and Operation Northmoor will continue. Those who have been the subject of false allegations will be cleared. But the Service justice system will deal appropriately with anyone who has fallen short of expected professional standards." "I am determined that the Armed Forces should have the confidence and tools to do their jobs effectively on operations, free from the burden of excessive litigation." Under the plans, it will remain essential that our Armed Forces operate to the highest standards and are subject to the rule of law at all times. They will continue to operate under a comprehensive legal framework in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (the law of armed conflict including the Geneva Conventions) and with Service Law, which includes UK criminal law of England and Wales regardless of where they are serving. This announcement follows the closure of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), the firm responsible for filing thousands of claims against the Armed Forces. It will complement the work undertake by the government, to draw up a time limit for future claims, create tough new penalties for firms who engage in vexatious practices and crack down on the no win no fee deals that have been exploited to tout for business. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Alan Burkitt-Gray speaks to Don MacNeil, chief operating officer of GTT, about its company restructuring after coming out of Chapter 11 and its strategic roadmap for the next 12 months. DGAP-News: All for One Steeb AG / Key word(s): Takeover/Investment All for One Steeb AG Plans to Acquire a Majority Interest in the Cloud: 05.10.2016 / 09:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- All for One Steeb AG Plans to Acquire a Majority Interest in the Cloud Specialist B4B Solutions GmbH Bundling expertise across a full range of cloud applications / Single source of cloud solutions for all essential business processes / The midmarket's first choice on the SAP Cloud market Filderstadt, 5 October 2016 - All for One Steeb AG, a leading IT service provider and the number one in the German-speaking SAP market, wants to win over more of the midmarket sector to cloud software solutions. Small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular are set to benefit most from fast, efficient, and simple solutions from the cloud. With this in mind, All for One Steeb plans to acquire a 70-percent majority interest in the cloud specialist B4B Solutions GmbH of Graz (Austria) effective 1 November 2016. B4B is an acknowledged expert for rapid and high quality developments and implementations of cloud applications, and has been SAP Cloud Partner of the Year several times. All for One Steeb itself is also a successful cloud provider and was named SAP Business ByDesign Partner of the Year 2016. Established in 2012, B4B employs a total of 20 people in Austria and Germany and is growing much faster than the market. B4B improved revenues almost fourfold to EUR 1.2 million (2015) over the course of the past three years and expects these to surpass the EUR 2 million mark in 2016. Recurring revenues from cloud software subscriptions and support account for nearly half of the company's sales. All for One Steeb intends to transfer its SAP Cloud solutions business unit to B4B's German subsidiary in order to strengthen their shared business approach. Furthermore, a 6-digit settlement payment will also be made. The sellers, four shareholders, are to remain active members of B4B management following the majority interest acquisition by All for One Steeb and would each hold equal parts of the remaining 30% share of the company. This combination allows the two companies to not only bundle their expertise in the field of cloud applications, but also offer a complete range of cloud and industry-specific full-service packages from one single source. Cloud solutions and services will be marketed to customers under the B4B brand name. The ERP solution SAP Business ByDesign, the CRM software SAP Hybris Cloud for Customer, and the social collaboration solution SAP Jam form the core of the portfolio designed primarily for the midmarket sector. Our customers will benefit from this new and improved commitment to value and service. We'll be offering simple, rapidly deployable and adaptable cloud solutions, and in turn new business opportunities, that are geared especially to the needs of small and mid-sized enterprises. The fact that we'll be integrating these products into existing, on-premise landscapes will enable customers to implement those highly touted cloud scenarios to efficiently design and manage their business processes. And all of this from a single source, explained Lars Landwehrkamp, the CEO of All for One Steeb. SMEs in particular are increasingly turning to on-demand systems, which ensure full access to all the needed resources and processes from anywhere and at all times, are extremely powerful, can be rapidly integrated, and provide users with an easy and efficient way to work. Midmarket companies are also seeking to collaborate with experts for cloud solutions, who can help them improve and enhance their workflows and structures in a way that lets them save money on service-related implementations, infrastructure and administration. In the age of digital transformation, agility and speed in information technology are becoming more and more important. We don't just optimise processes within businesses with our solutions. We use B4B's unique project methodology to enable our customers to do projects in record time by decisively shortening implementation timeframes, explained Kai Gottmann, a member of the All for One Steeb management team and responsible for the cloud business. Combining the two companies' expertise and solutions generates numerous benefits for the customer. Michael Zitz, one of the managing partners of B4B Solutions GmbH: All for One Steeb has been extremely successful in recent years, especially in the area of SAP Business ByDesign, including integrated solutions for connecting international offices and subsidiaries. By connecting Cloud for Customer to ByDesign, for example, B4B gives customers the opportunity of integrating a centralised CRM within their corporate structure and using Cloud for Customer throughout their entire organisation - whether as part of the primary SAP ECC system or S/4HANA, or in whatever subsidiaries they may have. Customers will also derive significant added value from the customer lifecycle model that was developed by B4B and will continue to be pursued. This model focuses on innovations and improvements that benefit the customer. The lessons learned from numerous successful development projects, ranging from coupling different shop solutions, to integrating dispatch service providers, all the way to customised variant configurations for industrial distributors, will be incorporated into the portfolio. Our shared goal is to combine our wealth of experience in a way that best serves the customer and in so doing become the pacesetter and best possible partner for SAP ERP and CRM Cloud solutions in countries where German is spoken, said Kai Gottmann. About All for One Steeb AG All for One Steeb AG is number 1 in the German-speaking SAP market and a leading IT service provider. The full-service provider's portfolio comprises end-to-end solutions along the whole of the IT value chain - from SAP industry solutions, Cloud Applications up to scalable hosting and cloud services out of its German data centers, where All for One Steeb is orchestrating highly available IT operations for all business-related IT systems - including SAP as well as Microsoft Exchange or Sharepoint. As an SAP Platinum Partner, All for One Steeb is a reliable general contractor and serves with around 1,300 employees over 2,000 clients in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, mainly among the manufacturing and consumer goods industry. In the financial year 2014/15, All for One Steeb AG achieved a turnover of EUR 241 million. The company is listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN DE0005110001, WKN 511 000). Online https://ir.all-for-one.com/en/publications/financial-news/bundelung-von- know-how-im-cloud-anwendungsbereich YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6RIAitmUm8 Follow us http://www.youtube.com/allforonemidmarkettv http://www.facebook.com/all41 http://www.twitter.com/AllforOneSteeb http://www.xing.com/companies/AllforOneSteebAG http://www.linkedin.com/company/all-for-one-steeb-ag Contact: All for One Steeb AG, Dirk Sonntag, Tel. 0049 (0)711 78807-260, E-Mail dirk.sonntag@all-for-one.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05.10.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: All for One Steeb AG Gottlieb-Manz-Strae 1 70794 Filderstadt-Bernhausen Germany Phone: +49 (0)711 78 807-260 Fax: +49 (0)711 78 807-222 E-mail: dirk.sonntag@all-for-one.com Internet: www.all-for-one.com ISIN: DE0005110001 WKN: 511000 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 508797 05.10.2016 Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter A Cheltenham man accused of attacking an elderly couple and causing them serious injuries during a burglary of their home has died while in prison awaiting trial, a court was told today. it is understood Sonny Lawrence, 26, of no fixed address, was found dead yesterday at Bristol Prison, below, where he was in custody on remand. No details of the circumstances of his death have yet been revealed. His solicitor Joe Maloney was told yesterday that Sonny had been pronounced dead at 8.30am yesterday morning. He said he was 'saddened' by the news. Sonny had denied wounding John Leech, 85, and his wife Pamela, 81, with intent to cause them grievous bodily harm on May 24 this year. He had also pleaded not guilty to burgling their home in Brooklyn Road, Cheltenham, with intent to steal and burgling the house next door and stealing a handbag and contents. Sonny further denied burglary of a house in Quebec Drive, Cheltenham, with intent to steal on May 26, stealing a bicycle between May 23 and 26, and attempting to rob Lisa Chisholm of her handbag and contents on May 29. His trial had been due to get under way at Gloucester Crown Court on November 21. The Avon coroner confirmed there was a death at Bristol Prison yesterday but would not give a name. Democratic congressional candidate Jane Dittmar recently defended her part in an economic deal with a brewery during her time on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, calling the project a massive taxpayer giveaway. Incredibly, [Republican candidate] Tom Garrett continues to argue that Albemarle County should have spent over $7 million in taxpayer funds to guarantee only 70 jobs to our area, Dittmar said in a news release. His woeful lack of business sense is stunning. Dittmar was responding to an attack line from Garrett, who criticized her for not bringing the jobs to the area. Dittmar and Garrett are running to replace U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt, R-5th District. I also noted when we had the same opportunity, we brought several breweries to our district which brought in revenue and countless jobs to Virginias 22nd Senatorial District, Garrett said in a release after the first debate in Charlottesville. However, Dittmar said the deal in Albemarle County would have impacted the existing craft brewing community in that region. Instead, she said the money was used to bring hundreds of jobs to the area, calling Garretts attack a fantasy. During this same period, we focused on creating a business environment that allowed enormous job creators like Costco and Wegmans to locate here without burdening our taxpayers, Dittmar said. Those initiatives alone are producing some 1,500 jobs. In 2015, Deschutes Brewery met with supervisors because it was interested in starting an East Coast location. However, the plan eventually approved by the supervisors did not include enough acreage for the brewery. The facility was eventually constructed in Roanoke. Tom Garrett brags on his website that he voted to block taxpayer money to keep the state from competing against small businesses, yet he tries to criticize Albemarle County for embracing that same principle, said Dittmar campaign manager Tom Vandever in a news release. Charlottesville and Albemarle County are home to several craft breweries, including South Street Brewery, Star Hill Brewery and Blue Mountain Brewery. The Dan River Region Republican lawmakers both defended congressional candidate Tom Garretts support of a nuclear energy bill and said opponent Jane Dittmar misrepresented the facts of the legislation. It was a scare tactic then and its a scare tactic now, said Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville. Republican Garrett is running against Democrat Dittmar to replace retiring Congressman Robert Hurt, R-5th District. In 2013, Marshall was among the bipartisan majority in the Virginia General Assembly who voted in favor of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium. During the past few weeks, the Dittmar campaign has attacked Garrett for his support of the legislation, saying the vote was in support of uranium mining. For him to claim he did nothing about promoting uranium mining is either disingenuous or totally clueless, Dittmar campaign manager Tom Vandever said two weeks ago. However, Marshall reiterated Garretts point that the actual legislation never mentions uranium mining it instead creates a governing body for studying nuclear energy possibilities in Virginia. Marshall said he even asked the bills sponsor Del. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg if the bill could lead to uranium mining. The question I asked him and others is I didnt see any way at all that it would be a back door to uranium mining, Marshall said. State Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Clarksville, said in a news release he originally voted against the bills because of uranium mining concerns but eventually voted in favor of the final legislation after his fears were resolved. After I had a chance to carefully review the final bills, I voted for them because there was absolutely nothing that could have been construed to allow mining in Virginia, Ruff said. It could, however, have a positive effect on nuclear energy research that is very important for the economy for Lynchburg and the surrounding counties. Both lawmakers said they were disappointed Dittmar was misinterpreting the legislation. I hope that Mrs. Dittmar will reflect on the facts in this case and change her campaign to one that lays out her vision for Virginia, Ruff said. Marshall said some local environmental groups like Keep the Ban opposed the bill because they opposed all nuclear power efforts, which the Dittmar campaign has used in past weeks to defend the original TV spot. CHATHAM A driving while intoxicated misdemeanor against a former Pittsylvania County sheriffs deputy was dismissed Tuesday afternoon. Judge J. Larry Palmer said he didnt find probable cause to convict Jason Scearce, who worked as a sheriffs deputy for five years. On July 3, Scearce, 29, of Callands, was found asleep in a parked vehicle on Carter Lodge Road in Blairs, according to a Pittsylvania County General District criminal complaint. Deputy Kaleb Farley testified in court Tuesday afternoon that the vehicle was in the middle of the road with the engine and headlights on. Scearce was the sole occupant in the vehicle. Farley said he had to shake Scearce multiple times before he was awakened. He smelled a faint odor of alcohol, and noticed Scearce had bloodshot eyes. Scearce was very apologetic, Farley testified. Farleys body camera was not on when he began his interaction with Scearce. Scearces commanding officer demanded Scearce take a Breathalyzer test, and then a field sobriety tests was done. Court documents state Scearces blood alcohol concentration level was reportedly tested as 0.14 above Virginias legal limit of 0.08. Palmer said Scearces rights were violated when his commanding officer demanded Scearce take the Breathalyzer test. He also disliked the Breathalyzer test being administered before the field sobriety tests. Police and federal agents made a series of early-morning raids and arrests in the St. Louis area Tuesday that targeted a major manufacturing and smuggling ring that was bringing in up to 20 pounds of methamphetamine a week, officials said. The 18-month investigation resulted in the arrest of 36 people and the seizure of 190 pounds of meth worth over $3 million, one kilogram of heroin, 16 guns and more than $1 million in cash, they said. Most of the meth came from Mexican superlabs and is more than 90 percent pure, said Jim Shroba, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration office in St. Louis. The ring smuggled both drugs and the bulk cash that sales generated, he said. Shroba said an investigation that began with the arrest of a mid-level, multi-ounce dealer in St. Francois County had taken down a vast conspiracy of people. Dana Nichols, assistant special agent in charge of the St. Louis office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said investigators had not yet traced the seized guns and did not know if they were connected to other crimes. Nichols did say that she expects firearms charges will be filed. In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, shotguns, pistols and a semi-automatic rifle were displayed alongside bundles of drugs and cash. Shroba said that properties were searched Tuesday in the 2800 block of Progress Avenue in Caseyville, the 700 block of Benton Street in Valley Park, the 4500 block of Pennsylvania Ave in St. Louis and the 4400 block of Delor Street in St. Louis. The investigation also involved Jefferson and St. Charles counties. A federal grand jury indictment against 39 men and women last week was unsealed Tuesday after the arrests began. Shroba said that a total of 49 people were involved in the investigation. Some of the targets were already behind bars, he said. The 21-page indictment describes the actions of couriers of drugs and cash as well as dealers, enforcers and suppliers. Shroba said that the most prominent defendants are Israel Amigo Angeles-Montezuma and Alan Cardenas, who were the primary sources of the meth. Angeles-Montezuma is a native of the area but was arrested in California, Shroba said. Neither man has a lawyer listed yet in court files. FARMVILLE Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence got through the handshake at the beginning of their debate at Longwood University without a fight. But it wasn't long before the vice presidential candidates started throwing punches Tuesday night. Most were aimed at the top of their respective tickets - Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump - on just about every topic introduced during a combative, 90-minute exchange marked by disconcerting interruptions and rhetorical jabs with both candidates competing for the last word. Kaine began his answer to a question on presidential leadership by acknowledging the historical setting of the debate - just yards away from the civil rights museum commemorating the site of 16-year-old Barbara Johns' school segregation protest in 1951. She believed our nation was stronger together and that walkout led to the Brown v. Board of Education decision that moved us down the path toward equality, Kaine said. Kaine and Pence both have sons who are officers in the Marine Corps. Kaine said he and his wife, Anne Holton, trust the life of their son, Nat, with Clinton as commander in chief. "The thought of Donald Trump as commander in chief scares us to death," he said. Pence did not take the bait at first, describing himself as a "small town boy" who grew up in a place similar to Farmville, even though he botched the name of Longwood University, calling it "Norwood." But when moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News raised the issue of trustworthiness, or how the public perceives a lack of it in Clinton and Trump, the exchange began in earnest. Kaine said Clintons public life has "always been about putting others first," adding that "Donald Trump always puts himself first." Kaine said he wondered how Pence could defend Trump's insults of Mexicans, women and President Barack Obama. I cant imagine how Governor Pence can defend the insult-driven, selfish, me-first style of Donald Trump, Kaine said. Pence joined the fight, suggesting Kaine and Clinton "would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign." He criticized Clinton, along with Obama, as the architects of a weakened America and a foreign policy that has the "Middle East spinning out of control." Kaine, the former Richmond mayor and Virginia governor, was the aggressor from the outset, interrupting Pence and trying to tie Pence to stances taken by Trump on issues such as deportation and abortion. Pence sought to coolly deflect Kaines challenges while making a case for change. "For the last seven and a half years, we have seen America's place in the world weakened, the economy stifled by taxation, a war on coal and the American people know that we need to make a change," he said. Pence did not dispute a recent New York Times report that Trump claimed a $916 million loss in 1995. The Indiana governor did not make any assertion that Trump has paid federal taxes. Trump has refused to release his returns, citing an audit. His tax returns showed he went through a very difficult time, but he used the tax code just the way it's supposed to be used, and he did it brilliantly, Pence said. "How do you know that?" Kaine asked. "You haven't seen his tax returns." On the economy, Pence called Kaine "a fitting running mate" for Clinton and took a shot at Kaine's proposed tax increases as governor. Pence said that Clinton's economic plan would expand Obamacare and "almost double" the national debt. Pence said Trump's plan would "lower taxes across the board," repeal Obamacare and end the "war on coal." Kaine said Clinton would be a "you're hired" president and Trump would be a "you're fired" president, referring to Trump's signature line from NBC's "The Apprentice." He outlined Clinton's plan to raise the minimum wage, promote debt-free college and provide small business tax relief. Kaine said Trump's plan would plunge the economy into recession and is "really a Trump-first plan," because it would benefit only the super wealthy. On the issue of law enforcement and race relations, Kaine said part of the solution is enhanced community policing. Pence referenced his uncle, a police officer in Chicago who was his "hero" growing up, and criticized Clinton for "seizing on moments of tragedy" to "demean" law enforcement. "I can't believe that you're defending a position that there is no bias" in enforcement, Kaine said. Some of the most contentious exchanges of the evening took place over foreign policy and immigration. Pence noted that border agents had endorsed Trump, while Kaine attacked what he said was Trump's plan to deport "16 million people, 11 million who are here without documents," going "house to house, school to school," business to business. "That's nonsense," Pence said, saying Clinton favors "open borders." "He's trying to fuzz up what Donald Trump has said," said Kaine, repeating again his characterization of Trump calling Mexicans "rapists and criminals." Pence said "America is less safe today," thanks to the Clinton-Obama foreign policy, including the Iran nuclear deal. In a more personal pronouncement, he said that both of their sons who serve in the Marines would be court martialed if they handled classified emails over a private server. Kaine sought to help maintain the momentum that has seen Clinton edge ahead in several battleground states following the first presidential debate Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in New York. Pence sought to steady the GOP campaign days after Trump took to Twitter to criticize a former Miss Universe. Kaine said Trump "can't start a Twitter war with Miss Universe without shooting himself in the foot." He repeated another Trump line in which the mogul called Russian president Vladimir Putin a "strong leader." Kaine challenged Pence to defend Trump statements that more nations should have nuclear weapons, and said Trump does not know the difference between a leader and a dictator. "We'll see if you can defend any of it," Kaine said. Late in the debate, Kaine criticized Trumps comment in a May TV interview that women should face some form of punishment if abortion were outlawed. "Donald Trump and I would never support legislation that punished women who make the heartbreaking choice to end a pregnancy," Pence said. Why did he say that? Kaine asked. "Look, he's not a polished politician like you and Hillary Clinton," Pence said. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who campaigned Tuesday morning for Clinton and Kaine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, was one of Kaines guests at the debate. In addition to Kaines wife, Anne Holton, and Kaines parents, Al and Kathy, Kaines guests included people who symbolize the push in Virginia for civil rights and gay rights. Among Kaines other guests were former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, Richmonds first African-American mayor; and Carol Schall, Mary Townley and Emily Schall Townley. Schall and Mary Townley, a Chesterfield County couple, were in the forefront of the fight for same-sex marriage. Emily is their daughter. In the hours leading up to the debate, Longwood was transformed into a giant political spin cycle. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, saw the big event as a boon to Virginias image and his efforts to build a new Virginia economy. You couldnt pay for this publicity were having here, said McAuliffe, standing outside sun-dappled Willett Hall, site of the debate, after doing a series of local television interviews. Were telling the foreign correspondents the weather is like this every single day. Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., a Trump-Pence surrogate, was already thinking ahead to the next presidential debate, Sunday at Washington University in St. Louis, and the next month of the campaign. He said the Trump campaign will be successful if it focuses on the issues and doesnt get distracted by these rabbit trails that Hillary Clinton has thrown out in the last debate. While Pence stayed in a downtown Richmond hotel following his appearance in Ashland on Monday, Kaine had the benefit of spending several nights at his home in Richmonds Ginter Park. Kaines dayside preparation in Richmond was fueled by M&Ms and coffee. He relaxed with friends and staff at night, highlighted by a trip Monday evening to Buz and Neds Real Barbecue. Earlier Tuesday, a smattering of protesters lined the heavily patrolled Main Street of Farmvilles downtown, and some businesses got into the act ahead of the debate. A local coffee shop advertised the Pence Pumpkin Spice Latte and the Sugar Kaine soda, while a local print shop created T-shirts with caricatures of Pence and Kaine below the headline: I SURVIVED. Longwood campus enjoys turn in the national spotlight FARMVILLE Tanya Velasquez is one of the lucky 100 the Longwood University freshman won a ticket to watch the vice presidential debate in person, not amid the political carnival that has taken over campus. Members of the Danville Chapter of Virginia Organizing stood before City Council and voiced their concerns Tuesday night. Virginia Organizing members Matt Bailey and Ebony Guy spoke before Danville Mayor John Gilstrap and the other members of City Council to discuss strengthening the police-community relationship. Virginia Organizings work is to build transparency and honesty between law enforcement and the community Bailey said. He asked City Council if they could ensure law enforcement policies that directly affect the community are publicly disclosed before they go into effect so that we can get feedback. Im not sure that I can answer your question, Mayor Gilstrap said. A lot of the policies are not City Council approved or need our approval, he continued. They are enacted by the department itself. Sometimes, the city manager may have an input, Gilstrap said. Discussion on laws and state codes must come before council, he said. My suggestion would be to continue that dialogue with Danville police, Gilstrap said. Last week, a national controversy arose when a photo circulated on social media showing Danville police vehicles with raised hoods. Police said this practice was started in August due to a continual heating issue. A misconception spread about why the hoods were raised and created a conversation about transparency. As of Sept. 26, Danville police will no longer raise hoods on patrol cars. The public now knows that the raised hoods wasnt an intentional form of deception by police, Bailey said. We appreciate the swift action of Danville police to close the hoods, Guy said. Guy and other members of Virginia Organizing said the action shows that residents voices are being heard. New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone. -PFN's newly staked claims increases size of its River Valley Extension property to 2150 ha -Expands coverage of footwall and internal targets within the River Valley Intrusion -PFN's property position at River Valley increased to a total of 76 km2 or 7600 ha -PFN's River Valley Project consists of a Primary Platinum Metal Deposit -2.5 Moz Platinum Metals in near-surface Measured and Indicated Resources -Within 100 road-km of Sudbury and strong infrastructure and community support -Summer-Fall Surface Exploration Programs underway -New 100%-owned Li Division with Pegmatite Projects in Manitoba and Brine Projects in Nevada - Summer/Fall surface programs underway October 5, 2016 / TheNewswire / Vancouver, British Columbia - Pacific North West Capital Corp. ("PFN" the "Company") (TSXV: PFN OTCQB: PAWEF FSE: P7J) announces staking of 8 new unpatented mining claims adjacent to its recently acquired River Valley Extension property ("RVX" - see PFN press release dated August 4th, 2016), located next to the company's 100% owned River Valley PGM deposit (Figure 1). The River Valley PGM deposit on RVX has been targeted in drill programs completed by the previous owner (Mustang Minerals Corp.) that returned high-grade PGM assays at shallow depths. Collectively, the 100%-owned acquired and newly staked claims of the RVX now comprise 2153 ha and are located within 100 road-kms of the City of Sudbury, Ontario. The expanded RVX overlies the southeast extension of the River Valley PGM deposit, as indicated in drill results, mineralized outcrops and geophysical surveys, and the footwall rocks and interior units of the River Valley Intrusion. Recent drilling of the footwall rocks to PFN's River Valley Project, located on the same mineralized trend to the NW, discovered high-grade and near surface PGM mineralization at T2 (see PFN press release dated March 11th, 2015). Geological and geophysical trends on the RVX suggest presence of similar footwall targets. Internally, the River Valley Intrusion on the RVX remains vastly under-explored. Surface grab samples, geophysical surveys and sporadic drilling on the RVX have returned high-grade PGM assays. However, the focus of exploration has generally been along the basal margin of the River Valley Intrusion and, more recently, in the footwall rocks to the intrusion. Field exploration programs are currently underway on the RVX to develop targets for drill testing, in 2017. Approximately $140K in assessment credits can be applied to the claims within the RVX property, allowing PFN to focus exploration on the highest priority targets. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1: Geological map showing the location of PFN's 100% owned River Valley Extension PGM property over the southeast corner of the River Valley Intrusion, adjacent to the River Valley PGM Project. About PFN's Platinum Group Metals Division River Valley is Canada's Largest Undeveloped Primary PGM Deposit. Achievements to date and Future Plans for River Valley are outlined below as follows: 1.PFN currently has 100% ownership in the River Valley Project, subject to a 3% NSR, with Options to Buy Down 2.Completed Exploration and Development Programs, on the River Valley Property: Include more than 600 holes drilled, since year 2000, and several Mineral Resource Estimates and Metallurgical Studies 3.Results for the current (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate are below 4.2015 Drill Program confirms New High Grade T2 Discovery 5.Exploration and Development Plans outlined for 2016 6.Ongoing Strategic Partner Search for River Valley Project 7.Results for the current Mineral Resource Estimate are summarized below: - Prepared by Tetra Tech (Wardrop) - High Confidence: Measured plus Indicated = 72% of total - Reported on PdEq basis: Pd=40% & Pt=20% of the Payable Metals - Pd to Pt ratio = 2.5:1; Cu to Ni ratio = 3:1 - High Grade Potential: particularly in the north part of the River Valley Deposit - Resources under Evaluation for Development Potential as Open Pit Mining Operation Click Image To View Full Size Click Image To View Full Size 8.Results for the 2015 Discovery Drill Program on the T2 Target are as follows: -Drill hole intercepts much higher than the average grade, of current Mineral Resource Estimate -Possible New Mineralized Zone at the north end of the River Valley Deposit -Show potential to take the River Valley PGM Project in a New Direction -More drilling planned Click Image To View Full Size 9. Exploration and Development Plans for 2016 -Mineral Prospecting and Geological Mapping on surface: In Progress -Drill Programs targeted to add more, higher grade: Drilling Slated for Fall 2016 -Geological Interpretation and 2D/3D Modelling of all Drill and Surface Results -Ongoing Strategic Partner Search for River Valley Map showing the location of River Valley PGM Project relative to the City of Sudbury. About PFN's Lithium Division The Company's Lithium Division will focus on the Discovery, Acquisition, Exploration and Development of Lithium Projects in Canada. In the United States, the Company will use its wholly owned U.S.A subsidiary to Acquire and Develop Projects, in Active Mining Camps, in Nevada, Arizona and California. Management believes that these New Age Metals, Lithium, PGMs and Rare Earths, have robust macro trends with surging demands and limited supply. Going forward, this New Division will Explore for the Minerals needed to fuel the demand for Energy Storage and other Core 21st Century Technologies. The Company has a Growing Portfolio of Lithium Projects: The Clayton Valley Forks Li Project, in Nevada, is a recent Lithium Brine Project acquired by the Company (see PFN News Releases: April 25th, 2016 and May 9th, 2016). The Company also has several Hard Rock Lithium Projects in Canada: To date the Company has Acquired 5 Hard Rock Lithium Projects, in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, in SE Manitoba (see PFN News Releases: April 21st 2016, May24th, 2016, June 15th, 2016, July 5th, 2016 and July 21st, 2016). This Pegmatite Field hosts the giant Tanco Pegmatite that has been mined for Tantalum, Cesium and Spodumene (one of the primary Lithium ore minerals) in varying capacities, since 1969. Today, the Tanco Mine is focused on the Mining and Production of Cesium Formate, a drilling fluid for the petroleum industry. PFN's Li Projects are strategically situated to further Explore this Pegmatite Field. Presently, the Company is the Largest Claim Holder in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field. Lithium and Platinum Group Metal Prices have improved drastically in recent months. Lithium supplies remain in deficit, relative to their demand. Both Metals Groups are used for the expanding worldwide automobile industry (conventional and electric). In the case of PGMs, demand is increasing for Autocatalysts, a key component for reducing toxic emissions, for automotive, gasoline and diesel engines. Regarding Lithium, there is an ever increasing demand for batteries in cellphones, laptops, electric cars, solar storage, wireless charging and renewable energy products. Click Image To View Full Size PFN's 5 New Lithium Projects in Manitoba, Surrounding Tanco Mine Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1: Company claim blocks in the Clayton Valley area of Nevada (Figure 1 is a Company-made composite and not intended for redistribution. The Company accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of these claim blocks, other than the claim block associated with the Clayton Valley Forks Li Project) Clayton Valley is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, host to the Albemarle Corporation's Silver Peak Lithium Mine and Brine processing operations. The mine has been in operation since 1967 and remains the only Brine based Lithium Producer in North America. The new project acquisition in Nevada provides the Company a project, in an area that is well known for its Lithium Carbonate production. Clayton Valley is a centralized location in Nevada, with highway access, power infrastructure, water and local labour. The company's new Lithium Brine Project will be approximately 3.5 hours away from Tesla's Gigafactory, which has a planned annual Lithium-ion battery production capacity of 35 gigawatt-hours per year, by 2020. The CV West Li project is located approximately 3 hours north of the Faraday Electric Car Factory to be operated in Las Vegas, Nevada. Clayton Valley is one of the few locations globally known to contain commercial-grade Lithium-Enriched Brines. QUALIFIED PERSON The contents contained herein that relates to Exploration Results or Mineral Resources is based on information compiled, reviewed or prepared by Dr. Bill Stone, Principal Consulting Geoscientist for Pacific Northwest Capital. Dr. Stone is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Harry Barr" Harry G. Barr Chairman and CEO 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as "continue", "efforts", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "confident", "intend", "strategy", "plan", "will", "estimate", "project", "goal", "target", "prospects", "optimistic" or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company's ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2016) - The Manager, Red Pine Exploration Inc. (TSXV: RPX) ("Red Pine"), of the Joint Venture1 with Augustine Ventures Inc. (CSE: WAW or "Augustine") and Citabar LLP, has received results for 24 holes sampled as part of the sampling program of historic core at the Wawa Gold Project. Highlights from the sampling program include so far: An increase of the gold metal factor (gold grade times intersection length) for 16 of the 24 sampled holes; an average increase of the intersection length for 11 of the 24 holes; Discovery of a new gold zone in the hanging wall of the Jubilee Shear Zone New results include 128.56 metres @ 0.94 g/t gold (true width has not been calculated and the intercept is drilled length) Identification of a network of high-grade quartz veins in the footwall of the inferred resources with up to 20.9 g/t gold detected in a representative grab sample. Sampling of historic core Following its 2015 exploration programs, the Joint Venture speculated that some of the gold zones in the footwall and hanging wall of the Surluga Deposit were not entirely sampled in the past and that sampling gaps remained in some gold mineralized zones of the Surluga Deposit. Earlier this year, the Joint Venture undertook an aggressive selective sampling program of approximately 42,000 metres of historic drilling (from 318 underground and 119 surface drill holes) in the Wawa Gold Corridor (see Figure 1 below) to help fill these gaps. The work aimed to extend and define additional gold zones in the footwall and hanging wall of the Surluga Deposit, and extend some gold zones of the Surluga Deposit that were not entirely sampled in the past. Figure 1 Section Showing Gold Zone of the Wawa Gold Corridor To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/698/22879_a1475673023775_77.jpg Of the 24 holes sampled, 16 show an increase of their overall metal factor, 11 show an increase of the mineralised length and 6 show an increase of their total gold grade. (for details see Table 1 in news release of October 4, 2016 by Red Pine). The sampled holes mostly cover the Jubilee Shear Zone, which already contain a NI 43-101 inferred resource of 1,088,000 ounces of gold2. However, some of the holes also cover the Minto B Shear Zone, located in the hanging wall of the Jubilee Shear Zone and are not included in the inferred resource. Dr. Robert (Bob) Dodds, President and Chief Executive Officer of Augustine states, "This work supports our confidence that this logging and sampling of the significant amount of historic drill core that has been preserved can define additional gold resources within the known gold resource of 1.1 million inferred ounces at 1.71g/t2 without incurring the higher costs of drilling. Additionally, this work can reduce the strip ratio which enhances the economics for an open pit mine plus more clearly defines targets for planned diamond drilling. Following the long bear market, it is anticipated that Tier I and Tier II gold mines need to start restocking their pipelines of projects and we feel that our Wawa Gold Project represents an ideal exploration stage opportunity for joint venture and equity investment by these Tier I and Tier II gold mines." Other Activities at the Wawa Gold Project The Joint Venture is currently trenching and mapping many key structures located in the hanging wall and footwall of the inferred resources and in the Jubilee Shear Zone. This has lead to the discovery of a quartz vein stockwork in the immediate footwall of the inferred resource. One representative grab sample of the quartz stockwork returned 20.9 g/t gold. The Joint Venture is now conducting additional work to define the size and continuity of this network of quartz veins, located within 90 metres of the inferred resource of the Surluga Deposit2. Next Steps As the Joint Venture looks to increase the property's gold inventory, the current program of sampling historical core as well as trenching and mapping is uncovering new exploration targets for the next drilling program. Further updates, including timing of future drill programs, will be issued over the next few weeks. Merger Update Augustine and Red Pine continue to advance merger discussions and acknowledge that the simplification of the ownership structure has taken longer than anticipated. Both Augustine and Red Pine thank the shareholders of both companies for their continued support and patience as the negotiations continue to move forward. Qualified Person Quentin Yarie, P Geo. is the qualified person responsible for preparing, supervising and approving the scientific and technical content of this news release. 1Augustine has a 30% interest in the Wawa Gold Project and has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement ("JVA") with Citabar LLP and Red Pine Exploration Inc. with Red Pine acting as Manager of the Joint Venture. The Wawa Gold Project is now owned by Citabar/Red Pine/Augustine in the ratio of 40%, 30% and 30%, respectively. 2NI 43-101 inferred resource of 1,088,000 ounces of gold at 1.71 grams per tonne (g/t) using a 0.40 g/t gold cut-off grade for pit-constrained and 2.50 g/t gold cut-off grade for underground-constrained resources, contained in 19.82 million tonnes open along strike and at depth. The Cut-off grades are based on a gold price of US$1,250 per once and a gold recovery of 95 percent ((Independent Technical Report, Wawa Gold Project, Wawa, Ontario: Ronacher and McKenzie Geoscience and SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc (effective June 30, 2016)). The report is available on www.SEDAR.com under Augustine's profile. About Augustine Ventures Inc. Augustine Ventures Inc. is a junior gold exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Company's common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "WAW". For additional information contact: Augustine Ventures Inc. Robert (Bob) Dodds, President & CEO Tel: (416) 363 2528 Cell: (905) 599-2025 Email: bdodds@augustineventures.com This news release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding the estimation of mineral resources, exploration results, potential mineralization, potential mineral resources and mineral reserves) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identifiable by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", may", "could", "would", "might" or "will", "estimates", "expect", "intend", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts" and similar expressions or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, the price of gold and other risks identified in the Company's most recent filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement. OTTAWA, Oct. 5, 2016 /CNW/ - Northern Shield Resources Inc. ("Northern Shield" or the "Company") [TSX-V: NRN] is pleased to announce that the initial drill program has been completed at the Company's Huckleberry property. Seven holes totaling 2,053 meters were drilled, including one hole abandoned for technical reasons. A first batch of samples is in process at the analytical lab and the remainder are in transit. The drilling program is being executed under the terms of the option agreement with South32 Ltd., announced on June 7, 2016. The drill-hole locations were selected to test certain electromagnetic ("EM") anomalies identified from the VTEM (Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic) survey as well as to add geological knowledge from different portions of the Huckleberry intrusion. While more detailed interpretation and analysis will be provided on receipt of assay results, drilling continues to show the olivine melagabbro and peridotite of the western copper zone to be the primary target of interest. In addition, a 1,000-1,500 meter drill program at the Company's 100% owned Sequoi property is expected to commence in mid-November after the ground has frozen and the weather stabilized. "We look forward to the Huckleberry results and the start of the Sequoi drill program," said Northern Shield President and CEO, Ian Bliss: "Recent modelling of the magnetic data is very supportive of these EM targets at Sequoi being magmatic in origin - with the magnetic inversion seemingly showing a magma chamber and feeder-dike below and adjacent to the EM plates." The drilling program at Huckleberry was overseen by Christine Vaillancourt, P. Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Northern Shield Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based company focused on exploring for platinum group element ("PGE") and nickel-copper-PGE deposits. It is known as a leader in grass roots exploration for Ni-Cu-PGEs and the understanding of magmatic systems as it applies to exploration. Forward-Looking Statements Advisory This news release contains statements concerning the exploration plans, results and potential Cu-Ni-PGE and other mineralization at the Company's southern Labrador Trough properties, geological, and geometrical analyses of the southern Labrador Trough properties and comparisons of the properties to known Cu-Ni-PGE deposits, and other expectations, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions, information or statements about future events conditions, results of exploration or performance that may constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Although Northern Shield believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward?looking statements because Northern Shield can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by Northern Shield and described in the forward?looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with geological, geometrical and geophysical interpretation and analysis, the ability of Northern Shield to obtain financing, equipment, supplies and qualified personnel necessary to carry on exploration and the general risks and uncertainties involved in mineral exploration and analysis. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Northern Shield undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward?looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws 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. SOURCE Northern Shield Resources Inc. (i)completion of numerous steps to bring the Yellowjacket Gold Mine Permits into compliance with provincial and federal environmental rules and regulations; (ii)upgrades to the Project infrastructure; (iii)completion of a successful Phase 1 diamond drilling program; (iv)expansion of the Company's mineral tenures nearly five-fold in the Atlin District; and (v)assembling an outstanding technical team comprised of highly experienced professionals, many with local experience. Vancouver, October 5 2016 - African Queen Mines Ltd. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has advanced its Yellowjacket Gold Project in Atlin, BC (the "Project") in a number of important respects during its summer 2016 work program which commenced in June. These include: At the time of acquisition of the Yellowjacket Project by the Company, environmental monitoring and filing of annual reports required for compliance with the Yellowjacket Mine Permit were delinquent as a result of a lapse by predecessor operators. African Queen's Management has made it a top priority to move toward full compliance with provincial and federal environmental regulations as quickly as possible. To this end, the Company conducted an intensive program consisting of collecting stream, groundwater and leachate samples and has filed a number of required reports. At the Federal level, Management has been working with the Federal Environmental Protection Operations Directorate and is in compliance with the Federal Metal Mining Effluent Regulation (MMER). At the Provincial level, as required under its Mining Permit M-235, as amended, the Company has provided the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines with: (a) an Annual Reclamation Report for 2015, (b) a 2016 Mine Plan and Reclamation Program Update, detailing the current status of operations, monitoring and maintenance at the Yellowjacket Gold Mine, and (c) a 2016 Care & Maintenance Manual, which details environmental management objectives and monitoring being implemented by the Company. In this connection, the Company has now re-initiated required environmental monitoring activities, the final round of which has now been completed. The Company is presently working to effectuate transfer of the prior operator's BC Ministry of Environment Effluent Discharge Permit to the Company. At the time the Company assumed control of the Project, it had fallen into a state of neglect with little or no maintenance for an extended period of time. The Company has worked diligently in recent months to improve the infrastructure at the Project site and bring it into compliance with applicable health and safety standards as well as best industry practices. To this end, the Company undertook a comprehensive site clean-up, repaired and upgraded office, lab and first aid trailers, repaired an important bridge accessing the site, fixed roads, and examined, inventoried and secured equipment on site. All in all, management made big strides in rejuvenating the project and restoring it to a proper state of care and maintenance. As detailed in the Company's Press Release dated September 28, 2016, the Company recently completed a 4-hole diamond drilling program at the Project. This program confirmed continuity of the gold mineralized down-dip and up-dip at the Yellowjacket Zone with several significant intersections, including 37.1 g/t gold over 1.08 metres in hole YJ16-02. As detailed in the Company's Press Release dated September 21, 2016, the Company completed a series of property acquisitions over the summer with the result that the Company now controls 51 mineral claims, 3 placer claims and one placer lease covering an aggregate of 271 km2 of strategic ground in the Atlin District. This represents a nearly five-fold increase in the Company's mineral tenures in the District from its initial acquisition of 55 km2 covering and surrounding the Yellowjacket Gold Mine. The preponderance of its tenures are comprised of hard rock mineral claims associated with historically significant placer gold mining areas including Pine Creek, Spruce Creek, McKee Creek, Wright Creek and others. Management is delighted to have been able to assemble an outstanding team of technical professionals to carry out the Company's exploration programs in the Atlin District, including: -Linda Dandy, P.Geo., Consulting Geologist, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and provides on-site supervision and guidance at the Project. She is a local resident with over 35 years experience in exploration and development, including prior experience at the Project. -Reinhard Ramdohr, Ph.D., is serving as Head of Exploration and Project Manager and brings 40 years of exploration experience worldwide. -Ian Coster, B.Sc., is an Atlin-based geologist with 35 years of experience including supervision of drill programs and core logging. -Jill Pardoe, P.Geo., Consulting Geologist, is a Qualified Person with over 35 years experience in exploration as well as previously serving as Senior Inspector of Mines, Permitting with the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines. She oversees environmental compliance and permitting matters for the Project. -Clive Aspinall, P.Geo., Consulting Geologist, brings 40 years exploration experience and a keen understanding of Atlin's regional geology. -Matt Conley, experienced fabricator of mining and drilling equipment with over 5 years experience including work in Atlin, is serving as the Mine Manager of the Project. According to Irwin Olian, CEO of the Company, "We are delighted with the progress our outstanding technical team has made in recent months in advancing the Project on all fronts. We have brought the Project back to life and created an outstanding opportunity for future success through our extensive property acquisitions. The Company is now well-positioned as the leading hard-rock explorer in the Atlin District." Linda Dandy, P.Geo., a Qualified Person within the meaning of N.I. 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. About African Queen The Company is an exploratory resource company engaged in exploration and development of mineral properties in Canada and Africa. It is presently focusing on development of its Yellowjacket Gold Project in Atlin, British Columbia, which covers an aggregate of approximately 271 km2. The Company has its executive offices in Vancouver, Canada. The Company was incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, on April 30, 2008, and received certain southern African assets in a spin off transaction related to the acquisition of Pan African Mining Corp. by Asia Thai Mining Co., Ltd. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AFRICAN QUEEN MINES, LTD. "Irwin Olian" Irwin Olian Chairman & CEO For more information, contact: Irwin Olian, President and CEO E-mail: tigertail@africanqueenmines.com Phone: (604) 788-0300 Carrie Howes, Corporate Communications Email: carrie@africanqueenmines.com Phone : U.K. - +44 (0) 870 490 5443 Canada - +1 416 900 3634 The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of the information contained herein. The statements made in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations. Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. The man accused of murdering Washington County Sheriffs Deputy Christopher Parsons in 2012 has, for the second time, been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial. In a judgment filed almost exactly three years after his first incompetency ruling in 2013, Associate Circuit Judge Troy Hyde declared that Gary Sancegrow, now 34, "is not competent to proceed because he does not have sufficient present ability to consult with his attorneys with a reasonable degree or rational understanding and that he does not have a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him. Furthermore, Judge Hydes order said "there is no substantial probability that Sancegrow could be tried "in the foreseeable future, which keeps Sancegrow under the jurisdiction of the Missouri Department of Mental Health, where he has been confined to the maximum-security Biggs unit at Fulton State Hospital since Judge Hydes first ruling in 2013. The current ruling also ordered the dismissal of charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action against Sancegrow for the Dec. 15, 2012, shooting death of Parsons. After his arrest in 2012, Sancegrow was subjected to numerous medical and mental evaluations while he was in jail pending trial. Based on the results of the examinations, he was deemed mentally unfit for trial as defined in section 552 of the Missouri statutes regarding criminal proceedings involving mental illnesses. Records indicate Sancegrow has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, for which he takes anti-psychotic medications. After being committed to the state hospital in 2013, he underwent further examinations and another competency hearing before Judge Hyde in November of 2014. His confinement at Fulton continued. Back in July, Sancegrows defense attorneys filed a motion asking the court for a finding of permanent incompetence after he had undergone another mental competency examination in March. Meanwhile, Attorney General Chris Koster's office, which was prosecuting the case, filed a motion asking that Sancegrow be discharged from the state hospital to stand trial for Parsons death. At the time of his death, Deputy Parsons had only been with the Washington County Sheriffs Department a little more than two months. He had previously served with the Fredericktown Police Department. He was a graduate of the Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy, where he graduated in May 2012 as valedictorian of his class. At the time of the shooting the 31-year-old deputy was engaged to be married. Sancegrow was accused of killing Parsons as the deputy was responding to a call on a rural stretch of road in Washington County. Parsons had been dispatched to a home on Nugget Road in the Mineral Point area to assist an ambulance in response to a 911 call from a belligerent caller. According to records, Sancegrow shot Parsons, then fled the scene, leading police on a 16-hour manhunt that ended with Sancegrow surrendering without incident. SHARE Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune/TNS Japanese milk pudding with black sugar sauce, ginger-lemon sauce and macerated blueberries. Cookbook offers recipes of Japans diverse cuisine By Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune (TNS) Sushi is what comes to mind when you think of Japanese food, right? Makes sense, as sushi has long captured the American imagination, is fun to eat and generates billions of dollars in revenue, according to market studies. But what about Japanese food beyond that iconic dish? Paris-based chef Maori Murota aims to broaden the West's idea of Japanese cuisine with "Tokyo Cult Recipes" (Harper Design, $35), which offers 100 Japanese recipes from tamago, a rolled omelet, to chicken yakitori to spaghetti Napolitan and even strawberry shortcake. You'll also find a few sushi recipes, although Murota notes sushi is more of a "special occasion meal" to be enjoyed out. "I sincerely do not know why sushi became 'the national food of Japan' all over the world," Murota wrote in an email from France. She hopes her book, which is one of a series of "Cult Recipes" books focusing on the cuisines of such cities as New York and Venice, will help readers discover "we have so many different types of food in Japan other than sushi. And also I really hope that they find Japanese cooking accessible and fun to make." "Diversity" is the word Murota chose when asked to describe Japanese food. "We are extremely open to all kind of foreign foods, and on the other hand, there are some type of foods that proudly and strictly keep their tradition," she wrote. "The hybrid of new and old, international food and traditional food, and being open and being completely closed. That makes the diversity in Japanese food." But being open to foreign ingredients doesn't mean mere copying, she insisted, adding: "We integrate those in our cooking and create our own dishes." That's a point also made by Mark Hellyar, executive chef of Momotaro in Chicago, which bills itself as "a multidimensional" Japanese restaurant. These foods, and he pointed to spaghetti dishes created in the 1950s, are Japanese and not "fusion" dishes. "We're not fusion. We hate that term," he said of Momotaro. "People get confused about what Japanese food is." OK. What is Japanese food then? Hellyar points to foods cooked on a robata, or Japanese grill, curry and grilled food skewers called kushiyaki (all three are on Moromoto's menu). "So many things are coming up," said Takashi Yagihashi, when asked about the Japanese food scene. The Japanese-born restaurateur behind Slurping Turtle, with locations in Chicago and Ann Arbor, Mich., said he's hearing from family and friends these days about a savory pancake called okonimiyaki, which can include cabbage, eggs and seafood. At Slurping Turtle, the big sellers are international in spirit: duck-fat-fried chicken, and taro root tacos stuffed with hamachi. Hiroko Shimbo, the Japanese-born, New York-based author of "Hiroko's American Kitchen" and other cookbooks, said it's more the structure of a meal than a specific dish that describes Japanese cuisine. "Cook the rice, serve with vegetables, make the miso soup, and maybe grill or cook a fish," she said. Elizabeth Andoh, the American-born Japanese food authority and author of "Kansha" and other cookbooks, shares Shimbo's focus on menu planning, She stressed, in a video call from Tokyo, that rice is "critically important" to the meal. (She also suggested ohitashi, cooked greens, often spinach, steeped in dashi stock, when asked to name a quintessential Japanese dish.) Murota agreed about the importance of properly cooked Japanese rice. It is "essential in our cuisine," she wrote when asked what readers of her book really need to master. "Then, the onigiri (rice ball). Because it's something that really represents (for me) the affection one who cooks puts in his food in order to serve the others who eat his dish," she wrote. If I choose one thing that I can eat before I die, it would be an onigiri by my mother." MILK PUDDING Prep: 10 minutes, plus cooling time Chill: 30 minutes Cook: 3 minutes Makes: 4 small servings This recipe from Maori Murota's "Tokyo Cult Recipes" can be served with one or more of the toppings below. Ingredients 1/8 ounce powdered gelatin and 2 tablespoons water 12 ounces whole milk 3 tablespoons raw (demerara) sugar 1 Combine the gelatin and water in a small bowl; set aside. 2 Heat the milk and sugar on low in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Just before it comes to a boil, remove from the heat, add the gelatin and stir to dissolve completely. 3 Pour mixture into 4 small glasses. (To make larger puddings, double the quantities of ingredients.) 4 Let the puddings cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 30 minutes to set. Black sugar sauce: Place 1 ounces muscovado (dark brown) sugar, ounce raw (demerara) sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan on low heat. Cook to dissolve the sugars. Remove from the heat; stir in 1 tablespoon honey. Allow to cool completely. Spoon over pudding; sprinkle with a little shredded ginger. Ginger-lemon sauce: Place cup plus 1 tablespoon raw (demerara) sugar, 3 ounces water, organic lemon cut into -inch slices and 10 very thin slices ginger in a saucepan. Cook on low heat until the sauce is thick, 5 minutes. Allow to cool. Spoon over pudding, garnished with a slice of ginger. Macerated blueberries: Marinate 20 blueberries with 1 tablespoon raw (demerara) sugar and 1 tablespoon kirsch, 5 minutes. Serve over the pudding, garnished with mint leaves. SHARE Dr. Bruce Bechtol By Staff Report Four of the nation's leading experts on North Korea will be at Angelo State University for the 2016 Center for Security Studies Symposium at 5 p.m. Oct. 13. The event is sponsored by ASU's Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Security Studies, and participants will discuss "North Korea: Challenges for the 21st Century." Featured speakers include: Troy Stangarone, senior director of congressional affairs and trade, Korea Economic Institute. Gen. Chun In-Bum, Republic of Korea Army (Retired) and visiting fellow, Brookings Institute. Dlynn Armstrong-Williams, chair of the Political Science and International Affairs Department, University of North Georgia. Bruce Bechtol, ASU professor of political science, author of "North Korea and Regional Security in the Kim Jong Un Era." The symposium will be in Room 105 of the Rassman Building, 2222 Dena Drive. Call 325-486-6792 for more information. SHARE Signs against vacation rentals are posted on Shady Point Circle Drive. By Rashda Khan, rashda.khan@gosanangelo.com / @rashda_SAST With a contentious topic like short-term rentals on the agenda, Mayor Dwain Morrison ran a tight ship at the San Angelo City Council Tuesday and managed to keep the discussion to about 30 minutes. Nine San Angelo residents participated in the public comments portion on the item. Of these, seven spoke against bringing back a draft ordinance addressing short-term rentals. The city defines STRs as an entire house or dwelling unit available for rent for less than 30 consecutive days. According to the current regulations, short-term rentals are considered hotel/motel use, and aren't allowed in residential areas. At the end, the council voted to bring back a draft ordinance with amendments requiring SRT license renewals every two years and limiting backyard camping to one tent and one trailer. Councilwoman Lucy Gonzalez, who made the motion, also included a moratorium on enforcement until the council makes a decision. The motion passed with a 6-1 vote, with Councilman Bill Richardson being the lone dissenter. Councilman Lane Carter suggested city staff work with a public representative from each side of the issue to come up with a draft. Richardson wanted to add a provision requiring owners of short-term rentals to be at the site within two hours of being notified about issues. City staff will present a draft ordinance at the first meeting in December of its first public hearing. For some, the council's stance came as a surprise and one woman considered it a failure. "We pushed the ballot button trusting you to represent what is best for the majority of the people in your district," she said. "It seems like the majority of the people you have heard from stand against this and yet we (the City Council) continue to push it. I can't understand that." She also addressed Councilwoman Gonzalez's statement that the lake (Nasworthy) is public. "Tens and thousands of people enjoy that lake and that's awesome," she said. "But the majority of them don't have to stay at a home out there. The homes at that lake are private." Councilwoman Charlotte Farmer said she was saddened by the signs that have popped up in several yards with the sentiment that neighborhoods are for neighbors. The blue and white signs read "Neighborhoods are for neighbors NOT vacation rentals." "That sends a message about tourists," Farmer said, reminding the council and audience of Texas's $70 billion tourism market and how San Angelo should be competitive and get its share of it. Randal Schkade, a resident in the Lake Nasworthy area, didn't think the signs were hateful or anti-tourism. "There's a wealth of empty hotel rooms available in San Angelo," he said. Schkade and several other residents have complained on a San Angelo Short Term Rental Facebook page about signs going missing from their yards. Not only that, the city's code compliance division was called about the signs and sent out letters advising property owners about allowed sign placement, residents said. Neighbors protesting short-term rentals pointed out the irony that the STRs, which are illegal under existing ordinance, continue to operate without issue. "Why not enforce what's currently on the books?" asked Kim Leabo. "We have allowed it long enough. It's on the books and needs to be enforced." In other business, the council: Approved a resolution amending the 2016-2021 Capital Improvement Plan to include a stormwater office building and the reconstruction of South Jackson Street. The estimated cost for the building project is $130,000 and would create about a dozen offices for the city's stormwater division which employs more than 30 people city staff said. Approved the use of $322,946 in unallocated funds for calendar year 2017 health-insurance premiums for all city employees, retirees and dependents enrolled through the city. Approved the City of San Angelo Development Corporation (COSADC) to provide up to $63,000 for marketing and recruiting for air service for the San Angelo Regional Airport/Mathis Field. The money comes from the COSADC sales tax budget, which is primarily used to for economic incentives. "This is going to be a good item," the mayor told the audience. "Y'all are going to like this when we're done." Ratified COSADC acceptance of an offer from AEP Texas North Company's for about 52 acres in Phase 2 of the Industrial Park at a purchase price of $1.2 million, or approximately $23,000 per acre. John Moritz/USA Today Austin Bureau State Sen. Juan Hinojosa greets Texas Department of Public Safety Chief Steven McCraw before a Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, hearing of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. SHARE DPS to add complaint info on citation form By John C. Moritz,, USA TODAY Network Austin Bureau AUSTIN The Texas Department of Public Safety will immediately revamp its citation form to include a section showing residents how to lodge a complaint against troopers who act rudely or unprofessional, the agency's head told a legislative panel Tuesday. The announcement from Steve McCraw, who runs the agency that oversees state troopers and Texas Rangers, came during an often emotional hearing before the state Senate Criminal Justice Committee exploring ways to improve relationships between law enforcement agencies and Texas' disparate communities. "A lot has happened in America, in this state and in our communities in the last year," said Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who is chairman of the committee. "We are in an emotionally sensitive time." Whitmire called the hearing a few days after announcing plans to bring legislation requiring high school students to pass a course on how to react if they are stopped by police. He assembled a panel of law enforcement professionals and leaders in the black community to foster dialogue as a way of easing tension between the two camps. Several of the community leaders made mention of such high-profile confrontations between law enforcement officers and black Americans, including the arrest that preceded the in-custody suicide of Sandra Bland near Houston last year and the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, a teenager suspected of shoplifting in Ferguson, Missouri. When the suggestion was raised to make it easier for residents to lodge complaints when they think law enforcement officers step out of bounds, it was quickly embraced by McCraw. "The mission of the Texas DPS is not to enforce and serve Texans, it's to protect and serve Texans," he said. "We need to be accountable for every stop we make." He said he will immediately order that the citation forms troopers issue when motorists are stopped for speeding and other violations will be revamped to include the step-by-step process for raising concerns on the part of the person stopped. He said it will take time to make the transition, but encouraged anyone with a complaint to visit the DPS website and follow the instructions. Rev. James Nash, who leads a predominantly black church in Houston, said more needs to be done to train law enforcement officers to deal with members of minority communities. "How do you change the heart of man? Nash asked. He also said, "We need to teach our citizens, kids especially, to respect authority." Another minister, Bishop James Dixon, said his 9-year-old son told him he is afraid of police officers because of the high-profile incidents captured on video, then shared online and on television. "I am an endangered species, and so is my 9-year-old son," Dixon said. State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, a Democrat whose district covers much of the Coastal Bend, said the distrust is not limited to the black community, a sentiment also shared by Sen. Jose Menendez of San Antonio. "You see it in the Hispanic communities as well," said Hinojosa, who added he plans to co-author the legislation to mandate high school training. SHARE Two planned near El Paso draw protests By Marty Schladen, USA Today Network Austin Bureau AUSTIN Two controversial pipeline projects in West Texas are drawing scrutiny from elected officials in the wake of protests and other complaints. Congressional candidates for the district where the pipelines are located are sparring over the issue, while state lawmakers and others voiced concerns over the projects. The El Paso Times has reported on complaints that construction of the Comanche Trail pipeline in eastern El Paso County led to the partial collapse of an irrigation canal and undermined portions of a nearby cotton field. On Sunday, the paper reported allegations that builders of the Trans Pecos pipeline late last month wiped out an ancient American Indian site in northern Brewster County and on Friday sparked a protest in Alpine. The two pipelines are sister projects being built by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners. They're both 42-inch lines that will carry natural gas from the Waha Hub near Fort Stockton and will connect with pipelines controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim at the Mexican border. Another Energy Transfer Partners project, the Dakota Access oil pipeline, has sparked protests in North Dakota that have become a rallying cry for Native Americans throughout the United States and Canada. In Texas, the 195-mile Comanche Trail pipeline will run under the Rio Grande near San Elizario in El Paso County. The 148-mile Trans Pecos pipeline will cross the border near Presidio. Spokeswomen for Energy Transfer Partners last week denied that the Trans Pecos project destroyed an important ancient American Indian site. They also said the company works hard to engage with the communities in which it works and treats landowners fairly. Sprawling Congressional District 23 encompasses the entirety of both West Texas pipelines. It's also one of the most competitive districts in the country, with the seat flipping between parties in each of the past three elections. The current race is a rematch of the 2014 election, in which Republican Will Hurd defeated one-term incumbent Pete Gallego, a Democrat. Asked about constituent complaints about the pipelines, Hurd said he supported the projects, but that citizens' rights need to be respected. "I believe that any major infrastructure project affecting entire towns should be conducted in an open and transparent process, allowing input from the community and respect private property rights," Hurd said in an email. For his part, Gallego criticized the way the pipelines are regulated. Even though the primary purpose of both is to carry gas to Mexico, they're classified as intrastate pipelines for almost their entire length. Those stretches are regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission, which has little authority over how they're built. "If a part of a project crosses state or international borders, it is thought of as a federal issue," Gallego said in an email. "Unfortunately, due to sequestration and Republican budget cuts, agencies like (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) don't have enough money to do their jobs and properly regulate these projects. Thus, they end up deferring to state authorities." Marty Schladen can be reached at 512-479-6606; mschladen@gannett.com; @martyschladen on Twitter. Patrick Dove/Standard-Times Maria Cortina holds her son Julio A. Lopez, 5, close as they stand outside the mobile home where her husband was shot and killed by a San Angelo police officer early Sunday morning. SHARE Officer shot man 3 times in his bedroom By Michael Kelly For Maria Cortina, Saturday evening began with a trip to the store to pick up medicine for an ailing cousin. It ended with her husband being shot to death by a police officer as she and her 5-year-old son watched. About 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, she left the trailer home she and her husband, Julio Lopez, share with her cousin Mayra Cortina and her husband. Mayra and Mayra's husband were not feeling well that night, and they went with Maria to a nearby drugstore while Julio stayed at home. As they were driving to Walgreens, Maria said, Julio called asking to use the car, and then let her know he was going out. After finishing their trip, they returned to the trailer in River Bend Mobile Home Estates in south San Angelo, and later went to bed. Her husband had not struck her before that night, Maria said Monday, but when he got home around 4 a.m., she thought he had been drinking, and they got into an argument. He slapped her in the face, and she walked outside and called the police. A lone San Angelo police officer was at their trailer home within minutes, she said, but in that brief time Julio had fallen asleep in the couple's bed. The officer spoke to her outside the trailer, confirmed that she had called in the complaint and then asked about her husband. "The cop asked, 'Where is he?' and went right inside," Cortina said. "He began yelling, 'Julio Lopez, get up! Julio Lopez, get up!' " Mayra said she was outside with Maria when the policeman went in. She could see through the glass door of the trailer into the bedroom and saw the conflict begin. She went down the street to tell her uncle, who lives four trailers down, about what was happening. As Mayra left, Maria went into the trailer and heard Lopez say, "Why am I being arrested?" He began to fight with the police officer, she said, who was trying to handcuff him. "They were fighting real ugly," Maria said. The two were punching each other, and the officer began hitting Lopez with a night stick, she said, and then the officer pulled his gun. Standing at the door to the bedroom, she screamed, "Don't do it!" just before the officer shot Lopez three times. "I heard 'boom' and then 'boom, boom,'" she said. The couple's 5-year-old son, who also is named Julio Lopez, unknown to his mother had followed him into the trailer and saw the entire encounter standing behind her, Mayra Cortina said. A news release issued by the San Angelo Police Department stated the officer was being choked by Lopez and was on the verge of losing consciousness when he drew his sidearm and shot Lopez. A second police officer arrived after Lopez had been shot, Mayra Cortina said. The family was kept away from the trailer. "They said, 'You need to stay out here,'" she said. An online search of Tom Green County and Texas state court records showed no criminal records for any Julio Lopez associated with San Angelo. A neighbor, B.W. Jenkins, said he appeared to be mild mannered and hardworking. Lopez, he said, had been a maintenance worker at the trailer park and worked at Lone Star processors before being hired by Talk O' Texas Brands in its okra pickling plant. That work was seasonal, and he was between jobs, Jenkins said. They would occasionally trade small talk. Another neighbor, Samuel Espinoza, said we was woken up by the noise early Sunday and got up to find his street filled with police cars. He had known Lopez to be kind and helpful, he said. When he went out on the street, Espinoza said, he heard Maria Cortina screaming, "They killed him! They killed him!" "I understand it was a cop doing his job, but there was no call for that," he said. The name of the officer involved has not been released. A news release Sunday said the officer had been taken to Shannon Medical Center, where he was treated and released. Assistant Police Chief Robert Martinez said Monday night he had seen the officer and "he was OK." The investigation into the shooting is being conducted by the Texas Rangers. "Lopez was transported to Shannon Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead by Tom Green County Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 2, J.P. McGuire. Next of kin have been notified," a news release from the Department of Public Safety said. "This shooting is still under investigation by the Texas Rangers and upon completion will be sent to the local District Attorney's Office for review." San Angelo Police Chief Tim Vasquez said Monday that the protocol when an officer decides to use deadly force is to shoot "until the threat stops." Vasquez also said it is standard procedure for two officers to respond to domestic violence calls. The responding officers, he said, would be advised that a suspect was violent only if a record of violence existed regarding the address or if the complainant told the dispatcher the person was violent. Vasquez said he has no comment regarding Maria Cortina's story that her husband did not have the officer in a stranglehold before the shooting. He said the investigation is being conducted by the Texas Rangers. Monday afternoon, Maria Cortina and her son were staying with their mother in a nearby trailer. Mayra Cortina stood in the bedroom where Julio Lopez died and gestured at the bloodstained carpet, saying, "They wouldn't tell her if he was dead. They didn't ask if we were all right or nothing." Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Readers may send him email at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com. SHARE Apophasis, as students of rhetoric know, is the speechmaker's trick of raising a nasty subject by saying you're not going to talk about it. But it isn't easy to pull off. It requires a light touch; once you raise the taboo subject, you can't go back to it a subtlety lost on Donald Trump, it seems. At the end of his debate with Hillary Clinton, Trump said he considered mentioning Bill Clinton's history of sexual misconduct, but decided that would be wrong. "It's inappropriate. It's not nice," he said, noting that Clinton's daughter was in the audience. Allies praised his statesmanship. "He was a gentleman," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said. "That took a lot of courage," his son Eric Trump said. His restraint didn't last long, though. Over the next several days, Trump and his campaign continued raising the subject he didn't mention. "I was talking about the affairs the many affairs that Bill Clinton had," Trump said the next morning. (A telling slip; he meant the affairs he wasn't talking about.) "The American people have had it with years and decades of Clinton corruption and scandals and impeachment for lying. Remember that, impeach," he said at a New Hampshire rally. "The Clintons are the sordid past; we will be the very bright and clean future." His campaign staff even issued talking points to supporters, offering helpful tips on how to talk about Clinton scandals. "Are you blaming Hillary for Bill's infidelities?" the tip sheet offered. "No, however she's been an active participant in trying to destroy the women who (have) come forward with a claim." Actually, the evidence that Clinton was an "active participant" in attacking her husband's accusers is scanty, beyond the fact that she stood by her husband and said she didn't believe their charges. But that didn't stop Trump's surrogates. "Look at what she has done: Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky," Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, told MSNBC. "My goodness." GOP strategists have a term for dredging up Bill's scandals: "the nuclear option." They've waited all campaign long to see whether Trump would pull the trigger. Now, despite his short-lived attempt at apophasis, he has. The danger is obvious: The fallout could hurt him as much or more than the intended target. "It's like a nuclear hand grenade," Republican pollster David Winston told me. "As Trump blows everything up, does he blow himself up as well or does he only get damaged around the edges?" "It's totally the wrong direction to go," Gingrich, who led the drive to impeach Bill Clinton in 1998, told the Washington Post. "He should not let them bait him into a swamp where they can revel in the mud." Yet that's where Trump went. He also made a second, even briefer attempt at apophasis when it came to Alicia Machado, the former Miss Universe who accused him of bullying her when she gained weight. "A lot of things are coming out about her," he told Bill O'Reilly on Fox News on Wednesday. "I'm not going to say anything." And then he did, in a flurry of tweets at 5 a.m. Friday, including one that urged voters to "check out (a) sex tape" that allegedly includes Machado. As he flails, Trump is using precious campaign time to talk about the wrong subjects: Sex scandals and sex tapes rather than his promises to fix the economy. And these tangents seem unlikely to improve his standing among women voters, most of whom already consider him unpalatable. He might actually end up giving his rival a sympathy boost. In 1998, during the impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton's popularity soared. Earlier this year, a Democratic polling firm asked voters whether Hillary Clinton should be held accountable for her husband's misconduct, and a large majority including 56 percent of Republicans said no. That said, Trump's dive into the swamp also may create problems for the Democratic candidate, who says she wants to spend the final weeks of the campaign talking about positive themes mainly, her proposals for creating jobs and making the economy fairer. When Trump's charges dominate the news and Clinton responds to the targets he provides, few other messages are likely to break through. On Friday, for example, Clinton gave a long speech outlining her proposal for a national service program but the headlines, predictably, were about her description of Trump's "strongman approach." Ultimately it's the voters, on all sides, who stand to lose the most. We need to hear about job creation and foreign policy. Instead we're arguing about Gennifer Flowers and Miss Universe. In a presidential campaign. Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Contact him at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com SHARE The presidential debate on Sept. 26 left me with a nagging question: "Why am I not smarter?" After all, in mid-April I paid a hefty chunk of tax to the federal government. When Hillary Clinton noted that Donald Trump paid no federal income tax for a couple of years in the late 1970s, he said, "That makes me smart." Which I suppose implies that if we were all as smart as Trump, the federal government wouldn't be funded, at all. But the story is a little more complicated: A few days after the debate PolitiFact rated Clinton's original assertion as "Mostly False." It turns out that a 1981 analysis of Trump's finances found that during 1975, 1976 and 1977, Trump, indeed, paid a total of $71,932 on income of $219,334. According to PolitiFact, however, in 1978 and 1979 Trump paid no income tax because he reported a loss of $3.8 million. A loss of $3.8 million doesn't sound all that smart, but fair enough; if you have no income, why should you have to pay income tax? Still, Trump's attitude toward taxes is worth noting. It includes the implicit notion that we're unfairly overtaxed, that internal revenue is "squandered," as Trump put it, and that anything more or less legal that we can do to get out of paying taxes is justified and even admirable. Of course, many of the wealthy embrace this attitude, and they're happy if the not-so-wealthy embrace it, as well. But this is a self-indulgent, immature perspective for a liberal democracy such as ours. I'm not sure when taxation as we know it began, but it must have been a great triumph for the progress of civilization when vassals and peasants stopped paying tribute to lords and kings, and free societies began to impose taxes on themselves to provide for defense, infrastructure and the well-being of the citizenry. Of course, many Americans complain that their taxes are too high, but "over-taxation" is a meaningless concept; what's important is the ratio between what you get out of the system and what you put in. And we get a lot out of the system. The most belligerent, anti-tax activist can suffer the misfortune of a house fire, and a group of men and women will drive a well-equipped vehicle over to his residence on tax-financed public roads and, no questions asked, put the fire out. The benefits of this system fall more or less equally on the rich and the poor, but ours is a progressive system that, quite reasonably, expects the rich to pay more in taxes. After all, they have most of the money, and a great deal of their wealth depends on resources, services, infrastructure and labor that belong to the rest of us. So Trump's inherent contempt for taxes and, presumably, for chumps like us who pay them is naturally reflected in his plans for massive tax cuts for the rich, which are rationalized by the discredited theory that if the rich have more money, they will create more jobs. But I suspect that Trump's desire to avoid taxes is grounded in a less theoretical, more fundamental instinct, the compulsion to hold on to as much as possible of the essential element of his brand: wealth. Indeed, a poor Donald Trump is impossible to imagine. Of course, the wealthy have the right to pay only the legal minimum in taxes. But when they pay little or no taxes, we have the right to know why, which means that we need something from Donald Trump: We need to see his tax returns. They would tell us if some of his income has been filtered through his charitable foundation in order to avoid taxes. They would tell us whom he does business with and how charitable he is. And they would tell us if, as reported on Sunday by The New York Times, he depended on huge losses in order to pay no taxes, at all, for years. Without this information, none of us should even consider voting for him for president. John M. Crisp, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Contact him at jcrisp@delmar.edu. SHARE The following editorial appeared in the Sept. 23 San Antonio Express-News: It appears to be pretty close to official. A bill reforming the federal criminal justice system appears dead. Once touted as a bill that would enjoy bipartisan support and pass, it is now a victim of a divided GOP caucus in the House and Senate. And that is unfortunate, yet another sign of gridlock that must be surmounted. Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is a major architect of this bill, one clearly in the nation's interest. The measure would reduce the length of mandatory minimum sentences and change the types of prior drug convictions that trigger these sentences. It would divert federal efforts to felons who commit violent crimes and broaden chances for early release of some prisoners who get credit for "good time" served. But it has run afoul of presidential candidate Donald Trump's "law and order" platform. Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia criticized the bill as not recognizing that the United States suffers from an "under-incarceration" problem. Others do not want to give President Barack Obama, who has pushed for such reform, a win in this election year. The problem is that the United States does indeed suffer from over-incarceration problems. With both federal and state incarcerations involved, the U.S. leads the world in imprisoned residents, topping such sterling jailers as China, Russia and Iran. While crime has surged in some urban areas, the nation is generally experiencing low crime rates compared to the levels seen in the 1990s, when these get-tough measures were approved. And the get-tough laws have had a harmful impact on minority communities. People of color are overrepresented in federal prison. The prison population is 37.5 percent black and 34.4 percent Latino, but blacks are 13.3 percent of the U.S. population and Latinos 17.6 percent. An American Civil Liberties Union report found that such nonviolent offenses as stealing a $159 jacket and selling $10 worth of marijuana were among the crimes counted in the three-strikes rule. Our hope is that after November, the divisiveness stalling this bill will give way to recognition that many of the country's ailments are being unaddressed. Another hope is that those states that haven't already some have enacted reform without increases in crime rates will also recognize that harsh sentencing and other get-tough measures have been counterproductive. For the moment, however, count Cornyn's worthy bill as just one of the latest casualties of continuing polarization and gridlock. DEAR HARRIETTE: I lent my friend an older laptop charger that I have because hers was broken and she needed it for work. When she gave it back to me, it did not work. I mentioned this to her, and she said she noticed it was older so it would probably break soon. She had this charger for 5 days, and gave it back to me broken! I told my friend that she should pay for a new charger; they cost $80, and mine worked when I gave it to her. She told me the most she would do is a third of the price. Should I take the deal? I can't believe a "friend" would get so aggressive about money like this. -- You Break It, You Buy It, Denver DEAR YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT: Ask your friend if your old charger worked a third of the way to helping her complete her work, or if she was actually able to use her computer. That might get her to thinking rationally. Tell your friend you will be happy if she can find a used one that works that she could buy for her suggested price. Essentially, you expect her to replace your charger with one that works. Tell her that you are shocked at her attitude. When you rescued her with your charger, she happily took it. That she returned it to you broken -- without saying anything -- is unconscionable. DEAR HARRIETTE: My children are in elementary school, and I have been reading mommy blogs about how to incorporate children into chores. I have tried to make washing dishes into a fun game, but I get a lackluster response from my two boys. The same goes for other cleaning and outdoor work. I explained that if they help, mommy has more time to have fun. They didn't care. Are some kids just less inclined to do chores or help around the house? I know I never got a break from sweeping and dishes growing up. -- Sweeping Sons, Chevy Chase, Maryland DEAR SWEEPING SONS: Think back on what motivation your parents used to get you to do chores. I doubt they talked about the incentive of fun. I suggest that you teach your sons that it is the responsibility of every member of a household to contribute to the maintenance of the house, inside and out. This is not optional, and it is not so that you can have more fun. As you see, that can backfire because children are focused on having fun for themselves. Give your boys specific, manageable tasks to complete. Let them know that they will not be allowed to play outside or inside, including playing computer games, until their chores are complete. You will then have to be true to your word. If the dishes aren't washed or the yard work is incomplete, make sure that the TV is off, the video games are powered down, the phones are in your possession and basically that anything that they would consider fun is out of reach. Consequences help to drive actions. DEAR HARRIETTE: My family has a history of breast cancer, and I am nearing an age where my rate of developing cancer is getting higher. I have been considering getting a preventive double mastectomy. Although this is not necessary for me right now, I want the closest thing to 100 percent certainty that I will see my grandchildren get married. I have spoken to my doctor, and he recommends waiting on the mastectomy, provided I get frequent checkups to see if I develop something. However, he does note that I should do whatever I am most comfortable with. My husband has told the rest of my family about my medical dilemma, and now I am getting opinions from all sides. I want my medical opinions coming from my doctor only. -- Risky Business, Washington, D.C. DEAR RISKY BUSINESS: It is understandable that you would be nervous about your health, given your family history. But it is also wise for you to consult with your doctor -- and to get a second opinion. Consult another cancer specialist, and have that doctor review your medical history to give you a second recommendation. I have spoken to many women who have a family history of breast cancer who have made a range of choices based upon medical input and their own instincts. There now are a host of tests that can help to pinpoint the likelihood of you getting cancer. Take advantage of the new technology before taking extreme action. By all means, stay on top of your health. DEAR HARRIETTE: Upon moving into my house, my landlord said utilities were included in my rent. After a month of living here, I received an electricity bill and called my landlord. He didn't pick up, but texted me that it was my responsibility. His statement about utilities wasn't in the lease, but he made a verbal promise to me. Is there any way I could make him honor his promise now that he's trying to make me foot the bill? -- Lights Off, Jackson, Mississippi DEAR LIGHTS OFF: This is why you must read the fine print. It is your word against your landlord's, and your rental agreement does not support your word. If at all possible, try again to have a direct conversation with your landlord. Appeal to his humanity. Tell him that you created a tight monthly budget based upon numbers that are now changing because he has changed his terms. Ask him to help you out. Remind him how much you enjoy living in this house, but you really need his help by honoring the verbal agreement he made with you. If you cannot get to him in person, you can try having this conversation via text. If you get him to admit that he did verbally agree to paying the utilities, you could take him to court. But it is likely that you are going to have to pay this utility bill. You will have to balance out whether the headache, time and possible cost of attempting to get your landlord to honor his word is worth it. Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106 SHARE The following editorial appeared in Friday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: President Barack Obama's decision to put 615 more American troops into the Iraq War, announced Wednesday, is curiously at odds with the peace-builder legacy that he would seem to be working on with his trip to Israel to attend the funeral of Israeli peace-seeker and fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres. The argument for the move, to beef up the fight against the Islamic State, bringing the U.S. troop level in Iraq to 5,180 in the face of Obama's long-ago campaign pledge to end the Iraq War, is weak. The United States already has underway military involvement not only in the 13-year-plus Iraq conflict, but also in Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen with little effect. Why raise the level of exposure of U.S. troops in the region further now? The second argument for increasing U.S. involvement in the Iraq conflict at this point is to raise prospects of fulfilling the boast of U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter on Sept. 8 that Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, both Islamic State strongholds, would fall to U.S.-led forces "within months." That is to say, before the U.S. presidential elections. In other words, the fall of Mosul and Raqqa would add to Obama's credentials as a forceful military leader before he left office. There are some strong arguments against increasing U.S. troop involvement in Iraq at this point. The first is that the Iraqi national army, which U.S. forces are supplying and training, continues to show itself relatively toothless on the battlefield meaning that U.S. forces will play a prominent role in whatever assault on Mosul occurs. Washington has yet to explain coherently why Americans should care one way or the other who holds Mosul, or Raqqa, for that matter. The argument that taking Mosul would validate continued U.S. support of the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the policy of building it a credible national army has a vaguely "dog-chasing-its-tail" quality to it. If Abadi's government had the general support of the Iraqi people, they would put in the field a credible national army on their own account, and his government would not need more American troops to fight its battles. Obama's decision to increase U.S. forces in Iraq at this point seems wrong, and may become even more costly when an offensive to take Mosul begins. SHARE The following editorial appeared in Thursday's San Diego Union-Tribune: SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk used a speech last Tuesday at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, to outline how he thinks Mars can be colonized in coming decades. Instead of snickers, Musk's vision of humans as a multi-planet species has been met more by warnings about the challenges that lie ahead and by applause for having the courage to think big. Musk hopes to use massive reusable rockets, engine and fuel technologies that have yet to be invented, and 1,000 spaceships to send enough humans to Mars that eventually there could be a colony of 1 million. He is planning an unmanned mission to Mars in 2018 and thinks SpaceX could take humans there as soon as 2025. The audacity of his vision is breathtaking and welcome. "Life needs to be more than just solving problems every day. You need to wake up and be excited about the future, and be inspired, and want to live," Musk said in his speech. Amen. Life in the 21st century increasingly has the promise of century-old John Carter science fiction serials. For all of our personal and planetary concerns, this is a very cool time to be alive. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe To OUR Gourmet Retailer Readers While Gourmet Retailer no longer exists as a separate print publication and website, Progressive Grocer will continue to feature new content about boutique retailing in our ongoing coverage of Independent Grocers. Please update your Gourmet Retailer bookmark and check our Independent Grocers topic page regularly for updates and fresh content. -- The Progressive Grocer Team Safe Republican (133 electoral votes) Likely Republican (21 electoral votes) Lean Republican (62 electoral votes) Tossup (59 electoral votes) Lean Democratic (80 electoral votes) Likely Democratic (25 electoral votes) Safe Democratic (158 electoral votes) The race for the White House is a lot closer now than it was the last time we handicapped the Electoral College on Aug. 18.While Hillary Clinton is still better positioned to win the presidency than Donald Trump, her margin for error has shrunk -- even though she was widely perceived to have won the first debate.Currently, we project that Clinton has 263 electoral votes and Trump has 216. Clinton's total is down from the 272 and 280 she had in our August and March handicapping , respectively. Trump's total is up from 181 in August and March.But perhaps more important, the Democratic candidate is now below the crucial 270 electoral vote threshold that she needs to win the presidency. That means she would have to win one or more of the four tossup states to capture the White House.According to our analysis, some combination of four tossup states -- Colorado, Florida, Nevada and North Carolina -- will now determine which candidate wins.Three of these four states had already been included in our tossup category in August. The newcomer is Colorado and its nine electoral votes. While one poll released in early October had Clinton ahead in the state by double digits, that followed a month of tight survey results.Our assessment -- based on interviews with political analysts as well as recent polling data -- categorizes states as either safe Republican, likely Republican, lean Republican, tossup, lean Democratic, likely Democratic or safe Democratic. Within each category, the states run from most likely to vote Republican to most likely to vote Democratic.The recent shift to Trump stems from his success in several states we previously considered tossups. Each of these states remains a battleground in our analysis, but they now tip modestly toward Trump.The most striking of these shifts is Ohio, the fabled bellwether state. In the three election cycles since we've been handicapping the Electoral College, Ohio has never left the tossup category -- until now. In recent weeks, Trump has made gains in the polls thanks to favorable demographics -- a sizable white, working-class population that is receptive to his message. As a result, Ohio has shifted to lean Republican.Iowa is another state we're moving from tossup to lean Republican. It voted twice for Barack Obama, but it has a significant population of white working-class voters and relatively few minorities, a group more favorable to Clinton.Until recently, we had placed Missouri in the tossup category even though the onetime swing state had slipped into the GOP column in recent presidential cycles. But after some close polling early in the campaign, the state's presidential preference appears to be reverting to its recent redder tinge, so we're moving it to lean Republican.The final switch that boosted Trump's electoral vote count in our analysis involves Maine, a state in which the statewide vote winner gets two electoral votes and the winner of the vote in each of its two congressional districts gets one electoral vote each.Previously, we had rated Maine's 2nd congressional district a tossup, but more recent polling shows a Trump advantage in the high single digits. So we're moving it to lean Republican. At the same time we have moved the electoral vote for the state's 1st congressional district -- which is more solid territory for Clinton -- to safe Democratic, while the two statewide electoral votes remain in the lean Democratic category.During Trump's September surge, the polls narrowed significantly in several states we have been categorizing as lean Democratic, notably Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. While we are keeping these states in the lean Democratic category for now, we're relieved that we didn't shift them to likely Democratic in August. At the time, Clinton was registering high single-digit or even double-digit polling leads.Of them, Pennsylvania, with 20 electoral votes, is especially pivotal. A Trump victory there -- potentially enabled by historically strong margins among blue-collar white voters in the southwestern part of the state -- could vastly ease his path to the White House.But based on discussions with experts in the state, we're keeping Pennsylvania in the lean Democratic category, albeit in the spot adjoining the tossup category. Trump faces a challenge wooing voters - even Republicans -- in the populous and more affluent southeastern counties surrounding Philadelphia.Similarly, polling margins have narrowed in Michigan, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin. But polling taken after the first debate shows that Clinton has recovered some of the ground she had lost earlier in September, so we're keeping these states in the lean Democratic column for now.While Clinton has kept one red state from 2012 in serious contention -- North Carolina -- she has not moved the needle much in two other historically red states that seem like potential targets for her in 2016: Arizona and Georgia. So we're keeping them in the lean Republican category for now.While Clinton's edge over Trump has shrunk in our current assessment, it's important to note that by recent historical standards, her edge remains reasonably healthy.In our final handicapping of the 2012 cycle , Obama had 237 electoral votes leaning his way -- significantly fewer than Clinton has now. And Clinton's current 263 electoral vote total matches what Obama had in our final 2008 handicapping when he defeated U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.The one electoral vote in Maine's 1st congressional district that shifted toward Clinton is the only one that went in her direction in our new analysis. Every other shift between categories benefited Trump, although many of the switches in Trump's direction are relatively unimportant because they came in states that are not considered key battlegrounds for either party.For instance, we have moved two solidly red states -- Kansas and Utah -- from likely Republican to safe Republican. While Trump is expected to underperform compared to previous Republican nominees in each of these states, we've concluded that Trump has a big enough cushion in both that he won't need to worry about losing either state.Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, we're moving three states -- Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island -- from safe Democratic to likely Democratic. We're not doing this because we expect Trump to be genuinely competitive in these historically Democratic states -- he almost certainly won't be. Rather, we're being prudent in the face of some polls that suggest tighter-than-normal margins for a Democratic nominee.The remaining shifts in our current handicapping involve states that are on the fringes of being competitive but are significantly less crucial than the main battlegrounds.One is Nebraska, the only state other than Maine that allocates electoral votes by congressional district. We previously classified one of Nebraska's electoral votes as lean Republican, but with Trump's recent gains, we've switched that to likely Republican.The other two states we've shifted -- Minnesota and New Mexico -- are ones where we still expect the Democrats to win, but where Clinton's current margins are relatively narrow. In New Mexico, for instance, the presence of Libertarian Gary Johnson on the ballot poses a particular threat to Clinton; Johnson previously served two terms as governor of New Mexico and took 24 percent of the vote in one recent poll.Here is our current state-by-state breakdown. States listed in bold have switched since our August handicapping:Alabama (9), Alaska (3), Arkansas (6), Idaho (4),, Kentucky (8), Louisiana (8), Mississippi (6), Montana (3), Nebraska (4 of 5 electoral votes), North Dakota (3), Oklahoma (7), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (11), Texas (38),, West Virginia (5) and Wyoming (3)Indiana (11), South Carolina (9),Georgia (16),, Arizona (11),Nevada (6), North Carolina (15), Florida (29),Pennsylvania (20), Wisconsin (10), Michigan (16), Maine (2 of 4 electoral votes), New Hampshire (4), Virginia (13),California (55), Delaware (3), District of Columbia (3), Hawaii (4), Illinois (20),, Maryland (10), Massachusetts (11), New York (29), Oregon (7), Vermont (3), and Washington state (12) The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a bill passed by the state Legislature to restrict abortion is unconstitutional.Senate Bill 642, which was passed in 2015 but did not go into effect pending court action, sought to add new requirements to abortion providers and would have penalized them for violations.It would have made it a felony for a person to help a minor obtain an abortion without parental consent.It would have authorized the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to create new protocols for statutory rape investigations and required abortion providers to preserve fetal tissue when an abortion was performed on someone under 14 years old. The tissue would be used to aid those investigations.It also sought to grant authority to the state Board of Health to create new policies and procedures for licensing abortion facilities.The court ruled the legislation covered multiple subjects in violation of the Oklahoma Constitution.It also found that the bill placed "undue burdens on access to abortion under the guise of protecting the health of women."Representatives of The Center for Reproductive Rights, which filed the lawsuit, praised the court decision."Today's decision is a critical victory for Oklahoma women and their doctors, who will no longer face the threat of criminal prosecution simply for providing safe and legal health care to their patients," said Nancy Northup, president and chief executive officer of the center."This law was nothing but a cynical attack on women's health and rights by unjustly targeting their trusted health care providers."She said the center has challenged Oklahoma abortion laws eight times."The center has a 100 percent success rate for concluded cases challenging Oklahoma restrictions on reproductive health care services," Northup said.Senate Bill 642, authored by Sen. Greg Treat and Rep. Randy Grau was passed 40-5 in the Senate and 70-5 in the House. It was signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin on June 4, 2015.Treat and Grau did not immediately respond to calls for comment.Larry A. Burns, a Norman medical doctor who performs abortions, was the plaintiff. As the news media were scrutinizing lane closures at the George Washington Bridge in 2013, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo decided that the Port Authority should issue a report in an effort to "put an end" to questions about September traffic jams in Fort Lee, N.J., according to testimony Tuesday in federal court here.The report would explain to the public "what happened" the week of the Sept. 9-13 lane closures, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey "would take responsibility for a failure in communications," David Wildstein, a former Port Authority official, told jurors Tuesday."It would lay out steps to prevent something like this from happening again," Wildstein said. "The questions regarding the lane closures would go away."Wildstein said he believed Christie, a Republican, and Cuomo, a Democrat, discussed the idea of a report in October 2013, a month following the lane closures. Wildstein previously testified that Christie was told about the traffic jams on Sept. 11. Christie has said he doesn't recall that conversation and has denied knowledge of the lane closures.Port Authority Chairman David Samson; Regina Egea, head of the authorities unit in the governor's office; and Charles McKenna, Christie's chief counsel, were also involved in the decision to issue a report, Wildstein said. Patrick Foye, the Port Authority's executive director and a Cuomo appointee, would sign off on it, according to Wildstein.The report was never issued, but Wildstein's testimony, under cross-examination from a defense attorney in the bridge case, raised the prospect that the governors who controlled the Port Authority were engaged in a cover-up that prosecutors say was perpetrated to conceal the true purpose of the lane closures: political retribution.Wildstein didn't specifically say what explanation the report was to offer regarding the lane closures. But he has testified that the cover story was that the lane closures were part of a traffic study.Michael Critchley Sr., an attorney for former Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly, asked Wildstein whether Christie "was mad at Foye for meddling in New Jersey affairs." Wildstein said that was his understanding, based on his conversations with Samson.The testimony came as the trial of Bill Baroni, Christie's former top executive appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Kelly, Christie's former deputy chief of staff, entered its third week.Baroni and Kelly are charged with conspiracy and misusing Port Authority resources, among other counts. Wildstein pleaded guilty in 2015 to felony conspiracy charges and is cooperating with the government, he says, in hopes of avoiding prison.Prosecutors allege that Baroni and Kelly conspired with Wildstein and others to cause massive traffic jams at the George Washington Bridge in September 2013 as a means of punishing a local mayor for his refusal to endorse Christie's re-election campaign that year. On Tuesday, in the evening, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted a reception to acknowledge Queenslands education and training sectors where the Governor addressed guests. Description GIS - 05 October, 2016: Governments Vision 2030 already paves the way to meet the vision of the Agenda 2063 of the African Union, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr P. Jhugroo, said this morning at the opening of a workshop on Agenda 2063: First Ten-Year Implementation Plan Domestication, at the Labourdonais Hotel, Caudan Waterfront, Port-Louis. The Workshop is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade. Governments Vision 2030 already paves the way to meet the vision of the Agenda 2063 of the African Union, He added that Mauritius will have a crucial role to play to ensure that Africa becomes a powerhouse in various fields such as trade and manufacturing amongst others. The Workshop is being attended by some 50 participants from different ministries and will cover the following themes: National Planning system, Blue Ocean Economy, the Manufacturing economy and Capacity building and resource mobilisation. Agenda 2063 is a plan for Africas structural transformation that was agreed upon by the African Union Golden Jubilee of May 2013 and was presented in three key documents namely: A technical document that contains the vision for 2063, a comprehensive situational analysis of key issues, the goals, priorities, targets and indicative strategies, as well as proposals on Making it happen dealing with implementation, monitoring and evaluation; Agenda 2063 Popular version and first ten year Implementation Plan (2013-2023). ATLANTA The greater Atlanta area is experiencing unprecedented population growth, and with that growth comes substantial strain on the citys largely unprepared infrastructure and public services.This increasing pressure to meet the growing public demand has technology leaders looking to smarter infrastructure and actionable data as a means to bridge the widening gap and better serve the city's expanding constituency.During the Georgia Digital Government Summit* held Sept. 30, Atlanta CIO Samir Saini shared his vision for what the Atlanta of the future will be capable of not based on a desire to be on the bleeding edge, but out of sheer necessity.According to Sainis figures, roughly 50 percent of migration occurring within the United States is centered on the southeastern portions of the country, which is helping to make Atlanta the eighth largest metro area.The CIO, who took to the citys top tech spot in July 2014 , told attendees that being smarter as a city, including services, was the only way to meet the population explosion head on.So, big deal, right? Yeah, were growing, great, Saini said. Well, the big deal is that this growth is already causing, and will continue to cause, challenges around mobility in our city, around public safety, around the environment and ultimately impact economic growth, unless we get ahead of it and start being smart.One potentially low-hanging fruit is the approximately 70,000 streetlights in the jurisdiction, none of which are currently connected, Saini said, referring to them as dumb lights.When one goes out, the city relies on the public or a roving worker to spot and report it. In the not-so-distant future, he hopes connected streetlights will not only be able to report outages, but collect valuable information on the environments around them.Its the reverse of how we operate today, Saini said, adding that in one effort to drive the city forward, a section of the heavily traveled North Avenue will serve as the proving grounds for connected infrastructure.The pilot project, a partnership between the city and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), has already started collecting real-time data, including lane-level vehicle counts, speed, flow and volume, through embedded cameras and sensors.The busy city street will allow city officials to deploy and test solutions on a small scale to move the needle in the right direction, Saini said, which ultimately is about leveraging collected data in more meaningful ways.Its not about the tech[nology]," he said. "Its about the data and the use of data to make more informed decisions around how we can improve services, engage with citizens, create transparency in government and improve the overall livability of our city and sustain the economic growth that we are seeing."Coupled with a planned municipal fiber network, Atlantas team hopes to improve data collection and the actionable intelligence available to its various partners and external interests.But it isnt just the need for smarter infrastructure that has Saini reworking the citys strategy. The fact that an overwhelming number of newcomers to the municipality and surrounding area are millennials has his team rethinking what the most basic access to government looks like in 2016.He argues that while other generations accepted traveling to city hall to fulfill a service or access a form, millennials demand more instant channels to the queue of city services.Millennials are definitely moving into the city of Atlanta, and Im sure the same is happening in the other regions in the area, he said. The expectation of these millennials in terms of government services [is something] we have to acknowledge and adjust to.Government Technology (TNS) SpaceXs investigation into the mysterious explosion of its rocket last month is drawing political support and branching out in unusual directions.A bipartisan group of 24 members of Congress many of whose interests align with those of SpaceX have sent a letter to the heads of the Air Force, NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration praising the agencies roles in assisting or overseeing SpaceXs investigation into its September launch pad explosion that destroyed a Falcon 9 rocket and a communications satellite.That comes a week after 10 Republican House members, including a number of representatives whose districts host space operations by the companys competition, criticized SpaceXs role in leading the investigation.In the latest letter, dated Sept. 30, the congressional members said they were pleased that the FAA is maintaining a strong and prudent oversight role that appropriately draws upon private sector insight in ensuring a robust investigative process and safe return to flight for SpaceX.The House members, led by Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, also supported NASA and the Air Forces roles in assisting the investigation, saying it is consistent with long-standing accident investigation procedures.We are confident that current NASA and Air Force procedures will ensure that future U.S. government missions that utilize the Falcon 9, and any other launch vehicle system, will undergo appropriate flight worthiness evaluations prior to flight, the letter states.NASA and the Air Force said they received the letter and are reviewing it. The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The letter sharply contrasts with and at one point appears to rebuke the letter sent last week by SpaceX critics.Those critics, led by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., suggested instead that NASA or the Air Force should take charge to ensure that proper investigative engineering rigor is applied and that the outcomes are sufficient to prevent NASA and military launch mishaps in the future.Accidents are unfortunate events and accident investigations should not be politicized, the letter led by Flores states. We encourage you to to reject calls for your organizations to abandon established, well-considered and long-standing procedures.Under federal law, SpaceX is allowed to conduct its own investigation. SpaceX, whose full name is Space Exploration Technologies Corp., and other companies lobbied successfully to extend the law last year. The FAA oversees such investigations.Flores congressional district includes McGregor, Texas, where SpaceX has a rocket development facility. Among the letter signers were several members of Congress who represent states where Hawthorne-based SpaceX has operations, including California.Coffmans congressional district includes the headquarters of United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. that had long held a lucrative monopoly on national security launches until SpaceX was certified by the Air Force in 2015 to compete for these contracts.Meanwhile, the explosion investigation veered off in an unexpected direction when The Washington Post reported last week that in an attempt to chase down all possible leads, a SpaceX employee asked for access to the roof of a nearby building leased by ULA after SpaceX officials had come across something suspicious they wanted to check out.Citing unnamed industry sources, The Washington Post said the encounter between the SpaceX employee and ULA officials was cordial, not accusatory, and that the SpaceX worker had still images from a video showing an odd shadow, then a white spot on the roof of the ULA building. ULA ultimately denied the SpaceX employee access to the roof, instead calling the Air Force to come and inspect, according to the Washington Post.In a statement, ULA said it cooperated with the Air Forces 45th Space Wing and nothing associated with the SpaceX accident was found.SpaceX said its accident investigation team has an obligation to consider all possible causes of the anomaly, and that the firm would not comment on any specific potential cause until the investigation was complete.We have sought all available data to support the investigation in a timely manner following the anomaly, as expected for any responsible investigation, SpaceX said in a statement.About two weeks ago, SpaceX said a preliminary review of the data suggested that a large breach took place in the helium system of the upper-stage liquid oxygen tank. The cause of the breach is still unknown. Many state IT leaders are achieving results leveraging data across agencies, while others are still working on establishing the necessary policies to enable the breakdown of departmental data silos.At the NASCIO annual conference in Orlando last month, Mississippi CIO Craig Orgeron offered a few key takeaways from the state's Lifetracks program, described as an interoperable data system. Uniting information on all levels of education from early childhood education to post-secondary policymakers can make projections about workforce needs and adopt policies that drive economic development. For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers. Jaci Gross, (Miss G) gets her certificate at Santiago, Spain, for finishing a 500-mile hike across France and Northern Spain last summer. She completed the task in 37 days, and has her eyes set on a similar hike in the near future, this one across Portugal to Santiago. A good pair of walking shoes and a cot at night. Those were the essentials for Miss G's 500-mile trek last summer on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage across Spain. "Miss G" is Jaci Gross, a 16-year teacher at Lake Roosevelt Elementary School, where students know her affectionately by that name. Her long trek, actually a pilgrimage, traced the centuries-long route from the Pyrenees Mountains in France, across Northern Spain, and finally ending at Santiago. It is the route of St. James (the apostle) that has lured pilgrims for centuries along the route of rugged mountains, long stretches of lowlands and finally to the resting place of St. James. The 500-mile trek took 37 days, including one of those days in a local hospital to treat blistered soles before getting back on the trail again. That's about the distance from Coulee Dam through Yakima, through Portland, then 178 miles south to Roseburg, Oregon. The route is more than a trail. It winds its way across Northern Spain, in and out of very small and ancient villages along the way. What would inspire a person to take such a trek? "I saw a piece on Oprah, 'The Way' with Martin Sheen, and then the documentary 'Six Ways to Santiago,'" she said. She was hooked! Alone, and with little knowledge of what she was getting into, Miss G flew to Paris and then traveled to St. Jean Pied de Port, where her trek had its French beginnings. Gross had some basic French language skills, but suddenly found herself in the Basque Separatist area, where she was confronted with a real language test, and that test followed her all across Northern Spain, where very little English is spoken. Villages where "pilgrims" have visited for centuries were every 15 to 20 kilometers apart - and just the right distances for a day hike and an overnight stay. No tents or heavy burdens in these backpacks. "I was usually so exhausted after walking each day that I collapsed on the hostel cots at night," Gross said. It was looking down and keeping one foot in front of the other the whole trip, Gross acknowledged. Gross joined companions from Denmark and Alabama, and they were together frequently on the trail. In such a short time, those fellow travelers have "become the closest of friends," Gross stated. Her backpack, totaling 23 pounds, held one change of clothing, an extra pair of shoes, a guide book and a rock. A rock? It was the tradition of pilgrims to carry a rock, representing a burden in their own life, and then leave it at a small village, Cruz de Fero, along the route. Her extra shoes were given to a Danish woman who was suffering from blisters along the way, cutting her backpack load by a couple of pounds. A typical day included rising at 6 a.m., and hitting the trail by 7. At 11 a.m., it was time for food, then at 3 p.m. a stop at a local hostel. At 7, Gross stated, it was the evening meal and then the cot. "The terrain in the beginning was brutal," Gross said. "The trails in the Pyrenees were incredibly steep and treacherous ... Sheep, cows and horses atop the massive green mountains were breathtaking and seemingly unreal." But Gross found the next stage of the trail, called the "Meseta," the most difficult. "It was hot, often in the 90's," she said. One day she walked 17 miles with nothing in between. Heat caused blisters to form. "Heat exhaustion, infection and blisters were common, and volunteer doctors were located in the villages to help people," Gross said. Popping blisters, using antibiotic spray and wrapping her feet became part of the daily routine. But blisters finally caught up to Gross in Sahugun, Spain, where she lost a day for hospital attention to her feet. "This was the lowest point for me on the trail," Gross said. The final stage of the trail was the "Spiritual Stage," Gross acknowledged. Gross got her first look at Santiago about four miles out at a place called the "Mountain of Hope." At Santiago, Gross entered the cathedral that housed the body of St. James. "We could look at the actual body," Gross explained. Pilgrims must register for the Camino Trail hike. They are sent a pilgrim's passport, and at each stop along the way it is stamped. Finishing the journey, they present their stamped passports, then receive a certificate noting the completion of the 500-mile trek. Gross walked with some Danish women part of the way. And there's talk of Gross returning to the area, this time taking the trail to Santiago from Portugal, a far shorter route. How do you train for a 500-mile hike? "I did a 15-hour hike of the Half Dome, Yosemite National Park once, but hardly a test of surviving," Gross stated. Encounters along the way will probably provide the most lasting memories, Gross said, noting that the people were so friendly. The village people have welcomed pilgrims with a "Buen Camino" greeting along the route for centuries. "Everyone was helpful, from the stays in the albergues (pilgrimage hostels that provided cots) and the food," Gross said. The overnight cots cost from nothing to $10 a night. Gross carried a rock in her backpack, representing a personal burden, and left it atop a huge pile of rocks left by pilgrims across the centuries at Cruz de Fero. Rocks have been placed under this towering cross for over 2,000 years. Gross started with $1,000 and ended 37 days later with $50. She communicated through Facebook, and regularly received messages from friends and family. In addition to the Danish friends she made, one day she walked with Dr. Christopher MacGregor, who is a pioneer in the field of organ transplantation. Is there another long hike ahead? "I would do it again in a heartbeat," Gross stated. Meanwhile she takes walks. A "walk" to Gross is a 13-mile hike up in the Coulee hills. Just a few days ago, she took a walk, this time from her Coulee Dam home, to Wilbur. Have you ever walked to Wilbur? Miss G's adventure has inspired Tammy Norris, a secretary at the elementary school, to set her sights on the Santiago trek in 2018, where she also will hear the familiar pilgrim's greeting "Buen Camino" from the villagers along the way. How does Norris plan to prepare for it? Walking - a lot! Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Felipe Massa has admitted his relationship with current engine supplier Mercedes could be the key to his future beyond F1. The Brazilian is retiring from formula one but has targeted DTM, WEC or Formula E as potential alternative series for 2017. And now, it has emerged that Mercedes has taken up an option to potentially join the all-electric single seater series Formula E from 2018. "Electrification will play a major role in the future of the automotive industry," Toto Wolff said. "This will make Formula E very relevant in the future." Massa's relationship with Mercedes, who supply engines to Williams, could also be helpful for the 35-year-old's potential talks to enter the German touring car series DTM. "I think a lot of my relationships can be important for my future," he admitted to Brazil's UOL Esporte. "But to tell you the truth, nothing has been decided. "Things are starting to be discussed now." However, Massa said he is in no rush to decide. "I want to be sure what I am doing," the former Ferrari and Sauber driver explained. "First, my future is not just racing, there are other things to think about as well: work using my image and perhaps coming to some formula one races as well. "Of course I want to race too because it's what I like to do, but there are lot of things to think about as well," said Massa. (GMM) With the driver 'silly season' on pause for now, attention is turning to potential moves among key F1 technical staff. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that James Key, the highly respected technical boss at Toro Rosso, looks set to switch to Williams for 2018. That is because the F1 veteran Pat Symonds is tipped to retire from his role at Williams after turning 65 in two years. Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko commented when asked about Key: "It is possible that after his contract expires (in 2017), he will go to another team." Another top engineer on the move is the extremely highly rated James Allison, who departed Ferrari this year following the sudden death of his wife and rumours he was not happy in Italy. "Allison is linked with many teams," Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt said, mentioning British-based Williams, Renault, McLaren and Red Bull. (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has voiced support for a group of fellow Australians who have been detained in Malaysia following his Sepang race win. Nine men have been in custody since being detained by authorities for stripping to Malaysian flag-decorated underwear beneath the podium last Sunday. Police have said the Australians are charged with public indecency and "intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace" and face jail. Sepang race winner, Australian and Red Bull driver Ricciardo was asked about the incident by the Huffington Post as he prepares for this weekend's grand prix in Japan. "Obviously I'm aware of it, but at the time I wasn't," he said. "At the time they thought it was a bit of harmless fun, and were enjoying the celebrations. It was a while since I won and they were excited. They didn't realise the effect it would have on the locals. "It's a shame but they were in the moment," Ricciardo added. (GMM) A massive recall of sleep apnea machines is expected to drag into next year. That's caused frustration for U.S. patients and led federal officials to consider rare legal steps to speed the replacement effort. Dutch manufacturer Philips has recalled more than 5 million machines worldwide due to foam that can deteriorate, releasing potentially harmful byproducts. While customers were supposed to receive new machines within a year, the company says shipments will continue into 2023. That's left many U.S. patients to choose between using a recalled device or trying other risky remedies. U.S. regulators have warned they may take the unprecedented step of ordering Philips to step up its effort. 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. GREENSBORO - At noon on Thursday, fast food workers and their supporters will hold a rally at McDonald's at 2347 Randleman Road. The rally is a protest against alleged widespread sexual harassment of employees at McDonald's restaurants. The action follows a nationwide filing of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints against the fast food giant. According to media reports, Fight for $15 - a non-profit advocating for higher wages and fair treatment of fast food workers - filed complaints against McDonald's on behalf of 15 of the chain's workers from eight states who claim they are victims of sexual harassment on the job. Fight for $15 has posted a video on it's site of McDonald's workers talking about experiences of alleged sexual harassment. Protesters at the rally will carry signs that read "Put Some Respect in My Check" and demand McDonald's enforce the zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment outlined in its Operations and Training Policies for Franchisees. The Greensboro protest is part of dozens of organized lunchtime protests being held in cities across the country. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD The embattled Royal Bank of Scotland plans to lay off another 24 Stamford-based employees in November, bringing the firms local job cuts to about 200 this year. Reported late last month to the state Department of Labor, the new reductions at RBS Americas headquarters affect employees in several departments including IT. The layoffs represent RBS latest round of downsizing in Stamford, a plan that was implemented in May 2015. RBS declined to comment on the new layoffs, but it had previously issued a statement when asked by Hearst Connecticut Media about earlier cuts. In line with the strategy to make RBS stronger, simpler and more sustainable, we are reducing the size of the bank to focus on our core customers, products and locations, RBS said in the statement. This includes our trading and sales hub in Stamford. The layoffs were decided before the announcement Monday of RBS $120 million settlement with the state to resolve an investigation of its underwriting of residential mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 financial crisis. RBS improperly determined and misstated the quality of mortgage loans underpinning many mortgage-backed securities, according to state Attorney General George Jepsen. RBS declined to comment on whether it plans to make more layoffs beyond the November cuts. The company also declined to comment on its current number of employees in Stamford. Known as one of the United Kingdoms big four banks, RBS sustained an approximately $2.7 billion loss for the first two quarters of 2016. Weve always been pretty upfront that we are in a sort of transitional period over 2015 and 2016, Ewen Stevenson, RBS chief finance officer, said in an August interview with CNBC. The British government became the majority shareholder of Edinburgh-based RBS in late 2008 after the global financial crisis erupted. The government last year began selling shares back to the private sector, but it still owns almost three quarters of the firm. Another European banking giant, UBS, has also recently shrunk its presence in Stamford. This year, it has been moving its employees from a complex across the street on Washington Boulevard to offices within RBS building. RBS owns the building at 600 Washington Blvd., while UBS leases its space there. About 900 UBS employees remain in Stamford, according to company officials. In an interview earlier this year with Hearst Connecticut Media, Catherine Smith, the states economic and community development commissioner, said she was disappointed by RBS and UBS downsizing, but she said that she remained confident about their long-term commitment to Stamford. I follow those two companies in the announcement of their earnings, and theyve both been under considerable financial stress globally, Smith said. I try to remain in contact with them and stay supportive. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Joy Lautenbach looked over the crowd gathered at the Hill House senior complex in Riverside on Wednesday and contemplated the long road that brought them there. Good things come to those who wait, Lautenbach said. But better things come to those who go out and get them. Lautenbach chaired the capital campaign to pay for 24 new units in the development, a multi-year effort that culminated in a ribbon cutting ceremony that attracted some 250 people, including Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. The new homes, creating a south wing attached by a bridge to the existing structure, bring the number of units at Hill House to 61. The project was eight years in the making, including one year of construction. The outcome for this was better than we ever expected, said Sam Telerico, chairman of the Hill House board of directors, citing support from the state, community and residents to make the project a reality. Hill House, an independent, nonprofit corporation, was formed in 1978 to provide housing to low- and modrate-income seniors. The expansion celebrated Wednesday was the result of a public/private partnership, with the state contributing $7.5 million to the project and $750,000 raised privately. Wyman talked about the need for more senior housing in the state, referring to the silver tsunami in Connecticut, a phenomenon she said included herself as she patted her own silver hair in front of the laughing crowd. This is exactly what we have all been struggling for throughout the state, Wyman said. We have been building not only for our seniors, but for our young people who need housing thats affordable and accessible. Our biggest demand in the state right now is for developments like this. Its beautiful housing so that seniors who cant stay in their houses can stay in their communities and still be around their families in towns they know. First Selectman Peter Tesei credited Hill House with helping town seniors have a place to live. Greenwich is a wonderful community no matter what your age, but certainly its important that we provide for and support those who have given to the community so they can remain in the community in their golden years, Tesei said. Hill House provides for that and its a true testament to the value of this community, to this state and to all the people involved. Its great to see when state government and the nonprofit sector get together and work for the right reasons, Wyman said. The governor and all of us know how very, very important it is for projects like these to happen. The crowd included Selectmen Drew Marzullo and John Toner and state Reps. Livvy Floren, Michael Bocchino and Fred Camillo, as well as former Reps. Lile Gibbons and Dolly Powers. It must be a happy day if all our political people are here, Telerico joked. Lautenbach thanked the private donors who assisted with the project. Your generosity has changed the lives of so many elderly, today and in the years to come, she said. The celebration was not limited to government officials. Hill House residents, like 93-year-old Geraldine Christophersen, were on hand. Christophersen moved to Hill House recently, but she came to Greenwich when she was a child, and said she was thrilled to be able to stay in the community. Its wonderful, absolutely wonderful, Christophersen said. I love it. I love the activity. Theres so many great people and Im not alone. Its really very, very nice here. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH It was an event intended to educate students on local politics at a time when all eyes are glued to the national presidential election. On Tuesday afternoon, Greenwichs Republican Town Committee Chair Stephen Walko spoke to high-school aged Stanwich School students about the players, the structures, the issues in both Greenwich and Connecticut government and the role of the Republican party within them. Local government impacts your life much more than you think, said Walko, who serves in the towns Representative Town Meeting and on the Board of Estimate and Taxation. In 2011, Walko was elected as a state representative in the General Assembly, representing the 150th District, a position now held by Mike Bocchino. We in Hartford pass bills all the time pertaining to dogs and cats and trees and things that are important to you and things that arent important to you, he said. But trust me, they impact every single day of your life on how the government interacts with its citizens. Walko showed a video, Why I Am Republican, produced by the College Republican National Committee, which encouraged students to embrace the fresh ideas and the fresh approach of the Republican Party. Then, he tested students knowledge of town and state politics by asking them how many congressmen the state has and what percentage of Connecticut voters are Republicans. Although there are few local elections this year, Walko urged students to remain engaged in local politics, calling it of critical importance. Theres a lot with this election in 2016 that is not the norm, he said. Im really here not to just talk about Republican values or where we are with the Republican party, but really to make sure you are engaged in this. Walkos presentation also touched on voter registration and identification laws in the state and nationally. In order to ensure the integrity of the voting system, how can you not have a photo ID to say, its me? he asked. Thats the conversation thats been going across the country. The students focused most of their questions on national political issues from the Republican Partys stance on environmental issues and police brutality to Donald Trump. How would you defend your partys stance on gun control and having such over-the-top weapons legal for purchase in the United States? asked senior Alex Gardner, his hand flying in the air as soon as the floor was opened for questions. I believe, at least for my family, it really separates a lot of people from your party. Walko prefaced his response by suggesting that perhaps the Republican party was not as on point with social issues as it was with its conservative fiscal policies. When it comes to gun control, I think you have to weigh the balance between your constitutional rights and your right to bear arms versus the safety and welfare of other citizens, he said. I think what youre seeing is an evolution in the theory, or the thought process, of predominately Republicans... and I think we will see a continued trend in that direction. This event was the first of its kind at Stanwich School. Next week, Stanwich will be visited by Democratic Town Committee Chair Jeff Ramer, who will hold a similar assembly for the same group of students. Mother of a former Stanwich student and RTC and RTM member Wynn McDaniel organized the events after pitching the idea of bringing local politicians to Stanwich to Upper School Head Jerome Murphy. I just wanted them to learn a little more about local government and Connecticut government, said McDaniel. I think people focus only on the presidential elections. I think we have a lot of campaigns going on (in the state) that people dont really know about. Upper School history teacher Chris Hughes, who teaches the schools AP US government course, said he thought the event was informative for his students, who are more curious about politics than ever this year. I think it helps to hear from an experienced political representative or operative what its really like and what distinguishes one party from another, said Hughes. You can tell from his answers that were living in complicated times. Theres not easy solutions to any of these issues. emunson@hearstmediact.com; @emiliemunson GREENWICH Edgar Marroquin Arauz, 20, of Orchard Street, Stamford, was charged with failure to appear in court on Sunday. Marroquin was arrested in 2015 on charges of assault and disorderly conduct. Authorities said he failed to appear in court on those earlier criminal charges, and police apprehended him on a warrant. Bail was set at $10,000, and Marroquin was ordered to appear in court Oct. 11. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Is it just us, or are rumors starting to come in earlier and earlier these days? Just a quick skim through the news section managed to reveal quite a bit of info on next year's Samsung Galaxy S8. Now we are starting to hear about its internals as well. A new rumor claims that Samsung just signed a deal with Qualcomm, making the Korean giant the exclusive manufacturer for next year's Snapdragon 830 SoC. Furthermore, the chip will be made using a new Samsung 10nm process. This idea has been tossed around the rumor mill before. And if you remember way back in February 2015 Samsung did mention that FinFET is actually easily scalable down to 7nm and that there is no real technical difficulty before the 5nm mark. The new process will be co-developed between the two companies. It will allegedly be called FoPLP (Fan-out Panel Level Package) and will aim to eliminate the need for printed circuit boards for the package substrate. This will reduce the production costs and should also make it easier to integrate I/O ports and make the overall package even thinner. Needless to say, the improved process will also optimize power-efficiency. All this, combined with some past knowledge, leaves little wiggle room in terms of the chipset in the Galaxy S8. Half will use Samsung's in-house Exynos 8895 chip, while the other will rely on a Snapdragon 830. If the rumors are true, both will be made by Samsung on a 10nm process, which could potentially shrink any performance difference down to a minimum. However, the competition isn't sleeping either. TSMC is also hopping on board the 10nm wave, so the contest will be just as interesting as any other year. Source (in Korean) Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 140 mph, slammed into Haitis southern peninsula in the early morning hours of Tue., Oct. 4, leaving a swath of ripped off roofs, stripped trees, raging rivers, and flooded streets. The storm dumped over two feet of rain water on Haiti in the space of 24 hours. At press time, the storm-caused death toll in Haiti was only three, although officials expect it to rise as reports from remote and flooding-isolated regions come in. In the southern coastal town of Port Salut, over which the eye of the hurricane passed, a 26-year-old man drowned trying to rescue a child who fell into a rain-swollen river, according to the Associated Press. The child was saved. Reuters reported that another man in Port Salut, too sick to leave his home, died when water flooded it. Haitis first casualty was a fisherman who was lost in heavy seas on Sep. 30, as the storm approached from the south. His body has been recovered. Matthew has also killed four in the Dominican Republic, one in Colombia, and one in St. Vincent. The cities of Les Cayes and Jeremie, between which the storm passed, were both severely flooded. The picturesque white-sand beach of Port Salut, which has drawn much tourist development in recent years, was severely damaged and washed away, according to preliminary reports. High winds and rain from the outer bands of the massive storm also lashed Port-au-Prince and Haitis north as the storm barreled into Cubas eastern tip later in the day on Oct. 4. Most Haitians expect that the long-awaited presidential and legislative elections scheduled for Sun., Oct. 9 will have to be postponed as the Haitian government struggles with bringing relief to hurricane victims and repairing damaged infrastructure. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) said on Tuesday that the elections would go forward as scheduled, but temporarily suspended electoral activities. The Ladigue bridge on Route National #2 in Petit Goave was washed out by a swollen river, cutting off access to the hard-hit southern peninsula. The U.S. Navy is sending an aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, and an amphibious transport dock, the Mesa Verde, to assist in disaster relief, according to the Navy Times. This comes at Haitis request, according to a U.S. Agency for International Development spokesman. U.S. Southern Command has also redeployed nine Marine helicopters and 100 personnel from Honduras to Grand Cayman to prepare for relief operations, according to a SOUTHCOM release, the Navy Times wrote. The low death toll may be due to the fact that the Haitian government mobilized its very limited resources to be able to relocate over 18,000 people to 672 shelters mostly schools and government buildings. In a press conference by President Jocelerme Privert just hours before the storm hit, the government announced that it was distributing hot meals, 1,250 blankets, and drinking water in Jeremie. Already 2,758 people have been evacuated, including 937 in the Grand-Anse department, 613 in Nippes, 739 in the South, and 319 in the Southeast department. The government also announced that it had already mobilized several thousand gallons of gasoline for vehicle service, [a] radio communication system ... for the departments of Grand Anse and the South, and the Haitian Red Cross while eight out of ten hospitals are functional. On Oct. 3, Haitis Culture and Communication Ministry also blasted cybercriminals [who] are trying to take advantage of the special situation caused by Hurricane Matthews passage across Haiti to create panic and confusion, by circulating on social networks, various erroneous or fabricated information. Some Tweets and Facebook postings had given false accounts of terrible destruction and death tolls. The speed with which Hurricane Matthew became a Category 4 storm surprised many meteorologists, leading many to attribute its rapid growth to global warming. In her recent book entitled We Have Dared to Be Free: Haiti's Struggle Against Occupation, Haitian scientist turned author Dady Chery wrote the following: Scientific projections have made clear that during the next 25 years or so, global warming will generate increasingly more catastrophic weather events that will result in the destruction of most of the worlds port cities and disappearance of many islands. Fires, floods, droughts, erosion of top soil, reduced landmass, decreased ocean salinities, loss of glacier water, and massive animal die offs, will put tremendous pressure on human populations. It is not a matter of if, but when, a hurricane as strong or stronger than typhoon Haiyan will hit the Gulf of Mexico and all of its oil rigs. This one-two punch of climate change and human technology will make the Exxon Valdez and BP oil spills look like mere puddles. The relentless auto-cannibalism of global corporatism will seize future disasters as opportunities for repression, exploitation, destruction of national sovereignty, and the creation of safe havens for the mega-rich under the protection of their private armies. Supranational armies such as the UN peacekeepers and supranational agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are meant to serve as corporate tools to unravel national and cultural specificity for the new world order. Dr. Cherys thoughts are important to ponder as Haiti wrestles with yet another natural disaster. Haiti - Matthew : The Government will assess the damage The hurricane Matthew moves away from Haiti, and is located 215km northwest of Turtle Island, 70km north of Cuba, but today isexpected according to the National Meteorological Centre (CNM) "continues moderate rain with some wind gusts back the Hurricane Matthew. Rain conditions and of gusts of wind are still evident. Therefore, the risk of flooding accompanied by mudslides and cases of coastal flooding are possible across the country with a higher intensity for the coastal regions of Grande Anse, Nippes, Artibonite and North-west." Recall that the SPGRD together with the CNM, the SEMANAH the OFNAC and AAN prohibits all cabotage operations in coastal areas of country in particular the South coast and the Gulf of Gonave as well as the airline operations from and to Haiti until further notice. Time for assessment "Tomorrow morning [Wednesday] as soon as weather permits it and the roads are re-opened the Government, ministers, the Prime Minister, the President, everyone in the State will travel around all the places in the country that are disaster to assess the damage, to provide answers than the circumstances require," declared President de facto Jocelerme Privert. The Minister of the Interior said that President Privert planned [if weather permitting]to fly over Wednesday by helicopter, the affected areas and to meet on place local authorities in order to assess the situation. The authorities have drawn up a provisional toll of 5 dead, one missing and extensive damage, Francois Joseph Annick, the Minister of the Interior said that the first reported casualties totaled 5 dead people (2 in the west and 3 in the South) and one missing person and a dozen injured. Also there were 14.530 people who have been displaced, 2,703 families are affected and 1,885 houses are flooded. Francois Joseph Annick reiterated the call of the Government to be cautious and that the population observes the safety instructions. Also he encourages national and international solidarity and asks international organizations to coordinate interventions with government. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18822-haiti-flash-matthew-be-careful-it-s-not-over.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18821-haiti-flash-the-bridge-ladigue-collapses-situation-west-pap.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18816-haiti-flash-blackout-on-port-au-prince-les-cayes-flooded.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18812-haiti-flash-matthew-the-situation-across-the-country.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18809-haiti-flash-hurricane-matthew-the-current-situation.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : The Ministry of Education maintains schools closed The Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) inform the public in general and the education community in particular that it was decided to resume school activities from Monday, October 10, 2016. This decision that concerns all the schools of the Republic, is justified because : Weather forecasts announcing heavy rains across the country until Thursday, October 6; Field difficulties, following the damage caused by Matthew; Inability to accommodate students now in public schools serving as temporary shelters; The need to take action in schools affected for the reception of students in acceptable conditions. An assessment of school facilities is already underway to determine all damages and actions to be taken immediately for the rehabilitation and/or reconstruction of the affected schools. The Ministry informs, moreover, that the 2016-2017 school year will be revised to take into account the five class days lost. It calls once again, educational agents and everyone to observe safety precautions of the Civil Protection and to show solidarity with those who are currently in difficulty. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - USA : The US aircraft carrier George Washington deployed The government of Haiti has requested assistance from the United States according to a Spokesperson of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), stressing that the Agency has also activated its response team. The carrier "George Washington" (GW) and the amphibious transport dock "Mesa Verde" put to sea Tuesday with Navy and Marine aircraft aboard and are headed to the Caribbean to provide relief from the storm if needed. The GW's air wing is composed of V-22 Ospreys (Hybrid aircraft with vertical takeoff) and MH-60 Seahawks (Multi-mission helicopters), according the sources. The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is also gearing up for the major operation, but has not yet left port. The ships have not been issued any official orders tied to Haiti's request for assistance, said Cmdr. Dave Hecht, spokesman for the Naval Air Forces, Atlantic. "Weve learned from experience that its best to load up and head to sea in advance of the storm so we are ready if needed," declared Hecht, adding "The George Washington has been on alert for roughly the past 48 hours." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Humanitarian : The Government requests the international and NGO assistance Following the passage of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti, the Haitian Government has appealed for assistance to the international community, more than 300,000 people may need immediate assistance, according to the United Nations. Haitian authorities have requested in particular assistance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their partners and other humanitarian actors. For its part, the teams of Handicap International already in Haiti, are mobilized and prepared to act according to the needs 'We are about to face a major situation. Our teams already on site preparing in order to assess the situation and consider an emergency response to affected populations, according to the needs," declared Jean-Francois Michel, head of Handicap International operations for Haiti. At the request of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) "Handicap International" will focus initially its action on logistical support. If necessary, the association also plans to provide emergency rehabilitation care and provide psychosocial support to those injured and affected families. Recall that since 2008, the Association Handicap International is present in Haiti in Port-au-Prince, in the communes of Delmas and Carrefour and in the Departments of Nippes, of Artibonite and North. Let's recall that in Haiti, the Association especially intervened on the tens of thousands of lives during the earthquake of January 2010. HL/ HaitiLibre Prime Cuts: The Christmas Wish, Singing to the King, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Three years have passed since Kingdom Heirs last released their last Christmas album. Within such an interim, this Southern Gospel veteran band has had experienced quite a few tabloid-worthy upheavals. Citing personal reasons, baritone Brian Alvey announced his resignation out of the blue. Later, fans were shocked to learn that former and founding member Steven French had ended his life in a tragic (and mysterious) heist. However, with the reception of new baritone Loren Harris, the band is set in its matrix to begin a new chapter of their storied career. In the midst of such personnel shuffling, the band recorded and released their first Christmas release since 2013's "Heart of Christmas." "Glory to God in the Highest" in many ways adopts the same template as their preceding "Heart of Christmas" record. Both albums are front loaded with Christ-centered festive hymns before detouring midway to indulge in a few secular seasonal favorites before circling back to more Christian-themed yuletide tunes to close off the proceedings. Not surprising both albums were produced by label honcho Jeff Collins and Arthur Rice. While "Heart of Christmas" opens with a Matthew West's cover, "Glory" opens with the Oak Ridge Boys' oldie "Jesus is Born Today." Opting a minimalistic approach with understated backing, the cynosure is on the band as they sing in their various parts bringing out the various textures of the song to great effect. "Glory to God in the Most High," the title cut and lead single, is frankly not the best choice to introduce the album. With the intense sounding brass horns and a full-bodied type singing from all the band members really date the song. "Glory" sounds like a blast from the past with the word "old school" stamped all across it. Much better is Dianne Wilkinsons' "Singing to the King." One of two originals, "Singing to the King," is the re-telling of the Christmas story from the vantage of the angels. The nice Brazilian-samba tilt really gives this tune a refreshing kick. The other original "The Christmas Wish" comes to us via the pens of Brian Avey and Allison Speer. In sync with Speers' thoughtful compositions, this piano cum strings ballad sounds like the soundtrack of one of those romantic sepia-toned Christmas movie classics that you can't help but be lost in its magic. Returning back to their full-assembled sound is their take of Squire E. Parsons, Jr.'s hymn-like "The King of Eternity" which is passable without being exception. One of their most unlikely cover is Mariah Carey's "Jesus, What a Wonderful Child." Proud to say, Kingdom Heirs have made this song their own without betraying any hint of Carey's R&B antics. Jeff Collins is to be congratulated for imbuing the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with some of the delightful piano riffs giving this Yuletide evergreen a jazzy makeover. Overall, "Glory to God in the Highest" does have its valleys and its highs. But when the Kingdom Heirs are on their highs, they really soar. Tags : kingdom heirs jeff collins brian alvey steven french kingdom heirs new album christmas albums 2016 kingdom heirs glory to god in the highest album review kingdom heirs christmas album By William Schwartz | Published on 2016/10/04 A wide-angle camera shot better explains the cliffhanger for the last episode and...apparently Woo-hee was nowhere near King Taejo? What's more, the monarch had other more immediately pressing problems in the whole "staying alive" department, so that leaves Woo-hee's entire storyline as being completely pointless with no pay-off. Even so, other characters have to devote energy to saving Woo-hee, because Soo likes her, even though we don't actually know how or why Woo-hee and Soo are friends. Advertisement The scripting in "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" is...well, it's not terrible, I'll give it that much. But it really is jarring how it seems like half of every episode is directly related to serious dramatic payoff while the other half is just random filler involving characters with little to no influence on the main action. Bizarrely enough Soo, the alleged main character, also falls into that category. Observe how Soo is important here mainly because for whatever random reason, she's the servant who King Taejo tasks with the important mission. King Taejo himself, in fact, is another such character. I honestly didn't have much reaction to his death because we really do know so very little about the man personality-wise. The late flashbacks, with sad Prince So thinking back to how important even the most meager approval from King Taejo was, could be read either as sympathetic or cruel. Prince So's dad was the most powerful man in Goryeo, and look at how broken down his poor son is. Faulty logistical scripting is also a contributing factor to that. I couldn't figure out how Prince Yo managed to escape when last we saw him the guy was being held at swordpoint by a literal army. But then again, Prince Yo is yet another one of those characters who's important more because we think he's important than because he does anything noteworthy. More then actual personality traits, I remember Prince Yo chiefly for his excessive eyeliner. This, too, being a usual consequence of the blasted camera work, which seems to go out of its way to make "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" difficult to watch. When even the fight scenes involve close-up shots, that's when we have a problem. The worst of it is that bad camerawork really takes me out of the story, reminds me that I'm watching something that was filmed, and further makes it difficult to connect emotionally to the characters. It's all very irritating. Review by William Schwartz "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" is directed by Kim Kyoo-tae, written by Jo Yoon-yeong and features Lee Joon-gi, Lee Ji-eun, Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Baekhyun and Ji Soo. Iran: Medieval and barbaric punishments Iran, which puts more people to death every year than any other country in the world but China, is debating a measure that could significantly cut the number of executions, local news outlets reported on Tuesday. But the bill seems certain to face considerable opposition from hard-liners in the judiciary. A newly installed Parliament, thought to be more liberal than its predecessor but, until now, unwilling to take any unorthodox steps, is considering a bill that would abolish the death penalty for drug smugglers, who account for a large majority of those executed. While the government does not release figures on capital punishment, the local news media said that 950 people had been hanged in 2015. Human rights groups say the total could have been as high as 1,500, and the United Nations put the number at nearly 1,000. Possession of as little as 30 grams of heroin is enough under Iranian law to face execution by hanging. Nevertheless, drug addiction and smuggling are rampant, officials acknowledge. "We want to eliminate the death penalty for those criminals who act out of desperation," Yahya Kamalpour, a reformist lawmaker, told the semiofficial ISNA news agency. "We need a scientific and not an emotional approach to this problem." In a sign of changing attitudes toward capital punishment, public hangings have become rare, and those that do take place are usually sparsely attended. Representatives of the conservative judiciary have signaled that they will resist any effort to change Iran's penal code, which they believe reflects Islamic values and culture. They emphasize that these values supersede even universal human rights and cannot be changed. Anticipating the bill's introduction, the head of the judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, called criticism of capital punishment "inappropriate." Speaking with the semiofficial Fars news agency last week, he said, "If the judiciary had not taken a tough stance, the situation would have been very bad, and drugs would have been available even at traditional medicine stores." Even if it were to win approval from the Parliament, the bill would still need to be confirmed by the Guardian Council, which is dominated by hard-liners. The position of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on such changes, is unclear. Conservatives said they doubted that the measure could survive the determined opposition of the judiciary. "Be sure they won't accept such a bill when the judiciary opposes it," said Hamidreza Taraghi, an analyst with strong ties to the hard-line faction. "The only wish of the parliamentarians is to please the West." The proposal is one of the first provocative plans to emerge from the new Parliament, which was installed in August after elections in May. Although no political faction holds a majority, the consensus was that the influence of hard-liners on the assembly was not as strong as it had been. | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: New York Times, October 4, 2016 Barney Fuller Jr. Summoned to court to answer charges that he made a threatening phone call to his neighbor's home in a rural East Texas county more than 2 years earlier, Barney Fuller Jr.'s anger smoldered as he began drinking. 2 nights later, Fuller left his home with a 12-gauge shotgun, a military-style semi-automatic carbine and a .40-caliber pistol and carried the weapons about 200 yards to the home of neighbors Nathan and Annette Copeland. He fired 59 shots into their house, kicked in the back door and walked inside, opening fire again. Nathan Copeland, 43, was killed in his bedroom, shot four times. His wife, 39, was gunned down in a bathroom while calling 911. 1 of their 2 children was shot but survived. On Wednesday, Fuller, 58, is set for lethal injection for the May 2003 rampage outside Lovelady, about 100 miles north of Houston. He'd be the 7th convicted killer executed this year in Texas and the 1st in 6 months. His execution would be only the 16th this year nationally, a downturn fueled by fewer death sentences overall, courts halting scheduled executions for additional reviews, and death penalty states encountering difficulties obtaining drugs for lethal injections. Hours after the shooting frenzy, Fuller called Houston County authorities and told them he would surrender peacefully at his home. He pleaded guilty to capital murder, declined to be in the courtroom after individual questioning of prospective jurors began at his July 2004 trial, and asked that the trial's punishment phase go on without his presence. He didn't return to the courtroom until jurors returned with their death verdict. "He was very adamant not wanting to be there," William House, one of his trial lawyers, recalled. "From the very start, he just really didn't care." Last year Fuller asked his lawyer to stop filing appeals. "I do not want to go on living in this hell-hole," he wrote attorney Jason Cassel. "Do not do anything for me which will prolong my appeals and time here on Texas death row." A federal judge in June ruled Fuller was competent to make that decision. Fuller had testified at a hearing he was satisfied with his legal help, no one had coerced him and he was "ready to move on." His threatening phone call to Annette Copeland came after Fuller, who drew the ire of neighbors like her for shooting his weapons on the rural property, shot out an electrical transformer that provided power to the Copelands' home. "Happy New Year," he told her in the Jan. 1, 2001, call. "I'm going to kill you." A sheriff's department dispatcher who took Annette Copeland's 911 call about 1:30 a.m. on May 14, 2003, heard a man say: "Party's over, bitch," followed by a popping sound. Annette Copeland was found with 3 bullet wounds to her head. The couple's 14-year-old son, Cody, was hit twice and survived, and their 10-year-old daughter, Courtney, avoided gunshots because Fuller couldn't find the light in her dark bedroom. Cody found his mother's cellphone and called police. Cindy Garner, the former Houston County district attorney who prosecuted Fuller, described him as mean and without remorse. "A lot of times in the country folks argue about chickens and dogs," Garner said. "He was shooting his mouth off, but no one had any idea that something like this was going to happen, where he was just going to march down the road like Rambo and tear up an entire family." Texas man who killed 2 neighbors wants execution to proceed An East Texas man who pleaded guilty to killing a neighbor couple during a shooting rampage 13 years ago and who has said he wants to be put to death for the crime appeared headed for execution Wednesday. Barney Fuller Jr. has asked that all his appeals be dropped to expedite his death sentence. Fuller, 58, would be the 7th convicted killer executed this year in Texas and the 1st in 6 months in the nation's most active capital punishment state. Fuller surrendered peacefully at his home outside Lovelady, about 100 miles north of Houston, after a middle-of-the-night shooting frenzy in May 2003 that left his neighbors, Nathan Copeland, 43, and Copeland's wife, Annette, 39, dead inside their rural home. The couple's 14-year-old son survived 2 gunshot wounds, and their 10-year-old daughter escaped injury because Fuller couldn't turn the light on in her bedroom. Court records show Fuller, armed with a shotgun, semi-automatic carbine and a pistol, fired 59 shots before barging into the Copeland home and opening fire again. Fuller had been charged with making a threatening phone call to Annette Copeland, and the neighbors had been engaged in a 2-year dispute over that. Fuller pleaded guilty to capital murder. He declined to appear in court at his July 2004 trial and asked that the trial's punishment phase go on without his presence. He only entered the courtroom when jurors returned with his sentence. Last year, Fuller asked that nothing be done to prolong his time on death row. "I do not want to go on living in this hellhole," he wrote to attorney Jason Cassel. Fuller had no late change of heart, Cassel said Tuesday. A federal judge in June ruled Fuller competent to drop his appeals. He had testified at a hearing that he was "ready to move on." Fuller had irritated neighbors with his frequent gunfire and was summoned to court in 2003 to address a charge that he made a threatening phone call 2 years earlier after complaints he shot out an electrical transformer providing power to the Copelands' home. "Happy New Year," he told Annette Copeland in the Jan. 1, 2001, call. "I'm going to kill you." William House, 1 of Fuller's trial lawyers, said Fuller thought when he got a court notice "that they were stirring up some more stuff and he just kind of twisted off." Court records showed he seethed over the court appearance and began drinking. 2 nights later, he grabbed his guns and extra ammunition clips and went to the Copelands' home about 200 yards away. House described Fuller as "just a strange bird" who was "very adamant" about not attending his own murder trial. "I think we did everything we were supposed to and did the best we could but didn't have a whole lot to work with," House said. A sheriff's department dispatcher who took Annette Copeland's 911 call about 1:30 a.m. on May 14, 2003, heard a man say: "Party's over, bitch," followed by a popping sound. Annette Copeland was found with three bullet wounds to her head. Cindy Garner, the former Houston County district attorney who prosecuted Fuller, described him as mean and without remorse. "It's not a cheerful situation," she said of the execution. "I just regret that this little, plain, country, nice, sweet family - bless their heart - moved in next door." Fuller's execution would be only the 16th in the U.S. this year, a downturn fueled by fewer death sentences overall, courts halting scheduled executions for additional reviews, and some death penalty states encountering difficulties obtaining drugs for lethal injections. | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: Associated Press, October 4, 2016Source: Associated Press, October 5, 2016 Seventeen Individuals Indicted for Respective Roles in Human Trafficking Scheme that Exploited Hundreds of Thai Women for Commercial Sex in the United States Sex Trafficking Organization Engaged in Visa Fraud and Debt Scheme to Recruit Victims into the United States for Prostitution News Release from US DoJ, October 5, 2016 An indictment unsealed late yesterday in St. Paul, Minnesota, charges 17 members of an international sex trafficking organization with transporting hundreds of women from Thailand and profiting from advertising them for commercial sex throughout the United States. The charged defendants include 12 Thai nationals and five U.S. nationals. Eight of the 17 charged defendants were arrested yesterday at various locations in Minnesota, California, Illinois, Georgia and Hawaii. One charged defendant was previously arrested in Belgium and four defendants remains at large. The announcement was made by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch; U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division; Special Agent in Charge Alex Khu of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul Division and Special Agent in Charge Shea Jones of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) St. Paul Field Office. Human trafficking is a degrading crime that undermines our nations most basic promises of liberty and security," said Attorney General Lynch. This case demonstrates the Justice Departments determination to hold traffickers accountable and to help the survivors of this appalling practice reclaim their freedom and dignity. As part of our nationally recognized Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team Initiative, the District of Minnesota is playing a crucial role in those vital efforts, and I want to commend all of the team members whose cooperation led to todays action. The 17 people charged in this indictment ran a highly sophisticated sex trafficking scheme, said U.S. Attorney Luger. They promised women in Thailand a chance at the American dream, but instead exploited them, coerced them and forced them to live a nightmare. In short, the victims lived like modern day sex slaves. Todays indictment is our ninth sex trafficking case since 2014, but it is the first that targets an entire organization. We will continue to work closely with our federal and local law enforcement partners to target and dismantle these types of far-reaching organizations. The Justice Department created the Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam) Initiative to bring together federal law enforcement agencies to enhance our impact in investigating and prosecuting human trafficking, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Gupta. This case is an outstanding example of these efforts. We will continue to work tirelessly with them to bring traffickers to justice and vindicate the rights of vulnerable victims. This weeks arrests reflect HSIs global reach and ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal organizations that engage in human trafficking activities, said Special Agent in Charge Khu. HSI also remains firmly committed to rescuing victims and getting them help they desperately need to begin recovering from the depredations forced on them by these criminals. From coast to coast, IRS Criminal Investigation is determined to team with our law enforcement partners to track down the individuals who facilitate and launder the proceeds of sex trafficking crimes, said Special Agent in Charge Jones. Those who seek to enrich themselves by exploiting the desperate circumstances of their victims will not be tolerated in our cities. According to the indictment, which was returned under seal on Sept. 28, 2016, since at least 2009, the criminal organization has recruited and transported hundreds of women, which the organization refers to as flowers, from Thailand to various locations across the United States, including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Houston, Dallas and Austin, for purposes of exploiting them for prostitution. Once in the United States, victims were allegedly placed in houses of prostitution where they were forced to work long hours often all day, every day. As alleged in the indictment, the women were not allowed to leave the prostitution houses unless accompanied by a member of the criminal organization. According to allegations in the indictment, which identifies several of the women as victims of human trafficking, the organization often recruited women from impoverished backgrounds who spoke little English. Recruiters exploited these vulnerabilities during the recruitment process, promising the victims access to a better life in the United States in exchange for a debt of between $40,000 and $60,000, which the women were required to pay off through prostitution earnings. As alleged in the indictment, before transporting the women to the United States, the organization would typically arrange to have the women photographed for purposes of advertising them for sex on websites like backpage.com and eros.com. The organization also encouraged the women to have breast implants in Thailand to make them more appealing to potential sex buyers in the United States and added the cost to the victims debt. The organization engaged in widespread visa fraud to facilitate the international transportation of the women into their commercial sex enterprise, the indictment alleges. Members of the criminal organization assisted in obtaining fraudulent visas and travel documents for the women, and members of the conspiracy used personal information on the women and their families, which they gathered in the course of obtaining the fraudulent documents, to threaten victims who became non-compliant or tried to flee. The defendants include: Sumalee Intarathong, 55, who was a boss in the scheme is currently incarcerated in Liege, Belgium, is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking by use of force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy to commit forced labor; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering; conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution and conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Chabaprai Boonluea, 42, of Winder, Georgia, was a house boss in the operation and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking by use of force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy to commit forced labor; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. Watcharin Luamseejun, 46, was a house boss in the scheme and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; conspiracy to commit forced labor; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. Pantilla Rodpholka, 31, of Mount Prospect, Illinois, was a house boss in the operation and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; conspiracy to commit forced labor; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. Noppawan Lerslurchachai, 35, of Lomita, California, was a facilitator in the scheme and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking by use of force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy to commit forced labor; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. Khanong Intharathong, 44, of Dunwoody, Georgia, was a facilitator in the operation and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. Andrew Flanigan, 51, of Winder, was a facilitator in the operation and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. Patcharaporn Saengkham, 41, of Los Angeles, was a facilitator in the scheme and is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Yadaporn Panngoen, 30, Los Angeles, was a facilitator in the scheme and is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Supapon Sonprasit, 31, of St. Paul, was a facilitator in the operation and is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Thi Vu, 48, of Atlanta, was a runner in the operation and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. Todd Vassey, 54, of Lahaina, Hawaii, was a runner in the scheme and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. John Zbracki, 59, of Lakeville, Minnesota, was a runner in the operation and is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution; transportation to engage in prostitution; conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to use a communication facility to promote prostitution. According to the indictment, Intarathong served as a boss before her arrest in Belgium earlier this year. As alleged in the indictment, each woman identified as a victim of human trafficking was owned by Intarathong or another boss until the victim could repay the debt. According to the indictment, other members of the criminal organization served as house bosses, who owned one or more of the houses of prostitution where the flowers were exploited for commercial sex. House bosses were responsible for day-to-day operations, including advertising the flowers for commercial sex, maintaining the houses of prostitution, scheduling appointments with sex buyers and ensuring that a significant portion of the prostitution proceeds were routed back to the trafficker/boss to pay down the debt. The house boss kept the remainder of the prostitution proceeds, while the women were not permitted to retain any of their earnings, except for the occasional tip offered by a sex buyer. As set forth in the indictment, other members of the criminal organization served as facilitators, who were primarily responsible for laundering the criminal proceeds of the organization and for directing the movement of victims within the United States, while other co-conspirators served as runners. The runners were typically men who were paid, in part, by receiving access to sex acts with the women. Runners accompanied the women anytime they were permitted to leave a house of prostitution to obtain personal items, travel as directed by the criminal organization or deposit money into accounts set up by the organization for repayment of the womens debts. Runners were also sometimes asked to rent hotel rooms, apartments or other facilities for the organization. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The District of Minnesota is one of six districts designated through a competitive, nationwide selection process as a Phase II ACTeam, through the interagency ACTeam Initiative of the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Labor. ACTeams focus on developing high-impact human trafficking investigations and prosecutions involving forced labor, international sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion through interagency collaboration among federal prosecutors and federal investigative agencies. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by HSI; IRS-CI; Department of States Diplomatic Security Service; St. Paul Police Department; Anoka County, Minnesota, Sheriffs Office; and Cook County, Minnesota, Sheriffs Office, with the support of the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda Williams and Laura Provinzino of the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case with the assistance of the Civil Rights Divisions Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. ---30--- LINK: USA v Vassey By Emily Willis and Cramer Lewis The High Countrys own Joseph Bathanti, a resident of Vilas and professor of creative writing at Appalachian State University, was one of seven to recently receive the North Carolina Award, the states highest honor for civilians. Gov. Pat McCrory presented the awards during a ceremony held at the Raleigh Marriott City Center on Sept. 22. Recipients were honored for work in their respective fields: Joseph Bathanti of Vilas for Literature Dr. Linda S. Birnbaum of Chapel Hill for Science Robert J. Brown of High Point for Public Service James C. Gardner of Rocky Mount for Public Service Dr. Assad Meymandi of Raleigh for Fine Arts Dr. Paul L. Modrich and Dr. Aziz Sancar, both of Chapel Hill, for Science Bathanti has served as North Carolinas poet laureate (2012-2014) and has written 10 volumes of poetry, three novels and a short story collection. He is the recipient of some of the states most prestigious literary awards and continues to inspire creative minds at Appalachian State. A lot of North Carolina writers, who are pretty legendary, whom Ive looked up to, have gotten it, so what an honor, said Bathanti. What a humbling honor: pretty dreamy, pretty amazing. Bathanti has recieved many awards for his writing: The Sam Ragan Fine Arts Award (1995) Oscar Arnold Young Award The North Carolina Poetry Council (1997) Carolina Novel Award Banks Channel Books (2001) Sherwood Anderson Award (2002) Linda Flowers Literary Award NC Humanities Council (2002) Novello Literary Award (2006) The Spokane Prize Eastern Washington University North Carolina Poet Laureate (20122014) Ragan-Rubin Award North Carolina English Teachers Association (2012) He came to North Carolina in 1976 to work for Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), where he met is wife, Joan. His assignment was teaching at the state correctional facility in Huntersville. Teaching the incarcerated taught him the importance of allowing others to tell their personal stories. Bathantis interest in persuing humanitarian goals through writing is reflected further in the initiative he undertook to work with military veterans as poet laureate. I would work with returning combat veterans, all veterans really, and their families to harvest their stories, their wartime stories, through poems, fiction, essays, you name it. So, I just threw myself into it. I had no experience four years ago, but now over the last four years Ive done a lot of work with vets, he said. In fact, today we have something on campus called the Appalachian Veterans Arts and Humanities Collective. I was also the writer in residence at the Asheville Veterans Hospital this past year. I was working with Vietnam vets with PTSD in a writing workshop. The theraputic fallout is kind of indesputable. Its one of those happy pieces of fallout. In addition to producing award-winning works and dedicating his talent to serve the community, Bathanti loves teaching at Appalachian State. He believes his position as a professor informs his work as a writer and vise versa. Teaching at Appalachian has been life-changing, and the novelty of being here will never wear off, Bathanti said. I work with terrific students every day, as well as with such gifted, generous colleagues. Teaching also has really made me focus on craft issues germane to all writers, regardless of their levels of experience. What ultimately led me toward writing was reading, and, really, after all these years of writing, reading remains the biggest influence in my writing. Id like to say that teaching here at Appalachian has also been a profound influence in my writing. The kinds of things my students grapple with in their writing things I comment on and offer suggestions about tend to be precisely the same kinds of things Im trying to get right in my own work. In 2015, Bathanti read an original poem entitled Brooks Brothers Shirts, which was written for and dedicated to the guest of honor, at the installation of Chancellor Sheri N. Everts at Appalachian State. The Old North State, especially the High Country, holds a special place in the heart of this Pennsylvania native, who has built his life and developed his profession here. North Carolina for me is kind of like dreams come true, said Bathanti. I met my wife because of coming here. I wanted to be a writer and that dream, little by little, in fits and starts, became a reality here. I found a profession that I really like. I love the country. Watauga County especially feels like home. My kids went to school here, and this is where they come back to when they return home. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket By Jesse Wood The Watauga County Board of Commissioners approved a request for Watauga County Schools to release nearly $300,000 from the countys capital improvement plan reserve to fund the education systems 1:1 technology initiative for the 17-18 school year. The commissioners met on Tuesday morning. The technology program puts a laptop in the hands of each student in between the 8th and 12th grades. For the 6th and 7th grades, that ratio is 2 to 1. Now that the school system is about finished with a three-year, $1.9 million lease with Hewlett Packard, WCS has been negotiating with vendors. WCS Supt. Scott Elliott, who inherited the current leasing plan, told commissioners that it looks more financially prudent to purchase 2,100 student devices, perhaps Google Chromebooks by Lenovo, rather than leasing based on the latest price points. According to an eight-year budget plan included in the commissioners meeting packet, the 1:1 initiative funding will be $677,034 in 17-18, $237,758 in 18-19; and $241,601 in 19-20. It pretty much levels on out from there as devices begin to be refreshed on a 25 percent cycle. See more numbers below. The 1:1 initiative will be expanded into 4th and 5th grades in 18-19 and 2nd and 3rd grades in 20-21, according to the plan. At its next meeting on Monday, the Watauga County Board of Education will throw in the remaining $386,784 to fund next years 1:1 program for students, which will cost as previously mentioned $677,034. A memo from WCS to the commissioners about the request reads, To meet the needs of the 21st century learner, we must ensure students are prepared to thrive in a world that demands collaboration, innovative thinking, and adaptability. Technology continues to play a vital role in meeting these needs. Not quite a third ($13,265,400 million + capital outlay) of Watauga County Schools 16-17 budget comes out of Watauga Countys budget. The state is providing $25.3 million in funds for the upcoming year. See budget resolution here. After listening to Elliotts presentation, Commissioner Billy Kennedy said, Its what we have to do, finagle and squeeze these budgets tight to get the stuff we need. Technology is so important for the future of these children. We need to make sure it is there. Commissioner Perry Yates motioned to approve the request, which received unanimous approval from the five-member board. In December, the school board approved a 10-year CIP plan, which found that $78 million will be needed over the next 10 years, primarily for school renovations and replacements. The results were based on an architectural review of all but the three newest schools (WHS, Cove Creek and Mabel). Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket By Emily Willis Are you an aspiring author with plans to self-publish your next work? Dont miss your chance to meet and hear from local writer Scott Nicholson at the High Country Writers next meeting from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 13. Nicholson will speak on Writing Across Genres While Preserving Elements of Your Favorites, and the program at the Watauga Library in Boone will be open to the public. Nicholson has written 20 thrillers, 60 short stories, four comics series, six screenplays and a variety of childrens books. He studied creative writing at both the University of North Carolina and Appalachian State University, and currently resides in the Appalachian Mountains. Before becoming an internationally recognized author, Nicholson was a newspaper reporter. He received three North Carolina Press Association awards during this time. Other awards that he has received as an author include: Finalist, 1998 Writers of the Future 1999 Hubbard Gold Award 1999 First Runner-Up for Darrell Award Honorable Mentions, 1999,2000, and 2002 Years Best Fantasy & Horror Locus Magazine new & notable list, 2002 Semifinals, 2002 Chesterfield Film Writers Competition Finalist, Stoker Award for Best First Novel, 2003 Semifinals, 2003 Chesterfield Film Writers Competition 2006 Years Best Fantasy & Horror Now, Nicholson has sold over half a million eBooks. My eBooks are 90 percent of my business, so I look at it as Im on the clock 24/7, said Nicholson. I have to be like a factory producing goods, marketing, distributing, and accounting. It helps to have a light range of skills; but, I like to work alone and try different things without having to worry about major risks. Its kind of liberating that I can take those chances. He continues to release original titles, audio books, childrens books, translated editions and graphic novels. Also, he has been an officer of Mystery Writers of America and Horror Writers Association, and is a member of International Thriller Writers and inaugural member of the Killer Thriller Band. With all of his success as a self-publishing author, Nicholson has had his fair share of trials. He had 105 rejections before his first story sale and over 400 before he ever sold a novel. Surviving these rejections has only escalated Nicholsons determination and skill as a writer. The first few rejections really bothered me personally, but then after that I figured out that it wasnt a personal rejection, but a rejection of the story, because the publishers have different needs and wants, Nicholson says. You cant really blame them. After that I became more systematic. I would get four rejection slips in the mail, and I would have three stories going out. So I would never let the stories just sit around. Then I started getting some sales, which gave me more confidence. Once he published six books with the main stream press, Nicholson decided to start self-publishing. The pro and con of self publishing is the same you get exactly what you put into it! Its all up to you. The upside to that is if you work and are inventive and creative, you get the fruits of your labor. On the other hand, youre relying totally on yourself and your own skills and talent. With traditional publishing, youve got a lot of other peoples decisions that are out of your hands. The advice that Nicholson gives to aspiring writers is: Try and be consistent with your work, dont wait for inspiration. And if youre going to self publish, you have to treat it like a business. You should learn how to market and have an understanding of business and gather a reader list. You cant think theres going to be someone out there thats going to take care of your work, like a publisher. Im grateful for all the people that have supported me along the way, says Nicholson. Its great to work with creative people all around the world, thanks to the digital age that allows this interconnectivity. Vice President and Chairperson Judy Geary of the High Country Writers said the group has hosted Nicholson several times over the years and hes always offered a great program. As writers ourselves, we always benefit from hearing from the most accomplished authors, she said. Scott is always so generous in sharing his experiences and so clearly communicates the hows and whys of the skills hes describing to us. The High Country Writers group was established in 1995 and boasts a membership of over 70 writers to date. The group meets for monthly workshops, author presentations and critique/editing sessions on the first, second and fourth Thursdays of each month, respectively. The membership spans authors of all genres, and any writers interested in joining the group are encouraged to visit the organizations website and attend the next meeting on Oct. 13 for more information. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket By Emily Willis Photos by Ken Ketchie Since 1976, the Avery Museum has been supplying the community with a unique look into the countys heritage of railroads. Join the museum on Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. for birthday cake, punch, and coffee to celebrate this milestone! The museum is Avery countys number one historical attraction, which contains historical background of the East Tennessee and West North Carolina Railway. This past spring, the museum presented the newly restored Linville River Depot. The museums 40th birthday is a great time to get to know the people behind and the projects theyre working on right now. They are currently in the process of restoring the Caboose 505, which was the only caboose in service from 1934 to 1950. Conductor Cy Crumbly bought the caboose and moved it to Watauga Lake to use as a fishing cabin. It was moved later to a site near Bristol. In 2014, the caboose was moved to the Avery Museum, and placed on tracks laid in front of the Linville Depot. To properly restore the caboose, the museum needs to raise $50,000. The first step will be to replace the roof, said Michael Hardy, museum chair, in a recent newsletter. This is a task, which once begun, must be completed in its entirety. The estimated cost of this first step is $10,000. Currently, we receive some funding from Avery County, but depend mainly on Museum memberships, book sales, and donations, explained Hardy. Applications for grants are being submitted, but these require matching funds of at least $5,000. Check out the new website for more information and historic background at averymusem.org. Their new website is easier to navigate, read, and learn about the history. Donations to fulfill the restorations are always greatly appreciated and can be made online. Photos from the museum: Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket North Korea's Kim Jong-un has banned sarcasm because he fears people only agree with him ironically, according to reports. Government officials were apparently warned they will "not be forgiven" if they are heard being sarcastic. Mass meetings were organised across the country to spread the word about the new order. The main point of the lecture was keep your mouths shut. One of the banned phases is this is all Americas fault, alluding to Mr Kim's default position of blaming the US for everything that goes wrong. This habit of the central authorities of blaming the wrong country when a problems cause obviously lies elsewhere has led citizens to mock the party, the source told Radio Free Asia. Aarnio was on Friday found guilty of aggravated abuse of public office, aggravated fraud and aggravated acceptance of bribes in a case related to the acquisition of surveillance equipment from Trevoc, a provider of surveillance solutions, by the Helsinki Police Department. The Helsinki Court of Appeal has delivered a three-year prison sentence to Jari Aarnio, a former head of drug enforcement at the Helsinki Police Department. The defendant, the ruling indicates, had a vested interest in the acquisition for being a part-owner of the surveillance equipment manufacturer. Both the defence and prosecution had appealed against an earlier ruling delivered by the District Court of Helsinki, which sentenced the defendant to one year and eight months' imprisonment for abuse of public office in June 2015. Aarnio has also been charged with a slew of drug and malfeasance charges in a related case, with the prosecution demanding that he be sentenced to 13 years in prison. The District Court of Helsinki is expected to deliver its ruling in the case on 1 November, 2016, according to Helsingin Sanomat. Aarnio and his fellow defendants have rejected all criminal accusations. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Vesa Moilanen Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Indiana State Police investigators on Tuesday searched a voter registration agency on Indianapolis' north side as they look into a voter fraud case that spans nine counties. The investigation began in late August when police learned of the filing of fraudulent voter registration forms in Marion and Hendricks counties.The investigation has expanded from Marion and Hendricks counties to include Allen, Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Johnson, Lake and Madison counties, according to a statement from State Police.Police said the growing number of involved counties leads investigators to believe that the number of fraudulent records might be in the hundreds.The possible fraudulent information is a combination of fake names, addresses and dates of birth with real information.As part of the expanded investigation, State Police detectives served a search warrant for the business offices of the Indiana Voter Registration Project in the 2400 block of North Meridian Street.The search warrant was served Tuesday morning, police said. The results of the search are not being released, and the affidavit and search warrant will remain sealed for 30 days."An investigation of this nature is complex, time consuming and is expected to continue for several more weeks or months," said a State Police statement. "Victims of the activities by some agents of the Indiana Voter Registration Project may not discover they have been disenfranchised from voting until they go to vote and realize their voting information has been altered. Such action may result in the citizen having to cast a provisional ballot."Officials said a representative sample of voter registration applications received by county voter registration offices and suspected of being fraudulent have been copied and provided to investigators. The original applications are maintained by the appropriate voter registration office. Law enforcement officials in the mid-valley have a message for the public at large: Quit clowning around. Rumors about people dressing up as creepy clowns and trying to scare people have been sweeping college campuses in recent days, resulting in waves of alleged sightings on Facebook and Twitter and prompting calls to law enforcement departments across the nation. As of Tuesday morning, however, no credible reports of clown activity creepy or otherwise have been received in Albany, Lebanon or Corvallis. Officers are asking would-be clown posses to stand down. In Albany, a social media post about a clown that specifically named South Albany High School prompted a report to Albany police late Monday. The department added a little extra officer presence there for reassurance Tuesday, but Lt. Brad Liles said the department has received no credible clown-related threats from schools or anywhere else. Best course of action if you do see someone wearing a clown outfit, Liles added: "Smile and wave. Drive on." Albany police have received the same reports other departments are getting, Liles said, prompting the department to post a tongue-in-cheek reminder on its Facebook page reminding residents it's not illegal to dress as a clown, even a scary one. "To be clear, there is NO evidence to suggest credible threats to the safety of our citizens," the post stated. "If a person is simply standing on the sidewalk dressed in clown attire, they are not committing a crime. We will still respond if called (That's what we do!), but know there will likely be no enforcement action taken." The department also had reminders for people who aspire to be the type of clown bent on more than visual mischief: "We suggest familiarizing yourself with Oregon Revised Statutes 166.025 (Disorderly Conduct) and 163.190 (Menacing). Chasing and scaring people while dressed as a clown will likely be construed as a crime, and you will be dealt with accordingly." Lebanon police echoed that warning in a statement released Tuesday morning. "Lebanon Police Department is aware of the 'Scary Clown' posts and rumors," the statement read. "As of today, Lebanon Police have received no reports involving people dressed like clowns." Clown dress-up is legal, the statement went on. However: "Chasing and scaring people in a clown costume could be construed as a crime and will be investigated as such." In Corvallis, a bogus warning allegedly issued by the Corvallis Police Department has appearing on social media sites stating clowns have been seen on the Oregon State University campus and warning people to stay indoors. Didn't happen, Lt. Dan Duncan said. The department does send out official releases through Twitter, its Facebook page or the Flash Alert system, but none have been issued regarding clowns. The fake warning did prompt several calls Monday, but Duncan said Corvallis has not had any verified, credible clown activity, at least not of the costumed variety. Mike Bamberger, emergency preparedness manager at OSU, said his department received 15 phone calls Monday night after the fake alert appeared. Residents were assured it wasn't real, and that OSU would have issued its own alert had there been cause for worry. There were some student gatherings with the intent to search for clowns, Bamberger said. His department sent people to the various groups to disburse them, reminding them that, especially with Halloween drawing closer, there's potential for actual harm if a group were to encounter an individual who made an unfortunate costume choice. Were getting word out through our student programs, saying, this is a hoax, dont perpetuate it," he said. "OSU will be monitoring this over a couple of days to see what is happening in the community and intervene as appropriate." At Spirit Halloween in Corvallis, Skyler Schroeder, the store manager, said the creepy clown phenomenon hasn't led to a surge in demand for clown costumes. (Nor does Spirit Halloween encourage the clown-sighting phenomenon, he added later.) Killer clown outfits are still a Halloween standard, but the real demand so far this year is for Harley Quinn, the Joker's jesterlike sidekick from the "Batman" franchise, Schroeder said. And the costume actually receiving the most attention is a 7-foot-tall inflated Tyrannosaurus Rex. Apparently its an internet sensation," he said. Residents living near the RDS who are worried about increased traffic will appeal against Dublin City Council's decision to grant planning permission for an expansion of the stadium. It comes after the council approved the 26m redevelopment of the Anglesea Stand at the venue's main arena. Around 400 events are held at the venue each year, and the planning application said the work would increase the capacity for Leinster's rugby games from 18,500 to 21,000 spectators. Angered It also outlined plans for new facilities for concerts and other events at the Ballsbridge site. However, the plans have angered some locals because of the disruption the events will cause. The Anglesea Road Residents' Association has organised a meeting for tomorrow to discuss how it will proceeded with the appeal to An Bord Pleanala. Association chairman Paddy Byrne said that unlike most planning appeals, it was likely there would be only one element to the group's objection - poor traffic management. "I would be certain of a very strong appeal," said Mr Byrne. "Unlike other appeals with An Bord Pleanala, this is down to traffic management alone." Mr Byrne said the RDS "sold the family silver" when it sold off areas used for parking during the 1980s, and now the area simply cannot handle the volume of traffic attracted during events. He added that people attending events parked in the surrounding area, blocking roads and angering residents. "People are angry that the RDS has failed to address these issues," he said. The redevelopment work would involve demolishing the Anglesea Stand and removing a terrace surr- ounding the clock tower. In a statement, the RDS said it was "delighted" to receive notification of the decision to grant planning permission for the redevelopment. A spokesman said it had not yet received any information about an appeal and did not comment on the complaints by locals. "It is a considerable step along the planning process and one that brings the new stand closer to realisation," he said. "The new facility will create a top-class experience for visitors and positively impact on the Dublin Horse Show, Leinster Rugby and any other events held in the RDS main arena." A garda who was shot in the US is due in court in the coming days to be charged in relation to an alleged vicious assault on two women. Garda Brian Hanrahan (34) made headlines when he was shot in the leg and back in New Orleans in January 2015. However, he is now accused of brutally assaulting two women in a case that gardai have been investigating for a number of months. Struck Gardai are probing complaints made by the women after it was alleged they were struck by the garda after a night out in Nenagh, Co Tipperary. The assault complaint has been made against Garda Hanrahan. He has not been suspended from duty and continues to work at Newcastle West Garda Station in Co Limerick. It has been alleged the women suffered facial injuries when an argument occurred between them and the garda after they gave him a lift home following a night out in February. Gardai are investigating if the alleged assaults happened outside the vehicle when the women ordered Garda Hanrahan to leave their car after the argument. One of the woman is alleged to have suffered worse injuries than the other female. Garda Hanrahan was not on duty at the time, and gardai in north Tipperary were notified of the alleged assaults by the women who made statements to officers. The investigation is said to be at an advanced stage. In the event of being charged, Garda Hanrahan is likely to be suspended from duty. Shot The officer, who is originally from Tipperary, was shot twice while on holidays in the US. Two brothers are before the courts in New Orleans charged in relation to the gun attack on Garda Hanrahan. Over $5,000 was collected by various local police departments and agencies to go towards any travel costs or medical bills on behalf of the Hanrahan family. The local Irish community in New Orleans also raised funds at different events. A fundraising run also took place from Newcastle West in Limerick to the Garda College in Templemore and back again to also help raise funds to help with medical bills. A well-known Limerick criminal has died in a car crash. Christopher 'Gunna' Curtin, (22), of Salvia Court, Southill, was killed when a car he was a passenger in, hit a ditch yesterday. The single vehicle collision happened on the R511 Fedamore to Limerick Road at Carnane, Co Limerick, shortly after 2am, yesterday. Gardai said Curtin - who had around 40 previous convictions, including burglary and car theft - "suffered fatal injuries when the car he was travelling in as a passenger left the road and struck a ditch," gardai said. "He was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to University Hospital Limerick. A post mortem is to be arranged." The driver of the car, a woman in her early 20s, "received minor injuries and was taken to University Hospital Limerick". Examination "No other injuries were reported", gardai also stated. The road was closed for several hours "to facilitate Garda Forensic Collision Investigators" carry out a detailed examination of the fatal crash site. Gardai at Roxboro Road appealed for witnesses, "particularly those who travelled the R511 close to Fedamore between 1am and 2.20am [yesterday]." In February 2012, while he was the subject of a garda manhunt after escaping from custody, Curtin brazenly walked into Limerick circuit courtroom wearing shades to attend his sentencing hearing for burglary at the home of a prominent solicitor. Curtin, then aged 18, had escaped from custody two days previously as he was brought to prison on remand. He was subsequently jailed for three years, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to burglary at the home of solicitor Turlough Herbert, a former Limerick hurler. Curtin was one of three men who broke into Mr Herbert's home at the rear of Herbert's family-run pub, at Sallymount, Castleconnell, on May 5, 2011. Mr Herbert had confronted the three burglars and was bitten by one of them, not Curtin. The court was told that two of the three men, but not Curtin, were armed with a knife and a scissors. The gang fled in Mr Herbert's jeep after terrorising him and his sister. A probation report at the time said Curtin was of a "high risk of re-offending". Jailed Curtin was later jailed for stealing a car after been pursued by gardai along the Limerick Tunnel, reaching speeds of 180km in June 2013. Curtin's father, Christopher Curtin Snr, and his uncle, Paul Curtin, were both jailed for a total of ten years in Feb 2009, after a six-year-old girl was injured in a gun attack in Limerick. Christopher Curtin, aged 39 at the time, was caged for seven years, while his brother, Paul, then 28, was jailed for three years. Christopher Curtin Jnr is to be reposed at Cross's Funeral Home, Limerick, Wednesday, from 4.30pm with removal at 6.30pm. Requiem Mass is to take place at the Holy Family Church, Southill, tomorrow at 11am, with burial afterwards in Mount St Oliver Cemetery. She may be trying to hit the big time in Britain but TV star Diana Bunici has no plans to make it her permanent home. The former RTE presenter has been living in London for almost two years with the hopes of making it on TV, but she still plans on coming back to Ireland. "Absolutely, yeah I think so. My heart will always be in Ireland. I'd love to say it will be in Moldova but since my grandparents passed away, I consider Ireland my home," she told the Diary. The 28-year-old cited a desire to raise her future kids near her mum and dad as her main reason for wanting to come home. "I think I'd like to come back one day and be close to my Mum and my future kids could have their grandparents around," she said. Diana has already begun the transition, recently spending more of her time in Ireland to be closer to her family and friends. Lonely The brunette admitted she has been lonely on the crowded streets of London. "I'm spending time a little bit more equally between my family and friends again because London can be a bit of a lonely city, so it's nice to fly over for meetings when I need to and have my social life to myself here," she said. While celebrities such as Laura Whitmore, Niall Horan and Bressie often hang out together when they are across the water, Diana does not have many Irish pals in the city. "All of the people that I've met from the industry live miles away from me so we would meet every now and again and have little get get-togethers. "But I wouldn't say I was part of a London-Irish crew or anything like that," she said. "I know Laura a little bit through industry events and she helped me out big time with my book. I look up to her a lot." A liquIdator has been appointed by the High Court to two companies operating Dublin restaurant Dobbins after efforts to finalise an investment agreement failed Situated on Stephen's Lane, Dobbins was once a favoured hangout of celebrities and hosted Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, during their three-day visit here last May. It also prepared sumptuous meals for former US President Bill Clinton during two of his trips to Ireland, in December 2000 and September 1998. The High Court was told yesterday how efforts by examiner Kieran Wallace to secure an investor for the Dobbins companies had failed. Rossa Fanning, for Mr Wall-ace, said there had been talks with KBC Bank, Dobbins' biggest creditor, after a preferred investor had been selected. However, no investment agreement had been reached. In the circumstances, counsel said Mr Wallace wished to be discharged as examiner to Dobbins Holding Company Ltd and Dobbins Wine Bistro Ltd. There was also agreement that a liquidator could be app- ointed to those entities whose directors - Gary Flynn, of Font-hill Court, and Patrick Walsh, of Templeroan, both Rathfarnham - were previously the restaurant manager and head chef at Dobbins. On the application of Gavin Simons, solicitor for the Dobbins companies, Mr Justice Brian McGovern agreed to discharge Mr Wallace as examiner of the Dobbins companies and to appoint Alan O'Leary of KPMG as liquidator. Andrew Fitzpatrick, for KBC Bank, said it has appointed a receiver over the Dobbins companies and is anxious that the leasehold property occupied by the restaurant be surrendered to the bank as soon as possible. The court previously heard that the Dobbins and Beckett's Hotel companies - Camrue Holding Company Ltd and Camrue Catering Ltd - had a loyal customer base, but the fact that their assets were acquired in the Celtic Tiger years had left them with a high level of debt. Survival However, it is expected that a survival scheme prepared for two other companies operating Beckett's Hotel in Leixlip will be put before the court for approval later this week. An investment agreement has been negotiated and will be put before creditors today. If supported, it will then be put before the High Court. The Revenue has indicated it will oppose the survival scheme proposed, the High Court heard. All four companies, which employ 60 people, secured court protection last June foll- owing cash flow difficulties. Sinn Fein has proposed that thousands of meters installed by Irish Water should remain in the ground and gather rust in order to remind the public of the "flawed policies" of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. The party's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said his party is not proposing to "dig" the meters up and put them "on display". Regarding Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, Mr Doherty said, "It's their fault, we can't bring that money back." "They will join the voting machines and other disastrous policies." Mr Doherty also outlined his party's plans to refund householders who have already paid their bills. But he signalled that this refund would not be paid until January 1, 2018. In the meantime, householders who have paid a combined 162m in charges would be asked to register for a refund. Mr Doherty said under Sinn Fein's plans, 130m that has not been spent on water meters will go towards improving infrastructure. Domestic water charges should also be made free for everybody on water schemes, the party says. The issue of water charges was raised at Sinn Fein's pre-budget submission in Dublin. Pensions The party says its proposals would raise 1bn in net taxes to fund spending measures such as childcare, health and education. Key tax proposals include a series of measures aimed at tackling "gold-plated pensions", a new 7pc higher rate of tax on incomes of 100,000 and above and the abolition of property tax. The party's pre-budget document also proposes to take workers earning less than 19,572 out of the USC net and increasing tax credits for the self-employed. A second-home tax would be brought in and set at 400, while capital acquisition tax would be increased by 3pc to 36pc. A betting tax of 3pc would be brought in by Sinn Fein, while the party also proposes to scrap the 9pc special VAT rate for hotels but leave it in place for restaurants. Stamp duty would also be increased by the party if in government. The party also claims it would raise over 101m through a "volumetric sugary sweetened drinks tax at a rate of 24.64 per hectolitre". Other proposals announced include reducing TDs' salaries to 75,000 and senators salaries to 60,000. Maternity benefit would rise and there would be a 111m subsidised childcare scheme for children aged six months to three years at a cost. Responding to suggestions that the childcare scheme is very similar to Children's Minister Katherine Zappone's proposed version, Sinn Fein deputy Mary Lou McDonald said there has been various and mixed messages coming from Cabinet. But she signalled her party would be prepared to support the Government's plan if it had merit and is fair. In terms of housing, Sinn Fein says it would roll out a 491m social housing programme. Pope Francis made a surprise visit to towns and villages devastated by an earthquake that killed nearly 300 people in central Italy on August 24, comforting residents who lost everything and praying together for the dead. The Vatican, which kept Monday's trip secret until he arrived, issued pictures showing him standing alone and praying amid the rubble of Amatrice, one of the hardest-hit towns, with its still-standing church bell tower in the distance. Makeshift Addressing distraught residents with a megaphone, he said he wanted to come earlier but he did not want "to bother anyone" and preferred to let things settle down, particularly building a makeshift school for the children. "But from the first moment, I knew I wanted to come here, simply to say I am close to you. That I am close to you, nothing more. I pray for you. "My closeness and my prayers are what I offer to you. May the Lord bless all of you," he said. "In this moment of sadness and pain, let's move forward while remembering our dear ones who died here under the rubble. Let us pray for them," he said. He visited the "red zone", which covers the centre of Amatrice and is closed to the public because it is still dangerous, with most of the buildings either levelled or considered too badly damaged to live in. A parent broke down in tears in the school as he greeted the pope. Other residents stopped the pope's car to touch his hand from the window as he moved from town to town. The visit took place on the feast of the pope's namesake, St Francis of Assisi. Luca Cari, spokesman for the national fire brigades, said during the visit to Amatrice's "red zone" the pope stopped to pray with the rescue workers and thanked them. The earthquake, which flattened several towns and villages in the Lazio and Marche regions northeast of Rome, caused damage of at least 4bn, according to government estimates. A man who set fire to the Lebanon Sears Hometown Store in March pleaded guilty to first-degree arson on Tuesday in Linn County Circuit Court. Jordan Casterline of Lebanon was sentenced to 16 months in prison, three years post-prison supervision and restitution to the store and building owner. He was an employee at the store at the time of the crime. Mr. Casterline made a bad decision that could have ended up causing a much greater harm beyond the property damage, said Prosecutor Richard Wijers, in an email. About 15 to 20 people at the neighboring business, Pizza Schmizza, had to be evacuated due to the flames and smoke. There were no injuries, however. Casterline, then 19, intentionally set fire to multiple gas-powered tools in the storage area of the business prior to closing the store for the night, according to police. The blaze caused more than $75,000 worth of damage, police said. First-degree arson can be prosecuted as a Measure 11 charge, and that would bring a mandatory minimum sentence of seven-and-a-half years in prison. Casterline had no previous criminal history, however. The days are shorter, but not the list of things you can do. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here Grand Prize Winner: Donna Rickey Blog Winners: A Song for her Enemies by Sherri Stewart: Mary Ann Hake Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett: Connie Ruggles Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello: Brenda Walters Justice for Julia by Donna Schlachter: Natalya Lakhno Party Prize winners: Sherri Stewarts Winners A Song for her Enemies: Angie Pool Bottle of Dutch Syrup: Carol Koch Alscheff Corrie ten Boom book: Deb Gramie Burgess Linda Shenton Matchetts winners: $5.00 gift card to online retailer or choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Karen Hadley A Bride for Seamus: Carol Osterhouse Wotring DebbieLynn Costellos winners: Sword of the Matchmaker: Melissa Planas Sword of Forgiveness: Paty Hinojosa Gomez Shattered Memories: Charlene Zall Capodice Sword of the Perfect Bride: Licha Haney Donna Schlachters winner: Leather Journal: Lisa Turley GIVEAWAY RULES Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. HICKORY -- Anti-bullying advocate Jane Clementi spoke Monday night at the Crowne Plaza about her late son and the importance of combating bullying within institutions. The program was developed by OUTright Youth of the Catawba Valley, an organization intent on giving LGBT young people a safe place. It was sponsored by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and the Catawba Valley Medical Center. Jane Clementis son, Tyler Clementi, made national headlines in September 2010 after he took his own life following bullying he recieved after a video of a sexual encounter with another man was put online by a roommate. In response to her sons death, Jane Clementi and her husband began the Tyler Clementi Foundation to fight against bullying. I hope, though, that by sharing Tylers story that you will join me on my mission to create a culture shift to one of kindness, and empathy and compassion where everyone is treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve, Jane Clementi said. Jane Clementi spoke about Tyler, a really kind, compassionate young man who had a passion for playing the violin. He always had this great smile on his face," she said. "He woke up every morning with this wonderful smile that just seemed to say that today was going to be a good day and he could take care of whatever was happening." At the same time, Tyler Clementi had learned to hide part of himself, Jane Clementi said. "And looking back, I wish I had understood more of what was behind his smile," Jane Clementi said. After the video was posted online, Tyler Clementi began to repeatedly return to bullying messages online. Tyler became totally consumed with -- and only concerned about -- the words of people that were only trying to humiliate him, Jane Clementi said. The Tyler Clementi Foundation was formed to ensure others would not suffer in the way Tyler Clementi did, Jane Clementi said. The foundation works to counter bullying throughout all institutions, particularly churches and schools. Churches are an important element of the foundations mission, because of the harmful messages that can come out of these institutions, Jane Clementi said. Messages Tyler Clementi received from church might have contributed to his sense of shame, Jane Clementi said. I believe all people, actually all people, not just young people, but all people, must stop hearing that someone is less than, broken or separated from God because of who God created them to love, Jane Clementi said. Jane Clementi herself decided to leave the church she attended for many years after determining it was not a place that could be supportive of her older son, who is also gay, and her new friends in the LGBT community. The Tyler Clementi Foundation includes a number of programs and initiatives meant to combat bullying. A recent initative, the #Day1 campaign, provides scripts on the foundation's website that teachers and other leaders within organizations can use to engage their members early on in preventing bullying. The scripts provides information on the types of words and actions that are unacceptable with various groups. Students or members of organizations give verbal assent they understand and will apply those principles. Another change that would benefit schools is the establishment of Gay-Straight Alliances, a change which would improve rates of bullying and violence for all students, Jane Clementi said. Jane Clementi ended her speech with the importance of being an upstander rather than a bystander. So I do think that its very, very important to speak up, and to step out of your comfort zone sometimes in doing that, Jane Clementi said. Upcoming anti-bullying events Clementis speech came at the beginning of National Bullying Prevention Month, and local organizations are planning efforts within the schools to spread the message against bullying. Stand Up Speak Out Catawba Valley, a local anti-bullying organization, worked to bring performers to the area who spread an anti-bullying message. The Change, an all-girl Funk group from West Virginia, will be performing at Oktoberfest in Hickory on Saturday. The One Voice Project Anti-Bullying Tour will be performing at 10 area schools beginning Monday. More information on the Tyler Clementi Foundation is available at http://tylerclementi.org. Information on OUTright Youth and Stand Up, Speak Up are available at http://outrightyouthcv.com and http://www.standupspeakoutcv.org. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ Eyeing big gains, the Aam Aadmi Party and its chief Arvind Kejriwal are seeking to eat into Congress space as the main opposition party by constantly provoking the BJP, experts say. The partys sudden declaration of support on Monday for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been the target of most of its tirades, took everyone by surprise. The initial reaction in the BJP was of jubilation for having forced Kejriwal to fall in line. But, the support came with a rider. With a straight face, Delhis ruling party said the armys surgical strikes were a brave move but the Prime Minister should disclose facts to counter Pakistans propaganda that no strikes took place. Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Sanjay Nirupam, too, raised doubts over the surgical strikes against militants preparing to infiltrate into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Singh demanded that the government release video footage to counter UN and Pakistan claims that the cross-LoC raid did not take place. Read: AAP defends Kejriwal over LoC surgical strike remarks, takes on BJP The BJP is trying to take advantage out of the armys achievements, Nirupam said. The Mumbai Congress chief also accused the BJP of chest-thumping by putting up hoardings in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, hailing its leadership for the surgical strikes, an accusation repeated by other opposition parties. But the Congress high command stepped in, toning down its leaders statements. The party said its government, too, had carried out cross-border attacks but didnt publicise them even as it gave out three dates -- between 2011 and 2014 when Indian troops crossed the line of control. For the Congress, it is necessary not to let Modi walk away by creating an impression that September 29 operation was a first. The way political parties are behaving right now is clearly driven by the elections around the corner, said Prof Balveer Arora, political scientist and former pro-VC of Jawaharlal Nehru University. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur are due for elections in early 2017. Read: Amid protests, Kejriwal defends demand for proof of surgical strikes. The BJP rises to the bait thrown by AAP because the Delhi election defeat still weighs on its mind, he said. AAP is going up against the BJP and its NDA allies and the Congress in Punjab as well as Goa. A poor showing would be a huge blow to its national ambitions. Every time a new party has made gains, it has done so in the space vacated by the Congress, Arora said. As the BJP attacked its leaders for questioning the army operation, AAP has turned hawkish to burnish its nationalist credentials. On Tuesday, it held protests outside the Pakistan high commission. Senior party leader and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra lashed out at Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti at a tourism event while also targeting Kashmiris for treating terrorists as tourists. A day later, Mishra targeted BJP chief Amit Shah for running a government in J&K with those who have a soft corner for terrorists. Read: Why the opposition is wrong in demanding proof of surgical strikes On social media and in TV debates, AAP dominates the opposition space, experts say. The Congress is stepping up mass contact but its presence in the media is overshadowed by AAP. The Congresss work on the ground should bring it long-term gains, said Prof Badri Narayan, a teacher at JNU. For AAP, however, short-term gains are what will decide its longevity in the fiercely competitive world of Indian politics. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India should be thankful, for Pakistans strategy of cross-border terrorism has achieved the impossible: For the first time in 30 years all other neighbouring states are now siding with India on a Saarc issue. This gives New Delhi a window of opportunity to practise what it has been preaching and implement its grand plans for the region. Indias influence in the region, and its ability to deter Chinese inroads therein, will hinge on its ability to open its economy to its periphery, deliver on cross-border connectivity, and craft alternative cooperative arrangements with its neighbours. Following New Delhis lead, the governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan have also opted out of the Saarc summit scheduled for early November in Islamabad. The Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal issued public statements of support for the Indian position, with implicit references to terrorism and a degenerating regional security environment. This has left Pakistan virtually isolated, in stark contrast with the past when these smaller states relied on Islamabads support to use Saarc to pressure or gang up against India. Read: Saarc is dead. Press on with connectivity While the Nepalese government has announced consultations to reschedule the summit, relations between India and Pakistan are expected to deteriorate further. This does not bode well for Saarcs track record of regional cooperation. With Pakistan out of the picture, Indias informal Saarc minus one approach will therefore likely emerge as Prime Minister Narendra Modis default neighbourhood policy. This strategy is not necessarily bad news for regional integration, as it will raise incentives for New Delhi to explore three alternative paths to foster cooperation across South Asia. Read: Pak intelligence chief to skip SAARC meet in India over troubled ties First, at the bilateral level, New Delhi will continue to dedicate resources to implement the grand regional connectivity plans that have remained on paper for decades, hostage to Saarcs consensus principle. This includes investments in Irans Chabahar port as a crucial link to Afghanistan, new road and railway links to Nepal and Bangladesh, and a new sea bridge to Sri Lanka. New Delhi must, however, move fast if it wishes to take advantage of an unprecedented alignment of interests with the six other regional capitals: The governments in Kabul, Colombo and Dhaka, in particular, are now all predisposed to greater cooperation with New Delhi and have placed the ball in Indias court to deliver. Beyond its idealist self-image as the regions benevolent big brother, New Delhi will also have to revive the realist motives of the Gujral doctrine of the 1990s: Any short-term economic concessions to smaller neighbours, for example in the terms of favourable trade conditions, should be seen as lucrative investments in strategic interdependence which enhances Indian influence and leverage in the long term. Read: Saarc: The perennial victim of the India-Pakistan saga Second, New Delhi will likely develop new sub-regional initiatives with friendly neighbours on specific issues, or so-called minilaterals. In some cases, such schemes can be implemented via Saarc, which allows for member-states to cooperate separately. New Delhis experience in signing a trilateral motor vehicle agreement with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, after Pakistan blocked a region-wide proposal, offers a promising model. Similarly, on the Indian Ocean front, New Delhi can also build on the Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation Initiative with Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Plans for a gas pipeline connecting India, Bangladesh and Myanmar are back on the table as well. Finally, as an intransigent Pakistan blocks the Western front, Prime Ministers neighbourhood first policy is expected to gradually shift East, seeking to tie regional cooperation on the subcontinent to Aseans successful regional integration story in Southeast Asia. For example, instead of seeking to persuade Pakistan to drop its opposition to Myanmar becoming a Saarc member, an idea first mooted by New Delhi in the mid-1980s, the Modi government is now signalling its commitment to act east through alternative arrangements. This is most recently reflected in the move to use the BRICS summit later this month in Goa to facilitate a parallel outreach to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The shift in Indias regional strategy will, however, crucially depend on the governments capacity to override its security establishments traditional anxieties about cross-border connectivity. As former foreign secretary Shyam Saran noted back in 2006, India must start looking at national boundaries not as impenetrable walls which somehow protect us from the outside world, but as connectors, bringing India closer to its neighbours. Despite the previous PMs promises to make regional borders irrelevant, today it still takes longer to ship a container from New Delhi to Dhaka than to Singapore. As China looms large across the Subcontinent, in a formidable demonstration of how economics and security are connected, the PM will have to battle hard to invest the necessary resources to move South Asia to a new era of regional cooperation and integration. Indias regional interests cannot afford to wait any longer for an intransigent Pakistan and a moribund Saarc. Constantino Xavier is associate, Carnegie India The legal status of Muslim women in India came into focus recently after a womens group called for a ban on sharia courts. The Muslim Womens Quest for Equality petitioned the Supreme Court to abolish the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), which oversees the application of Muslim personal law in India. Of particular concern was the AIMPLBs ongoing defence of triple talaq divorce. According to the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, marriage, divorce, succession, adoption and other personal legal matters are governed by Islamic law, rather than a uniform civil code, within the Muslim community. The irony is that, prior to the enactment of the law, the debate centred on how governing personal lives by the sharia would actually improve Muslim womens rights in India. Read: Triple talaq has no place in secular India: Centre to tell SC next week From the late 19th century, Muslim reformers had used the sharia to argue in favour of greater rights for Muslim women than were recognised in customary practice. An early example was the Calcutta-based jurist Syed Ameer Ali. First in A Critical Examination of the Life and Teaching of Mohammed (1873) and later in The Spirit of Islam (1922), he defended Muslim womens legal status in Islam on the basis that it guaranteed a share of inheritance and other property rights, womens right to divorce (khula) and protection against polygamy. Offering an even more favourable interpretation of womens status in Islamic law was Sayyid Mumtaz Ali. A lawyer educated in the religious sciences at the Dar ul-Ulum at Deoband, he employed the sharia to counter assumptions of womens presumed inferiority to men in his treatise, Huquq un-Niswan (1898). According to his conclusions, Muslim women were not only guaranteed inheritance, mahr (dower) and the right to remarry after divorce or widowhood, but their testimony in court was equally admissible to that of a man on most legal matters. Read: Muslim women demand abolition of triple talaq By the early 20th century, female reformers too were employing the sharia to argue for Muslim womens equality. One of the most influential was the female ruler of the princely state of Bhopal in central India, Sultan Jahan Begum notably, also the first Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (1920-30). In a series of publications and speeches in the 1920s, she laid out how the rights of Muslim women in India were best protected by Muslim personal law, as defined in the sharia, rather than by a uniform civil code. Her starting point was that Islam had come to the redemption of the woman when she was in the lurch, providing her with more rights than any other religion. While president of the All-India Womens Conference in 1928, Sultan Jahan Begum encouraged Muslim women to participate in the campaign to raise the age of marriage, which resulted in the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929. A number of male politicians claimed then as the AIMPLB does now that curbing child marriage conflicted with the sharia. Read: Rajiv was pressured by Narasimha Rao, Najma Heptulla during Shah Bano Prevailing interpretations of the sharia in India today institutionalised in the AIMPLB allow gender inequality to be justified and upheld in the name of Islam. But Islamic law should not be presumed to be static or unchanging. History points to how more favourable interpretations have been employed to advocate Muslim womens legal rights in India. In the light of the political controversy that surrounds proposals for the abolition of Muslim personal law in favour a uniform civil code, building on these historical precedents may offer a pragmatic way forward. Siobhan Lambert-Hurley is Reader in International History, University of Sheffield The views expressed are personal In a democracy, there must be no redlines in the public sphere. From issues of government functioning to national security, from the conduct of the armed forces to draconian laws, from the violence that often accompanies nation-building exercise to even existing territorial boundaries, we must be willing to open every conversation, listen to every perspective. That is a testament to the strength and resilience of a democracy. And that is why when the government or loyal TV anchors say that there should be no questions asked about last Thursdays surgical strikes across the Line of Control as it denotes disrespect for the armed forces, they are wrong. But this does not mean that Indias opposition is right in asking for proof - more specifically, video footage - to show that the strikes indeed did take place. The politics of strikes Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was the first off the block with a clever video message. Careful not to alienate the nationalist constituency, and in recognition of the admiration the Modi government has evoked for its move, Kejriwal first lauded the strikes. But then he pointed to what he termed was Pakistani propaganda in denying the strikes. And he went on to suggest that it was important to counter this propaganda - and for this, the government must offer proof of the attacks. The old 1956 Hindi song - Kahin pe nighein, kahin pe nishana - was playing out in ones mind. Kejriwal may have couched it in nationalist terms and aimed at Pakistan, but his target was closer home - Modi. The gambit was obvious - sow doubts among people about the strikes, and force the government to show its hand clearly. The Congress too has followed up on the act. But the original culprit here, in some ways, is the BJP apparatus. The opposition is desperate because the ruling party is out to appropriate the strikes as its achievement. Now, as the political executive that authorised the strike, and delivered on a campaign promise to send across a tough message to Pakistan, it is inevitable that Modi will seek to use this politically. While he has been quiet and government has officially been responsible and circumspect, the BJP has gone overboard in cashing in on the achievement. Off-the-record briefings exaggerating the scale of the operation and the casualties have only added to the perception that the ruling party has scored an unprecedented victory. The opposition wants to deplete precisely this additional capital in the BJP bank. Read| Mission LoC: How India punished Pakistan with surgical strikes The perils of tangible proof But while the politics and the motives are understandable, the oppositions demand is dangerous and self-defeating. Here is why. There is a reason the government has been deliberately ambiguous on the nature of the strikes. The BJP government - and India - has many other goals, besides dealing with terror emanating out of Pakistan. It knows that war rhetoric dents the India story in international investor circles, and distracts from the domestic focus on economic growth and governance. It is well aware that India no longer enjoys massive conventional superiority over Pakistan, there is a nuclear context, and the long-term policy goal of changing the Pakistani states behaviour cannot be achieved through military means alone. In simpler terms, the government does not want war. And that is why, from the day it announced the strikes, it has been clear that for now, this is the end of any operations from the Indian side. There may be some exaggeration in the narrative that has been informally put out about the operation - and some in government may be wary of the holes being picked. But that is not the real reason the footage has been held back. Those who have watched it, or know people who have watched it, believe that it offers damning proof of both the raid and identifies those who have suffered on the other side. Till now, Pakistan has been claiming that there has been no raid, that this is all fiction. This is convenient for both sides. Islamabad is then under no pressure to immediately retaliate; India meets its objective of having sent a message across, but also de-escalated. If the footage is released, then there will be both clear proof of the raid and the nature of Pakistani losses. This will have immediate implications both within the Pakistani Army - where a chorus for action would emanate - and the public opinion on that side. This is something that India wants to avoid. Read| India must evaluate the long-term implications of isolating Pakistan It is ironical that those Indian political constituencies and opinion-makers, who have generally been doves on Pakistan and have pushed peace, are today asking for proof of the attack. Be careful what you wish for; there will be unintended consequences. This will not help politically either, for if the footage is released - and it proves that the action indeed happened - the opposition parties run the risk of being on the wrong side of public opinion. This will also strengthen Modi further, for the BJP will turn around to say they were right all along. India and Pakistan are entering a new phase in their old conflict. Many challenges lie ahead. It is inevitable there will be another attack - this will then generate more pressure on India to respond. But till we get to that point, status quo - where Delhi has claimed it has sent a message through strikes, and Islamabad has claimed this is all a lie, and both sides are pretending to their base that nothing else needs to be done - is best. Instead of disturbing this fragile status quo, Indias opposition parties should find other ways to corner the government. For full coverage on Indias Pakistan offensive, click here SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The second round of counselling for admission to the MBBS and BDS courses through the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) commenced after a delay of seven hours at the Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal on Tuesday. Though the process was supposed to start at 8 am, it commenced only around 3 pm due to technical problems. Enraged candidates raised slogans against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), alleging irregularities in the seat-allotment process. Several among them were also heard citing the multi-crore Vyapam scam, which concerned massive irregularities and corruption in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board. The entire process was delayed on purpose, just so that non-domicile students can get admitted to private colleges in the state, a woman candidate from Ujjain alleged. GS Patel, the director of medical examination, said the government was simply following the Supreme Courts directive in this regard. The counselling process would continue till midnight to make up for lost time, he added. Candidates, however, did not buy Patels argument. Now they claim to be following the courts order. But if they had completed the process on September 30, many students from Madhya Pradesh would have been benefitted because the apex court specifically ordered status quo as far as already-admitted candidates are concerned, one of the agitating students said. The apex court on Monday directed the DME to complete the process by October 7, and allow non-domicile students to participate. But local candidates argue why students from Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan and Delhi should be allowed in Madhya Pradesh when they are not permitted to sit for admission tests in those states. Santosh Sharma, a parent, sought the chief ministers immediate intervention to protect the future of the states 1,700 candidates. The problem lies in the affidavit submitted by the APDMC before the apex court, stating that candidates from Madhya Pradesh were not enough to fill the seats. This is why students from other states were allowed to seek admission here, he alleged. The 37-year-old Uzbek woman, who was released from jail on Monday, will have to wait a few days more days in Bhopal till the travel documents of her six-month-old daughter reaches her from the embassy of Uzbekistan. Djuraeva Barno served a 10-month jail term for living in India without valid documents. She is living with her daughter, born at Bhopal, at the shelter home of Childline. We had sent a request for the travel documents of Barnos daughter to the embassy about 15 days ago from the time of her release. They are yet to reply on that and send the documents, said Vivek Lal, the deputy superintendent of police (district special branch). Lal said the embassy had assured them they would be sending the required documents within few days. As soon as the documents arrive we would arrange the tickets for her departure to Uzbekistan, said Lal. After her release from the Jail on Monday, Barno and daughter were kept at the Mahila thana for about five hours before being sent to Childline shelter home. Childline director Archana Sahay said they were taking utmost care of the mother and her daughter. Film-maker Rakesh Roshan has been successful in enthralling audiences with superhero films such as Krrish (2006) and Krrish 3 (2013), both of which starred his son Hrithik Roshan in the lead role. But Rakesh says he wouldnt make a superhero film with a female protagonist. If I have a superhero in my film, then I can have a superheroine. I dont think I can make a female-based film, as I believe the audience wont accept that, he says. The film-maker believes that the new lot of actors, including Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor are talented. But he adds that he would advise them to choose their films wisely and work with good directors. Newcomers wish to become stars overnight. Hence, they tend to take up a lot of films at once, which isnt right, he says. Rakesh also talks about Rekhas recently released biography, and shares an incident that occurred between him and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who directed him in Khoobsurat (1980). When Hrishida called me for the movie, I asked him whether Rekha, who was the leading lady in the film, would work with a failed actor like me. Hrishida told me not to worry about it. He revealed that Rekhaji had no objection in working with me. I have had, and still have, such a lovely equation with her, he says. Rakesh adds that Rekha is like family to him. She comes home often, and brings us home-cooked south Indian dishes, he says. A day after she declined to give a categorical answer, BJP MP and veteran actor Hema Malini on Wednesday said she was against Pakistani artistes working in India. I would like to say that I am 100 per cent with our jawans (soldiers) who are fighting and dying for our country and do not support Pakistan artistes working here. Jai Hind! Hema tweeted on Wednesday. I wud like to say tht I am 100% with our jawans who are fighting & dying for our ctry & do not support Pak artistes workg here. Jai Hind! Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) October 5, 2016 The 67-year-old actress lauded the Indian Army for carrying out surgical strikes on terror launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistani territory last month. Our army has done a gt job with the surgical strikes & the whole country shld be supportive of thm. Why ask for proof of action? Unheard of! Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) October 5, 2016 Our army has done a great job with the surgical strikes and the whole country should be supportive of them. Why ask for proof of action? Unheard of! she added. On Tuesday, however, Hema Malini said she appreciated the work of Pakistani actors and didnt say if they should be allowed to work in India or not. Hema Malini at a promotional event in Tuesday. (Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO) Asked about her view on the ban on Pakistani artistes in India, the Lok Sabha member from Mathura said: I dont want to comment much on this controversial question. But all I can say is that we are artistes and so are those who come from there (Pakistan) to perform here. As an artiste, I can appreciate their work. But whether they should stay here or not, I cant comment. The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association has passed a resolution deciding to ban Pakistani artistes from working in Indian movies until tensions between the two countries subside, following a terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir that left 19 soldiers dead. Follow @htshowbiz for more Lyricist-writer Gulzar at a music launch of a new animated film on Tuesday told the media to be relevant to the occasion when asked to comment on the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. At the music launch of Motu Patlu: King of King, Gulzar was asked for his views on the feud between India and Pakistan. He said: Is this (question) relevant to the programme for which we have come? Aap agar shaadi mein jaao, aur baat Frontier ki karne lage, theek lagega? (If you go for a wedding, and talk about the Frontier, will it look nice?)... Be relevant to the occasion. While Gulzar chose not to comment on the issue, several Bollywood film celebrities have condemned the September 18 attack in Jammu and Kashmir which killed 19 soldiers. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Irrfan Khan, known for doing a variety of roles both in the West and in India, has said Indian film industry is getting challenged by the success story of Hollywood projects in India. The actor added that it is time for the members of the Indian film industry to push the envelope for good. It (the market for Hollywood in India) is growing very rapidly. Indian films are getting affected by it. By the way it is going I think it is going to capture. In other countries also Hollywood has captured the market...It is a challenge for Indian film industry. They have to pull their socks up, Irrfan said, adding that Hollywood is becoming bigger and bigger every week. The actor was speaking during the launch of India special trailer of his forthcoming Hollywood film Inferno on Tuesday. Directed by Ron Howard, the film also features Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones, and will be releasing in India on October 14. Irrfan, who has worked in a slew of Indian movies, has also proved his mettle internationally in critically-acclaimed works like The Namesake, A Mighty Heart and Life of Pi, the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire and the commercially successful The Amazing Spider-Man and Jurassic World. The actor also said that there is nothing like I enjoy working more in Bollywood or Hollywood, and only let work take him to different places and film industries. This is my country and I became actor for here. When I got a chance to work in West it is with the director I never thought I would ever work with. For me, both the industries are important. I am even working in European industry. I am an actor, wherever I will find interesting work, I will do, he said. Sharing a trivia about the film, Irrfan revealed that he was initially offered a different part in the movie, but convinced Howard to cast him in another role. When Ron sent me the script, he offered me a part and I read it, but there was another part which you are seeing me in now, I asked him if I can do this part. He remained silent for a month and came back and asked why I wanted to choose this part, he said The actor added, I told him my take on the character and he loved it, so, then he offered me this role. He is an enigmatic kind of a person and you dont get to know what he is up to. Inferno is based on Dan Browns popular book Inferno, and is a sequel to The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. Follow @htshowbiz for more Refusing to take a stand on the ongoing debate over Pakistani artistes in India, actor Imran Khan has blamed goons for his silence. Asked about the ban on Pakistani artistes, Imran said: Unfortunately, we live in a society where... if people raise voice over something, goons turn up at your house to beat you up. Thats what I really like to avoid in life. I dont have time for these things. I am not the spokesperson of Bollywood. I am a simple citizen of this country. The Delhi Belly star, who was present at the screening of Swara Bhaskars web series Its Not That Simple on Monday, said: I havent seen the trailer of Dangal, but being Aamir Khans film, it is bound to be good. Asked about his future projects, Imran, who made his Bollywood debut with the hit film Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na in 2008, said he hasnt decided yet as he needs more time. Imran was last seen on the big screen in Katti Batti (released in 2015). Meanwhile, there are reports that Imran has agreed to do a film which will be helmed by Raj Singh Chaudhary. Follow @htshowbiz for more Even as Bollywood fans speculate the release of his upcoming film along with Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has been blessed with a baby girl. This is the second child for actor, who left India recently to be with his wife Sadaf. An Express Tribune report quoted Fawads manager Hasan Khalid as saying that the girl was born late Tuesday. Hindustan Times could not independently verify the report. Fawad, who got married in November 2005, is already the father of six-year-old Ayaan. Ever since the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena asked Pakistani artistes to leave India and the IMPPA decided to ban artistes and technicians of that country from working in Bollywood till situation improves, the fate of films involving Pakistani actors has been hanging fire. Among these, Raees and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil are the big names as these are big-budget films involving stars. While Mahira Khan stars opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees, Fawad will be seen in Karan Johars Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Bollywood is divided on MNS threats that Pakistani artists should leave India and films featuring them should not be released in the country. While some celebrities have supported the cause of art, saying art and politics must not mixed, others have said the government should decide who should work here. Follow @htshowbiz for more Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma were seen posing for the lens with choreographer Rudi Ageu as they seem to be finally wrapping up a dance number for their upcoming flick. The cast of Imtiaz Alis The Ring has been busy for the past weeks shooting at multiple locations in India and abroad including Prague, Amsterdam and Lisbon. Choreographer for the dance, Rudi Ageu took to his social networking handle to share a picture, where he is seen standing with the two leads. Rudy Ageu is a professional choreographer born and raised in Brazil. He has been acting in dance business for more than 15 years and teaching Urban Dances since 1998. The Ring is an upcoming romantic drama scheduled to release next year. Ahead of The Ring, Shah Rukh will be seen in Raees which releases in January 2017. The films star cast includes Nawazuddin and Pakistani actor Mahira Khan. Follow @htshowbiz for more It is everyones belief that Google is going the Apple way with the launch of the new devices along with Google Assistant. But this might have a ripple effect on partners (handset-makers) such as HTC, Sony and Samsung. Experts believe that these companies will look again at alternatives to Googles Android. Google is pursuing a similar integrated hardware-software strategy to Apple with Pixel smartphones, Daydream View, and the other new hardware Google has announced. This is the final defeat for the operating system licensing model which Microsoft pioneered, and everyone tried to copy before Apples iPhone success, Ian Fogg, senior director, mobile and Telecoms, IHS Markit, told HT. But Googles culture and deep learning, intelligence, organisational, and software competitive strengths are very different to Apple. Yet, with Pixel smartphones Google is aiming at the same competitive areas which Samsung and Apple are: camera quality, cloud storage, and the ease of experience, Fogg explained adding that Google needs to differentiate from other players using its competitive strengths around AI. But for this, the Google Assistant needs to be on as many smartphones as possible to support Google strategy and so cannot be a long term differentiator for Pixel smartphones. Also, Fogg believes that the phones should have priced more aggressively to push sales. However, the success of Android has so far stopped the success of any other operating system. All the competition is either dead (Firefox OS, BlackBerry 10, Symbian, MeeGo), dying (Windows 10 Mobile, Sailfish) or a niche (Tizen). Smartphones makers do have the choice of forking Android or using Samsungs Tizen, but both would be costly and risky to develop, and only the largest smartphone makers could afford the investment, Fogg explained. But experts also do believe that Android might face risks due to the option of Android forking. Google still needs its partners. If they go wrong then Samsung may ramp its fall-back Tizen OS strategy, and more significantly Googles many China headquartered smartphone-maker partners may fork Android and take their more proprietary Chinese Android variants into international markets, he said adding that Android may be dominant now, but its not invincible if Google makes the wrong strategic moves and undermines its ecosystem partners. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON At a time when the world is reeling under headlines of Samsungs Galaxy Note 7 battery explosions and Apple iPhone 7s hissing sounds, Google seems to have hit bullseye with the timely launch of its Google Pixel smartphones -- Pixel and Pixel XL. Analysts believe that Googles smartphones will be the safe choice for consumers who seek a return on investment as they want a premium smartphone with a good overall experience. As far as competition is concerned we believe it gives choice to users in super premium segment 98% of which was earlier controlled by Apple and Samsung. I do think Pixel will be a strong competitor for Apples iPhones, but is likely to be an even more formidable competitor for Samsungs premium handsets, Tarun Pathak, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, said adding that the premium smartphone segment represents 7-8% by volume and 17-20% by value in India. He also said that the Diwali season will also boost sales of Pixel handsets. Read more: Google jumps from mobile to AI-first platform as it turns 18 However, there are other indications that Google is upping the competition ante with Apple and Samsung. With the Pixel smartphones, Google is finally completing its creeping proprietisation of Android. Now, Google has dropped use of its hardware partner brand and offers smartphone models with unique innovations not yet available to partners, Ian Fogg, senior director, mobile and telecoms, IHS Markit, told HT adding that Pixel smartphones represent the culmination of Googles ongoing moves to take ownership of Android. Google has a hardware group now. Although the hardware integration and manufacturing is being done by HTC, it is now in more of a contract manufacturing role Similar to how Foxconn manufactures for Apple, Pathak explained. Brian Rakowski, VP of Product Management at Google, speaks about the Pixel phone, during the presentation of new Google hardware in San Francisco, California, US. (REUTERS) Analysts also belive that Google has chosen the right time to make a move for fully own-brand smartphones. Launching own-brand smartphones will undoubtedly antagonize Googles Android hardware partners, but they have few alternatives because the success of Android has prevented any other licensable mobile operating system from establishing itself. All the competition is either dead (Firefox OS, BlackBerry 10, Symbian, MeeGo), dying (Windows 10 Mobile, Sailfish) or a niche (Tizen). Smartphones makers do have the choice of forking Android or using Samsungs Tizen, but both would be costly and risky to develop, and only the largest smartphone makers could afford the investment, Fogg explained. Read more: As it happened:Google unveils AI-powered Pixel phone, Home and 4K Chormecast It is also interesting to note that Google has priced its phones in the iPhone 7 range but is cheaper at least by Rs 3,000 which can be an incentive for consumers. But iPhone 7 is water-resistant and Pixel smartphones are not. Consumers, who are looking for a good camera experience will also have a choice now with the Pixel offering better optical image stabilisation and HDR+ modes. Sabrina Ellis, Director of Product Management at Google, speaks about the new Pixel phone during the presentation of new Google hardware in San Francisco, California, US. (Reuters) However, analysts are predicting that the high pricing of Pixel smartphones will limit sales and hurt Daydream VR headsets uptake. Google lacks the brand awareness and capabilities as a hardware maker of Apple, or Samsung and hence its uptake might suffer, Fogg said adding that the high price points will hurt initial adoption for Googles fledgling Daydream VR platform. Google should have been more aggressive with Pixel smartphone pricing to help to establish Googles VR platform ahead of rivals at a time when there is no clear VR market leader. In retrospect, Google will see this as a lost opportunity, Fogg explained adding that Google must build an organization to drive smartphone adoption across channels, incentivise both mobile operators and retailers, and essentially learn the channels country-by-country and replicate the hard won knowledge of Samsung, Apple and in the past of Nokia, Motorola or Sony. Read more: Google launches Pixel smartphone with Siri-like assistant at Rs 57,000 But experts believe that Google is relying on its Assistant to drive sales which the company is pitching against Apples Siri. The company showcased several use cases for the digital concierge. By capturing usage information about Google hardware owners, the company wants to deliver smarter experiences based on a users interests, locations and activities and adds to the vast pull of data across many users to be the training data for large scale deep learning, Fogg said adding that it would help the company deliver more focused, more valuable advertising. Sabrina Ellis, Director of Product Management at Google, speaks about the new Pixel phone during the presentation of new Google hardware in San Francisco, California, US. (Reuters) The Pixel phones, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, will come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor along with a 4GB DDR4 RAM unit. In terms of camera, the phones will sport a 12.3-megapixel rear camera. Other specifications include a 2,770 mAh and 3,450 mAh battery options, latest Bluetooth module, USB Type C and 3.5 mm headphone jack. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Charity feasts go up every festival season in a blind rush to earn good karma. But the good luck buffet was never easy on the stomach of the feasters. Indigestion: Neha Kumari, resident of an andh vidyalaya or school for the blind in Lajpat Nagar, has this single word to explain the after-effect. Having eaten eight samosas since morning, I now have acidity. If you are doing a story for the newspaper please write they shouldnt bring samosas. The same plea was heard at residential schools for blind children. People bring us food, especially during shraads, Navratras and Diwali. But they get the same food, mostly fried, says Anil Chauhan, who works with a hostel for blind girls in Sant Nagar. But healthy karma is close at hand. Many residential schools for blind children have tied up with neighbourhood restaurants, where anybody planning to donate a meal to them can go and choose a package. Depending on the eatery, people can treat 10 people for about Rs 1,500, or pick an unlimited thali at Rs 900 a plate at a nice restaurant. They can even order a la carte, after discussing the menu with those they plan to treat. They can pick a deal with a restaurant and pay for whatever number of people they want to feed, according to their budget. And we decide what we want to eat, says Rajiv Kumar, a blind Delhi University graduate who is on many donors speed dial. Kumar earns his bread from a small dhaba he runs with two sighted friends near a school for the blind. While I am looking for a job, I started this dhaba. Now, I directly bring the donors and visually impaired people here for lunch or dinner, he says. Restaurants too are happy with the arrangement as it guarantees pre-booked business. We need to be informed at least a day in advance about how many tables have to be booked, for how many people, and the menu, says Mahender Singh, who runs a small eatery close to Sewa Kutir in Outram Lines. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Loreto School, Convent Delhi Cantt, hosted the JPIC national general meeting titled Urja-2016 which was attended by staff and student delegates of fourteen Loreto Schools across the country. The event was graced by the presence of the chief guest, Sunita Narain, National award winner and alumni of the school. Provincial Leader of South East Asia, Sr. Anita Braganza and JPIC first counselor and link person, Sr. Sabrina were also present at the event. During the meeting, a panel of esteemed environmental experts shared their views with the delegates on the control of climate change and its impact. The event culminated with all Loreto institutions committing themselves to achieve two actionable goals by the year 2020 namely, planting one lakh trees and making the schools carbon neutral. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON GURGAON: Paralympic silver medallist Deepa Malik lodged a formal complaint against Vistra airlines for poor handling of wheelchair-bound passengers and rude and ill-mannered crew on-board. Malik was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi via Vistara flight UK 902 on her way back to her Gurgaon home when the incident happened. She also gave a written complaint to the airlines on-board. She alleged that one of the cabin crew members behaved rudely with her when she was informing her mother on the phone that the flight scheduled to depart at 3:35 pm from Mumbai airport was delayed. Crew member Priyanka was very rude in the flight. She told me to speak softly when I called parents to inform them about the delay in flight, she wrote in the complaint. On objecting, she said sweetheart, chill, Malik added. ...plus wheelchair handling is so poor that you do not know how to shift a person from seat to cabin chair. The entire staff stands and looks at each other for 10 minutes. No action, she said in the complaint. She alleged that the cabin crew was not ready to help her reach the cabin seat as they were not trained for it. Deepa, who won a silver medal at Rio Paralympic Games last month, was in Mumbai to attend a programme with Sachin Tendulkar and actor Hrithik Roshan in Mumbai on Tuesday. The airlines was quick to react to Maliks tweets and promised to investigate the matter. @deepaathlete. This is not good to hear. Let us investigate the matter right away and get back to you, tweeted the company on its official handle @airvistara. Vistara is a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines and has its office in Gurgaon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education is likely to get stricter in giving affiliation to schools. The CBSE has made a committee to suggest changes to existing affiliation by-laws to address the changes in the education system. The board has about 18,000 schools affiliated to it and receives about 3,500 applications every year for affiliation. The affiliation and exam by-laws were made years ago but the education sector has seen many changes.., said CBSE chairperson Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi. The committee on affiliation by-laws will, recommend appropriate, punitive and compliance provision so that violation of affiliation by-laws becomes difficult and actions deterrent. DIGITAL INDIA PUSH Chaturvedi said that CBSE is taking many steps to make all its services available online. To help students locate their centres for board exams as well as various competitive exams conducted by CBSE, it will put up information on its website. Students get information such as distance of the exam centre on our website and mobile application, he said. The chairperson said all schools affiliated with CBSE have been asked to upload basic information such as number of teachers, classrooms, playground and phone numbers on schools website. This is a step in making everything digital, he said. ONLINE CONTENT Students from Class 9 onwards will soon be able to access supplementary reading material on CBSE website free of cost. Chaturvedi said students will be given latest content, graphics and videos to understand their courses better. The board has asked some agencies to develop content as per CBSE syllabus. VERIFICATION Every year CBSE sends a CD with details of the students who have completed Class 12 to Delhi University so that the varsity can cross-check the details of students who apply to colleges. Officials say it is difficult to cross-check the documents. But soon, DU and other institutes of higher learning will be able to request CBSE for verification of certificates and get a reply online. All certificates and mark-sheets are in a digital locker provided by CBSE to each student. After verification, even the student will be sent a text that their verification has been done, Chaturvedi said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: For eight years, Ashok has been lodged in Tihar jail on charges of rape. None of his relatives or friends visit him. His ageing father, who visited him in his initial years in the prison, stopped coming after some time. Ashok had forgotten how life outside the jail walls was. But two weeks ago, he got the opportunity to visit Haridwar with other jail inmates. It was a life-changing experience for me. I, along with 17 more convicts, visited ghats, temples and local markets in Haridwar. No jail authorities accompanied us. I did some shopping and bought a bracelet, two set of clothes and a bag for myself. I went to a restaurant too, said Ashok. For the first time, 18 convicts of Tihar were sent to Haridwar on furlough. According to Delhi Prisons Act, 2000, furlough is a leave granted as a reward to a convicted prisoner, who has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for five years or more and has undergone three years of it. Before leaving for Haridwar in a bus, each convict was given Rs 1,000 as pocket-money by jail authorities. Some convicts carried the money they had earned while working in carpentry and bakery units in jail. This initiative was called Roopantran Yatra. There were some convicts in the age group of 35-64 years who were in jail since the last 12-14 years and had never met their families. I thought that prisoners with good conduct should be given every possible opportunity to reform themselves, said Sudhir Yadav, director general of Tihar Jail. Out of 25 applicants, 18 were found eligible for grant of furlough. These prisoners, who had showed good conduct in the last three years, were sent to Chetan Jyoti Ashram in Haridwar on September 21. As dengue and chikungunya cases continue to haunt the city, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi government to hold a meeting with lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and chalk out a strategy to stop the outbreak. A review meeting was held at the L-G House on Wednesday and it was attended by Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, health minister Satyendra Jain besides top civic and health officials. The L-G office and the elected Delhi government have been at loggerheads over several issues in the last two years making Delhities sufferer. Take a look at five key issues Kejriwal and Jung should quickly sort out: POWER PROBLEMS After the Delhi high court declared L-G as the administrative head of the city, all decisions taken by the state government without his approval have been declared null and void. Some of these decisions include, the policy to make discoms accountable. The policy proposed to make discoms payable to consumers for unscheduled power cuts. Recently, L-G Jung quashed the appointment of DERC chief Krishna Saini because of which the annual power tariff revision will not happen for second tie. Jung had also raised questions on the constitution of the Selection Committee to select the chairperson and members of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) and scrapped Sainis appointment. No decision has been taken on deciding the multi-year tariff based on which power tariffs are fixed.There is no one to mediate disputes between various stakeholders in the power sector. DENGUE AND CHIKUNGUNYA OUTBREAK As Delhi grappled under one of the worse dengue and chikungunya outbreak this year, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that people should question lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and Prime Minister Narendra Modi because all powers rested with them. He tweeted that the CM and his ministers had no power to even buy a pen. Later, heath minister Satyendar Jain accused Jung of not allowing his government to work for Delhi and transferring to the then health secretary. TEACHER APPOINTMENT The proposal to induct teachers across government school in the city has hit a road block as the government has alleged that the file related to creation of 9,000 new posts has not been approved by the L-G. This has also affected regularization of guest teachers working in government schools. In the proposal, the government had said that guest teachers presently working in schools will get extra points, during the recruitment process. BUS AGGREGATOR SCHEME SCRAPPED The Delhi transport department had proposed an app based premium bus service but the L-G returned the file related to the bus service saying that the scheme appeared to have been launched to benefit one particular company. Later, BJP MLA Vijender Gupta filed a complaint with the anti-corruption branch seeking probe into the premium bus service. The anti- graft unit also questioned former transport minister Gopal Rai for his alleged role in favouring a private company by launching the scheme. The bus service never took off. GARBAGE PROBLEMS Last year, when MCD sanitation workers went on strike against the non-payment of salaries by the Delhi government, the city residents had suffered the most. Thousands of tonnes of waste lay unattended outside residential colonies and Delhi streets. The AAP government accused the MCD of being run by the Central government alleging it was the most corrupt body. The Delhi High Court intervened later and ordered the state government to pay the dues and get workers off the strike. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON This winter season when Delhis chief minister Arvind Kejriwal pleads for votes in Punjab, the Capitals residents will be pleading the neighbouring states for clean air. Each year, farm fires in the surrounding states raise particulate matter in the citys air by more than six times the normal limit. The air quality in Delhi has already started deteriorating. Last weekend recorded the worst air quality in the past three months. Last week, Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain wrote to the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana to not allow crop residue burning in the states. Over 25% PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter that chokes the airways) and 17% of PM10 in winters in Delhis air come from burning of agriculture waste in the fields around the city, shows a study done by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The fires start in mid October when farmers prepare to sow wheat by clearing the fields of residue from rice harvest. Among Delhis neighbours, Punjab is the most polluting, followed by Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Unlike wheat straw that is used as cattle feed after the spring harvest, the rice straw from October harvest is not of much use. Some alternative uses are being promoted by the government but as compared to the production of rice straw, these are too few, said Ridhima Gupta, PG fellow with the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, who studied the economics of farm fires in Punjab. India produces 500-550 million tonnes of crop residue every year, with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana being the highest producers. A 2012 study estimated that Punjab and Haryana burnt about 80% of rice residue, while Uttar Pradesh burnt 25% of it. The three states burnt 23% of wheat and 25% of sugarcane trash in the field, the study said. Though Punjab and Haryana banned crop-residue burning in 2013 and 2003, respectively, farmers continue to burn the residue. These fires negated the benefits of the odd-even scheme introduced by the Delhi government in April this year. An analysis of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and NASAs satellite images by the Delhi-based NGO Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed that the level of PM2.5 and PM10 came down in the first week of odd-even 2 but spiked in the second, which coincided with the farm fires in Punjab and Haryana. Harvesting trouble The use of combine harvesters among the relatively affluent farmers in these states is partly to blame as they leave close to 80% of crop straw on the field, most of which ends up getting burnt. Since the time between harvesting rice and sowing of wheat is typically 15-20 days, farmers prefer burning the straw as the quickest, easiest and the most economical way to clear their fields rather than using it for soil enrichment or harvesting it for any other purpose. In December 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a series of directions to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to stop farm fires. It asked the states to impose a ban on farm fires, penalise farmers who violate the ban, subsidise machines that remove crop straw from the fields, incentivise farmers to collect the straw for alternative use, and put in place a satellite-based system for real-time monitoring of farm fires. Sources in the Punjab government say the state is going slow on penal action against farmers as it is an election year and farmers comprise an influential vote bank. Since the paddy harvest season in 2015, the Punjab Pollution Control Board has recommended action against 19 farmers for violating norms. Haryana, which banned crop residue burning in 2003, started penalising farmers after the NGT directions last year. The Haryana Pollution Control Board has fined 46 farmers over the past nine months and has given subsidies to farmers through various departments to buy happy seeder machines that plough and sow simultaneously while mixing the standing crop residue into the soil. Way ahead The Punjab government claims significant progress has been made to incentivise farmers. They have been given 766 machines for disposal of paddy stubble on 50% subsidy, 280 happy seeder machines, 305 paddy straw chopper shredder, 74 gyro-rakes, and 107 bailers for packing of stubble. Seven biomass-based power generating plants that use rice straws have been established and three more are coming up. With these measures and awareness drives, paddy burning reduced by 39% between 2013 and 2015, shows the Punjab government data. HTs Air Quality map | To track the pollution levels in your city or area, use this real-time map: Awareness drives have brought the farm fire-affected area down by 21 per cent, says Ramesh Hooda, chief scientist with the Haryana Space Application Centre. In 2013, two lakh hectare out of the 11 lakh hectare paddy area was affected by farm fires. In 2015, while the paddy area has increased to 12 lakh hectare, the fire affected area had come down to 1.6 lakh hectare. While the progress is encouraging, Delhi will experience significant change in air quality only when the fires completely stop. The fires will stop completely when the cutting of straw is more profitable for farmers than burning it. Many farmers believe that mixing the straw in the soil will harm their crops. They need to be educated and the happy seeder technology needs to be made more accessible, said IBMs Gupta. Burning crop residue: Crime, punishment, incentives PUNJAB Banned crop residue burning in 2013 under the Air (Prevention and control of pollution) Act 1981. PPCB has recommended action against 19 farmers for violating norms The government has given 766 machines for disposal of paddy stubble to the farmers on 50% subsidy 280 happy seeder machines, 305 paddy straw chopper shredder, 74 gyro-rakes, and 107 bailers for packing of stubble have also been given to farmers Seven biomass based power generating plants functional in state and 3 more are coming up HARYANA Banned burning of crop residue in 2003 under the IPC 46 farmers have been fined in 2016 Happy seeders that simultaneously ploughs and sows while mixing standing-crop residue into the soil sold to farmers at subsidized rates NGT ORDER Small holder farmers (with less than 2 acres) fined Rs 2,500 per incident, medium farmers (2-5 acres) fined Rs 5000, and big farmers (more than 5 acres) will pay Rs 15,000 per incident State governments will provide free-of-cost machines for disposing crop residue to small farmers, for Rs 5000 to medium farmers and for Rs 15,000 to big farmers District magistrates must constitute a special team to monitor and ensure there are no fires Source: NGT, Punjab and Haryana governments (With Gurpreet Nibber in Punjab and Rajesh Moudgil in Haryana) This is Part 3 of our ongoing series Save our Lungs, which looks at how to combat pollution in Delhi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A chief minister attending a review meeting called by the city administrator, the lieutenant governor, is a routine affair. But not the one chaired by L-G Najeeb Jung at his office on Wednesday in which CM Arvind Kejriwal was present. This meeting came after a gap of over four months. Kejriwal had been refraining from visiting the L-Gs office, with which the elected state government has been locked in a bitter tug of war over administrative jurisdiction. The AAP government is fighting both a political and legal battle with the Centre and its appointee, the L-G . The government challenged in the Supreme Court the August verdict of Delhi High Court that stamped the L-G as the citys administrative head. Even Wednesdays appearance seemed very formal. The chief minister hardly participated in the discussion in the meeting and the governments view was presented by heath minister Satyendra Jain, an official present in the meeting said. Sources said Jung and Kejriwal have not met officially for months, barring formal encounters at official functions such as an At Home party hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee on Independence Day. Earlier, the CM used to attend the review meetings at L-Gs office every one or two weeks, senior officials said. With the CM not holding any portfolio, it is deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who has been attending them. This has been the trend for a few months after the government came to power in February 2015. Read: Heres why Delhi CM Kejriwal and L-G Jung should bury the hatchet A day after the August 4 high court order, L-G Jung told HT that he would request the CM to visit his office as he wanted to apprise him of the high court mandate. The CM used to meet me once in two-three weeks till about two months ago. Every time I meet him, it is my constitutional duty to tell him that he should work with us. I have never had a falling out or a nasty bickering one to one. Everything happens after he goes back and he rethinks whatever has been discussed here. So, it is my constitutional duty to request him to make a visit to this office and tell him that this is what the high court has so far said, Jung had said. At the time, Kejriwal was away at a Vipasana session in Dharmashala. L-G secretariat officials did not say whether a formal communication was sent to the chief minister. However, they confirmed that the two have not had such a meeting so far. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ghaziabad on Wednesday held Surinder Koli guilty in the sixth case related to the Nithari killings. The case came to fore in 2006 when dismembered bodies of children and women were found dumped around the sector 31 house of Kolis employer, Moninder Singh Pandher, in Noida. In all the five cases decided earlier at Ghaziabad, Koli was awarded death penalty. Later, in January 2015, the Allahabad high court commuted Kolis sentence to life imprisonment in one case. Since December 2006, Koli is lodged at Dasna jail in Ghaziabad. The present case relates to a 25-year-old domestic help from Nithari in Noida, who hailed from Nepal and had served as a domestic help at Pandhers house before she disappeared on October 31, 2006. The hearing in the sixth case started in 2013 and Koli was held guilty after prosecution produced 50 witnesses in the case. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on October 7. Koli was held guilty for abduction, rape, murder and destruction of evidence in the case related to the 25-year-old domestic help, said JP Sharma, public prosecutor, CBI. According to the charge-sheet filed by CBI, the women had stopped working at Pandhers house in August 2006 as she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. A day before the woman disappeared, Koli had called her outside the house and asked her to rejoin work. On October 31, 2006, she left her house at 7am and told her husband that after her work, she would go to Pandhers house to meet Koli as he had offered her to resume work there. She never came back. Following a search, her husband and brother-in-law went to meet Koli, who told them that the woman did not come to their house. After human skulls, bones, clothes and other remains were discovered from a closed gallery behind Pandhers house at D5, sector 31 Noida, the womans husband identified his wifes salwar. A skull super-imposition test also identified the victim as the 25-year-old domestic help. Read: SC to hear plea challenging Nithari serial killers commutation Koli and his Pandher were arrested in December 2006. Kolis disclosures helped police recover pieces of bones, polythene packs containing biological material soft tissues, bones, slippers and clothes from the drain in front of Pandhers house. On January 18, 2007, Koli confessed that he used an axe to cut the dead bodies of the victim and others which were later thrown in poly packs. The axe was also recovered. After the CBI took up investigation, they re-registered 19 cases in which Koli was charge-sheeted for rape, 16 cases in which he was charged with murder. The agency filed a final report in three cases. Pandher was charge-sheeted in only one case under provisions of the Immoral Trafficking Act. But, during trial, he was also summoned as a coaccused in six cases by the Ghaziabad court. In the first of the Nithari cases, related to another victim, which was decided at Ghaziabad in February, 2009, both Koli and Pandher were awarded death penalty. Following an appeal, Pandher was acquitted of all charges by the Allahabad high court while Kolis punishment was upheld. Since there was a delay in execution of Kolis death penalty, he was given a reprieve by the high court that commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. Four remaining cases are in appeal at the high court, Sharma said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fine quality heroin is making its way into India from the Gulf countries, via air, hidden in chocolates and paper packets. The customs at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has approached the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to investigate this new route of drug smuggling. Recently, heroin worth R12 crore was seized in a months time, in three different cases. Usually, the value of heroin is R 1 crore per kg, but the one we have seized has been valued at R 3 crore per kg because of the fine quality. In Gulf countries, drugs are banned strictly so we dont suspect travellers from that part of the world of smuggling, although we usually stop passengers coming from there for gold smuggling. Now, we have asked the DRI to investigate this trend, said a customs official. Sources said heroin is often smuggled to India, while ketamine and ephedrine are smuggled out of the country. Recently, a woman,who is a known international drug peddler, was arrested at the Delhi airport. She admitted to carrying drugs in her check-in baggage. The woman had to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethopia, with 15 packets wrapped in carbon paper weighing about 18 Kg. These were detected during checks. Using the drugs detection kit, the authorities found it to be Methaqualone (a known as party drug). If wrapped in carbon paper, drugs or any other narcotic substances would appear as orange in colour. But no such scanning is done if a passenger is coming to Delhi. We only stop suspicious passengers based on the intelligence. Now, west Asian countries are also on our list and passengers are checked for drug smuggling, the official added. Sources said smugglers use peddlers to bring in drugs and they are paid R 25,000 to R 50,000 per trip apart from the fare and stay cost. They are also adopting a unique modus operandi to escape the check. In one of the cases, one kg heroin was concealed in chocolate boxes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An American team will visit India next month to probe cyber frauds, originating from the country, which have defrauded thousands of US citizens. Tech frauds from Uttar Pradesh have been duping US citizens by offering them technical support for removing virus or other malware from their computer systems for a price. They charge anything between $50 and $100. Shockingly, nearly 50,000 American nationals were duped this way by fraudsters operating from UP and other parts of India in 2015 alone. These starting revelations were made after the UP special task force (STF) arrested six techies from Sector 63 of Noida on September 30 and unearthed a call centre run by them allegedly to operate their fraudulent activities. The gang targeted Indian customers by offering them insurance bonus of private firms during the day time while at night they duped US citizens by offering them online technical support service, said UP STF additional superintendent of police (ASP), Triveni Singh. A team from the US will visit India in November to probe the case, Singh said. Bharat Bhaskar, IIM-Lucknow professor and expert in informational technology and systems, said the US is a favourite hunting ground for such tech support fraudsters as it has a bigger number of non-technical computer users who easily fall into the fraudsters trap. He said the fraudsters mostly target US nationals as they paid in dollars, the value of which is much higher than the rupee, adding that the fraudsters also had links with an international gang based in the US. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Science has proved that uncertainty in humans leads to heightened distress. And it is this distress that is being witnessed in Tamil Nadu ever since chief minister J Jayalalithaa was hospitalised in Chennai with fever and dehydration almost two weeks ago. That the administration has remained tight-lipped about the details of her health condition has not only caused concern in political circles but has also led to much speculations. It was only in May that the AIADMK leader was re-elected as the chief minister with a thumping mandate a reflection of her popularity among the people of the state. Read | Clarify about Jayas health by Oct 6, Madras HC tells TN The uncertainty surrounding Ms Jayalalithaas health has led to a chain of events: Party workers and well-wishers have thronged outside the hospital where she is undergoing treatment, and special prayers are underway for her speedy recovery. While these reflect the love the people have for her, there is also widespread fear among the people. Reports of people stocking food supplies anticipating unrest and of politicians (and even ruffians) asking shops to down their shutters show this. Read | CM Jayalalithaa in hospital, her adviser is in Tamil Nadu hot seat The police have been able to maintain law and order but there should be no secrecy about the health of an elected leader holding public office. The Madras High Court believes so, and on Tuesday, based on a PIL, has asked the state administration to give details about the chief ministers health. The current uncertainty and speculation about Ms Jayalalithaas health points to a deep anomaly in the way many political parties function. In the case of the AIADMK, the apparent lack of inner-party democracy and the over-reliance on an individual has meant that all decisions emanate from one person; and the party functions around that person. Read | Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa recovering, is conscious: Journalist While sympathisers point out that the style of functioning is an internal matter of the party, it becomes a matter of public concern when that party runs the government. The health of the head of the government is a matter of public concern and there should be no shroud of secrecy over it. Read | AIADMK credits Jayalalithaa for Cauvery verdict The state witnessed a similar hysteria and tension almost three decades back when then AIADMK leader and chief minister MG Ramachandran was admitted to a hospital in Chennai following a kidney ailment. Given that there was a precedent, the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu could have avoided this situation. They owe it to people of the state. Facing flak over the toppers scam, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is upgrading its rudimentary exam process to a technology-enabled platform right from registration of students to evaluation of answer-sheets. This process of migration, it hopes, will plug loopholes in the system and restore its credibility, the BSEB said. We are about to change the entire structure, BSEB chairman Anand Kishor said on Tuesday. Answer-sheets will now change to horizontal; also there will be a provision for OMR (optical mark recognition) with bar-coding. Further, answer-sheets will be scanned to avoid their physical movement to evaluation centres. There, it will be available to evaluators on their respective computer screens through the web, he told Hindustan Times. Kishor, who is also Patna divisional commissioner, explained the reasons for the complete overhaul. The idea is to restore the prestige of the board and remove misgivings about the quality and merit of Bihar board students, he said. We have tried to adopt the best practices of the CBSE, ICSE and other state boards to make the BSEB the best class-10 and class-12 exam-conducting body. By doing away with the offline registration process, the BSEB will be eliminating almost 90% chance of wrong entry of candidates name and fathers name, according to Kishor. It was the biggest source of trouble that took years for rectification on matric and inter certificates. The onus of providing correct entry will rest on schools and colleges, which will have to submit a certificate that the data has been verified by students, he said. The biggest change, though, will stem from the introduction of bar-code system. Copies without names and roll numbers, only having bar-code stickers, will be difficult to identify in comparison to the old system. Moreover, availability of scanned copies for digital evaluation system will also make the process more watertight, he pointed out. The chairman said the board, which conducts secondary and senior-secondary examinations twice a year, was mulling to rope in retired government-school teachers for evaluation. For this, training will be provided to field-level officers. Evaluation may take the same time, but we can avoid post-evaluation delays, he said, hoping for timely publication of results. Another significant change being introduced will be in the mark-sheets, which will have a total of 12 security features, including three new features like QR code, m-certificate and photo. The new software-enabled features will eliminate time delays and trouble associated with physical verification by institutions by facilitating immediate online verification, Kishor said. Read more: Tulsidas ji, pranam: Bihar board topper in essay before arrest We are also encouraging institutions to provide mobile, e-mail ID and aadhar number. Although it is not mandatory, those with aadhar numbers will have the facility of having their mark-sheet, etc, in digital locker, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Stating that universities are not machines to produce degrees, Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday stressed the need for encouraging research work in varsities. The quality of education in a university is determined by the research undertaken there, he said after launching the first academic session of the new Mahatama Gandhi Central University in Motihari. Universities are not machine to produce degrees, but should encourage research on various topics, Javadekar said addressing the function. He said the Union government was promoting education as a means to eradicate poverty, pointing out the new slogan of the Centre -- Sabko Siksha, Achhi Siksha (good education to everybody). Javadekar said to ensure success of the Make In India programme, the government is trying to bring back meritorious Indian students doing research abroad. Read more: Is plan to equate research time with teaching experience justified? Union Agriculture Minister and local MP Radha Mohan Singh and Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha were present on the occasion. Neither Bihar education minister nor any other state representative was present at the function. The Narendra Modi government had given approval for establishment of Mahatma Gandhi Central University at Motihari in 2014. As a result of the efforts of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to provide two new universities to the state instead of one, the Centre had given its nod for setting up one central university at Motihari and another at Bodh Gaya. A total of 395 students have taken admission in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the new university. Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said by establishing a University at Motihari, the Prime Minister has realised the dream of the Father of the Nation who wanted the place to become a seat of learning. The new university would start its academic session from Zilla School premises till it shifts to its building on the 300 acres of land allocated to it in the town. Read more | Teachers promotions to be linked to student performance: HRD proposal Sutirtha Chakraborty, 24, a graduate in business management from Aston University in Birmingham, UK, is preparing for his Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) to pursue his masters in business administration (MBA) from a university there. Hes quite sure that he does not want to study in India. An MBA is not about textbooks. In universities abroad, industry experts teach a class, there are students from all nationalities and professions, and you network with established and potential employers. These are the very features missing in our Indian institutes, he says. Like Chakraborty, every year, about 1.5 lakh students leave the country to study management abroad, particularly in universities in the US, UK and Singapore. The numbers come from the Indian Centre for Academic Rankings & Excellence (ICARE), an advisory body that acts as an interface between global ranking agencies and Indian institutions and assists universities to understand the ranking system. To address this issue, on September 20, the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) said that Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will participate in a new government initiative. It will establish 20 world-class universities or institutes, 10 each in the government and private sector. A statement by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September clarified that these universities will be free of all University Grants Commission rules. We will give them money and they must move towards becoming world-class universities, the statement said. If rules were holding them up, we will remove the rules. Those who work in the field of international education have welcomed the decision. But it requires substantial funding and setting up of state-of-theart technological facilities, says Amit Dasgupta, India country director, University of New South Wales, Australia and former head Mumbai campus of S P Jain School of Global Management. More importantly, it requires time, continued commitment, investments, cutting edge research facilities and a dramatic shift in terms of what educational institutions are meant to do. Some feel that IIMs are already a class apart and including them in this scheme will be unfair to other public universities in the category. In technical terms, IIMs do not function as public universities, says Karthick Sridhar, vice chairman at ICARE. They will score better than the public universities in every term. He recommends a separate scheme like the IITs Project Vishwajit, which allow off-campus PhD students, 20% international undergraduate and postgraduate students, a 1:7 faculty-student ratio and special grants to get the institutes into global ranking lists. Read: IIMs to focus on quality PhD programmes A CLASS APART Experts say it is important to define world class before getting down to work.When we say world-class, it should imply how international students perceive our institutes, if global faculty wants to join us and if our publications are cited by scholars abroad for further research, says P Rameshan, former director, IIM-Rohtak and professor, IIM-Kozhikode. We need to also evaluate if our cases and models are used by universities across the world for academic or research purposes. Debabrata Chatterjee, dean (administration) at IIM-Kozhikode says that a world-class university is one that can do much more. Such institutes should be thought leaders and have the potential to shape the world physically, socially, and intellectually. This would mean admitting more domestic and international students. Aside from a meagre presence of international students, we do not have enough foreign collaboration for our credibility, says Janat Shah, director, IIM-Udaipur. We need to look into our financial and autonomy models as well. CHALLENGES WITHIN Of Indias 20 IIMs, only two figure in the top 30 of the Financial Times Global Masters in Management 2016, which include the University of St Gallen, HEC Paris, London Business School and Esade Business School. While IIM-Bangalore has moved up by seven spots from 26 to 19 in the rankings, IIM-Ahmedabad slipped one spot (now at 16) and IIM-Calcutta fell seven places (now at 23) in this years list. Our IIMs are institutes of excellence within India but much more needs to happen for the world to see them in the same way. It is difficult to improve our research footprint as the limited faculty that we have is engaged in teaching, consulting and training, says Rameshan of IIM-Kozhikode. Everyone involved should first recognise that we need to be world-class. In none of our boardroom meetings does this issue get any importance. There isnt a focused effort to analyse it. Read: Why IIMs want diversity in the classroom Rameshan adds that we deserve to aim to be among the best. The world cannot teach without Harvard case studies. Why cant we aim for such credible studies? he asks. The answer, perhaps, lies in the financial model of the IIMs. Top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta are trying to become mostly financially independent, says Anindya Sen, director-in-charge, IIM-Ranchi. While universities like Harvard have huge endowments, here we struggle for funds and our faculty participates in several activities to get grants. What is their incentive in being part of an institute? Some even point out issues in governance. In a way, IIMs still report to MHRD, says Sridhar of ICARE. In universities abroad, the governing bodies largely constitute the alumni and industry stalwarts, which collectively choose the head of the institute. We are still stuck in a political muck when it comes to appointing a director. We need to get over archaic teaching mechanisms as well. The worlds best universities use case-study methods and examples that solve real-world problems in a professional setting. Solutions are derived from practical interference, Sridhar says. We need proactive industry participation. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS If students benefit by learning from the best, perhaps the IIMs might look towards global best practices too. MIT works with numerous corporations to develop new products and solutions. The MIT campus is home to many companies such as Microsoft, Google, Novartis, etc, says Ashwin Damera, a Harvard alumnus and executive director at Emeritus Institute of Management, Singapore, which offers courses in collaboration with several top institutes. It is important to spend big on research. Faculty are paid industry salaries in institutes abroad. However, in India, our faculty are underpaid and so very few bright people want to join academia. Dasgupta agrees that smarter investment is necessary, particularly to upgrade existing institutions like the Indian Institute of Science, IIMs, IITs, and many in the private sector such as St Xaviers and Ravenshaw College. They have the history and the culture to be among the best in the world, says Dasgupta. The writer is a research fellow with Observer Research Foundation Mumbai The city will undergo a transformation in the coming days as the state government has directed the district administration to beautify Gurgaon ahead of the inaugural function of Haryana Golden Jubilee celebrations on November 1. Haryana chief secretary DS Dhesi was in Gurgaon on Wednesday to review the preparations. The government is studying the seating plans of the Commonwealth Games and the International fleet review at Visakhapatnam. The plans would be replicated at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at the inaugural function of celebrations to commemorate 50 years of Haryana formation on November 1, chief secretary Dhesi said. As part of the efforts to beautify the city, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has procured four sweeping machines that would sweep 40 kilometres of road every day. Besides, more manpower will be deployed for improving the cleanliness of the city. However, the process is likely to be confined to the main roads and only till November 1. Dhesi said lack of cleanliness at the event venue would not be tolerated. He also asked officers concerned to ensure firefighting arrangements and smooth traffic near the stadium on the day. He said steps would be taken for the beautification of the entire stretch from Delhi border to the event venue and buildings along the way would also be decorated with theme lighting. A similar beautification plan was undertaken during the Happening Haryana summit too. MCG commissioner TL Satyaprakash said the corporation has 10 fire brigades and if needed more fire tenders would be called in from neighbouring districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 50 new schemes and also inaugurate 50 completed projects during the function. A light and sound show and a water laser show will be used to highlight the glorious past of the state from the Mahabharta era, Dhesi said. He said the event would highlight the states growth story of the last 50 years, contribution of people during the first war of independence in 1857, battles of Panipat, achievements in sports, bravery exhibited by soldiers and achievements in the sphere of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. Historians are being contacted to gather more information about the history of the state so that it could be included in the presentation at the function. A short film on Digital Haryana and achievements of the state would also be presented, he said. Dhesi directed officials to complete preparations for the celebrations in a timebound manner. He said since this month has festivals such as Diwali and Vishwakarma Day, officers should complete preparations by October 25. Divisional commissioner D Suresh was given the responsibility to review progress of preparations and send a report to the chief secretary and Rajesh Khullar, principal secretary to the CM. Celebrations starting on November 1 will go on till October 31, 2017. MPs, ministers and MLAs of Haryana, and various union ministers and chief ministers of other states have been invited for the event. Principal secretary to CM, additional chief secretary (home) Ram Niwas, additional chief secretary (public works department) Hardeep Kumar, director general of police KP Singh, principal resident commissioner Anand Mohan Sharan, director of information public relations and languages department Sameerpal Srow, and coordinator for Golden Jubilee Celebrations retired IAS Rajeev Sharma were present. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Paralympic silver medallist Deepa Malik lodged a formal complaint against Vistara airlines for poor handling of wheelchair-bound passengers and rude and ill-mannered crew on-board. Malik was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi via Vistara flight UK 902 on her way back to her Gurgaon home when the incident happened. She also gave a written complaint to the airlines on-board. She alleged that one of the cabin crew members behaved rudely with her when she was informing her mother on the phone that the flight scheduled to depart at 3:35 pm from Mumbai airport was delayed. Very poor handling of wheelchair passenger in De boarding and fragile items. Rude n ill mannered crew. Sad experience. @airvistara pic.twitter.com/UAUKA8UJqt Deepa Malik (@DeepaAthlete) October 4, 2016 Crew member Priyanka was very rude in the flight. She told me to speak softly when I called parents to inform them about the delay in flight, she wrote in the complaint. On objecting, she said sweetheart, chill, Malik added. ...plus wheelchair handling is so poor that you do not know how to shift a person from seat to cabin chair. The entire staff stands and looks at each other for 10 minutes. No action, she said in the complaint. She alleged that the cabin crew was not ready to help her reach the cabin seat as they were not trained for it. Hope @airvistara takes note of my complaints and revert. More dignity for physically challenged passengers @socialpwds @TCGEHLOT pic.twitter.com/URfk6ts2av Deepa Malik (@DeepaAthlete) October 4, 2016 Deepa, who won a silver medal at Rio Paralympic Games last month, was in Mumbai to attend a programme with Sachin Tendulkar and actor Hrithik Roshan on Tuesday. The airlines was quick to react to Maliks tweets and promised to investigate the matter. @DeepaAthlete This is not good to hear. Let us investigate the matter right away and get back to you. Vistara (@airvistara) October 4, 2016 Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, Vistara also tweeted an apology and promised an investigation. @DeepaAthlete @airvistara Ma'am, I am the CCO of Vistara, and am truly sorry for what you experienced. I will personally investigate (1/2) Sanjiv Kapoor (@TheSanjivKapoor) October 5, 2016 This is not representative of our standards, and we will make it up to you. My sincere apologies, he said in another tweet. Vistara is a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines and has its office in Gurgaon. Read more: Pockets picked, mobile phone stolen at the airport on Deepa Maliks arrival SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Ben Afflecks fourth film as director Live by Night will be coming to a few select theatres in the US on December 25 before it opens worldwide on January 13, 2017. The new release date will make the movie eligible to compete in this years Oscars as January 13 is the last day that voters can submit their nominations for the 2017 Academy Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter. According to sources, the studio decided to move up the movies release after seeing an early cut of the film. The new date also puts the movie up against Fences, Gold and Why Him? at the box-office release. Live by Night marks Afflecks fourth directorial effort following the success of Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and 2012s Oscar-winning Argo. Based on Dennis Lehanes award-winning and best-selling novel, Live by Night follows Afflecks Joe, a man who turned his back on his strict and proper upbringing and becomes an outlaw. He embarks on a dizzying journey up the ladder of organized crime that takes him from the flash of Jazz Age Boston to the sensual shimmer of Tampas Latin Quarter to the sizzling streets of Cuba. Directed, written and produced by Affleck, Live by Night also stars Brendan Gleeson and Scott Eastwood who portray Thomas and Danny Coughlin respectively. Other cast members in the upcoming crime drama include Miguel, Chris Sullivan, Anthony Michael Hall, Chris Messina, Titus Welliver, Derek Mears and Max Cassela. Follow @htshowbiz for more Before he became Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch was just like any other lost kid, trying to find himself. So he decided to take a trip to the Himalayas and had an unbelievable, Bear Grylls-like adventure involving fever dreams, dysentery and yak droppings. In a new profile in Vanity Fair ahead of Cumberbatchs big new superhero film Doctor Strange, he recounts the story of how, as a 19-year-old, he took a year off from his studies and got lost in the Himalayan mountains, literally. After teaching monks English in Darjeeling and travelling across the Rajasthani desert, Cumberbatch and three of his friends took a bus to Kathmandu, a city where he would shoot Doctor Strange years later. Immediately, altitude sickness struck. By the third day, Cumberbatch started having really weird, f****d-up dreams, and felt things were happening in my sleep. I wasnt sure if I was conscious or awake. What followed was days of drinking water squeezed out of moss, sleeping in abandoned barns and even more nightmares.They spent the night scared out of their wits that they were surrounded by wild animals. The next day, they formed a plan: They would follow the river in the hope that it would lead them to civilisation. With leeches stuck to their ankles, they almost broke their necks slipping down boulders until they arrived at a village, miming the universal signal for hunger: Pointing to their mouths with their hands. They then ate the best-tasting meal theyd ever hadunwashed greens and a bowl of eggs, after which Cumberbatch got dysentery. Follow @htshowbiz for more Union minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir on Wednesday said a video of the surgical strike conducted by the Indian Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was with the government and a decision on releasing it would be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yes, the government has received the video clip (from the army). The decision for releasing it or not is to be taken by the Prime Minister, Ahir told reporters at the Sahyadri guest house here. The laid down procedure has been followed. The DGMO briefed (about the surgical strikes). It was not the defence minister nor the Prime Minister and not the home minister. It was the DGMO who briefed (the media). That was the right thing to do and they (Army) did it. There was a time when written documents were submitted. Now the times have changed. Now clips are given and the clips have been given, Ahir was quoted as saying by PTI. Ahir slammed the Congress for politicising the issue by demanding the release of the video to counter Pakistans claim that the operation never took place. Whatever is going on the surgical strike, it is only for the sake of publicity, but at a very cheap level, he said, adding that the BJP had never asked for any CD of surgical strikes conducted during the UPA regime. We are of the clear view that parties should refrain from making such demands. He said the morale of the Indian Army would not be affected but Pakistan may benefit from such politics. (The) Congress is unable to digest praises for PM and army jawans. A political slugfest broke out over the surgical strikes, with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam calling it fake, provoking stinging criticism from the BJP even as his own party said it totally dissociates from his remarks. The Congress leader went on to demand some evidence to prove the surgical strikes did take place and accused the Centres ruling BJP of indulging in politics over the issue. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, too, had asked the government to release the proof of the cross-LoC surgical strikes to counter the Pakistani propaganda against the operation. With patriotic sentiments running high amid soaring tensions with Pakistan, Union minister Uma Bharti said leaders who cast doubt over the armys surgical strike should take Pakistani citizenship. With inputs from PTI Pakistans saber-rattling at the Line of Control after the September 29 surgical strikes by Indias special forces is unlikely to stop anytime soon. The 2003 ceasefire has collapsed with shelling and heavy gunfire rapidly spreading along the LoC. On Tuesday, Indian Air Force chief Arup Raha said that things were live at the de facto border. Senior army officers said Pakistan is likely to up the ante in the LoC fighting and Indian soldiers have orders to retaliate with lethal force. Amid rising tensions with Pakistan, a head-to-head comparison of the two militaries captures the edge India has. 1) Fighter planes Indian Air Force has a fleet of more than 600 fighter jets, including Sukhoi-30s, Mirage-2000s, Jaguars and MiG variants. Rafale jets on order. Pakistan air forces combat squadrons account for 500-plus aircraft including F-16s, two Mirage variants and the new JF-17s. 2) Missile reach With the Agni-V, India can deliver nuclear warheads at ranges of over 5,000 km. The Shaheen-III ballistic missile in the Pakistani arsenal can strike targets 2,750 km away. 3) Underwater warfare Indian Navy has a fleet of 13 boats of Russian/German origin and one nuclear-powered attack submarine leased from Russia. Arihant, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, is under trials. Six Scorpene are submarines under construction. Pakistan operates five French-origin Agosta submarines. 4) Tanks The Indian Army has close to 4,000 tanks and the fleet is a mix of Russian-origin T-90s, older T-72s and the indigenous Arjun tanks. The Pakistan armys tank count stands at around 2,000 with Al-Khalid, Al-Zarrar and T-80UDs accounting for the bulk of the armoured fleet. 5) Nuclear warheads India: 100-120 Pakistan: 110-130 6) Aircraft carriers India operates INS Vikramaditya with Mig-29K fighter planes and Vikrant is under construction at Kochi. A third carrier, Vishal, is also planned. Pakistan navy doesnt have an aircraft carrier. 7) Armed forces strength India: 1.4 million Pakistan: 600,000 8) Defence budget India: $39 billion Pakistan: $8 billion For more stories on the India-Pakistan tensions, click here Parents should teach their young sons the importance of respecting women and men should know that they have no greater rights. These are some suggestions readers have sent in response to our series Lets talk about rape, for which eight eminent Indians are writing open letters about sexual assault in India. Actor Farhan Akhtars letter to his daughter discussed the crudity and vulgarity of Bollywood movies. Boxer Mary Koms open letter to her sons recalled the time she was molested. Here are edited excerpts from the best responses to Akhtar and Koms letters: Nikhil Vaish wants Indian men to be honest about their beliefs According to the National Crime Records Bureau, a woman is raped every 20 minutes in India. The majority of perpetrators of rape and sexual abuse are men. One in three women worldwide are subjected to rape or sexual abuse in their lifetime. Think about that for a moment between your mother, sister, wife and daughter, you are likely to know a victim of abuse. This fact alone should be reason enough to raise your voice. You might ask, as a man what am I to do about it after all, not all of us are abusive or rapists. But the fact is that the issue goes deeper than just identifying the perpetrator; it is our own attitudes towards women and I mean the educated, middle class, globetrotting among us. Until we fix the problem of how we treat women, there is precious little they can do to protect against being ill-treated. Be honest. Do you have a problem with your wife smoking, drinking and being loud in public? Do you think the same way when you see a man doing these things? Do you care about how any man dresses? Do you stare? Do you think bringing up your kids is your wifes responsibility? Perhaps, you are open-minded and encourage your wife to work. You believe she should have ambitions outside of home. If so, do you also absolve her of the responsibilities within the home. Or better yet, do you believe these should be shared equally? Every Indian man needs to start challenging and changing deeply ingrained notions we have about women. Many of these are taught from birth, some consciously and others re-enforced through behaviour we see in our own homes, often by women themselves. But we need to start demolishing this notion that women are second to men. We need to forego our deep-seated fears and accept that women deserve equal rights. Aneisha Srivastava says parents need to talk to their children The day before while I was reading Farhan Akhtars letter to his daughter, I was so engrossed that I could hardly take my eyes off it. It isnt often that we get to read stuff like these because some people think such issues shouldnt be talked about in public. Personally, I believe that its time we talk about the subject and make everyone aware of the change that is required for you and me. I am free to talk to my father about every possible thing but thats not the case everywhere. In many families, daughters dont get to talk freely to their fathers about things they wish to talk about. In fact, I have read that daughters face sexual harassment at the hands of their fathers. Most women, who are raped, are asked to keep quiet by their own mothers as they think that fighting would not get them justice and bring them more shame. Its important that children talk about these things and are aware of the world they live in. This would indeed make them a stronger person. With parents talking about these things, there could be awareness amongst the children because most of the rural or younger women who are raped dont actually know they have been subjected to rape and that they do not deserve this kind of treatment. We have to talk about these issues in the family in order to get rid of them and talk about these often.This is going to be the start of the new era when you and I can feel the true essence of life without any fear. We all wish to see the change and we are going to be that for we are the future of this nation. Pranvesh Yadav says peoples mindset needs to be changed In the last 69 years, we have only heard that men and women are equal but they have not attained that equality in the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The right to live with dignity is one of the most important rights enshrined in Article 21 ie the right to life and personal liberty. Rape violates the right to live with dignity. The hapless victim of the crime spends her whole life suffocating and cursing herself for being a girl. Men are conferred with greater rights than women. Men, while committing the heinous crime of rape, forget that a woman has given him birth, that a sister ties rakhi on his hand too on every Rakshabandhan and that he also has a wife. The victim, who is someones mother, sister and a wife, hates her life just because of the coward act of some unknown who raped her. It is not an act of courage but the act of cowardliness. The need of the hour is to change the mindset of men towards women. Women are not some commodity to be used and thrown away and deserve respect and equal status. No law in any country, however strict, can stop rapes from being committed until the mindset is changed. Kanika Arora speaks out against stalkers I am a 19-year-old girl. I cover my face every day and wear loose clothes when I go to college. After being stalked for years, I have learned the art of self-preservation. Yes, I am not brave enough to face harassment. I dont have the courage to stand against stalkers. It is hard to believe that there is light at the end of this dark tunnel when all I could see is failure, injustice, corruption, hatred and anger. A world full of callous, selfish and ungrateful people. No matter what I say to them, No matter what I do; two eyes always follow my every move. Why are you following me? I will complain about this. Have I done anything? Just ignore him We all ignore him and wait for him to make a move. I have lost a lot in this game of waiting and ignoring. I am tired of this and it feels as if only death will be the end of it. Death will fulfill my wish for freedom. Or worse, I will carry these scars on my soul everywhere. Read: Being gentle is not being unmanly: Writer Shashi Deshpandes tells Indian men Join the conversation about rape, tweet to @httweets with #LetsTalkAboutRape Want to have your voice featured in the Hindustan Times? Send us your entries at htwebresponse@hindustantimes.com and we will feature the best responses. Lets talk about rape: Eight eminent Indians write open letters in Hindustan Times to discuss the reality of sexual assault in India. In Part 3 of the series, Shashi Deshpande writes an open letter to Indian men. Dear Men, I am slightly uneasy at addressing you as dear men, in view of the things I am going to say to you. But of course, this is only a formality. It is also a wish and a hope, so let the dear remain. I have for long wanted to speak to you directly on the subject of rape. But I have a suspicion that you dont want to listen to anything which makes you uncomfortable. Which is why rape has become a problem that only concerns women. But you know, or rather you should know, that it is not a womens-only issue. There are two parties to any offence offender and victim; both have to be part of the conversation. So, here goes. I am sure many of you remember the girl who was gang-raped in a bus in Delhi. Perhaps, you also remember the brutality and savagery with which the rapists treated her. Something strange happened then, something we cant explain even now: the country erupted in protest. And you too, yes, you men, were part of the protest. How gladdened I was to see you standing along with the women in this fight. Nirbhaya, the media called the girl, following the convention that a victim of rape should not be named. But on the first anniversary of her death, her mother, as courageous as her daughter, declared, My daughter is not Nirbhaya, her name is Jyoti Singh. Hearing her words, I had goose bumps, as if I was witnessing something momentous. Something momentous had happened. This woman, by declaring that there was no need for her daughters identity to be concealed, was denying the shame and humiliation that had always been a rape victims lot. The girl and her death haunted me for long; it still does. But do you know what haunted me more? It was the cruelty with which the men had dealt with the girl. I asked myself: where does this cruelty come from? Agreed that rape comes out of lust, out of looking at women as possessions; but cruelty? It can only come out of hatred. So where does the hatred come from? We cant escape the truth that most of us, you too, have been brought up by women and with care and tenderness. Some of the most intimate and tender moments of our lives have been spent with each other. I know, too, the love with which fathers, brothers, all men look upon the females in their family. Which is why I ask you: do you make a difference between your women and other women? But if it is so, why do we hear, too often these days, of fathers, brothers, uncles, even grandfathers raping girls in their family? I read a terrible story of a girl raped over a long period of time by her father, brother and uncle. Even more terrible was the fact that the girls elder sister, too, had had to endure the same ordeal and had finally committed suicide. The story filled me with horror, anger and pity. Watch | Survivors of sexual violence climb to overcome their struggles, speak out I am sure most of you will say: what have I to do with rapists? I dont rape. But lets put rape in its context, as part of a pattern of taken-for-granted violence which has many facets. Eve-teasing. (What an inadequate phrase!) Stalking. And flashing. I was in hospital after my first sons birth when a man opened the door and, pretending he was looking for another room, exhibited his pride and glory to me. A woman who had just delivered! But lets move on. In the family theres casual cruelty, theres wife-beating and marital rape. In the world outside, gang rape is becoming common; they hunt in packs now. The latest trend is acid-throwing. Rape, however, is an ancient practice. Even the gods raped. Zeus and Indra were both notorious rapists. I wonder how many of you know the story of Ambika and Ambalike, princesses of Kashi, brought by Bhishma to marry his sickly brother King Vichitravirya. When he could not father a son on them, they were forced to sleep with a stranger to provide heirs for the kingdom. They each had a son: Pandu who was white because his mother turned pale and fainted when she saw the stranger she had to sleep with, and Dhritarashtra, who was blind because his mother closed her eyes to the horror of what she had to endure. Such a lot of cruelty and fear concealed in this story, isnt there? Yet, some people talk of our ancient culture as an ideal one. Not for women, it seems. But lets give credit to the story-teller who told this as it happened. Forget about the past, we need to make this age better. We can do it only if we work together. Women need to teach their sons to respect women, but there are some things only you can do. Like teaching boys that being gentle is not being unmanly. Teaching them how to deal with their bodily desires without hurting others. And only from your behaviour with women will boys learn that companionship with women is possible. Perhaps, they will then know, when the time comes, what sex really is: a union that is the ultimate expression of love and an act of the greatest shared pleasure for all humans. Yours in hope Shashi Deshpande ( The author is a novelist and short story writer) Join the conversation about rape, tweet to @httweets with #LetsTalkAboutRape Want to have your voice featured in the Hindustan Times? Send us your entries at htwebresponse@hindustantimes.com and we will feature the best responses Heavy police force was deployed at Uttar Pradeshs Bisada village after a 22-year-old man, an accused in the Dadri lynching case, died in a Delhi hospital due to suspected case of dengue or chikungunya. Ravin Sisodias family alleged foul play and threatened they will stage a stir accusing jail authorities of beating their son, who was in jail for the last one year. The police, however, said he was unwell since the past 4-5 days and was admitted to the district hospital in Noida on Monday. He was referred to Delhis Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital after his condition deteriorated. Police said they have deployed force from four police stations as a precautionary measure. All schools and shops in the village have also been shut. We are keeping an eye on the situation. We have received information about the death of one of the accused, reasons of which will be ascertained in the postmortem report, Abhishek Yadav, superintendent of police (rural), Gautam Budh Nagar, said. On Wednesday morning, the crowd burnt an effigy of UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. People from nearby villages have also joined the protest and demanded the arrest of the jailor of the jail where Ravin was lodged. We dont believe the claims of police that he died of some disease. There should be an inquiry into his death, Ranveer Sisodia, Ravins father, said. Ravins body will be brought to the village in the afternoon after the postmortem is conducted at a Delhi hospital. Doctors at the LNJP hospital said Ravin was referred to them at around midday on Tuesday and that he died of kidney and respiratory failure. He came to the hospital in very bad condition. He had a chronic kidney disease and uncontrolled diabetes. He presented with respiratory infection and fever, LNJPs medical director Dr JC Passey said. Samples of his blood have been sent for tests and reports are awaited. Ravin and 17 other men, including three juveniles, were arrested last year for allegedly lynching Mohammad Ikhlaq, 55, and grievously injuring his son Danish over allegations of slaughtering a cow and storing its meat for consumption. Charges were yet to be framed against Ravin and other accused in a fast track court. We will plan out a strategy in a panchayat today. We want the safety of all the men who are lodged in jail so at least they can face trial, Sanjay Rana, former BJP member and father of one of the accused, said. (With inputs from Pankaj Parashar and Anonna Dutt) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The BSF intercepted on Wednesday a Pakistani boat in Sir Creek area adjoining Gujarats Kutch district close to the Pakistan maritime border with nine people on board. A senior Border Security Force official said the boat with eight to nine persons on board was caught by our patrol team in the morning close to the Sir Creek area. Interrogation teams have been sent to inquire about them in depth. So far, we have seized only fish and some fishing equipment from the boat. But the possibility of these people spying for Pakistan cant be ruled out, an officer said. The Coast Guard had on October 2 seized one Pakistani boat off Porbandar in Gujarat. The government wants to ensure more children from poor families get to study in Kendriya Vidyalayas, where affluent parents are increasingly trying to enroll their kids because of the mad rush at private schools each admission season. Known popularly as KV, this Centre-funded institution runs a chain of schools across the country and provides affordable quality education. The Union human resource development (HRD) ministry is deliberating over a proposal to introduce an income limit to restrict the creamy layer, or privileged sections of society, from occupying all the seats, sources said this week. Under the special dispensation quota for parliamentarians in KVs, each member can refer 10 cases for admission in an academic year. These admissions are over and above the class strength. Sources said the ministry has received a number of complaints that children from poor families face a tough time in getting admission. Of the 10 seats that each MP has, we are looking at setting aside a few seats, say three or four, for economically weaker sections. Only these seats will have an income limit and those who meet the criteria will be eligible. This will be reserved for them, a source said. For the rest of the seats under the MP quota, anyone will be eligible. The issue was raised at a meeting, chaired by HRD minister Prakash Javadekar and attended by senior officials. The ministry is working to create objective criteria for admission to KVs for greater transparency. The MP quota was increased from six to 10 this academic year. There is a huge demand for KV schools and even those who can afford private schools prefer to send their kids to KVs. Often those who cant afford private schools are left out. The government is looking into this and a scheme will be in place next year, the source said. The KVs have fared better than private schools in the class 12 final examination over the years. Across the country, more than 1.2 million students study in 1,100-odd KVs. The ministry has asked the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, which runs these schools, to create a database of admissions past, present and future. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hitting out at those seeking proof of the army-conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said further discussions of the same would be an insult to the commendable task. There is no need to respond to such irresponsible comments and demands. Fortunately, Congress has also realised its mistake and distanced itself from the comments of its leaders... AAP has also made it very clear, he said. Read | Row over surgical strikes deepen as govt, Oppn bicker about evidence Stating that further discussions regarding the merit of the operations will be an insult to the force, Naidu said, I dont think any Indian citizen has got any doubt. Nobody is doubting the credentials and commitment of the Indian Army. It did a commendable job... It would be an insult to the Army if we further discuss (it). The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) had announced of the armys surgical strikes on September 29 in a press meet, giving sparse details of the mission. He however stated that seven militant launchpads had been damaged in the attack. Read | Indias surgical strikes across LoC: Full statement by DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh He later also shared the information at an all-party meeting. Observing that the country had reacted positively to the news, and so had many global nations, Naidu said giving further details may not necessarily be in the best interest of the nation. Only Pakistan is saying something because they have to say something. They are not in a position to conduct funeral or last rites of their own citizens...This is their culture, he said. Read | Pakistan military dismisses surgical strikes as Indias illusion Reiterating the Modi-led NDAs governments stand, the minister said India did not want war with anybody, but would respond if continuously provoked. ...We never want a war with anybody. If somebody continuously provokes us, we will give them a befitting reply like our jawans gave the reply recently, he said. Read | PM Modi hits out at Pakistan, says India wont forget Uri attack Naidu was referring to the constant ceasefire violations that have been occurring along the Line of Control, especially since the surgical attack was announced. The border, however, has been tense since last month when a group of militants, who India blames Pakistan of sponsoring, attacked an army camp in Kashmirs Uri sector, killing 19 soldiers. The armys surgical strike has largely been regarded as a response to the militant attack. Also read | Storyboard: See how India carried out surgical strikes across LoC For more stories on the India-Pakistan tensions, click here Germany on Wednesday said every country has the right to defend itself against international terrorism, signalling growing support for New Delhis September 29 attack on militant camps across the line of control. The German backing comes a day after a top European Parliament official asked the international community to stand by India in its fight against terror emanating from Pakistan, which if left unchecked would target the West. There is a clear international norm that every state has the right to defend its territory from international terrorism, German ambassador to India Martin Ney said in Hyderabad. Responding to a question on the surgical strikes, Ney said under international law, every country was obliged to ensure that no terrorism emanated from its territory. Secondly, there is a clear international law that any state has the right to defend its territory from any form of global terrorism, Ney said. Germany was standing side by side with India in its efforts to counter terrorism. I can assure you standing with India side by side against terrorism are not empty political words but backed with concrete projects, Ney said. Germany is the second major world power to back India in as many days. Russia has welcomed the army raid. Its ambassador Alexander M Kadakin said on Monday that the terrorists who struck an army base in Uri were Pakistanis and every country had the right to defend itself. Nineteen Indian soldiers were killed in the September 18 attack. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The army has handed over video evidence of its September 29 surgical strikes on terrorist launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir but the government doesnt see the need to make them public, two senior ministers said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his ministers not to indulge in chest-thumping over the raid, sources said, adding the army, too, is not in favour of making public the details of the sensitive operation. Urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu rejected the oppositions demand for proof of the strikes, saying any further discussions would be an insult to the army. There is no need to respond to such irresponsible comments and demands. Fortunately, the Congress has also realised its mistake and distanced itself from the comments of its leaders, Naidu told mediapersons a day after he said that the proof would be presented at an appropriate time. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar has also concurred with the army. Parrikar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were shown unedited footage of the September 29 operation on October 1, followed by a presentation of an edited version the next day by the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO). After seeing the visuals, Parrikar conveyed to the Prime Minister that he was satisfied and felt there was no need to release the footage. Read | Cong dissociates itself from Nirupams remarks, asks govt to call Paks bluff Hindustan Times had reported on October 3 that Modi had on September 23 five days after an army camp in Uri was attacked by militants that India says were based out of Pakistan first told Parrikar and Doval of his decision to strike across the LoC. The opposition should understand the difference between a covert and overt strike. And it is not incumbent on the Indian army to release video footage every time they do their duty, a senior official said on conditions of anonymity. South Block sources said there was no need to rub Pakistans nose in the dirt after the successful surgical strike. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and a section of Congress leaders have been calling for evidence, couching it as a must to debunk Pakistan propaganda that the raid was nothing but cross-border fighting. Read | AAP defends Kejriwal over LoC surgical strike remarks, takes on BJP The Congress repeated its demand on Wednesday but tempered it by saying the government should provide proof only after considering national security. Saying it had unequivocally supported the armed forces and the government on the cross-LoC action, the Congress said it was time to expose the malicious lies and false propaganda of Pakistan. Several ministers had taken on the opposition for questioning armys courage in demanding evidence for the raid. I dont think any Indian citizen has got any doubt It would be an insult to the army if we further discuss, Naidu said. Only Pakistan is saying something because they have to say something. They are not in a position to conduct funeral or last rites of their own citizens...This is their culture. Read | Row over surgical strikes deepen as govt, Oppn bicker about evidence Sources in the army said the force was not in favour of releasing the evidence though the final decision lay with the government. The army would like to keep under wraps the tactics of its special forces. The army, they said, was proud of its apolitical and secular credentials and didnt want to be dragged into political wrangling. Read | Why the opposition is wrong in demanding proof of surgical strikes The face-off between India and Pakistan found echoes on the margins of a crucial international meeting on Afghanistan in Brussels, with New Delhi accusing Islamabad of impeding the development of regional trade. Speaking at an event on regional integration on the sidelines of the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar said Pakistan had blocked the transportation of Afghan goods to India for political reasons. Akbar also said the terrorism and violence unleashed against Afghanistan had affected work on development projects, delivery of assistance and inflow of investments. Though he did not name Pakistan in connection with the violence in Afghanistan, Indian and Afghan officials have for long accused Islamabads security establishment of backing the Afghan Taliban. Ahead of the conference, Pakistans foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz accused India of sponsoring terrorist campaigns and ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. This, he said, was affecting the Pakistan Armys ability to deploy more resources on the border with Afghanistan. Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after a terror attack on an army camp at Uri in Kashmir that killed 19 soldiers. India said its troops had carried out surgical strikes against terrorists across the LoC last Thursday. New Delhi also launched a campaign to isolate Islamabad on the global stage for using terror as an instrument of state policy. Akbar, who is leading the Indian delegation to the Brussels meet, said Afghanistan needs infrastructure, connectivity and access to regional markets for its development. He said Afghanistans exports had traditionally found their most lucrative market in India, which had offered a special facility at the Attari border crossing with Pakistan for Afghan products. Unfortunately, this access has been blocked for political reasons by Pakistan. Nations cannot become walls aborting a trade and culture that is as old as written history, and as powerful as the lore etched in common memory, he said. Those who deny transit hurt Afghanistans economy, with negative resonance for our larger region. India had completed development projects, including dams and highways, worth more than $2 billion in Afghanistan and committed to $1 billion more. The recent India-Iran-Afghanistan agreement to make Chahbahar port into a trade and transit hub will lead to immense economic opportunities, Akbar added. He noted that scale of terrorism and violence unleashed against Afghanistan is of a magnitude that simply does not allow for easy project implementation, efficient delivery of assistance or the rapid inflow of investments. The world community must ensure security if it wants stability and development in Afghanistan, he said. Aziz, who spoke at the European Institute of Asian Studies in Brussels, said Pakistans close ties with China and its improved relations with Russia has been counter-balanced by Indias continuing policy to pressure Pakistan. He alleged India was sponsoring terrorist campaigns inside Pakistan to foment separatism or by ceasefire violations on the LoCto constrain the Pakistan Armys ability to deploy more resources on the Afghan border. Regrettably, India also openly opposes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for no apparent reason than to obstruct the economic development of Pakistan, Aziz said. He also raked up the Kashmir issue, rights violations and direct military pressure on Pakistan through deployment of advanced weapons systems, offensive troops positioning and exercises along the border. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India is trying to hasten a deal with the United States to buy Predator drone aircraft for military surveillance, one of several defence and nuclear projects both sides are pursuing in the final months of the Obama administration. Our request for 22 Predator Guardian drones made in June is in an advanced stage of negotiations. We hope to make enough progress so only administrative tasks remain by the time President Barack Obama leaves office, government officials in New Delhi said. It is progressing well. The aim is to complete the main process in the next few months, said one of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has built personal ties with President Barack Obama, whose signature foreign policy move has been a strategic pivot to Asia from the Middle East. The United States has dislodged Russia as the top arms supplier to India, with India also on the cusp of sealing a US nuclear reactor deal worth billions of dollars. In return, US has given India access to high-end military technology, such as a new system to launch planes off aircraft carriers, and leaned on other countries to give India membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime, which cleared the way for the sale of the unarmed Predator. Indian military has also asked for the armed version of the Predator to help target suspected militant camps in Pakistan but US export control laws prohibit such a transfer. US defence secretary Ashton Carter, who visited India in April, is expected to make a final trip there towards the end of the year. The administration is eager to get as much done as is humanly possible. They believe the conditions and the personnel in India as well as in US are uniquely favourable at the moment, and are eager to consolidate and institutionalize the progress, said Jeff Smith, director of Asia Security Programs at the American Foreign Policy Council. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has built personal ties with President Barack Obama, whose signature foreign policy move has been a strategic pivot to Asia from the Middle East. (AFP Photo) America first US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps America First foreign policy statements have raised questions about a US pullback from Asia. Trump has said US allies, such as Japan and South Korea, should pay more towards their defence. He told the New York Times in an interview in March he could withdraw US troops from bases in Japan, and raised the idea of letting Japan and South Korea develop their own nuclear arsenals. It is a serious concern, and may lead to Chinese pre-eminence in Asia far sooner than expected, said Dhruva Jaishankar, a specialist on India-US ties at Brookings India. But Trump adviser Walid Phares, an American scholar and expert on Islamist radicals and counter-terrorism, said India had no reason to worry. With India, there is the ongoing partnership against terror and both countries have suffered from jihadi urban attacks. One can only project cooperation, Phares said. Prime Ministers office set up a six-member research group in July to help identify ways to engage with Trump, an aide said. Indias diaspora in the United States, led by the Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party, has also opened a line to both presidential campaigns. The comfort level is much higher with the Democratic candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said a member of the Overseas Friends of BJP who is based in New Delhi. Manoj Ladwa, a London-based political strategist who served as communications director for Modis 2014 campaign, said Trump had sent contradictory messages to India. On the one hand, he says he values business relations with India, but then mimics Indian call centre workers, and disregards the competitiveness that a partnership with India could provide the US, he said. His unpredictability is worrisome in a world that requires steady and mature statesmanship. Strategic programmes The centrepiece of the military collaboration is the help the United States is giving India in developing its biggest aircraft carrier. US has offered flight launch technology that is being inducted into its own carriers to fly heavier fighter planes off the deck, which could allow the Indian navy to leapfrog a generation of technology. In June, the United States reached agreement on exchanging confidential information on development of carriers, making India its only non-treaty ally with such an arrangement. They have already started helping us on our first indigenous carrier, in terms of certification, quality testing, said the government official. The challenge will be to sustain the momentum over the next decade. In August, India and US signed a logistics agreement giving each country access to the others military bases, after 10 years of negotiations. Also on the table are two other defence agreements, one on securing communications and the other on sharing spatial data that US has been pushing for. Modi has shown he wont hesitate to reach down and choke someone, to get things done, Smith at the American Foreign Policy Council said, quoting a Pentagon official. A gang of about 10 robbers looted passengers and molested women in three trains on the outskirts of Kanpur and Unnao outers early on Wednesday morning. Over the span of 45 minutes, the criminals, who were armed with country-made pistols attacked 12 passengers in Lok Manya Tilak, Vaishali Express and Kanpur-Lucknow passenger trains. The victims were left injured and were admitted to LLR and UHM hospitals. IG Railways, LK Antony said the government railway police (GRP) Kanpur would investigate the matter. A separate inquiry will also be conducted into complaints that the GRP didnt act when the passengers complained about the incident. Angry passengers took to protesting at the railway station after police inaction. The criminals struck three trains in quick succession and held passengers in a general compartment at gunpoint while looting them. They also allegedly molested some women passengers, threatening those resisting the attacks with rape of the women and murder of the children. Passengers complained to the GRP after the attackers left, at the Kanpur Central station and stopped the trains by pulling chains and demanded treatment of those injured. The station master reached the station at 3 am, after which the injured passengers were shifted to hospitals. During the day, SP railways, Kavindra visited the crime scene and ordered increased patrolling in the area. Despite the arrest of key operatives of the Kerala module of the Islamic State (IS), its propaganda machinery is still active on social media. There is no dearth of jihadi content in the web world, giving a clear indication that the organisations sleeper cells are still active. The modules Malayalam blog, Muhajirun, surfaced again and is getting updated every two hours. Intelligence agencies believe that Keralites working in the Middle East are maintaining the blog. The latest blog contains description of true jihad and growing atrocities perpetrated on Muslim community to drum up support. The NIA had arrested six people from north Kerala and four others from different parts of Tamil Nadu last week. Read: NIA busts Islamic States Kerala module that planned attacks in south India We have information that some Keralites working in the Gulf countries are updating the blog. We will seek the help of those countries to deport them. Since the blog is in Malayalam, it is difficult for these countries to decipher it, said a senior police officer, citing last years deportation from UAE of five youth sympathetic to the IS. Intelligence agencies are also collecting details of Malayalee youth missing from the Middle East. Fearing harassment, many families back home refuse to approach the police in case of disappearance. In both cases disappearance of 21 people and the latest IS module bust the key operatives were reportedly indoctrinated while they were working abroad. Read: Seven IS-inspired men held in Kerala had plans for a Nice-style attack Manseed, leader of the busted module, was working in Qatar and returned to Kerala only ten days ago with his Filipino wife who converted from Christianity. A close study of some of the cases indicates that most of the educated Kerala youth were weaned to terror networks once they went out for studies or work. Social media also played an important role in indoctrinating them. Intelligence agencies now fear that some members of the now defunct Indian Mujahideen might have joined the IS module. Intelligence officials said more arrests are likely in the coming days. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A sessions court on Wednesday sentenced convicted Kashmiri militant Bilal Ahmed Kota to life imprisonment for plotting to carry out terror attacks in the city as a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit operative nearly a decade ago. Bilal Ahmed Kota alias Imran Jalal has been sentenced to life imprisonment for hatching a criminal conspiracy to attack IT firms and vital installations in Bengaluru, said sessions court Judge K. M. Hiremath here. The court, which convicted Kota on Tuesday under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), said the militant would also serve a 10-year jail term concurrently on another count. On an Intelligence Bureau tip-off, the state anti-terrorism cell arrested Kota in the city on January 5, 2007 as the prime accused and recovered in a search operation an AK-47 assault rifle, 200 rounds of live ammunition and five hand grenades from his rented house at Hosapete in Ballari district, about 330km from Bengaluru. Five others accused in the terror case, including three of Pakistani origin, still remain at large. According to the chargesheet filed by the city crime branch in the case, Alqama alias Lala Khan, Khalid and Azam Cheema were all from Pakistan, while Basharat is a resident of Kashmir and Rajesh is a resident of Pune in Maharashtra. Khan was the operational commander of LeT in India and Cheema, a native of Sialkot, was a former ISI (Inter- Services Intelligence) agent in Pakistan, said Special Public Prosecutor C. A. Ravindra. Kota, who studied at a private polytechnic in the city over two decades ago, opened a handicraft store at the world famous heritage site Hampi near Hosapete later. Kota received arms training at one of the LeT jihadi camps at Muzzafarabad and operated for some time from Islamabad in Pakistan during 1995-99. He also obtained a passport on fake identity and went to Pakistan again in 2005 to receive instructions from LeT handlers to survey IT firms, the state secretariat and the city airport for terror attacks subsequently, recalled Ravindra. Jammu and Kashmirs former chief minister and opposition leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday charged the government with resorting to unabated repression of the people during the ongoing unrest in the Valley. He said night raids, indiscriminate imposition of the Public Safety Act (PSA), ransacking peoples homes and burning their crops and animal fodder cannot be an acceptable way for the states security forces to deal with the political situation. Mass crackdown and unabated repression of civilians in Kashmir was unprecedented and seemed like an institutional effort to punish people for the current uprising, the National Conference working president said in a statement. Read | Kasmirs disturbing new reality Kashmir has been on boil for the past 89 days, since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. As many as 88 people have lost their lives in retaliatory action by security forces to contain the pro-freedom protesters during the unrest. Abdullah said it was imprudent for the state government to expect that nocturnal raids, PSAs, burning crops and fodder and destroying electric transformers would somehow lead to sustainable peace and normalcy. Hundreds of electric transformers in rural areas have been damaged beyond repair in a clear attempt to persecute people en-masse by depriving them of essential services. People in rural areas are now trying to protect electric transformers in their areas with sand bags because security forces are firing bullets to damage them, he said. Abdullah said persecuting people of Kashmir based on a flawed assumption that such measures would somehow arm-twist people into peace and political adherence is a dangerous policy. Read | Cops may book more than 100 govt employees for Kashmir protests New Delhi accepted that dialogue is the answer to the simmering discontent in Kashmir and their current assumption that the agitation can be seen off by tiring people is fraught with enormous risks because when the fatigue wears out as it eventually will the agitation will spark off again, he said. To deal with Kashmir as a cyclic problem of agitations and managing agitations defy the overarching interests of peace and prosperity. You have to uphold the fundamental rights of the people in Kashmir, as is done in all other parts of the country, and the states intentional reluctance to do so fuel the perception of isolation and alienation in Kashmir. Treating all Kashmiris as hostile combatants who deserve to be persecuted into discipline and coerced into normalcy is a validation of those voices that question the states sincerity in dealing with the people of Kashmir fairly, humanely and in a just manner, the statement said. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and urged him to de-escalate tension along the border and reach out to the people of the state with tangible confidence building measures to address their political, economic and developmental concerns. During the meeting, the first after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on September 29 across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), the CM discussed with the Prime Minister the law and order situation and that prevailing along the border following soaring tension in the region, a state government spokesperson said. The people in Kashmir have gone through enormous agony and pain and the time has come to reach out to them and apply a balm to their wounds through ample initiatives at political, economic and developmental levels, she was quoted as telling the PM. She impressed upon the Prime Minister the need to view the current situation as an opportunity and start a dialogue process with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I hope that the Prime Minister, who has received such a big mandate, takes this situation as an opportunity and reaches out to the people of the state by starting a productive dialogue process to end the miseries of the people in the state, the spokesperson quoted her as saying. While expressing grave concern over the prevailing situation along the border, the CM called for de-escalation of the tension as people in the state have been the worst sufferers of the hostilities and confrontation in the region. Today also hundreds of families have to migrate from the border areas of the state and they suffer immense hardships because of the prevailing tense situation in the region, she said and stressed the need for reviving the peace and reconciliation process. She also discussed the overall developmental scenario in the state and measures being taken to expedite the implementation of projects under the Rs 80,000 crore Prime Ministers Developmental Programme. After a brief lull on the intervening night of October 4 and 5, Pakistan army on Wednesday evening resumed shelling at a major portion of the Line of Control in Akhnoor sector of Jammu, Sunderbani sector of Rajouri and Mendhar, Balakote and Mankote sectors of Poonch. Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakistan opened unprovoked fire in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district from 5pm and KG sector in Poonch district from 5.30pm using small arms, automatics and mortars. We are responding to them appropriately and there are no reports of loss of life and injury on the Indian side till reports last poured in, he added. Around 5.20pm, Pakistani troops opened heavy fire and shot mortars on Indian posts and villages right from Pallanwala to Khour in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, said a police officer from Khour police station. Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended nine Pakistani fishermen after their boat entered a creek area in Gujarat along the border near Bhuj on Wednesday. Security agencies are interrogating the fishermen. Nothing suspicious was recovered from the boat. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid a raging debate over the surgical strikes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is understood to have cautioned his Cabinet colleagues on Wednesday against creating a hysteria over the military action against terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC). During the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister is understood to have told his ministerial colleagues that only authorised people should speak on the issue of surgical strikes and one should avoid speaking out-of-turn, sources said. His word of caution came against the backdrop of demands that the government should present proof about the cross-LoC raids to counter the smear campaign by Pakistan. The demand has triggered a raging debate on whether the proof should be provided or not. The BJP and experts are against disclosing details of the operation by the Special Forces. Read| Army has handed over clips of surgical strikes to govt, says minister Ahir A political slugfest broke out over the strikes, with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam calling it fake, provoking stinging criticism from BJP even as his own party said it totally dissociates from his remarks. The Congress leader went on to demand some evidence to prove the surgical strikes did take place and accused the Centres ruling BJP of indulging in politics over the issue. With patriotic sentiments running high amid soaring tensions with Pakistan, Union minister Uma Bharti said leaders who cast doubt over the armys surgical strike should take Pakistani citizenship. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence which was to meet on Thursday for a briefing by the representatives of the ministry of defence on Surgical Strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) has decided to postpone the meeting. The panel will now meet on October 14. For full coverage on Indias Pakistan offensive, click here Rights activist Irom Sharmila became a free woman on Wednesday after a court in Manipur capital Imphal quashed a charge of attempt to suicide against her. Sharmila, 44, had been periodically arrested under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code since she began fasting in November 2000 to protest the killing of 10 villagers by the Assam Rifles at Malom near Imphal. This became a ritual until she decided to end her 16-year fast in July and take the political route in her fight against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa) of 1958. I am a free woman now. I dont have any legal issue to think about while I prepare to launch a new political party on October 10, Sharmila said after the Imphal West district chief judicial magistrates court spiked the case against her. The court had on August 9 granted her bail in connection with this case, five months after a trial court in Delhi acquitted her of the same charge during a fast-unto-death in Delhi in 2006. Sharmila said she received vital inputs from Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on how to go about ending 15 years of Congress rule in Manipur. After all these years of fasting, I have realised one needs political power for repealing Afspa. She added that she has been meeting individuals and organisations representing different communities of Manipur to seek support for her new innings as a political crusader. Sharmila had to face protests after she ended her fast, with many of her activist friends and organisations turning their backs on her. But they gradually relented and acknowledged her sacrifice. Another woman, 32-year-old Arambam Rebina, tried to take her place, but relatives dissuaded her from fasting. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A debate raged on Wednesday over whether government should release evidence of the armys surgical strikes across the LoC, with BJP leader Subramanian Swamy favouring putting out an edited version of the video on the action while most experts spoke against it. Rejecting the demand, the BJP attacked some Congress leaders and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for raising questions over the strikes and accused them of giving a handle to Pakistan to advance its false propaganda. The Congress, on its part, insisted that it never questioned the authenticity of the strikes but steered clear of the demand, including from within its own ranks, for the release of evidence, saying it would give appropriate advise in the best interest of national security if consulted by the government. Swamy, a Rajya Sabha member, said anybody questioning the operation should provide prima facie evidence to support his allegation but added that a video should be released following a newspaper report today that gave details of the operation. Read: Army has handed over clips of surgical strikes to govt, says minister Ahir I think they should edit the video of the logistics value of it and show the other part, showing explosions, the dead body... they have got in the video. So all these parts can be released, he said. He, however, added that the bluff of those questioning the armys claim should be called by not responding to them. A large number of countries, including Russia, have congratulated India on these strikes, he said. Former army chief Gen V P Malik slammed those questioning the credibility of the strikes saying, The video should not be released just because some stupid people have sought so. Read: PM Modi warns ministers against creating hysteria on surgical strikes He told PTI it was utter nonsense that people are asking the army to prove the operation and wondered what is wrong with the political class. Only the army should take a call on whether to release the video or not and when, he said. The town of Thudiyalur, about 11 kilometres from Coimbatore, was on the boil on September 23 as members of the Hindu Munnani (Hindu Front), a right-wing Hindu outfit in Tamil Nadu descended on Subramaniapalayam. Their destination was the home of C Sasikumar, a leader of the outfit who was attacked and murdered by unknown assailants a day earlier. The organisation called for a bandh (shutdown) in Coimbatore on September 24, the day the funeral procession of Sasikumar was to be taken out. Unexpectedly, violence erupted. A mob of over 100 persons who were part of the funeral procession attacked and torched government buses, private vehicles and shops, and petrol bombs were hurled in Thudiyalur. Coimbatore police, after an initial surprise, reacted swiftly, arresting 80 people in connection with the violence. The case too has been transferred to a special unit of the police, the Crime Branch - Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID). The Hindutva groups grouse in Tamil Nadu is not a new one. The murder of Sasikumar is the latest in a series of attacks on members of fringe pro-Hindu groups in the state in the recent past. Another outfit that has been frequently targeted is that of the Hindu Makkal Katchi (Hindu Peoples Party), led by a former RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and Hindu Munnani member Arjun Sampath. Sampath and his ilk in Tamil Nadu are livid at what they call the carelessness of the state police and state government in providing protection to Hindu right wing organisations. These Hindutva groups lay the blame for these attacks on Islamic extremists. H Raja, the BJPs national general Secretary, even went so far as to make the unsubstantiated claim that Sasikumars murder was by Bangladeshi infiltrators. Jihadi forces are growing rapidly in Tamil Nadu, alleged Sampath. Police and state government are not able to control them. These jihadi forces are also joining political circles and the main Dravidian parties have been helping them and encouraging them in the name of minority votes, he accused. Sampath and his party members too have been at the receiving end of violence in the state. On September 7, a pandal set up by the Hindu Makkal Katchi in Gingee, to celebrate Vinayaka Chathurthi, was torched after the group concluded worship and left. A day later, the house of Mahesh, district organiser of the Hindu Munnani in Vellore, was attacked with petrol bombs. A couple of days later, in Dindigul, an SUV belonging to another Hindu Munnani local leader was burnt. A Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) worker in Hosur named Suri was subsequently killed. On September 20, Hindu Munnani state secretary Shankar Ganesh was attacked in Dindigul and is currently recovering in a hospital in Madurai. Petrol bombs were hurled at a shop belonging to a BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) worker in Tirupur later in the month, and another party workers car was burnt last week in Dindigul. All of these incidents have taken place in September 2016 alone. A spate of murders since 2013, mostly unsolved, has angered not only right-wing outfits but also the BJP, which had made it a key talking point in the campaign for 2014 Parliamentary polls in the state. The BJPs own general secretary V Ramesh, an auditor hailing from Salem, was hacked to death in 2013. A total of 120 murders of Hindu leaders has happened in Tamil Nadu in the past few years, said Sampath of the Hindu Makkal Katchi. The state government is not bothered about it because in any issue relating to minorities, they come together and protest without heed to the law. These people [Muslims] are making the government bow down in the name of pandering to minorities. Minority welfare is one thing but encouraging jihadis is altogether another, he added. A policeman is attended by his colleagues after he was injured in protests in Thudiyalur town in Tamil Nadu following the September 23 murder of Hindu Munnani leader C Sasikumar. (A Joseph) Flashback to the 1980s State historians point to the early 1980s as the beginning of ties worsening between Hindus and Muslims in an otherwise communally peaceful state. For example, 1981 saw the conversion to Islam of 300 Dalit families in Meenakshipuram in Tirunelveli district. This incident sent alarm bells ringing through the Sangh Parivar across the country, say political experts. Dalits had been denied basic rights so they chose Islam--that was it, said MH Jawahirullah, leader of the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, a Muslim political party in Tamil Nadu. Until then the RSS or so-called right wing organisations were not known to anyone. It is only after this Meenakshipuram incident that on a large scale, leaders of BJP and RSS descended on Tamil Nadu. Vajpayee and Advani visited Meenakshipuram. The Hindu Munnani was floated after this, he said. Alongside these developments, Islamic fundamentalist groups too came together in retaliation. Everyone has the right to form their own organisation but what happened was that these groups like Hindu Munnani began attacking Muslims in a very derogatory manner verbally in meetings and in pamphlets, said Jawahirullah. These vicious speeches provoked Muslims. For example, there was a patti mandram (public debate) in Chennai around 1982-83 - the topic of the debate was Kaama veriyil iruppavar kanni neri Khadija-va Maniyammai-ah? (Is Khadija - Prophet Mohammeds wife - more lustful or is Maniyammai - Periyars wife - more lustful?) Some Muslims too began to oppose and retaliate. Finally it led to clashes. Many Muslims died -Imam Ziauddin of Coimbatore, Imam Qasim of Dindigul, a Dravida Kazhagam member Hakim was killed in Coimbatore. There was retaliation from the Muslim side too, he said. The first major attack on a prominent Hindu leader was in 1982,when Jana Krishnamurthy (one of the founders of the BJP, and National General Secretary at the time) was attacked, allegedly by Muslim groups, at a public meeting. He would go on to become the Law Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayees cabinet and held the post of BJP president from 2001 to 2002. Hindu Munnani founder Ramagopalan was similarly attacked in 1984, but escaped death. By the mid-eighties, Islamic fundamentalist groups such as the Al Umma had become active and posters were put up across Coimbatore city warning Hindu right wing activists that they would be killed. Arjun Sampath, who was then in the RSS, was one of those who featured on these posters, although he did not face any attacks at the time. In 1989 though, Hindu Munnani Secretary Veera Ganesh, another Hindu leader who was warned through these posters, was killed in Coimbatore. In the wake of nationwide communal tensions over the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, the Muslim community was in turmoil as large numbers of Muslim youth were arrested under the now-defunct draconian Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, better known as TADA. In 1997, 18 Muslim youth were killed by Hindu groups in Coimbatore in revenge for the death of a Hindu leader called Selvaraj. A few months later, in February 1998, the city witnessed serial bomb blasts that claimed 46 lives and wounded over 200. A vehicle was burnt during protests in Thudiyalur town in Tamil Nadu following the September 23 murder of Hindu Munnani leader C Sasikumar. (A Joseph) Convergence of communalism and casteism Sociologists explain that there is a deeper method to the madness of the Hindu right wing in Tamil Nadu. There are two dimensions to this, said AR Venkatachalapathy, professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies in Chennai. Fundamentalist groups are active on both sides - Hindu and Muslim. Now Hindu fundamentalists are more emboldened following the ascendance of the BJP at the Centre, so they are taking a more provocative attitude here, he said. Muslim leaders agree with this observation. Since Narendra Modi took over as prime minister the Hindu groups in Tamil Nadu have become more vocal and provocative, especially on social media, said Jawahirullah. One BJP leader said in a Facebook post that he wished that as many Muslims in Tamil Nadu would die as those who were killed in the Mecca tragedy recently. This is only an example. There are many other such statements being said in an effort to provoke. This needs to stop, he said. Experts argue that fundamentalism has found more takers in the recent past due to a lack of political space for the nouveau riche - those that have seen sudden money with the real estate boom in the country before 2008. If you look at the pattern of these killings, most of these are done by lower level goondas and thugs who are largely in realty and other such sectors and they are getting into fundamentalist outfits. There is no space in the mainstream political parties like the DMK [Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam] or the AIADMK [All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam], so they are going towards these groups, Venkatachalapathy said. Chalapathy, as he is better known in intellectual circles, also points to what he calls the convergence of communalism and casteism in the southern state. Hindu fundamentalists are roping in the intermediate castes which are feeling threatened by the rise of the Dalits and the other so-called lower castes, he explained. Using culture and tradition and religion is a convenient way of bringing together the intermediate castes. So there is a convergence between communalism and casteism. We saw that in the Perumal Murugan affair, he said. Things are heating up in the western belt of the state - areas like Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Namakkal - where caste tensions have arisen in the recent past. This, experts like Stalin Rajangam and C Lakshmanan say, is due to the fact that the Dalits of the southern belt had consolidated in the 1990s itself and intermediate castes in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, like the Thevars and Nadars - have been witness to Dalit uprisings for at least three decades now. In the western belt, though, Dalits have been pushing back only in the recent past and the intermediate castes in the area, namely the Gounders, are aghast at this assertion. The challenge to Kongu Vellalars (another name for Gounders) has been only in the past 10years or so because they are not used to Dalits agitating against them, said Chalapathy. The Dalits of the western belt are yet to consolidate fully and rise up. But the rest of Tamil Nadu is used to this kind of a push back against casteism. So the violence is now being seen more in the western belt of the state, he added. The only point that both opposing sides agree upon that the state police and the mainstream political parties, the DMK and the AIADMK, are to blame. I have been petitioning the Centre to take action in the state against these jihadis since the state government is not bothered, stated Arjun Sampath of the Hindu Makkal Katchi. The Home Minister has to intervene and protection has to be given to leaders of Hindu organisations. We need a unit of the NIA (National Investigative Agency) in the state, he said. Muslim leaders are also anguished at what they see as lack of action against provocative Hindu groups. Let the police punish those responsible for the crimes but to target the entire Muslim community for the acts of a few is not correct, added Jawahirullah. As the finger-pointing continues, a state that was once free of communal clashes and tensions is now disturbed. It is in the hands of major political leaders to ensure that no tears appear in the social fabric of Tamil Nadu. Professor Venkatachalapathy advocates firmer emphasis on preventive measures by the state police. The people of Coimbatore are upset, the business community is worried, he stated. Their peace has been disturbed. If more violence is engineered there will be repercussions in the electoral fray. This cannot be treated as a law and order issue - you cannot react once the problem arrives, you need to have information beforehand and prevent it in a pre-emptive fashion. No provocative propaganda should be allowed and fundamentalist organisations of all religions must be cracked down upon. (Published in arrangement with GRIST Media.) For the last few months, Ive been thinking about writing something about music careers. Maybe Im feeling the itch because I see more people focusing on the hot topic of musical entrepreneurship. Im not sure. Ive written about the topic of careers in music quite a bit in the past. In fact, my first book Road Warrior Without an Expense Account covered this topic in great depth. But that was written way back in 2008. A lot has changed since then! Im calling this new series Crafting a Music Career. In it, Ill dig into career-building for musicians through an autobiographical lens. Ill look at the stages in my career and what I did well, what I could have done better, and how I accomplished what I accomplished. My hope is that this can be useful information for younger musicians as they approach the daunting task of carving out a place for themselves in the music world. This series is divided into five parts: Part 1 Preface: My Strange Path Through the Music World Preface: My Strange Path Through the Music World Part 2 Building My Freelance Career Building My Freelance Career Part 3 How Sinking My Freelance Career Helped Me How Sinking My Freelance Career Helped Me Part 4 Working in Education What My Career Looked Like Right Before Bailing Working in Education What My Career Looked Like Right Before Bailing Part 5 Starting From Scratch How Im Building My Portfolio Career Today, Im doing an overview of the bigger phases of my career. Its an homage of sorts to James Altucher, a favorite writer of mine with a distinctive writing style. Channeling James Altucher for this post just seemed right to me. The subsequent parts will be meatier for sure, but I hope you have fun with todays post skimming through my music career! By the way, Ive recently talked through this whole journey on a few podcasts, so check out my appearances on The Entrepreneurial Musician, A Musical Life, and The Musicians Guide to Hustling if youd like to learn more! Preface: My Strange Path Through the Music World My career in music has unfolded in ways that Id never have predicated. Ive had times when Ive been on top of the world, followed by stretches of deep frustration and discouragement. Ive failed more often than Ive succeeded. Time after time, Ive forged a new path, built a career, and become successful (whatever that means). Then Ive intentionally set fire to everything and gone down a different path. I think that a lot of musicians find their level in the world and basically chug along on that level for decades. Maybe thats an orchestra job. Perhaps its a university teaching position. It might even be a freelance career built around the same set of gigs. Regardless of what it is, I see so many musicians operating in job paths that resemble what our parents did. Work in a job for 30 years. Put in the time. Get the pension. Get the watch. But these paths are eroding all around us, and not just in music. People dont stay in jobs for 30 years. The average American doesnt even keep the same job for five years! Ive spent the last 20 years trying to find my level. I started out freelancing. I added in university teaching and private teaching. I took on a fairly standard freelance life and chugged away at this for seven years. But it always felt like wearing tight shoes. I was always looking left and right to see if there was a way out. What else could I do? I felt trapped. I couldnt see the forest for the trees. So I got out. At least, I tried to get out. I went back to school. For music education, of all things. I never really wanted to do this. It was never my calling. But there was light at the end of the tunnel. A traditional job. Pension. Benefits. Maybe even a watch if I stayed long enough! But a funny thing happened during that period of transition. Isnt that when the most interesting things happen in life? John Lennon once sang life is what happens to you when youre busy making other plans. I think about that quote a lot. I started a blog. I started to vent my frustrations. I organized those frustrations into pieces that resonated with people. I started to build a platform. I just didnt know that was what I was doing. But it was too negative! There was no light at the end of that tunnel. Only more darkness. So I started a podcast. It was positive! I talked about peoples experiences in music. We geeked out. It felt good to do this. It resonated with people. The platform continued to grow. People saw value in what I was doing. They wanted to exchange value for value. They wanted to advertise with me. They wanted to hire me to work on their project. Or give them advice. Or come talk to their group. I thought that I had self-immolated my career by writing critically about it. But people liked it! They hired me for better things than Id been doing. Trying to hack my old career into pieces kicked me a few rungs higher up on the musical ladder. Weird. Meanwhile, I was banging away at this music education degree. Why was I doing this? I almost quit. But by dad talked me out of it. Why throw away all that time and money when I was 75% of the way done with the program? Why not just finish? So I finished. And I got a job. It was a good job! Id never really had a job job before. This was new. I had a salary! Money magically appeared in my account. What did I do to earn the money? I didnt know! I was so used to trading specific time for specific money. This concept of money for your overall service was foreign. I had benefits! I could finally go to the doctor. But I was busy. All my time disappeared. I didnt know what I was doing with the new job. I had to learn. But learning was fun! I set fire to the blog and podcast. Well, not really. They just kind of faded into the ether. People kept telling me how valuable it was. But I ignored them. I quit logging in online. I deleted all the emails people sent me. Now I had a boss. And he had a boss! I got evaluated . Everything I know, do, and love was reduced to a series of ratings. That was strange. My colleagues had been at this job for 10, 20, and even 30 years. It was like my parents generation. I had to take tests on bullying. My day was divided up into tidy increments of time separated by school bells. But I liked teaching! And I liked feeling like I was a part of something. Part of an organization. Part of a team. Shared goals at least on paper. Id never felt that freelancing. So I embraced my role as a team member. I worked hard at my new job. I studied scores, conducting, and tips on managing hordes of teenagers. It was fun. Challenging, but fun. I was learning new skills. I was growing as a person but also as a musician. This was surprising! Another job opened up. I took that job. More money. More demands on my time, and the job was, well someday Ill write more about that job. Then I got another job. This was a really good job that everyone in my niche wanted. Or a lot of people wanted, anyway. It was the kind of job you stayed in long-term if you were in this career. I was making more money with each new job. Now I was making a lot of money. At least, by my standards. I got more and more side gigs. People hired me to guest conduct. I was teaching university. Lots of clinic gigs. All this in addition to playing gigs. I was a baller. Sort of, anyway in some vaguely lame way. But I had no time! I was commuting from 35 miles away. My wife had a job in the city. I was working in the suburbs. Her job was more serious than mine. So I took the commuting hit. I spent 3 hours a day at least driving. Often much more. This is what I hated so much about freelancing. Oh no! My old patterns repeating themselves. Why cant I break free? My wife got hooked up with the best medical residency program in the country for her specialty. But it was in San Francisco. Oh no! All the castles Id built! I cant leave them. So I stayed in my job. My wife moved thousands of miles away. Now I was lonely. Oh no! What did I do? What was really important in life? I kept tending my castles, but my princess had left. So what was the point of staying? Was it ego? There are big egos in music and big egos in education. Sometime Ill write more about that. But not now! OKI decided to move to California. Wait a minute that sounds pretty sweet! Goodbye, horrible never-ending winters. Hello, palm trees! I started looking for teaching jobs in San Francisco. Education is really weird out there. Where are all the high-paying orchestra jobs? Oh no! What to do? But then I had a moment of clarity. I looked back at the past 20 years of my life. What felt right? Was it the teaching job? I loved it, but was it my passion or did I just bring my passion with me from job to job? More on that later. Did I want to go back to freelancing? Yikes. What about doing something new? But what? I saw the next 20 years of my life stretching out in front of me. I was standing at a crossroads, looking two decades backward and forward simultaneously. I looked at that period of transition again. Why did those experiences resonate with me? What did I like about that time in my life? What if I didnt look for another teaching job? What if I invested in myself? What if I went all in on building that platform that I had unintentionally began to create ten years ago? What if I treated that like my full-time job? Where would that lead me? I decided to give it a go. Next: How I Built My Freelance Career India on Wednesday hit out at Pakistan, calling it a country that has established itself as a global epicentre of terrorism, and asked it to abandon its futile quest of Kashmir. Indias permanent representative in the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, in his statement on the Work of the Organization, also called for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations governance architecture. Sell by date of Pakistan's anachronistic approach is over - India @UN pic.twitter.com/AiNJARuDXO Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) October 5, 2016 Roundly attacking Pakistan, he said some countries use terrorists as proxies in their territorial quests. Just less than 10 days ago, the GA Debate witnessed a singular lack of support for Pakistans baseless claims. Need one say more. Our response to Pakistan is consistent. Abandon your futile quest. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so. Noting that the sell-buy date of Pakistans anachronistic approach is long over, Indias Permanent Representative was quoted by ANI as saying, No amount of misuse of international platforms by Pakistan will change that reality. Asserting that We look away as some amongst us stall our collective efforts, as they use terrorists as proxies in their territorial quests, Akbaruddin added: We have heard one such lone voice short while ago, making claims to an integral part of India. This comes from a country, which has established itself as a global epicentre of terrorism. Such claims find no resonance among the international community. He said the UN has become unresponsive to the needs of our time and ineffective to the meeting the challenges it is confronted with. It is a body that ponders for 6 months on whether to sanction leaders of organizations it has itself designated as terrorist entities. At best, it is now a body that can be described as an interesting and random mix of Ad-hocism, scrambling and political paralysis. The Global governance architecture now calls for comprehensive reform. On the issue of terrorism, he said the UN is yet to come up with a coherent policy let alone take the lead on one of the biggest threats to global peace and security. It is near impossible to argue the case of relevance of the UN on the issue of terrorism where even adoption of an international norm to prosecute or extradite terrorists evades us despite 20 years of talk, according to a statement. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had earlier used his speech at the UN General Assembly to mount one of his strongest attacks on India on the Kashmir issue, describing Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani as a murdered young leader and calling for a UN fact-finding mission to probe rights violations. In response, Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said, (Pakistan) persists in the belief that such attacks (Uri) and provocative remarks will enable it to snatch the territory (Kashmir) 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. The latest developments in the India-Pakistan standoff jostled for space with reports of politician-turned-cricketer Imran Khans surprise decision to boycott a crucial session of Parliament on the front pages of Pakistani newspapers on Wednesday. Most dailies reportedly extensively on two back-to-back meetings, including one of the National Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday to review the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and the preparedness of the armed forces. The Express Tribune reported on its front page that the tensions with India could force Pakistan to relocate troops moved to its western border with Afghanistan after a ceasefire was put in place along the LoC and international border in late 2003. The troops were deployed in the west to deal with militants fleeing Afghanistan. The Pakistan Army announced in April that it had established the writ of the state in the lawless tribal areas, but the job is not done yet, the report said. It added that Pakistan now may rethink its strategy and priorities in the wake of increasing hostilities from India. The report noted a statement issued after Tuesdays meeting of the National Security Committee had said that the escalation on LoC and eastern borders will shift Pakistans focus away from its efforts to eliminate terrorism. The Tribune quoted sources as saying that meeting had decided to inform the US that it would be left with no option but to pull out troops from the border with Afghanistan. Read| Why the opposition is wrong in demanding proof of surgical strikes The News, in a report on front page, noted that the opposition Congress party had sought evidence from the government to call Pakistans bluff regarding last weeks surgical strikes against terrorists across the LoC. A report headlined Fake strikes trigger slugfest in India in the Tribune contended that some Indian politicians felt they had been hoodwinked by the military. It added that opposition parties believe the covert strikes and war hysteria was a ruse of the Modi government to gain political mileage ahead of key polls in Uttar Pradesh. An editorial titled Bilateral dialogue an option in the Tribune said the current India-Pakistan flare-up was following a pattern in which the people of Kashmir would be forgotten. Their freedom struggle once again becomes a footnote in our history books while months or years elapse before Pakistan and India again reach the point where bilateral dialogue becomes a viable option, it said. There is now an immediate need for both countries to adopt a pragmatic approach and recognise the importance of de-escalating tensions before any more damage is inflicted on the people caught up in this conflict, the editorial added. Read| Battle of the armies: How India and Pakistan fare against each other in numbers A complaint against actor Om Puri for reportedly making critical remarks about the Indian Army was also a popular story in the Pakistani media on Wednesday. TV channels highlighted the issue and a number of Pakistani actors gave their opinions on the matter. Many of them described it as proof of the narrow-mindedness of Indian society. Popular TV host Farrukh Pitafi of PTV World said the incident was unfortunate and two-faced. Social media was abuzz with Indian foreign minister Sushma Swarajs touching response to a Pakistani girl who was on a visit to India and worried about the heightened tensions between the two countries. A touching Twitter exchange between Aliya Harir and Swaraj went viral in Pakistan. Harir reached out to Swaraj to ensure her delegations safe return to Pakistan after attending the Global Youth Peace Festival in Chandigarh. After a reassuring response from Swaraj, she tweeted, Extremely overwhelmed. Spoke to @SushmaSwaraj ji who assured that Pakistani delegation of #GYPF2016 will reach Pakistan back safe. Most of the dailies devoted a lot of space on their front pages to Imran Khans decision to boycott a crucial sitting of the National Assembly and Senate convened by the government to discuss the tensions with India and the situation in Kashmir. Opposition stunned as Imran announced parliament boycott, was the headline in the Dawn while the Tribune reported that Khans Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party had sprung a surpise by boycotting the session on Wednesday. Reports quoted Khan as saying that his partys MPs will not attend any session of Parliament until Prime Minister Sharif resigns or presents himself for accountability regarding revelations in the Panama Papers leaks that his three children owned offshore assets worth millions of dollars. Attending the joint session would imply that he endorses Sharif as the premier, Khan said. Other opposition leaders criticised Khan for resorting to such a step at a time when Pakistan was facing aggressive Indian designs. A meeting of all political parties chaired by Sharif on Monday had agreed to forge a united front in the face of the tensions with India. The TV channels too reported on Khans move to boycott the parliamentary session, with information minister Pervaiz Rashid quoted by Dunya News channels as saying that the decision reflected Khans mental bankruptcy. For complete coverage on Indias Pakistan offensive, click here Two green corridors were set up in Indore on Tuesday to transport heart, liver, kidneys, eyes and skin of a 30-year-old man declared brain dead after a road accident in the city on Monday evening. Heart and liver of the donor, Ramgopal Soni, were transported from Choithram Hospital, where he died, to the airport for airlifting to New Delhi. It was reported that the liver could not be transplanted as it had some infection while the heart was successfully transplanted to a 43-year-old female in AIIMS, New Delhi. The green corridor was created at 11:30am and the ambulance carrying the organs reached the airport within 10 minutes. Normally, it would have taken at least half -an-hour to cover the distance. Meanwhile, at 12:05pm, another green corridor was formed for the seamless-movement of an ambulance carrying a kidney of the deceased to citys Greater Kailash Hospital. The organ was to be transplanted to a female recipient in the city. Another kidney of the deceased was sent to citys Choithram Hospital for transplantation. Ramgopal Soni, whose organs were harvested, was declared brain dead by the doctors on Monday afternoon. Soni originally hailed from Unnav, Uttar Pradesh. He was working in Indore. After the patient was declared brain dead, we realised none of his close relatives lives in the city. After his father arrived around 8pm, we started counseling him, said Dr Sanjay Dixit, vice dean of the MGM medical college and member of the Indore Organ Donation Society. Divisional commissioner Sanjay Dubey, quoting doctors who harvested the organs, said they did not face any major problem in carrying out the operation as both the green corridors functioned smoothly. In the past one year, ten green corridors were formed in the city for smooth transportation of organs. It was our tenth feat and we have grown in confidence with the entire procedure. The procedure which would normally take us two-three hours was curtailed to minutes. It is a major achievement for Indore, the only city in the state to successfully execute green corridors and organ donations, he said. Challenge before doctors While the entire procedure of creating green corridors went smoothly, the crucial challenge before doctors now was to protect the body from decomposing. For the last rites, the body had to be transported to Unnav, which is around 12-hour journey from Indore. After organ harvesting, we usually embalm the body by injecting formalin. But in this case, as the heart was harvested, it was difficult to do so. Therefore, we decided to fill the abdomen with formalin to preserve it, said Dr Dixit. He termed the move as an innovation, stating that they had never done this in any of the organ harvesting cases performed in the state earlier. Heart transplant possible in the city Initially, doctors had decided to perform heart transplantation in the city itself. But as Medanta, Indores only private hospital equipped to perform the critical surgery, did not have any patient lined up for heart transplantation, the decision was cancelled. According to experts most of the organs must be transported to their destination within four hours, and in less than four hours in case of heart or lung for greater chances of success. The green corridor is formed by ensuring the stretch of the road through which ambulance carrying organ travels free of any vehicular movement. Traffic signals on the special travel route are put on manual mode. Like it or not, the weather gods are not smiling this autumn. So, brace for a hot and sultry week ahead and get ready to sweat it out while pandal-hopping during Durga Puja! However, there is a silver-lining: There may be occasional showers on a day or two and that may bring down the temperature after sundown. But then, half a glass empty is half a glass full! Sanjib Bandyopadhyay, the deputy director-general (Meteorology) of the Indian Meteorological Departments (IMD) regional office in Kolkata, said, Chances of heavy and widespread rain with an overcast sky on the days of the Puja which could have ruined the festivities are remote this time. Southwest Monsoon, which arrived rather late this year, has already started retreating from some parts of northwestern India, including Rajasthan. But it will take at least another fortnight before it bids farewell to Kolkata. Durga Puja has coincided with the fag-end of the monsoon season this year. Read: Sex workers only puja falls silent While on one hand moisture-laden winds are gushing in from the Bay of Bengal, on the other the day temperature is hovering around 35-degree Celsius. This combination is giving people in Kolkata a sauna-like experience. But weather experts say this is normal during this time of the year. On Tuesday, the maximum day temperature was 36.1C, which was three degrees above normal. Relative humidity too was high, above 90 per cent, making the heat all the more stifling. We apprehend that this situation will linger till the Puja days are over, Bandyopadhyay said. The only ray of hope is the occasional showers. While the city will have to bear with the hot and stifling conditions during the first part of the day, a smart shower may hit some areas in the afternoon. These showers will be triggered by local rain clouds and wont last for more than a few minutes. But in spite of this, it may help reduce the temperature by a few degrees after sunset, bringing some much-needed relief. We hope that once there is a shower, the mercury will fall to around 32C, he added. Read:Durga parade: Catch a glimpse of the best idols on Red Road Unlike the days of the Durga Puja in 2013, which were almost ruined by Cyclone Phailin, there is no sign of any major atmospheric system developing over the sea that may intensify either into a low pressure or depression this time. Usually, heavy and widespread rain in our part of the world is triggered by a system such as a circulation that is either born over the sea or is a remnant of a typhoon that has already ravaged one or two East Asian countries, like China or Taiwan. But this time, no such system has been spotted till now, another senior IMD official said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It may have been renamed Lok Kalyan Marg but for Delhiites, its still known as Race Course Road. Despite being renamed decades ago, many British-era streets and institutions across the country retain their original identity in peoples minds even as rechristening of several public places has bred confusion between the old and the modern generations. Anuradha Reddy, 69, still looks for Willingdon Hospital and Willingdon Airport whenever she visits Delhi from Hyderabad, only to get quizzical looks from auto-rickshaw drivers. Autowallahs just give me a blank stare whenever I tell them to take me towards Willingdon Hospital (now RML Hospital) or Willingdon Airport (now Safdarjung Airport) flyover, as if I am imagining something. I have been visiting Delhi often, and for me and my mother, the new names never come on the lips, she said. Reddy, convener of the Hyderabad Chapter of Delhi-based Indian National Trust for Art and Culture (INTACH), says that renaming exercises have robbed various vibrant cities of their character, and created confusion among people. I still use Bombay and Calcutta, but my children say Mumbai and Kolkata. And Bangalore was changed to Bengaluru; I find it silly. In the next 10 years, children growing up would not know the historical connect, she said. While old-timers and new generations may be experiencing a communication gap on Willingdon and RML nomenclatures, the capital citys iconic Connaught Place continues to enjoy its original identity in the consciousness of people of all ages. Aurangzeb Road in Delhi was earlier rechristened to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Race Course Road was recently renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg drawing sharp reactions from various quarters. The DMRC has also renamed Race Course Metro Station in line with the new identity. INTACH Delhi convener and noted architect AGK Menon says, A city like Delhi has multiple layers of history. By renaming the streets and places, those layers are slowly being erased. Politicians resort to such quixotic ideas to earn a few populist brownie points. They can very well build new roads or start scholarships and schemes in the name of great personalities, but that involves real work. So it is like picking the lowest fruits in the branch, he scoffs. Around 52 private unaided schools in Mumbai will be shut on Thursday to protest against Tuesdays lathicharge by the police on teachers in Aurangabad. A few other schools will be closed as well to show their solidarity. More than 100 teachers had resorted to stone-pelting during an agitation of unaided schools close to the venue of the Maharashtra cabinet meeting on Tuesday. A constable was killed and nine others were injured in the clash. The police rounded up 35 teachers and held them in custody. Condemning the incident, the Unaided School Teachers Action Committee, comprising more than 5,000 schools across state including 52 in Mumbai, announced schools will remain shut until the teachers are released and their demands are accepted. Teachers across the state are supporting us. Many schools were closed on Wednesday as well, said Prashant Redij, its spokesperson. Other schools will display black flags as a sign of protest. Associations such as Shikshak Bharati and Maharashtra Action Committee for Teachers Rights, which consist of aided schools as well, will meet on Thursday to come up with a plan of action. We support the bandh. After the meeting, we will decide on what steps need to be taken, said PM Raut, member of the action committee. State education minister Vinod Tawde has urged schools not to participate in the bandh. People participating in the agitation in Aurangabad on Tuesday were using foul language, which raises the question on whether the participants were teachers or goons hired by school owners, he said, adding that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has initiated an inquiry into the incident. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Refuting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials claims of 35 potholes on city roads, the ruling Shiv Sena demanded an inquiry against them. Standing committee chairman and senior Sena leader Yashodhar Phanse has also asked for a list of roads visited by senior officials and the repairs undertaken to be submitted in the general body meeting, which will be held on Thursday. Citizens and political parties have been complaining about BMC under-reporting the number of potholes on city roads. The increasing number of potholes has made travelling a nightmare for motorists. On Wednesday, corporators lashed at the administration for not repairing potholes at the third meeting in a row. IA Kundan, additional municipal commissioner, presiding over the meeting, said out of the 4,621 pothole complaints registered, 4,586 have been attended by BMC. On this, Phanse said, Between Mahim church and Sena Bhavan itself there are more than 35 potholes. The administration is misleading Mumbaiites and we demand an inquiry on it. We are not ready to accept the excuse of excessive rainfall for potholes anymore. The data on potholes is corroborated by the roads department of BMC. Senas ally BJP also demanded a visit by the standing committee immediately to refute the claims. Manoj Kotak, BJP group leader said, We just have to visit the A ward and count the number of potholes to refute the administrations claims. Corporators also lashed out at the administrations reply on the JJ Marg potholes discussed in the last meeting. Last week, Rizwan Khan, 21, lost his life after allegedly falling into a crater for which BJP and opposition parties walked off the meeting. The administration, however, has said that there are no potholes on JJ Marg as it is a concrete road and the accident would have occurred owing to a caved chamber of MTNLs utility line. The reply also stated that BMC has no policy to provide a compensation to the victims family in such cases. Rais Shaikh, a Samajwadi Party corporator who had demanded a compensation for Khans family, said, It is shameful and unacceptable that the administration can reply like this. We are tired of telling them about the number of potholes on JJ Marg. Senior road officials however maintained that they are trying their best to solve the issue. They also said that the excess rainfall and lack of dry period continues to a problem to conduct road repairs. STRAP: The party demand inquiry against civic officials claiming that city has only 35 potholes SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With local leaders losing their stronghold after Mondays delimitation and reservation announcements, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in 2017 will be fought strictly on party lines. Political experts say the fight will be mainly between current allies Shiv Sena and BJP, with party chiefs Uddhav Thackeray and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis being pitted against each other, while the Congress will play the third fiddle. There is no official announcement yet on a possible alliance between the saffron parties, but sources said it is unlikely. The exercise has hit the smaller parties and new entrants, including possible citizen activists, who will have little time to canvass. While the Senas hold over the city will continue to be a strong point, the BJP will benefit from its 2014 Assembly win and the Modi wave, said political analyst Surendra Jondhale. The city is already the Senas bastion. For the BJP, it will be a chance to control the municipality, after gaining dominance over the state. The fight is mainly between the Sena and BJP, while it may give just another chance to Raj Thackareys Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), he said. For the past two years, allies Sena and BJP have differed over several issues in the BMC including LED lights on Marine Drive, potholes on roads, rooftop restaurants, the citys development plan and the open spaces policy. The Sena has long complained of the states interference in BMC matters. On Monday, the MNS suffered a major setback with its leaders Sandeep Deshpande, Manish Chavan and Santosh Dhuri losing their wards to delimitation and reservations. The MNS has only 22 corporators in the BMC. The story is similar for Samajwadi Party, another small party with 9 corporators in the BMC. Rais Shaikh, SP group leaders ward 136 and three other wards close by, have been reserved for women. We have to work on a new strategy, he said. Congress corporator Sheetal Mhatre from Dahisar said, The BJP has not been hit as hard as any other party. However, the Congress could benefit if it can consolidate its minority votebank. For instance, some of SPs Muslim candidates, whose wards have been split or reserved, may prefer to join the Congress to better their chances. Analysts say the exercise will now open a Pandoras box that will work against the spirit of democracy. Milind Mhaske from Praja, an organization working towards transparency in governance, said that it is only heavy-weights who will benefit from the exercise. It is a sad reality as corporators will now shift to these dominant parties; make their family members regain their wards. Corporators from smaller parties have to make a fresh start altogether, Mhaske said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the Maratha stir picks up momentum across the state, questions over credit for the state-wide mobilisation of the community has started causing rifts within. One such row is at the origin of the protests in Ahmednagar. A month ago, the Ahmednagar police served an externment notice to Sanjeev Bhor, the founder of the Maratha outfit Shivprahar Sanghatna that first started the agitation in the state. In the notice, the police asked him why he should not be banned from Ahmednagar, Nashik, Pune, Solapur, Beed and Aurangabad in view of his criminal background. Bhor has alleged the externment notice was the governments way of trying to suppress the agitation that his outfit began and called a bandh in Karjat on Wednesday. The delayed response to the notice, however, got another Maratha outfit called the Sambhaji Brigade hitting out Bhor for politicising the protests. The Brigade said the bandh call was a publicity stunt and refused to support it. With seven other outfits, it wrote to the Ahmednagar district collector on Tuesday saying the notice to Bhor had nothing to do with the various marches taken out by the community. Brigade spokesperson Shivanand Bhanuse said notices to activists were routine matters and the bandh called to protest the police action were a distraction from the main cause the Marathas have been agitating for. By claiming he was the brain behind the Maratha stir, Bhor is politicising the issue, Bhanuse said during a debate on Marathi news channel Maharashra1. Bhor hit back, accusing the Brigade of double-standards. He claimed the community never supported such outfits. I was the first to mobilise the community by taking out the protest march. That march later turned out to bring together the entire community, Bhor said. The notice issued to Bhor states his presence in the five districts could threaten communal harmony and cause a law and order problem owing to the various criminal cases, including attempt to murder, against him. A decision on the notice is expected on October 17. Earlier, differences cropped up over the demands raised by Chhatrapati Shivajis descendent Udayanraje Bhosale about the prevention of atrocities act and reservation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A group of Islamic radicals had allegedly planned to drive an explosive-laden vehicle into a gathering of religious leaders in Kerala after they were inspired by a similar attack in the French city of Nice, investigators said on Tuesday. The seven people, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) two days ago from the state, had also drawn up a hit-list that included two high court judges, a well-known rationalist and RSS leaders of Kerala besides Jewish visitors to Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. We have taken note of the revelations made by the suspects, and have taken appropriate action, Kerala director general of police Loknath Behera told HT. The seven people, aged between 24 and 35, were allegedly radicalised by the ideology of the terror outfit Islamic State (IS), which has asked its followers across the world to carry out attacks on people they consider infidels. The IS has overran vast swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq and has been blamed for several terror attacks in Europe. An Islamic State-inspired extremist drove a truck through a crowd during the Bastille Day celebrations at Nice on July 14 this year, killing at least 86 people. Inspired by the carnage, the group had planned a similar attack on the all-religion Jamaat-e-Islami conference titled Peace and Humanity Forum. Several Hindu and Christian leaders were invited to the Kochi event. Kerala police asked the organisers to move to a closed-door building at the last minute, potentially preventing a carnage. The group had picked Justice KT Sankaran as a target because of his tough stand on terror and justice Pasha due to his progressive views. EA Jabbars credentials as a rationalist found him a place on the hit-list, investigators added. The group is being questioned. Four other suspects from Coimbatore and one from Tirunelveli have also been placed under detention, a central counter-terror official said. Earlier today, we took a quick look at why Hillary isn't doing better in Florida . Last week, it was Ohio . The latest national polling of likely voters shows Hillary beating Trump 42-36% in a match-up that includes the third party candidates. Part of the reason she isn't doing better in Florida and Ohio is because the Beltway Establishment helped impose vile loser candidates locally-- Wall Street garbage like Patrick Murphy in Florida and pathetic walking corpse Ted Strickland in Ohio, neither of whom brings a single thing to the table other than a prayer that they can ride Hillary's coattails. Meanwhile, on the generic congressional question in the same Morning Consult poll, about voting for a Democrat or a Republican, Democrats win 46% to 37%. Unfortunately many of the DCCC and DSCC recruits are far worse-- far, far worse-- than a generic Democrat and others, good, solid progressive ones, are being starved of resources by a DCCC more eager to keep progressives out of Congress than electing Democrats to Congress. Beltway Villagers and establishment goons everywhere reached for their smelling salts when Tim Canova courageously refused to endorse Debbie Wasserman Schultz and when Grayson passed on endorsing Patrick Murphy after both were beaten in the Florida primary at the end of August. This past weekend, Elizabeth Warren had some establishment noses out of joint when she did a Senate Democrats fundraiser and very pointedly left out craven Wall Street shills-- and Schumer favorites-- Patrick Murphy (FL), Evan Bayh (IN), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ) and Patty Judge (IA). The problem is that neither Canova, Grayson nor Warren sees themevles as mindless cogs in a well-greased party wheel that goes round and round and round. Grayson and Warren have been beyond-the-call-of-duty loyal Democrats but there's a serious question as to whether or not Patrick Murphy fits any reasonable defination of "a Democrat" and there is no serious question about which interests Murphy, Bayh, Kirkpatrick and Judge would be working for were any of them to ooze into the Senate. Each of them could only be viewed as part of the problem Warren's career is built on tackling, not part of any reasonable solution. And her list of endorsed candidates doesn't just include progressives. Aside from Russ Feingold-- a sure-fired ally-- she's raising money for moderates like Katie McGinty (PA), Maggie Hassan (NH), Jason Kander (MO), Tammy Duckworth (IL) and Catherine Cortez Mastro (NV). Murphy, Bayh, Kirkpatrick and Judge, on the other hand, have records of working for the banksters and very much against the crucial issues Warren and Grayson and other progressives are working on. Sunday, Kevin Robillard and Gabe Debenedetti reported that Bernie is refusing the help the crap-conservative Democrat, Sue Minter, running for governor in his own state-- and that it could cost her the race. They wrote that "Sanders' unwillingness to participate in the Minter race "is starting to generate ill will" with the state's Democratic establishment, according to "a top Vermont Democrat." Before Gov. Howard Dean put a stop to it, corrupt right-leaning Vermont Democrats like Minter and others from the Democratic Party establishment used to run right-wing Democrats against Bernie. In fact, in 1988 they ran someone just like Minter-- Democratic State Rep Paul Poirier-- against Bernie, draining away enough votes from him (19%), to throw the congressional seat to Republican Peter Smith and keep Bernie out of Congress. How popular is Bernie in Vermont? In his last reelection race in 2012 he beat Republican John MacGovern 207,848 (71.1%) to 72,898 (24.9%). On that same day, Obama was reelected with 199,259 votes (67%). Yep! This year, Bernie beat Hillary in the state primary 115,900 (85.7%) to 18,338 (13.6%). He's been spending his political capital in Vermont trying to get a big turn-out for Hillary and for progressive allies like David Zuckerman (for Lt. Governor), Tim Ashe (for state Senate) and Mari Cordes (for state House). Howard Dean told the two Politico reporters that Minter is "very much a moderate Democrat"-- a polite way for Democrats to point out someone in their own party is a corrupt conservative piece of shit-- "which is probably why Bernie is sitting aside." Minter, a technocrat who won a three-way Democratic primary by hyping her support for gun control and her role helping the state recover from flooding after Tropical Storm Irene, is still capable of winning without Sanders' help. But some observers believe the senator's endorsement would essentially guarantee a Democratic victory. It's unclear exactly why Sanders hasn't backed Minter. He's been holed up with a top aide writing his book, mixing in travel to campaign for Hillary Clinton and higher-profile Senate candidates like Pennsylvania's Katie McGinty. Sanders also isn't fond of Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin-- who endorsed Clinton the day Sanders announced his presidential bid and scrapped plans to implement single-payer health care in the state-- and Minter worked in Shumlin's administration. Minter also simply has a more moderate [again, that purposefully misleading Beltway word for "corrupt right-wing piece of shit"] profile than Sanders does. There is always an underlying question of who Bernie will support, but it isn't of the utmost importance, said Dottie Deans, the state Democratic Party chair. I certainly would welcome his support for any of our Democratic candidates, but whats clear in this state is we have three parties: the Republican Party, the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party, and that makes it a little dicey. Sanders has marched to his own drumbeat on endorsements this year. National party leaders asked the Vermont independent to back two lower-profile Senate candidates over the summer-- Iowas Patty Judge and North Carolinas Deborah Ross-- but they are not among the candidates Sanders has personally endorsed so far. During the presidential primary race Schumer threatened Bernie with loss of a committee chair if he endorsed Grayson in Florida, Sestak or Fetterman in Pennsylvania or Sittenfeld in Ohio, where Schumer was desperate to have his conservative handpicked pro-Wall Street candidates-- respectively Patrick Murphy, Katie McGinty and Ted Strickland-- win the primaries. Bernie went along with it and the details of that will be a chapter in my "book" one day. For establishment monsters like Steve Israel, Rahm Emanuel, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Ben Ray Lujan, Schumer, Tester, etc, "party unity" is always a one-way street. The thermometer below goes to a page that has progressive House candidates who won their primaries and have been completely and spitefully abandoned by the DCCC. All are in winnable districts, although some are very winnable and others are tougher shots. Please consider contributing to any-- or all-- of their campaigns: NEW DELHI: Under pressure from the Congress and other opposition parties to release proof of the September 29 surgical strikes against militant camps in PoK, the government on Tuesday hit back at the rivals for questioning the courage of the armed forces. Five days after the two sides were on the same page over the raid, the much-publicised army operation has turned into a political slugfest, with the opposition asking the government to furnish evidence to call Pakistans bluff . Pakistan has dismissed Indias claims, saying the raid was nothing but cross-border firing. In the garb of demanding proof, please dont belittle the courage and sacrifice of the armed forces, minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Tuesday. The Congress said it had not questioned the armys claims and supported the governments action. There has never been a reason to raise a question or doubt the statements by DGMO on surgical strike, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi had supported armed forces and the government on surgical strikes and we reaffirm the same, he said. Urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu said the proof would be presented at an appropriate time. No one has any question about the strikes except the Congress and the chief minister of Delhi. I want to tell them they should not worry about the evidence. It will be presented, Naidu said in Kanpur. In an early morning raid on September 29, Indian soldiers struck militants planning to infiltrate into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes came 10 days after an attack on an army camp in Uri left 19 soldiers dead. Upcoming elections in the five states could be the reason why the opposition is asking for proof but couching it as a must to quash Pakistan propaganda. No one would like to be seen questioning the armed forces who enjoy mass appeal in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand which are among the five poll-bound states. Praising the Prime Minister, Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal had in a video message on Monday asked Narendra Modi to release proof to unmask Pakistan propaganda. Several Pakistani newspapers and international media outlets reported his comments, doubting Indias version of events. Prasad asked Kejriwal if he believed in the valour of Indian forces. If so, then why is he swayed by alleged false propaganda asking proof to be given. The CM said Tuesday he had no doubts that the strikes were conducted but Modi should give a befitting reply to Islamabad. Prasad also criticised former home minister P Chidambaram who said the demand for a proof was expected after the government went public with the strikes. The UPA government, too, had hit militant bases in PoK but didnt publicise the strikes. Is Chidambaram joining the bandwagon of people of creating a doubt about the strike and belittling the armed forces? Prasad said, urging Sonia Gandhi to clarify if the comments reflected the party line. Digvijaya Singh echoed Chidambarams views. Our credibility is at stake Modiji/ (national security adviser Ajit) Dovalji. Release video footage immediately, he tweeted. The Congress, however, disassociated from Mumbai chief Sanjay Nirupams tweet. Every Indian wants #SurgicalStrikesAgainstPak but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by #BJP. Politics over national interest, Nirupam had tweeted. Armed robbers struck three trains passing through Kanpur district early on Wednesday, looting at least 12 passengers and assaulting those who resisted before escaping. According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), the robbers barged into the Mumbai-bound Lucknow-LTT Express and started looting passengers. When one of the passengers, Ramashankar Pandey, resisted the robbery bid, he was roughed up. The accused then boarded the Vaishali Express and robbed passengers travelling in the sleeper class. Devi Singh, who was on his way to Gorakhpur, was also physically assaulted when he resisted the burglars. The bandits then boarded the Lucknow-Kanpur passenger train, looting passengers, and beating up one more person. The three assault victims were sent to the railways Kamla Nehru Hospital, one of who needed to be admitted be admitted in the hospital. The other two were discharged after first-aid was administered. As the incident took place between Unnao and Kanpur districts, there was some confusion in deciding whose jurisdiction the case came under, before Kanpur GRP took up the matter According to Kanpur GRP in-charge, Shyamvrat Yadav, 12 people were robbed during in the morning robbing spree. An FIR was registered, he said, adding that the overall value of the robbery was yet to be ascertained. Employed only a week ago, a domestic help robbed a house in Phase 1 of Dugri area after he bound and gagged his employers wife, on Tuesday afternoon. The man, of Nepalese origin, was accompanied by four others. They gagged the woman and tied her hands and legs before locking her in a room.They fled with Rs 15 lakh in cash, gold jewellery, 2,000 American dollars, mobile phone, licenced revolver and 40 bullets. The accused also took away the recording system of the CCTV cameras with them. At the time of the incident, the woman was alone at home as her husband and father-in-law were at work while her mother-in-law had gone to the market. After the robbers had left, the victim identified as Salona Gupta freed herself and raised an alarm. On being informed, Dugri police reached the spot and initiated investigation. They booked the domestic help identified as Bahadur and his four unidentified accomplices. Rajan Gupta, owner of Steel Man in Dhandhari, said he employed Bahadur a week ago through an agent. On Tuesday, he and his father Sham left for work. In the afternoon, his mother went to the market and his wife was alone at home. Salona said Bahadur phoned his accomplices. One of them stood outside, while the other three armed with iron rods and sharp weapons entered the house. They gagged her with tape and tied her hands and legs with a piece of rope. Dugri station house officer Joginder Singh said police scanned CCTVs installed in the area in which the accused were captured fleeing the house. NO ONE RESPONDED TO DISTRESS CALL AT PCR, SAY NEIGHBOURS The victims neighbour Sarbjit Singh and his son Pushinder said they tried calling the police control room emergency number 100 repeatedly but no one attended the call. Later, they informed police commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh on his mobile phone. Police reached the house after that. Police have rounded up the agent who introduced Bahadur to the family. Gangster Navdeep Singh, alias Chatha, 28, a resident of Dabwali in Haryana, was arrested after a brief encounter with the police near Rama Mandi, close to Punjab-Haryana border, here on Tuesday night. This was disclosed by inspector general of police, Bathinda zone, SK Asthana, at a press conference on Wednesday. He said the police had got a tip-off that some gangsters were roaming around Rama Mandi. A check post was set up on the road leading from Desu Jodha to Sekhu village. Two cars came from Desu Jodha side and the occupants of one of them fired at the cops. The police returned the fire, but no one was injured. In all, four rounds were fired. The three car occupants ran into fields, police chased them and nabbed Chatha. His two accomplices managed to flee, said Asthana. The lone occupant in the second car also managed to flee. Asthana said police have identified the accomplices and a search operation to locate them is on. The police have impounded two cars and seized a .32-bore US-made revolver, a .32-bore pistol, a magazine and 25 cartridges. Chatha, a member of Gurpreet Sekhon gang, is facing about 15 criminal cases, including those of murder, attempt to murder, theft and dacoity, in Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala, Jagraon, and in Haryana and Rajasthan. Their death warrants are out. Vikram Walia and Jasvir Singh, who kidnapped and murdered a Hoshiarpur boy, Abhi Verma (16), in 2005, have moved the Supreme Court yet another time for a stay on their execution. A Hoshiarpur court has directed the Patiala jail authorities to hang them on October 25. The President has denied them mercy. Supreme Court lawyer Balwant Singh Billowria, who filed the latest review petition, will appear before the Chief Justice of India to request for an urgent hearing on Wednesday morning. He has cited a constitutional-bench judgment in case of 2000 Red Fort bombing convict Mohammad Arif that deathrow convicts shall seek opencourt hearings of their review petitions, irrespective of the fact that their curative petition has already been dismissed. In 2006, the Hoshiarpur district court had awarded death penalty to Jasvirs wife, Sonia, too, and in 2008, the Punjab and Haryana high court had upheld it. In 2010, Supreme Court commuted only Sonias sentence to life imprisonment. Walia and Jasvir filed a mercy petition, which the President rejected. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Arhtiyas (commission agents), a major source of political funding in the election season, are building pressure on parties to include their demands in manifestoes. An arhtiya association led by Ravinder Singh Cheema claims more than 20,000 members and business worth thousands of crores of rupees a year. It has formed a political affairs committee to decide which party to support in the 2017 Punjab elections. Other arhtiya associations are expected to copy the plan. Five years ago, the Akali-BJP government appointed Cheema vice-chairman of Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (mandi board). Our organisation is largest in the trade sector, Cheema told HT. And we cater to a large section of society farmers and farm labourers. But we never come forward with our demands. We will support a party that includes these in the manifesto. Rules require arhtiyas to pay the farmer within 48 hours. It takes us about two months to get our payment, said Cheema. We want it within 72 hours of making payment to farmers. We want micro silos in the mandis (grain markets) to preserve the quality of the grain in case of any delay in lifting. Accused of fleecing farmers, arhtiyas disagree with the Punjab Settlement of Agricultural Indebtedness Act passed in May. It fixes the rate of interest to be charged from the farmers at 11.8%. The state government has also formed divisional forums in Patiala, Jalandhar, Ferozpur, Faridkot and Rupnagar look into debt settlement. MAKE MANIFESTOES LEGALLY BINDING: BKU The Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) went a step ahead of the arhtiyas and demanded that elections promises in the manifesto be made legally binding on the parties. BKU national president Bhupinder Singh Mann said it was normal for leaders to forget these promises on coming to power. I will ask the Election Commission of India to make a rule. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear whether India was at war with Pakistan even as he criticised the eviction of villagers from the border areas of Punjab. Addressing meetings in Khem Karan and Tarn Taran along the International Border, the former CM said surgical strikes were carried out across the Line of Control (LoC) even during the Congress regime, but nobody tried to take political mileage out of it. Read | India-Pak tensions bring back war memories, fears: Where will we go? Expressing solidarity with border villagers, he assured his partys support to them in this hour of crisis. The former CM said he would take a house on rent in the border village of Rajatal, 500 metres from the International Border, to stay with the villagers. He also asked the border villagers to stay put in their homes and carry on with their harvesting. Read | Harvesting allowed in frontier areas of Punjab I am concerned for the people of the border belt who are being asked to move out of their homes leaving their properties, crops and livestock behind, the state Congress chief said. He also promised to take up the problems being faced by the border villagers in Parliaments next session. If need be, we will stage a dharna in the Lok Sabha, he added. EVACUATION: AAP ASKS CM TO CLEAR STAND CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi party on Tuesday asked chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to come clean on chaos created in the border villages by asking people to vacate their houses. Addressing a press conference, AAP vicepresident Col CD Kamboj (retd), head of the NRI wing Jagtar Sanghera and AAP candidate from Balachaur Brigadier Raj Kumar (retd) and state convener Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi sought Badals clarification after a tweet of director general (DG) of the Border Security Force that evacuation was never ordered in border villages. Also read | Surgical strikes: Congress questions govts motive, AAP wants proof Two students of Lyallpur Khalsa College, Gurpal Singh (21) and Jagdish Singh (23), who had nabbed two robbers after they tried to loot Rs 1.94 lakh from an employee of a security agency near city hospital chowk on Monday were honoured by the city police here on Tuesday. Both were given commendation certificates and a cash award of Rs 5,000 each for their bravery. The police officers appreciated their act and appealed the citizens to come forward in helping the police to arrest the criminals. On Monday evening, an employee of security agency, Subedar Chanchal Singh of Jandu Singha, was going to deposit the money in the bank when he was followed by six bike-borne youths. As two of them tried to snatch the bag, he raised an alarm following which Gurpal and Jagdish chased them and nabbed the two. The accused were identified as Hari Om of Lahori Gate Kapurthala and Sandeep Kumar of Raj Nagar. Lying dysfunctional for past six months, a special investigation team (SIT) that was probing the Jalandhar kidney scam since April this year, has once again been reconstituted this week. Sources said that since April, SIT had not held a single meeting in which all members were present to discuss the developments in this case. Now, the first meeting of reformed SIT has been called on Thursday at 11 am at the office of inspector general of police(IGP crime) Varinder Kumar who is the supervising officer of this case. The SIT has three IPS officers Amritsar deputy commissioner of police (DCP) J Elachezhian, Jalandhar DCP Harjit Singh, ADCP (investigation) Vivek Sheel Soni besides inspector Navdeep Singh, who is now transferred to Hoshiarpur police line and Police Station-7 SHO inspector Nirmal Singh. The racket, allegedly being run by city-based National Kidney Hospital, was unearthed in July last year, after the police claimed that several donors and recipients were shown to close relatives by the gang kingpin by forging papers in connivance with the hospital staff. The SITs meeting on Thursday carries more importance with the Punjab and Haryana high court dismissing the anticipatory bail plea of Rajesh Aggarwal of the hospital, the main accused in the kidney racket case on August 16. However, the city police have so far failed to make an arrest under the pressure of politicians and doctors lobby. Further, the high court had also ordered an inquiry into the kidney transplants performed in the states hospitals during past three years. The state government was asked to submit a comprehensive report on the number of surgeries performed, besides the details of the recipients and the donors in three months till November 21 this year. The government has also been told to specify whether the surgeries were performed in compliance with the provisions of Act. Aggarwal had argued in the petition last year that police had no jurisdiction to either investigate or arrest any person for the alleged commission of offenses under the Transplantation of Human Organs (TOHO) Act, 1994. On July 30, 2015, the police had nabbed four persons, namely Junaid Ahmed Khan, Vardaan Chandar Rao, Kuldeep and Saboor Ahmed, for their alleged involvement in human organ trade. On March 25, 2016, the city police had submitted an 855page supplementary chargesheet against 17 persons. Those named in the chargesheet are Dr Rajesh Aggarwal and his wife Deepa Aggarwal of Chhotti Baradari; Dr Sanjay Mittal and his wife Dr Suman Mittal of Sat Kartar Nagar; Sunil Kaul and his wife Chandra Kaul of Dharamshala; Mahinder Khurana and his wife Sujata Khurana of Kalkaji; Pradeep Kumar Jain, his wife Poonam Jain and son Aayush Kumar Jain of Kailash Hills; Jyoti Arneja, her sons Ankur Arneja and Ankit Arneja of Lajpat Nagar in Delhi; Phool Kumari of Amar Colony in Ludhiana; Manjeet Rani of Rahimpur village of Jalandhar and Sudesh Kumari of Model Town in Kapurthala district. In August, the police had also filed a chargesheet against Dr Puneet Pal Singh Grover, a junior surgeon in this hospital, in the case. Panjab University (PU) authorities have again put up a proposal before syndicate to award Punjabi novelist professor Dalip Kaur Tiwana and actor Anupam Kher with Sahitya Rattan and Kala Rattan respectively. The proposal will be taken up during October 8 meeting of the syndicate. Both Tiwana and Kher have diametrically opposite ideological views. While Tiwana had returned her Padma Shri in October 2015 over growing instances of communalism and intolerance (HT story-Recent incidents have reopened old wounds, says writer Dalip Kaur Tiwana). She was among a number of writers who returned their awards, alleging growing intolerance in the country. In contrast, Anupam Kher had led a protest march alleging that the returning of awards was to defame the country. The agenda item to award them was also there in August 19 syndicate meeting but had to be deferred. Some members raised the issue that Tiwana had earlier returned her Padma Shri award and it could anger the central government. But then I said that we had to see her contributions in literature and we have to understand why she returned the Padma Shri, said syndicate member DPS Randhawa. Also, Dr PD Gupta, director, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore, has been proposed for Vigyan Rattan. A committee comprising chairperson SS Johl, chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Prof KN Pathak, former vicechancellor of PU, Prof DVS Jain, senator, PU, former Chandigarh MP and senator of PU, Satya Pal Jain, and vice-chancellor of PU prof AK Grover had unanimously cleared the names of the three on August 14. WORKS OF TIWANA, KHER AND GUPTA Tiwana, 81, has published 27 novels and 7 collections of short stories. Her first book of short stories Sadhna came in 1961. Her novel Eho Hamara Jeevna won her the Sahitya Akademi award in 1972. Punjab government conferred Nanak Singh Puruskar on her novel Peele Patian Di Dastan in 1980 and Gurmukh Singh Musafir Puruskar on her autobiography Nange Parion Da Safar in 1982. Kher, 61, had also got Padma Shri in 2004 and Padma Bhushan in 2016. He got national film awards for Daddy and Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara. PD Gupta, 64, is known for his work in laser plasma interaction, high power laser systems, synchronotron radiation sources and high energy accelerators. He has 567 research publications with 211 in international journals to his credit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pensioners are living out their final years in sickness and without social welfare. According to government figures, Vietnam currently has a total population of 93 million, and 10.5 percent of the population is 60 or over - that's 9.8 million people. It is forecast in the next 50 years, Vietnam will have 10 million more in that age group. The United Nations considers a country to be aging when 7 percent of its population is aged 65 or over - the threshold used to be 10 percent of a population being 60 years old or over. Aging is happing faster than expected Chung, at the age of 77, lives with her 74-year-old sister in a shabby house on the outskirts of Hanoi. Both women are living out their final years in poor health and financial difficulties. More and more Vietnamese senior citizens like Chung and her sister are being left behind in their villages as their children go out to the cities to earn a living. The two old women spend half of their combined monthly income of about VND6 million ($270) on medical services. They have no health insurance. Vietnams aging population has two distinguishing features. Firstly, the aging process has happened at a much faster rate than expected. Vietnam was expected to benefit from its golden population over a 30-year period from 2010 to 2040 with more economically active people, defined as those aged between 15 and 60, than economically inactive people. However, due to a lower birthrate and longer life expectancy, the country is aging rapidly, and the working-age population is shrinking at pace. The working-age population will shrink so quickly that by 2030, one in six Vietnamese will be over 60, and by 2060, one in four will be 60 or older, government figures show. According to the United Nations Development Program, Vietnams working-age population has increased about 50 percent in the past 100 years, but its population aged 60 or older has soared by 300 percent. What took between 60 and 100 years in Europe and North America is set to take only two or three decades in many Asia-Pacific countries, including in Vietnam, said Bakhodir Burkhanov, UNDP deputy country director in Vietnam. Vietnams demographic window is about to close as its ageing process is forecast to take only 15 years. Official statistics show that Vietnams population aged 60 or over has steadily increased to the current 10.5 percent from 9 percent in 2009, 8.1 percent in 1999, 7.2 percent in 1989 and 6.9 percent in 1979. Secondly, Vietnams population has aged before it has become rich or moderately rich. Vietnam is one of a few countries in the world in which the population has aged before becoming rich," said Nguyen Trong Dam, deputy labor minister, referring to mounting constraints on the social welfare system and health care services when it comes to any potential solutions to take care of elderly people. It is estimated 20 percent of Vietnamese senior citizens aged 60 or older are currently living under the poverty line, according to the UNDP in Vietnam, and one third of them are still working in labor-intensive jobs with low and unstable incomes. About 70 percent of them dont have savings accounts and 62.6 percent of seniors are financially insecure without monthly pensions or social welfare benefits. Besides, Vietnamese elders are living longer, but they are spending more time sick, said deputy minister Dam. The worlds average life expectancy has increased by 21 years over the past 50 years while the life expectancy in Vietnam has soared by 33 years to an average of 75.6. However, the General Office for Population and Family Planning has calculated the countrys healthy life expectancy at 60 years. That means the proportion of time Vietnamese senior citizens are living with health problems is estimated at around 15 years. And 95 percent of them are living with non-infectious conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, osteoporosis and respiratory diseases. The window for action is limited According to the UNDP, if Vietnam fails to create jobs, develop social security and improve quality of life before aging sets in, it will risk instability in the near future. The aging process might end the countrys fast economic growth, which has been above 5 percent on average since 1999, and the Southeast Asian countrys growth is mainly fuelled by exports which rely heavily on cheap and abundant labor. In the near term, the UNDP suggests Vietnam should boost productivity by lifting the mandatory retirement age, retaining more senior people in the labor force. Michael Herrmann, senior adviser on economics and manager of the Innovation Fund at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), put forward three solutions at a recent workshop on the impacts of an ageing population. He advised the government to consider a policy change that will make Vietnamese stay in their jobs longer, invest more in human resources, especially in women, and fortify the countrys social welfare safety net. The deputy labor minister said given the limited budget and resources, the governments window for action is limited. The labor ministry has tried and failed a few times to call for the state retirement age to be lifted to 62 for men and 57 for women. We need to lift the retirement age, said Nguyen Huu Dung, a senior advisor to the labor ministry, who is concerned about how to take advantage of the senior workforce without denying young people jobs. Countries in Asia and the Pacific are home to more than half of the population aged 60 or older in the world, numbering up to 533 million people, said Lubna Baqi, the deputy director for the UNFPA's Asia and the Pacific Regional Office. The number of older people in the region is expected to jump to nearly 1.3 billion by 2050, representing two thirds of the worlds population aged over 60. Asia's population is ageing faster than anywhere else in the world, said a study, warning the swelling ranks of the elderly will cost the region $20 trillion in healthcare by 2030. Related news: >Retirement could be a long way off for aging Vietnamese workers >Vietnam's aging workforce on the road to retirement >Vietnamese people pay unhealthy price for longer life Unable to hammer out a consensus on regularising the service of nearly 45,000 temporary or contractual employees hired through back door, the Punjab cabinet set up a committee under deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday to fine-tune the controversial policy. Another contentious point is that the government proposes to keep these appointments out of the ambit of judicial review by making a law. As there are financial implications in this proposed money bill, the government needs the governors permission to enact this law. The proposed legislation that seeks to withdraw the power of review from the judiciary is potential boiling point between the judiciary and the Parkash Singh Badal government that will face an election in 2017. If the cabinet accepts the proposal, the government may bring in an ordinance. Sources say that after three years (in 2019), when these employees will be eligible for regular pay scale, the annual financial liability will shoot to `2,500 crore. Deputy CM Sukhbir, who is desperate to push the matter through administrative and legal hurdles notwithstanding had long meetings with senior bureaucrats since morning in the run-up to the evening cabinet meeting that went on for more than two hours. The cabinet sub-committee will meet on October 12. It includes industry minister Madan Mohan Mittal, local bodies minister Anil Joshi, education minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and health minister Surjit Kumar Jyani. Sources in the cabinet said almost every minister had his own reservations and views on who should be included in this regularisation drive. Some ministers wanted to include employees hired through the outsourcing process, while other are for those hired under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan or National Rural Health Mission. Every minister wants to regularise maximum employees of his department. Thats the dispute. But the ministers dont have consensus on the criterion and the bottom line, a minister said on the condition of anonymity. The sub-committee will meet the secretaries of different departments and the other ministers before it prepares a report to be discussed in the cabinet. The regularisation of employees was also considered... and a committee formed under the chairmanship of the deputy CM to make more recommendations in the next cabinet meeting, government spokesperson said. The cabinet, sources say, also discussed the financial implications of this decision. At the core of this populist move is the upcoming assembly polls. A section of the ministers said that regularising those appointed through the back door will invite backlash from jobless people. And the excluded irregular employees will also turn against the government. As the legal remembrance (LR) has also advised against this move, the government sought legal opinion of the advocate general also. In his advice, the LR has 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. The LR has also cautioned the government that the proposed law should not amount to backdoor entry or cause injustice to those who seek front-door entry. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The tension at the border with Pakistan has hit tourism in Amritsar. The city, home to the Golden Temple the holiest shrine of the Sikhs and tourist attractions such as the Wagah-Attari joint checkpost and Jallianwala Bagh, has seen a dip in tourist arrivals since last week. October began on an anxious note, with hotels seeing 10% cancellation after tension on the border escalated post Thursdays surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. About 10% customers have cancelled bookings in the past few days in our hotel. There have been cancellations by non-resident Indians (NRIs) and foreigners in prominent hotels of the town too, said Inderbir Singh Nijjar, the owner of Hotel Alstonia. Sukhdeep Singh, who runs a guest house near the Golden Temple, said tourists from other states, particularly the south, visit Amritsar and then head for destinations in Jammu and Kashmir. Read | Faith over fear: 80-member Pak Sikh jatha reaches India But the tension along the Punjab border and the volatile situation in Jammu and Kashmir since July has discouraged many from planning tours to these parts, he said. The Golden Temple is also less crowded these days. Punjabis are courageous. They dont fear war so their arrival is almost normal, said shrine manager Sulakhan Singh. However, there are fewer tourists from abroad and other states, he added. Read | Samjhauta Express arrives at Attari station with bag of mixed feelings Taxi drivers are also a worried lot. For the past five days, Ive been waiting for customers. The Border Security Force (BSF) has barred visitors from the retreat ceremony at Wagah. Tourists still visit Golden Temple but are hesitant to go to Wagah. Youngsters are adventurous but families are not keen, said Sarbjit Singh, a taxi driver. Jatinder Singh, an autorickshaw driver outside the railway station, said the number of visitors has fallen by about 25%. Some shopkeepers, however, said the situation was not as bad as was being portrayed by the electronic media. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the Indo-Pakistan relations continue to deteriorate after surgical strikes by Indian troops across the LOC, a family here is in fear as it has five daughters married in Pakistan. This is not for the first time that the family is living in the shadow of fear. Each time both nations take aggressive postures towards each other, the family suffers. Avaam nahi chahti ke jung ho, sirf afsar chahte hain (public doesnt wont war only officers want). My five daughters are married in Pakistan and its been almost seven years I have seen them. I am unwell and aged now and crave to see them once and want my family to be together, but if a war happens this would never be possible. This scenario has given us sleepless nights, says 80-year-old Suraiya Butt who, with her son Rafiq Ahmed Butt and her daughter-in-law Tanveer Butt, lives inside the Hall Gate here. This Muslim family had been headed by late Mohammads Younis who came to India after partition in 1953 and married Suraiya, who hails from Amritsar. He ran a dhabha in Hall Bazar which is now run by his son Rafiq. STRAINED INDO-PAK TIES KEEP SIBLINGS APART Rafiq shared the pictures of his five sisters, who he hasnt met for years now. First borders divided us, then embassies that always create a lot of hassles in issuing visas and now if a war happens between the two countries, I will be deprived of meeting my sisters and relatives in Pak, he said. My sisters are married in Lahore, Karachi and Quetta. They went across borders in 80s and 90s but while marrying them neither my father thought and nor I that relations would some day reach a level that we have to beg the embassies of letting us meet, Rafiq said. He said, It is so unfortunate that artist delegations and other VIP delegations keep moving to and fro even in tense situations but families like us suffer. Rafiq said that till 2010, when his father was alive, he (father) used to make efforts to go to meet his sisters, but now things are not the same. He mother added, Na edhar ki sarkaar ko farak padhta hai , na udhar ki, agar farak padta hai toh hume padta hai (neither are the governments in Pakistan and nor in India affected, the real sufferers are we who are desperate to meet our children). Saba Butt, daughter of Rafiq, who is preparing for IAS exam, says she is 18-year-old and till date has not seen all five aunties. TECHNOLOGY BRINGS THEM TOGETHER Saba then makes the HT team talk to her youngest aunty Shabnam Samriaz in Pakistan and Shabnam telephonically tells HT, I have been trying to come to India for seven years, but cant make it as I did not get a visa. What is my fault if I am married here? We all five sisters at times feel why were we sent across border if it was so tough to meet our family in India? Mother cries on the phone and asks me to come, but I am stuck here. Now if relations get worse and trains, buses linking us with India also stop, then what will we do? Already at embassies, we have been told that now as we are Pakistan nationals why do we want to go there? What kind of replies are these? If a daughter married in USA and UK can come to meet there families arent we someones daughters? Even when our father expired we were deprived to come home. Calling Pakistan costs Rs 15 per minute. Being from a middle class family, we cannot afford long conversations, thus we prefer video chats with our sisters, added Rafiq. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For saving Sikhs from hate crime, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) released a document here on Tuesday to explain Sikh faith and identity to foreign people. Published in English, document contains the history and global achievements of Sikhs. Most of the world is unaware of the distinct identity of Sikhs, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said . They are mistaken for Muslims because of their headgear and made target of hate crime. The document explains how the Sikh turban is different. The SGPC will send the document to foreign embassies and governments to reduce the confusion about Sikh identity. A copy will be presented to every foreign visitor at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Since the 9/11 terror attacks, Sikhs have been victims of hate crimes in the west. The need for the document was felt ever since. The contribution of Sikhs in World War-1, their presence in 58 countries, their gurdwaras abroad, and their contribution is all mentioned in the document, said Makkar. The vice-presidential debate was never going to be about them, both Tim Kaine, the Democratic nominee, and Mike Pence, the Republican, must have known. It was to be about their respective running mates. And so it was. And mostly about Donald Trump, who Pence was pushed to defend by a combative Kaine again, and on an entire range of issues from his refusal to release his tax returns to not paying taxes at all to remarks about women, Mexicans, Muslims, African Americans, nuclear bombs, and Vladimir Putin. Silver-haired Pence, who was such a contrast to Trump in style, manners and demeanour, gave back as well, bringing up Clinton's use of email server, the Clinton Foundation and her record as secretary of state. That was expected. While the outcome of Tuesday will be debated for days to come, based on polls, a narrative had begun to take shape clearly with a few minutes of the candidates leaving the stage Pence, who had clearly impressed everyone, had not been an effective defender of his running mate. Read | US vice presidential contenders Kaine, Pence debate candidates instead policy "Pence: Effective in prosecuting a case against HRC (short for Hillary Rodham Clinton) . Less effective defending Trump," wrote Stephen Hayes of the right-leaning Weekly Standard in a tweet. "Mike Pence won. Donald Trump lost," wrote The Vox's Ezra Klein in a tweet linking to a story that expanded that theme broadly to argue that the VP candidate made a great case for himself by throwing Trump under the bus. Here is how exchange played out. "Donald Trump cannot start a Twitter war with Miss Universe without shooting himself in the foot," Kaine said in a broadside on Trump'a foreign policy. "He does not have a plan. He said, 'I have a secret plan', and then he said, 'I know more than all the generals about ISIL (another name for Islamic State)', and finally he said, 'I am going to fire all the generals'. He does not have a plan. He trash talks the military, John McCain is no hero, the generals need to be fired, I know more than them. NATO is obsolete." Kaine continued, seemingly reading from a well rehearsed script scrolling down the back of his head, reprising known campaign attack lines, and adding few "He has a personal Mount Rushmore of Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Saddam Hussein". After a few more of those, Kaine stopped, and invited Pence to respond, who, shot back, brightly, "that had a lot of creative lines in it", and proceeded to offer a response that was a standard Republican critique of President Barack Obama's foreign policy and by extension of Clinton, his one-time secretary of state. But he did not defend Trump, not adequately enough. Pence did try valiantly to push back on occasions on taxes and abortion, in one instance saying Trump was not a politician, but was mostly just shaking his head as if that would be enough. It wasn't. Kaine, on the other hand, was the quintessential running mate. He defended Clinton vigorously on her private email server, Clinton Foundation, untrustworthiness and turned each attack into an opportunity to hand Pence something else to defend. Both camps claimed victory at the end Trump tweeted out his verdict within seconds of the debate "Mike Pence won big. We should all be proud of Mike!" but will have to wait for polls, and not online snap polls, for a clearer picture. Read | Who will win the US presidential election? And, Trump himself may change his mind once he sees the reporting. This years Co-Production Lab at the Film Bazaar, organised by the National Film Development Corporation of India in Panaji from November 20 to 24 has 18 entries. These include movie scripts from several languages like Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Manipuri and Sanskrit. The one in Sanskrit, Punyakoti, by Ravi Shankar, will be an animated work. So too will be Kabuliwala by Soumitra Ranade -- whose Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai, a live action feature, is set to release soon. This is the second year in running that the Bazaar will have scripts on animation. Last year, there was just one. Outside India, there are feature scripts from Canada, Nepal and Bangladesh. As Urmi Juvekar, head of the Co-Production Market, told this writer on Wednesday morning from Mumbai, The producers and directors of the selected projects will pitch their work to a curated audience of financiers and sales agents to try and find additional funds. Geetu Mohandass InshaAllah in largely Malayalam with a smattering of Hindi. We usually chose a script that is in an advanced stage and has a producer attached to it with at least 20 per cent funding, Juvekar said. The Market also makes it a point to look beyond Bollywood and tries to give representation to films in languages other than Hindi. Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali and Manipuri among others will be seen at the Bazaar this year. Also we have made it a point to given importance to childrens cinema. Punyakoti and Kabuliwala both are, Juvekar added. Rajdeep Pauls The Biryani Seller is the story of a boy called Asim who wants to be an artist. Apart from childrens fare, one of the projects at the Bazaar will be Geetu Mohandass InshaAllah in largely Malayalam with a smattering of Hindi. Speaking to this writer from Kochi, Mohandas (whose role in Adoor Gopalakrishnans Naalu Pennungal/Four Women was highly lauded and whose directorial effort, Liars Dice, was Indias official submission for the 2014 Foreign Language Oscar), said that her latest story, InshaAllah, traces the journey of a little boy who leaves his home in Lakshadweep in search of his older brother. The boy lands in Mumbai, and the plot talks about loss of innocence and so on. In short, it is a tale of two brothers. The Biryani Seller is a Bengali work by Rajdeep Paul and Sarmishtha Maiti. Rajdeep Pauls and Sarmishtha Maitis Bengali work, The Biryani Seller, is all about a shattered dream, a dream dreamt by Asim to be an artist. Paul told this writer on Wednesday morning from Kolkata that Asim, a roadside Biryani seller from the city whose childhood dream of being an artist got buried in his struggle to sustain his family, now has a singular aim to make his younger brother Ajay an artist. But his world is turned upside down when Rebecca, a European moviemaker, starts making a documentary film on him, about how the grand Mughal cuisine, biryani, became a popular street food and a means of livelihood for the unemployed youth in the wake of globalisation. She eventually discovers that it is not Ajay but Asim who has real talent. The discovery of his own potential unfurls Asims creative urges. He starts painting prolifically while falling madly in love with Rebecca the first one to value his talent. But as he starts living his dream for himself, his familiar world comes crashing down. From Tamil Nadu, we have The Sunshine by Leena Manimekalai, a poet and moviemaker who has made films like My Mirror is the Door, Goddesses, Sengadal (The Dead Sea) and White Van. Stories about eco-feminism, Dalit women, plight of refugees and fishermen in the Palk Strait have been some of her core plots. Bangladeshs Abu Shahed Emons will be at the Bazaar with his second feature, Apodartho (A Foolish Man). His first movie, Jalals Story, was his countrys 2015 nominee for the Oscar. Canadian helmer Eisha Marjara ( whose provocative docudrama Desperately Seeking Helen received the Critics Choice Award at the Locarno Film Festival and the Jury Prize at the Munich in 2000) will be at Panaji with Calorie. Aboozar Aminis Persian work, The Cineaste, will also be in the Bazaar. He was recently celebrated for his 2016 Where is Kurdistan -- about an illegal immigrant who remembers his homeland after hearing a melody in Afghanistan. The full list of Co-Production Projects: Apodartho (A Foolish Man) (Bangladesh) Director: Abu Shahed Emon Language: Bengali Bhosle (India) Director: Devashish Makhija Language: Hindi Calorie (Canada, India) Director: Eisha Marjara Language: English Dastaan-e-Awaargi (India) Director: Ankit Kothari Language: Hindi Ink (India) Director: Pratim Gupta Language: Bengali, Hindi InshaAllah (India) Director: Geetu Mohandas Language: Malayalam, Hindi Jhyalincha (Season of Dragonflies) (Nepal) Director: Abinash Bikram Shah Language: Nepali Joseph Ki Macha (Josephs Son) (India) Director: Haobam Paban Kumar Language: Manipuri Kabuliwala (Man From Kabul) (India) (Animation) Director: Soumitra Ranade Language: Hindi Nonajoler Kabbo (The Salt In Our Waters) (Bangladesh) Director: Rezwan Shahriar Sumit Language: Bengali Punyakoti (India) (Animation) Director: Ravi Shankar Language: Sanskrit Ram Ji Ka Ghoda (The Dragonfly) (India) Director: Bishnu Dev Halder Language: Hindi The Biryani Seller (India) Directors: Rajdeep Paul & Sarmishtha Maiti Language: Bengali The Cineaste (China, Netherlands) Director: Aboozar Amini Language: Persian The Sunshine (India) Director: Leena Manimekalai Language: Tamil The Umesh Chronicles (India, Sweden) Director: Pooja Kaul Language: English, Hindi Tribhanga (Three Curve Bent) (India) Director: Renuka Shahane Language: English, Marathi Wapsi (The Return) (India) Director: Asad Hussain Language: Hindi (Gautaman Bhaskaran has been covering the Film Bazaar, running along with the International Film Festival of India, for several years.) ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Polands ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has looked firmly in control since sweeping to power a year ago but it may have pressed its conservative agenda too far by initially backing a virtual ban on abortion. Now, rattled by nationwide protests on Monday by up to 100,000 women dressed in black, Prime Minister Beata Szydlos government is trying to distance itself from a draft proposal backed by the powerful Roman Catholic Church. Worryingly for PiS, the protesters included women who voted for the party in last Octobers election but say they may no longer do so over its attempt to tighten the abortion law. Ola, a 29-year-old woman who works in public administration, said she had voted for PiS but now felt very deceived by the government. I still think liberalism isnt always right. But I wore black on Monday and went to the protests, said Ola, who declined to give her surname. Thousands of people gather during an abortion rights campaigners' demonstration to protest against plans for a total ban on abortion in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland. (Reuters) I dont support slogans such as my pussy, not your issue and I dont support abortion on demand but we dont protect life by prohibitions but by supporting women who are pregnant or have problems, she said. Echoing such sentiments, Natalia, a 30-year-old landscape designer from the western city of Poznan, described herself as a practising Catholic but said women should be allowed to exercise their personal choice on such important matters. Whats important for me is a situation when I would be pregnant or have to have prenatal testing. I would like to have a choice. Even if I am religious, I still think its a personal decision, a considered decision. The original rules were optimal, she said. Poland already has restrictive rules on abortion that allow it only in cases of rape, incest or if the mother or baby have serious health problems. The new proposal, brainchild of the anti-abortion campaign group Ordo Iuris, would limit abortion to cases where the mothers life was deemed in direct danger. Women and doctors could face prison if convicted of causing what the proposed rules call death of a conceived child. Critics say doctors would be discouraged from doing prenatal testing, particularly if that carried the risk of miscarriage. There is nothing in that proposal that women can support, said Sylwia, 21, who took part in the protest in Warsaw and said she may not vote for PiS again. PiS keeps coming up with ideas which are just unsupportable. Such criticism matters for PiS, whose appeal is based on a blend of Polish nationalism, Catholic piety and promises to help poorer Poles who have not benefited much from a decade of heady economic growth. Some 40 percent of women backed the party last year, compared to 38 percent of the wider population. I want to state very clearly that the PiS government is not working on any legislation changing the rules on abortion in Poland, Szydlo told a news conference on Tuesday. A woman shouts slogans as she takes part in an abortion rights campaigners' demonstration Black Protest in front of the Parliament in Warsaw, Poland. (Reuters) There are too many emotions surrounding this issue. The public and politicians should tone them down, she said. Underlining the confusion, the speaker of the upper house Senate, Stanislaw Karczewski, said on Wednesday that PiS lawmakers had dropped plans to push their own draft proposal that would ban abortion of foetuses with Down Syndrome while retaining the other current exceptions. We will now see how the Ordo Iuris proposal fares in parliament, said Karczewski. An opinion poll for the liberal OKO.press showed half of Poles supported Mondays protests against the abortion proposal. PiS realises this is an important issue that could have meaningful impact on their government and how long it governs, said Aleksander Smolar, a liberal political analyst with the Stefan Batory Foundation. They could lose the two sections of the electorate that helped them succeed, he said, referring to women and to younger Poles who helped PiS broaden its traditional electorate last year and win a parliamentary majority. But PiS also does not want to antagonise the Catholic Church, which has lost some of its sway among Poles after more than two decades of democratisation and free market capitalism but remains an influential institution. For PiS, its relations with the Church hierarchy mean that it cannot agree to any easing of abortion restrictions. It will waver between the status quo and some tightening, said Rafal Chwedoruk, a political scientist at Warsaw University. About 4,655 migrants were saved on Tuesday and 28 bodies recovered in more than 30 rescue missions off the Libyan coast, Italys coast guard said on Wednesday. More than 10,000 refugees have been picked up in just two days, as people smugglers take advantage of calm weather to push boats to sea. Over the same period, at least 50 people have died trying to make the dangerous crossing. The latest surge in new arrivals means at least 142,000 migrants have reached Italy since the start of the year and around 3,100 have died. Afghan forces battled the Taliban in the northern city of Kunduz for the third straight day on Wednesday and American helicopters provided air support to troops on the ground in the wake of the multipronged attack on the city launched by insurgents this week. The fighting in Kunduz, which fell briefly to the Taliban a year ago, came as Afghanistans leaders and officials from over 70 nations gathered in Brussels, seeking to drum up billions of dollars for the cash-strapped Kabul government as it battles the powerful Taliban insurgency and rampant corruption. Read | In Brussels, world powers seek more funds to keep Afghanistan running Afghan General Qasim Jungalbagh, the provincial police chief, said Taliban gunmen launched fresh attacks on Afghan forces in Kunduz from the south and east early on Wednesday. He said clearance operations have begun inside the city but that heavy clashes continue on the outskirts. Once again insurgents attacked our forces from two different directions and heavy battles are taking place to the south and east of the city, Jungalbagh said. Since pushing into Kunduz on Monday and briefly hoisting their flag at a main intersection, the Taliban were pushed back but their fighters hunkered down in residential homes, slowing the counter-offensive by the Afghans. The US military was providing air support to Afghan forces fighting on Wednesday to secure a number of areas in the city, US Army Brigadier General Charlie Cleveland said. Read | Taliban fighters push into centre of northern Afghan city of Kunduz The US military spokesman described the fighting as sporadic, saying that since Tuesday night, US forces have conducted two engagements from the air to defend friendly forces. He did not provide further details. Jungalbagh said 42 insurgents have been killed and more than 25 others wounded in the battles. Earlier, the Defense Ministry said five Afghan security personnel were killed and 13 others wounded. Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, head of the Kunduz provincial council, said food prices have almost tripled since the attack began and that food, water and electricity are all in short supply. The Taliban said in a statement emailed to media that they have taken the Kunduz office of the national intelligence agency but the claim could not be immediately confirmed and the insurgents regularly exaggerate battlefield successes. Kunduz, a major crossroads in the countrys north, briefly fell to the Taliban a year ago before they were beaten back by Afghan forces with the help of US airstrikes. Also read | 15 years and counting: Why US is still stuck in the Afghanistan war Laborers work to make Zara jackets at a garment factory in Bac Giang province, near Hanoi October 21, 2015. Photo by Reuters/Kham Decades-old technologies are stifling Vietnam's competitiveness in the global market. Vietnams backwardness in technology is dragging down its economic growth. As the country is trying to leave its mark in the global economy, it has no other option but to move up the value chain and away from the traditional low-wage, low-tech model. There has been some success. Statistics show that high-tech products contributed 28.7 percent in the countrys gross domestic product in 2013, up from 19.1 percent in 2012 and 11.7 percent in 2011. The goal is to bring this ratio to 45 percent by 2020. The government seems to be fully aware of the importance of technology in manufacturing. It has been pushing for the adoption of modern machinery and production methods in both labor-intensive industries that make garments, shoes or furniture, and capital- and technology-intensive sectors such as automobile and electronics. Over the past five years, the Vietnamese government has invested about VND10 trillion ($450 million) in technology and science. And since 2001, it has consistently set aside about 2 percent of the annual state budget, or 0.5 percent of the GDP, to introduce scientific and technological advances to various industries. Despite all these efforts, Vietnam is still 50 to 100 years behind the most modern countries in the world in terms of technology, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. Compared to the worlds average level, its technology is between two and three generations, or 20 years to 30 years, behind. The countrys support industries, which urgently need technological advances to boost productivity, remain weak, said Pham Tuan Anh, deputy head of Heavy Industries Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Enterprises in these industries currently account for only 0.03 percent of the countrys total number of businesses. The lack of local suppliers has forced Vietnam to import nearly 90 percent of raw materials, spare parts and components. Domestic companies in support industries can only meet about 10 percent of the demand, Anh added. Data show the ratio of locally sourced components in automobile manufacturing is ranging from 20 percent to 30 percent. For textiles and garments as well as footwear, it is around 10 percent. Local garment companies have to import more than 65 percent of raw materials, including fabrics and other accessories from overseas, especially from China, which owns the bulk of the worlds polyester production and is one of the top producers of cotton, said Le Quoc, a senior advisor to the Vietnam Textile and Garment Association. Support industries are currently controlled by foreign-invested companies, mainly from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Official figures show about 80 percent of parts suppliers in Vietnam, including electronic and other metal parts, are foreign companies. The Vietnamese government has worked on a plan to change this. The goal is that in the next four years local support industries will have 1,000 suppliers that can meet 45 percent of the manufacturing sectors demand. By 2030, there will be 2,000 suppliers that meet 70 percent of the demand. In its drive for modernization, the country is also forecast to import machinery and equipment worth $250 billion between 2011 and 2025. Related News: > Vietnam to shake up supporting industries to seize TPP opportunities > Vietnamese banks under mounting pressure to adopt technological advancements > Mobile-mad Vietnam's economy to get $5.1-bln online boost: researchers World powers meet in Brussels on Wednesday to pledge billions of dollars for Afghanistan until 2020, as fresh Taliban violence underscores the challenges 15 years after the US toppled the Islamist movement. The war-ravaged countrys President Ashraf Ghani will meet key figures including US Secretary of State John Kerry, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and NATO head Jens Stoltenberg at the conference in the Belgian capital. The meeting is expected to drum up pledges worth at least three billion dollars annually over the next four years, although the exact amount is unclear among donor fatigue caused by the war in Syria and the migration crisis. In return the 70 donor countries and 25 organisations gathered in Brussels will expect Kabul to promise it will tackle corruption, waste, political reform and human rights. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on late Tuesday said the Brussels conference was dedicated to the international support to Afghanistan, and to Afghanistans support for the Afghan people. Read | In Brussels, world powers seek more funds to keep Afghanistan running US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) shakes hands with Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in Brussels (AFP Photo) Almost exactly a decade and a half after the start of the US-led invasion to topple the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks, Afghanistan remains dependent on foreign aid and a limited NATO military presence to keep going. Violence has continued with Afghan forces fighting Taliban militants in the flashpoint city of Kunduz this week while a US soldier was killed in a bomb blast during operations against Islamic State militants in the east on Tuesday. The United States and the 28-nation EU currently each provide about a third of all international aid to Afghanistan, with Japan the next largest donor. A State Department spokesman said the conference was a chance for Kerry and the other officials to reaffirm our collective support for Afghanistans development and self-reliance. Seventy countries attending The conference follows up from a meeting in Tokyo in 2012 where the international community agreed to provide four billion euros a year in funding until the end of 2016. It also comes two years after the London Conference on Afghanistan at which then newly-elected president Ghani vowed to build a more self-reliant country. On Tuesday, Ghani attended an event in Brussels on female empowerment, a key issue in an impoverished, socially conservative Islamic country. We cannot count our successes by the number of women in high-ranking positions, we have to measure our effort by the empowerment of millions of girls, Ghani said. Mogherini said the conference was dedicated to all Afghan women and their talent and their hopes and their lives. Also read | Creaking Afghan hospital symbol of foreign aid failure The EU formally signed a state building contract of 200 million euros for 2017-2018 on Tuesday. Ahead of the conference Brussels and Kabul this week also struck a tentative deal for Afghanistan to take back migrants from the EU, which faces its biggest refugee crisis since World War II. EU officials denied reports that aid pledges would depend on Kabul accepting the return of 80,000 asylum-seekers deported from EU countries. But a key issue in Brussels will be countering the huge waste of international aid funds that have poured into Afghanistan since 2001. The United States has spent around $110 billion on Afghanistans reconstruction since 2001, more than the cost of the Marshall Plan that rebuilt a devastated Europe after World War II, but with limited results. Naeem Ayubzada, founder of NGO the Transparent Elections Foundation of Afghanistan, told AFP that in a sign of progress Afghan government officials had promised to let civil society organisations like his monitor spending more closely. But he warned that if the Afghan government and the donors continue with the same methods and mechanisms, the corruption will be increased. A Bangladeshi court on Wednesday freed a Canadian university student of all charges of involvement in a terror attack on a restaurant in July that left 20 hostages dead. Dhakas Metropolitan Magistrate Nur Nabi passed the order after counter-terrorism investigator Humayun Kabir appealed for clearing Tahmid Hasib Khan, 22, thus ending a formal investigation against the undergraduate student of the University of Toronto. Khan was arrested in August and has been held for interrogation since then even as his family claimed he was innocent and just a victim of the situation. Abdullah Abu, a public prosecutor, said Khan was cleared of suspicion that he was involved in the July 1 siege of the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhakas Gulshan diplomatic zone. Seventeen foreigners including an Indian student were among those killed in the attack. Khan did not face any formal charges as he was arrested under a law that allows security agencies to detain or arrest any persons on suspicion for investigation. The court has cleared him of the case as investigators found no evidence against him, Abu said. The court, however, said Khan would continue to face trial for his initial non-cooperation with the investigators. He has freed from allegations of his involvement in the restaurant attack. But he will have to come to court in another case for not cooperating with the security agencies. He ignored notice for giving his statement as a witness after the attack but he did not respond to the notice, Abu said. If convicted, he will face a month of jail term and taka 500 as fine. Police had earlier taken Khan on remand twice after his arrest and denied him bail. On Wednesday, the magistrate ruled that Hasnat Karim, a Bangladeshi origin British citizen, would continue to face charges as a key suspect in the case. Police have accused Karim, who is currently in jail, of being one of the masterminds of the attack in which at least five Islamist militants took part. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack but the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has blamed local militant group Jumatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB). Commandos killed all five attackers. Karim had lived in the UK for nearly 20 years and returned to Dhaka a few years ago to be a teacher at North South University. He then was investigated for his alleged involvement with Hizbut Tahrir, a banned militant group. He left the university in 2012 to be part of a family business. Karim had entered the restaurant along with his two children and wife before the attack in the evening of July 1. He said he went there to celebrate the birthday of one of his children. But investigators suspect that to be nothing but just cover-up. He was freed along with the family by the attackers before commandos made a final push to end the siege in the morning on July 2. Cross-border terrorism was an issue that Saarc countries needed to address but war was not an option, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said here on Wednesday, warning that the grouping faced a bleak future if a solution was not found. The Lankan PM complimented his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his restraint and his handling of situation after the Uri attack but said even if the Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) falls apart, cross-border terror might continue. Read | Saarc process too slow, implementation of agreements very poor: Prachanda Cross-border terrorism is on the table. Saarc has to look at it and discuss what has happened (cancellation of the Saarc meet). How we are going to handle it..., said Wickremesinghe, who arrived in the city on Tuesday for a three-day visit. Saarc has to decide on two issues cross-border terrorism and areas in which we can work together If we dont do it, there is no future for Saarc. The statement comes in less than a week of Pakistan putting off a Saarc summit it was to host in November after India and four other countries pulled out. Indias decision came after suspected Pakistani militants struck an army camp in Uri, killing 19 soldiers. Sri Lanka opted out, saying atmosphere was not conductive for a summit. Read | Saarc summit collapses after India and three other members pull out Wickremesinghe, the first Saarc leader to address the media in the Capital after Indias September 29 surgical strikes on militant launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), avoided comments on the cross-LoC raid. I may not be giving you the answers you are looking for. But you will understand in the long run what I am saying now, the Lankan PM told mediapersons as faced a volley of questions over the surgical strikes. Wickramasinghe said he agreed with Modi that cross-border terrorism had to end. Member countries would have to find ways to fight it and move forward. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than 50,000 new signatures have been added to the final count of the White House petition seeking to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, making it the most popular US petition so far. The petition, We the people ask the administration to declare Pakistan, State Sponsor of Terrorism (HR 6069), was archived by the White House on Monday with 613,830 signatures. By Tuesday afternoon, the number of signatures on the petition had increased to 665,769, a jump of 51,939 signs. This is believed to be the most popular White House petition so far as the highest number of signatures received by any White House petition so far had not crossed 350,000. There has been no explanation from the White House so far. However, it is possible that these signatures, which were signed before the petition was closed by the White House, were added to the final tally after being duly verified. In that case, the chances of a fraud being committed appears unlikely. Another possibility could be that the petition was flooded with signatures. And since the petition had already reached the mandatory threshold of 100,000 to earn a response from the Obama administration, a decision could have been taken to archive it stop accepting any new signature. The White House is expected to have an official response to the petition within stipulated 60 days. Meanwhile, the White House is still looking for signatures that did not meet the criteria for the petition which was created on September 21 by someone who identified himself with initials R G, after Congressman Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher introduced a bill in the US House of Representative, seeking to designate Pakistan as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. It met the threshold of 100,000 signatures in less than a week. With various groups both inside and outside the US actively campaigning on the social media for people to support the petition, the signature count increased at a fast pace, sometimes more than 100,000 signatures in less than 24 hours. In the process, it became the first-ever petition to cross half a million mark. A day after it was closed for signature, the final count as of now stands at 665,769 signatures. While there is no official ranking of popular petitions, the one seeking charges against the 47 US Senators in violation of the Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement in April 2015 appears to be the second most popular petition with 320,000 signatures. According to a website WHpetitions.info, that keeps track of unanswered petitions, so far 323 White House petitions have met their signature thresholds. The White House has responded to 318 of them (98 per cent) with an average response time of 117 days. Average waiting time so far for five unanswered petitions is 36 days. This does not include the latest petition. Baloch-Americans have also launched their own petition on Free Balochistan from Pakistans illegal occupation. In a widely followed murder retrial in Scotland, a court on Wednesday convicted a man for the 1998 murder of Sikh waiter Surjit Singh Chhokar, 17 years after the accused was first tried and acquitted. Ronnie Coulter was found guilty by the high court in Glasgow of fatally stabbing 32-year-old Chhokar in Overtown, North Lanarkshire, in November 1998 after a row over a 100 cheque. The retrial followed a change in the double jeopardy law in 2012. Coulter now faces a mandatory life term. It was only the second time in Scottish legal history that an accused has been tried twice for the same crime. Two prosecution cases failed in 1999 and 2000, leading to a public outcry. The case was reopened four years ago after a lengthy campaign for justice by Chhokars family. One of two official inquiries found the prosecution and the police were guilty of institutional racism. The then lord advocate, Colin Boyd, admitted that the system had failed Chhokars family. During the retrial, the jury heard that Coulter, his nephew Andrew and another man, David Montgomery, went to see Chhokar on the night he died following a row over a stolen Giro cheque. The three men confronted the waiter in the street as he returned home from work with a takeaway meal. After an altercation, the father of two collapsed and died of massive blood loss after being stabbed three times, once straight through his heart. Coulter denied murdering Chhokar, lodging a special defence blaming his nephew and Montgomery for the killing. Coulter was cleared of murder following a trial in 1999. Andrew Coulter, who was convicted of stabbing and killing another man in 1999, and Montgomery, too were cleared of Chhokars murder in 2000. Lawyer Aamer Anwar, who campaigned for the Chhokar family, said: "Today's verdict is not a cause for celebration but relief that finally justice has been done after nearly 18 years. "No-one can imagine the devastating toll on a family who were forced to campaign for justice. "In 2000, I stood on the steps of this court, accusing our justice system of acting like a gentleman's colonial club - of being arrogant, unaccountable and institutionally racist. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in almost a decade, hit Cuba and Haiti with 140 mile-per-hour (230 kph) winds on Tuesday, pummeling towns, farmland and resorts, and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to take cover. Dubbed by the UN the worst humanitarian crisis to hit Haiti since a devastating 2010 earthquake, the Category Four hurricane unleashed torrential rain on the island of Hispaniola that Haiti shares with Dominican Republic. As it barrelled towards the United States, the eye of the storm had reached the coast of eastern Cuba by Tuesday evening, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. At least four people were killed in the Dominican Republic by collapsing walls and mudslides, as well as two in Haiti, where communications in the worst-hit areas were down, making it hard for authorities to assess the scale of the damage. Haiti is facing the largest humanitarian event witnessed since the earthquake six years ago, said Mourad Wahba, the UN secretary-generals deputy special representative for Haiti. Over 2,00,000 people were killed in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, in the January 2010 earthquake. Early reports suggested that Cuba had not been hit as hard as Haiti, where the situation was described as catastrophic in the port town of Les Cayes. In the Cuban city of Guantanamo, streets emptied as people moved to shelters or inside their homes. Matthew is likely to remain a major hurricane through at least Thursday night as it sweeps through the Bahamas towards Florida and the Atlantic coast of the southern United States, the NHC said. The governor of South Carolina ordered the evacuation of more than 1 million people from Wednesday afternoon. With communications out across most of Haiti and a key bridge impassable because of a swollen river, there was no immediate word on the full extent of potential casualties and damage from the storm in the poorest country in the Americas. But Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told reporters in Washington the US Navy was considering sending an aircraft carrier and other ships to the region to aid relief efforts. The United States has already offered Haiti the use of some helicopters, said Haitian interior minister Francois Anick Joseph, who added that damage to housing and crops in the country was apparently extensive. Twice destroyed by hurricanes in the 18th century, Les Cayes was hit hard by Matthew. The situation in Les Cayes is catastrophic, the city is flooded, you have trees lying in different places and you can barely move around, the wind has damaged many houses, said Deputy Mayor Marie Claudette Regis Delerme, who fled a house in the town of about 70,000 when the wind ripped the roof off. One man died as the storm crashed through his home in the nearby beach town of Port Salut, Haitis civil protection service said. He had been too sick to leave for a shelter, officials said. The body of a second man who went missing at sea was also recovered, the government said. Another fisherman was killed in heavy seas over the weekend as the storm approached. Iraqs prime minister warned Turkey on Wednesday it risked triggering a regional war by keeping troops in his territory, as the neighbouring states summoned each others ambassadors in a mounting diplomatic stand-off. Turkeys Parliament voted last week to extend its military operation in Iraq and take on terrorist organisations a likely reference to Kurdish militants and Islamic State. Iraqs Parliament responded on Tuesday night by condemning the Turkish vote and calling for Turkey and its 2,000 troops to leave. We have asked the Turkish side more than once not to intervene in Iraqi matters and I fear the Turkish adventure could turn into a regional war, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned in comments broadcast on state TV on Wednesday. The Turkish leaderships behaviour is not acceptable and we dont want to get into a military confrontation with Turkey. The parliamentary votes have added more heat to an already highly charged and complex confrontation between regional powers, triggered by the Syrian civil war and the rise of Islamic State. Mosul tensions The tensions between Iraq and Turkey have risen to the surface ahead of a long-expected offensive by Iraqi and US-backed forces to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State. Turkey has warned the attack would send a wave of refugees over its border and, potentially, on to Europe. Ankara also worries Baghdads Shia Muslim-led forces will destabilise the largely Sunni city close to its territory. It is uncomfortable with the arrangement of Kurdish forces expected to take part in the Mosul offensive, with the blessing of Baghdad and Washington. Turkey announced late on Tuesday it was calling in Iraqs ambassador to complain about the parliamentary vote, and the foreign ministry issued a statement expressing disappointment. We believe this decision does not reflect the views of the majority of Iraqi people, whom Turkey has stood by for years and attempted to support with all its resources, it said. We find it noteworthy that the Iraqi parliament, which has not said anything about the accepted mandate for years, puts this on the agenda as though it were a new development in times when terror is taking so many lives in Turkey and Iraq. On Wednesday, Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad to protest what it said were provocative comments made in Ankara about keeping Turkish troops in northern Iraq. Turkey says it deployed troops to a base in northern Iraq late last year as part of an international mission to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight Islamic State. The Iraqi government says it never invited such a force and considers the Turkish troops occupiers. Pakistan is taking its case on Kashmir and India to the world, but the efforts by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's envoys in the US are not going according to plan after running into pushback on troubles of its own making. At a think tank event on Wednesday, the envoys, lawmakers Mushahid Hussain Syed and Shazra Mansab, faced allegations of rights violations by Pakistan in Balochistan, Sindh and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from expats from those areas. "My friend Wahid Baloch, a scholar, disappeared on July 17 and my cousin disappeared for four days and nights recently," said Ahmar Masti Khan, who described himself as an American from "Pakistan-occupied Balochistan". Citing figures of people believed to have been killed or missing in Balochistan, Khan said, "You guys came and tested your nuclear weapons in Balochistan (Ras Koh Hills in the Chagai district in the southwestern province). Kashmir pales in comparison to what you are doing in Balochistan." Sufi Laghari, from Sindh province, castigated the envoys about the disappearance of his brother, a doctor, for nine months. And his nephew, an exceptional student had to relocate to Salt Lake City, Utah, to escape harassment from Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence agency, he said. Pakistan has few friends left in Washington. Frustration with its dodgy counter-terror efforts peaked earlier this year, leading to Congress denying the Obama administration funds to subsidise the sale of eight F-16 jets. And the Pentagon announced shortly after that it could not clear the payment of $300 million in military reimbursements to Pakistan for its support of the US-led operations in Afghanistan, over the same reason. Syed and Mansab have had meetings with state department officials since arriving here on Sunday, but they are not scheduled to meet anyone at the White House, though it was not clear if they had sought a meeting at all. From Syed's remarks at the think tank event, where he was extremely critical of President Barack Obama and indicated Pakistan had given up on him and was looking beyond to engage with the next administration, he may not have tried for one. Their presentations to officials and experts have been along the same lines as Prime Minister Sharif's speech at the UN General Assembly last month, including the eulogisation of Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander killed in Kashmir. India has been prepared for this visit and the allegations that will follow, and has tried to put out its own version of events and views in briefings for media outlets and experts. "Pakistan needs to be held accountable for its actions, an Indian diplomat told reporters at a briefing on Monday, according to a report in Foreign Policy. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is poised to be the next United Nations secretary-general and is expected to be formally recommended to the 193-member General Assembly for election by the Security Council on Thursday, diplomats said. Russias UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, president of the 15-member council for October, said he hoped the council would unanimously recommend Guterres, who was also the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015. Guterres will replace Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, who will step down at the end of 2016 after serving two terms. Guterres was prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002. Today after our sixth straw poll we have a clear favorite and his name is Antonio Guterres, Churkin told reporters with his 14 council colleagues standing behind him on Wednesday. We wish Mr. Guterres well in discharging his duties as the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the next five years, Churkin said. The council has been holding informal secret ballots since July in a bid to reach consensus on a candidate. Members had the choices encourage, discourage or no opinion. Guterres has come out on top of all the polls and on Wednesday received 13 encourage votes and two no opinion votes. Diplomats said one of the no opinion votes was cast by one of the five veto wielding powers, which are Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain. The Security Council will adopt a resolution, traditionally behind closed doors, recommending that the General Assembly appoint Guterres for a five-year term from Jan. 1, 2017. The resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes to pass. We hope it can be done by acclamation, Churkin said. Thirteen people were nominated in the race to become the next UN chief, but three had already withdrawn before Wednesdays secret ballot. A Sikh man in the US state of California has claimed that he faced racial slurs from a man who threatened to kill him, prompting police to launch a probe into a possible hate incident. Balmeet Singh and his friends were out for dinner at California Avenue. The incident took place when Balmeet went out of the restaurant to make a phone call. He said in the middle of his conversation, a man walked out of a cafe and headed straight toward him. The man said youre trying to blow up this country, I should kill you. Im going to kill you right now. And he used a lot of curse words and he seemed very angry, Balmeet was quoted as saying by the local media Turnto23.com. He yelled and then threw a drink at me, which got all over my turban, beard, clothes and phone, Balmeet said. After this, the man walked towards the parking lot and Balmeet followed him to get his description, vehicle number and licence plate number, which he gave to police. Balmeet said he never expected anything like that to happen in Bakersfield city. Everything I do is here in Kern County, and to have someone tell me that Im trying to blow up the country and Im going to cause some harm is shocking, he said. Balmeet said the worst part of about the incident was that several people saw what happened and no one stepped in to help. Heres the video he uploaded: A report was filed at the Bakersfield police department (BPD) and they are investigating it as a hate incident, police said. We do have a potential suspect, but the incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police, the BPD said. Bottles of beer move along a production line at a factory of Saigon Beer Corporation (Sabeco) in Hanoi, Vietnam May 26, 2015. Photo by Reuters/Kham The brewers' share debuts were originally scheduled by the end of 2016. Listings by Vietnamese brewers Sabeco and Habeco could be delayed until the first quarter of 2017, a minister said, due to the completion of formalities and talks with existing investor Carlsberg. After the listings the government is expected to sell its stakes in the country's biggest brewers, ultimately raising $2.2 billion as it loosens its tight grip over one of Asia's most sought-after beer markets. The brewers' share debuts were originally scheduled by the end of 2016. It takes 12 to 14 weeks for a Vietnamese company to complete all the requirements for listing, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong told a news briefing broadcast live by the government's website on Tuesday. "The possibility for these two firms to make a share listing in 2016 is difficult," Vuong said in the broadcast. "But their listings, if (there is) no delay, will be within the first quarter of 2017," he said. He gave no specific dates. Hanoi-based Habeco, 81.79 percent owned by the government and which brews Bia Ha Noi beer, has also been solving "some pending issues" with Danish brewer Carlsberg, its strategic investor, and the process is taking much time, he said. Vietnam is Asia's third-largest beer drinker by volume after China and Japan, putting it on the radar of Asian and European brewers keen to exploit changing lifestyles and one of the region's fastest rates of middle-class growth. Last month the government said it would sell 5.77 percent of Habeco to Carlsberg, which currently holds a 15.77 percent stake, while its remaining stake would be auctioned. The aim was to raise 9 trillion dong ($404 million) in total. Known for its Bia Saigon and 333 brews, Ho Chi Minh City-based Sabeco - formally known as the Saigon Beer, Alcohol, Beverage Corp - commands 45 percent of Vietnam's beer market and is valued at about $2 billion by Hanoi. The government plans to sell its 89.59 percent stake in Sabeco by the end of 2017. Sabeco has received expressions of interest from major foreign brewers lured by the size of the Vietnamese market, including ThaiBev, the flagship company of Bangkok's billionaire beer magnate Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi. Related news: > Vietnam's top brewer Sabeco seeks listing on HCMC bourse > Vietnam's top brewer Sabeco wins listing approval Top business leaders and others rounded on the Theresa May government on Wednesday after home secretary Amber Rudd announced plans for new visa curbs, with critics claiming the plans marked the return of the nasty party. The term nasty party was coined by Prime Minister May in 2002, when the Conservatives were in opposition. After the June 23 vote for Britain to exit the European Union, leaving the bloc was supposed to make the country more global and open to Commonwealth countries such as India, as was often promised by leaders such as Priti Patel and Boris Johnson. But Rudds plans to tighten norms for Indian and other non-EU professionals and students surprised many, including Indians, prompting charges that the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham - where the plans were set out - had become increasingly xenophobic. London-based Manoj Ladwa, chair of Indians for Labour and a strategist during Prime Minister Narendra Modis May 2014 election campaign, told Hindustan Times: There are many British Indians who were taken in by promises during the EU referendum of a 'sweet deal' for Indian students and professionals should the UK leave the EU. The Conservative Partys announcement (on Tuesday) exposes the fallacy of these promises. The Conservative government has not even put Indian tourists at par with Chinese tourists. Indian tourists are still charged much more for visas with less duration than the Chinese. The message coming out from 10 Downing Street is that the UK wants Indian business but not its highly skilled people. This will certainly be problematic for any future trade deal with India, Ladwa added. Higher education leaders responded cautiously to Rudds plans, but reminded the government of the valuable contribution made by Indian and non-EU students, including adding 7 billion annually to the British economy. Nicola Dandridge of Universities UK said: Polling has shown that the British public does not see international students as long-term migrants, but as valuable, temporary visitors. International students come to the UK, study for a period, and then the overwhelming majority go home after their studies. International students also enrich our campuses and the experience of UK students, both academically and culturally. Many return home having forged strong professional and personal links in this country that provide long-term, soft power benefits for the UK. Concerned over the new plans, Sanam Arora of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (UK) said: My message to May and Rudd is that it's great to hear you will be consulting businesses and universities in the review - but please would you consult those who happen to be a key stakeholder in this as well - ie, the international students themselves? The Indian student community is the second highest consumer of the fourth largest export of the UK, so it's about time they got the consumer rights that go along with being the consumer,she added. According to Andy Burnham, shadow Home secretary, the tone of the Conservative conference had become increasingly xenophobic: Theresa May has presided over the return of the nasty party. Whether its doctors, migrants or Europe, the Tories are blaming anyone but themselves for their failure. The idea of British companies producing lists of foreign workers runs counter to everything that this country has ever stood for. It would be divisive, discriminatory and risks creating real hostility in workplaces and communities, he added. Business groups also reacted warily to the proposals, warning they would limit their members' ability to recruit people with the right skills for the job: "Companies do so much in the UK to train up their workers and, of course, look for local hires before going to the overseas market," said Adam Marshall, acting director general of the British Chambers of Commerce. Referring to Rudds plans to encourage British companies to train local workers instead of hiring non-EU professionals, the Confederation of British Industry said the firms already invest 45 billion a year training local workers, but skills gaps remained. Conservative MP Neil Carmichael, chair of the House of Commons education select committee, urged Rudd to reconsider the plan. This unsettling policy would drive people, business and compassion out of British society and should not be pursued any further. People coming to the UK to work hard, pay their taxes and make a contribution to our society should be celebrated not shamed. This kind of divisive politics has no place in 21st Century Britain," he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The UNs highest court on Wednesday threw out an epic case brought by the tiny Marshall Islands against India for allegedly failing to halt the nuclear arms race. The 16-judge bench at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) however was also to rule later in the day in separate decisions on whether the Pacific island nations David-versus-Goliath battle could continue against Pakistan and Britain. The archipelago is seeking to shine a fresh spotlight on the global threat of nuclear weapons. But in a majority verdict by nine votes to seven the court upholds the objection to jurisdiction raised by India, presiding judge Ronny Abraham said, and therefore the tribunal cannot proceed to the merits of the case. The tribunal, set up to resolve rows between nations, found it lacked the jurisdiction in the case as there had been no prior recorded dispute or negotiations over the nuclear issue between the Marshall Islands and India. The tiny Pacific island nation was ground zero for a string of nuclear tests on its pristine atolls between 1946-58, carried out by the United States as the Cold War arms race gathered momentum. Initially in 2014, Majuro accused nine countries of failing to comply with the 1968 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which seeks to inhibit the spread of atomic bombs. But the ICJ already failed to take up cases against the other countries -- China, France, Israel, North Korea, Russia and the United States -- as they have not recognised the courts jurisdiction. Israel has also never formally admitted to having nuclear weapons. The Marshall Islands has maintained that by not stopping the nuclear arms race Britain, India and Pakistan continued to breach their obligations under the treaty -- even if New Delhi and Islamabad have not signed the pact. The treaty commits all nuclear weapon states to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament. Majuro is calling for nuclear powers to take all necessary measures to carry out what it considers to be their obligations under the treaty. Islands vaporised At a March hearing, Majuros lawyers painted a vivid picture of the horrors seen after 67 nuclear tests were carried out on Bikini and Enewetak atolls. Several islands in my country were vaporised and others are estimated to remain uninhabitable for thousands of years, Tony deBrum, a former Marshall Islands foreign minister, told the court. The so-called Operation Castle tests in March and April 1954 were particularly devastating and resulted in massive contamination because of the nuclear fall-out. The entire sky turned blood-red, said deBrum, who witnessed the explosion of the largest-ever US-built nuclear device called Castle Bravo as a nine-year-old boy. Critics have argued however that the ICJ action is a distraction and that the islanders real fight is with Washington, which carried out the tests in their backyard. They contend that the case has no relation to the victims claims for increased compensation, better health care and clean-ups to render the sites habitable again. Experts however say the islands hoped the three cases before the ICJ will thrust nuclear disarmament talks, which have stalled over the past two decades, back into the spotlight. Even if the case has no direct impact, the Marshall Islands residents perhaps feel that the more the difficulties with nuclear weapons are brought to the public consciousness, the better, said Jens Iverson, assistant professor of Public International Law at Leiden University. They may hope that the world may become a safer place, Iverson told AFP. Adulterated food caused tens of thousands of deaths in China in 2015, a government report has said, putting the resultant economic loss at more than $750 million. Millions of people of in China are exposed to food that is toxic because of large-scale soil and water pollution, and there is rampant use of fertiliser in agriculture, said the report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), one of the countrys top research institutions. At least two million acres of farmland across China have been contaminated. Eighty percent of pesticide goes directly into the soil, which poses a direct threat to the vegetables and crops people eat every day, China Central Television (CCTV), the national broadcaster, quoted the report as saying. The academy said China accounts for 35% of global use of chemical fertiliser every year, with the country using as much as the US and India combined, it added. The full report is yet to be published but the synopsis gave enough indications about the dangerous levels of food adulteration that Chinese citizens have to deal with. A major threat to food safety in China is the use of gutter oil or recycled cooking oil. Gutter oil causes cancer. But every year, two million to three million tons of gutter oil go back to peoples dining tables, CASS researcher Li Chunhua told CCTV. China has more than 11.85 million food businesses with licenses, and monitoring them is a tough task. Lack of food safety is impacting future generations, with a separate province-wise inspection project finding in September that schools in rural China were facing risks. The inspection, conducted by the office of national education inspection for the State Council, targeted 143 primary and secondary schools in rural areas in 18 provinces, including Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Jilin, official Xinhua news agency reported. Some school canteens have problems with disinfection or washing dishes, while others fail to meet food storage and safety requirements, said the education ministry. Dirty food processing environments, fraud and adulteration in food production, and irregularities in transportation were uncovered, Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, was quoted as saying by Xinhua earlier this year. The UN on Wednesday released stark satellite images showing the most recent destruction of Syrias embattled northern city of Aleppo, which has been pounded by Syrian and Russian airstrikes since the collapse of a US-Russia brokered cease-fire two weeks ago. The release coincided with a stepped-up offensive by Syrian government forces and their allies attacking the city from the south in a bid to penetrate opposition-controlled areas, where the UN estimates 275,000 people are trapped in a government siege. In Geneva, an official with the UNs satellite imagery program said the new pictures from the rebel-held areas in the eastern half of the city show much destruction, presumably caused by airstrikes. UN and advocacy groups say hundreds of civilians, including at least 100 children, have died in the recent violence. Since the cease-fire has broken down, you certainly see an awful lot of new damage, said Lars Bromley, a research adviser at UNOSAT. The images, from DigitalGlobe and obtained by the UN agency through a licensing arrangement with the US State Department, show mostly formerly blasted and blown-up areas during Syrias 5-1/2-year war experiencing a great deal of additional damage, said Bromley. To a certain extent youre looking at rubble being pushed around, he told reporters. A body under the ruble of a destroyed building following an airstrike, at Bustan al-Basha neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) The images primarily consist of before-and-after pictures from mid to late September showing the destruction of buildings, including houses, after the short-lived cease-fire broke down. Several images are from northern Aleppo neighborhoods, where government forces have advanced against rebel fighters who are battling back. Some of the images depict large craters, a signature that airstrikes have done the damage. Artillery or mortar fire creates a different pattern of destruction, Bromley said. Russia, which started an air campaign in support of President Bashar Assads government a year ago, says its goal in Syria is to fight militant groups such as Nusra Front, a UN-designated terrorist group that recently re-branded itself as Fatah al-Sham Front and claims to have cut ties with al-Qaida. In a BBC interview last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that 50 percent of the opposition in Aleppo were from Nusra Front, as confirmed by the United Nations, according to a transcript posted on Russian diplomatic websites. Lavrov appeared to be referring to remarks by the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to the UN Security Council on September 25, who cited information from unspecified sources that tell us that more than half of fighters present in eastern Aleppo are al-Nusra. Western diplomats and Syrias main opposition say that no more than about 10 percent of fighters in Aleppo are from the Nusra Front. Civil Defense workers from the White Helmets digging in the rubles to remove bodies and look for survivors, after airstrikes hit the Bustan al-Basha neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) The UN satellite images could provide significant insights in the aftermath of high-profile, disputed attacks such as a deadly attack on a UN-backed humanitarian aid convoy west of Aleppo last month. The top US military officer, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, told a Senate committee last week that he believes Russia bombed the convoy and said Syrian and Russian aircraft were in the area at the time. Russia and Syria have denied that they were responsible for the strike, with Russia saying the damage was caused by a cargo fire. With our analysis, we determined that it was an airstrike, Bromley said. UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said last week he would set up an internal UN board of inquiry to investigate the September 19 incident involving a United Nations-Syrian Arab Red Crescent relief operation to Urum al-Kubra, west of Aleppo. UN officials had previously stopped short of declaring the attack an airstrike. The convoy organizers had obtained necessary clearances from the government and rebels as well as the Americans and Russians, who were operating aircraft in Syrian skies. The UN officials also presented images from Iraq that showed plumes of black smoke from burning oil fields about 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Mosul that were set aflame as the Islamic State group retreated to the city. UNOSAT generally provides images to UN agencies, such as the refugee agency UNHCR, which is preparing for an expected exodus from IS-held Mosul after Iraqs government announced plans to retake the city by the end of this year. Also on Wednesday, a Syria monitoring group and a Kurdish news agency said overnight airstrikes, suspected to be Turkish, hit a village in northern Syria, killing at least 18 civilians, including three children. This satellite image released by the United Nations shows damaged houses in the Ayn at-Tal district of Aleppo, Syria. (UNITAR-UNOSAT via AP) The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least 19 people were killed, including three children, in the attack on the majority Kurdish village of Thulthana, in northern Aleppo, several miles away from where Turkish-backed rebels have been advancing. The village is in an area controlled by IS militants. The Hawar news agency in the semi-autonomous Kurdish areas of Syria said 18 were killed, among them six children. It said the attack happened around midnight Tuesday. There was no immediate comment from Ankara. Earlier Wednesday, Turkish military officials reported it had pushed the Islamic State group out of four residential areas south of the town of al-Rai, several miles from Thulthana village. It said two Syrian opposition fighters, a Turkish soldier and 23 IS fighters were killed in the clashes. Separately, a Turkish soldier was killed and three others were lightly wounded in fighting in the opposition-held area of Ziyara, which a group of IS militants tried to infiltrate. The Turkish military launched an offensive inside Syria in August, backing Syrian rebels, to push Islamic State group militants from its borders and curb the advances of Syrian Kurdish forces, which it sees as an extension of its own outlawed Kurdish rebels. A 14-year-old school student in the US has been arrested and charged with making an anonymous terroristic threat on social media against a school. The student used a clown image on his social media site under the name Larry Brown to threaten the school. This led many people to link the threat to a recent spate of clown sightings across the country, officials said. He is accused of threatening to shoot up an Houston Independent School District (HISD) school with his clown friends, officials said on Tuesday. The student, who was not identified as he is a juvenile, was charged with terroristic threat, a third degree felony, by Harris County District Attorneys Office. A message sent to parents of HISD students did not mention increased security, but said the safety of students is of top priority. Several schools in the US have recently been the target of social media threats involving creepy clown images. Yahoo Inc last year secretly built a custom software program to search all of its customers incoming emails for specific information provided by US intelligence officials, according to people familiar with the matter. The company complied with a classified US government demand, scanning hundreds of millions of Yahoo Mail accounts at the behest of the National Security Agency or FBI, said three former employees and a fourth person apprised of the events. Some surveillance experts said this represents the first case to surface of a US Internet company agreeing to an intelligence agencys request by searching all arriving messages, as opposed to examining stored messages or scanning a small number of accounts in real time. It is not known what information intelligence officials were looking for, only that they wanted Yahoo to search for a set of characters. That could mean a phrase in an email or an attachment, said the sources, who did not want to be identified. Reuters was unable to determine what data Yahoo may have handed over, if any, and if intelligence officials had approached other email providers besides Yahoo with this kind of request. According to two of the former employees, Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayers decision to obey the directive roiled some senior executives and led to the June 2015 departure of chief information security officer Alex Stamos, who now holds the top security job at Facebook Inc. Yahoo is a law abiding company, and complies with the laws of the United States, the company said in a brief statement in response to Reuters questions about the demand. Yahoo declined any further comment. Through a Facebook spokesperson, Stamos declined a request for an interview. The NSA referred questions to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which declined to comment. The request to search Yahoo Mail accounts came in the form of a classified edict sent to the companys legal team, according to the three people familiar with the matter. US phone and Internet companies are known to have handed over bulk customer data to intelligence agencies. But some former government officials and private surveillance experts said they had not previously seen either such a broad demand for real-time Web collection or one that required the creation of a new computer program. Ive never seen that, a wiretap in real time on a selector, said Albert Gidari, a lawyer who represented phone and Internet companies on surveillance issues for 20 years before moving to Stanford University this year. A selector refers to a type of search term used to zero in on specific information. It would be really difficult for a provider to do that, he added. Experts said it was likely that the NSA or FBI had approached other Internet companies with the same demand, since they evidently did not know what email accounts were being used by the target. The NSA usually makes requests for domestic surveillance through the FBI, so it is hard to know which agency is seeking the information. Alphabet Incs Google and Microsoft Corp, two major US email service providers, separately said on Tuesday that they had not conducted such email searches. Weve never received such a request, but if we did, our response would be simple: No way, a spokesman for Google said in a statement. A Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement, We have never engaged in the secret scanning of email traffic like what has been reported today about Yahoo. The company declined to comment on whether it had received such a request. Challenging the NSA Under laws including the 2008 amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, intelligence agencies can ask US phone and Internet companies to provide customer data to aid foreign intelligence-gathering efforts for a variety of reasons, including prevention of terrorist attacks. Disclosures by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and others have exposed the extent of electronic surveillance and led US authorities to modestly scale back some of the programs, in part to protect privacy rights. Companies including Yahoo have challenged some classified surveillance before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, a secret tribunal. Some FISA experts said Yahoo could have tried to fight last years demand on at least two grounds: the breadth of the directive and the necessity of writing a special program to search all customers emails in transit. Apple Inc made a similar argument earlier this year when it refused to create a special program to break into an encrypted iPhone used in the 2015 San Bernardino massacre. The FBI dropped the case after it unlocked the phone with the help of a third party, so no precedent was set. It is deeply disappointing that Yahoo declined to challenge this sweeping surveillance order, because customers are counting on technology companies to stand up to novel spying demands in court, Patrick Toomey, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. Some FISA experts defended Yahoos decision to comply, saying nothing prohibited the surveillance court from ordering a search for a specific term instead of a specific account. So-called upstream bulk collection from phone carriers based on content was found to be legal, they said, and the same logic could apply to Web companies mail. As tech companies become better at encrypting data, they are likely to face more such requests from spy agencies. Former NSA general counsel Stewart Baker said email providers have the power to encrypt it all, and with that comes added responsibility to do some of the work that had been done by the intelligence agencies. Secret siphoning program Mayer and other executives ultimately decided to comply with the directive last year rather than fight it, in part because they thought they would lose, said the people familiar with the matter. Yahoo in 2007 had fought a FISA demand that it conduct searches on specific email accounts without a court-approved warrant. Details of the case remain sealed, but a partially redacted published opinion showed Yahoos challenge was unsuccessful. Some Yahoo employees were upset about the decision not to contest the more recent edict and thought the company could have prevailed, the sources said. They were also upset that Mayer and Yahoo General Counsel Ron Bell did not involve the companys security team in the process, instead asking Yahoos email engineers to write a program to siphon off messages containing the character string the spies sought and store them for remote retrieval, according to the sources. The sources said the program was discovered by Yahoos security team in May 2015, within weeks of its installation. The security team initially thought hackers had broken in. When Stamos found out that Mayer had authorized the program, he resigned as chief information security officer and told his subordinates that he had been left out of a decision that hurt users security, the sources said. Due to a programming flaw, he told them hackers could have accessed the stored emails. Stamoss announcement in June 2015 that he had joined Facebook did not mention any problems with Yahoo. In a separate incident, Yahoo last month said state-sponsored hackers had gained access to 500 million customer accounts in 2014. The revelations have brought new scrutiny to Yahoos security practices as the company tries to complete a deal to sell its core business to Verizon Communications Inc for $4.8 billion. HASAKEH: A suicide bomber struck a wedding in northeast Syria as the bride and groom were exchanging vows, killing 34 people and wounding dozens, the local Kurdish government said. The bomber blew himself up late on Monday in the village of Tall Tawil in Hasakeh province where a Kurdish party official was getting married. The Islamic State claimed the attack, saying that one of its fighters had fired on a gathering near Hasakeh city before blowing himself up, though it did not mention a wedding. Rows of seats in the hall that hosted the party were still covered in blood on Tuesday morning when an AFP photographer visited the scene. Broken tiles littered the floor and torn fabric hung from the ceiling. A thick layer of dust covered a sound mixer and keyboard. As the bride and groom were exchanging their vows I saw a man wearing a thick black jacket pass beside me, a witness named Ahmad said. I thought he looked strange and a few seconds later there was an enormous explosion. People had fallen on the ground and I saw bodies torn to bits. Wedding photographer Walid Mohammad said he was taking pictures of the party when he felt a huge explosion. I saw so many people die -small kids, old people. The local Kurdish adminstration said 34 people had been killed and around 90 wounded, among them women and children. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor that relies on a network of sources inside the country, gave a higher toll of 36 dead including 11 children. Both the groom and bride were safe, but the grooms father and brother were killed in the attack, a relative told AFP. The grooms wounds are light, and he ...doesnt want to see anyone, he said. DUBAI: Islamic States secretive chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is becoming like the proverbial cat with nine lives, with reports of him being seriously injured or even killed surfacing every few months. The latest is a report from Iraqi news agency WAA, which said a lunch prepared for him and three IS leaders in Nineveh governorate of Iraq was poisoned. The report was repeated around the world, triggering speculation about his fate. One of the first reports that he had died emerged months after he was made the caliph of the IS in 2014. In November that year, it was reported that he was killed in a US air strike. A week later, Baghdadi surfaced with an audio tape calling for volcanoes of jihad around the world. He was reportedly seriously injured in an air strike by the US-led coalition at al-Baaj in Nineveh on March 18, 2015. In October 2015, the Iraqi military said an air strike had targeted Baghdadis motorcade as he travelled to Karbala. This too turned out to be incorrect. In June this year, media reports in several countries including Turkeys Yeni Safak daily and Iraqs Al Sumariya TV network, said Baghdadi had been killed or injured when an air strike hit an IS convoy near Raqqa. The re-emergence of Baghdadi after reports of his death has only added to his mystique, given most people didnt even know what he looked like till he appeared in a video of a sermon at a mosque in Mosul in July 2014. Credited with transforming a breakaway al Qaeda faction into the dreaded terror group that has seized large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, Baghdadi carries a $ 10 million bounty on his head. But little is known about the man, whose real name is Ibrahim al-Samarrai. Born in 1971 in Samarra, Iraq, to a lower-middle class Sunni family, Baghdadis movements are known only by his inner circle. The Caliph, as he is known to followers, is constantly on the move, changing locations in Iraq and Syria to avoid airstrikes. But his ex-wife has claimed he was a family man and an ideal father to his children before he became the chief of the terror group. I married a normal person, a university lecturer. He was a family man, Saja al-Dulaimi told CNN Swedish affiliate Expressen TV. ANKARA: Turkey on Tuesday suspended more than 12,000 police officers over alleged links to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of masterminding the failed July coup, in the latest move under a controversial state of emergency. A prominent pro-Kurdish television channel was raided and broadcasts cut under the emergency laws, over accusations of supporting Kurdish militants. Turkish police raided the offices of broadcaster IMC TV while it was live on air. A few days after the coup bid that left more than 250 people dead, a three-month state of emergency was enforced. It was later extended for a further 90 days from October 19. A Turkish official, who did not wish to be named, confirmed the suspension, adding that the individuals would continue to be paid two-thirds of their salary pending further investigation. Of the 12,801 suspended from duty as part of the investigation into the coup attempt, 2,523 were police chiefs, the police headquarters said in a statement. In total, Turkey has suspended around 270,000 police officers. The action was taken over suspected links to the Gulen movement which Turkey blames for the failed putsch on July 15 which tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from power. Gulen, an ally-turned-foe of Erdogan who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999, strongly denies Ankaras accusations. Supporters of the Gulen movement say it is a loose grouping of individuals committed to peace. They called Amelia Earhart Lady Lindy after her first flight across the Atlantic. She was tall and slim, with short, wind-swept hair, and looked so remarkably like Charles Lindbergh that she could have been his sister. Although she disappeared flying the Pacific in 1937, her name is still frequently in the news, thanks mostly to aviation archaeologists who believe they know the circumstances of her demise and where her plane and other evidence can be found. Amelia Mary Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas, on July 24, 1897. She referred to herself simply as AE, and thats what her friends called her. Earhart was considered a tomboy because she dared to do things that girls at the turn of the century usually did not doshe climbed trees, belly-slammed her sled in the snow to start it downhill, and hunted rats with a .22 rifle. Later she attended a girls school in Pennsylvania and became a nurses aide in a Toronto hospital, helping to care for wounded soldiers during World War I. At the time Earhart was growing up, women were beginning to assert their right to enter careers traditionally reserved for men. She kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings that highlighted women entering occupations in motion-picture directing, law, advertising, management and automobile mechanics. Her introduction to aviation came on Christmas Day 1920, when her father, a lawyer, took her to the official opening of a new airfield in Long Beach, California. She had her first airplane ride three days later with barnstormer Frank M. Hawks. As soon as we left the ground, she later said, I knew I myself had to fly. Earhart took her first flying lesson on January 3, 1921, from Neta Snook, one of the first women to graduate from the Glenn Curtiss school. The flight cost $1 per minute, which Earhart paid for in World War I Liberty bonds. The airplane was a dual-control Canuck, the Canadian version of the famous World War I Curtiss JN-4 Jenny. In July 1921, Earhart bought a rebuilt Kinner Airster for $2,000. The Kinner was an unstable, two-seat biplane powered by a 3-cylinder, 60-hp Lawrence L-2 engine. The airplane was painted yellow, and Earhart promptly named it The Canary. Flight instructor Neta Snook with her student Amelia Earhart at Kinner Field, Los Angeles, in 1921. (Smithsonian Institution) There is no denying that Earhart had difficulty learning to fly. It took her more than 15 hours of flight time and nearly a year to solo the Kinner, and she had a number of mishaps afterward, most of them during landings. As one biographer noted: Unfortunately, though highly intelligent, a quick learner, and possessed of great enthusiasm, Amelia did not, it seems, possess natural ability as a pilot. This is no disparagement of Amelia, it is simply the view of many of her contemporaries in the flying world. Indeed, given this apparently important drawback, it is to her great credit that she was subsequently able to achieve so much. One aspect of Earharts personality proved dominantperseverance. She was obsessed with flying and built up solo flying time in The Canary when she could afford it. She set a womens altitude record in October 1922 by coaxing the Airster to 14,000 feet. The record was broken by Ruth Nichols a few weeks later, but the effort had put Earhart in the news. In 1925, Earhart moved with her mother and sister to Massachusetts. She attended college, became a social worker in Boston, and taught English to immigrants. But the lure of flying remained strong. When she was financially able, Earhart invested a small sum in a local airport. She was soon back in the cockpit, where she attracted much press attention by promoting flying, especially for women. Earharts life changed abruptly in April 1928, when she was invited to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. It was primarily a publicity effort instigated by George P. Putnam, a book publisher with a flair for finding and promoting profitable book projects. One of Putnams coups was Charles Lindberghs book We, which became a best seller after it was published in July 1927. Some say Putnam planned to publish a book, titled She, about the first woman to make a trans-Atlantic flight. He was looking for the right sort of girla well-educated and physically attractive pilot. After he ruled out other women pilots, including Ruth Elder and Ruth Nichols, he chose Earhart and promptly labeled her Lady Lindy. Putnam would make Earhart a national heroine. For the flight, a Fokker F7 was purchased secretly from Commander Richard E. Byrd by Mrs. Frederick E. Guest. Originally from Great Britain, Guest named the plane Friendship to represent the close ties between England and the United States. Although Earhart was said to be in command of the flight, she was actually only a passenger. Wilmer Bill Stutz would be the pilot, and Louis E. Slim Gordon would serve as the co-pilot and flight mechanic. While the details of the flight were being worked out, Earhart and Putnam became friends, but she remained leery of his promotional schemes. Test flights were made by Bernt Balchen and Floyd Bennett, who were employed by Fokker. Friendships wheels were then exchanged for pontoons, and the plane was flown to Newfoundland. After a series of delays, Earhart, Stutz and Gordon left Trepassey Harbour just before noon on June 17, 1928. They flew through harsh weather, including snow squalls, but 20 hours 40 minutes laterwith only 25 gallons of fuel leftFriendship was guided to a landing by an Imperial Airways Sea Eagle at Burry Port, Wales. On their return, the three were greeted with a ticker-tape parade in New York and receptions in Boston, Chicago and Medford, Mass. Earhart was also given a reception at the White House by President Calvin Coolidge. Earhart takes in Southampton from open door of the Fokker F7 Friendship. Crewed by Wilmer Stutz, Louis E. Gordon and Amelia, it was Stutz and Gordon who did most of the actual flying. (Mirrorpix/Alamy) Earhart wrote a book about the flight, which she named 20 Hrs. 40 Min., went on an exhausting lecture tour in the winter of 1928-29, and became an associate editor of Cosmopolitan magazine. Her articles on aviation subjects were well-received, and she became a spokesperson for women in aviation. In July 1929, she became assistant to the general traffic manager of Transcontinental Air Transport (later to become TWA). Earhart made her first attempt at competitive flying during the first Santa Monicato Cleveland Womens Air Derby. The event, later named the Powder Puff Derby by comedian Will Rogers, took place in August 1929 as the opening feature of the National Air Races. Earhart flew a Lockheed Vega and placed third, behind Louise Thaden and Gladys ODonnell. Shortly after the race, 26 licensed women pilots met informally at Curtiss Field on Long Island and formed a group that was incorporated the following year as the Ninety Nines. In their constitution, they proposed to assist women in aeronautical research, air racing events, acquisition of aerial experience, administration of aid through aerial means in times of emergency arising from fire, famine, flood, or war. Earhart was elected the first president. Their stated aim was to provide closer relationship among pilots and to unite them in any movement that may be for their benefit and for that of aviation in general. Earhart continued her writing, but she also flew to many locations where she spoke publicly about womens flying. She became an official in the National Aeronautic Association and encouraged the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) to establish separate world altitude, speed and endurance records for women. As soon as those records were established, Earhart got her name into the record books. She established womens world speed records for 100 kilometers with no load, then with a payload of 500 kilograms, on June 25, 1930. Ten days later, she set a womens world speed record of 181.18 mph over a 3-kilometer course. Setting records was one way to keep aviation in the news, but Earhart also wanted to promote aircraft as a safe means of transportation. She helped organize a new airline in September 1930the New York, Philadelphia and Washington Airwaysand served as vice president for public relations. Earharts relationship with George Putnam was becoming more serious. Ten years her senior, Putnam basked in the publicity he had brought the young flier. When he divorced his wife of 18 years, Earhart reluctantly agreed to marry him after agonizing over the decision. The wedding was held February 7, 1931. She later described their marriage as a reasonable partnershipconducted under a satisfactory system of dual control. By the time Earhart was married, there were about 300 licensed women pilots in the United States, and many of them were competing for the fame that records brought. Among them were Bobbi Trout, Laura Ingalls, Elinor Smith and Ruth Nichols. Competitive by nature, Amelia needed something to keep her name in the news. Her husband ordered an autogiro for her a week after their marriage, but she did not wait for her own machine to be delivered to make another record-setting attempt. She set an altitude record for men and women of 18,415 feet on April 8, 1931, in an autogiro borrowed from the Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro Co. After setting an altitude record of 18,415 feet in a Pitcairn-Cierva autogyro on April 8, 1931, Earhart flew the Beech-Nut Companys autogiro on a nine-day transcontinental flight. (International Womens Air and Space Museum) Earhart canceled her order for an autogiro when the Beech-Nut Co. offered its autogiro for a transcontinental flight; she flew it to the West Coast in nine days. She had an accident at Abilene on the return trip when, as she put it, the air just went out from under me. The autogiro hit two cars and damaged the crafts rotor and propeller, but Earhart was unhurt. It was replaced by another autogiro, and she continued her trip east. However, she was issued a formal reprimand for carelessness and poor judgment after the accident from the Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce. She made two more trips that year and had a minor crack-up in Detroit. One January morning in 1932, Earhart put down the newspaper she had been reading and asked her husband, Would you mind if I flew the Atlanticalone? He agreed, and the two of them secretly began to make preparations for her to use a Lockheed Vega she had bought in 1929. Bernt Balchen, who had piloted Commander Byrd across the Atlantic in 1927, agreed to rebuild and test the Vega, which she had damaged at Norfolk in 1930. Balchen and Eddie Gorski, a skilled mechanic, installed a 420-gallon gas tank in the fuselage, a new engine and new instruments, including a drift indicator, two compasses and a directional gyro. Balchen taught Earhart to fly using instruments and then quietly checked her out in the renovated Vega. The weather was improving over the Atlantic, and Balchen flew Earhart to Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. She took off for Paris on the afternoon of May 20, 1932the fifth anniversary of Lindberghs Atlantic flight. Fourteen hours 54 minutes later, after being driven off course by strong north winds and overcompensating for southward drift, she landed in a pasture near Londonderry in Northern Ireland. It had been a fatiguing flight through storms and icing conditions with a leaky gas line and a burned-out exhaust pipe. Lindbergh had been honored with far more awards and receptions after his trans-Atlantic crossing than he had anticipated. Now the same thing was happening to Earhart. She was besieged by reporters and photographers as she traveled to London, France, Belgium and Italy to be decorated. Back home, at a National Geographic Society dinner in her honor, she received the societys gold medal from President Herbert Hoover. Congress voted Earhart the Distinguished Flying Cross; she was the first woman to be so honored. It was presented to her by Vice President Charles Curtis for displaying heroic courage and skill as a navigator at the risk of her life. In writing about the flight, Earhart said she had made it to prove that women can do most things that a man can do. Not everything, she added, but certainly jobs requiring intelligence, coordination, speed, coolness, and will power. Next, Earhart planned another record-setting flight in the Vega. On August 24 and 25, 1932, she set a womens nonstop transcontinental speed record, flying 2,447.8 miles from Los Angeles to Newark in 19 hours 5 minutes. The following year on July 7 and 8, she broke her own record by making the flight in 17 hours 7 minutes 30 seconds, winning the Harmon Trophy. Earhart began preparations in 1934 to compete for a $10,000 prize offered by Hawaiian pineapple and sugar growers, hotel owners and businessmen to publicize the islands by flying from the Territory of Hawaii to the States. She acquired an updated Lockheed Vega with the latest instrumentation, two-way radio and controllable-pitch propeller. Earhart and the plane were taken by ship to Hawaii, where she ran into a storm of media criticism for planning to make the flight purely as a publicity stunt. One newspaper report was subheaded Nothing To Be Gained, Much May be Lost, Say Aviation Experts. Ignoring the criticism, Earhart made a lecture tour of the islands and then left Honolulu on January 11, 1935, for Oakland, California. She followed a course drawn up by Captain Clarence Williams, a Navy navigator, and arrived without difficulty 17 hours 7 minutes later. She was the first person to fly the 2,408-mile distance alone. It was also the first flight in which a civilian aircraft carried a two-way radio. As before, Earhart was feted and received congratulations from many prominent admirers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote her a long letter, remarking, You have scored again[and] shown even the doubting Thomases that aviation is a science which cannot be limited to men only. It had been rumored before the Hawaii-California flight that Earhart was planning to fly around the world, but other newsworthy flights were to come first. She became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City on April 19 and 20, 1935, completing the trip in 13 hours 23 minutes. On May 8, she followed that with a solo flight from Mexico City to Newark in 14 hours 19 minutes. Earharts fame and her continuing struggle to give women the opportunity to fly resulted in her appointment as a consultant in careers for women at Purdue University. The university trustees established a $50,000 fund for aeronautical research to encourage the study of aeronautics. Two members of the Purdue Research Foundation donated a total of $40,000 for Earhart to buy a twin-engine Lockheed 10E Electra to be used as a flying laboratory, equipped with Bendix instruments, a Sperry autopilot and a radio compass. Earhart wanted to use the specially equipped craft to study navigation problems in addition to what she termed the human reactions of flying. One of the interesting friendships Earhart developed at that time was with Eleanor Roosevelt. She was planning to teach Eleanor to fly, and the First Lady actually got a student permit. Mrs. Roosevelt never pursued the matter, but the two corresponded frequently. Earhart continued to work on plans for a world eastwest flight. She planned to fly from San Francisco via Hawaii, Australia and India, across Africa to Brazil and on to New York. The longest and most difficult leg would be the long haul over the Pacific. At first, an in-flight refueling by a Navy PBY-1 over Midway Island was considered. Midway was used by Pan American Airways as a flying boat base, and there was no airstrip on the island. That idea was abandoned when Earhart learned that the Department of Commerce was establishing a weather observation station on tiny Howland Island, described as nothing more than a sandbar, that would include a small landing strip. Planning then centered on using Howland for refueling. George Putnam became heavily involved in bringing the project together. He made most of the planning decisions and contacts with Navy, Treasury and Commerce officials. The flight began from Oakland on March 17, 1937, with Frederick Noonan and Captain Harry Manning, an experienced ship captain, serving as navigators, and Paul Mantz, a movie stunt pilot, acting as co-pilot. Mantz was to go along as far as Honolulu, Noonan would continue on to Howland, and Manning would stay with the flight until they reached Darwin, Australia. Earhart would fly the rest of the trip alone. Noonan, a competent navigator with a reputation for excessive drinking, had been on the Pan American pioneering runs across the Pacific. Manning was captain of USS President Roosevelt and had agreed to take a six-month leave of absence from his ship to participate in Earharts flight. The 15-hour 47-minute flight to Hawaii was uneventful, and a new eastwest record between the two points was established. After a delay for weather, Earhart lined up the heavily loaded Lockheed on the runway of Luke Field (later known as Ford Island) to take off for the 1,900-mile leg to Howland. There was a crosswind as she pushed the throttles forward and gained speed. Slowly, the right wing dipped, and Earhart compensated by pulling back on the left throttle. The plane then veered to the left in a classic ground loop. Sparks flew under the airplane as it dropped to its belly. Luckily, there was no fire and no one was hurt. But the plane had to be repaired before it could fly again, and it was shipped back to Lockheed in California. Earhart believed a tire had blown during the takeoff attempt, but that was never proved. Mantz later said that Earhart had a tendency to hold a twin-engine plane straight on takeoff solely with throttles, rather than using the rudder. In Mantzs experience, this technique would almost always produce a ground loop. During her first round-the-world attempt in March 1937, the fuel heavy Lockheed Electra ground-looped during a take off from Luke Field, Hawaii. (National Womens Air and Space Museum) Earhart was upset by the accident but determined to make another try. She received generous checks from well-wishers, including the Lockheed mechanics who repaired the Electra. Meanwhile, she changed her plans and decided to fly a reverse route, from west to east. Captain Mannings leave was up, but Noonan agreed to be her navigator for the entire trip. The newly rebuilt plane was ready to go in May, and a test flight was made from California to Miami with several stops. Earhart and Noonan departed for San Juan, Puerto Rico, on June 1, 1937, and proceeded from there to Venezuela, to Brazil, and across the Atlantic to Africa. En route she ignored Noonans calculations in favor of her instincts. They landed at Senegal, 163 miles north of Dakar, their intended destination. They flew to Dakar, had the engines checked and then made the long, hot journey across Africa with stops at Gao, Fort-Lamy, El Fasher, Khartoum and Massawa. Noonan found navigation difficult because the few maps available were often inaccurate. They continued to Eritrea and then nonstop to Karachi, an aviation firstno one had previously flown from the Red Sea to India. They reached Calcutta on June 17, having made 15 stops thus far. The aircraft had performed well, and there had been no major problems. The next legs were to Rangoon, Bangkok, Singapore, Bandoeng and Soerbaja, Java. At that point, Earhart was having problems with the fuel analyzer and electrical instruments, and she decided to return to Bandoeng for repairs. She had a bout with dysentery, the cause of which she thought must be the petrol fumes. After weather delays and sightseeing, they flew on to Port Darwin, Australia, via Koepang, Indonesia. They reached Lae, New Guinea, on June 29, 1937, after a 1,200-mile flight in 73Z4 hours. The engines were thoroughly checked, the spark plugs cleaned, and a fuel pump and the autopilot repaired. Everything not needed for the transpacific flight, including parachutes and some survival equipment, was packed to be sent home. Earhart cabled the last of several articles to the New York Herald Tribune. She then met with senior government officials and took care of details such as fumigation of the plane, a check of immunization certificates, and customs clearance. Noonan had trouble getting his chronometers accurately set because time signals, necessary for accurate navigation, could not be picked up by radio. There are reports that Noonan and Earhart were exhausted at that point and that Noonan got drunk, causing a delay in their takeoff for Howland, 2,227 nautical miles from Lae. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca was waiting off Howland to act as a radio contact. The Navy had a weather officer and two mechanics waiting on the island with a run-in cylinder assembly, new spark plugs, oil, gas and food. A seaplane tender, USS Swan, was approximately 200 miles northeast of the island to monitor the HowlandHawaii leg. Other shipsUSS Ontario and USS Myrtlebankwere positioned along the intended flight track between the Nukumanu Islands and Howland. Earhart and Noonan had on board about 1,100 gallons of 87 octane fuel, plus 50 gallons of 100 octane for extra takeoff power. That would allow them to stay airborne between 20 and 21 hours, enough for a cruising range of approximately 2,460 nautical miles. Noonan estimated they would reach Howland in about 18-and-a-half hours. The weather was reported favorable on July 2, 1937, although the flight would run into rain showers and overcast skies. That meant that Noonan probably would not be able to make star shots for celestial navigation. They took off from the 3,000-foot dirt strip at 12:30 p.m., in the heat of the day. The plane used every inch of the strip and disappeared briefly below a 20-foot drop off a cliff at the end. A commercial pilot reported that he saw the planes props throwing spray before it climbed slowly northeastward to about 100 feet and flew out of sight. There has been much speculation about what happened in the hours that followed. Itasca made radio contact with the plane, but static interfered with transmissions. Earhart sent one clear message: Overcastwill listen on hour and half hour on 3105 [kilocycles]. Chief radioman Leo G. Bellarts asked for her position and estimated time of arrival at Howland, then gave her weather details. When Earhart failed to report at the next scheduled time, Bellarts transmitted weather information by voice and Morse code. Earharts voice was heard briefly on the radio several times as dawn neared. She asked for a bearing to the ship. At this point controversy enters the scenario. Bellarts received one message and reported it in his log as follows: KHAQQ cling [calling] Itasca we must be on you but cannot see U but gas is running low been unable reach you by radio we are flying at altitude 1000 feet. Another radio operator on the ship logged the report in the third person, as follows: Earhart on NW [now] sez running out of gas only 1/2 hour left cant hr us at all/we hear her and are sending on 3105 es 500 same time constantly and listening in for her frequently. There was a radio direction finder on Howland, but the operator was never able to get a fix on the plane because the Electras transmissions were too brief. The plane had been in the air for 19 hours by that time. Suddenly, a clear voice message from Earhart was heard: We are circling but cannot hear you. Go ahead on 7,500 now or on schedule time on half hour. Bellarts sent out the letter A continually on 7,500 kilocycles and told her to Go ahead on 3105. She did so immediatelythe first time during the flight there had been two-way contact. Everyone on the Itasca relaxed as her message came in clearly: KHAQQ calling Itasca. We received your signals but unable to get a minimum. Please take bearing on us and answer on 3105 with voice. For an hour, some signals were received from the plane at the same strength, indicating that the plane was probably circling the ships position. Meanwhile, Itasca had started making black smoke, which trailed the ship by about 10 miles. The log of messages received by the ship showed that Amelia did not respond to questions put to her and gave no position reports during that time. However, she did report 200 miles out, then 100 miles out, coming up (fast). At 1912 Greenwich time, she reported one-half hour fuel and no landfall. Sixteen minutes later, she reported circling. The last message ever received was a plaintive one: KHAQQ to Itasca. We are on line of position 157-337. Will repeat this message on 6210 kilocycles. We are running north and south. All attempts to make further contact by Itascas radio operator were fruitless. The consensus by those who have studied the flight is that Amelia had to ditch the Lockheed. If she put the gear down and landed too fast, the plane may have nose-dived into the sea. That could have prevented the pair from getting out of the aircraft with the life raft and survival equipment. If she made a relatively soft ditching with empty fuel tanks, the two might have had time to get out before the plane sank. The Navy and Coast Guard went all out to locate the pair, but no trace was ever found. Writers came up with all kinds of scenarios to explain their disappearance, but none have been proved valid so far. Captain Elgen Long, an airline pilot who set his own record of flying around the world at the four corners of the globe, believes the plane can be found about 35 miles west-northwest of Howland. But a search for it using an undersea vehicle in an area 20 miles by 40 miles would be an expensive undertaking. Various conspiracy theories about the tragedy have circulated for years. It has been suggested that the pair were seen on one of the Marshall Islands, that they were captured and tortured by the Japanese because they were on a spying mission for the United States, or that the plane somehow survived and was later destroyed by the U.S. Army for mysterious reasons. There have been reports from island natives that the two white Americans were buried on various Pacific islands during World War II. Saipan islanders have reported seeing a white woman wearing what appeared to be mans clothing, accompanied by a tall man. None of these reports have been substantiated. One theory that persists because of zealous publicity is that of Richard Gillespie, head of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR). He believes that the Electra came down off Nikumaroro, an uninhabited atoll in the Republic of Kiribati, a Central Pacific island nation. Gillespie has made three trips there and found a piece of aluminum, the heel of a shoe and a piece of Plexiglass. He says that these findings substantiate his thesis that the plane lies underwater nearby. He had the aluminum tested in December 1996 at Pittsburghs Alcoa laboratories, but the tests were inconclusive. Like several other aviation mysteries, this one may never be solved. But it seems there will always be someone who tries. Verifiable scientific proof is needed. It has been 60 years since the disappearance of one of the worlds most famous pilots. Still, there are those who believe proof will yet be forthcoming. The late C.V. Glines was an award-winning aviation writer. For further reading: The Sound of Wings, by Mary S. Lovell; Amelia Earhart, by Doris L. Rich; and Amelia, My Courageous Sister, by Muriel Earhart Morrissey and Carol L. Osborne. This feature originally appeared in the July 1997 issue of Aviation History. Textile and garment products are among Vietnam's major exports to Russia. Photo by Reuters Revenue is expected to grow from $4 billion to $10 billion in less than five years. Trade revenue between Vietnam and Russia is expected to more than double in the coming years following a free trade agreement that becam effective on Wednesday. Alexey Popov, Russias General Consul in Ho Chi Minh City, said at a press briefing on Tuesday that Russian exports to Vietnam increased 15 percent last year and a massive 50 percent so far this year, while bilateral trade has grown by over 30 percent in the first nine months of 2016. The Vietnam Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement signed in May last year is going to lift that growth and push bilateral trade turnover from the current $4 billion to $10 billion in less than five years, he said. Vietnam imports a large amount of meat, cheese, butter, wheat, steel products and cars from the Eurasian Economic Union, which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Nearly 1,000 Vietnamese companies are exporting agricultural products, garment products and leather shoes to the union. A report from the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association estimated that Vietnams revenue from garments and textile exports to the Eurasian Union will increase at least 50 percent following the trade deal. The free trade deal has also added momentum to the tourism sector. Vietnam welcomed around 300,000 Russian visitors in the first nine months of 2016, up 26.5 percent from a year ago. Related news: >Vietnam manufacturing growth climbs to 16-month high in September >Giant Russian agro-firm to export pork to Vietnam >Vietnam struggling to reach export target this year THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD (PBS Video, $19.98) Produced for the Public Broadcasting Systems The American Experience, this video biography traces the life of steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), the Scottish immigrant who arrived in the United States with his family when he was 12-years-old and literally went from rags to riches. With the aid of archival film footage, historic photographs, paintings, and Carnegies own words, the program follows his employment as a telegraph operator in his youth to the establishment of the small, but prosperous iron and steel business that was the foundation of the huge Carnegie Steel Company. The video also shows how Carnegie put his dictumthat the rich should return their wealth to the peopleinto practice by founding almost three thousand libraries around the world and donating millions of dollars in support of education. This philanthropic activity led to the establishment of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In all, the steel magnate contributed $350 million to various institutions, and when he could not give it away fast enough, he created the Carnegie Corporation in New York City, to do it for him. The video is available only by calling 800-424-7963. Last Friday, The Rosetta mission of the European Space Agency bid farewell to its very productive spacecraft as it crashes landed on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimen. The Rosetta spacecraft also managed to take its final photos as it shows the comet's surface to be rocky and very dusty. The photo was taken 66 feet and 20 meters above ground. What Happened to the Rosetta Spacecraft? The entry of the spacecraft into the comet is a marvelous feat as it is indeed a very difficult task to get to interfere in the trajectory of the very fast paced path of the comet itself. Despite the odds, the Rosetta Spacecraft still was made productive use for even though it was to face its end. With this, the successful crash landing of the Rosetta was given a name - Sais. The Rosetta mission was named after the Rosetta Stone which is a rock that aided researchers and scientists in unlocking the secrets of the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Because of this, researchers also point out to a conclusion that the Rosetta stone was originally found inside Sais, an Egyptian town. According to the ESA, "Just as the Rosetta Stone was pivotal in understanding ancient language and history, so the vast treasure trove of Rosetta spacecraft data is changing our view on how comets and the Solar System formed." What the Rosetta Spacecraft Means for Mankind Because of the successful end to the Rosetta Mission's goal of getting to know more about the universe by studying our Solar System and the heavenly bodies that surround it, more information about outer space are obtained and is finished off with a very good end in the form of a comet crash landing. Surely, there will be succeeding missions to follow as man's quest in finding answers to everything will be its nature. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. With at least nine deaths reported and hundreds of people still missing, Haiti struggles to survive after hurricane Matthew made landfall. The region is currently facing numerous landslides and flash floods six years after an earthquake and the subsequent cholera outbreak. Hurricane Matthew is now progressing on to Cuba and the Bahamas. According to CBS News, hurricane Matthew was initially reported as a Category 5 storm, with winds of 157 miles per hour on October 1. Two days later, the strongest hurricane so far this year made its way to Haiti with winds of 140 miles per hour. Though the power of hurricane Matthew dropped to a less mind-boggling number, Haiti was not prepared for the disaster. Though the winds were more tolerable, the rain was an outright downpour. As if the floods and winds weren't enough, Haiti now faces more challenges in the wake of hurricane Matthew's rage. One of which is the many dangers of standing water. "That means a potential spike in cholera cases," said World Vision's national director John Hasse, as reported by CNN. "Other mosquito-borne diseases that have been more or less controlled are going to rear their heads." To date, hurricane Matthew is slamming Cuba with stronger winds of 145 miles per hour and is on a collision course toward the US. It is expected to hit the east coast by the weekend. "This is not something that we want to play with," said South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, as reported by USA Today. "The worst-case scenario is that you get stuck on the coast and have no place to go." Florida has warned its residents to be prepared for power outages and evacuations whereas South Carolina has already ordered the evacuation of coastal communities amounting to one million people. Both states have issued a state of emergency that will take effect on Wednesday. North Carolina has also declared a state of emergency for the central and eastern parts and Georgia is expected to declare one soon. NBC News also reports that Brevard County, Port Canaveral has abandoned its cargo and naval ports in favor of evacuating on Tuesday. The Coast Guard also said that the harbor will be closed on Wednesday. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama will be heading to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Wednesday to track the progress of the storm. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple Pay lets users pay for goods and other purchases compatible with Apple's service coverage. It can be used easily using Apple's devices with easy steps devised by the firm. A passbook app or Wallet app can be found in compatible Apple devices. By tapping on the app, a message drops down onto the screen asking for an option of credit card or debit card. The user needs to follow the on-screen instructions and allow the camera to bring in the user's card details followed by a security code. The user needs to accept the terms and conditions and verify the card by via text or a call. "Ready to Pay" option is available in the user's Apple device passbook app. Apple Pay uses NFC and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor built in the Apple iPhone 6 and 6S and other compatible devices. It allows users to pay for items online and in-stores in a quick and secure manner through one touch on the fingerprint scanner. The user's details are earlier fed in the device. According to PC Advisor, some of the banks that support Apple Pay service are American Express, Barclays, First Direct, HSBC, Halifax, Lloyds, , Nationwide Building Society, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, MBNA, M&S, NatWest, Tesco Bank, TSB, and Ulster Bank, among many others. Retailers that support Apple Pay are McDonalds, Lidl, M&S, Boots, Waitrose, Costa Coffee, and many more. Apps that support Apple Pay are Apple Store app, ETSY, Zara, JD Sports, Groupon, Uber, Starbucks, Disney and many more in the United Kingdom. As per reports, Apple claimed that Apple Pay has been made available in over 250K locations on launch day. Users in the UK, for instance, can pay with a compatible iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, including on the London Underground, Overground and on buses. According to Banking Tech, Apple is said to partner with Sberbank and MasterCard to launch Apple Pay service in Russia. The Apple Pay is currently available in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, China and many more countries. Apple Pay is a convenient payment option developed by Apple Inc. for mobile payment and digital wallet service that lets users make payments using their Apple devices, including the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, iPhone SE, and Apple Watch-compatible devices such as the Air 2, iPad Pro and iPad Mini 3, among many others. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There are fears that at least 11 people were killed across the Caribbean (including five in Haiti and 4 in the Dominican Republic) and more houses, schools and churches were damaged after hurricane "Matthew", the worst storm in the Caribbean last 10 years struck Haiti. Category 4 storm crushed towns, farmland, and resorts and forced hundreds of thousands of people to take cover. The main shock was at the town Zangle, in the western part of Haiti, the US Center for hurricanes. Coastal villages are practically wiped with winds that blew at a speed of about 175 miles per hour (230 kilometers per hour) that raised fears of "catastrophic" damage. "Haiti is facing the largest humanitarian event witnessed since the earthquake six years ago," said Mourad Wahba, the UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Haiti. The newspaper "The Guardian" says that the reasons of great devastation in Haiti, poor infrastructure, deforestation and poor preparedness for earthquakes and storms. Footage posted by former Haitian PM @LaurentLamothe shows Hurricane #Matthew as it hits Les Cayes https://t.co/yyassoMR38 Sky News (@SkyNews) 04. 2016. The storm will, as expected, later proceed to Cuba and then to the United States where it is still unclear how much of the force will have. The Haitian port town Les Cayes, named for the sandy islands off its shore and twice destroyed by hurricanes in the 18th century, was hit hard by Matthew. "The situation in Les Cayes is catastrophic, the city is flooded, you have trees lying in different places and you can barely move around, the wind has damaged many houses," said Deputy Mayor Marie Claudette Regis Delerme, who fled a house in the town of about 70,000 when the wind ripped the roof off. Early reports suggested that Cuba had not been hit as hard as Haiti. In the city of Guantanamo, streets emptied as people moved to shelters or inside their homes. Matthew is likely to remain a powerful hurricane through at least Thursday night as it sweeps through the Bahamas towards Florida and the Atlantic coast of the southern United States, the NHC said. Meteorologist En-bi-sion was Karins said, however, that the path of hurricanes is similar to Hurricane Floyd in 1999 when 2.6 million people from five US states were evacuated. The authorities of the US state of South Carolina began the evacuation of more than half a million people from the hurricane "Matthew" that was previously killed 11 people. Hurricane Matthew triggers evacuation in South Carolina as east coast braces for worst https://t.co/o2iOjiaLpD Guardian US (@GuardianUS) 04. 2016. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said today that it has declared a state of emergency, reports AFP.They will start evacuating 1.1 million people from its coast starting on Wednesday and try to get them at least 100 miles inland. Georgia declared a state of emergency in 13 counties. It is expected that the hurricane hit the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, with wind speed will reach up to 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour). @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sources reveal that, last year, Yahoo Inc built a program that can search all of its clients' incoming emails. The software has been custom-made for the US intelligence circle which provides the essential elements of information needed to acquire the data. According to former employees who have knowledge of the events, the search engine giant gives in to the demands of the US government. As ordered by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the FBI, hundreds of millions in Yahoo Mail accounts have been examined and scanned. Yahoo's participation in the US government's intelligence drive is the first known incident to emerge that involves an American technological company. Instead of checking stored messages or scanning user accounts in real time, the California-based organization screened all incoming emails. Sources further add that intelligence officials did not inform Yahoo what kind of records they were after. The instruction provided to the tech group only involves a set of characters to be searched. It remains unclear if the US intelligence circle has also approached other tech companies. Two former employees unveil that Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has given the directive to abide with what the US intelligence division requested. The move turns out to be a critical, and to a certain extent, a fortunate one since it prompted Chief Information Security Officer Alex Stamos to leave in June 2015. Stamos now occupies the top security position at Facebook Inc. In response to Yahoo's breach of user email accounts, the company has reiterated that the search engine giant is a law-abiding organization and it complies with the laws of the United States. Although the cooperation between intelligence agencies and tech companies is known, surveillance experts and observers find it astounding to learn about the demand for real-time web data including the creation of a program that will harness the gathering of information. Surveillance operations are usually conducted upon the request of the NSA. Considering that there are a number of agencies out there including the FBI and the CIA, it will be difficult to know which group is actually looking for data. Meanwhile, Google's Alphabet Inc and Microsoft Corporation have separately stated that no email searches on a grand scale were ever conducted. Yahoo's revelations will likely spark a congressional inquiry about the sweeping powers of US intelligence agencies. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Trans-Siberian Railway, a network of railway lines in Russia stretching for 5,772 miles while crossing seven different time zones, will be celebrating the 100 years of its existence. The railway line connects Moscow and the farthest eastern port city of Vladivostok. Today, Google marked 100 years of Trans-Siberian Railway completion in Russia with one of its Doodles. Google, with its Doodle on the search bar, marked the completion of the longest railway line in the world. Purpose. Tsar Alexander III, head of the Russian government in 19th century, ordered the construction of Trans-Siberian Railway in order to make the country more powerful in the world in terms of trade by making transportation convenient across Russia's vast territorial area. The Trans-Siberian Railway was constructed during the time where national trade for Russia was crucial as the industry and other trade was available in the western region. There was a need to connect the eastern region with Moscow and other cities. Construction. Tsar Alexander III ordered to construct the network of Trans-Siberian railway lines in 1891. It continued until 1916 with huge manpower of more than 90,000 soldiers, convicts and other laborers. It took 26 years to complete the Trans-Siberian Railway line. Routes. The available Trans-Siberian railways routes are the tracks stretching from Moscow to Vladivostok (eastern region), and to China and Mongolia with other lines connected crossing various natural environments such as mountains, forests and arctic wasteland. Current world. The Trans-Siberian railways is considered to be the crucial mode of transport for Russia to connect the western regions like the Europe and the eastern region like China. It is reported that 250,000 containers of goods are carried by Trans-Siberian railways every year along with many tourists to witness the country's natural landscapes. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google finally made it! Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is about to roll out in the tech market with Tango running in it. Google's once secret VR weapon will soon be a reality after the first Tango running device, Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, will come with a bang in the next month. Clay Bavor, head of VR at Google, confirmed to CNET that the phone will go on sale this November. Enabled with Tango wide wide-angle and depth-sensing camera, Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is fitted with standard 16MP sensor that has the capability to make users map physical spaces and overlay it with virtual effects, track objects, and map indoor spaces. Google has done such an experimentation sans availability on any smartphone in the tech market. Earlier, the phone was rumored to arrive in summer, then moved it to September, and now the current reports show that Lenovo Phab 2 Pro will arrive in November. Inclusive of Tango enabled device, Lenovo Phab 2 Pro has 6.4-inch QHD display, a Snapdragon 652 processor with a 4 GB of RAM. To run it for long time period of time, Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is equipped with 4,050mAh battery. According to Engadget, Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is the most awaited vision system from Google. The price is reported to be 499USD. Google recently unveiled its two new smartphones Pixel and Pixel XL with the newly developed Android Nougat for the android smartphones. Google bought lots of innovative developments in the technology devices this year. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A man pushes carts at a Metro supermarket in Hanoi August 8, 2014. The company entered Vietnam in 2012 and in the following years reported huge losses despite more outlets. Photo by Reuters Various agencies are expected to work together to draft a decree and keep the practice in check. In a move that signals Vietnam's apparent stronger stance against tax evasion, the Ministry of Finance has sought to work with other ministries and agencies to draft a new decree on transfer pricing management. The central bank and the ministries of investment, information and science have been asked to coordinate in the drafting, according to a post on the Vietnam General Department of Taxations website. A specific timeframe is not available, but this will be the first government decree regulating transfer pricing in Vietnam. Transfer pricing allows related business partners to determine prices between themselves, without considering market factors. The practice is not illegal per se, but this has always been one of the gray areas that tax agencies keep a close eye on. Abuses of the practice are often very difficult to prove, especially when it involves multinational corporations with a complex network of internal buyers and suppliers. It is likely that the new decree will allow tax authorities to inspect related party transactions early to detect possible evasion. The central bank may also start collecting and providing more details regarding financial transactions of companies linked to foreign businesses. Data on loans and interest payments will also be considered by tax authorities. Vietnam has opened up its market to a large number of foreign companies. Tax fraud allegations against multinational corporations are not rare, with some major companies posting successive losses and at the same time continuously expanding their business activities According to local media, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Adidas, Metro and Big C are among those whose tax payments have been and will be monitored by local authorities. Related news > Vietnamese subsidiary of Taiwans Formosa suspected of transfer pricing > Vietnam gets tough on Uber in alleged tax evasion case > Money from tax havens comes pouring into Vietnam Hollands boat-building heritage is highlighted in the recently published book Michigan Modern: Design that Shaped America through a chapter by Geoffrey Reynolds, who is the Mary Riepma Ross Director of the Joint Archives of Holland at Hope College. The book explores Michigans role in the development of Modernism throughout the 20th century not only in the United States but globally through nearly 30 essays and interviews. It was published earlier this month by Gibbs-Smith as a project of Michigan Modern, an ongoing effort established in 2008 to highlight the states design heritage. Reynolds contributed the chapter Plastic Fantastic: Holland, Michigans Fiberglass Boatbuilding Industry. The chapter illustrates the use of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) to build boats, starting in the 1940s through modern day. In the 1950s boat builders discovered that fiberglass would allow them to design boats that would lead to new boat sales and increased profit margins for years to come, Reynolds said. This technology steadily spread throughout American boat manufacturing plants, including Holland, Michigan, placing the town among the leaders in the industry. Reynolds, who also holds an appointment as a professor at Hope, has been with the archives since 1997 and has been director since 2001. His scholarly interests include Michigans boat-building industry in particular. Among other presentations through the years, he delivered the address Plastic Fantastic: Holland, Michigans Boat Building Industry and the Use of Reinforced Fiberglass Plastic during the statewide symposium Michigan Modern: Design that Shaped America, held at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids in June 2014. In 2013, he was the guest curator for the exhibition From Craft to Industry: The Boat Builders of Holland, featured at the Holland Museum from June 13, 2013, through March 1, 2014. His book From Craft to Industry: The Boat Builders of Holland, Michigan is being published by The History Press and is due out in May 2018. The editors of Michigan Modern: Design That Shaped America are Amy L. Arnold, who is the preservation planner for the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, and Brian D. Conway, who is Michigans state historic preservation officer. Other chapters with a West Michigan focus include Grand Rapids Furniture and Mass-Produced Modernism, by Christian G. Carron, and Threads: The People, Events, and Beliefs that Make Herman Miller What It Is Today, by Steve Frykholm and Clark Malcolm. The overall overseas travel spend by Singapore households is expected to double to almost US$45 billion by 2025, placing the country in the top 10 globally and in the top three in Asia Pacific, according to Visa's "Mapping the Future of Global Travel and Tourism in Asia Pacific" report. Average annual spend on overseas travel per Singapore household is projected to hit US$30,230 by 2025, almost six times the Asia Pacific household average of US$5,230 and the global household average of US$5,309. Singapore Households Estimated to be Worlds 7th Top Overseas Travel Spenders by 2025 Photo by VISA U.S.A. Inc. In Asia Pacific, households in China (US$255 billion), Hong Kong (US$47.4 billion) and Singapore (US$44.9 billion) are likely to be the top markets with the largest outbound travel spend. However, emerging markets Indonesia (211 per cent), Vietnam (132 per cent) and India (101 per cent) are likely to experience the sharpest increases in spending. Travel spend among top five Asia Pacific markets (according to 2025 values) with households earning US$20,000 or more annually by projected 2025 spend. Figures are based on constant 2015 prices. Photo by VISA U.S.A. Inc. "Travel continues to be a staple activity amongst Singaporeans. The increasing popularity of online travel portals and mobile travel apps, coupled with more convenient and secure electronic payment options, will allow travelers to book their next travel destination with greater ease and lead to continued growth in international travel," Ooi Huey Tyng, Visa Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei, said. "Visa continues to work with our partners to ensure that consumers enjoy the convenience and reliability of electronic payments when travelling and we expect to see even more Singaporean travelers heading abroad every year." Global Aging: Globally, by 2025 it is estimated that travelers aged 65 and above (seniors) will make an estimated 180 million trips, more than doubling their current international travel and accounting for one-in-eight international trips taken. According to the study, it is predicted that older travelers will be able to afford longer trips that provide greater comfort, and at higher prices. Trends such as "medical tourism", in which aging populations undertake international travel for medical purposes, will also become more popular in the future. In Singapore, international travel amongst seniors is expected to grow by more than 300 per cent to over 3 million trips by 2025. According to the study, Singapore citizens aged 65 and above are currently taking an average of 1.31 outbound trips per person each year. By 2025, this number is expected to increase to 2.84. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines is the only market with a higher projected growth rate (360 per cent) in international travel by seniors than Singapore. Number of international trips by 65+ year olds (thousands) in Southeast Asia. Photo by VISA U.S.A. Inc. "Many of today's senior travelers have the time, money and interest to explore new and unique destinations in all parts of the world. As one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in the region, senior travel brings tremendous opportunities for merchants in the tourism and hospitality industries. Singapore is a key aviation hub and is an extremely well-connected city, so travelling abroad is relatively easy, driving an increasing desire for more trips and higher spending," Ooi Huey Tyng said. Additional Highlights of the global report include: The Rise of a new Global Travelling Class: Growing income levels around the world are creating a new "travelling class". The study showed that worldwide, households that make at least US$20,000 per year account for more than 90 percent of spending on international travel. By 2025, it is estimated that nearly half of all global households (945 million) will be within this income range, spurring greater international travel and spending, particularly by households from emerging markets. Top five Asia Pacific markets with highest average number of countries visited by a Visa credit cardholder in 2015 Photo by VISA U.S.A. Inc. Increasing Connectivity: The combined forces of globalization and technology are also expanding access. Construction of more than 340 new airports across the globe is expected over the next decade, creating new routes and destinations that will make international travel easier and more convenient. At the same time, awareness of travel options is spreading with the rapid uptake in internet access and the number of mobile devices around the world. Digital connectivity is not only fostering greater spontaneity in travel, but also spurring a broader array of personalized travel and tourism options. An executive summary along with country and region-specific data as well as interactive tools can be found on www.visa.com/travelinsights. ### Methodology Visa estimates the number of households travelling internationally by comparing Visa-branded cardholders in a given country who have made at least one face-to-face transaction abroad versus the population of all active cardholders in the source country. The figures were adjusted to be representative of the source country's population regardless of payment methods used by households. These propensities were then used as an input in the forecasts developed by Oxford Economics for the Study. Oxford Economics used survey data on the age and income of the international travelers from a sample of 10 countries to calculate international travel frequencies and share of travel by age bracket and income class. The results were extrapolated to a broader set of countries based on their classification as developed or emerging markets and key variables such as GDP per capita and total international arrivals per capita. The estimated travel shares were then compared with each country's household income distribution and age distribution to develop a historical relationship from which to project international travel shares and volumes by income class and age bracket from 2005 to 2025. About Visa Performance Solutions Visa Performance Solutions is a global team of industry experts in strategy, marketing, operations, risk and economics consulting, with decades of experience in the payments industry. Using analytics from the payment network with the most purchase transactions worldwide, our team of subject matter experts can provide businesses with proven strategies and data-driven insights that support business objectives. About Visa Inc. Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. We operate one of the world's most advanced processing networks VisaNet that is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and assured payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, pay ahead of time with prepaid or pay later with credit products. For more information, visit https://usa.visa.com/, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews. Steigenberger Hotels AG is a traditional company set for international growth. The company intends to tap into new markets. To do this, it is changing its brand architecture and consolidating its three hotel brands into one umbrella brand: Deutsche Hospitality. Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of Steigenberger Hotels AG, says: "These two words combine our German roots and our international vision. The new umbrella brand is a vital lever that will unleash dynamism, help us to expand internationally, and drive innovation." Deutsche Hospitality unites three hotel brands under one name: Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts represent luxury and ultimate hospitality; Jaz in the City, with its pioneering concept, is young, urban, and close to the pulsating life of the city; and IntercityHotels are at the heart of the most beautiful cities in Germany with the best connections to important transport hubs. This makes Deutsche Hospitality a strong umbrella brand which can be home to additional hotel brands in the future. The international sound of its name lays the perfect foundations for expanding into new locations. The new umbrella brand is a clear acknowledgment of the hotel group's brand values: Deutsche Hospitality is an international and dynamic brand family that is characterized by attributes such as passion, perfection, caring, tradition, and vision. Deutsche Hospitality positions itself as an excellent host and an attractive employer that wows its staff across the globe. A total of 116 hotels in twelve countries and on three continents are part of the Deutsche Hospitality umbrella brand. 20 of these hotels are under construction or in the planning stage. Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts' portfolio comprises 56 fascinating locations around the world. The brand represents luxury and ultimate hospitality. From historic buildings with a long-standing tradition to lively city residences right through to spa oases with amazing natural surroundings there is an extensive range of hotels with distinctive Steigenberger flair. The Steigenberger Hotel Koln in Cologne and the Steigenberger Airport Hotel Istanbul (Turkey) are the latest hotels to have opened. Two hotels outside of Europe the Steigenberger El Tahrir in Cairo and the Steigenberger Alcazar in Sharm el-Sheikh (both in Egypt) are set to follow this year. The first Jaz in the City hotel opened at the end of 2015 in Amsterdam and offers its guests lifestyle at its best. The exciting new concept has a young and urban vibe, and the hotel is close to the pulsating life of the city. The brand combines design, music, and indulgence for a thrilling experience. Spontaneous music performances in the lobby turn the hotel into a stage and make the guests' stay an event in itself. And Jaz in the City has even more to offer: A cool and modern room design, perfect service, and the latest trends from the local food and drinks scene. Guests will also be greeted with the latest technology: they can check in and out and open the room doors with a smartphone app. The second Jaz hotel will open in Stuttgart in spring 2017. The 39 IntercityHotels are situated at the heart of the most beautiful cities in Germany and other international destinations. The modern city hotels provide superior midrange comfort and are all just a few minutes' walk from central transport hubs such as train stations or airports. As an extra special treat, hotel guests can use local public transport for free with the FreeCityTicket, offering them all-round mobility. In July 2016, the first IntercityHotel outside of Europe opened in Salalah in Oman. New hotels in Qingdao (China), Brunswick, and Duisburg (both in Germany) are set to open in the coming months. The changes will only affect the external appearance of the hotel group. All of its companies, such as Steigenberger Hotels AG, IntercityHotel GmbH, and Jaz Hotel GmbH, will keep their registered names and the shareholder structure will not change. About Deutsche Hospitality Vision, passion and cosmopolitanism. Deutsche Hospitality delivers the perfect guest experience. Tradition and an eye for the future come together in an inimitable portfolio of eight brands operating across more than 160 hotels globally. "Celebrating luxurious simplicity.": Steigenberger Icons are extraordinary luxury hotels which combine historical uniqueness and modern concepts. The Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels brand is generating innovative impetuses in the Luxury Lifestyle Segment. Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts represent the epitome of upscale hospitality on three continents. Jaz in the City's Lifestyle Hotels dictate the rhythm in the Upscale Sector. House of Beats unites a passion for the hotel business with the fascination of lifestyle, fashion and music. IntercityHotel is located at the very hub of any destination and offers a true home of comfort and mobility in the Midscale Segment. MAXX by Deutsche Hospitality is a charismatic conversion brand which is also positioned in the midscale area of the market. Zleep Hotels provide a smart marriage of design and functionality in the Economy Segment. All of these brands are unified under H-Rewards, Deutsche Hospitality's loyalty program which yields benefits from the first booking onwards. Christopher Holschier Director Corporate Communications +49 69 66564-422 Deutsche Hospitality Workers protest heavy workload at a Chinese firm in Nghe An Province on Tuesday. Photo by VnExpress The company requires each team of 60 workers to churn out 77 teddy bears every hour, a task they call 'impossible.' More than 2,500 workers at a Chinese toy factory in the central province of Nghe An continued the third day of their wildcat strike on Wednesday to protest what they call unreasonably heavy workload and other unfair policies. The workers carried banners and placards and crowded the street in front of Matrix Vinh Ltd. Dozens of police officers were sent to the site to prevent chaos. The workers said they went on strike after they filed complaints to the company leaders about the poor working conditions but no action was taken. Thuy, a 28-year-old worker, said the company requires each team of around 60 workers to make 77 teddy bears every one hour. The demand is impossible to meet, and we kept being scolded by the bosses, she said. Those doing a good job received little bonus, the workers said. Other complaints were about small lunch allowances of only around half a dollar a person, a short lunch break and inadequate toilets. The workers, representing 80 percent of the staff, said they will continue the strike on Thursday. Le Ngoc Hoa, vice chairman of Nghe An, said the province has met with the Chinese managers of the company and urged them to reach an agreement with the workers. Matrix Vinh opened in Nghe An in 2011, producing toys for markets such as Canada, Hong Kong and the U.S. All strikes in Vietnam are wildcat. A total of 245 wildcat strikes took place across the country last year with disgruntled workers demanding better pay and working conditions and protesting against overtime. Related news: > Labor ministry orders probe into Honda Vietnams alleged massive layoff > Too hot to work: Vietnam to lose $85bn in labor productivity by 2030 KIGALI, Rwanda Marriott International (www.MarriottNewsCenter.com) continues its robust expansion across the African continent with news of brand-new signings of new properties in Cape Town, Nairobi, Cairo and Mauritius. This announcement comes hot on the heels of Marriott's recently completed acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which has created the world's largest hospitality. The transaction has increased Marriott's distribution in Africa, thus affirming the company's number one position across the continent. "The past couple of weeks have seen an incredible transformation for our company, and I am proud to say that we are continuing the momentum with our expansion and development plans across the African continent," said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. "We officially opened the Kigali Marriott Hotel yesterday, under the patronage of His Excellency, The Honourable Prime Minister Murekezi, and today we announce six new deals across Africa, which when open, are expected to bring our total African property and room count to 205 and 37,000 respectively." These new signings comprise over 1100 rooms, and include AC by Marriott's brand entry into Africa. The Cape Town deals are in partnership with the Amdec Group, Marriott's long term partner and owners of the new Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, announced last year and currently under development. The Amdec Group has been instrumental in bringing in Marriott International's global brands into South Africa, as they were the first to announce Marriott Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments and now AC by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott into the market. The AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront will be located at the gateway to Cape Town's waterfront, while Harbour Arch will be the site of the 200-room Cape Town Marriott Hotel Foreshore and the 150-room Residence Inn by Marriott Cape Town Foreshore. The first deal to be signed since Marriott's completed acquisition, and further consolidating Marriott International's presence on Mauritius, the globally renowned Sheraton brand will make a landmark debut on the island with Sheraton Mauritius St Felix Resort and The Residences at Sheraton Mauritius St Felix Resort. Owned by Clear Ocean Hotel Resorts Limited, the resort will be a part of a mixed use development with a boutique retail mall and branded residences. Scheduled to open in early 2020, the resort will feature 152 well-appointed guestrooms and suites and 37 branded apartments and villas. The first Element Hotels property signed in Egypt will be the largest Element Hotel in the Middle East and Africa. Situated in Cairo's upscale Heliopolis district and scheduled to open in 2019, Element Cairo is developed by Abraj Misr Urban Development and owned by Middle East Real Estate for Development (MERED). A part of the iconic new smart and ecofriendly development, The Gate Project, the largest housing, administrative, commercial, project in Egypt and the Middle East, Element Cairo will feature 344 light-filled rooms and an atmosphere designed to fuel a life in balance and on the move. Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi, Hurlingham, is the brand's second hotel in the city, strategically located in the upmarket suburb close to the city center and within easy access from the surrounding business areas of Westlands, Kilimani and Nairobi Central. Owned by Kamcan Properties Ltd, the 96 room hotel is a conversion from an existing hotel, will be operated under a franchise arrangement, and is expected to open in 2017. "These news deals are testament to our combined development efforts going forward, as there are significant growth synergies between the brands and our newly combined company, with a focus on expending brands across the region, and looking for opportunities in new markets," concluded Mr. Kyriakidis. Continuing to capitalize on opportunities within the region, Marriott International has set a clear objective to be represented in all major gateway cities, commercial centers and established resort destinations while catering to a wide variety of market segments. Each of Marriott International's brands, including those in the pipeline, target a specific segment and support the increased inflow of visitors within that segment. About Marriott International Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,100 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website, and for the latest company news, visit Marriott News Center. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram. Deema Kingsmill-Moore Marriott +971 56 6553796 Marriott It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home Shangri-Las Hambantota Resort & Spa in Sri Lanka has announced that Iain McCormack has joined the Shangri-La family as the resorts new General Manager. With a wealth of luxury hospitality experience spanning an impressive 38 years, Iains expertise and insight will be a valuable asset to Sri Lankas newest luxury opening. Having spent extended periods of time in Asia, working with international hospitality companies such as Leading Hotels of the World and IHG, McCormack joins the new resort with an inherent understanding of what makes Asian hospitality so unique. Most recently Iain was the Consultant General Manager at Naman Retreat, in Danang Vietnam and prior to that the General Manager at InterContinental Danang, Vietnam, contributing to the resorts multiple accolades including winning Worlds Leading Luxury Resort in 2014 and 2015. Opened for only three months, Shangri-Las Hambantota has enjoyed a hugely successful soft launch, with several weekend periods already experiencing full occupancy and fantastic guest feedback to date. Both the international and local market has welcomed the addition of this unique property to Sri Lanka. Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has announced two key management appointments: Niel Mason as area general manager and Will Caraway as director of sales and marketing for its OHANA Hotels by Outrigger brand. Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has announced two key management appointments: Niel Mason as area general manager and Will Caraway as director of sales and marketing for its OHANA Hotels by Outrigger brand. With the promotion from OHANA group manager to area general manager, Mason adds additional oversight for the Outrigger-managed Holiday Inn Resort Waikiki Beachcomber to his current oversight of the OHANA Waikiki Malia by Outrigger and as general manager of the OHANA Waikiki East by Outrigger. Previously Mason called Australia home and was general manager of the Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort & Spa, Noosa; Outrigger Twin Towns Resort; and Outrigger Coolangatta Beach Resort. With a Bachelor of Commerce in hotel and food administration from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Mason is an active member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association and a committee member of Skal International Hawaii. As director of sales and marketing, Caraway is accountable for the demand across all market segments for OHANA Hotels by Outrigger, including the development and implementation of a comprehensive internal and external sales and marketing strategy and related plans to maximize market share, revenue and occupancy growth while upholding Outrigger's mission and values. Before joining Outrigger, Caraway ran and managed the visitor exit program for Shell Vacations Resort on Hawaii Island, Kauai, Oahu and Maui and was involved in the opening of a Canadian resort for Shell. He worked at the Embassy Vacation Resorts property on Kauai as director of owner services, escrow officer and exit program manager. While at Embassy, Caraway worked closely with reservations, room sales, front desk managers and general managers on a regular basis for budgets, accounting and sales and marketing. He also had his own businesses in consulting, property management and tourism. Mattress Men is in cinemas from October 7. This article can only be read with a Premium Account Workers repairing the pipeline during a rupture. Photo by VnExpress/Ba Do The unreliable system affects supply to thousands of families in Hanoi. The Da River pipeline ruptured again early this week, affecting supply to a number of neighborhoods in Hanoi. The utility company Hanoi Water said in a notice on its website that supply to the Northern Thang Long Industrial Park and four communes in Dong Anh District will be reduced until Thursday. Residents in Thanh Xuan District were told on early Monday to store and save water because of the rupture, even though the district was not even included in Hanoi Waters notice. This is the 20th time that the line, which cost $70 million, has broken since it was put into use in 2009. The latest rupture was on September 14, when around 70,000 households in the city were cut off from water. Vinaconex, the state-owned construction company responsible for the project, has been critcized for using substandard pipes purchased from a Chinese contractor. A police investigation revealed that 13 Vinaconex executives had violated construction and investment regulations. Criminal charges were later dropped against five of them because they were first-time offenders with good personal records. The rest are awaiting trial. The first phase of the project is supplying 300,000 cubic meters of water every day. The second phase, kicked off a year ago, will double the total capacity to 600,000 cubic meters. In August this year, Vinaconex backed out of a deal to use pipes from another Chinese company to fix the unreliable system in Hanoi, amid concerns over the quality of the replacement. According to local media, Xinxing Pipes International Development Company was first named the supplier of ductile iron pipes for the project in March, beating out 20 other companies by setting its price at $26.3 million, 12 percent less than the cost estimate. But Vinaconex decided to cancel the deal following intense criticism of the plan. Related news: > Hanoians infuriated after water pipeline bursts for 19th time > Chinese firm kicked out of Hanoi water pipeline project > Court overrules Hanois decision to drop charges in water pipeline scandal The author has an important message for you. Actually, that's Patrick Warburton playing Lemony Snicket, the nom de plume of Daniel Handler, who is the narrator and author of A Series of Unfortunate Events, respectively. The Netflix adaptation of the popular children's book series has been in the works for a while. You may remember the movie based on the novels. While mostly well received, it barely made more than its budget. Now, the series is being given a second chance with television, a format that seems more suitable. Advertisement Catch the show, which will debut in its entirety on Netflix 13 January 2017. Rod Temperton, the songwriter best known for writing the lyrics to several of Michael Jackson's most iconic hits, passed away at the age of 66. Born in Cleethorpes, Temperton started out as one of the founding members of the pioneering funk/disco band Heatwave in 1974. He wrote a string of million-selling singles for the band, including 'Boogie Nights' and 'Always and Forever'. In a statement, Jon Platt, chairman of music publisher Warner/Chappell, said Temperton died in London last week at the age of 66 following "a brief aggressive battle with cancer". Platt paid tribute the extensive back catalogue of the Temperton. He said: He was the sole writer of multiple successful songs such as 'Thriller', 'Off The Wall', 'Rock With You', 'Give Me The Night', and 'Boogie Nights', to name just a few." The Thriller album has sold over 30 million copies in the US alone, making it one of the highest selling albums of all time. Advertisement Here's the video to Michael Jackson's timeless classic: Between The Jigs And Reels includes a treasure trove of rarities. Christy Moore, Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny have personally assembled Planxty: Between The Jigs And Reels, A Retrospective. Due on October 28, the CD/DVD package combines rare TV appearances and live sets with the pick of their studio recordings. Arguably the most pioneering of all Irish trad outfits, their fan club includes Johnny Marr, Ed Sheeran and Doves Jim Goodwin. The full track-listing is: 1. True Love Knows No Season (Billy Gray) 2. Pat Reilly 3. Si Bheag, Si Mhor 4. Follow Me Up To Carlow 5. Baneasas Green Glade / Mominsko Horo 6. The Aconry Lasses / The Old Wheels Of The World / The Spike Island Lasses 7. The Pursuit Of Farmer Michael Hayes 8. Accidentals / Aragon Mill 9. The Irish Marche 10. The Rambling Siuler 11. The Well Below The Valley 12. Junior Crehans Favourite / Corney Is Coming (Reels) 13. Roger OHehir 14. Smeceno Horo 15. The West Coast Of Clare 16. Nancy Spain 17. Timedance DVD: 1. The Blacksmith / Blacksmithereens 2. Three Drunken Maidens / The Foxhunters Reel 3. When First Unto This Country 4. Sweet Thames Flow Softly 5. The Gold Ring (Jig) 6. Hey! Sandy 7. Kitty Gone A Milking / Music Of The Forge (Reels) 8. Only Our Rivers Run Free 9. Raggle Taggle Gypsy / Tabhair Dom Do Lamh 10. Three Drunken Maidens / The Foxhunters Reel (Reprise) 11. The Good Ship Kangaroo 12. Ride A Mile / Hardiman The Fiddler / The Yellow Wattle (Jigs) 13. The Hackler From Grouse Hall 14. An Bonnan Bui / The West Wind (Reel) 15. The Jolly Beggar 16. Sally Brown 17. Bean Phaidin / Rakish Paddy 18. Little Musgrave 19. East At Glendart / Brian OLynn / Pay The Reckoning (Double Jigs) 20. The Lady On The Island / The Gatehouse Maid / The Virginia / Callaghans (Reels) 21. As I Roved Out 22. Smeceno Horo 23. Johnny Of Bradys Lea 24. The Pullet / The Ladies Pantalettes (Reels) 25. I Pity The Poor Immigrant 26. Arthur McBride 27. True Love Knows No Season (Billy Gray) 28. Timedance 29. You Rambling Boys Of Pleasure 30. The Good Ship Kangaroo 31. Taimse Im Chodladh 32. Thousands Are Sailing 33. The Queen Of The Rushes / Paddy Fahys (Jigs) 34. Little Musgrave 35. The Scholar / The Chattering Magpie / Lord McDonalds / The Virginia / Callaghans (Reels) 36. The Cliffs Of Dooneen Highlighting a battle unforgivably erased from the history books, Richie Smyths debut explores the experiences of 157 inexperienced Irish peacekeeping troops, who were posted in the Republic of Congo in 1961. Jamie Dornan plays Commander Patrick Quinlan, who finds his young men under attack from 3,000 Congolese soldiers, led by French and Belgian mercenaries. Completely outnumbered by armies determined to get their hands on the mineral-rich land, the Irish soldiers find themselves out of their depth and completely without help. Smyth thrillingly evokes the frenetic chaos of conflict, although he is less effective at capturing the atmosphere of the Congo despite some box-ticking appearances from hyenas. In addition, Kevin Brodbins screenplay fails to provide a broader global context for the story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A dozen Houstonians landed on the 2016 Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans, and most managed to maintain or increase their net worth. Houston's wealthiest, Richard Kinder, was one of two local billionaires whose net worth declined. The pipeline magnate, who ranked highest among Houstonians at No. 69, saw his net worth drop by 21 percent to $7 billion from $8.9 billion in 2015. Jeffery Hildebrand, head of oil exploration and production company Hilcorp, dropped 61 spots to No. 134 in the ranking. His net worth fell to $4.1 billion, down 35 percent from $6.3 billion in 2015. Siblings Dannine Avara, Scott Duncan, Randa Williams and Milane Frantz saw their net worth rise 4 percent to $5.2 billion apiece in 2016 and maintained their No. 94 rankings. They inherited their wealth from the late Dan Duncan, co-founder of pipeline giant Enterprise Products Partners. Scott Duncan, the fourth youngest person on the U.S. list at age 33, was among 14 billionaires under age 40. He's a year older than Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, who ranked No. 4 with a net worth of $55.5 billion. Duncan's sisters were tied for No. 11 among 50 women on this year's 400 richest list. More Information Topping the list RANKName Net WorthAgESource Change 1Bill Gates$81 B (billion)60Microsoft Up $5 B 2Jeff Bezos$67 B52Amazon.com Up 20 B 3 Warren Buffett$65.5 B86Berkshire Hathaway Up $3.5 B 4Mark Zuckerberg$55.5 B32Facebook Up $15.2 B 5Larry Ellison$49.3 B72Oracle Up $1.8 B Local list Houston billionaires in the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans in 2016: RankNameNet WorthAgeSource 69Richard Kinder$7 B71pipelines 94Dannine Avara$5.2 B52pipelines 94Scott Duncan$5.2 B33pipelines 94Milane Frantz$5.2 B47pipelines 94Randa Williams$5.2 B55pipelines 134Jeffery Hildebrand$4.1 B57oil 174Dan Friedkin$3.6 B51Toyota dealerships 184Bob McNair$3.5 B79energy, sports 232John Arnold$2.9 B42hedge funds 246Tilman Fertitta$2.7 B59restaurants, casinos 290George Bishop$2.4 B78oil & gas 361Leslie Alexander$1.9 B73Houston Rockets Online: www.forbes.com/forbes400 See More Collapse Bob McNair, owner of the NFL's Houston Texans, increased his wealth to$3.5 billion this year from $3.3 billion last year, moving him up 10 positions to No. 184. Tilman Fertitta, head of the Landry's restaurant and casino empire, saw his wealth rise by $400 million to $2.7 billion in 2016. Among Houstonians on the list, he moved up most, 47 positions to No. 246. Returning to the list is Leslie Alexander, owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets. He ranked No. 361 with a net worth of $1.9 billion. Falling off the list was money manager Fayez Sarofim, who had a net worth of $1.85 billion last year. The price of admission for this year's list was a net worth of $1.7 billion. Three local billionaires' net wealth stayed the same: Dan Friedkin of auto distributor Gulf States Toyota, $3.6 billion; hedge fund founder John Arnold, $2.9 billion; and oilman George Bishop, $2.4 billion. The Houstonians were among 33 Texans on the list. The richest were Alice Walton (No. 13), Michael Dell (No. 20), and Andrew Beal (No. 49). Bill Gates of Microsoft kept his position as the richest man on the list for the 23rd consecutive year, with a net worth of $81 billion this year. Among Houstonians, only Kinder's net worth exceeded the Forbes 400 member's average of $6 billion this year. The amount, up from $5.8 billion last year, set a record. The list is online at www.forbes.com/forbes400 and will be in the magazine Oct. 25. Austin-based Envi's plans to provide first-class private air travel across Texas have been dropped. In mid-August, the company promised to begin offering a new luxury, business travel option for those need to travel between Austin, Houston and Dallas frequently. The launch date for the ambitious travel project was originally going to be Nov. 14. >>In the gallery above, see the cheapest places to fly from Houston. Envi president/founder Corey Rust cites stiff competition, as well as low demand as the reasons for the business' suspension. The company announced plans for the new venture just as other companies, including Dallas-based Rise and Conroe's Texas Air Shuttle, began operating. (Story continues below.) Those companies offer different kinds of memberships for customers. Texas Air Shuttle features an "all-you-can-fly" option priced somewhere between $1,895 and $2,850 per month. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Weatherford International has joined the roster of companies where entrenched, uncompromising leadership inspired scandal and yet escaped consequences. The oil field services company last week agreed to pay a $140 million fine to the Securities and Exchange Commission, one of the largest ever, for overstating its earnings by more than $900 million between 2007 and 2010. Weatherford's top tax accountants were under pressure to show the alleged benefits of hop-scotching the company's legal headquarters from Houston to Bermuda to Switzerland and eventually to Ireland in search of a low effective tax rate. Weatherford made no admission of guilt in its deal with the SEC, but two men involved in the case are banned from practicing before the SEC for five years. No one named in the scandal is answering detailed questions, but the settlement agreement tells the story of two midlevel executives struggling to fulfill Chairman and CEO Bernard Duroc-Danner's unrealistic promises to stock analysts and investors in quarterly conference calls. "Weatherford issued materially false and misleading statements about its net income, earnings per share, effective tax rate, and other key financial information," the settlement document states. "Weatherford did not have sufficient internal accounting controls to identify and properly account for its accounting of income taxes throughout the relevant period." Weatherford's search for a lower effective tax rate began in 2002, when Duroc-Danner moved the company to Bermuda in what is called a tax inversion. Most of the company's operations remained in Houston, but for legal and tax purposes, the company was headquartered in a low-tax nation. International taxation, though, is tricky, and Weatherford's effective tax rate had not dropped nearly as much as analysts had expected. Management pushed income tax accountant James Hudgins and his deputy, Darryl Kitay, to find ways to lower the rate further. When Hudgins and Kitay closed the books in late 2007, the two certified public accountants discovered that the tax rate was still higher than what Duroc-Danner and his team had promised. Rather than report the bad news, they manually changed the taxes for two different Weatherford Luxembourg entities by $439.7 million. "They intentionally reversed accounting data that had been correctly input to Weatherford's consolidated tax provision via the company's accounting system," the SEC states. This "allowed Weatherford to ultimately meet Wall Street's earnings expectations." Duroc-Danner didn't question the company's success, and Hudgins demanded to become a corporate officer. When the promotion wasn't forthcoming, the SEC says he wrote an angry email to Duroc-Danner in late 2008. "I'm very upset that I'm not an officer yet. I achieved a 17 percent rate this year, and all of you treat me like sh(--)," the SEC reports. Not mentioned in the email was that Hudgins and Kitay had recently discovered that Weatherford was again facing a 22 percent effective tax rate, after Duroc-Danner had promised analysts it would be 17 percent. Hudgins and Kitay plugged in a $303.7 million adjustment this time to hit the target. "Weatherford promoted Hudgins to officer shortly after Weatherford released earnings for fiscal year 2008," the SEC says. Hudgins and Kitay manually adjusted the books by $290.4 million in 2009 and $286.6 million in 2010, the SEC said. But their creative accounting created an apparent $441 million tax credit by the end of 2010, which finally attracted an auditor's attention. Duroc-Danner put Hudgins and Kitay in charge of fixing the problem, and so began a series of earnings restatements, some of them blatantly wrong, that shaved $1.8 billion off the value of the company. The company didn't figure out that Hudgins and Kitay were responsible until the following year, when Duroc-Danner allowed Hudgins and the chief financial officer to voluntarily resign. The SEC says a key problem was that Duroc-Danner's choice of CFO was an attorney, not an accountant, and couldn't properly supervise Hudgins. Corporate culture also played a role. "Emails among Weatherford's senior management reflected that Weatherford took pride in being an entrepreneurial high-growth organization that placed a premium on more growth and better earnings." the SEC concluded. "This growth came, often, at the expense of ensuring good governance and compliance." The chief executive is responsible for establishing a corporation's culture and values. But despite creating the conditions for fraud to take place, Duroc-Danner remains in charge of fixing the company. No executives have paid back any of the bonuses they earned from the inflated earnings reports, which essentially stole from investors' pockets. Duroc-Danner apparently feels no responsibility for what Hudgins and Kitay did, and the company refuses to acknowledge any guilt. But it is exactly that impunity that disgusts the average American. I've seen firsthand, both in combat and in business, how leadership determines a unit's performance under pressure. Duroc-Danner has failed his employees, his company and its investors. If he took his role seriously, he would step down immediately. OPEC members might think it's a good idea to cut oil production in November, but a firm deal with real quotas is looking unlikely. Iran moved ahead with plans to boost production this week by signing the first new deal since the international community lifted punishing sanctions this year. The government paid it's tribute to the religious establishment by signing the $2.2 billion deal with one of its companies, Tadbir Energy. The company promises to boost production from four fields from 185,000 barrels a day to 260,000. When all the new deals are signed, some with international oil companies, the Iranian oil ministry hopes to boost production from the current 3.6 million barrels a day to 5.7 million in 2020. Ali Kardor, the head of the National Iranian Oil Co., says his country will return to its past prominence in OPEC, which would require a huge boost in production. Those plans directly contradict OPEC's promise last month to cut at least a million barrels of oil a day from the world market. Saudi and OPEC members left a meeting in Algiers last month promising to do something, but didn't say what. That's driven prices up more than 10 percent to around $50 a barrel. The Iraqi oil minister, though, complained as soon as the deal was announced that Saudi Arabia wanted to use the wrong benchmarks for determining quotas. He said a lot of details for a deal still needed to be worked out. Saudi Arabia has been the worst offender when it comes to flooding the world with cheap crude. The nation has added 1 million barrels a day since the price collapsed from $109 in 2014 to $27 in February. Meanwhile Russia, one of the world's largest producers, set a new post-Soviet record in September of 11.1 million barrels a day. Oil traders, though, maintained the current prices on Tuesday because an Iranian delegation would soon visit Moscow to talk about oil production, the Iranian government said. U.S. producers, on the other hand, are selling oil futures are fast as they can to take advantage of the price hike. Many of them can make money in the Permian Basin at $50 a barrel, and they recognize that the artificially high price created by a vague OPEC promise is a fragile thing. Perhaps the worst news for producers, though, is that demand growth is down. Global gasoline demand rose just 0.6 percent from last year, which is the weakest in the past 20 months, according to the energy investment bank Tudor, Pickering and Holt. Demand was soft in China, Europe, and South America. U.S. companies that are hedging right now have got it right: Take advantage of traders driving up the prices and costing U.S. consumers millions of dollars. Because unless there is dramatic change soon, an enforceable OPEC deal is looking unlikely. It's been a tough year for Texas' farmers and ranchers. Just look at the Dallas Federal Reserve's latest agricultural survey, which asks banks that loan to farms about different parts of their business. In the third quarter, rates of loan renewals and extensions were up, loan demand is down, and so are rates of loan repayment all indicating that farmers are under considerable stress. There are a number of reasons behind all this trouble on the farm. Although drought has eased in many parts of the state, that's often been replaced by torrential rains. While still elevated above historic averages, prices for cotton, beef, wheat and soybeans are far below their peak of a couple years ago. And unlike the last period of low prices, the agricultural safety net is much weaker, after the 2014 Farm Bill thinned out a lot of the supports that growers used to rely on when times were tight. As one of the respondents to the Fed's banking survey put it: "Corn, milo and cotton all look near record-yield potential. Cattle performed well this summer, both on pasture and in the feedlot," one comment reads. "Unfortunately, none of these things matter much with commodity prices at their current levels." Into this strained situation comes the news that the industry that controls one of agriculture's most important inputs seed stock is about to go through a dramatic consolidation. The vast majority of seeds today are sold by five companies: Monsanto, Bayer, Dow, Dupont, and Syngenta. In recent months, the largest seed vendor of those Monsanto has announced plans to sell itself to the German company Bayer for $57 billion. Dow and Dupont are seeking to merge, and the Swiss company Syngenta is being bought by the state-owned company ChemChina. All of those combinations still have regulatory hurdles to clear either in the United States or the European Union. The question that the U.S. Department of Justice will be looking at most closely is whether the mergers will create so much concentration in similar markets that they will have the power to raise prices on consumers without meaningful competition. In their public statements, both before Congress and on slick websites trumpeting synergies, the merger hopefuls have described how getting bigger will help them roll out more innovations in the current low-price environment. Size, however, can also have the opposite effect especially in a situation like this one, when the whole industry is consolidating, not just a couple of players. The decline of independent physicians, for example, seems to have raised prices for doctor's visits. Airports with just a few large car rental companies seem to have higher prices than those with many competitors. To look at what the impact would be in the seed market, researchers at Texas A&M's Agricultural Food Policy Center used a standard economic modeling procedure to analyze the mergers currently on the table. They estimated that seed corn prices would jump 2.3 percent and soybeans 1.9 percent not a welcome development, but not a huge hit. Cotton seeds, however, would rise by 18.2 percent. Seed can be approximately 20 percent of a grower's operating costs, so that's a substantial bump. And cost isn't the only potential problem: The A&M researchers also raised the possibility that innovation would slow down as well, since the large firms would hold so many of the basic patents that many new inventions are based on. Monsanto, for example, has acquired many of its most valuable products by buying up the smaller companies that created them. What happens when there are no more upstarts to come up with something different? Of course, it's not just a problem in the seed industry. Sectors from banks to broadband to beer have gotten so concentrated that consumers sometimes don't have any choice at all. It's even gotten attention on the presidential campaign trail, with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton including a plank in her economic platform about reviving antitrust policy, which in recent years has been significantly relaxed. Her election would probably be too late for the megamergers now in the pipeline. But the problem isn't going away. Innovation has always been central to the work of the Texas Medical Center. That spirit of transformation is now guiding the culinary direction of TMC's showplace dining spot the restaurant at the top of the John P. McGovern Commons. Known as Trevisio since 2002, the 13,500-square-foot restaurant/conference/catering space has a new name, a new look, and a dynamic new culinary outlook. The restaurant is now called Third Coast and executive chef Jon Buchanan has created an entirely new menu that reflects Houston's multi-ethnic population and international makeup. Calling it "Modern Houstonian," Buchanan's menu has Asian, Hispanic, Czech-German and Southern/Gulf Coast influences. For Buchanan, who has been at the helm of Trevisio for 11 years, the changes are profound. While he excelled at Italian fare, he said he's excited about creating menus that acknowledge a modern Houston and the way the city eats. For the six months that Trevisio was closed for renovations, Buchanan was able to see a menu through new Houston eyes. "I loved Italian food and I loved making it. But the new menu allows me to pull from my past and embrace it," said Buchanan, whose resume includes Cafe Annie and Rainbow Lodge. "It's also given me an opportunity to explore avenues I haven't walked before." Examples of new dinner dishes include Berkshire pork with sweet potato puree, charred Brussels sprouts and spaetzle; braised Asian spice short rib with saffron risotto and spinach; wild caught Gulf snapper with coconut green curry, vegetable slaw and lemongrass/ginger rice; and tuna poke served in a coconut shell with fried taro chips. Other Third Coast ideas: pan-roasted oysters with apple-smoked bacon, smoked gouda and anise; Texas prime beef tartare; crab and shrimp gumbo; wood-grilled Gulf shrimp with rice grits and poblano and corn rajas; lamb shank with marble potatoes and baby vegetables. Local purveyors will be very much in use in Buchanan's kitchen. Those would include 44 Farms, Houston Dairymaids, Atkinson Farms, Moonflower Farms, and Homestead Grist Mill in Waco. The food menu marries well with the new beverage program from sommelier David Cook that features an all-American wine list (115 selections), a craft cocktail menu, a local beer and spirits selections. Buchanan's and Cook's collaboration plays out against a top-to-bottom redesign of Trevisio, which has generous views of the Medical Center and the downtown skyline. The entrance to the restaurant, a waterwall, has been knocked down and the bar reconfigured to open up the space. The look -- clean, modern, open is done up in an airy palette of gray and brown. With a new eat-in bar, custom furniture, banquettes and crisp lighting, the space gives off a fresh aura of importance. In addition to a focal fireplace in the dining room, a newly designed terrace takes advantage of the restaurant's perch on the sixth floor of 6550 Bertner. TMC CEO and president Dr. Robert C. Robbins sees Third Coast as an integral part of the campus expansion (TMC3). The new restaurant which will be a place for Houston to entertain and get deals done that will enhance the city's profile also reflects the status of TMC as the largest medical center in the world. Beginning Oct. 6, Third Coast will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. It's currently closed Sunday (open for private events). French Minister for Environment and President of the COP 21 Segolene Royal (left), U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (center), and European Parliament President Martin Schulz pose for a picture after the vote in favor of the Paris U.N. COP 21 Climate Change agreement of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, October 4, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Vincent Kessler The European Parliament has approved the ratification of the Paris Agreement by the European Union. The landmark Paris climate pact is poised to enter into force globally after the European Parliament joined the world's top polluters in endorsing the deal to slow the planet's dangerous temperature rise. With U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon watching the vote on Tuesday, the parliament overwhelmingly approved the E.U.'s fast-track ratification of the deal sealed in Paris last December. That puts the European Union on track to hand over its ratification to the United Nations on Friday, which would then take the international community above the threshold needed for implementation within one month. "I'm extremely honored to be able to witness this historic moment," Ban said at the European Parliament building following the vote that passed by 610 to 38, with 31 abstentions. "I look forward to the Paris agreement entering into force as soon as possible, even in just a few days time." The Paris accord requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise in temperatures within two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and strive for 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible. The European Parliament, the bloc's only elected body, backed a decision by E.U. environment ministers last Friday to fast-track approval of the deal, despite only seven out of 28 E.U. countries having themselves ratified it. Fears that China and the United States, the world's two biggest polluters, were leaving Europe behind on ratifying last year's historic deal pushed them into rushing through the ratification. Credibility test To come into force the accord needs ratification from 55 countries, which must together account for at least 55 percent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for climate change. With a decision in the last few days by India, the third biggest emitter, a total of 62 countries have ratified the agreement to commit to take action to stem the planet's rising temperatures. They all account for 52 percent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, and E.U. ratification will bring it over 55 percent threshold by including the seven E.U. countries who have already approved it. The seven E.U. countries -- Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia -- account for some five percent of global emissions. The entire bloc accounts for 12 percent of global emissions. "It's a big historic moment," said Segolene Royal, the French environment minister Segolene Royal, who hosted the COP21 Paris climate talks. She added that representatives from France and the six other E.U. countries will travel to New York on Friday to hand over the ratification documents, which will allow for the deal to enter force 30 days later. In normal times, for such major international agreements, the E.U. and its 28 member states must deposit their ratification documents simultaneously under sometimes time-consuming procedures. However, the member states overcame differences to reach a political agreement last week to bypass the usual process. Europe has prided itself on taking a global lead on climate change issues but has watched with alarm as the rest of the world has left it behind. "Europe today is demonstrating it's capable of great things when it puts its energy and forces together," European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said in Strasbourg at a time when the EU is buffeted by crises from migration to Brexit. Both Oxfam and conservation group WWF gave a cautious welcome, warning all member states they face a "credibility test" or "enforcement test" in sticking to the deal. During a White House event on Monday to highlight his campaign to battle climate change, US President Barack Obama warned: "We are really in a race against time." India, the world's third biggest carbon emitter, also ratified the Paris agreement on climate change on Sunday on the birthday of the country's famously ascetic independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. Related news: > Climate change could drown Vietnam's beaches: experts > Coffee will be extinct in 65 years, courtesy of climate change > Global warming set to pass 2C threshold in 2050: report Perhaps you don't know it yet, but you need some Sri Lankan food in your life. Enter this sweetly modest family-run restaurant, where cuisine from the island nation south of India is one of the spe-cialties on a menu that also features more familiar South Indian dishes. The best introduction is the Saturday sit-down buffet from noon to 3 p.m., where servers deliver a kaleidoscope of delicacies to your banana-leaf plate. The items revolve weekly, but count on a chile-hot, coconut-laced range of vegetable curries, stir-fries and sambol relishes. WHAT TO ORDER: On the regular menu, look for Sri Lankan fare like hoppers (coconut-milk pancakes); deviled chicken; kulambu (eggplant or okra dishes in hot tamarind/lentil broth); and Kothu, a scram-ble of fried, chopped roti bread. Authorities have identified a man who died Tuesday night in a plane crash in Galveston County that left another man critically injured.. DPS Sgt. Stephen Woodard identified the victim as 71-year-old Brian Arnott, of the Pasadena area, who died at the scene. Woodard said a 48-year-old man, of Houston, was in critical condition at UTMB Galveston. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Willowridge High School was temporarily placed on lock down Wednesday morning after a threat against the campus apparently involving a clown, officials said. The threat was later found to be unsubstantiated and normal activities were resumed at the school at 16301 Chimney Rock, according to the Fort Bend Independent School District. The supposed threat apparently involved a clown but no other information about it was available. The incident comes after a 14-year-old student in the Houston Independent School District was arrested and charged Monday with making a terroristic threat against an HISD school on social media using a clown image. School officials did not disclose which school was targeted. The student charged was not identified because he is a juvenile. The non-specific threats, HISD officials said, were posted anonymously using accounts with a clown image and are believed to be part of a national hoax. Also on Monday, Some schools in Spring Independent School District beefed up security after an unidentified bogus threat against them involving violent clowns recently spread on social media, officials said. "We have been made aware of a social media hoax made toward school districts and campuses across the state, including several Spring ISD campuses," district officials announced Sunday evening in a statement on the Spring ISD Facebook page. "Although this was determined to be a hoax and we will have school tomorrow, please know that we have taken precaution with extra security at our campuses." The hoax, officials said, concerned clowns threatening the schools and people on campuses. No activities have been reported. Officials with Klein Independent School District said Klein Forest High School was mentioned as a campus where a clown would appear. The district increased security at the school and alerted parents as well as local law enforcement agencies. "Klein ISD is aware of posts made on social media sites regarding perceived threats toward several state and local schools," the officials posted on the district Facebook page. "Although law enforcement has indicated that these clown posts are a social media hoax, the Klein police continue to actively investigate in conjunction with local law enforcement." Meanwhile, two teens wearing clown masks and chasing people at a park were arrested Monday in Baytown. The incident happened about 6 p.m. at Jenkins Park, 4334 Crosby Cedar Bayou Road, according to the Baytown Police Department. Police said officers were sent to the park after several people reported seeing two suspects dressed in black clothes and wearing clown masks chasing park visitors while carrying a stick. When officers arrived, police said, they took two boys, ages 16 and 13, into custody. Both were charged with making terroristic threats and later released to their parents. I was at home watching the presidential debate when I saw the tweet: "Tonight I drank a flight of 5 @TheBruery beers " Oh, yeah, I remembered. This is the Houston debut week of The Bruery and the related Bruery Terreux. Two nights later, I made it out for a taste of my own. Heretofore, I'd had these much praised beers only during trips to Denver for the Great American Beer Festival. To be able to purchase them in my hometown was another example of how far the local beer scene has come over the past decade. As that giddy Twitter user had enthused, "What even is this?!?" For the uninitiated, The Bruery is an 8-year-old Southern California brewery that produces a relatively small amount (about 12,000 barrels last year) of barrel-aged and experimental-type beers that it nonetheless puts on the shelves in 28 states. The beers are packaged primarily in 750ml bottles and distributed locally by Flood Independent Distribution, a craft-only wholesaler whose clients also include Austin's Jester King Brewery and Magnolia's Lone Pint Brewing. According to The Bruery's distribution marketing manager, Cambria Griffith, the beers will be sold at select bars, beer shops and grocery stores. Griffith said she doesn't expect production of The Bruery and Bruery Terreux, recently created to provide a separate space for wild and sour beers, to grow dramatically. In other words, keep an eye out for these beers and don't take their availability for granted. More Information Where to find The Bruery and Bruery Terreux beers All Whole Foods Markets Major H-E-B stores Major Spec's locations D&Q The Beer Station Corner Food Mart Shell Premium Draught Drink of Ages Pub Craft Beer Cellar (once open) Bar accounts across the Houston region Source: Flood Independent Distribution See More Collapse Chronicle colleague Todd Ackerman and I began our tasting at Montrose beer bar the Hay Merchant on the tart side, with a Bruery Terreux Hottenroth Berliner weisse (for me) and the Bruery Tart of Darkness sour stout for him. Good reviews for both. I'm growing ever more fond of the low-alcohol Berliner weisse style and, though I'm still no expert, the Hottenroth sure feels as "authentic" as it is advertised. After a quick bite, we moved to higher-octane fare served in snifters. For Todd, it was the Bruery Share This Coffee, a coffee imperial stout that's 11.9 percent alcohol by volume. I went even bigger, with the 13.3 percent ABV Bruery Mash & Vanilla barrel-aged barleywine, full of dark-fruit flavors and a pleasantly subdued hint of bourbon. Either would make an excellent after-dinner drink, as a stand-in for or a complement to dessert. As confident as I am that you'll enjoy The Bruery and Bruery Terreux beers, I have to point out that they are expensive, even by craft standards. Of the 10 that were on tap at Hay Merchant, seven carried a $9 price tag. Of course, that also makes it easier to enjoy them in moderation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Harris County Protective Services for Children and Adults had many successes to celebrate at its 50th anniversary event. Nearly 300 supporters turned out for the agency's first fundraising luncheon, held at the Junior League of Houston. "People only think of child protective services, but it's county protective services," said sportscaster and former Houston Texans guard Chester Pitts Since 1966, HCPS has provided youth and adults alike with prevention, guardianship, money-management, crisis, medical and emergency-shelter services. The theme, "At the Heart of Families," best describes what HCPS does, co-chair George DeMontrond said. He and his wife and co-chair, Marilyn DeMontrond, led the fundraising campaign. "Our goal is to raise funds to ensure and enhance programs that are not available through other resources," he said. Jack Sweeney, Houston Chronicle chairman and a fellow event co-chair along with his wife, Ellie Sweeney, introduced Trini Mendenhall as a passionate philanthropist. Mendenhall urged the crowd to give to protect the community. Afterward, KHOU-11 anchor and master of ceremonies Len Cannon paused to take in the number of elected officials and civic leaders in attendance. "Trini, I need to talk to you later and get your friends to like my Facebook page. I need more likes than Chita (Craft)." As lunchgoers sampled the venue's famous lemon rolls, Isabel Chavez - whom Cannon dubbed "the next Trini Mendenhall" - shared how her experience as the former Youth on Board president impacted her teen years. She learned to use communication as a tool to become a leader. "I enjoyed the opportunity to be the voice of a group at monthly CPS meetings," she said. "I'm worth so much more now than what I even believed five years ago. I don't know where I'd be today without them." Cannon returned to the stage for a candid conversation with Pitts about the power of support. "I'm from L.A., my grandmother lives in Compton, so I experienced my fair share of adversity growing up," Pitts said. As a symbolic changing of the guard, executive director Joel Levine presented George Ford, who is retiring after more than four decades in the child services sector, with a special award. One of the agency's young clients, Kymora Simone, closed the moving program with "I Can Fly." Co-chair Frances Dyes'efforts helped HCPS raise more than $165,000 toward protecting local children and adults from threatening home situations. Though it's unlikely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will turn vivid-red Texas blue maybe a slight shade of purple the Republican stronghold has Clinton seeing green, and tons of it. According to the federal contribution database, more than a fifth of the $15 million Clinton has raised in Texas came from Houston a significant figure given that the Houston region is largely seen as a Republican fort that's beginning to swing blue. According to FiveThirtyEight's recent projections of the presidential race, Donald Trump has more than a 90 percent chance of taking Texas' electoral votes this November. The methodology behind FiveThirtyEight's election forecast model can be read here. Meanwhile, despite Trump's overwhelming projected lock on Texas, Hillary has received more than double the Texas contributions he has since August 2015. To be fair, it took Trump awhile to get going because few thought he was a serious contender, allowing U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Clinton to stake their claims in the pockets of many Texans. It's the same story in other states, too. Trump trailed most major candidates in campaign contributions while the nation tried to understand if he was serious about his bid for the White House. Though he won the Republican nomination, the financial distance between him and Clinton are damaging to his campaign, according to the New York Times. For Clinton, the disparity in Texas and nationally in fundraising has allowed her to create a massive television advertising gap and put more boots on the ground. Trump, on the other hand, is underfunded and understaffed going into the final leg of the race. Since August 2015, Clinton has managed to collect more than $15.5 million in Texas compared to Trump's $7 million across Texas. In total, Clinton has generated more than $289.3 million in donations compared to Trump's $74.9 million nationwide. Who are the top donors? According to Federal Election Commission, teachers, attorneys, nurses, homemakers and physicians rise to the top of Clinton donor list. For Trump entrepreneurs, homemakers, engineers, realtors and attorneys, according to the data. According to Paul Blumenthal with the Huffington Post, "Clinton's campaign, in conjunction with the Democratic Party, has hired a massive staff spread across the various swing states. The same cannot be said for Trump's campaign nor the Republican National Committee, which has suffered from its odd relationship with its own nominee." Even as he began gaining momentum the past spring, Trump has not been able to interrupt Clinton's financial support in a state she's likely to lose. Since Trump became the nominee, Clinton's Texas donations continued to mount unlike Trump, who saw Texas contributions drop 26 percent from July to August. But why aren't Texas Republicans giving to Trump, who, according to the New York Times, now enters the last leg of the election with the largest fundraising disadvantage in recent political history? For some voters, it could be as simple as reluctance to give to a campaign in a state he is projected to secure comfortably. For others, Trump is historically unpopular, as Vox puts it. Secondly, fundraisers also are a double-edged sword in states not consider battleground or swing states because the money raised there is then spent in more competitive states a controversial subject for some voters. Despite Trump's financial disadvantage, he has often times managed to significantly narrow the gap between he and Clinton. However, he's never managed to secure a lead. But Trump supporters believe the tide is already turning. Republicans said they are hoping to raise about $100 million this month. With the presidential and vice-presidential debates ongoing, both sides may begin to see more bumps in donations. E Street lead guitarist Steve Van Zandt once said Bruce Springsteen never took drugs because he was afraid he might reprise his fathers depression. It turns out that Springsteen was suffering from mental illness all along. Much of the buzz surrounding Bruce Springsteens new memoir Born to Run has been about the rock stars disclosure of his long history of depression, which, to many, was a surprise. In the past, such disclosures have had consequences. It was only 1972 when Senator Thomas Eagleton resigned as George McGoverns vice presidential running mate after the revelation of his depression. Since then, the stigma of mental illness has diminished somewhat. And yes, the requirements for the job are less stringent for The Boss than for the president. But Springsteen has long been committed to social justice; in writing about depression, he has perhaps undertaken a new cause, one that seeks to combat the stereotypes and stigmas about mental illness that still exist today. Struggles with mental illness are common and familiar among rock and pop stars. They include Beyonce, Eric Clapton, Kurt Cobain, Sheryl Crow, Janet Jackson, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, John Lennon, Alanis Morissette and Brian Wilson. Were one also to include artists known to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol but are otherwise undiagnosed, the list would be far longer. The medical literature, though limited, strongly indicates that being a rock star is a high-stress lifestyle. But Springsteens disclosure is arguably unique because his image runs counter to stereotypes of depression. According to one study, for years the media has reinforced negative stereotypes of people with mental illness, often depicting them as inadequate, unlikable, dangerous and absent a social identity: single or of unknown marital status, frequently without identifiable employment confused, aggressive and unpredictable. These media depictions, according to public health scholar Heather Stuart, also model negative reactions to the mentally ill, including fear, rejection, derision and ridicule and impair self-esteem, help-seeking behaviors, medication adherence and overall recovery. Stuart blames the media for fueling much of the stereotypes of the mentally ill that persist today. Springsteen, however, is a living, breathing repudiation of these media-fueled stereotypes. The Bosss energetic devotion to myriad progressive causes, working-class ethic, family values and ebullient liberal patriotism contrast sharply with the brooding manner and death-laden imagery of Jim Morrison, one of rocks many 27s, the stars whose fast, furious lifestyles left them played out and dead at the age of 27. Married since 1991 to bandmate Patti Scialfa, with whom he has three children (and who shares and empathizes with his depressive illness), Springsteen enjoys a stable family life. He works out with a trainer, which might help explain his legendary stamina. During tours that often include over 100 shows, he plays famously exhausting sets that last nearly four hours. The Bosss treatment regimen has included both decades of therapy and antidepressants, the latter eschewed by many artists who fear they will inhibit creativity. But he has also said that touring was the best therapy of all: You are free of yourself for those hours; all the voices in your head are gone. Just gone. Theres no room for them. Theres one voice, the voice youre speaking in. Nonetheless, the stigma of mental illness remains deeply ingrained in society. After reviewing a number of studies on stigma and mental illness, a group of psychiatrists reported that most mental illness goes untreated. And they found that stigma what they defined as lack of knowledge of symptoms and treatment, prejudice, and fear of discrimination is a major factor in not seeking treatment. Public stigma leads to self-stigma, which can lead to diminished productivity (the latter apparently not, however, a problem for Springsteen). Many are still afraid to discuss their mental illness, which includes telling bosses. In some cases, theres good reason to keep it a secret: A 2010 survey of U.K. employers found that around 40 percent said they thought someone with a mental illness could be a significant risk to the company. Springsteens wife, Scialfa, was initially apprehensive about his coming forward with his depression in a memoir that would be read by millions. But in the end she supported him, telling Vanity Fair that the struggle was inextricably linked to his art: Thats Bruce. He approached the book the way he would approach writing a song, and a lot of times, you solve something that youre trying to figure out through the process of writing you bring something home to yourself. So in that regard, I think its great for him to write about depression. A lot of his work comes from him trying to overcome that part of himself. Springsteen has battled his demons out loud, in public and before his fans, contrary to the social isolation stereotypical of depression. Yes, its still risky to open up about ones vulnerabilities. In terms of choosing between the closet and coming out, the stigma of mental illness is most closely analogous to LGBT status, a cause Springsteen has courageously championed, even canceling a recent concert in North Carolina to protest its anti-transgender legislation. The champion of numerous underdogs, Springsteen has now taken on depression, to the benefit of us all. Alex Lubet is the Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music at University of Minnesota. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Bookmark Gray Matters. You are free of yourself for those hours; all the voices in your head are gone. When Deron Harrington filed a lawsuit on behalf of three parents in May 2015, he was trying to make sure the district where his kids attended school was following student truancy laws. He had a hunch that wasn't the case. At the time, Fort Bend ISD was making headlines for referring thousands of students to the county's specialized truancy court. Data showed a disproportionate number of the district's students referred to truancy court were African-American. As a lawyer, Harrington thought he could make a difference. In the lawsuit, Harrington asked the court to compel the district and county to follow the law. But in the end a judge recently delivered a stunning decision to Harrington. He not only lost his argument, but the judge made him pay about $340,000 in lawyers' fees and sanctions - and ordered Harrington to attend courses on the law. How did Harrington, who said he represented students facing truancy charges as a public service, end up buried in fees and back in class? A lot of it came down to bad timing. Used to be a crime Prior to June 2015, truancy - defined as having 10 or more unexcused absences in a six-month period - was a crime. Students referred to court faced steep fines, $295 on average, according to a report by the advocacy group Texas Appleseed. And too many Fort Bend ISD students wound up in truancy court, which was created in 2011 because of the volume of truancy referrals coming out of the district. Fort Bend ISD reached 3,763 counts of truancy for its student body of about 74,000 during the 2013-2014 school year alone, the last full year data is available. That was triple the 1,029 filed the same year in similarly sized, neighboring Katy ISD, according to Texas Education Agency data. Harrington took issue with specific procedures in place at the county and district levels of the process, many of which were automated. They included how and to which court Fort Bend ISD referred student criminal truancy cases and the process by which Fort Bend ISD attendance clerks notarized signatures on criminal truancy complaints. Harrington filed his lawsuit at a time when Fort Bend ISD and Fort Bend County were already under scrutiny for how they handled truancy. State Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Democrat who represents parts of Harris and Fort Bend counties, was calling for the Department of Justice to investigate Texas school districts' application of the state's truancy laws. He specifically mentioned Fort Bend ISD's over-representation of African-American students referred to court, prompting the district to suspend its truancy enforcement during the spring of 2015. But, just weeks after Harrington filed, a law change came at the state level that may have altered Fort Bend ISD and Fort Bend County's truancy policies for the better, but it doomed any chance Harrington had at a favorable ruling. The Legislature decriminalized truancy in June 2015. When truancy became a civil charge, school districts and counties had to revise their policies accordingly for the 2015-2016 school year. Fort Bend County's truancy court swapped fines for a $50 court fee, mandatory community service and leadership courses. And the school district gained greater discretion over whether to a refer a student to court. The number of truant students didn't change much during the 2015-2016 school year, but the district only referred 86 of them to the county's truancy court. Case unraveled So Harrington was suing over policies that didn't exist. Instead of dropping the lawsuit, Harrington added defendants and accusations, as his case unraveled. During the fall of 2015, Harrington said he had evidence of fraud occurring prior to the law change. "It's on par with the mortgage meltdown, and it's on par with Enron," Harrington said in March. He added the Fort Bend County Juvenile Board to his list of defendants. "I've never seen anything like it," said Rusty Hardin, partner and founder of Rusty Hardin & Associates, and one of the lawyers representing the juvenile board. "We had a case for a year where we couldn't figure out what the heck our clients were supposed to have done wrong." The seemingly endless list of defendants caused Judge Brady Elliott of the 268th District Court in Fort Bend County to quip, in a response to Harrington about whether all of the defendants were accounted for, "Who's left, Mr. Harrington? It kind of changes from day to day." Harrington stood Sept. 22 in a courtroom listening to Elliott dole out consequences to Harrington for filing what Elliott ruled was a frivolous lawsuit. "There was no evidence and a woefully short investigation of the grounds for such a lawsuit," Elliott said. Plans to appeal The judge dismissed the lawsuit. In addition to the more than $300,000 Harrington owed, his clients and the lawyers with whom he worked owed nearly another $70,000 in lawyers' fees and sanctions. Plus, another $230,000 should they unsuccessfully appeal to the highest court in Texas. "We regret it came to this, but we agree with the court's rulings and believe that justice has been served," Fort Bend ISD board of trustees president Kristin Tassin said in a press release. The challenge for a judge when ruling in a civil rights lawsuit like Harrington's is to protect public entities, like FBISD or Fort Bend County, from unfounded lawsuits without discouraging lawyers from representing clients with legitimate grievances, said Robert Schuwerk, professor emeritus at the University of Houston Law Center. In this case, Elliott opted to protect FBISD and Fort Bend County. But that hasn't stopped Harrington, who said he plans to appeal the entire ruling. With the record FBISD and Fort Bend County has, Harrington said at the Aug. 26 hearing, it's likely the county and district will break the law in the future. You may have missed this story, so I am repeating it as a public service: MOSCOW, Special to The New York Times, Oct. 1 - A previously unheard-of group called Hackers for a Free Russia released a treasure trove of financial records online today indicating that President Vladimir Putin owns some $30 billion in property, hotels and factories across Russia and Europe, all disguised by front organizations and accounting charades. The documents, which appear to be authentic, include detailed financial records and emails between Putin's Kremlin office and a number of his Russian cronies and Swiss banks. They constitute the largest hack ever of Putin. Russian censors are scrambling to shut down Twitter inside the country and keep the emails out of Russian-language media. At a news conference in Washington, CIA Director John Brennan was asked if U.S. intelligence services had any hand in the cyberleak of what is being called "The Putin Files." With a slight grin, Brennan said: "The U.S. government would never intervene in Russian politics, just as President Putin would never intervene in an American election. That would be wrong." As Brennan left the podium, though, he burst out laughing. No, you didn't miss this story. I made it up. But isn't it time there was such a story? Isn't it time we gave Putin a dose of his own medicine - not for juvenile playground reasons and not to instigate a conflict but precisely to prevent one - to back Putin off from what is increasingly rogue behavior violating basic civilized norms and increasingly vital U.S. interests. Putin "is at war with us, but we are not at war with him - both the U.S. and Germany are desperately trying to cling to a decent relationship," remarked Josef Joffe, editor of Die Zeit, a weekly German newspaper and a leading strategic thinker in Europe. No one should want to start a shooting war between great powers "in the shadow of nuclear weapons," Joffe told me. But we also cannot just keep turning the other cheek. Putin's behavior in Syria and Ukraine has entered the realm of war crimes, and his cyberattacks on the American political system threaten to undermine the legitimacy of our next election. Just read the papers. Last week a Dutch-led investigation adduced irrefutable video evidence that Putin's government not only trucked in the missile system used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines plane flying over Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 civilians onboard, but also returned it to Russia the same night and then engaged in an elaborate cover-up. On Sept. 19, what U.S. intelligence officials say was almost certainly a Russian Su-24 warplane bombed a U.N. convoy in Syria carrying relief supplies for civilians. The Red Cross said at least 20 people were killed. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the bombing "savage and apparently deliberate." For a long time, Putin's excesses were just a tragedy for the Russian people and for many people in Ukraine and Syria, so President Barack Obama could plausibly argue that the right response was economic sanctions and troop buildups in Eastern Europe. But in the last nine months, something has changed. Putin's relentless efforts to crush both the democratic and Islamist opposition to President Bashar Assad in Syria; his rejection of any real power-sharing solution there; and his joining with Assad in mercilessly bombing civilians in Aleppo are not only horrific in and of themselves, but they also keep pushing more refugees into the European Union. Meanwhile, Russia's hacking of America's Democratic Party - and signs that Russian or other cyberwarriors have tried to break into U.S. state voter registration systems - suggests that Putin or other cyberdisrupters are trying to undermine the legitimacy of our next national election. Together, these actions pose a threat to the two pillars of global democracy and open markets - America and the EU - more than anything coming from ISIS or al-Qaida. "The Soviet Union was a revolutionary state that sought a wholesale change in the international order," observed Robert Litwak, director of security studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and author of "Deterring Nuclear Terrorism." Putin is ostensibly not seeking a revolution of the international order, Litwak added, but Putin's departure from standard great-power competition - encouraging a flood of refugees and attacking the legitimacy of our political system - "is leading to shifts in global politics that could have revolutionary consequences, even if Putin is not motivated by revolutionary ideology." Obama believed that a combination of pressure and engagement would moderate Putin's behavior. That is the right approach, in theory, but it's now clear that we have underestimated the pressure needed to produce effective engagement, and we're going to have to step it up. This is not just about the politics of Syria and Ukraine anymore. It's now also about America, Europe, basic civilized norms and the integrity of our democratic institutions. Student leader Joshua Wong arrives at the Eastern Law Courts in Hong Kong, China August 28, 2015. Photo by Reuters/Tyrone Siu/File Photo One of the leaders of Hong Kong's "Umbrella Revolution" was detained at China's request. A teenage student leader who helped organize massive pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2014 was detained in Thailand on Wednesday and barred from entering the country, immigration officials and supporters said, apparently at China's request. Joshua Wong had been due to speak at an event on the anniversary of a Thai military crackdown on student protests 40 years ago, organizers said. Wong, 19, was given 80 hours of community service by a Hong Kong court in August on a charge of unlawful assembly for taking part in a sit-in at the height of the protests in the Asian financial hub in September 2014. The sit-in led by Wong and others in front of the Hong Kong government headquarters two years ago became the rallying point for the "Umbrella Movement" that blocked major roads in the Chinese-ruled city for 79 days. The protests in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, presented Party rulers in Beijing with one of their biggest political challenges in decades. Wong was invited by Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science to speak on the 40th anniversary of the bloody crackdown by the Thai army on student protesters. Organizers said Wong was detained when he arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday morning. "We spoke to immigration, who said that Wong was detained on the request of the Chinese government," Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a student and one of the organizers of the event, told Reuters. Immigration officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport confirmed to Reuters that Wong was prevented from entering Thailand and would be sent back to Hong Kong. Officials said they were under orders not to speak to the media about why Wong had been refused entry. Pro-democracy protesters carrying yellow umbrellas, symbol of the Occupy Central civil disobedience movement, stage a three-minute silence outside government headquarters in Hong Kong to mark the second anniversary of the movement, China September 28, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Bobby Yip His arrest was condemned by the Human Rights Watch group. "Thailand's arrest of Joshua Wong, a well-known pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing's bidding," Sophie Richardson, China Director for Human Rights Watch, said in an email. "Wong should be freed immediately and allowed to travel and exercise his right to free expression." Demosisto, the political party that Wong heads in Hong Kong, also called for his release. A Thai army crackdown on students on October 6, 1976, killed 46 people and brought back military rule. Since coming into power in 2014, Thailand's military government has clamped down on dissent, arresting scores of students and activists. Related news: > Hong Kong on high alert for Chinese visit as independence calls grow This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Naomi Kaplan Warren, a Holocaust survivor who became a successful businesswoman and philanthropist and worked to ensure that the lessons of the genocide were never forgotten, died Sunday of natural causes at her home in Houston. She was 96. "While she experienced a lot of hardship in her life, along with a lot of joy, one thing she never did was look forward with a dark remembrance of the past," said her son, Benjamin Warren. "Rather she took the best of sometimes awful situations and turned them into a way to look to the future with hope." Born in Poland, Warren grew up in a warm loving environment that valued education, culture and the richness of Jewish life. She married Alexander Rosenbaum, a young physician, in 1940. Trip lasted 'a lifetime' Her adolescence was interrupted by the invasion and takeover of Poland by Nazi Germany in 1939. Four years later, Warren was transported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. "It seemed to last a lifetime," she recalled of the terrifying trip. Upon arrival at the camp, Warren was selected for labor, while her mother was sent to her death in the gas chambers, one of 1.1 million people murdered at the camp. In testimony years later, Warren described the harrowing experience of seeing her mother being put on a truck, looking back at Naomi for the last time with her beautiful grey eyes. Rosenbaum died in Auschwitz several months after arriving. Warren was transferred to the infamous women's concentration camp Ravensbruck in northern Germany, and then to the Bergen-Belsen camp, where she was liberated in April 1945 by the British. In 1946, Warren immigrated to the United States with her father, who survived the war while captive in a Russian prisoner camp in Siberia. She would later reflect on the moving experience of witnessing the Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor for the first time, a symbol of her newfound freedom following years of trauma. She came to Houston to be closer to her maternal uncle. She later married Martin Warren, a fellow Holocaust survivor, and the two built a business importing Danish hams. The couple created the International Trading Company, an imported meat business, in 1950. Martin Warren died in 1960, leaving her the challenge of raising three children while running the family business. The enterprise was eventually acquired by Tyson Foods in 2003. Warren served on the board of the Holocaust Museum Houston, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, and the Anti-Defamation League Southwest region. Teaching history On Warren's 80th birthday in 2000, her children established The Warren Fellowship for Future Teachers at the Holocaust Museum Houston to train educators in teaching about the lessons of the Holocaust and genocide. "We now have hundreds and hundreds of teachers in the classroom educating students about the tragic consequences of hate and how they as individuals can be upstanders, be rescuers, rather than be bystanders," Benjamin Warren said. In addition to her son, Warren is survived by two other children, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday at Congregation Emanu El at 1500 Sunset Blvd. A suspected white supremacist prison gang member named this week to the state's Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list was captured Wednesday in northwest Houston. Kevin Wayne Matthews, 49, identified by law enforcement as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, was taken into custody without incident at an undisclosed location, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Matthews, who has worked as an electrician, was wanted on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in a May 2015 incident in Liberty County. He is accused of using a vehicle to attack two family members, and had been caught by law enforcement with a firearm. Liberty County District Attorney Logan Pickett said the case is worthy of the attention that comes with being among the state's most wanted. "Gangs have shown a proclivity for violence," Pickett said. "Any time you have accusations against felons with firearms and felons committing violent crimes, I'd imagine the spotlight should be a bit brighter on those to get those allegations resolved." Matthews, who had a Pasadena address, has been in and out of the gang's home turf - the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - at least six times, for offenses such as breaking into a building, stealing a car and evading arrest, according to records. He was last sent to state prison for nine months in 2014 for drug possession. The gang, which has about 2,000 members and recruits, is active inside the state's penitentiaries and outside as well in many parts of the state. The DPS ranks it in the same gang category as Bloods, Crips and Bandidos in terms of size, but officials say it commits a disproportionately larger amount of crime. "The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas was formed as a white supremacist prison gang, but places its racist ideology secondary to its everyday criminal activities," an agency report on the gang states. Membership is for life, orders from superiors must be obeyed without question, and failure to do so can carry a penalty of death, according to the gang's constitution. It has a military type structure, with top leaders called generals and rank-and-file known as soldiers. The gang has often been in the cross hairs of law enforcement, with one of the largest racketeering prosecutions ever based in Houston. Federal authorities here convicted 73 members and associates of the gang in a case that wrapped up in 2014. One of the gang's most infamous crimes played out a decade ago when longshoremen Robert McCartney was kidnapped in a carjacking in Baytown, then murdered and dumped in a Liberty County field. Authorities said the gang members were acting on orders from superiors to find parts for a truck. Danny Ray Ferguson, a member of the gang's rival, the Aryan Circle, was named to the state's 10 Most Wanted Fugitive list in April and also became Houston's Most Wanted Gang Fugitive, a double dose of attention that resulted in him quickly surrendering for allegedly violating parole. Crime Stoppers, in coordination with the Texas governor's office, was offering a reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to the arrest of Matthews. Officials said the tip information is being reviewed to determine if a reward will be paid. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-252-8477 or by texting the letters "DPS" followed by the tip to 274637 (CRIMES) from a cellular phone. Charges of resisting arrest have been dropped against a Houston woman whose traffic stop by a Metro police officer came under national scrutiny after video was released in August. Earledreka White, who has since returned to her native Louisiana, said Tuesday she is considering suing for violation of civil rights. "That guy is still out there carrying a gun and a badge, like nothing happened," the 29-year-old said. "It made me really sad that my life had to be tormented and interrupted. I feel like I lost everything I was working for." White moved back to Plaquemine, La., to be closer to family after being spending two days in the Harris County Jail in March. She was arrested for resisting arrest. White's story, and the 40-minute surveillance video of the encounter from a nearby shopping center, was covered nationally after lawyers for White released the video to the Chronicle. The incident immediately drew comparisons to the Waller County arrest of Sandra Bland last year for failing to signal a lane change. Bland died three days later in the jail in what has been ruled a suicide. The Bland case sparked nationwide protests by the Black Lives Matter movement and others. More for you Lawyer: Video shows police officer caused confrontation with... On the video of White's arrest, she can be seen talking on her cell phone after being pulled over in the 10000 block of South Main Street by an officer identified in court records as G. Luca. She was stopped for crossing a double white line while driving, according to police. White can be seen getting out her car to retrieve her license from her purse in the trunk, which apparently put the officer on the defensive. During their exchange, she pulled out her phone and called 911. According to the 911 audio, White explains to the dispatcher that she does not believe she has done anything wrong and asks that another officer come to the scene because she feels threatened. The officer can be seen grabbing her and trying to pin her arms behind her back, unleashing a minutes-long struggle with White screaming for him to stop. The problem, according to White's attorney Zack Fertitta, is that the officer-not White-initiated the altercation without provocation. White was jailed for two days after being charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of six months in jail. She was released after posting a $1,000 bail. Officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority police department said they investigated White's claim in April, including viewing the surveillance video, and found no wrongdoing. "She was uncooperative but he did everything reasonable within the law," Metro Police Chief Vera Bumpers said last month. On Tuesday, they maintained that position, officials said. The case comes on the heels of another Metro officer who came under fire after being caught on video. Jairus Warren was accused of beating a man at a light rail terminal with his baton on Sept. 14. He resigned last month after an internal investigation suggested he be fired. He was indicted days later for assault. That charge is pending. White and her attorney said they hope the latest incident shows that Metro is taking allegations of wrongdoing seriously. "Earledreka is encouraged by Metro's recent firing of the officer who attacked the homeless man," Fertitta said. "And she hopes that both of these cases have caused Metro to re-evaluate the hiring and training of their officers." One of the nation's largest corrections companies is challenging the Department of Justice's decision to phase out the use of 14 private prisons nationwide, saying the department acted "illogically" and illegally. Florida-based GEO Group, which operates two of the five facilities facing possible closure in Texas, launched the attack this week in what it says is the nation's first legal challenge to the recent decision out of Washington. The official protest, a primary step toward a lawsuit, could freeze any changes in the procurement process until an administrative judge can consider the issue, including questions about how private prisons measure up to those run by the government. Six congressmen, including three from Texas, have entered the fray, asking the Department of Justice and its Bureau of Prisons to explain the decision to stop using the private prisons, which primarily hold foreign-born people who have nine years or less left on their sentences and face deportation upon release. "We are concerned that the Department of Justice's instructions put politics ahead of policy when it comes to maintaining flexibility in our prison system," states a recent letter signed by each of lawmakers, all Republicans. Caption: The federal government has used private prisons since 1997 to relieve crowding, The chart above illustrates some of the findings found in the Inspector Generals report, showing the rate of vaious incidents among each privately operated facility. Click the button below the chart to see how private prison incident rates compare to federal prisons. The federal government has used private prisons since 1997 to relieve crowding, but a recent Office of Inspector General review noted an array of problems in the privately run facilities , including what it contends is an abuse of solitary confinement and more fights and contraband seizures than in facilities run by government. Now one of the nations largest corrections companies is challenging the Department of Justices decision to phase out the use of those 14 private prisons nationwide, saying the department acted and illegally. Florida-based GEO Group, which operates two of the five facilities facing possible closure in Texas, launched the attack this week in what it says is the nations first legal challenge to the recent decision out of Washington. They also questioned the impact the directive will have on the local communities they represent. Texas officials say thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in government contracts could be in jeopardy. "In many of these areas, the contract prison is one of the largest employers and citizens have few other job opportunities," states the letter. The Department of Justice did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment. Three companies - the GEO Group, Corrections Corporation of America and the Management and Training Corporation - run private prisons nationwide on behalf of the Department of Justice. They also have contracts with Homeland Security and other entities. The five facilities in Texas are centered in West Texas. They include two side-by-side facilities at the Reeves County Detention Complex in Pecos, west of Midland; the Big Spring Correctional Facility in Howard County; Eden Detention Center in Concho County; and the Giles W. Dalby Correctional Facility in Garza County near Lubbock. The justice department recently directed the Bureau of Prisons to cut its business with private corporations as contracts expire over the next five years. Groups including the American Civil Liberties Union have long questioned the use of for-profit corporations to house prisoners, and have praised the recent decision. The federal government has used private prisons since 1997 to relieve crowding, but a recent Office of Inspector General review noted an array of problems in the privately run facilities, including what it contends is an abuse of solitary confinement and more fights and contraband seizures than in facilities run by government. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates sent a memo to the Bureau of Prisons in August that announced the about-face. "Private prisons served an important role during a difficult period, but time has shown that they compare poorly to our own bureau facilities," Yates said. Private facilities don't save substantially on costs, don't provide the same level of safety and security and are lacking when it comes to educational and job training programs that reduce the likelihood of a person returning to prison, she continued. A statement released by GEO Group contends that in many ways, comparing data from privately run prisons holding foreign citizen felons facing deportation to that of the general Bureau of Prisons population is like comparing apples to oranges. It notes that even the inspector general pointed out that cultural, language and other elements complicate a side-by-side comparison. "We continue to caution against drawing comparisons of contract prisons to BOP operated facilities as the different nature of the inmate populations and programs offered in each facility limit such comparisons," the company said. GEO Group, which has 20,500 employees globally and operates facilities in Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as facilities abroad, challenges any contention that privately run facilities perform poorly or cost more than government-run facilities. GEO contends that even the government's own OIG report concluded that private prisons had fewer problems than those of the government when it comes to inmate fights, suicides, sexual misconduct by staff, overall grievances and a host of other areas. At a minimum, the company says that Yates and other officials must follow certain procedures when it comes to altering the government contracts procurement process. Amber Martin, an executive vice president for the GEO Group, said in the protest filed this week in Washington that in late August just two weeks after the Department of Justice announcement her company's operation in Georgia was given a "superior" rating by the Bureau of Prisons and has also been paid a "multi-million-dollar" additional payment for its performance, including quality of service and lack of contractual violations. U.S. Rep Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, who was among those who signed the letter, said he wants to see what specific data was used in deciding that the federal government should step away from two prisons in his district. He said he's also concerned about jobs. "From the perspective of the local communities, the Dalby prison is the largest employer in Garza County, and the prison in Big Spring has nearly 500 employees," he said. "The local governments also receive tax and other revenue from the prisons, so a reduction in these contracts will impact the economy of a largely rural area with few other large employers." Texas Congressmen Will Hurd, R-Helotes, and K. Michael Conaway, R-Midland, also signed the letter, along with Congressmen Austin Scott and Earl L. "Buddy" Carter, both of Georgia, and Kevin McCarthy, of California. Howard County Judge Kathryn Wiseman said losing the Big Spring prison would "greatly affect" her county. Commissioners recently passed a resolution challenging the legality of the Department of Justice decision. "It would be a double hit," she said of a closure, noting that the county is already facing trouble from declining mineral values. "Almost 500 jobs, that is a big hit for a small community." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FARMVILLE, Va. - Indiana Gov. Mike Pence tried during Tuesday's vice presidential debate to stanch the damage from disclosures that Donald Trump may not have paid federal income taxes for two decades, insisting his running mate showed business acumen when he declared a nearly $1 billion loss. "He went through a very difficult time, but he used the tax code just as it's supposed to be used and he used it brilliantly," Pence said. "Donald Trump has created tens of thousands of jobs." The statement came during the beginning of a surprisingly fiery debate between Pence and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the Democrat on Hillary Clinton's ticket. The pair, debating at Longwood University, frequently interrupted each other and accused their opponents of dishonesty as they argued over a range of topics, including foreign policy, the economy, taxes, the federal budget, criminal justice and immigration. Pence at one point accused Kaine and Clinton of lodging "an avalanche of insults," while Kaine accused Pence and Trump of running an "insult-driven campaign." Moderator Elaine Quijano looked like a traffic cop for much of the evening, trying to keep the candidates from talking over each other and her. Kaine prodded Pence repeatedly over Trump's failure to release his full tax returns and mocked Trump for bragging during last week's debate that not paying taxes would show that he is smart. "So it's smart not to pay for our military? It's smart not to pay for our veterans?" Kaine said. "It's smart not to pay our teachers? So I guess the rest of us who do pay for those things are stupid." "I can't imagine how Gov. Pence can defend the impulse-driven, selfish me-first style of Donald Trump," he added. Attacking Trump Kaine called out Trump for demeaning Mexicans who cross the border illegally, questioning President Barack Obama's birthplace and lodging a host of other insults. But he also had to answer for Clinton, who has been dogged by questions over fundraising, paid speeches, and the private email server she used as secretary of State. "There's a reason why people question the trustworthiness of Hillary Clinton," Pence said. "And that's because they're paying attention." Kaine said Clinton proved her trustworthiness by committing to helping others before she entered politics. And he raised his son's military service to declare her fitness to lead the nation's armed forces. "We trust her with the most important thing in our life," Kaine said. "The thought of Donald Trump as commander in chief scares us to death." But Pence was just as aggressive in attacking Clinton for failures in the economy and national security during President Obama's tenure. He accused Clinton of planning to stifle the economy with high taxes and regulations. "The American people know that we need to make a change," Pence said. "We see remarkable portions of the world literally spinning out of control." Mike Pence and Tim Kaine face off on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday tonight. Here's what to expect. Pence countered that Clinton helped start the process to cut a deal to halt Iran's nuclear program and worked in the Obama administration when Osama Bin Laden was killed. Targeting Clinton The two clashed again when the discussion turned to law enforcement. Pence took aim at Clinton's and Kaine's assessment that the criminal justice system is beset with institutional racism. "Senator, please, enough of this seizing every opportunity to demean law enforcement broadly" by charging "implicit bias." Kaine expressed incredulity at Pence's comment. "Those who say we should not be able to bring up or talk about bias in the system will never be able to solve the problem," he said. "I can't believe you are defending the position there is no bias." Kaine then pivoted into an attack on Trump, reciting the GOP nominee's demeaning comments about Mexican immigrants, women and war hero John McCain, the Arizona senator. "If you want to have a society where people are respected and respect laws, you can't have somebody at the top who demeans everybody," he said. When the debate turned to immigration, Kaine accused Pence and Trump of planning for a "deportation force" that remove 16 million people from the country. "They want to go house to house, school to school, business to business and kick out 16 million people," Kaine said. Pence called the description "nonsense." He said his and Trump's plan to strengthen the borders and aggressively enforce existing laws contrasts with the Democratic plan, which he labeled amnesty. "They have a plan for open borders," Pence said. "They call it comprehensive immigration reform on Capitol Hill. We all know the routine. It's amnesty. " Exactly a week before Tuesday's vice-presidential debate, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana hunkered down with a small coterie of aides for his first full day of intensive debate preparation. His team reserved rooms on the second floor of the Sheraton hotel in Madison, Wisconsin, and Scott Walker - the state's mild-mannered, affable governor - arrived to play Pence's rival, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, in mock debate sessions. Soon after, the actual Kaine left the campaign trail himself to huddle with advisers near Raleigh, North Carolina, for his own debate prep. A nearby bluegrass festival offered what seemed like a tempting distraction for the harmonica-playing senator, but Kaine stayed out of sight. Last week hardly marked the first time the two men had devoted considerable time and attention to Tuesday's debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. For both Kaine and Pence, the vice-presidential debate, moderated by CBS News' Elaine Quijano, will be their lone one-on-one face-off this election, and is the most high-profile and highly anticipated moment of their political careers so far. The debate can shed light on whether the No. 2 candidates are up to the job of being No. 1. But beyond showing their own mettle, the vice-presidential candidates also have the task of defending their running mates - an especially critical job this time around with such an intense focus on the top of the ticket. "Don't screw up - that's the goal of a VP debate," said Brett O'Donnell, a Republican communications specialist who advised prominent Republican nominees - including President George W. Bush, Sen. John McCain and Gov. Mitt Romney - on debate preparation. "The big thing is to defend the top of the ticket and then go on the offensive as much as possible against your opponent - the top of the ticket on the other side." For Pence, the key challenge is to defend Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, over some of his more outlandish comments, while also acquitting himself well as a reasonable, levelheaded conservative who could help rebuild the party whether Trump wins or loses. Indeed, since his selection as a running mate, much of Pence's job has been to help explain or clean up Trump's persona. Yet he has distanced himself in some important instances, including suggesting humans play a role in climate change - an acknowledgment on the part of his aides that a political future inextricably tied to Trump could be perilous. Pence already has experience defending his running mate on the Sunday news shows and in other television interviews, which aides say has also helped prepare him for the debate. "Ultimately, he's going to have to explain Trump to people, and his job is probably going to be to mop up whatever mistakes Trump makes and explain Trump and be the guy who says, 'Trump's a good guy and he's not crazy,'" said John Feehery, a Republican strategist who is not working for the campaign. But, Feehery added, though Pence has revealed himself as a loyal soldier, he is also likely to display at least some instinct of self-preservation. "Part of it is to explain Trump but not necessarily fall on your sword for him," Feehery said. To that end, Kaine's task is more straightforward. Kaine has already faced some tough questions about Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, on subjects like her use of a private email server and her trustworthiness. But he has not been forced to play cleanup the way Pence has. On the campaign trail, Kaine cheerfully talks up Clinton's agenda while building a thorough case against Trump on a variety of subjects, from his refusal to release his tax returns to his views on foreign affairs. The debate offers a platform to do the same thing - just on a much bigger and more pressure-filled stage. "It is going to be easier for him than it is for Mike Pence," said Mo Elleithee, who advised Kaine when he ran for governor and senator and also worked on Clinton's 2008 presidential bid. "Kaine genuinely, I think, shares Hillary Clinton's worldview." "I would expect Kaine is going to be hitting a lot of the same themes that Hillary Clinton hit in the last debate," added Elleithee, who is now the executive director of Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service. Kaine has prepared to fend off what his advisers expect will be aggressive attacks by Pence aimed at Clinton, according to campaign aides. And his team is wondering how far Pence will go in defending Trump. Kaine does not devote much time to talking about Pence when he campaigns, and his focus on the top of the ticket is not likely to change Tuesday night. "It really is more about Donald Trump than it is about Gov. Pence," Kaine told reporters on his campaign plane recently, discussing the vice-presidential debate. Similarly, Kaine is set to promote what a Clinton presidency would look like. "If I talk too much about Tim Kaine during my debate," he said, "I'm wasting my time." (STORY CAN END HERE. OPTIONAL MATERIAL FOLLOWS.) If Trump's debate preparation so far has largely resembled his campaign - haphazard and unfocused - Pence's reflects his sharply different approach: methodical, disciplined and systematic. He and his team began preparing for the debate shortly before Labor Day, and each week have devoted an increasing amount of time to the effort. (Fridays, which Pence typically spends off the trail and in the Indiana governor's mansion, have become largely focused on debate preparation.) He has been studying briefing books, and dossiers on his laptop. The Republican National Committee has also uploaded copious videos of Kaine - everything from interviews to past debates - to an online file-sharing service for Pence to view. The Clinton team has revealed little about Kaine's preparations, though Kaine talked a few weeks ago about reading "endless debate prep memos," a subject that he said Clinton had joked to him about. "She said, 'You know, our staffs know how to kill a lot of trees by putting together massive books,'" he said. In Kaine's mock debate sessions, Pence is being played by Robert B. Barnett, a Washington lawyer who has long served as a faux adversary in debate preparations for presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Earlier in the campaign, he played Sen. Bernie Sanders when Clinton practiced to debate him. Jerry Kilgore, a Republican who ran against Kaine for governor in 2005, said he found debating Kaine a frustrating experience. "He's absolutely going to come off as believable with everything he says," Kilgore said. "He says everything with such sincerity." He added that Kaine came across that way whether or not Kaine was being completely forthright. "That's the danger Gov. Pence has in this debate," said Kilgore, a former Virginia attorney general. When Pence accepted the No. 2 slot, he and his team outlined three milestones they believed would require flawless execution: his initial rollout, his convention speech and the debate. The same close-knit team of advisers who helped plan the first two milestones - Nick Ayers, chairman of the vice-presidential campaign; Marc Short, a senior adviser; and Josh Pitcock, the campaign's policy director - have also been handling Pence's preparation. Pence's team decided it would be smart for him to attend the Sept. 26 debate at Hofstra University - not just to cheer on Trump, but to experience the drama and atmosphere of a presidential debate, without the high-stakes pressure. The Clinton team took a different approach. Kaine dropped by a debate watch party in Orlando, Florida, but left before the debate began. "I wish I could actually hang and watch it with you, but I'm actually doing homework tonight," he told the crowd. "I have to go sit down and get in the zone and with a yellow pad, you know, take a million notes." WASHINGTON - U.S. military strikes against the Assad regime will be back on the table Wednesday at the White House, when top national security officials in the Obama administration are set to discuss options for the way forward in Syria. But there's little prospect President Barack Obama will approve them. Inside the national security agencies, meetings have been going on for weeks to consider new options to recommend to the president to address the ongoing crisis in Aleppo, where Syrian and Russian aircraft continue to perpetrate the deadliest bombing campaign the city has seen since the 5-year-old civil war began. A meeting of the Principals Committee, which includes Cabinet-level officials, is scheduled for Wednesday. A meeting of the National Security Council, which could include the president, could come as early as this weekend. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Republican Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Mike Sullivan once again faces a challenge from Democrat Ann Harris Bennett, a rematch from four years ago for an office that oversees billions of dollars in property tax collections, maintains voter rolls and registers more vehicles than any other county in the state. Bennett lost to Sullivan in the 2012 election by about two-tenths of a percent, or less than 2,400 votes. Now, she is back, with a mission to unseat Sullivan and end the succession of Republican tax assessor-collectors, including Don Sumners and now-state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, that she said represents the establishment. "They have used (the office) in ways that I don't think the taxpayers of Harris County would be pleased with," the former court coordinator said. The 450-plus-employee office levies more than $4 billion in property taxes, registers more than 100,000 voters a year and oversees millions of vehicle registrations and title transfers each year. Sullivan has made "customer service" his motto. He was a former city council member before becoming the county taxman, and was on the Humble ISD school board before that. More Information Meet the candidates Candidate: Mike Sullivan (incumbent) Age: 59 Party: Republican Occupation: County Tax Assessor-Collector Campaign website: mikesullivancampaign.com Candidate: Ann Harris Bennett Age: 63 Party: Democratic Occupation: running her campaign, working with husband on for-profit food charity business Campaign website: electannharrisbennett.com See More Collapse In almost four years in office, he has launched initiatives that he said touches virtually every resident of Harris County. Among them, he said, were workshops to help people challenge their property appraisals and training sessions for high school principals in Houston ISD on how to register students as voters. He pointed to his work with the county budget office to upgrade the office's computers and software, and touted his creation of a military help desk to aid soldiers and their families navigate what can be complex tax rules. He said he also instituted an employee recognition program to improve morale. He also points to decisions to allow people to pay for registration renewals or other transactions with credit cards and put televisions in the lobbies of all of his offices. "For me, it's all about serving the public," Sullivan said. For Bennett, a big part of what separates her from Sullivan centers on how and when to use the office's soapbox to advocate for issues beyond its immediate control. Last year, Sullivan was part of a delegation of county officials whose lobbying in Austin helped torpedo a bill that would have allowed Texas voters to register online. Sullivan said that the process already is fraught with irregularities, adding that his office regularly has to deal with discrepancies between Department of Public Safety records and information on the voter rolls, discrepancies he said would only grow with online voter registration. Sullivan pointed to a record number of registered voters in the county this fall - close to 2.2 million - as evidence that current methods are working. Caption: Republican Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Mike Sullivan once again faces a challenge from Democrat Ann Harris Bennett in a rematch from four years ago. Last year, Sullivan was part of a delegation of county officials whose lobbying in Austin helped torpedo a bill that would have allowed Texas voters to register online. Sullivan said that the process already is fraught with irregularities, adding that his office regularly has to deal with discrepancies between Department of Public Safety records and information on the voter rolls, discrepancies he said would only grow with online voter registration. Bennett said she would be an advocate for online voter registration. Explore the data above by clicking on the button below it to see just how many new voters were registered since Sullivan took office in 2012. Bennett said she would be an advocate for online voter registration. She also would push the state to limit tax breaks for big corporations that she said come at the expense of average homeowners. "Corporations don't hurt like the average person does," she said. "I just want it to be fair. That's all any of us want, is just fair and equal." She ran unsuccessfully for county clerk in 2010. She points to her 14 years as a state district court coordinator - managing dockets, acting as a liaison with attorneys and clerks and helping settle cases - for both Republican and Democratic judges as experience that would help her process complex information quickly. She said she also has researched and helped descendants of Spanish and Mexican land grantees get legal claims to their land around Texas. Bennett said she would put an end to Sullivan's high-profile "shaming" of delinquent taxpayers. Media often are invited to go with law enforcement and tax collectors to pressure some of the top scofflaws in Houston, which Sullivan said has been successful in bringing in delinquent tax dollars. Bennett said she would strive to increase the efficiency of the office by first discussing with "employees, taxpayers, title services, automobile dealers and other associations what seems to be working well and what needs to be improved." It's a nasty little virus. It spreads quickly, and when it infects a pregnant woman, it puts the developing fetus at risk for devastating defects: deafness, eye disorders (which may lead to blindness), heart malformations and neurological problems, such as microcephaly and intellectual disability. There is no treatment that can prevent the damage to the fetus. The only defense is a vaccine that protects the mother. No, we are not describing the effects of the newly terrifying Zika virus, but rubella, or German measles, which was a worldwide scourge until the 1960s. After an outbreak in 1963-65 that resulted in 11,250 fetal deaths in the U.S., killed 1,200 newborns and left 20,000 children with birth defects, the rush was on to produce a vaccine. The first was licensed by the FDA in 1969, and a nationwide vaccination program for young children was launched. The vaccine has been so effective that by 2005, the CDC declared that rubella had been eradicated from the U.S. Now, the same kind of effort is being proposed to stop the spread of Zika, another destructive virus. But vaccines only work if given to a significant portion - at least 85 percent - of the population, according to most experts. As the Chronicle's Todd Ackerman has reported, a growing anti-vaccine movement is turning back the clock and putting Texas' children at risk. Rubella and many other once-deadly infectious diseases essentially were eliminated because states began to mandate that schoolchildren show proof of vaccination. Texas requires that students be vaccinated for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), hepatitis A and B, varicella (chicken pox) and meningococcal disease. But that requirement has come under increasing fire from a dedicated, politically savvy nationwide contingent of anti-vaccine activists. A newly formed group based in Austin - Texans for Vaccine Choice - is making our state an epicenter in the effort. It is spearheaded by Andrew Wakefield, an English doctor, who in 1998 claimed to have demonstrated a link between autism and vaccines, the measles/mumps/rubella combination vaccine, or MMR, in particular. His study has been thoroughly debunked and the paper withdrawn as fraudulent by the scientific publication where it appeared. Wakefield's malfeasance was considered so egregious that his license to practice medicine was revoked. Many well-designed studies since have found no connection between autism and vaccines, but the damage was done. Today, 18 states, including Texas, have laws allowing exemptions from the vaccine requirement for "reasons of conscience," and the number of parents exploiting the loophole is growing steadily. In the context of a statewide student population of 5.5 million, the anti-vaxxers and their children are relatively few (45,000 attend our schools). But their shared demographic profile - they're usually white, college-educated and living in households with a $75,000 annual income - increases the risk of a serious outbreak, because the unvaccinated children tend to be concentrated in specific neighborhoods and schools. In Austin, as many as 20 percent of students in some private schools are unvaccinated. The danger of these clusters became apparent last year when an outbreak of measles that began at Disneyland in California quickly spread to seven states and sickened at least 145 people, most of whom were unvaccinated. California has a large contingent of vaccine skeptics concentrated in upscale, like-minded communities, so it was a courageous move for the Legislature to eliminate all nonmedical exemptions beginning this school year. A stated goal of Texans for Vaccine Choice is to prevent just such legislative action, and it is proving to be a formidable political force. Just ask state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas. In the 2015 session, he proposed legislation to eliminate nonmedical exemptions to vaccines. Although his bill never even got a hearing, Texans for Vaccine Choice mounted an aggressive campaign against his re-election bid. He held onto his seat, but he would not, he told the Texas Tribune, be reintroducing the bill next session, calling it "a suicide mission." In an effort to give parents information about the clusters of unvaccinated children in certain schools, the Texas House passed a bill last session that would require the Texas Department of State Health Services to publish a school-by-school accounting of how many students are unvaccinated. It died in the Senate. We encourage the Legislature to revisit this legislation. Parents need the information to protect children who haven't finished their full course of vaccines or who can't be vaccinated for medical reasons, such as allergies or immune system ailments or cancer treatments. Even better, revisit Rep. Villalba's bill. It would offer some consolation for the tragedy of Zika if it provokes lawmakers - and parents - to reconsider their misguided opposition to vaccines. Last night's vice presidential debate felt a bit like a science fiction movie. The Republican Party apparently got its hands on a time machine and announced that Mike Pence was the clear winner of the debate about 90 minutes before the event began. They even included his top debate moments. To quote Texas' own Rick Perry: Oops. Meanwhile, viewers might have thought that they were peering into a parallel world where politics had returned to a routine status quo. For Houston, that means taking a back seat to issues that poll well in swing states. Two boring white guys sat on the stage, instead of the first woman candidate or a man who has held no prior elected office. It is almost as if both campaigns tried to pick a vice president who could communicate a sense of routine experience to balance out the tickets. Both Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Gov. Mike Pence list one-term governor on their resumes. Both have experience in Congress - Kaine as a senator and Pence as a representative. Both are Roman Catholic fathers of three kids. You would think that each was born from Hollywood central casting, rather than their mutual Midwest origins. They even kept to the usual script, relying on talking points and one-liners to hit each other throughout the 90-minute debate. Pence showed how easy it should be to run a on a platform of change against a candidate with a long record. He had no trouble keeping the all-smiles Virginia senator on his heels while bopping former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. As Pence pointed out, it doesn't matter what the economic stats show, people in Rust Belt cities know how they feel, and they're not happy. But rather than bolster Donald Trump as president, the Indiana governor's calm demeanor and easy delivery of the routine Republican positions illuminates just how unprepared Trump truly is - not only in his political beliefs, but also in his uncontrollable narcissism. Pence was cool where Trump flails, and the latter isn't something you'd want to see in the Oval Office. Meanwhile, Kaine had Pence defending Trump's insults toward women, Mexicans and U.S. Sen. John McCain. Pence tried to laugh it off when Kaine raised Trump's praise for dictators and maligning of NATO, leading to some awkward moments of Kaine dropping a Trump quote and Pence denying it ever happened. Pence also promised that the former reality television host was going to release his tax returns - we're waiting on that one. As New Yorker writer Phillip Gourevitch described the debate, "Kaine makes his appeal by being in sync with Clinton, and Pence makes his appeal by being at odds with Trump." The real winner of the debate was moderator, Elaine Quijano, who stopped the two candidates from talking over each other with a quick censure: "The people at home cannot understand either one of you." Both men behaved better after that. As the two went blow for blow, however, voters in Houston had little to take home. Pence dropped some references to protecting the coal industry, with no consideration of how that could hurt Houston's natural gas workers. We heard nothing about the international trade that powers the Port of Houston, or how a president could help the next generation of Houstonians sitting in our public schools. Harsh rhetoric about immigration and refugees seems totally alien to the reality on the ground in our diverse city. The debate may have had tinges of sci-fi, but it shouldn't be a fantasy to hear issues relevant to the fourth-largest city of the United States discussed on the national stage. "Thank God and the United States to be here and safe." So said Nabeel Hasan last year at a Thanksgiving dinner sponsored by Interfaith Action of Central Texas. Hasan escaped grave danger in Iraq and found safety in this great state. He's far from alone. Between October 2015 and August 2016, Texas welcomed more refugees than any other state. I myself am no stranger to that famous Texan hospitality, having relocated here to become dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M. Aggieland felt like home from the moment I arrived in 2010. If I was thankful to start a new life in Texas, you can imagine the gratefulness of people who escaped the brutality of ISIS or the bombs of dictatorial governments. Now, however, Texas may turn its back on refugees. The governor has announced that the state will pull out of the federal refugee resettlement program. This is a major mistake. It represents a break with Texas' proud history, and with the ideals of a country long committed to protecting victims of war and persecution. The move sends precisely the wrong message to other states and to the world. A sad result of this heated and confusing campaign season is that Syrian refugees have become mingled in people's minds with their oppressors. Syrians, along with Iraqis, are the primary victims of ISIS. As a former ambassador to Syria, I know the country well. Committed to hard work and education, Syrians are precisely the kind of people I'd want living in my community and attending my child's schools. Also among the people who need our country's protection - and who suffer when resettlement efforts are rolled back - are Afghans and Iraqis living in danger because they worked with the U.S. military or U.S. government. When I worked in the government, I teamed up with leaders in Congress to establish a special visa program to allow these brave allies to reach safety in the United States. This is simply a matter of keeping our word. Politics and emotion, not facts, are driving the hostility toward refugees. "The federal government lacks the capability or the will to distinguish the dangerous from the harmless," Gov. Greg Abbott said, "and Texas will not be an accomplice to such dereliction of duty to the American people." That sounds scary, and it would be if it were accurate. Our government has successfully screened refugees for years. In fact, they are vetted more thoroughly than any other traveler seeking to come to the United States. In June, I was among a bipartisan group of former government officials - which included former secretaries of Defense and State, former CIA directors and former National Security advisers - who confirmed the soundness of the security process. We pointed out that it "includes screenings by national and international intelligence agencies, fingerprint and other biometric data checks against terrorist and criminal databases, and multiple rounds of interviews." Welcoming refugees doesn't threaten U.S. national security. On the contrary, it refutes the propaganda of ISIS, which seeks to convince Syrians and Iraqis that they belong in the caliphate, not the west. At the same time, America's resettlement effort helps relieve the countries bordering Syria. Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon are struggling to host millions of refugees, and it's in the interest of the United States to support their stability. Before coming to Texas A&M, I worked overseas for more than three decades, serving as an ambassador in six countries in the Middle East and Central Asia. Everything I learned as a diplomat and public official led me to believe that America's compassion for refugees is a source of strength. Providing them protection is what a proud and confident nation does. Crocker was U.S. ambassador to six different countries and is a board member of Mercy Corps. The United States and China recently ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, with the Obama administration's contribution being the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan - the largest climate-change regulation ever attempted in the United States - whose legality is currently being argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the public seems to know little about the Clean Power Plan, a point brought home to me recently when I spoke about energy to 200 accountants employed by one of the largest accounting firms. When I asked the group how many had heard of the Clean Power Plan, only about 10 people raised their hands. The plan is being promoted as a means to accelerate a shift away from carbon dioxide-generating electricity fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas to lower CO2-generating sources such as wind and solar. The EPA's website clearly states the overarching goal: "Nationwide, by 2030, the Clean Power Plan will help cut carbon emissions from the power sector by 30 percent from 2005 levels, while starting to make progress toward meaningful reductions in 2020." Regardless of your perspective on climate and carbon, or on the legalities of the plan, it is valuable to examine some basic facts: The year 2005, the base year of the Clean Power Plan, is essentially tied with 2007 for the highest year of CO2 power-sector emissions in the U.S. at about 2,400 million metric tons. The 2030 emissions goal is a 30 percent reduction from 2005, or roughly 1,680 million metric tons. In 2015, U.S. power sector emissions were 1,900 million metric tons, already a 20 percent reduction from 2005. In fact, from 2005 to 2015, the U.S. reduced CO2 emissions more than any other major economy in the world. In other words, by 2015, we had already reduced emissions by 20 percent without a Clean Power Plan or government carbon price signal. Not only does the 30 percent goal in the plan not seem very ambitious, it appears misleading to trumpet a 30 percent target when 20 percent has already been achieved. The 20 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from 2005 to 2015 happened in three ways: renewable energy such as hydroelectric, wind and solar increased; there was a recession, which dampened energy demand; and the use of natural gas nearly doubled, which had the biggest impact. Natural gas grew quickly because hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of shales created new supplies, causing natural-gas prices to plummet. If the pace of CO2 reduction from 2005 to 2015 continues to 2030, CO2 emissions would be around 1,300 million metric tons - a 45 percent reduction from 2005 and substantially lower than the goals of the Clean Power Plan. Confused? So am I. Why push for a Clean Power Plan if we are already two-thirds of the way there and headed - without federal intervention - lower than the ultimate goal of the plan? As with most things in energy, there are politics involved. Take the proposed EPA rate-based CO2 reduction burdens recommended by the Clean Power Plan for each state. If you arrange the states from left to right on a graph, you'll see that the half on the left with the least proposed CO2 reduction burden voted 75 percent Democrat in the 2012 presidential race, and the half on the right with the greatest burden voted 66 percent Republican. We should not judge political motivation or intention, but we do need to look at actual outcomes. Government carbon interventions have not worked very well in other countries, and in fact they have often had the opposite effect on actual CO2 emissions. In contrast, the U.S has made great progress thus far, even if not orchestrated, without federal policy or agency rules. Back in the early 2000s, the Kyoto Protocol - a precursor to the Paris Agreement - set out a similar goal, but in fact had the reverse impact: CO2 emissions in developed nations remained essentially flat, but emissions in developing nations increased sharply. Nonetheless, some still argue the Clean Power Plan is needed, perhaps on philosophical or moral grounds. But if the goal is actual reductions in CO2 emissions, the road to green is not always a federal highway. Tinker is the state geologist of Texas, the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology and the Allday Endowed Chair in the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One phone call really stood out to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., after Hillary Clinton selected him as her running mate. "Hey, welcome aboard," Indiana Gov. Mike Pence told Kaine in late July. The Republican vice-presidential nominee's greeting to the Democratic vice-presidential nominee is the only conversation the two men have ever had, according to Kaine. On Tuesday, the Indiana governor and Virginia senator meet for the first time face to face, sharing a stage in Farmville, Va., during a 90-minute debate that will be watched by millions and could help define their respective careers. Their mutually friendly style could make for a less cutthroat environment than last week's presidential debate. Their lack of common knowledge of each other adds to the expectation they will spend more time attacking the presidential nominees, Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, than each other. "We talked by phone once, but I never met him," Kaine explained in a brief interview last week during a quick trip to the Capitol. Kaine said that he had been preparing for Tuesday's debate under the assumption that Clinton would have a superior performance in the initial presidential debate, last week, which public polling has since confirmed. "I was already kind of preparing in that mind-set, and she did. So I don't need to change," Kaine said. He said that his main focus would be contrasting the two competing visions laid out in books that Clinton and Trump have published as campaign platforms. "Continue to lay out the vision, so the 'Stronger Together' versus 'Crippled America'. . . . We're going to continue to lay that out," Kaine said, referencing Clinton and Trump's respective manifestos. He believes the Republican's dark view of the nation's future does not sit well with the broader electorate. Pence's optimistic style, honed as a radio show host in Indiana and 12 years as a congressman on Capitol Hill, has often aped Ronald Reagan and stands in stark contrast to Trump. "My fellow Americans, I believe we have come to another rendezvous with destiny and I have faith, faith in the boundless capacities of the American people, and faith that God can still heal our land," Pence said toward the end of his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. But Pence is capable of going after the other side, particularly the Clintons. In July, Politico unearthed a clip from Pence's radio show in 1997 in which he excoriated then-President Bill Clinton for his handling of a controversial affair of a military officer, suggesting Bill Clinton's own infidelities caused him to keep quiet on the matter. "We haven't heard a whisper out of the White House on this case. I mean not a whisper. And the president comments on everything. Doesn't he? I mean you could, you could have him announce corn prices are down, the president would have a press conference," Pence said. Kaine said he expects Pence to focus on Clinton and the controversies that have dogged her campaign, saying that he has been preparing himself to counterpunch. "Pence will be doing an awful lot of attacking, so I'm going to be taking him on on all the attacks," Kaine said. Whoever becomes vice president, Kaine and Pence seem destined to play a similar role: envoy to Capitol Hill, where a younger generation of lawmakers has little experience with Clinton or Trump. Pence, 57, finally broke through politically in 2000, claiming an open House seat representing eastern Indiana. His focus in the Capitol tended toward social issues, aligning himself with Christian conservatives who would become his strongest supporters. After Republicans were expelled from the majority in 2006, Pence argued that the voters abandoned them because of a lack of conservative conviction. He ran a foolhardy race against John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, for House minority leader. The result, 168 votes for Boehner and 27 for Pence, was considered so embarrassing that Republicans have never since released the vote tally for any leadership race. Boehner brought Pence into a midlevel leadership post in 2009, where his highest-profile moment came in January 2010 when he moderated a combative question-and-answer session with House Republicans and President Barack Obama. The president was considered to have held the upper hand throughout. Pence bowed out of leadership in 2011 to focus on his run for governor, winning by 3 percentage points in a competitive race four years ago. That same year Kaine won his U.S. Senate seat. He had spent his previous years in state and local politics, winning a seat on the Richmond City Council in 1994, getting elevated to mayor in 1998 and in 2001 joining Mark Warner, then the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, as his running mate. He won the 2005 governor's race and served two years as chairman of the Democratic National Committee at Obama's request. He had to be coaxed into running for the Senate because he so preferred being an executive. Kaine's issue focus was much different from Pence's on Capitol Hill. His key assignments were the Senate Armed Services and Senate Foreign Relations committees. Kaine played the role of bipartisan bridge builder on those committees, often failing to forge compromises that could suit both sides, particularly on a new war resolution to battle the Islamic State. In Pence, Trump found someone who counts House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., as a close friend. Ryan introduced Pence at the convention. Despite serving eight years in the Senate, Clinton never served with more than half the current members of the chamber. Kaine is a text-messaging buddy with Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., also elected in 2012 and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. Flake, who has refused to endorse Trump, remains very close friends with Pence from their days in the House together, and whoever serves a heartbeat away from the presidency, he stands ready to work with him. "He's a good guy," Flake of Kaine after a town hall outside Phoenix in August. "We've been close in the Senate. Both he and Pence. I think a lot of us wish we could flip the tickets." Paul Kane covers Congress and politics for the Washington Post. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had exceedingly different objectives when they picked their vice presidential running mates, and the political calculus for each of them was on full display Tuesday night. Trump, who has struggled to win over traditional Republican voters, sought out Indiana Gov. Mike Pence in large part to quell the commotion in GOP circles about his winning the nomination. Clinton has had an easier time of bringing along Democrats who voted for her challenger, Bernie Sanders, in the primary, though the conversation around her VP pick included speculation that she might choose Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to make the Bernie-to-Hillary road a little smoother for his supporters. It quickly became apparent that Warren wasnt going to be the choice, but before Clinton chose Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the prospect of a Clinton-Warren ticket undeniably roused many Democrats. Fast forward to Tuesdays vice presidential debate, where Pence and Kaine arrived with a shared goal of landing a few punches on the other team without doing any harm to their bosses. And for one night Trumps past statements be damned Pence allowed Republicans to remember what it feels like to have a trained, polished politician run for political office. More important, however, is that theres already talk about what the debate means for Pences own presidential ambitions in 2020 or 2024. Should Trump lose, that will be the lasting effect of Tuesdays debate. Playing the No. 2 role well on the campaign trail, Pence brought that presentation to his biggest night of the entire campaign. Whatever happens now with Trump, no one outside his sycophantic brigade can say that Pence failed to do what he was hired to do, in effect. This dynamic led, predictably, to reporting that Trump was irked by Pences performance. Its not that the governor did a bad job, but that Pence didnt defend Trump as much as the presidential candidate would have liked. Pence won overall, but lost with Trump, CNBC anchor John Harwood tweeted, citing a Trump advisor. Consider that Kaine has not received any of the same feedback today. Nobody expects him to have presidential ambitions beyond serving as Clintons vice president. That job likely would be the end of his political career, much like the case of Joe Biden, which made choosing Kaine one of the smartest political calculations Clinton has made this election season. If she had chosen Warren and if the Massachusetts senator had given a solid performance similar to Pences last night the Draft Warren 2020 talk would be off the charts right now. Trump did exactly the opposite. From the moment Trump picked Pence, the former reality TV star left himself open to headlines about Pence like the ones hes reading today. For the next four days, until Clinton and Trump face off again, he will have to hear cable chatter about how wonderfully Pence did last night, potentially leading the Republican nominee to plan a signature outsized performance with the aim of getting the media to refocus on him. Trump may see Pence as the loser in his eyes, but it was a loss of Trumps own making. The Texas County Dutch Oven Cookers will demonstrate their craft from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday (Oct. 10) at Pond Trail Farm Guesthouse. Group members Jim Eckley, Jim Kidwell and Bob Roach will cook various foods in dutch ovens and share the results with attendees. Pond Trail Farm Guesthouse is located on Fisher Drive north of Oak Hill Drive. For more information, call 417-967-8012. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Presidential candidate Donald Trump can still call himself one of America's richest people. He just doesn't rank in the top 25 per cent and he didn't last year, either. Forbes released its list of America's 400 richest people on Tuesday, and Trump came in at number 156 down 35 spots from 2015. Advertisement The businessman's fortune was estimated at $3.7 billion this year, for a drop of $800 million. That's being blamed on cooling property values in New York. Earlier this year, CNBC reported that the Big Apple was facing a potential glut of commercial real estate, with market capitalization rates which measure an asset's net operating income as a percentage of its value reaching historic lows. New York is also facing an oversupply of hotel rooms, with as many as 20,000 about to be added to the market, the network added. Combine this with apartment sales falling to their lowest levels since 2009, and you have a picture of a slacking real estate market that hurts The Donald's net worth. Advertisement Of course, this isn't the only time Trump's lost a lot of money. On Saturday, The New York Times reported on his 1995 tax return, which showed that that he'd lost $916 million. That loss that could have helped him avoid paying any income taxes for 18 years, the newspaper said. Trump had previously said you "don't learn that much" from tax returns. Bill Gates topped Forbes' list with year with his wealth of $81 billion. He was followed by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, who's worth $67 billion, and Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, who's worth $65.5 billion. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Oracle's Larry Ellison rounded out the top five, with $55.5 billion and $49.3 billion to their names, respectively. Advertisement Also on HuffPost Advocates rallied at the University of Calgary on Tuesday to support Muslim students after 40 hateful posters were plastered around the school. The flyers contained vulgar language and said Muslims can "keep their barbaric ways...right where they belong..in your 7th-century homelands." The image also featured a burning Quran. Advertisement Keep your barbaric ways in your 7th century homeland: Anti-Muslim posters target University of Calgary https://t.co/LjnaYgMUsopic.twitter.com/s0ct3n5txs National Post (@nationalpost) October 5, 2016 University president Elizabeth Cannon said in a statement the posters were "disturbing" and don't reflect the culture of the university. At the rally, supporters wrote notes of solidarity to the Muslim community: Members of the campus community gathering in response to anti-Muslim posters found on campus this morning. pic.twitter.com/7exGmWExcw U Calgary (@UCalgary) October 4, 2016 Standing in support and solidarity with our fellow students today after discovering posters promoting hate. Stay strong #ucalgarypic.twitter.com/hxGIXECOOS Sam Hossack (@UCGSA_Pres) October 4, 2016 Advertisement Up-close look at some of those messages of support for Muslim community on @UCalgary campus after Islamophobic posters put up earlier. pic.twitter.com/YUCTXdVDmM Raffy Boudjikanian (@CBCRaffy) October 4, 2016 Umair Tazeem, president of the university's Muslim Students' Association, told CBC News the incident won't make him feel unwelcome on the campus. But some students said the posters make them feel unsafe at the school. "This is my campus, my community, but part of me feels very scared now, Lobna Al-Wadeih, who wears a hijab, told the National Post. Cannon told reporters the incident has been handed over to Calgary police, who are now investigating. She said she hopes the perpetrators are caught and are held accountable. Advertisement Premier condemns posters Last month, similarly profane posters were reported at the University of Alberta in Edmonton targeting Sikh people. The university removed 12 posters featuring a picture of a Sikh man, profanity about turbans, and a statement calling on people from third-world cultures to leave Canada. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said on Tuesday that both incidents are unacceptable and encouraged people to speak out against that kind of hatred. With files from The Canadian Press Also on HuffPost Photos have documented the devastation Hurricane Matthew has wreaked on the Caribbean, but there's one image in particular that gives it an eerie face. A recent infrared satellite image of the storm as it made landfall in Haiti bears an uncanny likeness to a skull with teeth. Advertisement Weather Channel senior meteorologist Stu Ostro tweeted the creepy graphic Tuesday. Scientists use colours to show the most intense part of a storm, CNN meteorologist Judson Jones told the outlet. In this case, grey, red and black were picked. Paul Meyer, who works as an atmospheric scientist with NASA's Earth Science Office, told CNN that the skull's "teeth" are cold convective clouds. But meteorologist Matt Devitt with WINK News in Fort Myers, Fla. posted a slightly different infrared image Tuesday, showing the strongest part of the hurricane as pink, which makes it look a bit less sinister. Advertisement But the image is still terrifying fitting for the damage the storm has, and could still, wreak. The hurricane has been blamed for the deaths of at least 19 people in Haiti, according to NBC News. The storm also killed four people in the Dominican Republic, one person in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and one in Colombia. The National Hurricane Center predicts that Matthew will pummel eastern Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas over the next few days, according to The Weather Channel. Flooding and strong waves are expected. Hundreds of thousands have been ordered to evacuate their homes in Florida and South Carolina, according to BBC News. Also on HuffPost Hurricane Matthew See Gallery Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accidentally said the T-word. In question period Wednesday, Trudeau diverged briefly from his preferred lingo when discussing his governments plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions carbon pricing and instead called it a tax. Advertisement Conservatives, who prefer the term tax and are already warning the plan will make just about everything more expensive, erupted in applause. The slip happened moments after deputy Tory leader Denis Lebel accused Trudeau of trying to sugarcoat the reality by calling the plan carbon pricing. Canadians arent fooled. Thats a new tax, Lebel said. This is bad news for Canadians. He called on the prime minister to guarantee Canadians that the price of their groceries and gasoline wont soon be going up. PM drowned out by mock applause The prime minister shot back that his government was showing the leadership that has been lacking for too long. Advertisement Were also guaranteeing that this this tax this pricing on carbon will be Trudeau was drowned out by the mock applause of evidently delighted Tories. Trudeau rose again to guarantee the price on carbon will be revenue-neutral for the federal government. It will be up to provinces to determine how they choose to reimburse their citizens for this progress on the environment and the economy, he said. 'Accidentally told the truth' Tory MP Pierre Poilievre then charged that Trudeau accidentally told the truth that this is a tax. Poilievre, who represents an Ontario riding, said green energy decisions by provincial Liberals have forced poor families in the region to head to food banks with their hydro bills in their hands. A federal carbon tax will do the same, he warned. Why is prime minister forcing the poor to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families? he asked. Trudeau said that was all a bit much from a party that voted against lowering taxes for the middle class by raising them on Canadas wealthiest. He also mocked Tories for thinking its better to send millionaires child benefit cheques rather than increase those cheques for lower income families. Advertisement This government is focused on helping the middle class and those working so hard to join the middle class, Trudeau said. We will remain so despite the fear-mongering from the other side. 'Freudian slip' And despite predictions of immediate and gloom, the policy Liberals unveiled this week doesnt kick in until 2018. That didnt stop Tories from taking to Twitter with a video accusing the prime minister of a Freudian slip. Also on HuffPost PM Trudeau Posing For Selfies See Gallery David McNew via Getty Images EL CAJON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: A protester holds a Black Lives Matter placard during march in reaction to the fatal police shooting of unarmed black man, Alfred Olango, on September 30, 2016 in El Cajon, California. The security detail consisted of members of The Black Panther Party, Nation of Islam and a coalition of black activist groups. A family member called police to help Olango as he was undergoing an emotional breakdown but shot him when he quickly pulled out an electronic cigarette device. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Last week, the New York City chapter of Christian mega-church Hillsong made clear their stance on the ongoing fight for racial equality. "At THIS church, we are not saying 'all lives matter' right now because this is a logical assumption that most reasonable people agree with," the church posted on their Facebook page. "All lives are not at risk right now. We ARE saying BLACK LIVES MATTER. Because, right now, black lives apparently are worth LESS on our streets. It's 'our fight' not 'their fight.'" Advertisement I immediately shared the post on my own News Feed, not only because I'm (slightly) obsessed with Hillsong Music, but more importantly, because public support from the church for the BLM movement is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Four years after the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and the emergence of BLM both as a political and social movement, the Christian church has largely failed to advocate for the lives of black people. At times silent and at others deliberately distancing itself from BLM, the church has sent a clear message: Black lives do not matter. The first time I heard the term "black lives matter" in my own church was a mere few weeks ago. The moment came as a shock, not because it was the first time, but because the words were said with such contempt. As if the assertion that black lives were of value was somehow synonymous with some deadly sin, the words were said with an animosity that was impossible to ignore. It was then that I realized that despite all the biblical teachings of love and unity, there were still white Christians willing to perpetuate the deadly societal belief that black lives are of lesser value. Advertisement Just days before, Keith Lamont Scott had been killed by police in Charlotte and an unarmed Terence Crutcher had been shot and killed by an officer in Tulsa. The two killings had once again brought out protestors en masse and led to renewed calls for an end to police brutality. "Jesus Christ died on a cross for me, my black skin and all my blackness. My life matters." Their killings bore a painful resemblance to the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile earlier that year. Both allegedly unarmed (although Scott's family says he did not have a gun, Charlotte police say otherwise), their deaths at the hands of police were both filmed and their final moments shared online for the world to see. Two more dead black men. And yet, for so many white Christians, the never ending targeting and killing of unarmed black men is easily overlooked -- or worse, denigrated. Many of those who commented on Hillsong NYC's post in support of BLM were quick to denounce the movement and deny the role that race often plays in police killings. One clearly misinformed soul went so far as to comment that "a black person has a better chance of getting struck by lightning than getting shot by a police officer." (While the odds of being struck by lightning are one in 700,000, one person is shot and killed every eight or nine hours in the United States.) Such comments come as little surprise when the data on Christian support for BLM is considered; according to a study from Barna Group, while 76 per cent of evangelicals believe that all lives matter, ironically, only 13 per cent support the movement's message. Advertisement The gap between the church and Black Lives Matter is not only large but also problematic. As racial tensions continue to grow, many black Christians are turning to their churches for comfort. And yet too often, the very institution that is meant to symbolize love and serve as calm in the storm is showing the opposite. Inarguably, it's this very hypocrisy that poses the greatest problem. As Brooke Hempell, vice president of research at Barna Group points out, "By failing to recognize the disadvantages that people of color face, we perpetuate the racial divisions, inequalities and injustices that prevent African American communities from thriving. If white evangelical Christians genuinely care for the wellbeing of their African American brothers and sisters, the first step they must take is being honest about their own biases." For white Christians who may not know where to start, I offer this simple reminder: Jesus Christ died on a cross for me, my black skin and all my blackness. My life matters. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook CP In late September, Inuit artist Annie Pootoogook died tragically in Ottawa. Pootoogook was an award-winning illustrator from Cape Dorset, Nunavut. Her ink-and-crayon depictions of everyday life in the north -- families sitting to eat a meal of seal meat or shopping at the Arctic co-op -- received international acclaim. In contrast to the idealized vision many Canadians have of the north, of majestic rock and ice landscapes or charismatic wildlife like polar bears, Pootoogook's drawings often reflected the crushing poverty northern families face and its devastating impacts on their health and well-being. Advertisement Ottawa police believe Pootoogook's death is suspicious -- she may have been the victim of foul play. If so, Annie Pootoogook is yet another indigenous woman to die violently in Canada. Indigenous women and girls are at least three times more likely to experience violence than non-indigenous women and six times more likely to be murdered. On any given day, thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Metis women and children are living in emergency shelters to escape abuse (though on-reserve shelters remain woefully underfunded). The RCMP hasn't kept accurate statistics on the number of murdered or missing people, but indigenous women's organizations and affected families have reported hundreds of cases of loved ones who have been victims of violent crime. After years of indifference and inaction, Canada's government has finally launched an inquiry into the many lives lost to violence. Advertisement Although the national inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women won't investigate cases police previously examined, it will look at broader factors that put indigenous women and girls at such great risk. These stories are heart-breaking, but the response from indigenous peoples brings hope. According to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, this includes institutional racism, social and economic marginalization and inadequate access to affordable housing so women can escape abusive relationships. Police forces have often failed to deal with violence against indigenous peoples, and officers themselves have been implicated or charged with assaults and sexual abuse. Human-rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Kairos have also drawn attention to resource development in Indigenous territories, where the influx of transient workers -- along with money, alcohol and drugs from outside the community -- puts indigenous women at risk of aggressive harassment and violence by men. As environmentalists, we often emphasize the impacts of mining or oil and gas development on wildlife and ecosystems but ignore the staggering social consequences for indigenous communities, especially women. Amnesty International's research on the social impacts of resource development in northeast B.C.'s booming Peace Region has uncovered numerous accounts of attacks on women and girls, including "domestic violence, encounters with strangers that ranged from aggressive harassment to brutal violence, including unsolicited offers of drugs and money for sex, sexual assault and gang rapes." Advertisement These stories are heart-breaking, but the response from indigenous peoples brings hope. One such grassroots effort is the Moose Hide Campaign, a growing movement of aboriginal and non-aboriginal men dedicated to ending violence against women and children, through education and peer support, encouraging men to develop healthier relationships with the women in their lives. The Moose Hide Campaign was created by a young First Nations girl named Raven Lacerte and her father, Paul, in British Columbia. Working with First Nations hunters, they have distributed more than 250,000 small moosehide squares to communities across Canada -- encouraging men to wear the pins as symbols of their commitment to be accountable for their behaviour and to reject violence. What makes the campaign particularly poignant is that Raven and her father made the first pins from the hide of a moose they harvested near the infamous Highway of Tears between Prince George and Prince Rupert, where dozens of Indigenous women have gone missing or been found murdered. The inquiry into the crisis of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls is long overdue and is a testament to the hard work and leadership of indigenous women and communities who have spent decades calling for an inquiry. It will proceed over the next few years and will make recommendations to governments, police and other agencies. We must also take personal action to end violence by participating in initiatives like the Moose Hide Campaign, which bring people together to promote healing. These are important steps for all Canadians to embrace if we are to advance reconciliation. Advertisement Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Ontario and Northern Canada Director Faisal Moola. Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: By Shelley Garnham Dr. Fathiya hands us each a blue mask, instructing us to cover our nose and mouth as we pull the bands snugly behind our heads. She insists that we ensure there is a tight seal all along the blue cloth between it and our cheeks, noses, and chins. We are about to enter "The Gazebo" and must take extra precautions to protect ourselves and the patients on the other side from the spread of infections. Once everyone's masks are secure, we follow the doctor and nurses through the doorway into a bright courtyard, passing several windowed rooms on our left. Lusi explains that these are "negative pressure rooms." Doug nods his head in comprehension, while the rest of the group quietly rumbles with confusion, "what are negative pressure rooms for?" He explains to the group that the rooms are designed to draw contaminated air out, allowing doctors and nurses to work more safely with patients affected by highly infectious diseases. Advertisement Doug Eyolfson -- or Dr. Doug, as we've affectionately come to call him, has brought a valuable insider's knowledge to the trip. He recently put his long-time career practicing emergency medicine on hold to represent Winnipeggers as their Member of Parliament (MP) in Ottawa. He joined two other MPs, Pam Damoff and Brenda Shanahan, on a 26 hour flight to Indonesia to participate in a RESULTS Canada delegation, where they enhanced their understanding of what health interventions look like in the growing middle income country. We take a sharp right onto the path and enter The Gazebo. Here we descend upon a group of eight men and women sitting quietly, wearing matching blue masks. Each is being treated for multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This is a trip that they must make every day for two years. Tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infection spread through the air, is rampant throughout Indonesia where it has the second highest prevalence rate in the world. It is now the number one infectious killer worldwide and the leading killer of people with HIV. In 2014 TB claimed 1.5 million lives. Though a cure was discovered and widely distributed in developed nations in the mid-1960s, virtually no new developments in treatment have been made since. This lack of innovation has allowed the bacteria to develop resistance to the most effective and commonly used antibiotics. These resistant strains of TB, referred to as MDR-TB, are just as infectious as the common TB bacteria, but are much more difficult to treat, and are spreading across the globe at disturbingly high rates. Advertisement This is what the patients in The Gazebo are facing. They have each been diagnosed with MDR-TB and now must tackle a gruelling two-plus years of treatment, travelling across Jakarta daily to Persahabatan hospital where they are given a handful of 16-20 drugs and an injection. The medication required to treat MDR-TB is toxic and often causes dizzy spells and nausea (among the least severe of the side effects). Patients wait in The Gazebo for up to three hours to ensure that they feel well enough for the long journey home again. Traffic in Indonesia, is like the weather in Canada -- unpredictable, a constant topic of conversation, and can set you back five minutes, or two hours. Patients coming to the hospital for daily care must take on the traffic, which often results in travel of two-to-three hours each way. This is a trip that they must make every day for two years. Much of the costs required to procure drugs and strengthen health-care systems for MDR-TB in Indonesia are covered by the Global fund. The group mingles with the patients and speaks through translators to hear how they are feeling on the treatment. Lusi, a former TB patient turned fierce patient advocate, beams a smile as she explains that one man is coming up on his first year of treatment. We all congratulate him on his halfway mark, with the quiet understanding that he still has one full year left. One year, nine hours each day. I almost ask what he does for work and quickly realize -- this is his full-time job. Advertisement Doug is often comparing and contrasting the system we see here with what he is familiar with back in Canada. He notes the challenges he faces in prescribing an antibiotic treatment regime -- anything beyond a ten day course is too much of a barrier for patients to complete. These patients at The Gazebo are in some ways the "lucky ones," able to access a hospital for diagnosis and treatment (albeit with a heavy burden). Though the Indonesian government does not cover the cost of MDR-TB drugs, other organizations have stepped in to address it. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund), is the largest international funding body providing essential financial resources to countries battling the three diseases. Much of the costs required to procure drugs and strengthen health-care systems for MDR-TB in Indonesia are covered by the Global fund. It is unimaginable to think of where these patients would be without this support. But availability of treatment alone is not enough. According to the hospital's own data, less than 50 per cent of MDR-TB patients were able to complete the treatment in the last five years. If the medication is too toxic, the side effects too severe, and access too difficult, then its availability is moot. Sixty years ago the scientific community developed what was thought to be a cure for TB. Several years before we landed on the moon, we had in our grasp the means to end to an epidemic that had ravaged the world for centuries. But since that time we have become complacent and neglectful. Advertisement A cure has no use if it cannot be widely distributed, managed and accessed. We may have developed a medicinal remedy for TB in 1964, but in 2016, in The Gazebo, it is clear that a real solution has yet to be discovered. Shelley Garnham is the Tuberculosis Project Officer at RESULTS Canada, an advocacy organization that generates the political will to end poverty. This blog is part of the blog series: AIDS, TB and Malaria: It's High Time for Us to End It. For Good by the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) in recognition of the Global Fund's Fifth Replenishment. The blog series runs from August 29 to October 3, 2016 and features a selection of blogs written by ICAD member and partner organizations. Contributors share their broad range of perspectives and insight on the work of the Global Fund and the opportunity that this moment presents us one year following the inauguration of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of CCIC or its members. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Police-reported hate crimes against Muslims have more than doubled over the past three years in Canada. Quite often, visibly Muslim women receive the worst of Islamophobic violence and harassment. And when they face violence from within their communities, Muslim women may be unlikely to report it, knowing that their communities are already over-policed. To learn more, we spoke to Naheed Mustafa and Chelby Daigle about sexual violence and Muslim communities, and how the media can best share stories of Muslim survivors. Advertisement Naheed Mustafa is an award-winning writer and broadcaster. She has done extensive training and skills development for not-for-profits, journalists, and activists. Chelby Daigle is a community connector, passionate about gender equity, anti-racism, youth empowerment, and civic engagement. Interviewer: What are the challenges you've seen in media reporting on sexual violence enacted against Muslim women? Naheed: "There isn't a lot of education among reporters, producers and editors about the lives of Muslims, even in Canada. And a lot of what does get covered is covered through the lens of 9/11. We see those sort of regular tropes reenacted again and again around 'honour' and culture. There is a lot of racism implicit in it." Advertisement "Part of it is also the way that journalism works. Increasingly, you have reporters that are not attached to a subject area. They don't have beats anymore. It's basically, 'crank things out and crank them out as fast as you can'... And by fracturing the coverage, you end up really simplifying it." "Frankly, there is an issue that media is predominantly white. The people that are covering these stories are not people from these communities. And they don't understand how things work... People of color are graduating at very high rates from journalism schools. But they're not staying in journalism. Part of that... is a result of the systemic barriers that people of color find." Chelby: "Sexual violence is not handled very well in the media, period. And we've seen that even when the white woman is the victim of sexual violence, it can often be turned against her. ... Often things that are sexual are sensationalized. Or [they] try to blame the victim." "So I think the more interesting issue is what young Muslim and Muslim women have been producing themselves... I think that's really where blogging, social media [come in]... people that are creating their own spaces is the answer to combatting a lot of this." Interviewer: How would you like to see Muslim communities creating consent culture? Chelby: "Creating consent culture is actually going back to some of those hadith... around issues of sexuality. We are talking more openly that our tradition speaks quite elaborately about sexuality and that... it should be mutual experience for both people. Woman is not an object to be used... We should just go back to our own traditions to... counter these other narratives." Advertisement Naheed: "We have to encourage [women] to be able to talk about these things without judgement. And to understand that in the case of sexual violence, for example, that it is a crime. You wouldn't turn on someone that was mugged or for getting in a traffic accident... [or] because they were robbed... Why would you turn on someone because they were sexually assaulted?" "[There's also] the need to educate young boys. And make sure... whether it's in the home, or it's in any space where young boys are connecting, to really model behavior that's respectful." Chelby: "I see young women connecting consent culture with combatting slut-shaming. That's a big issue everywhere, but in the context of Muslim community it is really looking at how we're describing particular issues in hijab. There are times when really the language around hijab becomes really quite slut-shaming -- like, 'If you don't wear this you are a lollipop that's attracting flies.' There's such an inherent narrative of sexual violence underlying that image." Interviewer: Statistics show most survivors don't report. Why is it important to have diverse representations of survivorship in media reporting? Naheed: "There's no one way to get through this.... I think just the diversity of that story would encourage people to understand that this plays out multiple ways but also encourage women from a variety of backgrounds to understand that they're not alone... It happens in all communities and there are multiple ways of dealing with it." Advertisement Chelby: "Not everyone necessarily wants to report to the police. And that's not always... part of their healing process. They might really just need to focus on healing, and reporting [to the police] is difficult, period... I think it's definitely important to see other narratives of survival." "Do you always necessarily want certain stories getting out in the media... when you don't know if you can control the story? Which is why, I think, ultimately a lot of people don't want their story getting into the media. Because you never know where it's going to go." Naheed: "A lot of Muslims are reluctant to talk about what's negative in their community because they feel like they're betraying the community. They feel like it's already a community under siege." Interviewer: There has been a swell in media coverage of rape culture in recent months. What conversations are you glad to see happening, and what do we still need to address? Naheed: "When it comes to talking about sexual violence [against Muslim women] in public fora it's still mostly talked about in terms of tactical war, whether it's because of ISIS or what's happening in Iraq or how rape is dealt with as an 'honour' issue in Muslim countries. That's the prevailing narrative. So I think it becomes difficult for Muslim women here because every time someone brings something up, it kind of hearkens to that. It becomes... a 'fundamentalist' or... 'religious' problem." Advertisement Chelby: "I think what's been interesting for me in terms of this emergence of [discussions on] rape culture is recognizing that this misogyny is a systemic problem." This blog is part of a series of interviews femifesto is publishing on media reporting and sexual violence in diverse communities across Canada. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: From time to time, the United States identifies certain individuals as crucial to the operation of terrorist organizations. Most often these are top leaders, or they help finance terrorist organizations. In all cases, these are people who have committed, or are deemed to pose a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism. When such an individual is identified, the U.S. Government places that person's name on the Specially Designated Terrorists List. His assets within U.S. reach are immediately frozen, and he is locked out of the global financial network. No U.S. citizen or company may conduct business with a designated individual. In this way, the United States disrupts financial support networks for terrorists and terrorist organizations. Until late last year, Abdiqadir Mumin was a recruiter and spokesman for al Shabaab, itself a designated terrorist organization that operates mostly in Somalia. In October of last year, Mumin defected from al Shabaab and set up an ISIL affiliate in Somalias Puntland semi-autonomous region. About 20 other members of al Shabaab followed him. The group is known to kidnap boys between the ages of 10 and 15, indoctrinate them and force them to participate in fighting. On August 31, the U.S. Department of State added Abdiqadir Mumin to the Designated Global Terrorist List under Executive Order 13224. By doing so, the United States serves notice to the U.S. public and the international community that Abdiqadir Mumin is actively engaged in terrorism. Designations of terrorist individuals and groups expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and effectively lock them out of the global financial system. Global terrorist designations can also assist or complement the law enforcement actions of other U.S. agencies and other governments. By designating Abdiqadir Mumin a global terrorist, the United States hopes to disrupt his own deadly agenda, and to nullify ISILs intentions of gaining a foothold in East Africa. from around the world gathered to sign the Global Climate Agreement. (Photo: Albin Lohr-Jones/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) In my previous blog, I suggested that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needed to pull back from his confrontational approach to negotiating a climate change agreement with the provinces. Advertisement Instead of using the threat of unilaterally ratifying the Paris Agreement as a blunt instrument to force the provinces back to the table on his terms, the government should rather come up with a new plan involving proportionality in emissions reduction -- all while recognizing the rights of provinces to use their own best methods to achieve the national goals. The good news: Trudeau seems to have pulled back temporarily from the ratification threat. The bad news: he has replaced it with another threat, promising to unilaterally introduce a national carbon tax as a means of ensuring provincial compliance with federal targets. Despite Trudeau's good intentions, his approach to this issue has made it even more difficult to achieve provincial consensus. Earlier references to this idea had already antagonized a number of the premiers, and will now compel Alberta to use it as a bargaining chip in their battle to get federal approval for new pipelines. Despite Trudeau's good intentions, his approach to this issue has made it even more difficult to achieve provincial consensus on meeting the targets agreed in Paris. Advertisement At this point, it is useful to look more closely at what exactly is at issue, and whether there is a simpler, less confrontational way to achieve the Paris targets. First point: the provinces have for the most part already set emissions reduction targets using their preferred mechanisms. Manitoba, for example, has promised a 50 per cent reduction by 2030, the Paris target year using cap-and-trade. This is actually a larger reduction than the 30 per cent required by Canada's own Paris targets. The four Atlantic Provinces, who are also battling with Trudeau on this subject, have already agreed to a 35 per cent reduction by 2030 (admittedly, against a 1990 not a 2005 baseline), and have done so through a voluntary agreement with the New England states. While several provinces -- B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan -- do not have legislated targets, their mitigation programs are well-established and in the case of the first two, already involve the use of a carbon tax. Saskatchewan remains a bit of an outlier, with aggressive plans for reducing emission in key sectors but no clear target and an evident disdain for any kind of carbon pricing. Second point: The provinces are keen to work on a national target, providing that they can use their own preferred mechanisms for doing so. Wouldn't it be more effective if the federal government first worked with the provinces towards developing an accelerated set of targets, then gave each province an opportunity to decide on the best way to achieve it? What is needed here is unanimity, not division; collaboration, not threats and penalties. Advertisement A quick examination of the current status of provincial targets suggests that closing this gap is achievable, if challenging. If current targets and mechanisms developed by the provinces are used without further interference by the feds, we can expect a shortfall of around 76 megatonnes (Mt) of CO2, a total of 599 Mt against the Paris target of 523 Mt. Imposing a carbon tax is no guarantee that this will happen. This figure uses the province's own publications and uses their suggested baselines, which as noted above differ in some cases from the federal 2005 baseline, as well as estimates from a recent study by Pembina Institute. Using slightly different calculations, other authors have suggested a shortfall of only 55 Mt--still significant, but workable. To eliminate a shortfall of 76 Mt, each province would need to increase its emissions reduction target by around 13 per cent (ignoring the territories for the moment, whose contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is minimal, though they are also the most affected by climate change). To eliminate a shortfall of 55 Mt, the increase in targets would have to be around 8.5 per cent. Taking Ontario as an example (the only province which has so far legislated its target commitments), its existing target of a 37 per cent reduction by 2030 would have to be increased to 45 to 50 per cent. That's a big challenge for a province that has already taken significant steps towards reaching its current target, but as the Pembina Institute study notes, there are still substantial gaps in the Ontario emissions reduction programmes, in particular in the heavy freight sector and the flaring of methane emissions. Changes of this scale are only likely to happen if each province re-sets its targets and closely examines the mechanisms needed to achieve them. Imposing a carbon tax is no guarantee that this will happen, as carbon taxes involve no target-setting at all. However, using a proxy value for carbon, e.g. 35 (C$50)/tonne of CO2 overall (suggested by a recent OECD study), can assist governments in planning how to attack this problem. Advertisement As well, some adjustments may have to be made to the idea of strict proportionality, reflecting the advances already made by some of the provinces. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: GeoStock via Getty Images Last month, the Canadian media reported on several instances of Canadian citizens being barred from the United States because they admitted to smoking marijuana, even if they had never been charged with or convicted of controlled substance possession. Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale described the banning of Canadians as a "ridiculous situation" that needed to be addressed. Advertisement However, in order to examine this issue in the proper context, we should consider how the Government of Canada treats United States citizens who seek entry into our country. U.S. citizens (and other foreign nationals) who have a single conviction for (or who have committed the act of) simple possession of thirty grams or less of cannabis (marijuana) or one gram of cannabis resin will not be barred from Canada. This is because, under the current Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, such an offense may only be punished by summary conviction (roughly equivalent to a U.S. misdemeanor). The Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act ("IRPA") instead bars foreign nationals if they have been convicted of (or have committed) an offense that would be considered an indictable offense (roughly equivalent to a U.S. felony) if it occurred in Canada. It is true that foreign nationals may also be barred if they are convicted of two or more offenses (not arising out of a single occurrence) that would be considered either summary or indictable offenses, if they occurred in Canada. Advertisement However, a single summary conviction would not normally result in a bar. Some Canadians may believe that this is unfair, since Canadian citizens who are convicted of (or who admit to) smoking marijuana on a single occasion may find themselves permanently banned from the United States. However, Canada also has its share of arguable unfair immigration outcomes. Canadians may be surprised to learn that United States citizens who have been convicted of (or who have committed) a single instance of Driving under the Influence ("DUI") will actually be barred from Canada. Some U.S. citizens may believe that this is unfair also, especially since Canadians who have DUI convictions are generally not barred from the United States. Fortunately, temporary and permanent waivers of inadmissibility are available for United States citizens (and other foreign nationals) who find themselves barred from Canada. Each type of waiver is briefly described below. Temporary waivers of inadmissibility are known as temporary resident permits ("TRPs"). Foreign nationals typically apply for TRPs at a Canadian consular post. However, United States citizens (and other foreign nationals who are visa exempt to Canada) may also apply for TRPs at the time of entry, at least in the case of minor offenses (including DUIs). This is a riskier option but if the foreign national is successful, he or she will be issued a TRP on the spot. TRPs can be issued for a single entry or for multiple entries; a multiple entry TRP is generally more difficult to obtain than a single-entry TRP. Advertisement Permanent waivers of inadmissibility are known as rehabilitations. A foreign national who has been convicted of an offense outside of Canada that renders him or her inadmissible may seek a rehabilitation, in order to permanently waive the inadmissibility. In limited cases, rehabilitations will be automatically granted after ten years; this is known as a deemed rehabilitation. To be eligible for a deemed rehabilitation, the foreign national must have been convicted of only one foreign offense that would be considered an indictable offense if it occurred in Canada. In addition, the following must apply: The offense must be punishable in Canada by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than ten years; At least ten years must have elapsed since the completion of all terms and conditions of the sentence (including any period of probation or driver's license suspension); The foreign national must not have been convicted of an indictable offense in Canada; The foreign national must not have been convicted of a summary conviction offence in Canada within the last ten years or of more than one summary conviction offence before the last ten years; The foreign national must not have been convicted outside Canada of an offence, which would be either a summary or indictable offense if it was committed in Canada, within the last ten years; The foreign national must not, prior to the last ten years, have been convicted outside Canada of more than one foreign offence that, if committed in Canada, would be a summary conviction offence; and The foreign national must not have committed an offense outside Canada that, if committed in Canada, would be an indictable offence. If deemed rehabilitation does not apply, it is still possible for apply for an individual rehabilitation after at least five years have elapsed since the completion of all terms and conditions of the foreign national's sentence. Advertisement Unfortunately, individual rehabilitations can take up to two years to adjudicate. In most cases, even foreign nationals who are eligible to apply for an individual rehabilitation will still need to seek a TRP to facilitate their entries while their rehabilitation application is pending. Imposing permanent bars on Canadian citizens who are convicted of (or who admit to) smoking marijuana may indeed be a "ridiculous situation." Some might also argue that barring United States citizens who have been convicted of (or who have committed) a single DUI offense is equally ridiculous. But these are simply different outcomes resulting from different immigration systems. It is unlikely that either Canada or the United States will change their respective immigration laws in the foreseeable future. The statutory provisions that result in these outcomes cover a broad range of offenses and apply to all foreign nationals, not just United States and Canadian citizens. Therefore, significant amendments to the immigration laws of both countries would be required. Bloomberg via Getty Images An employee restocks shelves at a grocery store in Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada, on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Wildfires raging through Alberta have spread to the main oil-sands facilities north of Fort McMurray, knocking out an estimated 1 million barrels of production from Canada's energy hub. Fire officials say the out-of-control inferno may keep burning for months without significant rainfall. Photographer: Darryl Dyck/Bloomberg via Getty Images It was cold. It was rainy. It was a weekend, a time most people look forward to spending with family. Despite all that, residents and workers from across Ontario -- including a large number of Unifor activists -- boarded buses and went to Toronto to let our elected representatives know that we expect real labour reform and change in Ontario to combat the scourge of precarious work that makes life so difficult for so many, including the younger generation of workers. Advertisement This is the best educated generation in this country's history. They have done all the right things. They've gone to school. They got good marks, did volunteer work to fill out their resumes and in return students and their families are drowning in sky-rocketing debt. And yet, it seems the best our economy can offer them is precarious work marked by contract jobs, low wages, uncertain shifts and no benefits. Too many of our young people, and an increasing number of older workers, find themselves forced to stitch together part-time jobs just to get by. That's just not good enough. We must use whatever influence and levers we have at our disposal to push for the change we know needs to happen to make life better. Last Saturday's rally on the grounds of the Ontario Legislature, organized by the Ontario Federation of Labour, saw dozens of unions and community groups come together to demand an end to precarious work, an immediate $15 minimum wage and change to labour laws to offer paid sick days and to make it easier for workers to join a union. Advertisement It was fantastic to see such a diverse group of workers of all ages united on this issue. We came to the issue from differing workplaces, from the public and private sector, from trades and white collar work, from unions and as freelancers and from organizations reflecting the rich cultural diversity of this country, united in our call for change. Just as we come to the issue from diverse places, we must all continue to work against precarious work from whatever angle we can. We just can't be idle and wait for politicians to do the right thing. We must use whatever influence and levers we have at our disposal to push for the change we know needs to happen to make life better. That's why Unifor has made fighting back against precarious work a priority in both our organizing and bargaining efforts. As one of Canada's largest unions in the retail sector, an industry known for the precarious nature of much of its work, Unifor has negotiated contracts that improve wages and give workers more predictable schedules. Our contract at 28 Metro grocery stores across the Toronto area last year, for example, saw some wages jump by as much as 21 per cent, and gave part-time workers a guaranteed minimum number of hours per week after one year of service. Advertisement Bargaining contracts like that shows the value of unions in improving the lives of workers and their families. That's why Unifor has continued through our organizing efforts to expand our presence in the retail sector, and pushed for legislative changes across Canada to make it easier for more workers to join unions and improve their lives. It is also why it is so disappointing that the federal Liberals voted last week to defeat a private member's bill outlawing the use of scab labour in legal strikes and lockouts. Using scabs gives employers an unfair advantage during a work stoppage, it prolongs strikes and can strengthen the ability of employers to force workers to accept bad contracts. The imbalance in power with the employer is a recipe for more precarious work, which is why Unifor and other labour unions and workers' action groups are committed to seeing anti-scab legislation across Canada. As important as it is that we fight for legislative change, however, there is much more that labour unions can do. It is at least as important to fight to keep the good jobs we already have in our communities. That's what Unifor is doing right now in our contract negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers. Advertisement Our recent bargaining with General Motors secured a total of $554 million in investments from the company. That money will keep the operations going in Oshawa, ensuring good jobs for that community well into the future. The investment will also go towards St. Catharines and Woodstock -- including the shifting of some engine production back to Canada -- ensuring even more good jobs are secured well into the future. As well, 700 temporary workers at GM will now become permanent full-time workers. This kind of effort, achieved through our collective bargaining power, is also vital to pushing back the precariousness of work today. The more unions can use their bargaining power to secure good jobs, the less prevalent will precarious jobs be in our communities and among young people. To push back against precarious work, we must all fight on many fronts -- for legislative change, at the bargaining table and by organizing more workers so they too can have the security and defense offered only by a union. With such a concerted effort, together we can make precarious work a thing of the past, and build a society in which young people can build a future for themselves and their communities. Advertisement Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Zhou's heart skipped a beat when he read a letter, written in Mandarin, demanding he pays 50,000 Argentine pesos (about USD$ 5,700) or die. Zhou is an alias used for security reasons. Surprisingly, Zhou, a grocery store owner in Buenos Aires, Argentina, sought protection from the police, explains his friend Christian Yu, who was with him when Zhou found the letter. Christian, in his early 30s, emigrated from China to Argentina when he was a child. He speaks Spanish fluently. Advertisement The closest police commissariat in the Almagro neighbourhood of the Argentine capital, where Zhou's store is located, told them to make a complaint at the main federal police station, in the centre of the city. Police officers there took a statement. Zhou "did not pay a cent," says Christian, and lived to tell the tale. Over the past 10 years, Argentina's Chinese -- shopkeepers in particular -- have become the target of extortion, kidnapping and murder. Local media often attribute such violence to a Chinese mafia in the South American nation. In June 2016, both the Chinese and the Argentine authorities dismantled dozens of suspects with alleged ties to this "mafia." They are accused of blackmailing Chinese supermarket owners in Argentina and asking them an initial fee of US$50,000 to get their "protection," adding to a monthly fee of US$3,600. Advertisement Chinese criminal gangs consider that store owners are not allowed to set up their shop "independently." Yuzhu King, a Chinese immigrant working in Buenos Aires' upscale neighbourhood Recoleta, was shot in the leg because he did not pay US$5,700 to Chinese gangs, according to judicial and police sources that commented the event to the press. The incident followed a phone call from a Chinese man threatening Yuzhu to kill him if he did not pay an "authorization" fee to open his business and get the "protection" of the criminal group. Chinese criminal gangs also kill. In 2010, when the Argentine police arrived on the scene of the crime in the city of Rosario, Chinese characters read: "If you want to open tomorrow, call," on the wall next to a Chinese man's grocery shop. Out of fear, many Chinese surrender to coercion and pay Chinese gangs. Chinese store owners have installed panic buttons and laminated glass, and increased the number of security cameras in every aisle of their shop. Advertisement Argentina's Chinese Chinese nationals in Argentina are the ideal prey for Chinese criminal gangs because first-generation immigrants usually do not speak Spanish well -- or at all. They also seldom seek local authorities' help because they mistrust them. "Chinese people just work with cash and never use credit cards. We do not have any idea of how they import their products," explains Camilla S. Cabello, a federal police officer who is stationed in Buenos Aires' Chinese neighbourhood. "We do not understand anything to what they say. Besides, the Chinese do not want the help of the Argentine police," she adds, as she patrols the area. Although there are no reliable statistics, Chinese immigrants in Argentina are estimated to be between 90,000 and 100,000, says Ernesto Fernandez Taboada, Executive Director of the Argentina China Chamber of Production, Industry and Trade in Buenos Aires. Chinese are the fastest growing non-Latin ethnic group in the country. Chinese started to develop their businesses in Argentina towards the end of the 1980s. The majority of immigrants are from China's Fujian province, says Miguel Calvete, former Executive Director of the Federation of Chinese Supermarkets and Associations in Buenos Aires. He sets the number of Chinese supermarkets at 10,402 in Argentina and 1,970 in the capital. Advertisement Emblematic of their growth since the 1980s, there is a Chinese supermarket approximately every eight blocks in Buenos Aires. They have increased dramatically since Argentina's economic crisis in 2001 as they sell cheaper products than chains. The International Business Development, a consulting firm in Buenos Aires, sets out that Chinese supermarkets contribute to 30% of the country's retail sales. The proliferation of fusion food restaurants, in particular, has played a part in this growth because it uses Chinese products. As Chinese climb up the economic ladder in Argentina, "[i]t is true that many shops owned by Chinese are frequently attacked and this is due to the fact criminals know that they will always find money and [since] they have few staff, they are easy to steal in quick manoeuvres," explains Mr. Taboada. In 2013, many Chinese supermarkets in Buenos Aires closed because they were the targets of looting. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Many trends of the '90s are coming back once again: a Clinton is running for office in the United States, choker necklaces and crop tops are in vogue, and the Blue Jays are once again in contention for the World Series. But here at the Ontario Association of Food Banks the biggest '90s trend we'd like to see make a comeback is adequate social assistance rates. Back in 1993, a single person on social assistance would receive $663 per month, which is $962 in today's dollars. The poverty gap (the difference between total income and the low-income measure) for these individuals was 20 per cent. Today, that single person on Ontario Works (OW) only receives $681 and experiences a poverty gap of a startling 59 per cent. Advertisement Much of this poverty gap can be explained by the austerity measures during the "Common Sense Revolution" of 1995, when the Harris government cut social assistance by 21 per cent and froze rates until they left government in 2002. Since then, the cost of living has continued to rise, yet progress on reversing the damage has been limited. They often have to make tough choices: Food or shelter? Food or hydro? Food or transportation? Since 1995, we have seen small increases to social assistance rates, the addition of federal and provincial child benefits, and added top-ups to single people on OW. Nevertheless, this poverty gap remains distressingly large. The annual income for a single person on OW is only $8,510, leaving them $12,301 below the Low Income Measure. The inadequate amount of support that people receive on social assistance means that they often have to make tough choices: Food or shelter? Food or hydro? Food or transportation? People will often choose to sacrifice food for these other needs, because skipping a meal or two is easier and less damaging in the short term than, for example, not paying rent. However, the impact of hunger on a child's ability to learn or an adult's health and well-being is far reaching and long term. This is why the need for food banks persist. The vast majority of people who come through our doors cite social assistance as their main form of income. When you only have $681 for all of your monthly expenses, it's no surprise that so many turn to food banks for help. Advertisement Social assistance is a system that is in desperate need of change. It simply is not meeting people's needs -- and has not been for more than two decades. Part of the problem is that the amount given to recipients can be arbitrary, subject to who is in power and whether or not austerity measures happen to be popular with the public. It's not based on the actual cost of living for an individual or family. For instance, the maximum monthly shelter allocation provided to a single parent with one child is a mere $609; the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in Toronto is double that amount. Many families spend more than 80 per cent of their income on rent, putting them at high risk of homelessness. A private member's bill, introduced by NDP MPP Paul Miller, intends to change this arbitrary setting of social assistance rates. Bill 6 would create a Social Assistance Research Commission that would provide recommendations on suitable social assistance rates to the government based on the cost of living in different regions of Ontario, and take into account the cost of basic necessities, such as shelter, nutritious food and transportation. The commission itself would be arm's length and nonpartisan, and made up of experts in socioeconomic policy and research, as well as representatives from First Nations groups and individuals who have experienced poverty or lived with a disability. Beyond providing recommendations on suitable rates, it would also examine how social assistance interacts with child support, WSIB and precarious employment to ensure the system works with, not against, these other programs. Advertisement It is rare that private members' bills become law, but we are optimistic about its chances. This bill had been introduced earlier this year and had passed its second reading unanimously, receiving support from all three parties. While the bill has had to start the process all over again after the Ontario Legislature was prorogued last month, it has once again passed its second reading -- but there is still a long way to go before it can become enacted into law. You can help make sure that this bill becomes a reality. Learn more about Bill 6 by visiting the Fix The Gap website. In order for it to get to the next step, the provincial Liberal government must call it to committee, so let your MPP know that you support evidence-based social assistance rates by calling, emailing or tweeting at them in support of Bill 6. It's long overdue that we make social assistance reflect the cost of living today, and bring our safety net into the 21st century. To learn more about the OAFB and our recommendations for change, please visit: www.oafb.ca Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Advertisement Todd Korol via Getty Images TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 4: A homeless man tries to keep warm near a steam vent in the bone chilling winter temperatures of -13 in downtown Toronto, Ontario. (Todd Korol/Toronto Star via Getty Images) In emergency rooms and frontline clinics, patients are triaged based on the urgency of their illness. The sickest are seen first, followed by those in less immediate danger. A high quality health system would connect these efforts to a larger plan to prevent illness and keep people healthy, but still make sure help is there in a hurry when things go wrong. Unfortunately, in Canada, we aren't there yet. One of the biggest factors that determines whether people will stay healthy or wind up needing emergency or chronic medical care is where they live. People without access to stable housing are at higher risk of illness, and their likelihood of recovering well from that illness is greatly diminished. Advertisement How bad is Canada's housing crisis? According to the newly released National Shelter Study, Canada's emergency shelters are packed to the rafters. People are languishing in homelessness longer, and their ranks increasingly include seniors, veterans and families with children. Shamefully, Indigenous Canadians are over 10 times more likely than non-Indigenous people to end up in emergency shelter. This report paints only a partial picture of homelessness in Canada, including only emergency shelters. Homelessness causes premature death, poor health and is a significant burden on our health-care system. The sad reality is that over 35,000 Canadians are homeless on a given night with more than 235,000 Canadians experiencing homelessness at some point every year, whether they sleep in shelters, on the street, couch surf, wait unnecessarily in hospital or other temporary accommodation. Advertisement Beyond a crisis of housing and poverty, homelessness is a public health emergency. The longer people are homeless, the worse their health becomes. A recent report from British Columbia suggests life expectancy for people experiencing homelessness in that province is half that of other British Columbians. Some physicians have gone so far as to label homelessness a palliative diagnosis. Not having a home can be lethal. Homelessness causes premature death, poor health and is a significant burden on our health-care system. Today over 1.5 million Canadian households live in core housing need, with over half of those households living in extreme core housing need (living in poverty and spending over 50 per cent of their income on housing). The crisis stands to get worse before it gets better as federal operating agreements for older social housing expire and over 300,000 more households risk losing the subsidies that keep their housing affordable. In the last 20 years, as Canada's population has grown, federal funding for affordable housing has dropped more than 46 per cent. This has meant at least 100,000 units of affordable housing were not built. Advertisement Canada's homelessness crisis is the direct result of this federal withdrawal from housing investment. To make the difficult choices ahead, the government should take a page from medicine and triage. The new federal government has promised a National Housing Strategy, and has begun consultations. According to the federal minister responsible for this new strategy, Jean-Yves Duclos, "the Government of Canada believes that all Canadians deserve access to housing that meets their needs and that they can afford." Solving all of Canada's housing problems at once, from homelessness to the rising cost of home ownership, would be wonderful. It is absolutely the right objective, but the sheer scale of the challenge when set against political and fiscal realities will force the government to make some difficult choices -- something Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation President and CEO, Evan Siddall acknowledged in media interviews recently. All Canadians deserve safe, decent and affordable housing, but for some, the lack of housing is a matter of life and death. To make the difficult choices ahead, the government should take a page from medicine and triage. The most pressing problem -- finding stable housing for those who are currently homeless or at risk for homelessness -- is one that, fortunately, can be solved. We need to start by collecting real-time, person specific data on homelessness and expanding the application of the Housing First model of supportive housing for individuals with greater challenges. Housing First is an evidence-based approach to ending homelessness that provides direct access to permanent housing and support. Add to this, better coordination in local planning, targeted investment in affordable rental housing and a national housing benefit, and homelessness in Canada could become rare, brief and non-recurring. Advertisement Not only would this take care of those most in need, it would also make available more funds to address elements of our housing challenges that lie further upstream. The cost savings from shelters and emergency rooms could later be applied to the next steps of providing more affordable social housing, preventing more people from falling into homelessness. In building a National Housing Strategy we can build a future where all Canadians have access to safe, decent and affordable housing. The first step to reaching that goal is urgent action to house Canadians experiencing or at risk for homelessness. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: For ordinary Afghans the future looks so bleak that they are leaving the country in their thousands - making up the second largest refugee population in Europe. Despite this staggering statistic it seemed the world had forgotten Afghanistan. However, this week the EU and the Afghan government will co-host a conference of 70 countries and 30 international organisations and agencies to focus on Afghanistan's future. On the agenda will be future international aid for Afghanistan, political and economic reform and women's economic empowerment. It is the latter that I want to talk about here. Advertisement Much has been written about the economic empowerment of women but I sometimes wonder what hope there is for womankind when at a recent conference the big insight was that all the support in the world would not empower women so long as they continued do all the unpaid care work. But how do we empower women and also help foster a prosperous Afghanistan? How do we reach those women living in poverty in remote rural areas? Because when I say 'empower women' I am not talking about representation in the boardroom or even equal levels of pay. I know it can be done because I am lucky enough to have travelled to India and Rwanda to meet just a few of the thousands women Hand in Hand has already helped out of poverty by creating businesses and jobs. I have not, sadly, been to Afghanistan but my colleague Agnes Svensson has, and she will be at the conference to see what they have to say on the subject of women's empowerment in Afghanistan. Hand in Hand has, in fact, been working in Afghanistan since 2007 and has helped created 22,000 businesses, many of which are run by women. Women like Mushtary. Advertisement Photograph: Mushtary in her shop in Rejin, Mushtary and her family live in the isolated rural hamlet of Rejin. Here, where women are often veiled and rarely seen in public, you will find Mushtary running her own thriving grocery store; its shelves piled high with all manner of colorful goods and a constant flow of customers. A place of business which is full of warmth and chatter as neighbors shop and catch up on the local news. What is more Mushtary is the first female shopkeeper and entrepreneur in her village. This part of Afghanistan is dominated by small farms and steeped in poverty. If the rains do not come, then many families go hungry. Mushtary started her business in an effort to generate a little bit of extra income to see the family through the bad times. But with some basic business training from Hand in Hand, Mushtary has achieved so much more. Not only does the income from the shop mean they have food to eat but today, Mushtary's business helps support the family throughout the year. Lynne Cameron/PA Archive After a long summer of near silence from the Government on their intentions for our future relationship with Europe, we're now beginning to see Theresa May's post-referendum plans take shape. Worryingly, after a divisive and bitter campaign resulting in a narrow win for those wanting the leave the EU, it looks like the Conservatives are treating the referendum as a carte blanche for remodelling Britain in the way they see fit, rather than using this as the springboard for the democratic revolution we so desperately need. In her speech later today we'll no doubt hear more from the Prime Minister about her plans - but what's already been announced is frightening enough. With the Government saying that they will trigger Article 50, and begin the process of leaving the EU in the Spring, we basically put all the cards into the hands of the EU - and all without any consensus, even amongst those who voted to leave, about what taking back control looks like. Advertisement Rather than taking the opportunity to negotiate the future with the British public, May looks set to impose her own ideologically-driven 'hard Brexit' and that means Britain leaving the single market. Not only does such a choice, hinted at heavily in Theresa May's speech to the Conservative Conference on Sunday, mean scrapping our trade relationship with our biggest trading partner - but it also risks tearing up crucial environmental and social protections which come as part of the package. Moreover, May's timetable means we also face the seemingly impossible task of completing what are usually seven-year trade deal negotiations in just two years. Added to such risk-taking on the single market is the Government's insistence that they will end free movement between the UK and other European countries. Of course, such a move would be deeply damaging to our communities and the neighbours, friends, family and work colleagues with whom we live side by side. It would also further harm Britain's reputation as a tolerant, diverse country. Ending free movement threatens our universities, limits the prospects of young people living abroad and, according to some businesses in my city, Brighton and Hove, leaves them with a skill shortage too. The Government has used the post-referendum confusion to announce that the European Convention on Human Rights will no longer apply to British troops in combat. This move is a serious backwards step - not only because British troops should be subject to human rights law but also because because the ECHR protects troops from mistreatment. It's also further evidence that, despite all her fine words about tackling inequality and being on the side of ordinary people, May is a dangerous woman. The truth is that the result of the referendum has left me feeling torn. On the one hand, as a democrat and as someone who believes in giving people more power, I accept that the British people made this choice on 23 June. But on the other hand, as an MP elected to stand up for what I believe in - for social, economic and environmental justice - I find the prospect of Brexit genuinely frightening. It is my belief that Britain would be better off if we stayed in the EU - and that my constituents face real risks of us leaving. Advertisement Of course I cannot control what the Government do over the next few months - nor will I be seeking to ride roughshod over the decision we took as a country on 23 June. Instead I will be using my position to advocate for democracy to remain the top priority, and for workers, our environment and free movement to be protected in any Brexit deal. I won't sit back and watch while the Conservatives use this as an opportunity to fashion a Britain whose place in the world is as a free-market tax haven on the edge of Europe, defined in stature by the size of our nuclear arsenal and locked behind hard borders and wire fences. What's abundantly clear from the referendum is that people are sick and tired of being pushed out of politics, and having decisions made for them. That's why, if we're serious about allowing people to 'take back control' we need to give them a further say on the terms of any deal and allow MPs to properly scrutinise the decision making process and vote on the triggering of Article 50. We also need a Great Reform Bill which would update British democracy for the twenty first century and hand real power to them in form of a fair voting system for both the House of Commons and House of Lords. Some might call what I'm pursuing 'soft Brexit' - I call it our best hope of easing the pain of leaving the European Union. Of course, in my heart, I want Britain to remain a member of the world's most successful peace project and will be doing all I can to continue to make the case for co-operation with our neighbours. But it would be irresponsible to not engage in this new uncertain reality, which otherwise will solely be determined by the men that one of my fellow Remain campaigners dubbed the Eton mess. I am in no doubt that, if that clique are left to their own devices, Brighton and Britain will be sold short. I am not prepared to stand by and let that happen. Not prepared to see the principle that lies behind taking back control turned on itself and used as an excuse to trample over hard won rights and making us a smaller, narrower nation. If the EU referendum campaign taught us anything it's that the truth's precious and, as we struggle to find a way through the uncertainty of the coming months and years, perhaps the most important thing any of us can do is speak the truth to power. Geoffrey Holman via Getty Images Small firms that export are confident, introduce new products, are more likely to seek investment and have significantly higher growth expectations than companies that don't. While 68 per cent of the smallest firms say they expected to grow in the next six months, that figure rises to 74 per cent amongst long-term exporters and a dramatic 91 per cent among those that had started to export in the last six months. Advertisement But along with clear ambition and resilience, the Small Business Barometer we conducted amongst our 70,000-strong membership found exporters were also much more exposed to the impact of Brexit than those that did not. While only 15 per cent of all firms polled said they had felt a negative financial impact post-Brexit, that number doubles to around 30 per cent among those that export. And the longer they have been exporting, the higher the impact. And while bigger firms are busy capitalising on the fall in sterling and the increased sales that brings, smaller companies need help right now, more than ever to ensure they can compete on an international level. Small businesses are far from being fat and lazy. They don't get the opportunities or the trade deals that big businesses benefit from and they still find a way to export, but the frustrating thing is that they would dearly like to do it much more. Advertisement We think the export potential amongst the smallest firms is huge, but they need some significant help and subsidy to get them to where they need to be. We've just announced a subsidised trade mission to China and Hong Kong, Britain's second biggest export market outside Europe. It will focus on these smaller companies that need the extra help. The trip is being supported by private sector sponsors including global delivery firm UPS, HSBC, KPMG, Invest HK, Alibaba, Gatwick Airport and international airline Cathay Pacific. These sponsors are vital to making sure we can keep costs low and therefore accessible to the smallest British-based companies. Stewart Wingate, Gatwick CEO, says Gatwick keeps export costs low for small businesses to export around the world. Its three new Chinese routes are also connecting small businesses to the UK's second biggest export market outside Europe. Kiel Harkness, UPS Marketing Director United Kingdom, Ireland and Nordic Countries says his firm is committed to helping small and medium businesses export and grow their business. He added: "In a post-Brexit landscape, where exporting within the EU may change, we're keen to collaborate closely to help small businesses navigate exporting around the world." Advertisement Paul Cruttenden, Marketing & Digital Sales Manager at Cathay Pacific says his firm has long had a role in bringing together business people from the UK, Asia, China and further afield, encouraging the exchange of goods, services, capital, talent, skills and ideas to enable great business. And the fall in the sterling is an opportunity says Kevin Smith, Regional Chairman for KPMG in London and specialist in international trade. He reckons agile smaller firms must make themselves more competitive and accelerate orders from abroad right now. He told me it's important that small businesses are given the opportunity to attend invaluable trade missions and that they are assisted via incentives such as the accelerated roll out of export vouchers to encourage more early stage businesses to think seriously about what they have to sell. That's what our trade missions are all about. They've never been more needed or important. The five-day November mission will help British-based firms both source manufacturers and sell to consumers. It is particularly relevant to those retailing consumer-facing products including food and drink, luxury fashion, children's toys and homewares, with the trip coinciding with Singles' Day - the world's largest selling day that is particularly relevant to the Chinese market. The trip is the fifth we've arranged this year for the smallest companies as part of our on-going Go Global campaign, which has helped more than 250 small companies explore overseas trade opportunities since it launched two years ago. Other missions have taken firms to Berlin, Dublin, Amsterdam, and New York. Each month the world comes together to bring awareness for a particular health issue. This month, is Breast Cancer awareness month. A subject close to my heart, after my mother suffered. Strong as she is, thankfully she got through it, both times. But there are some health issues that go unnoticed. I'm not saying that we shouldn't promote awareness for one over the other, but I'd like to bring to your attention another that you may, or may not have heard of. It's important that lesser known issues get as much publicity as the 'biggies', as it could lead to clarity in a situation with an unknown diagnosis. I want to do what little I can to spread a bit of knowledge about October's other dedicated health issue, Rett Syndrome. Photo by Adina Voicu is public domain In June this year, my piece on CDKL5, a rare disorder, was published by the Huffington Post. Whilst attending their European conference as a member of the PulseGuard seizure alarm team, the guys at CDKL5 UK introduced me to Rett Syndrome. Having then met the Rett UK team a couple of months afterwards in Dartford, Kent, I wanted to find out more. Advertisement As a syndrome that can affect anyone in any family, it's an issue we all need to know about. Mostly affecting females and very few males, it is believed that 1 in 12,000 girls are diagnosed every year. Similar to CDKL5, Rett is caused by a fault on a different gene, called MECP2, located on the X Chromosome. Rett will usually begin to make itself known when a child reaches the age of one. Children affected need constant care, and symptoms come in different stages of a child's growth. In stage 1, the child may develop normally within the first 18 months but may show signs of floppiness, and poor co-ordination of limbs. Stage 2, skills in speech become reduced as well as purposeful movement. The child may also become shy and socially withdrawn, in many cases leading to a misdiagnosis of autism. Also seizures can start to occur. I must pause here, as the world of epilepsy is where I find myself positioned in at the moment. With my good friend's family having invented an effective solution to the frustration many people have with seizure alarms, I'd recommend you read the PulseGuard inventor's story as it could be a solution for seizure management in Rett syndrome. Stage 3 is between 2 and 10 years of age, where some symptoms may improve. Stage 4 can last many years. Deterioration in movement; spine bending, abnormal stiffness and loss of ability to walk, and may other possible symptoms that can appear. Advertisement If you are reading this and the symptoms are ticking the boxes for your child, it's not time to panic. This diagnosis could be for you and I would recommend getting in touch with the brilliant Rett UK Support Helpline. I'm not an expert at all and not trying to be. But please join with me in letting the world know about a lesser known health issue this October. For more information on Rett Syndrome, the symptoms and support, visit the Rett UK website. For more information on PulseGuard and seizure monitoring, visit the PulseGuard website. ELKO High school students interested in mines and the jobs they offer are invited to apply for the Mining Rocks Tour. The tour will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 25, and explore the careers and programs available to become a part of Nevadas mining industry. Great Basin College CTE college credit program, in collaboration with Barrick Gold Corp., will be offering an opportunity to tour Goldstrikes mine site and learn about the different careers and educational opportunities available in mining. The variety of careers and programs discussed on the tours will include electrical systems technology, diesel technology, welding technology, mining, engineering, natural resources, earth sciences, office technology, human resources and business administration. This opportunity will be open to 45 participants. Interested high school students who want to participate will have first priority. GBC students and community members who are interested in attending the college are also encouraged to apply. All interested parties must complete the Mining Rocks application available at www.gbcnv.edu/cte/events.html. Applications are due by Oct. 14. Call Jonica Gonzalez at 775-753-2303 or email jonica.gonzalez@gbcnv.edu for more information. Jill Ferry Photography via Getty Images I am what they call a "late adopter" in terms of technology; I only countenance doing something modern when young people have done it all their lives. I am sceptical of new things and nostalgic for a time when they didn't exist. Proof: last weekend I eulogised about the positive features of a rolodex to my disbelieving children when they encountered a retro-cool one in a junk shop and wondered what it was. As a late adopter I can also proudly report that my lifetime ebay sales have now topped 35, and that the hours spent attempting to monetise my latest declutter mean that this represents a wage rate well below the minimum wage, even at the young person's rate. And I am fully aware that the first articles like this were written about 10 years ago. Advertisement Last Friday when I was "working from home" I conducted a psychological experiment on myself by pretending for a few hours late in the day that e-baying was actual work, on the grounds that there was some economic activity involved. I admitted this to an old friend who had texted to moan about their actual actual work; she admired my commitment to the "circular economy". I also admitted it to my next door neighbour when I took a break from strenuous clothes photography to put out the bins, who said not to worry about the money and enjoy the "allocative efficiency" of my things ending up somewhere where they are wanted. Psychologically I found it frustrating, but now that I have started I also find myself driven to finish getting through the pile of B-rated clothes on my desk so that I can, eventually, savour that sweet success of a drip-drip of small paypal credits. Being allocatively and environmentally efficient is certainly part of the motivation, but there is a more serious point for people who are cash constrained and lack the ability to work in a conventional way. Research that we undertook a few years ago for Google demonstrated that that parents of pre-school children are disproportionately more likely to engage in on-line selling from home than others, with a strong effect amongst the lowest income families. This is the internet providing financial help for those people with caring responsibilities who need it the most. Whatever the motivation, we should go with the flow of this. The Swedish government, for example, is now introducing tax breaks designed to grow the repair industry. They are proposing to cut the VAT on repairs and also to allow individuals who employ others to repair their broken machines to claim back the labour cost from their own income tax. As a policy wonk this strikes me as a good example of using the state to shape private sector markets in the public interest, akin to the regulations and tax breaks that created a market for renewable energy. Advertisement And it feels like a natural next step. After all public policy has made huge strides in recyling over the last few decades, ebay has spurred the market in re-using, so the next step surely is to find an easy way to repair. Farmer's Markets are a unique shopping experience requiring different shopping etiquette from your normal supermarket or internet shop. They are about as far from the sanitised, labelled, controlled, loyalty carded supermarkets as you can get. It's a fantastic chance to meet the makers and producers, ask questions and learn about the products that you're buying. Here are some insights from both sides of the stall. I started out with a fantastic local market http://www.rodehallfarmersmarket.co.uk/ It gives you a great opportunity to try out new products and receive speedy feedback. Queuing: We're British so we're great at queuing. We could teach other nations international best practice (I'm looking at you, Frenchies...) If you don't have the time to form a queue, it's probably best to stick with online ordering. Advertisement Seasonality: You can eat what's in season for a bargain price and your veg won't have registered any air-miles. Last Saturday I bought organic baby cauliflower that had been harvested that morning! Supermarkets can't even begin to compete with that. Plus the price was comparable to Aldi. Flexibility: I love it when my customers like a particular product enough to say, "I really like the empanadas, but could you make them without onion and garlic?" The answer is pretty much going to be "Yes, of course, how many would you like?" Good Luck with trying that in your supermarket. Samples: Just to clarify... samples are not a buffet. It's not a meal replacement. I give out samples to hear what you think, particularly because my gluten free and vegan bakes challenge your preconceptions. I love it when someone who doesn't need to be either free from gluten or dairy tries some lemon-curd slice. Makes a (vaguely) positive comment, wanders off, and returns to buy a slice after they've checked out what's on offer at the rest of the market. However, there's another type of 'customer' who sidles up to the stall, doesn't make eye contact (is actually looking in a completely different direction), shoots out their hand, grabs a piece of whatever, scoops it up like a pelican flying over water snaring herring into its bill, and disappears at the kind of speed that Usain Bolt would be proud of. I have news Mr or Ms Sampler, I'm less than a metre away and I can see you. Other stallholders can see you too, it's like we have special stallholder super-hero vision. Supermarkets don't really do samples because it has an impact on something called Gross Margin. Advertisement Information: At the weekend after sampling a couple of different types I found out that the cheese that I preferred was made last year using unpasteurised milk produced by grass-fed cows in Cheshire. The person who had made it was understandably proud of their product and took the time to tell me about it. Mr Bourne and his Cheshire cheese was a finalist in the 2016 BBC Food and Farming Awards. Similarly, I'm always happy to give information about my products especially if you're trying something new. My raw chocolate 'Bounty' slice is nothing like an actual Bounty. It doesn't contain refined sugar, it's dairy free, high in antioxidants, rich in beneficial fats from coconut and cashews, and you only need a small slice to achieve that chocolatey buzzy treat feeling . This is not the kind of info that you're ever going to find out from a label in your local supermarket. The engineers of yesteryear spent hours painstakingly drawing the intricacies of designs for bridges, buildings and other infrastructure. With slide rules and log tables as the tools of trade, engineers navigated the boundaries of physics and mathematics to bring the iconic forms of their day to life. The engineer 2.0 then emerged using CAD and other digital tools to do the same, faster and with greater accuracy. They solved increasingly more complex questions, with the results being even more sophisticated and efficient infrastructure to satisfy the needs of ever-growing populations. As many of these digital tools become more advanced and automated, and even self-learning, the engineer must now evolve even further to ensure their relevance in a digital economy. Standing at the dawn of an age of new intelligence, could the machines they helped design actually disrupt the engineers that created them? Is this a cruel irony of cannibalising your own profession and, if so, what does the next generation of engineers actually look like? Advertisement "What do you want to be when you leave school?" In the past, the traditional, most 'respectable' answer to this important question was 'a doctor' or 'a lawyer'. A career which required 'creativity' was frowned upon, risky and certainly not lucrative. But all of this is changing. It has to change. Tomorrow's economy will be one in which creativity isn't the preserve of the artists, designers or writers. The traditionally 'left-brained', 'conservative' and 'safe' will require a very different toolkit to survive, and thrive. Defying stereotypes is fast becoming an essential skill of employable graduates, including engineers. The widely supported #IlookLikeAnEngineer campaign was a powerful demonstration of the fact that even in 2016, our definition of what those who work in tech should look (and act) like hasn't evolved enough. A year ago, Isis Wenger, a female platform engineer, was featured in a recruitment campaign which sparked derisive comments from complete strangers and exposed hidden assumptions about what an engineer should look (and act) like. Isis went on to issue a call to engineers and those in the tech industry far and wide: "Do you not fit the 'cookie-cutter' mould of what people believe engineers should look like? I invite you to help spread the word and help us redefine 'what an engineer should look like'." With that, the hashtag #ILookLikeAnEngineer" was born, with thousands posting pictures of themselves across social media in order to defy stereotypical formats. It is clear that an evolution is needed, but what do we need to change? What will engineering look like in the future? Advertisement Engineering must become more important While digital disruption might be rendering certain aspects of engineering obsolete, the profession has never before been as critical to human progress as it is today. Singaporean engineer Chade-Meng Tan writes in his article Wanted: Jolly good engineers that "The word 'engineer' comes from the Latin words ingeniare and ingenium. Simply put, an engineer is someone who uses his or her ingenuity...to change the world. Engineers solve some of the world's toughest problems." He goes on to say that like every other metropolis in the world, Singapore faces many challenges: climate change, energy scarcity, land scarcity, to name a few. As they reinvest the time gained from the help of digital tools, engineers will solve these. It will be engineers who are going to figure out how to incorporate artificial intelligence, robotics and wearable devices into our infrastructure and communities to propel us towards smart nation status, and even smart world. It will be engineers who will be behind efforts to curtail emissions and drive energy efficiency after ratification of the climate change agreement. It will be engineers who will figure out how to comfortably fit a growing population into limited land space. Engineers need to stop solving problems If engineering is going to solve the problems of tomorrow, there's a desperate need to practice problem finding today. Engineers are trained to be good problem-solvers, but too often they wait for people to tell them about the problem that needs to be solved. Tomorrow's clients (and communities) will look for unconventional thinkers who will look them in the eye and say 'You've got an issue, but you've identified the problem wrong'. These unconventional thinkers will have a desire to challenge the norm and shape ideas in the pursuit of what might be possible if we forget former paradigms and ways of thinking. They will have an ability to pull back the lens for clients seeking to invest in the future. Engineers will need to embrace a different toolkit While a steady hand and straight lines differentiated the draughtsperson of yesteryear, times are changing. Fast forward to 2020, and sought-after engineering companies may have a team of game developers on staff to facilitate better community engagement. They'll have an army of graphic designers developing inputs for 3D and augmented reality products; and they may even employ professional artists who can bring to life visions of the future as inputs into infrastructure designs. Successful companies will be those who invest in their staff as they hone the skills clients are already telling them they require in future. The MBA has recently been redesigned to face the modern world. The volatility and uncertainty in business is best navigated using the theories of design. Isn't it about time that engineering schools similarly reinvented themselves? Where many of the basic functions of engineering will be performed by a self-learning computer in future, and not an engineer, the engineer will have to become an interpreter and translator of new complex technologies into business applications. This will demand creativity as a core skill and will see the engineer creatively apply technology to solve an unmet need. Creativity as an engineer is no longer an oxymoron, but the new secret ingredient to keeping engineers where we as a society need them....finding the future for us all. Advertisement Engineers have a very exciting future ahead, but it's a future that is in jeopardy. Unless engineering companies evolve, 'an engineer' will cease to be a viable answer to the question: "What do you want to be when you leave school?" An engineer's time to fight back is now, and it is tenacious, relentless problem finding and a different toolkit that will lead to a brighter future. Aurecon has launched a new futuristic blog! Called Just Imagine, it provides a glimpse into the future for curious readers, exploring ideas that are probable, possible and for the imagination. This is a copy of my post which originally appeared on Aurecon's Just Imagine blog. Joe Giddens/PA Wire This morning I appeared on BBC Radio Leicester's Breakfast Show, contributing to a discussion about the state of British politics today...and, specifically, if there is any real opposition to this dreadful Tory Brexit government. As I was collecting my thoughts and preparing to go live, it struck me. It might not fully know it yet, but Britain needs the Liberal Democrats now more than ever. It needs us to rebuild, win again and help fight the extremes of far-Left and hard-Right which now dominate the Labour and Conservative parties. Advertisement As, I'm told, happened in the early 80's when Militant infiltrated the Labour Party and Michael Foot (despite being, personally, a man of letters and great integrity) was wilfully incapable of leading the rabble that was Labour then (and now, some would argue), it gives permission for the hard-Right in the Conservatives to dominate their own party. This means that both of our biggest parties are dominated by the political extremes. And, when that happens, the people that suffer are those least able to weather the storms. We've seen it in some of the headlines in our newspapers today. 'Firms must list Foreign workers' screams The Times front-page. Let's be blunt. This kind of rhetoric is utterly, utterly shameful. It's the kind of thing you'd expect to hear from the BNP or UKIP. It is not the Britain I believe in and love. The country I believe in is liberal, open, multicultural; a place where, as long as you abide by the law, you can be what you want to be and behave how you want to behave. The country I believe in knows that whilst, yes, more needs to be done to reassure nervous communities who've believed the lies of our often populist press, we know that immigration is a blessing, not a curse. And a country where, when those laws are demonstrably wrong/inculcates inequality, we come together to create change. Advertisement And when the extremes of far-Left and hard-Right dominate our major parties, it also leads...almost, inevitably, to the rise of both hard and soft nationalism. It's no wonder that the Scottish Nationalists are pretty dominant north of the border and how, despite the farce of its leader resigning after just eighteen days in the job, UKIP (who are, in effect, English Nationalists) remain, sadly, very appealing to many people who feel globalisation and the Westminster elite has left them behind. Now, don't get me wrong, there's a big difference between the broadly social democratic SNP and the hard-Right UKIP. But, nationalists are nationalists and-as Lib Dem leader Tim Farron often says-"patriots love their country. nationalists hate their neighbours." So, that is the political reality we live with across these islands today. A far-Left Labour Party, a hard-Right Conservative Party, and the threat of nationalism rising across the country. Advertisement Never before have the moderate Centre-Left Liberal Democrats been more needed than now. We are the realistic radicals; the pragmatic progressives. Liberalism, by its very nature, is an ideology which is against extremes of all kinds. Being liberal is to be thoughtful, decent, celebrating of difference. Being liberal and, indeed, social democratic is to seek the best way to resolve the issues and problems we face...whilst, always, being there for the least, the last and the lost. No wonder so many people-especially former Labour members who recognise that their old party has abandoned all pretence of being moderate-are joining the Lib Dems. My party now has more members than at any time this century. It's no wonder, also, that we're winning Council by-elections up and down the country...taking seats off the far-Left, the hard-Right and nationalists of Left and Right too. People are desperate for a moderate, rational, compassionate politics. Today, as historically has been the case so often, only the Liberal Democrats can meet that need. So, if you feel abandoned by parties which have been overtaken by the extremes, I implore you: Newsletter sign-up HuffPost UK Daily Brief Sign up and we will email you daily with the best of our political and news coverage while also giving you a taste of our most-popular lifestyle, opinion and personal blogs. Evgeny Gromov via Getty Images Let's make Britain Great again. The nauseating Trump/Brexit mashup headline, courtesy of the Daily Star, no doubt had many backwards thinking Brexiteers waving their union jack flags and 'Go Home' placards in obvious joy. However with the nation divided in uncertainty about the country's impending Brexit, 'great' seems a little too ambitious and perhaps 'really good' is a more realistic aim. Advertisement In an apparent reflection of this, the capital has become the new home to artist David Shrigley's enormous black sculpture, Really Good. The erection on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth, which has in previous years, seen a magnanimous blue cock sit opposite Nelson's rather large column, was unveiled this week by the Major of London, Sadiq Khan. In a clear aversion to the satire of Shringley's work, Khan suggested that the statute of the hand with a suspiciously elongated phallic thumb, reflects the idea that a post-Brexit London is "open for business." In recent months, nearby Westminster has of course played its own game of musical statues. 51.9% of the population gave a big thumbs up to Brexit which saw David Cameron resign as PM and Theresa May take her place on the main plinth at no. 10. Advertisement The cock in blue may be gone, but can the legacy of Cameron simply be replaced and forgotten by a thumbs up to a new PM? I reveal all in Episode 3 of PokePolitics- Cameron The PR Politician. Brexit was, of course, a PR stunt that backfired. And can we really be surprised? The EU referendum was, after all, delivered by Cameron, who's pre-Westminster position as director of corporate affairs for Carlton TV gave him a knack for PR spin. The PR obsessed PM hit the headlines once more this week. Former Chancellor Ken Clarke, in his newly-published memoirs, accused Cameron of prioritising PR over policy. Clarke clained that Cameron was a 'huge admirer' of Tony Blair's 'disastrous' media-orientated government and used his "control freak discipline" over his cabinet "with steady injunctions about the use of set policy lines and slogans on all public occasions". Advertisement In addition former Downing Street director of communications Sir Craig Oliver, revealed that David Cameron attempted to influence the BBC's Brexit coverage during a conversation with director general, Tony Hall about the Royal Charter renewal. So whether we turn the pages of the Gaurdian, retweet the Telegraph, watch the 6 O'Clock BBC broadcast or even rifle through the Daily Star, can we really believe what we hear? If government influence over our media outlets really is so embedded in our culture, is it possible to fairly assess what is 'really good' for our country? And as we draw closer to an impending Brexit, I'd like to think that Shringley's elongated thumb, which could equally be mistaken for a more explicative hand signal, is sending it's own message straight down Whitehall to the banks of Westminster. Not convinced? (Image extracted from: http://www.mcsmetro.com/business-email.php) Street and petty crimes in the UK have declined over the years, thanks to the vigilance of agencies responsible for maintaining law & order. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the virtual world, where crimes like phishing attacks have consistently been on the rise for the past many years. Not only are such attacks on the rise, but they are getting more intelligent. The intelligence on the criminal's part and the carelessness on the victim's part make the situation even more miserable than it already is. Shockingly, it appears that students are the new favourite targets of cyber criminals. The attacks specifically aimed at students cunningly dupe them into sharing their intimate details without them even knowing about it. Furthermore, phishing attacks are also being used to virtually hijack computers and devices by encrypting the information contained on them. As you may have guessed it, the hijack comes to an end with the victim paying a ransom fee to the hijacker for restoring his access back to his data. Advertisement Spam Email Phishing Attacks: According to a report released by National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, students in the UK's universities are being hit by a new wave of phishing emails that claim to offer a scholarship or an educational grant. The phishing email takes them to a fake website where they are deceived into revealing their personal information such as bank details. The emails are designed to look very professional, similar to the ones usually sent by the finance department of a university. Such forgeries are difficult for students to detect without detailed scrutiny of the email headers, which is usually obscure to most people. Here are some common examples of phishing messages aimed at persuading students to visit completely fake but genuine looking websites where they are swindled into sharing their confidential information by filling out a form of sorts: "There is some problem with your account and you must verify your details or the account will expire soon" "The university offers educational grant to new students this year. Interested students can fill out the attached form to apply till tomorrow (or any specified date)" We are all aware of the fact that not every student can bear the cost of university education and they are always on the hunt for a full or partial scholarship, or any sort of endowment to facilitate their university education. This makes them especially vulnerable to phishing attacks. The Students Loan Company has said that students are particularly targeted around their main payment dates in September, January and April. How to Spot a Phishing Email? (extracted from University of Cardiff) Source Email Address: Notice the sender's mailing address insrv@cardiff-university.co.uk. This is an email address with a misleading variation. The original email address is cardiff.ac.uk URGENT Marking on Email: Marking an email as urgent would give less time to students to determine the authenticity of the message. The idea is to create a sense of urgency to make students rush to act, without giving it a second thought. Spelling Mistakes: A typical email may have some errors, but if an email is coming from University/Bank address then the occurrence of these errors would be relatively low. So in that case, it's worth taking a closer look before acting on it. Embedded URL: An embedded URL is one in which you see words as a hyperlink. From the above example, you can see the email message included https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/storagequota, which is a genuine address but the URL embedded behind this is different http://www.cardiff-university.co.uk. Students should understand that all emails from the university will come from the same domain i.e. cardiff.ac.uk and for any required action, will direct you to a page hosted on the same domain. How to Remain Protected from Phishing Email Scam? NEVER share your passwords with anybody. A legitimate person, such as university's IT/Finance support personnel, will never ask you to reveal your password. Students should be particularly concerned about an email that carries a link for them to follow. Remember, universities have a separate section about scholarships and other funding opportunities on their website, plus a CTA (Call to Action) option for students to apply. If you figure a spam/phishing mail, then immediately call/email the concerned university staff to verify the message. When approaching via email, make sure you send it to a verified address mentioned on the university website or any authentic place. Replying to a phishing email would be as dangerous as following any links in the message. Lastly, if you think you may have compromised the safety of your bank details and/or have lost money due to fraudulent misuse of your cards, you should immediately contact your bank, and report it to Action Fraud. From the sight of hippos bathing in the Limpopo River at sunset and penguins in the distance at Boulders Beach to mind-blowing panoramas atop Table Mountain and the infamous nightlife in Cape Town, there are fewer places quite as culturally or geographically diverse as South Africa. This unique country has something for everyone and here are the seven reasons why you have to visit on your next journey to Africa. 1. Enjoy outstanding meat and seafood Gastronomy is inexpensive in South Africa, and you'll be able to tantalise your taste buds with sumptuous meats such as springbok or ostrich and some of the most incredible seafood caught from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Beer production is also big in this country so you'll have some local brews to wash it all down with. Advertisement "Image" by Henrik Ahlen is licensed under CC BY 2.0 2. City life is sweet in SA When it comes to city destinations, you'll be spoilt for choice. Head to Cape Town for top restaurants and nightlife, Johannesburg for museums and sightseeing, Port Elizabeth for a great mix of city and beach, Durban for African and colonial history, Pretoria for manicured parks and architecture, or Pietermaritzburg for shopping and out of city hiking trails. "Cape Town, South Africa" by Brent Newhall is licensed under CC BY 2.0 3. Cape Town is one of the world's best cities .....or so they say! Regularly cited as one of the best cities in the world to travel to by numerous travel sites and newspaper publications, Cape Town really is a must for 2016 with so much to see and do. The pound may not be as strong as it was earlier in the year but 1 can get you over 17 Rand, and a little money really does go a long way in this affordable capital. Advertisement "V&A Waterfront - Cape Town, South Africa" by South African Tourism is licensed under CC BY 2.0 4. The Beaches are gorgeous Other than amazing cities and great food, the coastline is also a huge draw for many travellers. With so many great beaches - including Port Elizabeth's Hobie Beach, Cape Town's Bloubergstrand and Mossel Bay's Diaz Beach - you'll never be too far from your next sunbathing session or surfing adventure. "Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth" by flowcomm is licensed under CC BY 2.0 5. South Africa's wine isn't too bad either Wine regions such as Stellenbosch, Paarl, Constantia and Walker Bay are all worth visiting if you're a serious wino. The country is the world's ninth largest wine producer, with over 6,000 different wines to choose from on its many wine farms. Look out for its silky pinots, crisp sauvignons and smooth chardonnays. "Vineyards, Stark-Conde Wines" by HelenSTB is licensed under CC BY 2.0 6. There is so much important history in South Africa Simply put, South Africa is one of the most historically significant destinations in the world. The cities offer a huge choice of apartheid museums and historical centres, where visitors can learn the tragic problems of South Africa's past. Advertisement "Iziko Museum" by Michael Coghlan is licensed under CC BY 2.0 7. You can see the Big Five on safari Not only are there are number of wildlife parks and sanctuaries dotted around the city regions, but South Africa is also home to the incredible Kruger National Park - a place where you can see the famous Big Five! See the notoriously tough to track lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino on a 4x4 safari drive and find some luxurious camps complete with swimming pool and family-friendly facilities. And it's definitely something you need to see in real life... "Kruger National Park, South Africa" by flowcomm is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Georgina Rutherford, Marketing Manager, IMA Social media is a powerful tool. It gives everyone a voice and has shaped our culture to be one in which we have never known so much about each others lives. However, many people argue that the image-saturated way of living it encourages has negative effects on the way we see ourselves. Where some see inspiration in gym selfies, others see unrealistic body standards that promote self-consciousness. Where some see motivation in bikini shots, others see the perpetuation of body-shaming. Advertisement But thankfully there are sources of light to outshine the dark corners of the internet, with tribes of amazing people who take to social media to spread the self-love. And brands are right behind them. Fashion brand Belloya recently teamed up with influencer marketing agency IMA to help them launch their plus-sized label across the Netherlands and Belgium. They selected a group of confident female influencers to represent the brand as ambassadors. Most importantly, these are real women who radiate positivity, have an infectious zest for life and have established tight-knit social followings as a result. A multimedia strategy was developed that put these ambassadors at its centre to build a Belloya community and help give associations with the term plus-sized a verbal makeover. It would aim to move the public focus from plus to real-sized women who have more in common than the size of their clothes. How? The #TogetherWeShine initiative seeks to encourage others to live life to the fullest through Q&A videos, ways to wear posts and an intimate video series. Influencers Edith Dohmen (@stylehasnosize_official), Mayra Louise (@mayralouise) and Marianne Nykjaer (@mariannenukjaer) feature in the video series which invites the audience to sit down with them and talk about fashion, nights out, love and other topics we all find common ground with as women. Advertisement Happy is not a dress size - Mayra Louise, Influencer and Belloya ambassador It is this power to speak and be heard by millions that makes influencers so important in the scheme of awareness and change. Unlike advertisers or journalists, they do not have restrictions or boundaries to follow. They can say what they like and move people as a result, which is a huge social responsibility for them as individuals. Nevertheless it is also critical for brands to recognise this and use it for the greater good. Belloya is joined by other clothing brands across the globe that are using social media and #bopo or body positive influencers to challenge stereotypes. With #AerieReal, American Eagles lingerie sub-brand Aerie promised to ditch photoshop in favour of real, unretouched editorial content featuring #bopo influencers such as model Iskra Lawrence (@iamiskra). Lane Bryants new #ThisBody campaign sees celebrities and influencers alike tackle internet trollers head-on by responding to social media comments with right back at you sass and confidence. UK fashion brand Simply Be featured style blogger Gabi Gregg (@gabifresh) in their AW16 advertisements and campaigned for model diversity at London Fashion Week with #FashionForEveryBody. These efforts indicate that there are still walls to break down, but that they can be broken, by putting diversity and positivity at the fore. However brands should not forget the valuable role that influencers play in the equation. While theres no denying that celebrities such as Lena Dunham and Amy Schumer are doing their part to challenge bias, they are missing the relatability factor that may cause their messages to lose traction. Advertisement Social influencers may have smaller followings than celebrities but thats the point. These figures are able to manage their communities and maintain a level of intimacy with their audiences that celebrities cant achieve. They are credible, authentic and valued. Therefore they encourage higher levels of engagement with their followers, an untouchable feat for a celebrity personality. The conclusion? Influencer marketing is an effective way to directly connect to and make an impact within niche audiences such as the body positive community. According to a study conducted earlier this year by Refinery 29, 56% of women said seeing body diversity in media made them feel better about themselves. "Before the Flood", a new documentary on the urgency of climate change action by Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens aired last night on Miami Beach. The day before, "Before the Flood" premiered at the White House. If only American voters were required to view the film before voting in November. The film lays out the case that the planet is experiencing global warming impacts much more quickly than even the most conservative estimates by scientists. Three years in the making, and still the daily news of abnormal, extreme weather events seems to overtake even the film's latest edit. Inaction is the result of fossil fuel industries that primarily fund an intransigent Republican Congress and the right-wing echo chamber including Fox News, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. (What can you do? The filmmakers urge viewers to be part of an action movement on climate change, and to start by signing up on its website, here.) Advertisement The message and timing of its release (by National Geographic, owned paradoxically by the family of Rupert Murdoch, who earned billions through Fox News' hate and fright media empire) is that American voters are squarely in the world spotlight this November. Among the luminaries interviewed by Leonardo DiCaprio, President Obama makes the case concisely: even if you aren't "a romantic" who believes the wonders of the world should be preserved for our children and grandchildren, the rapid change in climate -- unprecedented in human history -- is an immediate national security threat. Not tomorrow: today. In the film, climate change deniers in Florida -- Senator Marco Rubio and Governor Rick Scott, Donald Trump's national finance chair -- feature in the negative light they deserve, given the immense costs to Florida and the region. The film brilliantly uses computer graphics, data-driven animation, and visual imagery that tells the most important story in the history of mankind. Viewers unfamiliar with the subject terrain are likely to be impressed by the concise story through simple and memorable images. Among the compelling testimonies by world leaders: the energy minister of India who lays out the clear case why, absent immediate leadership by the United States and the industrialized west, the planet is likely to burn to a crisp -- denying economic security to everyone, not just the poor and dispossessed the way climate change impacts are happening today. Advertisement The evil actors in "Before The Flood" are the international corporations funding the politics of climate change denial. They include Exxon, BP, Shell and the largest privately-held company, the Koch Brother enterprises. Fossil fuel interests are the key backers of Donald Trump and GOP leaders in Congress blocking the path to a carbon tax -- advocated in the film by George W. Bush's top economic advisor. (Eye On Miami regularly features the crimes against humanity embedded in climate change denialism. Check our archives.) Last night, at the conclusion of the film, actor and film-maker Mark Ruffalo introduced DiCaprio, Stevens, and a local panel including Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine. Ruffalo told the audience of Florida voters that they should vote NO on Amendment 1 in November. The state's electric utilities are spending $20 million to promote a constitutional amendment that would hold solar power hostage to its interests. Amendment 1 is designed to confuse voters into thinking it is a positive measure for climate change adaptation. In fact, what the amendment would do is to consolidate the power of solar energy in the hands of the state's electric utilities; the same large corporations like FPL that have obscured and lead the way in climate change denialism. In other words, US corporations that fund climate change denialism and elections, primarily through the Republican Party, are already laying out escape routes for their top executives who, one suspects, are planning armed fortresses high on mountain tops stocked with canned goods. ELKO An Idaho man was arrested on an open murder charge in the death of a Ryndon woman whose decapitated body was found by a hunter Sept. 4 in a shallow grave off Mountain City Highway. Today wed like to announce we did find the suspect in our missing person that turned into a homicide, said Sheriff Jim Pitts. Jose J. Segundo-Huizar, 46, of Jerome was arrested Monday evening at the murder site, after showing detectives where the womans head was buried. He is being held without bail. He did admit to killing the victim and he also voluntarily came back to Elko and showed us where the rest of the body was buried, said Pitts. Pitts said the head was buried approximately one mile down the road from the body. The Elko County Sheriffs Office did not originally report that she had been decapitated because it was thought to compromise the investigation. Detectives have been working on the case since Carmen Magallanes-Sanchez, 34, was reported missing Aug. 24 by her boyfriend, said Pitts. They followed up on information that led them to Idaho, with help from the task force and the Idaho State Police. The sheriff said the detectives gained a lead on Segundo-Huizar through Facebook and other evidence, including phone calls the family received. A search warrant was issued for Segundo-Huizars home and executed Monday afternoon. Evidence in one of the vehicles and residence led to the suspects questioning. Even though Magallanes-Sanchez was living with someone else, Segundo-Huizar claims the pair had had an intermittant relationship. There is not a clear motive. Segundo-Huizars statements to authorities reveal a dispute over having sex, said Pitts, explaining the Washoe County Medical Examiners Office said the initial autopsy results showed Magallanes-Sanchez had been dead only a few days before the postmortem. This aids detectives in creating the approximate 10-day timeline for the investigation. The sheriff suggested there was an altercation between the pair, where Segundo-Huizar pushed the victim. The authorities do not have an exact cause of death. It is unclear if the decapitation took place after death as the autopsy is not complete at this time. The sheriffs office identified the body of Magallanes-Sanchez through fingerprints on Sept. 15. The grave was approximately 30 miles north of Elko just off of Mountain City Highway. The body was exhumed from the site and sent to the Washoe County Medical Examiners Office. The investigation is ongoing and the Washoe County Crime Unit was at the scene Tuesday, helping to recover parts of the head, which had been dug up by animals and scattered in the barren area. Segundo-Huizars initial hearing was heard by Elko Justice of the Peace Mason Simons, who approved the defendants application for counsel and appointed the Elko County Public Defenders Office for representation. Elko County Public Defender Kriston Hill told the judge she would be handling the case. During the proceedings, it was stated Segundo-Huizar is a ranch hand with a wife in Idaho. His two adult sons reside in Mexico. Chief District Attorney Chad Thompson said the State would most likely file the criminal complaint by the end of this week or the beginning of next week. Simons said it is his intention to see Segundo-Huizar after the complaint is filed to address the charge and set further court proceedings. Viet Thanh Nguyen became the first Vietnamese American writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for his debut novel, The Sympathizer, this year. His achievement was particularly emotional and rewarding for the Vietnamese American literary community because for over two decades he'd been actively working with other writers and artists to promote Vietnamese literature and visual art and culture. Viet Thanh Nguyen (photo by Bebe Jacobs), Andrew Lam, and Aimee Phan (photo by Julie Thi Underhill), respectively. Advertisement Aimee Phan: Although Viet's debut as a novelist occurred last year, the three of us have been writing and participating in the diasporic Vietnamese literary community for many years. Could you share when you first realized you wanted to write creatively? What was your first story attempt about? Any failed first novels? How has your writing evolved? Andrew Lam: I started writing after college, just about when the Apple Mac was created; I bought my first computer in my senior year at Cal. It was then that I, though a pre-med and biochem major, fancied myself a writer. My first attempt was to write about a failed romance, based on my own. While working at the cancer research lab, I took to writing--I suppose to make sense of what had happened. I bombarded mice mammary tissue with carcinogens during the day and watched the cancerous growth, and at night I gave myself to sadness. I wrote. But you discover soon enough that if your heart is still breaking you cannot give a proper framework to the story of a broken romance. So I gave up that story and wrote about my Vietnamese childhood and the war, and my memory of being a refugee. Eventually I got better at writing, bored with science, and so I decided to go into an MFA program. I wrote short stories, mostly because they fit my temperament. And yes, there's a failed novel somewhere on a floppy disk that I haven't looked at in over two decades (can one still access an antique floppy disk, I have no idea?), but I am writing a new one now. Writers Andrew Lam, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Amitava Kumar discuss the horrors and lingering impact of the Vietnam War [Credit: Ritayan Mitra] at the Jaipur/Boulder Literature Festival. As a journalist my subject matter ranges from environmental concerns to immigrants' rights, from scientific discoveries to shifting human behaviors due to the advent of communication technology, from the ongoing refugee crisis to the current political climate in the US--which is to say everything under the sun. My literary work, however, such as in Birds of Paradise Lost, remains focused on the story of the migrant, the refugee who crosses all kinds of borders--both in the sand and in the mind--and his or her struggle to remake themselves. That hasn't changed, but the years have deepened my understanding of myself and my own identity in relationship with others, and maybe the nature of my own heartbreaks and how this continues to inform me as I write. Advertisement Viet Thanh Nguyen: I have been writing on and off, mostly off, since I was in the second grade. I wrote my first short story in high school, and all I remember of it was that my teacher commented on my "purple prose." I became more serious in college when I got into Maxine Hong Kingston's creative nonfiction seminar at Berkeley. But by the time I graduated, I knew I was a better scholar than creative writer, so I went to get a PhD and wrote fiction on the side. I wrote short stories because I thought they would be easier and I could get them done in the crevices of time I had. Turns out they were pretty hard, and I spent a couple of decades writing them, with real attention beginning after I got tenure. That time after tenure when I focused on writing short stories (while still doing my academic research) was very hard and taught me how to write, persist, endure. It was great preparation for writing a novel. The short stories were about Vietnamese refugees and the people they left behind or encountered. When it came to the novel, I felt that I didn't have to continue that subject. Plus there were writers who had already published books about them, like Andrew and Aimee. So I focused on the war itself and its aftermath in the novel. The novel's style is radically different from the short stories, which were mostly in the standard realist vein. I think I could do something quite different because the form was much more expansive and natural and because I had already done the realist thing and wasn't happy with it. I wrote short stories because I thought they would be easier and I could get them done in the crevices of time I had. Advertisement Aimee Phan: How has your perspective and relationship with literature and writing changed? How do you see diasporic Vietnamese literature today, compared to twenty years ago, when we only had a few writers publishing? And how do you see diasporic Vietnamese writing positioned in contemporary world literature? Andrew Lam: When I started out writing, there were very few people who looked like me and who came from the same background in the field. Actually, there were but one or two Vietnamese American journalists--that was it. When I started getting published, I remember there was a sense of delight and then dread: everyone in my community wanted me to tell their stories, their sadness and anguish, my family members included. It became overwhelming at times: "Why don't you say this . . ." my mother would lobby me. "How can you say that; that's not right," my uncle would say. I was a bit of a lone voice out there then, and the community, so long invisible and marginalized, wanted me to be its spokesperson, and it didn't feel good. Now, of course, there is a chorus of voices, and so many marvelous angles and views on the same story, and it gives rise to a collective work that is rich and powerful. I think my writing changed fundamentally compared to when I started a quarter of a century ago. When I started writing, I wrote with a burden of memories, with a deep yearning to share the travails and struggles of the Vietnamese people in the aftermath of the war, both at home and abroad. In a sense I played both the role of an advocate and that of a writer. I think you can see elements of that in Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora. But somewhere along the way, I fell in love with the craft itself, and literature, and the power of the English language. In a sense, the activist in me has yielded to a more literary voice that is more dispassionate, and discerning. In fiction, especially, I like to create characters who have their own free will--that is, are self-directed, and do things that may appall or delight me but are chiefly being true to themselves and not my political agenda. That was something I couldn't do at the beginning of my writing life. Vietnam, the diaspora, the refugee experience may still dominate the theme, but the craft sure shifted since 1990. Viet Thanh Nguyen: Before The Sympathizer, I was focused mostly on trying to figure out how a short story worked. I was certainly concerned with questions of history, politics, and theory, and I was dissatisfied with the form of the short story itself. But I had started a project with writing short stories and I wanted to finish it, which meant finishing and publishing a short-story collection. So the history, politics, and theory were secondary until I could just figure out how to write a damn short story. When it came to the novel, all of a sudden the struggle with form was overcome. It was still challenging, but not deeply frustrating as it was with the short story, and because I wasn't so much worried about form, I could suddenly see how to deal with history, politics, and theory. Diasporic Vietnamese writing has grown during the same period I have, and we are now seeing more younger writers, as well as writers our own age or thereabouts, who are not writing about the war. Bich Minh Nguyen, Vi Khi Nao, Phong Nguyen, Dao Strom. Of course, some are still writing about the war and its legacies, but in new forms like the graphic novel--GB Tran, Thi Bui--or genres, like Vu Tran and the detective novel, or Dao and experimental mixed genres. Or getting big acclaim, like Ocean Vuong in poetry. It's really a growth field that does and doesn't adhere to the history of the war. It's not predictable in some ways, and that's good. Insofar as positioning this literature globally, that's beginning to happen with writers who have some measure of international reputation, like Monique Truong. I'm not sure we have a global Vietnamese writer yet, whereas we have global Indian diasporic writers, for example. Aimee Phan: I'm specifically thinking about Barack Obama's recent visit to Vietnam. Whenever the relationship between Vietnam and America is in the global media, Vietnamese American writers are asked to give their thoughts on historically and politically fraught issues. This is a responsibility the two of you have not shied away from. How do you think contemporary Vietnamese American writers can help influence the conversation on the relationship between the two countries? How do you think contemporary Vietnamese American writers can help influence the conversation on the relationship between the two countries? Advertisement Viet Thanh Nguyen: I'm carrying this conversation out on my Facebook author page, where the majority of the followers are Vietnamese people in Vietnam. I write in English; the discussions/debates are in English and Vietnamese. These people have followed me because of the Pulitzer news, and most of them haven't had the chance to read the novel yet. I'm not sure what they expect of me, but I use my posts on topics like April 30, reconciliation, the Obama visit, and the controversy over Bob Kerrey's appointment to be chairman of the board for Fulbright University Vietnam to articulate what I hope are critical stances that oppose all forms of power. So with the Obama visit, I did point out the theatricality of it, the feel-good nature of it versus the problematic issues of lifting the ban on selling arms and maneuvering into an alliance with Vietnam to contain or restrain China. Some Vietnamese people agreed; others are ready to follow the American model of capitalism and power. But as Andrew points out, these efforts on social media or on the occasionally translated work can only impact a small audience. We need our entire books available to the Vietnamese-language audience in Vietnam. The Sympathizer is in the process of being translated, but I don't know yet how good the translation will be, or whether it can pass censorship unscathed. I won't allow it to be published in partial form in Vietnam, so if it is censored, I will have to get it out online. Maybe because of the Pulitzer press, readers will actually want to read it even if it's not in a bookstore. My nonfiction book, Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War, will be translated into Vietnamese, too, and will face the same issues. But in that case, the publisher is talking about having me in Vietnam. Perhaps if that happens, it can be part of the detente Andrew talks about with a literary exchange in Vietnam. The Sympathizer is in the process of being translated, but I don't know yet how good the translation will be, or whether it can pass censorship unscathed. Advertisement Andrew Lam: I voted for Obama, wrote lovingly about him, but frankly I was disappointed with the visit. I am quite aware of the incredible soft power he exuded while there--the ultimate charmer saw tens of thousands lining the street waving American flags. That's quite something. But to me his seeming indifference to the Vietnamese struggle for true political reform while giving public lip service to human rights is damaging. Selling lethal weapons without any implemention of human-rights reform will only encourage Hanoi to continue its crackdown on dissidents and human-rights activists with no fear of international criticism or, for that matter, US rebuke. It also sends a message to political reform advocates that they cannot hope to look toward Washington for support. A growing civil society without international support and limelight will be a struggle under a police state. My work has been translated into Vietnamese and published in newspapers in Vietnam when the government deemed them positive writings about the country, but most of my criticism remains stuff written in English with occasional Vietnamese translation from Vietnamese ethnic media in the US. So many now in Vietnam read in English and use Facebook--people who friend me these days are young, educated Vietnamese from Vietnam, people who read international writing--and it's in them that I see a sliver of my work playing some small role of debate and the exchange of ideas. But unless our work is translated and allowed to be published in Vietnam, it's hard to imagine how we can really have a direct conversation with the people of Vietnam. On the other hand, I do work with some members of Congress on human-rights issues and behind the scenes with organizations who fight human trafficking in Vietnam. I'd love to see a growing civil society to the point where a Vietnamese American writers' panel is allowed at a book festival in Hanoi. But that day seems very far away. I'd love to see a growing civil society to the point where a Vietnamese American writers' panel is allowed at a book festival in Hanoi. But that day seems very far away. Advertisement Aimee Phan: Who are the Vietnamese American writers we should be reading now? Cholon, Femme au Velo, A drawing by Marcellino Truong. Andrew Lam: All of them. But I think we should expand that question to "who are the Vietnamese writers and artists and filmmakers we should be watching around the world?" That is, what is new and exciting about the diaspora and its artistic expression? There are fabulous loners who escape the collective radar but are making strides. There's an artist named An-My Le whose photographs of landscapes transformed by war or other forms of military activity are layered with all sorts of meanings. She won a MacArthur Fellowship. Binh Danh is another artist whose work hangs in the de Young and Corcoran and several other museums in the US and whose imprints of war images on leaves are breathtaking. There are cartoonists and documentarians like Dustin Nguyen who worked with DC Comics, and Marcelino Truong in Paris whose comic book, Such a Lovely Little War, was recently translated. Duc Nguyen is a filmmaker who won a couple of California Emmy Awards for Bolinao 52, about boat people who committed cannibalism to survive. And Chinese Vietnamese filmmaker James Chan just did a documentary of Chinatown, which is to say, not every topic has to be about war and memories of war. Then there are those returning to Vietnam to create a vibrant community of artists' collective there, and under the support of the world-renowned artist Dinh Q. Le, whose work hangs in the MoMA in New York City and whose first solo exhibition was at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. Artwork by Dinh Q. Le There are also rappers and filmmakers and avant-garde artists in Vietnam as well. Did you see twenty-six-year-old rapper Suboi at a town hall meeting with Obama? I've seen her YouTube videos. She's dynamite. In a sense, I envy places like Taiwan and Singapore and Japan, where diasporic artists are welcomed home with open arms to exchange ideas with local artists and vice versa. But it's a fledgling community. A communist state like Vietnam remains wary of "foreign influence." My friends tell me they read Perfume Dreams via pirated versions sold on the street. But when it rains, the ink melts away. Kind of sad, kind of poetic. You know what I would really love to see? A kind of literary/art journal that chronicles the arts of the diaspora, something like 100 Flowers Blooming with smart literary criticism and reviews and interviews thrown in. And let's throw in some amazing translations as well. It's something diacritics.org is doing but on a much larger scale. If I were a multimillionaire, that's one of the things I would fund. Artwork by Thi Bui Viet Thanh Nguyen: I mention them above. I'll highlight a few who aren't so well known right now, because they are doing such innovative or unusual things, or their works have just come out or are coming out. Thi Bui's The Best We Could Do is a graphic memoir about the artist becoming a mother and reflecting on her own parents, who lived through decades of war and unrest in Vietnam and then became "boat people." I found this book easy to read (it's all pictures!) but also really painful to read. Anybody who's had a parent traumatized by war or being a refugee and can't communicate with them and is puzzled by their history--or really just anybody who's interested in human stories--is going to be affected by this book. Vi Khi Nao's Fish in Exile is a strange novel about two people who lose their children in a tragic accident. It's got nothing to do with Vietnam or Vietnamese Americans, and a great deal to do with Greek myth, tragic drama, and literary experimentation. It's hard to forget and perhaps challenging to understand. In short, it's not "ethnic literature." Phong Nguyen's The Adventures of Joe Harper also undermines notions of Vietnamese American literature, if we define that as what is written by a Vietnamese American. It takes up the story of Joe Harper, a minor character in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and imagines a world where Tom Sawyer ran off to become a pirate and a cold-blooded killer. Like Bich Minh Nguyen in Pioneer Girl, Phong claims an inheritance in American literature, not Vietnamese. Advertisement Aimee Phan: I'm interested in this idea Viet brought up of the global Vietnamese writer--which hasn't quite emerged yet but seems inevitable. I'm also interested in seeing how Vietnamese writers begin to further engage in each other's work, as Vietnamese visual artists have already been doing. Viet Le, a visual artist and fellow DVAN member, has curated exhibits and galleries featuring Southeast Asian artists, which has created great opportunities for a variety of visual artists to come together. Recently, a group of Vietnamese American women writers, under the inspiration and leadership of writer Dao Strom, has begun collaborating on projects called She Who Has No Master(s), with the mission of reaching out to other Vietnamese women writers and artists around the world. I am surprised by how inspired I've become by working with these other women whom I've admired and read for many years--and it has influenced my writing in unpredictable and rejuvenating ways. So many writers consider the craft to be a solitary act, so it certainly isn't for every writer. You are both very active in the Vietnamese American community as well as other literary and artistic communities. Do you find inspiration in your colleagues' and friends' work? Have you ever worked on an artistic collaboration with other Southeast Asian artists or writers? Would you consider collaborating with other Vietnamese writers or artists in creative work? What are your future projects? Andrew Lam: I went to creative writing school at San Francisco State University in 1989, and it was a big learning curve. But I was the only Asian American in the entire school besides a Chinese American cartoonist. My parents were shocked when I didn't go into medical school. "Name for me a Vietnamese who's making a living writing," my father, who has an MBA, said. I couldn't really name anyone. That's different now. I can name a few. But in terms of being part of a writing collective, I don't belong to any at this point. In nonfiction, however, my work usually is commissioned or freelanced, and usually I work with an editor. At New America Media, where I am an editor, I work with my colleagues on various journalistic pieces. But in fiction, alas, I work alone for the most part. In the works? Another collection of short stories and a difficult-going novel about a young man struggling to find a place to call home in the floating world, which is all the more reason to try to work through it. Viet Thanh Nguyen: I've been active in political, arts, and literary organizations since I was in college, and have always believed that literature cannot effect social change on its own. It can only do so in conjunction with political and cultural movements. That was a major reason for my activism and my continual investment in DVAN and our blog, diacritics.org, the leading online source for Vietnamese and diasporic arts, culture, and politics. At the same time, it's always hard to balance that kind of work with one's writing, not to mention one's life and other commitments (like a job). And at the moment, I think The Sympathizer probably has more impact on the world than all the activism I've done. But again, part of that impact came from its arrival in a world that had already been shaped by earlier activists. So I am still trying to figure out the right balance between investing time in my own work and collaborating with others. I have a short-story collection coming out in February 2017, The Refugees, about Vietnamese refugees and Vietnamese Americans. And I've written the first fifty pages of The Committed, the sequel to The Sympathizer, with an excerpt published in Ploughshares and another forthcoming in Freeman's. In a recent article, I shared my own experiences of the impact of increased individual acts of terrorism and of being too close for comfort during many of the recent attacks in Europe. I presented a expansive view of how it has altered my thinking and even steered me when making otherwise mundane daily decisions, such as what is the safest airline to fly right after a recent attack or when a second event in the same location seems less probable. To put this into perspective, it is more than thought provoking when one recognizes personal changes in behavior and to consider how society has been impacted by fear-based thinking. Allowing ourselves to be manipulated by these emotions has never been and will never be the answer as it only serves to further isolate us in our individual worlds. In the midst of this chaos and growing tensions and changing ideology, there is a human response that builds and then unravels with each new incident of violence, and every false alarm. This primal reaction that occurs when we continuously experience new, traumatic events, directly or indirectly and this secondary impact of fear, real or imagined and the changes in behavior that follow continue to expand. The tensions and uncertainty have introduced a new political and social dynamic that now influences our individual and collective view and experience of life and the world around us. This year, we have endured a surge in global upheaval, terrorism and changes to our international dialogue around the experience of fear. External changes in policy and in the media are affecting changes internally and impacting how individuals behave and make basic decisions on how we identify the enemy or distinguish between organized and isolated violence. We are conditioned now to respond with horror and then with an instinctual numbness that overcomes us and protects us from the reality of these dangers. The media feeds this overwhelming sense of helplessness as well, jumping on a event and feeding us every last detail in high definition. An example of this complex result of fear based thinking can be found in what happened with the BREXIT vote. Motivations that inspired that vote, grounded in the anti-immigration and anti-establishment memes, changed how some Brits vacationed abroad due to terrorism concerns. In Germany, tensions following unexpected attacks this summer have similarly also been put to use as a political tool to support the growing presence of the AFD (Alternative for Germany) party which holds an isolationist anti-migrant policy. France has also strongly moved to the right politically after the wave of attacks this year in anticipation of elections in 2017. Advertisement Travel destinations that are assumed to be lower risk, such as Spain, Portugal and Italy are now considered more popular today for travelers from other European countries. Many others have taken the easier route and opted to vacation in their own country this summer. In the United States, a list of recent events in New York City and a series of false-alarm incidents have slipped into our collective subconscious and definitively affected large groups of people, entirely changing how they react to something as harmless as popping balloons. On August 28, a loud noise at a terminal in LAX was mistaken for gunfire which spread to mass panic, gridlocked traffic and police and dozens of people running for their lives before any real confirmation of an actual weapon. Perhaps most surprising was the reaction to the series of explosives found in the NY area and the one that was detonated in Manhattan which occurred while I was there for a conference a few weeks ago during UN week. After initial serious concerns and panic driven reporting in the media which went viral worldwide, the suspect was rapidly apprehended and the story was dismissed fairly quickly in order to focus on more pressing global issues at the United Nations. Had it not been for the Presidential campaign and the UN General Assembly, this story would have dominated our experience for far longer. The speed in which this incident was dismissed and allowed to fall from the public consciousness further validates the odd and perplexing nature of our new relationship to fear, and how we can quickly absorb the anxiety and the distrust around us. Statistically, rates of violence across the United States are down, and in the very recent wake of the 15th anniversary ceremony at the September 11 memorial, the United States has since experienced far fewer attacks than most nations across the globe. Television and social media has been largely responsible for transmitting heightened and many times unnecessary and unfounded anxiety, reporting events instantaneously so that they go viral and cause panic before all the facts are in. This is adding fuel to the fire as the U.S seems to be acting out against a developing backdrop of paranoia and fear and a latent preparedness within us that something may or will happen, just a matter of when and where. When we examine the impact and dangers of terror, we have the added responsibility to pick apart the more nuanced and alarmingly intricate fabric built into fear based thinking. The overwhelming reasons and stakes for understanding this before it goes too far are exactly the same motivations as those we work with to protect ourselves from violence and terror; our freedom, our future, and the quality of life today. Although fear is clearly an effective psychological weapon, exaggerating its impact is playing right into the hands of the perpetrators. In the past several weeks, I have been to conferences and gatherings that highlight and create platforms for the many and varied positive developments in our world in technology, philanthropy, strong leadership and generosity of spirit. Globalization and the changes it has brought us, both positive and negative, is not going away and in this interconnected world, we all need to make the collective decision to choose hope over fear, to honor the human spirit that harbors true optimism and to support inclusion, not division. Advertisement At the 2016 Paris Auto Show EVs and Hybrids dominate the landscape. Now, there's more evidence that diesel-powered passenger cars are about to go to the same place as most network sitcoms. I don't know exactly where "Crowded," "Grandfathered" and "Faking It" have gone, but gone they are, and I kind of wish ABC's "Quantico" would go to the exact same place. Wait..., "Quantico" is a comedy, right? Either way, I think many diesel cars are about to be canceled, just like most network sitcoms should. A couple months ago, I said I thought the VW diesel scandal was kind of unfortunate since diesel-powered passenger cars are about to become obsolete anyway. It's largely my opinion, but there's some new evidence that proves I might be right. The latest bit of info comes from a Reuters piece titled "Renault Sees Diesel Disappearing From Most of Its European Cars." According to that piece, Renault's chief competitiveness officer questioned whether diesel would survive. The same story was picked up by BBC and Fortune. Reuters says they spoke exclusively to two people who were present at a Renault meeting in July. Advertisement Renault-Nissan's attitudes and plans matter, simply because the company is a huge player in the global automotive landscape. The Renault-Nissan Alliance (sometimes just called the Alliance) was formed in 1999. By 2013, the Alliance had sold more than 8 million vehicles, meaning one in 10 new cars sold worldwide in 2013 was a Renault-Nissan Alliance vehicle. In 2015, the Alliance sold 8.5 million vehicles worldwide and now has strategic collaborations with other automakers, including Germany's Daimler AG, China's Dongfeng Motor and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Another key piece of insight into this diesel trend came at the press preview of the 2016 Paris Auto Show, when I spoke with Philippe Klein, chief planning officer with Nissan, about the future of diesel-powered passenger cars. Klein thinks we should expect a gradual decline in the number of diesel engines offered, primarily for what he called "price-sensitive buyers." Translation: The initial decrease will be in small, inexpensive cars. The reason for this is very simple. According to Klein, "The gradual increase in regulation increases the price." This creates more expensive cars, to the point where many buyers (likely European consumers at first) will start to question the value of diesel given the price versus the real-world benefits. Also, Klein added that "less driving means less benefit." This could mean diminishing returns for urban drivers who are considering diesel-powered cars. Diesel will certainly continue to make sense for trucks, however. As evidence that this trend is already starting, visit the Renault.co.uk site and research the 2016 Renault TWINGO. You can see they're no longer offering a diesel option in the TWINGO. There are two engines available, the SCe 70 and TCe 90, both of which use petrol. The 2007-2014 Renault TWINGO had a 1.5-liter diesel option, and the new version does not. Advertisement Akshay Anand, manager of commercial insights at Kelley Blue Book. says: "Diesel sales hit their peak in 2014 but have slowly been declining since. This is likely in part due to the diesel scandal with VW and the halo surrounding it. However, other alternative fuel technologies continue to get better, fuel prices stay low, and standard combustion vehicles continue to get better miles per gallon." I asked Renault-Nissan about the Reuters report and was told that Renault has not confirmed the statements and "will adapt its portfolio according to local market demand." Nissan Europe said something similar but with a more telling emphasis: "We continue to focus on the development of a range of technologies -- electric, petrol and diesel." Any automaker would say the same. But those selling a good number of diesel models may find that local market demand is drying up simply because the price for a diesel-powered car soon won't equal the fuel savings versus a gasoline-powered vehicle or a gas/electric hybrid. Plus, the price of a diesel-powered car is about to go up. Emissions and fuel economy requirements in Europe are set to increase by the year 2021. Currently, diesels make up approximately 60 percent of total sales in Europe for brands such as Peugeot and Renault. What's telling about the Nissan Europe statement is that it includes a mention of electric, diesel and gasoline-powered cars. Additionally, the freedom with which Nissan distributes electric-vehicle (EV) stats likely indicates there will be fewer diesels and more EVs in your automotive future. According to BBC News:, "From 2019, tougher European rules on diesel engines will involve measuring emissions in real-world driving conditions, making the new standards much harder to comply with." When it comes to all the increased regulation and the resulting price increases, Klein said; "EV is the way to conquer this." This might not be true today, as EVs and Hybrids and the batteries that power them are quite expensive. Today, EVs make up less than 1 percent of total vehicle sales in Europe. But that's only today: The regulation and cost of diesel will increase, while the cost of EV technology will naturally decrease over time. Again, let's use Renault-Nissan Alliance as an example. Worldwide, roughly one of every two pure electric vehicles sold is an Alliance vehicle -- the automaker has sold 350,000 EVs worldwide. Renault is the best-selling EV brand in Europe thanks to cars like the TWIZY and ZOE, while the Nissan Leaf is the best-selling EV in the U.S. and throughout the world. Finally, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, there were 25 new cars registered per 1,000 people in the European Union in 2014. And when you look at new-car registrations in Europe by fuel type, the number for diesel has been decreasing recently. In 2011, 55.2 percent of new cars registered in the EU were diesel-powered cars -- in 2014, it was 53 percent. One of my good women friends fairly recently entered her 60s. Carolyn is a single mother and her sons are both grown up and independent. Finding herself dissatisfied with just about everything, she decided to do a life purge and so, got rid of her boyfriend, job, dog, horse and house. Having spent 30 years in Los Angeles, a city she never really liked, she took off for the East Coast where her aging mother lives, with no plan except allegedly to take care of her. This is the first time in 40 years that she hasn't had a job and we are not allowed to use the word retired. She says she's on a sabbatical. With no job to go back to I don't think that qualifies as a sabbatical but I don't point that out to her. She has rented a tiny apartment in North Adams, Mass. very close to her mother's residence in Williamstown. While the intention is noble, to the casual observer, it seems Carolyn spends as little time with her mother as possible. Most of her time is spent exploring every state in New England and visiting friends. "Have car will travel" is her motto -- so pretty much any invitation is accepted. She has a lot of East Coast friends. Carolyn is, by her own admission, auditioning lifestyles. Advertisement Now all this might sound like the behavior of a wealthy woman but in fact she is not wealthy. I happen to know that she lived for quite some time with her two small children in South Central Los Angeles. She is good with money and seems to be able to hang her hat anywhere from a castle to a cabin. She stayed with us on The Vineyard for three days. She was enthusiastic about everything. She loved the horses. I did think it a bit odd that, having recently let go of her horse on the West coast, ostensibly for some freedom, she was considering tying herself down with ranch life on the East coast. We went swimming at the Ice house pond and she swam like an Olympic Champion ... I gasped my way across as she whizzed by. Getting out of the water, I noticed her casting an eye around the pond as if assessing the surrounding real estate. Perhaps life on a serene pond could be the next thing. Then, while on the beach, I noticed a nude man and suggested that we had inadvertently stumbled onto the clothing optional section. After exclaiming that she had spent a very lovely weekend with her ex-boyfriend at a nudist colony, she got three of us post-60-year-old women to throw off our clothes and rush into the water. It was exhilarating, I must say. Not impossible that she is considering a life without the burden of dressing every day. Advertisement When I asked her what her plans were, she looked at me with affection and said -- "Who knows? Maybe I should live on Martha's Vineyard." I have no doubt that she said the same thing about the last four or five places she visited. This footloose and independent attitude is unsettling to me. I like to think of myself as a free spirit. What a joke. Thirty years ago I happened to do one of Tony Robert's visualization exercises. I wrote down in great detail what I wanted my future to look like and now I'm living it. Is there another more authentic me that I've ignored, that needs to be uncovered? Maybe I need to throw everything away and start over. Did I settle for my life because of a lack of nerve or imagination? Over coffee one morning she talked about the pressure she felt having to invent every day and make it meaningful. In the space of an hour she might consider finding a job at a community college, volunteering with habitat for humanity, applying to the Peace Corps or going to a spa to get her nails and hair done. Her most recent idea was researching the life of Crazy Horse because she was just in Fort Robinson, Nebraska where he was murdered by the Calvary. I'm working on loving what I have, and she's looking at creating a whole new life. Well, borrowing a friend's life. Maybe mine. And suddenly I see my life through her eyes. I have a good marriage that has lasted for 25 years so far. My husband is my partner and helps me do everything. My children are girls which means they are more inclined to stick around their parents even as they make their own families. Maybe she's right. Maybe I am the luckiest woman alive!!! After three days I took her to catch her ferry and as we drove down our driveway past our chickens, I heard her say, "Note to self -- have chickens." Advertisement Is billionaire Elon Musk a long-headed business pioneer or is he a throwback to the Duke and the Dauphin in Huckleberry Finn who exploits gullibility in search of fame and riches? A basis for decision surfaced on September 27, 2016, at the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. Then and there, Mr. Musk unveiled his business plan for an interplanetary spaceship to colonize Mars. But will the colonists come when he does call for them? He acknowledged that they would confront a very high risk of death: "The first journey to Mars is going to be really very dangerous. The risk of fatality will be high. There's just no way around it." Indeed, Mr. Musk declared he would never buy a ticket to Mars "because I'd like to see my kids grow up and everything." To avoid liability for a failure to warn, each Mars colonist would be asked, "Are you prepared to die?" Only those answering in the affirmative would be eligible to travel. Despite the probability of death, Musk chirped that colonists would come because, "It'll be, like really fun to go. You"ll have a great time." Advertisement Mr. Musk anticipated sticker because the current cost of a one-way ticket approximates a cool $10 billion, excluding the stupendous premium for life or accident insurance. But Musk argued that the cost could plunge to a range of $200,000-$500,000 if Space X vehicles transported 100 passengers per flight at 26-month intervals when the distance between the Earth and Mars was at its nadir. But why would anyone pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a journey more dangerous than playing Russian roulette. Moreover, Mars is not a glamorous destination spot, and the travel itself would challenge all but the most hearty and resolute. Estimated flying time using currently available technology would range from six to nine months. Jet lag would be taken to an entirely new level. Upon arrival, the colonists would confront radiation, solar flares, weak gravity, frigid cold, toxic soil, and the law of the jungle. (Mr. Musk has not drafted anything like the Mayflower Compact). There would be no transportation, hotels, highways, movie theaters, medical facilities, shopping malls, or any of the amenities expected by ultra-rich travelers. It would be no place to raise children. In sum, selling tickets to colonize Mars would be more challenging than selling tickets to vacation in Ittoqqortourmilt, Greenland. That's why Musk conceives his endeavor as a 'huge public-private partnership," with the public taking the lion's share of the risk. That has been his business model for Tesla, SolarCity, and Space X. He is adept at convincing the public to subsidize his childish dreams or distractions. His explanation for craving the colonization of Mars casts doubt on his maturity: "The objective is to become a spacefaring civilization and a multiplanet species" in order to make humanity far less vulnerable to extinction. Advertisement But the danger of extinction comes in part from billionaires like Mr. Musk who dissipate their genius and wealth on frivolities for the few while the misery index of the species spirals from war, illiteracy, disease, poverty, tyranny, oppression, and subjugation. Flirting with colonizing Mars in these circumstances is as irresponsible as would have been waltzing to the Blue Danube on the Titanic as the ship approached the iceberg. "In my view, historians will look on this era as a period of failed mandates, of willful and ignorant attacks on public education and the education profession, and as a time in which entrepreneurs sought to turn education into a marketplace for profit." -- Diane Ravitch What will be the legacy of Race to the Top and Barack Obama's other education initiatives? Indeed, what's been accomplished in education reform around the country since 2012? Does our current traditional model of education meet the needs of most students? Is our curriculum preparing them for the jobs we need to fill in an age of globalization and artificial intelligence? What are the most critical needs for education leading up to 2030? Should tuition at public colleges and universities be free? As the United States prepares to elect a new President this November, putting every student on a path towards a successful future should be required discussion at every presidential debate. This season in The Global Search for Education, we bring back our popular 2012 Education Debate series and put these questions and others to thought leaders at the forefront of educational change. We asked Andy Hargreaves, Diane Ravitch, Howard Gardner, Randi Weingarten, Julia Freeland Fisher, and Charles Fadel to imagine they were Secretary of Education for the new administration. What are their answers to some of the big picture questions facing education and education reform? Advertisement Today we welcome Diane Ravitch. Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. From 1991 to 1993, she was Assistant Secretary of Education and Counselor to Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. She is the author of many books including: The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education (2010). "Schools in every neighborhood, regardless of zip code, should offer an excellent education, including the arts, foreign languages, play, technology, history, literature, the sciences, mathematics, and opportunities to create and make things." -- Diane Ravitch Diane, what will be the legacy of Race to the Top and Barack Obama's other education initiatives? In years to come, when historians look back on the early twenty-first century, they are likely to refer to the "Bush-Obama policies," because No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Race to the Top share a similar ideology. The shared assumptions are that standardized testing is both the best measure of educational progress and the goal of education. The ideology rests on a firm belief in extrinsic rewards and punishments. If children are tested, their test scores are used to identify their rating, as well as the ratings of their teachers, principals, and schools. Race to the Top required schools across the nation to adopt test-based evaluation and to fire educators and close schools based on test scores. And like NCLB, Race to the Top encouraged the mistaken belief that privately managed charter schools and state takeovers were a successful remedy to low-scoring schools. Advertisement Both NCLB and Race to the Top--and the assumptions behind them--were not only ineffectual but demoralizing to educators and major policy failures. They led to many school closures, especially in impoverished communities and communities of color. These policies failed to recognize that the single most important correlate (or cause) of low scores is poverty, family income. Many educators were unjustly fired, using flawed measures. At the same time, unregulated charters opened by the thousands, diverting resources from public schools and frequently refusing admission to the children with the greatest needs. In my view, historians will look on this era as a period of failed mandates, of willful and ignorant attacks on public education and the education profession, and as a time in which entrepreneurs sought to turn education into a marketplace for profit. "A new vision would prepare children for a world in which they are capable of making informed decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities." -- Diane Ravitch What should the role of education be in solving our income inequality problems? Education is opportunity. For some children, it will be their path out of poverty. For many others, schools are unable to overcome the burdens of poverty. We most certainly have far too much income inequality. The best way to solve it would be for government to provide children's grants so that no child grows up in abject poverty. Advertisement That, plus investing in the rebuilding of our infrastructure so that there are jobs for those who are able and willing to work. As Bob Herbert demonstrated in his book "Losing Our Way," we need to rebuild our bridges, tunnels, highways, and other parts of our infrastructure. There should be enough work for all. Education should offer equality of educational opportunity to all children. Schools in every neighborhood, regardless of zip code, should offer an excellent education, including the arts, foreign languages, play, technology, history, literature, the sciences, mathematics, and opportunities to create and make things. What has the US as a whole accomplished since 2012 in the field of education? Given the shift in focus in the global education reform debate from the 3 R's to the 4 C's, what are the critical steps we need to take to produce a new education framework for the US? The US has been through a disastrous era focused on high-stakes testing and privatization since the passage of NCLB in 2001. We need a new vision of education, one that minimizes testing and uses tests only for diagnostic purposes. A new vision would see each child as an individual who has different interests and needs. A new vision would treat teachers with respect as professionals. A new vision would prepare children for a world in which they are capable of making informed decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities. Advertisement What toll does poverty take on learning opportunities? How do we begin to reduce its effect on students? Poverty is highly correlated with poor educational outcomes--with test scores, absenteeism, dropout rates, and every other measure of attainment and achievement. Children are harmed by hunger, homelessness, unaddressed illnesses, and fear. Studies have shown that poverty harms children's mental and physical development. Only recently, we have learned that children in poor communities are all too often exposed to lead in their drinking water, which is toxic and may have lasting effects. The best way to reduce the effects of poverty is to reduce poverty, to make sure that every child has an equal chance to grow up healthy. "Professional autonomy is essential for every professional. They must work within the norms and ethics of their profession, not the mandates of non-educators in the state legislatures." -- Diane Ravitch How can we make teaching a more prestigious career? How can we entice better quality talent away from more lucrative careers and into classrooms? How do we retain good teachers and make sure they are where they are needed most? Advertisement For the past decade, teachers have been unfairly blamed for students' poor academic performance. Teachers served as a scapegoat to excuse our society's unwillingness to do anything to improve the lives of children, families, and communities. The testing regime of Bush and Obama removed professional autonomy from teachers. Teachers began to feel that their job was to prepare children to take tests and then to monitor test-taking. That was deeply demoralizing for many. Across the nation, there were calamitous declines in the number of people entering teaching, and an increase in the exodus of experienced teachers. To make teaching a more prestigious career, we must make sure that teaching is treated as a profession and a career, not a stepping stone. Online degrees should not be recognized as legitimate. Anyone who teaches in a pre-K to 12 school should be certified and licensed. All should have at least a year of the professional study of education, plus student teaching. Those who wish to dabble in teaching, like Teach for America, should be able to serve as paraprofessionals or teachers' assistants. In addition, states should reverse laws that remove teachers' right to due process. And, of course, teachers should receive compensation commensurate with the importance we place on their work. We cannot expect to lure top graduates when teachers are poorly paid. To retain good teachers, we must allow teachers to make decisions about how they teach and abandon efforts by legislatures to micromanage their work. Professional autonomy is essential for every professional. They must work within the norms and ethics of their profession, not the mandates of non-educators in the state legislatures. How do we make higher education more effective in meeting the employment needs of the world outside the campus? It is impossible to legislate a one size fits all form of higher education. Different institutions meet different needs, and students select the one that best meets their needs. Some will continue to be liberal arts colleges, others will be comprehensive universities, others will prepare for careers. The most important aspect of higher education that requires attention is the high cost to students; many states have shifted the cost of higher education from taxpayers to individual students. The cost is prohibitive for many students. That is a matter of public policy that can and must be addressed by our elected officials. Advertisement Top Row: C. M. Rubin, Andy Hargreaves, Randi Weingarten Bottom Row: Charles Fadel, Diane Ravitch, Howard Gardner, Julia Freeland Fisher (Photos are courtesy of CMRubinWorld) Join me and globally renowned thought leaders including Sir Michael Barber (UK), Dr. Michael Block (U.S.), Dr. Leon Botstein (U.S.), Professor Clay Christensen (U.S.), Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond (U.S.), Dr. MadhavChavan (India), Professor Michael Fullan (Canada), Professor Howard Gardner (U.S.), Professor Andy Hargreaves (U.S.), Professor Yvonne Hellman (The Netherlands), Professor Kristin Helstad (Norway), Jean Hendrickson (U.S.), Professor Rose Hipkins (New Zealand), Professor Cornelia Hoogland (Canada), Honourable Jeff Johnson (Canada), Mme. Chantal Kaufmann (Belgium), Dr. EijaKauppinen (Finland), State Secretary TapioKosunen (Finland), Professor Dominique Lafontaine (Belgium), Professor Hugh Lauder (UK), Lord Ken Macdonald (UK), Professor Geoff Masters (Australia), Professor Barry McGaw (Australia), Shiv Nadar (India), Professor R. Natarajan (India), Dr. Pak Tee Ng (Singapore), Dr. Denise Pope (US), Sridhar Rajagopalan (India), Dr. Diane Ravitch (U.S.), Richard Wilson Riley (U.S.), Sir Ken Robinson (UK), Professor Pasi Sahlberg (Finland), Professor Manabu Sato (Japan), Andreas Schleicher (PISA, OECD), Dr. Anthony Seldon (UK), Dr. David Shaffer (U.S.), Dr. Kirsten Sivesind (Norway), Chancellor Stephen Spahn (U.S.), Yves Theze (LyceeFrancais U.S.), Professor Charles Ungerleider (Canada), Professor Tony Wagner (U.S.), Sir David Watson (UK), Professor Dylan Wiliam (UK), Dr. Mark Wormald (UK), Professor Theo Wubbels (The Netherlands), Professor Michael Young (UK), and Professor Minxuan Zhang (China) as they explore the big picture education questions that all nations face today. The Global Search for Education Community Page When I first went to China as a high school student, in 1987, my blond hair was a novelty and many Chinese friends asked to touch it. It was awkward, but harmless, and I indulged their curiosity. Today, as white Americans become increasingly ubiquitous in China, I hear similar stories of Chinese youth wanting to touch the hair of their African American classmates. And it raises the question: what it is really like to be a black in China? While more African Americans - and minorities in general - are studying abroad around the world each year, the numbers fall far below their white counterparts. In 2013-2014, white Americans comprised nearly 75 percent of study abroad students compared to students of color who made up 25 percent. At the same time, however, the numbers are climbing - the year before, students of color made up just over 16 percent of Americans studying abroad. That's encouraging, but it's not enough. As America becomes ever more diverse - by 2020, according to the US Census Bureau, more than half of American youth will be a minority race or ethnic group - so should our study abroad population. That's important for all US study abroad but particularly so for China, the fifth largest host destination for study abroad in the world. Advertisement Americans must do more to break down barriers and create opportunities for minorities to be exposed to other cultures. At the US-China Strong Foundation, we work to increase the number and diversity of Americans who are studying Mandarin and studying abroad in China. Why? Because the US-China relationship is the most important and consequential in the world, and we must ensure that our next generation of leaders - from whatever background, socioeconomic class or ethnicity - is equipped to manage it effectively. No major global challenge can be solved without the US and China working together. And our young people must have the knowledge, cross-cultural understanding and the skills to be able to compete and collaborate with their Chinese counterparts. Increasing study abroad opportunities to China is important for all ethnic groups, not just African Americans. But the need there is particularly acute - according to a study by the Institute for International Education, in 2009-2010, just five percent of US students participating in study abroad programs were black. The percentage going to China is even smaller. Advertisement Over the past few months, US-China Strong has had the privilege to see many of our African American student ambassadors travel to and thrive in China. In July, for instance, a delegation of students from Bennett College - one of only two all-female Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) - participated in a study trip to Hangzhou where they engaged in project-based learning focused on clean energy. The trip was sponsored by Wanxiang America, and organized in partnership with the State Department's Global Women's Initiative. The Chinese government is also embracing American diversity, offering thousands of scholarships for HBCU students. Of course, our commitment goes beyond the African American community. Here at home, US-China Strong is leading a national movement to increase Mandarin language learning in K-12 schools - including in underserved communities -- so that we are building a pipeline of students of diverse backgrounds who have been exposed to Chinese language and culture and who might go on to study in China and take on a China-related career. We are proud that 52 percent of US-China Strong student ambassadors are students of color. A protester mocks Donald Trump for "ducking" the question of sharing his taxes during a recent press conference by Miami voters denouncing Trump's history with the Castro regime. Photo credit: Zulema Rodriguez By Thomas Kennedy Weeks before the presidential election, Donald Trump's bid for the White House could be unraveling before our eyes. Revelation upon revelation continue to show Trump as a sketchy candidate whose candidacy we as Americans must question. Florida, as always, is one of the key states to decide who will be the next president, and as we know our state has its share of Cuban American voters who have higher than average voter-turnout rates when compared with the Latino population as a whole. Cuban American voters are also more concerned by tumultuous relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. Given that, one has to wonder about a presidential candidate who travels the state talking tough against Cuba, only to have him and his companies outed for reportedly violating the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba. In a 2,000 word story, Newsweek described how Trump sent representatives to Cuba in 1998 to explore the building of a casino if the embargo were ever lifted. It is estimated that Trump paid a consulting firm close to $69,000 to arrange the trip. In a speech that same year, Trump gave a speech in Miami in which he talked called Cuba leader Fidel Castro a "murderer" and stood fast that the embargo had to remain. He never mentioned his business foray into Cuba. Advertisement Now, almost two decades later, Trump is appealing to the same conservative Cuban-American crowd that supports an embargo against Cuba, but his promises to maintain a ban against the island nation ring hollow after his hypocrisy has been exposed. I've grown up in this community and have listened to the older hard line conservative Cubans who dominated Miami politics for so long rail against a supposed communist influence within the Democratic Party. It is ironic and revealing that they are now backing a candidate who tried to conduct business in direct violation of U.S. law with the very regime they claim to oppose. Their hypocrisy is plain for all to see. What is also clear is that Trump is a man who thinks he can play by his own rules. A bombshell story by the New York Times has revealed that in 1995, Trump declared a $916 million dollar loss in his income tax returns, a tax deduction so substantial that it allowed him to not pay taxes for the next 18 years. When pressed on this issue, Trump's campaign not only did not deny the charges but Trump himself claimed that dodging taxes in this manner makes him smart. Advertisement It's mind boggling that a candidate for President would gloat about dodging taxes by exploiting a system that obviously favors the wealthiest of filers. It is so out of touch with the lives of regular hardworking Americans who play by the rules and contribute by paying their fair share. I'm particularly vexed because Trump started his presidential campaign by attacking undocumented immigrants, like my parents, calling them thieves, killers and rapists. His campaign rose to political prominence by claiming that immigrants come here and exploit welfare services while paying nothing in the form of taxes to the government. Yet the data shows that undocumented immigrants pay up to $12 billion a year in federal income taxes. As it turns out, undocumented immigrants make this country great through the many contributions their labor entails, federal income taxes included. Immigrants in Miami protest against Donald Trump and Florida GOP leaders. Photo credit: Jonathan DeCamps White evangelical Christians and white Catholics appear to be the key swing groups in this unusual presidential election. Although very different in some ways, both groups have responded to a Clinton-Trump race with even less enthusiasm than the electorate as a whole. Let's consider white evangelicals first. Strongly oriented toward Republican presidential candidates since the 1980's, this group views Trump's personal story and sometimes crude behavior with considerable disquiet. The idea of a GOP presidential nominee who is thrice-married, promotes casinos named for him, and seemingly knows little about the Bible turns them off. So, too, do Trump's hurtful comments about rivals and their supporters, his lack of contrition about that behavior, and his manifest lack of humility. Actively repelled by Hillary Clinton's candidacy, for her liberal stands on such hot-button issues as abortion and marriage equality for gays and lesbians, and her apologies for her husband's infidelity, white evangelicals find themselves without an attractive major-party candidate. Some polls suggest that lately they have come around to the idea of voting for Trump thanks to his promise to appoint socially conservative Supreme Court justices, and his tough line on fighting terrorism. Even so, that drift toward Trump doesn't, as yet, signal firm commitment to his candidacy. Should he turn off that kind of voter with a boorish or overly negative performance in presidential debate two and/or three, that tepid support may evaporate. That matters greatly to Trump, for without a strong turnout on his behalf from white evangelicals, the polls suggest that he cannot win. White Catholic voters appear more committed to voting for someone, but less sure which candidate to back. They share many of the same objections to both candidates as white evangelicals do, but without the strongly Republican orientation. White Catholics tend to be economic populists and moral traditionalists. Since the 1970's they have been a true swing group of voters. When Bill Clinton ran for president the first time, he ultimately won only a plurality of white Catholics in a three-way contest (and a bare majority of all Catholics), but their votes proved crucial in the pivotal Midwest. In what is much more of a two-person contest this time, given the much lesser strength of the minor party candidates in 2016 than Ross Perot's in 1992, Hillary Clinton is doing somewhat better among white Catholics than her husband did then. That support is fluid, however, and could shift depending on how the final month of the campaign plays out. Roughly one in five voters between Pittsburgh and the prairies is Catholic, and Hillary Clinton needs to win a majority of that group to claim the White House. Very strong support from Latino/a Catholics (thanks to Trump's provocative stance on immigration) promises to help in that regard, but that alone is not enough. Advertisement ELKO When talking about the possibility of legal marijuana in Nevada, Elko County residents seemed concerned about the impacts other states have seen after welcoming weed into their communities including an increase in homelessness. The Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities hosted a lunch Monday to explain and answer questions on Questions 1, 2, 3 and 4, which will be on Novembers ballot. Question 2 an initiative to regulate and tax marijuana for recreational use garnered the most questions from the audience. Those in attendance asked about the increases Colorado has seen in DUIs, accidental poisonings and deaths related to legal marijuana. Colorado legalized recreational weed in 2014. Several people also were concerned that graduation rates in Colorado decreased and drug-related expulsions in that state increased. Guinn Center Associate Director of Research Megan Rauch went over what the initiative would do if approved and explained the arguments for and against the measure. If people vote yes for Question 2 in Nevada, someone who is 21 years old or older would be allowed to purchase, cultivate, possess or consume an ounce of marijuana or one-eighth of an ounce of concentrated marijuana. The law would also impose a 15 percent excise tax on wholesale sales of the plant; require the regulation and licensing of marijuana cultivators, testing facilities, distributors, suppliers and retailers; and provide for certain criminal penalties for violating regulations. Rauch showed the audience a photo of one ounce of oregano to illustrate what an ounce of a leafy substance looks like. One of our medical marijuana sources said that one ounce can usually for most users last about 21 to 30 days, so about three weeks to a month, she said. Rauch told the audience that even if Question 2 passes marijuana would still be illegal under federal law and if it doesnt pass medical marijuana would remain legal in the state. Proponents of the initiative say it would lower incarceration rates for non-violent offenders and legalization is more effective than decriminalization, Rauch said. Supporters also say legal weed would lower public security costs, increase revenue for the state, a regulated industry is safer, and marijuana is less dangerous than other regulated substances and tobacco. Groups for Question 2 say Nevada is wasting resources on policing marijuana. Under current law, if a person is arrested for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana he or she is subject to a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $600. The ACLU has said that going after marijuana crimes is quote, a colossal waste of resources, Rauch said. States have spent a combined $3.4 billion enforcing marijuana laws each year. In 2010, Nevada spent $41.6 million on policing, prosecuting and incarcerating people for violating marijuana laws. Colorado brought in $56 million in taxes in the first year it was legalized. The people for Question 2 believe legalizing the drug would bring in $464 million over six years. However, the taxes generated from legalizing the drug would go to regulating and enforcing the law before it is spent anywhere else in the state. Rauch said Colorado has seen a boom in tourism, but in certain sectors the tourism has been negatively impacted. Colorado has seen a decrease in the number of people from the East Coast and Midwest traveling to the state to ski. Opponents of Question 2 say marijuana is a gateway drug, the plant is not harmless, the law would expand the states role, decriminalization policies are working, and legalization has not reduced racial disparities with arrests. Marijuana is a performance-degrading drug and has habituating tendencies, Rauch said. A person who consumes marijuana has slower reflexes and slower reaction times and those could potentially be dangerous, especially if that person gets behind the wheel. After marijuana was legalized in Colorado, DUI citations went up, and drug-related suspensions and expulsions have increased 40 percent, and the vast majority have been attributed to marijuana, Rauch said. Colorado also has seen an increase in accidental poisoning, which is tracked by the Childrens Hospital of Colorado in Denver. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety noted in 2016, the number of fatal car crashes doubled from 8 percent to 17 percent after legalized marijuana became available in Washington. In Colorado, three people have died from over-consuming marijuana since the drug was legalized and the states homeless population has increased. An audience member asked why the increase happened. A survey done in Denver said 20 to 30 percent of 18 to 26-year-olds said the lure of marijuana brought them to the city and the population is continuing to climb, Rauch said. People against legalizing marijuana also say if approved the initiative would put a burden on law enforcement. Most marijuana businesses deal in cash and in Denver, more than 200 marijuana businesses were burglarized in one month in 2014. The Guinn Center also went over Question 1, which will be covered in an article in Thursdays Free Press. The day after Christmas will mark the 20th anniversary of a Colorado six-year-old's death, due to head trauma and asphyxiation by strangulation. I'm referring, of course, to JonBenet Ramsey. I still find it difficult to reconcile those unreal magazine pictures of JonBenet (whose perverse celebrity includes first-name recognition), with the grim reality of a dead child, stashed under a blanket in a basement with the garrote that killed her around her neck. Twenty years and we're ready for an anniversary. Dr. Phil is running interviews with JonBenet's older brother, Burke, who was nine at the time of the murder.[1] CBS has run a "docuseries" on the murder, four hours' worth. If you missed it, don't worry; you can still stream it online.[2] Newsweek just put out a 100-page magazine commemorative edition.[3] I called my local grocery store to see if I could get a copy but was told, sorry, the issue is sold out. The Lifetime channel has just cast JonBenet for their upcoming November movie release, "Who Killed JonBenet?"[4] Twenty years and what have we learned? We haven't learned who killed JonBenet. But that's not all we haven't learned, I'm afraid. In June, the American College of Pediatricians released a policy statement called "The Impact of Pornography on Children,"[5] sounding the alarm over the effects of pornography: "Clearly, pornography has become pervasive throughout modern American society (page 2)" and concluding, "as pornography becomes more accepted in a society, that society becomes more hypersexualized and this can increase the demand for sex trafficked women and children (page 3)." Advertisement Twenty years ago, the pictures of JonBenet immortalized a sanitized version of a societal willingness to hypersexualize our children, especially our little girls. The pictures that hit the media were not of a normal six-year-old. Would JonBenet be alive today if she had been a normal six-year-old? I can't say. We'll never know and maybe that's why people are still so fascinated. Was she killed because of how she looked in those pictures? Hypersexualized little girls grow up with higher rates of anxiety, depression and obsession over their appearance. They develop increased body dysmorphia and eating disorders. Tragically, they can pass along self-hatred of their bodies to their children. I've seen this domino-effect in my work, especially, with eating disorders. While reading the ACP position paper on children and pornography, I saw they cited the Zillman/Bryant studies on the effects of pornographic exposure done in the 1980's (page 2-3). There was a list of observed effects, including the following: "8. Men experienced a decreased desire for children, and women experienced a decreased desire to have a daughter." I found that statement chilling. Hypersexualization can have insidious effects on how we view females. Over the past twenty years, failure to protect our children from hypersexualization and early sexualization has resulted in a grotesque sort of job security for me as a therapist, because little children don't stay little. They grow up and come to me to try to recover from being devalued in a multitude of ways. Advertisement Over the past twenty years, shouldn't we have learned something - not from JonBenet's death but from her life? Why is "Toddlers and Tiaras" still on the air? I thought it was dead a couple of years ago but, apparently, it's back, as of this past August.[6] Now we could watch dozens of JonBenet wannabes, dressed up, made up, sexed up, with fake hair, fake breasts, fake nails and fake teeth -- making little girls look older, and, yes, sexier, than they are. The trailer for the upcoming Lifetime movie on JonBenet shows a young girl running up a set of stairs. Her voiceover says "I was Little Miss Colorado. This Christmas, I would be twenty-six but, to everyone, I'll always be six.[7] The tragedy is JonBenet wasn't allowed to be six but, now, in death, she is. Will Eliminate Warming from One of the Six Main Greenhouse Gases Most Significant Climate Victory in Near-Term The Montreal Protocol is on the verge of an epic victory-- adopting the most significant measure to slow down climate change that can we can take immediately. Phasing down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol could prevent the emission of the equivalent of 100 to 200 billion tons of carbon dioxide in the near term, with the potential to reduce warming up to a full degree Celsius this century. The Montreal Protocol is a treaty that has never failed to do its job, working over the past 30 years to phase out the use and production of nearly 100 chemicals that attack the Earth's protective ozone layer and cause warming. The Protocol's parties meet in Kigali, Rwanda 10-14 October to finalize the details of an amendment to phasedown the use of HFCs, the world's fastest-growing greenhouse gases, which are up to 4,000 times as powerful as carbon dioxide in warming the planet. While an amendment looks increasingly likely, the question is how ambitious it will be. Advertisement An ambitious HFC amendment could stop the equivalent of 100 billion tons of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere by 2050 and avoid up to 0.5 Celsius of warming by end of century. If, at the same time, it also promotes improvements in the energy efficiency of air conditioners and other products and equipment during the switch to climate friendly substitutes, it could prevent the emission of another 100 billion tons of carbon dioxide, with an even greater effect for limiting temperature increases, avoiding up to another 0.5 Celsius of warming. Taken together these actions provide our surest approach to cutting near-term temperatures and helping to avoid self-reinforcing, cascading, runaway climate impacts. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim announced $1 billion in lending over the next five years to support energy efficiency to accompany the HFC phase down, following an $80 million dollar fast-start fund pledged last month by donor states and private philanthropists, including Bill Gates. The Economist recently reported on the Montreal Protocol, noting that "the world's most lauded environmental treaty could be about to notch up a new success," adding "a deal on HFCs would benefit the climate fast." Advertisement The Washington Post said "the stars seem to be aligning for major action on HFCs this year." The New Times Rwanda noted an HFC amendment "would represent the most significant global action to reduce climate change since the adoption of the Paris Agreement." The New York Times said that "anyone worried about global warming" has found much to cheer in progress towards an amendment, while the scientific magazine Nature called the amendment "a breath of fresh air." This and other press coverage is listed below, including several Editorials, Op-Eds, and news stories. IGSD's HFC Primer summarizes the science, the alternatives, the national measures already phasing down HFCs, and the policy developments at the international level. The Economist Editorials The Economist, "Low-hanging dirt" (3 October 2015) The Economist, "Paris via Montreal: The quickest way to cut greenhouse gases is to expand the Montreal protocol" (20 September 2014) Advertisement The New York Times Editorials The New York Times, "Fresh Start for a Critical Relationship" (10 June 2013) The Washington Post Editorial The Washington Post, "Ways to fight warming: Strategies that would reduce emissions" (26 February 2012) Nature Editorial Nature, "A breath of fresh air" (11 November 2015) Op-Eds calling for an HFC amendment: The Diplomat, Op-Ed, Peter Christian, "Following Micronesia's Lead on Climate Change" (10 October 2016) The Times of India, Op-Ed, Ajay Mathur, "From Paris to Kigali - India to leapfrog to climate friendly technologies while achieving its development goals" (6 October 2016) Advertisement Financial Express, Op-Ed, Ajay Mathur, "Here's why India needs to be at the forefront of effort to phase out HFCs" (21 September 2016) Le Monde Afrique, Op-Ed, Cheikh Sylla, "L'Afrique veut une elimination rapide des <" (16 September 2016) Project Syndicate, Op-Ed, Patricia Espinosa & Mario Molina, "The Climate's Low-Hanging Fruit" (9 September 2016) Mediapart, Op-Ed, Hakima El Haite & Laurence Tubiana, "L'amendement au protocole de Montreal: une necessite" (21 July 2016) USA Today, Op-Ed, Mario Molina, V. Ramanathan, & Durwood Zaelke, "Paris deal's carbon cuts miss critical warming target " (22 April 2016) Advertisement UNFCCC News Room, Op-Ed, Achim Steiner & Christiana Figueres, "Fast-Tracking Climate Action" (24 March 2016) Council on Foreign Relations, Op-Ed, Mario Molina & Durwood Zaelke, "Cutting Short-Lived Pollutants Can Give Quick Wins on Warming" (7 December 2015) The Dawn, Op-Ed, Tariq Waseem Ghazi & A.K. Singh, "Climate Security" (30 October 2015) Economic Times, Op-Ed, Rajendra Shende, "Obama-Modi summit can accelerate a climate-proof world" (4 February 2015) Recent stories on HFCs, Montreal Protocol, and energy efficiency: All Africa, Athan Tashobya, "Hosting Montreal Protocol Meet 'puts Kigali in Driving Seat'" (3 October 2016) Advertisement The Economist, "The Montreal protocol: To coldly go" (24 September 2016) The Guardian, Oliver Milman, "100 countries push to phase out potentially disastrous greenhouse gas" (22 September 2016) New Times Rwanda, "Rwanda wants protocol on ozone layer depleting substance amended" (16 September 2016) Le Monde, Clementine Thiberge, "Vers une suppression des hydrofluorocarbones, puissants gaz a effet de serre" (17 August 2016) (COMBO) This combination of pictures created on October 3, 2016 showsRepublican Vice Presidential nominee and running mate Mike Pence(L) speaking during the Midwest Vision and Values Pastors and Leadership Conference at the New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on September 21, 2016,and US Democratic Nominee for Vice President Tim Kaine speaking during the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 27, 2016.After a dramatic week of beauty queens, sex tape allegations and tax document leaks, the upcoming US vice presidential debate could feel like a throwback to simpler times. Featuring low-key career politicians who are easily confused, the match-up between Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence in Farmville, Virginia likely won't exude the reality show vibes Americans have come to expect in the 2016 presidential election.Both VP picks have said their respective running mates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump set a high bar in the first of three presidential debates, which drew a record 84 million viewers. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN AND SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN,SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) At first glance, the question: Do vice-presidential debates really matter seems ridiculously easy to answer, a resounding no. In VP debates between 1976 and 2008 as measured by Gallup polling, VP debates have made absolutely no difference in boosting the fortunes of the presidential standard bearer. The debates have been seemingly so inconsequential that it took decades since the first vice presidential debate to get any real public attention. The big breakthrough finally came in 2008 in the VP debate between GOP VP contender Sarah Palin and Democratic VP contender Joe Biden when nearly 70 million viewers tuned in. The mass interest in the debate had probably more to do with the historic candidacy of then presidential candidate Obama who if elected would become the first African-American president, and the unorthodox, even kooky candidacy, to many of Palin. Certainly GOP VP contender, Mike Pence and Democratic VP contender, Tim Kaine aren't saddled with the near historic high negatives of Trump and Clinton, and the mass of hits that both have taken for taxes, foundations, emails, obnoxious digs at each other's supporters. So Pence and Kaine really do have much to talk about and much to defend and more importantly, put the best face possible, on Trump and Clinton. They'll get a good viewing crowd to see what they have to say about their leaders. Advertisement But beyond a VP debate, that still leaves the dangling question whether VPs really do count for much in the larger political equation. Yes and no. No in the sense that voters don't vote for VPs they vote for presidents first and foremost. Most know that a VP does not make policy, if lucky maybe consulted on a policy question, and certainly does almost nothing to implement it. It's not exactly a ceremonial position but other than stepping in in the event of a catastrophic illness or death of a president, it's not far from that. However, the vice presidency does have a lot of value in other places going back to the 1960 election. That year John F. Kennedy picked Lyndon Johnson in 1960 as his running mate. Kennedy was a moderate, wealthy, erudite, Massachusetts senator who needed the southerner Johnson to assure the popular and electoral votes of the South. Since then presidential candidates have picked carefully their running mates for balance on gender, region, and age, and in the case of Pence, temperament value in wild contrast to the off the rail, shoot from the lip, Trump. In the case of Kaine, gender, age, and trust value in relation to the horrible'ly deep public perception of Clinton as everything from a chronic liar to simply untrustworthy. Trump and Clinton had to have VPs that had few negatives, solid party insider status and ties, were fairly young, and as an added boost seen as good governors and good administrators. The youth and good administrative skills factors can't be minimized since Clinton and Trump are at or near age 70, and would be nearing 80 if they got two terms in the Oval Office. If there was a health challenge to either one in office, voters would want assurance that a vice president would be able to hit the ground running at the top if that happened. Neither Pence or Kaine will add anything to rallying and mobilizing Trump and Clinton's core base, or are needed in the lock down GOP and Democratic vote states. But there's the independents. They now make up more than forty percent of the general electorate. This is a historic high. Trump and Clinton engender towering doubt and skepticism among a big swatch of them, they could be the X factor in a close vote in the half dozen must win swing states that will decide the election. Advertisement Here's where Pence and Kaine could help, sans their negatives, and possessing sound administrative skills, are undoubtedly major selling points with many independents. Kaine and Pence will spend a lot, if not most, of their remaining days on the campaign trail, in those swing states wooing, courting, and talking rationally about the tax, trade, and job creation policies that Trump and Clinton are pitching to the independents and waverers. The idea is to show that they will bring the required straight forward, steady hand to the administration team in the White House. The single biggest asset, though, that a VP pick brings to any presidential table is that he or she can turn on more voters than their potential boss can or has turned off no matter what part of the country they hail from, their gender, or their rank in the party. Pence and Kaine were tapped precisely because both were seen as being able to accomplish that tricky feat. This election go-round that's more important than ever since the VP must be more than someone who won't harm the ticket but someone who will actually help the ticket win. The only way that can be done is for both to be showpieces for the qualities that many voters think Trump and Clinton sorely lack. Dave and Max walked in the other day from a Dunkin' Donuts run. "The woman gave us free donuts," Dave said, handing me the bag with a sheepish smile. "What happened?" I asked. After Max went into another room, Dave explained that the staffer at the counter had watched as Max informed Dave he wanted chocolate milk. "He doesn't talk," she said, although Max was, in his own way. Dave quietly noted that Max talks. Then she asked Max which donut he'd like and he pointed to the jelly kind. She gave him two, charging Dave only for coffee and a chocolate milk. Advertisement She was just being kind, of course. Except she gave Max free donuts because he has a disability, and she felt badly for him. And that is what concerns me. Now, there are far worse things for me to take issue with than people offering my boy sugary goodness. But what gets to me, as it always does, is the pity. The thinking that having cerebral palsy is such a misfortune and that his life must be sad and terrible, so he deserves free donuts. I'm thinking about this on World Cerebral Palsy Day, which is dedicated to celebrating the lives of the 17 million worldwide with cerebral palsy and those who support them; creating a voice for people with CP; and making changes that improve their lives. I want all of that for Max. I also very much want people to treat him normally; it's doubtful that woman at the counter regularly hands out donuts to teens who walk into that DD. Max may have physical and cognitive differences because of his form of cerebral palsy, but at heart, he is a teen and he deserves to be treated like any teen. Advertisement Sometimes, strangers up offer up prayers instead of donuts. A couple of years ago, I spoke on a BlogHer panel with Katinka Neuhof, who writes at The Fabulous Adventures of a Four Legged Woman. She told of rolling down a street in New York City in her wheelchair, with her son by her side, when a woman approached and announced that she would pray for her. If you're the parent of a child with CP, this may have happened to you on occasion, as it has to us. There are people who think those with cerebral palsy are broken and need to be made whole. There are people who think those with cerebral palsy deserve prayers because they have suffered a great tragedy. As the mom of a child with cerebral palsy, I don't see tragedy--I see a boy who is every bit as wondrous and complete as my other children. And, on occasion, irksome. (See: "He is a teen.") Besides gratuitous prayers and jelly donuts, the other challenge Max faces with interactions with people who don't know him is that they sometimes don't know what to say or how to behave. When he was younger, they'd ask "Can he understand me?" as he stood right there. Now they may smile at him kindly, stare or not approach him at all. Things can get awkward. Writer/activist Cara Liebowitz of That Crazy Crippled Chick tells of the time she went to the library with her mother to renew her card. She was feeling tired and lazy, so they decided her mom would walk across the street and do the renewal, only Cara needed to sign something. Advertisement "So I got out and schlepped across the street and it was really fine," she recalls. "But when the librarian saw me with my crutches, she obviously felt bad for making me come in. And she goes to my mom, 'I didn't know she was....' And she trailed off and tried again. "You should've told me she was...." She was obviously trying so hard not to be offensive. My mom and I reassured her that it was okay, I signed the form and we hightailed it out of there, barely making it past the door before we burst into hysterical laughter." The awkwardness and misplaced kindness stems from people's discomfort with anyone different, and wrong assumptions. A lot of us, myself included, weren't raised knowing anyone who had a disability. We may not have been taught by our parents about what is more alike than different. Cara notes that she sees people's perceptions of her change based on how visibly disabled she looks. In college, when she used a walker or crutches instead of a wheelchair, she says, "people would be so happy that I was walking and comment on it like, 'So good to see you up and about!' as if I was recovering from a bad flu or something. The thing is, walking is actually harder for me. I don't like to walk and I can do a lot more things when I have my chair. But people are so set on the idea that walking is better." People are also so set on the idea that talking is better, even if Max has a speech app that enables him to communicate more easily than he can by speaking. Advertisement People don't get it. So they get flustered. Or they instinctively choose kindness and pity, instead of parity. I'd venture to say this is true not just of kids and adults with cerebral palsy but ones with Down syndrome, autism and other disabilities as well. My child with CP does not need sympathy. He needs ordinary respect and people who don't avert their eyes or act overly sweet. Max's sister is one of the few people in his life who cuts him no slack. "Max, you're a gen-ius!" Sabrina said the other day when Max pointed out that it was raining. She was being sarcastic, and I so appreciated it. Why shouldn't people be sarcastic with him? Why shouldn't they joke around with him and even tease him, as kids tend to do? To be sure, youth with disabilities do get special accommodations--say, at amusement parks. Why is that OK? Well, it levels the playing field, enabling a person who is scared of crowds or who gets fatigued waiting in line because his muscles tire easily to enjoy the amusement park, too. Giving free donuts to a boy because you feel sorry for him is a whole other thing. It's a pity present. It doesn't equalize; it demeans. And yes, I am sensitive to this sort of behavior because we have often encountered it over the years--have free ice-cream, have a free toy, have a free ride, have a free whatever because you have cerebral palsy. I mean, if Max had been wailing and the DD staffer simply wanted to make his day better, sure, bring on the free donuts. Most of us have gotten freebies over the years from store people, in the name of goodwill. But Max was just standing there, being his usual self. Advertisement Kind gestures that emanate from outdated viewpoints about people with special needs aren't the sort of deeds I want for my son, as well-meaning as they may be. They keep him rooted in old-school perceptions that people with disability are unfortunate. And that is not a message I ever want Max to pick up. I also don't want him to grow up thinking he can get free stuff because he has cerebral palsy. Dave and I are glad to use these occasions, when possible, as teaching moments, thanking the individual even as we point out that Max is a capable person, in his own way. The manifesto of World CP Day envisions equality that I dream of for Max. As it says, "We have the same needs: To be loved. To connect. To be part of something. We share the the same hopes and dreams. The same interests and passions. We all have a similar hunger to explore thoughts and debate ideas. To contribute. We all have the same commitment to living a life of purpose and meaning. These are not just things we have in common with each other. We share them with all of humankind. Because we are not different at all. We are the same." As for those jelly donuts, Max wasn't aware of what happened. I hope perceptions of people with cerebral palsy continue to evolve over the years and when Max is older, there are far fewer people offering him I-feel-bad-for-you donuts. But heck, if they keep right on handing them out, I hope Max looks them in the eye and informs them, "You don't have to do that for me, I can pay for them--but thanks!" And then he walks out of the store with his stash in hand, without a doubt of who he is. This post originally appeared on Love That Max. Advertisement (Updates with formal Security Council vote)UNITED NATIONS - In a surprisingly quick decision, the 15 members of the UN Security Council stood in a row to show they were united behind the candidacy of Antonio Guterres, a former UN refugee agency chief and an ex-prime minister of Portugal. "Today after our sixth straw poll we have a clear favorite and his name is Antonio Guterres," announced Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, this month's Council president. His 14 colleagues flanked him -- all of them men except for US Ambassador Samantha Power. Guterres will be the ninth secretary-general in the 71-year history of the United Nations. Advertisement That was on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Council adopted a formal resolution in a secret session by acclamation to approve Guterres for a five-year term, Churkin told reporters. The nomination then goes to the 193-nation General Assembly for final approval, probably next week. Guterres, 67, succeeds Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 72, of South Korea, who ends his 10 years in office on December 31. Spirited presentationGuterres' spirited presentations captured audiences during public debates organized for the first time by the General Assembly, in a move to make the process more transparent. His tenure at the refugee agency (UNHCR) was marked by some of the largest flow of displacements since the end of World War II - from Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, Yemen, Libya and the Central Africa, Republic and many other regions. The same issues will haunt him as the 9th secretary-general of the world body where diplomats hope he will use his bully pulpit to gather support, despite the tension between Russia and the United States. Advertisement Guterres obviously is neither a woman nor an East European, albeit strong lobbying in and out of the United Nations for the first female secretary-general and Russia's stated preference for an East European. Whether he made any promises is not known. The posts of undersecretary-general for peacekeeping and for political affairs are coveted jobs with all five permanent Council members lobbying for them. (United States, Britain, France, Russia, China). Churkin said Russia would like a "senior level" post but said there were no commitments yet. Prevention, prevention, preventionWhile most American media - particularly in this election year - pay scant attention to the United Nations until scandals emerge, Washington pays 22 percent of the regular budget of $5,4 billion and 28.5 for the peacekeeping budget of $8.27 billion, which has more than 100,000 personnel. Guterres told UN reporters that "prevention prevention prevention" was his priority rather than constant peacekeeping when there was no peace to keep. "In no other place in the world we have a chance to address the root causes of human suffering, "he said. Advertisement At another time, he said, there was a need to confront and defeat "populism, xenophobia, racism and violent extremism," values he has fought against. Bill Clinton quotedJose Ramos-Horta, the former president of East Timor, called Guterres "a good man, a compassionate and humble leader." He quoted former President Bill Clinton, in a 1999 conversation as saying: "It was Antonio Guterres who most touchingly and persuasively pleaded with me to do something," a reference to a shift in Washington's pro-Indonesia stance after massacres in the former Portuguese colony. Several of the other candidates, including Helen Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister and head of the UN Development Program and Irina Bokova of Bulgaria, the director of UNESCO, sent out tweets immediately congratulating Guterres. Another candidate, Christiana Figueres called the result, "bittersweet."" Bitter: not a woman. Sweet: by far the best man in the race. Congrats Antonio Guterres! We are all with you." US Ambassador Samantha Power, said: "In the end, there was a candidate whose experience, vision and versatility across a range of areas proved compelling, and it was remarkably uncontentious, uncontroversial." Advertisement British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said he was pleasantly surprised that the Council came together. "Let's face it - behind the person who was the leading candidate from the very start of this race. He said his government favored a "strong" secretary general "who will provide a convening power and a moral authority at a time when the world is divided on issues, above all like Syria." Louis Charbonneau, the UN director at Human Rights Watch, said that "With Antonio Guterres, the Security Council has chosen an outspoken and effective advocate for refugees with the potential to strike a radically new tone on human rights at a time of great challenges." Who else ran?Guterres was ahead in all the previous five straw polls although until Wednesday no one knew how the five veto-bearing members voted. They received red ballots while the 15 elected members had white ones, but names were not revealed. A winning candidate has to have nine votes in favor and no veto. Among the 10 remaining candidates, Guterres received 13 in favor, none against, and 2 "no opinion." He was followed Slovak's foreign minister Miroslav Lajcak with seven in favor, six against, including two permanent members. Next came Serbia's former foreign minister, Vuk Jeremic, who had the same score except for three negative votes from permanent members. Irina Bokova of Bulgaria, the director of UNESCO was in fourth place followed by Helen Clark of New Zealand. In sixth place was Susan Malcorra, Argentina's foreign minister and a former high-level UN official. In seventh was Danilo Turk, the former Slovenian president. Kristelina Georgiava of Bulgaria, the EU budget commissioner, was a last minute candidate who could not enter earlier because her country had been backing Bokova but then switched support. They both stayed in the race. She ranked in eighth place. Advertisement Who is he? Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, studied at the Instituto Superior Tecnico in Lisbon with degrees in engineering and theoretical physics. He taught physics during the turbulent years, 1966-1971, when the fascist government of Prime Minister Antonio Salazar wobbled and came to an end in 1968. Fluent in Portuguese, French and Spanish, he began his involvement in politics, as a member of the Socialist Party, albeit its Christian conservative wing. He became a parliamentary deputy and then secretary-general of the Socialist Party. In 1991, he founded the Portuguese Refugee Council. As prime minister, from 1999 to 2005, he emphasized education and health and led the drive for international intervention to halt the violence in East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, following the Timorese vote for independence. Australia and New Zealand sent troops to stop the massacres, mainly from Indonesians. Portugal since 1999 has granted more than $350 million in aid to East Timor, known as Timor Leste. On women's issues he campaigned against abortion and the rights of gays. But 20 years have passed and Portugal has revised both positions. Ban Ki-moon, in addition to his signature climate change efforts, has been outspoken on LGBT rights and given UN staff privileges, accordingly. Advertisement Guterres has been married twice and has two children by his first wife who died of cancer in 1998 while he was prime minister. He is married to Catarina Marques de Almeida Vaz Pinto. Back of police officer who is talking to teacher on campus. Interactions between young people and police don't occur just on the streets of America -- they're happening in our nation's K-12 schools, too. Increasingly police have become "embedded" in schools, in many cases working there full-time. Many are considered school staff and have daily authority over students, even in situations that have traditionally been seen as everyday disciplinary matters. Little is known about the day-to-day practices of school-based police and about the rules under which they operate. Nobody -- not even the federal government -- knows how many sworn law enforcement officers (and of what type) are assigned to schools. What we do know should give us pause for concern. Advertisement According to the U.S. Department of Education, 1.6 million children go to public schools that have police officers but no counselors. Some 24 percent of public elementary schools and 42 percent of public high schools have sworn police officers. Three of the five largest school districts in the country hire more security officers than counselors. Black students are 2.3 times as likely to receive a referral to law enforcement or be subject to a school-related arrest as white students. And Black and Latino students are more likely to go to schools that have resident police no matter the level of crime in the surrounding neighborhood or misbehavior at the school. Whether they are called school police officers, school resource officers, or school safety agents; carry the same weapons as a regular cop; serve in uniform; are friendly or aggressive; or are unionized; these officers have the power to arrest, detain, interrogate, and issue criminal citations to students. It is time to rethink the role police play in our schools. The boundaries between police and educators have become less clear -- who decides what when interacting with students -- and the degree of collaboration between police and educators has increased in the past two decades. Often when controversies arise, police say, "Don't blame us. We're here because the school asked us to be here." Educators say, "We cannot control what police do in our school -- that's a law enforcement matter." Advertisement Embedding such officers has real consequences for students and for the culture of schools. One popular (and growing) type of school policing, the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, blurs those lines and accountability even more. SROs are described as mentors and classroom presenters as well as cops, a so-called "triad" model of school policing. In fact, this is a big selling point of the program. School policing is presented as a form of community policing -- without regard to the costs. The activities of school-based police officers (especially SROs) are typically less regulated by formal policies than those of officers that are called to a school from the outside. Can a school-based officer be permitted to question a student without reading him or her rights? What about when an SRO is "mentoring"? What about seeing a student's records without the permission of the student or parent? When must an SRO get a search warrant? What can a student or parent do when things go wrong, such as when a student is sexually harassed, roughed up, or verbally provoked by school security? Students and their parents find it difficult to exercise the most basic of rights, that is to the extent to which they have any or know what they are. In one Pennsylvania district, school police review write-ups of students for a broad range of minor incidents, including ones in which police were not involved or called. Then they file charges against students in adult court -- for things like "disorderly conduct." In many cases, an administrator hands police the incident write-up and says, "Got anything you can charge this kid with." From what we've seen, this type of discipline affects primarily Black students. These students have a record, which in Pennsylvania is not automatically expunged, for situations in which they weren't even arrested. Where police are considered full-time school staff, practices (and policies) vary widely, if there are formal policies at all. Few Pennsylvania districts have adequate formal policies that address these basic rights. In the past month, the federal government and a national coalition of parent and student advocates, however, have weighed in on how best to reform school policing. They take different approaches. Advertisement On September 8, the Obama Administration released a set of "rubrics" on the appropriate use of SROs in schools under which schools are encouraged to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with law enforcement and to make sure officers are trained. One of its stated goalsis to reduce police involvement in routine and minor disciplinary matters. But student advocates, including the ACLU, have found that this goal is not achievable when cops are stationed in schools on a regular basis. Two weeks later, the national Dignity in Schools Campaign released its policy recommendations, "Counselors Not Cops: Ending the Regular Presence of Law Enforcement in Schools." DSC's guidelines move the starting line so as to assume that police will not be embedded in schools on a regular or full-time basis -- that law enforcement is not a part of the culture of schools. On those rare occasions when it is appropriate for police to enter a school building they should be strictly regulated. Instead, the focus is on creating safe schools by supporting student-centered resources, staff, and programs instead of funding law enforcement officers who claim to act as counselors. It's official: Enough countries have formally joined the Paris climate agreement for it to take effect and become fully operational. The extraordinary speed with which the community of nations has embraced the Paris agreement underscores the global sense of urgency attached to our global fight against climate change. This marks a historic day for our children--and for all future generations--as a critical milestone in our collective effort to meet the central environmental challenge of our time. With the recent announcement that several European Union countries formally joined this week, 72 countries accounting for about 57 percent of the world's emissions have now officially signed on to the Paris agreement. This means that it has now surpassed the threshold required for it to enter into force: 55 signatory countries, collectively accounting for 55 percent of the world's emissions. And as I type these words, still more countries seem prepared to take the final step, and to formally join before the year is out: Advertisement The Paris agreement signifies a critical turning point in international efforts to address climate change because it's based on several key building blocks: First, the agreement spells out how major countries will go about cutting their emissions, by detailing their national targets. By signing on, these countries are legally enshrining these targets; the next step will be for them to implement the necessary domestic measures to achieve them over the coming years. Many of these countries have already begun strengthening their domestic actions to deliver on their commitments. China, for example, has seen its coal consumption decline two years in a row--and there are now indications that China's CO2 emissions from energy may already be peaking, due to falling coal consumption. For its part, the U.S. continues to implement a broad array of domestic climate actions, putting it on a solid trajectory toward meeting its targets. And India's solar energy market has grown five-hundred-fold in the last six years. More work remains to be done, but these early steps show that these major players aren't just sitting back and waiting. Second--because we know that nations' current climate targets aren't enough, by themselves, to get us where we need to be--the newly activated agreement will also help us to obtain even deeper commitments from countries over time. The commitments submitted in advance of the Paris climate summit last November put us on the path to a 2.7 C (4.9F) temperature rise by the end of the century. That brought us closer to the 2C/1.5C (3.6F) goal set out in the agreement--but it still doesn't take us as far as we need to go. The language of the agreement establishes certain mechanisms to ensure that these targets represent the floor, and not the ceiling: namely, by creating a dynamic process that will allow countries to adopt more aggressive commitments beginning in 2020. It recognizes that we are going to need all players acting aggressively to reduce emissions so it creates an "action-agenda" to support cities, companies, states/provinces, and financial institutions in driving greater action. And to assist developing countries in not just meeting but beating their original targets, the agreement also commits to helping these nations secure the financing needed to build low-carbon, climate-resilient economies. Advertisement Lastly, the agreement contains provisions to hold nations accountable. Every two years, countries will be required to report their emissions, their emissions projections, and their progress toward achieving their targets. These national reports will then be assessed by a group of international experts. One of the most powerful tools for making progress will come in the form of climate action plans. Most countries recognize that acting on climate change is in their national interest--and that failing to act will only lead to grave consequences for future populations. This creates an incentive for strong climate action plans that have been tailored to the individual needs of each country, since most world leaders would never intentionally act against the self-interest of their citizens. Getting to this point wasn't easy. It took the determined pushing of citizens around the world who nudged their leaders to rise above their differences and agree to a framework for greater climate action. It also took the creativity of the innovative minds who originally drew up that framework, and who nurtured it for the many years that it took before it could become a reality. And--just as importantly--it took leadership. The reaching of this milestone is testament to what can happen when key countries evince strong leadership. More than 175 nations signed the Paris agreement on April 22nd. Around that same time, the U.S. was sending a clear signal to other countries that the world's largest economy would not only be joining the agreement, but that it would also be working closely with China to get it to join, too. And the U.S. has made sure to apply similar "friendly" pressure to every country it has crossed paths with this year. In doing so, it has set the benchmark for the kind of leadership we'll need to see from the world's superpowers. Leaders must push, nudge, and cajole for strong domestic and international climate action on this, the gravest challenge facing humanity in this century. "Bill! Bill! Bill!" the crowd passionately chanted, reminiscent of Bill Nye the Science Guy, the iconic PBS television series. Minutes later Bill Nye took the stage in his signature dapper look including a white blazer and bowtie at the Brooklyn Pier for the National Parks Service 100-year birthday celebration. Nye was named an ambassador for the National Parks Service. A lot has happened since Nye's show went off the air in 1999, but his fan base remains as loyal as ever. He's been very busy as well. Since the show, Bill Nye has written books, starred in television specials, and pursued a host of passion projects. And through it all, he's stayed true to his first love: science. Advertisement I caught up with Nye and was left utterly impressed. His passion for what he loves is not an act, in case you were wondering. 1. Bill Nye's love for science started with his fascination for bumble bees. Nye doesn't remember the exact moment where his passion for science first started. He tells me, "It was certainly before I was 4, or maybe even before I was 3." However, he does remember the bumble bees. "I remember there were bumble bees in the front yard when I lived in Washington D.C. and I was so fascinated by them. I used to always watch them, I was mesmerized" he says. 2. Bill Nye was just your regular Ivy League college kid. Nye attended Cornell University for mechanical engineering. "I was in college. I played ultimate Frisbee and tried to meet girls," he explains. Advertisement 3. Bill Nye is an Ambassador for the National Parks Service Science and nature go hand-in-hand most of the time. When the National Parks Service asked Nye if he wanted to be an ambassador it was an easy decision. Nye tells me, "I visited Glacier National Park for the first time this year and I was blown away. Yellowstone and Yosemite are also among my favorites." Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Parks is a huge milestone. Currently there are 400 National Parks in the U.S. "It's a heck of a thing. We work towards protecting these beautiful places and we all should be thinking about the next 100 years," Nye says. 4. Bill Nye's science lesson of 2016: climate change and global warming are worsening at an alarming pace. Global warming is introducing climate change, and it's not stopping anytime soon. Nye explains, "We want our national parks to be here 100 years from now, and that's going to be quite a challenge. There were fewer than 3 billion when I was born and now there are 7.3 billion people in the world." 5. Bill Nye is not interested in reviving his show Bill Nye the Science Guy. Nye says, "There are so many science education programs on the internet that didn't exist 25 years ago. I've done a couple other shows and I have a book coming out this fall titled Everything All at Once. It's about solving problems. You can't solve one problem independent of the other, and vice versa." Advertisement Netflix also announced a new original series titled Bill Nye Saves the World that will be available in spring 2017. 6. Bill Nye doesn't have a favorite element. As a kid I've always been dying to know what Nye's favorite element was. Without hesitation Nye says, "I don't really have a favorite element because then you're going to think that I like over another." However, Nye does have a favorite compound. It's H2O. Nye goes on, "If I say oxygen does that mean I don't like carbon? What about iridium; who doesn't love iridium?" 7. A Bill Nye Film in the works is the highest funded documentary on Kickstarter. Nye has a film being made about him, but that's all he knows. "I have no creative control over the film. I'm pretty sure it will be at Sundance in January 2017," Nye says. 8. Bill Nye is releasing a children's book called Jack and the Geniuses. "It's a book which I've been working on for a long time finally got it finished," Nye tells me. As a child Nye was heavily influenced by the Tom Swift Jr. series. Advertisement The book for the tween audience is titled Jack and the Geniuses. Jack has his inherited family members who are geniuses, and they travel to Antarctica. "They hang out with a character named Hank, who's a guy like me," Nye says. 9. In another life, Bill Nye would have studied Gene sequencing biology. Nye wanted to be an engineer because he loved physics. He concludes, "Life science and genetic sequence is astonishing. If everything had been different, I would easily would have imagined myself in gene sequencing biology. Never say never." Nye also marveled his fascination with bicycles, airplanes and antennas. 10. Bill Nye always prefers the selfie. Nye has a 1.3 million followers on Instagram, and mostly to credit are his iconic selfies with celebrities including Chelsea Handler and DJ Khaled among others. We all know politics is fertile ground for jokes and insults. That's how it goes. It's hard to say what jokes or insults are cross the line, especially now that we've experienced Trump. Voters ultimately decide. But it's clear that Colorado Republican state house candidate Raymond Garcia has crossed the line, wherever it is, by sharing and commenting on the Facebook meme below, which I obtained from a source. Just because Garcia, who's challenging State Rep. Susan Lontine in House District 1, has been called out previously for extreme Facebook posts does not mean he should be ignored by reporters. Hence this blog post. Advertisement Here's a grateful shoutout to ULI Los Angeles. As usual, at today's ULI Los Angeles Planning for Transit conference, I learned something new. Thanks to the panel featuring Ann Sewill of the California Community Foundation I am wiser about a 1980s era group called Not Yet New York. Grace a Sewill's riff near the close of the session, and Wikipedia, I now know the NIMBY parent of the illegitimate Neighborhood Integrity Initiative (NII). You gotta love the NIMBYs' creativity when it comes to naming these misleading initiatives and their "independent" political organizations. But wouldn't you think that with Asia and the Gulf States building to the moon, they would rather pick on a city even more horrible than New York? Advertisement Come on NIMBYs! Do I hear Dubai or Shanghai, anyone? In the 1980s, it was perennially grumpy Angeleno Laura Lake who was waving the NIMBY flag evoking terrifying images of Manhattan's canyon's of steel. Her goal and the goal of Proposition U, now mostly forgotten, "to slow the growth of the city, and preserve open space and low density." Sound familiar? Fortunately, New York's got a thick skin and couldn't care less what Lake and her children at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the group spearheading the NII, have to say about it. Gotham, as everyone knows, cares about the L.A. NIMBYs' hating on New York about as much as it does the drunken Boston fans at Fenway shouting, "Yankees Suck." Meh. Neighborhood Integrity Initiative? Fuhgeddaboudit! I live in Koreatown where the streets are paved with trash, a fitting metaphor for the so-called Neighborhood Integrity Initiative's backers' efforts to halt the way transit-oriented housing and mixed use developments get built in this city. In contrast, in New York the streets are paved with gold. With the March election following close on the heels of November's Battle Royale, it won't be long before my street is littered with NII's campaign pulp alongside the Korean- and Spanish-language ads for cheap credit and car insurance. Advertisement That anyone would buy the canard that surface parking lots add greater value to our community than housing near trains and buses begs credulity. But then, what do I know? I'm a New Yorker and an Angeleno by choice, who can't believe the City's able electeds aren't able to provide the most basic of city services, clean streets and sidewalks. Thanks to the City's at best benign neglect of our streets, sidewalks and empty lots, we are hampered in our ability to appreciate an L.A. that is finally embracing density, transit, active transportation and walkability. Just as we are finally finding a third way, as Christopher Hawthorne of the Los Angeles Times describes it, instead of taking steps to help L.A. take flight, along comes the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative. NII says to the citizenry that we can't be an aspirational city that embraces sensible density around rail and bus lines. Reading no growth ballot language like the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative and Measure LV, which would crush needed affordable housing construction and transit-oriented development in Los Angeles and Santa Monica respectively, I want to scream. Or leave work early and take the Expo Line to the beach. Advertisement In November, L.A. County voters get a chance to vote YES on Measure M, which would deliver a powerful shot in the arm to public transportation throughout the County, and Santa Monica residents get a chance to vote against a NIMBY ruse that would cap transit-oriented development. Then in March we get to vote again to kill the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative. It's time to do the right thing. The choices are clear. Vote YES on M and NO on LV in November and NO on NII in March! Though the Nevada Supreme Court this past week jettisoned most of the arguments that somehow the states education savings account (ESA) law is unconstitutional, it still barred enforcement of the law, saying lawmakers failed to properly appropriate money for the ESAs. It is now up to lawmakers to fix that flaw. The justices found that Senate Bill 515, which sets aside per pupil funding in the Distributive School Account (DSA), did not even mention ESAs and Senate Bill 302, setting up ESAs, did not appropriate funds, even though both bills amend the education financing section of state law (NRS 387) and SB302 added to the already lengthy list of DSA deductions all the funds deposited in education savings accounts. A niggling technicality. Until the court derailed it, SB302 outlined a program under which the state treasurer was directed to establish an education savings account for any eligible child enrolled in a public school for the previous 100 consecutive days when the clock now starts is anyones guess and for most the account would be equal to 90 percent of the statewide average per pupil funding, or currently $5,139. There is no limit on the number of accounts. In a ludicrous aside in the opinion, the court noted the education statute has a hold-harmless clause to protect against wild gyrations in enrollment and suggested that if all the students left the public school system, the State must fund both the school districts per pupil amount based on 95 percent of the prior years enrollment and the education savings accounts for all students, an amount potentially double the $2 billion appropriated in SB515 for just the public schools. Given that scenario, surely the Legislature would have specified a number of education savings accounts or set a maximum sum of money What would a district with no students spend the money on? At least a couple of major constitutional hurdles for ESAs have been cleared. The court dismissed the contention that SB302 violates the state Constitutions prohibition against using public funds for sectarian purposes. We disagree. Once the public funds are deposited into an education savings account, the funds are no longer public funds but are instead private funds of the individual parent who established the account, the court opined. The parent decides where to spend the money for the childs education and may choose from a variety of participating entities, including religious and non-religious schools. The court also dismissed the notion that the state may only expend funds for public schools, noting repeatedly that the state Constitution instructs the Legislature to support education by all suitable means and noted that the drafters of the founding document rejected the notion of making public school attendance compulsory, and acknowledged the need to vest the Legislature with discretion over education in the future. So, ESAs are now on the fast track to legislative approval at some future date before the 8,000 children who have applied for them have children of their own, right? Attorney General Adam Laxalt, whose office defended the law in court, said, The Court ruled against the State on a small funding issue that was not even debated or contentious when this bill was passed. Fortunately, the Supreme Court has made crystal clear that ESAs are constitutional and that the Legislature can fix this funding technicality and allow for the implementation of ESAs statewide. Gov. Brian Sandoval put out a statement after the high court ruling indicating he does not plan to call lawmakers into a special session and will leave the fixing of the appropriation up to the 2017 legislative session, which opens in February. Although the court found the current funding mechanism for Education Savings Accounts unconstitutional, there may be a path for a legislative solution, Sandoval said in that statement. However, such a solution is complex and must be well thought-out to meet constitutional muster. I also believe it is important to consult with legislative leadership on this issue as we approach the 2017 legislative session. The fly in that ointment is that there is an election in November and it is entirely possible Democrats, with the backing of their teacher unions, just might gain a majority in either the state Senate or Assembly in which case, ESAs are dead for the foreseeable future, because not a single Democrat voted for ESAs in 2015. At press time, Sandoval was waffling on whether to add ESAs to a special session in October. It's October. It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We're all aware of that. I've had a mom, sister, and wife who had breast cancer. I never had a daughter. With the U.S. population at 324 million, there will be 106.3 million of us who will have a mom, sister, daughter or wife hear those dreaded words: "it's malignant." That's a lot of caregivers out there. They need help and guidance on what to do for their loved ones as she goes through surgery, breast reconstruction, chemo, and radiation. They also need help for themselves on how to deal with such a difficult and traumatic situation, and how to overcome these obstacles and become an amazing caregiver for their loved ones. Sadly, there really isn't a lot of guidance out there for breast cancer caregivers on what they need to do, and not do, after she's diagnosed. There's no comprehensive program in place at hospitals, or doctors' offices, that seamlessly incorporates the caregiver into the breast cancer treatment process. This needs to change, now. Advertisement I can't stress enough the value that caregivers bring to breast cancer patients -- getting her to and from her appointments and treatments; helping her with meals, the kids, the house; helping her deal with intense emotional and psychological stress and anxiety; picking up her medicine; administering her shots; just giving her a big 'ol hug. The list goes on and on. And yet, for most of us helping out, in a caregiver role, we do it by the seat of our pants. That's why I decided to write a book, for all the caregivers and loved ones, to know exactly what to do, and not do, when someone special in their lives is told she has breast cancer. Stand By Her: A Breast Cancer Guide For Loved Ones offers strategies and support to breast cancer caregivers, as they make their journey, right alongside her, through "Cancer Land," before, during, and after her treatment. Throughout the book, I combine personal stories of caregivers and loved ones who "Stand By Her," along with detailed advice from experts who address all the medical, emotional, physical, psychological, family relationship, sexual, and financial issues that come with breast cancer. Each chapter focuses on a stage of the breast cancer process, beginning with diagnosis and continuing through final treatment, and beyond. When a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can seem, on first blush, like a death sentence. Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases, it's not, and there is great hope that she is going to be just fine after treatment. For Stage 0 and Stage 1 breast cancers, according to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent; for Stage 2 breast cancer, the five-year survival rate is 93 percent. Advertisement With that said, the fear and anxiety that a breast cancer patient goes through is extreme. That's why having a caregiver by her side, every step of the way, is critical. We must "Stand By Her" whenever and however we can. There are so many great and wonderful stories of caregivers who have done just that. Victoria Vargas, 21, of El Paso, TX took it one step further when her mom, Veronica Quintanilla, found out she had a breast cancer recurrence. After Victoria shaved her head in solidarity with her mom who would be losing her hair to chemo, Victoria decided that she and her mom should get matching permanent head tattoos of a pink ribbon to honor the Cancer Land journey they were about to embark upon, together. Victoria (the daughter): "Our tattoos will always be a reminder of all I went through with my mom. Everyone has stories to tell behind a tattoo. This is a big story. When I am 80 years old, and I lose my hair, I can tell my great grandchildren why it's there." Veronica (the mom): "Usually when you see a head tattoo, they are someone who is hard core. I think it's pretty cool. I don't ever want to see my tattoo again. That is my goal to never be bald again. I want me, and only me to know that this treasure (of the pink ribbon tattoo on her head) exists. It's my hidden secret. It makes me feel empowered. I feel some superpowers from it. I've beaten cancer." Freedom lies in being bold. -- Robert Frost By 1781, it was clear to the Founders that the Articles of Confederation -- the new nation's first written document establishing the functions of a national government -- were failing the new states. In an act as necessary as it was inspired, the Founders were determined to harness the potential of the fledgling nation and showed a bold resolve that Americans desperately need from our contemporary leaders. George Washington felt the Articles were destroying national cohesion, the new, distinctly American mentality that had developed during the war with Britain. The Articles failed to promote unity across state lines, and these newly independent states operated more as small nations instead of one unified country. Both Washington and James Madison felt they needed to correct the "errors" of the Articles -- they needed to be bold. But lack of unanimous consent of the state legislatures made changing the Articles virtually impossible. For four years to follow, attempts to improve upon and change the Articles failed. Madison suggested a meeting to discuss interstate conflicts in Annapolis in late 1786 -- the precursor to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. In 1787, it was an audacious idea to presume that a group of citizens from different states could create something superior to the Articles. But the Founders were convinced the nation could be better -- stronger -- together. And so, beginning in May 1787, the Constitutional Convention was underway. After months of debate, sustainable change was enacted in the form of the U.S. Constitution, the governing document that has guided America for the last 229 years. It was an ambitious move for the Founding Fathers to push back against the Articles -- lack of a national currency, no federal court system, no president, and a legislature unable to raise funds were major problems rooted in the Articles, and the Founders demonstrated commitment to cultivate the potential of this new nation in their commitment to find a solution. These problems were eventually addressed and remedied, but not without conviction, resolve, and bold problem solving in the form of the Constitutional Convention. Their tenacity should serve as a model for today's leaders to emulate at an event later this year in Washington, D.C. -- 1787: Constructing the Peace after the War. Being bold in today's political climate takes on a new meaning - being bold today is collaborating with members of the opposing party when it is taboo. Being bold is refusing to succumb to the noise of either party and instead look toward the bigger picture: the future of the nation. Being bold is recognizing that the current state of government could be improved. Today, bipartisanship is bold. And today, when division among our leaders and a refusal to compromise is the new normal, it is particularly important to recall the commitment of the Founding Fathers. While the Founders discussed and debated titanic issues, Congress has lately been incapable of reckoning with even the most basic functions of government like keeping citizens safe and passing timely budgets. Zika made its official U.S. landfall in Florida this summer, just after Congress left for a seven-week recess -- the longest since the 1960s -- without having approved any new funding dedicated to the international health crisis, neither in the form of research nor prevention. Emergency funds were initially requested in February. The bill has failed three times, and Republicans and Democrats have instead chosen to blame one another -- a large departure from the dedication and commitment of our Founders. With only a few weeks until the next October recess, Congress must pass 12 spending bills, or just kick the budget can down the road, the clock is ticking, and given the track record, sufficient funding for federal programs is at risk. Our leaders have lost the dedication that was the foundation of this country, to put first what is best for our country. This December in Washington, D.C., many of our nation's leaders again will dare to be bold. Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress and from across the country will recall the same spirit of our Founders -- tenacious, persistent, resolute. The nationally televised meeting will be a big step to broker the peace after the war of this presidential campaign, fostering collaboration and dedication to the same potential that united our Founding Fathers for months in Philadelphia in 1787 -- the potential of our democracy. The Founders sustained several years of failed attempts to re-envision and recreate a unifying form of government - one better than the Articles. These leaders committed to the process without any assurance that their efforts would yield results. They only had the vision, the belief in the possibilities that awaited this young nation. It is that same belief in the possibilities that should unite us all now, more than ever. And it is that same belief in what is possible that will bring together our political, business, local government and thought leaders in December. When the election is over, so is the time for excuses from Washington. Last week's Curios covered the hidden benefits of chewing gum, wheezing Amish, and the first set of identical twin puppies. Curio No. 1165 | Chewing gum makes you smarter? Gum chewers, more reasons to rejoice! In addition to its properties as a bacteria killer, gum may improve memory. Researchers first stumbled upon this unlikely connection in a 2002 study--which showed gains in episodic memory and working memory after chewing gum. Episodic memory is our ability to recall the specifics of personal events that happened in the past. Working memory is our ability to hold information that has just been presented to us. And for test-taking Curio readers, I have even better news: a more recent study showed gum chewing during a lecture improved test scores... keep reading. Curio No. 1164 | Nuke the sun? The sun is hot, big, and powerful. Maybe these things you already know? So do environmental engineers, which is why they are considering using the sun's massive size and power to solve one of planet Earth's biggest problems: nuclear waste disposal. Here's the pro argument: it would get rid of dangerous spent fuel rods once and for all. Our current nuclear waste "disposal" methods are more like dumping bags of garbage over the fence into our neighbor's yard. The US alone has over 75,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste, most of which is stored in and around nuclear plants... keep reading. Advertisement Curio No. 1163 | The Amish asthma anomaly Healthy dust? It may be the answer to one of modern medicine's puzzles: why the Amish have such low rates of asthma. The mystery dates to a 2012 study which found Amish children have much lower rates of asthma and allergic reactions than Swiss children--a population with extremely similar genetic roots. Now, a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine appears to reveal the answer to the riddle: house dust. This time, the researchers compared Amish subjects to Hutterites, another American farming community with a deep European lineage. Again they found the Amish had much lower rates of asthma--about that of the Hutterites. But when they analyzed dust from Amish and Hutterite homes they found the Amish dust had much higher levels of endotoxins... keep reading. Curio No. 1162 | Japan's sleeping problem Do you like to nap at work? Then move to Japan! The practice is so common there, it has its own word: inemuri. Literally, "sleeping while present." Workers from all occupations partake in the doze-fest. It's not unheard of to see fully-suited businessmen and women catching shut-eye at their desks or in meetings. What, are Japanese workers not getting enough rest? The National Sleep Foundation conducted a global study in 2013 which found the Japanese sleep the least: 6 hours and 21 minutes on average per night.... keep reading. Curio No. 1161 | The 100-year war you've never heard of File this one in the "only in Europe" folder. World peace became a little closer to reality on October 28, 1983. That's the day a village in Spain signed a formal treaty with France, ending a 100-year war. The tiny village of Lijar had been locked in a struggle with France ever since the late 19th century. Luckily it was a bloodless one. The war kicked off in October of 1883, when Lijar's residents heard their King Alfonso XII had been stoned by French citizens as he passed through Paris. Nevermind that Lijar is located far from the French border, and boasted a population of about 100. The citizens of Lijar quickly demonstrated their loyalty to their king by declaring war on France... keep reading. Advertisement Curio No. 1160 | From meltdown to sundown I guess when life gives you an exploding nuclear power plant, make a solar farm. That's exactly what Ukraine is doing with the former site of the Chernobyl plant. The country is planning to build one of the largest solar grids on the planet, using the land surrounding the nuclear plant which experienced a meltdown in 1986. There are 6,000 hectares of land available, and experts think it could produce 1,000MW of solar energy. That's about a quarter of the energy produced by Chernobyl at its peak. Proponents say the project would be especially cheap because of pre-existing infrastructure... keep reading. Curio No. 1159 | From twin puppies to clone armies Twinimals? Identical twins are only known to exist in three species of vertebrates: humans, cows, and nine-banded armadillos. Until last month. That's when a South African vet, while performing a routine Caesarean section on a very pregnant Irish wolfhound, discovered two puppies whose umbilical cords were attached to a single placenta. Blood tests confirmed that the dogs were genetically identical, or monozygotic. In a monozygotic birth, one egg is fertilized to form a single zygote, which then divides to form two (or in the case of triplets three) fetuses. This makes them genetically identical, except for any mutations... keep reading. Tomorrow the five Nordic Embassies in D.C., in cooperation with the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), launch the book "Nordic Ways" about the Nordic model of society. A cornerstone of that model is equal opportunity. Norway has recently taken this one step further by introducing universal conscription in the Armed Forces for both women and men. For more than 30 years all branches and services in the Norwegian Armed Forces have been open to women. This summer marked a milestone, however, when the first young women began their military service as part of Norway's system of universal conscription. Advertisement Why is this seen as necessary at a time when the Armed Forces only need a limited number of the men coming of age each year? First of all, it is widely recognized in Norway that women and men have - and should have - equal rights, obligations and opportunities in all parts of society. But also, the Armed Forces should have the opportunity to recruit among the most capable candidates, regardless of gender. Today, the level of specialization in our Armed Forces is high. So is the need for sophistication and technical qualifications. As in other parts of society, we cannot afford to exclude half the population. Our experience from more than three decades of widespread integration of women in the Armed Forces is positive and thus the number of women in uniform has gradually increased. Advertisement We have had women in positions as fighter pilots, in combat units in Afghanistan and as submarine commanders. In 2011, Ingrid Gjerde was the first Norwegian woman to be appointed National Contingent Commander for all Norwegian military personnel in Afghanistan. Additionally, the first woman appointed United Nations Force Commander was Kristin Lund of Norway who, prior to this, served as the first female Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Home Guard. Currently almost 30% of the conscripts are women. And they usually serve for 12 month periods. I see three areas where we have already experienced the benefits of having female conscripts. Based on feedback from women in the Armed Forces who have lived segregated from their male peers, we have now established coed rooms in the barracks. This was done to accommodate a notion several female soldiers expressed on feeling left out, and to create more unity at the troop level. After two years with this integration, we see very few reasons for not continuing. However, it requires good leadership. Our Air Force has established a ground-based air defense unit with a 50-50 gender rate. Our experience with this has been very positive especially in areas of operational standards, unity and respect. Furthermore, our Special Forces established a female Ranger troop to see if the challenging physical and mental standards would be easier met with more women in the same unit. So far, the feedback is positive and our experiences again very promising. Norway has approximately 60,000 potential conscripts to choose from every year. We physically test and evaluate around 20,000 - out of which we draft about 8,000. Many candidates who were not chosen are disappointed - they want to serve, and even keep calling to argue their candidature. In other words: We have a luxury problem. Advertisement What is important, though, is that the Norwegian Armed Forces get to choose from the most motivated and best-suited conscripts available - regardless of gender. This is an experience in equality we are proud to share with our friends and allies. Editor's Note A HuffPost article that previously existed at this URL has been removed. Have you ever watched a movie that follows the same character, but explores the different life choices that "could have been." I just watched Woody Allen's Melinda and Melinda; and how about Gwyneth Paltrow's movie, Sliding Doors, from the late '90s? The entire premise of these movies is based on "What If." We watch as two parallel lives play out, based on series of chance events. What if your life could be a romantic comedy or a tragedy? What if she had just made that train? We've all visualized the "What If's" in our own lives -- from big ones (What if I had taken that job transfer?) to the small ones (What if I had stopped for gas?). Advertisement For example, think of your morning. For many, getting out the door is hectic. Any small chain of events can lead to missed trains, spilled coffee, or forgetting your keys. Throw kids or pets in the mix, and it all escalates. Now, imagine your parallel life. Your morning is just as busy, but what if you made the train or your coffee stayed in the mug? What if you still miss the train and your coffee spills, but you're different? What if you stay calm amid the chaos? What if you're able to smoothly move on with your day? No, your "parallel you" didn't get a prescription for Xanax or pour a shot of Bailey's into your morning coffee. Your "parallel you" practices meditation. Meditation? I thought you understood my crazy morning? I do, I promise. My life is hectic, too. I have a family, 2.5 jobs (one that requires traveling about 100,000 miles per year), and I try to exercise nearly every day. It's a challenging schedule. Managing it thoughtfully with kindness, calm and patience is not always easy, and I'm not always successful. Advertisement A cousin, who leads an equally frenetic life, has been meditating for years and suggested I try it. I was curious and knew I needed a way, aside from rose, to chill out. I took his advice. What I've found is: Meditation trains the mind to pay attention to all the details in the present moment. It's the mental conditioning of the right and left sides of your brain and how they communicate with each other. When you meditate, you hit the pause button on the world around you. You take a little time - and it can be little - to re-focus and re-group. You don't "empty" your mind as much as you are strengthening it. You are learning to be conscious of every thought in order to process all of life's distractions. Meditation isn't all about incense, chanting, or religious undertones unless you want it to be. If you aren't chanting or emptying your mind, how DO you meditate? Think of how you might approach exercise. One day, you run on your own. The next, you join a group class. Another day, you might meet with a trainer. Meditating can be the same (and take less time than your workout). There are several resources, from books to websites, to learn self-guided meditation. You might focus on your breath, your body, your thoughts, or visualization. Advertisement For someone new to the practice, a little guidance is helpful. There are several apps that guide you through meditations anywhere from 5-60 minutes long. Headspace is one I especially like for beginners because it offers a pragmatic approach with a great free trial offer of ten minutes for ten days. You may also find meditation studios that offer guided classes. Today, most studios are on the coasts, but the list is constantly growing so it's worth checking. Why is meditation the answer? Don't I just need more sleep? You don't sleep well? Do you wake up with racing thoughts? Do you have a hard time winding down? Meditation helps you sleep better, which in turn, helps you manage your day. Beyond sleep, several recent studies have proven direct links between meditation and reduced stress, chronic pain, and blood pressure, just to name a few. Harvard University researchers learned that mindful meditation actually increases the densities of your brain's gray matter. Gray matter keeps you sharp and focused, especially as you age. So, this is just one more thing that I should be doing? One more thing to squeeze in? Advertisement More importantly, employers realize how busy you are. Google, Apple, Nike, HBO, and even my beloved Chicago Cubs are among the many organizations that have implemented meditation practices for employees. As the Harvard Business Review published last year, "Mindfulness should no longer be considered a 'nice-to-have' for executives. It's a 'must-have' -- a way to keep our brains healthy, to support self-regulation and effective decision-making capabilities, and to protect ourselves from toxic stress." What if you pressed the pause button on your day to meditate? What would happen? In subsequent articles, I'm going to explore these two questions in-depth. With your input, I'll share how meditation can impact everything from work-outs to relationships, from job performance to health. The goal is to offer tangible insights that are meaningful in your everyday. As journalist and meditation evangelist Dan Harris suggests, this path can't solve all your problems, but it could make you 10% happier. Exploring What If isn't about making wishes. It's about taking that first step in imagining a better way. Many of us watched with interest last month as leaders from around the world met in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. It was quite an impressive showing. The gathering in one place of nearly all the world's nations is something that only the U.N. can accomplish. The United Nations has done important work since its founding 71 years ago. But there are those who point to its failings and say it has outlived its usefulness. Some say it is drifting toward irrelevance as member nations seek other paths to resolve conflicts. The U.N. is not crumbling, but it is in trouble as an effective institution. As President Barack Obama told the Security Council, it is time for a course correction in our approach to global cooperation. Advertisement The United Nations is vast, with a budget of about $5.4 billion. The United States provides 22 percent of its funding, by far the most of any member, followed by Japan at 9.7 percent and China at 7.9 percent. In addition, there are many international organizations within the U.N. family, including the Development Program, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Each has its own mission and budget. The organization's agenda is ambitious, and its goals are altogether laudable. It seeks to maintain international peace and security, promote sustainable development, protect human rights, uphold international law and deliver humanitarian aid where it is needed. It has become indispensable, but it is not close to either meeting the high expectations of its members or fulfilling the need for international cooperation. It can point to significant achievements, but it also has glaring deficiencies. Despite those deficiencies, the world would be worse off without it. Advertisement The U.N. has become the convener of nations, able to bring together its 193 member nations. It provides the rules of the road for international affairs, rules that most nations at least profess to respect. It provides a global platform for the sharing of ideas and for cooperative efforts that benefit millions of people. It provides humanitarian services and resources, including disaster relief and emergency food aid, a job that entails working in difficult and dangerous situations. Last month, it distributed food to people in the northern Iraqi town of Shirqat, who had been controlled by ISIS and cut off from aid for two years. The U.N. has 105,000 peacekeepers in the field in 16 separate missions, most of them in trouble spots in Africa and the Middle East. It investigates human rights violations around the world and seeks to uphold the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first legal document protecting such rights. The organization often reminds nations of their moral obligations. It is calling attention to the crisis of refugees fleeing the Middle East and urging nations to share the task of welcoming refugees. It brings the world's attention to urgent challenges that could be overlooked. It summoned the nations to do battle with "super bugs" that have learned to evade science's defenses. It has spotlighted troubling global disparities in access to cancer care. It also keeps track of global health. Last month, it declared measles had been eliminated in the Americas, culminating a 22-year effort of vaccination and education. Advertisement If the U.N. did not exist, we would have to create something like it. While it has accomplished a lot, the U.N. has significant shortcomings. It has not resolved tensions between the United States and Russia, and it has not been able to stop the conflict in Syria. It has been unable to consistently deliver aid to war-torn areas; a U.N. convoy carrying aid to the besieged city of Aleppo was recently bombed, killing 20 people. It has not halted North Korea's march toward nuclear weapons, and its warnings about a nuclear-armed North Korea have not been heeded. It has not prevented the spread of global terrorism. These tasks, of course, are horrendously difficult, so the U.N. is not failing, but it needs help. It needs to become more representative of the nations of the world and to become more efficient and effective. There is no magic wand we can wave to reform the U.N., but the United States and other nations need to do what we can to strengthen it. It requires the support of the world's leading powers, which must ensure that it has strong institutional leadership and adequate resources to do its job. Many of our most serious challenges, including economic growth, climate change, terrorism, drugs and crime, can't be effectively addressed without international cooperation. The United States and other nations desperately need effective multilateral cooperative institutions, not only the U.N. but the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and others. Advertisement The world stands, as it often does, at a tipping point between order and chaos. The United Nations has become a notable force, however insufficient, for order. A decline in the institution would mean a less stable world and a less vigorous response to a long list of challenges. In short, the world needs an effective U.N. Among a sea of Colombians dressed in white in a plaza in Cartagena, I watched as President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, alias Timochenko, signed the peace accords on September 26, 2016, using a pen made from bullets. This accord offers the opportunity to begin to close the door on more than fifty years of the conflict with the FARC, and almost seventy years of political violence since the assassination of presidential candidate Jorge Eliecer Gaitan. "Our only weapon will be the word," promised Londono. "Let no one doubt we will turn towards politics without arms." Advertisement Santos gave the speech of his life. "What we signed today is a declaration of the people of Colombia to the world that we are tired of the war, we do not accept violence as a means to defend ideas; we say loud and clear: no more war!" During a moment of silence for the victims--8 million victims, 6 million displaced, 250 million killed, the vast majority civilians--white flags for peace flown at half mast were raised to full mast. What moved me so deeply, after working alongside Colombians on human rights issues for over fifteen years, was the presence of such a wide range of victims of violence in the plaza. Victims like the determined Madres de la Candelaria, from poor communities in Medellin, whose children were forcibly disappeared or killed by paramilitaries, Colombian army soldiers and guerrillas. Courageous leaders like Yanette Bautista, Jose Antequera, and Senator Ivan Cepeda, whose loved ones were killed by state or paramilitary violence. An inspiring group of Afro-Colombian women from Bojaya, whose loved ones were among those 119 people killed when the FARC threw a gas cylinder into a church were they were taking refuge. These women sang to the crowd, "We ask the violent ones, do not repeat your crimes." This isn't a perfect peace accord. No peace accord is. It contains real, serious trade-offs of justice, from which both FARC members and army members implicated in grave human rights abuses will benefit. Even within the limitations of these accords, Colombians will have to push hard to get the maximum possible justice, truth, and reparations for victims as the accords are implemented. Advertisement And Colombians who wish to build a just and lasting peace will have to work to change the vast inequality, including the huge gap between urban and rural areas, and the political and economic exclusion that fueled the conflict. Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, which have been battered by all sides in this conflict, must make the most of the win they achieved at the last minute: an "ethnic chapter" of the accord that mandates the free, prior and informed consent of communities as the peace accords are implemented in their territories. Moreover, not all the "violent ones" have laid down their arms. The Colombian government and the ELN, the last remaining major guerrilla group, must advance in their peace talks, which have barely begun. The government must effectively dismantle the remaining paramilitary forces, often called BACRIM, that still threaten communities and human rights defenders. "Listen up, Mr. President, come here and tell us what you're going to do with these other groups," sang the women of Bojaya. And, of course, the accord contains no promises to restructure the army, which must be transformed if there is to be real peace. As for the United States, we have to deal more honestly with our own government's role in this conflict. For those who saw the violence unfold on the ground, to hear U.S. politicians of both parties say that Plan Colombia, which funded the war, was a bipartisan policy success is a punch to the gut. U.S. aid escalated the violence. As I noted in a letter to the Washington Post, "From 2000, when Plan Colombia was launched, to 2013, nearly four million people were internally displaced. Six million Colombians became victims of the conflict. Brutal paramilitary violence, including murder, massacres, rape and torture, was at times aided and abetted by members of the Colombian armed forces and politicians. Over 1,000 trade unionists were murdered. And over 4,300 Colombians, mainly poor young men, were allegedly murdered by members of the Colombian armed forces and dressed in guerrilla clothing in order to up their body counts and receive days off and promotions." But this week, reflecting on the signing ceremony, it's the words of the victims that come first. Fabiola Perdomo, widow of Juan Carlos Narvaez, one of the deputies from Valle who were kidnapped and then killed by the FARC, said to the press: "Those who don't live in the countryside, but in the capital city, just don't understand the full dimension of the grief, of the war, of the suffering. We must be given this opportunity. As victims we have taken the decision to forgive, why can't you do it, those who haven't even lived it?" Last night, Mike Pence and Tim Kaine faced off in the vice presidential debate, tackling issues ranging from foreign policy to reproductive rights. While the two candidates have many contrasting views, one of the starkest is how each views LGBTQ equality. As the two candidates went head-to-head, LGBTQ rights remained the elephant in the room. Yet, one of the loudest, clearest messages Trump sent to the LGBTQ community was selecting Mike Pence as his running mate. While Trump may try to wriggle out of his anti-LGBTQ positions, Pence has a long history of loudly and proudly opposing our equality and our dignity. Following the debate, it's important to take a look at where both candidates stand on the rights and dignity of LGBTQ Americans. Notably, both Pence and Kaine cite their deep faith when talking about their approach to LGBTQ equality. Kaine says his faith has provided him a path to embracing LGBTQ equality. Pence uses a trumped-up faith argument to deny the dignity and equality of LGBTQ people. Advertisement Pence, an Evangelical Christian who was raised Catholic, calls LGBTQ equality a "radical social agenda" that would have "a chilling effect on religious expression, from the pulpits, in our temples, in our mosques and in our churches." Conversely, during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's recent National Dinner, Kaine said, "Who am I to challenge God for the beautiful diversity of the human family? I think we're supposed to celebrate it, not challenge it." As someone who grew up in the Midwest, grateful for my parents' sacrifices for my Catholic education, I have to say Kaine is much more in step with the values my Catholic family raised me with - and with the majority of people of faith in this country. Among American Catholics, 58 percent support marriage equality -- one of the most significant margins of support among any religious group in the United States. What my parents taught me as the cornerstone of our faith "whatsover you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me..." is not recognizable in the words or actions of Trump and Pence. As members of Congress, and as governors, both VP candidates have made decisions that directly affected the lives of their LGBTQ constituents. Here's a snapshot of the actions taken by each: Advertisement Sen. Tim Kaine Sen. Kaine's first executive action as governor of Virginia was signing an order banning discrimination against state employees on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation, veteran status, or disability. As governor, he opposed a state constitutional amendment to ban legal recognition of same-sex couples. Kaine has advocated for full federal equality as senator and joined the amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court declaring the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. He co-sponsored legislation to repeal the discriminatory DOMA. He has advocated for passage of the Equality Act to provide comprehensive federal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans. Because of these actions, Kaine's advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ people has earned him a 90% rating from the Human Rights Campaign. Gov. Mike Pence Gov. Pence became a national disgrace in 2015 for his "license to discriminate bill" that could have allowed businesses to deny service to LGBTQ people -- and subsequently defended the bill over an outcry from the business community and a majority of Hoosier voters. Indianapolis's nonprofit tourism agency estimated that in their city alone, Pence's anti-LGBTQ bill cost the state up to 12 conventions and 60 million in lost revenue. Advertisement Pence opposes both federal marriage equality and Department of Education guidelines supporting transgender students. In a speech, Pence said that marriage equality would signal a "societal collapse." When serving in Congress, he voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, calling it a "radical social agenda." He opposed funding to treat HIV unless it was offset by cuts to programs that he claimed "...celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus." Pence instead preferred funding harmful conversion therapy programs that would seek to change "sexual behavior." Pence's addition to Donald Trump's ticket has made it the most overtly anti-LGBTQ presidential ticket in history, while Hillary Clinton's choice of Kaine ensures that Clinton-Kaine is the most pro-equality presidential ticket ever. The two are light-years away from each other when it comes to issues of equality. Pence uses his faith as a tool to deny equality. Kaine embraces equality precisely because of his faith. While many issues were debated by the two candidates last night, it has never been more clear who is standing on the right side of history when it comes to issues of fairness of LGBTQ equality. Today, the Earth got a little hotter, and a little more crowded. Saving BUB, Beautiful Unique Biodiversity, as in this Indian bullfrog, a denizen of Myanmar forests, is another reason to preserve carbon storing forests. Source all-that-is-interesting.com <> One of Many Myanmar Forest Beauties is the Lady Amherst pheasant; its habitat is shrinking. Source tumblr.com OO 'We Are Revolutionaries': Villagers Fight To Protect Myanmar's Forests A community-run conservation initiative in southern Myanmar is using local knowledge to preserve both the environment and their ways of life. Forests: the cheapest way to store carbon Advertisement Gold Mining Scars A Protected Reserve and other parts of the Amazon rainforest. OO Deforestation Jumps Into Peru Reserve: 40,000 Acres Of Rainforest Lost recently spotted forest loss for agriculture and gold mining threatens endangered wildlife and indigenous communities in El Sira Communal Reserve. OO U.S. Imports Of Amazon Crude Oil Driving Expansion Of Oil Operations Crude oil imported to the U.S. from the Amazon, most of which gets refined in California, is driving expansion of oil operations and forest loss, in the Amazon. When we harm forests, we harm ourselves. * * HOT NEWS OO Stuck On Record Warm: Earth Has Unprecedented 16-Straight Warmest Months OO Climate Change Could Cross Key Threshold In A Decade with the planet passing a key target on world temperature rise in about a decade, scientists said recently. * * Source NOAA HURRICANE MATTHEW FITS CLIMATE CHANGE TREND: EVER MORE INTENSE HURRICANES OO Haiti Hurricane Matthew Climate Change Effects: Global Warming Means More Devastation, Climate Refugees Advertisement * * GOOD CLEAN NEWS OO UN Signals That Climate Deal Has Backing Needed To Enter Force as soon as this year. OO India To Ratify Cop21 On October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday Mahatma would have been honored. OO Climate Deal Comes One Step Closer To Effect At United Nations when dozens of countries deposited their ratification of the deal at the United Nations recently. OO California Governor Backs Rules On Cow, Landfill Emissions escalating state efforts to fight climate change to include methane and other pollutants. OO America's First Wave-Produced Power Goes Online In Hawaii - via a US Navy test site. Go Navy! OO $22.5 Million Raised For Off-Grid Solar As Energy Giants Take Notice - providing an opportunity for traditional energy companies to step into clean energy waters. Meanwhile... OO IEA: Oil, Gas Investments Fell 25% In 2015 Energy experts say global investment patterns show a spectacular shift, with renewables on the rise and support for fossil fuels in sharp decline. OO 100 Countries Push To Phase Out Potentially Disastrous Greenhouse Gases the hydrofluorocarbons used in cooling appliances. Advertisement * * SPEAKING OUT You Don't Have To Be A Genius like Albert Einstein to realize that global warming poses a serious threat to mankind. OO 375 Top Scientists Warn Of 'Real, Serious, Immediate' Climate Threat - including 30 Nobel Prize winners, in a published open letter regarding climate change. OO Obama Appeals For Climate Investment In Valedictory UN Speech appealing for a scaling up of climate finance to reduce global inequality in his last speech to the UN General Assembly as US president. OO Bank of England Governor Backs Green Finance To Cut Emissions And Boost Growth OO Dozens Of U.S., Canadian Tribes Unite Against Proposed Oil Pipelines to "collectively challenge and resist" proposals to build more pipelines from tar sands in Alberta, Canada. * * NATURAL REPERCUSSIONS OO Soil Absorbs Less Carbon Than Thought -- Which Could Warm Us Up Further Even Faster than thought, reveals new research. Advertisement OO Climate Change Is Here: Inside The Summer Of Hell And High Water - with a catastrophic season of wildfires, megafloods and major hurricanes, the climate-change siege is fully upon us. OO How Climate Change Is Screwing Up Your Favorite Season Recent evidence indicates climate change might zap everything colorful and crispy out of fall. Bye-Bye Christmas Trees? Balsam fir, a commercially valuable tree often used as a Christmas tree, is slated to decline as global warming shrinks its habitat. Source pack230dc.com, modified. OO Balsam Fir May Disappear In New Brunswick Due To Climate Change New Brunswick may see softwood species such as balsam fir and black spruce disappear from the province's forests over the next 80 years or so as their habitat heats up, says a forestry professor. OO Toxic Algal Bloom Exploded In Chesapeake Bay this summer, and beyond, expanding farther and lasting longer than scientists have ever seen before. Advertisement * * FIXING CLIMATE CHANGE @@ A Simple And Smart Way To Fix Climate Change given by Dan Miller in 2014 at a Ted talk suggests a way to profit as we tackle climate change, by finally charging those who sell and use fossil fuels - and distributing the revenues back to all of us. The strategy is sure to speed transition to clean renewable energy. What's not to like? Check it out! * * SOCIAL REPERCUSSIONS Even the Syrian Conflict Is Linked to Climate Change where an intense drought - and uncaring government - has helped foment a civil war and mass migration from the country. OO Climate Change Is Already Destabilizing Communities Worldwide a stark report warns from the U.S. intelligence community. Advertisement @@ AUDIO: How Climate Change Is Cranking The Heat On Public Health Crises Dr. Jonathan Patz, director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, notes that public health is suffering from: More extreme weather: heatwaves, droughts, storms And their effects, such as: Destruction of homes, spread of water-borne diseases; Increasing ranges of mosquito borne diseases - eg, Zika; Increased conflicts; Failed crops and malnutrition. Climate change is already damaging the public health of over a quarter of the world's humans. OO Utah: Beached Boats, Pink Water As Drought Saps Great Salt Lake - key to Utah's economy and identity, the lake is skirting record-low levels after years of below-average precipitation and record heat. OO US: When It Rains It Pours, And Sewage Hits The Fan - Increasing heavy downpours, fueled by climate change, cause billions of gallons of sewage overflows nationwide. Source NASA and ORBIMAGE, modified When Americans Buy Chinese Goods, They Buy Chinese Pollution - due to the westerly winds, which ship the pollution to US cities in about 5 days -- a good reason to buy only what you really need, made from clean renewable energy, no matter who makes it. Advertisement OO China Makes Goods For West, Fueling Pollution, Climate Change in East Asia, a new study shows. Daily Climate Editor JP Myers notes that "Most of the apparent 'decoupling' of GDP growth from carbon emissions in the US is the result of outsourcing of carbon-intensive manufacturing. Then the US imports the goods. That's not good carbon accounting." * * MELTDOWN Antarctic Icicles, harbingers of warming. Credit Grant Dixon OO East Antarctic Ice Sheet Collapsed 3+ Million Years Ago, And Could Do So Again Soon, Raising Sea Levels Rapidly - indicates a new study, that incorporates new observations of current melting, and fossil evidence. Takeaways: Fossil diatoms indicate the East Antarctic ice sheet collapsed When Earth's CO2 levels were at the same current levels, 400 ppm, And the atmosphere was 1-2 C warmer than currently, the estimated temperature of late 21st century Earth. This collapse would add another meter to already rising sea levels worldwide by 2100! A River of Melt Runs Through It - many, in fact, all over the Greenland ice sheet. Credit James Balog OO Greenland May Be Losing Ice Even Faster Than We Thought reveals new research: it finds that the ice loss -- and contribution to sea level -- is higher by 20 billion tons per year. Advertisement * * GOOD IDEAS Source blog.ucsusa.org Building US Sea Walls Are Bandaids - if not re-inforced with a philosophic revolution that emphasizes sustainability, not perpetual growth. OO Redefine Resilience To Mean Sustainability: Exploring the Gap Between Business-as-Usual and Utter Doom - Takeaways: Our current growth of consumption is not sustainable, Even by replacing fossil fuels with clean renewable energy sources; We need to transition to a simpler, more localized conserver economy - simpler pathways for meeting basic human needs. Resilience needs to be re-defined to mean transformative change in how we live, Not short term fixes for unsustainable, perpetual growth. Halting growth in population, consumption and complexity can grow personal happiness. Sharing Benefits All - and is a great way to solve not only climate change, but many problems. Source www.seancast.com Advertisement Social innovation will mean returning to older, proven methods: make our expectations more realistic re speed, convenience, affordability and entitlement; share, rather than compete - ie, cooperate; conserve, reuse, and repair; Funding needs to be re-oriented towards developing these sustainable solutions, rather than unsustainable growth. <> Breakthrough Could Make Homes Energy Independent Cleanly, Easily - modular solar capture and storage units, SolPads, are much cheaper to install, and are set to go on market in late 2017. OO SolPads Make Your Home Energy Independent Easily - designed for the masses. Takeaways: SolPad are units that both generate and store solar power; A unit contains a high efficiency solar panel, inverter, battery and Smart software to promote sustainable energy use. These modular units can be linked to increase production easily. If Those Were SolPads the owner would get clean energy independence and save money on installation. Versions exist for both rooftops and microgrids Cuts solar installation costs by 50% Invented by Christopher Estes at SunCulture Solar Products are on track to come to market by late 2017 This sounds like the Apple of the residential solar world, doesn't it? <> OO Canada Is Building A Network Of Microgrids starting with 3, located in Maine, Nova Scotia and Toronto. Repair First and Save Money doing so, as the Swedish government plans to slash sales tax rates (VAT) on repairs to bicycles, clothes shoes. Source bikerepairsman.blogspot.com OO Waste Not Want Not: Sweden To Give Tax Breaks For Repairs so it will no longer make sense to throw out old or broken items and buy new ones, via proposals to: slash sales (VAT) taxes on repairs to bicycles, clothes, and shoes; create income tax deductions on 50% of big appliance repairs. OO Toyota Is Mining Sewage For Hydrogen To Power Its New Car g One Man's E-Waste Could Be Another's Treasure - especially if it is easy to do so. Source Science and Society Library via Getty Images Advertisement OO Portable Micro-Factories Could Turn E-Waste Trash Into Treasure and are being developed by Australian researchers. Takeaways: Global electronic waste is vast, but only 15% or so is properly recycled; It contains extractable amounts of silver, gold and other precious minerals. a prototype for a portable micro-factory to mine these is being developed. Shipping-container-sized, these can be deployed at collection sites worldwide. The goal: micro-factories will churn out high-value metal alloys, ceramics, composites and nanomaterials, while simultaneously eliminating any hazardous impact. Benefits: eliminates emissions from shipping e-waste long distances and mining, and creates jobs. Source motherboard.vice.com OO North American Windpower: Using Drones To Inspect Turbines and cut costs, by understanding when and where turbines need repair or replacement. Advertisement OO Sunpower Embraces Drones, Robots To Help Evolve Its Solar Farms, lowering costs, while minimizing the impact that the farms have on land. * * FOSSIL FUEL FOLLIES Cute, But Climate-Changing - our transport is using too much dirty energy, and creating too much climate changing emissions. Source ClipArtCorner OO Planes, Trains, And Automobiles Have Become Top US Carbon Polluters surpassing the generation of electricity in 2016, says a new analysis of government data. OO How Much Cleaner Really Is A Tesla? Depends On Where You Charge Your Batteries - via electricity generated from fossil fuels or renewable clean energy. OO Many Car Brands Emit More Pollution Than Volkswagen report finds: all major diesel car brands, including Fiat, Vauxhall and Suzuki, are selling models that emit far higher levels of pollution than Volkswagen. <> Advertisement OO Electric Robotaxis Could Cut Emissions Dramatically, Fast - and save consumers money, indicates a new a truly sweeping report on the future of vehicles by the Rocky Mountain Institute, known for its bold visions in energy efficiency. OO Chevron's Lobbyist Now Runs The House Committee On Science For Chevron, the second largest oil company in the country with $26.2 billion in annual profits, it helps to have friends in high places. * * CLIMATE, OR CLUELESS LEADERSHIP OO Obama Requires US Govt To Factor Climate Into National Security Policy - First Time, Ever OO Libertarian Candidate Gary Johnson: Ignore Climate Change - The Sun Will Destroy The Earth One Day - meanwhile, he denounced "cap-and-trade taxation," said we "should be building new coal-fired plants," and argued that the "trillions" of dollars it would cost to combat climate change would be better spent on other priorities. Seriously, Gary? Like what - buying bandaids for this ever-worsening "climate disease"? ELECTION YEAR: If You Don't Vote For Climate Action, You Can Forget The Rest - in a climate-changing world of famine, drought, rising seas, giant storms and heat waves, there will be no security in jobs, health, wealth, or national safety. There will be chaos ensuing from increasing crises and disasters. Vote. OO Global Warming Policies We Set Today Will Determine The Next 10,000 Years - of global warming, a new study shows -- and whether our civilization survives or not: history shows that harmful climate change has destroyed civilizations before. Advertisement This time, it could be worldwide. Let's keep "The Hunger Games" in the realm of fiction. If we do not grow sustainably, Our children will die inhumanely. @@ How Parents Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy Teen childbearing cost US taxpayers $9+ Billion in 2010 And the costs of raising a child usually ensures decades, if not a life, of poverty for its mother. - US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WHAT YOU CAN DO Help prevent unintended pregnancies in your community: publicize where women can access affordable contraception. They can go here to find locations: And there are many more actions you can do, right here. * * * SOLAR KEEPS FLYING OO Spillover Can't Stop Utility-Scale Solar's Biggest Year Ever - Utility-scale PV will dominate U.S. solar into next year, but the market's drivers are rapidly evolving. Check it out here, right now! * * * WHY WE SHOULD ACT NOW: RISING RISKS Daily Climate Change: Global Map of Unusual Temperatures, Oct 4, 2016 How unusual has the weather been? No one event is "caused" by climate change, but global warming, which is predicted to increase unusual, extreme weather, is having a daily effect on weather, worldwide. Advertisement Looking above at recent temperature anomalies, much of the US and the waters surrounding it are experiencing warmer than normal temperatures: the eastern Pacific warm spot continues and so does the drought in California. Much of the areas surrounding the North Pole are experiencing much warmer than normal temperatures - not good news for our Arctic thermal shield of ice. Hotter than usual temperatures continue to dominate human habitats. * * * There is, of course, much more news on the consequences and solutions to climate change. To get it, check out this annotated resource list I've compiled, "Climate Change News Resources," at Wordpress.com here. For more information on the science of climate change, its consequences and solutions you can view my annotated list of online information resources here. To help you understand just what science does and does NOT do, check this out! A new Fox News national poll suggests Donald Trump suffered real damage in his first debate with Hillary Clinton not just losing the debate, but sliding in some key measures of voter confidence in his ability to serve as president. Compared to the same polls results before the debate, Clintons standing improved relative to Trumps in three important areas: which candidate would best handle the economy, which candidate has the temperament to serve as president and which candidate is honest and trustworthy. First, the overall numbers. In the poll, conducted last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 58 percent of likely voters said Clinton won the debate, versus just 19 percent who said Trump won, 11 percent who said it was a tie, and 12 percent who said they didnt know. Thats three times as many voters who thought Clinton won as thought Trump won. Democrats, by a 91 percent to 4 percent margin, thought Clinton was the victor. Republicans, by a 35 percent to 26 percent margin, thought Trump won. (Nineteen percent of Republicans thought it was a tie.) Among independents, Clinton won by a 46-22 margin. So voters think Clinton won, which is the same result as other polls in recent days. But the larger question is what effect, if any, the debate had on the overall course of the race. In the horse race, Fox found Clinton leading Trump among likely voters 43 percent to 40 percent in a four-way contest, with Gary Johnson at eight percent and Jill Stein at four percent. In the last Fox poll, taken September 11-14, Clinton led Trump by 41 percent to 40 percent in the four-day race, with Johnson at eight percent and Stein and three percent. The Fox pollsters found more change in the head-to-head race among likely voters, with Clinton now leading Trump 49 percent to 44 percent. In the pre-debate Fox poll, Trump led Clinton 46 percent to 45 percent so thats a six-point net change before and after the debate. So there has been an insignificant change in the four-way race and a significant change in the two-way. Its not clear which is more meaningful. But other numbers are clearly ominous for Trump. Before the debate, Trump had a 51 percent to 44 percent lead when Fox asked likely voters who would best handle the economy. After the debate, Trumps lead was down to 49 percent to 47 percent a seven-point lead cut to a two-point lead. Before the debate, Fox found 59 percent of likely voters said Clinton had the temperament to serve as president; after the debate, the number went to 67 percent. Trumps temperament number stayed nearly the same, 38 percent before the debate to 37 percent after. Clintons 21-point pre-debate lead on the question became a 30-point post-debate lead. Before the debate, 39 percent of Fox respondents said Trump is honest and trustworthy. After the debate, that number fell to 31 percent. Clintons honest and trustworthy rating remained virtually the same: 34 percent before the debate versus 35 percent after the debate. Thats a nine-point net change. Before the debate, more likely voters saw Trump as honest and trustworthy than saw Clinton as honest and trustworthy. Post-debate, its the other way around. The debate didnt change likely voters views on Clintons email problem or Trumps tax returns. There have been a lot of polls, methodologically sound and otherwise, since Mondays presidential debate. But it takes a while for the effect of a debate to percolate through the electorate. Voters who watched the debate think about what theyve seen, discuss it with family and friends, and watch and read news coverage. Voters who didnt watch form opinions from coverage and word of mouth. It all takes a few days. Now the first real effects of the debate are becoming clear. And they are not good news for Donald Trump. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally at the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Mormons may seem like a Republican monolith to those outside of the church, but this election year in particular, Mormons are struggling to vote for Donald Trump for a variety of reasons, including unsavory personal life and hate speech against Muslims. Mitt Romney, the previous GOP presidential candidate and a devout Mormon, called Trump a "phony" and a "fraud". Trump is crass and has no ability to be "nice." Finally, Trump is religiously ignorant and has no understanding of religious persecution, such as that Mormons have faced for much of their history as a people. As a result, there is a growing group of Never Trump Mormons who are voting for Hillary Clinton. It may come as a surprise, but the Mormon church does not endorse political candidates. It does encourage its members to become politically active and to vote. The official statement on this is as follows: "Latter-day Saints as citizens are to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are wise, good, and honest. Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties and candidates." In fact, 9 of the top 15 leaders are Republican; the other six are unaffiliated. When Mitt Romney heard of someone who said that no good Mormon can be a Democrat, he responded with " baloney and ridiculous." Harry Reid, US Senate Democratic leader, is a Mormon and has a large Mormon constituency, though on the other side is Orrin Hatch, a Mormon Republican. Advertisement Over the course of my adult voting years, I have voted both Democratic and Republican, but this year, my choice will be Hillary Clinton, specifically because I believe she upholds many of the family values that I believe are core to Mormonism including: a pro-immigration stance, attention to women's health care issues, keeping same-sex marriage legal, decreasing poverty, and improving education access for all. There are many reasons not to vote for Trump and I certainly understand those Mormons who are choosing to vote for third-party candidates this year. I personally find Trump to be a disgusting human being. His views on immigration and race are abhorrent to me and the Mormon church felt the need to issue a statement directly in response to Trump. Trump is in my view a politician whose only interest in running for office is to increase his own bottom line. I would not necessarily hold his history of divorce against him, except that he is a misogynist and shows no awareness of this as a problem. He seems unable to speak a complete thought in a sentence, which makes me fear for his capacity to rule a country reasonably. But I am not voting for Hillary only as a vote against Trump. I honestly believe that she will be good for the country and good for families, which as a Mormon, I consider very important. On immigration, Hillary Clinton says, "We need comprehensive immigration reform with a path to full and equal citizenship. . . I'll defend President Obama's executive order--and I'll go even further to keep families together. I'll end family detention, close private immigrant detention centers, and help more eligible people become naturalized." This is important to me, as a Mormon, a Christian, and as a mother. Seeing families torn apart by the government is anathema to me. People who come to America to work and to achieve the American dream and people we should keep here. As a Mormon, we know that these immigrants are largely descendants of the Lamanites, the covenant people of our sacred scripture, The Book of Mormon, and people who are destined to return to their status as Christ's own one day. We should treat them as our brothers and sisters, nothing less. Advertisement In addition, Clinton has stated that she intends to "take on the challenge of systemic racism, [and] invest in communities of color." As a Mormon who has embraced the 1978 revelation on blacks receiving full access to exaltation and the blessings of the temple, I want to vote for someone who is committed to making America the country it should be, a country where racial diversity is seen as our greatest asset and where we make an end to systematic government discrimination. Surely that is Christ's way and the way that The Book of Mormon would want point us toward, where the dark-skinned Lamanites eventually showed that they were more righteous and more ready to receive Christ at his visitation to them in the Americas. I view Clinton's support of women's health care, including Planned Parenthood, as the best way to limit abortions and to support the children of women currently living in poverty. This essay explains how abortions have actually risen under every Republican President since Roe v. Wade and why poverty and lack of contraceptive choice are the real reasons behind abortion. Access to birth control is the best way to prevent abortion if that is your real concern, and not simply controlling women's bodies. The extension of marriage rights to LGBT+ people is in my mind a family value. If we want all families to be seen as important, we need to make sure these rights continue. In addition, Hillary Clinton has pledged to end discrimination against transgender and gay people in the work place and in housing. This is not only fair; it is also a Mormon value. Even the Mormon church, which is officially against same-sex marriage, has been part of compromises including the Utah Compromise. Continuing the fight against poverty is also something I feel strongly about as a Mormon. In The Book of Mormon, the cycle of pride and greed is a continuous one, and a lesson for us in our times. When people become rich and refuse to share with the poor, then there is destruction brought by God. I fear we are close to condemnation in our current state of inequality of the rich and the poor, which is at a thirty year high. Hillary Clinton promises to raise taxes on corporations and the rich who are not paying anything, like Donald Trump himself, who seems proud that he is not contributing to the country he supposedly wants to make "great" again. She also wants to raise the national minimum wage to something that can allow people to actually make a livable wage. Advertisement Finally, Hillary Clinton is in favor of improving our education system for children. She says "every child in every zip code" should be receiving a world-class education. In our current system, based on property taxes, this is not happening. In addition, we need to be concerned about the cost of a college education and the unreasonable burden of debt we are placing on young citizens who are just beginning to work. I have two children in college, one just graduated, and another who is a high school senior and will be applying for college soon. This means I'm very well aware of the enormous cost of a good college education and while my family is managing this, I can certainly see that many other families cannot. If we want to look to a better future, we need to do a better job. I have heard nothing from Donald Trump suggesting he has any plans for this at all. Is Hillary corrupt, as many have claimed? She has certainly received donations from big business interest groups. In my opinion, this is one the realities of being a politician in America, where capitalism reigns. To win, a politician has to have money. To have money, a politician has to spend time listening to big business. This is not a deal-breaker for me, however. It is only an indication that Hillary knows how to work the system and has become very good at something no woman before her has been able to manage. Tim Kaine, 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee, from left, Mike Pence, 2016 Republican vice presidential nominee, and moderator Elaine Quijano sit during the vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. Indiana Governor Mike Pence and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine arrive at tonight's debate with three main assignments: defend their bosses from attack, try to land a few blows, and avoid any mistakes showing them unfit to be president. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images This will be shorter than usual, because vice presidential debates don't matter nearly so much, witness Senator Lloyd Bentsen's annihilation of Senator Dan Quayle in 1988 with his "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy" reference to Quayle, yet George H.W. Bush still beat Michael Dukakis. Nonetheless, it was interesting to watch the rivals, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and Indiana Governor Mike Pence, who were seated as opposed to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump standing at their lecterns last week. It was also intriguing to note the change in demeanor each candidate portrayed, and the main question is whether, as is often the case, style trumps substance (no pun intended). Advertisement I am unabashedly in support of Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine. That said, early on, I was, as any family member watching a loved one reveal some warts, a bit unsettled by Kaine's reactions and interruptions, often looking down, unhappily, as if he were scribbling ripostes. Was the audience listening to the words he spewed forth or simply how they came out, and that's a major point. It's hard to know, so I was gratified to see Kaine become gradually more polite as the debate wore on and relieved as Pence interrupted his Democratic opponent during his responses. What was clear, though, if people were listening carefully and more concerned about issues than disposition, is that Kaine often scored significant points reminding the viewer, whether or not they liked his delivery, that Donald Trump said many awful things about women and ethnic groups. He had caused major concerns regarding our foreign policy, whether withdrawing from NATO if they don't pay their bills or suggesting that South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia get nuclear weapons. To all this, Pence either out and out lied and insisted Trump hadn't said such a thing or totally deflected the question to get in a shot about Hillary. The moderator, Elaine Quijano of CBS News, was often unable to stop either Pence or Kaine from interjecting or going on too long, though at times she reminded Pence a bit more that the governor hadn't answered the question she'd posed. Advertisement It was uncanny how Pence rarely defended his running mate when Kaine recited the litany of things Trump had said, from Mexican immigrants being drug dealers and rapists, to Blacks mostly living in poverty, to his slurs about women, to John McCain not being a war hero because he was captured. These were clearly indefensible things, and like any good prosecutor Kaine kept repeating the charges throughout the evening, after which a flustered Pence said rather incredibly that Kaine had "whipped out that Mexican thing again," insensitively making light of Trump's oft-cited racist remarks. All this came at the end of the debate when Pence's true colors came out, in particular his Neanderthal stance on abortion. If people were still watching, and in particular women in the center, if there was any question about the sort of folks who might be leading our nation, just because Pence was generally unruffled his viewpoint was not the sort of stance that was going to move suburban independents back to the GOP fold. So, the Kaine strategy probably did Hillary much more good, even if some people didn't like him as much as Pence. It's just too bad social issues were such a small part of the debate or Kaine might have raised his stock if he'd had the chance to reverberate Pence's anti gay postures regarding the governor's opposition to discrimination measures in his home state. The upshot is Kaine's performance didn't harm Hillary and the debate may only have helped Pence bolster a political future with his right-wing base. However, let's remember who's at the top of the GOP presidential ticket. Unless Trump does an incredible transformation and Hillary has a meltdown, which is highly unlikely, the race may well be pretty much over at the end of their town hall meeting next Sunday in St. Louis, moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper. Voter Registration Application for presidential election 2016 It is abundantly clear that the 2016 Presidential election matters and most people point to the Supreme Court as the primary reason why. After all, the next president will likely nominate two or possibly three justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court will play a crucial role on matters of race, abortion, disability rights, immigration and likely the environment and global warming. However, too many have overlooked the crucial role of federal agencies, because it's not just the Supreme Court that matters for this election: many agencies will require appointments. Rather than just a few appointments, this could mean hundreds of individuals who could fill positions that actually have direct and profound impacts on people's lives. Advertisement For example, because appointments to federal agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") can be and have been politicized, this can influence how drugs are labeled and when and how they come on the market; whether the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") will be staffed with leadership that acknowledges or rejects global warming or investigates tragedies such as the polluted water supply in Flint, Michigan; whether the Department of Justice ("DOJ") will investigate and pursue cases that impact the lives of vulnerable Americans such as police shootings of unarmed black men and women; and even how the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), an agency responsible for interpreting civil rights violations, embraces its charge. If the next president is indifferent to women in the workplace, dismissive of individuals with disabilities, and shows a disregard for racial discrimination--don't expect the EEOC and its leadership to intervene--even though that's their job. When Justice Clarence Thomas served as the head of the EEOC (appointed by President Ronald Reagan), he led an organization responsible for tackling discrimination under an administration that showed indifference if not hostility to civil rights. Thomas came under criticism when it was discovered that under his leadership the statute of limitations in more than 10,000 age-discrimination complaints filed with the agency had lapsed. In just that instance, more than 10,000 lives were impacted--whether or not the cases would have been successful or not---the claimants never had the opportunity to find out. Remember the slothful and by many accounts inept federal response to Hurricane Katrina? Look no further than Michael Brown, a former commissioner for the International Arabian Horse Association who was thought sufficiently qualified to handle national disasters. President George W. Bush appointed Brown to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA"), a body responsible for investigating and responding to natural and other disasters. Brown's lack of experience was so evident that he was fired shortly after Katrina, but not before almost 2,000 people died due to the storm. Brown's appointment reflected the cronyism in federal appointments. Advertisement Agency staff play a vital role in every aspect of American life. Not only do they follow the direction of the president and Congress, they also advise and shape regulations. When Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Secretary of Defense (2001-2005) claimed "weapons of mass destruction" were housed in Iraq, and testified before Congress that it was "hard to conceive that it would take more forces to provide stability in post-Saddam Iraq than it would take to conduct the war itself," lawmakers believed him. The U.S. went to war. Moreover, there is a problematic revolving door between industry and agencies. Certainly, this matters in the aftermath of economic crises and banks' abuses of consumers. Will the next president appoint former bankers to police and investigate the industries where their friends still work? In the reproductive context, an area that I write a lot about, much is at stake. If the next appointments to the FDA are hostile to reproductive rights, likely women's health will be directly impacted. For example, safe contraceptives can be delayed coming onto the market or inaccurately labeled in the process. In 2009, U.S. District Court Judge Edward R. Korman issued a scathing opinion, pointing out how the FDA had blocked bringing Plan B--an emergency contraceptive often used in cases of rape--to the market for impermissible, ideological reasons during the Bush administration. He ruled that the FDA ignored science, favoring instead allowing politics to dictate its decisions in 2006 to limit access to over-the-counter emergency contraceptives to women over the age of eighteen. In the opinion, Judge Korman wrote, "[t]he FDA repeatedly and unreasonably delayed issuing a decision on Plan B for suspect reasons." The judge called the FDA out for acting "arbitrary and capricious" and failing to show "good faith" in its decision-making. Despite women having a constitutional right to access contraception and abortion, the FDA's leadership at the time was openly opposed to abortion and many believe that played a role in delaying important contraceptives coming to the market. Advertisement So, while it's important that the Supreme Court uphold women's reproductive rights, in reality agencies can burden those rights under pretexts that that could last years before a challenge is brought in courts. People react after learning about the rejection of a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) following a plebiscite in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. Colombian voters rejected a peace deal with FARC rebels, apparently saying 'no' to an accord in a shocking upset that risks renewing 52 years of war and is likely to rattle investors across Latin America. Photographer: Nicolo Filippo Rosso/Bloomberg via Getty Images One week after the historic signing of the peace deal between the Colombian government and FARC in Cartagena de Indias, Colombians voted "no" for peace in a referendum held October 2. The parties participating in the agreement were not prepared for this outcome, which is likely to cause deeper political polarization in the country. The "no" vote, which former president Alvaro Uribe and the extreme-right campaigned for, will to a great extent shape the politics of the upcoming years, both in terms of the peace agreement and the 2018 presidential campaign. Advertisement The results of the referendum this past Sunday have come as a shock to supporters of the agreement -- but they don't have to mean that the government and FARC must back away from the deal. However, it does weaken the government's position, along with parliamentary support for the deal's passage through Congress. The various pro-peace campaigns have insisted, despite seeing the "no" result, on following the roadmap laid out by the government toward demobilization, as agreed upon with FARC. One of the principal arguments in this regard is that President Santos was elected with the explicit promise of pursuing peace, with ample popular support, which confers legitimacy on continuing the process. With phrases such as, "peace is an illusion, the Havana papers are deceptive," Uribe tried to undermine the government's authority during the campaign, defending peace in the abstract while questioning the specifics of the agreement that could have guaranteed peace. In fact, it is a telling result that the areas most damaged by the war clearly voted "yes" in the referendum. It is in the rest of the country -- primarily in urban areas, apart from Bogota -- where the "no" vote was popular, demonstrating a growing polarization in the country. The peace process with FARC has revealed a historic rupture in the Colombian right, and the referendum has confirmed the difficulty of its reconstruction. This rupture is not only the product of a symbolic or personal distance between the principal leaders -- Santos and Uribe. The gamble to pursue peace or continue the war represents above all a divide among the different interests of the Colombian elite. Advertisement Santos's discourse during the peace deal signing at Cartagena was plagued by references to the economic opportunities that would be facilitated by the peace agreement, including the growth of foreign investment and the modernization of the country. This clearly represents the interests of an urban elite seeking transnational capitalization. Meanwhile, Uribe represents a more traditional oligarchy committed to territorial control, which has made the war and impunity its leitmotif. Despite the split in the Colombian right, it is the dispute between its two principal factions that has marked recent years, to the point that the confrontation of the "extreme center" of Santos with the ultra-right of Uribe has subsumed part of the fragmented Colombian left into its political camp. The shocking "no" vote puts the peace process at risk, fragments the population even further, and badly injures the legitimacy of the government at this key moment. In that sense, the "no" result may inspire actors on the left to regroup around the government, to ensure peace and the agreement's success. Such a reaction would be reminiscent of what happened in the last presidential elections, when people voted for Santos against the threat of Uribism. The fragmented left must recover its political power by mobilizing for peace and working towards the success of the agreement. An organized and active civil society can guarantee the success of the peace agreement, as well as the reconstruction of the left and the construction of a new Colombia. Advertisement In this context, it is unknown what role the demobilization of FARC and its transition to a new political party will play. Launching public negotiations between the government and the second largest guerrilla group in the country, the ELN, will be a key element in this unfolding process. Striking an agreement with the ELN is an indispensable condition for ending political violence in the country. Should the political violence continue, it would invalidate the peace agreement signed in Cartagena. The ongoing confrontations between the armed ELN and the government offer endless justification for maintaining military presence. In addition, this situation affords impunity to the armed forces and state security forces, which have blatantly violated human rights in the country. In that sense, negotiations between the government and the ELN becomes an indispensable condition for establishing and safeguarding the peace process in Colombia. For this reason, it is fundamental that the international community and Colombian society apply pressure and push for negotiations as soon as possible. Advertisement Besides receiving recognition as agents of peace, victims should be awarded a peace process that guarantees the preservation of memory, truth, justice and reparations. Moves by the ELN in recent days, such as the unilateral suspension of offensive actions as well as the release of hostages, inspire optimism. One of the central elements of the peace process is the role of the victims of the conflict. Besides receiving recognition as agents of peace, victims should be awarded a peace process that guarantees the preservation of memory, truth, justice and reparations; all indispensable elements to ensure non-repetition. Last week, FARC apologized for the massacre of 35 people in Chinita-Antioquia. This is an example that can be followed by the government and state security forces, in cases such as the Palace of Justice siege. Over the next few days, we will meet the victims -- who are reclaiming truth and justice after two decades -- in Bogota. Uribism has used the victims as a political weapon in the referendum, by attempting to secure a sort of amnesty for the war criminals. However, this peace agreement proposes a special tribunal with international presence, to judge the crimes committed during more than 50 years of war. Advertisement When I participated in the "yes" campaign, which I viewed as a magnificent opportunity to construct a new Colombia, I felt that mistrust is rampant among Colombian society, and that the people do not want to feel isolated from the world throughout this process. At this precarious moment in the peace process, Colombia is in need of international presence and support. The participation of the international community was very important at the Cartagena de Indias signing, particularly of those Latin American governments. However, if we had to note a symbolic absence at the signing, it would be that of the European Union, which was represented by the special envoy for peace, Eamon Gilmore. Not even Mogherini, the main representative of foreign affairs, was present on this historic day for Latin America. The EU took too long in backing the peace process in Havana, as only in November of 2015 did it name its special envoy. Now more than ever is the moment to push. European institutions need to take their role in the talks and the dialogue with the ELN more seriously. They must also ensure the proper use of the fiduciary fund of 90 million euros and the distribution of credit at a value of 400 million euros on the part of the European Investment Bank, which could leave Colombian society in debt, creating greater inequalities, just like those denounced by Colombian social organizations. Moreover, we have to remember that during the Colombian conflict, many transnational businesses with European ties systematically violated human rights. Section 40 of the Integral System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and non-Repetition in the agreement allows the linking of transnational businesses as direct or indirect agents in the armed Colombian conflict. When a business causes harm or threatens human rights, there must be a civil response. That is to say, they must compensate the victims for the harm caused, and if the harm constitutes a crime, they must respond legally. The EU must also make the commitment to be guarantors of the success of these talks insofar as they relate to businesses with European ties, such as ensuring that this situation does not recur, thereby upholding the democratic clauses and human rights considered in the Commercial Agreement between the European Union and Colombia. In this way, The EU must make it a priority to support the creation of special tribunals for peace spelled out by the agreement, including the commission for truth and non-repetition, a special unit for people who disappeared in the conflict, and a union for the investigation and dismantling of criminal organizations. This is to ensure that the European public funds help to effectively end the impunity of all criminals and back the work of the Joint Commission for the Guarantee of Non-Repetition between civil Colombian society and the Colombian state, which is aimed at dismantling illegally armed groups, purifying the public forces, as well as bringing about the integral reform of the security forces of Colombia. The shocking "no" vote puts the peace process at risk, fragments the population even further, and badly injures the legitimacy of the government at this key moment. But we cannot allow for uncertainty to cloud the future of the Colombian state. It is time to mobilize to defend the agreement and guarantee its success, and international support will be needed to accompany peace. Young businesswoman driving car As I drove up the ramp and gradually merged onto the highway heading home, I felt the first pangs of sadness that I had been trying to stave off all afternoon. The emergence of these feelings was no surprise, but I hoped that this time I might be spared the melancholy that sets in each time I drop my daughter back off at college. Summer was over and this daughter of mine, the oldest and most independent of my three children, was happy to be back at the school she loves and ready to begin her junior year. I knew I would miss her a lot, but that was okay. I was comforted by the knowledge that she is happy and in her element at school: busy, intellectually challenged and part of a close community of friends. Advertisement The familiar gloom had more to do with echoes of my own youth, as well as questions about the years to come. Each autumn as a chill sets in and the school buses take up their rounds, my own memories surface. I am reminded of the underlying loneliness that often followed me through my teenage years and peaked during college. Even though I had many good friends and was usually in a relationship, I always felt that something was missing. I wanted a home and a family. Ever since I was a child playing with dolls, my fantasies for the future focused on marriage and motherhood, and I never grew out of the longing for both. As the youngest child in a large family, I felt lost in a chaotic household. I yearned to nurture my own children in the kind of safe and comforting environment I never had. While I look forward to this time with my husband and the freedom it will bring, the idea of life without kids in the house also depresses and scares me. I met my future husband at the age of 21 and we married three years later. When he landed his first real job out of graduate school, we moved into an apartment in a quaint Connecticut town. I found a job nearby and we adopted a shelter dog named Katie who hiked the hilly woods with us on weekends. Each evening as Katie and I strolled the neighborhood after work, I looked longingly through the windows of the houses we passed, their interiors glowing and cozy by lamplight. I yearned to have a real home, too, to cook with my husband in our own kitchen and let Katie out to run and sniff in a big backyard that we mowed on weekends. Advertisement A year or two later, my dream began to take shape. We moved into a small antique home (not our wisest financial investment, by the way) in a picturesque, family-oriented town. Our house had a backyard with a babbling brook and there was a dairy farm at the end of our country road. Katie loved our new life and so did we. Happily, my lifelong yearning for motherhood became a reality when our first child arrived three years later. We were overjoyed. Within a few years, we welcomed a son and another daughter and moved into a larger house across town. In the months that followed the birth of our third child, I remember feeling ridiculously happy and hardly able to fathom my good fortune. I was now the mother of three healthy, delightful children and married to a devoted husband and father. I had everything I'd ever wanted -- and I knew it. Raising our family over these last 20 years has been immeasurably rewarding and challenging: a messy, exhausting, glorious undertaking. It has also been a wonderful ride; the toughest, best and most rewarding adventure of my life. Which is why, riding solo down the highway that afternoon, I felt a tugging sadness. It came from the thought that in three years, my youngest child would go off to college and leave her dad and me alone in the house. While I look forward to this time with my husband and the freedom it will bring, the idea of life without kids in the house also depresses and scares me. When I consider that I never felt complete until we brought these three uniquely wonderful people into the world, I fear that I will once again feel an emptiness once they are no longer part of our daily lives. The reminder of my passenger-less car eroded the last of my reserves and the tears began to flow. As I drove along in contemplation, I noticed a sign approaching that indicated the carpool lane, which would soon be approaching: "Two or more persons per vehicle," it read, causing me to flinch a little. The reminder of my passenger-less car eroded the last of my reserves and the tears began to flow. I was already feeling nostalgic for the drive my daughter and I had made that morning, my big old mini van full of her clothes, books and linens. I had been glad to steer us into the HOV lane and glide along without the need to navigate traffic. Advertisement Now, that option was closed to me and I was forced to drive on the main road with everyone else. The carpool lane traveled alongside me at first, then curved off to the left and eventually stretched away, out of my peripheral vision. I took a breath and wiped my eyes. I willed myself to look toward my future with acceptance, and a belief in my own resilience. By the time I arrived home two hours later, I was getting there. Walking through the door, I was welcomed by two excited dogs, a pair of sweet teenagers, and my husband -- who hugged me while I wept quietly into his shoulder. He's used to these tearful moments by now, and he knows how deep my attachment will always be to our children. While he respects the depth of my emotions, he is confident that we will be fine when the day finally comes and the last of our children leaves home. I am not a fan of award shows. I don't understand a lot of today's music so I don't follow it. I may watch a red carpet show here and there but I'm fine if you give me my crime dramas and keep the other stuff. On Tuesday night a little voice told me to watch and I was greeted by a performance that would rock me to my very core. While going over the slides and editing my notes from psychology class earlier, I checked in on Facebook. A few status updates named people in cyphers that I had never heard of. I rolled my eyes and put my phone down to continue with my notes, but a nagging voice kept telling me to have a look and what I saw brought tears to my eyes and sobs from the very depths of my soul. While Lecrae and T.I. delivered controversial yet effective messages in their performances, I was unprepared for what I felt as I watched Big K.R.I.T. Photo by Patty O'Brien / Courtesy of Farm Aid Not surprisingly, food and agriculture were not on the agenda in Monday's first presidential debate. But as the election draws closer, food and farming organizations are ramping up the pressure to make their voices heard. Here's a quick look at the latest news in the ag advocacy world, from the liberal to the conservative to the outer fringes of the political spectrum. Plate of the Union in a Town Near You Chef Tom Colicchio, co-founder of Food Policy Action, has been hitting the campaign trail in the battleground state of Ohio to urge college kids to let the candidates know how important these issues are to them. It's all part of the Plate of the Union campaign, a coalition advocacy groups urging the next administration to establish a national food policy. The campaign group has been following the candidates around the country in food truck, handing out healthy snacks and talking to voters about the issues. They'll be in Chicago on Thursday and making stops in Iowa and North Carolina in October. See the schedule here. Farm Aid Rocks On Farm Aid held its 31st annual concert to raise money for small farmers this month. But the annual event has become a movement of its own, with a year-round advocacy campaign and numerous events staged throughout the week leading up to the show. The organization uses its considerable star power--Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews are the perennial headliners of the show--to shine a light on food issues. This year Farm Aid gave the USDA a piece of its mind about how to better support the nation's dairy farmers, who have been under severe financial distress of late due to a downturn in milk prices. And a host of agricultural and musical luminaries took turns offering up their opinions on the state of the food system and what the incoming administration needs to do about it: Neil Young took jabs at both Obama and Monsanto (and Bayer), while Joel Salatin lamented the reasons why there are more Americans in jail than there are running farms. Farm Bureau Weighs In In each election the American Farm Bureau Federation--the nation's largest pro-agribusiness lobbying group--asks the presidential candidates a series of questions to clarify their stance on specific ag issues. They are one of the few farming organizations with the political clout to get direct answers to such questions. This year the Farm Bureau is quizzing the candidates on everything from their hoped-for repeal of the EPA's "clean water rule" to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a nascent international trade deal which they support. The candidates' answers are being released over a ten-day period, which culminates this week. See the full list here. Trump Waffles on Food Agenda Earlier this month Donald Trump published a fact sheet on his economic policy, which said he would take broad steps to roll back the FDA's food safety regulations, stating that the "FDA Food Police"--an agency that does not exist--should be eliminated in order to cut costs related to their "inspection overkill." The document claimed that, "[the Food Police]...dictate how the federal government expects farmers to produce fruits and vegetables and even dictates the nutritional content of dog food. The rules govern the soil farmers use, farm and food production hygiene, food packaging, food temperatures, and even what animals may roam which fields and when." Hours later, the statement was deleted with no explanation. In-Fighting in Organics David Bronner, the cosmic engagement officer (or, if you prefer, the CEO) of the soap and body care company Dr. Bronner's, announced his resignation from the board of the Organic Trade Association in a spat over the organization's support for the recently passed GMO labeling legislation. Afterward, he said he would be redirecting his political support to a variety of other causes, including: a $250,000 donation in support of higher minimum wages; a $100,000 donation to support a livestock welfare campaign; and a $660,000 donation in support of the Marijuana Policy Project and other pro-cannabis legalization campaigns. A replacement has not yet been announced. Also on HuffPost: Last November, the American Heart Association issued a huge challenge, the biggest single offer in our 92-year history. We went looking for one person with a radically different approach to curing one of the most devastating cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease. And to show how committed we were to finding a new solution to an old problem, we were among the funders putting up a combined $75 million to give it a try. Advertisement We dubbed this opportunity "One Brave Idea" and on Wednesday we unveiled the winner: Dr. Calum MacRae, the Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, one of the main training hospitals for Harvard Medical School, where he is also an associate professor. MacRae beat out 348 other applicants from 22 countries, doing so with a formula that could prove to be applicable to all sorts of diseases. Its first application will be on coronary heart disease. While cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer in the world, claiming about 17.3 million lives annually, more than 7 million of those are caused by coronary heart disease, making it among the biggest issues worldwide. Coronary heart disease is essentially the buildup of plaque that causes heart attacks. The gist of One Brave Idea is that the buildup doesn't necessarily begin in the heart and it certainly doesn't happen all at once, so let's find its earliest traces in hopes that we can stop the disease from ever emerging. Advertisement At first glance, MacRae's idea of following the problem back to its roots may not seem too far outside the box. The unusual part is where and how his team will search. Rather than limiting themselves to tried-and-true areas such as cholesterol and blood pressure, they'll be conducting a scavenger hunt, of sorts. They will examine aspects their predecessors have rarely considered. For instance, MacRae believes answers could be found in your skin. Or your nails. Maybe in your hair or according to the length of a particular bone. Key markers could emerge from the food you eat, the air you breathe or the neighborhood where you live. "Nobody knows," MacRae says with a wide grin and a Scottish accent. "This is about moving the goal posts. We're no longer going to wait for a patient to show up with complaints or symptoms or something I recognize as a problem. We're going to actively go out and look for their problems earlier and earlier, and find the most fundamental mechanisms of the disease." MacRae also surrounded himself with an all-star team of scientists. They come from a variety of specialties and are all leaders at world-class institutions. It's worth noting that he, too, holds a prominent position within an esteemed organization. Advertisement The One Brave Idea team's first task will be setting up their "scavenger hunt." That is, they must decide which areas will comprise the starting points for their quest. Investigations will begin with people whose family histories make them most likely to have coronary heart disease. Over time, researchers will expand what they screen for and whom they screen. The research will embrace cell biology, wearable devices and other modern tools, everything from geospatial mapping to social media. Answers are likely to come from a variety of places. It's also likely that some areas they investigate yield no meaningful clues. That's OK. Thomas Edison didn't create the light bulb on his first try, either. Another layer in this process is the role of the patient and, perhaps even more importantly, their family. Over his 25-year career as a researcher and clinician, MacRae has seen countless cases where relatives believe they could tell which members of a younger generation were likely to suffer the same ailments as their elders. For instance, a child who had the same specific symptoms as a grandfather who suffered a heart attack at a young age grows into an adult who also has a heart attack at a young age. By engaging patients themselves, it may be possible to find completely new indicators of disease. Advertisement This is obviously a simplified breakdown of how this $75 million, five-year project will play out. Still, I hope you find it specific enough to excite you about the possibilities. I can attest to the excitement it's generated among the three organizations that have each invested $25 million -- the American Heart Association, Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences) and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Now that we've reached the milestone of making this announcement, I can't help but think back to the conversation that started it all. I was meeting with Dr. Andy Conrad, the CEO of Verily. He questioned why cardiovascular research is usually broken into small areas of emphasis, with clusters of people at a handful of institutions and budgets of a few million dollars. What if, he asked, we put a whole bunch of money into one team with one big idea? By Nina Martinez, Skadden Fellow, New York Legal Assistance Group The election season has generated a good deal of conversation around women's rights at work, from the gender pay gap, to the dearth of women in leadership positions, to incidents of sexual harassment. One particular workplace abuse, however, has not gotten much play: discrimination against pregnant employees. This is unfortunate given the fact that thousands of pregnancy-related discrimination claims are filed each year with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). When faced with discriminatory treatment in the workplace, pregnant employees in New York City should be aware that they have a range of protections available to them under city, state, and federal law. Although efforts to obtain these protections represent a hard-fought battle for women in the workplace, they are progressively expanding through the enactment of more targeted reforms. The federal protection against discrimination on the basis of pregnancy is rooted in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). Title VII prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion. Curiously, when Title VII was first enacted it did not specifically include pregnancy as a protected trait. In fact, as late as 1976 the Supreme Court ruled that an employer who treated pregnant workers differently for the purposes of participation in a disability plan was not in violation of federal law. Advertisement In response, Congress enacted the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (PDA), amending Title VII to include pregnant workers as a protected class. The PDA explicitly prohibits an employer from terminating, demoting, or reducing the pay of an employee solely on the basis of pregnancy, but fell short of obliging them to accommodate employees who, due to pregnancy-related conditions, require temporary assistance. Therefore, in the years following the passage of the PDA, women who had prenatal visits to attend, fell ill due to morning sickness, or took time off to give birth and recuperate were not protected by the law and were regularly terminated for "excessive absenteeism." When Congress amended the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2008, it expanded the definition of disability to include impairments resulting from pregnancy, such as cervical insufficiency, anemia, sciatica, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or depression. The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 eases the burden of an employee to show that a medical condition is a covered disability under the Act. As a result, pregnancy-related conditions that may have prior to 2008 been difficult to request accommodations for are now generally accepted disabilities under the ADA. Because the ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, the 2008 amendments expanded protections for pregnant workers and has allowed them to retain employment prior to giving birth. According to the EEOC's guidance, accommodations can range from altered break and work schedules in order to rest or use the restroom, permission to sit or stand, ergonomic office furniture, shift changes, and permission to work from home. The ADA does not, however, consider pregnancy itself a disability and therefore leaves women who have normal pregnancies without the legal option of seeking accommodations at work, despite the fact that they will inevitably require time off to give birth, attend doctor's visits, and request the occasional opportunity to sit or deviate from standard break schedules. Advertisement In 1993 Congress enacted the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to ensure job protection for employees with qualified medical and family reasons, including pregnancy. However, there are significant limitations to FMLA. Most notable is the fact that FMLA leave is unpaid. Additionally, employers are required to provide FMLA leave only where there are at least 50 people employed and an individual has worked at least 1,250 hours within the past 12 months. As a result, a large segment of pregnant workers are not able to take leave either because their employer is not covered by FMLA or their financial situation makes it impossible to take unpaid time off. In addition to federal laws, New York City employees are covered by city and state human rights laws. In fact, New York's anti-discrimination laws are the oldest in the country and predate the creation of Title VII. The New York laws are constantly evolving to address the needs of pregnant workers and tend to cover employees who would not be eligible for protection under the federal law. Where Title VII requires that at least 15 individuals be employed for coverage, the state and city human rights laws require just a minimum of four employees. Additionally, the have been liberally interpreted to provide more expansive protections to workers than the federal law. More recent legislation stipulates that employees with normal pregnancies are entitled to the same accommodations as those with ancillary medical issues like preeclampsia. In May 2016, the New York City Commission on Human Rights released robust guidance on pregnancy discrimination. This guidance sets forth very clearly the obligations of employers and the rights of employees in the context of discrimination and accommodations. Former GOP Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia, a Trump senior adviser, is now lobbying for the Syrian opposition coalition. (Steve Bisson/Savannah Morning News via AP) By: Jack Noland Paperwork filed this week indicates that current Donald Trump campaign senior adviser and former Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), now of lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs, has become a registered lobbyist for the High Negotiations Committee of the Syrian Opposition. The committee leads a wide coalition of groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad's regime, but excludes two of the region's most prominent militant groups, the Islamic State and al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front. Last month, the High Negotiations Committee, which receives Saudi support, negotiated the recent short-lived ceasefire with Assad's forces. Advertisement While the registration itself is hardly groundbreaking given the revolving door between Congress and K Street, Kingston's position as a Trump surrogate is noteworthy, if only because the Republican nominee's policy on Syria has been so sparse thus far. Trump has thus far focused his Syrian strategy on bombing ISIS, though his partner on the presidential ticket, Gov. Mike Pence, articulated a need to "be prepared to use military force to strike the military forces of the Assad regime" during Tuesday's vice presidential debate. "Provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength," he said. Russia, which has aligned itself with Assad's regime, recently stepped up its joint bombing campaign on opposition-held areas, including Aleppo, leading the United States to withdraw from tortured peace negotiations. Given Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pence's comments opposing Russian military action in Syria struck a note of discord. But Trumpworld has always had a complicated relationship with Russia. As OpenSecrets Blog recently reported, a Russian-born oil magnate gave more $150,000 to Trump's campaign and joint fundraising committee, and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's business dealings with pro-Russian Ukrainian leaders have been well established. Kingston's lobbying registration represents a new twist in the Trump-Russia-Syria matrix, one that seems to comport more closely with the stance Pence took in the vice presidential debate. More broadly, however, the news is yet one more manifestation of the ability of former elected officials to continue to influence Washington, moving fluidly between the lobbying and campaign worlds. Editor: Nevada voters will be getting duped if they believe the falsehood that Question 2, the Marijuana Initiative, will give money to schools. Section 16 of the initiative provides marijuana tax revenues must first go to the Department of Taxation to pay costs of administration and enforcement, then to localities for their costs anything remaining to the State Distributive School Account. Individual school districts are guaranteed nothing. Proponents claim a tiny $20 million total will be raised, but the actual amount will likely fall short of even covering the full public and social costs (regulation, enforcement, public health and safety, and substance abuse treatment). Nevadas initiative copies Colorados legalized marijuana tax scheme. Colorados current budget is $27 billion. Their total marijuana tax money for schools is $35 million (thats 0.13% of the budget). Pot tax money to the Denver Public Schools -- $0; to neighboring Cherry Creek Schools $0. The only thing legalization of marijuana has brought to Colorado schools has been marijuana. Mary Henderson Genoa The United States is tapping out of STEM talent. For two generations, we have systemically limited equitable access to STEM learning by failing to fund education in all sectors of our society. As a result, the U.S. companies upon which we rely for economic growth and sustainability have been forced to import science and engineering talent from other countries in order to satisfy an exponential demand for STEM-literate employees. With foreign businesses in emerging economies now competing for the finite pool of global STEM talent, our country is about to go begging. Moreover, no matter how committed we may be to improving economic conditions in all 50 states, this cannot be done without developing a comprehensive STEM education pipeline for untapped talent in our inner cities and throughout the Rust Belt. Estimating that there will be 2.4 million STEM-based job vacancies by 2018, Time Magazine's Tim Bajarin writes in How STEM Skills Are the Next Great Equalizer that by failing to stay the course set by Former President John F. Kennedy to educate scientists and engineers, we do not have "the millions of new workers skilled in STEM needed [to make] our connected world a reality." By failing to educate all of our children in STEM, we are eating our seed corn. There is a wellspring of untapped talent in America waiting to be educated, motivated and deployed as the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators. They are vibrant young people - black, white, brown and yellow - who can secure meaningful STEM jobs and change our present course if our National Will is rekindled by the next president, Hillary Clinton. Advertisement In the first 2016 presidential debate billed as "Achieving prosperity; America's direction; and securing America," only Secretary Clinton advocated a way forward through education. "(The) more we can invest in you, your education, your skills, your future, the better we will be off and the better we'll grow. That's the kind of economy I want us to see again." We need STEM education for all, from pre-kindergarten through college, because our nation's strength is predicated upon our ability to innovate in STEM. Without a homegrown STEM-literate workforce, we are in grave danger of decline. There is an old adage "as Ohio goes, so goes the nation." In her new book As Ohio Goes, Life in the Post-Recession Nation, Rana B. Khoury examines the United States through the plight of Ohio's inner cities, suburbs and rural towns, concluding that "economic inequality and growing income gap threatens democratic representation, equal opportunity, and even the American Dream itself." After years after ranking 5th in the nation, Ohio's education system has fallen to 23rd, with a yawning gap between the affluent and those living in poverty. Poverty is no longer someone else's problem, and "law and order" alone is not how we secure our nation. Speaking at the memorial service for five Dallas police officers this summer, President Obama said, "...we ask too little of ourselves. As a society, we choose to underinvest in decent schools.... it is easier for a teenager to buy a Glock than get his hands on a computer or even a book...." Advertisement And it is not just poverty, Clinton argues. "[R]ace 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." The Cleveland Plain Dealer is following the life of David Boone, an African American youth from a broken home who resisted pressure to join gangs and survived gun violence and homelessness to graduate from Harvard University, thanks to a STEM ecosystem made up of teachers, mentors, volunteers and business people who supported his dream of becoming an engineer. David inspired me at the convening of STEM Ecosystem communities in Washington DC last year, but as Jan Morrison, President and CEO, TIES has said often, "David is the exemplar of what we can achieve for our youth; he must not be the exception." Last week, Clinton opened an important national conversation about expanding AmeriCorps and creating a National Service Reserve as a way of deploying millions of motivated, talented Millennials to help their communities. Ultimately such a program could be a way to ramp up community assistance for STEM learning in preschools, schools, afterschool programs and weekend/summer camps. It could be a vehicle for implementing college loan forgiveness through community service similar to the National Health Service Corps through which my daughter retired her nursing education loans through service at a health clinic near a Chicago public housing project. The United Nations Security Council reached what Somini Sengupta of the New York Times termed a surprisingly swift consensus Wednesday on its choice for the next secretary general of the 193-member organization. The General Assembly is expected to vote on the Security Council's choice today (Thursday, October 6), a vote that should be a formality. The Times, like most news organizations, said that the Council's choice, Antonio Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal who headed the United Nations refugee agency for 10 years, had been the clear front-runner, and was apparently the choice of the otherwise deeply divided Security Council, which has five permanent members, and 10 rotational ones. The Times's report added: "We have a clear favorite and his name is Antonio Guterres," said Vitaly I. Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations who is presiding over the Security Council this month. The current secretary general, Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, will relinquish his job at the end of 2016, ending a second five-year term. Advertisement Ms. Sengupta wrote: "He [i.e. Mr. Guterres] would preside over the United Nations at a time when it has faltered in carrying out its chief mandate -- to stop the scourge of war -- and confronts an ever-widening rift between Russia and the West." In my view, the Security Council - and especially its five permanent members, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France - missed out on two major opportunities in selecting Mr. Guterres: One, it's well past high time that the UN had a woman as its secretary general. Since its founding on October 24, 1945, the world organization has overlooked several eminently qualified women. This year, it would be appropriate to ask why the UN couldn't find a single such nominee among the world's 7.5 billion people. The French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED) says: "The number of men and women in the world is roughly equal, though men hold a slight lead with 102 men for 100 women (in 2010). More precisely, out of 1,000 people, 504 are men (50.4 percent) and 496 are women (49.6 percent). For every 100 girls, 107 boys are born, but males have a higher risk of dying than females, both in childhood and at adult ages. So at a certain age, the numbers of men and women even out. In France this occurs at age 25 (in 2010). Beyond this age, women outnumber men and the numerical difference between the two sexes increases with age. In France, eight centenarians in ten are women..." Advertisement Second, why could the Security Council not find a qualified female candidate from developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America or Eastern Europe? These developing countries contain more than three billion people, or close to half of the current world population. The jargon of the development community allows for different terms to characterize countries that are fundamentally poor. In 1952, the French demographer Alfred Sauvy came up with the term "le tiers monde," or "the third world." The term "first world" applied to the industrialized countries of the West, and to Japan; and "second world" was usually a reference to the erstwhile Soviet Union and its vassals. Usuage of these references in developmental jargon later came to embrace terms such as "emerging markets," and "less developed countries." Whatever term one might use, poor countries suffer from the fact that their denizens earn the equivalent of less than $3 daily. While the UN is a world organization, my own belief is that its leader - the secretary general - should have a clarion voice and a consistent method on behalf of the poor. Sociology shows us that women down the ages have traditionally shown far more empathy for the dispossessed: they heal, not hurt; they nurse and nuture and nourish, and their magnamity and largeness of heart far exceeds those of men. Advertisement None of this is to suggest that Antonio Guterres of Portugal - a "developed country" - is incapable of being a healer. But secretaries general of the United Nations typically dance to the agendas of the Security Council's five permanent members. Those agendas often pay lip service to the idea of alleviating poverty. And sprawling bureaucracies in the UN "common family" - which include institutions such as the World Bank - have proliferated ostensibly to bring speedier economic progress in "le tiers monde," the cohort of the world's poor is increasing. It pays to be a povertycrat in such bureaucracies - fat salaries, generous pensions, and endless opportunities to become wealthy consultants after their tenure in the international system. But how well do these povertcrats serve their constituencies, men and women and children who don't enjoy access to the perks and privileges of those who get handsome sinecures in "The System," and whose performance while in office is rarely subject to consistent scrutiny and accountability. For better or worse, there will be a new administration on or about 20 January of next year, and the scramble for jobs working in the new administration has already begun. In Washington this is politely called "transition planning," and both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have already formed teams to engage in this recruiting and placement fair. Governor Christie leads the Republican team and Clinton's is chaired by Ken Salazar, currently a Washington lobbyist but formerly a Senator from Colorado and Secretary of the Interior. The best appointive jobs, depending on one's point of view, are Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, or Supreme Court Justice. The job of Secretary of Energy is so low on the totem pole that at one point it was held by a dentist from South Carolina. I worked in the Federal government as a civil servant and then a low ranking appointee for 15 years, and watched more than my share of transitions. Besides the jockeying for position, the other thing that happens is all the civil servants spend hours preparing transition notebooks to educate the incoming political appointee about the issues he or she would face, and what to do about them. Since we only knew, really, what we worked on, these were very bureaucratic documents, not strategic. Should this or that program be expanded or contracted, should this regulation be issued or reworked. Very little about new legislation to propose, and even less about broader strategic positions or initiatives. If the candidate had not said anything about new energy initiatives, then neither did we. We weren't stupid. Advertisement In so far as the Department of Energy and its head are concerned, the interesting truth is that the competence of the appointee actually matters little. The energy situation of the US is remarkably good and getting better, and what is probably needed is the removal of barriers or old ineffective programs, not the creations of new ones. The job really doesn't matter, and barring an unpredictable crisis, there won't be a great deal to do. So give the job to just about anyone, it won't make much of a difference. Maybe a chiropractor this time. Based on past experience this would probably be just as good as a university professor. A quick review of energy issues should demonstrate why this executive selection doesn't matter. First a general primer. In the energy business, the US Government has only limited tools it can use. It can buy energy for its own use as a consumer, or it can sell or lease the energy assets--Federal lands generally, like off shore oil leases, or coal leases on BLM lands. It can force certain changes by regulation--higher mileage standards for new cars--but this is a limited tool. It can make energy cheaper or more expensive by adding taxes or tax credits to a particular energy source. The federal gasoline tax is one example, the solar and wind energy tax credits are another. There are other somewhat hidden subsidies addressed below. There is an existing web of such programs, taxes and subsidies and they can be tweaked a bit depending on one's political agenda, but not much really needs to be done. Advertisement Take the general areas of energy policy one by one, starting with oil. Since the Arab oil embargo of 1973, domestic consumption of oil has engendered a whole lot of policy and even more rhetoric, and almost none of either has made much difference. President Nixon declared something called "Project Independence" in 1973, a reaction to the embargo. He wanted to build 1000 nuclear power plants by the year 2000. Fortunately we did not. Similar words have followed with similar results. We were never brave enough as a country to add taxes to gasoline or crude oil, a policy that could have made a difference. We did create a Strategic Petroleum Reserve which was small but modestly useful as a fall back, but never really large enough to be a real reserve. But now we find ourselves in the position of no longer being beholden to OPEC, and instead being more than self-sufficient in oil. In fact, for the first time since 1949 we are even exporting our surplus on the world market. So much for fighting wars to ensure our supply of oil from the Persian Gulf. At least let's hope so. Was the Department of Energy the driver here? Nope, the industry heeded price signals and pushed the technology. First with three-dimensional modeling of underground deposits, an improvement made possible by better software and cheaper computing power, then with horizontal drilling, and finally with fracking. The next Secretary doesn't need to do anything about this but sit on his or her hands and take credit. Natural gas is almost as important to the economy. Because it is a gas (surprise), it is significantly more expensive to transport across large oceans. You have to liquefy it, which requires a temperature lower than minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit, and then keep it that cold until it can be turned back into a gas and delivered. Thanks to our natural endowment, we have never really been much of an exporter or an importer of this important commodity, although some companies, like Cheniere Energy have been smart enough to be both, at different times, when the timing was right. We have been generally self-sufficient in gas since we deregulated the price in 1978 and let the market determine what to do. It's been a bit of a wild ride in terms of price, and it is likely to continue to be such. This has to some extent hampered US exploration and production, but here again technology has blessed us, and probably geography and geology as well. Fracking and horizontal drilling are as useful in finding and producing domestic gas as they are in finding oil. According to the EIA, in 2015 natural gas imports sank to their lowest level since 1986--30 years ago. They still exceed exports by about two to one, but since 97% of our imports come from the friendly Canadians, this has never seemed much of a national security problem. And despite the price uncertainly, in general price is low and natural gas this year is set to displace coal as the principal fuel used to make electricity. What should the Secretary of Energy do about this? There's no particular problem, and what would one do if there were--invade Canada? Just leave well enough alone, that's worked so far. Electricity is slightly more complicated. Let's start with coal. Since 2010, 232 coal fired plants have been shut down, or about one third of the US fleet. In 2015 coal still provided 33 % of all electricity generated in the US. But as recently as 2010, that number was 46%. And going forward coal use will no doubt continue to decrease. Coal can no longer compete with natural gas or solar PV as to cost. Since 2012, 43 coal companies have gone bankrupt, including Peabody, the world's largest. And environmental pressures are likely to continue, regardless of who is president. But coal loses just on cost alone. The energy department has programs to push "clean coal" which, with regard to CO2, is an impossibility. Coal is just about 100% carbon. If you burn it to make electricity, where can the CO2 possibly go? The most recent demonstration project is the hapless Kemper plant owned by Mississippi Power. Its initial cost for 582 MW of generating capacity was $2 billion dollars. For utilities, cost per KW is the key comparative measure: Kemper started at almost $4000 per KW. Natural gas plants cost about $1000 per KW to build, utility scale solar about that and getting cheaper. After four years of engineering and construction, the Kemper cost is now estimated to be $6.7 billion. Changing coal into gas, and then burning it, then capturing the carbon, then putting it somewhere out of the way, has no economic future anywhere in the world. The Secretary of Energy could stop funding foolish research on clean coal, and that would be useful, and could support adding environmental controls to existing power plants - the EPA's "Clean Power Plan". This will push coal out of the picture faster, but it's ok if you just keep quiet about coal. It will go away based on economics. Advertisement What about nuclear? It doesn't have any CO2 problems, why not push that? The US nuclear power industry owes its being to the Federal government, starting with the creation of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1946. Federal investment in nuclear fuel processing by uranium enrichment, waste handling, pooled liability insurance and other federal actions have nurtured the industry since the beginning. Uranium and its ugly brother plutonium make great bombs if massive destruction is your goal, but it is not an especially good way to make electricity. As Albert Einstein remarked, "Nuclear power is one hell of a way to boil water." He might have added, "and dangerous, and leaves a pile of poisonous waste that lasts forever." And then there's that nagging safety thing, ask people who used to live around Fukushima. So how's the industry doing with all this government support? Going out of business, to be blunt. Not because of new rules, not because the waste is a problem, but because it has operating costs that are too high to compete with natural gas, wind and solar. A short list includes San Onofre and Diablo Canyon in California, the first already down, the second to be phased out due to costs in six years from now. And Exelon has announced it is closing Clinton and Quad Cities, citing $800 million of operating losses. The head of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the industry's trade group and principal promoter, has publicly suggested that 15 to 20 more plants could be forced to close in the next five to ten years. There are only sixty nuclear plants operating in the US, and two under construction. One might wonder why a utility would attempt this building project. The Sumner nuclear plant, a 2200 MW, two reactor plant is under construction in South Carolina. Costs started out at $9.8 billion, or about $4500 per KW. The most recent public report has those costs now at $14 billion. Needless to say, the plant is three years behind schedule. It is possible that this will bankrupt the utility. The Vogtle plant being built in Alabama is also three years behind schedule, over budget, and unfortunately has a Federal loan guarantee. Einstein turns out to be correct. This is a complicated, complex way to make electricity. Too complicated to be done cheaply. And as for the radioactive waste generated, there is still no solution for what to do about it--another cost that someone, perhaps our grandchildren, will have to bear. So Madame Secretary or Mister Secretary, what do you do? Other than removing some of the subsidies, and shutting down the pointless nuclear research and focusing on the waste problem, don't do a thing. And for goodness sake, don't give out any more nuclear plant loan guarantees. Last but surely not least, what about renewables. Like nuclear power, wind and solar and other renewables have benefited from extensive government research support, and in recent years from a tax credit. The demand for these technologies has skyrocketed as prices have decreased. Solar panels are down in price more than 90 percent in the last six years, and the cost of new wind machines have decreased substantially as well. Those technologies now are equal in cost to gas fired power in many cases. In some locations Kwh prices are cheaper on a full cost basis, including all capital costs, than coal and nuclear power priced on an operating cost basis only. Yes, operating costs! The winning bid in the recent Dubai auction for solar power was three cents per kWh. Note that there is no Federal tax credit to lower costs in Dubai, so three cents is an subsidized number. Yet again, it looks like the market is working, after years of Federal support. Do not renew the tax credits, although the industry will complain loudly. Time to push the chicks out of the nest; renewables can stand on their own. Yes, hands off. What's left? Batteries are key to electric cars, but they're moving ahead smartly as well down the cost reduction curve. Energy conservation? Since 2004, US energy consumption has grown at less than 1 percent per year, while population and economic output (GDP) have increased each year by more than this rate. Thus the "energy intensity" both of the economy and per capita, good measures of energy conservation, have decreased significantly. And although it's technically not conservation, all those solar panels on all those roofs certainly mean something. Advertisement Being Secretary is still a good employment, you go to ribbon cuttings, you testify on Capitol Hill, every so often you'll be invited to the White House for a Cabinet meeting or a state dinner. You can sit back, relax and enjoy our good fortune, achieved with good judgment, good luck, some government support that's no longer necessary, and mostly hard work and functioning energy markets. So take the job, and make it your mission to say "no" to anyone proposing new programs or regulations, and try not to screw things up. Rep. Mark Pocan speaks with Richard Eskow on The Zero Hour This week I spoke with Rep. Mark Pocan (D, WI) about an open letter to President Obama he is circulating to fellow members of Congress this week. It's an important letter, not only for its subject matter - it addresses our current crisis in runaway drug costs - but because it explains how the White House can address this issue without the need to pass legislation in the Republican-controlled House. Most of us already know we've got a problem. A Kaiser survey released last week shows that 77 percent of Americans believe that "prescription drug costs are unreasonable." Advertisement They're right. As the letter notes, Gilead Sciences recently set a price of $84,000 for its 12-week course of Hepatitis C treatment - even though, as activist Annette Gaudino explained last August on The Zero Hour, it charges a fraction of that cost in other countries and still turns a profit. The letter also attacks the "price-gouging and anti-competitive behavior" of Mylan Pharmaceuticals, which jacked up the price of an EpiPen by nearly 500 percent over a five-year period. Rep. Pocan's letter urges President Obama to "use executive action and take concrete steps" to address the drug cost crisis, and lists three tools that the president can use. The first is the Bayh-Dole Act, which gives the National Institutes of Health the power to ensure that medications that were developed at taxpayer expense are accessible to the public at affordable rates. Next, the president can use the authority granted to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under the Medicare Drug Act of 2003, to allow the importation of lower-cost drugs from other countries under certain conditions. Lastly, the president to direct the Federal Trade Commission to stop drug companies' monopolistic practices, especially when drug patent holders pay generic companies to delay lower-cost alternatives to market - a practice that is sometimes called "pay for delay." Advertisement Most Americans already support strong action to rein in drug prices. The Kaiser survey showed, for example, that 82 percent of those polled support allowing the Federal government to negotiate drug prices and 71 percent support allowing Americans to purchase drugs imported for Canada. The Pocan letter is supported by a number of activist groups, including Social Security Works, People's Action, CREDO Action, and a number of other organizations. (See complete list below.) A number of Democratic House members have signed Rep. Pocan's letter. (No Republicans have signed it, which is telling: The Bayh-Dole Act was a bipartisan piece of legislation, which seems unimaginable today.) They are listed below. If your Representative's name isn't on the list, they have until Friday to sign it. This would be a good time to call their office and suggest that they do. Groups Supporting the letter: CREDO Action, Social Security Works, People Demanding Action, the Other 98%, Courage Campaign, Progressive Congress, Blue America, Public Citizen, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Daily Kos, Public Leadership Institute, People's Action, and the Universities Allied for Essential Medicine. Advertisement (Note: I am affiliated with People's Action; Social Security Works sponsors The Zero Hour radio program on We Act Radio.) House members who have signed the letter as of this writing: What do Reagan, Patton and Obama have in common? The answer: they have all faced significant challenges abroad --aggressive action by Stalin, Brezhnev or Putin, or by despots in the Middle East. All have had to deploy U.S. forces, and all have had to confront the question of when to pull out. We know that nature abhors a vacuum, and so does geopolitics; a pull out of troops all too often creates a vacuum that fills with bloodshed. In 1945, As World War 2 was racing to an end, General George S. Patton firmly believed that the U.S., led by his massive 3rd Army, should continue East and take Berlin, Prague, and Vienna before the Russians could gain a foothold. He was ordered to "pull back" by Eisenhower and in the ensuing forty years Eastern Europe was frozen in time by the Cold War. Patton warned that a strong German defense would be imperative, as would maintaining the former Panzer forces. Considered a crazy idea at the time, it became policy when NATO was formed only a few years later during Truman's presidency. Thirty five years later, in 1980, Ronald Reagan, having witnessed the horror of Communism, which had cannibalized nations such as Poland, Czechoslovakia and the Ukraine, and despising the "Evil Empire, " committed to its utter destruction. With a powerful military, and the economic engine of free market capitalism --far superior to the Russian system--Reagan gambled that an escalated race for military superiority would starve the enemy. It worked! Advertisement In 1989, the Berlin Wall that separated Soviet from Allied Germany fell. The Iron Curtain opened and winds of change swept through East Berlin. Millions of people were suddenly exposed to the new lights of Western freedom. 2008 saw Barack Obama voted in, the emergence of Putin, former KGB head, as a dictator, and the reemergence of Islamic terror. Obama felt it necessary to apologize for American policy and thought it better that we lead from behind, not projecting strength but restraining power in the name of diplomacy. Under the dark of night, Putin quickly took back the nearest lands of Russian ethnic majorities in the Crimea and tipping power back to his favor in the Ukraine (a member of NATO). He also strengthened Russia's position in the Middle East, placing the West on high alert. Those with globalist views still make the case that our bright future rests on the fact that cultural conflicts and wars are diminishing. Their reasons: a) America's acknowledging our abuses of the past (slavery, colonialism, militarism) and positing that penance will soften any potential enemies in the future, and b) believing that technology holds the greatest hope for what had been missing all along, better communication . . . just need to talk. But do these rationales pass the test of history? How did these different philosophies impact the way Patton and Reagan-- conservative/nationalists-- and Obama--a liberal/globalist--governed? First, we must raise the fundamental question for any 21st-century U.S. citizen: is there something worth fighting or dying for? Are we Reagan's "shining city on a hill," possibly the best the world has ever seen, warts and all, or a country "grabbing for our guns and religion," as Obama would have it. Conservatives, like Reagan, believe in American exceptionalism. One of the essential tenets of conservatism is that the world will not race pell mell toward "progress," but instead repeat the past until lessons are learned. They feel that boundaries are worth "conserving" and that national identity requires national borders to deter foreign aggression. But waiting for the enemy to draw first blood as happened at Pearl Harbor or on 9/11 is not an option with dangerous new actors like ISIS, as well as North Korea and other rogue militants in possession of nuclear weapons. Should Americans safety be sacrificed in the hope that our implacable enemies will come to love and appreciate us? Advertisement For the truly liberal, pulling out of conflict seems to be a reward in and of itself. Pull out of Eastern Europe, Saigon, Iraq, etc, and allow these nations to find democracy, and then they will leave us alone, right? Wrong! As Patton and Reagan understood, pulling out in the hope of peace, does not really resolve the conflict. It just postpones the resolution and passes the buck to future Americans, who will be forced to clean up the mess. In World War 2 Patton was called in to fight because his superiors counted on him to act swiftly. To foment more war? Of course not! He knew that war was violent and to defeat an enemy combatant quickly and decisively meant the least amount of bloodshed. Like it or not, the swifter violent act --Colin Powell's "shock and awe" or Patton's blitzkrieg--saves lives. Under Reagan Russia was defeated in Afghanistan, but on Obama's watch it has newfound power in its partnership with Syria, Iran and even Turkey, opening the world to Soviet aggression not seen in a generation. Add in threats from North Korea, China and Iran, lead many of us to conclude that our enemies must perceive weakness in the president, or why be so bold? No one expects Obama to be General Patton, but we might expect him not to ignore the advice of his generals. Reagan, although a politician too, never hesitated to call evil when he saw it and he stood behind his military leaders, a show of strength that ironically avoided direct conflict. The perfect example of walk softly but carry a big anti-missile defense program. In 1945, when Patton was forced to pull out, we failed to fortify Eastern Europe's main capitals against future Soviet tyranny, resulting in the U.S.S.R. taking over Eastern Europe and engaging the West in proxy wars for decades. That led to an estimated one hundred million deaths by 1989, when Reagan ended his second term in office. "The Crusader," as he was deemed by his Russian counterparts, though cautioned, did not flinch from conflict with the Soviet Union and from 1981, when he took office, capitalized on a weakening empire to force its demise. Obama, as he promised when campaigning, pulled out of Iraq abruptly, against the advice of his generals. Thus Isis is born, and fills the vacuum left by departing Army troops Iraq erupts into a civil war, as Iran finally gains the power it has sought since the Iran-Iraq wars in the 1980s. Syria is overrun by Islamic fanatics and the entire Middle East is shaken to its foundation. To date in Syria alone at least five hundred thousand people have been killed and masses of refugees have fled for their lives. Russia has partnered with the dictator Assad and holds the reins of Syria's future, a key strategic partner in the Middle East. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Prescott Valley Event Center, October 4, 2016 in Prescott Valley, Arizona. / AFP / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) In one sense, there is a straightforward answer to this question. The Republican candidate for president was born in Gotham, and does business here. His namesake building is a New York icon. So yes, he is a New Yorker. Technically accurate, but less so in terms of values. What in fact defines the culture of our largest city, and does Mr. Trump measure up? I come by this analysis with some credentials, as the author of a biography of Alfred E. Smith, one of the state's great governors, and after Fiorello LaGuardia, I would argue, the quintessential New York City politician. How does Donald Trump compare to Al Smith, in representing the city they both claim as home? Advertisement The best place to start is with the issue of openness and transparency. On the one hand, Smith chose as his personal slogan, "Let's look at the record", his belief that a full and complete accounting of a public official's conduct would always clear the air. Trump, in contrast, has refused to provide many details of his life and work, most notably holding back his tax returns. Equally important, to any true New Yorker, is a penchant for sharp humor, one of the hallmarks of the New York style of life. Al Smith frequently disarmed opponents, not with vicious labels, but by making people laugh. One time he was locked in debate on the floor of the State Assembly. The issue was a Workman's Compensation Bill, and Smith's opponent questioned it sharply, "What good..." would it be "to the... men out of work?" This was a red herring; whatever the merits of the proposal, it would only apply to those already employed. Al did not denounce this diversion or its author. Instead, without hesitation he spoke, "Mr. Speaker, I was walking down Park Row one night and a man came up and hit me on the shoulder and said, 'Hello, Al. Which would you rather be, a hammock full of white door knobs, a cellar full of stepladders, or a piece of dry ice?' I said I would rather be a fish, because no matter how thick plate glass is, you can always break it with a hammer." Smith's opponent was angry; it would be a miracle if he was not thoroughly confused. "I don't get the point of the gentleman's remark," he snapped. Advertisement Al calmly looked at the man and replied, "There is as much point to my answer as there is to your question." The discussion continued on a sounder basis. Thus, Al Smith personified the wit, the sense of outrageousness that is a hallmark of our city, which Trump has missed entirely. Smith's career was marked by a sense of humor and joy, instead of Trump's mirthless approach to life and to debate. Above all Al Smith was a champion of immigrants, rather than their denigrator. Like Mr. Trump today, Smith's heyday in politics came at a time when immigrants were being widely condemned. The 1920s saw a peak of anti-immigrant fervor, the decade when we passed two fiercely restrictive measures, and the KKK was at its height. This approach fit with Mr. Trump's recent assaults on the latest wave of newcomers, his comments about groups such as Mexicans and Muslims. Al Smith instead personified New York's tradition of openness to new peoples and new ideas. Over and over, he told audiences, "The flag stands for equal opportunity. It left open the gateway of opportunity irrespective of race, creed, or color." To this governor, it was not the immigrant who was besmirching our nation and our ideals, but instead the nativist bigot, who he branded as "unpatriotic and un-American." Regarding a person's faith, Smith told a hostile audience in Oklahoma City "that our forefathers...foreseeing such a sight as we look at today, wrote into the fundamental law of the country that at no time was religion to be regarded as a qualification" for citizenship. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930s, The Handmaiden, directed by Park Chan-Wook, provides a delicious mash up of culture, class and cons. Add to this a generous dollop of romance and drizzle throughout with lesbian sex, and you have 144 minutes of a twisting adventure. A young Korean pickpocket, Sook-hee, is hired by a master con artist who calls himself The Count to work as a handmaiden to Lady Hideko, a wealthy Japanese heiress. The Count is Korean but has successfully passed himself off as Japanese. His plan is to seduce and marry the solitary Lady Hideko and then have her confined to a mental institution where she will be murdered, and he will inherit her wealth. He needs the handmaiden to help win her trust. Told in three parts with a changing point-of-view, we see Sook-hee's softer side as she empathizes with Hideko's loneliness. Still, she made an agreement with The Count. Advertisement Chapter 1: Lady Hideko is isolated from the world, practically incarcerated by her uncle, with only his vast library for escape. She and Sook-hee bond. Hideko appears to trust her handmaiden and considers the Count's proposal, but she is unsure about the details of the marriage bed and asks Sook-hee to show her how to kiss. This leads to fondling and more. Sook-hee is an avid and engaged teacher. Chapter 2: Hideko reveals her hardened side, learned as part of her survival under her Uncle's control. From early childhood, he forced her to read erotica out loud to his club of avid listeners, all male. She took over this job from her depressed aunt who hung herself from a cherry tree in order to escape this singular literary enslavement. The Count reveals to Hideko his original plan to seduce and abandon her, but says he can still help her escape her uncle. But a few sacrifices will have to be made. Who is conning whom? Chapter 3. People suffer and die, but love persists. The connecting scenes between the chapters are the growing love and affection between the two women intermixed with graphic sex scenes straight out of the western pornographer's handbook. A hilarious shot of Sook-hee peering at her lover's vagina appears to be shot from the pov of the vagina. The director loved it so much he repeated the shot twice. Even so, the most sensual and tender scene between the two women involves a thimble and a tooth. This is when they first fall in love. We've been offered an upstairs-downstairs view of class distinction in British plays, television and movies for decades. Indeed, The Handmaiden is based on the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, set in Victorian England. By transporting the basic plot to Korea, Park Chan-Wook has made the story more interesting, while still providing plenty of twists and surprises. Advertisement What about the sex? For me, the lesbian sex was geared to a male audience. There were lots of full-body shots of the women in various postures, all overlain with the sound of smacking lips. The most pornographic aspect of the story was Hideko reading to her uncle's literary porn club of adult males. While they were mesmerized and turned on, the stories reminded me of The Pearl, a collection of Victorian erotica I bought in the student bookstore my freshman year in college. The purchase was a waste of my hard earned work-study money as the plots invariably had to do with female subjugation at the hands of mature males who called it seduction. In The Handmaiden, the women prevail. The setting, the acting, and the plot twists make the film a must see. The official release date is October 21. From South Korea to Mexico, from Vietnam to Hungary, new research reveals how the global reach of Samsung's ruthless pursuit of profits impacts the everyday lives of its workers. Last month I wrote about how Samsung workers have shed light on the working conditions throughout the multinational's supply chains. Today the International Trade Union Confederation and IndustriALL global union have released a new report, Samsung - Modern Tech Medieval Conditions. It can be difficult reading. What's shocking is the litany of scandal in every country where it has operated around the world, including: Brazil, Canada, China, the EU, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, US and Vietnam. Advertisement From denying justice to the families of former employees who died from cancers that were caused by unsafe workplaces, to dodging tax and engaging in price-fixing cartels, one thing is constant: Samsung's corporate culture is ruthlessly geared towards maximising profit to the detriment of the everyday lives of its workers. Beginning with Samsung, we have begun to expose corporate greed and the failure of the world's biggest corporations to account for abuse in their supply chains - from union busting, poverty wages, insecure and unsafe work, to forced overtime, informal work and modern slavery. It doesn't end here: we will engage with pension funds managing workers' capital regarding investment strategies. We will end corporate greed. Korea - Causing cancer, attempting cover-ups Worker safety groups have documented more than 200 cases of serious illnesses including leukaemia, lupus, lymphoma, multiple sclerosis and brain tumours among former Samsung semiconductor and LCD workers. Seventy-six have died, most in their 20s and 30s. Advertisement In August 2016, an investigation revealed South Korean authorities repeatedly withheld crucial information about chemicals workers were exposed to at Samsung factories, after the company requested them not to reveal "trade secrets". Brazil - Dangerous workplaces The Brazilian labour ministry filed a lawsuit against Samsung in 2013, alleging dangerous and precarious working conditions imposed on its 6,000 employees at a manufacturing facility. Prosecutors demanded $108 million compensation and Brazil issued an arrest warrant for Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee after finding the company was harassing and subjecting workers to injuries from intense, long and repetitive work. Canada - Price-fixing cartel In 2014 a number of class action lawsuits claimed that a number of electronics' giants including Samsung acted as a cartel to "wring" $480 million in illegal profits from Canadian consumers for almost a decade. China - Child labour scandal China Labor Watch reported in 2014 that children were working at a facility in Samsung's supply chain. HEG Electronics employed more than 10 children under the age of 16 at a facility in Guangdong Province. The youngest was 14 years old. Advertisement Samsung had faced several previous complaints against suppliers that have allegedly used child labour. Also in 2014 Samsung was forced to sever ties with another supplier after allegations that company was violating child labour regulations. Europe - Illegally low wages In December 2013, Samsung was named among a number of companies that employed Hungarian electronics workers on wages too low to support a family. Companies were accused of demanding 72-hour weeks, 12-hour shifts, circumventing overtime payments and having more temporary staff than permanent employees. India - Exploiting apprentices A 2013 report revealed about half of the 2500 to 3000-strong assembly line staff at Samsung's India's Noida operations were apprentice workers, who are paid less and have less workplace rights. "It is very clear that Samsung's strategy to keep labour costs down is based on exploiting the apprentice workers," the report stated. "They are legally engaged only for one year and so they provide lot of space for a flexible workforce; and they are paid a fixed honorarium and not wages." Indonesia - Union-busting Indonesian unions reported mass union busting across Samsung's supplier factories in 2013 and 2012, with the company targeting union members and terminating contracts with worksites with union membership. Advertisement Across the country unions have reported the criminalisation of trade union activity and workers reporting being beaten and jailed for demonstrating, and some hospitalised with from police dog bites. Malaysia - 'Modern day slavery' A 2014 Verite report found nearly a third of some 350,000 workers in Malaysia's electronics industry suffered from conditions of modern-day slavery such as debt bondage. The report did not name individual employers, however at the time Samsung relied upon its labour-intensive supplier operations in Malaysia. Mexico - Discrimination against women Human Rights Watch, the International Labor Rights Fund and the Mexican Lawyers' Association filed a complaint in 1997 allegedly widespread discrimination against women who were subject to pregnancy tests and denied employment if positive. Samsung was named among the offenders through its Mexican operations. The Philippines - Sacking union members Management of NXP, the billion-dollar electronics supplier to Samsung, fired 24 union leaders while workers were negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in 2014. The company then tried to pay off the illegally sacked workers to remove union leadership from the plant. Advertisement Samsung's anti-union playbook instructs managers to "isolate employees", "punish leaders" and "induce internal conflicts". Taiwan - Long days, low wages Workers at one of Samsung's main suppliers in Taiwan have reported working extremely long days for meagre wage and no overtime pay. The factories have typically hired foreign workers, including those from mainland China, students from work-study programs and even workers under the age of 16, - all of whom receive less pay than regular employees. Thailand - Locking out workers Hundreds of mostly female night shift employees working at Samsung Electronics supplier were forced to leave their Bangkok workplace at midnight before being locked out by management in 2013. Management of NXP, the billion-dollar electronics supplier to Samsung, gave employees two choices: accept a new work system - which included forced overtime, less pay, no overtime pay for weekend work - or lose their jobs. Advertisement United States - Criminal price-fixing In 2005, Samsung pleaded guilty to participating in conspiracy in the United States, marking the shift of price-fixing into the technological age. Six senior Samsung executives received prison terms following the case and the company itself was fined US$300 million - the second largest criminal antitrust fine in US history. Vietnam - Forced overtime Interviews with Samsung workers in Vietnam revealed overtime being "frequent all year" as employees were asked to work overtime each day, all day Saturday or Sunday or even every day without a day for months at a time. Managers would often stand in front of the door asking why workers were leaving at the end of their shift. Those without reasonable reasons were told to keep working. The global pattern of abuse and oppression cannot be ignored. Samsung can't hold on to their secret any longer. Who Am I ? tells the story of one union family caught up in Samsung's no union policy which affects the entire Asian electronics industry. They may not be able to show their face, but you can share their story. Advertisement FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2015 file photo, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence pauses while speaking in Indianapolis. As they begin to shape their prospective bids for president, a group of ambitious Republican governors are eager to seize on votersa contempt for that most dirty of political words: aWashington.a (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) As I watched the VP debate I found it a fascinating non-character study. Pence lied with such tranquility it is clearly an art form he has perfected. None of the liar's traditional sweat and shiftiness -- just a long practised artist at prevarication who stayed placid and cool as he spouted lie after lie. For a man who proclaimed his piety Pence calmly, boldly, denied that Trump had made racist and sexist remarks, and he was clearly eager to have the power to deny women their right to freely choose, and LGBT people their right to freely live - all covered with an artificial whipped cream topping. He made it very clear that a Trump administration - bite my tongue - would undo all the progress made by minorities in the past fifty years. He was not even a man of the 20th century - I would place him comfortably somewhere in the 17th on most issues, the 19th on others. I am sure that his calm demeanor was reassuring to some conservatives - many of whom are troubled by voting for a madman - but for me he was just as scary as the top of the ticket. Pence revealed himself as a man of limited imagination who has never once put himself in the place of another less fortunate than himself - one who confuses his prejudices with his prayers. Advertisement Kane, whose nature is affable and a bit giddy, had a difficult time trying to break through Pence's varnished veneer - and missed some important points. It is hard to debate so much self-righteousness as found in Pence. Kane failed to contradict Pence sufficiently when Pence kept misrepresenting facts - such as the alleged criminality of the undocumented - according to police records they commit many fewer crimes than the citizens among us. Pence's remarks about the Syrian refugees could have been taken from the playbook of conservatives in 1940 who denied fleeing Jews a safe haven in our country, leading to their deaths in Europe. As a student, bestselling author and illustrator, Ann Shen struggled to fit into the notion of what her peers and teachers considered successful commercial art. "A lot of my work was largely geared toward a feminine audience, and my teachers didn't really understand it," says Shen. To better understand why she was facing so many obstacles and to find some perspective, she dove into the stories of other women in history who hadn't followed the rules. "The more I researched these women who went on to become the first to do things in their particular field, the more I realized they struggled with the same type of head-scratching--or worse--that I was coming up against," says Shen. Cobbling her research into an illustrated Zine, complete with portraits and bios, Shen was excited to share the stories of these amazing women who had gone before. Remarkably, her professor didn't think the project had merit. Shen persisted, and just a few years later, she'd sold the project to Chronicle Books. Out earlier this month, Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World has become an instant bestseller. Advertisement And given the women Shen profiled, it comes as no surprise that they inspired her to color outside the lines. Here are just five things she learned from these rule-bending ladies: 1. The women who change the world face all kinds of trials and tribulations. Often considered the founder of romance novels as we know them today, Jane Austen didn't publish under her real name while she was alive. Instead, her books were published simply as "By a Lady." It wasn't until years after Jane's death in 1817 that her nephew revealed her as the writer. "A lot of the women had really sad lives," Shen says. "We may think of these forerunners as strong, amazing, resilient women, but there was usually a whole other side to what they had to sacrifice to do what they were doing." Though her identity went unknown during her lifetime, Jane's books were beloved by the public. She never married, and instead supported her family with the money she made from her novels. 2. Every woman must follow her own unique path to achieve greatness. Elizabeth Blackwell's father was a Quaker, which allowed her to get an education as a young girl. She went on to become the first woman to go to medical school and was the first female doctor. "Contrast that with someone like Harriet Tubman," Shen says, "who was born into slavery and horribly abused by her master before escaping to Philadelphia." Advertisement Harriet continued to return to the South even after her escape. She was also the first woman to lead a charge during the Civil War in an effort to free other slaves. "I think what was interesting was that courage can come from anywhere and any kind of background," Shen explains. 3. Many groundbreaking women were painted as villains during their time. Empress Wu Zetian was the first and only woman in Chinese history to rule as an emperor. "A lot of stuff written about her basically portrays her as this evil creature," Shen explains. As Shen delved further into the historical accounts, she began to think about who was actually writing these stories about the Empress. "It made me wonder how much was true and how much was rumor," Shen says. "It's hard to say. History was written by the people who had the privilege to write it." 4. Sometimes you have to take the road less traveled by. Shen faced many critics while writing her book, and often turned to a Dolly Parton quote for inspiration: "If you don't like the road you're walking on, start paving another one." "I was reminded that I needed to not care so much about what other people think," Shen says. "That's a major one for me and it has applied to so many aspects of my life." 5. As women, we have to stick together. Shen included Bonnie Parker of the famed Bonnie and Clyde duo in her book because she, like many others, challenged what women were allowed to be. "People were so taken aback by the idea that a woman would run around with a man she wasn't married to, and be an outlaw even though she never fired a shot," Shen says. Advertisement Though many of Bonnie's actions were ill-advised, there's no denying that she broke the mold. "I think it takes a lot of women to chip away at the shame that's often pinned to women who defy convention," Shen explains. "Hilary Clinton, for example, gets to stand on the giants before her. We all do." Cross-Posted from DeSmogBlog Photo Credit: U.S. National Archives at College Park Noble Energy Executive Vice President Chip Rimer, also a member of the Board of Directors for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, recently attended a private meeting between Colorado fracking industry executives and Trump in Denver, Colorado. Advertisement Beyond oil and gas issues, Catanzaro also lobbies against President Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan, which calls for regulating carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants. In a May speech, the climate change-denying Trump said he intends to rescind all the job-destroying Obama executive actions including the Climate Action Plan" if elected president. Catanzaro is not the only Devon connection to the Trump campaign: Larry Nichols, Devon co-founder and Board of Directors Chairman Emeritus, also serves as a Trump energy adviser. The Post's story landed the same day DeSmog reported that Kathleen Hartnett-White, the climate change-denying former aide to First Lady Nancy Reagan and chairwoman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) under Republican Governor Rick Perry, is under consideration to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if Trump assumes the White House. Advertisement Catanzaro: Oil-Soaked Road to Team Trump Catanzaro's current role in heading up Trump's energy team is over a decade in the making, with a career track record soaked in oil and gas. After his time spent in Inhofe's office, Catanzaro spent the second term of the George W. Bush Administration working on energy policy issues and then serving as Associate Deputy Administrator of the EPA, while also working on Bush's 2004 presidential campaign. He then passed through the government-industry revolving door, becoming a lobbyist and director of federal relations for coal utility company Pennsylvania Power & Light for a couple years until moving back into government and working for Inhofe again on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee as Deputy Staff Director. After Inhofe, Catanzaro got a job working as senior energy policy adviser to Rep. Boehner, where he worked for a bit less than two years. During that time he also worked on 2012 Republican Party presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign, heading up its EPA policy transition team. "Laugh Test" Perhaps looking for a pay raise, Catanzaro left the Committee after a couple years on the job and went back to the lobbying world, securing a job at FTI Consulting. Advertisement FTI runs the fracking industry-funded front group Energy In Depth, which serves as an attack dog PR voice on behalf of the industry and helps to fend off criticism by citizens, regulators, policymakers and the media. While employed by FTI, Catanzaro testified in Congress against the Clean Power Plan, co-authored a paper supporting the export of U.S. crude oil and advocated for weakening the Endangered Species Act. Continuing the trend of never staying anywhere for too long, after a couple years at FTI, Catanzaro has spent the past two years working for the lobbying firm CGCN Group and as a senior fellow for the industry-funded American Council on Capital Formation (ACCF), according to his LinkedIn profile. In 2015, Catanzaro gave a presentation noting that if a Republican wins the White House, one of the first things he will do in office is overturn incorporating climate change into National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews of proposed federal energy infrastructure projects, something called for recently by the Obama Administration. Once, the idea of Brangelina was everything. I believed they were the perfect couple. The concept was like an empty canvas I could paint. I was filled with hope; I was excited. And over the course of ten years, I followed the two lovers that I considered to be soul mates. I felt totally in touch. But after their relationship ended, it floored me. For a decade Pitt and Jolie have been depicted as Hollywood's golden couple. The premise is almost commercial, like whitewash or sweeteners. Today's lingo regarding Hollywood's famed love mates is wrong. The mania we direct towards these celebrities is off the screen and bigger than life. We make believe they share our pain, values, and hopes. Their characters become our heroes, and their words our mantras. As we watch Brad and Angelina sift through a slaughterhouse of hype, it's easy to get lost in our assumptions. You think. 'I understand them; I know what they're going through.' Here's a fact: You can't experience who they are, or what they're going through - Because you don't know them! Advertisement This mania for celebs has nothing to do with the spirit of real life. So many people enmesh themselves in media gossip until it becomes their safe house: A way to lose themselves in a fictional narrative; a place to hide their own pain. I'm a fiery soul when it comes to self-deception. There's a bad kind of media (tabloids, online or off) that promotes harmful hyper-dramatized messages. And like some of us, I've caught myself up in arms about the hate campaigns targeting Jennifer Anniston and Marion Cotillard. It's about time we confronted this artificially constructed media drama. Gossiping is just another way of self-affirming, and it can become addictive. It's a disease of the ego that will metaphorically blind you to more positive, personal opportunities that are within your reach. Every time you fixate on an issue that has nothing to do with you, you risk putting on those blinders. By talking about Brad and Angelina's break up as if it's your own, your subconscious mind will actually start to believe that you too are experiencing a breakup. It will come to believe that by your continual emotional reinforcement. In the act of perpetual gossip, your ego will eventually find itself in a stagnant void. Not only will this make you unhappy, but it will block you from attaining the very things you want. In other words, their break up shouldn't make you feel incomplete. Advertisement This addiction to gossip isn't limited to Brangelina: Many engage in gossip daily, across a variety of subjects. Gossiping can lead to obsessive behavior and is a harsh disease of the ego. It won't take long before you feel your energy starting to slip. You'll walk around with a head full of noise that has nothing to do with you. Try this: Instead of harping on someone else's break up, why not bring more love into your own life? If you want a love mate, take 15 minutes out of your day to visualize the love you want. Create a mental setting over a romantic dinner or a walk through Les Chandelles and see yourself with the lover that you desire most. Immerse yourself until it feels real. Then head out, and do something loving and active that moves you towards your love. The next time you get caught in a gossip trap with someone else about Hollywood's iconic duo, tell the other person that when love has run its course and both parties are falling out with each other, it is better to part ways and find new loves than to rip out each other's hearts. And most importantly, encourage your gossiping friend to send blessings and thoughts to Brad and Angelina's children. "Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people." Socrates * * * * Suzannah's work is about giving individuals (like you!) dynamic insight into what agonizes them most and offering breakthrough solutions. She offers instant, real-time solutions to what troubles her clients -- all delivered with a large shot of compassion. Schedule an Appointment Today. Suzannah Galland is an internationally acclaimed life advisor and influencer for mindful living. Suzannah contributes invaluable Quick Insights to the Huffington Post blog, and writes regularly for Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop.com and Spread the Light for KORA Organics by Miranda Kerr. She has been featured on Harper's Bazaar, USA Today, Vogue, Los Angeles Magazine, Glamour, and Marie Claire U.K. Visit her website or follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more Insights to Keep You in The Know. Brian Fishman is a counterterrorism research fellow with the International Security Program at New America, a think tank. He resides in Menlo Park, California. This interview has been edited lightly. "The Master Plan: ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Jihadi Strategy for Final Victory" will be published in November. Would you tell us a little bit about it? For most observers, the Islamic State's declaration of the "Caliphate" in Syria in 2014 came out of nowhere. The group seemed to emerge suddenly with a fearsome ideological and political vision to conquer territory and people, not just commit acts of terrorism. For some jihadis, however, the Islamic State's declaration realized a decade-old vision. In 2005, al-Qaeda's security chief, Sayf al-Adl, developed a seven-stage master plan that called for the establishment of the Caliphate, in Syria, between 2013 and 2016. In that most important prediction, his master plan was stunningly prescient. Advertisement The Master Plan explains the Islamic State's development through the lens of al-Adl's plan, but I do not argue that the plan has served as a perfect blueprint. Al-Adl's strategy was developed for al-Qaeda just as it was incorporating the Islamic State's godfather, Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, into al-Qaeda. Zarqawi's organization eventually fulfilled al-Adl's vision of an Islamic State in Syria, but it also abandoned the alliance with al-Qaeda that formed the basis of al-Adl's strategic vision. Effectively, al-Adl predicted "what" would happen, but not "who" would do it. And, ultimately, that is crucial because the Zarqawiists are far more radical--and therefore far less politically stable--than their cousins in al-Qaeda. The first "Islamic State" declared by the Zarqawiists who re-established the "Caliphate" was the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI)--and it was declared in 2006. After the "Caliphate" was declared in 2014, observers marveled at the group's administrative functions, bureaucratic structure, and effort to seem like a real "country." This was all quite sophisticated, but none of it was new. In 2006 and 2007, the Islamic State of Iraq established procedures for leadership succession, developed a cabinet (including a Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries), instituted bureaucratic pay scales, and administered banal regulations, such as speed limits and garbage pickup. It was the framework for a state, but it achieved very little attention. Instead of asking how the Islamic State emerged "suddenly" in 2014; we should be asking why we did not see it coming--and The Master Plan addresses that question as well. Why did you decide to write this book? In 2008, I taught a course at West Point about the development of the ISI. I graded the cadets' final papers on a research trip to Iraq, some of them by headlamp on the flight line waiting for transport around the country. It sounds corny, but I felt a real obligation to those students. Advertisement In late 2014, two of my former cadets from that class--now Army officers--reached out to ask if I had updated the syllabus for the 2008 class. They thought it would be relevant as they considered what to do about the newly-declared "Islamic State." I had wanted to turn that syllabus into a book for years, but hearing from my old cadets was the kick in the butt I needed to devote myself to writing. Writing the book was my New Year's resolution in 2015. What are a couple key takeaways that you hope will resonate with policymakers? First and foremost, I want policymakers to understand that the Islamic State can be damaged deeply via military pressure, but will be extremely difficult to destroy. In 2007 and 2008, the U.S. "Surge" in Iraq decimated the ISI--to the point that we considered it militarily defeated. But even after that "defeat," the ISI still had 800 to 1,000 people--four times as many as al-Qaeda had on 9/11--and continued to be one of the most deadly terrorist groups in the world--though its violence was confined to Iraq. But, when the anti-Assad protest movement began in Syria in early 2011, the ISI was ready to capitalize--and it did. We thought the group was "defeated," but it was not--and that is a mistake we should not make again. That point may seem obvious today, but we need to remain focused on this group in two years when it does not control territory with impunity, but does control neighborhoods like a mafia. We overlooked this group once before when it operated like that--and that result was the Islamic State. We cannot make that mistake again. Second, we must not fall into the Islamic State's trap by discriminating against Muslims living in the West. This really is what the Islamic State wants. The Islamic State hopes that discrimination will drive some western Muslims to join its movement. Of course, that strategy is going to fail the vast majority of the time. Compared to other jihadi groups, the Islamic State has had tremendous success drawing foreign fighters as recruits, but orders of magnitude more Muslims have fled the Islamic State or are fighting against it. The irony is that the Islamic State is happy to divide the Muslim community into a small cadre of people that agree with it--and everyone else. They want to identify their allies and kill or subjugate everyone else--the Muslims that reject them fall into that latter category. How long did it take to write? Do you have a writing routine? I started writing the book at night with a day job, but eventually began writing full time. All in all, the writing took about 15 months. Most of that was done at coffee shops, where I find I am most productive. I think the most important lesson was to write every day, even if the daily product was terrible. Treat it like a job. Better to keep writing and edit than get stuck in a cycle looking for the perfect word or phrase. Of course, I had a big head start; I've been deeply enmeshed in source material for a decade. I was even able to recycle some language from old working papers and non-published writing. The best days were discovering something new about an issue or event that I thought I understood completely. Do you have any literary influences? My editor urged me to read Scott Anderson's Lawrence in Arabia for tips on how to construct a complex narrative around distinct characters. That was definitely useful, but the techniques were limited because so few of the characters in my book survive from beginning to end. I often referred back to the really well-written books on al-Qaeda's history and development--Lawrence Wright's The Looming Tower and Steve Coll's Ghost Wars. The Looming Tower in particular is brilliant in its readability and the depth of research. What do you read for fun? In my house, Pete the Cat is a favorite. What's the best book that you've read this year? Flag of Mexico During the 2012 US presidential election, Mexico - or rather, the idea of Mexico - wasn't an issue. Romney and Obama may have mentioned it during discussions on immigration reform, the border separating the two countries, or drug policy, but this was in passing, offhand. Mexico itself as a country was not a topic of conversation. Back then, some of my compatriots lamented the irrelevance of Mexico in the political platforms and public debates of their northern neighbour, sad to see that Mexico - indeed, seemingly all of Latin America - had simply fallen off the US radar. Advertisement Looking back from 2016, maybe irrelevance wasn't such a bad thing after all. Anti-Mexican sentiment Over the past year, Donald Trump has made anti-Mexican sentiment a primary driver of his presidential campaign. He has characterised Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists and proposed the construction of a border wall that would stop "illegals" from entering the US. Trump's assertions aren't just offensive - they're also empirically wrong. On the connection between immigration and criminality, for example, it turns out immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than those born in the US. In fact, immigration may actually contribute to reducing crime rates and have a positive effect on economic growth. Advertisement What's more, the supposedly unstoppable flow of "illegals" across the border has actually been declining for several years. In fact, the migratory balance between Mexico and the United States is now negative: more people are returning to Mexico than emigrating to the US. But what about free trade? Well, it's complicated, but factually, not all the benefit has gone to Mexico. Nor are the bulk of US jobs lost since the 1990s attributable to NAFTA but rather to competition from China and other factors. Lack of vision How Mexico is portrayed in and by the United States is, to me, a rich subject. Mexico and the United States are profoundly integrated - the depth and intensity of the ties that bind the two countries are unarguable. But the everyday experience of this relationship stands in stark contrast with the way many Mexicans and Americans still see each other, more through their alleged "civilisational differences" than through their actual common history. North America might be many things -- a geographic expression, a commercial bloc, a cultural laboratory -- but it is not, alas, what Walter Lippman called "a picture inside our heads". Data abounds on the actual existence of North America as real place, but Mexico and America nonetheless lack a vision to provide it with meaning, a story to make it intelligible to average citizens in both countries. In other words, North America is a big phenomenon without a narrative to speak for it. Advertisement On the other side of the Atlantic, there has been, as part and parcel of their process of integration, an idea of Europe. But on this side of the Atlantic, there's been no such effort. We have lacked the intellectual and cultural infrastructure to know how to think of ourselves as belonging to a region that is larger than the sum of its national parts. The absence of this North American narrative has paved the way for someone like Donald Trump to mobilise anti-Mexican sentiments among sectors of the American populace who feel threatened by diversity, for whom Mexico and Mexicans have become scapegoats for their economic and cultural anxieties. Vacuum of political leadership But beyond xenophobia, the fact that Trump's attacks have gone mostly unchallenged shows an alarming vacuum of political leadership on an issue of critical importance to both countries. Apparently, the North American project has no one to champion it anymore. As Roberto Suro observed recently at a binational seminar at the Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana, there has not been a clear and strong response to openly defend NAFTA - not in the Republican party, certainly, but neither have Democrats, the Mexican government, civil society organisations on either side of the border, or the Mexican-American community responded to the attacks. Trump's falsehoods have been met, largely, with silence. This, despite the fact that most Americans don't seem to agree with Trump's tirades against free trade, or even with his anti-Mexican rhetoric. Though public opinion of the United States' neighbour to the south saw a gradual decline between 2005 and 2013, in the past three years Mexico's image has been slightly on the rise. Advertisement In that sense, whatever happens in November, Donald Trump has already won. His campaign has successfully hushed the voices that could have spoken about the actual benefits of NAFTA. In previous electoral cycles, immigration reform was still a matter of proposals and debate; after Trump, it's become such a toxic subject that it is simply no longer on the table. In all likelihood, the reputation of Mexico in American public opinion will go down again, as will NAFTA. In the end, Trump has brought anti-Mexican sentiment into the political mainstream and shown how electorally profitable it can be. Let us not entertain false hopes: this phenomenon is not going to go away after November. Even if Hillary Clinton is the next president of the United States, Trumpism - with or without Trump - will be a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future. The United Nations Security Council sits for a high level meeting on Syria. Andrew Kelly/Reuters The impending appointment of a new United Nations secretary general provides an excellent opportunity to address some of the shortcomings in current processes - but the Security Council may not be totally on board. First, the good news: the selection of a new UN secretary general in 2016 has proceeded in a much more transparent manner than ever before. But by rejecting two important proposals - that it recommend more than one final candidate to the General Assembly, and consider a single non-renewable term of seven years - the Security Council has effectively nullified the effect of all the other innovations. This part, as you will see, is not so good. Advertisement A campaign for a better selection process In early 2015, a highly respected group known as The Elders issued a document titled A UN fit for purpose at the Munich Security Conference. It suggested, among other things, that the choice of the next secretary general should not be made behind closed doors by the five permanent members of the Security Council. Instead, it recommended an open search for the most qualified candidates, irrespective of region or gender. The Elders's document also suggested that the new secretary general would be more independent if the Security Council chose more than candidate and extended her or his term. Citing the integrity provisions of the UN Charter, it condemned the practice of offering member-states high-level posts in return for selection support, noting that it seriously undermined the UN's reputation. This triggered the launch of a campaign called 1 for 7 Billion, which developed seven proposals to improve the selection: a dialogue with the candidates; clear selection criteria; more than one candidate to be recommended by the Security Council to the General Assembly; a longer non-renewable term; gender equality; a formal and clear timeline; and no bargaining for posts. Advertisement Many UN states supported these proposals, most notably the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group, which comprises 27 small and mid-sized countries, and the Non-Aligned Movement, which has 120 members and 15 observers. In December 2015, the presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly sent a letter to all member states requesting that they nominate candidates with: proven leadership and managerial abilities, extensive experience in international relations, strong diplomatic, communication and multilingual skills. In the end, 12 candidates - six women and six men - were nominated, and their CVs and vision statements were posted on the UN website. Between April and June 2016, the General Assembly conducted informal dialogues with all of them. Today, out of the initial 12 nominees, three have dropped out and another has joined, leaving ten candidates in the race (five men and five women). Advertisement Gender and regional rotation The nomination of an equal number of men and women for the post was a significant milestone. Over the past 70 years, only three times have women ever been proposed as candidates. In 1952, the Soviet Union put forward Lakshmi Pandit of India among four candidates from developing countries. In 1991, the Norwegian Gro Bruntland was proposed, but all agreed that it was time for an African to lead the UN. In 2006, Vaire Vike-Freiberga, ex-president of Latvia, was nominated by the Baltic states, but she also fell victim to regional rotation, as Asian countries demanded to have a go. Denis Balibouse/Reuters By the logic of the informal principle of regional rotation, it's now Eastern Europe's turn. Not surprisingly, eight out of the 12 candidates in the original selection period came from that region. But the candidate who is coming first so far is not Eastern European. The former Portuguese prime minister and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres won a set of straw polls between July 21 and September 26, without behind-closed-doors deals. Guterres presented a very strong vision statement and addressed the General Assembly in April confidently. Having experience of UN circles, he knows the system well and has the right contacts in New York and, critically, in most of the capitals of the 15-member Security Council. Advertisement Non-permanent members of the Security Council have supported Guterres, at the same time as discouraging the favourite candidates of the five permanent members. If he wins the secretary general race, it may well be welcomed by the rest of the world as a symbolic victory against the tricks and intrigues of the Security Council's permanent members. More clarity will come on October 5 with the introduction of colour-coded ballots, with the permanent council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- using one colour. If any candidate receives a "discourage" from a permanent member, that will clearly signal lack of support. More than one Even if 2016 marks a first step in the right direction - having resulted in some clearer criteria on, for example, gender equity in candidate lists - the UN still has a long way to go in modernising the process leading to the nomination of the secretary general. The Elders' more-than-one-candidate proposal is the most important innovation to have emerged in this cycle. The argument against it is that a vote in the General Assembly could be divisive, and that if the new secretary general won 55 percent-45 percent, she or he would end up starting the job with support of only 55 percent of member-states. This is preposterous. In the past, the secretary general has started day one in the role not with 55 percent support, but considerably less: only the 15 states on the Security Council have historically even known who he was. Advertisement There's no need to cheer a new secretary general in the way North Koreans cheer their leaders. And indeed, new Secretaries General would feel more confident of their mandate if selected by 100 member states in the General Assembly, rather than by the five main Security Council members (the ten rotating members usually obey the permanent ones). A vote in the General Assembly may be divisive, but it will allow the new secretary general to act as a unifier. She or he can ameliorate the situation by, for example, appointing the runner-up as deputy. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters Most importantly, the more-than-one-candidate idea would have brilliantly solved all other issues, such as gender, regional rotation and bargaining for posts, thus perfectly materialising the dreams of the Elders. It could have left the General Assembly to decide between a woman and a man as final candidates from two different continents, safeguarding the Security Council from criticisms of having neglected a good candidate due to gender or region. Nor would proposing two candidates to the General Assembly reduce the Security Council's powers. Its five permanent members can still exercise all vetting options, remove unwanted candidates, and end up with two names that are equally acceptable to them. Most importantly, the more-than-one-candidate idea would make unsavoury bargains more difficult. If candidates need to offer favours to 193 states instead of 15, they would probably eschew bribing altogether, and focus instead on quality. Advertisement Single, longer term The opponents of the single, longer, non-renewable term also make a flawed argument saying, if we end up with a good candidate, why should we limit to seven years? They often raise the example of Kofi Annan, considered by many to have been a great secretary general who was selected through the old methods. Well, first of all, one cannot be lucky every time. And I would question why, in the opposite scenario, the five permanent Security Council members were so cynical in not only keeping Kurt Waldheim for two terms as secretary general, but also in strongly supporting him for an unprecedented third term in 1981, despite global opposition. The Chinese, who opposed his second term in 1976, had to use their veto 16 times to finally remove him from the UN Headquarters as his Nazi past was exposed. At this point, the Security Council should not be worried about finding a replacement seven years from now. Precisely because the new selection process is so open and allows for the consideration of a long list of strong candidates, there will always be a similarly well-qualified, if not better, candidate to choose from in 2024. But it's worth noting that longer non-renewable terms have been applied with remarkable success in various international organisations and tribunals. Advertisement The chance that the Security Council will adopt the recommended changes is, at this point, minimal. What the General Assembly can do next time, though, is take a stand against favours and reiterate the progress made towards transparency. The General Assembly should inform the Security Council that it will refuse to approve anybody, if given only one name to rubber-stamp. Vesselin Popovski, Professor and Vice Dean and Executive Director, Centre for the Study of United Nations, Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University Yesterday my Mom told me that it was quite impressive that a 23-year-old kid was traveling the United States alone from big cities to national parks to certain wonders of the world. In a way she was right. Many times these days I wake up and shake my head with a smile, wondering how I got all the way out to Montana from Maryland, and how I'm able to see what I'm seeing and do what I'm doing. But then I realized that this wasn't by chance. I wanted this life, and while I do have problems paying my bills sometimes (I write for free at the Huffington Post), it was a conscious effort of mine to be able to travel. Advertisement I remember seeing travel blogs online in January, wishing that I could have the life of these people. It all seemed so glamorous. They took trips wherever they wanted, wrote about it when they got done, and went on to the next place. It just seemed so exhilarating. So I started to pursue that, and here I am eight months later, living a life I dreamed of back in January. The truth is I just started to hold on to and really put a few lessons I learned throughout my life into action. Here they are: 1. Stop Listening To Reason Reason tells you to take the safe route. It's there telling you to take that 9-5 desk job when all you want to do is see the world. It's such a burden on your growth as a human being, and I really think that most people regret listening to it later in life. Once I decided to throw reason to the side and think about what I really wanted to do, then doors started to open up that I didn't know were there. Advertisement 2. Stop Putting Needless Barriers Up In Your Mind There's a lot of rules that we walk around with on a daily basis. If you really think about it, many of these rules are ones that we make up in our own mind. For instance, I really wanted to leave Maryland to live in Orlando after graduation. I made it such a point to believe this that I subconsciously made it a rule in my mind to follow. It was going to happen. But if I slowed down and thought about my options, I would've come to realize that if I stayed at home I would live rent-free, grocery-payment-free, and my cost of living would take a nosedive. I could've used a lot of money to make student loan payments. I put that barrier there in my mind. Think about some of the things that are actually barriers for you and some of the things that you put there yourself. These can be choosing not to apply for a fun remote job because you don't have the experience. Nonsense! Write a cover letter that will catch their eye and they will read! 3. Value Yourself More After college I couldn't get a job to save my life. I'd go into job interviews and answer all the questions according to how the books said I should, then I went home and never received any calls back. It was low key pathetic. I started to use my performance in that area as a gauge for my success. And you can only imagine that I felt like a talentless piece of crap who would never amount to anything because I couldn't even score a job that paid $15 per hour with a college degree. Nonsense. In the face of hardship, believe in the value that you have. Think about all the compliments your mother used to give you growing up. She would know, wouldn't she? She spent 18+ years with you! Advertisement A year ago I couldn't get hired. Now I write at the Huffington Post. Value yourself more. Blindly believe in yourself. Which leads me to my next point. 4. Have Blind Faith Seriously. Just believe that something incredible is about to happen. This gives you insane energy and actually boosts creativity. Whenever I get excited about something my mind goes off on crazy tangents about things I could do to accomplish goals in a unique way. Excitement is a great thing. Hope is a great thing. Just have blind faith, even if it's unwarranted, that things are going to work out somehow in the end. Get excited about your life again! 5. Swing For A Grandslam, Not Singles This goes hand in hand with what I just said, but you really need to step up to the plate looking to hit a freaking grand slam instead of a single. Seriously. Take your goal and multiply it by ten--now there's a goal. Big goals inspire us. If you couldn't already tell, inspiration was vital to my "success." Inspiration will take you past midnight to write into the early hours of the morning. Inspiration makes us feel like kids again. What an incredible feeling, and it can move mountains for you if you let it. 6. Caffeine Is Your Friend Energy turns into creativity. Caffeine is your friend. Drink a double-shot of espresso and tell me you don't feel more creative and inspired afterward. Thought so. 7. Swing For The Fences Once Every Day Email that screenwriter. Call the author of the book you just read. How do you find their numbers/email? Research it! This world isn't made up of impenetrable barriers that withhold information from one person while giving it to another. A famous person I just interviewed turned out to have a Gmail account with a username of the first letter of their first name followed by their whole last name. Do one incredible thing every single day. You never know if you could strike gold. Advertisement 8. Don't Listen To Other People This goes hand-in-hand with the first point in the countdown. Don't listen to other people, because they will drag you down. They will make you feel like your dream is stupid. My parents didn't exactly think my plan was a solid one. They wanted me to pursue a job at Panera Bread instead to become a manager. Now my Mom is telling me how she's proud of me while I'm on a trip I designed myself. Life works in funny ways. Jesus Christ Despite the fact I am a secular person, I find that there is something compelling and transformative about the figure of Jesus -- that, indeed, this figure is someone worth following. Here are five important ways in which I continue to reshape my approach to life as part of a deepening commitment to being a secular Jesus follower. 1. I have been inspired to hang out with the "wrong" people. Jesus hung out with the wrong people. He ate meals, engaging in acts of intimate community, with people who were anathema to the pious of his place and time. Touching the despised "other," whether by handshake or conversation, whether by extending friendship or learning what it's like to walk in that person's shoes can have a profoundly positive effect on that person and the wider world. And on you. Advertisement As I have striven to make the Jesus way my way, I have benefited tremendously from my warm interactions with people who are not my tribe or group: Muslims, African Americans, LGBT people, and so on. Perhaps my most flagrant "transgression" in this regard is my engaging seriously with the figure of Jesus, who would seem off limits to a nonbeliever like me, who is deeply bound up with a Christendom that is not my world--but whose wisdom and way offer far too much to remain confined behind a culturally imposed boundary. 2. I have become cognizant of the futility of violence. Examining our world through a Jesus lens, I see that violence alone does not yield the sustaining solutions it promises. Following Jesus, I am continually committing to a philosophy that regards violence as an absolute last resort, understanding that it invariably perpetuates the very problem it ostensibly aims to solve; namely, violence. Through a Jesus lens, I see that violence alone does not yield sustaining solutions Jesus showed and shared great wisdom on this score -- wisdom that remains highly applicable today. When the soldiers came to arrest him and his disciple unsheathed his sword to fight, Jesus told him to put it away, uttering the famous words, "Live by the sword, die by the sword." Lest we dismiss this nonviolence as hopelessly futile and quixotic, let's remember the impact nonviolent Jesus has had on history. Let's recall how nonviolence has moved mountains, figuratively speaking, when deployed by people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Let's remember the futility of violence stopping violence in the place where violence always starts: in the human heart. Advertisement 3. I have been persuaded to worry less, trust more. Ours is an anxious age. National decline, enemies poised to kill us, supposed friends and partners keen to put one over on us -- we have these and more to keep us on high alert, we're told, not to mention those pesky personal matters like our finances, relationships, health and status. So much to worry about! Jesus taught that we should take a breath and be calm. In one memorable Bible story, Jesus and the disciples are traveling by boat when they are hit by a raucous storm. The boat is tossed violently. Yet Jesus, as if to practice what he preaches, sleeps -- yes, sleeps. When he finally wakes, he calms the squall that's been blowing on the sea and in his followers' hearts. What a powerful metaphor for what can happen when we trust the Jesus way in our engagement with our fears and worries. Not that we shouldn't think through our problems and plans. But the Jesus teaching helps me see that at a certain point we have done all we can, and that pointless worrying will add not a single "cubit" to the length, or quality, of our lives. 4. I have come to see how Jesus can "save" us (and, no, it's not what you think). Are you saved? This has been Christianity's central question in our time, at least in the religion's more conservative precincts. Most of us, whether we are Christian or otherwise, know the proposition: Accept Jesus as your lord and savior or face an afterlife of eternal torment and punishment. It's a shame that Jesus is set up this way. It has the unfortunate effect of making him irrelevant to the many of us who will not or cannot buy into heaven and hell. And it erases the enormously rich set of Jesus teachings and insights relevant to this world, this life. But I've come to see that the Jesus way indeed can "save" us, depending on what you mean -- even if we are secular and find no motivation whatsoever in the promises and threats of a wondrous or hellish afterlife. Following Jesus, I suggest, can save us from trivial self-seeking, from consumerism and the never-satiated need for more, more, more, and from a life that misses the point. Jesus, I have found, can save us from the hell of a life lived only for ourselves. Advertisement 5. The Jesus way has got me to see that we cannot cast off responsibility for the plights and problems of "other people." I was reminded of the Jesus ethic recently when I popped into a Mexican restaurant and was stopped in my tracks by an arresting poster near the door. It was a sketch of a Middle Eastern-looking man with a baby tucked in his coat. "Refugees," the poster bade, "are welcome here. Stop profiling Muslims." Given the ethnic background of the restaurant proprietors and staff, you'd think they had enough to worry about with respect to "their own kind" being demonized during this season of anti-immigrant sentiment. How moving -- how motivating -- that they could extend their sphere of concern and stand in solidarity with members of another threatened group. There was a time when public health discussions on tobacco were an extraordinarily open process. Government officials met a wide range of people and listened to their concerns and ideas as they formulated policy. Among the "contributors" were representatives of the tobacco industry, which offered assurances about its earnest intentions. The tobacco industry had access to policy-makers and infiltrated public health forums and because everyone involved was open the industry gained access to internal government documents listing a wide range of ways of regulating the industry. All that changed when courts, particularly in North America, began considering cases from tobacco victims. Judges ordered - as is normal in such matters - that the tobacco industry discloses internal documents to plaintiffs. It became clear that the industry lied when denying the harms caused by their products, disputing scientific findings, and luring millions, including the world's youth, into addiction, in a drive to build its business. Advertisement The publication of this mountain of paperwork (the documents are now numbered in the millions) from the late 20th and early 21st centuries was a watershed moment, providing incontrovertible evidence that the tobacco industry could not be trusted. There was no sign of the earnest partner the industry claimed to be. Documents show how the industry worked behind the scenes successfully lobbying policy makers to discontinue or water down tobacco control measures. The documents mapped efforts to delay and confound policy initiatives and to create vast new markets in the developing world. They also show how the tobacco industry created or co-opted front groups to defend their interests and used tobacco farmers to prevent governments pushing on with public health policies. As British American Tobacco's (BAT) chairman noted in an internal memo in 1990: "We should not be depressed simply because the total free world market appears to be declining... There are areas of strong growth, particularly in Asia and Africa... it is an exciting prospect." The revelations kept on coming, including the disclosure that industry research was suppressed or secretly moved to other countries to put material beyond the reach of the courts. Other documents showed how the industry conspired in attempts to raise the proportion of women smokers to the levels of men. Advertisement The tobacco industry documents had a significant effect - firstly on the court cases to which they related, but just as importantly in creating a resolution among policy-makers. If the tobacco industry was now a global industry seeking to expand to new markets, the response must be equally global. The UN Tobacco Control treaty itself, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), was a response to the transnational nature of the business and the need for a global response to curb the epidemic. It entered into force in 2005 becoming the first global health treaty, an attempt to strongly regulate the trade in this noxious product. The Convention brought together various government sectors with public health experts, researchers and others in the certainty that unified action was required to counteract the industry's behaviour. This, we fervently hoped would save millions of lives. We have been successful in doing so, even as we recognise that the tobacco industry is expanding its markets, placing many more people at risk of premature death. The tobacco industry is targeting Parties' delegations attending the world's largest intergovernmental meeting solely dedicated to tobacco control. At the last Conference of the Parties in 2014, letters were sent representing tobacco industry interests petitioning finance officials on taxation. Advertisement We cannot sit at the negotiating table with the people who caused this global disaster because one thing is crystal clear - this industry lies. Publicly it speaks in a mild voice, while behind the scenes it executes policies in absolute opposition to its public statements, ultimately killing one in every two regular users of its products. So when we meet in Delhi in November for the WHO FCTC's seventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP), we will be making documents available, we will be briefing journalists and we will publicize our decisions. We will also guard against tobacco industry interference, this most untrustworthy of businesses. It would be a dereliction of our duty to do otherwise. That means some sessions will be held in public and some behind closed doors, normal in international meetings and as provided by the rules of the FCTC Conference of the Parties. We will be as open as possible, but we are not naive. We have learned a critical lesson - this industry can never be trusted and will try to disrupt and confound the tobacco control process. From birth control pills to female genital mutilation, men are obsessed with the idea that sex should determine the way women live, if only to serve the male ego. "They only have one thing on their minds." That's what we're taught from a very early age, men are always thinking about sex. I see no problem in their mind taking them places, I don't think anyone does. The problem I have is with the male obsession of bringing sex into places where it doesn't matter, and more importantly, where they (men) don't matter - a woman's education, her career, her family, and her life. The world does not revolve around sex or a man's idea of what's right and wrong about sex. Try telling that to any man in any position to make decisions for the common people and you'll understand why I'm writing this article. Advertisement Last week, in an interview with Egyptian news outlet, Youm7, Egyptian Parliamentary Member Elhamy Agina called for mandatory virginity-tests for all women entering universities. He even went on to say that he should be in charge of reviewing all virginity tests. Not only does no religion permit such an act, virginity tests are also a complete invasion of a person's privacy, are not actually valid, and virginity does not define a woman's status. Despite all this evidence against virginity exams, and the backlash Agina has received, he continues to stand by his "suggestion" that women receive periodic virginity exams. Why? To rid Egypt of common-law marriages. The funny thing is, in Egypt, men take part in common-law marriages as well, but no one is asking them to prove their virginity. Despite the fact that 200,000 Egyptian women report being raped a year, Egyptian men (or all men) are not held accountable for sex, consensual or not. Say a woman was raped at some time in her life; should that stop her from getting an education? Advertisement According to Agina, yes. In fact, his excuse of ridding Egypt of common-law marriages is a weak one, as he goes on to say that the parents of any women who fail the test will be notified. So this isn't a way to stop common-law marriage, but to scare women out of: 1) Having sex or natural sexual desires (Agina also suggested recently that women should undergo genital mutilation to curb their sex drives to match that of "sexually weak men"). 2) Speaking up about being raped/assaulted. 3) Getting an education. Oh, and this guy is part of Egypt's human rights committee. Contrary to popular, bigoted belief, punishing women for sex (whether they wanted it or not) does exist beyond the Middle East. We've been fighting for reproductive and women's health rights in America for decades. We still don't have access to universal birth control, victims are blamed for rape both on and off campuses, and we slut-shame girls who do exactly what "players" do. America may not require virginity tests in the literal sense, but it does implement the idea in every aspect of society. The issue isn't religious or cultural. It's a universal, gender based idea - I began working as a consultant in change management services with my current employer back in 1991. After trying to juggle raising two kids with my consulting career-my husband also had a career in consulting-I hit the wall in 2000 and went through a total burnout. This life-changing experience gave me the opportunity to make some major changes and to find my mission in life. I transitioned to a human resources role and used my personal experience to put mental health on our company's agenda, as well as to put in place the mechanisms to promote a healthy work-life balance.In 2010, I took on the role of Human Capital & Diversity lead for Norway. In this role I work on developing leadership, talent and culture. I am also the Nordic Inclusion & Diversity lead. My passion for inclusion and diversity grew out of my life experiences: my professional burnout in 2000; the lessons I learned while restructuring my life and my career to find balance and pursue roles that are meaningful to me; and by being the mother of two beautiful children adopted from Colombia (now 20 and 17 years old). Each of those experiences gave me insight into being "different" in both positive and negative ways and inspired me to focus on the diversity of our people, especially those who struggle and who are not part of the majority. Advertisement I feel really blessed to work in areas and on projects that are so close to my heart. I really feel that I was put in this world to make a difference in the inclusion and diversity area. My life was preparing me for this work-I can see that clearly now. I am credible in my role because I have experienced how important it is to be included and valued for who you are, even when you do not follow the path of the majority and even when you fail. We each bring different insights and value to a team. When those difference are valued, synergies and solutions are created that would not have been possible if we all were the same. Lessons from a proud daughter In 2008, my beautiful and proud daughter came out of the closet at age 13. As her mother, I have certainly made mistakes, but I have also been able to learn and explore a new world. Together, we have participated in the Oslo Pride parade, the San Diego Pride parade, and we have visited the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community in San Francisco. She protested, however, when I said that I wanted to watch "The L Word" television series (I did anyway), which portrays the lives of a group of lesbians and their friends and connections in Los Angeles. A mural announcing the 2016 IMF meetings. ZACH GIBSON (AFP) Spain may appear to be ungovernable at the moment, but its GDP is not bothered. The euro zones fourth-largest economy will grow 3.1% this year and 2.2% in 2017, according to new estimates released on Tuesday by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The fact that the nation has been under a caretaker government for nearly 10 months has not reduced the international lending bodys growth forecast for Spain. On the contrary: its experts have raised their July forecast for 2016 by half a percentage point, and their estimate for 2017 by a tenth of a point. In April, the IMF warned Madrid that more adjustments will be necessary These estimates are higher that the own Spanish governments latest official forecast of 2.7%, released in April, and in line with the views of other global analysts. The IMF figures represent a beacon of economic hope amid the political turmoil. We have marked up our forecast for Spain this year despite the prolonged political uncertainty, and there are a couple of reasons for that, said Gian Maria Milesi-Ferretti, the deputy director of the IMFs research department, at a press conference in Washington DC. The economy has been quite strong in the first half of the year. That weighs a lot on determining what the growth rate is going to be for 2016. A second factor is an external environment that has been more benign than observers, including ourselves, were thinking, especially after the UK vote of last June. With this more favorable external government, very good market conditions, there has been less emphasis on the dangers that a protracted period of political uncertainty can bring. he added. But the IMF official also warned that the Spanish government will need to resume its fiscal adjustment in a gradual fashion, given that public debt is reaching 100% of GDP, and the fiscal deficit has overshot targets in part because of the fact that there is more political uncertainty. Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF. AFP The Spanish economys growth rate this year is nearly twice the euro zone average of 1.6%, although slower than 2015. Unemployment figures continue to be disappointing, however: there are no significant changes to the IMFs forecast for the Spanish job market, which is expected to have a unemployment rate of 19.4% in 2016 and 18% in 2017. Only Greece is doing worse, with figures in excess of 20%. Spains public accounts are taking a bigger hit from the prolonged lack of government. In July of this year, the combined public deficit of all public administrations , excluding local councils (ayuntamientos), was already 3.27% of GDP, making it unlikely that Spain will meet its EU target of 4.6% for this year. In April, the IMF warned Madrid that more adjustments will be necessary despite the years of austerity and budget cuts. The mission is coming Last spring, the IMF mission that travels to member countries to draw up the organizations annual economic report decided to postpone its Madrid visit until a new government was up and running. Spain had held a general election with a fractured outcome, and parties were still bickering over potential governing deals. Now, with a second election come and gone and no progress made, the IMF has decided that it can wait no longer, and that the mission will travel to Spain between October 13 and 25, government or no government. English version by Susana Urra. Muslim American Libyan journalist Noor Tagouri is in the news lately because she appeared in Playboy magazine to spread a positive and much needed message. Tagouri is growling at the camera, fully clothed wearing a leather jacket, jeans and copper headscarf. She talks about modesty and her dream of becoming the first veiled anchorwoman in the United States. You don't have to have an active imagination to picture social media's response to a hijabi appearing in a magazine historically associated with nude women. Many comments on the article, on Facebook, and Twitter are horrendous, insulting Tagouri's character and morals. Others are positive and many posts on my own Facebook feed generated a discussion about individuality, choice, and Islam. I stayed quiet about my thoughts, reading the discussions on Facebook and liking whenever someone had a valid point. The whole time the only thought that was going through my head was, if an unveiled Muslim woman appeared in Playboy talking about social justice or modesty we wouldn't even be having a discussion! The comments would be nothing but insults and the majority of the Muslim community would not have her back. If you stop for a second and think about what the controversy of Tagouri appearing in Playboy really boils down to it's this: Islam has a women problem. When Muslim women are in the public eye people freak out. They automatically throw assumptions and assume the worst. I know this from my experience as a contestant in the first ever Miss Arab USA Pageant where I represented Libya in traditional garb. Comments on my page were personal attacks and assumptions by Muslims who'd never had a conversation with me. Advertisement So why do Muslims feel the need to insult and attack women whenever we do something that is a little different? Something that possibly pushes boundaries, breaks stereotypes, or makes people uncomfortable? We don't hold Muslim men to the same regard, so why women? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves when we see Muslim women appearing in public doing something we may not agree with. These are the types of questions that lead to reformation, and it doesn't take an analyst to realize that men with very traditional views have controlled the interpretation of the Quran for centuries. Gender inequality is real and women live with it every day. It's the 21st century and yet women are still paid less than men for doing the same job, are routinely denied equal opportunity, and subject to insane societal rules regarding their gender. Even with Sony recently making headlines by paying the female lead of an upcoming blockbuster more than the male lead, it's not enough. GirlTalk HQ is working to even out the playing field. The website, dedicated to sharing daily news about global female empowerment, has launched an awareness campaign to push for gender equality in the marketplace with a petition aimed at removing the "Pink Tax" in Canada. According to a recent study conducted by Toronto-based ParseHub, Canadian women pay an average of 43 percent more for services and products than men pay for comparable items. What it means is that products that are targeted to women -- shaving cream, razors, deodorants, shampoo -- are priced higher than the same products for men. This is known as the Pink Tax and it can add up to almost $2,000 per year. Advertisement To illustrate the inherent sexism of the Pink Tax, a coffee shop charged women more than men for a cup of coffee and captured their reactions on video. "In fact, it is a constitutive characteristic of being human that it always points, and is directed, to something other than itself." - Viktor Frankl It was a bitter northern Colorado winter day last December. The kind of day on a college campus when students anxiously wait for that magical e-mail letting them know class is cancelled. I parked my car and headed to teach class, the campus a barren bright white desert as windswept snow swirled across an almost-empty parking lot. As a trudged through the snow, I noticed one of the campus facilities workers on the opposite sidewalk clearing a path. He had gotten off his adapted backhoe and started manually and meticulously clearing a portion of the concrete. Advertisement As we made eye contact he stopped what he was doing and silently walked over to a piece of sidewalk about ten feet in front of me. Upon noticing me, he vigorously restarted his careful method of clearing every last bit of the snow. As I passed I said, "Thanks." He looked up and said, "How's it going today?" "Okay," I said, "Ready for the snow to be over! You?" "As long as I can keep these sidewalks clear for the students, I am a happy man!" he said, laughing hard to himself. There was no supervisor there motivating him. There was no one even there (except me) to see and reward him for a job well done. Pay and benefits in that type of job are terrible. The task itself wasn't especially designed to be motivating. He probably didn't have a hand in crafting his job. So, then, what was motivating him? Maybe a better question is: What was pulling him through the apparent drudgery of the work in the unforgiving weather? Advertisement The object of his behavior seemed to not be himself, not his paycheck, and not some reward or recognition. It seemed to be something greater - more powerful and fulfilling than the usual motivation suspects. The higher purpose of his work - the university and the wellbeing of its students - was the object inspiring his exceptional work and apparent happiness. It is this space between him and the purpose of the organization that workplaces need to be especially concerned with. This space, this energy, is characterized in the psychological literature as self-transcendence. Inspiring it among your team can be transforming. Why should we care? If you are in your office right now, chances are that that at least one of the people in the offices on either side of you dislikes their job. With 70 percent of Americans disengaged in their work and managers and leaders theorizing how to motivate a purpose-oriented millennial workforce, commitment and motivation bestsellers are in vogue. Advertisement The problem is that most of these books focus on things we can "do" to push employees and not the things we believe in that pull us and fellow employees toward something greater than ourselves. We try to keep employees happy, not recognizing that happiness and wellbeing themselves are not sustainable objects of behavior. Rather, as Maslow and Frankl hypothesized, these are the side-effects of pursuing a meaning or calling greater than oneself. Research supports this. For example, psychologists have found that when over 435 soon-to-be college graduates were surveyed, 68% of them indicated that a spiritual calling and sense of higher purpose at work was important to them. When over 370 employees were surveyed in the same study, 62% percent of them indicated that a connection to a higher purpose was a critical aspect of their work. This is precisely why focusing on the psychological and spiritual notion of self-transcendence to a compelling higher organizational purpose is critical in the modern workplace. Pulling vs. Pushing "It is one of the immediate data of life experience that man is pushed by drives but pulled by meaning." - Viktor E. Frankl There is a reason we have tow-trucks and not push-trucks. Basic physics tells us that when you push there is one component of force that adds to the weight of the body and hence there is more friction. When you pull the vertical component of force is against the weight of body and hence there is less overall friction. So it is easy to pull than push an object. This elementary physics lesson provides an example of why most motivation tactics in our organizations ultimately fail or are short-lived. We are trying to push people by offering rewards, big salaries, and flashy perks. This is hard and expensive pushing! And, it almost always doesn't last. Self-Transcendence Pulls Self-transcendence can best and most simply be defined as the phenomenon that occurs when one's behaviors are oriented toward an object outside of oneself. In the workplace, studies have shown that one of the most powerful objects of this behavior is a higher organizational purpose that serves society and others beyond the bounds of the organization. In their book, Make Your Job a Calling, psychology professors Bryan Dik and Ryan Duffy found that when employees have a calling with a "transcendent summons" (that is, an outside object inspiring behaviors) "...they are more committed to their jobs and organizations, more intrinsically motivated and engaged, and more satisfied with their jobs." By creating and fostering organizational cultures that are oriented toward a compelling global purpose, thereby inspiring a self-transcendence to this purpose, we can pull ourselves and fellow employees toward an inspiring higher calling. Advertisement And unlike a push, the pull never goes away. In organizations with a deeply held and compelling higher organizational purpose, there is a constant striving to deliver the purpose. That is why, I believe, in the bitter cold, that worker was meticulously clearing the sidewalk in front of me. This year's 'Best of' goes to local Children aged between 10 and 15 are now the biggest internet users. EFE A 12-year-old Spanish boy who ended up with bills totaling nearly 100,000 after accidentally signing up to a Google advertising service has seen his debts cancelled by the online giant. High school student Jose Javier from the town of Torrevieja in Spains Valencia region was one of the legion of young Spaniards hoping to make money from YouTube - in his case via advertisements which appeared alongside videos he posted on YouTube of his music group Los Salerosos. My son didnt know what he was doing. Now hes famous at school and his mother is on television Mother of Jose Javier Instead Javier mistakenly signed up for the Google AdWords service which allows people to people set up an advertising budget and only pay when their advertisements are clicked on. I didnt know what my son was up to, the boys mother Inma Quesada told EL PAIS. He thought he was making money and not the opposite. He wanted to buy instruments for the band and things like that, although he did tell his friend that if they got rich they would have a mansion, she added. Jose Javier was able to set up the Google AdWords service using a savings account his family had set up for him to cover future costs like a driving license, his mother said, explaining that the company had asked only for a name and an account number. In early September, Google started to call in its debts, with sums demanded eventually climbing to 19,700. Jose Javier's bank account with a starting balance of just 2,000 was already in the red and the bank alerted the boys parents to what was going on. At that point, the parents put a block on the account and sent the bills back to Google. But this didnt stop Google trying to charge another 78,000 to the account. After news of the case broke in the Spanish press, Google issued a statement saying that Jose Javier would not be liable for the costs incurred. We have analyzed this case and we havent received any money from the user. We are going to cancel the outstanding AdWords debt. Many online services, including Google Adwords, have age restrictions, the company said, adding it was committed to ensuring families could use the internet in a safe way. Like many young Spaniards, Jose Javier hoped YouTube would help make him rich Quesada, an unemployed mother of three whose husband is a street vendor, says her son has now been punished and will not be able to use his computer for some time. My son didnt know what he was doing. Now hes famous at school and his mother is on television, she said. Ive told him that his actions have consequences but he doesnt seem to realize, he thinks nothings going to happen. We are more realistic, Jose Javiers mother said. The boys parents have called in a lawyer but the response from Google suggests the move will prove unnecessary. Jose Javiers story highlights both the lack of control when it comes to contracting services online and the myth that users have actually read the terms and conditions of a contract before clicking a button saying they have done so. Meanwhile Victor Salgado at Pintos & Salgado Abogados stresses that minors do not have the power to contract services like Google AdWords, and this would make a contract signed by someone like Jose Javier null and void. In cases where parents had actually authorized their children to set up such a service it would have to be shown that the parents had given permission to hand over bank account details to the company concerned. English version by George Mills. Yahoo built a secret software program last year to search all of its customers incoming emails at the behest of U.S. intelligence officials, according to a Reuters report.Citing sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that Yahoo has scanned hundreds of millions of email accounts at the direction of the National Security Agency and the FBI.The news comes at a bad time for Yahoo, which is already dealing with blowback from revelations that a 2014 data breach had exposed the information of 500 million users. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is calling for an SEC investigation into Yahoos handling of the breach.The companys decision to scan customer emails for the government led to tensions among senior executives and led to the departure last year of Alex Stamos, the companys chief information security officer, Reuters reported. Stamos is now the head of information security at Facebook.According to Reuters, a classified directive, demanding to search Yahoo Mail accounts, was sent to the companys legal team. While phone and internet companies have handed over data to intelligence agencies before, former government officials told Reuters theyd never seen such a broad directive for real-time data collection or one that required the creation of a new, dedicated program.Yahoo is a law abiding company, and complies with the laws of the United States, the company said in a statement sent in response to Reuters inquiries about the matter. However, customers must buy insurance from the exchanges to avail of the subsidies. This provision has left millions of Americans in a crunch, as they may be leaving money on the table if they dont buy from their off-exchange marketplaces again for 2017 coverage. HHS adds that several states have more than 100,000 individuals enrolled in off-exchange insurance policies who may qualify for subsidies if they purchase on the exchanges. Further, another estimated 7 million buy individual coverage without the benefit of tax credit for the full price of the policy. This set up can expose them to sharp premium hikes if they dont shift to a cheaper plan. Some insurance companies have proposed increases of more than 10% for next year. Additionally, HHS said although it has already extended subsidies to some 9 million policy holders, many remain unaware of the potential benefits of joining these exchanges. Alex Foster and Richard Boulger held a small jam session before splitting the band into groups. Professional Musicians Provide Free Clinic To Mount Greylock Band Students Alex Foster asked students to match the note he played with their voices. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Saturday Night Live saxophonist Alex Foster and New York City-based trumpet player Richard Boulger provided a free clinic to Mount Greylock band students. Last week Foster, saxophonist in the SNL house band and Boulger, a North Adams native and recording artist, visited Berkshire County schools to give free clinics sponsored by New Jersey musical instrument manufacturer RS Berkeley. "We are going to show them a few technical things and some exercises that will help them improve," Foster said just the lesson started. "Just stuff they can do if they want to devote some time to practicing that will elevate their level of musicianship that can hopefully open some doors for them." Boulger said many of the exercises they shared in the clinic are ones that have served both him and Foster well for years. "These are very specific exercises that I have done my whole lifeMany I picked up in my time with Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd and just years of playing," Boulger said. "They simplify these complex ideas to help that freshman in high school who has enormous potential and does not know it yet." After an introduction, Boulger and Foster split the band in two. Foster spent time with the woodwinds and Boulger took the brass section. Band Director Lyndon Moors said he hopes Foster and Boulger can show his students that it is possible to keep playing music after high school. "Its easy to listen to recordings, which we do, but to actually hear and see live musicians that are doing all of the things that we just talk about is great," Moors said. "There is a life after high school and people play music because they enjoy it and some people make a career out of it." Richard Boulger demonstrated some simple exercises on the trumpet that has helped him over the years. Boulger noted that Wood Brothers in Pittsfield now carry RS Berkeley instruments and said one of their goals is to make music more assessable to students. He said they do this by offering affordable instruments and sponsoring clinics. "This is the philosophy. They offer the instruments but also offer students education and insights from some great players," Boulger said. "It really is about trying to tap into something within each kid that is in there, and if we can turn that light on we have accomplished something." Foster agreed and if anything, he hopes the clinics inspire. "I want to pass on a little inspiration but with whatever they are involved in," Foster said. "If they put their minds to it and devote a little bit of their time to it then whatever they try to do is going to get better." Foster and Boulger also gave clinics at Herberg Middle School and Lee High School. A Tupolev 160 Blackjack in an image supplied by the French Ministry of Defense. Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets were scrambled off the coast of Bilbao in late September after two Russian bombers triggered alarms from the Norwegian Arctic to the western edge of Europe. In what the French Defense Ministry described as a show of force unseen since the Cold War, two Tupolev 160 long-range bombers, known in NATO parlance as Blackjacks, flew provocatively close to Spanish airspace along the countrys northern coast after setting off on September 22 from their base in Russia. Vladimir Putin has been accused of Cold War-style brinkmanship The Tupolevs, which are equipped with cruise missiles, were detected at 9.13am close to Norwegian airspace. In response, Norway sent up two F-16s, which accompanied them until they approached Scotland, where two UK Typhoons were waiting to monitor their progress down the west coast of Ireland, after which they headed south toward France. At 1.57pm, two French Rafales approached the Tupolevs, which were just 100 kilometers from the coast of France. The two French fighters followed the Tupolevs until 2.33pm. The two bombers then turned west along the Spanish coast, accompanied by two Spanish F-18s, said the Spanish Defense Ministry. Once they reached a point off the coast of Bilbao, they headed up to the west coast of Ireland. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of Cold War-style brinkmanship after a series of similar incidents with NATO aircraft across Europe, with more than 100 Russian planes intercepted in 2014 alone. In November, Russian bombers flew more than 12,000 kilometers around Europe to bomb positions in Syria Since then, Russia has fired dozens of cruise missiles from bombers and warships since it began a military campaign to back the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad last year. Its planes have also dropped large numbers of bombs on Syrian rebel positions. In November, Russian bombers flew more than 12,000 kilometers around the northern and western edge of Europe to bomb positions in Syria rather than flying across the Caspian Sea and Iran, in what was described by NATO as a show of force. In September, two Russian Blackjack jets were intercepted over the North Sea by the Royal Air Force. In May last year, two Russian Bear bombers were tracked flying near UK airspace near the north of Scotland. They were escorted away from the area by Typhoons but were not regarded as a threat. Most encounters of this kind have ended peacefully but last year Turkey shot down a Russian jet it claimed passed into its airspace while carrying out operations in Syria. English version by Nick Lyne. The Ordinance and Rules Committee filed the petition Monday night. Pittsfield Ends Residency Requirement Debate PITTSFIELD, Mass. The city will not implement a residency requirement for those who serve on boards and commissions. The City Council's Ordinance and Rules Committee filed the citizen's petition asking for such a rule on Monday night, after it had been sent back to the committee a second time. The petition was filed by resident David Pill and the subcommittee began its deliberations in May. After failing to come to an agreement on it, it was sent back to the full City Council for debate last month, only for the council to send it back to the committee level. "He brought this to me some months ago. We met, talked about it, and then after he submitted the petition we got it here and debated it pretty thoroughly in a number of iterations, amendments here, amendments there, nothing really stuck. We reached a stalemate, sent it to the full council and at full council we hit another stalemate. They sent it back," Ward 3 Councilor Nicholas Caccamo said. After all of that, Caccamo said he spoke with Pill over the weekend and the decision was made to file it instead, saying the petition did at least generate a healthy debate. "We thought it had its day," Caccamo said. "We did debate it ad nauseam." Subcommittee Chairwoman Melissa Mazzeo agreed that the petition was certainly debated and triggered a large community discussion. She said she hopes that conversation helps spur interest in some city residents to serve on boards and commissions. "It really generated a good conversation," Mazzeo said. But, she came to Monday's meeting prepared to continue the discussion. She said she found a possible compromise in the way Somerset handles a requirements, by allow two type of waivers - one approved by the city council if the candidate's expertise will be of value and one granted automatically if no city residents applied for the position. She suggested the committee keep that in mind should the concept come back. For the proponents, the idea was that anyone making decisions that impacts the city should be subject to those decisions. The petition asked for all members of boards and commissions be city residents. But, that isn't as easy as it sounds. The city currently has dozens of people sitting on boards and commissions, who would have to be removed. There are current vacancies already. The rules regarding the make up of each board sometimes require certain expertise or job, positions which may not be found in Pittsfield. Further, there are people serving on boards who own property here - thus impacted by the decisions - but don't reside in the city. Opponents said it doesn't matter where the volunteer sleeps at night if he is qualified. The idea was that the city should be welcoming all types of volunteers and appointing the most qualified people to do the job. The subcommittee attempted to weave through the intricacies by presenting concepts such as having the requirement only on boards and commissions with special permit granting authority , allowing those who own property in the city as well, or allowing certain expertise's to serve. Whatever it was, the subcommittee and then City Council could not get to common ground. Monday's vote put an end to this particular petition, but that doesn't mean it will be gone forever. Caccamo suggested that such a requirement may be better put before voters as a ballot initiative. A Facebook picture of the couple that was hacked to death in Pioz (Guadalajara). The case of the Brazilian family found hacked to death inside a house in central Spain has taken a surprising new turn. Although investigators first suspected a settling of accounts over drug debts as the motive for the crime, sources familiar with the investigation have confirmed that the couple and their two small children were in fact assassinated by the fathers own nephew, a 20-year-old Brazilian citizen described as violent and unstable. Three days after the discovery, a Spanish court issued an international arrest warrant against Patrick Nogueira The Spanish Civil Guard is also accusing Brazilian authorities of letting the suspect go after he returned to Brazil on a flight from Spain shortly after the grisly discovery. We have no doubt whatsoever that it was him, Francois Patrick Nogueira, the victims nephew, said Civil Guard Commander Reyes at a press conference held on Wednesday in Guadalajara. We have a large amount of evidence. A couple of days ago, police in his home town of Joao Pessoa (capital of Paraiba state) took a statement from the suspect and then let him go despite the evidence in their power, said the Spanish law enforcement officer. Grisliest crime in memory The corpses were found inside plastic bags in mid-September after neighbors complained about the stench coming from the house. Investigators believe the victims had been dead for at least a month. Police were shocked to find that the couples young children, aged one and five, had also been dismembered in one of the grisliest crimes in Spains collective memory. The Spanish Civil Guard gave a press conference on Wednesday. Pepe Zamora (EFE) This led investigators to initially suspect that the parents may have been on the run over drug debts, and that the murder was a methodical crime probably perpetrated by narcos and hired killers described as very tough and professional people. But on Wednesday, investigators revealed that the killer is in fact one Francois Patrick Nogueira Gouveira, the 20-year-old nephew of Marcos Nogueira. The killings are now being described as a crime of passion. Two days after the bodies were discovered, the young man, who had been living in Spain, took a flight back to Brazil. At one point he had lived for four months with his uncle and aunt, Janaina Santos Americo, with whom he was reportedly obsessed. That was before the family moved to a detached home in Pioz, in the sparsely populated Guadalajara province, in what investigators now believe was a bid to get away from the young man. Janaina had complained about him to her own relatives in Brazil. He was described as having a psychotic personality and is said to have seriously attacked a teacher in Brazil while still underage. The Brazilian media outlet Globo.com, which first revealed the identities of the victims, reports that the suspect stabbed a teacher at age 16 in an assassination attempt. An arrest warrant On September 22, just three days after the bodies were found, a court in Guadalajara issued an international arrest warrant against Patrick Nogueira Gouveira. By then, he was already back in Brazil after changing his travel date from the original November 16. The date change was made just 24 hours after news broke of the grisly discovery in Pioz. Brazilian authorities have been uncooperative so far, leading Spanish investigators to partially release information about the case. One of Marcos Nogueiras siblings, Walfran Campos, is trying to collect the 25,000 required to take the bodies back to Brazil for burial. English version by Susana Urra. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announces the end to the ceasefire. CESAR CARRION (AFP) More information Santos anuncia que el cese al fuego bilateral se prolonga hasta el 31 de octubre Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Tuesday that a ceasefire between government forces and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) would only be extended until October 31. The statement from Santos came two days after Colombian voters narrowly rejected a peace deal that promised to bring 52 years of conflict to an end a shock result that has plunged the country into a deep political crisis. Critically, it also came after Santos had previously assured Colombians a ceasefire would remain in place even after victory for the no vote in Sundays plebiscite. FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, alias Timochenko, responded via Twitter, asking: From then on, the war continues? That tweet was followed by an even more worrying message from Pastor Alape, a member of FARCs secretariat. We should move all of our units to more secure positions to avoid confrontations, the official wrote. Meanwhile, other FARC members sent messages affirming they were going to carry out protests on Wednesday aimed at defending a peace deal that had been four years in the making, and which supporters worry now may end up on the scrap heap. After the statement by Santos, the countrys Defense Ministry and the presidents office rushed to downplay the leaders announcement noting that the countrys constitution barred Santos from extending a ceasefire that was a feature of the peace deal rejected by the people of Colombia. Time is very important: we are in a grey zone. A dangerous and risky limbo Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos There is little doubt, however, that Santoss message was also a direct challenge to former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe, the public face of the no campaign in the lead-up to Sundays plebiscite, and other key opponents of the peace deal with the FARC. Lets hope we have proposals as soon as possible. Time is very important: we are in a grey zone. A dangerous and risky limbo, said Santos. However, neither Uribe, who was the president of Colombia from 2002 to 2010, nor FARC have made their positions clear in the wake of Sundays vote, with Santos now in damage-control mode having to do the legwork. Uribe, whose referendum campaign was marked by fearmongering over the dangers of allowing FARC to join the countrys political mainstream, has now toned down his message. This has seen him insisting Colombia must avoid a return to war without offering any concrete proposals. It is clear, however, that the positions of Uribe and FARC could not be more different. The guerrilla group argues the result of the plebiscite shows that Colombia has a political problem, and the country is deeply divided. The groups leaders have also used social media to argue that the peace deal doesnt need reworking. The text, those leaders say, has already been deposited with the Swiss Federal Council and is therefore legally binding. In other words, FARC are suggesting the result of Sundays vote is irrelevant. But Uribe, currently a senator in the Colombian parliament, sees the problem as both a judicial and a political one. We havent opened this battle front for trivial reasons, we have deep convictions, the former president said on Monday. Uribe has made it clear that he has no intention of initiating a new peace process with FARC. Instead he wants to make changes to the existing deal, although he has ruled out any direct participation in talks with the leftist rebels. By announcing an end to the ceasefire Santos is directly challenging former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe, a key opponent of the country's peace deal Speaking on Monday, Uribe proposed a possible amnesty for FARC soldiers and insisted they needed effective protection in the interests of preventing violence. Both of those suggestions are, however, already included in the 297-page deal signed by the government and the guerrilla group. During the lead-up to the referendum, Uribe repeatedly stressed what he and many Colombians saw as a major flaw in the peace accord the fact that it would allow members of the guerrilla group to enter mainstream politics and that FARC members would not be imprisoned if they recognized they had committed crimes. Santos is due to meet with Uribe and Andres Pastrana Arango, another former president who opposed the peace deal, on Wednesday. No FARC representatives will be present at that meeting. English version by George Mills. The workshop at Olmos. Ezequiel Putruele More information Las carceles argentinas, al limite Built to hold 26,000 prisoners, the jails of Buenos Aires, Argentinas largest province, are currently holding a population of 33,000, and the number is rising fast. We inherited a penitentiary system where there are deficiencies with the food, drinking water, health, education and employment, admitted Justice Minister Gustavo Ferrari as he announced plans for a major overhaul in July. Last week, EL PAIS visited one of worst jails in Buenos Aires province, Olmos, built in the 1930s for 2,100 prisoners. At present, it has a population of 2,468. Located some 30 kilometers southeast of Buenos Aires at the mouth of the River Plate, the prison has seen sea air eat away at its walls, high-tension cables and fittings. Damp invades every inch of the institution. Some areas are flooded and cannot be used. As well as violence between inmates, there have been reports of torture Rising crime has led to calls for more police on the streets of Buenos Aires and for more criminals to be locked up. The problem is that there is no more room in the provinces jails: the population behind bars is growing at a rate of 1,600 inmates a year. Whats more, up to half of prisoners reoffend once they have served their time. The regional administration of Buenos Aires has promised to build more jails, but lacking the funds, will not do so for another decade Nobody wants to spend money on jails. People are demanding more police on the streets, more arrests. But where does all this end? With more people in jail. And what do we do with them? Here we try to give them an education, a trade, we do what we can, but we dont have the resources, says Horacio Piedrabuena, the governor of Olmos prison as he guides us through run-down corridors and rusty staircases. An abandoned cell in Olmos. Ezequiel Putruele Its hard to convince people that we need to spend money on jails as well as finding ways to keep young people out, and to look for alternatives to prison, because once somebody has been behind bars they are more likely to reoffend than start a new life when their sentence is over. We are already seeing a third generation here of grandchildren of people who have stolen, he says. The prisoners in Olmos do their best to do something useful with their time and even earn some money that they use to help renovate the prison. Some 22 prisoners aged between 18 and 21 who live next to each other in three cells are making origami swans that their families hope to sell. Its a micro-enterprise to buy materials to renovate the wing. With this money we could lay some new tiles in the showers, says Daniel, a prisoner here. The damp has eaten away at metal bars. Ezequiel Putruele Other prisoners are making brooms out of plastic soft drinks bottles, cutting them in to narrow strips, while another group is dismantling old computers to sell the parts. More ambitious prisoners have even managed to complete university degrees. We need a plan. Our prisons have been forgotten for years, many of them date back to the end of the 19th century, says Ferrari, who says he intends to reopen the jails hospital, which was closed six years ago, as well as rebuilding some areas to create new cells. Overpopulation is the main problem in Argentinas jails, but not the only one. As well as violence between inmates, there have been reports of torture, as a 2015 survey overseen by an independent commission confirms. It visited 28 prisons, carrying out a total of 45 inspections, and reported 12,787 complaints of torture and mistreatment. Two inmates talk in the canteen. Ezequiel Putruele Ferrari admits torture takes place. We have 300 confirmed cases and we have also sacked a number of guards who had been found guilty of torture but who were still working, he says, adding that since he took over in May, there have been real improvements. Argentinas middle classes continue to demand a tougher line with criminals, and there have even been a number of high-profile cases where people who have taken the law into their own hands have garnered widespread public sympathy. But while the debate continues over what to do about Argentinas soaring crime rates, the prison population continues to rise in an already overcrowded system. English version by Nick Lyne. Rabbi Eckstein Named to Jerusalem Posts 50 Most Influential Jews The Fellowship | October 5, 2016 Rabbi Eckstein Named to Jerusalem Post's 50 Most Influential Jews The Jerusalem Post has released its annual list of the worlds most influential Jewish people, and once again Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein has landed in the top 50. Benjamin Glatt reports that Rabbi Ecksteins tireless work to help Israel and Jewish communities around the world, as well as his bridge building between Christians and Jews, has placed him at number 23 on this years list: The social assistance Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews provide can be seen in all sectors of Israeli society and in Jewish communities around the world. Since founding the organization in 1983, Eckstein has raised more than $1.3 billion, and currently raises more than $140 million a year, mostly from Evangelicals, to assist Israel and the Jewish people. With Dignity and Fellowship, one of the flagship programs of the nonprofit organization, helps more than 10,000 senior citizens, many of them Holocaust survivors, in more than 20 cities in Israel, and has a budget of more than NIS 30,000,000. The organization has provided heaters and heating grants to poor elderly in Israel and countries in the former Soviet Union, sponsored extracurricular activities for the rocket-battered children of southern Israel and has donated life-saving equipment for hospitals across the country. Come time for the holidays, the IFCJ ensures that everyone has a proper, festive experience, by assisting food banks with the holiday congestion and handing out food and gift certificates to the needy and to lone soldiers. It also provides grants for Muslims and Christians for their respective holidays. Beginning in 2014, the IFCJ began direct aliya flights from war-torn eastern Ukraine, later expanding its Israel immigration and absorption program to help Jews in France, South America and even an Arab country, altogether bringing more than 4,000 Jews to Israel so far. The IFCJ is also active in minority communities in Israel, such as the Beduin, Druse and Arab-Christian communities, providing them with social welfare aid and education grants. Seeing the half of the glass that is not filled and feeling the pain of those people who are enduring that, and knowing that if I really push myself, and if we do better work, then we can address that and help them thats what keeps me going, Eckstein says After a life full of travels and adventures through half the world, 74-year-old photographer Barbara McClatchie met a tragic death in her retirement paradise in the Yucatan Peninsula, a treasure trove of Mayan culture and breathtaking natural beauty. Her body was found on Friday on the side of the highway that connects Cancun and Merida, the city where she lived. McClatchie was strangled. Authorities believe her taxi driver, who has been detained, killed her in order to rob her. Barbara McClatchie inside her Merida gallery in 2015. EFE More information Barbara McClatchie, asesinato de una artista trotamundos en Mexico We are horrified. I cant image how that could happen. Taxi drivers dont kill people. Taxi drivers dont kill people here! said Paula Sievert, her friend and a New Yorker who runs an art gallery in Merida, a quiet city that has been spared much of the crime seen in other parts of Mexico. We are all in shock, foreigners as well as Mexicans, Sievert said on Friday over the phone on behalf of the expat community in Merida. We are all in shock, foreigners as well as Mexicans Friend Paula Sievert McClatchie, raised in a well-to-do family in Vancouver, was a veteran photojournalist whose work has been published in National Geographic. She was a well-loved figure in the citys cultural circles. She settled in Merida in 2004 and, a year later, she opened a gallery that she named LaKech or The Other Me in Maya. The gallery showed works by local artists, especially young newcomers. The photographer was also the divorced mother of a son who lives in the United States. McClatchie had her main residence in Merida and another near the beach. She lived alone with her two dogs and a growing clowder of cats, since she was very active in animal-rescue efforts. Barbara was sociable, friendly, she knew a lot of people and her gallery was always open to artists who wanted to show their work, Sievert said. Barbara McClatchie in 2014. AP McClatchie dedicated most of her career to travel photography, capturing different cultures around the world. At 74 years old, she was still a fearless traveler. She had journeyed around much of Mexico and, every summer, she chose a special destination. The last one, Sievert said, was Turkey. Upon settling in Merida, McClatchie began to experiment with abstract photography. She was now trying underwater photography. She would dive in and take blurry images. Besides her native English, McClatchie spoke French and Spanish well. Her friends say she had a full life and that she handled herself perfectly well in Mexico. They do not believe she exposed herself to an obviously risky situation and cannot understand how this tragedy took place. McClatchie had just returned from a trip to Vancouver this week. Mexico, a country she loved, her friend said, was Barbara McClatchies tragic final journey. English version by Dyane Jean Francois. Secretary Ross reports on meeting with Vietnamese Ag officials Sacramento, California - A great meeting late Friday with Vietnam Vice Minister Tran Thanh Nam and his delegation. They were in California for farm visits, time with UC Davis and to continue discussions on climate smart agriculture that began during my visit to Vietnam in April. Vietnam is also suffering from a drought and the group was very impressed with our on-farm water efficient drop and sub-surface micro-drip technologies. We both agreed it would be spectacular to be able to foster farmer-to-farmer exchanges! Large Group of Endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs Reintroduced in the San Bernardino Mountains San Diego, California - More than 100 local mountain yellow-legged frogs (MYLF) will be making the San Bernardino Mountains their home after San Diego Zoo Global and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reintroduced the large group into the mountainous habitatincreasing the wild population of an endangered species that, in some areas, is on the brink of being extirpated. This release is part of a captive breeding program started by San Diego Zoo Global in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Bernardino National Forest, and other zoological institutions, including the Oakland Zoo and the Los Angeles Zoo. The program, now in its 10th year, began when scientists from USGS rescued 80 tadpoles from a drying creek bed in the San Jacinto Mountains and brought them to the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Since then, thousands of frogs have been bred and released back into the region, with almost 1,200 released in 2016. Our goal is to enhance the remaining wild population with captive-bred frogs and manage an efficient reintroduction program, said Natalie Calatayud, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate in reproductive physiology at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. After reintroduction, we monitor release success, growth, health and survival of particular individuals, giving us a better understanding of their life in the wild. Our captive MYLF breeding program will continue to supplement the wild populations in the region. Approximately 41 percent of amphibian species are at risk of extinction, making them the worlds most threatened taxonomic group. The MYLF is just one of many amphibians in peril, and like others, it is essential for maintaining the natural balance of the ecosystem in which it lives. Over the past 40 years, this frogs population steadily declined due to multiple factors, including habitat loss, drought, introduced predators (trout), pollution and the deadly amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus. Their numbers fell so dramatically that the mountain yellow-legged frog was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. One population of the species in City Creek was at critically low levels at the time of listing and may currently be extirpated. However, as evidence of the breeding programs success continues to grow, researchers have begun headstarting tadpoles from the City Creek population, with a plan to reintroduce individuals to that area next year (2017). When that happens, these released froglets will be the first group to be returned to an area where their population once flourished. Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is inspiring children through the San Diego Zoo Kids network, reaching out through the internet and in childrens hospitals nationwide. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global. Imperial County Sheriffs Office to Host Coffee with a Cop El Centro, California - Friday, October 7, the Imperial County Sheriffs Office will be participating in the first national Coffee with a Cop Day at six locations throughout Imperial County. The time varies for each location. Residents are invited to visit and have a cup of coffee with a Sheriffs deputy. This will provide the residents and community an opportunity to discuss any concerns, suggestions, or commend the deputies on the services they provide. The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down the barriers between police officers and the residents they serve. The Imperial County Sheriffs Office is committed to providing professional service and protection. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Coffee with a Cop events are free for the public. Please see the schedule below for more information. Coffee with a Cop Schedule: Suspension of Participation in Bilateral Channels With Russia Established to Sustain the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria Washington, DC - The United States is suspending its participation in bilateral channels with Russia that were established to sustain the Cessation of Hostilities. This is not a decision that was taken lightly. The United States spared no effort in negotiating and attempting to implement an arrangement with Russia aimed at reducing violence, providing unhindered humanitarian access, and degrading terrorist organizations operating in Syria, including Daesh and al Qaeda in Syria. Unfortunately, Russia failed to live up to its own commitments - including its obligations under international humanitarian law and UNSCR 2254 - and was also either unwilling or unable to ensure Syrian regime adherence to the arrangements to which Moscow agreed. Rather, Russia and the Syrian regime have chosen to pursue a military course, inconsistent with the Cessation of Hostilities, as demonstrated by their intensified attacks against civilian areas, targeting of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in need, including through the September 19 attack on a humanitarian aid convoy. The U.S. will also withdraw personnel that had been dispatched in anticipation of the possible establishment of the Joint Implementation Center. To ensure the safety of our respective military personnel and enable the fight against Daesh, the United States will continue to utilize the channel of communications established with Russia to de-conflict counterterrorism operations in Syria. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Being a modern gentleman is about more than just knowing what to wear or what to put in your bathroom. It's also about being informed about the world around you. We asked our friends at Amazon Books to put together a list of essential books every man should read, ranging from fiction to business. Keep scrolling for the books you shouldn't miss they just might change how you look at things. All captions by Amazon Books editor Chris Schluep. FASHION "Icons of Men's Style" by Josh Sims (Amazon (Amazon) "This one might be a little obvious, but it's a damn fine looking book, so I had to include it." BUSINESS: Silicon Valley "Chaos Monkeys" by Antonio Garcia Martinez "The author left Goldman Sachs to pursue work at a West Coast start-up, eventually landing at Facebook in the early years. He has since departed, but the memories remain, and his history is one of the few that exists around the company. It's not all free food and exercise ball chairs, and Martinez pulls no punches." BUSINESS: Hollywood "Powerhouse" by James Andrew Miller "From the author who brought you the ESPN oral history 'Those Guys Have All the Fun' comes an oral history featuring the players who helped to build modern day Hollywood the stars, the agents, the executives, and the tycoons." SCIENCE "Now: The Physics of Time" by Richard A. Muller (Amazon (Amazon) "This book is the kind of mind-expanding read that will give you something to think about late at night. Muller's passion for his topic shines through on every page. If you're at all concerned about time (and who isn't?), slow down long enough to read this book." ADVENTURE "The Lost City of Z" by David Grann "Author David Grann sets off on his own to trace the path of 1920s explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared deep in the Amazon jungle while searching for the fabled Lost City of Z." CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles "When a Bolshevik tribunal orders Count Alexander Rostov to spend the rest of his life inside Moscow's Hotel Metropol, who would guess we are about to be treated to a novel with one of the most memorable cast of characters to come along this year? To quote The Washington Post: 'How delightful that in an era as crude as ours this finely composed new novel by Amor Towles stretches out with Old-World elegance.'" CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE: AMERICAN "The Painter" by Peter Heller "Here's a literary novel about a famous artist who once served time for shooting a man. Set out west, and imbued with an artist's soul, 'The Painter' is about love, longing, and craft. With a little violence thrown in, too." CLASSIC LITERATURE "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald Classics like The Great Gatsby get an honourable mention (Am (Amazon) "Every man can benefit from a reading of this novel, and most can benefit from a re-reading." NONFICTION "Hillbilly Elegy" by J.D. Vance "Sometimes it's important to remember that your life experience is not everyone's life experience. Reading 'Hillbilly Elegy' will leave you tottering on the edge of the American Dream." PHILOSOPHY "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius "Sometimes it's useful to turn to the personal writings of a centuries-old great man to realise that our problems haven't changed that much. You'd be surprised how many people cite 'Meditations' as one of their favorite books." BIOGRAPHY "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen (Amazon (Amazon) "This is the memoir you might not have known you were waiting for. Driven by a hunger for success, Springsteen wrote and played his way out of Freehold, New Jersey and into music history. Now he's written a memoir that befits the rock icon that he is raw, honest, original." FITNESS "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall "That's right; the same title twice on this list. McDougall takes you deep into the Mexican desert to meet a tribe of barefoot super-runners. This is the book that launched the barefoot running obsession but it's way more interesting than just that." HISTORICAL MYSTERY "The Last Days of Night" by Graham Moore (Amazon (Amazon) "When the first light bulbs illuminated New York's streets in the 1880s, they blew people's minds and changed the nature of night. But did you know that Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse pursued each other in a high stakes lawsuit over light bulb patents? This page-turner of an historical thriller tells that story, set against the backdrop of the Gilded Age." AUTOBIOGRAPHY "Barbarian Days" by William Finnegan "Finnegan, a New Yorker staff writer, won the 2016 Pulitzer for this exceptional account of a life spent chasing waves across the world. This is not only a feat of writing about surfing, it's a feat of writing." Read more: This chart is easy to interpret: It says we're screwed How Uber became the world's most valuable startup These 4 things could trigger the next crisis in Europe Read the original article on Business Insider UK. 2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. Should Diaspora Armenians Meddle in Armenias Affairs? By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com Not everyone agrees whether Diaspora Armenians should meddle in the Armenia Republics internal affairs. Perhaps meddle is not the right word, but getting involved and caring deeply about developments in the homeland should be of great interest to all Armenians, since that is their country of origin. Diaspora's role in Armenia was raised last month when 20 prominent Armenians, mostly from the Diaspora, issued a petition titled Justice Within Armenia on the Change.org website, calling on the Armenian government to implement radical reforms in the political, social and economic policies of the country. Since Sept. 19, close to 3,000 Armenians and non-Armenians from various countries have signed the petition. Among the initial signatories of the petition are Serj Tankian, Atom Egoyan, Arsinee Khanjian, Alex Ohanian, Chris Bohjalian, Eric Bogosian, Hasmik Papian, and Sebu Simonian. The petitioners are asking for an end to corruption, monopolies, judicial inequality, police brutality, partisan politics, unequal rights, national depopulation, and elections tainted by fraud. The signatories also stated that they stand for the equality of all people, the fundamental preservation of human rights, direct engagement in fair and transparent elections, respect for the rule of law, fair wages, separation of powers, a free press, and advocacy for the disenfranchised. The petitioners are further demanding that Armenias political leaders embody integrity, accountability, wisdom, intelligence, diplomacy, compassion, effectiveness and visionary thinking in addressing the pressing needs of the people of Armenia, thereby securing an egalitarian, just and constructive path towards real democracy where every voice matters. As a concrete next step, the signatories are asking Armenians from around the world to be present as witnesses and observers at next springs parliamentary elections in Armenia. One of the initiators of the petition, Canadian-Armenian actress Arsinee Khanjian, who was arrested during last Julys protests in Yerevan, circulated an open letter on the internet, calling Diaspora Armenians to action. Khanjian raised serious concerns about the current conditions in Armenia: The country has major internal problems due to systemic corruption, nepotism and an oligarchic economy, where power and wealth remains in the hands of a few. Absence of equitable rule of law and upward social mobility combined with the suppression of freedom of speech and thought as well as civil liberties and rights have all further exacerbated an already intolerable situation in the Republic. Not surprisingly, some in Armenia resented the petition issued by the Diaspora Armenians and urged them to move to Armenia if they are truly interested in reforming the country. While every Armenian should support the lofty goals expressed by the petitioners, some of their ideas are clearly wishful thinking. Not all of the proposed reforms are implemented even in the United States. But, I agree that Armenians should aspire to gradually achieve these objectives, although one has to be careful not to set impossible goals to attain, to save citizen of Armenia from further frustration and disappointment. In my view, Diaspora Armenians should be involved in all aspects of life in Armenia, beyond signing petitions and making suggestions from afar. They should not be mere tourists in the homeland. One way to strengthen the bond between Armenia and the Diaspora is to allow Diaspora Armenians to vote and run for office in the Republic of Armenia. As is the practice in France and some other countries, several seats should be allocated in the Armenian Parliament to Diaspora Armenians who should be more than donors of funds or milking cows! Although Armenias constitution permits dual citizenship, very few Diaspora Armenians have taken advantage of this special privilege which can create another important bond with the homeland! Gradually, as the rule of law is firmly established in Armenia and social inequalities become less pronounced, Diaspora Armenians will gain the confidence to invest in the homeland, which will result in creating jobs and reducing emigration. There may even be some immigration to Armenia from the Diaspora. The improved living conditions would also reduce confrontations with the authorities that could potentially destabilize the country at a time when neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey are threatening Armenias security! To make the Armenia-Diaspora relationship reciprocal, no one should resent if Armenian officials also meddle in Diaspora Armenian communities. After all, it is of little importance who is meddling in whose turf, as long as the end result is in the best interest of all Armenians! Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Step aside, Sundance, Cannes and Berlinale - it's the turn of London to welcome the cream of cinema's crop for its annual film festival, now in its 60th year. Over the course of the next 16 days, London will be welcoming filmmakers from country's far and wide who are presenting the most-talked about films from this year's festival circuit. Whittling down the extensive programme is no mean feat, but we've done just that: below are just nine flms you should attempt to seek out over the next fortnight. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Show all 19 1 /19 Early Oscars 2017 contenders Early Oscars 2017 contenders La La Land Whiplash director Damien Chapelle opens this years Venice Film Festival with this original musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as a couple of dreamers trying to make it big in Hollywood: she, a lonely aspiring actress; he, a cocky jazz pianist. The trailer promises a neon-soaked, dreamy take on the classic Golden Age musical, all big-hearted romance and wholesome glamour. Expect La La Land to explore some darker emotional territory alongside all the toe-tapping, too. In cinemas here on 13 January. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Silence Martin Scorseses passion project since 1991 is yet to receive a release date but rumours abound that it will be out in time for the Oscars. Based on a novel of the same name by Japanese author Shusaku Endo, the story centres on two Jesuit missionaries sent to 17th century Japan to spread Christianity and find their mentor Once there, they endure brutal persecution at the time of Kakura Kirishitan (Hidden Christians) following the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion. Silence sounds weighty, intense and full of hard-hitting promise. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi director Ang Lee has narrowly missed out on a Best Picture win twice now but this adaptation of Ben Fountains acclaimed novel could be the film that finally wins him some overdue glory. The cast includes Kristen Stewart and Vin Diesel with newcomer Joe Alwyn in the lead as 19-year-old soldier Billy, who is brought home for a victory tour after serving in Iraq. Told in flashbacks, the drama reveals the horror of what really happened to his squad in contrast to Americas flashy, patriotic perceptions. Out here 6 January. Early Oscars 2017 contenders A United Kingdom Oyelowo plays Prince Seretse Khama, inaugural Botswana president from 1966 to 1980, in this follow-up to 2015s Belle. Films about real life people often hold clout with the Academy when done well and with Gone Girls Rosamund Pike playing Khamas eventual wife Ruth Williams, A United Kingdom should pull in cinemagoers. Khama sparked a global stir when he married the white Londoner in the late Forties and the first pictures from the movie promise beautiful costumes and cinematography. A United Kingdom will open the London Film Festival before its general release on 25 November. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Loving Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton star as Mildred and Richard Loving in this historical drama about an interracial couple sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for the crime of getting married. Out here just in time for the Oscars on 3 February. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, Loving earned positive reviews from critics when it competed for the Palme dOr at Cannes and received a standing ovation for understated, strong performances. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Manchester by the Sea One of the best scripts co-producer Matt Damon had ever read, this tragedy about an uncle who is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boys father dies while trying to reconcile with his ex-wife stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and newcomer Lucas Hedges. It was bought at Sundance by Amazon for $10 million and arrives in the UK on 13 January. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Nocturnal Animals Designer Tom Ford has cinematic strings to his bow, as proved with 2009s Venice premiere The Single Man. Hes back in the chair for this drama-thriller starring Amy Adams as a remarried art gallery owner whose ex-husbands violent new book begins to haunt her. Jake Gyllenhaal, Isla Fisher and Armie Hammer also star. Due in UK cinemas on 4 November. Early Oscars 2017 contenders The Light Between Oceans Michael Fassbender stars alongside last years Best Supporting Actress winner Alicia Vikander in the big screen adaptation of ML Stedmans 2012 novel of the same name. Derek Cianfrance is the man behind the camera for this story about a lighthouse keeper war veteran who rescues a baby girl with his wife after she washes up on an adrift rowboat. Then, in steps another Oscar winner, Rachel Weisz, as the woman who threatens to break their happy family apart. Out in the UK on 4 November - bring tissues. Early Oscars 2017 contenders American Pastoral Ewan McGregor makes his directorial debut with this period adaptation of Philip Roths novel American Pastoral. The drama - set in the 60s - centres on a successful businessman (McGregor) whose missing daughter (Dakota Fanning) is accused of a violent bombing in post-war America. Out in the UK on 11 November. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Queen of Katwe Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) is the director behind this long-awaited biopic of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. That Mutesi is played by 12 Years a Slave Oscar-winner Lupita Nyongo is reason enough to anticipate this Disney-produced film, out here 21 October. Disney Early Oscars 2017 contenders Free Fire Ben Wheatleys new action thriller will close the London Film Festival. Set in Massachusetts in the late Seventies, Free Fire stars Oscar-winning Room actress Brie Larson in the lead alongside Cillian Murphy. It follows the heart-stopping game of survival after shots are fired during a meeting between Justine, two Irishmen and two arms dealers who are selling them a stash of guns. Expect blood, sweat and irony with bravura filmmaking from the High-Rise director. Reaches UK cinemas sometime in 2017. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Paterson Jim Jarmuschs Palme dOr contender sees Adam Driver take the lead as a bus driver poet from Paterson, New Jersey. Each night after work, he has dinner with his wife Laura before walking his dog (2016s Palm Dog winner) to the bar for one beer. Then one day, a small disaster strikes. Early Oscars 2017 contenders The Founder Michael Keaton has starred in the last two Best Picture winners Spotlight and Birdman. Here, he takes on the role of ruthless McDonalds founder Ray Kroc, with the film telling the story of the fast food empires origins. The ambitious entrepreneur on a journey to theme didnt end so well for last years Joy, so it remains to be seen whether The Founder can live up to expectations as an Oscars contender. Out here 30 September. The Weinstein Company Early Oscars 2017 contenders Sully Clint Eastwood returns with Sully: Miracle on the Hudson, about the hero pilot who, in 2009, successfully landed his plane along the Hudson River after it was disabled by a flock of geese, saving all 155 crew and passengers. Tom Hanks takes the lead as Chesley Sullenberger in a biopic that sounds like it could tick a lot of Oscars boxes. Based on the autobiography Highest Duty, the thriller marks Eastwoods first directorial effort since 2014s American Sniper. Out 2 December. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Jackie Pablo Larrain directs Oscar winner Natalie Portman as late first lady and fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy in what he has promised will not be another classic biopic. Set in the days immediately after John F Kennedys 1963 assassination, the film sparked great excitement among distributors after a seven-minute promo screened at Cannes. Release date unknown at this stage. Early Oscars 2017 contenders The Girl on the Train The Helps Tate Taylor is in the directors chair for this years Gone Girl about a troubled woman who becomes embroiled in a murder case after developing a fixation on a beautiful couple from her commuter train. Expect a film pulsating with creepy, voyeur vibes, a la Rear Window, based on Paula Hawkins bestselling thriller. Out in the UK on 7 October. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Florence Foster Jenkins Meryl Streep has been widely praised for her turn as the 1940s New York heiress who couldnt sing (and we mean really couldnt sing) yet somehow became an opera singer with the help of her patient husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) and pianist Cosme McMoon (Simon Helberg). Directed by two-time Academy nominee Stephen Frears, the film proved heartwarming and inspiring upon its release earlier this year and was embraced by both film lovers and critics. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Christine Rebecca Hall set Sundance ablaze in January, earning five-star reviews for the performance of her career in Christine, about the news anchor who killed herself live on air in 1974 after suffering from depression. Yet to receive a UK release date, Christine arrives in US cinemas in October, with Antonio Campos also one to watch for directorial accolades come awards season. Courtesy of Sundance Institute Early Oscars 2017 contenders Arrival Paramount Pictures La La Land Damien Chazelle loves the classics: that's the overarching thought you'll acknowledge leaving the cinema having seen La La Land. That you'll be doing so with a large smile etched onto your face is a testament to his ambition. This is Chazelle's first film since the impeccable Whiplash and it pits aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) opposite Ryan Gosling's jazz enthusiast; it's a film that won't make you nostalgic for the past so much as glad you're in the present. Manchester by the Sea Kenneth Lonergan's first film since 2011's Margaret - and his third in 16 years - is a sobering tale centred on grief (unsurprising - this is Lonergan, after all). Casey Affleck plays Lee Chandler, an inhibited soul who returns home following his father's death. The unhurried direction, snowcapped Bostonian landscape and Affleck's showstopping performance all make this a must-see. Toni Erdmann It may not have won the top prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival, but that hasn't prevented German comedy Toni Erdmann from becoming the film on everybody's lips. A simple tale following a father attempting to reconnect with his wayward daughter, it's doubtful any other film this year will make you laugh as hard. If Toni Erdmann serves as anything, it's a note that writer-director Maren Ade is one to watch. Paterson Jim Jarmusch - the filmmaker behind such delights as Broken Flowers and Only Lovers Left Alive - returns with what could well be his masterpiece. A tale about the banality of routine, Paterson stars Adam Driver as Paterson, a bus driver based in the city of Paterson. The film unfolds at its own leisure, split up into days of the week, and is set apart by the way it depicts the protagonist's struggles to be set apart. The Autopsy of Jane Doe Troll Hunter director Andre vredal is back with a high-concept chamber piece following father-and-son coroners (Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) who, while conducting an autopsy on a homicide victim, are fed secrets relating to her murder. The Autopsy of Jane Doe is predestined for 'cult classic' status. Elle If Isabelle Huppert's name isn't mentioned come awards season, be surprised. Elle has been receiving plenty of positive talk since its unveiling at this year's festival circuit, and rightly so. From director Paul Verhoeven, Huppert stars as the eponymous character who gets caught pup in a game of cat and mouse as she attempts to track down the man who raped her. Una An adaptation of David Harrower's 2005 play Blackbird, this drama places Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn front and centre as two people with a history that needs confronting; to say anything more would be to detract from the story's ambiguity. An assured debut from Benedict Andrews - Una signals strong things to come. The Wailing Don't let its amalgamation of genres or epic running time (2 hours 36 minutes) deter you - The Wailing has been touted as a secular cinemagoing experience. The plot of this Korean chiller is simple: a stranger arrives in a small village and, soon after, a mysterious sickness begins to spread. Destined to be much-discussed. Free Fire Ben Wheatley films are being released in as blisteringly a manner as the events of his films. If you thought High-Rise as his highest-profile film to date, think again - the British director is back with Free Fire, an American-set caper cut from the same cloth as Martin Scorsese (he produces). Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy and Jack Reynor are just three of an impressive ensemble who look like they're having the time of their lives under Wheatley's tutelage. The BFI London Film Festival starts today and runs until Sunday 16 October. To check ticket availability, visit here. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Robert De Niro last appeared in the same film with Christopher Walken 38 years ago but are set to reunite in a brand new comedy. The two famously shared the screen in the climactic Russian Roulette scene in Michael Cimino's Oscar-winning drama The Deer Hunter. They've swapped the Vietnam War for a very different one - specifically The War With Grandpa, which Deadline reports will be an adaptation of the Robert Kimmel Smith book that follows a series of pranks between a young boy and his grandfather when the former has to give up his bedroom. De Niro and Walken will play best friends - as they did in The Deer Hunter - and American Pie stalwart Eugene Levy will also star. Which recent movies will become classics? Show all 21 1 /21 Which recent movies will become classics? Which recent movies will become classics? Birdman - Undoubtedly Alejandro G. Inarritus masterpiece will surely be remembered for years to come - fiercely original in its concept, brave in its single take(esque) format and the perfect satire of a very specific and bizarre era of cinema we find ourselves in. What perhaps was so astonishing about this Best Picture Oscar winner was that in spite of its experimental format and lofty intentions, it still also managed to be hugely entertaining, and is eminently rewatchable. - Christopher Hooton Fox Searchlight Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? There Will Be Blood - Potentially Inherent Vice feels like its been forgotten already, The Master was great but too weighty for some, but There Will Be Blood is the Paul Thomas Anderson film that comes up time and time again in pub film conversations, whether theyre between cinephiles or more casual fans. A blank yet brutal indictment of lucre, Daniel Day Lewis gave one of his best ever performances as oil man Daniel Plainview, and Jonny Greenwoods fearsome score is still being performed live several years after its release. But mainly, I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP! - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Avatar - Probably not Its undeniable that James Camerons gargantuan blockbuster Avatar will find its place in the cinematic history books. With a worldwide gross of over 2.7 billion, its currently the highest earning film of all time - even Star Wars' The Force Awakens return couldn't topple it. But will it actually be remembered fondly? Its ground-breaking special effects already betray the first signs of aging, and though its use of 3D was revolutionary at the time, its now so pedestrian as to be found in a Glee concert movie. What is there to revere then? The patronising narrative re-hash of the plot to Dances With Wolves? Or the bit where two cat-aliens had sex by plugging their hair braids into each other? - Clarisse Loughrey Which recent movies will become classics? Whiplash - Within its own genre at least Whiplash was perhaps the most buzzy, "have you seen it yet?" film of 2014, and winning major Oscars off a budget of $3.3 million was no mean feat. Damien Chazelle managed to make a film about drumming absolutely edge-of-your-seat stuff, and succeeded by not patronising his audience - trusting that even if they didnt understand the music theory detail, they would still be able to revel in it. Unfortunately, it might just be too small a film to be remembered as a classic, but will certainly be circling the top of best movies about music lists for some years to come. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Skyfall Depends whos Bond next Best Bond of all time? Skyfalls slick, true, but its status as an icon seems heavily premature. Were still clinging onto the Craig era, and its hard to argue that Skyfall doesnt do the same; trading its entire dramatic tension on the premise that weve long been deeply attached to this grizzled Bond and equally grizzled M. In Silvas personal vendetta, or in the neat metaphors of Skyfall Lodges crumbling exteriors and Bonds crumbling interiors of a post-Vesper Lynd world; its only once the franchise has moved on to new pastures that well truly start to see whether Skyfall can go the distance. Doesnt help that Spectre was a bit of a disappointment, though. -CL Which recent movies will become classics? Mad Max: Fury Road - A gutsy yes Yes, its a madly confident move to already claim Fury Roads going to a bonafide classic within its first year of release, but Fury Road is a mad movie. 36 years after its original incarnation, George Miller returned to the wasteland to conjure the greatest adrenaline hit of the cinematic decade. Breathlessly edited, hued with the colours of dust and dirt and rage; packed to the brim with practical stunt work unseen in the digital age. Plus, its a film that actively dismantles the patriarchy through a gun-slinging, metal-armed Charlize Theron. If its not remembered as one of the greatest blockbusters of its time, itll certainly be remembered as one of the gutsiest. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? The Great Beauty - No, but it damn well should be It won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2014, but this Paolo Sorrentino masterpiece is still unknown to most. It centres on a group of aging intellectuals partying on rooftops across Rome to Eurodance, and within this frame of superficiality it manages staggering profundity. The dialogue is rich, the cinematography sumptuous, and if Fellini is considered classic, this fellow Italians work certainly should be too. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Little Miss Sunshine - Within its own genre, yes The Sundance Effect has unfortunately developed a near plague of insufferable, self-conscious mawkishness over the years. Misfit boys finding new meaning to their existence in the arms of pink-haired manic pixie dream girls; sun-dappled bike rides as the latest band to feature a ukulele solo play softly in the distance. Some have indeed come off this false and cloying (Zach Braffs Garden State), others smarter and keener (last years Me and Earl and the Dying Girl); but as the fires of kook devour all in sight, there will always remain one film left standing in the ashes: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Little Miss Sunshine. One scene that guarantees its elevation above the rabble sees teenager Dwayne (Paul Dano) realise hes colour-blind, and thus will never be able to achieve his dream of becoming a jet fighter. Danos meltdown here is so raw, and so positively tragic, that itll be a hard job to ever forget that epic f-bomb as the years pass. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? Lost in Translation - I'll still be watching it in my 80s at least Really a perfect movie. The casting couldn't have been better and Sofia Coppola conveys the choking feeling of an overly air-conditioned hotel room like no-one else. So many of the shots were beautiful in their simplicity. Bill Murray making a nice crisp, clean golf shot before walking off down the course. The flower arranging scene. Bill lightly grabbing Scarlett Johansson's foot and this subtly serving as the film's 'kiss'. It's the unconventional romance at the heart of the film that makes it so great, though, which is as much about companionship as physical and emotional love. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Crash - Hahahahahahahahaha Seriously, how did it win that Oscar? Even the director doesn't know. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Pans Labyrinth - Absolutely Guillermo del Toro dreams on celluloid; hes a weaver of fairy tales in an age where innocence is presumed dead. Its through innocence, through innocent eyes, that we witness the darkest excesses of human nature in a way that so exposes the incomprehensibility of evil committed in the pursuit of power. Through young Ophelias perspective we watch the horrors of Francos Spanish regime play out, the barbaric cruelty of her stepfather Captain Vidal; she fears not the horned faun who lives in the labyrinth when its so clear her own patriarchal figurehead is the true monster. And though its finale may be heart-breaking, del Toro still allows innocence a certain victory. Victory through Ophelias eyes, those pure and hungry enough to see beyond the borders of her bleak reality to find an escape from the seemingly unstoppable monstrosities of adulthood. - CL Warner Bros. Which recent movies will become classics? Im Still Here - When everyone realises its genius Initially admonished for being exploitative of Joaquin Phoenixs condition, it was astonishing that, when this Casey Affleck-directed mockumentary was revealed to be a hoax, most critics didnt give it a second review, and those who did still disliked it. In hindsight this was so much more than a prank. Phoenix stayed in character as a failed actor turned hip-hop artist for months on end. This dedication wasnt for nothing either (unlikely say, DiCaprio in The Revenant), Im Still Here is actually a very funny, moving and subtly satirical film, and definitely original. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Boyhood - I doubt it While it too was an unprecedented piece of cinema, Boyhood for me faded from the memory very quickly. Dismissing this film as essentially a puberty timelapse might be a little harsh, but the set-up did ultimately come off gimmicky and as a coming of age story it failed to resonate. Admirable, but not a classic - CH Universal Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? The Social Network - Yes I was less than thrilled at the prospect of a movie about Facebook, but then pleasantly surprised upon watching it. A holy production trinity of David Fincher (director), Aaron Sorkin (screenwriter) and Trent Reznor (score) told a story that changed all of our lives with such panache. Texting, the internet, social media etc are so prosaic that many authors and filmmakers disingenuously leave them out of their stories, but here they were central and yet still the film was engrossing, stylish and human. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Django Unchained - Hell yeah/hell maybe Swiping its titular characters name from a 1966 Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Corbucci, Tarantino utilised his trademark flair for ultra-violence and nihilistic humour to create the perfect meeting point between revisionism and classicism. Django channeled brutality in the name of righteous fury, allowing the freedom fighting slaves of a pre-Civil War Deep South their own legendary cowboy of the John Wayne or Clint Eastwood type. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? The Tree of Life - A few people will kid themselves its classic Terrence Malicks experimental drama couldnt really have been more ambitious or tried to chip away at a bigger chunk of existence. As such, it was automatically lauded by many who didnt really know what to make of it, but looking back, was it worthy of the praise? The Brad-Pitt-is-a-family-man-in-the-50s plot strand was actually pretty unremarkable, and were it not for the brazenness of the extended shots of the universe being formed I doubt it would have made top ten lists the way it did. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Her - Yes, as a historical document Films depicting the future remain fascinating decades later because they show, in retrospect, how we wanted the world to progress and what developments we simply couldnt have conceived. As such Her will definitely still be getting talked about in years to come, whether or not we do indeed end up falling in love with our computers. (Also see: Ex Machina) - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Any of the space movies? Maybe Interstellar We seem to get a big budget space movie annually these days, and while none of them really have the creativity of Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar stands a chance of staying atop VOD libraries. Gravity and The Martian, while technically brilliant, were pretty forgettable, and dont get me started on Sunshine. Interstellar was very impressive though, and if a Christopher Nolan films going to stand out Id rather it be this one than - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Inception - Please no Yes, its insanely watchable and the plot zips along nicely, but seriously, can we stop pretending people falling backwards off chairs and out of camp, alpine sub-dream worlds amounts to anything more than an overly convoluted, albeit pretty, action movie? - CH Which recent movies will become classics? The Wolf of Wall Street - Not compared to Scorseses earlier work If theres a burden of the artistic revolutionary, its that revolution is only ever momentary in its form; Martin Scorsese made his mark back in 1973 with Mean Streets, and its one thats been difficult to paint over in the 43 years which have since passed. The Wolf of Wall Street faults itself only in being pure Scorsese; its a film which trades purely in the breathless, macho style already so entrenched in cinematic culture. Essentially, Scorseses own genre-defining genius has doomed to obscurity any latter work which dares to fold into the directors own natural form of expression; its made derivative any work which doesnt actively rebel against what hes been most celebrated for. A tough reality, but a reality nonetheless. - CL Paramount Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? Nymphomaniac - Maybe if Part II hadnt happened Even the truest of arthouse directors are culpable for the whims of Hollywood franchises. Yes, with his dual Nymphomaniac films, Lars von Trier managed to ruin the potential classic of his career by needlessly stretching his narrative across two films; churning out the NC-17 answer to Peter Jacksons Hobbit trilogy in the process. Strip Nymphomaniac of the controversy and media hysteria surrounding its use of pornographic actors in its sex scenes; and theres a torn, throbbing soul at its centre. For all its salaciousness, von Triers exploration of the crippling effects of shame society burdens those, especially its women, who dare seek sexual pleasure is genuinely haunting. Thats in Part I, however; by the time Joes life story sees her grow from Stacy Martin into Charlotte Gainsbourg, von Triers epic dissolves into the bang of a drum in continuous, endless cycles. Shes horny and sad; we got it, Lars. - CL The Deer Hunter also starred John Cazale and Meryl Streep. Walken won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor film for his role in the film which went on to also win Best Picture. Earlier this year, De Niro starred alongside Zac Efron in Dirty Grandpa which was maligned by critics upon its release. Last month, he took part in a 20th anniversary Q&A about Michael Mann's crime film Heat alongside his co-star Al Pacino; it was moderated by filmmaker Christopher Nolan. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} For many, the immediate post-war years were a golden period in British political life. The country may have been impoverished and in an era of extreme austerity but this was when the National Health Service was created. It was, at least according to popular myth, a time of new-found tolerance and consensus in which old class divisions began to be eroded. This is not at all the vision of Britain offered in Amma Asantes rousing new feature, A United Kingdom (which opened the London Film Festival this week.) The film begins in 1947. It recreates Attlee era London in loving detail, paying exhaustive attention to the clothes, the watered-down British jazz of the era, the drab bedsits, the red buses and even the friendly milkmen. It also suggests that racism permeated every corner of British society. From thugs on the streets who attack a black man simply because they see him with a white woman to duplicitous Whitehall mandarins, desperate to maintain strong British relations with white South Africa, racial prejudice is everywhere. The Labour Prime Minister Attlee doesnt rise above it and nor does the leader of the opposition, Winston Churchill. Prince Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) is in London. He is the heir to the throne of Bechuanaland (later to be known as Botswana) and has been sent to Britain to study law as part of his education. You left as a boy, you must return as a man, his uncle and guardian Tshekedi (Vusi Kunene) tells him. Few in London seem aware of his royal connections. By chance, he meets and falls in love with Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike), an office worker. He marries her and proposes bringing her back to Africa. Thats when the problems start in earnest. Her father (Nicholas Lyndhurst) disowns her. Back in Bechuanaland, his uncle is furious. When he returns there with his bride, he encounters extreme hostility. The locals wont accept her as mother of the nation and it looks as if he therefore wont be able to accede to the throne. Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo in A United Kingdom, out on 26 November Its at this point that the film begins to creak a little. Gradually, the focus moves away from the relationship between Seretse and Ruth as we are treated to tribal meetings and endless encounters between Seretse and the well-spoken but duplicitous British diplomats who treat him with so much contempt. Oyelowo plays Seretse in moving fashion as an idealistic man who wont accept apartheid in any form and who certainly wont abandon his white wife for political expediences sake. Pikes character shares his principles and chafes against the sexism of the British civil servants who dismiss her as a girl from the typing pool. Pike captures her characters steeliness; her refusal to be browbeaten either by her own family or by Seretses disapproving relatives and her determination to adjust to life in Africa. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Show all 19 1 /19 Early Oscars 2017 contenders Early Oscars 2017 contenders La La Land Whiplash director Damien Chapelle opens this years Venice Film Festival with this original musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as a couple of dreamers trying to make it big in Hollywood: she, a lonely aspiring actress; he, a cocky jazz pianist. The trailer promises a neon-soaked, dreamy take on the classic Golden Age musical, all big-hearted romance and wholesome glamour. Expect La La Land to explore some darker emotional territory alongside all the toe-tapping, too. In cinemas here on 13 January. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Silence Martin Scorseses passion project since 1991 is yet to receive a release date but rumours abound that it will be out in time for the Oscars. Based on a novel of the same name by Japanese author Shusaku Endo, the story centres on two Jesuit missionaries sent to 17th century Japan to spread Christianity and find their mentor Once there, they endure brutal persecution at the time of Kakura Kirishitan (Hidden Christians) following the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion. Silence sounds weighty, intense and full of hard-hitting promise. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi director Ang Lee has narrowly missed out on a Best Picture win twice now but this adaptation of Ben Fountains acclaimed novel could be the film that finally wins him some overdue glory. The cast includes Kristen Stewart and Vin Diesel with newcomer Joe Alwyn in the lead as 19-year-old soldier Billy, who is brought home for a victory tour after serving in Iraq. Told in flashbacks, the drama reveals the horror of what really happened to his squad in contrast to Americas flashy, patriotic perceptions. Out here 6 January. Early Oscars 2017 contenders A United Kingdom Oyelowo plays Prince Seretse Khama, inaugural Botswana president from 1966 to 1980, in this follow-up to 2015s Belle. Films about real life people often hold clout with the Academy when done well and with Gone Girls Rosamund Pike playing Khamas eventual wife Ruth Williams, A United Kingdom should pull in cinemagoers. Khama sparked a global stir when he married the white Londoner in the late Forties and the first pictures from the movie promise beautiful costumes and cinematography. A United Kingdom will open the London Film Festival before its general release on 25 November. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Loving Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton star as Mildred and Richard Loving in this historical drama about an interracial couple sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for the crime of getting married. Out here just in time for the Oscars on 3 February. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, Loving earned positive reviews from critics when it competed for the Palme dOr at Cannes and received a standing ovation for understated, strong performances. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Manchester by the Sea One of the best scripts co-producer Matt Damon had ever read, this tragedy about an uncle who is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boys father dies while trying to reconcile with his ex-wife stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and newcomer Lucas Hedges. It was bought at Sundance by Amazon for $10 million and arrives in the UK on 13 January. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Nocturnal Animals Designer Tom Ford has cinematic strings to his bow, as proved with 2009s Venice premiere The Single Man. Hes back in the chair for this drama-thriller starring Amy Adams as a remarried art gallery owner whose ex-husbands violent new book begins to haunt her. Jake Gyllenhaal, Isla Fisher and Armie Hammer also star. Due in UK cinemas on 4 November. Early Oscars 2017 contenders The Light Between Oceans Michael Fassbender stars alongside last years Best Supporting Actress winner Alicia Vikander in the big screen adaptation of ML Stedmans 2012 novel of the same name. Derek Cianfrance is the man behind the camera for this story about a lighthouse keeper war veteran who rescues a baby girl with his wife after she washes up on an adrift rowboat. Then, in steps another Oscar winner, Rachel Weisz, as the woman who threatens to break their happy family apart. Out in the UK on 4 November - bring tissues. Early Oscars 2017 contenders American Pastoral Ewan McGregor makes his directorial debut with this period adaptation of Philip Roths novel American Pastoral. The drama - set in the 60s - centres on a successful businessman (McGregor) whose missing daughter (Dakota Fanning) is accused of a violent bombing in post-war America. Out in the UK on 11 November. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Queen of Katwe Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) is the director behind this long-awaited biopic of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. That Mutesi is played by 12 Years a Slave Oscar-winner Lupita Nyongo is reason enough to anticipate this Disney-produced film, out here 21 October. Disney Early Oscars 2017 contenders Free Fire Ben Wheatleys new action thriller will close the London Film Festival. Set in Massachusetts in the late Seventies, Free Fire stars Oscar-winning Room actress Brie Larson in the lead alongside Cillian Murphy. It follows the heart-stopping game of survival after shots are fired during a meeting between Justine, two Irishmen and two arms dealers who are selling them a stash of guns. Expect blood, sweat and irony with bravura filmmaking from the High-Rise director. Reaches UK cinemas sometime in 2017. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Paterson Jim Jarmuschs Palme dOr contender sees Adam Driver take the lead as a bus driver poet from Paterson, New Jersey. Each night after work, he has dinner with his wife Laura before walking his dog (2016s Palm Dog winner) to the bar for one beer. Then one day, a small disaster strikes. Early Oscars 2017 contenders The Founder Michael Keaton has starred in the last two Best Picture winners Spotlight and Birdman. Here, he takes on the role of ruthless McDonalds founder Ray Kroc, with the film telling the story of the fast food empires origins. The ambitious entrepreneur on a journey to theme didnt end so well for last years Joy, so it remains to be seen whether The Founder can live up to expectations as an Oscars contender. Out here 30 September. The Weinstein Company Early Oscars 2017 contenders Sully Clint Eastwood returns with Sully: Miracle on the Hudson, about the hero pilot who, in 2009, successfully landed his plane along the Hudson River after it was disabled by a flock of geese, saving all 155 crew and passengers. Tom Hanks takes the lead as Chesley Sullenberger in a biopic that sounds like it could tick a lot of Oscars boxes. Based on the autobiography Highest Duty, the thriller marks Eastwoods first directorial effort since 2014s American Sniper. Out 2 December. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Jackie Pablo Larrain directs Oscar winner Natalie Portman as late first lady and fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy in what he has promised will not be another classic biopic. Set in the days immediately after John F Kennedys 1963 assassination, the film sparked great excitement among distributors after a seven-minute promo screened at Cannes. Release date unknown at this stage. Early Oscars 2017 contenders The Girl on the Train The Helps Tate Taylor is in the directors chair for this years Gone Girl about a troubled woman who becomes embroiled in a murder case after developing a fixation on a beautiful couple from her commuter train. Expect a film pulsating with creepy, voyeur vibes, a la Rear Window, based on Paula Hawkins bestselling thriller. Out in the UK on 7 October. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Florence Foster Jenkins Meryl Streep has been widely praised for her turn as the 1940s New York heiress who couldnt sing (and we mean really couldnt sing) yet somehow became an opera singer with the help of her patient husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) and pianist Cosme McMoon (Simon Helberg). Directed by two-time Academy nominee Stephen Frears, the film proved heartwarming and inspiring upon its release earlier this year and was embraced by both film lovers and critics. Early Oscars 2017 contenders Christine Rebecca Hall set Sundance ablaze in January, earning five-star reviews for the performance of her career in Christine, about the news anchor who killed herself live on air in 1974 after suffering from depression. Yet to receive a UK release date, Christine arrives in US cinemas in October, with Antonio Campos also one to watch for directorial accolades come awards season. Courtesy of Sundance Institute Early Oscars 2017 contenders Arrival Paramount Pictures A United Kingdom is a very likeable film about two very admirable people. In its celebration of tolerance and liberal, humanist values, it is reminiscent of old Richard Attenborough movies. (As if to acknowledge the fact, we even get a glimpse of a very youthful Attenborough when the coupe attend an open-air screening of Brighton Rock.) Guy Hibberts screenplay is cleverly structured and interweaves the romantic and political elements in deft enough fashion. What is lacking, though, is dramatic tension or ambivalence. Seretse and Ruth are such decent and wholesome characters that we know theyre bound to prevail in the end. Its only a matter of time until those sherry-quaffing, supercilious British colonialists will get their comeuppance. A United Kingdom arrives in UK cinemas on 25 November Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Blood Father (15) Dir: Jean-Francois Richet, 88 mins, starring: Mel Gibson, William H Macy, Erin Moriarty, Diego Luna A very craggy and weather-beaten Mel Gibson is well cast in this American-set but French-produced latter-day film noir. He plays John Link, an ex-con, former Hells Angel, Vietnam veteran, tattoo artist and recovering alcoholic, living in a trailer in the desert and trying to go straight. Erin Moriarty is his troubled daughter Lydia, who has just shot her mobster boyfriend (Diego Luna) and is now being chased across the country by some very vicious Mexican assassins. Only her dad can save her from the terrifying sicario (Raoul Trujillo) who keeps on turning up on her tail. The screenplay, adapted by Peter Craig from his own novel, has some neat touches and plenty of dry humour. In particular, it highlights the friendship between John Link and his sponsor (William H Macy). Diego Luna enjoys himself as the flamboyant villain who refuses to die. Gibsons fatalistic and very deliberate performance is reminiscent of that of Robert Mitchum in Out Of The Past. Whether racing away from his enemies on a Harley Davidson, visiting an old contact incognito in prison, or in the middle of a violent shoot-out, he never breaks a sweat or seems unduly perturbed. He is delighted to have the chance to spend quality time with his daughter, even if they are fleeing for their lives. At one stage, he tells her that he hasnt had this much fun since he was a kid. Jean-Francois Richet, who also directed cult French gangster movie Mesrine, combines the action and the character schtick in a likeable way. With the beard he wears for the first part of the movie, Gibson looks like a member of ZZ Top. The destructive skills he showed in his Mad Max days are still intact. Gibson is only 60 years old, a few years younger than Liam Neeson, and so could conceivably continue appearing in action movies like this for years to come. He clearly has the knack for it. War On Everyone (15) Dir: John Michael McDonagh, 98 mins, starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Theo James, Tessa Thompson, Michael Pena, Caleb Landry Jones This is an amiable but rather pointless comedy-thriller. The setting may be New Mexico, but the shaggy dog story-style humour is exactly the same as in McDonaghs film about a corrupt policeman in Ireland, The Guard. The main difference here is less blarney and more nods in the direction of Quentin Tarantino. The heroes are two bent cops, the very tall and very laid-back Detective Terry Monroe (Skarsgard) and his small and venal sidekick, Detective Bob Bolano (Pena). Theyre first seen running over a mime artist. (Theyre fascinated to see whether he will say anything.) For no reason at all, other than perhaps the producers received a tax credit for going there, there is a brief interlude in Iceland. War On Everyone - Trailer 2 Caleb Landry Jones, looking like David Bowie in his Hunky Dory stage, is one of the villains, a nightclub owner with very twisted tastes, but the main antagonist is the well spoken aristocrat Lord James Mangan (Theo James). He is behind the heist the cops are trying to bust. McDonagh writes some very funny (albeit very prurient) dialogue and uses Glen Campbell songs to glorious effect on the soundtrack. Like Tarantino, he is as interested in ideas and character as he is in gunplay and violence. Skarsgard is appealing as the cop so laid-back that he takes the most savage beatings in his stride (Is that all youve got? he taunts his aggressors when he is up against the ropes). Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Tessa Thompson registers strongly as his ex-stripper, feminist intellectual girlfriend and theres an enjoyably earnest and tongue in cheek performance from Paul Reiser as the police boss. Even so, the plotting here is random and whimsical in the extreme. War On Everyone is more a series of comic sketches than it is a coherent movie. The Guvnor (15) Dir: Paul Van Carter, 85 mins, featuring: Lenny McLean, Jamie McLean, Martin Askew, Guy Ritchie, Jason Flemyng, Roy Shaw Lenny McLean, who died in 1998, was the formidable bare-knuckle boxer and West End bouncer who, late in his life, achieved celebrity. His autobiography was a best-seller and he had a role in Guy Ritchies Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. This documentary looks at Lennys story from the perspective of his son, Jamie McLean, who was devoted to him. (The films producers are also making a dramatised feature about Lenny starring Josh Helman.) The Guvnor is very uneven and looks as if it was made quickly and cheaply, but it offers a perspective on Lenny that goes beyond the caricature of the lovable East End hard man. Lenny was brutally abused as a kid by his stepfather. He suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder. At times, the interviewees romanticise him shamelessly, talking of him as a devoted, good humoured family man and waxing nostalgic about the sense of community in the old East End. He once bit off a mans nose in a fight. By his own admission, he liked hitting people. The footage we see of his battles with Roy Pretty Boy Shaw is brutal in the extreme. Raking through Lennys past, though, Jamie, who has his own issues with violence, discovers aspects of his fathers life that cant help but disturb him. Some of Lennys closest relatives refuse to talk on camera about him for reasons that arent disclosed. There are hints that he was a far darker and more troubled figure than his son suspected. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} John Dower, 97 mins, featuring: Louis Theroux, Rob Alter, Andrew Perez, Conner Stark, Marty Rathbun This crafty, enjoyable and illuminating documentary comes at the Church Of Scientology from an unexpected angle. Louis Theroux is not a polemicist, out to attack Scientology. Instead, he portrays himself as a curious bystander, simply trying to understand the inner workings of the Church regarded by many as a cult. Theroux begins by issuing an open call on Twitter to any #Scientologists out there to contact him. (Dont go there big man, one respondent warns him. Prepare for the loonies to attack you, says another while he is also told that he will need to lawyer up.) His dream, he says with only mild irony, is to become the first journalist to see another positive side of the church. The film includes the familiar footage of a ranting Tom Cruise and sketches in the story of how L. Ron Hubbard launched Scientology. Theroux recruits prominent ex-Scientologist Marty Rathbun as a special advisor and sets about recreating speeches from Scientology leader David Miscavige and Scientology training exercises with actors. He also pays several visits to Gold Base, the headquarters in the California desert protected by razor wire and floodlights. At its most childish, the film is trying to hold a red rag to a bull. Theroux is hoping to provoke Church members into engaging with him. He knows that Miscavige wont give him an interview but hopes to persuade current Scientologists to participate. They wont speak to him but eventually start following him. There are comic scenes here in which Scientologists turn up with their own cameraman to film Theroux as he shoots his documentary. He, in turn, films them. They stand opposite each other like gunfighters, lens to lens, cellphone to cellphone, neither wanting to give way. Theroux is even accused of harassment - a considerable irony given how aggressively the Scientologists behave toward their critics. He delights in being what the Church calls a suppressive person but he is never aggressive or hostile. His mild-mannered approach is in stark contrast to that of the raging John Sweeney in the 2007 BBC Panorama documentary about Scientology. My Scientology Movie Trailer The relationship between Theroux and Rathbun soon begins to fray. Rathbun provides startling insights into the intimidatory face ripping" tactics uses against its opponents and also helps the filmmakers cast an actor who can channel the fury of an enraged Miscavige. By his own confession, Rathbun was the baddest assed dude in Scientology. He was an enforcer who used violence on occasion and was one of Miscaviges right-hand men before he fell from grace. Theroux seems increasingly suspicious of his past. Rathbun, for his part, is very wary about the direction in which Theroux is taking the documentary and appears deeply upset when the so-called Squirrel Busters harassing him mention his adopted child. As in Alex Gibneys documentary Going Clear, there are constant disclaimers in which the Scientologists are quoted in intertitles denying the abuses they are alleged to have committed. The circumstantial evidence against them is very compelling. Its surely a leap too far to believe that all the ex-Scientologists on camera here are embittered liars making up their stories. Therouxs beef is less with the religion itself than with its all-powerful leader, whom he likens to a Pope hijacking his own church. Parts of the film are playful and funny but there are very unsettling moments. Insiders talk about how difficult it is for senior members to leave the Church. To do so, they have to turn their back on family and friends. One interviewee likens quitting Scientology to a kind of suicide. For all the optimism with which Theroux began his documentary, it is inevitable that it will end on a downbeat note. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theres a famous Monty Python sketch that parodies the show-off competitive effort of coining negligent Wildean epigrams: There is only one thing worse than playing squash together, and that is playing it by yourself, quips Graham Chapmans Oscar somewhat desperately, causing a lull in the sycophantic, mechanical laughter of the entourage. I'm ashamed to admit that this sketch has briefly popped into my mind on the two previous occasions that I have seen Tom Stoppard's 1974 play Travesties which, among other marvels, offers a running pastiche of The Importance of Being Earnest. Not here, though, as I watched Patrick Marbers utterly scintillating revival at the Menier. The play has been pruned, though there are a couple of new bits, and the first-rate cast perform the intellectual vaudeville with terrific pace, zest and dexterity. The display of cleverness and erudition is unremitting, to be sure, but it comes across as winningly rampant rather than cumulatively wearisome. Travesties seizes on the coincidence that, in 1917, neutral Zurich was haven to James Joyce, Tristan Tzara, founder of the anti-art Dadaist movement and Lenin biding his time. Stoppard hypothesises that these figures knew one another and his master-stroke is to present their supposed Earnest-mirroring encounters and the resulting debates about the nature of art and its relationship with revolution - through the distinctly dodgy reminiscences, in old age, of Henry Carr, then a minor official at the British consulate. We know that Carr played Algernon in Joyces amateur production of Wildes play and that he sued the author of Ulysses for the cost of a pair of trousers. Around this nugget of undignified fact, the play weaves its web of mischievous speculation. Tom Hollander is superbly funny and, at times, fleetingly sad as Carr in both doddery anecdotage and dapper youth. He has the slightly mad twinkle of the incorrigible fantasist who needs to believe that hes at the centre of things. On the one hand, hes a philistine joke-figure with his hilarious weakness for wardrobe (perking up perceptibly at the assurance that the role of Algernon involves two complete changes of costume) and with his unerring way of backing the wrong horse in any bets about the political future. But his view that art and artists are absurdly overrated is voiced with the scathing wit to be an artist at all is like living in Switzerland during a world war. To be an artist in Zurich in 1917, implies a degree of self-absorption that would have glazed over the eyes of Narcissus of a man who has known trench warfare, however briefly and to the detriment of his natty uniform. Amy Morgan as Gwendolen, Peter McDonald as James Joyce and Clare Foster as Cecily (Johan Persson) Freddie Fox excels as the radical flamboyantly flouncing Tzara while Peter McDonalds dour, deliciously comic Joyce is very moving when he put the apolitical case for the artist as a magician put amongst men to gratify capriciously their urge for immortality. The great advantage of putting the entire proceedings in Carrs wayward mind is that it gives the play massive freedom of manoeuvre. There are sequences delivered entirely in limericks; the tiff between Gwendolen and Clare Fosters consummately funny Cecily reimagines the tetchy tea-party scene in Earnest as an absurd Mr Gallagher and Mr Shean sung duet. Played on Tim Hatleys paper-strewn set and with the bright ping of a receptionists bell announcing each alternatively remembered sequence, Marbers ace production revels in the plays riotous plenty though with rigorous discipline and no hint of a cast enjoying themselves more than the public. A travesty of justice if it does not transfer to the West End. To 19 November ; 020 7378 1713 Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Paris agreement on climate change will enter into force in 30 days, after the number of countries ratifying the accord passed a key threshold. The EU, Canada and Nepal are all expected to deposit their instruments of ratification - formally accepting the process - on Wednesday, said UN spokesman Farhan Haq. "By the end of the day, we expect the Paris agreement on climate change to have crossed the second and final threshold needed for it to enter into force," Mr Haq said. Recommended Read more Canada to tax carbon emissions to hit Paris climate agreement targets "The Secretary-General has been very encouraged by the tremendous positive support from a broad coalition of countries from the largest emitters to the small island developing states to bring the Paris agreement to life as soon as possible." The deal takes effect 30 days after 55 countries, accounting for at least 55 percent of global emissions, have adopted it. Sixty-two countries had done so as of Tuesday but they accounted only for about 52 per cent of emissions. With the addition of Nepal, Canada and the seven EU countries that have so far ratified the deal, the countries now account for well over 55 per cent of emissions. The Paris agreement, successor the Kyoto Protocols, aims to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system". 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. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary Most crucially, its 191 signatories want to prevent the world's temperature increasing by 2C, so it is possible to "significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change". Tense international relations between major carbon-emitting powers, in particular the US and China, had led to some difficulties in ratifying the deal, but the two countries agreed to it in September. The next UN climate conference begins on 7 November in Marrakech, Morocco. AP contributed to this report For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Angela Merkel has toughened her stance on Britains future access to the single market, saying no exceptions can be made after the country leaves the European Union. The German Chancellor said Britain can only keep full access to the trading bloc by continuing to allow free movement of people. If we don't say that full access to the single market is linked to full acceptance of freedom of movement, then everyone in Europe will start doing what they want, Ms Merkel told an industry event in Berlin on Thursday. She added that negotiations between the EU and Britain won't be easy and said they will need to make clear what access each side has to the other side's market. UK: Theresa May lays out post-Brexit plan at party conference Ms Merkels response follows Theresa Mays announcement on Sunday in which she said Britain would invoke Article 50 by the end of March 2017, triggering the formal negotiations for Britain's exit of the EU. Ms May also signalled she is prepared to prioritise immigration controls over single market access. Britains wait before beginning Brexit negotiations has been interpreted in Europe as a preparation for battle. But Ms Merkel said no exception to the EUs four freedoms, which include free movement of people, goods capital and services, can be made. Any deviation from these principles would represent a systematic challenge for the entire European Union, she said. In a speech to German exporters on Wednesday, Ms Merkel said Britain can't have both things. If one country was allowed to choose which elements to adhere to, you can imagine how all countries will put conditions on free movement with other countries. And that would create an extremely difficult situation. she said. Frances finance minister Michel Sapin said the UKs long wait before triggering Article 50 was a sign the British government was preparing for tough negotiations that could risk a hard Brexit not in Britains interests. He told Reuters: It (Britain) has given itself time to prepare for battle, but it would be best to not consider that there is a battle. A battle is not in Britain's interest, he said, adding that the 27 remaining members of the EU could be counted on to defend their interests in negotiations. He added: If there is a country that has something to lose from tough negotiations with dire consequences - what's called hard Brexit - it's Britain. 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 French government has consistently demanded the UK makes a swift exit from the union following the referendum in June. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Conservative party conference in Birmingham this week has echoed to negative rhetoric on the economic impact of immigrants. The Home Secretary Amber Rudd this week suggested that foreigners are taking jobs British people could do. Her colleague, the International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, said some immigrants come to the country and consume the wealth of the country without ever having created anything. Amber Rudd launches immigration crackdown Recommended Read more The left is playing a dangerous game over immigration And Theresa May herself said in her closing speech that some Britons have been pushed out of work due to low-skilled immigration. But just how many migrant workers are there in the UK? What do they contribute economically? And what is their real impact on the rest of the workforce and the wider economy? Here are nine charts to help provide an answer - and perhaps help to educate Conservative ministers. The numbers Foreign-born workers are unquestionably a significant part of the UKs 31.6 million strong workforce. There are 5.4 million non-UK born workers in the UK according to the latest official statistics. That represents 17 per cent of the total. ONS That share of immigrant workers has been rising sharply in recent years, more than doubling since 2000 when the proportion was 8 per cent. EU migrants are more likely to be in work than natives, with the participation rate for the group at just below 80 per cent, refuting the idea that most immigrants do not "contribute". The lower employment rate for immigrants from the rest of the world (67 per cent) is due to the lower rate of employment of women in this group. The male employment rate for this group is similar to those of others. The high and rising labour force participation rate for the UK native population also undermines the idea that immigrants are "taking" jobs from Britons. The industries Aggregate figures conceal the fact that immigrant workers are much more important for certain sectors of the economy, such as food processing, clothes manufacturing, cleaning and IT. ONS A reduction in immigration could have damaging economic side-effects. Around 10 per cent of the UK's 2.1 million construction workers are estimated to hail from abroad. And construction organisations have warned that they will struggle to complete projects without being able to draw on skilled migrant labour from Europe. Ruth Davidson tells immigrants 'This is your home and you are welcome here' The health service Data for the English National Health Service shows that in 2015 of the 1.22 million total staff around 235,000 were non-British, around 19 per cent. NHS For nurses the share of non-British staff was 21 per cent. For doctors the non-British share was 30 per cent. The IPPR think tank has warned that the NHS would "collapse" without its European Union workers. The students Each year around 500,000 people from 200 countries study come to the UK to study in the UK. On top of this 600,000 come to do an English language course. The ExEdUK pressure group estimates that total UK education exports total more than 20bn, making it the UK's fifth largest services export sector. It also estimates that overseas students directly contribute around 11.8bn to the UK economy. ExEdUK Universities, which receive around 5bn in tuition fee income a year from foreign students, have also warned that their finances would come under severe strain if there was a clampdown on inflows. The wages Jonathan Wadsworth, professor of economics at Royal Holloway, University of London, has found no correlation between local average wage growth and the local share of migrants in a local workforce. LSE Some other studies have shown a downward impact from immigration on the wages of the low-skilled. But the impact is modest - and much smaller than the influence of other government policies and wider economic conditions. Research by the Resoultion Foundation in the summer suggested that the downward impact of increased immigration on wages over the past seven year in some sectors has been dwarfed by the overall general pay squeeze since the financial crisis. Resolution Foundation The public finances The Office for Budget Responsibility's long-term projections from last year suggest that low annual net migration to the UK economy (105,000 a year) would result in GDP growing less fast, tax revenues being weaker and the public debt as a share of GDP being higher than otherwise. Under a low-net migration scenario the debt to GDP ratio rises above 100 per cent in fifty years' time. The high net migration (224,000 per year) scenario results in stronger public finances, with the debt to GDP ratio at 70 per cent by 2065. The central projection of 165,000 per year net migration sees debt climb to 85 per cent of GDP. OBR This modelling reflects the economic research which suggests immigrants to the UK, particularly from Europe, are more likely to be younger than the native population and more likely to work and pay taxes than to claim benefits. The tax benefit of the presence of immigrants is seen as outweighing the financial cost they impose through greater pressure on local infrastructure and public services. Other research by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research suggests immigrants boost our national productivity by filling gaps in the labour market that would otherwise not be filled, which ultimately means faster GDP growth and higher incomes per head for us all. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has haemorrhaged $800 million (630 million) of his wealth this year, according to an annual ranking of Americas richest people. The loss is the real estate magnates second financial misfortune to be revealed in one week, after the New York Times published his tax return from 1995. The document revealed he had lost $916 million that year meaning he could have used a loophole to not pay any federal income tax for almost two decades. Mr Trump's loss in 2016 has caused him to plummet 35 places on the list of the worlds richest people, according to Forbes. The tycoon is now worth $3.7 billion (2.9 billion), down from $4.5 billion (3.5 billion) in March, the business magazine said. Forbes new total sends him crashing into 156th place on the rich list. The new analysis also widens the already substantial gap between what Mr Trump has boasted he is worth on the campaign trail $10 billion (7.9 billion) and what financial experts say he is. Forbes wrote that a softening of New York Citys real estate market was the major factor in Mr Trumps loss. Revelations about the state of the billionaires finances and tax affairs have prevented him regaining his footing after a shaky performance in the first Presidential Debate against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Forbes' analysis of the Republicans wealth examined 28 of the different kinds of assets Mr Trump holds. They found that 18 of them had lost value. Among them was Trump Tower: his trademark 58-floor skyscraper, a symbol of his influence. The tower in which the billionaire lives in a three-storey penthouse is worth $159 million (125 million) less this year due to an estimated 20 per cent drop in the buildings net operating income. The complex is estimated to have lost another 8 per cent because of falling real estate values in Manhattan. Mr Trump also made losses on Manhattans Fifth Avenue, 40 Wall Street and Mar-a-Lago, his private beachfront club in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump: I have used tax laws 'brilliantly' The businessman has given his presidential campaign $7 million (5.5 million) and loaned it an extra $48 million (37.7 million) of his own money Forbes said it did not expect the Republican to get this back. Analysis of the newcomers to the Forbes 400 list this year show that they overwhelmingly inherited their fortunes. Of the 22 new entries on the list, more than two-thirds were given at least part of their immense wealth. The Clinton campaign has sought to capitalise on the benefits Mr Trump had in establishing himself as a wealthy businessman. You know, Donald was very fortunate in his life and that's all to his benefit, Hillary Clinton said during last week's debate. Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Show all 28 1 /28 Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Martin Rowson for The Guardian Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Morten Morland for The Times Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Bob Moran for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Morten Morland for The Times Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' KAL for The Economist Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Martin Rowson for The Guardian He started his business with $14 million, 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. I don't buy that. I have a different experience. Mr Trump retorted: 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 with some of the greatest assets in the world I say that because that's the kind of thinking our country needs. Without Mr Trumps audited accounts, which he has refused to release, estimates of Mr Trumps net worth have varied slightly. In February, The Economist said the tycoon was worth $4 billion (3.1 billion). STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Google Ad Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The co-author of Donald Trump's best-selling The Art of the Deal who has become one of Trump's most outspoken critics during this presidential campaign said Tuesday that he would give away the $55,000 in royalties he's made off the book over the past six months. Tony Schwartz said that he'd given the money to the National Immigration Law Center, which helps low-income immigrants and advocates for policies that would allow more undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States legally. Schwartz said the law center would work together with four other civil rights groups, including MPower Change which advocates for Muslim Americans. In recent weeks, Schwartz has said that he regrets his role in building Trump's persona as a wise and clever business executive. A recent story in the New Yorker quoted Schwartz as saying, I feel a deep sense of remorse that I contributed to presenting Trump in a way that brought him wider attention and made him more appealing than he is. In particular, Schwartz has said he fears Trump would be mercurial and easily distracted as president and that he believes Trump has demonized Hispanic immigrants and Muslims for political gain. In an interview with The Washington Post this week, Schwartz said that his royalty checks for The Art of the Deal had increased since Trump began his presidential run. But, he said, the royalties suddenly became, for me, blood money. Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Show all 15 1 /15 Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Who are famous people voting for in the US election? George Clooney HILLARY CLINTON Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Leonardo DiCaprio HILLARY CLINTON Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Mike Tyson DONALD TRUMP Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Beyonce HILLARY CLINTON Rex Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Chloe Grace Moretz HILLARY CLINTON Vivien Killilea/Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Sarah Jessica Parker HILLARY CLINTON Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Jon Voight DONALD TRUMP Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Katy Perry HILLARY CLINTON Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Jennifer Lopez HILLARY CLINTON Angela Weiss/Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Denis Rodman DONALD TRUMP TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Salma Hayek HILLARY CLINTON Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Le Bron James HILLARY CLINTON Justin Carissimo Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Hulk Hogan DONALD TRUMP Reuters Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Kid Rock DONALD TRUMP Theo Wargo/Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Stacey Dash DONALD TRUMP Kevin Winter/Getty Images I didn't want to be anywhere near it, Schwartz said. It just feels wrong. Earlier, Schwartz had donated the $25,000 he'd received in royalties for the second half of 2015. That money had gone to the National Immigration Law Center, Human Rights Watch, the Center for Victims of Torture, the National Immigration Forum, and the Tahirih Justice Center, which helps immigrant women and children. Schwartz said that, with Tuesday's $55,000 donation (actually $54,632.16, after he paid his agent), he wanted to help groups that he believed Trump had attacked. Trump himself promised, back in the 1980s, that he would donate his own proceeds from The Art of the Deal to charity. For a time, it appears, he did funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars into his Donald J. Trump Foundation, which then gave the money away to charities. But now, tax records show no donations at all from Trump to the Trump Foundation since 2008. The Post has searched for evidence that Trump might be giving gifts directly from his own pocket, but has found little evidence of that in recent years: Between 2008 and this May, The Post's search turned up just one gift, worth less than $10,000. Schwartz said that he and Trump split the book's royalties evenly: If he made $55,000 in the past six months, Trump did, too. The Post asked Trump's campaign whether Trump had donated this money to charity, in keeping with that promise from the 1980s. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond. Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Joanna Lumley has weighed into the debate surrounding everyday sexism by claiming wolf whistling is in no way sexist and should instead be perceived as a compliment. The Absolutely Fabulous star suggested there is nothing wrong with wolf whistling and people are too easily offended in this day and age. Lumley argued people were altogether tougher in the 1960s and models had much thicker skin. How can wolf whistling be offensive to women? Its a compliment, the 70-year-old actress told The Mirror. 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. Theyre saying Cor you look all right, darlin. Whats wrong with that? We were tougher in those days. You knew someone would whistle in the street and you werent insulted. We have become more sensitive flowers nowadays, people are very offended by everything. In July, Nottinghamshire police became the first force in Britain to record misogyny offences. Under the new rules, wolf whistling, cat-calling, harassment, unwanted verbal contact and uninvited sexual advances can now be reported as hate crimes. Lumley has garnered criticism for her remarks about wolf whistling on social media. "Joanna Lumley's comments on wolf whistling & women being "sensitive flowers' really disappointing. We shouldn't be flattered by harassment," said one Twitter user. "Next up, Joanna Lumley will be saying 'no' actually means 'yes' over 'girls are too sensitive' statement," said another. "What Joanna Lumley fails to realise is that in 2016 it isn't actually a wolf whistle it's lewd comments & threats of rape & violence," said one more. "Sweetie darling no!" added another. "Lumley thinks women were tougher in the 60s. Maybe they had to be - no equal pay, sex discrim at work, inadequate rape laws...great times!" said another. Lumley also suggested models were better at taking insults in the 1960s, perceiving them as amiable banter. When I was modelling photographers were much ruder, theyd say You look frightful, whats the matter with you? You look podgy, you look fat as a pig. Lumley worked as a photographic model, notably for Brian Duffy, who photographed her alongside her son and as a house model for Jean Muir in 1964. Recounting the experience of being a house model, she said it was not remotely glamorous and tantamount to being a living clothes horse. People werent so mercenary or so self-obsessed," she said reflecting on the experience of being a house model. Lumley also suggested models were altogether more humble in her day and had less airs and graces, saying that the growth of social media had made people increasingly self-conscious. It was less grand, everyone was much less grand, this Kardashian thing didnt exist, she added. There was no social media, nobody took photos in nightclubs. It was much less self-conscious now everyones self-conscious, they send out pictures of what they look like, what they like, what they think, even their food. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Karl Lagerfeld has suggested Kim Kardashian West should not have displayed her wealth for millions to see after the reality star was robbed at gunpoint. Lagerfeld, the creative director of Chanel and Kardashian's friend and sometime collaborator, questioned why she would share pictures of her diamond rings and grillz and then stay somewhere without putting heightened security in place. French police say the 35-year-old was targeted by thieves at a luxury residence in Paris after sharing pictures of her diamond jewellery with her 84 million Twitter followers. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was bound, gagged and held at gunpoint by two men who authorities say made off with jewellery worth 9 million. Lagerfeld, 83, said the robbery was a very bad thing for the image of Paris while speaking to reporters at his Chanel Paris Fashion Week show. Kim Kardashian Robbery Show all 10 1 /10 Kim Kardashian Robbery Kim Kardashian Robbery Kim Kardashian West and her husband Kanye arrive back at their town house in New York City last night Rex Kim Kardashian Robbery Kris Jenner is surrounded by security as she leaves the New York residence where her daughter Kim Kardashian West is staying in New York, after her robbery ordeal in Paris, France. AP Kim Kardashian Robbery Security cars and media surround Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's town house in New York City. Rex Kim Kardashian Robbery Media and security personnel are gathered in front of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's town house in New York City. She flew out of France on a private jet on Monday after being questioned by police about the robbery. Getty Kim Kardashian Robbery Security cars and media surround Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's town house in New York City. Getty Kim Kardashian Robbery A close-up on the 'Rue Tronchet' street sign where Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint by masked men during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France. Getty Kim Kardashian Robbery A french police car is seen outside Kim Kardashian's Luxury Apartment after being robbed at gunpoint by masked men during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2017 in Paris, France. Getty Kim Kardashian Robbery Journalists stand in front of the entrance of a luxury residence on the Rue Tronchet in central Paris, France, where masked men robbed U.S. reality TV star Kim Kardashian at gunpoint early on Monday, stealing jewellery worth millions of dollars, police and her publicist said. Reuters Kim Kardashian Robbery Getty Kim Kardashian Robbery French police officers exit the residence of Kim Kardashian in Paris Monday, Oct. 3, 2016. Kim Kardashian was unharmed after being robbed at gunpoint of more than $10 million worth of jewelry inside a private Paris residence Sunday night, police officials said. AP I don't understand why she was in a hotel with no security and things like this," he said. "If you are that famous and you put all your jewellery on the net, you go to hotels where nobody can come near to the room. You cannot display your wealth and then be surprised that some people want to share it with you. The German fashion designer most recently shot Kardashian West and Kanye West for a selfie-inspired Harpers Bazaar spread in the September issue. Lagerfeld also made more controversial comments about the nationalities of the alleged assailants. All five still remain at large and have not been identified publicly by French police. Recommended Read more Kim Kardashian mocked by NRA for stance on gun control We make all the efforts to make Paris appealing then suddenlyapparently they were people from the East, from Eastern Europe. They are the worst. French police said the group had targeted possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media and stressed the event was extremely rare. They are looking for five men in total, although three are not believed to have entered the apartment building. Johanna Primevert, chief spokeswoman for the Paris police department, told the Associated Press: This is the result of people who obviously posed as policemen and who assaulted Ms Kardashian in a private hotel in her room by threat of a weapon. This kind of incident is extremely rare in Paris. This is a star who is famous worldwide. Do not confuse what happened to Ms Kardashian and probably was the result of an organised team who had planned their action with the assault of a tourist in front of Notre Dame (cathedral) or another tourist spot in Paris. It was really the celebrity who was targeted, with possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media, and it was these goods that the attackers targeted. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Kid Cudi has checked himself into a treatment facility for depression and suicidal urges. In an intimate message penned to fans on Tuesday night, the 32-year-old US rapper explained he was not at peace and described how anxiety and depression had begun to rule his life, often leaving him unable to leave the house. The musician, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, said he felt ashamed by his problems and like he was living a lie. He said his anxiety meant he struggled to make new friends and trust people. Kid Cudi, who rose to fame for his 2008 mixtape A Kid Named Kudi and single Day n Nite, said he planned to focus on his recovery. The Grammy-award-winning hopes to be back on stage for the ComplexCon festival at the beginning of November in Long Beach, California 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. Its been difficult for me to find the words to what I'm about to share with you because I feel ashamed, Cudis letter shared on his Facebook read. Ashamed to be a leader and hero to so many while admitting I've been living a lie. Yesterday I checked myself into rehab for depression and suicidal urges. I am not at peace. I haven't been since you've known me. If I didn't come here, I wouldve done something to myself. Cudi said he struggled to relax and did not know what peace felt like, feeling in a perpetual state of unease. My anxiety and depression have ruled my life for as long as I can remember and I never leave the house because of it. I can't make new friends because of it. I don't trust anyone because of it and I'm tired of being held back in my life. I deserve to have peace. Cudi said his unhappiness might stem from the fact he had spent so much of his life giving himself to others that he had neglected himself. This is not the first time Cudi has been vocal about his mental health problems. In 2013, he spoke about his struggles with depression and drug use. In turn, he has been widely commended for speaking out about mental health issues in and beyond the hip-hop community - where the stigma surrounding mental health problems remains. Born in Cleveland, the Brooklyn-based rapper has released five albums as a solo artist and has also worked with numerous artists in the music industry, such as Jay Z, Mary J. Blige, David Guetta, MGMT, Snoop Dogg and Shakira. Further information about depression is available at www.rethink.org and via the Rethink Mental Illness Advice and Information phone line on 0121 522 7007 Anyone in need of confidential support and advice can contact the Samaritans for free, 24/7, on 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.org For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Entering the website of fashion store Missguided, you could be forgiven for thinking you had walked into a time machine and transported back to mid noughties. It might be over a decade since Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt divorced but 'Team Jen' and 'Team Angelina' t-shirts are now on sale again, with the store's website urging buyers to "pick a team". Since Angelina Jolie announced she was filing for divorce from Pitt two weeks ago, Aniston has been unwittingly and unwillingly hurled back into the public eye. From the image of her wildly grinning on the cover of The New York Post to the onslaught of memes imagining the Friends actress celebrating the news on social media, people have taken glee in, well, going back in time. Aniston might have divorced Pitt in the year YouTube was founded and Tony Blair was elected for a third term but somehow the limelight still falls back on Aniston. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2014 Actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the World Premiere of Disney's "Maleficent" at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2015 Actress/director Angelina Jolie Pitt and husband actor Brad Pitt arrive at the AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi opening night gala premiere of Universal Pictures' "By The Sea" at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures June 2014 Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and her partner actor Brad Pitt, look at displayed pictures of victims of violence during the third day of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London. Pitt added his A-list support to his partner Angelina Jolie's efforts to eradicate rape in war zones when he joined her in a flashbulb-popping appearance at a global conference in London AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures March 2014 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Oscars held at Hollywood & Highland Cente in Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures February 2014 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the EE British Academy Film Awards 2014 at The Royal Opera House in London Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2013 Angelina Jolie, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures February 2012 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the Cinema for Peace Gala ceremony at the Konzerthaus Am Gendarmenmarkt during day five of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival Getty Images for Cinema for Peac Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2012 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive on the red carpet for the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2011 Accompanied by their children, Brad Pitt and Angellina Jolie appear before photographers upon their arrival at Haneda Airport in Tokyo AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2011 Brad Pitt and Angelina Joiie attend the Premiere of DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 2" at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2011 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend "The Tree Of Life" premiere during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2010 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (with camera) on the 'Romeo and Juliette' film set in Budapest, Hungary Rex Features Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures July 2010 Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of Sony Pictures' "Salt" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures December 2009 Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie and their son Maddox arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' and Spyglass Entertainment's "Invictus" at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Theater in Beverly Hills Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2009 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Inglourious Basterds Premiere held at the Palais Des Festivals during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2009 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at Narita International Airport with their children (L to R) Maddox, Vivienne, Zahara and Knox in Narita, Chiba, Japan Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2009 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie pose on the red carpet for the German premiere of the film 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' in Berlin AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures December 2008 Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of Paramount's "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" held at Mann's Village Theatre on Decemeber 8, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2008 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt pose as they arrive to attend the screening of US actor and director Clint Eastwood's film 'The Exchange' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2008 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt pose as they arrive for the screening of US directors John Stevenson and Mark Osborne's film 'Kung Fu Panda' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2008 Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt attend the cocktail party during the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures September 2007 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford premiere on the Day 5 of the 64th Annual Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2007 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie depart the premiere for the film 'Ocean's Thirteen' at the Palais des Festivals during the 60th International Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2007 Angelina Jolie poses as she arrives with actor and producer Brad Pitt at the Festival Palace in Cannes AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2007 Angelina Jolie and her husband Brad Pitt, have a drink in a Prague restaurant "U Sevce Matouse" ("At Matous' Shoemaker") prior to the shooting of Jolie's new film "Wanted". The couple and their children Maddox, Pax Thien, Zahara and Shiloh Nouvel, arrived in Prague aboard a private plane. They are to spend five weeks in Prague AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2007 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2007 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at Newmarket Films premiere of "God Grew Tired of Us" at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures December 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the World Premiere of "The Good Shepherd" presented by Universal Pictures at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2006 Brad Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie ride on a motorcycle on a busy street in downtown Ho Chi Minh city. Jolie and Pitt are expected to adopt a three-year-old Vietnamese AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2006 Angelina Jolie holds daughter Zahara as husband Brad Pitt carries son Maddox during a stroll on the seafront promenade at the historic Gateway of India AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures June 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt give a press conference at a Swakopmund hotel. Hollywood's hottest couple became the proud parents of daughter Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt on 27 May in Namibia AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt leave Hotel Belvedere in Davos . UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie was in Davos for the World Economic Forum AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt leaving the session opened by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan "A new Mindset for the UN" at the the World Economic Forum in Davos AFP/Getty Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2005 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, accompanied by Jolie's children, arrive at Narita Airport in suburban Tokyo) AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures June 2005 (L-R) Regency Enterprises' David Matalon, actor Brad Pitt, Producer Arnon Milchan, actress Angelina Jolie and News Corp. President/Chief operating officer Peter Chernin arrive at the premiere of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" at the Mann Village Theater in Westwood Getty Images But not everyone is so happy about harking back to the days of Team Jen versus Team Jolie and some fans have criticised the fashion store, who also has team Brad tees for sale, for printing the t-shirts. They have 'Team Brad' and 'Team Angelina' t-shirts on Missguided.. are they for real that's someone's broken marriage, wrote one Twitter user. Why are @Missguided selling 'Team Brad', 'Team Angelina' and 'Team Jen' t-shirts? Bit rude cashing in on someone's divorce like that, nah? chipped in another. "Are the 'team Brad' 'team Jen' and 'team Angelina' t shirts on Missguided really that necessary?? Blergh, said one more. How are Missguided gonna sell Team Brad and Team Angelina t-shirts, the disrespect, said another. Jolie requested physical custody and joint legal custody of their six children and asked for Pitt to be granted visitation rights. The pair has six children together. They officially got together in 2006 after appearing on Mr and Mrs Smith together and then married at Chateau Miraval in the French village of Correns in 2014. Missguided are not the only brand who have capitalised on the demise of Brangelina. Norwegian Airlines reacted to the news with a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign inviting travellers to choose their flights to LA with the line Brad is single. A spokesperson for Missguided told The Independent the brand is declining to comment on the issue. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} After weeks of high-profile divorces, some happier news: Orange is the New Black actress Samira Wiley has announced her engagement to Orange is the New Black writer Lauren Morelli. Wiley shared a picture of her engagement ring on Instagram under the caption yes. The 29-year-old was propelled to fame after being chosen to play Poussey in the seminal prison drama. Before this, she worked as a bartender - a job she kept up throughout the whole of filming for the first season in case OITNB was a flop. Morelli, who wrote Wileys final episode, joined the show just a few months after marrying her husband and says she realised she was gay while writing the script. They separated and Morelli came out in 2014 before beginning a relationship with Wiley. Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Show all 9 1 /9 Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Jianna H/Facebook Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York Orange Is The New Black season 3 films in Queens, New York She detailed her realisation in an essay for Mic describing how the love storyline for protagonists Piper and Alex became a mouthpiece for my own desires and a glimmer of what my future could look like. "I realised I was gay in fall 2012, one of my first days on the set. It wasn't so much one thing, but the sum of many small details: how uncomfortable I felt around groups of lesbians or how I considered myself (shrug) a not very sexual person. When considered alone, these seemed like little quirks that made me me. Wanting to read a book instead of have sex is a perfectly reasonable preference to have, right? I am now out to my family, my friends and most of my co-workers on Orange (and now to you, dear reader). Now, when I am in the writers' room or on set, I no longer feel like I am stuck in the middle of two truths. I belong because my own narrative fits in alongside the fictional stories that we are telling on the show: stories of people finding themselves, of difficult paths and of redemption. Wiley will star in Hulus 10-part adaption of The Handmaids Tale, Margaret Atwoods unsettling dystopian drama about a totalitarian society where fertile women are kept under lock and key as handmaids, their value based solely on their ability to reproduce. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A chef obsessed with drug rape pornography was a serial killer who murdered four gay men and drugged and sexually assaulted eight others, a court heard. Stephen Port 41, of Cooke Street, Barking, east London, killed and raped men he met via websites including the gay dating app Grindr over the course of more than three and a half years, the Old Bailey was told. All of the offending behaviour, Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, told the jury, Was driven by one main factor, namely the defendants appetite for having sexual intercourse with younger, gay males while they were unconscious through drugs. This is a case about a man who in the pursuit of nothing more than his own sexual gratification, variously drugged, sexually assaulted and in four cases killed young gay men he had invited back to his flat. His appetites were reflected in the type of drug-rape pornography he watched, jurors were told. Mr Port also filmed himself having sex with men while they were unconscious, Mr Rees said. Mr Port is accused of 29 charges including four murders, seven rapes, four indecent assaults and administering a substance with intent. It is alleged he secretly drugged 11 out of his 12 victims to render them unconscious. He denies all the allegations against him. The court heard that the first man to die was fashion student Anthony Walgate, 23, who was found dead in June 2014. Mr Port, the court heard, was later convicted of perverting the course of justice after making a false statement to Police investigating how Mr Walgate died. The second alleged murder victim was Slovakian Gabriel Kovari, who was visiting London when he died in August 2014, aged 22. Daniel Whitworth, a 21-year-old chef, from Gravesend, died in September 2014, while forklift truck driver Jack Taylor, 25, died in September 2015. Mr Rees told jurors: The evidence will show that the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the four young men who died were strikingly similar in a number of respects. Post mortems found that all four dead men had potentially fatal levels of the date rape drug GHB in their systems, the jury was told. The court heard that three of the dead men were found in almost exactly the same location: in or close to the church graveyard some 400 metres from Mr Ports flat. Mr Rees said there was evidence that all three were dragged there and propped up in a sitting position. In three of the four deaths, the jury was told, the men had bottles of GHB planted on them. The four men who died were all in their early 20s and were found dead a short time after going to Mr Ports flat, the court heard. Mr Port, said Mr Rees, was attracted to small boyish-type men, referred to by some in the gay community as twinks. The jury was told that the first victim of Port's crimes survived, but was drugged and raped when he was just 19 years old. The court heard he met Port through Grindr in February 2012. Port, the jury was told, gave him red wine which tasted "a bit funny" and made him dizzy and sleepy. He found himself naked in bed with Port having sex with him without consent, the court heard. Then in June 2014, a second man was allegedly drugged by Port. The 23-year-old Muslim, who does not take drink or drugs, met Port through the gay website Fitlads. He was "knocked out" after being given a cup of liquid by Port and woke up naked lying on the floor, the court heard. Mr Rees said Port helped him to Barking station where he collapsed at about 9.30pm on June 4. After station staff came to the man's assistance, said Mr Rees, Port told Police they had both taken drugs but insisted he had found his friend under the influence outside his house and had brought him to the station to ensure he got home safely. Mr Rees told jurors that this was a lie, but because no allegations had been made against him, Port was allowed to leave. Fifteen days later, the jury was told, Port killed Mr Walgate, his first murder victim. The jury heard Port himself alerted Police to the presence of Mr Walgates body by making an anonymous 999 call in the early hours of June 19 2014, to report a young man collapsed outside the communal entrance of his block of flats. He then allegedly provided a witness statement saying he just happened to come across Mr Walgate as he returned home from a night shift. Mr Rees said this was a lie. The QC said that Police soon established that Port had met Mr Walgate, who occasionally worked as an escort, via the website Sleepyboys. Port, it was claimed, also lied to police about his involvement with the alleged murder victims. Mr Rees said Port denied ever meeting Mr Kovari and Mr Taylor and falsely claimed he did not write a suicide note that was found on the fourth victim, Mr Whitworth. The trial continues. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man who claimed he had committed the perfect murder has been convicted of killing Surjit Singh Chhokar after a 17-year-fight for justice by the victim's family. Ronnie Coulter was found guilty of stabbing the 32-year-old waiter as he returned home from work in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire on 4 November 1998. The jury took 10 hours over three days to find 48-year-old Coulter of Overtown, Wishaw guilty following a four-week trial at the High Court Glasgow. Further charges, including the claim Coulter forged Mr Chhokar's signature on a 100 giro cheque on the day of his death, were dropped during the trial. Ronnie Coulter, 48 (Police Scotland ) (Police Scotland) Coulter denied the charges and blamed his nephew Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery for the killing. Andrew Coulter and Montgomery were tried for the murder in 2000 but both were acquitted. Ronnie Coulter was initially acquitted when he stood trial for the murder in 1999. The court heard that Coulter told his sister, Margaret Chisholm, he had got away with the perfect murder following the verdict. Two official inquiries were ordered after the original trials were over. One made allegations of institutional racism. After the publication of reports in 2001, the then Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC, said the Chhokar family had been failed by the police and prosecution services. The Crown was given permission to bring a second prosecution following changes to Scotland's double jeopardy laws. Coulter now faces a mandatory life term. His conviction is the second time in Scottish legal history that an accused has been tried two times for the same crime. Before his death in November 2015, Mr Chhokar's father Darshan said his only wish was that those responsible for his son's death face justice. The family's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, who began campaigning for justice for the family as a law student, read a statement on behalf on the family on Wednesday: There is real sorrow that Mr Chhokar is not here to see justice but I hope that both he and Surjit are now finally at peace. Today's verdict is not a cause for celebration but relief that finally justice has been done. The scene in Garrion Street, Overtown, where Surjit Singh Chhokar was attacked (PA) At the end of the second trial in 2000, I stood on the steps of this court accusing our justice system of acting like a 'gentleman's colonial club', of being 'arrogant, unaccountable and institutionally racist', but today the Chhokar family want to thank the prosecutors, Crown Office and Police Scotland for their unwavering commitment to justice. They have shown themselves at their finest. Surjit was a loving son, father and brother who was lucky to have two stubborn parents who refused to be silenced as they fought for justice as a right and not a privilege. He said the family have placed victim's rights at the heart of a modern criminal justice system, which will be their legacy for generations to come. Detective Chief Superintendent Clark Cuzen said: It is important to recognise the tireless campaigning for justice over the years by the Chhokar family and their lawyer, Aamer Anwar. I hope they can take some comfort from todays verdict. This tireless activity ultimately revealed fresh evidence that pointed the finger firmly at Ronnie Coulter as the man responsible for the violent and calculated attack on Surjit Singh Chhokar. Whilst we were unable to find evidence of racial motivation at the time of the murder, there was evidence to support the fact that Ronnie Coulter described Surjit using racist terms when confessing to the murder. Coulter has been cowardly for showing absolutely no remorse for his crimes and the fact that he has actively and deliberately tried to evade justice for years speaks volume about the individual." Additional reporting by Press Association Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man has described how a "shattering" encounter with a woman, who he said was homeless and refused a cup of hot water at a McDonald's restaurant in Cardiff, has "changed" him for the better. Recommended Read more What to do if you see a homeless person sleeping rough on the streets Jonathon Pengelly, from Cardiff, was queuing in his local branch of the fast food chain early on Sunday morning after a night out, when he said he saw a staff member refuse to serve the woman water. "I don't know what was going through their mind but a lady, clearly homeless was asking for a basic human right; and for a multi-billion pound company, for them to say no is disgusting!" said Mr Pengelly, in a Facebook post that has garnered more than 180,000 likes and been shared over 40,300 times. "My heart was shattered!" said Mr Pengelly, who, shocked by the incident, said he intervened and told the woman to order what she wanted. "I spoke to her and told her to order what she wanted, expecting her to order everything. I was so shocked. She asked for a single cheese burger and that was it." Instead, Mr Pengelly bought "as much as we could carry" and sat with the woman, who gave her name as Polly, on the pavement to eat it. On Wednesday, McDonald's told The Independent that the woman had been banned from the McDonald's store in Cardiff. There is no McDonalds policy to ban or refuse to serve homeless people. Working with the local police, our Cardiff stores have had to ban a number of individuals due to illegal and anti-social behaviour which is why this individual was denied entry to the store. Mr Pengelly said "I couldn't just leave this lady go, she was so warming and so lovely," and invited Polly and her friend to his home, where he cooked her more food to last for the coming nights. Polly and her friend also brushed their teeth and had showers at Mr Pengelly's house. "They both said they had never felt so appreciated in their life," he said. "I was genuinely shocked at [Polly and her friends] story and how educated they were! So full of life and enthusiasm and they literally have nothing!" Mr Pengelly wrote. I'm no saint, but this small act of kindness cost me about 20. I know 90% of people reading this will earn about 10 times that a day. It costs nothing to be kind, and I genuinely hope people share this to raise awareness of homelessness throughout the UK! If you see someone on the streets, don't look down on them like they're nothing. You don't know what they've been though! Spare a little thought! What made an accountant dedicate his life to documenting the plight of the homeless? Show all 6 1 /6 What made an accountant dedicate his life to documenting the plight of the homeless? What made an accountant dedicate his life to documenting the plight of the homeless? 655564.bin Lee Jeffries What made an accountant dedicate his life to documenting the plight of the homeless? 655565.bin Lee Jeffries What made an accountant dedicate his life to documenting the plight of the homeless? 655566.bin Lee Jeffries What made an accountant dedicate his life to documenting the plight of the homeless? 655567.bin Lee Jeffries What made an accountant dedicate his life to documenting the plight of the homeless? 655569.bin Lee Jeffries What made an accountant dedicate his life to documenting the plight of the homeless? 655568.bin Lee Jeffries Polly, youve changed me Mr Pengelly says he and Polly have spoken on the phone and he has given her blankets, pillows and a backpack full of food. "I've promised her that she will never go hungry or cold again!" he said. Homelessness in England has risen by a third in the past year, with 3,569 people estimated to have been sleeping rough on any one night of 2015, figures from the communities department revealed earlier this year. Overall, homelessness has risen by 102 per sent since 2010, the figures showed. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} For a Prime Minister who cannot go a day without refusing to give a running commentary, it cannot be ignored that the most memorable passage of her speech was a commentary on running. Indeed, can it be that Theresa Mays determination not to give a running commentary on her Brexit negotiation strategy is because that strategy is a running commentary? Her poetic ruminations on the brotherly love of the Brownlees may have delighted the Birmingham Symphony Hall, but it is clear they were meant for the ears of Jean-Claude Juncker and our soon-to-be sparring partners in Brussels. Seeing his brothers struggle, he didnt pass on by, she pleaded. As other competitors ran past, he stopped. Reached out his hand. And gently carried him home. And there in that moment, we saw revealed an essential truth. That we succeed or fail together. We achieve together or fall short together. And when one among us falters, our most basic human instinct is to put our own self-interest aside, to reach out our hand and help them over the line. Isnt it, Jean-Claude? Isnt it, Donald? When among us falters, we reached out our hand and help, don't we. Don't we? Please. Please. Anyway, we are all the Brownlee brothers now. Ruthless selection in state education is coming back, foreign doctors are being sent home, immigrants are to be victimised, but we are all the selfless Brownlee brothers now, apparently. Well, one of them anyway. The nice one. Not the one that wasnt as fast or as fit or as strong as he thought he was and suddenly collapsed knackered. Definitely not that one. Actually, thats not fair. The closing stages of that triathlon in Mexico have been viewed hundreds of millions of times, but not many people have seen the moment when the younger brother, in great shape, glory assured, then suddenly a number of liberal metropolitan elite newspaper columnists started Talking Jonny Brownlee Down and he simply couldnt recover. Its their fault, not his, and that needs to be remembered. So we now know what May-ism means. Its not capitalism with a human face. Its certainly not socialism with an iPad. Its Nigel Farage with a Bacon Sandwich. Alright, she didnt say the exact words that, the little people, the real people, the decent people, had said no to the big banks, the big multinationals and no to big politics but she might as well have done. Theresa Mays government would be all about, Tackling unfairness and injustice, and shifting the balance of Britain decisively in favour of ordinary working class people, giving them access to the opportunities that are too often the preserve of the privileged few. It is, of course, painful to have to point out that 2,000 of the most senior figures in the Conservative party rose as one to applaud this attack on the privileged few. But they did. But June 23rd, was a victory for real people, for decent people, for ordinary people. She praised that, typically British quiet resolve for people to go out and vote as they did: to defy the establishment, to ignore the threats, to make their voice heard. In less mad times, it might matter that she was part of the establishment they defied, the threats they ignored had been coming from her. But those days are gone. At this point, I might, just in a gentle nod back in the direction to normality, mention the name of Crispin Odey, the Old Harrovian billionaire hedge fund manager who contributed to the Brexit campaign and on June 23rd made 220m overnight, short-selling the banking stocks that most ordinary British people have their pensions tied up in. But who cares anymore? This is a new Britain now, where everyone will go as far as their talent can take them. And if, who knows, it transpires that 52 per cent of the population arent happy that their talent hasnt taken them as far as theyd have liked, well we can always another referendum on something or other and start all over again. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A former pro-Brexit Cabinet minister has rubbished predictions of a quick trade deal with the United States to compensate for leaving the EU. Theresa Villiers said both Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump were turning away from free trade, which meant an agreement with the UK would not be a high priority, whoever wins the race for the White House. The prominent Leave campaigner, who was sacked by Theresa May, warned: A radical reduction of tariff barriers between us and the US will, I think, take some time to achieve. Recommended Read more Liam Fox strongly hints at hard Brexit The comments may embarrass Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, who has made wooing the United States a key part of his post-Brexit trading strategy. In July, Dr Fox toured the country to drum up business as he pushed for a hard Brexit that would see Britain quit the EUs single market. He announced that his department would open offices in the cities of Minneapolis in Minnesota, Raleigh in North Carolina and San Diego in California. And he emphasised his determination to start to scope out any possible deals that we might want to do immediately after Brexit is completed in 2019, under the Governments timetable. Dr Fox told an audience in Chicago: I want to reiterate that we have nothing to fear from forging our own free trade environment and breaking out on our own. We can start from a blank piece of paper, and use our unique attributes to create a prosperous and more open trading future. But Ms Villiers, the former Northern Ireland Secretary, gave a far gloomier prediction at a meeting of the Thatcherite Conservative Way Forward group, at the Birmingham conference. Referring to the presidential contest, she said: Unfortunately, neither of the candidates are singing the praises of free trade to say the least. It does make it more challenging for the UK and our efforts to get a trade deal. Sadly, I dont think one with the United States is going be a high priority for them, so it may take some time. Of course that doesnt mean we cant continue to do business with the United States, but a radical reduction of tariff barriers between us and the US will, I think, take some time to achieve. Meanwhile, the groups chairman, former minister Sir Gerald Howarth, made clear the delight of right-wing Conservatives at the direction taken by the Prime Minister. He described Ms Mays speech on Sunday in which she set a course for Brexit by 2019, to make Britain an independent sovereign nation again as absolutely outstanding, adding: I couldnt have written it better myself. Click here to download your free guide on Brexit ideas and action plans, from Independent Partner, Hargreaves Lansdown Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ukip leader Diane James has resigned after just 18 days in charge, citing insufficient authority over MEPs and party officers to implement policy. She confirmed her resignation in a statement to The Times. She said: It is with great regret that I announce that I will not be formalising my recent nomination to become the new Leader of the party with the Electoral Commission. Having won the enthusiastic support of party members, I was nominated by them as the new Leader at the recent UKIP Bournemouth conference. Since that time, I have been in discussion with party officers about the role. It has become clear that I do not have sufficient authority, nor the full support of all my MEP colleagues and party officers to implement changes I believe necessary and upon which I based my campaign. For personal and professional reasons, therefore, I will not take the election process further. I will continue to concentrate fully on my activities and responsibilities as an elected Ukip Member of the European Parliament for SE UK region. This is my final media statement on this issue. Recommended Read more Trump invites Nigel Farage to attend second US presidential debate Her departure has already led to speculation that Nigel Farage could return as leader for a third time. One Ukip source said Ms James decision technically meant Mr Farage was still leader, adding: He may come back. Hes done it before. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Government Bill is to give local councils unprecedented new powers to opt out of child protection laws, leading childrens charities to warn that vulnerable children could suffer. The Children and Social Work Bill, which is currently before Parliament, would give ministers the power to exempt local councils from legal duties to children in social care. This includes children under the supervision of social workers and those living in care homes or foster homes. The change means decades of child protection laws could be ignored by councils who argue they have better or cheaper - solutions. 40 charities, including Liberty, Womens Aid and the Howard League for Penal Reform have joined forces to oppose what they call the dangerous plans. Laws that councils could be allowed to opt out of include duties to help young people leaving care, support disabled children and investigate if a child is suffering significant harm. While some of the council opt-outs would need to be approved by Parliament, others could be granted by the Education Secretary alone, without a parliamentary debate or vote. The exemptions would apply for up to three years, but could then be extended for another three. The plans, which the Government says are designed to "test different ways of working", could see councils streamlining childrens social care services or outsourcing them to companies who promise to provide the service more efficiently. It raises the prospect of a big difference in the quality of child protection across the country, with different councils adopting different measures. And Labour has suggested that the clause will allow councils to outsource child social care to private companies like G4S and Serco in order to cut costs. Labour peer Lord Watson warned Parliament there is a serious risk that the links of Serco and G4S could profit from the care of vulnerable children and their families. Martha Spurrier, director of human rights charity Liberty, said: In one fell swoop, these proposals would let councils opt out of 80 years of childrens care legislation. The essential protections those laws enshrine are the product of decades of learning, public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny and, sometimes, the tragic consequences of failure by the state to keep children safe from harm. With no consultation, this Government has decided those protections are dispensable. Peter Saunders, founder of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said: There has been no consultation with abuse survivors and no information about which laws are to be tampered with. We have a major inquiry taking place into catastrophic failures in the care of children and yet, incredibly, this Bill will enable the weakening of safeguards and protection. A Department for Education spokesperson told The Independent: We are committed to making sure every child has the best possible start in life and this Bill will help to make this a reality. Through our ground-breaking Innovation Programme, we have successfully empowered local authorities to re-think the way they approach their childrens services the Bill is the next step in this work so they can provide a better service for the families they look after. Any individual trials would have to be approved by Parliament and will be evaluated. The House of Lords will debate the proposed measures on 18 October. Cross-party peers are expected to lead the opposition to the changes before the Bill passes to the House of Commons later in the year. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May will set out to make a clean break from her predecessor by declaring she will lead an interventionist Conservative government that will act on behalf of the people. In her conference speech Ms May will make a major grab for the centre-ground of British politics, which she believes has been left vacant by Labour, by pledging to put the power of government squarely at the service of ordinary working-class people. And she will bid to distance herself from the Westminster elite, saying: Just listen to the way a lot of politicians and commentators talk about the public. They find their patriotism distasteful, their concerns about immigration parochial, their views about crime illiberal, their attachment to their job security inconvenient. They find the fact that more than seventeen million people voted to leave the European Union simply bewildering. But she will also snub right-wingers in her party with a pledge to eschew the ideological templates of both the socialist left and the libertarian right. While the Prime Minister will pay tribute to the work and achievements of David Cameron, one insider explained Ms May was now keen to move on from the ex-leaders tenure. Ms May will say: Thats what governments about - action. Its about doing something, not being someone. About identifying injustices, finding solutions, driving change. Taking, not shirking, the big decisions. Having the courage to see things through. After a week in which the Tories set out a string of new policies, including a 5bn housing package, she was to claim that a change had to come in the way the country is governed. She is to say: Its time to remember the good that government can do. Time for a new approach that says while government does not have all the answers, government can and should be a force for good, that the state exists to provide what individual people, communities and markets cannot and that we should employ the power of government for the good of the people. Time to reject the ideological templates provided by the socialist left and the libertarian right and to embrace a new centre ground in which government steps up and not back to act on behalf of the people. Theresa May on immigration in conference speech The speech will seek to explain that her administration will provide security not just from crime, a staple of Tory policy, but also from ill health and unemployment too. While she was to back supporting free markets, Ms May will also tell delegates that she would step in to repair them when they arent working as they should. Ms May will add: I want to set our party and our country on the path towards the new centre ground of British politics - built on the values of fairness and opportunity - where everyone plays by the same rules and where every single person, regardless of their background or that of their parents, is given the chance to be all they want to be. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty Turning her guns on Labour she will to accuse the party of being not just divided, but divisive. Determined to pit one against another. To pursue vendettas and settle scores. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May has been attacked for giving one of the biggest issues of the age climate change a single cursory mention in her speech to the Conservative party conference. Campaigners described the speech as a worrying and accused the Prime Minister of backing the wrong horse by not doing enough to create a smart, efficient, renewable energy future for Britain. Ms May said her speech, which ran to more than 7,000 words, was designed to answer the question: Whats my vision for Britain? My philosophy? My approach? A number of important economic sectors, including financial services, life sciences, tech, aerospace, car manufacturing, the creative industries and many others, were name-checked in the speech. The one reference to climate change in the speech came in a list of pledges designed to show the UK would make a bold, new, confident role for ourselves on the world stage after its planned departure from the European Union. The Government would ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, she said, which was no surprise as Britain has already agreed to do so as a member of the EU. Asad Rehman, a climate campaigner with Friends of the Earth, said: Britain will ratify the Paris agreement on Climate Change. Great news. But thats just the start of the action we need. Which is why Theresa Mays cursory mention of climate change in her conference speech is so worrying. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges confronting our generation. People across the globe are already facing killer floods and droughts, and extreme weather is threatening homes and livelihoods right here in the UK. If Theresa May truly wants a society that works for everyone she must reverse her support for fracking, new runways and other climate wrecking policies and instead invest in renewable energy and new jobs in a green economy, before it is too late. Dr Doug Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace UK, noted the G20 group of countries had said climate change was one of the greatest challenges of our time. It got only a fleeting mention in Theresa Mays speech, yet it should be central to her industrial strategy and professed fairness agenda, he said. As the Paris Agreement comes into force, it is clear that any industrial strategy for the 21st century needs to embrace a low-carbon future. The life chances of many countries and peoples will be trashed by a changing climate the effects of which were already starting to see in acute flooding in the north of England which have ruined livelihoods. He criticised the Government decision to go ahead with the Hinkley Point nuclear power station, saying it would increase energy bills. Theresa Mays Government is backing the wrong horse when a smart, efficient, renewable energy future is the choice the rest of the global economy is making, Dr Parr said. Theresa May tells public to 'come with me and seize the day' And Caroline Lucas MP, co-leader of the Green Party, accused the Prime Minister of having abandoned all pretence of caring for the environment. The accelerating climate crisis is the greatest threat to our security today and it is utterly disappointing that our Prime Minister almost entirely ignored it in her final speech to conference, she said. Our country and our planet deserve better than the blatant disregard of Mays Government. However Richard Black, director of the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, sought to read between the lines, saying many things she highlighted lead naturally to actions on both climate change and clean energy. A Britain that works for everyone implies additional resources for flood protection, because the science suggests a greater flood risk ahead in a warmer climate, he said, quoting Ms Mays speech. Global Britain implies strong follow-through on the commitments made in Paris, on both cutting our own emissions and on climate finance, because not doing so would antagonise countries whom, post-Brexit, were trying to woo. Climate change protests around the world Show all 25 1 /25 Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Rome, Italy Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators gather in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world People hold hands to form a human chain during a gathering called by ecologist organisations in Marseille, southern France, to protest against global warming a day ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) held in Paris Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during protests on Place de la Republique, ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during a protest on Place de la Republique ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Climate change protests around the world A group of people perform during a rally to promote climate protection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Climate change protests around the world A protester sits next to his sign that reads 'Monsanto the Devil Incorporated ' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Environmentalists dance during a protest near the Place de la Republique after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21), in Paris, France Reuters Climate change protests around the world People protest next to characters dressed as wild animals during a march against climate change near the Monument to the Revolution, in Mexico City AP Climate change protests around the world Protesters carries a banner while they take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People take part in a protest about climate change around New York City Hall at lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Piazza Castello, Turin, Italy Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a globe during a protest for the global climate day in Lugano, Switzerland Climate change protests around the world Yemenis hold banners as they participate in the Global March for Climate in the old city of Sanaia, Yemen Climate change protests around the world Protesters dressed as Santa Claus take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People gather at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, during the Global Climate March to demand action on climate change telling world leaders on the eve of a crunch UN summit that there is "no planet B". From Sydney to London, humid Rio to chilly New York, at least 683,000 hit the streets in 2,300 events across 175 countries at the weekend, co-organiser and campaign group Avaaz said, calling it the largest number of people to protest over climate change all at once Getty Images Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators participate in the Global March for Climate in Athens, Greece Climate change protests around the world A man wearing a Bernie Sanders mask leads hundreds of demonstrators who marched near City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Patricia Hauser joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a poster of a sick Earth as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators march around City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world A demonstrator holds cut-out of US Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world George Patten holds a sign that reads 'No Fracking Ever!' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Gabrielle Sosa wears 'Rising Sea Levels' sign as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Making markets work for everyone suggests moving to an energy market where community generation and demand-response providers, for example, are able to compete on a level playing-field with the big boys, so cutting bills and increasing security of supply, and so on. He said a consultation on plans announced last year to phase out unabated coal by 2025 was now six months late. But he added: All the steers Ive had are that Theresa May is committed to a science-based line on climate change, although with her style of Government being much less flashy than David Camerons its an issue that I think were unlikely to see in lights. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May has been accused of wanting to cover up war crimes committed by British soldiers by a world-leading human rights lawyer. In her speech to the Conservative party conference, the Prime Minister pledged to rapturous applause that we will never again in any future conflict let those activist left-wing human rights lawyers harangue and harass the bravest of the brave, the men and women of our Armed Forces. Under Government proposals, British soldiers would be exempt from action under European Court of Human Rights law. However, they would still be subject to International Humanitarian law, including the Geneva conventions and UK criminal law. Geoffrey Robertson QC, a former United Nations appeals judge, wrote in an email to The Independent that Ms Mays rhetoric was becoming "increasingly ignorant". Human Rights lawyers are not necessarily either activist or left wing and they do not harass the brave they call for the prosecutions of those cowardly soldiers who kill their prisoners and torture or murder civilians," he said. These actions have been war crimes for centuries and Mrs May, quite disgracefully, wants to cover them up when they are committed and it is a matter of record that they are occasionally committed by British forces. Mr Robertson added that solicitors who made false claims against soldiers should be quickly and fairly investigated. A solicitor who deliberately fabricates a claim deserves to be drummed out of the profession and drummed into jail, he said. Theresa May tells public to 'come with me and seize the day' A Downing Street source said Ms May had "always said it's right to investigate legitimate instances, but it's the industry of vexatious claims that must end". In a speech to the party conference on Tuesday, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the legal system had been abused to bring false charges against soldiers on an "industrial scale". "It has caused significant distress to people who risked their lives to protect us, it has cost the taxpayer millions and there is a real risk it will stop our armed forces doing their job," he said. The Governments plan has been condemned by the father of an army recruit who died at Deepcut Barracks. Des James, whose 18-year-old daughter Cheryl James was found dead from a bullet wound at the base during initial training in 1995, said it would make it harder for military families to hold the Government to account and easier for the Ministry of Defence to cover up future failings. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May kicked off her keynote speech to the Conservative conference with a joke about Boris Johnson's ability to "stay on message". Giving her keynote address to the conference for the first time as Prime Minister, Ms May said: "When we came to Birmingham this week, some big questions were hanging in the air. Do we have a plan for Brexit? We do. "Are we ready for the effort it will take to see it through? We are." Smiling, she asked: "Can Boris Johnson stay on message for a full four days?" "Just about," she answered, after applause and laughter from the audience. Theresa May in quotes Show all 10 1 /10 Theresa May in quotes Theresa May in quotes On being described by the former chancellor Ken Clarke as a bloody difficult woman: Politics could do with some Bloody Difficult Women actually Rex Features Theresa May in quotes On keeping secrets even from her husband: There are some things I am told that I am not able to confide in anybody Rex Features Theresa May in quotes On the relentless focus on her appearance during a speech at the Women in the World summit: "I like clothes and I like shoes. One of the challenges for women in the workplace is to be ourselves and I say you can be clever and like clothes. You can have a career and like clothes Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On comparisons to Margaret Thatcher: I think there can only ever be one Margaret Thatcher. Im not someone who naturally looks to role models. Ive always, whatever job it is Im doing at the time, given it my best shot. I put my all into it, and try to do the best job I can AFP/Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On her rebelliousness, or lack of, as a teenager: I probably was Goody Two Shoes at school Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On being replaced as chairman by Lord Saatchi and Liam Fox in 2003: Yes, it takes two men to step into the shoes of one woman AFP/Getty Images Theresa May in quotes What Theresa May said when she was asked about her political ambitions during an interview with Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, a lawyer married to Nick Clegg, in December: MD: "My very last question is: that little girl who is somewhere there, is she dreaming of becoming the next British Prime Minister?" TM: "Shes dreaming of carrying on doing a good job in the Home Office" Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On not being able to have children: I like to keep my personal life personal. We couldnt have children, we dealt with it and moved on. I hope nobody would think that mattered; I can still empathise, understand people and care about fairness and opportunity Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On whether she can deliver the mandate of the EU referendum: I think for party members and indeed for others, I would say look at my record. I think they can see that Im somebody who gets on with the job, but Im also somebody who says it as I see it and actually delivers on what I say Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On the equally relentless obsession with her shoes: As a woman I know you can be very serious about something and very soberly dressed add a little bit of interest with footwear. I always tell women you have to be yourself, dont assume you have to fit into a stereotype and if your personality is shown through your clothes or shoes, so be it Getty Images Earlier in the conference, Mr Johnson was ambushed by a Sky News reporter who asked him to sign a giant cheque made out to the NHS for 350m. The Foreign Secretary refused to sign the cheque, giving his reason as: "Because youre doing a pointless stunt, thats why." Mr Johnson was also criticised after referring to Africa, the second-largest continent in the world, as "that country". His suggestion that it would be a "fantastic thing" if the UK had a "more sensible system" for dealing with migration between Australia and the UK was also dismissed by Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Scottish Conservative Party leader has said immigrants should be made to feel welcome in the UK. Ruth Davidson, leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament, used her keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference to remind the Tories that "people and homes and families" lay behind debates on immigration. Speaking to a packed hall in Birmingham, Ms Davidson urged Theresa May's government to be "internationalist in outlook" and told economic migrants who have moved to the UK they were "welcome here". She said. "As we have difficult and necessary debates about how we manage borders and futures, let us not forget that behind discussions of numbers and rules and criteria, there lies people and home and families. "And for those who have already decided to build a life, open a business, make a contribution, I say: this is your home and you are welcome here. "The Conservative Party I know is optimistic in spirit and internationalist in outlook. We are outward looking people and so we must remain." Her comments came after International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said immigrants who come to Britain and "consume" its wealth or arrived "without ever creating anything" were not welcome. Mr Fox told the Tory Conference hours before: If you ask the British people what they think in general about immigration they would say people who come to our country, who contribute wealth to our country are welcome. People who come to the country and consume the wealth of the country without ever having created anything are a different kettle of fish. I think its about getting control of migration. Ms Davidson's remarks were welcomed by many as a challenge to "hard" Brexit Tories, with social media users noting how it differed from the likes of Mr Fox's hardline speech. In July Ms Davidson urged Theresa May to tell EU nationals they would be able to remain in the UK after Brexit and allay fears that they might be forced to leave. That's an assurance that I want from the Government, and I want it pretty quick," she told a journalist at the time "Its not enough to say to people who have come here and made a home here, and have made their life here, that we want your labour, that's all we want." In the same keynote speech in Birmingham, Ms Davidson announced the Scottish Conservatives were "out and proud" and "here to stay", saying the party was picking up support in Scotland. She urged Scottish first minister Nicolas Sturgeon to rule out a second independence referendum, claiming: "The majority have no wish to return to the divisions of the past - we want to seize the opportunities of the future. Most Scots have had enough. And they are telling her - for pity's sake, first minister, let this go." The Scottish Conservatives are currently the second largest party at Holyrood behind the SNP, having overtaken Labour for the first time in the May 2016 elections. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The drug smuggling trial of a British aristocrat has been postponed for a month after it emerged that Kenyan prosecutors could not confirm the alleged 4.5 million haul was all actually cocaine. Jack Marrian, 31, the son of Lady Emma Campbell of Cawdor and grandson of a British colonial cabinet minister, was arrested in July after police found drugs in a sea container destined for his commodities firm in Mombasa. The trial was due to begin this week, but has been delayed until early November after a hearing at the Kibera Law Courts in Nairobi where it was revealed that a government report into the nature of the 99.7kg haul was not ready. Prosecutor Mungai Warui told the magistrate: It was a huge consignment and the report had to take some time to be ready. The accused were charged on the basis of a preliminary report that indicated the substance was cocaine. It is the latest set-back in a trial which Mr Marrians family says has been rushed and politically motivated. They say he is innocent, and had no idea the shipment of sugar in the container had been contaminated with drugs. According to an investigation by The Times, the ship carrying the container was loaded with almost five times as much cocaine when it left port in Santos, Brazil. At least two other containers were removed from the MSC Letizia and seized by other authorities on route to Kenya, investigators told The Times. Those cases also involved contaminated shipments of sugar, but were registered to a different commodities firm to Mr Marrians ED&F Man. The boats owners say the involvement of other containers suggests a rise in rip-on, rip-off smuggling, where drugs are smuggled onto ships without the owners knowledge and removed equally surreptitiously at ports elsewhere. 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 Both the Spanish police, who first detected the drugs when MSC Letizia passed through Valencia, and the US Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA), which tipped off the Kenyan authorities, say the evidence points to Mr Marrian being unaware of the drugs. "A criminal gang based in Valencia tried to get the cocaine out of the container but failed," Melvin Patterson of the DEA told the Mail on Sunday. "The Spanish stressed this was a rip-off load and the recipient of the container would have no knowledge it was being used to transport drugs. Mr Marrian was born in Britain but grew up in Kenya, and attended the most prestigious prep school in Nairobi alongside Team GB cyclist Chris Froome. He later boarded at Marlborough College, where the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Eugenie were also students, and went on to the University of Bristol. Mr Marrians case will now be heard, alongside that of his companys clearing and forwarding agent Roy Francis Mwanthi, on 9 November. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An unusual opportunity has opened up for the very wealthy in the classified ads of Nigerian newspapers the chance to buy a used presidential jet. Two luxury aircraft from President Muhammadu Buharis fleet of 10 or even 11 if some reports are to be believed will go on sale as part of a government commitment to cut public waste. Mr Buhari was elected president last year on a commitment to crack down on the countrys systemic corruption, and a spokesman said downsizing the outlandish presidential fleet had been among his campaign pledges. But while the anti-corruption drive has been widely praised, falling oil prices have seen the Nigerian economy go into recession for the first time in more than 20 years. A critical shortage of foreign currency means the two jets being sold off, a Dassault Falcon 7x executive jet and a Beechcraft Hawker 4000 business jet, will be listed for sale in US dollars. Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said newspaper advertisements for the sale of two presidential planes had been authorised by the presidency. They will run as auctions, in a bid to maximise the money from the sale. This is in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that aircraft in the presidential air fleet be reduced to cut down on waste, said Mr Shehu. The statement also said Mr Buhari will hand over other aircraft to the Nigerian Air Force for its operations. A former military leader of the country, Mr Buhari has made a vow to tackle Boko Haram militants another key tenet of his presidency. Mr Shehu did not specify how many presidential jets would be given over to this purpose, or exactly what they would be tasked with doing. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A series of photographs of a poor white community in South Africa, presented to suggest there is now equality in the country more than 20 years after apartheid, has been met with an angry backlash among black South Africans. The work of photographer Jacques Nelles showed a white squatter camp in the Munsieville township, west of Johannesburg, where around 200 members of the Afrikaner minority group live in poverty but apparent relative comfort. Yet the images have provoked anger among many black South Africans after they were presented in a Mail Online article suggesting that now there is equality between the races. The article itself points out that only 42,000 out of 4.5 million white South Africans, roughly 0.9 per cent, are believed to live in poverty. That compares to some 27 million black people deemed as living in poverty in the country, or 63 per cent of the 43 million population. Nelles said the Munsieville camp was similar to any black township I've been to, and said that what most struck him was the amount of children I saw, living in squalor. Yet the camps community leader, Irene van Niekerk, told the local newspaper last year that the squatters want for little, with about one mobile toilet per two households and about six taps with running water. All we might need is gas stoves, she told the Krugersdorp News. Rudzani Floyd Musekwa, a columnist for The Herald newspaper, told The Independent the widely-shared series of photographs had caused an uproar in South Africa. Black squatter camps are a far cry from that which is pictured here, with tens of family members sharing a room in the kind of squalor that will make you sick, he said. So-called white poverty is not news in this country, but an insult to the poverty that blacks face on a daily basis even more than 20 years into democracy. Asked if the images showed there is now equality in South Africa, Mr Musekwa said there is no such thing, and that there could only be an equal society in the country when the assumed political power of black people since 1994 translated to economic freedom, equality and opportunity. Others expressed outrage at the story on social media, with North-West University researcher Thato Majele calling it propaganda for white privilege. And user Siphathisiwe wrote: No one should live in poverty but these guys choose to focus on the 42,000 instead of the 27 million? Sigh. Frans Cronje, the chief executive of South Africa's Institute for Race Relations, has previously questioned whether white poverty levels had risen at all since the end of apartheid. He has since said white poverty levels have increased, but that they need to be put into perspective against the far greater - and also rising - levels of black poverty. Mr Cronje told Australias ABC News: "It's not to say that whites who are poor are not a problem, each individual case obviously is a problem that needs to be addressed. [But] when compared to black poverty levels, they tend to pale into the background. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Texas man is set for execution after requesting that his lawyers stop the appeals process after he pleaded guilty to the 2003 killings of his neighbours. Barney Fuller Jr, 58, is set for lethal injection on Wednesday following his July 2004 capital murder conviction for the murders of Nathan Copeland, 43, and his wife Annette Copeland, 39, during a shooting frenzy at their Lovelady home a rural town outside of Houston. Recommended Read more British woman on Texas death row will not receive new trial Fuller will be the seventh person executed in Texas this year, 16th nationally, as the practice continues to decline amid protests from human rights organisations and a dwindling supply of drugs for lethal injection cocktails. Last year, Fuller requested that his lawyers stop filing appeals to his death sentence, asserting that he did not want to spend any more time than he had to on death row. I do not want to go on living in this hell-hole, he said in a letter to his attorney, Jason Cassel. Do not do anything for me which will prolong my appeals and time here on Texas death row. A federal judge allowed Fuller to go on with his decision to halt the appeals process. He testified at a June hearing that he was satisfied with his counsel, was not coerced, and was ready to move on. Fuller surrendered to police following his middle-of-the-night shooting rampage that killed the Copeland couple on 14 May 2003. Their 14-year-old son, Cody, survived two gunshot wounds, while their 10-year-old daughter, Courtney, was unharmed because Fuller could not turn on the lights in her bedroom. Cody managed to call 911 with his mothers mobile phone. In pictures: Controversial executions Show all 5 1 /5 In pictures: Controversial executions In pictures: Controversial executions George Stinney Jr, 14 George Stinney Jr became the youngest person to be executed in the US in the 20th century when he was sent to the electric chair in 1944 during the trial that lasted less than three hours and reportedly bore no evidence and barely any witness testimonies. Reuters In pictures: Controversial executions Clayton Lockett, 38 Convicted of the murder and rape of 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman in 2000 and sentenced to death. Lockett died of a heart attack after a failed execution by lethal injection in April 2014 In pictures: Controversial executions Roy Blankenship, 55 Killed by lethal injection in 2011 after he murdered an elderly woman. Witnesses saw him grimace and jerk as he became the first person put to death in that state with pentobarbital. Medical experts said he suffered greatly In pictures: Controversial executions Michael Wilson, 38 Executed by lethal injection in January 2014. Wilson was convicted of murdering co-worker Richard Yost during a robbery at a convenience store in 1995. He is one of three people executed for the crime In pictures: Controversial executions Dennis McGuire, 53 Sentenced to death following the rape and murder of pregnant 22-year-old Joy Stewart in 1989. After spending 25 years on death row fighting the order to end his life, McGuire was executed by lethal injection in January 2014 Fuller had previously made threatening phone calls to the Copelands. One call in 2001 came after he shot out an electrical transformer that powered their home. Happy new year, he said in the call. Im going to kill you. Both prosecutors and defence described Fuller as apathetic and unrepentant for the murders. William House, one of Fullers trial lawyer, told the Associated Press that his client asked to remain absent during the trials punishment phase. He did not return to the courtroom until the jury handed down the conviction. He was very adamant [about] not wanting to be there, he said. From the very start, he just really didnt care. Former Houston County district attorney Cindy Garner, who prosecuted Fuller, said that what had happened was beyond anybodys expectations in the town. A lot of times in the country folks argue about chickens and dogs, she said. He was shooting his mouth off, but nobody had any idea that something like this was going to happen, where he was just going to march down the road like Rambo and tear up an entire family." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A witness broke down as he described his frantic efforts to revive a toddler who died after being left in a hot car. Cooper Harris died in June 2014 after being left for seven hours in his fathers vehicle outside his workplace near Atlanta. Lawyers for the boys father, Justin Harris, have argued that it was a tragic accident and that he simply forget to drop off the boy at day care. But prosecutors have alleged that Mr Harris left the child to die on purpose as he sought to escape the responsibilities of family life and focus on sexual liaisons with prostitutes and young women he met online. CBS said that at a trial in Georgia, where Mr Harris has denied a charge of murder, a man who tried to save the 22-month-old boy broke down and wept. James Hawkins, a lighting installer, testified that he had rushed over to help and tried to administer CPR. It was [like] blowing into a busted bag, he said, wiping away tears. He was gone. He was dead. He said he left the scene without talking to police, distraught because he had lost his own daughter a year earlier. I was really upset, he said on Tuesday. The day before, prosectors had said there was no doubt that Mr Harris had intended to kill his child. But the defence team attempted to rebut this, while admitting the death of the toddler was the fathers fault. Ross Harris is responsible for his childs death. Its his fault, no doubt about it, Maddox Kilgore told the jury in his opening statement. What youre going to see here at this trial is that being responsible is not the same thing as being a criminal. Before Mr Hawkins took the stand, a police officer testified Mr Harris was initially combative with officers and later complained that he was hot in the back of a patrol car. Cobb County police officer Jacquelyn Piper said Mr Harris was on the phone when she arrived at the scene and initially refused to get off, using an expletive when telling another officer to shut up. Justin Harris has denied a charge of murder (AP) He started a monotoned yelling that seemed really forced, Ms Piper testified, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I found it kind of unusual. Ms Piper said Mr Harris also insisted he had to call his wife because she was going to go to Coopers day care and he would not be there and later made casual conversation while she was taking him to police headquarters. Once he was in a cruiser, Ms Piper said Mr Harris complained about how hot it was in the car. Hes seen on police video sitting in the cruiser while Ms Piper tells him the air conditioning is all the way up. Mr Harris faces life in prison if he is convicted of murder. Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty. The case drew national attention and was so closely followed in Mr Harris suburban home of Cobb County that a judge moved the trial 275 miles to Brunswick, on the Georgia coast. Sixteen total jurors - eight men and eight women - were seated Monday morning to hear the case. Four of them will serve as alternate jurors, who will have a final say in the trial only if one or more of the 12 main jurors are dismissed. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, told residents of the Sunshine State to prepare for a devastating onslaught from Hurricane Matthew which has already carved a deadly path across the Caribbean, ravaging parts of Haiti and eastern Cuba. Everyone must prepare now for a direct hit, Governor Scott said at a press conference. After briefly weakening off Cuba, the storm appeared on Wednesday to be gathering new strength and even jogging a little westward, both indicating elevated danger for Florida as well as states to its north. Millions of Americans could affected this weekend and travel severely disrupted. Recommended Read more Stunning video captures Hurricane Matthew from space The Atlantic seaboard of Florida was bracing for the worst with evacuation orders already in place for some barrier islands and low-lying areas to the north of Palm Beach. Residents were also on the move along coastal South Carolina to the north, where Matthew threatened to be the most serious storm since Hurricane Hugo ravaged the state's coast in 1989. We must be prepared for a devastating hurricane; small track deviation could be catastrophic for our coast, a grim Governor Scott told Floridians. This is a dangerous storm and it's never too early to evacuate. If you live in a low-lying area or on a barrier island, go ahead and leave. Its been more than ten years since Florida has faced a storm of such magnitude. That was in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina crossed the state before entering the Gulf of Mexico and later slamming New Orleans. Many in the south of the state still recall Hurricane Andrew in 1992 which roared ashore just south of Miami before essentially wiping out the town of Homestead. As if the scientific data describing Matthew wasn't terrifying enough, some saw additional reason to take fright in a Nasa infrared image of the storm that evoked a human skull. Briefly a Category 5 storm earlier in the week, Matthew had slowed to a somewhat less organized Category 3 event early Wednesday with sustained wins of 115 MPH. But it was showing signs of fresh power as it bore down on the southern Bahamas. Current tracking suggests it will reach the Florida peninsula by Thursday evening into Friday morning. The increasingly urgent hurricane warnings had already prompted panic buying at some hardware and grocery chains in Florida as residents scrambled to get ready and protect their properties. Cars were queuing around the block for petrol at some stations in Miami. In South Carolina, where Governor Nikki Haley had ordered a state of emergency, traffic was bumper-to-bumper on highways heading west from the historic city of Charleston and nearby coastal communities. The Governor had mobilised the National Guard to assist. The scope of devastation in Haiti and Cuba was clearly major even if some details, including reliable death tolls for both countries, remained hard to come by, in part because of disrupted communications. But at least 11 deaths had been reported in both countries by Wednesday. It also appeared that in Haiti alone, 14,530 people have been displaced. It's the worst hurricane that I've seen during my life, Fidele Nicolas, a civil protection official in Nippes, told AP. It destroyed schools, roads, other structures. The storm just skirted the eastern tip of Cuba, and the country may have dodged the worst. Meteorologists predicted that Matthew would travel along the southern half of the eastern US into this weekend before turning east again and into the Atlantic, suggesting that the mid-Atlantic cities of Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York might be spared its wrath. Disruptions from the storm were already being widely felt. President Barack Obama was forced to cancel a political event supporting Hillary Clinton in Miami. Meanwhile cruise ship companies were rushing to change schedules to keep vessels that sail out of Floridas main ports out of danger. School was cancelled up and down the eastern Florida coast. In Orlando, Disney and other theme park owners warned their opening hours were likely to be changed. Hurricane Matthew was expected to drop drenching rains and create dangerous storm surges of up to five feet, leading to extensive flooding in coastal areas. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Muslim man was told to leave a Southwest Airlines flight after another passenger overheard him speaking Arabic on his mobile phone. Khairuldeen Makhzoomi, a 26-year-old Berkeley graduate, was removed from the plane at Los Angeles International Airport in April this year. Once seated, he had made a brief call to his uncle in Baghdad, telling him how excited he was to ask a question to the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, during a dinner the previous day. Before hanging up, he said the Islamic phrase in Arabic of "inshallah", meaning "God willing". He noticed a woman staring at him as he hung up the phone. He thought at first she had been irritated by how loud he was speaking. "One guy came with police officers within two minutes I can't believe how fast they were and told me to get off the plane," he told CNN. An agent escorted him outside and asked him why he was speaking in Arabic considering "todays political climate". Video shows Muslims kicked off flight "You need to be very honest with us with what you said about the martyrs. Tell us everything you know about the martyrs," the agent said to him. The political science graduate explained he had only said God willing, and the questioning soon ended - but not before dogs were brought in to sniff his luggage, he was searched and his wallet was taken away. "The US is the land of freedom. People respect the rule of law. How could people be humiliated like this? That was the real shock," he told The Independent. "I lived under Saddam Hussein. I know what discrimination feels like," he added. Mr Makhzoomi came to the US in 2010 as a legal refugee with his older sister. He was not allowed to reboard the Oakland-bound plane, and was given a full refund. He booked another flight with Delta. Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Brandy King said in a statement that staff had decided to investigate "potentially threatening comments" made by the passenger. "Since that time, we have researched the event internally and also reached out to the customer. "The internal review determined that it was the content of the conversation, not the language used, that prompted the report leading to the investigation. Our crew responded by following protocol, as required by federal law, to investigate any potential threat. We regret any less than positive experience a customer has on Southwest. Southwest neither condones nor tolerates discrimination of any kind." The student said he was left feeling "shaken" and could not sleep for days afterwards. He has called on the airline to apologise since they have failed to do so since 6 April. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a complaint with the US Department of Transportation Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings against Southwest Airlines for "racial and religious profiling of a Muslim passenger". "We don't want this to become 'normal'," said Saba Maher, civil rights coordinator of the local CAIR chapter. "We are looking for a federal investigation and for the Department of Transportation to hold Southwest Airlines accountable." Mr Makhzoomi said he is applying for his masters and is grateful that the US has provided him with "the best education, and so many opportunities". "This our home. We don't have another home. The experience [in April] was just unpleasant," he said. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A student in Canada has been told she could not sit an exam after she refused to partially remove her hijab. The girl was asked by a male biology teacher to pull her headscarf behind her ears so he could see if she was wearing headphones, according to a spokesperson for the school in Montreal. "She didn't want to show him her ears," Line Legare, from the College de Maisonneuve, told MetroNews. According to Ms Legare, the student said the teacher could touch her hijab to prove she was not wearing headphones, but that "made the teacher uncomfortable". Following the exchange, the biology teacher told the girl she would not be able to sit an exam that day. The teacher had a policy whereby he asked all students to prove they were not using headphones to cheat by showing him their ears. No official complaint by the student has been filed yet. The school is negotiating another time for the girl to sit the biology test. Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard was asked about the incident and defended the teacher's actions. Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Show all 8 1 /8 Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Anniesa Hasibuan show, runway, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week Rex Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Anniesa Hasibuan show, runway, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week Rex Features Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Anniesa Hasibuan show, runway, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week Rex Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Anniesa Hasibuan show, runway, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week Rex Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Anniesa Hasibuan show, runway, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week Rex Features Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Anniesa Hasibuan show, runway, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week Rex Features Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Anniesa Hasibuan show, runway, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week Rex Features Muslim fashion designer features hijabs at New York Fashion Week Anniesa Hasibuan show, runway, Spring Summer 2017, New York Fashion Week Rex Features He added that a bill regarding religious accommodation put forward by his government would give Canadians the chance to debate such issues. Islamic dress has proved a sensitive subject in Quebec, a province that has been shaken by fears of homegrown terrorism and radicalised young people. In January, a student in Montreal said she was turned away from a roller skating rink for wearing a hijab. Yet the country passed controversial regulation in August allowing female police officers to wear a headscarf. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Police in West Virginia have arrested a 32-year-old man after he was accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriends nine-month-old daughter. Deputies said it was "the worst case of sexual assault they have seen in two decades", ABC reported. The victims mother said she had been sleeping and awoke to find her daughter and boyfriend, Benjamin Taylor, missing. She called emergency services after discovering her daughter's naked body, unconscious and covered in blood, in the basement of her apartment block. The baby is now in a critical condition. Taylor said he had taken the infant to the basement of the apartment to do laundry earlier in the evening but then he blacked out and did not know how the child was injured. Police said when they interviewed Taylor he changed his story multiple times, that they had seen him trying to rub blood they believe came from the baby off himself and that large amounts of blood had been found on blankets and clothing in the basement. 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 Taylor is being held at South Central Regional Jail on a $2 million (1.6 million) bond. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The FBI has secretly arrested a National Security Agency (NSA) contractor suspected of stealing highly classified computer codes used to hack the computer systems of foreign governments including Russia and China, raising fears of another embarrassing intelligence leak to rival the Edward Snowden affair. Law enforcement and intelligence sources told the New York Times that, like Mr Snowden, the contractor worked for consulting firm Booz Allen, which is behind many of the NSAs most sensitive cyberoperations. In 2013, Mr Snowden leaked more than 1.5 million documents relating to the agencys surveillance programmes, including some that targeted US citizens. The contractor in this case was named in a criminal complaint announced by the Justice Department on Wednesday as Harold Thomas Martin III. Mr Martin, who lives in Glen Burnie, Maryland around 10 miles from the NSAs Fort Meade headquarters has been in custody since his arrest on 27 August, according to the Associated Press. In a raid on his property that month, authorities searched Mr Martins home, two storage sheds and his car, reportedly finding highly classified information there in both physical documents and digital files. He was charged with theft of government property, and with the unauthorised removal or retention of classified documents. Some of the information was classified as sensitive compartmented a level higher even than top secret. Mr Martin at first denied having taken the materials, but later admitted that he knew what he had done was wrong, the complaint stated. An unnamed administration official told the Times that there is so far little indication that his actions were politically motivated, and that he may have taken the documents and digital files before Mr Snowdens leaks. The 51-year-old contractor is suspected of stealing the NSAs source code used to break into the computer networks of rival powers such as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. The news comes as Mr Snowden, who is currently living in Russia, has been arguing for a pardon from the US amid the release of Snowden, a film about his case by director Oliver Stone. The information allegedly stolen in this case could have been the source for a 2013 report by Der Spiegel about the agencys top hacking unit, which was not attributed to Mr Snowdens leaks. It might also be related to a recent dump of stolen data by a hacking group called the Shadow Brokers, which included source code traced to the NSA and built to break into secure networks, such as those created by US IT infrastructure firms including Cisco. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Steven Avery, the man whose story has been documented in phenomenally successful Netflix show Making A Murderer, has broken off his engagement with partner Lynn Hartman after claiming she was a gold digger. Days before the Dr Phil show aired an interview with Ms Hartman, Averys former fiancee and friend shared a post on Facebook which said Ms Hartman was only interested in money and had been paid $5,000 for the interview with Phil McGraw on CBS. The announcement of the break-up came just before Dr Phil aired part one of a two-part special on the couple last week. CBS could not be reached immediately for comment. Avery is serving a life behind bars for the murder of Teresa Halbach in Wisconsin. Ms Hartman, along with many viewers of the documentary, believe Avery has been served another wrongful conviction. She wrote to him earlier this year after watching Making A Murderer and said she was excited to get a reply. They corresponded by letter and eventually became engaged. She called him the sweetest teddy bear when speaking to Mr McGraw. Avery also gushed about his relationship in an interview, as reported by the Daily Beast. I havent been in love my whole life. Its not the same as the others. Everything is different with her, Avery told Mr McGraw on the show. His statement suggested that he had not been in love with former fiancee Jodi Stachowski, who stood by Avery during the documentary. Yet Ms Stachowski also eventually turned on Avery, saying in a television interview a few weeks after the release of the documentary that Avery was a monster behind closed doors. Ms Hartman was shown the footage on the Dr Phil show and she defended Avery, saying everyone deserved second chances. Mr McGraw asked Avery directly if he had murdered Teresa Halbach, and he denied it. Avery also expressed gratitude that the conviction against his nephew, Brendan Dassey, has been overturned by a federal judge. The truth is coming out sooner or later, he said. All the truth will come out. Making A Murderer is returning for a second season. Averys lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, will use new forensic evidence to prove that the blood found in Halbachs car was planted by police. If his lawyer wins her case, it will be the second time in Averys life that he receives a very high-profile and public exoneration. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The US Supreme Court is likely to decide in favour of Duane Buck a Texas man sentenced to death in 1997 after a psychologist testified that the defendant was predisposed to commit murder because he was black. Buck, now 53, will present to the court that his defence team improperly submitted a report by Dr Walter Quijano that said black people were statistically more prone to violence and criminal activity. What occurred at the penalty phase of this trial is indefensible, Justice Samuel Alito said. In order to deal the death sentence, the jury had to unanimously agree that Buck presented a future danger to the public, and their decision hinged on Dr Quijanos testimony. Its like hes basically saying because you are black you need to die, Buck previously said to his lawyers some years after he was put on death row. I felt that was strange because my lawyer didnt say nothing, and nobody else, you know, the prosecutor or the judge, nobody did. It was like it was an everyday thing in the courts. Buck was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Debra Gardner, and Kenneth Butler on 30 July 1995, outside their Houston home. Buck also wounded his step-sister, but she survived. Bucks lawyers did not dispute the murder conviction before the eight Supreme Court justices on Wednesday, the second day of the new term. Instead, Buck will seek a new trial that does not rely on the defendants race when it comes to sentencing. This case is important because its about use of race in the criminal justice system, Natasha Merle, an NAACP Legal Defence & Education Fund attorney representing Buck, told the Texas Tribune prior to the hearing. And its more specifically about whether the state can take a mans life when that process has been infected with racial bias. Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller argued that the case should not be retried because the expert testimoney was introduced by Buck's defence attorneys but both Justices Elena Kagan and John Roberts disagreed. The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners Show all 21 1 /21 The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657587.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657108.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657109.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657110.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657111.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657112.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657113.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657114.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657115.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657116.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657117.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657118.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657119.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657120.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657121.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657122.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657123.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657124.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657125.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657126.bin The last testimony: The final words of Texas death row prisoners 657127.bin I just dont understand that point, she said. It seems wildly more prejudicial to me when the defense attorney introduces it. When the defendants own lawyer introduces this, the jury is going to say, well, it must be true. Attorneys said in their appeal to the Supreme Court: Such a racially tainted death sentence calls the rule of law itself into question. Subsequent appeals by Bucks attorneys were dismissed, and earlier claims did not bring up the controversial testimony by Mr Quijano. However, in 2000, Texas Attorney General John Cornyn now a US senator found similar testimony by the former prison psychiatrist in other death row cases to be unconstitutional. If successful, the Supreme Court could order lower courts to call for a new sentencing hearing for Buck. If the court sides with Texas, the appeals process for Buck will have all but ended and he would likely receive a new execution date some 20 years after his conviction. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two American diplomats have reportedly been given date rape" drugs while attending a conference in St Petersburg in what the US State Department called an escalating pattern of harassment by Russia. A report by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFERL) claimed a man and woman were targeted while attending a United Nations conference on anti-corruption in November 2015, when they were slipped a substance at their hotel bar. Officials suggested an investigation was hampered by the Russian intelligence services after the power at a clinic where an unconscious victims was treated was cut, leaving doctors unable to take blood and tissue samples, and staff lists for their hotel disappeared. But Russian authorities said there was no concrete evidence of the alleged crime and suggested the diplomats had merely been boozing at a hotel bar. US suspends bilateral relations with Russia over Syria Sergey Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister, accused the American government of making the claims against Russia because of its principled position on the Syrian civil war. The US State Department has once again become a broken record regarding the purported harassment of US diplomats in our country, he said. As we have repeatedly pointed out, such assertions have nothing to do with reality and, in essence, are an attempt to divert attention from Washingtons own unseemly actions, including in relation to Russian citizens. Mr Ryabkov said the government was outraged at the drugging allegations and said investigations found no record of treatment at clinics in St Petersburg. If, alternatively, they had just been boozing at a hotel bar, they have only themselves to blame, he 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 Alluding to complaints by the US after another diplomat was tackled to the ground by an FSB guard outside the American embassy in Moscow, Mr Ryabkov accused Washington of using diplomatic services as cover for espionage and accused Barack Obama of perpetuating rabid anti-Russian propaganda. RFERL, which is funded by the US government, said State Department officials had reported rising harassment of representatives and American journalists since a downturn in relations following the Ukraine crisis and Syrian war. Alleged methods include traffic stops, vandalism and the leaving of human excrement on apartment floors, with Washington releasing an advisory telling American visitors to Russia not to leave drinks unattended in bars and clubs. The report emerged after the diplomatic chill between the two countries deepened as the US suspended talks with Russia on ending the Syrian civil war, where the nations are backing opposite sides. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ever since a portion of his 1995 tax return was published by the New York Times on Saturday, showing that he claimed a loss of more than $900m that year, Donald Trump has been spinning the revelations as an example of his allegedly remarkable business acumen. I know our complex tax laws better than anyone who has ever run for president, Mr Trump claimed on Twitter after the story broke last weekend. I mean, honestly, I have brilliantly used those laws, he told supporters at a rally in Colorado on Monday. But according to a series of somewhat damning interviews with the accountant who prepared Mr Trumps taxes for three decades, the Republican nominees brilliance remains in question. Im the one who did all the work, Jack Mitnick told Inside Edition. I did all the tax preparation. He never saw the product until it was presented to him for signature, said Mr Mitnick, 80, a CPA and lawyer who did the Donalds taxes until 1996 and whose signature was on the documents leaked to the Times. As far as I know, and that only goes through late 96, he didn't understand the [tax] code, he added, in a separate interview with NBC News. Nor would he have had the time and the patience to learn the provisions. Thats a lifetime of experience. Mr Trumps involvement in the preparation of his returns was virtually zero, said Mr Mitnick, twisting the knife on CNN, thus giving the lie to the notion that Mr Trumps tax strategies denoted his personal business skills. The accountants recollections call into question Mr Trumps claim, at that Monday rally, that he understands the federal tax code better than almost anyone. That, the GOP nominee insisted, is why I am the one who can truly fix them. Over the weekend, Trump surrogates Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, both described the property mogul as a genius for having declared that $916m loss in 1995, potentially allowing him to avoid paying income tax for as many as 18 subsequent years. Speaking to the New York Times, however, Mr Mitnick suggested that Mr Trumps first wife Ivana had always taken a closer interest in their tax affairs than her husband, whom he characterised as brash and undisciplined. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An increasingly confident Hillary Clinton has given full marks to running mate Tim Kaine for his sustained battering of Mike Pence, the Republican running mate, in their debate, even as he was scored the loser by most pundits and instant polls. Both camps declared victory after the often testy encounter between the two vice presidential hopefuls in Virginia on Tuesday, though the relief was more audible among Republicans who needed respite after Donald Trump stumbled in his first debate with Ms Clinton last month. Ms Clintons post-debate bounce continues to gather strength. On Wednesday a new Ispos-Reuters poll showed her with a six per cent lead nationally, one point higher than a CNN-ORC survey released on Tuesday. In several swing states she may be also vaulting ahead. That the momentum remains clearly with the Democrat will only serve to pile pressure on Mr Trump who will face her in a second debate in St Louis, Missouri, on Sunday. That debate will be in a town hall-type format, with candidates fielding questions from audience members. The recent downward slide of the Republican can be traced to that first debate with Ms Clinton at Hofstra University in New York on 26 September but also to the serial wounds, some self-inflicted, that he suffered in the days that followed. First Mr Trump chose to persist in attacking a former Miss Universe contestant who Ms Clinton had identified as a victim of his disdain during the debate, including with a barrage of pre-dawn tweets, a continuing drama that was eclipsed only by reports last weekend that he may have avoided paying income taxes for almost two decades after losing more than $900m in 1995. The window for Mr Trump to reverse the dynamics of the race is now perilously narrow. There is barely one month left of campaigning until election day. However, as many as 40 per cent of voters are expected to hand in their ballots well before then. Early voting is already under way in battleground states such as Iowa and Wisconsin and is about to start in Florida and North Carolina. The vice-presidential debate was a boisterous one, marked by Mr Kaine repeatedly demanding that Mr Pence, who is the Governor of Indiana, offer a defence for assorted controversies created by Mr Trump on the campaign trail, whether demeaning women, smearing Mexicans, saying that his success in avoiding taxes made him smart and questioning President Barack Obamas citizenship. It all added up, he said, to Mr Trump running an insult-driven campaign. He also pressed Mr Pence on Mr Trump publicly suggesting Japan and Saudi Arabia should consider acquiring nuclear weapons and his stated admiration for Vladimir Putin. As a candidate, [Trump] started his campaign with a speech where he called Mexicans rapists and criminals and he has pursued the discredited and really outrageous lie that President Obama wasnt born in the United States, Mr Kaine said. I cant imagine how Governor Pence can defend the insult-driven, selfish, me-first style of Donald Trump. Mr Pence, once a radio broadcaster, remained unruffled, serially accusing his opponent of misstating the facts. But he also separated himself from the man at the top of his ticket, notably playing up the danger that a newly aggressive Russia represented for the word, though blaming it on what he called the weak and feckless foreign policy of Mr Obama and Ms Clinton. Mr Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said on Wednesday that Mr Kaine acted like he had a tic by mentioning the Republican nominee so frequently in the debate. But boarding a plane near her New York home as she prepared to fly to Washington, Ms Clinton flashed a two-thumbs-up sign when asked how her running mate had performed. His most effective moment may have been pressing Mr Pence on the issue of Mr Trumps tax affairs and his refusal to release his returns. The Republican responded, as other Republicans have, by suggesting the evasion of federal taxes was proof of Mr Trumps business acumen. His tax returns his tax returns showed he went through a very difficult time, but he used the tax code just the way its supposed to be used, Mr Pence attempted, before adding the slightly rash assertion: And he did it brilliantly. Suggestions on Wednesday that Mr Trump may actually have felt peeved that Mr Pence had shown him up as the worse debater were furiously rejected by his campaign. Thats just not true, Ms Conway told MSNBC. His last tweet last night was how excited he was, how proud of him he was. They talked last night. I talked to Mr Trump during the debate several times. The Democrat team was moving on, however, with Ms Clinton excusing herself from the trail so she can concentrate on debate preparation before Sunday, while her main surrogates, including Chelsea and Bill Clinton, were fanning out to swing states to try to ensure that the momentum towards victory that has now come into view can be sustained. Most hopeful for her team were signs that she is pulling ahead in the key states of Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Mr Trump appeared to be maintaining a small lead in Ohio, but without the Sunshine State in particular, final victory on 8 November is likely to remain elusive. What gives me confidence right now is we have a number of different paths to the White House, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told Politico. I feel good about our prospects in all these battleground states right now, in part because of the ground game we have put in place, but the bar is really high for Donald Trump. I would argue he has to win Florida, he has to win North Carolina, he probably has to win Pennsylvania. And thats a very narrow path. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Indiana governor Mike Pence said that he would never support legislation that punishes women who get abortions, despite his state being one of the strictest, pro-life states in the country. At the vice presidential debate in Farmville, Virginia, Mr Pence, Donald Trumps running mate, said he believed in the sanctity of life due to his religious background, and that a society should be judged by how it protects its most "vulnerable" - the aged, those with disabilities and the unborn. Yet Mr Pence rejected claims that he would punish women who get abortions. "Donald Trump and I would never support legislation against women who make the heartbreaking choice to end a pregnancy," he insisted. Mr Trump said to MSNBC in March that there should be "some sort of punishment" for women who get an abortion. He later retracted the comment and said the punishment should be focused on providers. In Indiana, abortion is severely restricted, despite a federal law called Roe V Wade, which legalised abortion in 1973. Indiana requires a fully licensed doctor to carry out the procedure, enforces a waiting period, consent requirements and strict facility codes. Women are also required to pay funeral costs for unborn fetuses - a law that was passed in 2015. Women can also be jailed. 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 Purvi Patel was jailed for two decades last year for self-inducing an abortion in July 2013. She has recently filed an appeal and walked free after a judge overturned the conviction. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clintons running mate and the senator of Virginia, insisted that women should make their own reproductive decisions. "Its not the role of a public servant to mandate that [reproductive choices] for everyone else," he said. "We support the continual right of American women to consult their own conscience, their own supportive partner, their own minister, but make their own decision about pregnancy," he said. "We trust American women to do that. And we dont think women should be punished as Donald Trump said they should to have an abortion." Mr Kaine, also a man of religious background, personally does not believe in abortion. He voted against the Hyde Amendment, a provision to bar the use of certain federal funds to pay for abortion. "Why dont you trust women, why doesnt Donald Trump trust women to make that choice by themselves?" Mr Kaine asked Mr Pence. "We should cherish the worth, the dignity, the value of every human life," the governor retorted. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Indiana governor Mike Pence strongly refuted claims that Donald Trumps campaign was driven by insults. At the vice presidential debate in Virginia, running mate Mr Pence pointed to Hillary Clintons comment earlier this year about Mr Trumps supporters being a "basket of deplorables". Yet as both men argued about who threw more insults, Mr Trump was tweeting and re-tweeting comments that people were making about Mr Kaines appearance. One of his re-tweets read that Mr Kaine looked like an "evil crook out of the Batman movies". Mr Trump also re-tweeted people that said Mr Kaine was "talking bull", and looked like a "fool". During the debate, the Virginia senator also accused Mr Trump of making demeaning comments about women, like "dogs", "pigs", "slobs" and "disgusting". Mr Kaine also added that Ms Clinton had apologised for her deplorables comment within 24 hours. "I can't imagine how governor Pence can defend his insult-driven campaign. Yet he is asking everyone to vote for someone that he cannot even defend himself," said Mr Kaine. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When Donald Trump walked into a classroom of six and seven-year-old students, he might not have been prepared for their reaction. "Im so nervous!" said one student. "See, I told you he had orange hair," said another. Recommended Read more New York Times compiles list of everyone Trump has insulted "I want to touch his hair because its orange," piped in another. Mr Trump stood at the front of the class and spread his palms. The "orange-haired" Republican nominee was no longer on their television sets, he was standing in front of them at the International Christian Academy in Las Vegas. He pointed at one, and made silly faces. He bent to kiss another child. It is yet to be seen how his appearances at primary schools will counteract the anti-Trump adverts, sponsored by the Hillary Clinton campaign, which show children watching Mr Trump on television making negative remarks about women and people with disabilities. The private school, with close to 300 students, welcomed the candidate to meet the children and learn about the school during a stop on his campaign trail, where he also met pastors at the International Church of Las Vegas. Paul Marc Goulet, the senor pastor of the church and leader of the school, told The Independent that Mr Trump had asked to visit and meet religious Latino leaders. "My eldest grandson, Luke, asked me; 'Papa, is Donald Trump going to come?' I asked him why. It was because Mr Trump is a successful businessman," he said. "My grandson wanted to meet a billionaire. It was funny, it was nothing to do with politics. And when he shook Mr Trump's hand, it almost brought tears to my eyes." "I told the kids, I want you to believe you can do anything in your life. Whether you're a boy or a girl, white or black, you can become anything - even the president, one day." According to Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Jacobs, Mr Trump read out a passage from 1 John 4:12. "No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us," he said. His visit to the school follows the vice presidential debate on Tuesday night, where his running mate Mike Pence argued with Virginia senator Tim Kaine over abortions, fighting terrorism and national security. They both insisted they were men of faith. Mr Trump declared on Wednesday that Mr Pence won the debate "on style", but reportedly added: "The style doesnt matter. Its the issues that matter." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Antonio Guterres, the former Prime Minister of Portugal, is poised to be the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, succeeding Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea who has served two four-year terms. Mr Guterres, who was head of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for ten years until retirement last December, beat out a field of ten rivals, including Helen Clarke, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. His path to the 38th floor of UN headquarters in New York was affirmed on Wednesday morning when the 15-member UN Security Council held the most recent of a long succession of informal ballots on who should be the next diplomat-in-chief for the world. While previous straw polls had shown at least two countries expressing doubts about Mr Guterres, who is 67, the support for him on Wednesday was unanimous. That meant that any of the five countries with permanent seats who may have blocked him with a veto desisted from doing so. It now only remains for the Council to formally approve his nomination with a resolution which it would then forward to the UN General Assembly, on which all member states of the UN sit, for its approval. There was no sign that that process would encounter any hiccups, however, suggesting that Mr Guterres will indeed soon be declared Secretary-General-elect. His appointment will be welcomed by many in the UN family, who widely viewed him as an effective leader of the UNCHR, introducing a range of important reforms to the agency over his ten-year tenure and ensuring that more funds went directly to aiding those forced from their lands. But it will be a disappointment to those who had been lobbying hard this year for the UN to show an example and choose a woman to head the world body for the first time. There had also been some expectation, notably from Russia, that the new Secretary-General should have been someone from Eastern Europe, a region that has not had someone in the post before. If Mr Guterres had stumbled at the last hurdle it would have been because of Russian opposition. But in the end that did not transpire, sparing the Security Council of a long battle over filling the post, which could have pitted the Washington against Moscow at a time of already heightened tensions between them. Today after our sixth straw poll we have a clear favourite and his name is Antonio Guterres, Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters with his 14 council colleagues standing behind him.We have decided to go to a formal vote tomorrow morning at 10 oclock, and we hope it can be done by acclamation, said Mr Churkin, who is council president for October. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Thailand stopped Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from entering the country to give a talk and sent him home, raising questions about whether it acted at China's behest. An activist and a Thai immigration official said Bangkok responded to a request from Beijing, though a Thai government spokesman has denied that. Mr Wong, a 19-year-old activist who rose to global prominence by spearheading the 2014 street protests against Beijing's plan to restrict elections, arrived around midnight Tuesday at Bangkok's main airport. He said he was immediately taken into custody by 20 police and immigration officers and then put on a flight back to Hong Kong about 12 hours later. He was due to give a talk at Chulalongkorn University about lessons from Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement protests as part of Oct. 6 commemorations of a Thai government crackdown on student demonstrators 40 years ago. Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, a Thai activist who had planned to greet him at the airport, said police informed him that Wong was detained after Thailand received a notice from the Chinese government. The deputy commander of Suvarnabhumi Airport's immigration office, Pruthipong Prayoonsiri, said Wong was blacklisted after China asked the Thai government to deny him entry, according to a report in The Nation newspaper. An officer at the airport department, speaking on condition of anonymity because staff are prohibited from commenting to media, confirmed that Pruthipong made the comments at a briefing. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters that it's China's business, without elaborating on how Thai officials made the decision to deny Mr Wong entry. Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, however, said there was no order to detain Mr Wong. He said authorities were aware Mr Wong had been active in resistance movements against other foreign governments, and that if such actions were taken within Thailand, they could eventually affect Thailand's relations with other nations. Mr Wong, who turns 20 next week, was one of the student leaders behind pro-democracy protests two years ago that marked the former British colony's most turbulent period since China took control in 1997. In August, a Hong Kong court sentenced him to community service for his role in the protests, which brought parts of the city to a standstill for months. Inside Story - Is China nervous about the latest election in Hong Kong? Mr Wong said authorities took his passport and illegally detained him in a windowless holding cell at the Bangkok airport. He said he was not given a clear explanation for his detention and was not allowed to contact his family or a lawyer. I actually had a lot of discussion with a Thai official, but because he didn't speak English very well, I couldn't hear him very well. But there was one word I heard very clearly: blacklist, he told reporters after arriving at Hong Kong's airport. Mr Wong, who last year was prevented from entering Malaysia, said he was relieved he did not end up like five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared and later turned up in custody in mainland China. While four have been freed, Chinese-born Gui Minhai, a naturalised Swedish citizen who vanished from his holiday home in Thailand, is still detained. If I hadn't returned to Hong Kong, I can't imagine what kind of situation I'd be in, Mr Wong said. Fortunately, I did not become another missing person. At a news conference later, Mr Wong said: Of course I think Beijing played an important role in this incident, which he believed was a result of closer ties between Thailand and China. The bookseller case and other incidents have intensified fears in Hong Kong that Beijing is overstepping its boundaries and undermining a one-country, two systems formula that governs the territory's relationship with the mainland. Nathan Law, who co-founded the political party Demosisto with Wong earlier this year, demanded an explanation and apology from the Thai government. He condemned Beijing for exerting inappropriate influence and diplomatic pressure on Thailand. Mr Law, 23, was elected Hong Kong's youngest legislator last month while Mr Wong, who is Demosisto's secretary general, was two years too young to run under election rules. Their party wants a referendum on self-determination on the future status of Hong Kong, which is in the middle of a 50-year transition period to Chinese rule. Amnesty International said the decision to block Mr Wong underscores the government's willingness to suppress the right to freedom of expression and raises serious concerns about how China is using its influence over Thai authorities. China's Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that it was aware of the case, but did not say whether China had asked Thailand to detain him only that it respected Thailand's ability to manage the entrance of people into the country in accordance with law. Mr Wong's detention sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing's bidding, said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. Refusing entry to Mr Wong would also be in line with recent moves by Thailand's military rulers, who seized power in a 2014 coup. The government has shown zero tolerance for dissent and has cracked down hard on its own student activists who have protested the military rule. It has detained students and stopped speeches from taking place. Last month, Thai authorities threatened to arrest Amnesty International speakers who planned to hold a news conference to release a report detailing allegations of torture at the hands of the military and police, causing the rights group to cancel the event. Associated Press For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man in Pakistan has told how a sense of shame drove him to murder his teenage sister because of her relationship with a Christian. Mubeen Rajhu killed 18-year-old Tasleem with a single bullet to the head in August after she married in secret. Her husband had converted to Islam to be with her, but he was originally a Christian. Rajhu's confessions come amid concern over rising numbers of so-called honour killings in the country. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 1,184 people were killed last year, 1,005 the year before and 869 in 2013. Many more are likely to have gone unrecorded. Rajhu said he loved his sister but wanted to protect his dignity after he was taunted by his friends. They had seen his sister out with a non-Muslim and told him he should kill her. I told her I would have no face to show at the mill, to show to my neighbours, so dont do it. Dont do it. But she wouldnt listen, Rajhu told the Associated Press. I could not let it go. It was all I could think about. I had to kill her. There was no choice. Pakistan is an overwhelmingly Muslim country. Christians, the largest minority group, represent 1.6 per cent of the population. Since the killing, Ms Rajhu's husband has fled the area, but the small Christian community in the area has been attacked. The countries with anti-women laws Show all 5 1 /5 The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The murder of Ms Rajhu comes after several other high profile honour killings in the country. In September a mother-of-three and a man were tortured and hanged from a tree after being accused of having an affair. Despite a series of landmark changes in 2015, including accepting women as firefighters, abuse of women remains prevalent. An annual report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in April revealed the extent of violence against women in the country. It recorded gang rapes, acid attacks and burnings of women in the country. Almost 800 women were found to have killed themselves or attempted suicide. Religious groups have continued to fight a new law against domestic violence in the country, calling it "anti-Islamic". It is a wrong way of thinking: Aram Satyan about PM's statement (video) President of Armenian Union of Composers Aram Satyan does not agree with the prime ministers statement that cultural figures should not ask the state for money, instead they should pay taxes to the state. If you want to receive, you should first invest. You need to understand the inner workings of culture. It is a wrong way of thinking, Mr. Satyan said today. He says the state is paying little or no attention to creative unions. He remembers the salary he received during the Soviet era. One could buy a car with the money, he stressed. The remuneration of artists is negligible today. I would like our ministers to receive 50 000-60 000 drams a month and live on the money, Mr. Satyan said. President of the Writers' Union of Armenia Edward Militonyan pins great hopes on the new minister of culture. "Any change in cultural policy instills new hopes, he said. Mr. Militonyan says we can expect good results if knowledgeable professionals are hired by the Ministry. Not a single minister can decide alone what is to be done by the agency he heads. The President of the Writers' Union of Armenia also attaches importance to the publication of works of old and the new authors. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Three deaf housemates were caught on CCTV using sign language to discuss the murder of their friend, minutes before he was thrown off a balcony. Jake Fairest, Warwick Toohey and Georgia Fields are accused of murdering Robert Right, who suffered severe head injuries after falling from a second floor apartment in Melbourne in January 2015. The trio were found unfit to stand trial due to intellectual disabilities and instead a special hearing in the Supreme Court of Victoria is underway which will determine if they committed the crime. Mr Fairest and Ms Fields have pleaded not guilty, while Mr Toohey has pleaded not guilty on grounds of mental impairment, Australias ABC News reports. The court heard that CCTV cameras in the foyer and lift of their apartment building captured the trio using sign language to discuss the murder of Mr Wright. Prosecutor Christopher Dane QC told the court: Ms Firleds asked Mr Fairest you want dead or alive and how die? Mr Fairest signs can strangle neck area, what do you think? Mr Toohey signs to Mr Fairest strangle risky, and Ms Fields signs fall good, fall good. The court heard that following the discussion, Mr Toohey and Mr Fairest confronted Mr Wright in the apartment. The men then lifted him over the balcony handrail as Ms Fields looked on. An eyewitness from the apartment building told police he was standing on his balcony below, and saw Mr wright hanging from the rail and holding onto someones hands. He said he then saw the hands let go and Mr Wright plummeted 12 metres to the ground. Police arrived and found the trio in the apartment. Each gave a different account of what had happened, the court heard. The friendship between Mr Wright and Mr Toohey had deteriorated since the pair had moved in together, and Mr Wright had accused Mr Toohey of stealing a tablet computer and a phone from his bedroom, a year before he was killed. Mr Dane told the court: They made a plan and they did it. 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 Lawyers for Ms Fields and Mr Fairest denied their clients were involved in the alleged murder. Mr Tooheys lawyer said his client was not challenging the accusations, but would argue that he does not have the mental capacity to be held legally liable for the crime. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Adolf Hitler was a gibbering super junkie in the final year of the Second World War, an author has claimed. Award-winning German writer Norman Ohler has written a book recounting how the Nazi leader developed a drug addiction in 1944 that destroyed his veins and led to an increasingly erratic display of decision-making. Mr Ohlers book, Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany - or The Total Rush in German - reveals the largely untold story of Nazi Germany's relationship with drugs, disclosing Hitler's addiction for heroin-like substance Eukodol. He says the leader's compulsion developed after he narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 1944, when the German resistance had planted a bomb in a briefcase under his desk, turning him into a nervous wreck. From this point the Nazis suffered ongoing defeat under Hitler, who showed increasingly "irrational" military tactics. Mr Ohler chronicles how, during the Battle of Berlin in April 1945, the Fuhrers supply of drugs ran dry, leading his physician to send raiding parties into the war-torn city centre on motorcycles to scour pharmacies for more. Efforts failed, which he says led to the dictator's suicide in April 1945. Blitzed exposes the extent to which Hitler's body was ravaged by drugs, containing extracts from the journal of his personal physician, Dr Theo Morell. One entry reads: I cancelled injections today, to give the previous puncture holes a chance to heal. Left inside elbow good, right still has red dots (but not pustules), where injections were given. The book has been hailed as a remarkable work of research in its argument that the heroin-like opiate was largely to blame for Hitlers erratic and paranoid behaviour towards the end of his life. Antony Beevor, a British historian and expert in the history of the Second World War, said the book's findings explain Hitler's completely irrational military tactics during the last major German offensive in the Battle of the Bulge, and that it shed light on why Operation Foxley, a planned attempt by the British to assassinate the Fuhrer in the final months of the war, was ditched. Mr Beevor told the BBC's Today programme: All of these elements show how [Hitler] was really no longer in control of himself, but he was still in control of the German armies. What were seeing is an explanation of the fact why the British in 1944 decided no longer to attempt to assassinate Hitler. Operation Foxley was cancelled because they realised at this particular stage that the Allies would win the war more rapidly with Hitler in command, than Hitler being replaced by somebody else. Neo-Nazis 'helped to carry out Munich Olympics massacre' Show all 3 1 /3 Neo-Nazis 'helped to carry out Munich Olympics massacre' Neo-Nazis 'helped to carry out Munich Olympics massacre' Pg-26-munich1-getty.jpg Getty Images Neo-Nazis 'helped to carry out Munich Olympics massacre' Pg-26-muchi2-getty.jpg Getty Images Neo-Nazis 'helped to carry out Munich Olympics massacre' Pg-26-munich3-getty.jpg Getty Images As well as Hitler's personal drug addiction, the book, to be published in Canada on 6 October, also reveals the widespread consumption of meth-like substance Pervitin among the Germans during battle, which many Nazi soldiers came to rely on. Discussing the book, Mr Ohler told the Today programme: The massive abuses of methamphetamine, which we today call crystal meth, by the German army shows that the enemy number one were not the British or the French or the Russians, but fatigue. The German army was trying to win the battle against sleep. Thats why they used it and in the beginning it worked wonders in the attack on Poland and in the so-called Blitzkrieg. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A tourist has been raped, beaten and robbed in Rome after being attacked in a park next to the citys famous Colosseum. Police said the 49-year-old woman had been walking from a bar through Colle Oppio park on Sunday evening, in the second attack on foreign women in the city in a fortnight. The Australian victim, from Canberra, left a bar near Termini railway station with a Romanian man being sought alongside possible second suspect. Local media reported she was raped and severely beaten, suffering serious injuries in her struggle against her attackers, before being found on the pavement by a passer-by. Officials said her mobile phone and handbag had been stolen, with doctors at San Giovanni hospital diagnosing severe concussion from punches and lacerations to her face. She had been due to leave Italy for France on Tuesday to continue a tour of Europe, the Corriere Della Sera newspaper reported, but is expected to remain in hospital for up to a month. 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 It came just days after a Brazilian woman was kidnapped and gang raped by two men and a woman. The 48-year-old was attacked near Tuscolana train station before being tied up and assaulted by the gang on 25 September, The Local reported. She was able to escape while her kidnappers were sleeping and fled to a hospital where she reported the attack. Two men and a woman, all Romanian nationals, were arrested on suspicion of rape, assult and robbery on Monday. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two Belgian police officers have been stabbed in a suspected terror attack, prosecutors have said. A man stabbed one officer in the neck and the other in the abdomen af in the Brussels' neighborhood of Schaerbeek and then fled the scene. The attacker was stopped by a second group of police. He broke the nose of one officer, who shot him in the leg. A knife lies on the ground at the scene where an unidentified man stabbed two police officers, in the Schaerbeek neighborhood in Brussels, Wednesday, 5 October, 2016 (AP) He has been identified as Hicham D, a 43-year-old Belgian national. The federal prosecutor's spokesman, Eric Van Der Sypt, said "we have reason to believe that it is terror-related." He declined to provide additional details or explain why prosecutors think the attack was linked to terrorism. In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station A private security guard helps a wounded women outside the Maalbeek metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Wounded people receive assistance by rescuers outside the Maalbeek metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Rescue workers treat victims outside the Maelbeek underground station In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Passengers waiting to be evacuated from the train between Arts-Lois and Maelbeek In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Emergency services and police work around a metro station after an explosion in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Rescue teams evacuate wounded people outside the Maalbeek metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station A woman is evacuated in an ambulance by emergency services after a explosion in a main metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station A Belgian soldier stands guard outside the Maalbeek metro station in Brussels after a blast at this station located near the EU institutions In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Belgian police officers stand outside the Maalbeek metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Belgian policemen and a soldier carrying an injured person after an explosion at the Maelbeek Metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station A view of the train after the explosion in Maelbeek station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station People receive treatment as emergency services attend the scene after an explosion in a main metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Maelbeek Metro station after an explosion on a train in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Passengers walk on underground metro tracks to be evacuated after an explosion at Maelbeek train station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station A victim receives first aid by rescuers, near Maalbeek metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Firefighters arrive at the scene near Maalbeek metro station In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Emergency workers arrive at a security perimeter set near Maalbeek metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Emergency rescue workers stretcher an unidentified person at the site of an explosion at a metro station in Brussels AP In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Police seal off the area at the scene of a blast outside a metro station in Brussels Reuters In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Emergency personnel are seen at the scene of a blast outside a metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Emergency personnel are seen at the scene of a blast outside a metro station in Brussels Reuters In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Belgian police and emergency staff arriving in the Wetstraat - Rue de la Loi, which has been evacuated after an explosion at the Maelbeek metro station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station Smoke rising from the Maalbeek underground, in Brussels, following a blast at the station close to the capital's European quarter Getty Images In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station People are evacuated from the Schuman station in Brussels In pictures: Terror attacks at Brussels metro station The scene outside the Maalbeek underground in Brussels after the explosion The police officers injuries were not life threatening, the spokesman said. A judge specialising in terrorism cases will decide how long the suspect will be detained for, he added. The attack came after the Brussels Nord train station was evacuated following a anonymous bomb threat. The statio nwas reopened around 3pm local time after police found "nothing untoward". Belgium has been on high alert since 32 people were killed in suicide bombing attacks on the Brussels airport and metro on 2 March. In August, a machete-wielding man shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is Great") attacked and seriously wounded two policewomen in the southern Belgian city of Mons. The assailant was shot dead. The attack was later claimed by Isis, who also claimed to have carried out the Brussels suicide bombings. On 7 September, a man carrying a knife attacked two police officers in the Molenbeek area of Brussels, but the officers were wearing bulletproof vests and suffered only bruises. The assailant said nothing during that attack and gave no indication of his motives. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Denmark have arrested a man and woman on suspicion of providing cannabis to cancer patients and people with other serious illnesses. The couple, who were detained on Tuesday, could be sentenced to up to ten years in prison. Claus Moffe Nielsen had previously admitted selling cannabis and spoken to Danish media about it. He said he knew he might be arrested one day, but did not care. Mr Nielsen pleaded guilty to the charge, but his wife, who was arrested with him, denied any involvement in dealing drugs, the couple's lawyer Erbil Kaya told Danish tabloid BT. Mr Neilsen became convinced of the medical benefits of cannabis when he began taking edible cannabis to treat his osteoarthritis. The drug worked so well for him that he wanted to offer other people the opportunity to try it. It should be laboratory technicians, chemists and doctors who do it [sell cannabis for medicinal use] under controlled conditions," he told BT. "Im no trained expert, but I have some principles and I stand by them." He said he had clients all over Denmark who suffered from conditions including cancer, sclerosis and fibromyalgia. Italian army grows marijuana Mr Nielsen and his wife have both been charged under Denmarks narcotics laws, and face a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison. The couple complained about the fact their trial was not made public, and Mr Nielsen said he wanted people to know what happens in the case. The public is aware of this case so there is nothing secret about it and he has spoken out about his business," Mr Kaya said. "There is also a documentary being made about him, so there is nothing to hide as far as he is concerned." Mr Kaya said that his client sells cannabis to help sick people and to put pressure on the state to change its outlook on medicinal cannabis. Claus hasnt hidden... what he does and he knew it was illegal. Thats why he has admitted his guilt," the lawyer continued. "But he hasnt done it to make money and be a criminal mastermind. He has done it in broad daylight and been open and honest about it." Legalising cannabis for medicinal use has been debated intensely in Denmark in recent months. One region of Denmark agreed to a provisional plan in August to begin prescribing cannabis for medicinal use. Danish media also reported in the summer that the health minister Sophie Lhde is considering a four-year-long national trial of legalising medical cannabis. Where cannabis is and isn't legal Show all 10 1 /10 Where cannabis is and isn't legal Where cannabis is and isn't legal UK Having been reclassified in 2009 from a Class C to a Class B drug, cannabis is now the most used illegal drug within the United Kingdom. The UK is also, however, the only country where Sativex a prescribed drug that helps to combat muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis and contains some ingredients that are also found in cannabis - is licensed as a treatment Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal North Korea Although many people believe the consumption of cannabis in North Korea to be legal, the official law regarding the drug has never been made entirely clear whilst under Kim Jong Uns regime. However, it is said that the North Korean leader himself has openly said that he does not consider cannabis to be a drug and his regime doesnt take any issue with the consumption or sale of the drug MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images Where cannabis is and isn't legal Netherlands In the Netherlands smoking cannabis is legal, given that it is smoked within the designated smoking areas and you dont possess more than 5 grams for personal use. It is also legal to sell the substance, but only in specified coffee shops Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal USA Although in some states of America cannabis has now been legalised, prior to the legalisation, police in the U.S. could make a marijuana-related arrest every 42 seconds, according to US News and World Report. The country also used to spend around $3.6 billion a year enforcing marijuana law, the American Civil Liberties Union notes AP Photo/Ted S. Warren Where cannabis is and isn't legal Spain Despite cannabis being officially illegal in Spain, the European hotspot has recently started to be branded, the new Amsterdam. This is because across Spain there are over 700 Cannabis Clubs these are considered legal venues to consume cannabis in because the consumption of the drug is in private, and not in public. These figures have risen dramatically in the last three years in 2010 there were just 40 Cannabis Clubs in the whole of Spain. Recent figures also show that in Catalonia alone there are 165,000 registered members of cannabis clubs this amounts to over 5 million euros (4 million) in revenue each month Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Uruguay In December 2013, the House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill legalizing and regulating the production and sale of the drug. But the president has since postponed the legalization of cannabis until to 2015 and when it is made legal, it will be the authorities who will grow the cannabis that can be sold legally. Buyers must be 18 or older, residents of Uruguay, and must register with the authorities Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Pakistan Despite the fact that laws prohibiting the sale and misuse of cannabis exist and is considered a habit only entertained by lower-income groups, it is very rarely enforced. The occasional use of cannabis in community gatherings is broadly tolerated as a centuries old custom. The open use of cannabis by Sufis and Hindus as a means to induce euphoria has never been challenged by the state. Further, large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Portugal In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize the use of all drugs, and started treating drug users as sick people, instead of criminals. However, you can still be arrested or assigned mandatory rehab if you are caught several times in possession of drugs Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Puerto Rico Although the use of cannabis is currently illegal, it is said that Puerto Rico are in the process of decriminalising it RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images Where cannabis is and isn't legal China Cannabis is grown in the wild and has been used to treat conditions such as gout and malaria. But, officially the substance is illegal to consume, possess and sell Getty A poll found in June that 88 per cent of Danes support legalising cannabis for medicinal use. A slim majority are also in favour of legalising cannabis for recreational use, according to other polls. In 2014, several Danish parties signed a political agreement to ring-fence funding for research projects on pain relief, including the use of medicinal cannabis. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The EU's plan to give a free continental rail pass to all Europeans for their 18th birthday in an effort to encourage young people to get to know other countries and make new friends may not be possible due to lack of funding, politicians have said. Transport commissioner at the European Commission, Violeta Bulc, said the financial viability of the free ticketing scheme would be explored, and voiced hopes it could help rekindle enthusiasm for the European Union among young people. Following the UKs recent vote to leave the union, British teenagers will not qualify for the tickets, and many EU politicians see the scheme as an opportunity to counter nationalist feelings across Europe post-Brexit. People all around Europe must get to know and learn to cherish each other. Our wish is that as many youngsters as possible ... get to know other countries and make new friends, Bavarian MEP Manfred Weber told Reuters. I am convinced that the 18th birthday InterRail pass for Europe could become a true lighthouse project for the development of a common European identity in diversity. This may not sound like much but sometimes it only takes a spark to light a fire that burns forever. The nationalists are against this: they want neighbours not to be seen as friends. 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 However, some EU politicians are concerned the project will face many obstacles - primarily involving funding and potential overcrowding of major rail stations - and therefore will not be realised in the near future. As an InterRail ticket currently costs up to 480, the scheme could cost up to 2.88 billion, the majority of which would have to be provided by the EU. An estimated six million young Europeans would be eligible for the initiative annually. Ms Bulc conceded the costs involved raised questions over the scheme. "Extending access to all 18 year olds for free would therefore present many challenges which require further analysis," she said. "The Commission will carefully assess the potential cost and funding sources for this initiative, as well as its administrative feasibility. The possible scope of such a scheme must be explored - for instance how can we take into account that fact not all Member States' railways are InterRail members?" She added that one option could be to limit the issue of the birthday passes via an annual lottery. If approved, the scheme would be introduced across Europe at the start of 2018. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The UK will be treated like Greece and will have little chance of getting its own way during next years Brexit negotiations, the Prime Minister of Malta has said. Joseph Muscat will chair the EUs rotating presidency next year, during which time Theresa May intends to trigger Article 50 and begin the process of withdrawing the UK from the Union. The Maltese PM said he expects the UK to be left with a fair but inferior deal by the end of formal negotiations and stressed that a united front will be taken by the EUs 27 remaining nations. Even the most pro-UK countries - the Netherlands, Estonia, Ireland - say you cannot have your cake and eat it, Mr Muscat said in an interview with Politico Europe. Expect the format to be more or less like what happened with Greece. Greece suffered during bailout negotiations in 2015 due to a hardline approach from EU member states, which saw the Greek PM Alexis Tsipras forced to accept a difficult austerity package. From my discussions with the UK government, they seem to want [to negotiate by] chapters. They want to look at the single market, at sovereignty, at freedom of movement, at transposition of EU laws, Mr Muscat continued. The feeling I get is that it is unacceptable to most member states. They want the single market and freedom of movement to be tackled together. 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 Mr Muscat added that the European Commission will lead the negotiating but the crux will be in the member states. He said the European Parliament cannot be underestimated in the Brexit process and that the assemblys decision to appoint former Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt as its chief negotiator sends a very clear political signal. Theresa May ended weeks of speculation by telling the Conservative Party conference she intends to launch formal Brexit talks before the end of March 2017. The value of the pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar as Ms May indicated she may push for a hard Brexit including tough controls on immigration. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The number of sexual crimes reported at a German beer festival has increased this year despite heightened security, according to local reports. There were 31 sexual crimes reported to police at Munich's Oktoberfest this year, compared to 21 in 2015, news website The Local reports. This year also saw the lowest number of visitors since the 9/11 attacks in New York, with 5.6 million people attending, 300,000 fewer than last year. Oktoberfests around the Globe Show all 10 1 /10 Oktoberfests around the Globe Oktoberfests around the Globe 244068.bin Reuters Oktoberfests around the Globe 244067.bin Reuters Oktoberfests around the Globe 244066.bin Getty Oktoberfests around the Globe 244065.bin www.ocktoberfest-japan.com Oktoberfests around the Globe 244064.bin Reuters Oktoberfests around the Globe 244058.bin Getty Oktoberfests around the Globe 244059.bin www.shanghaioktoberfest.com Oktoberfests around the Globe 244060.bin Getty Oktoberfests around the Globe 244062.bin Getty Oktoberfests around the Globe 244063.bin Reuters Security at the festival had been increased this year, amid concerns of terror attacks throughout Europe. Authorities erected a metal fence, banned large bags, installed more surveillance cameras and made visitors go through security checks to enter festival grounds. Germany has been on high alert following two Islamist attacks and a shooting rampage in Munich by a mentally unstable teenager in July. The shooting spree left ten people dead, while a 17-year-old refugee from Afghanistan injured five people in an axe attack and a man blew himself up and wounded 15 people outside a music festival in Ansbach. The beer festival was the site of one of the most severe acts of terrorism in post-war Germany, when a right-wing extremist set off a bomb killing 12 people, including himself, and injuring over 200 others in 1980. Germany: Bayern Munich players hit Oktoberfest Although the overall amount of crime decreased by 15 per cent compared to last year, the group "Safer Wiesn for Girls and Women" reported that 215 women asked for help at a security checkpoint. Of those, 18 reported experiencing violence. At another Oktoberfest in Wolmirstedt, a man was reportedly "separated" from his ear in a knife attack. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Poland has signalled a U-turn on plans for a total ban on abortion following mass protests in over 60 cities in the country. Minister Jaroslaw Gowin said demonstrations by thousands of women agianst the proposed new measures had "caused us to think and taught us humility". Women had boycotted work and dressed across Poland for a day dubbed "Black Monday". In Warsaw, 30,000 people turned out to protest the change The remarks by Mr Gowin - the Science and Higher Education Minister - indicate Poland's right-wing leadership wil not proceed with the divisive proposal to ban all abortions even in cases of rape or incest. A Senate speaker said Poland's upper house of parliament would not initiate work on their own bill that would further restrict Poland's abortion law. Stanislaw Karczewski said senators would wait to see what the more powerful lower house of parliament will do. "We will now see how the... proposal fares in parliament," he said. But he voiced support for a ban on abortions of foetuses with Down's Syndrome, something which is currently permitted. "They are wonderful children, very much loved by their parents, very loving parents, bringing a lot of warmth and a lot of love into a home. I am a great opponent of killing such children," Mr Karczewski said. Women go on strike in Poland over abortion laws The country government, led by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, was also under international pressure not to move forward with the plans. A debate has been scheduled to take place later on Wednesday in the European Parliament on the situation of women in Poland. Under the existing law, a compromise in force since 1993, abortion is banned except in cases where the woman's life is in danger, the fetus is irreparably damaged or the pregnancy results from rape or incest. Yet even in cases where it is allowed, hospitals invoke conscience clauses and can turn away women when a practitioner disagrees with carrying out a termination for religious or moral reasons. The cost of abortions in the country can also be prohibitive, with the price of an operation being the same as the average polish salary. 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 Many women cross the border to Slovakia or Germany to terminate pregnancies and many turn to dangerous underground procedures. Although the number of illegal abortions is disputed, even by conservative estimates the number of unofficial terminations far outstrips legal ones in the country. The proposal for the stricter law came from an anti-abortion citizens petition that had gathered 450,000 signatures. Additional reporting by Associated Press. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Almost 11,000 refugees have been rescued in the Mediterranean Sea in just 48 hours as thousands of migrants continue desperate attempts to reach Europe. At least 50 bodies have been recovered so far, with 20 suffocating in the hold of an overcrowded fishing boat and others drowning. A pregnant woman was among the dead counted on Monday and Tuesday, while three other women who were saved had given birth within 24 hours of being picked up by an Italian coast guard vessel. The women and their three babies were reported to be in good health as they were transported to Sicily with other survivors. Two of the newborn babies rescued from a refugee boat on 3 October (Guardia Costeria) Officials said more than 4,650 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast from 33 boats on Tuesday, bringing the total to nearly 11,000 from the start of the week. Most were in flimsy rubber dinghies but 1,000 refugees were packed on to a single wooden boat, with many crammed in the hold so tightly they could not breathe. A photographer working for the AFP news agency on a recue vessel counted 22 bodies taken off the vessel and told local media he feared more remained inside. It was the latest in a series of disasters seeing refugees suffocate on the long journey from Libya, which lies 180 miles from the Italian island of Lampedusa at its closest point to Europe. Last year, The Independent revealed a disturbing trend among people traffickers locking African migrants who paid less for the treacherous journey below decks, to load Middle Eastern passengers charged a higher rate above board. At least 100 asylum seekers were massacred by traffickers in 2014 after they tried to escape deadly petrol fumes spreading in a locked hold, while many more have died during sinkings after being unable to escape the rising water. A child from African origin is rescued from a distressed vessel by a member of Proactiva Open Arms NGO 20 nautical miles north of Libya on 3 October (AFP/Getty Images) The Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) and Italian Red Cross were among the agencies responding to the tragedy, rescuing 778 migrants on their two ships. Aid workers said a spell of bad weather on Libyas coast had caused a backlog for people smugglers, causing them to send at least 72 vessels towards Europe from the same area in a short space of time. These mass departures put the lives of migrants trying to cross the sea at further risk, complicating rescue operations considerably said MOAS director Pete Sweetnam. The numbers we are seeing, and in particular the constant increase in the number of deaths, clearly shows that this crisis needs alternative and sustainable solution beyond the existing search-and-rescue missions. The group said the true number of deaths in sea crossings to Europe, counted at 3,521 this year alone by the United Nations, may never be known as 2016 remains on course to be the deadliest year on record. On Monday, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) described horrific scenes in chaotic rescues of 11 separate boats over seven hours, including the death of a pregnant woman. Refugees struggle not to drown as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea, north of Libya on 4 October 2016. (AFP/Getty Images) When we arrived to our second rescue this morning, people were in the water and some were close to drowning. It was a horrific site, said Nicolas Papachrysostomou, MSFs field coordinator on the Dignity I vessel. People were frightened and many of them were suffering from fuel burns, particularly women and children. Devastatingly, as we were heading to the [medical evacuation point] our critical patient, a pregnant woman, died. It is just unacceptable that in 2016, these people are left with no other choice than making this dramatic and deadly journey. It is common for women and girls to be raped by people smugglers during their journey to Libya, frequently arriving at their destination several months pregnant. Footage released by the Italian coastguard showed men, women, children and babies backed on to dozens of boats before being rescued, passing out on the deck from exhaustion and days without food and water. With the migrant route over the Aegean Sea virtually closed by the controversial EU-Turkey deal, which is seeing refugees intercepted, detained in Greece and threatened with deportation, the Central Mediterranean has once again become the dominant route to Europe. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. Ruthless traffickers exploiting widespread lawlessness since the Libyan civil war have made the country the launching point for most of the treacherous journey, making the patch of sea the deadliest crossing in the world. At least 142,000 migrants have reached Italy since the start of the year compared to 154,000 in the entire of 2015 - and around 3,100 have died making the perilous trip. The vast majority of refugees reaching the country come from African nations including Nigeria, Eritrea, Guinea, Gambia, Sudan, the Ivory Coast and Somalia. The European Union temporarily waived a regulation requiring asylum seekers to be registered in their country of arrival as the refugee crisis mounted last year, with Italian authorities continuing to struggle to identify, fingerprint and accommodate those arriving. Plans were drawn up to distribute asylum seekers around the EU according to a quota system but many countries, including the UK, have refused to take part in the scheme. Francesco Rocca, president of the Italian Red Cross, said: Without clear solutions to the migration phenomenon at a European and international level, the tragedy of the loss of human life at sea will continue, as our teams can sadly testify. It is not the sea that kills migrants, but rather the worlds indifference to their plight. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nicolas Sarkozy has indicated he plans to ban the Muslim headscarf in public if he gets into power next year. Mr Sarkozy, who is seeking the Republican Party nomination to run as a presidential candidate in the 2017 election, told a French radio show he intended to ban the headscarf in order to achieve "strict equality" between men and women and comply with the values of the French Republic. During an interview on Radio Classique, the right-wing politician was asked whether he was preparing to ban the headscarf, to which he replied: "Exactly". When the journalist then asked: "Yes or no?" Mr Sarkozy replied with a clear "Yes", adding: On French soil, we don't accept inequalities between men and women." The politician and former French president proceeded to argue that a ban of headscarves and burkinis was required to achieve gender equality and uphold the "national identity" of the French Republic. He said: No headscarves, no burkinis, no specific swimming times at the public pools, and strict equality when it comes to the rights and of men and women - that is the French republic. "We have a national identity, a way of life. There are countries in the world where women can't drive. If you want to live there you can go live there. In the Republic of France, we do not accept that." Despite Mr Sarkozy's comments his team has denied they are working on a proposal to ban the headscarf, claiming hid remarks had been overplayed in the media. 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 team told L'Express newspaper: We are still working on the burkini, not the headscarf. There is a media frenzy about this, but let there be no ambiguity. Over the summer Mr Sarkozy vowed to impose a nationwide ban on burkinis if elected as president next year, labelling the swimwear a provocation. Mr Sarkozy has been vocal in denouncing French citizens who he claims do not "assimilate" into French culture. In September, he demanded that all immigrants must "live like the French", condemning the tyranny of minorities. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} British people who often wonder what Europeans really think of them may wish they never asked with the Dutch wondering why we are so ugly and Italians questioning why we are dirty. A digital marketing company has found the top-rated search questions about the UK over the past year. The searches appear on Googles autocomplete function across Europe when the user starts to search the terms in each country. Germans appear to take an equally dim view of the UK asking why are the British so stupid? and the Portuguese wanting to know why we are such crybabies. Others were a little kinder and just wanted to know more about some of the peculiarities of British culture, such as the Danes who asked why our judges wear wigs in court. The Finns wanted to know why the UK is known as Britain in the Olympics and the Swedes didnt understand why the English have two flags - we actually have one and Great Britain has four if you count the flags of the individual countries within the union as well as the Union Flag. Other questions were more peculiar, with Polish people taking exception to British flour - which they described as strange - and Greek people attempting to determine whether English was a Greek dialect. 'Why are the British so ugly?': what our European neighbours really think of us (Search Laboratory) (Search Labortary) The surveys authors, Search Laboratory, tried to answer some of the European questions. In response to the French query about why they called the English "rosbifs" they said: "The name 'Rosbif' dates back to around 1850. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it simply refers to the rather tame British cooking tradition of the roast joint of beef with vegetables. "Known for their culinary skills, the French have been using this term ever since to poke fun at their neighbours across the channel." 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 It also disputed Germanys claim that the British were stupid saying the average IQ in the UK is roughly comparable with the rest of Western Europe, but admitted it could be something to do with the UKs school standards. Finland, Poland, Germany and Austria all rank higher than the UK when it comes to school standards and 21 EU countries spend more on education, they said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Thai authorities, reportedly acting on a request from Beijing, detained a Hong Kong teen pro-democracy activist on his arrival at Bangkok's airport in the latest sign of what rights groups said Wednesday is China pressuring neighbors as it tries to quash dissent. Joshua Wong, who helped spearhead huge street protests in the former British colony, could not be contacted by members of his political party, Demosisto, after he arrived at Bangkok's main airport late Tuesday on his way to give a talk at a university, the group said. A Thai student activist who was expected to meet Wong was informed that he had been detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport after Thai authorities received a request from the Chinese government about his visit, Demosisto said in a Facebook post. Wong, who turns 20 next week, was one of the high-profile student leaders behind pro-democracy protests two years ago that marked the former British colony's most turbulent period since China took control in 1997. In August, a Hong Kong court sentenced him to community service for his role in the protests, which brought parts of the city to a standstill for months. The Thai student activist who was to have met Wong, Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, said in a Facebook post that Wong had "been confined at the immigration in Thailand because there's a request from Chinese government to Thai authority." He did not immediately give any proof of such a request. "I have not had a chance to speak to Wong since he was detained at the airport. I was told that he is still at the airport in Bangkok but will not be allowed in and will soon be deported," Netiwit said. In response to questions about Wong, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sek Wannamethee said permission for foreigners to enter Thailand "involves various factors and has to be in line with the relevant immigration laws and regulations." He added that the ministry is reviewing the facts with the Immigration Bureau and other authorities. Demosisto's Nathan Law told reporters that they have been out of touch with Wong for more than 10 hours and could not confirm reports that he would be deported. "We hope that the government in Thailand could respond very quickly to ensure the personal safety of Joshua Wong," said Law, who urged Hong Kong Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen to raise the issue with Thai officials on a previously scheduled three-day visit starting today. China's Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that it was aware of reports of Wong's detention, but did not say whether China had asked Thailand to detain him -- only that it respected Thailand's ability to manage the entrance of people into the country "in accordance with law." Refusing entry to Wong would be in line with recent moves by Thailand's military rulers, who seized power in a 2014 coup. The government has shown zero tolerance for dissent and has cracked down hard on its own student activists who have protested the military rule. It has detained students, stopped speeches from taking place and last month Thai authorities threatened to arrest Amnesty International speakers who were set to hold a news conference to release a report detailing allegations of torture at the hands of the military and police, causing the rights group to cancel the event. Wong was also turned back in May 2015 when trying to enter Malaysia to speak at seminars in four cities. Malaysian officials said Wong was banned from entering the country but did not explain why. Demosisto, which was founded earlier this year, advocates a referendum on "self-determination" on the future status of Hong Kong, which is in the middle of a 50-year transition period to Chinese rule. Human rights activists called for Wong's release. "Thailand's arrest of Joshua Wong, a well-known pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing's bidding. Wong should be freed immediately and allowed to travel and exercise his right to free expression," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. Two years ago, Wong became one of the most prominent leaders of massive pro-democracy protests that shut down major thoroughfares in Hong Kong for 11 weeks. He and other youthful demonstrators demanded that the government drop a Beijing-backed plan to restrict elections for the city's top leader, but their movement fizzled out after authorities refused to grant concessions. Wong was scheduled to give a talk at Chulalongkorn University about a new generation of political activism. Last month, Demosisto scored a stunning Hong Kong election victory when Law, 23, won a seat in the legislature. Wong was unable to join the race because he is still too young, according to election rules. AP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The United Nations says satellite images prove an air strike destroyed an aid convoy taking aid to rebel-held parts of Aleppo province, despite Russian claims the attack was a well-prepared hoax. Russian authorities have also variously claimed that the lorries may have accidentally caught fire, been struck by the US to deflect from their own actions or been hit by rebels despite evidence that its own forces may have been responsible. More than 20 people were killed in the attack in northern Syria, which incinerated 18 lorries in a joint UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy just hours after the end of a fragile ceasefire last month. This satellite image released by the United Nations shows road damage and craters in the Sha'ar district of Aleppo, Syria, on 25 September 2016 (AP) The US swiftly said Russian aircraft were thought to be responsible but the Kremlin denied the accusations and floated several alternative scenarios, which were dismissed by experts. With our analysis we determined it was an air strike and I think multiple other sources have said that as well, Lars Bromley, research adviser at UNOSAT said on Wednesday. Within hours of the release of satellite photographs on Wednesday, Russian state media was reporting claims by an unnamed group of independent military experts that the entire attack was a hoax. Sputnik News cited damage patterns to support the sensational claim, publishing footage it said showed a vehicle transporting a mortar firing system past the aid convoy. Russia denies Syria aid convoy attack with release of footage In summary of this preliminary analysis, we can conclude that we are dealing with a well-prepared staged or fake attack, it quoted the report as saying. The supposed analysis is said to have been sent to the US but had its findings swiftly rejected. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, is establishing an internal UN board of inquiry to investigate the attack and urged all parties to fully cooperate. Previous analysis of debris found at the site of the attack on 19 September uncovered fragments of what appeared to be Russian fragmentation bombs. American officials said two Russian Sukhoi SU-24 jets were in the skies at the exact time of the strike, following footage broadcast live by Russia Today showing a military drone monitoring the convoys progress. In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Show all 19 1 /19 In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrian boys cry following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian defense ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov speaks to the media in Moscow, Russia. Konashenkov strongly warned the United States against striking Syrian government forces and issued a thinly-veiled threat to use Russian air defense assets to protect them AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrians wait to receive treatment at a hospital following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Alepp Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov speaks at a briefing in the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia. Antonov said the Russian air strikes in Syria have killed about 35,000 militants, including about 2,700 residents of Russia AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Jameel Mustafa Habboush, receives oxygen from civil defence volunteers, known as the white helmets, as they rescue him from under the rubble of a building following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civil defence members rest amidst rubble in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A girl carrying a baby inspects damage in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members look for survivors at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members carry an injured woman on a stretcher at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis But Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russias defence ministry, initially said there was no evidence the lorries had been struck by ordnance. He claimed damage visible in footage was caused by the cargo catching fire, suggesting the convoy could be carrying military weapons and seeking to implicate the Nobel Prize-nominated White Helmets group of rescue volunteers. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, has accused Bashar al-Assad's government and its allies, including Russia, of presiding over a ghastly avalanche of violence and destruction in rebel-held districts of Aleppo. The attacks over the past 10 days have been the most intense the inhabitants of eastern Aleppo have endured since the conflict began, and not a single neighbourhood is now considered safe, he said, specifically reminding Russia of its obligations under international weapons conventions. All seem to indicate that the ongoing operations are conducted in complete disregard for the most basic standards of international humanitarian law... the current operation by the Syrian government and its allies appears to be intended to force the surrender of fighters in eastern Aleppo by any means necessary." Additional reporting by Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has warned Turkey that it risks triggering a regional war by keeping troops in Iraq, as each summoned the other's ambassador in a growing row. Relations between the two regional powers are already broadly strained by the Syrian civil war and the rise of Isis. Turkey's parliament voted last week to extend its military presence in Iraq for a further year to take on what it called terrorist organisations a likely reference to Kurdish rebels as well as Isis. Iraq's parliament responded on Tuesday night by condemning the vote and calling for Turkey to pull its estimated 2,000 troops out of areas across northern Iraq. We have asked the Turkish side more than once not to intervene in Iraqi matters and I fear the Turkish adventure could turn into a regional war, Mr Abadi warned in comments broadcast on state TV on Wednesday. The Turkish leadership's behaviour is not acceptable and we don't want to get into a military confrontation with Turkey. Turkey says its military is in Iraq at the invitation of Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdish regional government, with which Ankara maintains solid ties. Most of the troops are at a base in Bashiqa, north of Mosul, where they are helping to train Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga and Sunni fighters. Turkey's deputy prime minister, Numan Kurtulmus, said the deployment had become necessary after Isis's seizure of Iraq's second city, captured in 2014 Neither Turkey's presence in Bashiqa nor its operation right now in Syrian territory are aimed at occupying or interfering with the domestic affairs of these countries. Millions in need of aid as Iraqi forces advance on Mosul Iraq's central government in Baghdad says it never invited such a force and considers the Turkish troops occupiers. Tensions between Iraq and Turkey have risen with expectations of an offensive by Iraq and US-backed forces to retake Mosul. Turkey has said the campaign will send a wave of refugees over its border and, potentially, on to Europe. Ankara worries that Baghdad's Shi'ite Muslim-led forces will destabilise Mosul's largely Sunni population and worsen ethnic strife across the region, where there are also populations of Turkmens, ethnic kin of the Turks. Turkey is also uncomfortable with the arrangement of Kurdish forces expected to take part in the offensive. In northern Syria, where Turkey is backing rebels fighting Islamic State, Ankara has warned that Kurdish militias are filling the vacuum left by Islamic State. Fearing that this will boost the Kurdish rebellion across the border in southeast Turkey, it has threatened to cleanse them. Turkey announced late on Tuesday that it was summoning Iraq's ambassador to complain about the parliamentary vote. We believe this decision does not reflect the views of the majority of Iraqi people, whom Turkey has stood by for years and attempted to support with all its resources, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said. We find it noteworthy that the Iraqi parliament, which has not said anything about the accepted mandate for years, puts this on the agenda as though it were a new development in times when terror is taking so many lives in Turkey and Iraq. On Wednesday, Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad to protest what it said were provocative comments from Ankara about the troop deployment. Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Pro-government forces in the war-torn city of Aleppo are gradually advancing on the citys rebel-held neighbourhoods as army tanks entered rebel areas in the renewed Russian-backed offensive, monitors say. Aleppo, the scene of some of the Syrian civil wars fiercest fighting, is currently divided into government held west side of the city and besieged rebels in east Aleppo. As well as intensive air strikes on opposition-held neighbourhoods, street battles in the last week have led to the recapture of the central neighbourhood of Farafra, and Handarat Palestinian camp and Kindi Hospital near key roads in the north of the city, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Rebel forces said that they had successfully repelled attacks by the Syrian army and allied militias on access points in the south of Aleppo, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The escalating ground assault, announced following the failure of an internationally brokered ceasefire, is proving to be an inch-by-inch battle. While the governments tanks and heavy artillery will have trouble navigating Aleppos streets against experienced rebels, the odds are in the regimes favour, Robert Ford, the US ambassador to Syria between 2011 - 2014 and fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC said. Unless the balance on the ground drastically shifts, the Assad regime will eventually retake from opposition fighters all of Aleppo, he said. Syrian government continues air strikes on Aleppo Captain Abdel-Salam Abdel-Razek of the Nour el-Din el-Zinki rebel group told the Associated Press he expected a slow offensive across several fronts. I don't see that [the regime] has the capacity to carry out a wide offensive on all fronts, Abdel-Razek said. As a force on the ground, it is mobilising and it can possibly later, but not now. In a show of continued support for President Bashar al-Assad and a clear signal to Western powers who may be considering intervening militarily, Russia sent an advanced S-300 ground-to-air missile system to its naval base in the Syrian city of Tartus on Tuesday, the first time Moscow has ever deployed the system outside Russia. The people of east Aleppo are suffering greatly under the Russian-backed offensive to retake the city from rebels. Around 250,000 civilians are thought to be trapped inside the siege barricades, and civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and water supplies have been hit in bombing residents say has been unprecedented. In pictures: Aleppo bombing Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Aleppo bombing In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Smoke rises after airstrikes on the rebel-held al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man reacts as he stands on blood stains at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria, April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damage of the airstrikes in the rebel-held area of Aleppo on April 28 Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damaged the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians evacuate an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following an air strike on a rebel-held of Aleppo on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Civil defence members search for survivors after an airstrike at a field hospital in the rebel held area of al-Sukari district of Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian boy is comforted as he cries next to the body of a relative who died in a reported air strike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Soukour in the northern city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers and rescuers remove a baby from under the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians help a wounded youth following an air strike on the Fardous rebel held neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate people from a damaged building following a reported airstrike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Tareeq al-Bab in the northern city of Aleppo A Syrian civil defence rescue service volunteer told The Independent he estimated 500 people have died and 2,000 more seriously injured since the new campaign began on September 22nd. There are only around 30 doctors left to care for east Aleppos civilians, and basic medical supplies and drugs are running low because of the siege conditions. The international community has condemned both the Russian and Syrian governments for the strikes, which have been described as war crimes for indiscriminately hitting built-up civilian areas. Damascus and Moscow both deny that strikes target civilians, and argue that the use of human shields is a well-documented terrorist tactic. The US formally broke off bilateral talks with Russia on Syria on Monday, putting the prospect of future peace talks and co-ordinated military efforts against terror group Isis on hold. While recapturing the whole city would be a significant victory for President Bashar al-Assad in the six-year-long war, wiping out US-backed rebels from almost all of Syrias urbanised areas, analysts say the fall of Aleppo will not mean the war is coming to an end. Even if the rebels lose their territory, a long-term Sunni guerrilla insurgency is on the cards, Robert Ford said. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Perhaps the world's most iconic train journey, the Trans-Siberian Railway connects Moscow with the far-eastern edge of Russia, with branch lines heading off to Mongolia and China. And this month marks 100 years since the final section was opened, in October 2016, after years in the making. To celebrate, weve put together a gallery of images of the railway, from archive pictures taken during its construction to shots of the luxurious trains you can take today, and the sights you can spot along the way. 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway Show all 13 1 /13 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway The Trans-Siberian sets off from Moscow's Yaroslavsky station Shutterstock 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway The railway under construction, circa 1903 Hulton Archive/Getty Images 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway The luxurious way to do the Trans-Siberian, aboard the Golden Eagle Golden Eagle Luxury Trains 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway The more budget-friendly way to take the train Julie Laurent/Flickr 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway The Russian town of Irkutsk Golden Eagle Luxury Trains 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway Travellers can stock up on groceries at stations en route Michael Chu/Flickr 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway A bridge over Lake Baikal Golden Eagle Luxury Trains 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway Vladivostock, where the Trans-Siberian line ends Shutterstock 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway Lenin looms large over Ulan Ude, Russia Golden Eagle Luxury Trains 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway Mongolian ger tents Golden Eagle Luxury Trains 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway On board visueelamusement/Flickr 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway Beijing Railway Station, at the end of the Trans-Mongolian line Shutterstock 100 years of the Trans-Siberian Railway Two steam locomotives that travelled the route, circa 1955 Three Lions/Getty Images The Trans-Siberian Railway crosses eight time zones and 9,288km as it makes its way from the Russian capital through the rugged interior, all the way to the eastern city of Vladivostok. However, many travellers choose to take the route that splits off at Ulan Ude in southern Russia, chugging through Mongolia and onwards to Beijing this is the Trans-Mongolian line, which was completed in the 1950s. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Hunt has promised an increase in the number of doctors in training an initiative probably as laudable as it is late. There is undoubtably a shortage but it is not clear how many training places for home students are taken by those from overseas (or foreigners as the Government likes to call them). However, when will he spell out from where the extra university staff will come to teach and assess these extra students and, even more problematically, how will they be accommodated, taught and assessed in already overstretched clinical areas? Dr Anthony Ingleton Sheffield So Jeremy Hunt thinks it is a good idea to shackle hard working, intelligent and committed young doctors to the UK by the threat of severe financial penalties? Does he not realise that after four years gruelling service to the NHS, coupled with post graduate study and exams, doctors are just about to apply for registrar posts and specialist training? If doctors leave at this point in their careers his proposal could ensure a dire shortage of registrars and specialists in the future. Denise Willingham St Albans May should ditch the Miliband red Theresa Mays iron-lady-velvet-glove-utopian-Conservatism is an appropriate reply to David Camerons knuckle-duster-wielding-thumbscrew-turning-new-pauperism. However, she will only command the full authority of the country and the obedience of her back benches by adopting a much drier, more resolutely Thatcherite economic vision, not nanny statism. She also needs to turn her words into actions by drawing a firm line under Camerons monomania with welfarism by abolishing the Bedroom Tax. To date, her only dry policy is grammar schools, a policy which notably had the Brexiteers transfixed at Conference. In order to build a resilient economy and reassure her core voters in the suburbs and shires, May should ditch the Miliband red and wear light Thatcher baby blue at her next big speech. Anthony Rodriguez Middlesex Climate change The despair over complacency surrounding the reality of man-made climate change so explicitly and cogently expressed by Ian Johnston in his article on Friday 3 September (Landmark Paris climate change treaty to come into force amid alarm over signals from the natural world)is totally understood. Man-made climate change is almost certainly the most serious issue faced by mankind so far and will require strong world leadership to resolve it. To do that effectively our world leaders will need the support of everyone. But for that to happen everyone needs to understand and hence believe in the reality of the issue and, sadly, that seems to be a big long-running issue in itself. Michael Leighton Devon Dont call me a racist Don't call me a racist says the Home Secretary Amber Rudd at the Tory conference, as she scapegoats immigrants and floats policies which seem founded on the fascist BNPs rancid slogan of British jobs for British workers. Sasha Simic London Amber Rudd is not a racist for suggesting British jobs should go to British people. It is true that the UK hosts one per cent of the worlds refugees. However, it remains at the forefront of humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts to bring peace and stability to war-ravaged countries. The UK is a small island. It suffers from severe housing shortages, high rental prices, skyrocketing mental health problems, congested trains, buses and roads, let alone other social ills from school bullying, knife crimes, robberies, drug addiction, family disintegration, pockets of poverty, homelessness and feeble health care facilities. Bringing in more people would only disturb the social fabric and amplify the discrimination, racism, bigotries and prejudices so prevalent in the aftermath of the Brexit vote. What is urgently needed is nothing less than an honest debate about immigration, coupled with diplomatic and financial efforts to help countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Kenya. Munjed Farid Al Qutob London It is ironic indeed that as we marked the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, Amber Rudd gave a disgraceful speech threatening to shame companies deemed to employ too many foreign workers. It might be simpler if she required the workers to wear some sort of identifying mark perhaps in a striking colour? Andrew Griffiths Beckenham Donald Trump So Donald Trump rated female contestants on The Apprentice according to the size of their chest? Thats actually not so surprising, even in this day and age. Indeed, I believe that US citizens are currently using a similar assessment criteria to weigh up presidential candidates as they mull over the question: who wants to see an enormous arse in the White House? Julian Self Milton Keynes Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Among the millions of people who tuned in to the first and only vice-presidential debate on Tuesday night, one might ask whether Purvi Patel was one of them. Donald Trump and I would never support legislation against women who make the heartbreaking choice to end a pregnancy, said Donald Trumps running mate, Mike Pence. Yet Purvi Patel was sentenced to two decades in prison for self-inducing an abortion called "feticide and neglect of a dependent in July 2013. Patel could hardly turn to her governor for help it was Mike Pence. A judge overturned the conviction, meaning she could walk free on 31 August after one year behind bars. Recommended Read more Woman to be freed from prison after feticide conviction overturned Patel was bleeding through layers of clothing when she came in a panic to her local emergency room three years ago. She admitted to staff that she had taken abortion pills. She came from a conservative family who would not have approved of her having sex outside of marriage. She had placed the foetus in a dumpster. Two years later, the 34-year-old was facing punishment. Punishment that would span the majority of the rest of her life. Indiana has adopted one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in contemporary US history. As of July 2015, women who get abortions are mandated to mourn the foetus. Often no bigger than a pea pod, the unborn foetus can be buried, cremated, get a tombstone at a graveyard. A woman can get counselling. An abortion must not be seen as a positive step for a woman to regain control of her life. It must be seen as a tragic bereavement. Pence said at the debate on Tuesday that society should be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable that includes the unborn. He doesnt need to say it directly, but his meaning is clear: women are not valued as much as human beings as they are cherished as vessels for procreation. What else can we expect from a man who talks about broad shouldered leadership and strength male associations to describe the positive aspects of his campaign? Tim Kaine, Hillary Clintons running mate, asked Pence why he did not trust women to make choices over their own bodies. A valid and important question. It is also a question Kaine might ask of himself, given that he voted against using certain federal funds to pay for abortion services. It appeared to be uncomfortable territory, with two middle-aged white men debating abortion. While one flat out denied womens rights, the other, who personally does not believe in abortion, was obligated to toe the party line. Another uncomfortable truth: Trump said in March that women who get abortions should face some sort of punishment. No matter if he retracted it within 24 hours. The meaning, again, is clear. "We should cherish the worth, the dignity, the value of every human life," said Pence. If only we could be sure he would cherish us, too. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Our Chief Political Commentator offers a translation of the Prime Ministers speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham What she said: When we came to Birmingham this week, some big questions were hanging in the air. What she meant: Am I booked on the 1330 or the 1350 back to London? Do we have a plan for Brexit? We do. The plan is not to repeat Brexit means Brexit again because people are beginning to see through that one. Are we ready for the effort it will take to see it through? We are. Not remotely. But the people voted for it so I am bulletproof, whatever chaos and hardship lies ahead. I want to explain what a country that works for everyone means. A country that works for everyone means a country that works for everyone. Next question. Theresa May tells public to 'come with me and seize the day' No vision ever changed a country on its own. You need to put the hours in and the effort too. But if you do, great things can happen. Great changes can occur. And be in no doubt, thats what Britain needs today. Because in June people voted for change. And a change is going to come. You think I cant compare the injustice of American blacks being turned away from a whites-only motel in Louisiana, the inspiration for Sam Cookes A Change is Gonna Come, and the oppression suffered by the British people under the yoke of Brussels? Try me. This is a turning point for our country. A once-in-a-generation chance to change the direction of our nation for good. To step back and ask ourselves what kind of country we want to be. Lets be clear: we have come a long way over the past six years. This is a turning point for my speech, as I say everything is rubbish and then praise the achievements of the clowns who have been in government for the past six years, including me. And this morning its right that we pause to say thank you to the man who made that possible. A man who challenged us to change and told us that if we did then we would win again. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Nigel Farage. And he was right. We did change. We did win. Now weve got to change back. If youre one of those people who lost their job, who stayed in work but on reduced hours, took a pay cut as household bills rocketed, or and I know a lot of people dont like to admit this someone who finds themselves out of work or on lower wages because of low-skilled immigration, life simply doesnt seem fair. Its always easier to blame others, especially foreigners. But Im a politician. Ill give people what they think they want. Yet within our society today, we see division and unfairness all around. Between a more prosperous older generation and a struggling younger generation. Between the wealth of London and the rest of the country. But perhaps most of all, between the rich, the successful and the powerful and their fellow citizens. Whoever has been in charge for the past six years were a right bunch of divisive toffs. Ill give them what for. If you believe youre a citizen of the world, youre a citizen of nowhere. You dont understand what the very word citizenship means. The referendum was a vote against the liberal metropolitan elite. You may have thought I was one of them, but I was just biding my time to break the system down from the inside. A change has got to come. And this party the Conservative Party is going to make that change. Hence the new name, the Changeversative Party. Theresa May criticises 'activist left-wing human rights lawyers' Because thats the good that government can do. And its what Im in this for. To stand up for the weak and stand up to the strong. What an amateur that Ed Miliband is. You can make the case for big government only if you are actually in government. It is time to reject the ideological templates provided by the socialist left and the libertarian right and to embrace a new centre ground in which government steps up and not back to act on behalf of us all. The third way between old Labour and the new right. Forward not back to a new kind of Blairism. The main lesson I take from their conference last week is that the Labour Party is not just divided, but divisive. Fighting among themselves. Abusing their own MPs. Threatening to end their careers. Tolerating anti-Semitism and supporting voices of hate. You know what some people call them? The nasty party. Too easy. It took that typically British quiet resolve for people to go out and vote as they did: to defy the establishment, to ignore the threats, to make their voice heard. To defy the establishment, including me. But you know that because Im a Remainer convert I absolutely have to deliver Brexit, unlike that potential backslider Boris Johnson. So stick with me. Our judges sitting not in Luxembourg but in courts across the land. And also in Strasbourg, because I dont have the votes to take us out of the European Convention on Human Rights. The people told us they wanted these things and this Conservative Government is going to deliver them. This is how democracy works, people. Because while we are leaving the European Union, we will not leave the continent of Europe. We will not abandon our friends and allies abroad. And we will not retreat from the world. I commissioned a feasibility study, but I understand that although I believe we could overcome the objections of the Irish government harnessing continental drift to move the British Isles further into the Atlantic is too great an engineering challenge for the foreseeable future. And always committed to a strong national defence and supporting the finest Armed Forces known to Man. Im a feminist. Im Prime Minister. Ill use gendered language if I like. The need to make big decisions on and invest in our infrastructure. The need to rebalance the economy across sectors and areas in order to spread wealth and prosperity around the country. Politicians have talked about this for years. Because there is rather little they can do about it. But Im a new Prime Minister, so I can spout all this stuff afresh until the fine words wither on the vine of inevitability in a few years time. Thats why Philip Hammond and Greg Clark are working on a new industrial strategy to address those long-term structural challenges and get Britain firing on all cylinders again. Its not about picking winners, propping up failing industries, or bringing old companies back from the dead. Its about picking winners, propping up failing industries, and trying to bring old companies back from the dead. The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Show all 6 1 /6 The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Brexit The big one. Theresa May has spoken publicly three times since declaring her intent to stand in the Tory Leadership race, and each time she has said, Brexit means Brexit. It sounds resolute, but it is helpful to her that Brexit is a made up word with no real meaning. She has said there will be no second referendum and no re-entry in to the EU via the back door. But she, like the Leave campaign of which she was not a member, has pointedly not said with any precision what she thinks Brexit means Reuters The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address General election This is very much one to keep off the to do list. She said last week there would be no general election at this time of great instability. But there have already been calls for one from opposition parties. The Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2010 makes it far more difficult to call a snap general election, a difficulty she will be in no rush to overcome. In the event of a victory for Leadsom, who was not popular with her own parliamentary colleagues, an election might have been required, but May has the overwhelming backing of the parliamentary party Getty The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address HS2 Macbeth has been quoted far too much in recent weeks, but it will be up to May to decide whether, with regard to the new high speed train link between London, Birmingham, the East Midlands and the north, returning were as tedious as go oer. Billions have already been spent. But the 55bn it will cost, at a bare minimum, must now be considered against the grim reality of significantly diminished public finances in the short to medium term at least. It is not scheduled to be completed until 2033, by which point it is not completely unreasonable to imagine a massive, driverless car-led transport revolution having rendered it redundant EPA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Heathrow expansion Or indeed Gatwick expansion. Or Boris Island, though that option is seems as finished as the man himself. The decision on where to expand aviation capacity in the south east has been delayed to the point of becoming a national embarrassment. A final decision was due in autumn. Whatever is decided, there will be vast opprobrium PA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Trident renewal David Cameron indicated two days ago that there will be a Commons vote on renewing Britains nuclear deterrent on July 18th, by which point we now know, Ms May will be Prime Minister. The Labour Party is, to put it mildly, divided on the issue. This will be an early opportunity to maximise their embarrassment, and return to Tory business as usual EPA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Scottish Independence Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP are in no doubt that the Brexit vote provides the opportunity for a second independence referendum, in which they can emerge victorious. The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood has the authority to call a second referendum, but Ms May and the British Parliament are by no means automatically compelled to accept the result. She could argue it was settled in 2014 AFP/Getty Its just not right that two thirds of energy customers are stuck on the most expensive tariffs. Do you know, I see people in Waitrose every weekend and they could save several pounds if they bought supermarket own-brand goods. We can make these big decisions because our economy is strong and because of the fiscal discipline we have shown over the last six years. And we must continue to aim for a balanced budget. We must continue to say that a balanced budget would be jolly nice but were not actually aiming for it. Were all Conservatives here. We all believe in a low-tax economy. But we also know that tax is the price we pay for living in a civilised society. Theres an old saying that you can ignore everything before the but. That applies here. I am taking your most cherished beliefs, friends and fellow representatives, and I am going to trash them in the relentless pursuit of victory at the next election. Let us take this opportunity to show that we, the Conservative Party, truly are the party of the workers, the party of public servants, the party of the NHS. The Labour Party has gone absent without leave, so we can call ourselves what we like. Lets make the most of it. All that should matter is the talent you have and how hard youre prepared to work. I work until 2am and I dont see why the rest of you shouldnt too. Our celebrated triathlon champion Jonny Brownlee was heading for glory, the finishing line in sight, when he faltered. Stopped. And was falling exhausted to the ground. And just behind him, his brother Alistair a tough competitor who typically yields to no one had the chance to run on and steal the prize. But seeing his brothers struggle, he didnt pass on by. As other competitors ran past, he stopped. Reached out his hand. And gently carried him home. And there in that moment, we saw revealed an essential truth. That we succeed or fail together. We achieve together or fall short together. Let me tell you a parable of collectivism too toe-curling even for Tony Blair. As I leave the door of my office at Number 10, I pass that famous staircase the portraits of prime ministers past lined up along the wall Theres Disraeli, who saw division and worked to heal it. Churchill, who confronted evil and had the strength to overcome. Attlee, with the vision to build a great national institution. And Lady Thatcher who taught us we could dream great dreams again. And one day there I will be on that wall, the Brexit Prime Minister, and I want to be remembered for something more than taking us out of the EU, which I argued for staying in. One million dollars to be offered for Garo Yeghnukian's release (video) The lawyer and relatives of activist Garo Yeghnukian are determined to have him released. Tomorrow the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevans Kanaker-Zeytun administrative districts will consider the motion to review Yeghnukians detention. "The charges against him are absurd. He is accused of disseminating and publishing information, organizing rallies and the like. These are all rights which must be protected by the state, while in fact, the state files charges against him, says lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan. Garo Yeghnukian is charged with aiding the armed Sasna Dzrer group that seized a police station in Yerevan in July. Lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan says during the court hearing they will produce sufficient evidence to demand the activist's release. We are ready to offer a bail in the amount of one million dollars, the lawyer said. Yeghnukians supporters say they have weighty facts which the court cannot simply neglect. A number of international organizations, human rights activsits, lawmakers, two former human rights defenders and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard M. Mills, have called for Yeghnukians release. Tigran Hayrapetyan is convinced that these facts are enough to have the activist released. and if the court decides to keep Yeghnukian in custody after all this, it will prove that the arrest is political motivated, the lawyer said. The court sitting is slated for October 6. It is possible to achieve a border arrangement post-Brexit that will be close to what we currently have, a senior civil servant in the Department of the Taoiseach has said. John Callinan, the Department's second secretary general assigned to deal with the challenges posed by the Brexit vote, said it wont be easy, and the negotiations will be difficult. But he said it is possible. The goal is to have something as close to what we have at the moment as possible, Mr Callinan told a breakfast briefing on the first day of Enterprise Irelands International Markets Week. There is, right across the EU, and particularly between Dublin, London and Belfast, recognition that there are very specific circumstances in relation to the north. I think theres a commitment there to find a way to make this work, that looks, feels and is as close to what we have at the moment as possible. It wont be easy. I think it will be a difficult negotiation but I think its possible. Mr Callinan was appointed over the summer to lead a new integrated division within the Department with responsibility for supporting the Taoiseach in his work on EU, Northern Ireland, British-Irish and International affairs. The appointment was part of a series of actions announced by the Taoiseach following the referendum. Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the same event this morning that the European Commissions chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, will be in Dublin next week. Mr Kenny also reiterated that the Budget will have a national economic response to Brexit. In the short term, the Budget takes place next week, there will be a range of measures to ensure theres a national economic response to Brexit in so far as we can deal with that at this point, the Taoiseach said. Mr Kenny said the Government is aware of the need to adapt existing schemes, and introduce new schemes for Irish businesses. "On foot of legislation that was passed earlier this year, I expect the Government will shortly be in a position to roll out a number of new initial products that will improve the attractiveness of existing offerings related to risk sharing, the Taoiseach said. The Minister for Jobs, Minister for Finance and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland are working to deliver on these schemes in the coming weeks." Referring to the planned all-island civic dialogue on Brexit due to be held next month, Mr Kenny said invitations will be sent to a broad spectrum of civic society groups. The two main unionist parties in the north will not be taking part in the forum. So while we have the political fora, the North South Ministerial Council, the British Irish Parliamentary Association and so on, it is very important that we hear the voices of commerce, the voices of business, Mr Kenny added. Earlier, Mr Callinan said Ms May had signalled in her speech at the Conservative Party conference a harder exit than some might have suggested. But he added: Theres still a long way to run. Theres still a lot of hedging of bets from the British system. But its clear that theyre trying to seize the initiative a little bit, they dont want to go into this negotiation on the back foot. One of Ireland's leading hotels says the tourism sector is now carefully monitoring the implications of the volatility of sterling against the euro. Irish tourism operators admitted they are increasingly worried at how the UK currency has continued to plummet and its implications for British visitor numbers to Ireland. UK tourists are facing a 20pc to 25pc spending power differential in the space of just four months because of the way sterling has slumped against the euro. Rochestown Park Hotel marketing manager Diarmuid Vaughan said uncertainty over Brexit was now causing the most problems here and in the UK. "That is the single greatest issue we have noticed from speaking with our UK customers. It is the level of uncertainty that Brexit has created," he said. "It is not just that we don't know here what Brexit will mean, there is tremendous uncertainty in the UK as well over what it will mean and how it will work." Mr Vaughan said Irish Hotels Federation figures underlined how important UK tourists are for Ireland. He said that while currency issues were a concern, the ultimate format of Brexit was an equal cause for worry. "We do quite a lot of conference business from the UK. We might do 12 conferences or so a year with UK delegates," he said. "That is an area we are watching very closely because, when it comes to the conference business, you are not just talking about the cost of a hotel room for a night or two. There is usually a whole package involved." The firm which won Ireland's exporter of the year title admitted Brexit concerns have mounted over the past week. Combilift founder Martin McVicar said that while his Monaghan-based forklift firm tried to take a medium-long term view over Sterling-Euro currency fluctuations, his firm had become increasingly concerned by indications that London would now seek "a hard Brexit" from the EU. This has led to fears tariffs could return for UK-exported goods. Combilift exports to mainland Europe through the UK - and anything that hits the free movement of goods around Europe is something of concern for all Irish exporters, according to Mr McVicar. "Anything that introduces tariffs and duties, creates red-tape and bureaucracy, adds costs or causes delays for our goods to reach customers and markets is a matter of concern," he said. Combilift ranks as one of Ireland's most successful indigenous companies. Founded in 1998, it is in the middle of an ambitious 40m expansion plan including the construction of a greenfield plant to be commissioned in 2017. The firm currently employs 400 staff and expects to add a further 100 over the next two years. The report shows the size of Irish exporters and their importance to the economy, which is set to grow at a slower rate as a result of Britain's decision to leave the European Union. Photo: Bloomberg Agriculture and food dominate Ireland's native export sector, new research has shown. According to the Irish Exporters Association's (IEA's) 'Top 150 Born in Ireland' report, leading companies in that sector generated around 140bn in turnover last year. The Investec-backed study lists Ireland's largest indigenous companies by sales with building materials group CRH topping the list. Collectively the entire list reported 139.5bn in sales with businesses in the construction and engineering sector amounting to the second-largest proportion of contributors. Investec head of treasury Aisling Dodgson said the success of indigenous firms can sometimes be overlooked in what is becoming a more globalised market. "The analysis demonstrates the true scale of Irish businesses which we classify as 'Born in Ireland' - companies with their origin in the country which either have grown on the back of serving the domestic market, through exports or by growing their business serving markets beyond our shores," she said. Vision-net compiled the data for the new research and only included companies that have filed accounts in 2014 or later. Charities, inversion deals and dissolved companies were all excluded from the report. The report shows the size of Irish exporters and their importance to the economy, which is set to grow at a slower rate as a result of Britain's decision to leave the European Union. However, despite the looming exit of Ireland's most important export destination, Investec head of macro-financial research Philip O'Sullivan said Brexit must be put into perspective. "It is worth noting that five-sixths of Irish exports now go to markets other than the country's next door neighbour. "Notwithstanding this moderation, and barring any more statistical anomalies, the Irish economy is still likely to turn in some of the strongest growth in the European Union in both this year and the next," he said. Ireland's heavy hitters are right near the top of the list with utilities firm DCC coming in at second with a turnover of 14.48bn. Swiss-Irish food firm Aryzta comes in at tenth with sales of just under 3.3bn. Outside of DCC, Topaz, Tullow Oil, Eirgrid, and Maxol all make up the top five Irish utilities companies. Nearly 90 of the companies on the list are in Dublin with Cork coming in second place. A total of 25 businesses from Munster were listed, bringing the region's haul up to 15bn, 3bn more than that of Leinster's when Dublin is excluded. Eleven firms from Munster made the list with Ulster counties contributing six entries. Dublin's turnover dwarfed all of the other regions, bringing in 106.8bn in revenue, more than seven times the intake of Munster. IEA chief executive Simon McKeever said the export sector remains key to the recovery. "Ireland is now looking at the very real possibility of the UK leaving the EU by 2019 and this move will affect indigenous Irish exporters more than most given the close bi-lateral trade agreement that exists between us." The IEA chief highlighted the importance of nailing down a trade deal with the UK after it executes Article 50. Investors have been spooked by a series of announcements at the Conservative Party conference, where Prime Minister Theresa May said the two-year process of negotiating Brexit under Article 50 of the EU treaties would start by the end of March. REUTERS/Carl Court /Pool The slide in sterling now threatens thousands of jobs in Ireland, with experts warning the pound will reach parity with the euro as soon as next year. The pound hovered around a three-year low against the euro yesterday, intensifying the pressure on Irish exporters and the tourist industry here. One global bank is already predicting parity by next year - which would mark a massive watershed moment in the history of the currencies. The sharp plunge in the value of the UK currency so far this year goes hand-in-hand with the fallout of June's Brexit referendum. Irish exporters, farmers and tourist-related businesses here all said they had been grappling with the effects of the sharp weakness in the UK currency his year, particularly in the wake of June's Brexit referendum. It comes as the International Monetary Fund downgraded Irish growth fractionally and warned of subdued global growth, with the Brexit vote partly to blame. The IMF hiked its prediction for UK growth this year as the British economy proved more resilient than expected in the wake of the referendum, but cut it for 2017. Currency analysts expect sterling to weaken further against the euro to the 90 pence mark by the end of the year - a situation which business body Ibec has already warned could cost thousands of jobs across the Irish economy. A weaker pound poses cost and competitiveness issues for Irish firms selling into the UK market, as it becomes more expensive for British consumers to buy their products. Read more: Government has been 'flat-footed' in response to Brexit - Mary Lou McDonald Read more: Sterling trades near three-decade low as May sets March Brexit deadline There are also implications for the tourist industry here, as Irish destinations become more expensive for UK holidaymakers. John Wraith, head of UK rates strategy at global bank UBS, warned that the pound could suffer a fate similar to what it experienced during the financial crisis. UBS forecast that by the end of next year, the pound and euro would reach parity. "When the global financial crisis entered its acute phase, sterling resumed its rapid decline, falling a further 20pc by the end of 2008," Mr Wraith said. Investors have been spooked by a series of announcements at the Conservative Party conference, where Prime Minister Theresa May said the two-year process of negotiating Brexit under Article 50 of the EU treaties would start by the end of March. Many economists and investors fear the UK government will back a "hard Brexit" option where Britain quits the single market in favour of imposing controls on immigration. Justin Doyle of Investec Ireland told the Irish Independent that while he can see sterling hitting the 90 pence mark against the euro by the end of this year, too many factors were at play to make a determination on where it would be by the end of 2017. But UBS isn't a lone voice on the global banking stage predicting parity. In the summer, HSBC also forecast there could be parity between sterling and the euro by the end of next year. Business lobby groups here have said the currency issue is one of the biggest facing Irish exporters, with Ibec warning firms face a currency crisis akin to that of the early 1990s. The business body has warned that the impact on UK-focused export sectors, such as agri-food, will be particularly severe. Fine Gael is set to clash with Independent TDs over plans to raise the 9.15-an-hour minimum wage by 10 cent in the Budget. Super Junior Minister Finian McGrath, pictured above, said he will not be happy if this small increase in the basic statutory rate is announced next week. Ministers are set to get a draft memo on the proposal before Minister for Jobs Mary Mitchell O'Connor brings a memo to Cabinet with a recommendation on whether the hike in the pay rate should be accepted. The 1pc increase was recommended by the Low Pay Commission earlier this year and would bring the wage rate to 9.25 an hour for 70,000 workers. A worker doing 39 hours a week would earn an extra 3.91 a week if the recommended 9.25-an-hour rate is announced in next week's Budget. Their weekly wages would rise from 356.85 to 360.75. "It didn't come up at the Cabinet meeting today and I haven't seen a draft memo on it yet," said Mr McGrath yesterday. "Of course I'm going to raise it. I've always pushed for a living wage." His colleague in the Independent Alliance and Junior Jobs Minister, John Halligan, has called for the statutory minimum wage to be increased by 25pc to 11.50 an hour over the next two years. A spokesperson at his office said he was not available for comment yesterday. Isme has accused Mr Halligan of "la la land economics". However, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Sean Canney, said the rate should not rise beyond 10 cent. "The minimum wage is not something that is paid by the Government and businesses are still recovering," he said. Fianna Fails expenditure spokesman, Dara Calleary (right), claimed Fine Gaels record on older people was to throw them 'under the bus, budget after budget after budget' Photo: Tom Burke A last-minute demand to reduce the funeral costs facing grieving families has emerged as a sticking point as Budget 2017 negotiations enter their most critical stage. Both Fianna Fail and the Independent Alliance are seeking to ease the burden on families through the increase of the so-called 'burial grant'. The one-off grant is paid on a discretionary basis to families who cannot afford to give their loved ones a proper burial. Members of the Independent Alliance have raised the prospect of restoring the 850 bereavement grant, which was scrapped in 2014. Fairness for the elderly has dominated much of the Budget discussions, with Fianna Fail claiming credit for a 5 increase in the old age pension. The party's public expenditure spokesman, Dara Calleary, claimed Fine Gael's record on older people was to throw them "under the bus, budget after budget after budget". "They increased prescription charges, they cut bereavement grants, they cut services to older people. We have put this on the agenda," he said. As revealed by the Irish Independent, Fianna Fail is also pushing for changes to the inheritance tax regime to ensure there is no discrimination against childless couples and single people. And the party is now seeking that the burial grant be "significantly increased". Fianna Fail's social protection spokesperson Willie O'Dea said such a grant has been "slashed" in recent years and will help those suffering hardship. "It would be the most equitable way to assist people who have lost their loved ones and I believe it should feature in the Budget," Mr O'Dea confirmed. Sinn Fein's alternative budget, which was released yesterday, also called for the reintroduction of the bereavement grant. Read more: Budget 2017: Inheritance tax changes to hurt childless families But responding to the submission, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar said: "Reintroducing the bereavement grant would cost 20m, which again is a lot of money. It would mean that perhaps other things can't be done." The row comes as further details of the Budget neared completion, including a package aimed at supporting the self-employed. Sources say Finance Minister Michael Noonan will increase the earned income tax credit for the self-employed by 550 to 1,100. This is part of a three-year plan that will see the self-employed receive the same tax break as ordinary PAYE workers by 2018. Mr Varadkar is also planning a number of measures that would see the self-employed gain access to the PRSI benefits such as disability allowance and jobseekers' allowance. Fianna Fail's Niall Collins said his party is taking a "strong line" on what he described as "an old chestnut". He said that during the economic crash, many workers who paid into the system for years found the system "wasn't there for them when they needed it". Government sources said "everything in that area is certainly under consideration" but noted the social welfare budget has yet to be finalised. Fianna Fail is also seeking a reduction in deposit interest retention tax (Dirt) in order to help savers. In its pre-election manifesto Micheal Martin's party said that savers were getting "a very raw deal" and promised to cut Dirt from the current rate of 41pc to 38pc. However, this seems unlikely to be agreed as exchequer figures for the first nine months of this year show that income from Dirt is nearly 100m behind target. Meanwhile, as the Budget battle between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail heated up, Mr Calleary accused Leo Varadkar of using the Budget build-up "as a soap box" for his leadership ambition. Mr Varadkar had accused those in Fianna Fail of "throwing shapes" with their demands. The report says 100m is for repairs to transport infrastructure damaged by floods There is scope for 200m more spending this year on schools and flood repairs, the Department of Finance's chief economist has said. John McCarthy told TDs that while the fiscal space for Budget 2017 is "pretty much locked down at 1bn", there's "a little bit more scope for spending this year". He said that "200m for schools and for flooding" was identified in the mid-year expenditure report. The report says 100m is for repairs to transport infrastructure damaged by floods. The sum for schools had yet to be determined when the report was published but Mr McCarthy's remarks at the Dail's Budgetary Oversight Committee indicate that around 100m is to be allocated. A Department of Education spokesman said the amount has yet to be ascertained but that the funding will facilitate 116 major projects either under construction or in planning. Separately, Mr McCarthy told TDs that there has been a reduction in the projected growth for this year and next. Ireland's GDP growth is now projected at 4.2pc. That's down from 4.9pc predicted by the summer economic statement. Next year's GDP growth is being estimated at 3.5pc, down 0.5pc on previous forecasts. Mr McCarthy said the current outlook is "characterised by considerable uncertainty, with the impact of the Brexit vote still unfolding". He also warned of relatively subdued growth in many advanced economies and a fear the world economy has entered a permanently lower growth phase. "In overall terms, it is our assessment that the balance of risk . . . is firmly tilted to the downside," he said. Mr McCarthy also highlighted that just five of the 189,000 enterprises in Ireland are responsible for a third of exports. AAA-PBP TD Richard Boyd Barrett said this is "shocking" and that it appears to present an "extreme risk". Mr McCarthy said that while such corporations are significant employers and contribute to the Irish economy, "it does raise concentration risks. There's no doubt about that". He said this risk can be mitigated by remaining competitive, ensuring workers have appropriate skills and that Ireland is seen as a good place to live. However, he said the risk can never fully be eliminated. STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces Google Ad There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Google Ad Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens One of the best-equipped small stud farms to come on the market in a while is to be sold by private treaty. The 39ac Knightfield Stud in Kildare comes with an equestrian centre, an indoor arena, a stable yard, staff accommodation and an outdoor arena. It can be sold in lots or as an entire with a guide price of 1.25m. Located in Co Kildare 3km from Straffan, 6km from Maynooth and 20km from Dublin the place has the potential for development as a residential property thanks to the presence of staff accommodation and a derelict cottage. Philip Byrne of selling agents REA Coonan describes Knightfield as 'an absolute state of the art equine facility.' The property includes a courtyard of 28 stables, an all-weather arena, tack rooms, offices, toilets and treatment areas. The indoor arena measuring 60m x 45m includes a viewing area and a conference centre. There are three staff apartments as part of the facility, a four-bedroom unit and a pair of two-bedroom apartments. The outdoor, all-weather arena measures 75m x 30m and is maintained to the highest of standards. The land is top quality Kildare ground laid out in seven paddocks that are stud-railed and watered. Other facilities include a six-bay open sided haybarn, two separate stable blocks with four stables in each and a three bay barn. The buildings are in top class condition and ready to be used. According to Philip Byrne the place would make an ideal location for eventing, dressage, show jumping or horse breeding. Knightfield has a strong track record in the equestrian world and was once the home of 'Guidam Preference' a stallion that sired many top international show jumpers. "His progeny are widely found representing top international sides inshow-jumping events all around the world and [he] was recognised by many to be Ireland's top show-jumping stallion while he was based in Ireland," Mr Byrne points out. The holding is in on the private treaty market and can be bought as an entire or in lots. The first lot is comprised of the derelict cottage on 7ac with 7 boxes, the second lot is made up of the equestrian centre, stable-yard and the outdoor arena on 32ac while the final lot is the entire on 39ac. The possibility of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the South was conceded last by EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan. In answer to questions from Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson, Commissioner Hogan admitted that veterinary checks at border crossing points might have to be considered in the future. Ms Anderson, who is an MEP for Northern Ireland, asked the commissioner what measures would be introduced to stop the possible importation into the EU through the UK of products banned in the EU, such as hormone-treated beef. The Commissioner insisted that the UK would face the same controls as any other non-EU country once it had left the Union. "Imports must meet sanitary requirements which are at least equivalent to those provided for in Union legislation. "Inspectors carry out documentary, identity and physical checks, including the verification of the labelling and the traceability of the products," Commissioner Hogan said. He added that member states were constantly monitored to ensure they enforced EU border controls. Commissioner Hogan's comments will arouse deep concern among farmers and agri-businesses on both sides of the Border. Should the Border become an external EU frontier, it could potentially cause massive disruption for farmers, and agri-businesses - particularly milk processors and meat factories - in both jurisdictions. The impressive growth in sales of Claas tractors within Ireland was reflected at the recent UK and Ireland annual Claas dealer meeting, where the two main tractor dealer excellence 2016 awards both went to Irish Claas dealers. The resilience of the new tractor market in Ireland is reflected in recent figures from the FTMTA, which show that between January and July this year, sales of new tractors are up 5pc at 1335 units compared to the same period in 2015. Grass growth on the sheep block at Lyons was running at 50kg DM per ha per day last week and is following a similar pattern to last year when we saw grass growth pushing on into October. The site we are grazing is dry so utilisation is not proving difficult, though this is in contrast to a lot of regions of the country where rainfall is making grazing more difficult. We will begin to close paddocks for spring grazing in the next two weeks. We will need an average farm cover for turnout in Mid-March of 820 kg DM per ha. With moderate spring growth on this site, we are looking at a closing farm cover of approximately 580 kg DM per ha. Yesterday saw one of the busiest days of the year at Lyons with approximately 450 ewes and ewe lambs sponged was part of the Sheep Ireland Central Progeny Test program. This is a project we have been involved in for the last seven years and the overall aim of the program is to improve the rate of genetic gain in the national flock through the generation of breeding values and hence indices for use when farmers are purchasing rams. Ewe Condition Ewes are in good condition with an average BCS of 3.5. The sponges remain in place for 12 days and ewes will be mated approximately 36 to 48 hours after sponge withdrawal. The sponge delivers a continual dose of progestogen (a progesterone proxy) to the blood stream of the ewe and this serves to suppress heat and ovulation. When the sponge is withdrawn the ewe ovulates. We also administer another compound (PMSG) at sponge withdrawal which helps to increase the number of eggs which are ovulated, hopefully leading to a larger litter size. The University is also back in teaching term now and I had 50 students from 4th year B.Agr.Sc out on the farm for sheep practical classes yesterday. It gave these students a good opportunity to see the process involved in the synchronisation program, but also made for a very busy yard. Progeny rams are onsite for the Central Progeny Test program also as Lyons hosts the ram test centre. This involves ram intake, quarantine, training for semen collection and then ultimately collection of semen for use in the A.I. program. This aspect is obviously co-ordinated by Sheep Ireland and bio-security is of the highest priority with these high value animals. Lamb drafting is behind 2015 Lamb drafting continues apace, but is clearly running behind 2015. We have about 30 pc of lambs remaining on farm at the moment, compared to about 12 pc at the same time last year. Grass supply is not an issue, but the lower grass dry matter (DM) content does appear to be reducing performance. Work carried out by Frank Campion in Lyons would show low DM grass reduces daily DM intake and work by Brian Garry in Moorepark shows that low grass DM reduces grass digestibility, and combined these two reduce the daily energy intake of the lamb. At the ploughing two weeks ago plenty of farmers and processors alike were commenting on the poor kill out performance of lambs off grass, which is likely linked to the above issue. The lambs not involved in the SMARTGRASS trial are now grazing Redstart (a kale and forage rape hybrid) which was planted after a winter cereal crop. While there was strong competition from volunteer cereal plants the Redstart has grown very well and we are hoping to finish lambs off this without supplementation and to also carry the ewes into December on this crop. It's our first year growing it at Lyons having traditionally used forage rape, but there are plenty of positive reports from growers around the country. Dr Tommy Boland, lecturer in sheep production, Lyons Research Farm, UCD. tommy.boland@ucd.ie Twitter @Pallastb A 93ac farm with a renovated bungalow residence and a modern yard located near Claremorris, Co Mayo sold after auction last week making somewhat more than the highest bid of 737,000. Located at Raith, Barnacarroll, the farm is 5km north of Claremorris fronting a side road just off the N17. In two folios it comprises 84ac of grassland and a 9ac parcel of active bog. The grassland is laid out in eight well-fenced fields and described as quality ground with extensive road frontage. There are substantial farming facilities on the property including a large cattle yard, a silage yard and a modern steel framed double slatted shed along with a 10 ton meal bin. The residence is a concrete built, three-bedroom bungalow extending to 1,172 sq ft and entirely renovated within the last five years. The auction held at the offices of Ganly Walters attracted two active bidders when the bidding opened at 650,000. The amount on offer increased steadily until the place was withdrawn at 737,000. It sold immediately after the auction for a higher figure. Kildare land makes 18,000/ac Meanwhile in Kildare Paddy Jordan sold a 15ac field at Millicent South located 2km from Sallins and 5km from Naas. At auction the parcel made 270,000 or a very strong 18,000/ac. The parcel is located in good farming country but is also in the heart of the Dublin commuter belt. There is road frontage on to a main road and a cul-de-sac it should have some residential potential. At auction the property opened at 100,000 and even with four bidders in action Paddy Jordan described the going as 'sticky.' At 180,000 the auctioneer consulted with the vendor and after returning to the room a further bid saw the price rise to 185,000 at which point it was put on the market. At that stage the bidding 'took off' according to Mr Jordan and the hammer fell at 270,000 when the place was bought by an agent acting in trust. Mr Jordan was not quite as fortunate with a 64ac grass farm at Ashgrove, Kildangan not far from Monasterevin. The farm attracted poor interest at auction but Mr Jordan is in active negotiations on the private treaty market. 13,000 an acre in kilkenny Kilkenny auctioneer Ed Donohoe had good day when he sold a 90ac farm at Stoneyford Kilkenny under the hammer for 1.17m or 13,000/ac. Located 13km from Kilkenny and 3km from Stoneyford the lands are all in one block with frontage onto the Kilkenny/Stoneyford road and further access off the Ennisnag/Stoneyford road via a quiet cul-de-sac. The farm was once a dairy holding but has been in tillage in recent years and the current layout has 70ac in tillage, 15ac in grass and 5ac in forestry. The only buildings on the property include an old milking parlour and an old slatted unit. On the day the property opened at 800,000 when three bidders took to the fray. The price moved swiftly in increments of 25,000 until it reached 900,000. Mr Donohoe consulted with the vendor and returned to the room where the bidding resumed and at 1m the place was put on the market. The bids kept coming in tranches of 5,000 until eventually the hammer fell at 1.17m when the holding was bought in trust by an accountant believed to be acting for a local farmer. The recent resumption of live exports to Turkey is music to the ears of Martin McMahon who says the new market is light at the end of a dark tunnel for suckler farmers. "It is crucial that competition is encouraged in the beef market if farmers are to survive," he says. "Live exports are the solution to the poor prices which suckler farmers have been getting. That's good news about Turkey because it will put manners on the factories who have had the market to themselves over the past few years." Martin (62) has been rearing and finishing beef since he was a child at the family farm near O'Callaghan's Mills in Co Clare and he is no fan of the factories. "All they do is talk price of cattle down and the only solution to their dominance is live exports," he says. Martin is a third generation beef farmer running his herd on 200 acres of what he describes as "mixed to punishing" land in the Banner County and he has never seen beef prices dip as much in all his years of farming. There is no balance between the price the farmer is getting and the prices paid by consumers, says Martin. "Without live exports we will all have to rely on the factories and they are only interested in talking the price down. The only solution to the problem is live exports. " The maths are simple on Martin's calculator. "Weanling farmers are lucky to get 2.70 a kilo from the factories when they need substantially more than 3 a kilo to break even and beef finishers need more than 4 a kilo to justify staying in business. "Beef farmers are struggling to make a living even with the single farm payment," he adds. He wants Bord Bia to intensify its export drive to markets like Turkey, Italy and France and suggests that it sets up an expert committee of farmers and exporters. The Government and Minister for Agriculture can lend a helping hand by increasing the payments available to suckler farmers under the beef genomics scheme, he adds. Martin is married to Philomena, a retired nurse and, as is increasingly the case in rural Ireland, the family are all working off farm. The eldest son, Daniel (33), works in the insurance sector but still does "a bit of weekend farming" on a nearby holding which he has recently purchased. The two girls are also off farm with - Amy (30) works as a solicitor in Dublin and Catherine (26) is a beautician in Galway. While Daniel is likely to continue the family farming tradition, Martin reckons it will be in a different farming landscape. "Suckler farming is going back and the numbers farming are dropping. It's not like farming in the past when a family could live on a small holding. Now you need three or four holdings to make the same living. "It's sad. Everyone has a full-time job outside the farm and you don't see anyone in the countryside during the day. "Your most important piece of equipment is your mobile phone so that you can call up for supplies or equipment or if you have a farm accident. There was a time when you would have two or three fellows working on the farm, but now it's yourself and you are working 24-7," Martin says. I close by asking if he has any interests off farm: "Yes," comes the swift replay - "the Turkish market". Turnover at Cork-based financial firm Blackbee Investments - of which rugby legend Donal Lenihan and ex-Ulster Bank chief economist Pat McArdle are directors - soared to 3.3m in its first full year of operation. The company has also produced a small operating profit in its maiden year. Founded in late 2014, the firm yesterday announced that it has teamed up with venture capital firm SOSV to establish a new fund that will invest in as many as 700 technology companies around the world. SOSV, which was founded and is headed by New York-born entrepreneur Sean O'Sullivan, is contributing $100m to the new fund, which will be called the Accelerator Note 1 Fund. Private investors will be invited to match that funding. Blackbee Investments aims to secure that additional funding by the end of the year. Mr O'Sullivan, who now lives in Cork, is the co-founder of MapInfo, which was listed on the stock market in 1994 and which made him millions. SOSV has invested in over 500 startup companies around the world, including Netflix and the Dublin-based media firm Storyful that was founded by former RTE journalist Mark Little and later sold to News Corporation. SOSV currently funds over 150 startups every year through accelerator programmes focused on hardware and connected devices; synthetic biology; software; and food businesses. The accounts for Blackbee Investments, whose chief executive is David O'Shea, show that it turned a 67,000 operating profit in 2015. The Irish services industry is becoming increasingly cautious amid Brexit fears and uncertainty within the global economy, new research has shown. According to the Investec Services PMI report growth in the sector moderated to its slowest pace since June 2013. The headline reading for September contracted to 56.2 as the industry awaits the terms of Britain's exit from the EU. New business slowed for the fourth month in a row with some panellists mentioning reduced interest from customers. As a result the new export business index weakened to a six-month low. Despite the fall off in new business, companies are still struggling to deal with existing client demand. The backlogs of work index increased for the 40th month in a row in September, causing firms to add to their headcount. However, the rate at which the industry is adding staff slowed to a three year low. Investec chief economist Philip O'Sullivan said: "Taken together, the latest PMI reports indicate a weakening in the rate of growth in activity across much of Irelands private sector compared to what was seen in the first half of the year. "With further uncertainty around Brexit and the US Presidential election expected between now and the year end, we are growing increasingly cautious about the prospects for Q416." The Irish hotel-booking firm Roomex has raised 3.5m in a Series A round of funding. The money is coming from Irish venture capital firm Frontline Ventures, former Hostelworld chairman Paddy Holahan and the chief technical officer of CarTrawler, Bobby Healy. Roomex, co-founded by Jack Donaghy and Karl Glennon, now employs 30 people having switched from being a holidaymaker booking engine to a corporate-focused one. The company now has offices in Dublin and London. Its clients include AIB, the Musgrave Group, Allianz, the Sisk Group and Dairygold. It has 550,000 hotels on its platform. Despite being in business since 2006, Mr Donaghy said that he had to take a "hard look" at its prospects in 2013, when it was getting lost in a sea of booking engines. "We had to do a very firm pivot," he said. "And we chose to focus just on corporate travel. Right now, corporates are paying fees to travel agencies like Amex. "We have brought the easy-to-use leisure tool approach but structured it for a corporate audience with special negotiated rates. And we don't charge them fees," he said. "We also resolve the payment at the hotel so a company has one monthly invoice for all their people instead of 40 or 50." Mr Donaghy said that the company now makes its money from hotels, which pay Roomex a distribution fee based on the size of their corporate clientele. "Margins are tight," he said. "So it's all about scale. With scale comes better negotiation. We already do significant volumes. So when we approach a hotel chain, we're representing 500 massive corporate clients." Mr Donaghy said the company intends to spend the 3.5m on marketing and technology research, developing its mobile tools more. He said that the company has doubled in size every year since 2013. "Our staff has gone from 12 to 30 in the last 18 months and we'll probably double that again before the end of next year." He said the main trading focus is on the UK market, where some of its biggest clients are. Brexit is not currently a concern to the company, he said. "Right now, the currency drop has helped us," he said. "It means staff in the UK aren't as expensive. But we have a natural hedge because if we buy a room in sterling, we have to pay for it in sterling. So it won't really matter much either way." Shay Garvey, partner of Frontline Ventures, said: "Jack and Karl as founders have created a great team that is executing a fast growth disruptive strategy in a very large market. We believe they are building a very valuable company and we are happy to assist them in any way we can." Former Clerys workers and supporters protesting outside the department store. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins The businesswoman at the centre of the controversy around the closure of iconic store Clerys is in line to be paid 600,000, it has emerged. Deirdre Foley's Natrium emerged as the consortium behind the purchase of Clerys building, as part of a chain of events that led to the store's closure and loss of 460 jobs, Expand Close Deirdre Foley, head of the consortium that bought the Clerys building. Pic: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Deirdre Foley, head of the consortium that bought the Clerys building. Pic: Collins Courts The store was sold by US private equity firm Gordon Brothers to Ms Foley's and Cheyne Capital's Natrium consortium for 29m. Natrium kept the property arm and flipped the operating business to Jim Brydie, an insolvency practitioner who promptly put the business into liquidation. Ms Foley has a 20pc interest in Natrium and new accounts show Natrium is due to pay a fee of 600,000 to a firm owned by Ms Foley, called FAM Assets Ltd. The fee is repayable in June 2017 or on the disposal of the shares or assets of the Natrium firm that is looking to redevelop Clerys, OCS Properties, or on any early repayment of the shareholder's loans. A former Clerys worker said news of the payment would generate a lot of interest among former employees. "It must be nice to get such a big sum of money," said former bedroom furniture department salesman Gerry Markey (54). "With the sudden closure, we were sunk without warning. Clerys workers are still hurting. We should have got more than statutory redundancy payments. "A lot of former loyal staff are aged in their 60s and their social welfare payments are being cut. "So the news of someone getting 600,000 sort of sticks in the throat. "We're still trying to get a meeting with her and Natrium. We deserve some answers about what happened." The Natrium accounts disclose that FAM Assets has provided a loan of 1.9m to Natrium and the balance due had a net present value of 1.7m at the end of December last. In addition, the Natrium accounts show that another firm owned by Ms Foley, FAM Acquisitions Ltd, pocketed just over 200,000 for services provided to Natrium last year. A note attached to the accounts show FAM Acquisitions Ltd provides services to the value of 259,450 to Natrium and 56,825 was outstanding at the end of December last. The accounts also show the Natrium subsidiary behind the 150m redevelopment of Clerys last year, OCS Properties, recorded profits of 10.66m. However, this is largely as a result of a 13.5m increase in the valuation of the Clerys property that had a book value of 31m at the end of December last. Cancelling out the paper gains made by OCS Properties Ltd, sister firm OCS Investment Holdings Ltd last year recorded a loss of 11.33m. The Natrium accounts also show it is in line to receive management fees of more than 715,000 from the two OCS firms. OCS Properties Ltd incurred management fees of 533,630 to Natrium and this amount was due to Natrium at the end of December last. Another subsidiary of Natrium, OCS Investment Holdings Ltd incurred management fees of 181,864 to Natrium and the entire balance was due to the firm at year end. Ms Foley and her firm, D2 Private Ltd, are currently challenging in the High Court an investigation by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) into the circumstances around the redundancy of the Clerys workers at the offices of D2 Private Ltd. A note attached to the Natrium accounts states that it was not the employer of the workers made redundant and that OCS Operations Ltd was the employer and the redundancies were directed by the then provisional liquidators. A ruling on the case has yet to be made. Trillions of euro parked in Irish-registered entities contribute little to the real economy other than the massive fees generated for professionals such as lawyers and accountants, according to new research by the Central Bank. The work looked at Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), a structure favoured by a host of financial firms because they pay little or no tax. Irish SPVs hold 3.8 trillion in assets - 15 times the size of the Irish economy. The report found financial services sector professionals made 100m from the administration of SPVs last year, but that there was little wider contribution to the economy. "The contribution from domestic SPVs to Irish GDP is very limited," the bank said. "Their contribution arises indirectly through fees to resident professional services, primarily in the legal and financial sectors." The bank said the estimated amount paid to Irish firms for their services was under 100m. In the past such SPVs were largely a feature of the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), holding mainly foreign assets. However, the use of SPVs and other low tax structures has become politically charged in recent months due to their popularity with funds that have bought up tens of billions of assets here since the crash, often at knock-down prices. Meanwhile, proposed changes to ensure some funds pay more tax do not go far enough and could lead to Ireland being branded a tax haven internationally, according to Independent TD Stephen Donnelly. Mr Donnelly has written to the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, flagging his concern that firms could circumvent Government proposals to clamp down on the use of so called Section 110 companies, which again pay little or no tax. The Wicklow TD argued that draft legislation proposed last month will have the opposite effect. The new plan "will legitimise broader tax avoidance by firms in Ireland", he said. "Within 24 hours of the draft amendment being published, accountancy firms had issued advice to their clients on how the amendment could be dealt with," he said. Last month the Government moved to close off provisions which have allowed vulture funds investing in distressed Irish property to pay close to zero tax on profits. Here are the main business stories from this morning's papers: Irish Independent * International growth has been too low for too long, sparking political repercussions that could depress growth even further, the IMF has warned. The Washington-based fund raised the possibility that persistent stagnation, particularly in advanced economies, could further fuel populist calls for restrictions on trade and immigration. * Trillions of euro parked in Irish-registered entities contribute little to the real economy other than the massive fees generated for professionals such as lawyers and accountants, according to new research by the Central Bank. The work looked at Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), a structure favoured by a host of financial firms because they pay little or no tax. Irish SPVs hold 3.8 trillion in assets - 15 times the size of the Irish economy. The report found financial services sector professionals made 100m from the administration of SPVs last year, but that there was little wider contribution to the economy. * The Irish hotel-booking firm Roomex has raised 3.5m in a Series A round of funding. The money is coming from Irish venture capital firm Frontline Ventures, former Hostelworld chairman Paddy Holahan and the chief technical officer of CarTrawler, Bobby Healy. The Irish Times * A Boston private equity firm that sold the Clerys department store on O'Connell Street last year received a 3.65m payment from the store's accounts prior to its sale. The Gordon Brothers sold the store hours before it was liquidated and was paid the large sum in what is referred to in Clerys' documents as interest and fees. * Almost 100m has been collected by lawyers, accountants and bankers from unregulated special purpose vehicles in Dublin's IFSC, which are typically established to pay little tax. The figure comes from estimates from the Central Bank, which has started to increase its understanding of SPVs. * The Department of Finance has lowered its growth estimates for this year and next due to uncertainty in the global economy and Brexit. The department now touts the country's GDP to grow at 4.2pc as opposed to the 4.9pc estimate laid out in the Government's summer statement. Irish Examiner * Ireland is readying itself for the first impacts of Brexit as predictions for GDP growth have fallen by nearly half a percent for 2017. Finance officials are now predicting the economy to grow by 4.2pc this year and 3.5pc next year. * New research from the Central Bank has shown that increasing rents and house prices have meant the time it takes for a first-time buyer to get a mortgage has increased as too has the lump sum required. The study shows differing levels of commitment across the country in terms of fees, and said those looking to buy in Dublin will ave to save for years to secure a deposit. ING has been in Ireland for around 25 years and focuses exclusively on corporate banking here. Photo: Reuters The decision to cut 7,000 jobs from financial services firm ING was from a position of power, its Irish head of client coverage has said. Maurice Kenny told the Irish Independent that its base here, which employs 45, has overseen more centralised growth over the last seven to eight years and is "very secure". "The jobs cuts will primarily be in the retail space in the Netherlands and Belgium. What we do in Ireland is purely in the corporate space and won't be impacted by any of the job cuts. He said ING is "coming from a position of strength in making these job cuts and I would distinguish it from the likes of Commerzbank for example". The firm, with a 52,000-strong workforce, announced the massive job cuts on Monday in a bid to save 900m per year by 2021. The job losses were met with stiff criticism from unions in the Netherlands. ING has been in Ireland for around 25 years and focuses exclusively on corporate banking here. The Dundrum-based firm deals with large Irish corporates and large international firms dealing in Ireland. "It reflects the industry in general, that there's a huge threat from new players in the market, the fintech and other ways of doing your traditional banking so the retail space is the area that's most affected," Mr Kenny said. The move is part of a major digital shift by the company. ING is investing 800m into its "digital transformation" to help it stay relevant with customers that want to do the majority of their banking online. ING has a major operation in the UK, however Mr Kenny said it is too early to tell how much business the Irish branch may be inheriting, if anything. "We're just getting down with what we do. The biggest impact for Irish companies is the weakness in the sterling, particularly in the food and agri space." Unemployment in Ireland has dropped to a new post-recession low of 7.9pc. (Stock picture) Unemployment in Ireland has dropped to 7.9pc, the lowest rate since 2008, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The number of workers classified as unemployed in September was 172,900 - a decrease of 24,000. The unemployment rate for men stood at 9.2pc last month and 6.4pc for women. Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar welcomed the CSO findings. "My target is to bring unemployment down to between 5pc and 6pc and long-term unemployment to 2.5pc, matching the performance of the most successful tier of countries in Europe," he said. Merrion Stockbrokers pointed out that there was an average increase in the numbers at work last year of 50,100, up from 32,800 in 2014. "Employment prospects remain positive for 2016, all things considered, due to the strong economic recovery, with another net rise of around 48,000 forecast," a spokesperson said. "But the outlook from next year on is more uncertain in light of Brexit. Increased labour market participation will also impact on the overall numbers. "Still, we expect the downward trend in unemployment to continue over the remainder of this year, albeit at a slower pace than before." Meanwhile, Ian Talbot, chief executive of Chambers Ireland, urged the Government to focus on options for young people. "In spite of terrific progress in increasing the overall employment rates over the past few years, the youth unemployment rate has remained stubbornly high," he said. The State's youth unemployment rate was 15.9pc in September, a decrease from 17pc recorded the previous month. Ryanair chief people officer Eddie Wilson, right, with pilot Caitlin Harm and cabin crew member Luis Silva, as Ryanair announced the creation of over 3,500 new jobs as new aircraft deliveries boost its fleet numbers Ryanair will create over 3,500 jobs next year as it takes delivery of 50 aircraft in the coming 12 months. Its fleet is expanding following orders it placed with Boeing within the past few years. Ryanair will have over 500 aircraft by 2024. It took delivery of its 400th jet earlier this year. Much of the growth is being targeted in countries such as Germany and Spain. Ryanair said that it will require an additional 2,000 cabin crew, 1,000 pilots and 250 engineers over the next year. It will also promote over 300 first officers across its European network. Ryanair has 84 bases. Ryanair expects to carry 117 million passengers in its current financial year, and 120 million in 2019. With its new aircraft orders, it expects to carry 180 million people in 2024. Yesterday, the airline said that it carried 10.8 million passengers in September. That was a 13pc rise on September 2015. Its load factor, or the percentage of available seats it filled, rose one percentage point to 95pc. Ryanair said that a range of new positions will be created by the airline in the coming year in functions including IT, sales and marketing, digital, as well as finance and commercial divisions at its headquarters in Dublin, and also at its Travel Labs subsidiary in Wroclaw, Poland. Eddie Wilson, Ryanair's chief people officer, said 2017 would be the airline's busiest recruitment year. He added that over the next five years the airline will hire a total of 5,000 people. At the end of last March, Ryanair employed 3,424 pilots, 6,933 flight attendants, 356 people in ground operations, 485 administrative staff, 148 maintenance crew, and 112 members of management. Surging rents and the Central Bank lending rules mean it now takes up to four years to save for a deposit to get a mortgage. It takes up to two years longer to accumulate the down- payment for a Dublin property than it took before the Central Bank introduced strict rules requiring buyers to have large deposits. Dublin buyers now need up to 40,000 more in a deposit than they did two years ago, in order to satisfy lending rules. Researchers found it takes between two-and-a-half and four years to build up a deposit for a Dublin home. In urban areas outside Dublin it can take a year-and-a- half to accumulate a deposit lump sum. The timeframe is under one year for rural areas, according to research by economists in the Central Bank. Researchers found that someone buying in South Dublin now needs a down payment of 76,000. This is 41,000 more than the couple needed for this area two years ago. Read more: Cash-poor buyers could pay 50,000 more for mortgage In other parts of Dublin, the size of the deposit required has increased by between 10,000 and 22,000. Outside Dublin, buyers need an extra 5,000 for the down payment. Controversial lending rules mean first-time buyers have to have a deposit of more than 20pc of the value of the property for amounts borrowed over 220,000. They have to have a deposit of 10pc for borrowings up to 220,000. There are also restrictions what they can borrow based on their income. The research comes ahead of the Budget - which is expected to see a tax rebate announced for buyers of new homes, something economists said would only further push property prices. Rising house prices are also making it more difficult for new buyers to put the funds together for a deposit to satisfy lending rules. Central Bank economists Conor Kelly and Fergal McCann wrote in the study: "We show that, relative to mid-2014, the time to save has increased in Dublin by between one and two years, and under one year in other areas." The study looked at how first-time buyers get a deposit together for a three-bed property, while renting a two-bed property. It considered a couple with no children. The Central Bank is reviewing the mortgages caps it introduced in February last year. Property industry groups have claimed the rules are too restrictive. Rachel McGovern, chief operations officer of PIBA warned that home ownership is "a target that's constantly moving ahead of those in their 20s and 30s". The Central Bank is due to announce the outcome of the review of the rules next month. Deputy Governor Sharon Donnery said recently she had concerns about changing the rules. The mortgage restrictions are aimed at preventing another property bubble. But strong rises in rents are sucking money from those trying to get "mortgage ready". Rents rose by 10pc in the year up to June. The monthly cost of renting is now close to 1,000 nationally, according to the Residential Tenancies Board. Read more: Comment - Home buyers are battling a market that's a total mess Technology giant Apple has been named the world's most valuable brand despite seeing iPhone sales fall this year. Google secured second place and Coca-Cola came third according to a list of the top 100 brands compiled by Interbrand. Apple's brand value rose 5pc to $178.1bn (159bn) in 2016, while Google saw an 11pc jump to $133.3bn. However, Apple reported in April that iPhone sales had fallen for the first time since the device was launched in 2007, dropping from 61 million to 51 million during the first three months of this year. Technology companies remain a dominant force on the list, with eight in the top 20 alone, including Amazon, which saw its brand value jump by a third to $50.3bn. However, Facebook saw the biggest rise in brand value year-on-year, climbing 48pc to $32.6bn. HSBC and Burberry were the only two British brands to make it into the top 100, coming 47th and 83rd respectively. Rebecca Robins, Interbrand global director, said: "Throughout the recent history of Burberry's reignition, the company has grown from the strength of its British heritage into a globally relevant British brand. "The business is now going through another transition and is taking a pioneering approach in disrupting business models. It will be one to watch over the next few years." New entrants to the top 100 included electric car manufacturer Tesla and fashion house Dior. The ranking is based the company's financial performance, its influence over customers and the strength of the brand to command a higher price or secure earnings for the company. Sabrina Ellis, Director of Product Management at Google, speaks about the new Pixel phone during the presentation of new Google hardware in San Francisco Google has unveiled two new smartphones to compete directly with the iPhone 7. The 5-inch Pixel and 5.5-inch Pixel will be priced at over 700 and come with specifications to match top handsets from Samsung, Apple, Sony and Huawei. Both phones have 12-megapixel cameras with optical stabilisation and an f2.0 lens. Google claims that the camera has the best industry technical score (DxoMark Mobile) of any smartphone. They also have 32GB of storage memory and a bigger battery than the iPhone 7. Both phones have a free tech support function directly from the device. Both the Pixel and Pixel XL have a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone. At over 700 each, Google is pursuing a premium pricing strategy for the new phones in contrast to the aggressive pricing it adopted for its Nexus line of phones. The phones are to be launched in the US soon, while availability in Ireland is expected to be announced later. Google also launched a new smarthome voice control unit called Home. The device is being marketed as a rival to Amazon's voice-controlled Echo home gadget, which has proven to be a hit in the US. The company also announced a new ultra high definition streaming device to link smartphones and tablets to 4K televisions as well as a virtual reality headset called Daydream View. Shares in Google, Samsung and Apple remained unchanged after the product announcements. The office of the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) has confirmed that it is in contact with Yahoo over reports that it helped US authorities spy on email accounts. Yesterday, Reuters reported that Yahoo secretly built a custom software program to search all of its customers' incoming emails for specific information provided by US intelligence officials. The report claimed that hundreds of millions of Yahoo Mail accounts were scanned at the behest of the American National Security Agency or FBI. Under EU privacy law, such surveillance could land Yahoo in serious trouble, even resulting in a legal block on Yahoo mail between the US and Europe. Any form of mass surveillance infringing on the fundamental privacy rights of EU citizens would be viewed as a matter of considerable concern by this Office, said a spokeswoman for the Irish DPC, which confirmed contact with Yahoo on the issue. The Irish office, led by Helen Dixon, is the lead agency for regulating Yahoo personal data in Europe. Yahoo has described the Reuters report as misleading, although it has not denied giving up customer data to US authorities. We narrowly interpret every government request for user data to minimise disclosure, said a company spokesman. The mail scanning described in the article does not exist on our systems. Yahoo is a law-abiding company and complies with the laws of the United States. The Irish DPC has already been dealing with Yahoo over its recent data breach, exposing the personal information of at least 500m email accounts. The ODPC is progressing its enquiries with Yahoo in relation to the breach first reported to its office on 22 September and is in iterative contact on the matters we have raised, said the Irish DPC spokeswoman. Those enquiries contain a number of issues with Yahoo for which we are seeking further information and clarification. The Irish office was also making contact with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), facilitating cooperation between the two offices on the data breach issue, the spokeswoman said. Other high profile internet companies such as Google and Facebook have denied facilitating US authorities in email surveillance. INTERNET giant Yahoo secretly built software last year to search all of its customers' incoming emails for specific information demanded by US intelligence. The company complied with a classified US government demand, scanning hundreds of millions of Yahoo Mail accounts at the behest of the National Security Agency or FBI, according to former employees. Surveillance experts said this was first case to surface of a US Internet company agreeing to a spy agency's request by searching all arriving messages. It is not known what information intelligence officials were looking for, only that they wanted Yahoo to search for a set of characters. That could mean a phrase in an email or an attachment, said the sources who spoke to Reuters. Reuters was unable to determine what data Yahoo may have handed over, if any, and if intelligence officials had approached other email providers besides Yahoo with this kind of request. According to two of the former employees, Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer's decision to obey the directive angered some senior executives and led to the June 2015 departure of chief information security officer Alex Stamos, who now holds the top security job at Facebook. "Yahoo is a law-abiding company, and complies with the laws of the United States," the company said in response to the claims. The request to search Yahoo Mail accounts came in the form of a classified edict sent to the company's legal team, according to the three people familiar with the matter. US phone and Internet companies are known to have handed over bulk customer data to intelligence agencies. But some former government officials and private surveillance experts said they had not previously seen either such a broad demand for real-time Web collection or one that required the creation of new software. Experts said it was likely the NSA or FBI had approached other Internet companies with the same demand, since they evidently did not know what email accounts were being used by the target. The NSA usually makes requests for domestic surveillance through the FBI, so it is hard to know which agency is seeking the information. Reuters was unable to confirm whether the 2015 demand went to other companies, or if any complied. Google and Microsoft, two major US email service providers, did not respond to requests for comment. Under laws including the 2008 amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, intelligence agencies can ask US phone and Internet companies to provide customer data to aid foreign intelligence-gathering efforts for a variety of reasons, including prevention of terrorist attacks. In a separate incident, Yahoo last month said "state-sponsored" hackers had gained access to 500 million customer accounts in 2014. Kerry Katona's extensive shoe collection but she admits she;'s "sh**e" at walking in heels. Pic: TV3 / Livin' With Lucy Kerry Katona discussed everything from her marriage breakdown to her struggles with depression on Tuesday night's episode of Livin' With Lucy and viewers were quick to praise the star's honest and down-to-earth nature. From the six bedroom home in Surrey that she rents, Kerry offered TV3 viewers a glimpse into her life as a mother-of-five and didn't hesitate in holding anything back. Expand Close The family sit around the table for dinner. Pic: TV3 / Livin' With Lucy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The family sit around the table for dinner. Pic: TV3 / Livin' With Lucy "I'm too open and too honest and I'll tell you my life story within three minutes," she told Lucy. From opening up about her depression, to speaking about her bankruptcy, marriage breakdowns and living with fame from the age of 16, Lucy had some straightforward chats with Kerry as they cooked, shopped and headed out on the town together. While the tabloids have been quick to paint Kerry as a bad mother in the past due to her "wild partying ways" viewers saw that her children were well-mannered, polite and charming. And the Loose Women panelist made sure they stuck to their responsibilities, at one stage she urged daughter Molly (16) to go outside and clean up her dog's "sh*t". "If you want a dog you have to look after it," she said as Molly quickly rushed outside to clean up her 10-week-old puppy's mess. Loved #LivingWithLucy with @KerryKatona7 you look great & so young looking. Such lovely kids that are adored. Well done kerry Janice Kearns (@JaniceKearns) October 4, 2016 However, her two oldest daughters revealed to Lucy that it's not always easy having famous parents. "I used to tell people my mum was a lawyer called Katie," said Molly, "but the lie was too hard to keep up". Viewers took to Twitter to praise the show for painting Kerry in an honest light. They saw her caring side as she fussed over pregnant Lucy, shared a bed and enjoyed a night out as if they've been friends for years. Kerry even revealed how ex-husband Brian McFadden proposed: Brian asked me to marry him three weeks after we met; it was dead romantic, how he asked me to marry him. He invited me over to Ireland to meet his family, we flew over, and I went to meet his mom and his dad. And after we finally got to the house we were staying in and I thought thank god for that, Ive just come from Japan. Expand Close The family sit around the table for dinner. Pic: TV3 / Livin' With Lucy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The family sit around the table for dinner. Pic: TV3 / Livin' With Lucy He said come on I want to take you somewhere else, Ive got one more trip, and we pulled up to this castle, Doe Castle in Donegal, and he said do you know why Ive brought you here, this is where my granddad proposed to my nan and they were married all their lives. And he got down on his knee and he opened a box and there was a ring, just a round ring and it was white and gold with five diamonds in it, he asked me to marry him and I just said yes. Speaking about her experience with Kerry, Lucy said: "I think people will like her, she is older and wiser. Anytime she is caught out partying it is heavily publicised, but those nights are very few and far between." Expand Close Lilly McFadden chats to Lucy Kennedy about her dad Brian. Pic: TV3 / Livin' With Lucy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lilly McFadden chats to Lucy Kennedy about her dad Brian. Pic: TV3 / Livin' With Lucy Some Irish people applying for jobs in Australia are being told: we only hire Australians, an RTE documentary reveals tonight. Every year, more than 15,000 Irish people head Down Under for a new life, hoping that they're going somewhere that's similar to home, only with better beaches and better weather. However, the darker side to working in Australia for Irish immigrants is explored in Making it Down Under on RTE One tonight. Jake Haynes from Dublin tells viewers: In Ireland I just finished in UCD, the year before I came and I thought when I came out here I would be able to use my degree but all the places I applied for were like we only hire Australian people. If you said that at home in Ireland we only hire Irish people there would be uproar. Later in the programme, Jake, who travelled to Australia on a working holiday visa, warns viewers: They paint this picture of its all cocktails and beaches but its really not. There really is an untold side to the story. Some people survive over here but some people dont. Making it Down Under is a documentary series on RTE One detailing the experiences of Irish people who have emigrated to Australia for work. On tonights episode Jakes best friend, Philip Healy from Co Louth, also talks about the dark side of working in Oz. Philip, who has been living in Australia for more than year and has good employment with a Sydney hairdressers, tells the Making it Down Under cameras that Irish backpackers can be exploited by unscrupulous employers. You can get used here, Philip says, Some people can see backpacker, get them. It has happened to people that I know. Underpay them, work them way over the hours that they are supposed to be working, dont get holiday pay... They will use you, they will work you into the ground but they know that the Irish are the best workers, so, they will try to get what they can out of you. Making it Down Under airs tonight [Wednesday] on RTE One at 8.30pm. TV Presenter Amanda Byram attends the European Premiere of "Magic Mike XXL" at Vue West End on June 30, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) It looks like Irish viewers may be seeing Amanda Byram back on TV soon... and if she has her way, it could be at the helm of RTE's new celebrity dance show. The TV star has revealed she's in talks with both RTE and TV3. The former Total Wipeout host (43) is ready to make her comeback. Expand Close Amanda Byram at The Pride of Ireland Awards 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Amanda Byram at The Pride of Ireland Awards 2016 "I have been talking to RTE and TV3 about certain projects. I would never turn my back on Irish television - I am always pitching stuff," she told the Diary. Amanda was last on Irish TV screens when she hosted the 2015 Ifta Gala Television Awards and she is set to host the show for a second year in a row on Friday. The brunette also has her eye on what is sure to be one of the most coveted jobs on Irish TV - hosting Dancing With The Stars. Several names have been thrown about since the State broadcaster announced they would be commissioning an Irish version of Strictly Come Dancing, due to hit screens in January. While she has not been offered the gig just yet, Amanda is hoping things will go her way. Expand Close Presenters Claudia Winkleman (R) and Tess Daly arrive for the launch of 'Strictly Come Dancing 2016' at Elstree Studios on August 30, 2016 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Presenters Claudia Winkleman (R) and Tess Daly arrive for the launch of 'Strictly Come Dancing 2016' at Elstree Studios on August 30, 2016 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) "Possibly (I could host it), yeah. I have not been spoken to about it yet but I love the show - I watch it in the UK. Who knows?" However, she was quick to note she would have no interest in being a contestant on the programme. Expand Close Amanda Byram and husband Julian Okines / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Amanda Byram and husband Julian Okines The Dubliner married partner Julian Okines in a glamorous ceremony last April. The bash was attended by some of the couple's celebrity pals, including Fearne Cotton and former model Yvonne Connolly. With almost six months of wedded bliss under her belt, the former Ireland AM star admitted their relationship is better than ever since they tied the knot. "It's amazing, it's brilliant. We're a team and we feel like we have taken it to the next level. "It doesn't feel different but it feels better," she said. "You feel that sense of security. You're on the same path and you're together." Video of the Day Amanda is based in London but jumps at the chance to return home. "I love coming home and it's always great to have an excuse to come home. Life gets in the way and all of a sudden you're doing other things and you think, 'it's been six months since I was home'," she said. "Sometimes I come back a few times a month. I do get homesick but I'm so close and I FaceTime my family all the time." The Castleknock presenter is studying for a qualification in personal training. "I'm almost there with my Level 3 PT and Nutrition course. I don't have the patience to train anyone but it's important to have the qualification because if I'm making YouTube videos or I'm making a DVD, I know what I'm talking about." Joe Collins of Mealys Fine Art Auctioneers holds a Victorian stuffed Indian tigers head at the sale of items from Castlemartin House, Co. Kildare comprising fine antiques and decorative art from the private collection of Sir Anthony OReilly and of Kilfane House on the instructions of the Clarke family. Photo: Dylan Vaughan. As each item came up from the fabled collection, the name was discreetly dropped into the sales pitch, causing a flurry of interest. "Castlemartin is the Midas touch," conceded auctioneer George Gerard Mealy, whose family firm was handling the sale of items from Sir Anthony O'Reilly's private collection following his well- publicised bankruptcy. Expand Close Joe and PJ Collins of Mealys Fine Art Auctioneers, pictured with a Victorian Taxidermy Baboon. Picture Dylan Vaughan. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joe and PJ Collins of Mealys Fine Art Auctioneers, pictured with a Victorian Taxidermy Baboon. Picture Dylan Vaughan. The end of an era was summonsed in the sale of an Irish antique table and set of chairs at which Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Ted Kennedy once dined with the former billionaire at his Co Kildare estate of Castlemartin. The William IV period Irish mahogany dining table, thought to be by Williams & Gibton cabinet-makers, was sold to a telephone bidder for 37,000 including auction fees, while a pair of 18th century carved giltwood open armchairs realised 37,380 including fees. However, the big ticket item amongst the contents which went under the hammer was a pair of "extremely rare" 18th century gilt console tables which sold for 145,000 over the phone - earning a round of applause from the room. The marble-topped tables are understood to have been purchased by a dealer who operates both in the UK and Ireland. The only star piece from Castlemartin not to sell was an antique Irish sideboard, withdrawn at 12,000 and which had been estimated at 20,000 to 30,000. Expand Close Gitta Ruckman and John Dollard from Bennettsbridge Co. Kilkenny. Picture Dylan Vaughan. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gitta Ruckman and John Dollard from Bennettsbridge Co. Kilkenny. Picture Dylan Vaughan. The room was full to standing point - but most of the real action was happening on the phone lines and on the web. Other pieces going under the hammer included more modest pieces, including a dumb waiter mahogany unit which fetched 300, an Edwardian architects' desk which went for 800 and a burgundy leather library chair which rose rapidly in price, and was eventually sold over the phone for 2,100, much to the disappointment of several buyers in the room. There was also some taxidermy amongst the collection - including a snarling tiger's head which fetched 1,000. Sir Anthony was declared bankrupt by the supreme court in the Bahamas last year and Castlemartin was sold to US billionaire John Malone in December 2014 following a Commercial Court judgment for 22.6m in favour of AIB the previous June. Expand Close One of a set of tables that sold for 145,000 at the auction. Picture Dylan Vaughan. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp One of a set of tables that sold for 145,000 at the auction. Picture Dylan Vaughan. The contents were offered for sale "on the instructions of the trustee in bankruptcy appointed by the Bahamian Court". The items were sold yesterday by Mealy's auctioneers at the Longman of Kilfane pub in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, in a sale consisting mostly of items from nearby Kilfane House, owned by US businessman Hal Clarke. It is not known what happened to the rest of the O'Reilly collection - which included some very famous artworks. Auctioneer George Gerard Mealy said that as a patron of the Irish arts scene, Sir Anthony O'Reilly's interest had also extended to a very fine taste in Irish antique furniture. Private cars will be banned from the main shopping streets of Cork during peak traffic hours. Photo: PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images Private cars will be banned from the main shopping streets of Cork during peak traffic hours in a move that is sure to be closely monitored by other Irish cities. City council officials accepted that, given current resources, a London-style congestion charge was simply unworkable. But Cork City Council is now examining how to implement a ban on all private vehicles from using St Patrick's Street. Former Lord Mayor Councillor Terry Shannon explained that the measure is aimed at reducing congestion on the main shopping thoroughfare and promoting public transport. Delivery vehicles, taxis, couriers and emergency services will be unaffected by the ban. City councillors had rejected the controversial private vehicle ban last year but have now ratified vastly modified proposals which will see all private vehicles banned from St Patrick's Street between 3pm and 6.30pm from Monday to Saturday. However, city centre traders starkly warned against any measure which could dissuade shoppers from entering the city. Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd arrives at Belfast's High Court where a legal challenge to Brexit is due to begin in Northern Ireland. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire Britain's departure from the EU could have a "catastrophic" impact on the Northern Ireland peace process, the High Court in Belfast has heard. Lawyers for the father of a loyalist paramilitary murder victim predicted Brexit would cause constitutional upheaval amid renewed calls for a united Ireland. Expand Close Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire With Northern Ireland having voted to remain in the EU, a judge was also told the Good Friday Agreement has given the people of the North sole sovereignty on the issue. Ronan Lavery QC said: "A change so profound as withdrawing Northern Ireland from the European Union requires the consent of the people of Northern Ireland." His client, victims' campaigner Raymond McCord, is mounting a landmark legal challenge to Brexit. Politicians including Alliance MLA David Ford, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Sinn Fein Assemblyman John O'Dowd and Steven Agnew of the Green Party are also seeking to judicially review the British Government's move towards quitting the EU. Proceedings which got under way in Belfast yesterday claim Brexit is unlawful without first securing Parliamentary authorisation. Even though the June 23 referendum backed Brexit, a 56pc majority of voters in Northern Ireland wanted to remain. Mr McCord, whose son Raymond McCord Jr was killed by the UVF in north Belfast in 1997, believes they have a legal right to resist being forced out. His barrister argued that the 1998 Good Friday Agreement led to a transfer in sovereignty over Northern Ireland's constitutional position. "Only the people of Northern Ireland can decide whether there will or will not be a change in the constitutional status," Mr Lavery argued. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire reiterated yesterday the Common Travel Area would be maintained in the wake of the Brexit vote. He vowed that the North's interests would be protected when the UK leaves the EU. Mr Brokenshire reminded the Conservative Party conference yesterday that "no-one wants to see a return to the borders of the past", despite fears of a 'hard border'. "Building a Northern Ireland that works for everyone also means making a success of the UK's democratic decision to leave the European Union," Mr Brokenshire said. "We will work to ensure that Northern Ireland's unique interests are protected and advanced. "That's particularly the case when it comes to the land border with the Republic of Ireland and the Common Travel Area which has served the UK and Ireland well for many decades." Also yesterday, it emerged that all of Northern Ireland's main unionist parties are to snub Taoiseach Enda Kenny's all-island Brexit talks. As the Government set out plans for the November 2 meeting in Dublin, the Democratic Unionists, Ulster Unionists and Traditional Unionist Voice insisted they would not be taking up the invite. A young burglar who was caught on camera trying to change a stolen jar of coins for notes in a petrol station next door to the house he had just broken into has been given a suspended sentence. Gerry Wall (22) and an accomplice also stole jewellery worth 4,030 along with the coins valued at 58, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. None of the property was recovered. The court heard several rooms in the house had been ransacked and 2,315 of damage was caused. Wall of The Laurels, Bluebell Avenue, Dublin pleaded guilty to burglary at Hyde Road, Dalkey on September 9, 2014. The father of one has nine previous convictions including theft and handling stolen property. Judge Melanie Greally had previously adjourned the case having heard evidence and ordered a probation report for that date. She said that she had been persuaded to give Wall a further chance to demonstrate his commitment to putting his criminality behind him. Judge Greally accepted that the report concluded that Wall had had a turnaround in attitude and was addressing his offending behaviour. She heard evidence that there were no further charges pending against him. She said she was taking into account his admissions and the fact that he was a young man who had recently become a father for the first time. The judge acknowledged Wall's real motivation before she suspended a two and half year sentence on strict conditions. Garda Kevin Carey told Fiona Murphy BL, prosecuting, that the homeowner returned from work to find his back door window smashed and an open window above the sink. Upstairs he found drawers had been pulled out and several rooms ransacked. He alerted gardai who recovered CCTV footage from the service station next door to the house. The footage showed two men climbing over the fence into the back yard of the house and later coming into the service station and handing over a jar of 50 cent coins to be changed for notes. Gda Carey showed the CCTV footage to colleagues and within 24 hours Gda Liam Flynn identified the men and said he had spoken to them earlier that day at Bray Courthouse where they had been wearing the same clothes. Wall was later arrested at his home. Gda Carey agreed with Barry Ward BL, defending, that there had been no confrontation or violence and that the burgled house had been insured. Mr Ward told Judge Greally that the probation report indicated that there had been very positive developments in his client's life. He has matured quite a bit, he has become a father and he now has a supportive family, counsel said. The parents of Frances McKeown at the inquest into her death Frances McKeown, who was found dead in a cell at Hydebank Prison in May 2011 A woman who took her own life in jail had hijacked a taxi to go to her husband's home to kill him after claiming he murdered her ex, an inquest has heard. The startling claim came during yesterday's hearing into the death of Frances McKeown. The 23-year-old's body was found in her cell during a routine check in Hydebank Wood College and Women's Prison in May 2011. During the second day of the inquest, it emerged that the deceased's ex-boyfriend, Kevin Fletcher, was murdered at his home in Armagh on September 3, 2010. Expand Close Her husband Brian McKeown outside court yesterday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Her husband Brian McKeown outside court yesterday He was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the living room of his apartment. His father, also called Kevin Fletcher, was acquitted of his murder in December 2012 and his death remains a mystery. A week after his death, Mrs McKeown stole a taxi and armed herself with a knife with the intention of driving from Belfast to Brian McKeown's home in Armagh to kill him because she suspected him of being involved in Mr Fletcher's murder. However, she was stopped and arrested by the police and later remanded into custody at Hydebank. Expand Close Her former boyfriend Kevin Fletcher / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Her former boyfriend Kevin Fletcher During cross-examination by the South Eastern Health Trust's barrister, Philip Aldworth QC, Mr McKeown (59) denied having anything to do with Mr Fletcher's death and said he "didn't know why" his wife wanted to stab him. "Frances suspected you of being involved in the murder," Mr Aldworth said. Mr McKeown replied: "Possibly." The court heard how Mr McKeown met a "vulnerable" Frances when she was 19 and he was in his early 50s. Months later the pair married and they had a baby girl in 2008. Expand Close The parents of Frances McKeown at the inquest into her death / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The parents of Frances McKeown at the inquest into her death However, social services soon became involved after problems emerged with him living in the same house as Mrs McKeown and their baby girl. Mr McKeown, who had been married twice before he met Frances, had a history of domestic violence. It emerged that he stabbed his first wife with a bread knife and served a prison sentence for it. In the second marriage, there were ongoing issues with his wife and major marital problems involving drink and drugs. He had five children from a previous marriage who were all made wards of court - meaning the court appointed guardians for them - two of whom he admitted assaulting. Mr and Mrs McKeown were ordered by social services to live separately. However, during this time she became pregnant with their second child, and in October 2009 her two children were taken into care. Mr Aldworth said that Mrs McKeown blamed her husband for the children being taken away from her. The mother-of-two, who had a lengthy history of mental illness, was admitted to Bluestone psychiatric unit in Craigavon a number of times following this. During one stay, Mr McKeown alleged that his wife told him she had been raped by Kevin Fletcher. However, he said he could not recall the incident during yesterday's inquest. In November 2009, she returned to Bluestone unit with bruising on her face and she alleged that her husband raped her at knifepoint. When this was put to Mr McKeown, he said: "I can't recall." It was further alleged that Mr McKeown locked her in an outhouse at their home for a week over the Christmas holidays and repeatedly raped her. However, he said knew nothing about that. In May 2010, Mrs McKeown moved to Belfast to live in a women's refuge centre when she started seeing another man. "She left you. She wrote you a letter saying she had run away to Belfast as she was afraid of you threatening to hit her again," Mr Aldworth said. A number of letters exchanged between the pair while she was on remand were also read out in court. In letters to her husband, Mrs McKeown said she was feeling better because of her treatment, which she said was working. In another letter she revealed how she wanted to end their relationship. In a scathing reply, Mr McKeown said he was "sick of her". "You were never a wife or mother to the two little ones," he said. "I'm getting a full run-down on you from an inmate in there. Every move you make I will know about it." Again, Mr McKeown said he could not recall writing the letter. During three cross-examinations, Mr McKeown replied "I can't remember" to most of the questions put to him. Mrs McKeown's father sat in court with his head bowed for most the evidence. In a devastating note, Mrs McKeown said: "Please make sure my kids go to a good family - preferably my parents." The court was adjourned after Mr McKeown broke down in tears. The case continues. If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article, please contact The Samaritans free helpline on 116 123. Well-known restaurant Dobbins in Dublin city centre has gone into examinership. Pix Jean Curran D&N Feature File A liquidator has been appointed to two companies operating the well-known Dublin restaurant Dobbins after efforts to finalise an investment agreement failed. However, it is expected a survival scheme prepared for two other companies operating the ten-bedroom Beckett's Hotel in Leixlip, Co Kildare, will be put before the court for approval later this week. An investment agreement has been negotiated for them and will be put before creditors on Wednesday. If supported by creditors, it will then be put before the High Court later this week. The Revenue Commissioners has indicated it will oppose the survival scheme proposed, the High Court heard yesterday. All four companies, which employ some 60 people, had secured court protection last June due to cash-flow difficulties caused by the loss of business contracts and historic bank debt. The High Court was told efforts by examiner Kieran Wallace to secure an investor for the Dobbins companies had failed. Rossa Fanning BL, for Mr Wallace, said there had been talks with KBC Bank, Dobbins' largest creditor on funding after a preferred investor for the Dobbins companies had been selected. However, no investment agreement had been reached, he said. There was agreement a liquidator could be appointed to those entities whose directors - Gary Flynn and Patrick Walsh - were restaurant manager and head chef at Dobbins. The Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was entitled to ask about salaries paid by the Rehab group, including former CEO Angela Kerins, because various group companies receive some 80m annually in public funds, the High Court heard. While Ms Kerins sought to distinguish between payments made by State bodies "to" Rehab and expenditure "by" Rehab, there was no such distinction, Paul Gallagher SC, for PAC, argued yesterday. The Rehab Group charged its various companies for services and its expenditure was therefore open to scrutiny by the Committee. Ms Kerins was in court yesterday for the resumption of her challenge over hearings of the PAC concerning public payments to the charity. She claims the conduct of two hearings, on February 27 and April 10, 2014, amounted to an unlawful "witchhunt" against her outside PAC's jurisdiction. She wants damages on grounds including alleged personal injury, loss of reputation, and loss of career. She was so overwhelmed after the February 27 hearing she attempted to take her life on March 14 and was unable to attend the April 10 hearing, it is claimed. The three-judge court has to first decide if PAC had jurisdiction to conduct the hearings as it did. Continuing his arguments, Mr Gallagher said the PAC was entitled to examine how sums were spent by publicly funded bodies even if the HSE was satisfied with the services provided. Rehab is among various non-profit bodies that have service-level agreements with the HSE for provision of 80pc of disability services costing 1.2bn annually, he said. Should Ms Kerins' win this case, the consequences for free speech by members of the Oireachtas were "far-reaching", he said. Ms Kerins was also not compelled to attend PAC and had gone voluntarily, Mr Gallagher said. The hearing is listed to run until Friday. A heartbroken mother has said she believes her baby would still be alive if a maternity hospital had acted more promptly, after a verdict of medical misadventure was returned at an inquest into his death. Siobhan Whelan's son Conor died in Cavan General Hospital just 17-and-a-half hours after he was born by emergency Caesarean. The inquest heard that he died from multi-organ failure caused by blood loss related to an undiagnosed condition known as vasa praevia. Ms Whelan was not diagnosed with the obstetric complication until after his birth. Vasa praevia is a condition where foetal blood vessels block the birth canal. Dr John Gillan, the pathologist who carried out the postmortem on baby Conor, told the inquest pressure on the vasa praevia which caused it to rupture led to blood loss and the resulting lack of oxygen to the baby's organs. Speaking after the verdict was handed down, Ms Whelan said her son's legacy would live on. "An earlier elective Caesarean section, even earlier that day, we firmly believe Conor would be alive and well here with us today," she said. "We are Conor's voice and it has taken two and a half years to get answers to our many questions. "It will not bring Conor back, unfortunately - however, his life mattered and his legacy in his short time with us will go on to hopefully prevent future unnecessary deaths," she said. Read more: Elements of post-natal care before baby's death 'not acceptable' - inquest hears Ms Whelan also said vasa praevia is detectable and had it been picked up during her pregnancy it would have led to a different care path for her. "Unfortunately, the lack of detailed scanning in a lot of our maternity units, not just in Cavan, [and] a lack of equality of care to all pregnant mothers is a big issue that needs to be turned around. "Every pregnant mother is entitled to a decent scan, to leave the antenatal clinic knowing for sure that everything is as it should be, and to have it afforded to every mother in Ireland, not just by postcode lottery," she said. She also encouraged women who had concerns to insist on being tested and asked medical professionals to consider the possibility of the condition if a woman presents with risk factors as she had. Evelyn Hall, General Manager of Cavan General Hospital, apologised to Ms Whelan and her husband Andrew after the verdict. She said the hospital would support the recommendations handed down by the jury. These were that a HSE review of the obstetric-gynecology department in Cavan be carried out, the appointment of an obstetric radiologist and scanning for pregnant women at 20 weeks. A 28-year-old student, who will be scarred for life after having been viciously attacked by a nightclub bouncer, has been awarded damages in the Circuit Civil Court. Elaine Bennett told her barrister Mark OConnell that she had been celebrating New Year 2014 with friends when she and her friends decided to go to Krystle Nightclub, Harcourt Street, Dublin. She said her friends had gone inside while she stayed outside for a smoke. When she had wanted to get in, she was refused entry because, according to bouncers, she was too drunk. She had drunk seven glasses of wine that day. Ms Bennett, who is from Cork, said she left the area but came back half an hour later as her friends were inside and she was alone on the street. She was refused entry a second time. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Elaine Bennett, 28yrs, of Glenary, Glencoo Park, Boreenmana Road, Cork pictured leaving the Four Courts yesterday(Wed) after she was awarded 15,000 damages following a Circuit Civil Court action for damages against Triglen Holdings Ltd which trades as Krystle Nightclub and P&B Security Services Ltd (now in liquidation), with a registered address at Newhall, Naas, Co Kildare.Pic: Collins Courts Krystle nightclub / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Elaine Bennett, 28yrs, of Glenary, Glencoo Park, Boreenmana Road, Cork pictured leaving the Four Courts yesterday(Wed) after she was awarded 15,000 damages following a Circuit Civil Court action for damages against Triglen Holdings Ltd which trades as Krystle Nightclub and P&B Security Services Ltd (now in liquidation), with a registered address at Newhall, Naas, Co Kildare.Pic: Collins Courts She told the court that when she asked again if she could be let in, a female bouncer suddenly attacked her, pulling her to the ground by her hair. Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke heard that Ms Bennet was punched and kicked on her body and face before another security guard separated them. She told Mr OConnell she had been helped up by people on the street before gardai had arrived at the scene. She had gone to her GP a few days later, complaining of bruising on her face and body. Her wounds had left a permanent scar under her right eye. Bennett, of Glenary, Glencoo Park, Boreenmana Road in Cork, sued Triglen Holdings Ltd which trades as Krystle Nightclub, and P&B Security Services Ltd (now in liquidation), with a registered address at Newhall, Naas, Co Kildare. The defendants had denied liability and claimed that Ms Bennett had been extremely and racially abusive towards the security staff, and had pushed female bouncer Dawn Cleary down the entrance stairs, calling her a bitch and a Polish lesbian. She had called another bouncer a Polish bastard. Judge Groarke said that although it was his view that the bouncers had an obligation to refuse Ms Bennett entry because she was intoxicated, he was satisfied she had been viciously assaulted. He said he could not believe a word bouncer Dawn Cleary had said in the witness box. She had also refused to co-operate with gardai who investigated the incident and in his view she should not be licensed to work in security. The judge awarded Ms Bennett 15,000 damages and adjourned the case to a date this month to determine which of the two defendants was liable to pay the award. Fine Gael TD Noel Rock will appeal after being fined more than 3,000 for breaking litter laws with his "keep the recovery going" posters. The 28-year-old Dublin North West TD with an address at Hardiman Road, Drumcondra was summoned to appear in court on nine counts under the 1997 Litter Pollution Act in relation to his posters. The case was heard at Dublin District Court yesterday - however, he did not attend the hearing, which proceeded in his absence. The charges were brought by Dublin City Council. Evidence was given by three litter wardens and the court was given photos of posters put up around his constituency, some including the "keep the recovery going" slogan and information about a clinic on January 14. The court heard that two posters were unlawfully still on display at Prospect Road on February 3. Litter wardens spotted four more of the posters in the area on January 28. They found another at Collins Avenue on January 26. The general election was not called until February 3. Council litter wardens also found one of his election posters left up too long after the February 26 vote. Judge John O'Neill noted Mr Rock had no prior convictions. Judge O'Neill imposed nine fines, each worth 350, totalling 3,150. He also acceded to prosecution counsel Karen Denning's application to order Mr Rock pay 221 in legal costs. Mr Rock, who was elected to the Dail in the 2016 general election, is the youngest Fine Gael Dublin TD, representing the Ballymun electoral area. Last night he said: "After returning 100pc of my expenses to Dublin City Council, I'm disappointed with how they've handled this - mostly it's down to administrative and communications errors. "Naturally, I'm only human, and this is all a bit embarrassing. I'll be appealing the decision but, if the judge's decision stands, it will prove to be an incredibly expensive public meeting, costing about 100 per attendee." Meanwhile, Independent councillor Cieran Perry pleaded guilty to Litter Pollution Act charges in relation to posters on a water protest in Dublin on January 23 last. Litter wardens spotted them on February 3 and the council argued they should have been taken down within seven days of the event. He claimed they were exempt and as part of his election campaign, he reused posters due to limited resources. Judge O'Neill said Cllr Perry, who represents the Cabra Finglas ward in Dublin, was a decent man but the law was against him. However, he gave him a chance to avoid a conviction and told him the case would be struck out if he paid 221 in prosecution costs and 500 to St Vincent de Paul. Two men are to stand trial accused of false imprisonment of a mother and her young daughter at their home in Howth in Dublin. The alleged aggravated burglary occurred at a house at Casana View, Howth on the morning of December 13, 2013 at approximately 9:15 am. Eammon Brennan (35) of Woodfarm Cottages, Palmerstown, D20 Declan Murphy (49) with an address at North Frederick Street in Dublin city-centre, were granted bail on Wednesday. They are charged with false imprisonment of the mother, who is in her mid-forties, and the girl, then aged 8, at their home. They are also accused of unlawfully possessing a crowbar during the incident and theft of the woman's car. Mr Murphy was arrested shortly before 6pm on Tuesday at his home address and was taken to Raheny Garda station. Mr Brennan was arrested at 8am on Wednesday and taken to Clontarf Garda station. After they were charged they were brought to appear before Judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court. Garda Kieran Devine said Mr Brennan made no reply to the charges. Garda Bryan Kelly said that the co-defendant, Mr Murphy, replied not guilty when he was charged. There was no objection to bail subject to the pair obeying conditions. Their solicitors said their clients consented to the terms. Judge Halpin ordered them to appear to stay away from Howth, Co Dublin and not to have any contact, directly or indirectly, with the woman and her daughter. They had to provide a mobile phone number on which they can be contacted 24 hours a day. Mr Brennan alone was also required to sign on twice a week at the Bridewell Garda station. Garda Kelly also sought an independent surety of 1,000 in cash to be lodged along with Mr Brennan's own bond of 500. A relative of Mr Brennan was approved to stand bail for him. The DPP has directed trial on indictment, meaning the case should go to trial before a circuit court judge and jury. They did not address the court during their hearing on Wesdnesday. The two men were ordered to appear again at the district court on Nov. 16 when it is expected they will be served with books of evidence and returned for trial. Any finding that unfair questions were asked of former Rehab CEO Angela Kerins by members of the Dail Public Accounts Committee is no basis for ruling she is entitled to substantial damages, lawyers for the Committee have told the High Court. Ms Kerins appeared voluntarily before the Committee in February 2014, raised many of the issues she now complains about, and told it she was glad to provide information about the services provided by Rehab, Paul Gallagher SC, for the PAC, said. She told the PAC she understood its remit was to review public expenditure and ensure there is value for money and made clear she wanted to address the media speculation concerning Rehab, counsel said. Having raised those issues, Ms Kerins could not possibly have believed she was not going to be asked questions about them, he said. Other representatives of Rehab also raised issues about its governance before the Committee. There was also no dispute PAC is entitled to scrutinise if the public was getting value for some 80m public funds paid annually to Rehab and no basis for arguments PAC acted outside its jurisdiction, he argued. It would be dangerous for the courts to find otherwise as that would leave any Oireachtas committee vulnerable to oversight by the courts, he said. This was particularly so because protocols had been put in place to protect the constitutional rights of those appearing before committees. Counsel also argued no issues of bias towards Ms Kerins arose in this case. A three judge High Court is continuing to hear arguments over whether PAC had jurisdiction to conduct two hearings concerning public payments to Rehab. Ms Kerins claims the hearings on February 27th and April 10th 2014 amounted to an unlawful witchhunt against her which was outside PACs jurisdiction. She claims she was bullied and harassed and was so overwhelmed after the February 27th hearing she attempted to take her life on March 14th. As a result, she was unable to attend the April 10th hearing, it is claimed. She wants damages on grounds including alleged personal injury, loss of reputation and loss of career. PAC argues it had jurisdiction to conduct the hearings as it did and is entitled to scrutinise how public funds are spent. The Committee also contends the courts should not engage in dissecting statements made by PAC members and the appropriate and only recourse Ms Kerins has is to the Dail Committee on Procedure and Privileges (CPP). Today, Mr Gallagher argued there was no free standing power of the court to say, if it found inappropriate or irrelevant questions were asked or a tone adopted that should not have been adopted, that carried the PAC outside jurisdiction. In this case, the most that could be said was the PAC made errors but that did not carry it outside jurisdiction. While not arguing the courts cannot intervene in appropriate cases, the Oireachtas has set up a procedure to provide protections for constitutional rights and protocols had been issued which addressed any concerns that arise in this case, he said. That was how to address the problem. Ms Kerins made no effort to engage with the appropriate Oireachtas standing order procedure to pursue her complaints, he argued. Counsel said the CPP decision refusing the PAC powers to compel Ms Kerins to appear before the Committee should be an end of any jurisdictional or other matters. If the court ruled it could address jurisdictional issues, PACs case was it had jurisdiction. The hearing continues. A car dealer has claimed that thieves used a drone with an infrared camera to survey his premises before stealing up to 70k worth of cars and equipment. John Kelly, owner of JK Autos in Portlaoise, Co Laois had two high-end cars and equipment worth 20k stolen from his business on September 28. Expand Close Drone with Camera / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Drone with Camera The two cars, a white BMW Sport and an Audi 5 Coupe, are worth almost 50,000 combined. The BMW has since been recovered in Portarlington after he launched a media campaign. A lad from Dublin rang me who has a garage and was looking on Facebook and saw the car on his way into work, Mr Kelly told Independent.ie. He says that the use of drones to carry out robberies is becoming common practice now having spoken to friends who work as guards and detectives. My wife heard a drone noise going over the house in the two nights previous to the robbery taking place. She is familiar with the sound as they use one in the school she works in, he said. Expand Close The Audi 5 Coupe that is still missing / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Audi 5 Coupe that is still missing It was the first time a robbery ever took place at JK Autos and Mr Kelly says the family are quite shook. Their home is right beside the business and he and his wife Sarah have two kids, a three-year-old girl and a one-year-old boy. My wife was obviously upset and the fact it is so close to home there are multiple scenarios that could have arisen. It has made us all very uneasy. We live in quite a rural area opposite a church. We have a Rottweiler on the premises and CCTV and always felt secure but these gangs are very brazen, he said. The gang which carried out the raid disarmed the CCTV footage and alarms. They also bent the bolts of the gates at the front of the business so they could make way with the BMW and Audi. Mr Kelly, who originally spoke to the Leinster Express about the ordeal, said he is extremely thankful that nobody was hurt and he had good insurance in place. Everything that the insurers were charging me for was for a reason and I was covered. Had I not been covered and I was to try and replace that 70,000, there would be seven people, including myself, out of a job. No question. He took to Facebook to thank everyone for their support after recovering the BMW. The Power of Facebook and FRIENDS. A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to share our video. It's down to a Facebook tip off we have this car back. We still have no word on our Audi A5 or our equipment and tyres. But here's hoping. A folding knife pictured at the scene of a stabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 A folding knife pictured at the scene of a atabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 Garda pictured at the scene of a stabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 Remains are taken from a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney Gardai search for evidence at a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney Gardai search for evidence at a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney The victim of yesterday's daylight knife attack has been named as 25-year-old Leo Carolan. Gardai were alerted to the scene after receiving reports of a man outside an apartment on the South Circular Road with stab wounds. It is understood that this man, who is a Swiss national in his 20s, received injuries to his body and neck. When emergency services arrived at 3.45pm, they entered a nearby flat where they discovered the body of Irishman Leo Carolan. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Expand Close Victim Leo Carolan (25) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Victim Leo Carolan (25) Leo studied Anthropology at Universite Lumiere in Lyon before continuing his education in Creative Music Production at IADT in Dun Laoghaire. The budding DJ is understood to have lived in the area for a few years. Now, a garda manhunt is underway for the person believed to be responsible for the attacks. Gardai carried out house to house enquiries in the immediate area of the murder scene this morning, and shortly after 10am the Garda Technical Bureau arrived to carry out a forensic examination of the scene. They were seen entering the house in sterile white forensic suits with evidence bags and photographic equipment. Neighbours said they were still getting over the shock of what happened. Meanwhile, the search for the man who left the scene yesterday continued. Gardai today again urged anyone who witnessed the attack, or saw anyone leaving the scene, to come forward. Expand Close A folding knife pictured at the scene of a stabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A folding knife pictured at the scene of a stabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 Appeal Supt Pat McMenamin from Kevin Street garda station issued an appeal today. He said gardai responded to the incident on the South Circular Road at around 3.30pm yesterday after an injured man was found on the footpath. After arriving at the scene it became apparent that there was another man in a nearby premises. On entering that premises the body of a man in his mid 20s was found, he told reporters. Expand Close Remains are taken from a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Remains are taken from a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney As a result of that a full murder investigation has been established and an incident room set up in Kevin Street. We had two scenes preserved and they have been examined by our colleagues in the garda technical bureau, he added. Supt McMenamin said house to house enquiries were ongoing and a family liaison officer had been appointed to the case. While Gardai would not officially confirm the name of the victim until a positive identification takes place, he was named locally as Leo Carolan. The male that was injured is in hospital being treated for non life threatening injuries. We have spoken to him and when he's treated for his injuries we will be further speaking to him, said Supt McMenamin. We are anxious that there was a third person at the scene that we are anxious to locate, and we would ask that person to make contact with us. We believe that person has crucial information to this investigation that will assist us. That person is described as a man in his mid 20s, around 5ft 6ins in height, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and runners. He had fair or reddish hair that was cut short and may have been carrying a bag, he added. Supt McMenamin also appealed to members of the public who were in the area or the side streets near it between 2.30 and 4pm to get in touch if they saw anything that drew their attention. Anyone with information is asked to contact Kevin Street garda station on 01 6669400 or the GAA confidential line on 1800 666111. A source last night revealed that the incident was "not a random attack" and that the individuals are all known to each other. A knife believed to have been used in the attack was recovered and was last night being examined by specialist forensic examiners. Blood-soaked towels and clothes were also visible on the footpath where one of the men had collapsed after being stabbed. Morgue The body of the deceased was removed to the city morgue, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out. The injured Swiss is currently being treated in St James's Hospital, although his wounds are not believed to be life-threatening. Basser Clkhodaior (36), who has been living in the area for the past three years, described how he saw the injured man with knife wounds being tended to. "He wasn't talking, he was full of blood," he said. "I didn't know him to see. He wasn't saying anything, there was blood all over the floor. "He looked very bad, there was blood on his face and on his clothes." Another man, who was passing through the area when the incident occurred, said: "I saw what I thought was a traffic accident. There were two cars parked parallel to each other. The guy on the street looked to be in his 30s in a white shirt and with dark hair. There was a big red blotch of blood on his mouth. "He was being tended to by passers-by, he was going to walk off but one person brought him back and got him to sit down." Two separate crime scenes - the apartment and the footpath where the injured man was discovered - remained sealed off last night while gardai carried out door-to-door inquiries. Gardai have spoken to a number of people who were in the apartment block at the time of the attack. The report was compiled by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Children in Ireland who participate in artistic and cultural activities are happier and cope much better with school, according to a landmark study. It exposes a big social and gender gaps, with children from better-off backgrounds, particularly girls, more likely to be engaged in pursuits ranging from reading to drama classes. The findings emerge in data about 3-5 years olds and 9-13 year olds gathered in the Government-funded Growing Up in Ireland study, which has been tracking the progress of almost 20,000 children for almost a decade. The report, the first of its kind, was compiled by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) on behalf of the Arts Council. Among the findings is that nine-year-olds who frequently read and attend classes in music, dance or drama are more confident about coping with schoolwork by age 13. As 13-year-olds, they are also happier, have reduced anxiety, better academic skills and fewer socio-emotional difficulties. The social divide shows up early, with three-year-olds, whose mothers have a third-level education, 50pc more likely to have books read to them, than those whose mothers left school early. Five year olds from more advantaged families are more involved in many activities, including reading, painting/drawing and educational visits, and spend less time watching television or playing with electronic devices. Socio-economic background generally is a big factor in participation rates in the arts, with the cost of after-school classes such as in dance, art, music or drama, identified as a barrier for low-income families. The study also found that children from migrant families and children with special educational needs were less likely to engage in structured cultural activities. There are striking gender differences in levels of participation in the arts from as young an age as three, which persist throughout childhood, with girls schools offering more arts activities, and more girls participating after school. Girls are more likely to read than boys, regardless of their socio-economic background. In addition, girls as young as five paint, draw, enjoy music or dance more than their male peers. The study also took account of childrens engagement in popular culture, including television viewing and digital engagement, as well as involvement in music, dance and drama lessons and in reading for pleasure. It found that while watching a lot of television promotes verbal skills, it does to at the expense of greater socio-emotional difficulties.. A folding knife pictured at the scene of a stabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 A folding knife pictured at the scene of a atabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 Garda pictured at the scene of a stabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 Remains are taken from a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney Gardai search for evidence at a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney Gardai search for evidence at a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney A garda manhunt is underway after one man was killed and another left with serious injuries during a knife attack at a house in south Dublin. Gardai were alerted to the scene after receiving reports of a man outside an apartment on the South Circular Road with stab wounds. It is understood that this man, who is a Swiss national in his 20s, received injuries to his body and neck. When emergency services arrived at 3.45pm, they entered a nearby flat where they discovered the body of an Irishman, aged in his 20s. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Expand Close Garda pictured at the scene of a stabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Garda pictured at the scene of a stabbing on the South Circular Road.Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath 4/10/16 Last night gardai appealed for information on a third man who was seen leaving the house at approximately 3.20pm. This man, also aged in his 20s is described as 5'6" with a thin build and wearing a dark top which may have been blood-stained. A source last night revealed that the incident was "not a random attack" and that the individuals are all known to each other. A knife believed to have been used in the attack was recovered and was last night being examined by specialist forensic examiners. Blood-soaked towels and clothes were also visible on the footpath where one of the men had collapsed after being stabbed. Expand Close A knife found at the scene. Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A knife found at the scene. Photo: Frank McGrath Morgue The body of the deceased was removed to the city morgue, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out. Expand Close The victims remains are removed from the house. Picture: Arthur Carron / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The victims remains are removed from the house. Picture: Arthur Carron The injured Swiss is currently being treated in St James's Hospital, although his wounds are not believed to be life-threatening. Basser Clkhodaior (36), who has been living in the area for the past three years, described how he saw the injured man with knife wounds being tended to. "He wasn't talking, he was full of blood," he said. "I didn't know him to see. He wasn't saying anything, there was blood all over the floor. Expand Close Gardai search for evidence at a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai search for evidence at a house on Dublins South Circular Road following a fatal incident. Picture; Gerry Mooney "He looked very bad, there was blood on his face and on his clothes." Another man, who was passing through the area when the incident occurred, said: "I saw what I thought was a traffic accident. There were two cars parked parallel to each other. The guy on the street looked to be in his 30s in a white shirt and with dark hair. There was a big red blotch of blood on his mouth. "He was being tended to by passers-by, he was going to walk off but one person brought him back and got him to sit down." Two separate crime scenes - the apartment and the footpath where the injured man was discovered - remained sealed off last night while gardai carried out door-to-door inquiries. Gardai have spoken to a number of people who were in the apartment block at the time of the attack. Anyone with information is asked to contact Kevin Street Garda Station on 01-666 9400. Mud runners, like Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar, have been warned about the danger of E. Coli and Weils disease Public health doctors are warning about a growing number of infectious disease outbreaks among competitors in "mud runs" and "adventure races". The gruelling challenge, which involves participants dragging themselves through mud puddles and over obstacles, has led to many falling ill in these events internationally. An infectious disease outbreak was also reported in Cork last year. "There have also been anecdotal reports of other outbreaks in Ireland," said the report from the disease watchdog, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre of Ireland (HPSC). However, the competitors are at risk of Ecoli and bacterial infections such as Weil's disease, which is spread by animals, as many of the runs take place on farmland. There is also a danger competitors can swallow manure or urine through contaminated water during the runs. "Small amounts of contaminated water or mud may not cause difficulty but some participants swallow enough germs to cause infection," the watchdog warns in new guidance. Separately, a team of Irish scientists have made a breakthrough in the battle against infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. The team discovered naturally-occurring antimicrobials, which kill many harmful bacteria, including those which have shown resistance to traditional antibiotics. The scientists at APC Microbiome Institute, in Cork, are conducting tests on the proteins which, they believe, could offer doctors new treatment options in the battle against dangerous infections. Prof Paul Ross of University College Cork (UCC) said the potential benefits for humans are exciting. One hundred and thirty Irish peacekeepers have been welcomed home with open arms. The troops from the 52nd Infantry Group arrived in Dublin Airport after serving in the Golan Heights as part of the ongoing UNDOF peace mission there. Despite a delay in the arrival time, families waiting at the gate were far from disappointed. Teri Menton, from Ballyfermot was waiting for her partner, Pte Alan Kerins, who was arriving back from his first-ever tour of duty. It was a series of firsts for Alan (29), who was reunited with his first-born child, who is now three months old. Expand Close Sgt Glenn Phelan from Clonsilla,hugs his Dad Noel Phelan [ who served in the Irish Army], after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a 6 month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sgt Glenn Phelan from Clonsilla,hugs his Dad Noel Phelan [ who served in the Irish Army], after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a 6 month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath Speaking to the Herald, Teri (26) said: Its great to have him back. He left when Ellis was three weeks old, and now hes 12 weeks old, said a delighted Teri. Expand Close Pte Padraig Kelly from Athlone pictured with his girlfriend Ciava Dunning, after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pte Padraig Kelly from Athlone pictured with his girlfriend Ciava Dunning, after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath It was difficult when he was away. It was very hard on me, but I was lucky that Ive got great friends and family all around, she added. We used FaceTime and WhatsApp every day as well, and the baby got to see him on the screen. Expand Close Sgt Ciaran Smithers pictured with his daughter Emily [6 mths], after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sgt Ciaran Smithers pictured with his daughter Emily [6 mths], after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath Its been a busy time for the new family, with Alan receiving confirmation of his trip to Golan Heights within weeks of hearing Teri was expecting. It all came at once, Teri recalled. Expand Close Cpl Daniel McEntee from Castleblaney pictured with his wife Roseanna and their son Benjamin [6], after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cpl Daniel McEntee from Castleblaney pictured with his wife Roseanna and their son Benjamin [6], after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath Now the couple are hoping for some rest and recuperation. Alan is at home for the foreseeable now, Teri said. Expand Close Sgt Ciaran Smithers pictured with his wife Michelle and daughter Emily [6 mths], after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sgt Ciaran Smithers pictured with his wife Michelle and daughter Emily [6 mths], after the 52 Infantry Batt returned to Dublin Airport after a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture Credit : Frank Mc Grath Well have our first Christmas together as a family, which will be lovely. We are going on holiday next week, so thatll be our first family trip. Garda sergeants and inspectors who are threatening a campaign of industrial action have lodged a claim for a 16.5pc pay rise. Negotiators met Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald for crisis talks after accusing her department of reneging on a commitment to get them to back the Lansdowne Road deal. They have threatened to join rank-and-file gardai who are holding four days of strikes next month. The size of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) claim may reflect a recent pay rise lodged at Dublin Bus, which was worth roughly 15pc over three years. Read more: 'No plan yet' to deal with garda strike as Fitzgerald focuses on talks However, drivers there have been offered 11.25pc, which they are currently balloting on. Ms Fitzgerald has held out an olive branch to gardai, by saying her focus is on finding "a pathway" towards restoring pay cuts that were imposed during the financial crisis. However, she said this would have to satisfy the Government as well as gardai. A team from the AGSI attended negotiations at the Department of Justice in Dublin yesterday. The association sought the meeting after accusing the department of failing to deliver on a promise that AGSI representatives could negotiate directly on their members' pay in future. AGSI president Antoinette Cunningham said this was a key commitment that got members to vote in favour of the Lansdowne Road deal in August. However, during a meeting with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Ms Cunningham said the association said it discovered this would not be the case. As a result, it is planning to hold a special executive meeting on October 17 to consider industrial action. The AGSI had demanded the immediate restoration of pay cuts taken during the financial crisis. Yesterday, it said it would seek a 16.5pc pay cut, which is what the association says was taken from wages through a pension levy and pay cut. Timeframe It is understood that the pay claim, sent in a letter to the minister, does not specify a timeframe for the wage increase. However, sources said that the association is willing to negotiate the increase on a phased basis. Speaking outside the Department of Justice, Ms Cunningham said: "There was a frank exchange of views between ourselves and the Tanaiste in relation to matters concerning AGSI. "I think we're happy that we were able to articulate the concerns of our members and we lodged a claim with the minister for a 16.5pc restoration of garda pay. "It lies with Government to address it (as a) matter of urgency," she added. She said her delegates were clear that they have lodged a claim for pay restoration, so will want clear progress when they meet on October 17 for conference in Athlone. "We know that there are several people who will bring forward motions around pay, pay strategy and industrial relations issues for AGSI," she said. "AGSI also officially lodged a pay claim of 16.5pc with the minister. Interest "Minister Fitzgerald told us that our pay claim was 'an all-Government' decision but that she would come back to us in due course. "We wait with interest for her response on how matters can be progressed." The minister has also invited the Garda Representative Association (GRA) to talks. Read more: Garda strikes could leave just 210 to police entire country The force of 10,500 rank-and-file gardai are preparing to withdraw services on four dates next month. They have announced strikes on November 4, 11, 18 and 25, despite being legally restricted from holding work stoppages. The move came after garda delegates rejected a draft deal with the Department of Justice to get them to back the Lansdowne Road deal. If it had been accepted, a freeze on pay increments would have been lifted and new recruits would have had a 4,017 rent allowance restored. Gardai would have had to work an extra 15 hours a year, which they had done in the past, but there would have been more flexibility in how the work was allocated. However, gardai demanded the immediate restoration of pay cuts. Former Progressive Democrats leaders Dessie O'Malley, Mary Harney and Micheal McDowell were amongst those who gathered to say a final farewell to party founder, Bobby Molloy. He was recalled at the funeral at Galway cathedral today by Chief Celebrant Fr Gerry Jennings as a man of "integrity, personal warmth, humility and intelligence". Everyone knew him as "Bobby" - except for his family, he remarked, to whom he was always "Robbie." His daughter Sinead spoke in tribute to her father before the funeral mass began. He had passionately loved sports, she said, and there was laughter as she quipped that his proudest moment came as a teenager when he received a letter simply addressed: Robert Molloy, athlete, Galway." He had represented his constituency of Galway West for 37 years but could not have achieved what he did throughout his career but for the support and loyalty he had received from his colleagues, Sinead said. She revealed that her father had battled Alzheimer's in latter years - but the family was blessed that he knew them right up until the end when he passed away on Sunday morning. She thanked the team at Galway hospice for helping them to keep her father at home in the last 10 days of his life. "While we are sad he is leaving us, we rejoice in his life," she concluded. President Michael D Higgins was represented at the requiem mass by his Aide de Camp, Col Michael Kiernan, while Taoiseach Enda Kenny was represented by his Aide de Camp, Mr Molloy (80), who served as mayor of Galway from July, 1968 to June, 1969, died peacefully at his home in Salthill last weekend after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Phyllis, children Sinead, Sorcha, Daragh and Donncha, and extended family and friends. His coffin was draped in the Irish flag for the funeral which saw large crowds of mourners come to pay their respects. Amongst them were many political figures, with Micheal Martin in attendance, together with former PD member Noel Grealish (FF) of Mr Molloy's Galway West constituency and former TD Ned O'Keeffe and Taoiseach ADC Comdt Kieran Carey. The Irish flag over Leinster House flew at half mast as a mark of respect, as did the tricolour at the Galway docks. Mr Molloy's fondness for all things maritime was symbolised at the funeral mass by a white wreath of flowers in the shape of an anchor. After the mass his funeral cortege was led through the city by members of the city council who had attended the funeral in their robes, since Mr Molloy served as Mayor of the city from July 1968 to June 1969. He was laid to rest in the New Cemetery in Bohermore. Noted for his candour and blunt way of speaking, Mr Molloy was one of the longest serving politicians in the Galway West constituency. The former Fianna Fail politician held the posts of defence, local government and energy and was a founder of the PDs. He served as TD from 1965 until his resignation in 2002 and was a prominent member of the so-called Club of 22, Dail deputies who voted against Haughey in a leadership challenge. In later years he would talk about the acrimony and division of the Haughey era. In early 1986 he surprised many by leaving Fianna Fail to help found the PDs with Des OMalley and Mary Harney. The party promoted a low-tax liberal economy and a number of radical measures to help end recession and economic paralysis. It enjoyed an impressive debut at the 1987 general election, winning 14 seats in Dail Eireann, briefly becoming capturing almost 12 percent of the popular vote - but never again won more than 10 seats in an election though inJune 1989, Mr Molloy was one of the PD negotiators in a coalition with Fianna Fail under their old enemy, Haughey. LE Samuel Beckett Rescues 220* Migrants During Two Search and Rescue Operations 04 October 2016 The Irish navy ship, LE Samuel Beckett, rescued a total of 652 migrants during search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean. The navy ship also found three bodies during their mission. At 6.15am LE Samuel Beckett initially rescued the 125 migrants on board the first vessel before moving to a second vessel which contained 95 migrants. Following the initial two rescues, LE Samuel Beckett rescued a further 432 migrants from four rubber crafts, they are now receiving food, water and medical treatment where required. Read More LE Samuel Beckett will now transfer all 652 rescued migrants, along with the deceased, to a designated Port of Safety. More than 300,000 refugees have arrived on European shores in 2016 but over 3,500 have died at sea on the crossing, according to the Missing Migrants Project. The Italian Coastguards resources are stretched thin across rescue missions and even thinner once refugees reach the shore to be processed. Rescue figures are provisional until confirmed by Italian authorities. The safety of train passengers is at risk if more funding is not invested in the countys struggling rail service, Iarnrod Eireann has warned. Iarnrod Eireann chief Executive David Franks said the rail service is facing unprecedented challenges despite its improving financial position.. Speaking before the Oireachtas Transport Committee, Mr Franks said the company has seen its public funding cut from 195m in 2007 to 98m last year. As history has shown us, sustained underinvestment will ultimately impact on both safety and reliability, and result in greater costs to renew our assets in the long-run, rather than maintain them sustainably, he said. For customers, this would mean a return to speed restrictions and a worsening of service standards, when our ambition is to improve times and service quality, he added. Mr Franks said areas in need to critical funding to ensure safety include the implementation of an automatic system that prevent trains from passing stop signals or speeding. These automatic systems are commonplace in other European countries, the Iarnrod Eireann chief said. The rail service is also seeking additional funding for level crossing safety investment and extra financing for the National Train Control Centre. However, Mr Franks said the rail service would cease operating if it believed safety threats would risk lives. He said an audit of the service warned of serious safety risks if investment in the State owned company is not increased within the next five years. National Transport Authority chief executive Anne Graham told the committee she is favour of restructuring fares across the rail and bus networks rather than increasing ticket prices. Ms Graham said there are anomalies in the current charging system which the authority hopes to address in the coming years. Ms Graham refused to comment on the controversial tendering of Bus Eireanns Expressway service as the process was on-going. Asked about the new terms and conditions facing Expressway bus drivers once the routes are tendered, Bus Eireann chief executive Martin Nolan said: The most I can say about that is that we are like Aer Lingus and Ryanair, we must get in a range of the market without going down to the lowest common denominator. He said this is an issue the company is currently discussing with unions. A scrambler believed to have struck a nine-year-old boy had no working brakes, police have said. The crash happened at Mossley Pavilion on Carnmoney Road in Newtownabbey on Monday. The victim remains in a stable condition at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children. Sergeant Arnie O'Neill from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said they had seized a bike in a dangerous condition. He said: "It is currently being examined at Newtownabbey PSNI station. "There is no front brake lever on this bike. The rear brakes do not work either." The crash happened just hours after Stormont politicians debated legislative changes around the use of scramblers and quad bikes. In July, mother-of-three Valerie Armstrong was killed after being struck by a scrambler while walking in a west Belfast forest park. Sgt O'Neill said the investigation into Monday's crash was continuing. He added: "The driver has contacted police and investigation is currently ongoing. "Officers will continue to patrol the local area in search for the illegal use of motor vehicles." Irish naval officers who risk their lives to pull desperate migrants from the sea earn 22 a day less than their counterparts on peace-keeping missions. Troops are paid a daily armed allowance of 77 a day for a private, 79 for a corporal and 81 for sergeants and upwards while on peacekeeping missions around the globe. Expand Close Some of the 220 people rescued by the crew of the LE Samuel Beckett yesterday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Some of the 220 people rescued by the crew of the LE Samuel Beckett yesterday But the Naval Service crews are paid an unarmed allowance, which is 22 a day less in each case. The claim, which has been taken to arbitration by Pdforra, the association representing soldiers, sailors and air crew, is based on the argument that their ships are armed and they crew carry Steyr rifles at all times. The issue was raised at the association's annual conference, where Defence Minister defence Paul Kehoe said adjudication on the claim would begin towards the end of the month and he would then consider the findings. The sixth Irish naval vessel to be deployed to the Mediterranean, LE Samuel Beckett, was deployed yesterday to rescue 652 migrants after coming to the aid of another 128 on Monday. This brings the total number of migrants rescued by Irish naval vessels to more than 13,280 since the deployment began last year. At last year's conference, then defence minister Simon Coveney said if the claim was successful, the money would be back-dated to the initial deployment of the Naval Service. Housing Minister Simon Coveney was forced to abandon his plans to announce a 1,000 hike in the annual pay of councillors following an intervention by his Cabinet colleague Paschal Donohoe, the Irish Independent has learned. Mr Coveney was warned that any move to increase councillors' pay would risk a public backlash in light of the recent threat by members of An Garda Siochana to strike. Speaking to Fine Gael senators last Wednesday, the Cork South Central TD signalled his intentions to use a meeting of councillors that week to announce the pay hike. He also spoke of his plans to change the councillors' expenses system at the behind-closed-doors meeting at Leinster House, according to several Seanad sources present. Mr Coveney even consulted Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein, who are understood to have been supportive of the move. But Mr Coveney then backtracked after being informed that Mr Donohoe, the Public Expenditure Minister, was deeply concerned about the plans. The Irish Independent can reveal Mr Coveney came under fire from a number of Fine Gael councillors at a meeting in Bantry, Co Cork, on Friday, which was organised by the Local Authority Members' Association (LAMA). Councillors became angry after Mr Coveney said he was not in a position to increase their pay in the Budget. He told those present he needed to take into account that members of An Garda Siochana are threatening to go on strike as a result of their pay dispute. He said he was deeply conscious that pay is an issue for councillors - but that it will not be addressed by him in the upcoming Budget. Several sources say Mr Coveney even mentioned the "negative reaction" he received on social media after the planned pay hike was reported on Wednesday night. At the event, some councillors raised the fact that Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has vowed to address the issue of councillors' PRSI at the meeting. Mr Coveney is believed to have responded that this was in the context of wider PRSI reform being carried out by Mr Varadkar. "He made the point that with gardai warning of potential strike action, he couldn't be singling out councillors for a pay increase," one source said. Party TDs say they believe the confusion of the planned pay increase will damage Mr Coveney's leadership credentials. While councillors make up just 10pc of the overall leadership vote, they are seen as being influential in the final result. Last night, a spokeswoman for Mr Coveney insisted he never announced a pay increase for councillors at the meeting with senators. She said he merely discussed a "range of options", adding that there are a number of upcoming conferences which Mr Coveney is attending and he may decide to discuss the issue then. In relation to the meeting of councillors last Friday, Mr Coveney's spokewoman said the "vast majority" of those present were receptive to what he had to say. FIANNA Fail's "game plan" is to cause another general election while Enda Kenny remains as Taoiseach, according to prominent Fine Gael TD John Deasy. In an extraordinary radio interview today, Mr Deasy said Fianna Fail's performance in relation to the budget is proof that the country is now at the beginning of an "election cycle". The Waterford TD said he believes Mr Kenny will "dragged out" of the Fine Gael leadership post "kicking and screaming". But he said up to 15 Fine Gael TDs and senators want to see Mr Kenny gone by Christmas, adding that he would consider being part of a group that tables a motion of no confidence in his leadership. In what are scathing remarks, the outspoken rebel TD accused Mr Kenny of "rewarding failure" by handing a number of ministries and Seanad positions to people close to him. "(Enda Kenny) is skilled at one thing - keeping the power base in Fine Gael and protecting people," Mr Deasy told Sean O'Rourke on RTE radio. "I think when a political party rewards failure like Fine Gael and Enda Kenny has done, it's in serious trouble," he added. Mr Deasy named James Reilly, Fine Gael's deputy leader, as a example of Mr Kenny rewarding "failure". He also said he turned down the chairperson position on the housing committee, which comes with 10,000 in additional expenses. "Someone has to say no, someone has to say we are rewarding failure badly," Mr Deasy said, adding that there is very little principle in Irish politics. On the upcoming Fine Gael leadership race, Mr Deasy said he thinks it will be a close contest between Leo Varadkar. "Right now, frankly, a change, no matter who it was, would be better than anything," he told the programme. He said both politicians are "work horses" and that he has not decided which candidate he will support. When it was pointed out that he is excluding Frances Fitzgerald from the race, Mr Deasy replied: "Yes completely." Independent TD Stephen Donnelly says he is being encouraged by a large number of his supporters to join a political party. The Wicklow deputy said he has embarked on a consultation period with voters in his constituency since his shock departure from the Social Democrats. Mr Donnelly said some of his supporters have expressed the view that the best way to achieve change is at the Cabinet table. "One reaction is stay as an independent for a while, (but) no matter how well you do as an independent, you are really a stretcher bearer in somebody elses war," Mr Donnelly told 'The Morning Show' on East Coast FM. "My ambition for the country is not marginal, I want to be part of changing the direction for the country," he added. Mr Donnelly said he is enjoying life as an Independent and raising issues in the Dail such as vulture funds. While insisting he has not been approached by any party, Mr Donnelly said he would like to serve at the Cabinet table. "Yes I can stay as an independent or I can go into a party. If I go into a party, no matter what party i go into, some people will be really happy about that, some people will be disappointed," Mr Donnelly said. "It's really not so muc about being a minister, it's about making change So, yes, I would like to serve as a minister but there's some people who have been in politics all their lives, they are just dying to be in that photograph and be called a minister and all that craic. Do I want to be at the Cabinet table? Yes, but to get things done." Jellyfish washed up on at Fanore, Co Clare, in the second mass stranding this year. Photo: Liam McNamara Thousands of jellyfish have washed up on an Irish beach in the second mass stranding this year. The bizarre event occurred earlier this week at Fanore, Co Clare, and was captured in a picture by Liam McNamara. He said he had never seen so many mauve jellyfish on one beach. Mr McNamara said that there was also a mass stranding of jellyfish in June. He said: "This is the first time I've experienced mauve jellyfish in such numbers and I've been beachcombing for 40 years. "There was a stranding back in June of moon jellyfish and of course we're getting quite a few Portuguese man o' war. "I'm not sure what's going on with our seas but (there are) definitely lots more jellies around. "Jellyfish are not great swimmers and so they are very prone to tidal and wind conditions. I think these got caught off-guard by the strong westerlies," he explained. The mass stranding came just days after Irish Water Safety issued a warning over an invasion of Portuguese man o' war jellyfish. Due to an unseasonably warm September, the deadly jellyfish swarmed into Irish waters as bathers on the south, west and north-west were urged to be vigilant. Meanwhile, a number of homes in Kerry were flooded following rain across the county over 24 hours. The houses in Portmagee were flooded and the R566 between Portmagee and Ballinskelligs at Coomanaspig was closed due to a bogslide. Kerry County Council is assessing the situation. Spot flooding remains and there is surface water on many routes on the Dingle Peninsula and the Iveragh Peninsula. A government minister has shot down the likelihood of soldiers being called out onto the streets to perform policing duties if gardai go ahead with their planned series of strikes. Paul Kehoe, the minister with responsibility for defence, said he did not envisage that members of the Defence Forces would be asked to fill the gap. He said he was keeping in close contact with Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and a decision on involving the military on strike days would be at her request. But Mr Kehoe said yesterday he did not expect that to happen. He was speaking in Cork as he was about to address the annual conference of Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (Pdforra), the representative association for soldiers, sailors and aircrew in the Defence Forces. A similar view was expressed by association general secretary Gerry Rooney, who said his members would carry out their orders if they were told to become involved in policing and there was no question of them disobeying orders. But he said there was no prospect of them being called out on strike days. Similar speculation about the military being involved had circulated during the garda blue flu action in May 1998 but they were not asked. "Our members do not want to be used by a government to break a strike and that would be a clear position. "The government assured us then that the use of the Defence Forces is to provide an emergency service, not to replicate an entire service. That would be tantamount to trying to break a strike and the Government recognises that," he added. A grieving father has criticised the mental health system after his young son took his own life in hospital, after four previous attempts. Ryan Dempsey was 22-years-old when he died by suicide. His dad Fran Dempsey told Ray DArcy on RTE Radio 1 that the system failed him and his family. According to Fran, his son Ryan was extremely family-orientated and had a good group of friends. When he was 18, Ryan came out as gay to his parents and just four years later he took his own life on November 3 2014. Ryan was amazing. From the time he could talk he wanted to be an actor. He was always somebody else, dad Fran told Ray DArcy. Fran and his wife Michelle had three other sons and said Ryan loved family time. He always picked the movies because that was his thing. He was a beautiful child. Fran said that during family time there was nothing out of the ordinary. He pulled away from his friends and he was kind of a loner. But he spoke mostly to his cousin Shaun. When Ryan came out to his family as gay, they instantly accepted it. He sat me down in the kitchen and he said, Da..., and I said, Son, you dont have to tell me, I know, youre a beautiful kid... and we hugged for about five minutes and it was great. I can actually still feel that hug, said Fran. The father said Ryan became withdrawn and they would often have to tell him to come out of his room. He would spend a lot of time in his bedroom alone so we would tell him to come out and watch a film with us. We got a bit worried then but we were all still talking. He had a lot of relationship problems. After attempting suicide several times, Ryan was in and out of hospital. We pleaded with the hospital to take him in. We were on 24 hour watch. Nobody would listen to us. They kept saying that because Ryan was over 21 that they would listen to Ryan and not us. They spoke to Ryan and me first. I was asked to leave and Ryan was spoken to and then they spoke to me. Ryan was smart. We were trying to look out for our son. He was attending a health centre in Inchicore but again Ryan would come home and say this isnt right for me. He wanted to be alone but he was put in groups. He was sent to a GP after again attempting suicide. He said Da, all I want is a relationship like you and Ma. He had changed. He was angry a lot. He wasnt diagnosed with anything but we kept saying he had to be depressed. He would shut himself up in a dark room. One night Ryan came to his dad and asked to be admitted to hospital. He said I have to go, you have to bring me to the hospital. We brought him up to the A&E and he was put in a room that was like a cell, it was horrible. He was on a fifteen minute watch. At half two that night we got a call to say that Ryan had taken his own life. It didnt really sink in. It had happened four times before hand. I couldnt believe it really happened. My wife and son went up to the hospital and said Ryan was in the intensive care unit. We went into the ICU and Ryan had wires all over him. The nurse said to me Im very sorry so I kind of knew he wasnt coming back. I knew he was brain dead but they kept him on life support for three or four days and we donated his organs which he wanted anyway. Fran said that Ryan wanted to donate his organs from an early age and that his life saved many others. We got a letter from the man who got his heart and it was lovely. It said he saved his life and the guy who got his kidney was on deaths door and he had a new-born baby. He saved a lot of lives as well. Fran said hes angry with the health system and feels they let him down. Im not bitter but Im angry. They told us he was on a 15 minute watch but he couldnt have been. He begged health professionals to listen. Please listen to the ordinary people, its happening everywhere. Listen to what needs to be done and put the resources in. No family should have to go through what we did. My home isnt the same, me and my wife arent the same. Fran who is now getting counselling said the grief caused him to try and take his own life too. It wont happen again I assure you. I have a great family and friends behind me. My nephew passed away from suicide eight years ago too and they were left absolutely devastated. His family have broken up. Fran is now campaigning for a better mental health system. A&E isnt trained to look after people with mental health issues. We need specialists and better mental health programmes. No family should have to go through this. If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article, please contact The Samaritans free helpline on 116 123. Shortly after Sally Phillips gave birth to her eldest son Olly 12 years ago, she was taken into a small room in the hospital and asked to sit down. "The doctor said 'I'm so sorry' and the nurse cried," Phillips recalls. "And it was really clear that this was breaking bad news." She and her husband, Andrew were told that Olly had Down syndrome. It came as a complete surprise. None of the pre-natal tests had picked up on it. Phillips "just sort of compliantly went along with the way the story was presented to me". Later, they took their newborn son home in a kind of fog. "You go home to deal with the 'bad news' and you have friends and family who come round and get drunk and talk about the 'bad news' and it's all like something dreadful has happened," she says with a tired smile. "And something important has happened and you're going to have to let go of some of the dreams you had, but it's really not as bad as everyone makes out." Expand Close Sally Phillips in BBC documentary 'A World Without Down's syndrome?' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sally Phillips in BBC documentary 'A World Without Down's syndrome?' Most of us know Phillips as a comic actor who rose to prominence as one third of the all-female sketch-show 'Smack the Pony' before gaining lead roles in the hugely popular BBC sitcom 'Miranda' and the 'Bridget Jones' films. In 'Bridget Jones's Baby', out now, she reprises her role as Bridget's best friend, Shazza. But Phillips also has a serious side. Next week, the BBC will air a one-hour documentary which she presented and co-wrote, entitled 'A World Without Down's syndrome?' The programme examines the issues around Down syndrome with intellectual rigour but is also extremely moving, largely because of Phillips herself who made the decision to include Olly in the film. He emerges as a chatty, engaging and kind little boy who often has his younger siblings, Luke, nine, and Tom, four, in hysterics. When she told her younger children their older brother had Down syndrome, Luke responded, "and have I got Up syndrome?", says Phillips. "And then to Tom, I said, 'You have to understand, sometimes Olly doesn't understand and he gets angry.' And Tom said, 'What, like Dad?'" After the initial teary conversation in the hospital, she was expecting tragedy. Instead, she got comedy. "I suppose I always like absurd scenarios," she acknowledges. "I just started noticing that it was funny So, for example, when Olly ran away wearing a Leo Sayer wig and outsized sunglasses in the shape of stars and you're chasing him down the road barefoot, it's: 'Okay, this isn't that different from work.' I mean, he's got great comic timing. He's naturally incredibly funny. Always has been." Of course, Phillips and her husband were often intensely stressed or in denial during those first five years. Of course, it took a period of adjustment. Naturally, it wasn't exactly what they had expected parenthood to be, and sometimes it required help from live-in nannies and grandparents (something which Phillips admits she is lucky to be able to afford). But, in other ways, it was better. Phillips began to realise she was "laughing more than anyone else. I remember being on a bus hearing mums with babies with prams just complaining and thinking, 'We're not doing any complaining and not because we're heroes'. I can't really explain why". "Maybe it's the release of not having an end-game. You're off-road so you're completely liberated from all the things the Hampstead Mums around you are doing. "The irony that struck me was that with Olly, we were doing speech and language therapy and physiotherapy but all those mums were doing that anyway. But it wasn't called therapy, it was called 'baby signing' because the quicker your child learns to talk, the better chance they have of getting into a good school. "We were doing physiotherapy, they were going to Gymboree to maximise their baby's potential. We were all doing the same things, it was just that we had to do it. But it was in no way tragic." She wishes, looking back, that the doctor and the crying nurse who told her about Olly's diagnosis could have been more positive. She is a Christian, a feminist and firmly pro-choice, but says, "I think I would have been really served by having someone around standing up and saying 'This is a good thing.'" Expand Close Sally with son Olly / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sally with son Olly This lies at the heart of Phillips's documentary. In January, it was announced that the NHS would be offering a Non-Invasive Pre-Natal Test (NIPT) which is said to detect Down syndrome in pregnancies with 99pc accuracy. At the moment, nine out of 10 British women terminate after being given a positive diagnosis - and Phillips thinks that's largely because there is a lack of understanding about what living with Down syndrome actually means. Since the NIPT became available privately in the UK, terminations have gone up by a third. The rolling out of the test on the NHS to women whose babies are at high risk of Down's means there's a distinct possibility that, in the near future, the only children born with the condition are those whose parents have explicitly chosen that fate. "And that has ethical implications," says Phillips, "as to whether the government supports [the costs of raising a person with Down's] or not because it's kind of: 'it's your bed, lie in it.'" Phillips says there is still a lot of ignorance surrounding the condition. While making the documentary, "A top figure at the BBC said to someone involved, 'I mean, a Down syndrome child - that's a life sentence.'" Telegraph 'A World Without Down's syndrome?' is on BBC2 tonight at 9pm Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Shortly after the first time I saw the two tell-tale pink lines that indicated life was about to change dramatically, my elation, shock and sense of surrealism gave way to a hundred different questions. I wondered if the baby would be a boy or a girl. I wondered what we would call the baby. I wondered what food I should avoid and I wondered if those few drinks I had prior to finding out that I was pregnant would prove harmful. As the weeks passed, the pregnancy thankfully progressed safely, my tummy grew rapidly larger and my mind moved on to the acquisition of practical equipment. This baby was a first grandchild on both sides so with no nieces or nephews to learn from, I was a marketer's dream! At this stage I've now been the mother of a newborn seven times and I have learned along the way that there are many things aimed at mums-to-be which sound wonderful in theory, but in reality, after baby's arrival, just end up gathering dust in the attic. With that in mind, I've compiled a list, based on my experience, of must-have items for new mums and mums-to-be. Things that will help to make life easier, rather than just adding to the mountain of clutter that already goes hand in hand with having a newborn... 1 Pregnancy pillow Sleep Plus Body Pillow, 55.99 @ Mothercare These body-length pillows offer the best chance of getting a decent night's sleep from mid-pregnancy on when a burgeoning bump makes getting into any sort of comfortable position seem almost impossible. The length of the pillow means that as well as supporting a bump, it can be placed between knees and ankles, which can significantly help with hip pain. The wonderful thing about the pregnancy pillow is that its life can be prolonged beyond pregnancy, as it doubles as a nursing and support pillow after baby's arrival. This was, without a doubt, one of my best purchases. 2 Baby carrier/baby sling Tomy Classic Baby Carrier, 54.99 @ Boots Irrespective of whether or not the general concept of "babywearing" is for you, a sling or a baby carrier can make an enormous difference if you're dealing with a fretful baby or a baby who especially likes to be held. My daughter was colicky from an early age and her favoured position was an upright one. The baby carrier meant that I had free hands to get other things done and my daughter was much more comfortable and relaxed. The added bonus was that I never missed a baby snuggle and, if you've a willing partner, this is a load you can quite literally share. 3 Vests and camisoles 100% mulberry silk camisole & shorts set in lunar grey, 120 @ theethicalsilkco.com These are a fantastic investment for any mum who hopes or intends to breastfeed. When worn under ordinary clothes, they can transform most tops into practical breastfeeding wear without any significant expense - plus, they can be bought in an array of colours. The advantage in wearing a vest is that any mum who might be feeling a little self-conscious, particularly in the early weeks after giving birth, can keep their tummy covered while feeding. Expand Close Vests and camisoles 100% mulberry silk camisole & shorts set in lunar grey, 120 @ theethicalsilkco.com / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vests and camisoles 100% mulberry silk camisole & shorts set in lunar grey, 120 @ theethicalsilkco.com 4 Baby bath with built-in support Acqua Bambino Two-stage Bath, reduced to 30.40 @ Mamas & Papas For my first child I wanted a theme. Winnie the Pooh was the theme and, lovely though it was, not everything that I bought to fit in with the theme was necessarily the most practical purchase. I would include the bath that I bought for my daughter in that. Bathing a slippery newborn is a scary task, particularly the first few times, and a bath purchased in Mamas and Papas for my second child has been in place for all the rest that followed. With moulded newborn support within, and a second support position for a sitting baby, it lasts well beyond the early weeks. While obviously a baby should never be left unattended in the bath, the built-in support means less sore backs for the bathing parent. However, the splashing and resulting wet floor from an excited baby brings its own hazards... Expand Close Baby bath with built-in support Acqua Bambino Two-stage Bath, reduced to 30.40 @ Mamas & Papas / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Baby bath with built-in support Acqua Bambino Two-stage Bath, reduced to 30.40 @ Mamas & Papas 5 Steriliser Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Steriliser, 17.49 @ Boots Whether you choose to breast or bottle feed, chances are you'll need a steriliser. Breastfeeding mums might choose to express later down the road and bottles, soothers and manual breast pumps will all need to be sterilised in the early months. The type of steriliser that you purchase will largely depend on the type of bottles that you intend to use. Some bottles claim to be more like the breast for easy adaptation for breastfed babies, while some claim to reduce the likelihood of colic. Whichever you choose, the amount of time the steriliser takes to sterilise is worth considering. Speed can feel very much of the essence if you need a clean bottle quickly for an upset baby, or a manual pump at the ready to help alleviate engorged breasts. Expand Close Steriliser Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Steriliser, 17.49 @ Boots / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Steriliser Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Steriliser, 17.49 @ Boots 6 Lansinoh HPA Lanolin 14.99 (40ml) @ Boots Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience but the early days in particular can sometimes be painful as mum and baby learn a new skill together. Lansinoh nipple cream can help with the discomfort and is safe for consumption by babies so there's no need to remove it before feeding. Nursing bras, along with their obvious convenience, are the most comfortable underwear of choice when it comes to breastfeeding. Thankfully, much has improved in terms of style and places such as Mothercare and Marks & Spencer -to name but two - have an impressive array on offer. Still, it's not worth buying too many bras in advance as, after birth, your breasts can reach pretty impressive proportions! Best to wait a few days and get properly measured. Expand Close Lansinoh HPA Lanolin 14.99 (40ml) @ Boots / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lansinoh HPA Lanolin 14.99 (40ml) @ Boots 7 Babygros/sleepsuits With all the beautiful baby clothes available, the temptation to stock up on tiny boys' and girls' clothes is all too common. The reality, though, is that most babies spend a lot of their early days in lovely, soft, comfortable babygros. It's difficult to know what size to buy and worth noting that "newborn" represents a different weight in different shops, so always check the label before purchase. Babies grow incredibly quickly and, while too many of the same size can seem a waste, it is important to allow for the inevitable "poo-namis" that will occur and the uncanny ability of babies to soak their clothing as soon as a nappy is removed. A good guide is six babygros and six baby vests to start with and, after baby is born, depending on his/her size, more can be purchased. 8 Baby monitors Even though it's unlikely baby will be very far from you in the early days or weeks, baby monitors can give you extra peace of mind. Simple things like hanging out washing, or taking a shower become a much bigger ordeal when you're alone in the house with a baby. A portable monitor means, among other things, that you can take that shower in peace without having to hop in and out every thirty seconds, ready to respond to the imaginary cries that you think you hear over the noise of the running water. 9 Bouncer/baby rocker Fisher-Price Rainforest Friends Infant-to-Toddler Rocker, 61.99 @ Smyths These are great for a change of location for baby and to allow baby to see (in due course) what's going on around him. A good option is a chair that grows with your baby as some bouncers are unsuitable once a baby can sit unaided. The Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker can recline fully so is suitable from birth and adjusts accordingly as baby gets older, ultimately becoming a rocker for your toddler. Essential for managing a trip to the bathroom with baby safely secured. 10 Playmat/play gym Playgro Happy Neighbourhood Jumbo Mat, 32.99 @ Smyths When my first child was born I took a notion that her unsettled tendencies were down to boredom. The Public Health Nurse was quite adamant (and yes, as it turned out, quite right) that colic was the source of my little lady's distress. I discovered, however, that she was quite happy to spend periods of time on her playmat. Like most first-time parents, I have hours of recordings of my daughter when she was a young baby and, for most of it, she was lying on her mat. It became very much her "happy place". I have continued with playmats for all the other children, though I must concede the same hours of recordings are not there... Playmats are a great tool for encouraging tummy time. They also help with the development of baby's cognitive skills, and can help with gross motor development too. It's win-win . Expand Close Playmat/play gym Playgro Happy Neighbourhood Jumbo Mat, 32.99 @ Smyths / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Playmat/play gym Playgro Happy Neighbourhood Jumbo Mat, 32.99 @ Smyths Shopping for baby can be great fun and is all part of the excitement, build-up and preparation for the impending arrival. The important thing to remember is that babies' needs are simple. Whether mum or dad get carried away by the shopping expedition, however, is a different story... An Irish woman has opened up about the difficult decision she faced in the medical care of her newborn daughter who was diagnosed with five complex heart conditions soon after birth. Annie Roche and her husband lost their daughter Aishling almost six years ago when she was just six days old and were faced with the decision to withdraw her medical care or proceed with complex palliative surgery which she was extremely unlikely to survive. Speaking on Today FMs Anton Savage Show, Annie, from Cork, said she made the decision to withdraw Aishlings care because she did not want to prolong her daughters suffering. Aishling was transferred from Cork to Crumlin Childrens Hospital two days after her birth where doctors told her parents that she was gravely ill and informed them of their options. In this meeting they explained to us what our options were, said Annie. Which was basically telling us that there was no cure or there was nothing that could be done in a medical capacity. The only choices we had really were to withdraw her care or attempt some very difficult palliative care procedures. One in particular was a very major surgery. The way he put it to us was that it would be a whole days work and shed be the only person in theatre that day until that night. It would have been a very long and difficult process and the chances of her surviving that major surgery when she was already in a very difficult position... For me the idea of watching her suffer was worse than the idea of losing her, she said. Speaking on the show, Annie addressed ongoing appeals to alter the constitutions eight amendment and addressed campaigners who are of the opinion newborns are entitled to a natural death. The mum yesterday published her story on Twitter, which garnered much reaction. Ive had people tweeting me that I should be grateful that she had a natural death and that that is the correct way to do things. Theres absolutely nothing natural about a babys death. In no way shape or form is there anything natural about watching a baby die. To use the word natural, its the wrong word. During the whole process we had to experience, the main concern for us parents was pain and suffering. Aishling and other babies like her are dosed up on morphine. Its not as if they close their eyes and pass away in their sleep. Its not the case. In the case of Aishling, when they withdraw the care and you dont give them any assistance to breathe, they have to go through a death where theyre struggling to breathe and gasping for air. As an adult when you lose your breath is a terrifying experience. To see the panic in a newborn babys eyes as its struggling to breathe is not something thats easy to watch. To see your baby turning blue before your eyes is not something that is easy to watch. When they discuss this natural, theyre not the people who have sat and witnessed that and live with those images. It is not easy. It is scary and heartbreaking, said Annie. The mum spoke about whether or not she would have travelled to the UK for a termination, had she known of Aishlings condition prior to her birth and said the journey would have been unimaginable without the support of her family. With the way things are in this country and the legislation we have in place, no I would not have been willing to travel to the UK because I needed my family around me. I could not contemplate what its like to lose the people you need for emotional support around you, she said. John Egan will never, ever sell his 38-year-old Ford Fiesta. Well, most of it is 38 years old. There have been many additions, changes and tweaks in the course of his eight-year ownership (for one, it has a 1.8-litre petrol Mondeo engine). But he's never letting it go. John (pictured), from Tuam, Co Galway, was "thrilled" to be chosen as the owner of the oldest Fiesta in the country last week. Speaking to Motors, it was clear he loves the car. "That car will never be sold. It's nice to look into the garage and say, 'I built that'." And re-build it truck-driver John most certainly did. Brought it back, he says, from death's door after seeing it in a neighbouring garage. The body was in good shape but was missing bits and pieces. There wasn't much of an interior, it needed an engine and so on. John put together and re-sprayed his 1978 Fiesta and drove it as his everyday car up to two years ago. Any time he had it out he'd be bombarded with interest. "People would say things like, 'My granny had one of those'." He was often asked if he'd sell it but there was no chance. He brings it to shows now and insurance is fully classic so it's around 250. Last Friday was a special day for him as he received the award. With him was girlfriend Ciara Kinsella who, also a Fiesta fan, had her 1981 model on the day too. But John it was who got the engraved crystal plaque with his name and reg of his car as well as some fuel and general shopping vouchers. He and many others came from all over to Weston Airport, near Lucan, to celebrate the Fiesta's 40th birthday. After a nationwide search, Ford found their oldest Fiesta: the car John re-built. The search was part of the company's celebration of the Fiesta's arrival here in 1976. Some of those taking part drove in a 40-strong convoy of old and new Fiestas along the M4 before the celebrations began at Weston. There to help with them was former Stig from Top Gear, Ben Collins. He showed what the newcomer Fiesta ST200 can do when you strap 200bhp to a supermini. Participants got a chance to sit in with him as he turned in a thrilling series of drives in the hot hatch. The ST200's 1.6-litre EcoBoost pumps 10pc more power than the ST version (0-100kmh in 6.7 seconds). Whoever would have thought it possible 40 years ago? Pearse Doherty, arguably the most impressive debater in the 32nd Dail, yesterday put to bed any notion that Sinn Fein is a responsible party ready to make the leap into government. Flanked by party colleagues Mary Lou McDonald and David Cullinane, Mr Doherty made light of the prospect of 500m worth of water meters resting in the ground, gathering rust. Mary Lou McDonald at the launch of the Sinn Fein alternative budget 2017 yesterday. Photo: Tom Burke "We are not proposing to dig them up and put them on display," Mr Doherty quipped, adding that they would serve as a "reminder" of the policies of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. "They will join the voting machines and other disastrous policies," Mr Doherty added. It is ironic Mr Doherty chose to make light of an issue like water charges - which have been paid by tens of thousands of hard-pressed families - during the launch of the party's pre-Budget submission. The submission is entitled 'A Better Ireland', one which, according to Sinn Fein's vision, involves tonnes of machinery gathering rust in towns and villages across the country. At least Fianna Fail, despite all its faults, had the foresight to get rid of e-voting machines, arguably the trademark of its own string of disastrous policies. Mr Doherty seems to think that responsible politics entails leaving meters lying idle in our estates - simply to embarrass other parties. That's some demonstration of leadership from the party that, we are told, is ready to bring this country in a new direction. It will certainly provide little comfort for families ahead of a Budget that we now know will make minimal difference to their lives. Sinn Fein's own Budget proposals were summed up neatly by Fianna Fail TD Dara Calleary. "It's a 'Late Late Show' performance: They want to give something to everyone in the audience," he said. Sinn Fein says its proposals would raise 1bn in net taxes to fund spending increases in areas such as maternity benefit, childcare and social housing. But once again, the party's proposals are the same as they were last year, and the year before that. Scrap property tax, hit high earners with an additional 7pc tax on everything they earn above 100,000, and introduce what many will see as a raid on working people's pensions. Then again, this is the party that served as cheerleaders for Syriza. Sterling has taken a battering over the last 12 months, thanks to the UK's EU referendum. This time last year, 1 was worth about 69 pence. Yesterday it touched 88 pence. And expect further weakness. So what impact does a weaker sterling have on Irish businesses and consumers? Consumers Let's start with the positive. It's become a lot cheaper to buy UK-based goods now than, say, six months ago. You get more bang for your euro, as products priced in sterling, such as clothing for example, are cheaper as the euro grows in strength against the pound. It's also cheaper to take that holiday to London you've been meaning to do recently. But, unless you're going to actively take advantage of the weakness, and either shop or travel to the UK, the impact on you as a consumer is essentially non-existent. Exporters It's a very different game if you're a business selling into Northern Ireland, or Britain. It's become much more expensive to sell your products into the UK market, and that means that you've become less competitive. A survey over the summer of attendees at an Irish Exporters' Association event found that 89pc do business with, or export, to the UK. Of those, the weakening in sterling had had an impact on almost two-thirds. Business body Ibec has warned that the exporting industries most affected by the sterling fall are typically jobs intensive, and are deeply embedded in local economies. Farmers There are fears among the farming community that the UK market may turn away from Irish produce because of the currency issue. The mushroom industry here in particular is under pressure. About 80pc or more of the mushrooms produced in Ireland go into the UK market. Schiele and McDonald Mushrooms in Tipperary town announced its closure last month, arguing it couldn't cope with the pound's devaluation. Gerry Reilly, chairman of the IFA's horticulture committee, told TDs and Senators last month that the mushroom industry in Ireland has been thrown into turmoil since the vote. Tourism In August, Prime Minister Theresa May wants to encourage UK holidaymakers to opt for 'staycations'. The weakened sterling has already done that, making destinations like London and Edinburgh more appealing. But tourism chiefs here fear UK tourists will think twice before making a now costly trip to Ireland. The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation has argued that Britain remains Ireland's largest single source market for inbound visitors, with 3.55 million coming in 2015, a market valued at 995m to the economy. Anything that may dissuade UK holidaymakers from coming here would be a blow for the industry. Border counties and retail A weaker sterling could significantly damage retailers, but particularly for those businesses in the Border area. Consumers in Border counties in the Republic could possibly get a better bargain if they shopped in the North. Businesses in the Border counties in the Republic could also lose customers from the North. The only constant in life is change. Once we appreciate this, we should embrace change and profit from it. The aim for all of us is to be resilient in the face of change, and sufficiently resourceful not only to withstand change, but to thrive on it. Thriving on change is the difference between living and existing. Thriving on change is what makes people strong, impervious to other people's opinions and, ultimately, thriving on change is the only way to live in this tempestuous world. Look at the best companies, the best teams, the most creative people - the one thing they can all do when faced with an altering landscape is tear up Plan A and invent a Plan B. This agility, this lightness of touch, this ability to embrace risk, knowing the pros and cons, is what it is all about. Sometimes you are rewarded, sometimes not, but if you don't give it a go, you will be passed. Now, risk is not for everyone, which is why we have an insurance industry. Insurance minimises risk and seeks to shield people from the vagaries of the real world. In the same way, a permanent job does this. Lots of people want the security of a permanent job. That's their call. But there are very few companies these days that can truly offer their employees a permanent position. As the great world spins, these jobs will become few and far between. The only fundamental aspect that guarantees an element of permanence is to involve yourself in a job that you love and if you love it, you will probably be good at it. In a competitive world, being good is the only thing that ensures permanence, unless, of course, you rig the market by rules and regulations designed to minimise competition and maximise the amount of money you can gouge out of the market that you have rigged. Expand Close British Prime Minister Theresa May at theTory Party Conference in Birmingham at the weekend. Photo: Reuters. REUTERS/Toby Melville / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp British Prime Minister Theresa May at theTory Party Conference in Birmingham at the weekend. Photo: Reuters. REUTERS/Toby Melville The same goes for countries. So imperialist countries in the past rigged the market and gouged the market. This is why the great linen industry of India failed to compete with British linen in the Raj. It wasn't that the Indians weren't good at producing textiles, they were just prevented by a rigged imperialist system that rewarded English producers and penalised Indian ones. We see this all the time. But change can't be prevented - it can only be retarded, at most. So when a country is faced by change, what does it do? The country that stands still, rests on its laurels and shrinks from the changes around it, is the country that will lose. On the other hand, the country that accepts change will at least be giving itself a chance. This brings me to Brexit. The headlines, fed to journalists by civil servants who have an interest in the status quo and don't like change - if they did, they wouldn't be civil servants - talk about the "nightmare" of Brexit. Since Sunday, when the British decided that they were going for the "hard Brexit", we in Ireland have been on the receiving end of definitive lists citing all the terrible things that lie ahead for us because our closest neighbour is leaving the club. But who knows what is going to happen? There are as many reasons to be optimistic as pessimistic. Forget the politics for a minute. Most of the stuff that is written as economics is simply biased political opinion dressed up as analysis. A hard Brexit means that there will be a WTO tariff on British manufacturing goods of around 2pc-3pc. This will drive up the cost of exports in Ireland by this amount. We import 34pc of all our imports from the UK. In June, our total import bill was 6bn. So about 2.2bn came from the UK. So a 3pc tariff on this stuff will be about 70m to the Exchequer. Will 3pc divert our essential imports? I doubt it. Now, look at what happened to imports in July. Imports fell by 11pc from June to July. Why do you think that happened? Could it be because of the dramatic fall in Sterling after the Brexit vote? Of course it was. So the dramatic fall in Sterling has hugely reduced the import bill in Ireland - and this is regarded as a "nightmare"? By who exactly? The fall in Sterling is actually making us richer, not poorer, but it is being spun as a disaster. This isn't permanent, it's change and it has good and bad elements. Think also now about the uncertainty the UK faces for the next few years, particularly with respect to direct foreign investment. Might companies be worried that because the UK is throwing up barriers to highly skilled immigrants, the productivity of their UK investment will fall? This was the gist of what the head of Microsoft said when visiting Dublin yesterday. The implication is that it's not the tariffs that will scare away investment but the fact that investors have to depend on the lumpen English proletariat for their workforce. If this is the case, why should this be a disaster for Ireland, a country that is open to European immigrants? Wouldn't it be a significant positive for us if investment is diverted from the UK? Where is it likely to be diverted to: Romania, Italy, Spain? It is not illogical to suggest that Ireland, as the only English- speaking country in the EU, will be ideally placed to profit from any investment disruptions that Brexit might spark. The key for Ireland is to be as open to trade, investment and migration as possible because, with the British tied up in knots, we have a great chance to stake a legitimate claim as Europe's only pro-business trading nation. Clearly there are issues with the Border. However, the stakeholders in this - ourselves, Stormont and Westminster - all want the Border to stay open for trade and travel. So the only entity that might be intent on stopping this is the EU. Therefore, we should tell it where to go. There needs to be a serious negotiation for a derogation on any hard border between us and the UK; as I said, this is only being suggested by Brussels or its paid-up mouthpieces in the Irish establishment. We have never had a border in terms of travel between both countries, so why start now? If we don't want to police it and the UK doesn't want to police it, would we have Finnish and Spanish police and customs on either side of the border? I doubt it! There is as much chance that, managed properly, Brexit will be good for Ireland. It is change, and change is constant. Change can bring out the best in people, companies and countries - it's simply up to us to tap into that potential. I was very proud of the university students who organised 'Consent Workshops' at the beginning of this year's third-level term. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Criminal Law, Sexual Offences Bill (2015) will progress in Dail Eireann to the next stage to bring it into law. We would urge our politicians, and in particular Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, to strengthen the Bill by including a definition of consent. In Irish law, rape is defined as sexual intercourse without consent. However, although consent marks the dividing line between sex and rape, the concept is not statutorily defined in Irish law. Instead, in Ireland, the guidance on consent hails from case-law, with some cases dating as far back as the late 19th century. This approach to consent is no longer appropriate in 21st-century Ireland. Indeed, reform of this area is necessary to further modernise Irish rape law and the inclusion of a definition of consent would definitely go a long way to strengthen the current Sexual Offences Bill. If the current new drama on RTE2, 'Can't Cope, Won't Cope', is reflective of even some young people's lives and attitudes to sex in contemporary Ireland, the necessity for education and legislation in this area couldn't be more urgent. The Irish legislature needs to send a clear message about what consent to sex means in 21st century Ireland. We believe that the opportunity to provide a statement about what consent means in our society will be lost if a definition of consent is not included in the Bill. Since the publication of the Bill in 2015, we have heard many debates on radio and on television and read numerous articles on all media platforms, discussing consent and its meaning and the need for a clear statutory definition. The absence of a definition of consent means that currently Irish law lags considerably behind other comparable common-law jurisdictions, including England and Wales, Canada and Australian jurisdictions such as Victoria and New South Wales, as well as our nearest neighbours in Northern Ireland. In Irish law, consent is generally defined negatively and the case law usually tells us when consent is deemed to be absent, for example where there is force, fear or fraud. While this guidance is instructive, it is no substitute for a clear positive and modernised legislative statement of what consent is. The omission of a definition of consent from the Sexual Offences Bill would further ignore guidance from the Law Reform Commission (LRC) who, in their Report on Rape & Allied Offences (1988), proposed the following: "'Consent' means a consent freely and voluntarily given and, without in any way affecting or limiting the meaning otherwise attributable to those words, a consent is not freely and voluntarily given if it is obtained by force, threat, intimidation, deception or fraudulent means." A failure to offer physical resistance to a sexual assault does not of itself constitute consent to a sexual assault. While the latter section of this definition was legislated for in section 9 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, which provides that submission does not equate with consent, the remainder of the LRC's recommendation has not been acted on. Given the weight which attaches to the work of the LRC within the legislative process, this is unusual and the time has come to act upon their advice. Having a definition of consent will provide greater guidance for juries and allow judges to give jurors clearer directions in rape cases. A positive legal message about consent will support the various social initiatives such as the Union of Students of Ireland Consent Workshops and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's 'Ask Consent' campaign, which seek to prevent sexual victimisation. Having a positive legal definition of consent provides such campaigns with a more robust platform from which to educate the public about consent. This is a much more difficult task when the State itself has not provided clear guidance for us to follow. It is not my contention that the introduction of a definition of consent will lead to a corollary increase in conviction rates. Such an increase has not been the experience in England and Wales, who defined consent in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Measuring the success of rape law reform in terms of potential increases in conviction rates is not a sensible approach. These cases are notoriously complex and proving a serious offence such as rape had occurred will always be very difficult given that it is one person's word against another's in a situation where there is little, if any, corroborating evidence. It would be naive to expect and foolhardy to suggest that a definition of consent could overcome all of these difficulties. However, a definition of consent will have a powerful symbolic effect and can begin a process of change by sending a clear message of what consent is. Ellen O'Malley Dunlop is Adjunct Professor UL School of Law Actor Benedict Cumberbatch with his wife Sophie Hunter after receiving the CBE at Buckingham Palace Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter attend the Burberry Prorsum show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016/17 on September 21, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images) Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter attend the Burberry Prorsum show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016/17 on September 21, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images) British actor Benedict Cumberbatch (R) and his wife Sophie Hunter (L) pose for photographers on the red carpet for the premiere of Black Mass during the BFI London Film Festival Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter attend the 'Black Mass' Virgin Atlanitc Gala during the BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Fred Duval/Getty Images for BFI) Actor Benedict Cumberbatch with his wife Sophie Hunter after receiving the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II for services to the performing arts and to charity during an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace on November 10, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Devlin - WPA Pool / Getty Images) Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter attend the European Premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" at Leicester Square on December 16, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Benedict Cumberbatch in the royal box on centre court with his wife Sophie Hunter at Wimbledon 2016 Actor Benedict Cumberbatch (R) and director Sophie Hunter attend the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images) Benedict Cumberbatch is deeply concerned about fans who spread conspiracy theories about his private life on the Internet. The British actor married theatre director Sophie Hunter in February 2015, with the couple welcoming a son, named Christopher Carlton, later that year. However, online conspiracy theorists have claimed his marriage is a sham designed to foster good publicity, allegations which Benedict fears are a product of people with a frightening obsession over him. "There are people who believe that my wife is a P.R. stunt and my child is a P.R. stunt," he tells Vanity Fair magazine. "I think really it's to do with the idea that the 'Internet's boyfriend' can't actually belong to anyone else but the Internet. Expand Close Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter attend the Burberry Prorsum show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016/17 on September 21, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter attend the Burberry Prorsum show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016/17 on September 21, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images) "It's impossible he belongs to anyone but me. And that's what stalking is. That's what obsessive, deluded, really scary behaviour is." Despite worrying some fans are infatuated with him, Benedict doesn't mind some of their lighter-hearted fantasies, including one Twitter user who shared her desire to see him eat an apple fritter topless. "I'm glad I'm bringing a ray of sunshine to an otherwise dull day, being imagined eating fritters shirtless," he says. The 40-year-old star doesn't understand why he's become a sex symbol though, as he is still unhappy with his looks. Expand Close Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter attend the 'Black Mass' Virgin Atlanitc Gala during the BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Fred Duval/Getty Images for BFI) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter attend the 'Black Mass' Virgin Atlanitc Gala during the BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Fred Duval/Getty Images for BFI) "I don't know, it makes me giggle," he explains. "I don't look at myself in the mirror and go, 'Yeah, absolutely! I see what they're saying!' I see all my faults and everything that I've always seen as my faults." Benedict's heartthrob status really began in 2010 with his role as cerebral detective Sherlock Holmes in the BBC drama Sherlock. Video of the Day The actor is now set to play another enigmatic genius on screen, as he stars as Dr. Stephen Strange in new Marvel superhero movie Doctor Strange. The new film hits cinemas on 4 November. Noma Dumezweni reads a letter during the first night of the Letters Live series at the Freemasons' Hall, London If letters "cast powerful spells", then actress Noma Dumezweni enchanted an audience with her reading of a deaf-blind author's letter describing the Empire State Building. The Dirty Pretty Things actress read Helen Keller's 1932 missive to a doctor, describing being "whizzed" up the tower and how constant darkness makes you realise "how divine a thing vision is". It was one of a series of historic letters read by a string of famous actors, musicians and writers at Freemasons' Hall in London on Tuesday night. Veteran actor Michael Palin drew a roar of laughter when reading a producer's letter on making cuts from Monty Python And The Holy Grail to secure an appropriate age rating, recounting: "I would like to retain 'fart in your general direction'." Not to be outdone, Jude Law put on his best American accent to read Frank Sinatra's attack on a "pimp" Chicago newspaper columnist whose "source of information stinks". Inspired by Shaun Usher's best-selling Letters Of Note series and Simon Garfield's book To The Letter, Letters Live sees actors and performers reading out literary correspondence to a live audience. The event was first held in December 2013 and is now established as a sell-out fixture. It has since travelled to Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Los Angeles and even the Calais Jungle. It was started by the publishing house Canongate to raise money for literacy charities and to celebrate the "pain, joy, wisdom and humour" of the written word. Charities supported by the event - which runs for five nights from October 4 to 8 - include the Ministry of Stories, Help Refugees and First Story. Video of the Day Canongate chief executive Jamie Byng said: "Letters cast powerful spells. When you sort thoughts into the written word, you suspend thoughts in time." Other speakers included comedian Omid Djalili, actor Charlie Heaton and satirist Julian Clary. Other highlights from the night included Mariella Frostrup reading Sinead O'Connor's letter urging Miley Cyrus to stop "prostituting" herself for the music industry. Frostrup read: "When you're in rehab they will be sunning themselves on their yachts ..." Julian Clary read a moving message from a soldier in the Second World War to his deceased lover - a fellow soldier - holding the audience in complete silence throughout. Television presenter Nicholas Parsons read correspondence from Roald Dahl to a little girl called Elizabeth who hated her new school, encouraging her to never grow up. The night finished with Law reading a long message from the poet Ted Hughes to his son Nicholas on the importance of embracing his childhood self. Law read: "The only thing people regret is that they didn't live boldly enough - nothing else really counts." Letters from figures such as Groucho Marx, Maya Angelou, Kurt Vonnegut, Gene Wilder and James Baldwin were brought to life by the speakers. Benedict Cumberbatch, who appears regularly at Letters Live, has said of the event: "It's a privilege to read this most ancient of communications live to an audience. A truly inspiring event." Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte wave as they leave from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada 9. During a visit to the Taronga Zoo, he became a worldwide sensation. George with his parents and sister arriving in Canada at the weekend. Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images King in waiting: Prince George celebrated his third birthday last week, prompting his father Prince William to comment how spoilt hed been Photo: TPX Images of the Day Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on September 29, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Prince George arrives with family to attend a ceremony to mark their departure at Victoria Harbour seaplane terminal in Victoria during the Royal Tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday October 1, 2016. Photo credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte leave from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada Prince George onboard after a ceremony to mark the departure of the royal visit to Canada at Victoria Harbour seaplane terminal. Prince George arrives with family to attend a ceremony to mark their departure at Victoria Harbour seaplane terminal in Victoria during the Royal Tour of Canada Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte leave from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada Prince George of Cambridge waves as he leaves from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada Prince George of Cambridge waves as he leaves from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada Prince George has been rocking a pair of adorable shorts every time we've seen him. During the royal tour of Canada... Expand Close Prince George arrives with family to attend a ceremony to mark their departure at Victoria Harbour seaplane terminal in Victoria during the Royal Tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday October 1, 2016. Photo credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince George arrives with family to attend a ceremony to mark their departure at Victoria Harbour seaplane terminal in Victoria during the Royal Tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday October 1, 2016. Photo credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire In his third birthday portrait... Expand Close King in waiting: Prince George celebrated his third birthday last week, prompting his father Prince William to comment how spoilt hed been Photo: TPX Images of the Day / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp King in waiting: Prince George celebrated his third birthday last week, prompting his father Prince William to comment how spoilt hed been Photo: TPX Images of the Day For his first Christmas... Expand Close 21. For his official Christmas portrait in 2014, he was full of too-cute poses. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 21. For his official Christmas portrait in 2014, he was full of too-cute poses. And while Kate Middleton and Prince William's decision to dress their children like it's the 1920s has been the subject of much debate, it turns out there's a reason for the styling. British etiquette expert William Hansen explained the very simple reason for his adorable little shorts - it's a sign of his status. "Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys is one of those silent class markers that we have in England. Although times are (slowly) changing, a pair of trousers on a young boy is considered quite middle class quite suburban," he told Cosmopolitan. Video of the Day Similarly, his father and uncle Prince Harry were both often pictured in shorts as kids, sticking to tradition. "The British upper set are always keen to hold on to tradition and this one also silently marks them out from 'the rest'," Hanson added. Expand Close Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on September 29, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on September 29, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Although times are (slowly) changing, a pair of trousers on a young boy is considered quite middle class quite suburban. And no self-respecting aristo or royal would want to be considered suburban. Even the Duchess of Cambridge." We can expect George to be in shorts until he's eight. At we'll always have this picture: John Kerry with Ban Ki-moon at the aid conference in Brussels (AP) Afghanistan's leaders and officials from more than 70 nations have gathered in Brussels seeking to drum up billions of pounds for the cash-strapped Kabul government as it battles a powerful Taliban insurgency and rampant corruption. UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon told reporters: "It's important today that the international community sends a strong message of support." He said Afghanistan's leaders "have been making impressive reforms and development plans to change the lives of people that have been suffering too long". But with donor fatigue growing after 15 years of war, EU officials said ahead of the meeting that it was unclear whether the target of 4 billion US dollars (3.1 billion) would be reached. The last donor conference, in Tokyo in 2012, secured 4 billion dollars in annual subsidies for development. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the EU will pledge 1.2 billion euros (1 billion) for the next four-year period, "and we would expect a similar level of engagement from our partners". She denied reports the bloc is making aid conditional on Afghanistan taking back people who have fled to Europe, saying there is "never a link between our development aid and what we do on migration". Afghanistan has been mired in conflict for decades. At the height of the 15-year US and Nato intervention, billions of pounds flowed into the country, creating a false economy with double-digit growth. But the drawdown of troops in 2014 led many aid workers and international agencies to depart or scale back their operations, causing the economy to all but collapse. Officials estimate up to 50% unemployment, and deteriorating security deters foreign investment in key fields such as mining and infrastructure, and drives the country's youth on to the migrant trail to Europe in search of opportunities. President Ashraf Ghani will nevertheless argue that progress has been made since Tokyo regarding corruption and judicial and electoral reform. AP The strike was said to have taken place following clashes between pro-government forces and IS militants in the Haj Ali area of Iraq An air strike has killed 19 pro-government tribal Sunni fighters near the town of Mosul, which is held by the Islamic State group, an Iraq tribal leader said. Sheikh Nazhan al-Lihaibi said the air strike took place following hours of clashes between his troops and IS militants in the Haj Ali area to the east of the town of Qayara. Mr al-Lihaibi said five more fighters were wounded. The US-led coalition said it had carried out strikes in the area at the request of Iraqi security forces, adding that it had destroyed a building and killed eight enemy fighters. "We are aware of the reports that Sunni tribal fighters were in the building that was struck and we are taking those reports seriously," a spokesman for the US-led coalition said. He said the coalition and Iraqi security forces were carrying out a joint investigation into the incident. Mr al-Lihaibi said his fighters had repelled an attack by IS late on Wednesday, and another two of his fighters had been killed in the clashes. With aerial support from the US-led coalition, Iraqi government forces and paramilitary troops retook the town of Qayara in August. The town, about 45 miles south of Mosul, is key for the long-awaited military operation to dislodge IS militants from Mosul. Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, is located about 225 miles north-west of Baghdad. While the Syrian city of Raqqa is considered the caliphate's de facto capital, Mosul is the largest city under its control. The Iraqi government is now gearing up for a major offensive to retake Mosul from IS. It pledged to recapture the city this year. AP WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said yesterday the group would publish about one million documents related to the US election and three governments in coming weeks, but denied the release was aimed at damaging Hillary Clinton. Mr Assange, speaking via a video link, said the documents would be released before the end of the year, starting with an initial batch in the coming week. Mr Assange (45), who remains at the Ecuadoran embassy in London where he sought refuge in 2012 to avoid possible extradition to Sweden, said the election material was "significant" and would come out before the November 8 US presidential election. Demonising He criticised Ms Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, for demonising his WikiLeaks group's work after a spate of releases related to the Democratic National Committee before the Democratic political convention this summer. Mr Assange said her campaign had falsely suggested that accessing WikiLeaks data would expose users to malicious software. But he denied the release of documents relating to the US election was specifically aimed at damaging Ms Clinton, saying he had been misquoted. "The material that WikiLeaks is going to publish before the end of the year is of ... a very significant moment in different directions, affecting three powerful organisations in three different states as well as ... the US election process," he said via a video link at an event marking the group's 10th anniversary. He said the material would focus on war, weapons, oil, mass surveillance, the technology giant Google and the US election, but declined to give any details. "There has been a misquoting of me and Wikileaks publications ... (suggesting) we intend to harm Hillary Clinton or I intend to harm Hillary Clinton or that I don't like Hillary Clinton. All those are false," he said. Mr Assange had told Fox News in an interview conducted by satellite in August that the group would release significant information related to Ms Clinton's campaign. Mr Assange also signalled changes in the way WikiLeaks is organised and funded, saying the group would soon open itself to membership. He said the group was looking to expand its media ties beyond the 100 outlets it already works with. He told journalists gathered at a Berlin theatre that the group's work would continue, even if he had to resign in the future, and he appealed to supporters to fund its work. He also held up copies of several forthcoming books. Mr Assange is wanted in Sweden for questioning about allegations that he committed rape in 2010. He denies the charges, and says he fears subsequent extradition to the United States, where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is under way. Gavin Williamson is Theresa May's top enforcer in the House of Commons The Tory Chief Whip has joked there is no "special black book" full of the misdeeds of Conservative MPs - it is in fact blue. The much-fabled tome is used to record all of the times the Government's MPs fail to toe the party line. But Gavin Williamson, Theresa May's top enforcer in the House of Commons, told the Conservative conference in Birmingham that the book does not actually exist - at least not in the form people expect. He said: "I know there is a fair amount of mystery surrounding the role of the Whips' Office. "I've heard that we use special tactics to get our way, to make people do as we wish. "I've even heard that we have a special black book where we record all of the misdeeds and the mistakes. "It's hard to imagine that any of our colleagues would ever have a small or minor indiscretion. But conference, I want to set the record straight. "As Chief Whip I can categorically tell you that in the Whip s' Office we do not have a black book. "It's blue." Cod use their swim bladders to make noises that establish territories and attract mates Scientists are attempting to discover if Cornish cod moving north with climate change will be able to understand the accents of their Scouse counterparts. Experts believe the fish, which make sounds with their swim bladders to attract mates, may have regional accents - and if males cannot "chat up" females who speak a different dialect it could threaten their ability to breed. There are also concerns that noise pollution from boats and other marine activities could be drowning out the "gossip" cod need to establish territories, raise the alarm and for mating. Professor Steve Simpson, from the University of Exeter, who is leading the research, said cod had a series of vocalisations, with the ability to change the patterns of their sounds, producing thumps, growls and different frequencies. They have traditional spawning grounds, making populations quite isolated in reproduction - a process in which males produce a sound to stimulate the females to release their eggs. He said: "Recordings of American cod are very different to those from their European cousins, so there is a precedent. "This species is highly vocal with traditional breeding grounds established over hundreds or thousands of years, so the potential for regionalism is there." With climate change, sea temperatures are rising and cold water species such as cod are migrating north. If different regional populations coming into contact for the first time do not share the same vocal repertoire, they could struggle to integrate, share territory and breed, the experts suggest. Prof Simpson has studied fish on coral reefs and found they are susceptible to noise pollution, and new research aims to see what is going on in the UK's seas among fish such as cod and haddock, which also use vocalisations. "Listening to fish is a really good way of surveying what is there, and what their behaviour is," he said. Given that cod produce a variety of sounds for establishing territories, raising the alarm and attracting mates, "we may find that the 'gossip' essential to their society is being drowned out", he said. "If we value our fish stocks - or our Friday night fish supper - we need to understand this," he said. But noise pollution can be tackled more easily than other forms of environmental damage, he suggested. Boats can avoid cod spawning grounds at key times, and research vessels such as the David Attenborough - which shot to fame when a naming competition attracted the suggestion Boaty McBoatface - are being designed to be quiet. Prof Simpson is discussing soundscapes, fish dialects and his team's research at the "Into the Blue" science showcase in Liverpool run by the National Environment Research Council (Nerc). Israel Kristal, right, at the age of 112, when he was presented with his certificate of achievement for being the world's oldest living man The world's oldest man has finally celebrated his bar mitzvah - 100 years later than usual. Israel Kristal, 113, has lived through both World Wars and survived the Auschwitz concentration camp. Earlier this year, Guinness World Records awarded him a certificate as the world's oldest man. But there was one ceremony the supercentenarian observant Jew longed for even more. Born in Poland in 1903, Mr Kristal missed his bar mitzvah - the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony celebrated when a boy turns 13 - because of the First World War. His daughter, Shulamith Kuperstoch, said his children, grandchildren and nearly 30 great-grandchildren had gathered over the weekend to mark the occasion. She said he was very pleased as he recited the traditional Jewish prayer of gratitude while draped in a prayer shawl and surrounded by loved ones. "Everyone sang and danced around him. He was very happy," she told reporters. "It was always his dream to have a bar mitzvah and he really appreciated the moment." Mr Kristal was born to an Orthodox Jewish family near the town of Zarnow in Poland. He was orphaned shortly after the First World War and moved to Lodz to work in the family confectionery business in 1920. During the Nazi occupation of Poland, he was confined to the ghetto there and later sent to Auschwitz and other concentration camps. His first wife and two children were killed in the Holocaust. Mr Kristal survived the Second World War weighing only 37kg (under six stone, or 81lbs) - the only survivor of his large family. He married another Holocaust survivor and moved with her to Israel in 1950 where he built a new family and a successful confectionery business. A devout Jew, he has wrapped phylacteries daily for the past century. Ms Kuperstoch said her father still has a curious spirit and keeps a regular schedule, but she asked reporters not to burden him with questions. She said he was still in good health and could tell stories from the early 20th century about, for example, how he saw his first car at the age of nine and wondered why it was not attached to horses. Ms Kuperstoch also said that her father had no explanation for his incredible longevity. "It's a gift from above," she added. "He doesn't feel like he had any part in it." AP Reporters surround a car carrying Oguchi Hospital chief Yoichi Takahashi as he prepares to head to the bereaved families of the patients, in Yokohama, near Tokyo (Masanori Kumagai/Kyodo News via AP) Authorities in Japan are investigating the poisoning deaths of two elderly patients at a hospital specialising in terminal-stage care. Oguchi Hospital in Yokohama has had a higher death rate in recent months, sparking speculation that the poisoning may have been systematic and more widespread. The case surfaced on September 20 when the hospital informed police of a possible poisoning after an 88-year-old man who died while receiving an intravenous injection. Police confirmed Nobuo Yamaki's IV solution had been contaminated with a disinfectant. He turned out to be the second victim. Police rushed to obtain the body of his former room-mate, who had died two days earlier, before it was cremated and a post-motrtem examination showed he had been poisoned with the same chemical. Hospital staff also found tiny puncture marks in 10 of about 50 intravenous bags stored at the nursing station on the fourth floor, which handles the terminally ill. A lawyer for the hospital, Yuki Uehara,said 46 other patients had died on the same floor from July 1 to September 20. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Oguchi Hospital chief Yoichi Takahashi speaks to the media in front of the hospital in Yokohama, near Tokyo (Masanori Kumagai/Kyodo News via AP) People pass by Oguchi Hospital in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Authorities in Japan are investigating the poisoning deaths of two elderly patients at the hospital specializing in terminal-stage care (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Oguchi Hospital chief Yoichi Takahashi speaks to the media in front of the hospital in Yokohama, near Tokyo (Masanori Kumagai/Kyodo News via AP) The fourth floor can handle up to 42 patients at a time, and normally about half die while hospitalised, Mr Uehara said. Including the two recent deaths, the 48 exceeded 60%, above average but not an abnormal spike, he said. Hospital chief Yoichi Takahashi said last month: "We see many people pass away due to the nature of this hospital, but I had an impression that the number of deaths was somewhat larger than usual." He said his biggest concern was a massive infection, but that possibility was ruled out after checking. When asked, he said he could not rule out criminal activity. Mr Uehara said the hospital had been admitting patients who are more seriously ill than usual, which could also explain the higher death rate. In July, Yokohama officials received an anonymous email about suspicious incidents at the hospital - nurses' aprons torn, a bottled drink laced with bleach and a patient's card missing. Tetsuo Hama, manager of the city's medical affairs department, said officials had thought they were internal harassment cases. Republican Mike Pence has won plaudits for a calm and collected performance in the US vice presidential debate - but it was his Democratic opponent Tim Kaine who landed the most telling blows after forcing him to confront - or not - Donald Trump's provocative remarks. Pressed by Mr Kaine to defend his running mate throughout the 90-minute debate, Mr Pence mostly dodged, sidestepped or ignored the questions. Mr Pence vouched for the New York billionaire's tax history, but was less vocal when challenged about Mr Trump's temperament or his inflammatory words about women and president Barack Obama. "I can't imagine how governor Pence can defend the insult-driven, me-first style of Donald Trump," said Virginia senator Mr Kaine, Hillary Clinton's running mate. Mrs Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta said Mr Kaine had succeeded in his "strategic mission" to challenge Mr Pence to defend his controversial running mate. "Governor Pence was smooth, he seemed sort of likeable, but he didn't get the job done," Mr Podesta said. Both sides appeared willing to concede that the only debate between the vice presidential candidates was unlikely to alter the trajectory of the race for the White House. For Republicans worried their voters will not show up at the polls, Mr Pence's steady performance could help assuage concerns that this year's Republican ticket has veered away from the party's core beliefs. Mr Pence, a former congressman and Indiana's governor, is widely trusted by the Republican establishment and the party's socially conservative base. Mr Kaine rebutted attacks on Mrs Clinton's family foundation, her emails and her struggles persuading voters that she is trustworthy. Mr Kaine said he and his wife trust the Democratic nominee "with the most important thing in our life" - their son, a Marine who would serve under Mrs Clinton if she wins. Yet for the most part, Mr Kaine was determined to make the showdown a referendum on Donald Trump's character. Typically relaxed and easygoing, he adopted a pugilistic approach as he slammed Mr Trump for having called women pigs and slobs, and condemned the New York billionaire's praise of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Mr Pence frequently avoided taking the bait - a shrewd move for a conservative darling who could have eyes on the Oval Office himself if Donald Trump loses in November. Instead, he sought to defuse the line of attack by arguing pre-emptively that it was the Democrats - not Mr Trump - waging an insult-filled campaign. He did not dispute reports that the businessman might not have paid any federal taxes for years as a result of suffering more than 900 million dollars in losses in 1995. But he likened Mr Trump's situation to those of other Americans who have gone "through a very difficult time". "He used the tax code just the way it's supposed to be used," Mr Pence said. "And he did it brilliantly." Kellyann Conway, the Trump campaign manager, faulted Mr Kaine for repeatedly interrupting Mr Pence, and "ignoring the female moderator," Elaine Quijano of CBS News. She took particular issue with how often the Democrat had brought up Mr Trump's name. "It was like he had a tic," Ms Conway said. The campaign's focus shifts back now to the presidential nominees, who meet again on Sunday for the second of three debates. For Donald Trump, it could be a final opportunity to demonstrate the race is not slipping out of his grasp as the balance appeared to tip in Mrs Clinton's favour. AP File photo dated 16/09/2016 of Diane James celebrating with Nigel Farage after being named as the new leader of Ukip at the party's annual conference in Bournemouth, as she has now quit after just 18 days in charge, a senior party source has said. Photo: PA Ukip leader Diane James has quit the role after just 18 days. Ms James said on Tuesday night that she does not "have sufficient authority, nor the full support" of Ukip MEPs and officers to reform party. Her sudden departure paves the way for a potential return by Nigel Farage. Ukip chairman Paul Oakden said the former leader was "ready to serve in any way he can", adding: "I would say anything is possible at the moment." In a statement Ms James said: "It is with great regret that I announce that I will not be formalising my recent nomination to become the new leader of the party with the Electoral Commission. "Having won the enthusiastic support of party members, I was nominated by them as the new leader at the recent Ukip Bournemouth conference. "Since that time I have been in discussion with party officers about the role. It has become clear that I do not have sufficient authority, nor the full support of all my MEP colleagues and party officers to implement changes I believe necessary and upon which I based my campaign. Expand Close Ukip leader Diane James at the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff, as she has now quit after just 18 days in charge. Photo: PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ukip leader Diane James at the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff, as she has now quit after just 18 days in charge. Photo: PA "For personal and professional reasons therefore, I will not take the election process further. "I will continue to concentrate fully on my activities and responsibilities as a Member of the European Parliament." Senior Ukip members reported that Ms James, who took over from Nigel Farage last month, had resigned her position for personal and family reasons. One senior party member told The Telegraph that Ms James has felt uneasy about her new role ever since she was spat at on a train station platform after winning the leadership contest. Her resignation came just hours before a big speech to MEPs in Strasbourg about the future of Ukip in the European Parliament. Ms James beat Lisa Duffy, Bill Etheridge, Phillip Broughton and Elizabeth Jones to win the leadership vote in mid-September. However sources said that her personal concerns about the impact of being leader of the pro-Brexit party and a personal family matter forced her to resign. Rumours had spread earlier on Tuesday about Mrs James being unhappy about signing a fairly straightforward document which formally handed her control of the party. She is said to have been warned that she could not become leader if she continued to refuse to sign the document which would have formalised her election to the post. Former Ukip official David Soutter claimed that Ms James "didn't want to do the job" in the first place and felt pressured into it by Mr Farage and donor Arron Banks. But he said: "After Diane James confirmed Neil Hamilton as Ukip leader in Wales, Farage was incandescent." He added that she "lost" their support over Mr Hamilton's appointment and the row was part of her decision to stand down. Read More Ukip chairman Paul Oakden said: "It is with regret that I have tonight received confirmation that Diane James has chosen to resign as party leader, citing personal and other reasons. I will now look to convene an emergency meeting of our NEC to confirm the process for electing Diane's replacement. "Whilst the decision is unfortunate, it is one that Diane is entitled to make. We thank her for all her work as leader, and as a hard working MEP, a role she will continue with her customary vigour". Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim tweeted to say he had spoken to her earlier in the day and "could sense unease". Douglas Carswell, the party's only MP, tweeted: "In the middle of supper. Not taking calls about UKIP stuff. It's shepherds pie, by the way." Ms James' departure will raise speculation that her predecessor Nigel Farage could make a comeback. A Ukip source said it would be unlikely that he would try to return to the role. In one interview he said "I'm not coming back, I'm retired," but in another he failed to rule out a return. Steven Woolfe was also speculated to be a possible replacement for Ms James, after being excluded from the previous contest because his application was handed in late. Mr Etheridge, who is considering running again, said he was "very disappointed" the leader had stepped down, describing her statement as "peculiar". The MEP told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "Unfortunately, Diane has stood down and the reasons for that are pretty unclear to me." Speaking from Strasbourg, he added: "That's rather a peculiar statement that she's made because, as far as I'm aware, being out here with MEPs and colleagues, we've all been ready and willing to help and support her in what she wanted to do. "She won the election fair and square and we were all ready to back her." Mr Etheridge, a runner-up in the leadership race, added that he would not rule out standing again for leader. Sources close to Suzanne Evans, another possible future leader, said she was surprised at the news but is not currently considering a leadership bid. Ms James saw off a challenge from local politician and former TK Maxx manager Lisa Duffy, commanding 47.4 per cent of the vote to Mrs Duffy's 25.7 per cent. She took the top job with 8,451 votes. During the leadership battle she promised to have a "laser focus" on the Brexit negotiations but refused to set out any policies, insisting she did not want to make "policy on the hoof". Just days into her leadership Ms James was verbally attacked and spat at in Waterloo station. That incident is said to have had a major impact on her decision. A source said that she had been left "traumatised" by the experience, adding: "Diane doesnt really want to talk about it because I think she is concerned that it will encourage others to try it again." Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Ukip leader Diane James at the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff, as she has now quit after just 18 days in charge. Photo: PA Diane James has stepped down as Ukip leader after 18 days in the role, a senior party source has said. In a statement announcing her decision, Ms James revealed she had not yet formalised her nomination as leader, meaning that she never formally took over from predecessor Nigel Farage after her landslide election on September 16. In a statement, the 56-year-old MEP for South East England said that it had become clear in discussions with party officials that she did not have "sufficient authority" to push through changes which she had planned. Ms James, the frontrunner throughout the leadership campaign, was backed by supporters of Mr Farage and Ukip's millionaire funder Arron Banks. During the contest she promised to have a ''laser focus'' on the Brexit negotiations, but refused to set out any policies, insisting she did not want to make "policy on the hoof". Ms James first won election to Waverley Borough Council in Surrey as an independent in 2007 after becoming "disillusioned" with the Conservatives. She switched to Ukip in 2011 and shot to national prominence in 2013 when she fought the parliamentary by-election in Eastleigh, Hampshire, resulting from the downfall of Cabinet minister Chris Huhne, who was jailed for lying about a speeding offence. She came close to taking the seat from the Liberal Democrats, coming second with 27.8pc - fewer than 2,000 votes behind the winning candidate. Elected Ms James (56) was elected as an MEP in 2014, as part of the political "earthquake" achieved as Ukip became the first non-mainstream party in modern times to win a national election in the UK. She was appointed Ukip's deputy chairwoman and home affairs spokeswoman, but stood aside from a planned bid to become an MP in the general election in 2015 for "personal reasons", after being selected as candidate for North West Hampshire. Ms James raised some eyebrows in a 2015 interview by declaring her admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin, describing him as "a strong leader". Rescue workers in Haiti have struggled to reach cut-off towns and learn the full extent of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew as the storm began battering the Bahamas and triggered large-scale evacuations along the US East Coast. At least 11 deaths were blamed on the powerful storm during its week-long march across the Caribbean, five of them in Haiti. But with a key bridge washed out, roads impassable and phone communications down, the western tip of Haiti was isolated and there was no full accounting of the dead and injured in Matthew's wake. After moving past Haiti, Matthew rolled across a corner of Cuba and then began pounding the southern Bahamas with winds of 120 mph and heavy rain on a course expected to take it near the capital city of Nassau. Forecasters said the storm could hit Florida - or come dangerously close - late on Thursday or early Friday and then scrape the East Coast up to the Carolinas over the weekend. Matthew could become the first major hurricane to blow ashore in the US since Wilma slashed across Florida in 2005. On Tuesday, Matthew swept across a remote area of Haiti with 145 mph winds, wrecking homes and swamping roads. But government leaders in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere said they were not close to fully gauging the effect in the flood-prone nation where less powerful storms have killed thousands. "What we know is that many, many houses have been damaged. Some lost rooftops and they'll have to be replaced, while others were totally destroyed," Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph said. Mourad Wahba, the UN secretary-general's deputy special representative for Haiti, said at least 10,000 people were in shelters and hospitals were overflowing. He called the hurricane the biggest humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the devastating earthquake of 2010. Aid groups with representatives in the area said it was clear that many homes and crops were destroyed but that the extent was impossible to gauge, especially in the Grand Anse area on the southern tip, which took a direct hit. "We have people in Grand Anse that we cannot reach," Hervil Cherubin, country director for Heifer International, a non-profit that works with local farmers. While the capital, Port-au-Prince, was essentially back to normal, there was still widespread flooding across southern Haiti. "There's absolutely nothing we can do to protect ourselves here," said motorcycle taxi driver Joseph Paul as he watched torrents of brown water wash over a road and deluge his low-lying neighbourhood in Leogane. "This storm was too much for us, and we are at its mercy." The US government said it sent experts to Haiti to assess the damage and is providing 1.5 million US dollars (1.1 million) in food and other disaster assistance. Later, officials in Haiti say they were indefinitely postponing a presidential election scheduled for Sunday because of the damage from Hurricane Matthew. The hurricane also blew across the sparsely populated tip of Cuba overnight, destroying dozens of homes in Cuba's easternmost city, Baracoa, and damaging hundreds of others. People stood amid the rubble of their homes, weeping, hugging or staring stunned into the distance. Others scoured piles of concrete and rebar for any possessions they could recover. Some carried cooking pots and rolled-up mattresses through the streets on their way to a shelter. "I've never seen something like this in my life," said Elva Perez, 55, as she stood by what remained of her home. "For more than 200 years, here in this house, nothing like this has ever happened." At the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the storm knocked down trees and caused road flooding but no injuries or major damage, said Julie Ripley, a spokeswoman. Along the East Coast, people boarded up beach homes, some schools closed and residents began clearing out. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley announced plans to evacuate a quarter-million people from the coast, not counting tourists. Florida's Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, asked some 150,000 residents in low-lying areas or mobile homes to move to safety. Florida Governor Rick Scott urged other coastal residents potentially in harm's way to leave as well. "If you're able to go early, leave now," he said. AP The Israeli navy has intercepted a boat carrying pro-Palestinian female activists trying to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and said it was escorting the vessel ashore. The Israeli military said the takeover was brief and there were no injuries - avoiding a repeat of violence seen during a 2010 takeover of an international flotilla in which 10 Turks were killed in clashes with Israeli troops. The incident occurred on a day of renewed fighting in Gaza, where the Israeli air force struck a series of targets in response to a Palestinian rocket strike earlier in the day. There were no reports of injuries on either side. The boat was sponsored by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a group of pro-Palestinian groups based mostly in Europe. The Dutch-flagged boat was carrying 13 female activists from different countries headed by Mairead Maguire, an Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate. A retired US colonel and former South African Olympic athlete were also on board, along with women from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Russia and Malaysia. Zaher Darwish, one of the coordinators of the flotilla, said the boat was intercepted about 40 miles from Gaza and was not carrying any aid. He said the goal was "symbolic" - to call attention to the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, which he called illegal. "People have the right to move. We have the right to move," Mr Darwish said. "We are aiming to the conscience of the people. And the conscience of governments. They have to act and express their non-acceptance of this situation." Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after the Hamas militant group seized power in 2007. The blockade has stifled Gaza's already weak economy, where unemployment is over 40%, and prevented tens of thousands of people from travelling abroad for jobs, studies and other visits overseas. Israel says the restrictions are needed to prevent Hamas from importing weapons, and says it has eased the blockade to allow more goods into the territory. It considers Hamas, an armed group sworn to Israel's destruction, a terrorist group, and the sides have fought three wars since the Hamas takeover. In a statement on Wednesday, the Israeli military said the navy carried out the raid "after exhausting all diplomatic channels." It said forces ordered the boat to change course, and when it refused, they boarded and searched it. The military said male and female soldiers participated in the raid, and that the search was "uneventful". The boat was being escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod, the military said, a process that was expected to take several hours. There was no word on what would happen to the people on board. In the past, activists have been arrested and quickly deported. The raid sharply contrasted with the 2010 takeover, in which Israeli naval forces were confronted by crowds of activists armed with pipes and knives as they boarded a Turkish ship. Ten Turkish activists, one of them a dual American citizen, were killed during violent clashes. The incident contributed to six years of diplomatic tensions with Turkey that were resolved only this year in a deal that included an Israeli apology and reparations, Turkish pledges to limit Hamas activity on its territory and a restoration of full diplomatic relations. Wednesday's rocket strike landed in Sderot, a southern Israeli town on the Gaza border. Although no one was wounded, such incidents have been rare since a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in the summer of 2014. Israel struck a series of Hamas posts throughout Gaza in response, sending tall plumes of smoke into the air. An obscure group that said it draws inspiration from the Islamic State group claimed responsibility. Israel, however, holds Hamas responsible for all attacks emanating from the territory. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum urged international activists to continue sending flotillas to Gaza. "This is an Israeli piracy and organised state terrorism reflecting how deep the Israeli entity has gone in its aggression, crimes and violations against our people and those who show solidarity with it," he said. AP US secretary of state John Kerry, left, talks with Prince Aga Khan during a Conference on Afghanistan in Brussels (AP) US secretary of state John Kerry has said Afghanistan's recent peace deal with a notorious warlord could be a model for reconciliation with the Taliban. Mr Kerry said last week's agreement with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar requires his commanders to cease violence, cut ties with terrorist groups and accept the Afghan constitution's rights for women and minorities. In return, he can rejoin Afghan society. The September 29 peace treaty was Afghanistan's first since the Taliban's overthrow in 2001. Hekmatyar is believed to have killed thousands of Afghans. The US declared him a "global terrorist" in 2003, while the UN blacklisted him that same year. Both are considering lifting sanctions. Mr Kerry said at an Afghanistan conference in Brussels that the Taliban should take note, and said a political settlement is the honourable way to end the conflict. A woman pushes a wheelbarrow while walking in a partially flooded street, in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Photo: AFP/Getty Images A man stands near a house damaged by Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares Trees sway with the wind during Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Men attempt to push a wheelbarrow across a flooded street while Hurricane Matthew passes through Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins A man pushes a wheelbarrow as he wades across a flooded street while Hurricane Matthew passes through Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins A man pushes a bicycle in a flood zone after Hurricane Matthew passed through Les Cayes, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares Supporters of Fanmi Lavalas political party splash around in water on a flooded street as they take part in a gathering while Hurricane Matthew passes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins A view of trees damaged by the wind during Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares People walk on the road as rain falls during Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares A structure lays on the ground, brought down by the winds of Hurricane Matthew in Leogane, Haiti (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) People walk along a road after Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares Trees damaged by wind are seen during Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares People watch from the other side of the La Digue river as water roars past the destroyed Petit Goave bridge, as Hurricane Matthew passes over, in Petit Goave, Haiti ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) An Irish charity based in Haiti is launching an urgent appeal to raise much needed funds after the devastation left in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The hurricane has been described as the fiercest Caribbean storm in over a decade and has left thousands of people homeless. Haven was established in 2008 and has been working solely in Haiti after a number of disasters rocked the country including an earthquake in 2010 which left over 200,000 people dead. The charity is now asking the public to support the people of Haiti with whatever small donation they can. The storm battered the southwest coast of the country and has flooded many of the coastal towns. Director of Haven, John Moore, has described how the country has been affected. Families across Haiti are in shock after the third major natural disaster to hit the country since 2010. "As well as the critical damage done to the their communities as a whole, some of Havens key livelihoods programmes - including the Christine Farm and the Income Generation Programme on the island of Ile a Vache - have been destroyed. Haven is now accepting donations for the Hurricane Matthew recovery. To donate, please visit Havens website - https://www.havenpartnership.com/donation/ - or call 01 681 5441. Much of the fighting in Syria is centred on the city of Aleppo (AP) United Nations analysis of satellite imagery has proven an air strike destroyed an aid convoy taking aid to besieged parts of Aleppo, despite Russian claims that the lorries may have accidentally caught fire or been hit by a raebel mortar. At least 20 people were killed in the attack near the northern Syrian city, which incinerated a joint UN. and Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy. The US swiftly said Russian aircraft were thought to be responsible but the Kremlin denied the accusations and floated several alternative scenarios, which were dismissed by experts. With our analysis we determined it was an air strike and I think multiple other sources have said that as well, Lars Bromley, research adviser at UNOSAT said on Wednesday. Expand Close Fresh fighting has broken out in the Syrian city of Aleppo, according to reports / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fresh fighting has broken out in the Syrian city of Aleppo, according to reports United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is establishing an internal UN board of inquiry to investigate the attack and urged all parties to fully cooperate. Previous analysis of debris found at the site of the attack on 19 September uncovered fragments of what appeared to by Russian fragmentation bombs. American officials said two Russian Sukhoi SU-24 jets were in the skies at the exact time of the strike, following footage broadcast live by Russia Today showing a military drone monitoring the convoy's progress. But Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russia's defence ministry, initially said there was no evidence the lorries had been struck by "ordnance". He claimed damage visible in footage was caused by the cargo catching fire, suggesting the convoy could be carrying militant weapons and seeking to implicate the \Nobel Prize-nominated White Helmets group of rescue volunteers. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, has accused Bashar al-Assad's government and its allies, including Russia, of presiding over a "ghastly avalanche of violence and destruction" in rebel-held districts of Aleppo. Expand Close Syrians watch a burning car among damaged buildings after air strikes in Aleppo (White Helmets/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Syrians watch a burning car among damaged buildings after air strikes in Aleppo (White Helmets/AP) The attacks over the past ten days have been the most intense the inhabitants of eastern Aleppo have endured since the conflict began, and not a single neighbourhood is now considered safe," he said, specifically reminding Russia of its obligations under international weapons conventions. "All seem to indicate that the ongoing operations are conducted in complete disregard for the most basic standards of international humanitarian law..the current operation by the Syrian Government and its allies appears to be intended to force the surrender of fighters in eastern Aleppo by any means necessary." Iron roofing and rubble litter a corridor in the MSF Kunduz Trauma Centre after the October 3 aerial attack which killed 22 staff and patients A young patient, whose leg was severly damaged when struck by shrapnel from a mortar, plays with a balloon at Medecins Sans Frontieres A year ago this week a relentless, hour-long aerial bombardment destroyed the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. More than 200 shells and countless machine-gun rounds from a US Air Force AC130 gunship killed 42 patients and medical staff, and destroyed the hospital. I was the hospitals medical director for the six months prior to the attack. Expand Close Qudus brought his four year old dauger khal Bibi in after she fell through the roof of their home and injured her leg / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Qudus brought his four year old dauger khal Bibi in after she fell through the roof of their home and injured her leg I left the post two weeks before the strike. Fourteen of my colleagues died that night, and in the year that has followed grief has taken many forms. This is war, many say, and people die. Thats true. But even war has rules. Expand Close Iron roofing and rubble litter a corridor in the MSF Kunduz Trauma Centre after the October 3 aerial attack which killed 22 staff and patients / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Iron roofing and rubble litter a corridor in the MSF Kunduz Trauma Centre after the October 3 aerial attack which killed 22 staff and patients Today, MSFs trauma hospital in Kunduz remains closed. The aid agency is still seeking assurances that its hospitals will never again be an explicit target of war. Hundreds of lives that this hospital would have saved over the past 12 months have been lost, uncounted in the death toll of this attack. Shrapnel Expand Close One of the 4,400 patients with renal failure in Yemen / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp One of the 4,400 patients with renal failure in Yemen The fighting season started in April, shortly after I arrived. It was the busiest the hospital had been since opening four years earlier. War casualties escalated. There was constant pressure on beds. We treated anyone who needed medical attention, from both sides of the conflict. The vast majority were civilians. One day, the mother of one of our nurses was brought in. A bomb had landed on their home and a piece of shrapnel had buried itself in her brain. It was inoperable, so we admitted her for palliative care. After weeks in a coma, one day she woke up, surprising us all. Later, she was able to return home. Expand Close MSF facility in Haydan. August 2015. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp MSF facility in Haydan. August 2015. Another day we admitted a boy with a head injury, an open pelvic fracture and a serious back injury sustained in a road traffic accident. He spent weeks in the intensive care unit, but with intensive support and multiple surgeries, he slowly began to improve. When he woke, we met a determined young man with a wicked smile. It was this smile that I recognised months later in the outpatient clinic. Not yet fully mobile, he was back on his feet using aids. I was so proud to be part of this hospital, but thats all gone now. Its hard to think of those broad corridors that once heaved with energy and determination against the daily chaos of war. Now the building is a burnt-out shell, emptied of life and heaped in dust. Killed in the attack was Dr Satar, our hugely respected and witty deputy medical director; Tasheel, our energetic pharmacist; Dr Osmani, a joyful young doctor who was always volunteering for extra shifts; and Najeebullah, the cleaner, whose smile transcended any language barrier. When the fighting swamped the city that week, these men took their families to safety, then made the perilous journey back across frontlines to the hospital to care for all those injured in the fighting. Hundreds and hundreds came in that week. The hospital swelled to 150 beds. These men were killed as they provided medical care. Survivors of the attack listened to their agonising cries as they bled from blown-off limbs or were burned alive; no one was able to help them or reduce their suffering. Our patients were sitting ducks, immobilised in their intensive care beds, in the place to which they had come for care and cover from the conflict. This attack was with weapons designed to kill en masse. The injustice of this keeps my grief open, like an infected wound. In the year that has passed, it has become painfully clear that the attack was just the tip of an iceberg. By June this year, Physicians for Human Rights had counted 382 attacks on 269 separate health facilities in Syria since the violence there began. Protected More than 100 hospital bombings have been reported in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition commenced its airstrike campaign, with its opponents also employing negligent and loose rules of engagement. There have been recent hospital bombings, too, in Iraq, Palestine and Ukraine. The UN has adopted multiple resolutions calling for International Humanitarian Law to be respected and healthcare to be protected. Yet in both Yemen and Syria, four of the five permanent members of the Security Council remain implicated in some way in these ongoing hospital attacks. The Russian-backed, Syrian-led coalition is bombing Syria at a horrendous rate. France, Britain and the US are supporting the Saudi-led coalition as they repeatedly bomb hospitals in Yemen. Governments have it within their power to take meaningful action to stop these attacks. Yet they offer lip-service to the UN resolutions, while ignoring their own role in these attacks. If health facilities cannot function or are unsafe to attend, the number and severity of victims escalates way beyond the already intolerable levels of these terrible conflicts. This is why, despite everything, those of us who worked in Kunduz hospital, including those who lived through the bombing, all wish to return to work there. Working in that hospital, the immense needs of the people were undeniable. A bombed hospital saves no lives. Dr Declan Barry has been on numerous assignments with Medecins Sans Frontieres including Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. MSF is an independent medical humanitarian organisation see msf.ie and stopbombinghospitals.org People that fled Islamic State contolled areas travel on the back of a vehicle in al-Rai town, in the northern Aleppo countryside People that fled Islamic State contolled areas travel on the back of a vehicle in al-Rai town, in the northern Aleppo countryside. Photo: Reuters The United Nations human rights chief has called for a limit to Security Council veto powers, saying "extraordinary" measures must be taken to break a deepening diplomatic deadlock and halt the violence in Syria. The intervention came amid a near total collapse of diplomatic efforts to end the violence in Syria after the United States ended talks with Russia over its refusal to halt a bombing campaign in Aleppo. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, said yesterday that Moscow and Damascus "know exactly what they need to do" for a resumption of diplomatic efforts, but that so far they had been pursuing a scorched earth policy. "Where they make a desert, they call it peace," Mr Kerry said, quoting the Roman historian Tacitus. British, French, German, Italian and US officials are to meet in Berlin today to attempt to find a political solution to the crisis, but it is unclear what progress they can make without Russian involvement. The United States suspended all contacts with Russia over Syria on Monday, saying Moscow had "failed to live up to its own commitments" under a jointly brokered ceasefire deal that unraveled last month. Expand Close A medic holds a dead child after airstrikes in the rebel held Karam Houmid neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A medic holds a dead child after airstrikes in the rebel held Karam Houmid neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria. Photo: Reuters International concerns centre on Aleppo, where pro-government forces backed by intense Russian airstrikes are attempting to capture the rebel-held eastern part of the city. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ''said only a restriction on the blocking powers of the five permanent members of the Council could halt the "ghastly avalanche of violence and destruction" overtaking the country. "The UN Security Council should, without any further delay, adopt criteria to restrain members from using the veto when there are serious concerns that war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide may have been committed," Mr Zeid said in a statement. Limiting the veto power of the five permanent members of the Security Council would allow suspected war crimes to be referred to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, he said. He singled out Russian and regime airstrikes and the opposition's use of rockets attached to gas canisters for particular criticism. Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, was in "deep talks" on the way forward following the US announcement, his office said yesterday. Meanwhile, Russia voiced doubts over a new French-sponsored draft resolution aimed at imposing a ceasefire in Aleppo. The proposals submitted on Monday called for the suspension of all military flights over Aleppo, allowing humanitarian aid to be delivered, and establishing a centre to monitor the ceasefire. Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the UN, said Moscow viewed the resolution as unlikely to work in its original form. "I'm not even sure many other council members would like to see a resolution on cessation of hostilities which has no chance of working," he said at a press conference. "If the only effect of that resolution is that the secretary general will start thinking of some monitoring mechanism which is not going to work in the first place, then there is not much sense in having that resolution," he said. The Russian foreign ministry said yesterday that its embassy in Damascus came under mortar fire. No one was hurt in the attack on Monday, the ministry said in a statement. Syrian government forces have been targeting their assault on the eastern, rebel-held neighbourhoods of Aleppo, while rebel shelling of government-controlled parts of the city has left at least two people dead. Rebels said pro-government forces are attacking the city from the south in a bid to penetrate its opposition-controlled areas, where the UN estimates 275,000 people are trapped in a government siege. The Islamic Front rebel coalition said on Twitter that its factions repelled an advance on the Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood. The rebel shelling on the city university's School of Sciences killed two students, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, but state media put the toll at six dead and 47 wounded. Also yesterday, activists raised the death toll from a suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in the north-eastern city of Hasakah the previous night to at least 34, including 11 children. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State (Isil) group, which said its fighters had targeted a gathering of a Kurdish political party, without mentioning a wedding celebration. A new dad's excitement at the birth of his son turned to mirth when he saw a charge on the hospital bill, simply for holding his child. Ryan Grassley was surprised at the $39.35 charge on the bill for skin-to-skin after C-sec just one part of a $13,280.49 bill for the birth. His post on Reddit about the bill has sparked huge outrage, although the new dad laughed it off. The nurse let me hold the baby on my wife's neck/chest. Even borrowed my camera to take a few pictures for us. Everyone involved in the process was great, and we had a positive experience. We just got a chuckle out of seeing that on the bill, he commented on his Reddit post. During the C-section the nurse asked my wife if she would like to do skin to skin after the baby was born. Which of course anyone would say yes to. We just noticed it in the bill today and had a laugh. All these internet points I've been showered with make me feel better about the $40. This could be my proudest moment as a father. A nurse on Reddit offered a possible explanation: I didn't know that hospitals charged for it, but doing skin to skin in the operating room requires an additional staff member to be present just to watch the baby. We used to take all babies to the nursery once the NICU team made sure everything was okay. Skin to skin in the OR is a relatively new thing and requires a second Labor and Delivery RN to come in to the OR and make sure the baby is safe. Skin-to-skin contact can be extremely beneficial to babies, especially early on. It helps to regulate the babys heart, breathing and transfers good bacteria to the babys immune system. Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti's southwestern tip with howling, 230kph winds yesterday, tearing off roofs in the poor and largely rural area, uprooting trees and leaving rivers bloated and choked with debris. At least nine deaths were blamed on the storm during its week-long march across the Caribbean, including three in Haiti. Forecasters said Matthew could hit Florida toward the end of the week and push its way up the east coast of the United States over the weekend. The forecast triggered a rush by Americans to stock up on food, gasoline and other emergency supplies. The dangerous Category 4 storm - at one point the most powerful hurricane in the region in nearly a decade - blew ashore around dawn in the poorest country in the western hemisphere, hitting a corner of Haiti where many people live in shacks of wood or concrete blocks. It unloaded heavy rain as it swirled on toward a lightly populated part of Cuba and the Bahamas. Damage in the hardest-hit part of Haiti appeared to be widespread, but because of spotty communications, blocked roads and washed-out bridges, the full extent was not immediately clear. Nor was the number of deaths. The country's Civil Protection Agency said many homes were damaged or destroyed. "It's the worst hurricane that I've seen during my life," said Fidele Nicolas, a civil protection official in Nippes, just east of where Matthew came ashore. "It destroyed schools, roads, other structures." At least three deaths were blamed on the storm in Haiti, including one person whose home was crushed by a tree in Port Salut and a 26-year-old man who drowned trying to rescue a child who had fallen into a rushing river, authorities said. The child was saved. Four deaths were recorded in the neighbouring Dominican Republic and one each in Colombia and in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The storm left the peninsula that runs along the southern coast of Haiti cut off from the rest of the country. Many streets were impassable because of flooding, landslides or fallen trees. Local radio reported that the water was shoulder high in parts of the city of Les Cayes. Evacuate Haitian authorities had tried to evacuate people from the most vulnerable areas ahead of the storm, but many were reluctant to leave their homes. Some sought shelter only after the worst was already upon them. "Many people are now asking for help, but it's too late because there is no way to go evacuate them," said Fonie Pierre, director of Catholic Relief Services for the Les Cayes area, who was huddled in her office with about 20 people. In the US, Florida governor Rick Scott urged coastal residents to prepare for the possibility of a direct hit and line up three days' worth of food, water and medicine. "We do not know yet whether the centre of Matthew will actually come ashore in Florida. That's possible," said Rick Knabb, director of the hurricane centre. US Vice-President Joe Biden has accused Donald Trump of"ignorance" over his remark that some members of the military develop mental health issues because they are not "strong," and "can't handle it". "How can he be so out of touch?" Mr Biden asked in an interview with CNN yesterday. He said Mr Trump was "not a bad man". But he added: "His ignorance is profound, so profound." The Republican presidential candidate caused fury among military men and mental health professionals when he made the controversial remarks during a question and answer session with veterans in Virginia. "When you talk about the mental health problems, when people come back from war and combat, they see things that maybe a lot of the folks in this room have seen many times over," he said. "And you're strong and you can handle it, but a lot of people can't handle it. And they see horror stories, they see events that you couldn't see in a movie - nobody would believe it." While Mr Trump appeared sympathetic to the problem, his diagnosis, linking post-traumatic stress to someone's mental strength, goes against the work of doctors who have spent decades trying to destigmatise depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many service members think they should handle these issues on their own and that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Suicide has become an epidemic among veterans, and more than 20 end their lives each day. "At the very least, it's a very poor choice of words. PTSD is basically a rewiring of the brain as the result of trauma or prolonged trauma. That is not a reflection of a person's strength, character, stamina - any of that," said David Maulsby, the executive director of the Texas-based PTSD Foundation of America. Mr Biden, whose late son Beau was a highly decorated veteran, seemed personally offended by the comments. "Where the hell is he from?" he asked a crowd in Florida, gathered for a rally to support Hillary Clinton. He said he carried in his pocket every day a list of his engagements, and on it a list of the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Every one of those warriors left behind a family. A community," he said. "Over 200,000 coming home with unseen wounds. I don't think he was trying to be mean. He is just so thoroughly, completely uninformed." Mr Trump's campaign defended the comments. "The media continues to operate as the propaganda arm of Hillary Clinton as they took Mr Trump's words out of context in order to deceive voters and veterans - an appalling act that shows they are willing to go to any length to carry water for their candidate of choice," said retired Lt Gen Michael Flynn, one of Mr Trump's top advisers, in a statement. "Mr Trump was highlighting the challenges veterans face when returning home after serving their country." Earlier, Trump tried to transform the controversy surrounding the 1995 tax document published by the 'New York Times' into a positive message, boasting that he had kept his business afloat when many others went under. Ms Clinton accused him of "taking from America with both hands" following revelations that he may have legally avoided paying income tax for almost two decades. "The news media is now obsessed with an alleged tax filing from the 1990s, at the end of a recession," he said at a rally in Colorado. "What had been a booming economy in the year of Ronald Reagan faced near collapse. We'd never seen anything like it. Many business people, including some of my friends, were not able to survive." He said his businesses had come back "bigger" and "stronger". He said he had created "thousands and thousands of jobs" with his "talent" for business. Contrasting himself with Ms Clinton, he claimed the Democratic nominee "never created a single job in her life". He again boasted that he had "brilliantly" used tax law in such a way as to pay "as little tax as possible". With only five weeks to go until election day, Mr Trump's campaign has been thrown into disarray with a series of missteps and scandals that have seen his poll numbers atrophy. A new poll of likely voters by Politico/Morning Consult taken this week showed Ms Clinton beating her rival by seven points in a two-way contest. But Mr Trump's strategists have struggled to develop a coherent response to the documents published by the 'New York Times' over the weekend, which showed that the Republican nominee was able legally to avoid paying federal taxes for 18 years after his companies lost nearly $916m in a single year. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Malaysian authorities have detained nine Australian men for three nights following the incident (AP) Nine Australians, including a government adviser, have been arrested in Malaysia for stripping down to their briefs and drinking beer from shoes after Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo won the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix. Officials confirmed that Jack Walker, adviser to Australian defence industry minister Chris Pyne, was among the men aged 25 to 29 who were arrested after they stripped down to Budgy Smuggler-brand swimsuits decorated with the Malaysian flag in full view of thousands of spectators at the Sepang race track on Sunday. Mr Pyne's office said the matter was being "handled appropriately" by the Australian High Commissioner in Malaysia. "Until we have a clearer picture of the process at hand, it would be unwise to comment further," a government statement said. District police chief Abdul Aziz Ali said the men were being investigated for "intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace" and public indecency. He said police would submit a report to prosecutors, who will decide on Thursday if the men will be charged. The men could face up to six months in jail, a fine or both if they are found guilty. Sepang International Circuit chief executive Datuk Razlan Razali told the New Straits Times website the men deserved to be locked up and have action taken against them. "This shows a huge lack of respect to us as Malaysians; this is stupid behaviour from foreigners who have no sense of cultural sensitivity and respect," he said. "It embarrasses their own country as well - it gives Australians a bad name," he added. Treasurer Scott Morrison said the arrests were a reminder for travellers to know local laws and respect them. The Australian government already warns travellers that there are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in many parts of Malaysia. Opposition leader Bill Shorten declined to discuss Mr Walker's behaviour, saying he did not want to jeopardise a complex situation. "It's incredibly serious when an Australian gets arrested overseas," he told reporters. Don Rothwell, an Australian National University expert on international law, doubted Malaysian authorities would treat the Australians harshly. "The Malaysian government will be sure to make sure that its international reputation as a tourist destination for the Grand Prix is not too damaged," Mr Rothwell said. AP Thousands of refugees put their lives at risk in a desperate attempt to reach Europe PA Amnesty International has accused the UK of shirking its responsibilities towards refugees and has called on the Home Secretary to rethink Britains response to the migrant crisis. Ten countries, accounting for just 2.5 per cent of global GDP, are sheltering 56 per cent of the worlds 21 million refugees, according to a report published on Tuesday. The rights group criticised the wealthiest countries for showing a near absence of leadership and responsibility while the refugee crisis escalates. It said the UK hosts less than one per cent of the worlds refugees and called on Home Secretary Amber Rudd to rethink aspects of the UKs response, which it said were having a disastrous impact on refugees in the UK and abroad. The report highlights the contrast in the number of refugees from Syria taken by its neighbours and by other countries with similar populations. The UK has taken fewer than 8,000 Syrian refugees since the countrys civil war began in 2011, while Jordan, which has a population almost 10 times smaller than the UK and just 1.2 per cent of its GDP, hosts more than 655,000 Syrian refugees. Turkey has taken more than 2.5 million, Pakistan 1.6 million, and Lebanon has taken in more than 1.5 million, as the chart by Statista shows. The remaining six nations were Iran, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad. Kate Allen, director of Amnesty UK, said: The new Home Secretary must reassess the disastrous impact the UKs refusal to share responsibility for refugees is having both domestically and internationally. The whole system needs a compassion overhaul. Its disgraceful that the UK hosts less than one per cent of the worlds refugees when our size and prosperity mean we should do so much more. Desperate families are forced into the hands of traffickers precisely because countries like ours have pulled up the drawbridge. Smaller, poorer neighbouring countries are left to try and cope, and when they cant, more people are forced to try to move on, seeking a basic level of safety. Amber Rudd should start by allowing refugees with relatives already in the UK to be reunited with each other here. Women, men and children are sleeping in tents in the mud across the world, desperate for any opportunity to join parents, siblings and other family in the UK. Amnesty has called on all countries to take a fair proportion of the worlds refugees based on criteria such as wealth, population and unemployment. The rights group singled out Canada, which has taken in nearly 30,000 Syrian refugees since November 2015, as an example of how countries can resettle large numbers of refugees. A Government spokesperson said: We are committed to resettling vulnerable refugees directly from the region to ensure we target our help at those most in need, deterring people from attempting perilous journeys and preventing criminal gangs from profiting from human trafficking. "We have committed to resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees through our Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme over the course of this parliament and we are on track to achieve this. "We will also bring 3,000 individuals to the UK from the Middle East and North Africa over the same period under the Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Scheme. "This Government remains at the forefront of the international response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region, having pledged more than 2.3 billion in aid and providing nearly 70 million in response to the Mediterranean migration crisis. Teenage democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sent back to Hong Kong after being barred from entering Thailand, security officials said. Officials said he was put on a Hong Kong Airlines flight back to the specially administered Chinese region about 12 hours after he arrived at Bankok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The 19-year-old activist rose to global prominence when he helped spearhead huge 2014 street protests against Beijing's plan to restrict elections in Hong Kong. Mr Wong had been scheduled to give a talk at a university, but a Thai activist who had planned to greet him said he was informed by police that Mr Wong had been detained after Thai authorities received a request from the Chinese government. Mr Wong, who turns 20 next week, was one of the high-profile student leaders behind pro-democracy protests two years ago that marked the former British colony's most turbulent period since China took control in 1997. In August, a Hong Kong court sentenced him to community service for his role in the protests, which brought parts of the city to a standstill for months. Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal said in a Facebook post that Mr Wong had "been confined at the immigration in Thailand because there's a request from Chinese government to Thai authority". Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said permission for foreigners to enter Thailand "involves various factors and has to be in line with the relevant immigration laws and regulations". He added that the ministry is reviewing the facts with the Immigration Bureau and other authorities. Nathan Law, who belongs to same political party as Mr Wong, Demosisto, urged Hong Kong justice secretary Rimsky Yuen to raise the issue with Thai officials on a previously scheduled three-day visit. China's Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that it was aware of reports of Mr Wong's detention, but did not say whether China had asked Thailand to detain him - only that it respected Thailand's ability to manage the entrance of people into the country "in accordance with law". Refusing entry to Mr Wong would be in line with recent moves by Thailand's military rulers, who seized power in a 2014 coup. The government has shown zero tolerance for dissent and has cracked down hard on its own student activists who have protested against the military rule. It has detained students, stopped speeches from taking place and last month Thai authorities threatened to arrest Amnesty International speakers who were set to hold a news conference to release a report detailing allegations of torture at the hands of the military and police, causing the rights group to cancel the event. Mr Wong was turned back in May last year when trying to enter Malaysia to speak at seminars in four cities. Malaysian officials said he was banned from entering the country but did not explain why. Demosisto, which was founded earlier this year, advocates a referendum on "self-determination" on the future status of Hong Kong, which is in the middle of a 50-year transition period to Chinese rule. Human rights activists called for Mr Wong's release. "Thailand's arrest of Joshua Wong, a well-known pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing's bidding. Wong should be freed immediately and allowed to travel and exercise his right to free expression," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. Two years ago, Mr Wong became one of the most prominent leaders of massive pro-democracy protests that shut down major thoroughfares in Hong Kong for 11 weeks. He and other youthful demonstrators demanded that the government drop a Beijing-backed plan to restrict elections for the city's top leader, but their movement fizzled out after authorities refused to grant concessions. He was scheduled to give a talk at Chulalongkorn University about a new generation of political activism. Last month, Demosisto scored a stunning Hong Kong election victory when Mr Law, 23, won a seat in the legislature. Mr Wong was unable to join the race because he was too young under election rules. AP One of Italy's most-wanted mafia bosses has been arrested after five years on the run when police found him hiding in a home bunker built between the bathroom and his son's bedroom. Antonio Pelle, 54, crawled out of his hiding place at his home in southern Reggio Calabria, with video footage showing at least two dozen police waiting for him to emerge. Pelle, known as "Mamma", was serving a 20-year prison sentence for mafia association, arms and drug trafficking when he slipped out of a hospital in the town of Locri in September 2011. He had been taken to the hospital to be treated for anorexia, Italian news reports said. Pelle, who was on the Italian interior ministry's list of most dangerous mob fugitives, is considered the boss of the Pelle-Romeo clan of San Luca, in Italy's southern Calabria region. The clan's long-running feud with the rival Nirta-Strangio family erupted in a bloody vendetta in Germany in 2007, when a gangland massacre at an Italian restaurant left six people dead. The carnage drew international attention to the reach of Calabria's 'ndrangheta mob, which is considered more powerful than the Sicilian Mafia and has become one of the world's biggest cocaine traffickers. The Reggio Calabria police chief, Raffaele Grassi, said Pelle was the last of the "strategic protagonists" of the long-running San Luca feud. "With his capture and the trials under way, each piece of the mosaic has been put in place," Mr Grassi said. The San Luca feud cooled between 2000 and 2006, but erupted again when Maria Strangio, the wife of one of the presumed heads of the Strangio clan, was killed on December 25 2006. The retaliatory massacre in Duisburg, Germany, marked the first known time the 'ndrangheta exported a vendetta. AP A US federal government contractor has been accused of removing highly classified information and storing the material in his house and car, federal prosecutors announced. The Justice Department announced a criminal complaint against Harold Thomas Martin III of Glen Burnie, Maryland. The Justice Department's top national security official, John Carlin, said in Boston that the arrest pointed to the threat posed by insiders. Among the classified documents, the government says, were six that contain sensitive intelligence - meaning they were produced through sensitive government sources or methods that are critical to national security issues - and date back to 2014. All the documents were clearly marked as classified information, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators also found stolen property valued at more than 1,000 US dollars (784) at Martin's residence or vehicle. He voluntarily agreed to an interview. "Martin at first denied, and later when confronted with specific documents, admitted he took documents and digital files from his work assignment to his residence and vehicle that he knew were classified," according to the complaint, despite not having the authorisation to do so. Martin has been in custody since a court appearance in August. Speaking at a cybersecurity panel, the Justice Department's top national security official, John Carlin, confirmed the arrest of "an individual who's involved in taking classified information". The complaint charges Martin with unauthorised removal and retention of classified materials, which carries a maximum one-year sentence, and theft of government property - an offence punishable by up to 10 years. AP CONCORD Allegiant today launches new, nonstop flights to southwest Florida from Concord, North Carolina. To celebrate, Allegiant is offering one-way fares on the new route for as low as $45. Were very excited to add southwest Florida to our list of nonstop destinations from Concord, said Jude Bricker, Allegiant chief operating officer. Concord Regional Airports new terminal has allowed us to expand our service, and were confident that Concord-area travelers will take advantage of these new, nonstop flights to sunny southwest Florida. The new flights will operate three times weekly and will fly nonstop from Concord Regional Airport (USA) to Punta Gorda Airport (PGD). The new flights to southwest Florida add to Allegiants existing service from Concord to three destinations in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa / St. Pete. New nonstop flights from Concord to New Orleans are set to begin in November. Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found only at Allegiant.com. "We are very excited to have our inaugural flight to southwest Florida on the day we open the new terminal, said Rick Cloutier, Concord Regional Airport director. Our new terminal and the start of added Allegiant destinations will increase options for passengers." Allegiant offers a unique option to Concord travelers with low base fares averaging less than half the cost of domestic round-trip tickets purchased in 2015. The innovative business model has allowed it to grow from one aircraft and one route over 15 years ago, to offering convenient, affordable vacation travel in over 110 markets across the country, more than any other low-cost airline. The third edition of Tax, Accounting and Audit in India is updated for 2017, and provides an overview of the f... Its been tumultuous times for actors Shaleen Bhanot and Dalljiet Kaur in the past few years. The couple got married in 2009 and were one of the most loved couples back then. However, situations changed when Dalljiet accused Shaleen of gritty charges and decided to move out of the house and call off her marriage. Shaleen was accused of domestic violence, dowry harassment and even attempt to murder. The battle went on for a long time and now after several years of the case going on in the court, the verdict is OUT. According to a report in a leading news daily, the verdict is that Shaleen is now free of all the charges put upon him and has been given a clean chit by the Bombay High Court. All the charges put on him have now been lifted. The actor mentioned that he is finally relieved that the court has dropped all the charges and that he feels like a free man at last. He also mentioned that when Dalljiet accused him of domestic violence, it became difficult for him to even go out in public. He stopped going out and was the subject of several judgments. He said that this clean chit is a message to all those who judged him before the verdict. However, on a more emotional note, Shaleen said that it was very painful for him to watch his parents do the rounds of court in every 15 days. He felt that it was his responsibility to make sure that his parents stay out of all the mess and is happy that along with him, even his parents are free. Shaleen also mentioned how his son Jaydon (eariler named Shaarav) , is his priority now. The actor also claimed that he would maintain cordial relations with Dalljiet as he wants a balanced childhood for his son. He feels that his son should get both his mother and father's love. The actor has currently flown to Australia with his parents to visit his extended family over there. We tried contacting Shaleen multiple times, however, he remained unavailable. Lyricist-writer Gulzar at a music launch of a new animated film on Tuesday told the media to "be relevant to the occasion" when asked to comment on the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. At the music launch of 'Motu Patlu: King of Kings', Gulzar was asked for his views on the feud between India and Pakistan. He said: "Is this (question) relevant to the programme for which we have come? Aap agar shaadi mein jaao, aur baat Frontier ki karne lage, theek lagega? (If you go for a wedding, and talk about the Frontier, will it look nice?)... Be relevant to the occasion." While Gulzar chose not to comment on the issue, several Bollywood film celebrities have condemned the September 18 attack in Jammu and Kashmir which killed 19 soldiers. Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors. KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary. No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account." www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. Gaming machines at the Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel in Charenton, Louisiana. Photo from Chitimacha Tribe The former casino manager for the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana has admitted his role in a theft case involving Chairman O'Neal Darden. According to news reports, Anthony Patrone admitted that he authorized a bonus to Darden even though the chairman wasn't entitled to it. Patrone will pay a $250 fine as part of a plea deal that was reached in consultation with the tribe, The Acadiana Advocate reported. "They were not interested in seeking jail time," local prosecutor Rob Vines told the paper. Darden remains under indictment, having been arrested in June for accepting the bonus. He is still in office but was suspended back in February. He has since repaid the money to the tribe, The Advocate reported News reports have conflicted on the size of the bonus, with The Advocate saying it was $3,983 while KATC other media outlets saying it was $5,700. Darden used to work at the Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel but had to step down after winning election as chairman last year . Since he was no longer working there, he wasn't entitled to an employment bonus, authorities have said. Additionally, Monte Spivey, the tribe's former chief financial officer remains under indictment. He allegedly manipulated casino employee records so that Darden could receive the bonus. Read More on the Story: Plea reached in alleged improper casino bonus to Chitimacha tribal chairman (The Acadiana Advocate 10/5) Former casino manager pleads guilty to misdemeanor (KATC 10/5) Related Stories Join the Conversation Dave Archambault II, the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe addresses a #NoDAPL rally outside of the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., on August 24, 2016. Photo by Indianz.Com / Available for use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License The backers of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline are seeking to regain an advantage on the eve of a crucial hearing in federal court. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals closed the door to briefs more than two weeks ago when it ordered a halt to construction of the $3.8 billion pipeline in a key area of North Dakota. No one -- not even the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe -- was allowed to submit additional pleadings. But an expensive and well-connected law firm hired by Dakota Access LLC, the partnership behind the project, has found a way around the restriction. Exploiting a rule that allows parties to submit "pertinent" information even after a brief has been filed, attorney Miguel A. Estrada of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has advised the court of a report that claims no sacred sites or burial grounds were found in the path of the #NoDAPL pipeline. "On September 21, 2016, seven archaeologists from the State of North Dakota conducted a cultural resources survey of this area after it became safe again for investigators to return," Estrada wrote in a letter to the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday. "They concluded that the plaintiffs' allegations have no merit," the letter continued, referring to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the plaintiff in the case. A one-page memo, accompanied by a map and three photos, was prepared after seven archaeologists from the State Historical Society of North Dakota visited a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site on September 21, 2016. While the report by the State Historical Society of North Dakota was officially completed on September 22, it's not clear why Dakota Access waited so long to file it. The rule being exploited by Estrada -- known as Rule 28(j) -- requires a party to "promptly" inform the court of additional information. The contents of the report -- which consists merely of one page, one map and three photos -- were in fact publicized in the North Dakota media more than a week ago . But an email included in Estrada's filing appears to suggest that the document was only made public on Monday. The email in question was sent by Paul Picha, North Dakota's chief archaeologist and the author of the memo, to Lawrence Bender, an attorney in North Dakota who was hired by Dakota Access to go after Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II and other tribal leaders in a case that has been effectively dismissed by a federal judge. But there are no other attachments so it's not possible to determine, based on Estrada's filing alone, how long ago Bender inquired about the report. PLEASE SHARE? #WaterIsLife To date, more than 300 tribes and first nations officially stand with Standing Rock by way... Posted by Standing Rock Sioux Tribe on Friday, September 30, 2016 Standing Rock Sioux Tribe on Facebook: Official Fund [Crowdrise] The sacred sites and burial grounds are a key issue as the D.C. Circuit meets on Wednesday morning for the hearing. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's request for an injunction accuses Dakota Access of moving in with bulldozers barely a day after a highly-respected tribal historian disclosed several significant cultural finds in the path of the pipeline. Dakota Access disputed the claim in its response to the tribe but its brief was filed on September 14, well before the State Historical Society made the trip to the construction area. The brief also was filed by a different law firm -- Estrada was only brought on board last week. The hearing takes place at 9:30am in Courtroom 31 of the federal courthouse in D.C. Audio will be posted by the court later in the day. D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals #NoDAPL Documents: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's Emergency Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal (September 12, 2016) Dakota Access LLC Opposition (September 14, 2016) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Opposition (September 14, 2016) Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's Reply (September 15, 2016) Injunction Blocking Construction of Dakota Access Pipeline (September 16, 2016) Order Setting October 5 Hearing (September 21, 2016) Order Allocating Oral Argument Time (September 21, 2016) Join the Conversation Related Stories Native Vote: Every vote counts. Photo by Native Vote Lets Get Out and Vote! A note from the editor's deskBy Brandon EcoffeyLakota Country Times Editor During every election cycle there is an effort to raise awareness about the importance of the Native vote. Occasionally our people respond but many of the barriers that put in place to prevent us from voting prove to be too much. This year Republicans find themselves on shaky ground as a vast majority of minorities and women are appalled by the republican nominee Donald Trump. While in Indian Country our attention has been focused on stopping the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The urgency of the GOP to reach out to Indian Country over Indian Health Service is a sign that there is a real fear that Republicans could find themselves as the minority in both houses of Congress. It is commendable that republican law makers have begun to raise awareness to the federal government's failure to fully meet its treaty and trust obligations but administrative fixes without adequate funding is a joke. If you want to fix IHS bring in a real proven leader to run it and give them the funds to be successful. Anything short of that is just politics as usual. In this election year it is important that we show up in large numbers at the polls. The momentum that has been created by our people camping in Cannon Ball must be carried on through this election. We have shown the world that our people are a powerful political force through our opposition to DAPL. These elections are an opportunity for our people to further our influence on lawmakers across the country. If we truly had allies in Congress they would have understood the reasons why so many of our people have traveled to that sacred place in North Dakota and then they would have joined us in our efforts to stop construction. Visit the Lakota Country Times and subscribe today Election Day is set to take place on November 8, 2016, but you can vote early at your court house or by requesting a ballot by mail. As noted in an email sent out by Gay Kingman, Four Directions and the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association have worked diligently to bring satellite voting to several reservation communities and it is up to our people to utilize these sites. As of today we are only 33 days away from our tribal, state, and national elections and it is time that our people begin encouraging our family members to cast a vote. Each year we watch as anti-Indian candidates are ushered into office by about half of American society. Not everyone votes and that is reflective in the types of policies that come out of Washington. Let's hope our people get out and vote. (Brandon Ecoffey is the editor of The Lakota Country Times and is an award winning journalist who was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He can be reached at editor@lakotacountrytimes.com) Join the Conversation Badger Creek in the Badger-Two Medicine Area in Montana. Photo by Blackfeet Nation An energy company is asking a federal judge to revive a drilling lease on sacred Blackfeet Nation territory in Montana. Solonex LLC was awarded the 6,200-acre lease in the early 1980s, during the Reagan administration. But the firm has never been able to drill for oil and gas in the sacred Badger-Two Medicine Area amid concerns raised by the tribe. After a testy court fight, the Obama administration ended up canceling the lease in March, citing the potential for "irreparable" damage to the sacred area. But Solonex contends the action was unlawful and has asked a judge in Washington, D.C., to reinstate the lease. "In an administration known for its lawless and disrespect for constitutional guarantees and the provisions of federal statute, the actions taken by the Obama administration regarding our clients lease ... shock the conscience," William Perry Pendley, the president of the Mountain States Legal Foundation , which is representing Solonex, said in a press release last month. Attorneys for the Obama administration responded to Solonex's claims on Monday, the Associated Press reported. They are defending the decision by the Interior Department to cancel the lease. The "area was and remains 'one of the most cultural and religiously significant areas to the Blackfeet People since time immemorial,'" the Department of Justice wrote in a motion for summary judgement , quoting from a Blackfeet Nation resolution. The Badger-Two Medicine Area consists of about 129,500 acres within the Lewis and Clark National Forest . The land was once part of the Blackfeet Nation but the tribe believes an 1885 treaty and an 1895 agreement protect its rights to use the land for ceremonies, hunting, fishing and other activities. Read More on the Story: US asks judge to uphold cancellation of Montana energy lease (AP 10/4) Interior Defends Badger-Two Medicine Lease Cancellation (Montana Public Radio 10/4) Federal judge asked to restore cancelled energy lease in sacred tribal area (Fox News 9/16) Join the Conversation Related Stories The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe isn't letting a last-minute filing from the backers of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline go unanswered. Sacred sites and burial grounds were bulldozed by construction crews on September 3, Jon Eagle Sr., the tribe's historic preservation officer asserted on Tuesday. "This terrible and intentional action was taken without consulting with tribal or state historic preservation officials," Eagle said in a sworn declaration to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals But Eagle said no one from the tribe was allowed to visit the area in question even though the State Historical Society of North Dakota sent a team of seven archaeologists there on September 21. According to a one-page memo that was submitted to the court on the eve of a critical hearing, no "cultural material" or ancestral remains were found. A one-page memo, accompanied by a map and three photos, was prepared after seven archaeologists from the State Historical Society of North Dakota visited a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site on September 21, 2016. Eagle, however, said there's a simple explanation for that: Dakota Access had already destroyed those sites. During a September 26 meeting in which the state memo was discussed, he compared the area the seven archaeologists visited to the survey previously submitted by Tim Mentz Sr., a well-respected tribal cultural expert. "I was able to show the state and federal officials that substantial portions of a stone feature and sacred site identified by Tim Mentz on September 2, were gone either damaged or destroyed by the bulldozing and grading done by Dakota Access on September 3," Eagle told the court. "The comparison made clear that portions of the sacred site, including burial cairn that Mr. Mentz identified, were gone." Eagle also questioned how Paul Picha, North Dakota's chief archaeologist and the author of the one-page memo, knew that no burial grounds were harmed during construction. "I asked whether they had taken apart the berms created by the bulldozing, and Mr. Picha said they had not," Eagle said in his declaration. "I asked how he could state that there were no human remains without examining the berms." Dakota Access LLC, the partnership behind the pipeline, has since purchased the land in question from a rancher who had invited Mentz to examine the property in late August. The tribe disclosed the dramatic cultural finds on September 2 and a widely-seen confrontation between #NoDAPL resisters and construction crews on September 3 helped draw more attention to the cause. The sacred sites and burial grounds are a key issue as the D.C. Circuit meets on Wednesday morning for the hearing, which takes place at 9:30am Eastern in Courtroom 31 of the federal courthouse . Audio will be posted by the court later in the day. D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals #NoDAPL Documents: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's Emergency Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal (September 12, 2016) Dakota Access LLC Opposition (September 14, 2016) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Opposition (September 14, 2016) Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's Reply (September 15, 2016) Injunction Blocking Construction of Dakota Access Pipeline (September 16, 2016) Order Setting October 5 Hearing (September 21, 2016) Order Allocating Oral Argument Time (September 21, 2016) Join the Conversation Related Stories There are a lot of stigmas that are attached to depression. For many, depression means therapy or medicines. For Bollywood celebrities, coming out and speaking about depression need a lot of guts. Deepika Padukone spoke about her depression on national television and thanks to her that now, speaking about depression is no longer a taboo. Without fearing any sort of judgement, Karan Johar too spoke about dealing with tough time. The latest celebrity to join the bandwagon of spreading awareness on mental health and how important it is for people in mental stress to reach out for help is Ranveer Singh. Sharing a hard-hitting and thought-provoking post about mental health and depression, he wrote: Pinterest "1 out of every 5 Indians will suffer from depression in their lifetime. Even with all the progress weve made in these last few years, there is still a lot of stigmas attached to mental health and the treatment of it. This needs to change for our collective well-being. There is a difference between being sad and being depressed. There is hope for both, those who need help and for those who want to give help. Let's join hands to promote awareness about mental health along with the Live Love Laugh Foundation as they launch India's first Mental Health Awareness Campaign. Always remember to Live, Love and Laugh." Here's Ranveer post: Om Puri is the latest actor to express his opinion on banning Pakistani Artists controversy. During a television debate about the IMPPA's (Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association) indefinite ban on Pakistani artists from working in Indian projects, Puri had said, BCCL "Who had asked the soldiers to join the army? Who told them to pick the weapons? Do you want India-Pakistan enmity to turn like Israel and Palestine, and fight for ages? India is home to crores of Muslims, there is no point in proving them for war. Several Indians have their relatives staying across the border and vice-versa, how can they fight a war with their cross-border families?" Commenting on the same, he added, BCCL "I don't give a damn to Salman Khan or some other Khan... Go to Modiji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and cancel their (Pakistani actors') visas. Prepare 15-20 people as suicide bombers and send them to Pakistan." He ended up receiving a lot of flak for these comments. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit and veteran actor Anupam Kher criticised him for making such comments against the jawans and Twitterati too didn't leave a chance to speak against him. Dear #OmPuri ji. Mai aapki bahut izzat karta hoon. Lekin kal tv per desh ke sainik ke baare mein aapki baat sunkar bahut DUKH hua. #VerySad Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) October 4, 2016 Om Puri even apologized for his harsh remarks. He told media, "People have every right to react to this...twitter messages, abuses, whatever humiliation I deserve that for opening my mouth for without thinking and hurting the sentiments of the country, the army and the warrior soldiers. I am guilty and I deserve a punishment. I want to be tried by the army, I should be court martialled. I want a constructive punishment. The army should teach me how to use weapons and send me on the same site where that brave man was sacrificed himself for the country. I dont want to be forgiven. I am pleading to the nation I want to be punished." But, what we surely didn't see coming was a police complaint against him. According to agency reports, a sedition case has been filed against veteran actor Om Puri on Tuesday for his comment on Indian soldiers. An FIR has been registered against the actor at the Andheri Police Station in Mumbai by a person named Prithvi Maske, who has requested for a sedition charge to be filed against Puri under Section 124[A]. Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has joined the debate surrounding the Pakistani artists being banned in India. Expressing his displeasure on the same, Javed Akhtar thinks that Pakistani artists should have at least condemned the Uri attacks since they have been responsible for it. He further expressed that he could not decipher their silence at all. Talking to a news channel, he said, BCCL "The silence of Pakistani actors is a form of confession that Pakistan is responsible for it (the attack). If Pakistan says they aren't responsible for it, I don't see any reason any Pakistani artiste should not condemn it. If they say, 'We are not responsible' then very good, come out and condemn it." Talking about the same, Hema Malini too expressed her opinion. The 67-year-old actress lauded the Indian Army for carrying out surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir last month. She said, Getmovieinfo Following the death of Ravi Sisodia aka Robin (20) - one of the 18 accused of Mohammad Akhlaq's murder case, Bishahra village in Dadri is extremely tense with villagers and deceased family members crying foul and pledging to "avenge" the death. ndtv.com Ravi was lodged in Kasna jail in Greater Noida. He was rushed to Noida district hospital on Monday after he complained respiratory problem and high fever. Doctors there referred him to LNJP Hospital in New Delhi where he breathed his last on Tuesday evening. Ravi's family claimed that it is an "extra judicial killing", an allegation that has been strongly rejected by the Uttar Pradesh police. Tarique Anwar/Indiatimes Kasna jail superintendent ML Yadav told mediapersons that Ravi had complained of stomach ache on September 29 after which he was taken to the district hospital. "Ravi's ultrasound report showed that there was water in his lungs," he said. Tarique Anwar/Indiatimes His statement was also corroborated by doctors at LNJP hospital who said there was "no injury mark or mark of beating" on Ravi's dead body. "He was suffering from respiratory problem and also had high fever when he was admitted in LNJP hospital on Tuesday morning," they added. Tarique Anwar/Indiatimes "We are waiting for his medical report. The symptoms are that of dengue or chikenguniya," said the doctor. But the family members of Ravi and villagers are not ready to accept the version. They had organised a panchayat (public meeting) in a village temple and demanded the arrest of the jailer - Yadav. Tarique Anwar/Indiatimes They also demanded arrest of Jan Mohammad who they alleged participated in cow slaughter. A case of cow slaughter was registered in Jarcha police station in June against Akhlaque and his family and his younger brother Jan Mohammad. The Allahabad High court which issued a stay on the arrest of Akhlaque's family till the investigation was completed, refused to give the same relief to Jan Mohammad. Sanjay Rana, the local BJP leader whose 12 relatives, including his son Vishal Rana, were arrested for killing Akhlaque, said, "This is a custodial death. We will demand further probe in this. We do not buy police version that he died of dengue." ndtv.com "We won't cremate the body until the culprits are arrested with immediate effect," he added. While the family is awaiting the dead body brought to the village, the district administration has turned the entire village into a police camp expecting tension. Senior police officials are camping in the village with heavy deployment of cops - including the PAC. "The situation is completely under control. We request people not to indulge in any rumour mongering," said Dadri SDM Amit Kumar Singh. Two probes - a magisterial enquiry and a judicial enquiry - have been ordered. The District Magistrate - NP Singh - sought the details of the death. September marked one year since Akhlaque was lynched over allegations of beef after which 18 youths of Bishahra were arrested. The case in under trial and charges are yet to be framed against the accused in Akhlaque's murder case. The UNs highest court on Wednesday threw out a bid by the tiny Marshall Islands to sue India for failing to halt the nuclear arms race, saying it lacked jurisdiction. The court upholds the objection to jurisdiction raised by India and finds that it cannot proceed to the merits of the case, judge Ronny Abraham told the International Court of Justice in The Hague. AFP With a population of less than 70,000 people, Marshall Islands had said in March that the worlds nine nuclear weapons states have violated various obligation to negotiate in good faith to dismantle their nuclear arsenals. In a landmark 1996 advisory opinion, the court said that using or threatening to use nuclear arms would generally be contrary to the laws of war and humanitarian law. indianexpress.com Marshall Islands was a US protectorate until 1986. t was the site of 67 nuclear tests by 1958, the health impacts of which linger to this day. Marshallese minister Tony deBrum had said that several islands in the country were vapourised and others are estimated to remain uninhabitable for thousands of years. He described seeing the sky aflame from a test 200 miles away as a nine-year-old boy. silentcrownews Many died, suffered birth defects never before seen and battled cancer from the contamination, he added. The other nuclear powers including declared powers China, France, Russia and the United States and undeclared nuclear states Israel and North Korea have not responded to the suit the islands filed last year. Lawyer for the Marshall Islands Phon van den Biesen had opined earlier, It is a shame that the other six nuclear armed states have decided that for them there was no need to respond. Once the threshold to the use of nuclear weapons is crossed, the law will be a joke and justice will be just a relic of the past, Biesen had said. Read Also: A Tiny Island In The Pacific Ocean Is Suing India And Pakistan For Not Disarming Their Nukes! Pakistan's security forces pounded civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) with heavy mortar shelling until late on Tuesday, forcing thousands of border dwellers to migrate to safer places. BCCL Sources said that the firing and shelling were so heavy in some border villages in Rajouri and Poonch, that residents could not be evacuated. There have been six ceasefire violations by Pakistan over the last 36 hours. While no loss of life has been reported so far, the firing has displaced around 2,500 villagers, who have now moved into relief camps established by the district administration. Also Read: Border Areas Farmers Says BSF Won't Let Them Harvest Crop Sowed In Fields Beyond The Border Fence Pakistani forces fired in Jammu's Nowshera sector at three locations from 5 a.m. onwards on Tuesday. Jammu deputy commissioner said that, of the 30-35 designated camps in Akhnoor, five were functional. The Rajouri district administration has identified 72 safe locations for residents. BCCL Pakistani forces began firing with small arms, sources said, but later shifted to mortars and automatic guns. Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said, "Heavy firing was reported from Kalsian, Jhangar and Makri areas in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district." In the second ceasefire violation on the same day, Pakistan troops fired 70mm and 120mm mortar shells at forward posts and villages. Amid clashes and protests, the Valley too remained tense on Tuesday as miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at the Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education at Bemina bypass, and set fire to two auto-rickshaws at Saida Kadal and Baba Demb. BCCL The miscreants attacked the board's office to protest against their announcement of board exams in November 2016. A few youngsters also resorted to stone-pelting after security personnel stopped an "anti-exam" protest by students. Also Read: Anticipating Pak Retaliation, Nearly 1,000 Villages In Border Districts Being Evacuated Meanwhile in Srinagar, health and medical education minister Bali Bhagat had to be escorted out of SMHS hospital after the staff began raising pro-Azadi and anti-India slogans on seeing him. The minister had gone to see pellet victims, an official spokesperson said. BCCL Clashes were also reported in Saloora area of Ganderbal in central Kashmir after forces tried to foil a pro-azadi rally by women. Protesters and security forces were also reported to have clashed in the Watpora, Ashtangoo, Qazipora and Putushay villages of north Kashmir's Bandipora district. Witnesses said many people were injured after men in uniform fired pellets and lobbed teargas shells to disperse protesters. All educational institutions, petrol pumps, and business establishments in Srinagar remained closed on Tuesday. However, the uptown areas of Srinagar as well as the commercial hub of Lal Chowk saw considerable movement of traffic in the daytime. The Sir Creek area of Gujarat is a treacherous marsh land with numerous nalas that snake through the area. It is also one of the most difficult to guard borders and during Indiatimes Frontlines, BSF told us of the intrusions from the Pakistan side. Here, the BSF employs it's latest acquisition, the Fast Attack Craft Now BSF has seized a boat with nine Pakistanis on board in Sir Creek area adjoining Gujarats Kutch district close to the Pakistan maritime border, officials said. A BSF patrol in Sir Creek area noticed a wooden boat fishing in Indian waters. Nine Pakistani men in the boat were challenged and caught, a Border Security Force (BSF) officer told IANS. The boat was apprehended at Chouhan Nala near G-43 pillar, at around 8 a.m., the officer said in New Delhi. The Pakistanis were being questioned, he said. Other than fishing implements, nothing objectionable has been recovered, he added. But the possibility of these people spying for Pakistan cant be ruled out, said another officer in Bhuj in Gujarat. In case you're wondering what a BSF patrol boat looks like, here it is in action The BSF on Tuesday had seized an empty boat belonging to the Pakistan Rangers after it drifted from across the border into the frontier district of Amritsar in Punjab, The Coast Guard had on October 2 apprehended a Pakistani boat with nine crew off Porbandar in Gujarat. Delhiites are coming together for a candlelight vigil for Harambe to honour the late gorilla who was shot dead in May this year after a small child had climbed into its enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. Following massive outrage on social media, Harambe became an internet hero after his face became one of the most popular memes ever. ABC And even though this gathering comes a few months too late, a group of Delhiites has decided to honour the dead gorilla by organising a candlelight vigil for him. The event will be held on October 15 at Guru Gobind Indraprastha University from 7pm to 9pm. Facebook Events 820 guests have already expressed their interest in attending the event and the numbers are only going up. Facebook events Facebook events See you there, guys. Even as Pakistan continues to deny the Indian Army's surgical strike inside the PoK and opposition political parties including the Congress and AAP are demanding proof for the operation, residents across the PoK are claiming to have witnessed the operation by the Indian forces. AP/ Representative Image According to The Indian Express, at least five residents have come forward and acknowledged the secret Indian military operation. The report says the eyewitnesses were contacted through their relatives living on the Indian side of the LoC. They claimed to have seen 5-6 bodies loaded on truck and being taken for secret burials. Two eyewitness also reported seeing a gutted building across the Al-Haawi bridge from the hamlets main bazaar, where a military outpost and a compound used by the Lashkar are both sited. AP/ Representative Image Another witness said local residents describing about a loud explosion along with intense small-arms fire. People did not come out to see what was going on, so did not see Indian soldiers but they gathered from the Lashkar people the next day that they had been attacked, the eyewitness told the newspaper. Another witness claimed to have seen Friday prayers in a Lashkar-affiliated mosque in Chalhana, where cleric vowed to avenge the deaths of the men killed the previous day. The Lashkar men gathered there were blaming the Pak Army for failing to defend the border, he said in one message, and saying they would soon give India an answer it would never forget. AP/ Representative Image If the witness statements are to go by, the death toll in the surgical strike is much lesser than the 38-50 which is being claimed by some sections of the media. Even though the Army has stopped short of providing any figures, DGMO Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh had said that the operation had inflicted significant damage to the terrorists and those providing support to them. AP The claims also come amid reports that Indian Army has agreed to release the video of the strike, to put to rest the denial of Pakistan and the skepticism in some opposition parties. In the first conversation between National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Khan Janjua, since the Uri strike, India gave Pakistan details of the surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army last week. BCCL Addressing the refrain that the Pakistani leadership was ready to cooperate with India to investigate the Uri attack, Doval is understood to have stressed that Pakistani inaction after the Pathankot attack had robbed any confidence India may have had. It was put across to Janjua that India retained the right to protect its interests and this implicitly included actions such as the surgical strike across the LoC. thequint The lack of confidence in Pakistan's "offers" to investigate the Pathankot attack in January followed the absence of results after India invited a Pakistani team to the air base for investigation. Pakistan did not facilitate a return visit by Indian investigators to look into the attackers' Pakistan links. But the message drawn by Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif 's foreign policy adviser, from the NSAs' conversation was "de-escalation", and this was put out in the media. It was a message reiterated by Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit in an interview on Tuesday. BCCL "Both our countries understand war is not really a solution to our problems and there is simply no room for a conflict in a nuclear environment... It is important to avoid raising false expectations, as happened after the cross-LoC firing (how Pakistan refers to the surgical strike) on September 29. We cannot afford to go down that route," said Basit. "Statements are made, but I think both countries do understand serious implications of escalating the situation either horizontally or vertically," he added. BCCL Meanwhile, Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin, who is president of the UN Security Council for October, said on Monday in the UN that the Security Council did not have any discussion on the India-Pakistan situation. Pakistani envoy Maleeha Lodhi had asked the previous UNSC chair, New Zealand, to call for a discussion on the India-Pakistan situation. But when the New Zealand envoy raised it, there was no response from the members and no discussion. Churkin's remarks settled for Pakistan the entire campaign of trying to internationalise the current tensions. In the wake of an anti-immigrant fueled Brexit vote, the UK is now cracking down on people entering the country through "work and study routes" from non-EU nations. The move will make it harder for British firms to hire professionals from countries like India. Home secretary Amber Rudd told the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham she will be looking at a range of options to cut immigration. y-axis "Leaving the EU is just one part of the strategy. We have to look at all sources of immigration if we mean business... We will be looking across work and study routes. This will include examining whether we should tighten the test companies have to take before recruiting from abroad," Rudd said as she announced a new consultation on tightening immigration. AP Rudd echoed the same sentiment that is driving the Donald Trump campaign fears of losing jobs to cheaper labour. She called it allowing some firms to get away with not training local people...I want us to look again at whether our immigration system provides the right incentives for businesses to invest in British workers," she said. December 2016 onwards, landlords who knowingly rent property to non-registered immigrants could be imprisoned for committing a criminal offence. Immigrant checks will also be essential for getting a taxi license, as well as access to essential banking services. The UK will also work on legislation to expedite deportation of criminals. Indian Parents Have Sent 6600 Crore To Students Studying Abroad In The Last 9 Months! On Thursday ink was spattered on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal at his road show in Rajasthan's Bikaner. He didn't seem offended by the attack and said, "God bless those who threw ink at me. I wish them well." Social media junkies, who usually troll Kejriwal, surprisingly seemed more benevolent and while some offered him sympathy, others kept on the trolling. inhouse.digital ALSO READ: Kejriwal Keeps Personal Issues Aside, Praises PM Modi For Surgical Strikes Son: Dad ? Kejriwal : Dad kisko bola? Son: Aapko Kejriwal : Proof dikha ki tu mera beta hai Akshay Jain (@ComedyBanda) October 3, 2016 dailybhaskar #ABVP ink attack on #Kejriwal is a coward act Ink has been a medium of writers & painters,shame it is dat now has become a tool of violence Sanjeev khandekar (@Chemburstudio) October 4, 2016 Ink attack to Kejriwal by ABVP for ask to expose Pak Propagd in Media & UN ShameOnBJP #InkWillWriteHistory #__ Arshad Madathodi (@ArshadMadathodi) October 4, 2016 Every time why these incidents associated/happens only with kejriwal like shoe hurling Ink attack slap. Why? #_ Bobby Mehta (@mehtabobby) April 9, 2016 Ink attack, Shoe attack, slapping. I dont its ppls frustration or Kejriwal's own ppls. But we are enjoying. Pradeep Kumar (@pradeepkm2272) April 9, 2016 Kejriwal asked his followers 2 follow #OddEven 4 attacking him On odd day -Shoes attack On even day- ink/egg/tomato attack #_ Ramrao Kulkarni (@RamraoKP_) April 10, 2016 When you read the tweets of #Kejriwal You will realize, that he deserves every shoe, ink, slap attack such a waste of IIT. #dumbass V Modi (@iamviveknmodi) April 15, 2016 #TightSlapToKejriwal Slapping, Ink attack, Shoe attack is common for Kejriwal. This time he wants super kick on his A$. Pradeep Kumar (@pradeepkm2272) May 10, 2016 Kejriwal, who is usually at loggerheads with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a rare video posted on Twitter, "saluted" the PM for conducting surgical strikes in Pakistan. And he followed it by saying Modi should counter Pakistani propaganda, denying the surgical strikes, by showing proof. Earlier this year in April, a shoe was thrown at the Chief Minister in the capital when he was holding a press conference on the odd-even plan. Ahead of Dussehra celebrations, politics has taken a religious turn in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency. With the war of words between India and Pakistan over Uri attacks and the surgical strike, PM Modi has been depicted as Lord Ram in a poster spotted in his constituency. ANI Unsurprisingly Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is the villain, depicted as Ravana. ANI Delhi Chief minister and AAP supremo is also getting a cameo role in the whole drama after he asked Modi to release the video of the surgical strike. ANI Kejriwal is depicted as Meghnad, the son of Ravana in the poster, which was purportedly put up by BJP's ally Shiv Sena. "One more surgical operation needed to finish Ravan-like Pakistan," reads the text on the poster. This is not the first time politics has taken a religious turn in the poster war in UP. Last year the BJP had come under fire after a poster showed party state president and MP, Keshav Prasad Mourya, as Krishna, and opposition party leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati, as Kauravas, attempting to disrobe Draupadi (UP State). Another controversial poster came from the BSP camp, where BSP supremo Mayawati was depicted as Goddess Kali. Even after the surgical strike by India targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), over a hundred terrorists are still waiting across the LoC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was told by NSA Ajit Doval, during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security today. PTI Earlier, following the surgical strike in PoK the Indian Army had claimed that they damaged terror infrastructure including launch pads. AFP The development comes even as the tensions continue along the LoC following the frequent ceasefire violations ever since the Uri terror attack and the surgical strike. It is also worthwhile to note the finding. In the past the Pakistan has regularly used this time of the year to push maximum number of terrorists to the Indian side. AFP This is because once the harsh Himalayan winter sets in, it becomes impossible to infiltrate across the LoC, resulting in an ever dwindling number of Pakistani terrorists for the next couple of months. India has for long accused Pakistan of using the ceasefire violation as a cover to facilitate the infiltration bid. Maharashtra police have arrested over 500 call center staff including top officials after a night raid at the office on Thane's Mira Road. Screengrab Police said the raid was carried out after they received complaints of fraud by the call center. The officials reportedly collected bank details of US citizens, pretending to be tax officials, failing which they would allegedly threaten them with dire consequences, including legal action. biz.in/ Representative Image Police said the call center staff then used these details to withdraw money from the accounts, adding that daily turnover of such dealings was estimated to be over Rs 1 crore. Even though exact details of the racket was not immediately available, police believe it had international links. While the Indian armed forces are engaged in a decisive battle against the cross border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan, there are equally serious concerns about the internal security and the lives of the security personnel taking on the Naxals in various parts of the country. As many as 34 CRPF personnel reportedly have lost their lives so far in guerilla attacks by naxals in 2016, yet the government seems clueless about how how minimize the fatalities of the security personnel. ALSO READ: 188 Maoists And Naxal Sympathisers Surrender To Indian Forces Just last month, 7 security officials have died in naxal attacks. BCCL In the year 2014, The Indian Express reported that 2,712 central and state security force personnel have been killed in naxal attacks in the 2 preceding decades. The worst-affected state by the naxal crisis in India is Chattisgarh, where naxal attacks and death of civilians at the hands of the extremists had become a regular matter. "South Chhattisgarh continues to pose the biggest challenge for security forces where almost 11,000 sq kms has no presence of security forces, which gives the Maoists the liberty to unleash their free reign. However, it is only a matter of time before the void is filled," CRPF Director General Prakash Mishra said in an interview in 2015. ALSO READ: This Specially Trained All-Women Battalion Is Set To Take On Naxals On Their Home Turf 19 CRPF jawans killed this year while countering attacks in Chattisgarh. BCCL India ranks sixth in the terror index's inflicted countries in the world. And 2016 has seen some very dangerous attacks by the naxal force. On July 10, 2016, at least 100 naxals attacked an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp in Kondagaon district of Chhattisgarh. The group also fired locally made rockets during the three-hour battle. 10 jawans were killed in the attack due to a powerful landmine. ALSO READ: Mehendi On Her Hands Is Yet To Fade, She Mourns Her Husband CRPF Jawan Diwakar Kumar's Death The government responded by approving the formation of a unique 'Bastariya Battalion' in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), comprised solely of local men from scheduled tribes (ST), to bolster the fight against Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. 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. The police on Tuesday arraigned a 40-year-old woman, Mrs. Regina Philip, and seven others before a magistrates court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, for allegedly stealing 1,600 fowls valued at N1.5m. The police prosecutor told the court that the defendants stole the fowls from the farms of Pastor Mrs. Titilayo Aluko on July 5 at Erin-Osun, Osogbo. Other suspects arraigned by the police are: Odebiyi Yinka, Ayoola Samson, Grace Odeh, Elizabeth Ankira, Cecelia Ochili, Hannah Ankira and Oyelami Tajudeen. The prosecutor told the court that Yinka and others at large stole the fowls from the complainants farms. The charge read in part, That you Odebiyi Yinka, and others at large on or before July 5, 2016, at Erin-Osun in the Osogbo Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2003. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Olusola Aluko, ordered that they be remanded in custody and adjourned the case till November 25, 2016. Source: Punch Abuja-based production company, Take 7 Media, is set to release an exciting new thriller, titled Fidelity. The movie shot in Nigeria and Spain was directed by Abimbola Olagunju, and it stars Empress Njamah, Paul Sambo, Iyke Adiele, Happy Julian-Uchendu, Gina Castel, and Pau Ramon. Synopsis Michael and Dele are best friends who run an Internet fraud ring in Spain. When they are tracked down by Spanish police, Dele takes the fall for their crimes, and is sent to prison. Michael moves back to Nigeria, where he proceeds to live discreetly. After completing his prison sentence, Dele also returns to Nigeria. Dele proposes one last cybercrime, targeting a bank, which could give them their biggest payoff yet. Michael hesitantly agrees, and as part of the job, he has to seduce a staff of the bank, Sophia. In a twist of fate, Michael falls for Sophia, and becomes friends with her little son. Michael starts having second thoughts about the job, and begins to stall. This makes Dele uncomfortable, and things soon get out of hand. FIDELITY will be released in the last quarter of 2016. Before then, watch the trailer below: A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State, Mr. Nnamdi Abbah, has been reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Abbah was said to have been abducted on Tuesday at about 8pm on his way home. The former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Emohua local government area, was taken away at gunpoint at Alakahia axis of East-West road, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. According to reports, the victim was driving towards Obiri Ikwerre close to Ozuoba community before he was waylaid by gunmen around Alakahia and taken to unknown destination. A close contact of the family of the victim, Barr Chizy Enyi, who confirmed the abduction said the kidnappers are yet to make any contact. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP, Nnamdi Omoni said: I am not aware of it now. I will find out from the DPO in that area. Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, received bashing from some youth, who warned him to stop harassing the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The youth, who staged a protest at the national secretariat of the APC, decried what they said was the former governors overbearing influence in the affairs of the party. They, therefore, urged him to leave the party alone, especially its national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and concentrate his political activities in the South-West. Mr. Tinubu recently demanded the resignation of Mr. Odigie-Oyegun for his alleged role in the choice of Rotimi Akeredolu as the APC candidate in the November governorship election in Ondo. Alleging that Mr. Odigie-Oyegun was perpetrating injustice, the former Lagos governor accused the APC chairman of being a mercenary of forces that seek to return the nation to the old ways of retrogressive politics. But the youth under the aegis of APC Youth Democratic Frontiers, reminded Mr. Tinubu that Nigeria is bigger than a region or Lagos State, where he wields unrivaled political influence. The protesting youths carried banners and placards with inscriptions such as Tinubu is not God, Your greed is not democracy, No room for an emperor in a democracy, Reduce your selfishness and Nigeria will move forward again, among others. The groups National Coordinator, Salahudeen Lukman, who addressed journalists during the protest, said its members could no longer fold their arms and allow party feudal lords to expropriate its ethics simply on regional nomenclature aimed at usurping the national interest. It should be stated categorically that we are no longer comfortable with the whims and caprices of an orchestrated Jagaban resident in Bourdilion, Lagos and directed at misdirecting our progressive party simply to achieve egocentric empirical relevance, he said. Let us state on a sad note that this overbearing tendency on the part of Tinubu is not limited to the federal level alone, he meddles in the affairs of even states that are not his home states. Mr. Lukman also accused the APC national leader of undermining the position of the president of the country by incessantly sponsoring the spurious ridicule of his anti-corruption fight. He said each time fake stories of impropriety were written about these presidents appointees, paid critics and activists on hire were always quick to accuse President Muhammadu Buhari of fighting corruption while surrounding himself with corrupt people. What we learnt is that Tinubu is attacking these aides of Mr. President because he believes he should have been the one who makes appointments into those positions as opposed to what happened when Mr. President acted in national interest and cohesion to appoint tested and trusted individuals, the coordinator alleged. In a related development, the embattled APC chairman has denied sponsoring the protest against Tinubu. Speaking with State House correspondents shortly after he emerged from a closed-door meeting with the president, Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said it was not in his character to sponsor protests against anyone, let alone, the former Lagos governor. He promised to investigate and find out those behind the protests. God forbid, anybody who knows me knows that that is not my style. Im equally shocked and Im going to look into it and find out why and who is behind it (protest), he said. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has disclosed that the state government, in conjunction with an investor, Contec Global, will construct a 10 Mega-Watt (MW) of embedded power plant valued at $18 million to grow economic activities in the state. A statement issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Head of Public Affairs, Dr Usman Arabi, stated that Ortom announced the plan at a visit to the commission on Tuesday in Abuja. Ortom said that the planned power plant would be dedicated to industrial layouts in the state. According to the statement, the acting Chairman of NERC, Dr. Anthony Akah, said that NERC would assist states that intended to invest in the power sector to improve the volume of power to Nigerians. He said that the commission was planning to have a meeting with the 36 state governors on the investment opportunities in the sector. He said that Ortom and other state governors should take interest in the ongoing consultations on mini-grid regulation. The chairman said that the governors could explore the mini-grid regulation to provide electricity to areas in their states not connected to the national grid, adding that NERC would provide the needed assistance. There is regulatory guarantee on your investments; we will get some of our staff to work with your team and guide you through the technical and other requirement for the issuance of a licence. Akah expressed concern at the high incidence of violation of right of ways and trading activities under transmission lines, adding that it had led to many accidents in the power sector. Each time we have accident in the sector, we feel we have lost one of our own. Most of these accidents are preventable and we hope we can work with state governments on how we can reduce accidents to the barest minimum. He solicited the assistance of Benue government on the payment of debt owed operators in the power sector by ministries, departments and agencies. The Project Coordinator of Contec Global, Mr. Shashi Mozumder, said that the company had been issued a Certificate of Occupancy for the project site. Mozunmder said that the power plant would also comprise three units of General Electric 3.4 megawatts turbines fuelled by gas transported with trucks from the oil fields. (NAN) The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday opened a new vista in the fight against Boko Haram with the launch of a new operation code-named Operation Forest Storm in the North-East. The operation is aimed at curtailing the outflow of Boko Haram insurgents from the northern parts of Borno to the South. Briefing newsmen at the NAF base in Yola, Adamwa state, the Chief of Training and Operations at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Abdullahi Iya, said the special operation is expected to last for about seven days. He said as part of the Operation of the NAF in Lafiya Dole, air surveillance conducted over the entire theater of Operations in the Northeast revealed some insurgents in the southern part of the Area of Operation and Forest Storm is specifically designed to take care of them. Iya: As part of our campaign against insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country, we have been focusing more on the north, nevertheless we conducted surveillance all over the Theater of Operations and we started noticing some insurgents in the south that is why we have launched a special operation to take care of that. The name of the operation is Operation Forest Storm and it is just for a few days, we are focusing mainly on interdiction, we have identified a specific target to take out through interdiction. From our calculations , it is not going to take more than three days but we are planning for seven days to take care of what we have seen. AVM Iya noted that since the campaign began, security has greatly improved in the northeast and the military operations have been able to degrade the ranks of the insurgents. We know things have improved from the nature of attacks, you no longer see them attacking in large convoys, most of them use motorcycles now. He assured that civilians have nothing to fear about the operation as the Air Force will ensure there is no collateral damage. We have conducted surveillance, selected our targets and analyzed very well before we decide on the attack, the mode and the type of weapon to use. All these are carefully planned and we do not foresee any collateral damage so there is no cause for alarm, Iya said. Wife of the Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, has called for external support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, saying the state government cannot effectively bear the burden alone. Mrs. Shettima made the plea while on a visit to some of the IDPs camps on Tuesday to monitor a special feeding programme for minors. The feeding programme is being financed by a N2 million personal donation made by members of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs led by Oluremi Tinubu. The donation was sequel to a visit to the IDPs camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital by the committee last week. The money was meant to help the children below 7 years feed properly. The wife of the Borno governor said feeding the IDPs has been a heavy responsibility for the state government and may even become a burden in the days to come; especially now that the state government is pulling all resources together to ensure that liberated communities are rebuilt. She, therefore, called on more support from well-meaning Nigerians and international NGOs to support the state and federal governments efforts in making sure that the IDPs live and feed well in their respective camps. Of all the states in the Northeast, Borno is one of the states that suffered worst devastation due to attacks by insurgents in the last six years, she said. So we will continue to plead to all well-meaning citizens of the world to support us providing support towards the needs of the displaced people. Mrs. Shettima, who spoke to journalists at Dalori IDP camp as well as at another camp run by the Christian Association of Nigeria, said she was impressed with the quality of beans being cooked for the minors as part of their breakfast. My mission here is to visit the camps to monitor how the beans that was purchased with the N2 million donated by Senate committee on Women Affairs and officials of the Future Assured for feeding of our children in camps. We all know that beans have a high rate of protein, which is good to the health of our children. I want to sincerely thank this committee for not only visiting our state to see our IDPs, but for also initiating weekly feeding of our children in camps with protein supplement. I am much satisfied with the quality and quantity of the beans being served in all the camps, and I want to assure that, this initiative is going to be a continuous one. I am appealing to individuals and corporate organizations to assist Borno State Government with cash or kind to enable it cater for our IDPs because government is doing enough to see that all our destroyed communities are being reconstructed for displaced people to go back home, she said. The Presidency has put up two of the 10 jets in the presidential air fleet for sale. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. Shehu confirmed that the newspaper advertisements for the sale of two presidential jets; a Falcon 7x executive jet and Hawker 4000, were duly authorized by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the presidential spokesman, this is in line with the directive of President Buhari that aircraft in the presidential air fleet be reduced to cut down on waste. He stated: When he campaigned to be President, the then APC candidate Muhammadu Buhari, if you recall, promised to look at the presidential air fleet with view to cutting down on waste. His directive to a government committee on this assignment is that he liked to see a compact and reliable aircraft for the safe airlift of the President, the Vice President and other government officials that go on special missions. This exercise is by no means complete. I am sure the Commander of the Presidential air fleet will any time from now, call you to a ceremony at which he will hand over some other aircraft to the Airforce for their operations. The motion filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki to dismiss his trial has been dismissed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Saraki is facing a 16-count charge bordering on false declaration of assets. Saraki had earlier filed a suit to restrain the CCT and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from proceeding with his corruption trial. He also filed a motion to disqualify Justice Danladi Umar from presiding over the hearing. SEE ALSO: CCT FINDS ORUBEBE GUILTY In the suit, the applicant sought a declaration that the plan to resume the trial of the embattled senator at the CCT is a breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution. This isnt the first time the Senate President has filed a suit against the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). He had even challenged his trial up to the Supreme Court and lost. He has also lost past fundamental rights enforcement applications, the last being the one dismissed on April 15, 2016 by Justice Adamu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja. SEE ALSO: My Political Travails Will Soon Fizzle Out Saraki Boko Haram demanded 5billion or N1,706,850,000,000 from the Nigerian Government for the release of 219 Chibok girls, who they have held hostage since April 2014, fresh facts have indicated. The terrorist group, which has oft-repeated its readiness to swap the Chibok girls for its members in government custody, may have spoken tongue-in-cheek. According to American author, Prof. John Paden, whenever the Nigerian government moved to facilitate the swap deal with Boko Haram, the terrorist group always back tracked from the original plan, demanding for outrageous sums instead. Prof. Paden, a teacher of International Studies, revealed these facts in his biography on President Muhammadu Buhari titled Muhammadu Buhari: The challenges of leadership in Nigeria. The book was presented to the public on Monday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. The authors account on the botched negotiation between Boko Haram and the Federal Government provided fresh insights into the plight of the Chibok girls, who have been in captivity for over two years. Some excerpts from the book are: An additional issue was the status of the Chibok girls. Secret negotiations had been held regarding an exchange of Boko Haram prisoners for the girls. On several occasions, prisoners were taken to Maiduguri to facilitate an exchange. But these negotiations stalled when Boko Haram demanded a ransom of 5billion for the girls. The dilemma for the DSS, which was handling the negotiations, was that a military assault to rescue the girls would almost certainly result in their deaths at the hands of their Boko Haram captors. But the Nigerian government was not going to accede to Boko Harams extra-ordinary demand for a vast sum of money which would no doubt be used to fund future attacks. One or two girls were able to escape their captors in May, but the rest remained captive and the impasse continued The Chibok girls were not alone in their grim fate. Hundreds if not thousands, of persons had been captured by Boko Haram in the North-East. Buhari would need to continue degrading Boko Haram until he could tighten the noose around its Sambisa hideouts and bring a close end to this painful episode. Germany will build a military base in Niger to support the UN mission fighting jihadists in neighbouring Mali, Berlins ambassador to Niamey said Wednesday. Bernd von Munchow-Pohl also announced in a speech to mark the anniversary of Germanys reunification seen by AFP that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would visit Niger in the next few days. With the establishment of a German military airbase in Niamey in support of the MINUSMA mission in Mali, which Niger has supported since the beginning, a new chapter in our cooperation has begun, he said, using the acronym for the UN mission in Mali. (Germany) is ready to engage more in the Sahel region (and) assume even more responsibility, he said. Niger is a central partner for us in this respect (and) a key country in the fight against terrorism and illegal migration from West Africa. The US and France already operate bases in Niger as part of the battle against jihadists in the Sahel region principally in Libya and Mali. They have also deployed drones to Niamey and Agadez in the north to monitor jihadist movements. Experts say Niger, the poorest country in the Sahel, is becoming a crucial base for Western powers in the fight against jihadists. Source: Vanguard A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State on Wednesday adjourned the five-year-old case involving former Governor Danjuma Goje till November 22. Justice Babatunde Quadri adjourned the case to enable the prosecution tender the financial regulations and due process documents mentioned by the witness during proceedings, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Quadri set out four days November 22 to 25 as requested by prosecution for continuation of hearing in the matter. Goje, who is now a senator, is standing trial on a five-count charge of financial impropriety during his time as Governor of Gombe. At the resumed hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuting counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, led a prosecution witness, Dr. Sani Gyauro, in evidence. Shittu had applied for an adjournment to enable him tender the financial regulations and due processes documents mentioned by Gyauro. My Lord, in view of the relevancy of the financial regulations and due process documents regarding the subject matter of food procurement, I wish to apply to the court to adjourn this case and give us four to five days. I wish to tender the relevant documents about the manner contracts for the procurement of food for the government was flaunted during ex- governor Goje tenure, he said. Open Roads has released the first trailer for Sleepless, the American remake of the French action hit Sleepless Night, starring Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, and Gabrielle Union. SLEEPLESS stars Jamie Foxx as undercover Las Vegas police officer Vincent Downs, who is caught in a high stakes web of corrupt cops and the mob-controlled casino underground. When a heist goes wrong, a crew of homicidal gangsters kidnaps Downs teenage son. In one sleepless night he will have to rescue his son, evade an internal affairs investigation and bring the kidnappers to justice. https://youtu.be/grqVFoJ3jJg Immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that he is ready to plead guilty to charges of laundering N21billion. Amosu and 10 others said yesterday that they were negotiating a plea deal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which proffered the charges against them. EFCC arraigned Amosu along with a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo. Companies arraigned with them are Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil And Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited. They were accused by the anti-graft agency of converting the sum of N21billion from the NAF around March 2014 in Lagos. They were also accused of concealing proceeds of crime, an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a). At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the defendants kicked against a bid by EFCCs lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, to begin their trial. They sought for more time to conclude the plea bargain with EFCC. It would be recalled that after he was first arraigned in June this year, counsel to Amosu, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), argued that the former Air Chief had returned collossal sums. He (Amosu) has remitted colossal sums of money to the Federal Government, although not in admittance of guilt, but out of cooperation with security agencies, the Senior Advocate said. The United Nations Population Fund says Nigeria requires about $16m annually to boost reproductive health services. The Executive Director of UNFPA, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, in a statement by the Deputy Regional Director, West and Central Africa Region, Ms. Beatrice Mutali, said that Nigeria requires between US $12 million and US $16 million for the commodities it requires to go round the country annually. Osotimehin was in Abuja recently for a three days official visit where he met with various high level stakeholders. He said, This is a small amount in view of the return on investment, as nobody can place a value to life. He said UNFPA is going to build on the business case for family planning until such a time that Nigerias budget could carry the responsibility of procuring these commodities. The executive director said that UNFPA would be glad if Nigeria could reach that stage quickly. Osotimehin, however, assured that the inability of Nigeria to provide sufficient funds to procure these commodities would not affect UNFPAs contributions to the country. He said that UNFPAs support has amounted to about $7m for commodities and lifesaving drugs in 2015. Osotimehin expressed happiness with the level of improvement of the well-being of girls supported by the Adolescent Girls Initiative of the UNFPA. He said, Most of the girls could not speak a word of English about two years ago. It was very encouraging that the UNFPAs provision of language, social and educational skills had got the girls this far. The statement also said that Nigerias Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, confirmed the release of $3m for the procurement of reproductive health and other lifesaving commodities. It said the minister confirmed the release of the funds during a meeting with Osotimehin. The statement said UNFPA would help Nigeria to buy the commodities, as they do for many countries. It said, This will ensure that Nigeria gets a larger amount of supplies for the resources they put in. Prof. Adewole also said that the money set aside this year is US $3 million and it would not be enough for the commodities as a result of the fragility of the Naira. Source: Punch In accordance with naval traditions, a Nigerian naval ship was welcomed by the Sri Lankan Navy at the Port of Colombo on Wednesday. The Nigerian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), NNS Unity, arrived at the Port of Colombo this morning (5) on a goodwill visit, the Sri Lankan Navy said. The ship which was just constructed in China, is on its maiden voyage to Nigeria and is scheduled to pay port calls on some ports of friendly nations before arriving in the country in the first week of November. The departs Sri Lanka October 7, and is scheduled to engage in a number of programs organised by the Sri Lanka Navy. The National Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the Chairmanship of Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, yesterday met with the partys caucus of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with a vow to drag the All Progressives Congress, APC to court over the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial election. According to them, they were optimistic that the PDP would get the victory, just as they said that they have confidence in the judiciary. Makarfi led other members of his team to brief NASS caucus on the decisions taken so far to have lasting peace in the party, especially the move to put in place a twenty- four member team from both sides of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and that of Makarfi. The Meeting was convened at the instance of the National Caretaker Committee briefed members of the National Assembly on the state of affairs of the Party since after the last National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State; especially on the ongoing reconciliation process. According to the National Chairman, the Meeting was to assist leadership of the Party harvest more ideas and be guided towards achieving the mandate of rebuilding the Party and strategize to return the PDP to power in 2019 not only with majority of states, but also reclaiming the Center, the meeting unanimously endorsed the peace process initiated by the National Caretaker Committee to reconcile all aggrieved members of the Party. The Party leadership maintained that there is no faction in the PDP, but grievances amongst Party members and that will be resolved soonest. Speaking to Journalists after the meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye who noted that Edo issue was discussed at the meeting, We discussed it. We know that we were we robbed in Edo State. We believe that we will have our day in court. And by the grace of God, we still have confidence in the judiciary. What happened in Edo State will not stand. Speaking further on the meeting, Adeyeye said, The members of the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi came in here today to brief our National Assembly Caucus. The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives is here, the DSP was also here. We had very good representation at this meeting. Basically, it was to brief them on new developments in the party, particularly relating to the peace efforts that we are making in the party. We have to put them into confidence in some of the actions we have taken lately. And ask for their own contribution because after all they are major critical stakeholders. They put us there, we need to consult with them, we need to brief them on developments from time to time. And Im happy to say that after the review of what has happened, we have come to the conclusion that the peace efforts already taken by the caretaker committee are in order. And the National Assembly Caucus have given full endorsement to all the efforts made so far by the National Caretaker Committee to reconcile all the aggrieved members of this great party. On why the other faction was not at the meeting, he said, We dont have any faction in PDP. Ive said some people are aggrieved. And we are trying to make peace with everybody. The PDP is one single body. In every party, you have people who could be aggrieved from time to time. And we are making efforts to reconcile everybody together. In his opening remarks, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who thanked members for taking time out of their busy schedule to attend the Meeting, however expressed appreciation for the recognition accorded them by the National Caretaker Committee for the briefing. In the same vein, the Minority Leaders of Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor in their goodwill messages respectively, eulogized the collective responsibility of the leadership style of the National Chairman and his team especially in their pursuit for peace and unity in our Party. Source: Vanguard An American fire official has confirmed that a Samsung device caused a plane to be evacuated at Louisville International Airport earlier today. Louisville Metro Arson Capt. Kevin Fletcher told news outlets that the device overheated Wednesday morning and began to smoke, which led Southwest Airlines to evacuate the plane before it departed for Baltimore. Airport authority spokeswoman Natalie Chaudoin said 75 people, including crew members, were evacuated from the flight. She says no one was injured. Fletcher says there was minor damage to the planes carpet where the device was dropped. U.S. safety regulators announced a formal recall last month of Samsungs Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after a spate of fires led to injuries and property damage. Time Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday dissociated himself from a suit initiated by Timipa Jenkins Okponipare at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking to quash his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Mr. Okponipare had filed an enforcement of fundamental human rights suit before Justice Gabriel Kolawole on behalf of the Senate president, declaring that the plan to resume Sarakis trial at the CCT is a breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He also prayed for an order of the court compelling the CCT and Attorney General of the Federation to suspend indefinitely, any plan to resume the trial at the CCT. However, a statement by Mahmud Magaji (SAN), lawyer to Saraki, said the number three citizen never instructed Okponipare to institute such a suit on his behalf. RELATED POST: Saraki Files Fresh Suit To Stop Resumed Trial At CCT The statement reads: We do not know the complainant in the purported case. Dr. Saraki has not instructed any lawyer to file a suit in the Federal High Court, Abuja, or any other court, wherein a purported issue of fundamental human rights to challenge the case before the CCT was filed. We hope the reported case is not arranged to target the decision which the CCT is billed to deliver tomorrow (today) concerning the competence of the Tribunal chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, to continue presiding over the Saraki case. We call on members of the public to know that Dr. Saraki will explore all legitimate avenues to prove his innocence of the charges filed against him before the CCT but he will not be a party to abuse of the court process in whatever manner. Meanwhile, the application filed by the Senate president concerning the competence of the CCT chairman was dismissed earlier today. In a ruling on the application, Justice Umar said he would have disqualified himself but for the constraints placed on the Chairman by the Constitution of Nigeria that established the Code of Conduct Tribunal. He said the application to recuse the Chairman has not been contemplated at the conception of the Constitution. Mr. Umar further pointed out that for the president to even remove the Chairman or a member of the Tribunal, he must transmit a written address to the National Assembly and obtain a two-third consent from both chambers of the legislature. The Chairman ruled that the allegation of the applicant is based on mere conjecture of the media. The application of the defendant is not well founded and it is hereby refused, he ruled. The Senate on Tuesday warned that it would not accept a situation where Nigerians working in the telecommunications industry would be indiscriminately sacked without recourse to the global labour rules and practices. The Senate was reacting to reports that MTN Nigeria Limited last week relieved 500 customer care representatives of their jobs following a call centre management change. Speaking yesterday in Abuja, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, Gilbert Nnaji, insisted that As the representatives of the people we cannot fold our arms and watch our constituents being relieved of their jobs indiscriminately by employers of labour. We cannot in any way tolerate such. At the same time, we shall also ensure that our foreign investors are not unduly threatened. RELATED POST: MTN Denies Mass Sack Of Call Center Operators When my attention was drawn to this ugly development I immediately contacted the Managing Director of the company. Although he said that facts were somehow misrepresented in the report, he still admitted that it was only the short-term contract staff who work in the call centres that were affected. I then let him know that it would be proper for him to review the action especially in view of the biting economic situation in the country. It is only when that option fails that the committee and by extension, Senate, would take a position to protect our people, Senator Nnaji said. Shehu Koko, the Aide-de-camp (ADC) to immediate past governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, on Tuesday, explained to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry how he disbursed N680.2 million to security agents in the state during the 2015 general elections. Mr. Koko told the Commission in Katsina that the funds were disbursed in cash. The ADC said it was his former boss, Mr. Shema, who asked him to summon a security meeting on March 26, 2015. The money was disbursed as logistics and allowances to various security personnel during the Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections in 2015. I invited the then Deputy Commissioner of Police who stands for the CP, the then Commanding Officer of the 35 battalion, Nigerian Army, the Director, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), he said. He explained that the money was provided by the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sani Makana, on March 27, 2015. According to him, the SSS was given N158 million, Nigerian Army; N68.2 million, Customs; N8 million, Immigration; N10 million, and Prisons Service: N8 million. Others were Federal Road Safety Corps, N8 million; NSCDC, N24 million; the present Commissioner of Police who was in the state for election duties got N10 million, former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), N4 million and DCP operations; N3.5 million. The ADC said each of the three police area commanders received N4 million, while N95 million was disbursed to the 34 Divisional Police Officers, where each DPO got N2.5 million, among others. He added that the present ADC to Gov. Bello Masari collected for himself and on behalf of the Non-Commissioned Officers serving in the state. Mr. Koko submitted documents on the disbursement which were registered and marked as evidences. The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Muhammad Surajo, adjourned sitting until October 26 for adoption of addresses by the counsel. The current state Governor, Bello Masari, had constituted a commission of inquiry to investigate how funds were allegedly diverted during the tenure of Ibrahim Shema and advise government on what steps to take. (NAN) The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State, has arrested a six-man robbery gang which allegedly attacked residents of about 15 communities in Lagos and Ogun states. Our correspondent gathered that the suspects were apprehended by the Zonal Intervention Squad on Sunday after one of them was trailed through a stolen phone. The suspected members of the gang are identified as Lekan Akinola, Mutiu Oyekan, Akeem Sanusi, Rasaq Olahunsi, Kazeem Oladipupo and Waheed Amusan. It was learned that the suspects had robbed in the Abata, Ifo, Arigbajo, Ewekoro, Mowe, Adigbe, and Ota areas of Ogun State, and also in the Iju, Alakuko, and Agege areas of Lagos State. A police source told our correspondent that the stolen phone was tracked to Akinola, who alongside other gang members, had allegedly gone to rob at Arigbajo community. He said, The police got a tip-off that the robbers had been terrorizing residents of more than 15 communities in the two states. It was in the Arigbajo area of Ogun State that they robbed a resident and collected his mobile phone. Luckily for the police, one of the suspects, Akinola, began to use the stolen phone. It was the phone that gave him away as the police tracked it and arrested him. The victim had reported the robbery to the police, and investigation had begun. We placed the suspects under surveillance, and they were eventually arrested on Sunday. Through Akinola, we were able to trail the other suspects and arrest them. PUNCH Metro learned that items recovered from the suspects were refrigerators, laptops, Plasma TV sets, generators and electrical appliances. The gangs operational vehicle, a Mazda bus with number plate, BDG 602 XM, was also recovered by the police. The zonal police spokesperson, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest. He said, The police worked with the Information and Communications Technology experts to arrest Akinola and others. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 command, Abdulmajid Ali, has directed that the suspects be charged to court without delay. Source: Punch A 14-year-old teenager, Taofeek Ibrahim has been served a one year imprisonment by an Oredo Magistrates Court in Benin on Wednesday for unlawful attempt to defile a five-year-old girl. The convict was tried on a one-count charge of unlawful carnal knowledge. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Thomas Ojo, in his statement told the court that the convict committed the crime on July 14, 5015, at No. 37, at Iwehen Str., Benin city. He said the offence contravened Section 218 of the criminal Code. In her ruling, the presiding judge Magistrate, Mrs J.O Ejale, sentenced Ibrahim to one year imprisonment with an option of N20, 000 as fine. The claim that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) was nominated as running mate to then General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, despite pressure against it by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has been described as a distortion of recent history. A Professor of International Studies, John Paden, had in his recently launched biography on President Muhammadu Buhari, claimed that Osinbajo was picked by Buhari ahead of Tinubu and former Governor, Babatunde Fashola. Reacting to the portion of the book by Prof. Paden titled Muhammadu Buhari: Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria, a retired general, Iliyasu Ibrahim, said it was wrong. Ibrahim, in a statement yesterday, expressed fears that some fifth columnists are trying to distort recent history and urged Nigerians not to pay heed to them. The statement reads: I became disturbed about this falsification of recent history. Why would the author say this and have it published when many of us know the truth? The truth is that Tinubu singlehandedly chose Yemi Osinbajo and sent the name to President Buhari. There was no pressure. Tinubu is Osinbajos political mentor. The latter was his attorney-general and commissioner for Justice in Lagos and both have a close relationship. My worry stretched further when I recall the recent piece by Femi Fani Kayode on Tinubu and his huge contributions to the APC and how he is now being short-changed. Though I do not agree with all the claims made by Femi Fani-Kayode, I am convinced he made some reasonable arguments and his summation about Tinubus role in the current political dispensation can hardly be faulted. In some areas, he went overboard and you could see him gloating, the PDP apologist that he is. Also, the mention of Governor Ajimobi as one of the governors working against Tinubu is a fallacy and here he got his facts wrong. Ajimobi has remained consistently behind Tinubu and that is easily verifiable. But back to the emergence of Osinbajo as Vice Presidential candidate. I was there the night before the final decision and subsequent announcement. I was there at the Lagos Lodge Annex in Asokoro, Abuja at Tinubus place. On the night in reference, Asiwaju insisted that three names would not be sent for the VP slot. He maintained that only one name would be sent. Eventually, the name of Osinbajo was sent to President Buhari. There was no issue of pressure. Osinbajo was Tinubus man and that was the only person Tinubu was willing to accept to cede the VP slot. Shortly after Governor Amosun came around to the Lagos lodge. He came in and we greeted. Now, it seems clear that some fifth columnists are trying to distort recent history and we should not let them. This history is too recent to be mutilated. The quarrel between the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, assumed another dimension on Tuesday. While Odigie-Oyegun took his case to President Muhammadu Buhari, some party youths protested Tinubus vituperative call on Odigie Oyegun to resign from office. The crisis in the party blew open recently when Tinubu, in a statement, called for the resignation of the party chairman. The bone of contention was the partys governorship primary in Ondo State, which produced Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as the candidate for the November 26 governorship election in the state. Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, had faulted Odigie-Oyegun for overruling the decision of the partys National Working Committee that upheld the decision of the Appeal Committee which recommended the cancellation of the primary. The party chairman, who had said he was engrossed in the preparations for the Edo State governorship poll, which was won by APCs Godwin Obaseki, however, refused to take issue with Tinubu, who he said he held in high esteem. Odigie-Oyegun lost his ward to the Peoples Democratic Party in the governorship election, held on September 28, 2016. On Tuesday, however, Odigie-Oyegun took his grievance to President Muhammadu Buhari. The meeting between the President and the partys national chairman, who is also a former governor of Edo State, was held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with Buhari, Odigie-Oyegun said Tinubu was too harsh on him. He, however, said the situation between the two of them could not be described as a rift but a difference of opinion. There is no rift with Asiwaju. We have difference of opinions, difference of perception and I think that is normal. Yes, I agree that the nature of the (Tinubus) statement was a bit harsh, he said. When asked if he would resign as demanded by Tinubu, the ex-governor said, The methods of getting rid of a national chairman, if that is what I will call it, are spelt out in the constitution. They dont take place on the pages of newspapers. He said it was proper for all arms of the party, including the National Executive Council, to meet and the meeting would hold at the appropriate time. Odigie-Oyegun denied being the brains behind the youths who protested against Tinubu at the partys national headquarters earlier in the day. He, however, promised to investigate the matter. God forbid (that I sponsor the protest)! Anybody who knows me knows that it is not my style. I am equally shocked and I am going to look into it and find out why and who is behind it. Do people know how far back our association goes? Do they know that we were in the trenches together in the NADECO days? Why cant people, who have mutual respect for each other, have different opinions? All we had was difference of opinions. Yes, it was expressed a bit harshly but that doesnt remove the basic fact that we have worked together for a very long time, he added. Odigie-Oyegun said all that transpired in the partys primary election in Ondo State were contained in the report of the chairman of the primary committee. When asked whether the party would consider a change of mind since the result is generating controversy, the party chairman said, It is only INEC (the Independent national Electoral Commission) that can make a U-turn on the Ondo primary. Odigie-Oyegun described the recent governorship election in Edo State won by the partys candidate, Godwin Obaseki, as a referendum on the performance of Governor Adam Oshiomhole and on the quality of the partys candidate. Earlier on Tuesday, a group of youths stormed the APC National Secretariat to protest what they claim was Tinubus overbearing influence on partys affairs. The partys youths, who came under the aegis of the APC Democratic Youth Frontiers, held several banners with anti-Tinubu posters. Some of them read, We are united in APC; Tinubu cant separate us; Tinubu is not God; Greed is not democracy; No room for an emperor. Leader of the protesters, Mr. Lookman Salaudeen, said the APC national leader should be told to either toe the party line or be shown the way out. He said, We call on Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu to either leave the APC, (or) curtail his greed (and) toe the line and exhibit the kind of loyalty needed for party cohesion whether from ordinary members or national leaders. Nigeria is bigger than Lagos State, where you control affairs like a god; whose words are sacred and must be obeyed at all times. The group leader said he and members of the group were compelled to stage the protest when it became apparent that attacks on Buharis appointees and other party leaders were coming from within. Salaudeen added, We had initially thought this was the handiwork of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, who wanted to continue with the unjustified attacks on the administration of Mr. President. We are unusually perplexed that our leader, who parades himself as the national leader of our great party, the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, is the one now whistle-blowing against the same party he claimed to have brought into prominence. Had any other member of the party done something like this, it would have been classified as an anti-party activity; it remains the same anti-party act, an offence from whatever perspective it is considered. He is apparently not seeing reason as he again launched an attack on our national chairman, Chief John (Odigie-) Oyegun, whom he asked to resign, the same way his proxies have been demanding the resignation of the appointees of Mr. President. He did this without any thought on how the call on the national chairman to resign would affect our party in the Edo State governorship election that was taking place just hours away from when he made that error of poor judgment. When contacted, Tinubus spokesman, Mr. Tunde Rahman, promised to get back to The PUNCH. His response was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report. Also, a pro-APC group, APC Disciples in Edo, has warned against plots by some leaders of the party to force Odigie-Oyegun out of office by all means. The group, in a statement by its leader, Chief Francis Inegbeniki, on Tuesday, said no amount of conspiracy would remove the national chairman. It stated that Oyegun had not committed any offence warranting such calls for his resignation when it was so evident that he had delivered on his mandate as results of different elections held under him had testified. It added, it is unfortunate that Chief Bola Tinubu, our National leader, whom we all respect so much and Timi Frank to have asked Oyegun to resign from office, as both of them never disclosed any offence that Oyegun committed to warrant his resignation. Oyegun was not an aspirant in the Ondo APC primary; so, it is unnecessary for anyone to direct his anger to Oyegun. It is not fair to put all the blame on the head of Oyegun. Source: Punch The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, has described as harsh, the call by a chieftain of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his resignation over the Ondo state gubernatorial primaries. Mr. Tinubu had called for Oyeguns resignation about two weeks ago, saying the APC chairmans comportment regarding the Ondo guber primaries was a classic example of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order. In his initial response, the APC chair said due to his respect for the former Lagos State governor, he would not join issues with him. However, emerging from a meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, Oyegun told State House correspondents that he cannot be removed on the pages of newspapers, adding that the procedure for removing a partys national chairman is spelt out in the constitution. Nonetheless, he stressed that he had no rift with Tinubu, saying what happened between them was just a difference of opinion and perception. There is no rift with Asiwaju, we have difference of opinion, difference of perception and I think that is normal. Yes, I agree that the nature of the statement was a bit harsh. The method of getting rid of a national chairman (of a party), if that is what I will call it, are spelt out in the constitution, they dont take place on the pages of newspapers, he said. On allegations that he sponsored some youth, who protested at the partys national headquarters in Abuja yesterday against the alleged highhandedness of Mr. Tinubu, the APC national chairman said, God forbid, anybody who knows me knows that that is not my style. Im equally shocked and Im going to look into it and find out why and who is behind it. On what he would tell those wondering if the pleasantries he exchanged with the former Lagos governor at Buharis biography presentation on Monday were genuine, Oyegun stated: Do they know how far back our association goes? Do they know that we were in the trenches together in the NADECO days? Why cant people who have mutual respect for each other have different opinions? All we had was difference of opinions. Yes, it was expressed a bit harshly, but that doesnt remove the basic fact that weve worked together for a very long time. Asked to explain what happened in the Ondo guber primaries, Oyegun responded: What happened is in the report of the chairman of the primaries committee. On whether he would make a U-turn on the primaries since it is generating controversies, he said it is only the Independent National Electoral Commission that could do so. The United Nations has appointed Mr Antonio Guterres as its new secretary general to replace Mr Ban Ki Moon inJanuaryy. Mr Guterres is the former prime minister of Portugal and the head of the UN refugee Agency was appointed this morning in a poll that took place in New York. Ban Ki Moon, the current secretary-general has been in office for the past ten years. The appointment which was not vetoed by any of the members of the security council is subject to a formal approval by the General Assembly, Mr Guterres will be taking over from Ban at a time when the world is experiencing a migration crises. His experience as the head of the UN refugee agency gave him added support from the global community. The selection process is reported to have been the most open in the 70year history of the organization, Britain and the US were said to have voraciously called for a woman to take the job for the first time in UN history. A total of 13 contestants submitted their proposals for the post and more than half of them are women. A 35-year-old woman, Loretta Ewere, has been electrocuted at her fiances home on Ajoke Kazeem Street in the Idimu area of Lagos State. PUNCH Metro learnt that Eweres fiance, Segun Tolani, was fixing an electrical fault when the incident happened. She was said to have been rushed to a private hospital in the area but was rejected before being confirmed dead at the Igando General Hospital. Our correspondent, who visited the area on Tuesday, gathered that Ewere and Tolani had scheduled their wedding for November and preparation was in top gear when tragedy struck. A resident, who did not want to be identified, said the incident happened around 1pm on Saturday, adding that it created chaos in the neighbourhood. He said, The man had wanted to change his old cable TV decoder and antenna. When power was restored, he discovered that he didnt have electricity in his house. He wanted to do it himself, but neighbours advised him to get the service of an electrician. He contacted an electrician who billed him N2,500. But he said the charge was too high. He decided to go and rent a wooden ladder from someone in the area. He mounted the ladder on the wall and called the lady from inside the room to assist him in holding the ladder. She held the ladder with one hand and held an iron pole beside the room with the other hand. While he was working, the wire fell and touched the pole she was holding and that was how she was electrocuted. PUNCH Metro learnt that Tolani called for help from a next-door neighbour, whose wife reportedly rushed to the scene to pull out the victim with her bare hands. She was reportedly flung by the electric current. An electrician was said to have been invited, who then disconnected the power. The woman fell down and hit her head against the concrete floor. People tried to resuscitate her by giving her milk; but she didnt come round. A lot of time had been wasted. She was rushed to a private hospital in the area, but she was rejected. We took her to the general hospital, where she was confirmed dead. Her corpse was deposited in a mortuary, another resident said. PUNCH Metro gathered that Ewere, an indigene of Ewuru, Delta State, worked in Union Diagnostics, a medical lab in Ikeja, while Tolani, who hails from Ekiti State, worked with an insurance company. When our correspondent visited the victims family house on Ogidan Street, Idimu, they said the family was too distraught to talk about the incident. However, a relative, who identified himself simply as Charles, blamed the incident on Tolanis stinginess. He explained that the duo had been living together for the past four years, adding that the two families had started preparation for their wedding. He said, They did their introduction four years ago and since then, they had been staying together. Their marriage was slated for November and the two families have bought clothes and sent invitation to people. Around 1pm of the day that she died, she called one of her friends that she would be going to shop for the wedding, not knowing that she would die that day. It was the mans stinginess that killed her. If he had paid someone to fix the electrical fault, this would not have happened. Meanwhile, friends of the victim have started paying tributes to her on the social media. One of them, Kehinde, wrote on Facebook, Loretta (Ewere), a member of the Purchasing and Supply Students Association, The Polytechnic Ibadan, was kind-hearted, brilliant and reserved. The industrious lady was preparing for her last two exams (slated for October 4 and 6) left for her to become a graduate when she died. We love you, but God loves you most. I pray He accepts your soul and comforts your household. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident. She said the corpse had been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy. She said, The woman, Loretta Ewere, was electrocuted around 9am. She was living with one Segun Tolani, to whom she was supposed to be married next month. They were fixing a GoTV antenna when power was suddenly restored. Ewere, who was holding the antenna wire, was electrocuted. The corpse has been deposited in a mortuary for a post-mortem examination. Source: Punch Corn (ZC) Retesting Weekly Chart Triangle Resistance Tradable Patterns - 1 hour ago CORN (ZCZ22) gapped up more than 2% to start the week, but is likely to consolidate these next few days as it bumps against the psychologically key 700 whole figure level and triangle resistance (on the... ZCZ22 : 697-4 (+2.46%) CORN : 27.09 (-0.33%) Grains start off hot! Banghart Properties - Sun Oct 30, 7:29PM CDT How strong will wheat finish the week out Lean Hogs Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 30, 5:03PM CDT 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,... Feeder Cattle Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 30, 5:02PM CDT The uptrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading above support level 178.550, which will be followed by reaching resistance level 188.250. Live Cattle Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 30, 5:01PM CDT The uptrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading above support level 151.775, which will be followed by reaching resistance level 156.475. Soybean Oil Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 30, 5:00PM CDT 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,... Soybean Meal Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 30, 4:59PM CDT The uptrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading above support level 419.1, which will be followed by reaching resistance level 439. Soybean Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 30, 4:58PM CDT The uptrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading above support level 1380.4, which will be followed by reaching resistance level 1423.2 and if it keeps on moving up above that level, we... When wealthy donors adore animals, veterinary schools have been known to feel the love. Thats the case for a $39 million gift the Stanton Foundation just made to Ohio State. Ohio State University has the fifth-ranked veterinary medicine college, and one of the oldest, in the country. It also happens to be where the late Frank Stanton, a media mastermind behind the rise of CBS, got his masters and doctorate back in the 1930s in psychology. Before Stanton passed away in 2006, he loved animals, especially dogs (his last dog, a Corgi named Annie, is cared for by his foundation). Stantons devotion has proven beneficial to OSUs College of Veterinary Medicine, which just received a $39 million, two-part commitment from the Stanton Foundation. About half of the gift is funding a Chair in General Practice and Canine Health and Wellness, seven faculty and 12 staff positions, a new lab and a mobile unit. The other half will establish a new program in five years that will focus on training general practitioners, allowing students to gain experience in clinical settings. Stanton has given to Ohio State in the pastin 2002 he established the Ruth Stanton Chair in Veterinary Medicine in his wifes nameand his foundations latest gift arrives as the university, like many others nationwide, is carrying out a huge fundraising campaign, now approaching $3 billion. The Stanton Foundations support for animals isnt limited to OSU, however, as one of this quirky funders three programs goes toward animal welfare, specifically canines. We wrote previously about its unique backing for police dog programs and to establish dog parks in Massachusetts. Other interests include international and nuclear security, and First Amendment and media issues. Related: The Canine-Loving Foundation Backing Shelters, Police Dogs, Even Dog Parks Weve seen quite a few two-comma grants from the funder in the pastto shelters, MIT, Stanford and Harvard universities, and some high-profile giving to the Wikimedia Foundation, but this appears to be the largest single commitment on the books from Stanton. Theres actually not a ton of foundations that focus on pets or domestic animal welfare, but we have seen some big gifts now and then to colleges of veterinary medicine, driven by a wealthy donors love of animals. For example, a late newspaper publishers charitable foundation has given $47 million to N.C. State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine. His connection to the school started when he used to take his nine golden retrievers there for care. Philanthropist, dog breeder and trainer Cora Nunnally Miller, who died last year, has donated $13.5 million to UGAs College of Veterinary Medicine. A while back, we covered the horse-loving Malones, who pledged $42.5 million to Colorado States to develop new treatments for both animal and human patients. Its not always easy to identify who is going to end up a big animal donor, but its clear once again that so many philanthropic decisions are made from a place of emotion and gratitude, and people deeply love animals and their vets. Emotions aside, the need for funding is legit. While theres actually a debate over whether theres an overall shortage of veterinarians, one National Academies of Science study did identify a need for vets in certain areas, such as public sector research. It also found that both the decline in funding for veterinary schools and the high costs of a veterinary education are jeopardizing the future of the profession. Related: A Single Four-Legged Focus: The Tech Philanthropist Giving Millions for Animals While talk of a "digital divide" has faded in recent years, it turns out that this problem never really went away. A 2015 White House report estimated that 25 percent of people in the United States dont have Internet service at home, while according to the FCC, only 48 percent of people making under $25,000 a year have broadband in their homes. So while most professionals are so accustomed to high-speed Internet that even a slight delay in page load time creates a white-hot ball of rage, poorer Americans are in a very different boat. An enduring digital divide impacts low-income households, residents in rural areas, and racial minorities the hardest, cutting these demographics off from social and economic opportunities such as finding and applying for jobs, completing homework assignments, being aware of current events, and applying for college. In short, lack of internet access puts a brick on populations already struggling under heavy obstacles. Comcast, a major cable television, Internet, and phone provider, has an idea for how to bridge the digital divide (and bring in new customers). The company offers a high-speed Internet adoption program, called Internet Essentials, that provides broadband access to low-income families for $9.95 per month. According to a five-year progress report, 750,000 U.S. families have received broadband access since the programs 2011 launch, and 95 percent of families with children reported a positive impact on school grades. The Internet Essential initiative serves as a conduit for some of Comcasts philanthropic efforts, including a new $15.3 million, multi-year partnership with the YMCA. We wrote earlier this year about the YMCAs efforts to brand itself as more than just gyms and pools, given the organizations extensive charitable work in community and youth development, and a presence in over 10,000 neighborhoods across the country. The YMCAs For a Better Us campaign raises awareness about its work on pressing social issues at a time of growng concerns about economic and racial inequities. Related: Seizing the Moment: The YMCA Spotlights Its Equity Mission. Will More Money Follow? We've wondered whether the ad campaigns would translate into new funding for the Y. The answer, it turns out, is yesbut in this case, the funding is mostly for more public relations. The partnership with Comcast will give the YMCA a platform for its public service announcements (PSAs) in English and Spanish to reach lower-income communities and broaden understanding about what the YMCA actually does. "Closing gaps and increasing access to services that help kids and families reach their full potential is a key aspect of the Ys mission," said Kevin Washington, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA, in last week's announcement. "Comcast shares our passion for social equity, and this partnership is evidence of that." While much of the $15 million will come in the form of in-kind contributions of air time for PSAs, Comcast is also giving small local grants to promote digital literacy and overcome the digital divide. Five regional YMCAs received $10,000 grants to support academic achievement programs to mark the launch of the partnership. Earlier that day, Comcast announced an additional commitment of $10,000 each to ten digital literacy nonprofits in the corporations hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It makes sense that a corporation dubbed the Worst Company in America by Consumerist magazine in 2014 would want to create some goodwill and team up with a longstanding charitable institution such as the YMCA. But while Comcasts Internet Essential program boasts some impressive results, well be watching to see whether this new partnership can offer a measurable impact a few years down the road. Large organizations that do a bit of everything often get bad press. They risk being seen as jacks of all trades but masters of none. Yet the French investment house Amundi, which with 1.0 trillion ($1.1 trillion) of assets is one of the worlds biggest non-U.S. investment managers, is trying to become more rather than less comprehensive. We have a bunch of mature areas in which we have established leadership: fixed income, structured products and money market funds, says Pascal Blanque, who has been chief investment officer since the firm was founded through the 2010 merger of the asset management arms of Credit Agricole and Societe Generale. He also identifies a second bench of fast-rising stars, where we want to invest more. These areas include exchange-traded funds, where Amundi has broken into the top five players in Europe, with 20 billion in assets. Blanque has good reason to expand Amundis horizons. Fixed-income investments account for 52 percent of its assets, and money market instruments another 18 percent. And 40 percent of the firms assets come from the insurance arms of its founding banks. Blanque cant count on all those captive assets staying put. SocGen unloaded its 20 percent stake through Amundis 1.7 billion initial public offering last year; Credit Agricole remains as controlling shareholder with 75 percent. So Blanque is ramping up Amundis distribution efforts in Asia to add retail investors to its institutional clientele. He is building up the firms equities capabilities with the acquisition of Kleinwort Benson Investors, a 7.6 billion Irish institutional equities specialist, from the French private bank Oddo & Cie in May. And he is expanding Amundis offerings of ETFs and smart beta to capture the growing demand for low-cost passive strategies. If you have exposure to various geographies and client segments, you end up with some robustness, he explains. The diversification drive is bearing fruit. Amundi boasted net inflows of 80 billion last year, most of it from areas outside of France that the firm is targeting for growth. Some 37 billion came from Asia and 22 billion from Europe ex-France. Asia also made the biggest contribution to net inflows in the first half of this year 12 billion out of a total of 16.8 billion. The region now represents half of Amundis non-French business, as the firm managed 130 billion in assets in Asia as of June 30, up 36 percent from a year earlier. One notable absence from Blanques expansion drive is the U.S. At a time when U.K. managers such as Aberdeen Asset Management, Insight Investment and Schroder Investment Management are targeting the vast U.S. market for growth, Amundi stands out for its reticence. The firm acquired Smith Breeden Associates, a Durham, North Carolinabased fixed-income boutique, in 2013, but it did so to provide U.S. product and expertise for its European and Asian clients rather than to establish a U.S. beachhead. Blanque sees better uses of the firms capital than to try to tackle the likes of BlackRock, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and J.P. Morgan Asset Management on their home turf. Our development focus remains in Europe and Asia, which we consider our second domestic market and in which we have been present for three decades, says Blanque, who earned a Ph.D. in finance from Universite Paris-Dauphine, started on the buy side at the old Paribas in the early 90s and jumped to Credit Agricole as chief economist before rising to the CIO post. In recognition of his accomplishments, in June Institutional Investor named Blanque its Manager Lifetime Achievement honoree in its 2016 European Investment Management Awards. Blanque insists that aside from the odd bolt-on acquisition like Kleinwort Benson, The main driver of growth will remain organic. Some analysts speculate that he and Amundi CEO Yves Perrier may be tempted to open up their checkbook soon, though. The new CEO of UniCredit, Jean-Pierre Mustier, is reportedly considering a sale of the Italian banks 221 billion fund management subsidiary, Pioneer Investments, to raise capital. Amundi tried to buy Pioneer six years ago only to see UniCredit decide to hold on to the business. Asset growth hasnt done much for Amundis earnings, a reflection of the pervasive margin pressure in the industry. Net income rose a modest 1.5 percent in the first half of 2016, to 278 million, as fee and commission income was flat at 813 million. Lower-margin institutional business accounted for 75 percent of assets at the end of 2015, but 52 percent of net inflows last year were in the higher-margin retail business, and the retail share of inflows rose to 60 percent in the first half of 2016. The stock closed at 44.99 on September 16, virtually unchanged from its November 2015 IPO price of 45. Fixed income faces big challenges given the low to negative policy rates prevailing across much of Europe. Opportunities to get positive returns are shrinking, acknowledges Eric Brard, global head of fixed income. Like others, Amundi has responded by emphasizing credit. The firm is managing close to 10 billion of euro high-yield debt, up from about 3.5 billion two years ago. We have seen very strong growth in euro credit investment coming from Asia, and in particular Japan, where rates are even lower than in Europe, Brard says. The firm is looking to grow its Asian retail business through its joint ventures in the region. Amundi has a 37 percent stake in SBI Funds Management, the mutual fund arm of State Bank of India; a 33.3 percent stake in ABC-CA Fund Management, a venture with Agricultural Bank of China (which owns 2 percent of Amundi); and a 30 percent stake in NH-Amundi Asset Management, an arm of South Koreas NongHyup Financial Group. The three JVs collectively manage 82 billion. Amundi is also tailoring products specifically for the Asian market. In April it launched the worlds first ETF based on the Hang Seng HK 35, an index of the 35 largest stocks listed in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong ETF is part of a broader, global push into passive products. Institutional investors are concerned about costs, says Fannie Wurtz, managing director of ETFs, indexing and smart beta. The firm claims its weighted average charge for ETFs is 26 basis points, compared with an industry average of 30 basis points. That edge helped put Amundi in fifth place in Europes ETF market at the end of July, just behind UBS and ahead of Vanguard Group, according to Thomson Reuters Lipper. The firm is also making a big play for the green market. Amundi partnered with MSCI, the French pension reserve Fonds de Reserve pour les Retraites and Swedens AP4 pension fund to develop a family of low-carbon indexes, which were launched in 2014 by MSCI. The indexes remove the most polluting companies from existing MSCI benchmarks and tweak the remaining constituents to maintain a low tracking error of 70 basis points. We generated a free option on climate change, says Frederic Samama, deputy global head of institutional and sovereign clients. If nothing goes wrong you achieve the market return, but if the stock prices of polluting companies are penalized, you outperform. Amundi now manages 5 billion of low-carbon assets. Amundi continues to be a giant at home, capturing 55 percent of French mutual fund inflows last year, but its growth potential remains limited by the markets overall lethargy. The firm aims to generate 15 billion a year in French retail inflows, but Michael Werner, a UBS analyst who follows Amundi, believes 10 billion is more realistic. We have seen no evidence to suggest French households will increase exposure to asset management products in the near term, he wrote in a recent research note. Amundis performance has been strong, if not spectacular. At the end of 2015, 21 percent of the firms open-ended funds boasted top-quartile performance over five years, and 61 percent of funds were in the second quartile, according to Morningstar. The firms operational excellence, rather than a roster of star managers, holds the key to its appeal, says a senior private banker who spoke on condition of anonymity. The big houses and banks are looking for partners that are really reliable based less on personalities and more on processes, he says. Amundi fits that requirement. Get more on ETFs. Many experts are now predicting that global growth will track sideways in the coming five quarters. At the same time, many of those same experts argue that this may not tell the whole story. The International Monetary Funds semiannual World Economic Outlook report, issued yesterday, concluded that a trend of divergence in growth patterns among the wealthy and developing economies will expand in 2017. While GDP projections improved for India and remained strong for China, IMF economists have concluded that commodity-centric emerging economies continue to face significant hurdles. Full-year prospects for the U.S. and European Union also dimmed, with 2017 projections for the euro zone also reduced as the EU faces challenges from weakening southern members such as Italy and Spain, as well as the effect of Brexit. For now, as the central banks of the worlds wealthiest nations retreat from extraordinary monetary policy, the question facing many allocators is whether the flow of assets towards emerging-market equities in recent quarters presages a slowdown in prospects for corporate-earnings growth at home as growth cools. BlackRock cuts ETF fees. New Yorkheadquartered BlackRock, the worlds largest asset management firm, announced a reduction of management fees for 15 of its most popular exchange-traded funds, with the Standard & Poors 500 index vehicle slashing its 7-basis-point fee to 5 basis points. The move comes as ETF providers prepare for new fiduciary standards imposed by the Department of Labor for retirement accounts that will require advisers to focus on costs to clients. As BlackRock competes with other low-cost providers for passive investors notably Vanguard many analysts anticipate that smaller asset managers will be forced to follow suit. Oil rises on reduced U.S. supply data. Futures contracts for West Texas Intermediate-grade crude oil rose in early trading today. Contracts for front-month delivery were flirting with $50 per barrel, after a report from the American Petroleum Institute indicated that U.S. inventories declined this past week. Consensus forecasts for Energy Information Administration stockpile data scheduled for release later today call for a rebound in supplies after last weeks surprising 1.9-million-barrel drawdown. In separate news, multiple media outlets reported today that National Iranian Oil Co. agreed to supply natural-gas condensate to BP beginning last month, in a move that represents one of the first major transactions with a major Western energy company since international sanctions against Iran were lifted. U.K. service sector stronger than expected. Markit PMI data released today indicates that the U.K. service sector heated up in September. At 52.6 for the headline-activity index, the reading was the second consecutive positive result, defying expectations for a pullback in consumption following the June vote to depart from the EU. Taken in with recent industrial indicators, some analysts now conclude that the U.K. economy may prove to be more resilient to Brexit fallout than initially estimated, potentially leading the Bank of England to delay stimulus measures. Vice-presidential debate features Democrats on offense. Indiana Governor Mike Pence attempted to reverse perceptions of his GOP running mate, taking a measured tone during the vice-presidential debate held at Longwood University in Virginia as his opponent, Democratic VP nominee Tim Kaine, went on the offensive. With interruptions and attacks on Republican hopeful Donald Trump, Kaine was largely unsuccessful in drawing rebuttals from Pence, who denied Trump said many of the things the Democrat charged. While most political analysts concluded that Pence had a stronger showing in the debate, early polling suggests it has had little impact on the course of the race. Twitter to seek a buyer. Media reports today indicate that Twitter has begun a long-rumored process of exploring interest in a takeout of the social media firm. The move follows a reported overture by Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff, who has reportedly been vocal about the attractiveness of Twitter in the context of his firms core data and cloud-storage franchises. Salesforce was outbid by Microsoft for LinkedIn earlier this year. Slowing user growth at Twitter has fed investor speculation that the firm would seek a suitor. The sales scandal rocking Wells Fargo & Co., one of the largest U.S. banks by market capitalization, has not trickled down to its $480 billion asset management business yet. But that could change soon. The City of Chicagos finance committee voted on Wednesday to suspend Wells Fargo and its subsidiaries from doing business with the city for one year. This includes underwriting activity, brokerage services, financial advisory services and other types of business. The news follows decisions from California and the state of Illinois to ban Wells Fargo from underwriting municipal bond issues and other deals, for example. On September 8 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fined Wells Fargo $100 million for illegally opening credit card and deposit accounts in the names of unsuspecting consumers. The CFPB said bank employees were spurred by compensation incentives and sales goals to open 2 million bogus accounts. The bank will also pay a $35 million fine assessed by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and a combined $50 million to the City and County of Los Angeles. Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf was grilled for hours by irate members of Congress at a Senate Banking Committee hearing on September 20 and again on September 29 at a House Financial Services Committee hearing. Stumpf endured his most stinging rebuke from Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who declared, You should resign, you should give back the money you took while this scam was going on, and you should be criminally investigated by both the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Wells Fargo Asset Management was not involved in the scandal, but the imbroglio raises issues of trust for pension funds, endowments, foundations and wealth managers that recommend Wells Fargo investments to their clients. Investment management clients dont like uncertainty. Headline risk matters, says Jonathan Grabel, CIO of the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico. He emphasizes that examining a managers ownership and possible conflicts of interest is a continuing part of due diligence. Wells Fargo Asset Management is the product of acquisitions stretching back at least 20 years, including the banks purchase of Norwest Corp. in 1998. In 2005, Wells Fargo purchased Strong Capital Management; three years later it acquired Wachovia Bank during the depths of the financial crisis. Wachovias asset management arm, Evergreen Investments, was merged with Wells Fargo Asset Management. Stumpf has said he wants to grow the asset management business, and in April he hired Kristi Mitchem from State Street Global Advisors to run it. Wells Fargo Asset Management has already made some notable acquisitions; it finalized the purchase of well-regarded quantitative firm Analytic Investors, with $15 billion in assets, on October 1. It remains to be seen whether more pensions will follow Chicagos lead and put Wells Fargos asset management arm in the hot seat. At the very least, seeing critics calling for Stumpfs resignation as well as a complete overhaul of the banks flawed culture doesnt help. For its part, Wells Fargo Asset Management says the parent company's problems are a separate matter. "As fiduciaries for significant pools of capital, many of our clients have asked us whether or not the events in the community bank impact our ability to deliver strong risk adjusted returns over time. The answer is that they do not," said Mitchem in an e-mailed statement. New Mexicos Grabel says he tries to strike a balance between being cognizant of headline issues and not letting them overwhelm his mission as a long-term investor. But the scandal at Wells Fargo has affected other parts of the companys business. Mitchem says she is confident in the firm's risk, compliance and operational strength and in its investment acumen, and she says the firm's clients agree. "Helping our clients achieve their investment objectives is and will remain our primary mission," she says in the statement. "Importantly, clients that have engaged with us in recent weeks are choosing to remain with us." But whether that will continue to be the case is an open question, observers say. Its entirely possible that what is happening with the bank will have an echo effect on Wells Capital, says Carol McFate, chief investment officer of Xerox Corp. It could lead to a talent exodus, she adds. Is that a good environment to hold on to asset management talent? I certainly think it makes it harder. Get more on asset management. Broker networks Steadfast Group and PSC Connect have severed ties with a former New Zealand member of the group, troubled broker Global Cover Insurances.The Kiwi brokerage was slapped with an order to pay a former employee $40K by a New Zealand body the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) last week.Steadfast Direct & New Zealand EGM, Allan Reynolds, issued a joint statement to Insurance Business on Friday on behalf of both Steadfast and PSC confirming:Global Cover Insurances is not part of PSC Connect NZ or the Steadfast network of insurance brokers.Reynolds said the brokerage had been using information about Steadfast without their permission, despite not being members for quite a while and had been requested to remove any reference to PSC Connect NZ and Steadfast from their website.Up until yesterday Global Cover was still promoting itself as a member of both networks on the Partners page of its website.It had also copied the Steadfast tagline of strength when you need it.All references have now been removed.The brokerage was in the spotlight last week after the ERA ruled it had constructively dismissed one of its employees, Mustafa Bhamji and ordered it to pay Bhamji $40,883.95.The circumstances surrounding Bhamjis constructive dismissal occurred late last year.The brokerage had told Bhamji he had been given company shares. While he was surprised by the gesture as there had been no discussion about it, Bhamji took it as a sign of his success within the company, the ERA was told.However, soon after that, when Bhamji did not receive his fortnightly wage, he was told by company director Jiuria Raijeli (Rachael) Mario that the company had no funds or income.As he was now a shareholder, Bhamji was asked to take out a personal loan to help the company pay for its debts and his wages.Bhamji refused as he could not service the loan, the ERA ruling notes said.When Bhamji approached the ERA to recover his wages, the company confiscated his company car, work phone, and files.Bhamjis wife was also approached by Mario at work without warning and was threatened with legal action.The Bhamjis felt that this was a breach of their privacy and was very distressing, so much so that Mustafa Bhamji required medical support afterwards.The $40,883.95 fine covered compensation and owed wages as well as $21,751.90 in PAYE arrears to Inland Revenue.Insurance Business made contact with Global Cover whose director Nik Naidu emailed back saying he was happy to have a chat about the sad state of affairs with this saga.In the ERA ruling, Global Cover was recorded as blaming its lack of funds on Bhamji not performing to expected levels, and being the sole employee managing the business income.Mr Bhamji disputes that, ERA member Rachel Larmer said in her report, adding: There is no documentation to back up Global Covers allegations about this.RELATED ARTICLES: With no guarantees or insurance against frost, a large number of farmers have suffered losses due to below-freezing temperatures in Wheatbelt, South West, and Great Southern regions, it has been reported.Some farmers have reported losing up to 50 per cent of their crops due to the unusual frost, while others have been virtually unaffected, ABC reported.The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has characterised the number of frosts that greatly affected Central and Western Wheatbelt as unusual, probably due to the springs unseasonably cold start in the state, the report said.Braden Grylls whose property lies west of Corrigin has expressed disappointment given how well the crops were going: "It's one of those things, you have such a good year like you're having this year and you think well something's going to give."You just back on putting a crop in knowing you're going to get a frost... We've been getting these three of four mil events and then you might get a frost the next morning which on a normal year, that's unheard of, it's just one of those things that's happening this year, on such a good year unfortunately.Colin Nicholl, a farmer of 50 years, told ABC that ironically, what was shaping up to be one of the most promising seasons in recent years has also proven to be vulnerable to the freezing conditions."One of the vagaries of frost is that the better the crop the harder frost hits it," Nicholl said."We are now growing much higher yields than we have ever done before, but I think there are other factors in that, we just seem to be getting later frosts and frosts of more intensity than we ever used to before."Agronomist Helen Wyatt said the frost has caused widespread damage: "We're seeing varied levels of frost damage throughout the region."In some areas its hard to tell the extent of the damage yet, there's been consecutive frost events and some this morning as well so we really won't see the full effect of that for another 7 to 10 days."Nicholl took the losses philosophically: "It's all part and parcel of farming, while it's difficult to take, to be successful you can't just throw the towel in."CBH, the states grain handler, said it would only know the true extent of losses until harvest start, ABC reported. Global insurance broker Marsh has hired David Hewett as a U.S. contract surety leader in its construction practice. In this newly created role, Hewett will work closely with Marshs surety practice to deliver solutions to construction clients across the U.S. He will report to David Marino, U.S. construction leader at Marsh. Hewett is based in Baltimore, Md. Hewett brings 24 years of construction surety experience to Marsh. He most recently served as president of XL Surety, and prior to that, he worked at Zurich North America Insurance. While there, he served as executive vice president leading its North American domestic surety operation. Source: Marsh Topics USA Maryland Construction Several dozen people still cannot return to their Alexandria, Va., homes over fears that their condominium building could collapse. The building, part of River Towers Condominiums, was evacuated Sunday afternoon after officials say significant water damage to some of the buildings columns caused the building to lower 2 to 3 inches. A resident had called Fairfax County firefighters upon feeling the building shake and noticing cracks in a few columns. About 400 residents were initially evacuated, but all were allowed to return to their homes after a few hours except for those who live in the 32 apartments above the affected columns. Fire officials do not know when those residents will be able to return. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Virginia The London insurance market plans to test its response this month to a major catastrophe on the scale of the 9/11 attacks, the chairman of insurer Hiscox said on Tuesday. While insurers have coped with regular hurricanes, earthquakes and terrorist attacks in recent years, the industry feels there is a need to test how it would react to a disaster of the magnitude of the 2001 attacks on U.S. cities that killed nearly 3,000 people. After being given test scenarios, insurers and brokers will hold meetings over two weeks starting Oct. 30 to plan how they would respond to customers and check issues such as the impact of huge claims on their capital positions, Hiscox Chairman Rob Childs told Reuters. He did not specify whether the exercise would involve a natural disaster or an attack. London is a leading center for insuring businesses and properties against catastrophes, mainly through the Lloyds of London market. Although there have been devastating natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Childs said the 9/11 attacks had a particularly big impact due both to insurance losses of $40 billion and the fear they generated. How one deals with a major catastrophic event is moving out of folk memory, he said. The people who did it before have forgotten what they did, the people making the decisions now were probably still in school. We need to run through a process and flush out any issues. Hiscox is spearheading the simulation, which will involve around 10 insurers, along with brokers, ratings agency S&P Global and Lloyds of London. The Bank of Englands Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority, which together regulate the British insurance industry, will act as observers. Consultants McKinsey are running the tests, and will publish results early next year, Childs said. (Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Adrian Croft) Topics Catastrophe Trends Market London A federal judge has tossed out a $40 million civil rights lawsuit that alleged police used excessive force against protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, after the 2014 police shooting death of Michael Brown. U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey, in a 74-page ruling on Sept. 30 in St. Louis, found that the nine plaintiffs completely failed to present any credible evidence proving crowd-control tactics by police in the days following Browns August 2014 death in the St. Louis suburb involved malice or bad faith. Autrey also concluded that the protesters ignored repeated warnings to disperse and that the officers named as defendants were entitled to immunity from the lawsuit. The record is clear that at the time of the events detailed herein, the atmosphere surrounding the arrests was extremely intense and had turned violent, Autrey wrote. Participants in what had turned from a peaceful assembly to unlawful assembly were advised to disperse, but they failed to heed warnings that they be arrested for failing to leave the area as police tried to quell the unrest. The protesters have filed a notice of their plans to appeal Autreys ruling to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The death of 18-year-old Brown, who was black and unarmed, by white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson led to months of sometimes-violent Ferguson protests and became a catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement, which rebukes police treatment of minorities. A St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict Wilson, who later resigned. The U.S. Justice Department concluded that evidence backed Wilsons claim that he shot Brown in self-defense after Brown tried to grab the officers gun during a struggle through the window of Wilsons police vehicle, then came toward him threateningly after briefly running away. In the days immediately after Browns death, local police in riot gear fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who refused to disperse and, at times, broke into nearby stores. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit included a clinical social worker who said she and her 17-year-old son were roughed up and arrested after not evacuating a McDonalds quickly enough. Others were a 23-year-old man who said he was shot multiple times with rubber bullets and called racial slurs by police while walking through the protest zone to his mothers home, and a man who said he was arrested for filming the disturbances. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits USA Law Enforcement The North Dakota Safety Council is beginning construction on a nearly 23,500-square-foot, hands-on heavy equipment safety training facility in Bismarck. The Bismarck Tribune reported that until now, companies have had to send workers to other states, such as Texas, for such training. Chuck Clairmont, the councils executive director, said the process of developing the facility began about four years ago when it posed the question to its oil company, contractor and utility company clients, What would help you? This is a chance for us to bring training thats not currently available here, Clairmont said. More than 20 donors have contributed to what will be a $6 million facility located near the Bismarck State College campus. Clairmont said the location of the facility will also offer the opportunity to work with students. According to Clairmont research shows using the teaching method blended learning, a method that uses both classroom and hands-on exercises can help students with retention. Lynae Hanson, assistant executive director of the council said while the college already has safety training courses available to students, the North Dakota Safety Council could help in preparing the trainees before obtaining a job. The facility will include a heavy equipment arena to train workers using scaffolds, trenchers, cranes, scissor lifts and more. Much of the training will begin outside, but the organization aims to build a 5,000-square-foot indoor arena for year-round equipment training. There will also be a 26-foot tower for falls and confined space training as well as a 30-station computer lab for online training. A ground-breaking ceremony for the new facility was scheduled Oct. 4. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Training Development The scandal over improper sales practices at Wells Fargo & Co extended to thousands of small-business owners, according to a U.S. lawmaker, raising questions about the scope the banks issues with unauthorized accounts. In a Sept. 29 letter viewed by Reuters on Tuesday, Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, demanded that Wells Fargo Chief Executive John Stumpf provide a full accounting of customers affected. Vitter is a member of the U.S. Senates banking committee and also heads its small business committee. Discussions between congressional staffers and Wells Fargo have indicated that the fraudulent activity of your employees was not limited to Wells Fargos consumer banking operations, Vitter wrote. Thousands of small business owners were impacted by this fraud. A person familiar with Vitters probe say Wells has identified about 10,000 small business accounts that were subject to improper practices. Vitter spokeswoman Cheyenne Klotz declined to comment on specifics about those practices. Revelations of Wells Fargos problems with small-business customers come almost a month after it reached a $190 million settlement over opening as many as 2 million accounts in retail customers names without their knowledge. The bank has said it fired about 5,300 employees for improperly opening the accounts. The disclosures have caused a public furor, with Stumpf facing heated questions before two congressional committees and other U.S. authorities launching investigations into the banks sales practices, including the Justice Department and the Labor Department. While the vast majority of accounts in the settlement were consumer accounts, to the extent there were small business accounts included, all were previously reported in the total number of potentially impacted accounts, said Wells spokeswoman Jennifer Langan. As stated earlier, Wells Fargo has already refunded 115,000 accounts. The impacted accounts, including Small Business, were part of our Retail Bank business. A Consumer Financial Protection Board spokesman contradicted the Wells statement, however, saying its figure of nearly 2 million accounts being affected did not include small business accounts. Wells is also battling lawsuits from former employees, customers and shareholders related to the issue. In a second letter, Vitter requested that the Small Business Administrations inspector general, Peggy Gustafson, investigate Wells, too. PACKAGES OF THREE Senior bank executives have apologized for opening accounts customers did not request, but characterized the issue as limited to relatively few customers and employees in the retail bank. Early results from Vitters examination are the first hard sign that problems may extend further. Reuters also spoke to a former Wells employee, and a lawyer representing former employees and a former and current Wells customer, who described abusive sales practices with multiple business accounts. Jose Maldonado, a restaurant owner in Southern California who banked with Wells Fargo for 15 years, said he discovered seven accounts after enlisting the help of his accountant. He initially closed extraneous ones, and ultimately moved his remaining business to Bank of America Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co. I dont like Wells Fargo anymore. I dont feel comfortable, Maldonado said in an interview. In the past, there were sometimes crazy accounts without my permission. Langan declined to comment on Maldonados accounts. An ex-Wells Fargo business banker, who declined to be identified, said employees at his former branch were required to sell products to small business customers such as hair-salon owners and carpet cleaners in packages of three regardless of whether they needed them. Those typically included accounts for checking, credit card processing and payroll, and were often linked to additional savings accounts, said the former Wells banker. Bankers also tacked on business credit cards and were pressured to call a Wells insurance unit, with the customer present, to push business liability policies. Langan, the Wells spokeswoman, said the bank discontinued those packages in April 2015. Attorney Jonathan Delshad filed two class-action lawsuits against Wells Fargo in September on behalf of former employees, including one business banker, who say they were fired for refusing to create fake accounts to hit sales quotas. Wells suspended those quotas on Oct. 1. Other former Wells Fargo business bankers contacted Delshad after the lawsuit received media attention, he said. Business owners are also being ripped off, one wrote to him in a message he provided to Reuters. SOURED RELATIONSHIPS Business and corporate governance experts say small-business customers can be as susceptible to fraud as any customer. Owners are typically knowledgeable about their business expertise but not about banking services, said Peter Conti-Brown, a financial regulation professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School. For example, a new dentist who borrows from a bank to buy a practice may then need other services that she does not even know exist, such as payroll management or credit-card clearing. But the potential for abuse still exists, he said. A bank can sell multiple, unnecessary accounts and credit cards to sole proprietors whose needs rarely exceed making deposits and writing checks. The risk of abuse is greater when bankers are required to sell a certain number of products to meet performance goals. The best case is that you will sour your relationship, and in the worst case, youll get bankers committing fraud, Conti-Brown said. Wells Fargo has seen both of these things. (Reporting by Suzanne Barlyn; Editing by James Dalgleish, Lauren Tara LaCapra and Brian Thevenot) Topics USA Commercial Lines Fraud Business Insurance The governors of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have ordered a State of Emergency for each of their respective states as Hurricane Matthew makes its way up the Southeast coast after battering Haiti and Cuba. The Florida Division of Emergency Management said weather conditions will begin deteriorating in the late afternoon Wednesday and into the evening hours in South Florida as Hurricane Matthew approaches. The current category 3 storm is expected to move parallel to the Florida Coast on Thursday and Friday and if it continues on a westward track could bring hurricane conditions to many East Coast areas, FDEM said. The hurricane is expected to bring a storm surge fueled by hurricane-force winds in excess of 100 mph along with a substantial amount of rain. At this time, flooding is an imminent threat to Floridas eastern coast, according to a statement from Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. Now is the time for Floridians to print and prepare their financial documents and insurance policies as part of their disaster-readiness plans, said Atwater. Finalize your preparation efforts today. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking a proactive approach to your storm preparations. Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered evacuations for more than 1 million South Carolina residents, mostly in coastal areas, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced this morning that mandatory evacuations in Brevard county will begin this afternoon. Voluntary evacuations have begun in Floridas Lucie County, Flagler County, and Duval County. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said its regional offices in Atlanta in Philadelphia are monitoring Hurricane Matthew and are in close coordination with state emergency managers and tribal officials, as well as our federal partners at the National Weather Service forecast offices. FEMA urged residents in potentially affected states from Florida to the Mid-Atlantic to familiarize themselves with evacuation routes now, prepare, and to take direction from state, local, and tribal officials. South Carolina Insurance Director Ray Farmer and North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin also issued statements urging residents to prepare should they have a claim after the storm hits. Its always better to be safe than sorry, said Goodwin. Compiling important documents and making a home inventory are simple things you can do right now to ease the insurance claims process should you suffer property damage or loss. Farmer issued a bulletin determining the licensure of temporary non-resident adjusters may be necessary in the aftermath of the storm. This determination is effective immediately and will continue until further notice from the South Carolina Department of Insurance, the bulletin said. This story is developing Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Florida Hurricane South Carolina A wind-whipped wildfire destroyed several structures and forced hundreds of evacuations near a small mountain community in southern Colorado, authorities said. More than 500 buildings were evacuated throughout the day and into the evening on Oct. 3, affecting about 1,250 residents of Beulah, which is southwest of Pueblo. And more residents were warned to be ready to leave if necessary. No injuries were reported. The fire, which has destroyed at least seven structures and burned about 4 square miles, started on top of Beulah Hill on the east side of the community in the afternoon and jumped Colorado Highway 78, The Pueblo Chieftain reported. Pueblo County School District officials evacuated Beulah School and bused its students to a middle school. The newspaper reported some children had already learned that their homes had burned down. A water-carrying helicopter was called from Monument but was diverted to the Fremont County Airport because of high winds, which are making it hard for firefighters to size up and attack the blaze. Gusty winds were expected to keep feeding the fire. Pueblo County sheriffs officials have not said what caused the fire about 25 miles southwest of Pueblo. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Colorado Malheur County farmers are suing their local irrigation district in Oregon, claiming it failed to deliver water when needed in 2014 and 2015. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Delos and Barbara Lee, who farm alfalfa and hay, filed a lawsuit against the Owyhee Irrigation District in Malheur County Circuit Court. According to the lawsuit, the couple says they were entitled to 152 acre-feet of water for their 95-acre farm during 2015 and 143 acre-feet in 2014, but that they received no water during some months due to miscalculations by the water district. The couple says they lost $200,000 worth of alfalfa as a result of the water cutoff. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Agribusiness Oregon The states top two labor officials were understandably high on the impact they expect two bills recently signed by Gov. Jerry Brown will have on Californias workers comp system and bad actors who have clogged the lien process and driven up costs. I think were going to make a dent, I really do, said Christine Baker, director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Baker was on a panel with David Lanier, secretary of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, to give an update on state legislation impacting workers comp during the annual CWC & Risk Conference on Wednesday. The three-day conference in Dana Point featured a variety of sessions and exhibitors. Under Californias workers comp reform law passed in 2012, Senate Bill 863, companies filing liens are required to pay a fee. The thought behind that was to reduce the number of liens filed and get data on who was filing the liens. Both things have happened, according to Baker and Lanier. We have seen a dip in the liens in the past few months, Lanier said, crediting some of that dip to publicity around passage of Senate Bill 1160 and Assembly Bill 1244. Both Baker and Lanier supported the bills, which make more changes to the lien filing process to prevent bad actors from filing liens, among other things. Baker also said the state is in the process of putting together a lien consolidation court to vet potentially fraudulent liens. Liens were also a hot topic along with SB 863, which continues to get overall praise for reducing costs in the system while increasing benefits for injured workers, during an open mic question and answer panel titled Workers Comp Insurance Market Trends: CEOs & Stakeholders. The panel featured Bill Mudge, president of Californias Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau, Danielle Linseby, president and CEO of Broadspire, and Bryan Bogardus, CEO of AF Group. The moderator was Pamela Ferrandino, executive vice president and senior principal in national casualty at Willis Towers Watson. The panelists talked about SB 1160, which places limitations on the utilization review process, and also would stay any physician or provider lien upon the filing of criminal charges against them for specified offenses involving medical fraud. Impact projections from the WCIRB shows an estimated reduction in UR costs from SB 1160 but an increase in medical costs. As a result of the potential savings from both bills, the WCIRB submitted a pure premium rate filing earlier this week to the California Department of Insurance proposing Jan. 1, 2017 that would place advisory pure premium rates lower than the corresponding industry average and less than the average approved rates. The rates proposed in the amended filing average $2.22 per $100 of payroll. This is 32 cents, or 12.6 percent, less than the corresponding industry average filed pure premium rate of $2.54 as of July 1, 2016 and 10 cents, or 4.3 percent, less than the average approved July 1, 2016 advisory pure premium rate of $2.32. The other piece of legislation that impacted the WCIRBs filing was AB 1244. The bill is designed remove from the workers comp system doctors found to have committed a felony or misdemeanor involving fraud or abuse of the Medi-Cal program, Medicare or the workers comp system itself. The bill would also keep those doctors from filing liens. According to the Department of Workers Compensation, 10 percent of liens filed between 2011 and 2015 were filed by providers with fraud indictments or convictions. Mudge said the board felt that several aspects of the bills may impact rates. We think they all have real potential effect, Mudge said. The panelists also heaped praise on SB 863. Bogardus said hes been through a few reforms to Californias workers comp system over the years, but with SB 863 hes seen that some things are different. All-in-all we have viewed SB 863 as a positive, Bogardus said. Senate Bill 863 included a number of provisions to reduce costs by reducing the volume of lien claims and lien claim litigation in the workers comp system, including the reestablishment of lien filing fees to preclude frivolous lien filings, creation of an independent bill review and restrictions on the ability of third parties to collect on assigned lien claims. Mudge also praised changes brought in with the reforms. Still Mudge, who a few times during the panel mentioned that there were storm clouds and silver linings to be found among the ongoing changes California has made to its workers comp system, said the state still has by far the highest loss adjustment expense ratio at more than 10 percentage points greater than the second highest state, and almost twice the nationwide median. Among the reasons for the high LAE are a greater-than-average proportion of permanent disability claims, high litigation rates, particularly in the Los Angeles Basin area, and a large number of active liens, according to a recent WCIRB analysis. The panelists also discussed concerns over drug costs. Linseby said that at Broadspire, a large third-party administrator owned by Crawford & Co., they have been keeping a cautious eye on growing drug costs. Pharmacy is expected to grow 6.7 percent each year through 2025, Linseby said. Mudge acknowledged concerns over drug costs, but said the trend in California has gone down recently. In California the pharmacy spend is down from roughly 9 percent in 2014 to 7 percent currently, according to Mudge. However, in the long-term, drugs have been and will likely continue to be a drag on the workers comp system, Mudge added. For claims that last 10 or more years, drugs account for 37 percent of these claims going forward, he said. The panelists also discussed the need for improved data gathering and usage. We need improved predictability of the cost, Bogardus said. Linseby agreed. We can do a better job of capturing data points, Linseby said. Mudge believes that improving data analytics and the gathering of more data will help improve efficiency in system, especially by weeding out criminals. Bad actors in the system are finding it harder and harder to hide, he said. We collect about 40 million medical transactions a year. A morning session titled Employer & Stakeholder Panel, Evolution of Workers Comp & Risk, was moderated by Mark Walls, vice president of communications and strategic analysis at Safety National. The panelists were: Baker; Lisa Kelly, senior manager of workers comp for the Boeing Co.; William Zachry, formerly with Albertsons/Safeway and a board member of the California State Compensation Insurance & Self Insured Funds; David North, CEO of Segwick Claims Management Services; Roman Kownacki, medical director of regional occupational therapy for The Permanente Medical Group Inc.; and Robert Rassp, an attorney and author. These panelists also praised aspects of SB 863 and said the reforms have reduced costs in the system. However, one criticism panelists did offer of the system overall was that the lines of communication between the system itself and workers must be improved. Zachry noted that injured workers are burdened with excessively large amounts of information, with documents up to 180-pages long. We really do need to think about how we communicate with injured workers, he said. Zachry suggested communiques should be able to fit on a text message, with the option for recipients to read more if they want. Baker agreed that communication should be improved. We can do a little better on communication, she said, but added that the DIR and the DWC are in the process of making improvements. There are things that we are changing. Drugs, especially opioids, were a concern expressed by Zachry and other panelists. I think the opioid epidemic is far larger and far broader than anybody realizes, Zachry said, adding that he believes this will drive costs in the system. Walls got panelists to tackle the feelings on the impact on workers comp from changes unfolding in the working world, such as the new sharing economy, with the question: Do you think workers comp is still relevant and meets the needs of todays workforce? I think its time to rethink it, Baker said. North, who agreed that a dialogue needs to be started, believes that talk around changing workers comp will start to kick up after the upcoming election. I think youre going to see heightened conversation about workers comp in 17 and 18, North said. Rassp said the workers system has evolved in the last 100-plus years its been in existence, and will continue to do so, but it will need help. I think that the policymakers in the state have to agree about what works and doesnt work and take it to a broader community, he said. Related: Topics California Legislation Claims Workers' Compensation Fraud Training Development Drugs Insurtech startup Slice Labs has launched an insurance product in the U.S. to support the on-demand economy. Slices first product focuses on the home-sharing marketconsumers renting their homes on websites like Airbnb and HomeAway, according to the company. Its policies will cover homeowners for the entire time travelers rent their home. Slice's policies can be purchased online or via mobile app. Its new homeshare product has been released as a private beta to select hosts in Des Moines, Iowa and Iowa City, it said. Headquartered in New York City, Slice has received venture capital funding from Horizons Ventures, XL Innovate, and Munich Re since its formal incorporation in October 2015. Many people working in the on-demand economy do not realize their risk, said Ernest Hursh, Slice co-founder and head of sales and marketing, in a statement. It is our mission to mitigate that risk and to provide the appropriate trust, safety and protection for these folks. The insurtech startup was also recently named as a member of Plug & Play Insurance's first class of startups in its insurance-focused accelerator. The likes of Munich Re, Travelers, and USAA have partnered with Plug & Play on the initiative. The startups next insurance product will be centered on ridesharing, according to the company. No further details have been disclosed. Top News - Investor Idea REE Stock News - Defense Metals (TSX-V: DEFN.V) (OTCQB: DFMTF) Drills 113 metres of 2.50% Total Rare Earth Oxide at Wicheeda Vancouver, British Columbia - October 26, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock News - Defense Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DEFN / OTCQB: DFMTF/ FSE:35D) is pleased to announce high-grade Rare Earth Element ("REE") assay results from one additional core hole, totalling 383 metres (m), collared within the northern area of Defense Metals' 100% owned Wicheeda REE Deposit. Top Cleantech News - Investor Idea Breaking EV Stock News: Pre-orders for Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) FIVE Electric-SUV Crossover Exceed Expectations as the FIVE 'Strikingly Different' Tour Begins BREA, Calif. - October 28, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today that the Mullen FIVE "Strikingly Different" EV Crossover Tour which began yesterday, in Pasadena, California, is off to a great start with first day reservations exceeding expectations and overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. Top Health and Wellness News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures Third Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA Worth Approximately $1.5M in Revenue for First two Fiscal Quarters of 2023 CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - October 27, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-derived, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured three key significant orders for its newly acquired, non-nicotine plant-based vape product, HYLA. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire IBM has unveiled a new $200 million investment in its new global headquarters for the Watson Internet of Things (IoT) business in Munich. In addition, the company announced several new IoT capabilities around Blockchain and security and a group of IoT Watson clients. This is part of a total global investment of $3 billion, which is designed to bring Watson cognitive computing to IoT. IBM already has 6,000 clients worldwide for its Watson IoT solutions and services, up from 4,000 eight months ago. The new headquarters will be home to the cognitive IoT Collaboratories, which will be a phalanx of hands-on industry labs where clients and partners can work IBMs 1,000 Munich-based researchers, engineers, developers and business experts toward collaborative solutions in the automotive, electronics, manufacturing, healthcare and insurance industries. IBM is making tremendous strides to ensure that businesses around the world are able to take advantage of this incredible period of technological transformation and develop new products and services that really change people's lives, said Harriet Green, Global Head, Watson IoT business, IBM. Germany is at the forefront of the Industry 4.0 initiative and by inviting our clients and partners to join us in Munich, we are opening up our talent and technologies to help deliver on the promise of IoT and establishing a global hotbed for collaborative innovation. Meanwhile, companies around the world are using Watson IoT capabilities to drive real business outcomes. Aerialtronics, a Netherlands-based designer and producer of unmanned aircraft systems, has announced commercial drones featuring cognitive computing capabilities from the IBM Watson IoT Platform on IBM Cloud. These vehicles can provide high-quality inspection services for global organizations across multiple industries, from monitoring city traffic patterns to inspecting wind turbines, oil rigs and cell tower optimization. Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, three facilities with more than 900 acute care beds and part of Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is working with IBM Watson IoT to launch cognitive hospital rooms that enhance the patient experience and help bring deeper levels of personalized, agile and responsive care. Looks like were going to be opening those pod bay doors after all. Thanks, HAL. Edited by Alicia Young AUM Cardiovascular, maker of a handheld device with advanced analytics to help rule out coronary artery blockages, has announced that it uses AT&Ts global connectivity for its IoT healthcare devices to deliver diagnostic test results to patients in about 10 minutes. The AUM Cardiovascular CADence device is a quick, noninvasive, no needle, zero-radiation test that uses acoustic detection and analysis to look for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk factors in patients by the sound of blood flow in the coronary arteries. It collects heart sound data from four locations on the patient's chest. A tablet with an app custom built to work with AT&Ts wireless services receives data from the device and then sends the data securely to AUMs secure server for acoustic analysis. Within about 10 minutes of the data upload, the clinician receives the results via email. The process, typically quick and painless for patients, can be performed in the doctor's office, hospital, home or virtually anywhere cellular coverage is available. The convenience and ease-of-use makes it useful for clinicians like cardiologists, family and internal medicine doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and certified medical assistants. My husband, Rob, fell victim to undetected coronary artery disease at the age of 41. I know firsthand the devastation this disease can cause, said Marie Johnson, PhD, Founder and CEO, AUM Cardiovascular. We are using the latest technology and AT&T global connectivity to quickly and easily determine if CAD risk factors are present. We hope to prevent tragedy for other families. CADence is currently available in Germany. The company is looking to expand to other EU countries and Australia later this year, and Canada and the Philippines in 2017. CADence is currently under review by the FDA for clearance in the U.S. CADence is expected to be in the U.S. market by the end of 2017, pending FDA approval. Edited by Alicia Young The German banks shares are 47% down in the year to date and hit a 30-year low late last week. Investors have lost trust in Deutsche Bank as hopes have faded for a swift deal with US authorities over a multibillion-dollar penalty. The German bank is throwing its energies into reaching a settlement before next months US presidential election, with the US Department of Justice demanding a fine of up to $14bn (12.5bn) for mis-selling mortgage-backed securities. During an event in San Francisco, the company introduced Daydream View, a headset and controller for viewing virtual reality media with a smartphone. At $79 (70), the price is well below products from HTC and Facebooks Oculus, which cost hundreds of euro. Google has had some success distributing its Cardboard device, an even cheaper VR viewer with fewer capabilities. The new headset will enable a broader range of VR experiences, such as gaming and movies. The launch coincides with the release of Daydream, software that Google hopes will replicate the far reach of its Android mobile operating system. By making its VR gadgets cheap, the company aims to get its system used by as many people as possible. Still, the only phone that currently works with Daydream View is Googles new Pixel smartphones. The significance of Daydream is it should move the VR theme forward because it raises the hardware bar on phones needed for VR, said Gene Munster, an analyst with Piper Jaffray. In three to five years, most Android hardware will be Daydream-enabled. Google has also released its own smart home device to chase rival Amazon. In the two years since Amazon released its Echo speaker, the household device has become a surprise hit and a surprise threat to Google, as users turn to the Echo for information from the web. Now Google is trying to strike back. Yesterday, it introduced Google Home, a voice-controlled wireless speaker that looks and acts much like the Echo. The device comes packaged with Googles digital assistant technology, a conversational interface that is becoming increasingly critical to the company as its main business, Search, adjusts to a world without screens. The speaker is integrated with other smart-home devices from Philips, Samsung, and Nest, a separate division of Google parent Alphabet. Google Home and the assistant are being introduced nearly two years after Echo and its equivalent virtual assistant, Alexa, came to market. Apple is also working on a speaker device integrated with its Siri voice technology. National Iranian Oil agreed to the framework of a $2.2bn deal with Persia Oil & Gas Industry Development to boost output at three fields along the countrys western border with Iraq, said oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh. A second contract will be signed with a local company today. Mr Zanganeh has said the new type of contract, designed to better reward investment in crude and natural gas production, is crucial to increasing the countrys long-term export potential. Although it may take years for new investment deals to bear fruit, yesterdays signing caps a good few days for Mr Zanganeh, who returned from last weeks Opec meeting in Algiers having secured Irans right to pump more oil even as Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies agreed to curb output. President Hassan Rouhanis government had argued that it should be allowed to return production to levels achieved before sanctions curbed shipments. Iranians feel that theyve missed out on a big, big party because of sanctions, said Francisco Blanch, head of commodities research at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Sanctions basically took a lot of production out at a time when oil prices were very, very high. Iran doesnt really have to cut production, and its going to get a higher price. The prospect of higher oil benchmark prices in London traded at a three-month high above $50 a barrel on Monday coupled with increased investment in the energy industry will also be a boost to Rouhani, who faces a re-election battle next year when he must convince voters that rapprochement with the West is paying off economically. Oil traded near a four-month high, yesterday, as investors look ahead to next months Opec meeting and as Hurricane Matthew threatened to disrupt fuel shipments along the US east coast. Opec agreed to trim supply for the first time in eight years last week. Quotas will be decided at the groups official meeting in Vienna at the end of November. Brent crude was up 13c at $51.02 a barrel. Septembers tax and spend figures were published on a day the Department of Finance cut its growth forecasts for the economy this year to 4.2% from the 4.9% expansion it had projected in the summer. It forecasts GDP will rise 3.5% in 2017, down from the 3.9% growth it had projected previously. Analysts said Mr Noonan therefore has little room for any largesse in spending increases and tax cuts in his budget plans, though at first sight, the exchequer figures provide a reassuring picture. Tax receipts rose in the first nine months to 33.4bn, up 1.78bn, or 5.7%, in the year, as the exchequer took in 484m, 1.5% more in revenues than it had anticipated at this stage in the year. However, the performance of some of the big four tax heads continue to raise concerns about whether Government finances can weather any major external shock, including washback from Britains exit from the EU. The figures show a puzzling underperformance in income tax, even with more people in work as the unemployment rate falls to 7.9%. Officials at the Department of Finance said one explanation may be modest wage increases which affect the amount the exchequer takes in income taxes overall. Including receipts from the universal social charge, income tax revenues, at 12.95bn, brought in 14m less than anticipated in the month, and were short of target by 114m across the full nine months, the figures show. Income tax receipts were nonetheless up 4.1% from the same period last year. Vat receipts were slightly above target in September, which is a designated month for Vat payments, but fell short of target by 278m, or 2.7%, across the first nine months. At just over 10.19bn, Vat receipts are up over 5% for the full nine months from last year. Weak tobacco revenues meant excise duties took in 67m less than was anticipated in the month, but were ahead of target by 211m for the full nine months, said the department. Corporation tax receipts again provided the bright spot, taking in 136m more than was anticipated in the month. Many analysts have long warned that the Government cannot rely on corporate tax receipts because they are subject to the whims of multinationals re-arranging their tax affairs by shifting intellectual property rights into Ireland. The Irish Examiner reported last month that the big surge in recent revisions to Irish GDP in 2015 was almost completely due to Apples tax arrangements. It is a mixed bag, said Conall Mac Coille, chief economist at Davy Stockbrokers. Revenues are ahead slightly in the month, but again that is due to corporation tax, he said, adding that the Central Bank, ESRI, Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, and almost everyone else said it would be unwise in future years to rely on corporate tax revenues. Amid the potential threat from Brexit, Alan McQuaid, chief economist at Merrion Capital, said there is no room for largesse in the budget. At 31.47bn, total net expenditure was below target for the first nine months, but up 2% from last year. Ministers negotiating next weeks budget however, are insisting that the reduced economic forecast because of the Brexit fallout will not impact on spending measures for 2017. Pre-budget tax receipts announced yesterday show that the Government collected half a billion euro more so far this year. Tax receipts rose to 33.4bn, up 5.7%, as the exchequer took in 484m more than anticipated. However, economists said the performance of the big four tax heads was a mixed bag. Over 4.1bn in corporation tax in the year to September or 18% more than had been expected was taken in. However, income tax was below expectation, as were Vat receipts. Commenting on the exchequer returns overall, Finance Minister Michael Noonan continued to signal that next week would not see a giveaway budget. We should guard this improvement and be prepared for external shocks so that we can all continue to enjoy the benefits of our recent hard work, he said. However, elsewhere, Department of Finance chief economist John McCarthy lowered expectations for the economy, telling an Oireachtas Committee that the current outlook is characterised by considerable uncertainty, with the impact of Brexit still unfolding. Officials have reduced next years forecast by almost half a percentage point to 3.5%, while the economy is predicted to grow at 4.2% this year less than forecast previously in the summer economic statement. Year-on-year changes in the eurosterling exchange rate, reduced future employment growth, and slow economies in the US and euro areas were mentioned. Commenting on Brexit, which is to be triggered next spring, Mr McCarthy also said: There is also the possibility that if the UK economy goes into recession, that would have an impact in lower trade and so forth. The International Monetary Fund yesterday also cut its growth forecast for Ireland. Cabinet will tomorrow hold a pre-budget meeting as the final touches are ironed out between ministers, the Independent Alliance, and Fianna Fail ahead of next Tuesdays announcements. Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Cabinet agreed to host all-island talks on Brexit next month. Mr Kenny last night briefed opposition leaders about a judge-led inquiry into Namas Project Eagle, which will cost 10m and will be completed by 2017. The situation was confirmed yesterday just three weeks before the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit abortion bill is due to go before the Dail. Speaking at the weekly post-cabinet briefing, an Independent Alliance spokesperson said the issue has yet to be discussed either by the group or with Fine Gael. A number of Independent Alliance TDs are believed to be in favour of having a free vote when the contentious bill comes before the Dail on October 25, due to the controversial nature of the issue. Opposition attempts to liberalise Irelands abortion laws led to a significant division within Government, when the issue came before the Dail last June. At the time of the June bill which sought to allow abortions in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, and was brought by Independents4Change TD Mick Wallace Independent Alliance ministers Shane Ross, John Halligan and Finian McGrath were known to be in favour of a free vote. However, Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted the bill needed to be voted down as it was considered unconstitutional. The abortion issue has received increasing attention in recent months due to the growing Repeal campaign and plans for the State-backed Citizens Assembly to hold its first discussions on the matter on October 15. While it is widely expected the AAA-PBP bill on October 25 will be voted down in order to allow the Citizens Assembly conduct its work, such a move will place further pressure on Independent Alliance members known to be in favour of liberalising abortion laws. Confirmation that the Government has yet to agree a position on the issue came after a Cabinet meeting dominated by Brexit; proposed new laws criminalising forced marriage; and talks on the budget. The Cabinet is to meet about the budget again on Thursday. The Independent Alliance is to hold a separate meeting with Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe earlier that day. Taoiseach Enda Kenny brought a memorandum to Cabinet confirming his plans to hold the first in a series of cross-border meetings on Brexit on November 2. While a spokesman said he has invited the Norths political leaders it is is unclear of DUP leader and first minister Arlene Foster will attend. The Government has announced an all-island civic dialogue on Brexit a series of round table discussions with interested groups and measures in next weeks budget to Brexit-proof the economy as it ramps up preparatory work on Britains exit from the EU. Mr Kenny, who met with opposition leaders last night to outline plans around Brexit, brought a memo to cabinet earlier in the day and said he would be co-chairing the civic society conference on November 2, with Minister for Foreign Affairs Charles Flanagan. He said: Now that we have clarity from Prime Minister May regarding the timetable, we will intensify our engagement and preparation for the negotiations. I will continue to engage with Northern Ireland party leaders on the range of issues involved and I welcome the commitment of the executive parties to working through the issues in the context of the North South Ministerial Council. Mr Kenny said the summit on November 18 would be hugely significant, as there would be a complete Brexit audit of North/South programmes and members would also consider how best to protect the peace process and North-South interests in Brexit talks. High-level Government meetings will also be held with Michel Barnier, the newly appointed EU Commissions chief Brexit negotiator, who is expected to visit Dublin shortly. However, Mr Kenny faced criticism in Dail yesterday for not taking swift enough action on planning for Brexit, especially in relation to the border with the North. Fianna Fails Brendan Smith said all the indicators from the Conservative party now point to a hard Brexit. Government will immediately need to show the heads of the EU the president of the council, the president of the commission and the other 26 heads of government forcefully and clearly that Britains approach will unfortunately have a wide and negative impact on this island, he said. Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary-Lou McDonald said it is clear that Ms May believes that Brexit means a hard Brexit and little or no concessions would be made on the border between the North and the Republic. However, Mr Kenny refuted Ms McDonalds accusations that he had been flat-footed in his response to the UK referendum result. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan called on Mr Kenny to stand up to Ms May during the Brexit process adding that our national interest and the interests of this island as a whole are of no less importance than the UKs. Theresa May made it absolutely clear and simple in her speech to the Conservative Party Conference its the UK or the highway, said Mr Ryan said. Her lack of recognition of the special status of Northern Ireland was a direct snub to Minister of Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan who is saying the Irish Government was looking for the North of Ireland to have special status in any negotiations. We cannot allow the UK, or the EU, to dictate the outcome and results of Brexit on this island. Hiadar Alnoor, aged 39, with an address at Elm Park, Wilton, Cork, yesterday pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining a PPS number in the name of Heyder Karrar Alowsawi at the Department of Social Protection and Family Affairs at the Intreo Centre, Kings Inns St, Dublin, on March 15, 2013. Det Garda Kevin Heffernan, on secondment of the department, told Cork District Court yesterday the case related to the obtaining of a second PPS number. The offence was detected on May 18 last year when a routine examination under facial recognition technology, at the department, showed a matching face with a different set of identification details on the system. The face, it emerged, had shown on the national system in Dublin and in Cork. Solicitor Frank Buttimer said he had spoken to the defendant for an hour and could not establish any advantage accruing to him in having two PPS numbers. Det Garda Heffernan agreed, other than the existence of the second number, there was no fraudulent activity and no loss to the state. However, the offence carries a maximum fine of 1,500 and/or six months in prison. The accused had no previous convictions. It was confirmed the defendant had changed his name by deed poll in the UK. Mr Buttimer said the defendant had been considering seeking asylum in the UK but had some concerns about people in Iraq tracing his name. Mr Buttimer said it was reassuring for people in Ireland to know the system for facial recognition was picking up such matters effectively. There was never any intention to benefit fraudulently from this, he said. Judge Olann Kelleher remarked: If he had used his [second] PPS number he would be in jail today. He fined the accused 500. Fruits and vegetables such as melons, berries, leafy greens, tomatoes, legumes, grains, and sprouted seeds pose the biggest threat of illness for consumers, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). A lot of fresh produce is eaten raw so any harmful bugs that may be in the produce will not be removed by cooking, said Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI) CEO Pamela Byrne. The discovery was made yesterday afternoon in the Millrose Estate in Bluebell after locals in the area became concerned that they had not seen one of the brothers for a number of days. The two men were in their 70s. Both bodies were discovered when gardai entered the house. Ernest Doku, mobiles expert at comparison site uSwitch, said: Its taken Google forever to bring its own-brand hardware stylings to the smartphone, but its logical the search giant would eventually offer something to showcase the best of Android, in the same way Apple has the iPhone to carry iOS. Theres every reason to believe the Pixel could be a genuine iPhone killer, in a market that appears to be growing tired of the incumbents. A battery that charges seven hours in just 15 minutes might not seem as cool as an intelligent voice-activated assistant, but this combination of core functionality and bleeding-edge features is highly likely to win people over. Never underestimate the importance of battery life. The Dail is now expected to issue a united statement on war crimes currently being carried out in Syria later in the week. Speaking in the Dail, Enda Kenny said there have been catastrophic deaths of men, women and children in particular, with the bombing of hospitals in Aleppo. He said Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan had called in the Russian ambassador and left him with no uncertain terms as to how this country feels about the human catastrophe that is unfolding and has unfolded in Syria and particularly Aleppo. The minister made perfectly clear our absolute disgust at and abhorrence of the bombing of a United Nations humanitarian convoy going into Aleppo to relieve people who have had neither food nor water for some time, said Mr Kenny. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin asked that the Dail unite in condemnation of the continued bombing in Aleppo through statements or an agreed motion on what he said is a potential genocide that is escalating by the day. This was supported by Labours Brendan Howlin and AAA-PBPs Richard Boyd-Barrett. The question for Ireland is whether we will stand up for the people of Aleppo and the rest of Syria in the face of these war crimes, said Mr Martin. Will we say to Russia in particular that the barbarism that it is directly facilitating is unacceptable? Mr Kenny said the issue could be discussed tomorrow when Mr Flanagan comes before the Dail. Charlie Flanagan and Enda Kenny Separately, Mr Kenny said Government is committed to supporting the postal service and has made every attempt to provide new facilities and initiatives for post offices. He said work is now ongoing to introduce a basic bank account for post offices adding the Government is completely focused on wanting to provide a range of opportunities for post offices so they can continue as an essential part of every community. Public sector pay was raised in the Dail by both Mr Howlin and Brid Smith of the AAA-PBP grouping, who claimed the Governments strategy on pay is beginning to unravel . However, the Taoiseach said Government would not be implementing legislation to give members of An Garda Siochana the right to strike. When questioned, Mr Kenny confirmed there are no plans to withdraw Lariam from the range of anti-malaria medications available to the defence forces. It comes after PDForra, the organisation representing most members of the Defence Forces, said Irish soldiers are being put at risk of developing depression, confusion, extreme fear, and hallucinations because the Government still insists on giving them an anti-malaria drug on peacekeeping missions to Africa, against the advice of top UN medical experts. Mr Kenny told the Dail the use of medicines are constantly kept under review. When a person is sensitive to Lariam, they are generally not deployed for service in sub-Saharan Africa, he said. Senior counsel Michael Lynn said there was a large body of evidence that called into very serious question the effectiveness of the Swedish model, which criminalises the purchase of sex, in reducing prostitution. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill which contains provisions to criminalise those who buy sex is back before the Oireachtas and Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald hopes it will be enacted by the end of the year. In a 31-page legal opinion, drafted for Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI), Mr Lynn also said that the failure of the bill to amend existing legislation on brothel-keeping meant sex workers who live or work together for safety reasons can be criminalised. He said he provided legal advice on part 4 of the bill pro bono (for free) to SWAI after a request from the Public Interest Law Alliance. My initial, instinctive feeling was that the measures proposed in the bill were justifiable on a human rights basis because their aim appeared to be to protect, by prohibiting the purchase of sex, vulnerable people whose circumstances expose them to exploitative sex work, said Mr Lynn. To my surprise, I have concluded that the legislation is likely to violate the human rights of sex workers. I reach this conclusion in part because of the evidential shortcomings in assessing the efficacy of the so-called Swedish model, on which part 4 of the 2015 bill is based. He said he also took account of the large body of opinion, both independent and reputable, that the decriminalisation of sex work is the preferable approach in securing, as far as possible, the safety, physical security, health and equal treatment of sex workers. He said this opinion includes the positions of UN bodies, the WHO, the Global Commission on HIV, the International Labour Organisation, Amnesty, and Human Rights Watch. The Turn Off The Red Light Campaign backs the bill and criminalising the purchase of sex. The deceased, aged in his 20s, was found in a flat along the Portobello stretch of South Circular Road. Gardai confirmed he is Irish. However, it is thought he may have French family connections, where his immediate family lives. Gardai were alerted to a disturbance at the flat at around 3.45pm. When they responded, they spotted a collapsed body on a footpath on the other side of the road, opposite the house. An ambulance brought the injured man, thought to be Swiss, to St Jamess Hospital, where his injuries were described as non-life-threatening. The scene of a fatal knife attack at the South Circular Road, Dublin at the junction of Bloomfield Avenue. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Gardai entered the large Victorian terraced house and discovered a mans body lying face down in one of the flats. They sealed off both scenes and recovered a knife outside. Gardai believe both men suffered stab wounds. The deceaseds body remained in situ pending the arrival of the State pathologist. Gardai believe the injured man made his way from the house, somehow navigating what is a very busy road, before collapsing on the far side. Gardai are investigating reports that a third man was seen running from the house at around 3.20pm. He is described as a male, aged in his 20s, 5ft6 in height, thin and wearing a black top and trousers. His clothes were possibly bloodstained. Scene on Sth Circular Rd where body of a man was found this afternoon @TodayFMNews pic.twitter.com/GJfQL3Mcx9 Juliette Gash (@JulietteGash) October 4, 2016 It is not yet clear if this man was involved in the two stabbings, or if he was a witness. Gardai are asking the man to come forward and for anyone who might know who he is to get in touch. Anyone who was passing the stretch of South Circular Road, opposite Bloomfield Avenue, between 3pm and 4pm is asked to contact Kevin Street Garda Station on 01-6669400. Perry Wharrie, aged 56, Loughton, Essex, England, was jailed for 30 years, later reduced on appeal to 17 and a half years, over the cocaine haul at Dunlough Bay on the Mizen peninsula. He had asked the Court of Appeal to certify an appeal to the Supreme Court on a point of law. It was argued the offences of possession of the drugs for sale in supply had not been committed because the evidence showed the cocaine was destined for another jurisdiction. In its judgment yesterday, the appeal court refused to certify an appeal saying the point had not been raised at his trial and had not been entertained in his first appeal. Wharrie had also not shown the point of law was of exceptional public interest or it was desireable in the public interest such an appeal be taken, it held. At his trial, he pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply but was unanimously found guilty by a a jury in Cork and sentenced in 2008. He was part of a gang who used a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) which met a catamaran from which the drugs were transferred. The operation went awry after the transfer because diesel had been put in the RIBs petrol engine which cut out causing the craft to flounder and sink in rough July seas. Lifeboat crews who came to the aid of the RIB found one of Wharries accomplices floating in the sea encircled by 65 bales of cocaine. Wharrie and another man made it ashore but both were arrested two days later. Dismissing his application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, Mr Justice John Macmenamin, on behalf of the three-judge appeal court, said Wharries counsel argued the issue about the consignment of drugs being destined for outside this jurisdiction only came to light after his conviction. It was argued this constituted non-disclosure of material evidence at trial. Mr Justice MacMenamin said the point was not made at the original trial or at the sentence hearing. The court could not accept this proposition and nor could it be convincingly suggested the testimony relating to the destination of the drugs came as a bolt from the blue, he said. Wharrie had not testified in his case, and was entitled not to, but the main plank of his case was there was not sufficient evidence to show he was part of a large international joint enterprise, the judge said. The Court of Appeal, when dealing with Wharries first appeal, had also held it would not entertain the destination of the drugs point, he noted. This was among the insurmountable obstacles Wharrie faced in this appeal along with the fact he failed to satisfy the exceptional importance and public interest requirements, the court found. The claim was made by Independent TD Stephen Donnelly, who calculates that up to 20bn in revenue could be targeted in future taxes if loopholes are ended. His proposals have been submitted to Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who promised to examine them when drawing up the post-budget Finance Bill. Mr Noonan has already committed to closing tax loopholes for so-called section 110 companies who buy up distressed assets such as property loans and make substantial profits. Aggressive tax practices by some firms, including the use of charity status, to pay very little tax will be stopped in the Finance Act. Mr Noonan said it would be backdated to early September. Mr Donnelly said the clampdown should go further. In his submission, he maintains that a tougher clampdown on the tax loopholes could reap some 20bn for the exchequer. Minister Noonans amendment is welcome but, as it stands, it wont work, he said yesterday. Several important changes are needed or the 20bn in future taxes could still find its way out of Ireland. The sums involved are enormous, so its critical we get this right. Such a sum could build the equivalent of 40 national childrens hospitals, end the scourge of child poverty in Ireland, or ease the housing crisis, claimed Mr Donnelly. He said he has information that large accounting firms have already assured clients that the section 110 amendment will be surmountable, with 90%-100% of existing tax avoidance still possible. The amendment does not go far enough and allows funds shelter all capital gains to date, and potential capital gains into the future, said Mr Donnelly, adding that all special purpose vehicles availing of special tax schemes must be required to get prior Revenue approval. It is not known what role, if any, the well-publicised low pay of garda graduates who start on a salary of 23,000 played in the drop in applications. The service said numbers for the current competition, which closed last Thursday, were similar to pre-moratorium levels. The independent adjudicator is to meet with PDForra representatives and Department of Defence officials on October 26 to decide if navy personnel who have served on the mission should receive a higher overseas allowance than the rate already received. The issue was raised last year after the first of the navy ships had been tasked to assist the Italians in rescuing migrants, packed into inadequate and often deathtrap boats by people-smugglers who set them adrift off the Libyan coast. Due to personnel on the naval ships being armed, PDForra said there were obvious dangers and crews should be entitled to an 80-a-day armed allowance, instead of the 50 a-day unarmed allowance which the Department of Defence had provided. Department officials argued as it was a humanitarian mission the navy was not entitled to the higher allowance. Pictures were subsequently posted on the Defence Forces Facebook page showing sailors armed with Steyr rifles watching over migrants as they came onboard naval ships. The ships are also armed with frontal canons. The Naval Services most senior officer, Flag Officer Commodore Hugh Tully, supported his personnel and wrote to the Department of Defence saying crews, men and women, should receive the higher allowance but officials still refused to budge. Since Naval Service operations started in the Mediterranean the LE Eithne, LE Niamh, LE Samuel Beckett, LE Roisin, and LE James Joyce have each completed 12-week tours of duty. LE Samuel Beckett has just returned to the region for its second tour of duty. On average each of the ships are crewed by around 50 personnel who volunteer. some are young, poorly-paid, sailors who PDForra say could badly do with the higher allowance. At last years PDForra annual conference, the then defence minister Simon Coveney said he would be happy to send the claim for increased allowances to arbitration and, if a decision fell in favour of a higher allowance, his department would pay. He also said it would be paid retrospectively. Current minister with responsibility for defence, Paul Kehoe, said he would not comment on the issue as it was due before an adjudicator. PDForra had been hoping for a speedy resolution to the issue but it could still take some time before the process is finalised. People-smugglers took advantage of good weather conditions in the Mediterranean Sea yesterday as they herded people on board flimsy dinghies. They set them afloat in the knowledge that they would either drown on the crossing from Libya to southern Europe, or be rescued by military boats or vessels run by volunteer organisations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres. Judge Jacqueline Linnanes decision to strike out Tanagers repossession proceedings in the Circuit Civil Court may have a serious knock-on effect for Tanagers attempts to take back other homes where mortgages are in arrears. Tanager Limited, of Clanwilliam Square, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin, is a private equity fund that snapped up more than 2,000 distressed home loans at discount rates from Bank of Scotland Ireland after its cross-border merger in 2010. More than 90% of the loans were two years or more in arrears. When Michael and Ann Reilly, of 21, Kilclare Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, found out Tanager was seeking a court order for possession of their home on the basis of a default in repayments Mr Reilly started probing the transfer of his mortgage to Tanager. He discovered his loan was with the governor and company of the Bank of Scotland which had been dissolved at the time. He had then been asked to sign a form to signify his mortgage was with Bank of Scotland Plc before it sold its distressed loans to Tanager. Judge Linnane said that in accordance with a Supreme Court decision relating to another case, Bank of Scotland Plc at the time of transfer ought to have been put on the land folio for the Reilly property and this had not been done. Barrister Veronica McInerney, appearing with Sherwin ORiordan solicitors for Tanager, said the error in title had occurred when there had been a number of transfers and acquisitions involving the bank. She said at the time of the transfers and acquisitions Woods Hogan, the solicitors for Bank of Scotlands various entities, would probably have used a pro forma document (to be signed as a matter of form) relating to mortgage transfers. Ms McInerney said that Mr Reilly had been sent a document to transfer the mortgage, which had been in favour of the governor and company of the Bank of Scotland, to the new entity Bank of Scotland Ireland. She told Judge Linnane the previous solicitors on record had been Woods Hogan and a clear mistake had been made. She said Tanager should be granted leave to bring a motion simply changing the title of the mortgage. Judge Linnane said she was granting Mr Reillys application to strike out Tanagers application for possession on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and want of locus standi as he had outlined in his motion. She said she was amazed that despite all the lawyers involved it had taken a lay litigant such as Mr Reilly to discover the error. Marketing consults Madcalm Ltd, Monksland, Athlone, Co Roscommon, brought proceedings against its former CEO and 20% shareholder Mr Sean McGrath who it claimed had tried to extort money from it by threatening to divulge names, addresses and bank details of Vodafone costumers. Madcalm provides consultancy marketing services to telecommunications companies, particularly mobile phone operators to assist them in acquiring and retaining customers. It obtained a temporary High Court injunction preventing Mr McGrath from disseminating any confidential information by any means to any third party. Mr McGrath was also restrained from threatening, approaching or communicating with any official of Madcalm or its clients. Mr McGrath denied the accusations and said the companys allegations against him were untrue and outrageous. Mr McGrath also said he had no confidential information of the kind suggested by Madcalm. Mr McGraths lawyers had told the court he would seek to have the injunction discharged. The matter returned before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan at the High Court yesterday. The judge was told by Brian Conroy BL for Madcalm the matter had been resolved between the parties. Counsel said the injunction could be vacated and the proceedings struck out. No details of the settlement were revealed in open court. Mr McGrath, who had rejected what were very serious accusations against him, said he had no confidential information belonging to the company. The allegations, revealed in the Irish Examiner, about the treatment of garda whistleblowers, requires a dramatic response from Government. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said the allegations go above and beyond an investigation into wrongdoing and must be dealt with in that light. It was revealed that two protected disclosures by senior gardai referenced a campaign that included spreading false, scandalous and damaging allegations against the whistleblower. Last night, Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald confirmed that the protected disclosures had been received by her in her department, but said she could not comment any further on the matter. In the Dail, Mr Martin said: I do not know if the Taoiseach has read the report in todays Irish Examiner in relation to whistleblowers being strategically undermined and under attack, both their personal and professional reputations, at the instigation of senior Garda management. He added that the disclosures revealed that senior gardai were involved in a character assassination attack which included dissemination of texts to gardai in a bid to tarnish the reputation of whistleblowers and the opening of an intelligence file on the whistleblowers. It demands a fairly dramatic response from the Government. It cannot just be allowed drift into a process, Mr Martin added. Micheal Martin The Fianna Fail leader, who has led on the issue of Garda malpractice, said the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) needs greater powers and legislative change and asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny if this would be granted. It is at a very high level of wrongdoing, if I can put it that way to the Taoiseach, without pre-empting any inquiry, said Mr Martin. It seems to be something that is of the most gravest import, if it is true. Disclosures have been made and I believe it is extremely serious. I would ask if legislation in this area will be brought forward? Mr Kenny said he had not seen the correspondence but admitted it may well be there are matters here beyond what would be a normal GSOC analysis or investigation. He said Ms Fitzgerald is considering the report and will decide what the best thing to do is following examination of the information. Mr Kenny said he was aware of the report in this paper but said the House would not expect me to go into detail about who has made these disclosures or the nature of the allegations contained in them at this particular time. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, a spokesman for the Tanaiste said: The Tanaiste has recently received protected disclosures from members of An Garda Siochana under the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014. Any such disclosures will of course be fully considered to determine what further action may be appropriate. The maintenance of confidentiality in relation to protected disclosures is fundamental and, in line with the statutory obligations under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, it is not possible to make any further comment. Frances Fitzgerald It is believed the disclosures claim that the purpose of the campaign was to discredit the whistleblower to the extent of destroying his character. One of the two officers making the disclosure is admitting his role in the campaign to discredit the whistleblower, but claims he was following orders. The seniority of the officers making the claims and the fact that one of them is admitting his own culpability will give rise to fresh concerns as to how those who come forward are dealt with. The disclosures detail a number of different strands to the campaign, conducted over a number of years. The disclosures came about after a meeting between the two officers concerned in the last month. The officer who admits his role in the campaign against the whistleblower told the second officer about it and expressed remorse for what he had been involved in. A spokesman for Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan said: We will not be commenting on any particular protected disclosure reports. Any protective disclosures made within An Garda Siochana are welcomed, and dealt with according to agreed protocols and the individual making the disclosure is protected within an An Garda Siochana. I have on numerous occasions expressed my support for any employees who have issues and concerns. As commissioner I have actively asked employees to bring forward issues and concerns. We learn by listening. Meanwhile, last nights Prime Time revealed a further disclosure under whistleblower legislation has been made to the justice minister. The 28-year-old Dublin North West TD, a member of the public accounts committee, with an address at Hardiman Rd, Drumcondra, was summonsed to appear in court on nine counts under the 1997 Litter Pollution Act in relation to his posters. The case was heard at Dublin District Court, but he did not attend the hearing, which proceeded in his absence. The charges were brought by Dublin City Council. Evidence was given by three litter wardens and the court was given photos of the posters put up around his constituency, including ones with the TDs picture and a slogan saying keep the recovery going and other information about his availability at his clinic on January 14. The court heard that two posters were still on display unlawfully at Prospect Rd on February 3. Litter wardens spotted four more of the posters on January 28 at Iona Rd, Griffith Avenue, and Drumcondra Rd. They found another one of his posters at Collins Avenue on January 26. The general election was not called until February 3. Council litter wardens also found one of his election posters that was left up too long after the February 26 vote. Judge John ONeill noted that Mr Rock had no prior convictions. He imposed nine fines, each worth 350, and totalling 3,150. He also acceded to prosecution counsel Karen Dennings application to order Noel Rock to pay 221 in legal costs. Mr Rock, who was elected to the Dail in the general election, is the youngest Fine Gael TD in Dublin, representing the Ballymun electoral area. Meanwhile, Independent councillor Cieran Perry pleaded guilty to Litter Pollution Act charges in relation to posters with his picture and which mentioned a water protest in Dublin on January 23. Litter wardens spotted them on February 3 and the council argued that they should have been taken down within seven days of the event. He claimed they were exempt as they were part of his general election campaign and he reused posters because he had limited resources. Judge ONeill said Mr Perry, who represents the Cabra Finglas ward in Dublin, was a decent man but the law was against him. However, he gave him a chance to avoid a conviction and told him the case would be struck out if he paid 221 in prosecution costs and donated 500 to the St Vincent de Paul before January 17. The Dail is now scheduled to rise on Thursday, October 27, and not return until Tuesday, November 8, it was confirmed yesterday. The matter is to be formally agreed by the Dails new Business Committee tomorrow, but Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty has confirmed the break is occurring. It is understood Ms Doherty had sought not to have a break in sitting times to ensure the end of term would occur in mid-December. A Government spokesman said the original intention was to proceed without a break, but following a meeting of the committee, the break is now occurring. The matter was discussed by the Business Committee last week and was demanded by members of the opposition that a weeks break takes place. At the committees meeting tomorrow, Fianna Fail whip Michael Moynihan is expected to raise the taking of a break so soon after the Dail returned. It is understood the decision to call for the break has led to some annoyance within Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. This is the sort of thing people will go mad at us for. It looks like we are looking after ourselves, one committee member said. However, other committee members insist there will be no loss of sitting days. It was decided to reschedule two or three sitting days and we are now going later into December. But it was non-contentious decision, said FGs Jim Daly. On foot of the break, it appears the Dail will sit right up until December 21. During the summer, TDs broke for more than nine weeks to allow for a 700,000 upgrade that allows the public to hear TDs better. The 158 TDs got an extra-long summer break, from July 21 until September 27. The decision to break comes amid mounting criticism of the lack of legislation coming through the Oireachtas since the Government was formed. Labour leader Brendan Howlin criticised the do-nothing Dail after just nine pieces of legislation were commenced by the time the Dail rose in the summer. Helen Browne first felt the indescribable pain of a failed IVF treatment in 1996. She would have to go through this heartbreak six more times and each time mourn the loss of the babies she could not have. A landmark Government report on how to best fund fertility treatment is due by the end of this year, spurring strong support from Corkwoman Helen, who underwent IVF treatment for more than a decade. Last February, then minister for health Leo Varadkar announced plans to provide public funding for assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment, including IVF. Presently, treatments are only available privately through clinics and can cost up to 5,000 per course. One in six couples has fertility issues Additionally, by the end of 2017, the Department of Health are drafting a general scheme of legislative provisions , which will be submitted to the Committee on Health and Children for pre-legislative scrutiny. Helen, co-founder of the National Infertility Support and Information Group (NISIG), underwent seven failed IVF treatments over a period of 12 years. She estimates that the treatments cost her and her husband 60,000. In 1996, NISIG was set up in Cork after Helens first failed IVF treatment. She discovered that there was no support available for people suffering with infertility. Now there is a 24-hour telephone line manned by Helen, and regular support meetings are held throughout the country. Diagnosed with endometriosis in her 20s, Helen had always yearned for children. She married at the age of 31 and began IVF treatment a year later. Helen, a nurse, and her husband, who is self-employed, saved hard to fund the treatments. She says: We had to sell one car to pay for a treatment. A loan was taken out from the credit union. For more than a decade, they sacrificed holidays in a bid to get what they wanted more than anything a baby. I ate, slept, and drank fertility treatment, says Helen. She recalled how, at the time, IVF was still a strange word, under the radar. The first Irish IVF baby was born at St. Jamess Hospital, Dublin, on January 14, 1986. Helen admits that, during the 12 years of IVF treatment, she was unhappy. I felt that I was left out, friends getting pregnant, I felt socially excluded. I had always two to five children around the house. I cried an awful lot. If I saw women breastfeeding, I would get upset. I would think will I go to that christening, what if I get upset? It is a heartbreaking time. Mothers Day, I would find it horrendous. My husband did not know what to do, he was more upset for me. I feel that he regrets not being a dad. We would have been very good parents. Adoption was not an option for the Brownes at the time, costing anything from 30,000. After 12 years of unsuccessful IVF treatment, Helen decided to stop. She says: We had to stop IVF as we could no longer afford it. Having a family seemed to be the natural progression of love. We met, got married, it was just that we took it for granted that we would have a family. People would say hurtful things like you can have my teenagers anytime or just relax. Helen underwent two years of counselling in a bid to come to the terms with the realisation that she would not be a mother. Counselling helped me to looked at the positive rather than the negative. It gives you tools to cope with stressful situations. I learned that I have to appreciate what I have. A lot of people would love to have the opportunity to have someone to love them. I have a great husband. Recalling those 12 years of IVF treatment, Helen says: I did not think my life would survive without children. I would see articles about children being abused and I would get very angry with God. I didnt understand why those people had children and we didnt. I went into work and I switched off, did my work, but I was grieving. She hopes that two to three IVF treatments will be available publicly in Ireland and that aftercare support will be available. After forking out so much money on IVF, people then have to pay 60 an hour for counselling. NISIG offers support to almost 200 couples around Ireland. Helen has seen a changed dynamic over the years of more couples undergoing egg and sperm donation and others who are going the surrogacy route. Although NISIG receives some state funding, Helen would like to see more resources being put into the group. Helen is the only person operating the 24/hour contact number. I have reduced hours in nursing. I could get a call at anytime. People who call at the weekends and late at night are always so apologetic. They are upset, something has triggered, it is grief. Everybody deals with it differently, some deal with in a very practical way, some people need to talk and some need counselling. Both male and female infertility are equally as common. Most people should consult a doctor after a year of trying to conceive unsuccessfully. This is the main sign of infertility. If the woman is over the age of 35 and hasnt conceived after trying for six months or has an irregular menstrual cycle, its best to see a doctor as soon as possible. The man should be evaluated, too, as male infertility is just as common as female infertility. For more, contact 087 7975058 any time or nisigireland@gmail.com I F PROOF was ever needed that the pen is, indeed, mightier than the sword it comes in the shape of a slim, bearded, silver-haired Australian who set up a whistleblowing operation in Iceland 10 years ago that has since gone on to cause fear, loathing and consternation on two continents. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is wanted in the US for espionage, in Sweden to face rape charges and in the UK for bail violation after taking refuge in Ecuadors London embassy where he has been holed up for the past four years. Not bad for the turbulent self-declared superhero hacker who was born in the city of Townsville in Queensland and endured a nomadic childhood, living in 30 different Australian towns by the time he became a teenager as his parents ran a touring theatre. It has been a busy 10 years for Assange and his supporters. WikiLeaks has published more than 10m leaked emails, including sensitive information about prisoners being mistreated at Guantanamo Bay, US military operations and a cache of diplomatic cables from US embassies around the world. The domain name wikileaks.org was registered in 2006 and launched in January 2007, with Assange saying it would use a censorship-proof website to protect sources and make public secret information. Just like his childhood years, he adopted a nomadic lifestyle, running Wikileaks from temporary locations. To keep our sources safe, we have had to spread assets, encrypt everything, and move telecommunications and people around the world to activate protective laws in different national jurisdictions, Assange said in a BBC interview in 2011. He was always driven, could go long stretches without eating, and focus on work with very little sleep, according to Raffi Khatchadourian, a reporter for the New Yorker magazine who spent several weeks travelling with him. He creates this atmosphere around him where the people who are close to him want to care for him to help keep him going. I would say that probably has something to do with his charisma, he told the BBC. The site first caught the worlds attention when it released manuals for US prison guards at Guantanamo. Its revelations became a global phenomenon in 2010 when it disclosed logs of US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and a horrifying video showing a US helicopter crew mowing down a group of unarmed civilians including two journalists in Baghdad. It also published a truckload of highly secretive diplomatic cables from US embassies, enraging the then secretary of state Hilary Clinton and deeply embarrassing the Obama administration. But there was more personal trouble ahead for Assange. That same year, he was detained in the UK after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant over allegations of sexual assault. Swedish authorities said they wanted to question him over claims that he raped one woman and sexually molested another in August of 2010 while on a visit to Stockholm for a conference. Assange was accused of having sex with one of the women while she was asleep but he has always insisted that both encounters were consensual. He spent the following months fighting extradition while under house arrest in a small town in Norfolk. Westminster magistrates court approved the extradition in February 2011 and this was later upheld by the High Court in London and on June 14, 2012, the UK Supreme Court dismissed his application to re-open the appeal. A few days later, exhausting his legal options in Britain against extradition to Sweden, Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he was granted political asylum. He has been there ever since. Hopes that he might finally be able to leave were dashed last month when Assange had another setback in his legal stand-off with Sweden after a request to lift the arrest warrant over the 2010 rape accusation was rejected. In advance of that ruling, WikiLeaks released medical records claiming Assanges mental health was at risk if he remained in the Ecuadorian embassy but they failed to sway the Swedish court. He has refused to travel to Stockholm, saying he fears further extradition to the US over WikiLeaks release of 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But it is his intervention in the US presidential election that has gained him the most approbrium. After WikiLeaks published some 20,000 internal emails on the eve of the US Democratic Party convention that forced high-ranking party officials to resign he faced growing calls for his extradition. The leaked emails showed Democratic Party officials favouring Hillary Clinton over left-winger Bernie Sanders in presidential primary elections, prompting accusations that he was serving the interests of Republican candidate Donald Trump. Bernie Sanders He has also had his fair share of death threats, both as a result of these leaks and those concerning US military operations. A decade on from the founding of WikiLeaks, the hunter has become the hunted. According to Assange, WikiLeaks is the target of a witch hunt orchestrated in particular by Democrat candidate Hilary Clinton, comparing it to the repression of American communists in the 1950s driven by then senator Joseph McCarthy. But he remains defiant and has vowed not to back down but, instead, scale up operations to amplify our publications and to defend us against what is really a quite remarkable McCarthyist push in the United States at the moment, principally by Hillary Clinton and her allies because she happens to be the person being exposed at the moment. To his critics, Assange is a dangerous, unhinged publicity-seeker who has endangered lives by making public of sensitive information. But to his supporters, Assange is a courageous campaigner for truth. On the anniversary of WikiLeaks yesterday, millions of his followers were anticipating an October Surprise but they were bitterly disappointed when there were no bombshells to celebrate the last 10 years. Assange, who was originally planning to make an announcement from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, instead appeared via videolink at a Berlin conference. There was widespread speculation he would disclose more revelations about Hilary Clinton. Although promising to publish information on the presidential election every week for the next 10 weeks, there were no revelations yesterday. For once, the worlds whistle-blower-in-chief failed to whistle. WikiLeaks: Six major contributions (and controversies) 1. The Iraq War Logs In October 2010, WikiLeaks made its most fundamental and arguably most devastating revelations about the Iraq War publicly available, in the form of 391,832 classified US military documents. The act represented the largest such leak in US military history, and revealed instances of detainee abuse being ignored by Iraqi allies, and a heavily-revised civilian casualty count of 15,000. 2. Reykjavik 13 Thought to be the first of a series of diplomatic cables and classified documents to be leaked by US Army Private Chelsea Manning (then known as Bradley), the Reykjavik 13 cable exposed a series of failings associated with the management of online savings account brand IceSave. US Army Private Manning Systemic collapse of the Icelandic banking system led to foreign account holders in the Netherlands and UK losing millions of euro worth of deposits, despite a series of interventions and orders from regulatory bodies such as the British Financial Services Authority. 3. Baghdad airstrike footage In April 2010, WikiLeaks distributed a classified video of an airstrike in Baghdad, which killed two journalists after troops mistakenly thought they were carrying weapons, which later turned out to be cameras. The video goes on to show US forces firing on a van that stopped to pick up the bodies, leading to widespread condemnation and some branding the act a war crime. 4. The Afghanistan War Logs In July 2010, the group released 92,000 documents relating to the 2004-2009 war in Afghanistan to The Guardian, The New York Times, and Der Spiegel newspapers. Among the documents revelations included detailed figures on friendly fire incidents between allied forces and civilian casualty rates. Around 15,000 of the 92,000 documents have not been made publicly available by the group, which is seeking to protect the identity of their source. 5. The Clinton Email Leaks Hillary Clinton Timed to coincide with the publication of John Chilcots inquiry into the Iraq War, the July tweet from WikiLeaks exposed 1,258 classified emails sent by former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, using private email servers. The emails were selected with respect to their relevance concerning the Iraq War and exposed poor security practices from the presidential nominee, leading to panic in her campaign. 6. Edward Snowden Although WikiLeaks was not responsible for the release of former CIA and National Security Agency employee Edward Snowdens 2013 dissemination of around 10,000 classified documents exposing widespread domestic surveillance by government bodies, it did assist in his escape from Hong Kong once the story broke. THERE is much lamentation among people marching that they were too young to vote in the referendum on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution in 1983. It is a greater pity so few remember the 48-hour rule introduced in 1987 by Ray MacSharry. He brought in a regulation, to staunch cross-border shopping, that you had to be in Northern Ireland for 48 hours before you could import duty-free into the Republic. It was a desperate measure, in a desperate situation. It was also deemed illegal under EU law. It is, however, a foretaste of things to come. In part, they have already arrived. In 1982, the relative strength of sterling meant that an Irish punt was worth only a modest 80 pence in Britain. In 1988 a weaker sterling meant the punt could buy 85 pence across the Irish Sea, and across the border in Northern Ireland. Jonesborough, Co Armagh became a shopping paradise for cavalcades of buses from the Republic. All along the border, small towns in Northern Ireland, their petrol stations and supermarkets, became a Mecca for shoppers carrying their punts into the United Kingdom. In a then gravely weak Irish economy, the effect, especially in border counties, was devastating. MacSharry in Sligo, saw that clearly and close to home. It is odd, how the 8th Amendment is forever remembered, but MacSharrys 48-hour rule is nearly totally forgotten. It is the 48-hour rule that is pertinent. Unlike the 8th amendment which is a matter entirely within our control, the underlying issues which prompted the 48-hour rule then, are in the context of Brexit now, largely or perhaps entirely beyond our effective influence. The euro was worth 88 pence sterling yesterday and possibly still climbing. Frankly, I would have a better chance of picking the winner of the Grand National than accurately predicting future currency movements. Its the baccarat of the international money markets, only for the very rich and improvident. However, those who profess to know are predicting sterling to weaken further, and perhaps even parity to arrive. We were there before in 1995 and 1996. It is only one year ago since the euro was worth a modest, but highly competitive, 73 pence. The economic effects are already being felt. As Ibecs Danny McCoy said on Monday, those hardest hit are small- and medium-sized indigenous Irish enterprises. The strategic issue now is how we balance short-term necessity, with longer-term strategic goals as a country, within our limited capacity to effectively influence either. The greatest lesson, is that when we a small country on the edge in every sense pool our sovereignty effectively, we are at our most powerful and inferential. In the hundred years since the proclamation of the Republic, Ireland unquestionably enjoyed greater influence within the European Union, than without. The only prolonged period of prosperity we have enjoyed is in the two decades from the late 1980s to the economic crash. Unfashionable as it is to say, though much was lost, most of our wealth was maintained. A narrative of a small country ignored or rode roughshod over by larger neighbours has just enough big- power politics in it to be credible. What it lacks is an accurate sense of how exactly, one small country, did enjoy a measure of influence and prosperity and critically how we might, on the periphery of events, exercise some influence again. When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers is a truism. And the elephants are fighting now. Brexit is the greatest diplomatic challenge since we joined the then EEC. It is the greatest political challenge since the Emergency. The first thing to do in the coming week, is pass a budget that does no harm, and would thereby further reduce our room for manoeuvre. Any reduction of the tax base, as distinct from cutting rates, clearly reduces the capacity of the State at a critical moment. It would be reckless now, and would impact on services immediately in a context where we cannot know, but must fear, that our exports including tourism will be less competitive in the very important British market. Flippant spending ideas, like restoring town councils, pioneered by Labour and latched onto by Fianna Fail should be binned. Looking ahead to 2019 when the property tax freeze is over, we need to be a country with a functioning property tax and water charge regime that collects. Major long-term economic reforms such as the auto-enrolment of all employees in pension schemes should finally become a reality. Auto- enrolment of private sectors workers should be extended on the same basis to all new entrants to the public service. Their employer, the State, should make a decent contribution. But the bottomless pit of unfunded public sector pensions must end. Education should be an absolute spending priority. Third-level, a critical benchmark of economic capacity and social opportunity must be funded by a combination of fees and loans. Any party that hasnt a serious plan to do so, cant be taken seriously, which for now seems to be all. It is only by widening the tax base, that ultimately it will be possible to reduce tax rates, to make Irish jobs more competitive. We need to do this now, exactly at the moment when the economy will come under enormous external competitive pressures from currents exchange rates and potentially tariffs as well. There is a vision for a leaner, more agile and competitive economy that is one essential strand for an Ireland that can better survive and maybe even eventually prosper, in some measure. It is having the measure of things that is essential. Bellicose bar-room notions about what is actually possible for a small country, serve nobody. It does, however, serve up excuses as to why we cannot or will not do, what we should do, now. Ireland in the 1980s was still a very poor place. That lack of memory is the real pity for so many who are not old enough to remember. The fear is that the deprivation they missed by accident of birth could be instead visited on them in their old age, or sooner. There is no Irish entitlement to the levels of prosperity we enjoyed previously, and absolutely no certainty of restoration for anybody. The Irish model of the past 40 years was to ride the two horses together. Politically, we anchored in the European project and the largesse that brought. Economically, we were based in a North Atlantic Anglosphere. It was by trading deftly, politically and economically, that we momentarily prospered, and enjoyed influence. Now that confluence of our vital interests no longer coincide. Because we are small and peripheral, we are only a blade of grass beneath trampling elephants. Precisely because our interests are slight, in the greater context, there is hope. But only if we can fend effectively for ourselves at home and play a careful hand abroad. There is plenty of law to protect whistleblowers, but wheres the order? Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has said she would carefully examine the latest allegations about malpractice within An Garda Siochana. Her statement was in response to the Irish Examiners that two senior gardai have come forward to allege there was an organised campaign to destroy a whistleblower. The latest allegations contain an extra layer of credibility by dint of the fact that one of those coming forward has admitted his role in such an alleged campaign. Today in the Dail, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin brought up the matter with the Taosieach, saying: Its above and beyond a GSOC investigationits at a very high level of wrongdoing. He added that he was not prejudging any potential inquiry. Mr Kenny agreed with him, deploying a caution that was in contrast to the stonewalling that is often the first weapon of defence on government benches. So everybody agrees. This is serious stuff. Something must be done. The first port of call is the staple of Irish public life the inquiry. It was confirmed today by the Taoiseach that an inquiry, possibly led by a judicial figure, would most likely be established. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said a judge may conduct a whistleblower probe, if Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald decides in the coming days, amid mounting pressure on the Commissioner. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie The inquiry will either decide that its all a ball of smoke, or that the allegations have substance. In the event of the former conclusion, there will be understandable cries of cover up. If there is a determination that senior management did target a whistleblower, a bout of breast beating will ensue or a further inquiry. Any of the three outcomes will be entirely unsatisfactory, but we should be getting accustomed to dissatisfaction by now. This is all entirely predictable because we have been here before as recently as 2014. Then, when a new commissioner came into office initially on an interim basis she assured everybody that she was armed with a new broom. Change, Noirin OSullivan inferred, had arrived strapped to her back. She would ensure that the old culture would be swept away, to be replaced with one of openness in which our critical friends as she termed internal complainants, would receive a sympathetic hearing. She certainly talked the talk. She also made some structural changes, including the recent appointment of an officer to manage those who make protected disclosures. Between the procedures brought in by the force and the changes to legislation under the Protected Disclosures Act, the new regime has plenty of law when it comes to whistleblowers. Law is one thing, order another. In particular, there is little evidence that those making disclosures can feel that they will be protected. A new inquiry will not change that. Two statements made in the last few days sum up the glaring problems that still persist. On Tuesday, commissioner OSullivan said she was all ears when it came to whistleblowers. I have on numerous occasions expressed my support for any employees who have issues and concerns, she said. As commissioner I have actively asked employees to bring forward issues and concerns. We learn by listening. Contrast that with the words today of Independent TD Clare Daly, to whom a series of whistleblowers have approached seeking protection. I know for a fact that people who have come forward on the watch of Commissioner OSullivan and made protected disclosures have had no contact from her at all in relation to their claims and that people in their stations who bullied and intimidated them have been included on the promotions list while they (the whistleblowers) are out sick from work isolated, harassed, on very low pay. The reality for those people is the complete and utter polar opposite of what the commissioner has said, Daly told RTEs Morning Ireland. In the case of Maurice McCabe, Dalys contention stands tall. Last May, it was revealed in this newspaper that there appeared to have been an attempt to portray Sergeant McCabe as a man with an agenda to do wrong to the force. Maurice McCabe The attempt was killed off only because Sergeant McCabe had a recording of a contentious meeting. Without that, he would have been buried. Commissioner OSullivan, who had instructed her counsel to challenge Sergeant McCabes motivation, referred the matter to GSOC. Yet, despite what had emerged she has not once contacted Maurice McCabe to apologise for what may have been a misunderstanding, or to enquire how he was holding up, or even to check out his welfare. Judge OHiggins reported that Sergeant McCabe had done the State a service, yet his own commissioner has not even bothered to contact him over the further wrong that could have been perpetrated on him while he was engaged in doing that service. The reality is nothing has changed. And until this matter is dealt with, little will change. The glaring shortcomings highlighted by successive Inspectorate reports, the misclassification of crimes as reported by the CSO, the failure to promptly co-operate with GSOC - none of these issues will be properly addressed while the culture of circling wagons and picking off those who break ranks persists. It may well be time to finally address what this government and its immediate predecessor regarded as the nuclear option. Personnel from beyond the circled wagons are required to effect change at all levels. Asia Malaysia Military Helicopter Crashes into School, Injures 23 A member of the Malaysia military wipes his face during rehearsals for Independence Day, or Merdeka Day, in Kuala Lumpur in 2015. / Olivia Harris / Reuters KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia A Malaysian military helicopter crashed into a school Tuesday in a rural area on Borneo island, injuring at least 23 people including students, authorities said. The helicopter made the emergency crash landing at a high school in Tawau in Sabah state about two hours into the routine training flight, the air force said. It said all 14 people on board the plane survived, and that it will investigate the cause of the crash. District police chief Fadil Marcus said the helicopter hit the roof of a school building before it crashed down onto part of the school canteen. He said the pilot was in critical condition and that all the military personnel have been hospitalized. Another eight students and a school worker also suffered light injuries and have been treated, he added. Burma Govt Scraps Emergency Provisions Act Lawmakers attend the first day of the Parliaments Lower House on Feb. 1, 2016. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Burmas government scrapped the controversial Emergency Provisions Act, frequently used to jail political dissidents in successive military administrations on Tuesday, according to state media. The Law Revoking the Emergency Provisions Act was signed by President U Htin Kyaw after it was approved by the Union Parliament. The Emergency Provisions Act was originally enacted in 1950. Successive military administrations ruling Burma have used the unpopular and controversial law to suppress dissidents. The law imposes death penalties and life prison sentences for treason or sabotage against military organizations, as well as up to seven years in prison for a range of other offenses against the state. In 2015, during U Thein Seins administration, the National League for Democracythe then-leading opposition partyproposed scrapping the legislation in the Lower House. However, the move failed as the chamber was under the wider influence of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party majority at the time. We welcome the revoking of the law. Article 5(j) of the Act was widely used to arrest dissidents []. The law is no longer needed, U Aung Myo Kyaw from Assistance Association for Political Prisoners told The Irrawaddy. Burma KNU Invites DKBA Splinter Group to Reunite Under its Leadership KNLA soldiers on parade to commemorate Karen Resistance Day on January 31 this year. / Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy RANGOON The largest ethnic Karen armed group, the Karen National Union (KNU), has welcomed a fringe Karen armed group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, to reunite under the KNUs leadership. This is part of a broader effort by the KNU to unify the heavily fractured Karen armed resistance movementafter decades of factionalism, splintering and divide-and-rule tactics by the Burma Armyin order to negotiate for peace under a united front. The call from the KNU comes after the fringe Karen armed groupalso named after their late commander, Na Ma Kyarfaced sustained assaults last month from the Burma Army and its allied Border Guard Force in the Myaing Gyi Ngu and Mae Tha Waw areas of Hlaingbwe Township in Karen State. The fighting has forced more than 4,000 villagers to flee. They remain displaced. The KNUs statement, released on Tuesday, said it was vitally necessary for all breakaway Karen armed groups to reunite under the KNUs political leadership. Saw Thaw Thee Bwe, a joint secretary of the KNU, told The Irrawaddy that the fringe Karen armed group would need to dissolve their organization and enter under the command structures of the KNUs military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), because their current policy is against that of the KNU. But it very much depends on whether they want to reunite, Saw Thaw Thee Bwe said. He added that the KNUs gesture was aligned with the goals of the United Committee for Karen Armed Groups. The committee was formed in 2013 with the aim of establishing unity after more than twenty years of fighting between different Karen armed groups. The KNLAs commander-in-chief, Gen Saw Johnny, is the current chairman. The fringe Karen armed group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, is estimated to command a little over 100 soldiers. It was formed at the end of 2015, from a faction that broke away from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army after it signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement last year [also signed by the KNU]. The remaining Benevolent Army is now estimated to field around 2,000 soldiers. The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army was formed out of a Buddhist-majority faction that broke away from the Christian-dominated KNU in 1994, and allied itself with the Burma Army in subsequent attacks against the KNU. It formerly used Buddhist in its title, before replacing the word with Benevolent in 2012, after many of its members joined the Border Guard Force set up by the Burma Army in 2010. The new breakaway group chose to adopt the older the name for itself. Other Karen armed groups include the KNLA-Peace Council, the Karen Peace Force and the Padoh Aung San-led Payar Gon Karen Peace Group. Burma Police and Social Welfare Ministry to Collaborate in Anti-Trafficking Initiative Rangoons Security and Border Affairs Minister Col Tin Aung Tun (in uniform, second from right) attends a parliamentary session in September in Rangoon. / Phyo Min Thein / Facebook RANGOON In Mondays Rangoon Division parliamentary session, it was announced that the police and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Rehabilitation would collaborate to accelerate child rights awareness in all regional townships to prevent human trafficking. Rangoons Security and Border Affairs Minister Col Tin Aung Tun said pamphlets will be distributed and short films on the issue will be broadcast on state-run television channels. Additionally, he added, a specialized police unit has been formed to cope with trafficking. He urged parliamentarians not to hesitate in summoning the unit if they are interested in holding awareness projects in their constituencies. National League for Democracy lawmakers Daw Kyi Pyar and U Zaw Min Aung raised questions about whether the Rangoon government had ideas for other projects to decrease human rights violations throughout the commercial capital. Col Tin Aung Tun remarked that the practice of child labor was a familiar matter in Rangoon, and that investigating such incidents is difficult, because such problems happen within households, out of public view. The problem appears when it reaches a violent situation, said Col Tin Aung Tun. Regional lawmakers also pointed out how some abuse cases have been held up in court, even though charges may have been filed several years ago. Col. Tin Aung Tun explained that some cases are delayed as witnesses are sought out. He also admitted that delays can be attributed to the financial difficulties faced by victims and their families, who often cannot afford to attend court hearings. The renewed focus on fighting human trafficking comes after local media exposed the case of two underage domestic workers who were forced to work in downtown Rangoon for five years with little or no pay; their hometown was a village only hours away, also in Rangoon Division. Further controversy arose when it was revealed that the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) encouraged relatives of the girls to accept cash compensation of US$4,000divided between two familiesover the pursuit of legal action. Last week the Unions Lower House approved an urgent proposal put forward by legislator U Htay Win Aung to dismiss members of the MNHRC for their failure to push for justice through adherence to legal statutes. The Irrawaddy reached out to the MNHRC on Monday for comment on the anti-human trafficking initiative, but was told that no members were available for comment. Col. Tin Aung Tun said that the Rangoon government is now charging the head of the family inculcated in the abuse of the domestic workers under eight legal statutes. Five other family members are being charged under seven statutes. He also said that police have launched another investigation into those police officials who failed to take timely action against the accused once the allegations of trafficking and enslavement came forward. In 2015, the Rangoon government uncovered 17 cases of human trafficking. As of October 2016, 16 documented cases have occurred. Ages of the 33 victims are unknown, but they include 28 females and five males. Burma Rangoon Lawmaker Proposes Crackdown on Illegal Businesses Run by Foreigners U Win Maung, divisional lawmaker for Hlaing Tharyar Township, takes questions from journalists after the Rangoon parliament session on Tuesday. / Moe Myint / The Irrawaddy RANGOON A National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker in the Rangoon Division parliament, U Win Maung, submitted a proposal on Tuesday for government action against over 100 illegal businesses run by foreigners in his constituency in Hlaing Tharyar Township. The lawmaker stated that some of these businesses have been operating over decades, with complicit locals transferring assets to foreigners, who are in breach of visa, foreign investment, and municipal laws. Hlaing Tharyar is a sprawling industrial area on the outskirts of the city of Rangoon, which has attracted tens of thousands of migrants from rural areas of Burma, many of whom are unregistered and occupy slum settlements, and work in factories sometimes run by foreign nationals. The 2012 Foreign Investment Lawwhich is to be merged with the 2013 Myanmar Citizens Investment Law and modified under a new Myanmar Investment Law, to be enacted by the end of the yearprohibits or restricts foreign business from operating in sectors that could deny locals jobs and opportunities. U Win Maung said the illegal businesses evade tax, costing the government large amounts of income, and sell contraband smuggled over Burmas borders, such as mobile phones and accessories, on a large scale. He also claimed the foreigners invest in KTV karaoke bars, casinos, restaurants and massage parlours, where illicit activities including prostitution are known to take place. He said the unlawful foreign businessmen take advantage of legal and administrative loopholes, as well as corrupt government officials, to pursue their interests in Burma, which do not benefit locals. After the Tuesday parliament session, U Win Maung told The Irrawaddy that most of the illegal businesses are owned by Chinese nationals, with some by Koreans and Indians. U Win Maung presented a slideshow to the divisional parliament, in which he profiled a foreigner running an illegal real estate business leasing apartments to locals. He concluded that when the Burmese government began to pursue more free-market policies, trash passed through the window together with fresh air. He called on the government to demolish these businesses, in order to help locals. U Myint Thaung, Minister of Planning and Finance for Rangoon Division, said they would take action against any law-breaking foreigners in a step-by-step manner, first warning them, then imposing any tax due, before closing down their operations and adding their names to a blacklist. Another divisional lawmaker representing Ahlone Township, Daw Yin Yin Myint, seconded U Win Maungs proposal and the NLD-dominated Rangoon parliament voted to continue the debate on Thursday. Wednesday, October 5th, 2016 (1:33 pm) - Score 6,541 Independent energy supplier First Utility has quietly revealed that they plan to mirror rival SSE by launching their own fixed line home broadband and phone service this month, which should help to boost customer retention. First Utility is a fairly young energy supplier, albeit one that has grown rapidly from 250,000 UK households in 2013 to nearly 1 million today. Most recently the operator has also expanded into Germany and they were even considering an Initial Public Offering (float on the stock market), but this idea has now been shelved due to the uncertainty around Brexit. Never the less it appears as if the operator now plans to join the already crowded market for consumer broadband services. The new products will be built around a wholesale agreement with TalkTalk, which means that we can probably expect the usual mix of unlimited up to 17Mbps (ADSL2+) and up to 38-76Mbps (Fibre / FTTC) based broadband bundles. However its very important not to confuse the service provided via TalkTalks Wholesale network with that of TalkTalks own retail offers to consumers. The two can be very different, depending upon how First Utility chooses to balance their service. Darren Braham, CFO of First Utility, said (Reuters): We will launch broadband later this month in partnership with Talk Talk. Its a wholesale agreement where were using their network to provide broadband services to our customers. In keeping with the objective to diversify its business operations, First Utility has also reshuffled their board with the appointment of a new Chairman. Current Chair Dr John Roberts is stepping down after 3 years to hand over to Thomas Chambers, Independent Non-Executive Director at First Utility and Chair of its Audit Committee. Pieter Knook and Eva Eisenschimmel, both Independent Non-Executive Directors, will also step down. At this point First Utility isnt big enough to threaten the big broadband players, but then their approach is more likely to be focused upon retaining existing customers rather than attracting new ones. As a result wed expect a batch of packages that are exclusive to their existing energy subscribers, possibly positioned at a very attractive price point. However wed caution against locking yourselves into complicated bundles because it may make it harder to switch suppliers later on, which is normally a fairly easy way to save money in the energy market (unlike broadband, where switching is more of a risk and could also result in a worse quality of service or other problems). UPDATE: We should add that First Utility has been quietly running an ADSL based broadband service for the best part of a year (here), but this hasnt been widely promoted and the new products should mark something much more official. Wednesday, October 5th, 2016 (2:04 pm) - Score 1,385 Ouch. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has today battered budget ISP TalkTalk with a record fine of 400,000 because of security failings that occurred during last Octobers devastating personal data breach and cyber-attack. The attack was the result of a combined Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) assault and an SQL Injection exploit against their website (here), which ultimately resulted in masses of personal customer and financial data being stolen. According to the ICO, the data was taken from an underlying customer database that was part of TalkTalks acquisition of Tiscali UK in 2009. The data was accessed through an attack on three vulnerable webpages within the inherited infrastructure. The ICO further states that TalkTalk failed to properly scan this infrastructure for possible threats and so was unaware the vulnerable pages existed or that they enabled access to a database that held customer information. This database was also using outdated and unsupported software, which was affected by a known SQL bug that TalkTalk failed to fix. Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner, said: TalkTalks failure to implement the most basic cyber security measures allowed hackers to penetrate TalkTalks systems with ease. Yes hacking is wrong, but that is not an excuse for companies to abdicate their security obligations. TalkTalk should and could have done more to safeguard its customer information. It did not and we have taken action. In the end the hacker was able to access the personal data of 156,959 customers, including their names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and email addresses. In another 15,656 cases, the attacker also had access to sensitive bank account details and sort codes. At the time TalkTalks CEO, Dido Harding, was both prompt in reporting the incident and engaging with the public. However the ICO does not appear to have been in a very forgiving mood (much like the ISPs own customers) and has today hit them with a large 400,000 fine. However its hard to feel sorry for TalkTalk, especially since they had two early warnings that they were unaware of. The first was a successful SQL injection attack on 17th July 2015 that exploited the same vulnerability in the webpages and then a second attack was launched between 2nd and 3rd September 2015. Doh! Elizabeth Denham added: In spite of its expertise and resources, when it came to the basic principles of cyber-security, TalkTalk was found wanting. Todays record fine acts as a warning to others that cyber security is not an IT issue, it is a boardroom issue. Companies must be diligent and vigilant. They must do this not only because they have a duty under law, but because they have a duty to their customers. Mind you the fine pales in comparison to the tens of millions of pounds that TalkTalk has lost or expects to lose as a result of the incident, not least due to the cost of updating their systems and all of the subscribers whom understandably chose to abandon ship. Since then a number of people, including several children, have been arrested as part of the related police investigation. At the end of last month a Westminster Court heard how Daniel Kelley (19), 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 (here). Daniel Kelley is also accused of carrying out similar attacks and making related blackmail demands against several other companies from around the world. After years of speculation, actor-director Ben Affleck confirmed he's working on a solo Batman movie which will be tentatively titled "The Batman." After the numerous "Batman" movie versions that the world has already seen, Affleck again is putting the Dark Knight back in theaters where he will be the lead actor and director. As movie leaks and spoilers are becoming a trend, the latest detail revealed about this upcoming DC film is its title that Affleck just came up with, "The Batman," but he also said that he might consider changing it. "The movie, I think, is going to be called The Batman," said Affleck. "At least that's what we're going with now. I might change it," he added. Furthermore, the actor-director updated DC fans about the film's status, saying, "We're working on the script. The script is going well. I'm really excited about it." Affleck started to give life to Batman, otherwise known as Bruce Wayne, in the Zack Snyder movie "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," which rolled in theaters in March. However, a new Batman movie was already in talks back in 2014, even before Warner Bros. let Affleck take over the Dark Knight role. A rumor also came out about the final installment in the "Dark Knight" trilogy that it could have been called "The Batman," but the production apparently pushed through with the title "The Dark Knight Rises." Not much has been revealed about the storyline of "The Batman," but Affleck recently teased details about the movie's villain Deathstroke, which will be played by actor Joe Manganiello. Affleck tweeted a footage of Deathstroke in August and explained why he chose the character to antagonize him in his upcoming movie. "He's a great villain because I just had an instinctive feeling that he would match up with him well. You know, I'm a big admirer of that character as well, especially in the New 52 the way that they did Deathstroke, and I thought that it could work," Affleck explained. Deathstroke is also set to make a big screen appearance in the upcoming "Justice League" movie, which is slated to open in theaters on Nov. 17, 2017. Affleck and Geoff Johns are currently working on the movie's script, but the release date of "The Batman" is still yet undisclosed. The production and the fans though are expecting it to come out sometime around 2018 or 2019. Xiaomi is known for affordable smartphones, but it is expanding its market by offering new products. Now, Xiaomi has officially entered the U.S. market with its latest Xiaomi Mi Box. The "Apple of China" seems to be serious about conquering the U.S. market. Xiaomi's Mi Box was originally launched on Google I/O last May. After five months of the announcement, the device is ready to wow the U.S. consumers. Features Of Xiaomi Mi Box Xiaomi Mi Box is a streaming device that offers 4K video and 60 frames per second (FPS) with Dolby Digital Plus audio playback and high dynamic range (HDR) content. Xiaomi's Global Vice President Hugo Barra stated that its company's latest product is the best in terms of streaming quality. According to Mashable, Xiaomi Mi Box is almost as big as a normal wallet, only thicker, heavier and comes in matte black. The back of the device houses HDMI, USB, audio and power ports. Technically, it looks to be offering the same functionalities as Apple's and Google's streaming devices. Xiaomi Mi Box has a memory of 8 GB but can be upgraded with the USB port. Xiaomi formed partnership with Google by including in its system Cast and Voice Search, according to Droid Life. Xiaomi Mi Box can compete with Roku's streaming box. Xiaomi Mi Box' Edge Xiaomi teased its future consumers about the freebies that will come with Mi Box. The price of the device is $69 but those who will be buying it will get $50 of Sling TV credits, a three-month of Pandora trial and $5 Vudu credit. Compared to its competitors such as Roku's slate of top boxes, Amazon's $80 Fire TV and Apple TV, Xiaomi Mi Box which has 4K video will be a head turner in a report on Tech Crunch. The Google event on Oct. 4 showcased a lot of devices from the tech company. The new Google WiFi router is set to replace the previous OnHub. The device was unveiled together with the new Pixel smartphones, Google Home, Google Assistant, Chromecast Ultra and Daydream View VR headset. Google has dubbed it as the new approach to home WiFi. Google WiFi Router The new Google WiFi has a wider range of wireless connection compared to the previous router. It is most suitable for old and bigger houses. Apparently, it is also able to defy thick stucco walls. Google described it in their blog as a device that offers stronger and faster signal. This is regardless of the room the user is in and the device being used. It is basically an improved OnHub router. Google explains that the Google WiFi uses "mesh WiFi" technology. It doesn't work as the usual single router. If it does, the Google WiFi would only offer slow wireless internet connection. However, the device will work within a mesh network. Each access points has a high-powered connection. They will all work together to ensure a strong network signal. It will reach anywhere in your house. It is not limited by distance. According to the Business Insider, the Google WiFi router can function in a home with up to 1,500 square feet. As such, the three-unit WiFi router can operate up to 4,500 square feet. The Network Assist Technology The Google WiFi is integrated with Network Assist technology. It adjusts and manages the router setting for the user. The Network Assist is automated to find the strongest and clearest channel and WiFi band for the user's device. Google also states that it prevents dead spots or delays in the connection. This is caused by the ability of the Network Assist to transition devices between access points. Controlled Over A Smartphone App Google provides a companion app for the Google WiFi. It is both available on Android and iOS. It displays all the devices connected to the network and the amount of bandwidths being used. The app also lets the user pause internet access by certain devices. Google revealed that it settings for cloud management. It also lets the user not worry about their privacy. The device allows a more secure and safe network connection. The Google WiFi costs $129 but a three-unit will have a higher price at $299. It is available for pre-order in the US in November. Customers can also visit Google's website. Medical devices manufacturer Johnson & Johnson has warned diabetic patients when using their insulin pump. The company admitted that their Animas OneTouch Ping insulin pump faces a security issue. Apparently, it is vulnerable to attacks from hackers. This is after a security firm revealed the said flaw. The Hackable Animas OneTouch Ping Insulin Pump It was the computer security firm Rapid 7 that discovered the problem. Reuters had reported about this first, according to USA Today. Rapid 7 immediately informed Johnson & Johnson. Hackers can actually hack through the pump's unencrypted radio frequency communication system. They will be able to manipulate the amount of insulin dose. This is because the system aids in sending commands and information via a wireless remote control. Rapid 7's Senior Security Researcher Jay Radcliffe has described how to hack the system. First, the hacker would have to determine that a person has the said insulin pump. To achieve this, a radio frequency monitor has to be used. Then, the hacker can record a command on how much insulin dosage is delivered. If the insulin dose is too high or low dose, it can be fatal. However, Johnson & Johnson ensures patients that there's a low risk of danger. They also assured that there are still no instances of hacked insulin pumps. The company's Chief Information Security Officer Marene Allison said that the hacker has to be within 35 feet of the insulin pump. It will also require ingenious knowledge to succeed the hack. The hacker must also have radio antennas. Diabetic patients are told not to worry unless a person exerts such efforts to harm another human being. The Future Of Johnson & Johnson's Insulin Pumps The USA Today reports that this is the first time a company has taken such action. Radcliffe also praised how Johnson & Johnson has handled the issue. In their defense, he said that the pumps were designed when threats to cybersecurity had not been thought of yet. Allison disclosed that the company has been working on guidelines regarding medical device cybersecurity. They have been doing that for the past 18 months with the Food and Drug Administration. The company will incorporate security measures in their future insulin delivery pumps. Google now has a new smartphone, the Google Pixel, after years of having the Google Nexus line of smartphones. With the new Google Pixel out, people are bound to compare it with other smartphones, such as Apple's iPhone 7. One of the competitions of the Google Pixel is naturally the Apple iPhone 7. This is reflected in the pricing of the Google Pixel, which as CNet observes, rivals that of the iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S7. Google Pixel vs iPhone 7 Features For many people, the most interesting aspect of the Google Pixel would be its hardware and how it compares with other smartphones such as the iPhone 7. One of the notable features that the Google Pixel has is its 4 GB of RAM. The iPhone 7 only has 2 GB of RAM. Another notable feature of the Google Pixel is that it uses the latest processor in the Snapdragon 821. Meanwhile, the iPhone 7 uses its own processor, namely the A10. s for the screen, Google went all out with an AMOLED display which has been featured in Samsung's smartphones for years, as USA Today notes. With an AMOLED display, the Google Pixel's screen looks more vibrant and alive. The iPhone 7 only has an IPS LED panel. As many Nexus fans know, Google smartphones run on Android. This will continue on with the Google Pixel, as it runs Android Nougat without all the extra software that manufacturers would put on. The Google Pixel also has a camera that gives the iPhone 7 a run for its money. Its rear camera is 12.3 MP, which is close to the iPhone 7's 12 MP camera. However, the camera of the Google Pixel can take shots in low-light conditions, which is worth noting. As for storage, the Google Pixel has 32 GB of internal storage. For those who want more, the Google Pixel also has a 128 GB variant. Whereas, the iPhone 7 has several variants: 32 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB storage options. Similar to the Google Nexus and Apple's iPhone 7, the Google Pixel does not have a microSD slot. Although, Google does offer unlimited cloud storage unlike Apple. Google Pixel vs iPhone 7 Price The Google Pixel is not far off from the iPhone 7 when it comes to its price. The 32 GB Google Pixel is priced at $649, which is the same price that the 32 GB iPhone 7. Meanwhile, the 128 GB Google Pixel costs $749. In comparison, the 256 GB iPhone 7 costs $849. Overall, the Google Pixel is more than a match for the iPhone 7. In the end, however, it all boils down to user- experience. Only time can tell if the Google Pixel would be as successful as the Google Nexus line. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) meets Ousmane Dione, new WB Country Director in Vietnam, on October 4th (Photo: VNA) He said the WB is important to Vietnam and bilateral relations are being reinforced, which is attributable to the role of the WB Country Director who acts as a bridge linking his country and the WB. Victoria Kwakwa, the predecessor of Ousmane Dione, fulfilled this role, the PM said, expressing his hope that Dione will promote current attainments and strengthen ties between the two sides. He also appreciated the WBs assistance to Vietnam, especially in the making of the Vietnam Report 2035. He asked the WB to continue supporting his country in socio-economic development, particularly in poverty reduction, health care, and climate change response. For his part, Ousmane Dione expressed his honour to work in Vietnam and congratulated the country on its impressive development progress. He added Vietnam is also an example for many other developing countries to follow. He shared the host leaders view that the close bilateral relationship covers not only finance but also the sharing of experience in making development policies. He vowed to continue his predecessors efforts to bolster bilateral ties, noting that the WB will also do its utmost to reap more accomplishments in cooperation with Vietnam./. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 controversy is finally over. The company is back on track as it puts the Note 7 back on the market. The recall might have caused some stain on Samsung's name but apparently, the company is ready to move forward. If you're hesitant in buying the revamped device, here are the top 5 reasons why getting the Galaxy Note 7 is still a good idea: 1. It might still be the best phablet right now. Without the battery-related explosion cases, the Note 7 is probably the best phablet ever. It's got all the amazing features that any phablet user might ever need. First of all, it is water resistant. Also, it's got Samsung Pay and the fully integrated S-Pen Stylus. Internally, it is also one of the best phones on the market. 64 GB storage, 4 GB RAM and 3500mAh battery are all pretty hard to beat. 2. It's Samsung's best camera phone. Samsung has been well commended by users for the company's impeccable smartphone cameras. The Galaxy Note 7 is not exempted. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus might have their own perks in the camera department, but Samsung's Note 7 is in no way inferior to Apple's best. The Note 7's OIS and 1/1.7 aperture allow the phone to capture high-quality photos. Its camera controls are also something you don't see in other phones. In fact, the Note 7 even allows users to shoot in RAW, Android Central reported. 3. It might be the safest phone to date. This might sound a bit ironic, but the Note 7 might be the safest phone on the market right now. After the recall controversy, the company might have already made sure that the re-entering Note 7 are no longer exploding. Samsung has learned their lesson in quality assurance the hard way. IBTimes says that the device is now back on the market. So right now, it's safe to say that the new Note 7 units are safer than ever. 4. It's at par with all the latest flagship devices. Without the explosion issues, the Note 7 can easily beat all of 2016's flagship phones. Sure, each phone has its own perks, but the Note 7 isn't in any way inferior to others. The iPhone 7, LG V20 and Google Pixel phones are just three of this year's best smartphones, and they are all arguably comparable to Samsung's Note 7. 5. The Note 7 has all the bonus goodies combined in one phone. Unlike most flagship phones, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has a lot of perks in it. It has NFC, a microSD slot and wireless charging capabilities. Additionally, it also has Samsung's iris scanning technology. All in all, the Galaxy Note 7 has all the best smartphone features. Microsoft is reportedly readying up for an October hardware launch. It was said that the company is planning to announce something totally new at the said event. While most people are hoping to see the long-rumored Surface Phone or next-gen Surface devices, it looks like Microsoft is heading towards a different direction. Here's what is known about the event so far: Microsoft To Unveil The All-In-One Surface PC Microsoft might be prepping up to release a new Surface device called All-In-One Surface PC. In fact, new renders have been posted by Windows Central showing an all-new Surface-branded keyboard. Furthermore, it was also said that a Surface Mouse will soon be introduced as well. The timing of this leak further supports the rumors about Microsoft's alleged October event. Surface Pro 4 And Surface Book To Get A Refresh For people hoping to see a Surface Pro 5 and a Surface Book 2 at the anticipated event, you might end up disappointed. As of now, there are still no valid clues leading to a possible launch of new generation Surface devices. Nevertheless, Microsoft could refresh last year's Surface products instead. The company might give the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book updated processors and minor improvements, Neowin reported. New Generation Surface Devices To Arrive 2017 Even though rumors are still circulating about the next generation of Surface devices, it doesn't mean that they will be released this year. The Surface Phone, the Surface Pro 5 and the Surface Book 2 are all expected to be released Spring of 2017. It has already been established multiple times that the next Surface devices are highly likely to be running the 2017 Windows 10 update. They will also be powered by Intel's yet to be released processor. This means that a 2016 launch could be quite impossible. Nevertheless, fans can just hope that Microsoft could at least give everyone an idea of when their next events would be. Also, it would be great to know if the company is indeed cutting the Microsoft Lumia line or not. There have been quite a lot of rumors about Microsoft's plans and it would be great to have them all clarified at the anticipated October event. According to reports, Yahoo has helped an American intelligence agency to spy on its customers' emails. Yahoo Spying On Emails On Tuesday, Oct. 3, a Reuters report claimed that, on behalf of either the FBI or the National Security Agency, Yahoo agreed to secretly search all its users' incoming emails. The hidden search was done for a specific but unknown word or phrase. The report is based on insider information coming from unnamed ex-Yahoo employees. After Yahoo's disclosure last month about a data breach that has led to the theft of 500 million customer accounts, this new disclosure set off shockwaves in the tech sector. According to USA Today, Yahoo did not comment the report but stated that it did not break any law. The Washington Post reports that Yahoo began to secretly scan all the incoming emails of its hundreds of millions of users in April of last year. The measure has been implemented as means for the company to comply with an order from the U.S. intelligence community. According to an ex-Yahoo employee familiar with the matter, the move prompted at least two company officials to leave the company. Then-chief information security officer Alex Stamos has decided to resign last year because of the company's decision not to fight the order from intelligence officials. Due to ethical concerns about the surveillance program, at least one other security staffer left Yahoo. Reactions To Yahoo's Emails Spying Scandal Privacy advocates are concerned due to the government's demand to scan email in real time. The order is "unprecedented and unconstitutional," according to Patrick Toomey, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. Toomey added that the fact that Yahoo did not challenge this surveillance order is disappointing, because customers of the technology companies are counting on them to stand up to spying demands in court. Regarding the competitor email service Gmail, Google said in a statement that the company never received such a request but it would oppose it in case that it did. The other major email provider, Microsoft, said that it never scanned secretly its email traffic. Fans of the hit series "Criminal Minds" Season 12 went abuzz about the untimely departure of actor Thomas Gibson on the show. Rumors surfaced online that the reason behind his exit is a heated argument with the show's producer. According to reports, Thomas Gibson, who played as Aaron Hotchner, apparently made "physical contact" with the show's writer/ producer Virgil Williams. As revealed by Williams during the making of "Criminal Minds" Season 12, Gibson "confronted him" after a misunderstanding with the series' script. These allegations have cost Gibson his role in the show and his reputation became more of a "bad guy." This led the actor to break his silence and explain his side of the story. According reports, Gibson explained that he did go to Williams to discuss some contradicting lines in the script. However, Williams insisted that the lines were important and should stay as it is. Although frustrated, the actor stressed that there was no "major physical altercation." Following the said discussion, Gibson claims to step away and vent out. Apparently, Williams followed him. As reported, Williams was walking past Gibson when the actor's foot came up. The actor's foot "tapped" the producer on the leg. Gibson claims that if he did not move, the producer would have run into him. After the incident, Gibson was said to apologize on the set the next day. Gibson was still able to shoot for "Criminal Minds" Season 2 Episode 2 when he was reprimanded with a two-week suspension. He was then later informed of being dismissed from the series. With Gibson off the show, a new character is expected to join the team. "The Divide" actor Damon Gupton will be playing Special Agent Stephen Walker. According to a statement released by showrunner Erica Messer, Gupton has been confirmed to join the "Criminal Minds" BAU family. "We're excited to have Damon join the show and work alongside our amazing cast and crew," Walker stated. Catch "Criminal Minds" Season 12 Episode 2 titled "Sick Day" on Wednesday at 9pm. Hollywood comedian actor Ben Stiller credits undergoing the prostate-specific antigen test for being cancer-free since September 2014. The actor found through the PSA test in June 2014 that he had prostate cancer, so he had the tumor removed through surgery three months after the diagnosis. Although the American Cancer Society recommends men to undergo the PSA test at 50 years old when they are at average risk of the ailment, Stiller had the test and surgery when he was in his 40s, CNN reported. Because the early diagnosis saved his life, Stiller has become a campaigner for early detection when he wrote an essay on the subject which he posted online, and when he guested on Tuesday on the Siriux XM radio show of Howard Stern. Measuring The Volume Of Antigen Substances He was 46 when doctors offered him the baseline PSA test, Stiller wrote. The test measures the volume of prostate-specific antigen substances the male gland produces. A high level is an indicator of cancer. I have no history of prostate cancer in my family and I am not in the high-risk group, being neither -- to the best of my knowledge -- of African or Scandinavian ancestry. I had no symptoms, Stiller wrote. He thanked the internist who recommended him to undergo the PSA before he reached 50. The PSA tests were spread over 18 months, done every six months, which allowed the internist to monitor the actors PSA level. After the doctor noticed the rise in the PSA level, he had Stiller examined by a urologist who ordered an MRI screening of the male gland which eventually confirmed it was prostate cancer. Terrifying Cancer Diagnosis The comedian shared that the diagnosis terrified him. It just stopped everything in your life because you can't plan for a movie because you don't know what's gonna happen, the Zoolander actor, now 50, told Cosmopolitan. Because of the prostates slow growth, most men do not have early symptoms of prostate cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men, according to the American Cancer Society. Now with more appreciation for life following his brush with death, the "Meet the Parents" actor still goes through a PSA test semi-annually to ensure he remains clear of cancer. In the world of viruses, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is one of humanity's greatest fears. When infected with the virus, the body's immune system will deteriorate until it will be defenseless against all microorganisms - allowing opportunistic infection and cancer to speedily develop. Luckily, a promising turn of events has taken place in the UK. The Times reported that a 44-year-old British man is now successfully free of the virus. This is due to a new ground-breaking treatment - developed by an ambitious team of scientists and doctors from five of the best universities in Britain. What Makes This Treatment Promising Unlike the traditional way of battling HIV-infected individuals where only an antiviral drug is doing all the action, this treatment has three elements. Scientists combined standard antiretroviral drugs with another drug capable of reactivating dormant HIV and a powerful vaccine that will trigger the immune system to wipe out the infected cells. The treatment is so promising that Mark Samuels, the managing director of the National Institute for Health Research Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure said, "We are exploring the real possibility of curing HIV." "This is one of the first serious attempts at a full cure for HIV." Is HIV Now Officially Curable? With hopes up high, this could be the first cure but it is still too early to confirm. To assure that this therapy brings permanent results, the patient should be again tested after several months. Confirming that there is now an official cure is extremely difficult - even with the outstanding progress. This is due to some almost-successful treatments in the past. One of which was a Mississippi girl who received strong doses of antiretroviral drugs just within 30 hours after she was born in 2010 and continued receiving the drug for 18 months. After 5 months from her last dose, it was reported that the child was virus-free, allowing people to hope that early intervention is the cure for HIV. But, after two years the virus re-emerged as reported by The Guardian. There is only one person in record that has been officially cured of the virus, Timothy Brown. He was suffering from both HIV and myeloid leukemia and is in need of a bone marrow transplant. The doctors intentionally chose a donor who was immune to HIV. The result of the transplant cured both the HIV infection and his leukemia. Pre-algebra in seventh grade can be a tough subject for most 13-year-olds. But teenage girl Anushka Naiknaware raised the bar higher by inventing a bandage that tells doctors when it needs to be changed. Judges from Google are impressed and Naikanware secured herself a scholarship worth $15,000. Google run an international science contest where Naiknaware was awarded eight place. The scholarship was included with the Lego Education Builder Award granted to Naiknaware. On top of that, she gets a free trip to Denmark to visit the Lego world headquarters. She also got a year of mentoring for entrepreneurship for free from a Lego executive. The light of idea Moisture is important to ensure the healing of large wounds. Bandages are often checked for moisture levels. But instead of helping, this can actually worsen the problem. Naiknaware, a seventh-grader from Stoller Middle School in Portland, did not just support her invention with scientific explanations - she brought in some mathematical equations, too. What Naiknaware did was to design a bandage with tiny monitors embedded in it. The sensors can check moisture levels without actually removing the bandage and help doctors and other medical workers to change the dressing when needed. The hope of scale production Lack of moisture can make large wounds even worse but Naiknaware was successful in making a bandage with graphene nanoparticles used as an ink that acts as sensors printed in a fractal pattern. For a 13-year-old to do this is simply brilliant. But Naiknaware gave her thanks to a YouTuber for introducing her to the "elegance of Math" and "fractals." She also hopes that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would approve her bandages and produce it at scale to benefit patients. Naiknaware was one of the 16 global finalists and was the youngest to win one of the global prizes at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California. Google is going big with their smartphone flagships this year. This month, they announced the coming of their two new flagships, the Pixel phones, that will compete with smartphone giants, Apple and Samsung. Next month, this November, Google is once more planning to release another flagship, the Lenovo Phab2 Pro. But this time, it will be with Google's new Tango 3D camera system. Google innovates a new camera system with Project Tango Project Tango is another one of Google's genius that allows users to scan the world around them. As a 3D camera system with depth-sensing, Tango places virtual objects in a real world. Google has been working on the project to use 3D space in measuring distances. With a Tango-equipped phone, users can create their own virtual reality. But that is not just what the Tango can do. With Google's latest technology, users can play their favorite games in augmented reality. The 3D camera system can also be used to design homes and see where new furniture or appliances would fit best. Project Tango for virtual and augmented reality The new technology is something that users can take advantage with if they are into virtual reality. However, the Phab2 Pro is not compatible with Google's Daydream VR headset. Only Pixel smartphones have the compatibility feature for the Daydream. One possible reason for this is that the Phab2 Pro may not be able to support a smooth VR without the AMOLED screen which is one important requirement for virtual reality. For fans of Google tech, it's basically a choice between a phone that provides a virtual reality experience or one with augmented reality. CNET reported last June that the Lenovo Phab2 Pro, which is set to be the first Tango-ready phone, will go on sale this September. However, Google's head of VR Clay Bavor confirmed that the 6.4-inch phablet will go on official sale this November for $499 in the US. Google's unveiling of the new Pixel phones finally happened on Tuesday during the October 4 event. Now that all features are revealed, we can expect consumers to compare it with other flagship devices, specifically Apple's latest iPhones. In a seven-point list, BGR concluded that the Pixel and Pixel XL devices "outshine the most popular flagship smartphones in the world", referring to Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The article attributed Pixel's superiority to the more advanced AI software called Google Assistant, which is Google's version of Siri. It said that while Google Assistant will become available to iPhone 7, it won't have the deep integration that is seen in an Android device. In terms of photo storage in the cloud, the iPhone 7 can use iCloud Photo, but not without limits. The Pixel devices, on the other hand, offer unlimited and free photo storage via Google Photos. iPhone 7 owners can use Google Photos for backup storage, but would need to pay to be able to store high resolution images - something that won't apply for a Pixel user. Probably the best thing to happen to a mobile device is Virtual Reality. The Pixel will be compatible with Google's Daydream, a VR platform which will be offered through a Daydream VR headset. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus support several VR devices, but Apple itself has not ventured into this emerging tech, which puts the Pixel a few leagues ahead. The Pixel phones will come with Android Nougat, and its latest feature is to update the Android OS in the background. It doesn't require any action from the user, and the update will automatically apply when the device is rebooted. This may be a simple feature, but it does make updates quick and hassle-free. Last, but certainly not the least, is that the Pixel phones come with the 3.5mm headphone jack which Apple has discontinued with the recent iPhone 7 release. Headphone jacks are extremely important, especially for audiophiles with high end headsets and speakers. In a nutshell, Google's Pixel phone offer a lot of new things that are yet to be experienced by the public while leaving some beloved old features. That, in itself, makes the Pixel phones more exciting than its toughest competition. At the signing ceremony (Source: VNA) At the talks, held during Deputy PM Dungs visit to Laos from October 5th-6th, the Vietnamese Deputy PM expressed his belief that the Lao Party, State, government and people will successfully realise the resolution adopted by the 10th National Party Congress and the eighth five-year socio-economic development plan for 2016-2020. The two sides agreed to organize grand celebrations of the 55 th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. They vowed to continue realising high-level agreements and the outcomes of the 38th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, the Vietnam-Laos cooperation agreement for 2016-2020 and the Joint Declaration issued during Lao Party General Secretaryand President Bounnhang Volachiths visit to Vietnam. The two officials reached consensus on making thorough preparations for the upcoming 39 th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, adding that the two countries will continue facilitating high-level visits and exchanges, as well as the sharing of experience in socio-economic development in each country. To further enhance economic link, the two sides will discuss measures to remove difficulties for Vietnamese businesses investment projects in Laos, while reviewing the implementation of cooperation agreements in the fields of energy, mineral resources and industry, in order to make timely adjustments to those agreements. Concluding the talks, host and guest signed an agreement between the two governments on developing power projects in Laos and electricity purchase until 2030. They also witnessed the signing of four agreements between relevant agencies and localities. The same day, Deputy PM Dung paid courtesy calls to Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounhang Volachith and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith to inform them about the outcomes of the talks. The Lao leaders hailed the two countries ministries, agencies, localities and businesses for carrying out agreements. They conveyed thanks to the Vietnamese Party, State, government and people for their valuable support in Laos national liberation in the past, as well as the national development at present./. The upcoming U.S. presidential election can be rigged and sabotaged, and we might never even know it happened. This Election Day voters in 10 states, or parts of them, will use touch-screen voting machines with rewritable flash memory and no paper backup of an individual's vote; some will have rewritable flash memory. If malware is inserted into these machines that's smart enough to rewrite itself, votes can be erased or assigned to another candidate with little possibility of figuring out the actual vote. In precincts where vote tallies raise suspicions, computer scientists will be called in the day after the election to conduct forensics. But even if a hack is suspected, or proven, it would likely be impossible to do anything about it. [ For more, see Hacking the Election: Myths and Realities ] If the voting machine firmware doesn't match what the vendor supplied, "it's like you burned all the ballots," said Daniel Lopresti, a professor and chair of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. "We have no way to confirm that we can really trust the output from the machine," he said. This election in particular has computer scientists and security experts worried. They are concerned that electronic voting machines, voter tabulation and registration systems will be hacked. If an attack causes a polling place backup and some voters to leave and go home, the vote is reduced. This may be as effective as voting-machine tampering in affecting the outcome. It may also undermine confidence in the results. Pennsylvania is attracting the most concern. It is a swing state and many counties use touch-screen systems that do not use a paper ballot or produce a paper record -- for the voter to inspect -- of the voter's intent. Lopresti was an expert witness for the plaintiffs in a Pennsylvania case challenging the use of touch screen voting machines. The lawsuit (Banfield v. Cortes) was filed in 2006 by 24 state residents. It argued that the state's election system does not retain a physical record of votes, and suffered from a "lack of meaningful and appropriate security measures." The plaintiffs wanted a system with paper verification of each vote. But the response by Pennsylvania was to spend nearly 10 years fighting this lawsuit, even as other states reversed course on touch-screen systems. In 2007, Maryland, for instance, decided to replace touch-screen terminals. Budget issues delayed rollout until 2014, but when Maryland voters head to the polls in November they'll be filling out paper ballots that are fed into an optical-scanner system. Pennsylvania argued in court, in part, that the electronic voting records were permanent records. The court agreed. [ MORE ON ELECTION HACKING: See CSO's entire package of stories on how an election could be hacked ] Lopresti can't explain Pennsylvania's decision to stick with touch-screen systems without paper verification. "They tended to believe that some of us were putting forth doomsday stories," he said, and they trusted the technology, he said. Pennsylvania officials may have worried nonetheless. On Feb. 2, 2015, two weeks before the voters lost their final appeal in their case, the state appointed Marian Schneider, one of the attorneys representing the voters in their lawsuit, to the post of secretary for elections and administration with oversight for elections and IT systems. Michael Churchill, an attorney who also represented the plaintiffs, said there has been no change in Pennsylvania, since the court case, in the use of electronic voting machines without paper backup. "However there is much more attention to security issues," he said, in an email. (State election officials didn't respond by press time to questions about security from Computerworld.) But will this extra attention be enough? Following the 2011 municipal primary, officials in Venango County, Pa., had concerns about the vote, including a tie in one race. David Eckhardt, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, is also a Judge of Elections at one polling place, and was asked by the county to examine the iVotronic voting terminals and Unity tabulation software made by Election Systems & Software, Inc. Eckhardt didn't find positive evidence of tampering, but did find "positive evidence of IT practices which were imprudent enough to theoretically provide a wide enough door for a well-equipped, motivated attacker to have tampered with the election." His report included a recommendation for an "explicit written security protocol governing the practices of Election staff." Most county governments are better prepared to safeguard boxes of paper ballots than to safeguard boxes of flash memory," said Eckhardt. In the absence of voter-verified paper records, getting at the truth of a vote will be difficult. Cynthia and Ernest Zirkle ran for the Democratic County Committee of Fairfield Township, N.J, in June 2011. It was a very small election, with fewer than 100 votes. This election used one electronic, touch-screen voting machine with no paper copies of the individual votes. Ms. Zirkle and her husband lost the election. But she knew the results were wrong, because she had a good idea about who had voted for her. Proving it took work. "There was no verifiable paper trail, or back-up paper to see if the names were reversed," said Ms. Zirkle, in an interview. What she suspected was true: The votes that the Zirkles should have received went to their opponents. FRANKLIN, Tennessee (October 4, 2016) - Grace Chapel Worship , the worship team from Grace Chapel in the beautiful small town of Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, situated in the rolling hills south of Nashville, is thrilled to announce the release date for their stunning new full-length worship CD, So Loved, on the Grace House Music label. The highly anticipated new project will make its debut on Friday, October 7, 2016, through iTunes, Amazon Music and Google Play. Fans can pre-order So Loved on iTunes. Grace Chapel Worship called on the inestimable talents of Grammy-nominated, multi-Dove Award winning producer Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli, Sidewalk Prophets, Hawk Nelson, Stellar Kart, Remedy Drive) to helm the new project. "What a joy to capture the passion and excitement in a recording of what I've personally witnessed at Grace Chapel for almost a decade," says Eskelin. A true ensemble project, So Loved includes 12 songs, penned by nine songwriters, and features lead vocals by seven different artists. The CD kicks off with the exuberant, electric guitar driven call to worship, "Meet Us Here," written by music industry veterans Mia Fieldes ("Proof of Your Love," "He Knows My Name"), Rick Cua ("I Can, I Will," "Above All Else") and Jonathan Allen ("All of Me," "Mighty Redeemer"), with Allen handling the lead vocals. Logan Pringle takes over lead vocals on "Crown Him (Forever)," a reimagined and updated version of the beloved hymn, "Crown Him With Many Crowns." Allen resumes lead vocals on the beautiful anthem of adoration, "One True Love," then Pringle tags back in on the praise song, "Name Above." The acoustic piano-driven, "Christ Be All," written by Chris Eaton ("Breath of Heaven") and Allison Allen, features lead vocals from Adie Camp, with background vocals from her husband, multi-Dove Award winner Jeremy Camp. Debi Selby takes over on the peace-evoking "Greater Still," and Janine Jones lends lead vocals on the reverent piano-based prayer, "Face to Face." Jonathan Allen leads worship on "My Victory," and "Love," while veteran CCM recording artist Amy Morriss Lowry contributes lead vocals on "Just The Thought Of You" and "Redeemed." Dove Award winner Alisa Childers (ZOEGirl) lends a sense of soul yearning to the achingly beautiful "The Table," which was co-written by Eskelin and Jonathan Allen. "One thing about this project that I love is that we didn't intentionally sit down to write songs for a live recording," says Grace Chapel worship pastor Jonathan Allen. "During a sermon series, the Lord really just poured these songs out to the worship community. Steve Berger, our pastor, was doing a series entitled 'So Loved,' and that is how the project got its title. Because God loved us first, we just want to tell Him that we love Him, too. Our prayer is that these songs say just that." Contemporary Christian music pioneer and Grace Chapel pastoral care pastor Rick Cua credits Grace Chapel worship pastor Jonathan Allen with creating an atmosphere of worship that was conducive to producing the project. "Jonathan Allen's nurturing leadership has made a way for the worship team to pour it all out for Jesus each time we worship, while at the same time get out of the way so the congregation can stay focused and draw close to the Lord," says Cua. "Every track on Grace Chapel Worship's new worship album, So Loved, is a reflection of what God is doing musically from week to week and song to song at our church. The foundation of it all is our desire to worship God by giving back everything He's given us." In keeping with Grace Chapel's heartbeat for missions and in response to God's call to "look after orphans" (James 1:27), a portion of the proceeds from all Grace Chapel Worship sales will go towards Josiah's House, a boy's home started by Grace Chapel in the Dominican Republic. About Grace Chapel Worship: Grace Chapel Worship is a community of gifted artists who love to worship God and love serving the church. They serve as the worship team from Grace Chapel in the beautiful small town of Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, situated in the rolling hills south of Nashville. Grace Chapel Worship values authenticity and passionate biblical response to God. It is their heart's cry to look at the God who loved us first and say "I love You too." Grace Chapel Worship's new full-length worship CD, So Loved, reflects worship as the natural response to the overwhelming love poured out by God on His children, and features a collection of original songs penned by members of the worship community at Grace Chapel. For more information about Grace Chapel, Grace Chapel Worship and Grace House Music, visit Grace Chapel Worship is a community of gifted artists who love to worship God and love serving the church. They serve as the worship team from Grace Chapel in the beautiful small town of Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, situated in the rolling hills south of Nashville. Grace Chapel Worship values authenticity and passionate biblical response to God. It is their heart's cry to look at the God who loved us first and say "I love You too."Grace Chapel Worship's new full-length worship CD,, reflects worship as the natural response to the overwhelming love poured out by God on His children, and features a collection of original songs penned by members of the worship community at Grace Chapel. For more information about Grace Chapel, Grace Chapel Worship and Grace House Music, visit gracechapel.net About Josiah's House: Located in San Pedro De Marcoris, Josiah's House, once completed, will be a complex of four homes housing a total of 32 boys, along with one married couple (house parents), in a family setting. The mission of Josiah's House is to give each child an education, Biblical guidance, life skills, and daily affirmation of God's love for them. In partnership with SCORE International and Grace Chapel, Josiah's House provides destitute boys with a place of hope. The vision is to expand the project to include a similar facility for destitute girls. For more information about Josiah's House, visit josiahshouse.net ### Britain's Crown Agents plans by late November to supply pharmaceuticals approved by the commission of Ukraine's Health Ministry late September. "Some items were approved by the Health Ministry 10 days ago. These are 16 items from the program for adults and three items from the program for children. Now Crown Agents is making all possible to organize the delivery of these pharmaceuticals by late November," Crown Agents told Interfax-Ukraine. In addition, Crown Agents said that the Health Ministry twice rejected its proposals to buy item 72 Cefepimum, vials, bottles, syringe, 1,000 mg. "Two tenders were held for this item, but the Health Ministry rejected all the bids and annulled the request," the company said. Crown Agents said that the company bought 311 out of 314 items to trade adults and children with cancer and oncohaematological patients. The company said that pharmaceuticals and reagents bought for cancer programs have short expiration term from 12 to 15 months. They are not available for general sales. "The longer the period of approving the final decisions by working groups [of the Health Ministry] the longer term of supply is," Crown Agents said. The company said that another important factor influencing the period of delivery is registration of pharmaceuticals in Ukraine and availability of alternative registered medicines and medical devices. State-run specialized budget-funded institution Agrarian Fund must be liquidated, Agricultural Policy and Food Minister Taras Kutoviy has said. "The ministry has drawn up a bill that foresees liquidation of state-run specialized budget-funded institution Agrarian Fund," the minister said at a meeting of the parliamentary committee for agricultural policy and food in Kyiv on Tuesday. He said that this institution has not fulfilled the function of regulating prices on the market for a long time and corruption issues permanently appear in it. Email Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday. Hurricane Matthew may spare the Triad on Friday and Saturday as it moves over the North Carolina coast, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to that region, forecasters said Tuesday. Authorities in Eastern North Carolina took measures to prepare for the storm. The Triad will be on very edges of it, said Ryan Ellis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh. Forsyth and Guilford counties could receive 1 to 3 inches of rain, the weather service said. Northwest North Carolina likely will receive less than 1 inch of rain. However, heavy rain is predicted in Eastern North Carolina, the weather service said. The storm might dump more than 8 inches of rain in Wilmington and nearly 6 inches of rain in Fayetteville. Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haitis southwestern tip with howling, 145 mph winds Tuesday, tearing off roofs in the poor and largely rural area, uprooting trees and leaving rivers bloated and choked with debris. At least seven deaths were blamed on the storm during its week-long march across the Caribbean. The storm is predicted to move Friday over the Atlantic Ocean along the Florida and Georgia coast, the weather service said. It likely will make landfall along the North and South Carolina border early Saturday morning with winds reaching 100 mph. Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency for 66 counties in central and eastern North Carolina, including Forsyth, Guilford, Stokes, Surry, Stokes and Yadkin counties. He also waived restrictions for truck drivers on hours of service and weight limits to help farmers harvest their crops, restore power and remove debris. McCrory urged state residents Tuesday to gather emergency supplies, discuss emergency plans and monitor local news reports to prepare for Hurricane Matthew. With each subsequent forecast, the impacts to our state appear to be more substantial, McCrory said in a statement. I cannot stress enough how critical it is that all of our residents in central and eastern North Carolina begin preparations for their families and homes. For those residents in the eastern parts of the state, it is especially critical that you update your emergency supply kits in case you need to evacuate and always follow the directions of your local emergency officials, the governor said. Many central and eastern counties are saturated from storms during the past few weeks, said Mike Sprayberry, the director of N.C. Emergency Management. With additional rain and heavy winds in the forecast, we are preparing for additional flooding, downed trees and widespread power outages in the coming days, Sprayberry said. UNC Wilmington has issued a mandatory campus evacuation for it nearly 15,000 students. The students have been ordered to leave Thursday morning and not to travel during the evening hours, UNC Wilmington said on its website. Students must leave campus no later than noon Thursday. All classes, events, trips and activities scheduled to occur at or after 5 p.m. Wednesday are canceled until further notice, the university said. A state of emergency was issued Tuesday for Dare County and its six towns following a meeting of the Dare County Control Group. The emergency declarations are effective immediately and allow local officials to implement protective measures including issuance of mandatory evacuation orders that may be necessary as the hurricane approaches. In Florida, airlines are letting passengers change travel plans without penalty if trips may be affected by Hurricane Matthew. American Airlines said Tuesday that it will waive change fees on trips scheduled Thursday or Friday to or from eight cities in Florida. The airline had already offered waivers on trips scheduled through Thursday in several Caribbean nations including Cuba. United Airlines said that it would waive change fees and any difference in fare for customers scheduled to fly Wednesday through Friday to, from or through five airports in Florida. Locally, the State Medical Assistance Team II at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will travel to Goldsboro on Wednesday, a hospital spokesman said. The team will help supply a special medical needs shelter at a facility in Goldsboro with ventilators, beds and other medical equipment. Mel Sadler, the director of the Forsyth County Emergency Management, said that his agency talked with state emergency management officials Tuesday about preparing for the storm. We are not sure how we are going to be impacted, Sadler said. State and local officials should know by Friday the storms path through North Carolina, Sadler said. His agency will coordinate with local authorities to prepare the storm. If Forsyth County is spared the brunt of the storm, his agency would send resources to assist the affected eastern counties, he said. We are in state of a lot uncertainty about the path of the hurricane, Sadler said. Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 74F. Winds light and variable. Hungary's Wizz Air, the largest low cost carrier in Central and Eastern Europe, has announced the launch of a new route from Kyiv to Bratislava (Slovakia). According to a press release of the airline, the new flights will be serviced from December 17 twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The tickets can be bought on the airline's website at the price starting from UAH 829. The company reminded that along with the new flight from Kyiv to Bratislava Wizz Air offers 13 destinations from the capital of Ukraine to seven countries. "Less than in one month we are launching new flights from Kyiv to Hannover (Germany) and Wroclaw (Poland). Today we are glad to announce more good news for the Ukrainian capital. We hope that our flight to Bratislava would be appreciated both by tourists and businessmen," Wizz Air Communications Department Tamara Valois said. Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Trump running mate Mike Pence continued the unreality of this election season in Tuesdays debate by denying many things that are true and asserting many things that are not true. For example there was this exchange: KAINE: [Trump said that] More nations should get nuclear weapons. Try to defend that. PENCE: Dont put words in my mouth. Well, he never said that, Senator. KAINE: He absolutely said it. Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan. PENCE: Most of the stuff youve said, hes never said. Of course, Trump did say it. Even Fox News was appalled: The biggest Middle East news to come out of the VP debate was that Mike Pence advocated that the US strike military targets of the Assad regime as a way of punishing Russia for its participation in the campaign to take East Aleppo from the mostly fundamentalist rebel groups now holding it. Thats huge! Pence wants to go head to head with Russia in Syria and wants vastly to expand the US military involvement by bombing Syrian military targets that are protected by Russian anti-aircraft batteries. PENCE:. . . And the small and bullying leader of Russia is now dictating terms to the United States to the point where all the United States of America the greatest nation on Earth . . . But about Aleppo and about Syria, I truly do believe that what America ought to do right now is immediately establish safe zones, so that families and vulnerable families with children can move out of those areas, work with our Arab partners, real time, right now, to make that happen. And secondly, I just have to tell you that the provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength. And if Russia chooses to be involved and continue, I should say, to be involved in this barbaric attack on civilians in Aleppo, the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike military targets of the Assad regime to prevent them from this humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Aleppo. No one asked him how he would get around Russia anti-aircraft batteries or how he would stop Russia, which has a naval base and air bases in Syria, from supplying more and better ones to Syria. Or maybe he wants to go to war with nuclear-armed Russia? Also no one asked him what would happen if he bombed and weakened the Syrian army and then Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) or the al-Qaeda-linked fundamentalist militias took over Damascus? He further urged a no-fly zone to protect a humanitarian zone. But how would he protect it from troops on the ground? Pence also said in the debate on Tuesday night that the United States has the lowest number of troops since the end of WW II. Since we are not in a world war, it is not clear why we need a world-war sized army. It is still huge compared to what it was before WW II. But despite not being in the middle of a world war, we are spending $800 billion a year on our war budget. Why? That is $8 trillion a decade. In todays dollars, WW II cost $4.1 trillion for the four years. That is, were spending almost as much money on our war department now as we did when Hitler controlled the entirety of continental Europe with a heavy tank military and Japan had most of Southeast Asia! Big wars are supposed to be rare and then youre supposed to demobilize. Such a huge standing army has contributed to the downward spiral of American democracy. But Pence wants to spend more and put more men under arms. And lets face it, he wants to do that as a form of corporate welfare, throwing even more money to the big war contractors. Tim Kaines only real response was to agree with Pence that the US should establish a humanitarian zone in Syria. But he did not offer specifics about Syria. Pence repeated his opposition to the US settling Syrian refugees in this country, and he tried to exclude them from Indiana. He also smeared Syrian refugees as behind the Paris attacks (they werent). How shameless Pence is in his racial bigotry is clear from the recent Federal appeals court ruling against him on the Syria refugee issue. The Chicago Tribune writes, The ruling by a three-judge panel for the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago affirmed a preliminary injunction that a federal judge in Indianapolis issued in February. That judge found last years order by the Republican governor, now Donald Trumps running mate, clearly discriminates against refugees from the war-torn nation. The court actually called Pence a racist: He argues that his policy of excluding Syrian refugees is based not on nationality and thus is not discriminatory, but is based solely on the threat he thinks they pose to the safety of residents of Indiana. But thats the equivalent of his saying (not that he does say) that he wants to forbid black people to settle in Indiana not because theyre black but because hes afraid of them, and since race is therefore not his motive he isnt discriminating. But there are other reasons no one should pay any attention to anything Pence says. Mike Pence has taken over $100,000 from tobacco company lobbyists to deny that smoking cigarettes causes cancer. He voted against the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Tobacco smoke has 8 of the proven cancer-causing agents. The Centers for Disease Control estimates the following: Cigarette smoking causes about one of every five deaths in the United States each year, that is more than 480,000 deaths annually. The scientists add, Life expectancy for smokers is at least 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers. Included in this massacre is that Exposure to secondhand smoke causes an estimated 41,000 deaths each year among adults in the United States. Note that many of those involuntarily exposed to second hand smoke are children. This Pence position is not a quirk. It is not a forgivable lapse. Pence is a professional hit man, paid to rub out tens of thousands of Americans. He is an axe murderer for hire. Then, Pence opposed a needle exchange program in Indiana. As a result rural whites sharing needles to shoot up prescription drugs were stricken with an AIDS epidemic. Pences opposition to the program hand nothing to do with protecting public health or with taking a scientific approach to public health issues. He thinks a needle exchange might encourage drug use and so was willing to sentence people to death. I could go down the list denying human-made climate change; legislating that the religious can discriminate against gay people (in 1964 many white evangelicals argued that they should be able to discriminate against African-Americans because of their faith); or trying to ban abortion and the control of women over their own bodies. But between the Himalayan lies and the execrable policy positions, you get the picture. People keep contrasting Pence with Trump, but Pence is a Trump in politicians clothing. He is just as dishonest and erratic, just much smoother about it. Reddit Email 5 Shares By Chloe Benoist | Maan News Agency | BETHLEHEM (Maan) In October 2015 began what has been in turn called a wave of unrest, a Palestinian upheaval, or even the Jerusalem Intifada. Whatever the name, the past year has seen an intensification of deadly violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel. Over the course of the year, Maan has collected data regarding every person who has died as part of this latest chapter in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In total, Maan has recorded the death of 274 individuals from Oct. 1, 2015, to Sept. 30, 2016. Of these dead, 235 were Palestinians (85.8 percent of deaths), 34 were Israeli (12.4 percent), and five (1.8 percent) were foreign nationals two Americans, one Eritrean, one Sudanese, and one Jordanian. The first six months from October 2015 to March 2016 saw the vast majority of deaths, following clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem ahead of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. With 234 people dying in these first six months, the rate of casualties has since drastically slowed down, although a spate of killings in September have led to fears that violence could once again surge. Looking at Palestinian casualties After a year, a clearer picture has emerged of the Palestinians who have died in that time span. Of these 235 Palestinians, 231 were killed by Israelis, two by other Palestinians during attacks against Israelis, and two others killed themselves while carrying out or attempting to carry out attacks. Drawing from statistics, a general portrait emerges of the average Palestinian to have died during this time: a young man in his late teens or early twenties from the West Bank district of Hebron, killed by Israeli security forces. According to Maans records, the average age of slain Palestinians was 23. However, the most frequent age of death was 19 years old, with 22 Palestinian youth of that age losing their lives in the past year. Minors comprised a quarter of the victims of Israeli violence, with 59 slain Palestinians under the age of 18, the youngest being an eight-month old baby killed by excessive tear gas inhalation during clashes. In total, 11 Palestinian children under the age of 14 were killed, and another 48 between the ages of 15 and 17. Another 119 Palestinians between the ages of 18 and 24 were killed, making a total of 178 Palestinian casualties in the past year to have been born around or after the signature of the 1993 Oslo Accords. Three quarters of those who have been killed since October 2015 have never known anything other than Oslo seemingly corroborating links made between the rise in violence and the frustrations regarding the agreements failure to establish a Palestinian state, amid a worsening situation in the occupied Palestinian territory marked by home demolitions, violent night raids, and staggering settlement expansion. While a number of Palestinian women and girls were killed 17 of whom while allegedly or actually carrying out attacks during this time period, their numbers paled in comparison to Palestinian men and boys. Of the 235 Palestinians killed, 213 were male and 22 were female just under one in 10 of the casualties. Geographically speaking, the majority of Palestinian deaths 161 to be exact took place in the West Bank, while 36 occurred in the city of Jerusalem, 29 in the besieged Gaza Strip, and nine in Israel. Meanwhile, 182 were originally from the West Bank, 20 were residents of occupied East Jerusalem, 29 were from Gaza, and three were Palestinian citizens of Israel. Residents of the Hebron district, amounting to 73 of the dead, constituted 31 percent of the slain Palestinians, confirming the southern West Bank districts status as the epicenter of the wave of unrest. Trying to quantify the circumstances in which Palestinians have died, meanwhile, has proved to be a tricky question. While a majority of cases were straightforward, with video footage or eyewitnesses able to corroborate the facts, in many instances, the official Israeli version of events when Palestinians were killed at the hands of Israeli security forces or settlers was strongly contested. In a number of cases, eyewitnesses maintained that the slain Palestinians did not constitute a threat at the time of their death, or that Israeli forces planted knives or otherwise manipulated the scene of the crime. Due to the difficulty of ascertaining the exact circumstances of each case, Maan has classified attacks as alleged in instances when the official Israeli version of events recorded no injuries to Israelis and there were either no outside witnesses, or those witnesses contested the Israeli version of events. Meanwhile, situations in which there were no records of outside witnesses, but where there were reports of Israeli injuries, were classified as actual attacks. This imperfect system of classification is a reflection of the murkiness which continues to permeate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on a daily basis. Given these caveats, Maans records show the following: 69 Palestinians killed while committing or attempting to commit stabbing attacks 48 Palestinians killed while allegedly attempting to commit stabbing attack 62 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces during clashes, police and/or army raids 13 Palestinians killed while committing vehicular attacks 8 Palestinians killed while allegedly committing vehicular attacks 8 Palestinians killed while committing shooting attacks 4 Palestinians killed while allegedly committing or attempting to commit shooting attacks 5 Palestinians killed while committing simultaneous shooting and stabbing attacks 3 Palestinians killed while committing simultaneous shooting and vehicular attacks 1 Palestinian killed while committing simultaneous stabbing and vehicular attack 2 Palestinians killed while committing attacks with incendiary or explosive devices 2 Palestinians killed while allegedly committing attacks with incendiary or explosive devices 5 Palestinians killed by airstrikes and shelling 5 Palestinians killed while bystanders of violence Based off of these numbers, 122 Palestinians, or 52 percent of them, were killed while committing or allegedly committing stabbing attacks, confirming the perception of the past year being marked by small-scale attacks with knives or similar weapons. Looking at Israeli casualties Meanwhile, the demographic profile of Israeli victims of violence painted a different picture. While for Israeli casualties the average age was 37, with the youngest victim being 13-year-old Hallel Ariel, the only Israeli minor killed in the wave of unrest. The most frequent ages were 19 and 21 an unsurprising fact given that a very large proportion of Palestinian attacks targeted soldiers, who typically begin their military service at 18 years old. However, soldiers and police officers accounted for only seven of the dead, which could be explained by the high levels of armor and protective gear worn while on duty, which most likely prevented deadly injuries from occurring in a number of attacks. Meanwhile, 18 of the slain Israelis resided in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Settlers being less armed or armored than soldiers made them more vulnerable targets for attacks, while the restrictions on Palestinian movement outside of the occupied Palestinian territory have made Israelis living in these areas more accessible targets for Palestinians seeking to commit attacks against Israelis. Some 24 Israelis were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while ten others were killed in Israel. Within Israel, the coastal city of Tel Aviv was by far the most targeted, with three separate attacks killing eight Israelis as well as one Palestinian citizen of Israel. Gender-wise, eight of the slain Israelis were female, making 23.5 percent of casualties, with only one of them being a member of security forces. Regarding the circumstances of death, according to Maan records: 16 Israelis were killed in stabbing attacks 13 Israelis were killed in shooting attacks 2 Israelis were killed in confirmed or alleged vehicular attacks 1 Israeli was killed in a simultaneous shooting and stabbing attack and 2 Israelis were killed by friendly fire. While 32 Israelis were killed by Palestinians, two others were killed by Israeli forces who were trying to shoot at alleged Palestinian attackers. While the pace of violence has significant slowed down since October 2015, the past month has seen a distinct uptick in casualties. The latest casualty, 28-year-old Naseem Abu Meizar, was killed by Israeli forces on Sept. 30, while seven Palestinians and one Jordanian were killed by Israelis in the span of five days. Almost one year after United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a warning tying the violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel to the social and political impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinians, a resurgence of deadly violence remains a real possibility. We cannot ignore the sense of desperation that comes with the slow evaporation of hope, Ban said at the time. We must stop the endless, needless, and mindless cycle of suffering, and begin the hard work necessary to restore the belief that genuine progress towards peace is possible. A failure to do so will only embolden the advocates of violence and division. Via Maan News Agency The International Criminal Court (ICC) [website] sent a delegation to Israel and Palestine Wednesday for a five-day visit [press release] aimed at education and outreach in the region. The ICC stated that the trip will not serve to gather evidence or make assessments pertaining to alleged crimes falling under its jurisdiction. A statement by the court distinguished between the outreach trip and the current, preliminary investigations into the situation in Palestine. The ICC stated that maintaining the integrity and independence of each function from the other was salient to preventing politicization of the investigation process. 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 resigned [JURIST report] from his position in January, saying that Israel has not granted him access to the OPT after repeated requests. A spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad Al Hussein [official profile] said Tuesday that Zeid is seriously concerned about human rights violations in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir [UN News Centre report]. Rupert Colville, the spokesperson from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) [official website], released the press briefing [text] and also urged India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions between the two countries, partially stemming from recent reports of ceasefire violations. The UN has held a position in the region for decades, and the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) [official website] has reported on ceasefire violations since 1971. Colville reiterated the UNs desire to assist in de-escalating the situation, asking for free access to the regions in both countries in order to monitor all aspects of human rights. Pakistan has been under pressure to improve human rights conditions for years, and Kashmir [BBC profile] has long been a subject of international concern. At the end of September, Human Rights Watch reported that Pakistani police are committing serious human rights abuses [JURIST report] and called for a complete overhaul of the countrys police system. Also in September authorities in Kashmir re-arrested a human rights advocate [JURIST report] under color of a controversial security law, the Public Safety Act, which allows the detention of suspects for up to six months without a trial. In August the India branch of Amnesty International temporarily closed its office after the organization was accused of sedition and anti-India sentiments [JURIST report]. Earlier in August Zeid expressed his concerns [JURIST report] regarding Indian and Pakistani authorities refusing to allow the Human Rights Council access to Kashmir. In July Pakistani Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz [official profile] announced his countrys intention to ask the UN Human Rights Council to send a fact-finding mission to Kashmir following recent civil unrest in the disputed region. Pakistan accused [JURIST report] India of human rights violations after a clash between the Indian army and pro-independence rebels, which led to the death of militant commander Burhan Wani of the group Hizbul Mujahideen [official website]. Continued unrest following the clash preceded the use of force on which Pakistan now seeks Human Rights Council action. The Harare High Court in Zimbabwe on Tuesday upheld a 30-day ban against protests in the capital. The lawsuit was brought by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) [official website] on behalf of many organizations, and challenged the ban based on the right to demonstrate [Zimbabwean report] provided for in the countrys Constitution [text]. Although the court rationalized the ban as necessary to keep peace, Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] called for the ban to be lifted [AI report]. Muleya Mwananyanda, AIs Deputy Director for South Africa, stated Wednesday: The ruling must be rescinded and the ban lifted as it infringes the fundamental right to freedom of assembly. Police must not be given carte blanche to impose a blanket ban on protests which are protected by the countrys constitution, and Zimbabwes international human rights commitments. Instead of outlawing peaceful assemblies, the government would do well to ensure the safety of people who choose to peacefully exercise their right to protest. The ban is set to end [Reuters report] October 15. The Zimbabwe government has faced criticism and legal action in the past. Last month Zibwabwes High Court struck down [JURIST report] a similar two-week ban on protests that had been issued by the police. In September 2013 the high court ordered the release [JURIST report] of 21 activist members of the opposition party that had been detained for over two years. The following month, Zimbabwes highest court criticized [JURIST report] state prosecutors who sought to take legal action against people who insulted President Robert Mugabe. In November 2013 a Zimbabwean magistrate acquitted [JURIST report] a human rights lawyer who was charged with obstructing justice and being unruly to police officers. Odesa port-side plant to pay UAH 164 mln in dividends for 2015 PJSC Odesa port-side chemical plant intends to pay UAH 163.886 million in dividends for 2015. The corresponding decision was made at a shareholders' meeting on September 15, 2016. The term of dividend payment is from November 1, 2016 to March 15, 2017. As reported, Odesa port-side plant owed Naftogaz Ukrainy about UAH 148 million for consumed natural gas. The State Property Fund of Ukraine intends to hold another tender for the sale of 99.567% in Odesa port-side plant. Ukrainian army positions in Donbas came under 68 attacks over the past day, the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) press center said on Facebook on Wednesday morning. Thirty-six attacks on Ukrainian army positions were seen in the Luhansk sector, the report said. "The enemy staged armed provocations by use of small arms, machineguns and grenade launchers near Novooleksandrivka, Novozvanivka, Triokhizbenka, Stanytsia Luhanska and Popasna. A sniper was active in Novooleksandrivka, Popasna and Stepne, and 120mm and 82mm mortars were fired on Novooleksandrivka and Novozvanivka. In addition, Novooleksandrivka and Novozvanivka were shelled by 122mm artillery and infantry combat vehicles, and an anti-aircraft gun was fired on Novooleksandrivka," the report said. As many as 19 ceasefire violations were observed in the Mariupol sector. Militants fired small arms, machineguns and grenade launchers on the outskirts of Mariyinka, Shyrokyne, Talakivka, Starohnativka and Hnutove. Besides, an anti-tank missile system was fired on Slavne, an infantry combat vehicle and an 82mm mortar were engaged in an attack on Talakivka, an infantry combat vehicle attacked Lebedynske, and a sniper was active in Mariyinka, the report said. The Ukrainian army came under 13 attacks in the Donetsk sector; small arms, machineguns and grenade launchers were fired in the area of Avdiyivka, Novhorodske, Kamyanka and Zaitseve. Novoselivka Druha and Avdiyivka were shelled by 120mm mortars, it said. A militant drone was detected in the anti-terrorist operation zone, the report said. The Tender Commission for Senior Civil Servants at its meeting on Tuesday elected Acting Head of Zhytomyr Regional State Administration Ihor Hundych as the head of the regional administration. This was reported by the former director of the Department for Strategic Planning and European Integration of the Coal Ministry, Mykhailo Bno-Airiian, who was among the short-listed candidates for governorship of Zhytomyr region. "Well, that's it I am third. I lost to the acting governor and the head of the main directorate of Derzhprodspozhyvsluzhba [State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection] in Zhytomyr region. This was an interesting and eventful day," Bno-Airiian wrote on Facebook on Tuesday evening. Acting Chief of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Zhytomyr region Oleksandr Shpit was designated as a backup candidate to lead the regional administration, if Hundych failed to pass special checks or gives up the post. The contest was held in three rounds: 16 candidates participated in the first round, ten in the second, and three in the third Hundych, Shpit and himself, Bno-Airiian said. As reported, on August 31, 2016, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed an order to dismiss Serhiy Mashkovsky, who occupied the post of Zhytomyr Regional State Administration's head for more than two years, after Mashkovsky filed in his resignation. On the same day, Poroshenko appointed deputy head of Zhytomyr Regional State Administration Ihor Hundych as acting governor. Former judge of Kyiv's Pechersky District Court Oksana Tsarevych has appealed to the ruling of the High Administrative Court of Ukraine (HACU) following her dismissal by the head of state. The HACU on Wednesday said the appeal was filed on Friday, September 30, the same day as her case was assigned to a judge. As earlier reported, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree to dismiss Tsarevych, a judge of Kyiv's Pechersky District Court, because of an oath violation. On March 4, 2015 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the arrest of three Pechersky district court judges, including Tsarevych. On November 18, 2015 Kyiv Prosecutor's Office said it had completed pretrial investigations of criminal cases involving Pechersky District Court judges Viktor Kytsiuk and Tsarevych, who were suspected of illegally persecuting members of the Automaidan (civil group active during protests in Kyiv in late 2013 and 2014. Tsarevych is suspected of violating Part 2 of Article 375 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine delivering deliberately illegal verdicts against activists pursuant to Article 1222 of the Code of Administrative Violations. The High Council of Justice, having reviewed a disciplinary case involving Tsarevych, decided to recommend to the president that she be dismissed. In their recommendation the council said Tsarevych in 10 cases against protesters was biased. The council said Tsarevych's rulings did not comply with her oath as a judge to be objective, impartial, independent and to justly dispense with justice, following only the law and being guided by the principle of rule of law. The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada has called on the international community to provide assistance in protecting the rights of Ukrainian journalists in Russia, including Ukrinform correspondent Roman Suschenko, who has been detained there. "We are urgently calling for consolidation of efforts toward freeing Ukrainian journalists, condemning the Russian Federation's actions, which grossly violate human rights, and making sure that Ukrainian consular officials and a lawyer are immediately provided with access to the detained Roman Suschenko," the Rada said in a statement addressed to the parliaments of the European Union member-states, the U.S., Canada and Japan, the European Parliament, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic. This appeal was supported by 245 MPs at a parliamentary sitting on Wednesday. The lawmakers said that this and other criminal cases against Ukrainian nationals, who are held illegally in Russia and in the occupied parts of Ukraine, are "a clear evidence that the Russian Federation continues numerous violations of human rights, is using the methods of forcible seizure in its territory or abduction from the territory of Ukraine of hostages, and is then bringing absurd charges against them." In addition, "psychological pressure and physical torture" are often used against the detained Ukrainians. "We firmly believe that the abovementioned cases of persecution of Ukrainians are directly related to their professional journalistic activities. By such actions, representatives of the Russian Federation are trying to take hostage those for whom protection of human rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, constitute fundamental value and essence of their work. These actions are also aimed at intimidating journalists. This criminal objective should not be achieved," the statement reads. Suschenko was detained in Moscow on charges of "espionage." The Moscow Lefortovsky Court on October 1 ordered his two-month arrest. Kyiv said that the detention was an act of provocation and the accusations of spying were groundless. By Louisa Naks Is the murder of Polish immigrant Arkadiusz Jozwik yet another example of post-Brexit racism or is it media sensationalism? British media have been recently reporting on the rise in hate crimes. According to some reports there has been a 20% increase in hate crimes following the referendum results. While this is a troubling figure, we shouldnt jump to conclusion that any crime perpetrated against an immigrant is a hate crime. Take for instance the case of Arkadiusz Jozwik. Jozwik was a 40-year-old Polish man who died after sustaining head injuries following an unprovoked attack in Harlow, Essex. Six teenagers were arrested following the attack, which is now largely being reported as a hate crime. However, the claims that this attack was indeed a hate crime are still unconfirmed, which has led to speculation that the media are being a bit hasty in drawing such conclusions. Perhaps Jozwik was merely the unfortunate victim of a gang of bored teenagers, determined to vent their frustrations clockwork orange style? We shouldnt jump to conclusion that any crime perpetrated against an immigrant is a hate crime. Colm OCinneide, professor of law and a Vice-President of the European Committee of Social Rights says that although some of the support for Brexit was clearly rooted in hostility towards immigrants and particular ethnic groups, as well as in suspicion of outsiders there is no necessary correlation between supporting Brexit and having such attitudes. Some elements of the leave campaign in particular some of the rhetoric of UKIP-affiliated campaigners may have deepened already existing hostility towards immigrants. But anti-immigrant political rhetoric has been a feature of the UKs political landscape for years now. Professor OCinneide argues that Brexit will make it easier for future UK governments to limit migrant rights and it may be encouraging more overt expressions of racist attitudes at street level. Early indicators are that there has been a noticeable spike in racist incidents, as reported to the police. It is difficult to see why Brexit would encourage more reporting than had previously been the case. By comparing the level of reported racist and hate crimes from July 2016 and July 2015, it is evident that the number has jumped dramatically- it has risen from 1,251 reported incidents to 1,975 in 2016. A 57.9% increase. This figure is shocking to say the least, but it does not take into account whether this is as a result of Brexit or not. The terrorist attack in Nice, France, on 14 July has to be taken into consideration. There are indicators that following such attacks, the level of hate crime against Muslims significantly increases. Following the 2015 attacks in Paris, the level of Islamophobic crimes is said to have tripled. Furthermore, if we look at the statistics for the level of violent crimes including murder, assault and bodily harm committed in the same period, we can see the number rise from 19,961 to 21,640 an 8.4% increase. This is by no means as dramatic a rise as in the reported level of hate crimes, but it is still significant in showing that the number of violent crimes being committed in the UK is on the increase in general. The death of Arkadiusz Jozwik is far more than a statistic or media sensationalism it is now a symbol of the new reality in Britain. Whilst the statistics show that post-Brexit Britain is experiencing a hike in reported violent crimes, it is perhaps a bit foolhardy to jump to immediate conclusions. Unfortunately, there is not enough data for us to be certain in making such conclusions. Brexit has shown us one thing is certain that words have a greater impact than we think. As Professor OCinneide mentioned, the rhetoric of the Leave campaign may have helped to inflame resentment. But perhaps the media shouting hate-crime every time someone of a different nationality becomes a victim of crime is only adding fuel to the fire. By removing the possibility of a crime against an immigrant being anything other than a hate crime, the media are further emphasizing the otherness of immigrants, as well as demonizing Leave voters by representing them as violent racists. This does not help our divided society to heal. It builds more tension and ultimately deepens the rift. Regardless of whether the killing of Arkadiusz Jozwik was a hate crime or not, the rise in the amount of violent crimes being committed in general is a worrying trend in the UK, and one which needs to be addressed. More must be done to understand the causes of this increase so more steps can be taken to close the widening gap which is dividing Britain. Equally, the media need to assume a level of responsibility for maintaining calmness and stability during such turbulent times. By stirring up emotions without the relevant facts to prove or disprove their claims, the media run the risk of intensifying the tension. For now, regardless of the motive, the death of Arkadiusz Jozwik is far more than a statistic or media sensationalism it is now a symbol of the new reality in Britain. Even if it does transpire that he was a victim purely by circumstance as opposed to being targeted because of his immigrant status, the fact his murder was labelled a hate crime from the outset is a stark reminder of how divided Britain is. Louisa Naks studied Polish and Russian at University College London. The article was originally published on PoliticalCritique.org. The referendum has emerged as a way to involve citizens in the decision-making on the European integration. A democratic tool or a deadly threat to the European Union? It is widely known that the emergence of the European Community, in the 1950s, constitutes a political step legitimized by prominent decision-makers, but from which the broad public was excluded. This permissive consensus the art of deciding without the citizens consent ended in the 1970s. By then, new political dimensions emerged. The citizens voice expressed through referendums was one of them and people have been asked to give an opinion on several aspects of the European integration process quite regularly. Indeed, from 1972 to 2016, 42 referendums have taken place: 29 favourable to the European Union and 13 against it. Most of the plebiscites with a positive result for European integration took place in years of Treaty ratification or membership accession. Ireland and Denmark had their positive say on their accession processes in 1972. The Single European Act was endorsed by the Irish and Danish peoples (1986). The Maastricht Treaty was also approved by Irish, French and Danish (the latter went twice to the polls- 1992). In Austria, Sweden and Finland people answered positively to join the European Union (1994). Danish and Irish agreed on ratifying the Amsterdam Treaty (1998), and, later on, in 9 countries, citizens accepted to join the European Union (2003). The European Constitution was sanctioned in Spain and the Luxembourg (2005). The Treaty of Lisbon took the Irish people twice to the polls (2008-2009). The Croatian acknowledged its desire to be part of the European Union in 2012 and the Irish authorized the European Fiscal Compact in the same year. Italy was the only country to hold a referendum to mandate the European Parliament to write a Constitution for Europe before the Maastricht Treaty (1989) and Denmark approved the emergence of a Court to decide on litigations related to European patents- a Unified Patent Court- in 2014. Nevertheless, there have been less auspicious moments. The Norwegians denied twice to join the European Union in 1972 and 1994. France and the Netherlands dealt a fatal blow to the Constitutional Treaty in 2005. Danes and Swedes refused to join the Eurozone in 2000 and 2003 respectively and, since 2015, all referendums have been hostile to the European Union. Greece refused the bailout conditions imposed by the EU (2015), the Danish denied to convert the opt-out participation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (2015), the Dutch showed to be against the Ukraine- European Union Association Agreement (2016) and, finally, in 2016, the United Kingdom asked their citizens whether they wanted to remain in the European Union. Actually, this question has only been asked twice: in 1979, to Greenland, and to the United Kingdom in 2016. The majority of people in both countries rejected remaining in the EU. Should we be worried by peoples participation? But is this democratic tool- the referendum- a deadly threat to the European Union, as many think? Are these surveys a danger to the European project? Should we be worried by peoples participation? We shouldnt, but it might indeed be a deadly weapon. Throughout times, the issue has raised many speculations and contradictory arguments. On the one hand, there is the general idea that these democratic surveys increment and deepen democracy. On the other, there also is the idea that a referendum is a constraining factor on grounds that negative and less auspicious results might trigger a countervailing momentum. However, peoples participation is but the natural impetus that any democratic system should have. And the European Union is a democratic political system. Since the 1990s, scientists have been proclaiming the sui generis character of the European Union. We can even argue that the European Union already is an unfinished federal political system. Its institutional power configuration and decision-making structure frame the argument and, in this line of reasoning, citizens participation in referendums is also an intrinsic part of its democratic framework. Voters make demands, express refusals, and point out apprehensions like in any other democratic political structure. The referendum is but a democratic channel. In referendums tackling European questions, people express their anger against both national policies and European policies. In a national state system, parties contest elections trying to convince citizens of their aptitudes. In a national referendum people also express their expectations and policy change requirements directly or indirectly influenced by political parties. However, as far as the European Union is concerned, circumstances take on different proportions. The European Union is an opaque and distant system whose functioning nobody understands, or just a few do. Adding to this, there is a widespread idea that national policies are commanded by the European institutions and people tend to think that Brussels does everything wrong, that most national wrongdoings are but Brussels fault. So, in referendums tackling European questions, people express their anger against both national policies and European policies. Perceptions are misleading. The two dimensions are interlinked, interacting in terms of causes and consequences. Challenges, crises and menaces are a profound threat. Peoples are frightened. Of course, citizens are manipulated. Demagogy, catch-all party politics trying to attract as many people as possible have become part of representative democracy. But the point is, it is much more difficult for any citizen to understand European Union politics and policies than it is to understand their own national political environments. So, it is easier to manipulate and mislead them as far as European Union policies are concerned and some, if not all, national leaders have been doing this for their own political purposes. Of course, there also are the extremist and populist parties exploiting peoples fears, weaknesses and illiteracy. Brexit, held on June 2016, is the latest and major example. It is most important, though, to find credible and realistic solutions. A campaign, a plan, a strategy to explain, to support and galvanize the system are urgently needed. The European Union is an unfinished project, lacking leadership and ideals. At the moment, the project is facing the most daring difficulties. It faces an economic/austerity challenge, a terrorist solution task and an immigrants crisis answer. These gigantic obstacles and the lack of concrete answers have become a huge problem to the European project. Citizens tend to think that the European Union is not able to cope with them. So, it is most urgent that the Union leaders find a way to tell people, to remind citizens, about the good things of the project. A campaign, a plan, a strategy to explain, to support and galvanize the system are urgently needed. Actually, it should already have taken place when Brexit was voted on, if not before (Jacques Delors did that in 1993 when the first dark clouds had started to gather over the European project). Most importantly, it is crucial to listen to peoples disappointments, anger and anxieties, bringing hope and enthusiasm to them and reviving the European project. The United States of Europe needs to be stimulated, needs to be finished, needs to be saved. And with the end of the permissive consensus it is up to each one of us, citizens of the European Union, to do so. A difficult but not impossible task provided the necessary impetus is given. The Burkini ban was another case of oppressing women in the name of their liberation. Recently, the mayor of Cannes in France issued a ban on burkinis. Burkini is a made-up name for a special full-body swimming garment: a hybrid between Burqa and Bikini. In reality, a burkini is a swimsuit composed of leggings and a sort of a short dress worn on top of it. Some burkinis have a hoodie attached and to some other you add a hijab that would cover the head. I didnt grow up knowing burkinis. I used to go to the beach and wear a normal bathing suit. Later, when I decided to wear hijab, I used to put on a long dress and hijab. In water, this can be uncomfortable and heavy. And when you sit on the beach, it also collects sand and you feel you instantly gained extra pounds of weight. At some point, I even decided to stop swimming, since I felt so much annoyed by the sand and the curious looks. An experience that was supposed to be fun and joyful turned to itchy and embarrassing. Later, I started hearing about suits that modestly cover the body but are made of appropriate fabric that does not keep the water. At the time, no body called these suits burkinis. There was no specific name; we just called them swimsuits for hijabis. I think burkinis first appeared in Turkey and Malaysia. It was originally designed by an Australian designer of Lebanese descent, Aheda Zanetti. I remember one of my friends borrowed a suit from another friend, who bought it in Turkey and took it to a seamstress, asking her to make something similar. In Tunisia, Burkinis made their appearance on beaches in the early 2000s. Before then, many women swam either in bathing suits; some others in bikini. But many women would wear long dresses or didnt swim at all. In water, long dresses inflate like balloons, so women have to keep bursting these bubbles of air each time they stand up. Needless to say that with a long dress, you cant really swim and move fast. You just dip in the water and stay there. Moreover, once outside the water, the wet dress becomes tight on the body defeating the purpose of modesty that a full-body suit is supposed to achieve. Burkini was an almost ideal solution. It gave women the opportunity to enjoy the water and the beach, swim with her friends, kids and family, without necessarily looking like an alien. Byuing a burkini in Tunisia during the dictatorship of Ben Ali I remember the first time I went to buy a burkini in Tunisia. It was like trying to buy alcohol in Canada as an underage. It was 2008. The dictatorship of Ben Ali was still in place, and all sign of religious symbols were suspicious, to say the least. The Burkini, like the hijab, was considered a sign of affiliation with Islamic groups, and selling them was seen as encouraging women to join these movements. So I went to the souk and I asked around about them. The seller would look at me, assessing my real intentions. Once I passed the test, he would bring from literally under the table, one or two packages with a different burkini inside each, so I can see the models. But in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, burkinis were freely sold even in large supermarkets, and women who wished to buy one, could freely do so. Noteably, Tunisian beaches today are full of women wearing burkinis. Even some women that are not wearing hijabs would go for a burkini. Dealing with the attitudes of the opposite sex It must be mentioned here that women in bathing suits are not necessarily harassed, but it is very common in some societies for men to stare at women. And so, burkinis is a way to keep off some of these unwanted stares. A burkini has become a way to deal with the attitudes of the opposite sex, since this is a matter of education that has never been tackled. For people who still consider women covering their bodies as a sign of oppression, burkinis joined the list of words and clothing that linked Muslim women to the world of darkness. For many Muslim women who did not want other people to comment on their bodies or show off their skin for public consumption, a burkini achieved the total opposite. It combined liberation with modesty: the best of two worlds! The recent decision of the French authorities to ban burkini from the beaches in Nice is but another example of anti-Muslim attitudes wrapped under the disguise of women liberation and combating religious extremism. But the only thing it will achieve is to further alienate French Muslim women and to prevent them from a refreshing swim in the Mediterranean Sea. The silence of feminists What bothers and disappoints me even more is the silence of Western feminists, for this is a perfect example of male interference with the choices of women. When women are banned from driving in Saudi Arabia, western feminists would mobilize and stand up (rightly so) to denounce the arbitrary, abusive, and patriarchal nature of such decision. When women in Iran are punished for showing their hair in public or going out wearing make-up, the outrage among Western feminists is intense. Rightly so. But in this case all you hear is silence or whispers. In my opinion, the reason for this silence is that the ban on burkini perfectly fits the old equation which equals Islam with women oppression. So why bother? But how can a country, considered a beacon of rights and freedom, go so low in doing this to its citizens? If toplessness is considered okay, if there are beaches especially designated for nudists, preventing women to swim because of the length of their swimming suit is a silly and revengeful reaction. Once again, one of the most vulnerable groups of a society have to pay the price for the incompetence and failures of the politicians. I would like to conclude with the following powerful words by Arundhati Roy, commenting on the banning of burqa in France in 2010: When, as happened recently in France, an attempt is made to coerce women out of the burqa rather than creating a situation in which a woman can choose what she wishes to do, its not about liberating her, but about unclothing her. It becomes an act of humiliation and cultural imperialism. Its not about the burqa. Its about the coercion. Coercing a woman out of a burqa is as bad as coercing her into one. Viewing gender in this way, shorn of social, political and economic context, makes it an issue of identity, a battle of props and costumes. It is what allowed the US government to use western feminist groups as moral cover when it invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Afghan women were (and are) in terrible trouble under the Taliban. But dropping daisy-cutters on them was not going to solve their problems. Update: As of August 26, the Conseil dEtat, the highest administrative court in France, declared the ban of the burkini illegal and contrary to the fundamental liberties, to the freedom of conscience and to the personal liberies. This is a triumph of the rule of law over the whims and the populist electoral agenda of some politicians. Nevertheless, that does not end the burkini story. Some women were humiliated in public, other verbally attacked. Will they receive a public apology? Or will they, once again, pay the price for their choices and decisions? The article first appeared on Monia Mazighs blog. Containing terror with security measures only goes so far. An article with the same title as this one was published in the Jerusalem Post, Israels English-language daily a day after the terrorist attacks in Brussels. The author, Yossi Melman, describes the attacks as the result of years of negligence and a colossal security and intelligence failure. According to Melman, Europe missed the opportunity to profit from Israels security-related know-how. The author is both right and wrong. The price of security Before I became a European, I had been an Israeli citizen and my closest relatives still live in Israel. I do not have the slightest doubt that containing terror with the help of security measures is effective only up to a certain point. Multiple levels of security have been introduced at Ben-Gurion International Airport and in several airports around the world, where El-Al, Israels flag carrier, is operating. It could indeed prevent attacks on Israeli planes similar to several dramatic hijackings by Palestinian terrorists in the 1970s. Yet, securing air traffic comes at a price. Passengers are now expected to be at the terminal some three hours before departure and many foreigners report humiliating searches and interrogations. The so-called Separation Fence in the West Bank is claimed to have reduced suicide bombings that targeted Israeli buses and shops during the Second Intifada (2000-2005). But the 8-meter-high Wall has become both the symbol of occupation and, together with the accompanying system of check-points, has further aggravated human rights violations against the Palestinian population. The Gaza Strip has de facto become the largest ghetto in the world. Pounding it with bombs from the air, land and sea in the summer of 2014 has stopped the barrage of home-built rockets, at least for now. And while Hamas extremists are improving their missiles range, my parents and other Israelis tidy up their panic rooms, keeping them ready for the next round of confrontations. Unorganised terrorism? Moreover, Melmans article passes in silence over the new wave of terror that has been plaguing Israel since September 2015. A series of stabbing assaults that occur almost on a daily basis have been labelled the Intifada of Individuals. Israels leadership has so far failed to address the roots of Palestinian terrorism. Instead of working towards a lasting political solution, it sticks to old habits, treating the symptoms (security challenges) and not the disease (the occupation). As a result, terrorist threats, time and again, mutate and reappear in ever scarier forms. The lack of political prospects has dramatically increased the share of the Palestinian population willing to engage in violent resistance. Solidarity rooted in blinding rage is replacing terrorist networks. Scissor-wielding teenage girls and old men armed with screwdrivers attack settlers as well as random bystanders. The systemic violence of occupation, which deprives the Palestinian people of a future, transforms itself into spontaneous outbursts of reckless brutality. Treatment vs. cure In recent months, Europe has experienced a drastic increase in terror attacks by Islamists. For now, the response of the European governments has been impulsive and short-sighted. They turn a blind eye on the suffering of refugees on Europes borders, further discriminate against already underprivileged parts of Europes own population, and increasingly limit the freedoms for the rest in terms of cross-border movement, their right of privacy and the rest. Instead of addressing the roots of radicalisation, these security measures can only exacerbate it. By all means, they do not deserve the attribute security. Neither can they qualify as a cure. Rather, they seem to be part and parcel of the very syndrome that have been afflicting Israel and now increasingly spreads into Europe as well securitarian myopia . Of course, Europe must take care of acute symptoms. Evidently, the authorities (especially the Belgian ones) will have to admit serious failures. Also, each European country, and Europe as a whole, should crack down on existing networks of radicalised youth at home. Abroad, we should join moderate forces on the ground in their fight against the cutthroats of the self-declared Islamic State. However, despite its shortcomings, or rather because of them, Israels holistic security doctrine provides strong evidence that security measures and military operations alone, however sophisticated they might be, ultimately fail to ensure long-lasting security. The Israeli case offers Europe the following lesson: a symptoms-centred treatment only lets the disease progress. Hopelessness as weapon Secure the airport and the terrorists will switch over to buses and cafes. Erect ever tighter barriers around entire populations, terrorise them with frequent night-raid arrests, populate its sky with surveillance drones, turn daily commuting into an enfilade of checkpoints and you will see more ordinary people turning into terrorists. Try to prevent the hopeless from accessing weapons and they will use their hopelessness itself against you. In 2011, Anders Breiviks lone-wolf attacks resulted in 76 deaths. The then Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, reacted as follows: The Norwegian response to violence is more democracy, more openness and greater political participation. Europe should learn from that, too. For the first time in 20 years, the opposition is represented in the Belarusian parliament. While this is a purely symbolic institution, the EU should consider cooperating with Belarus new parliamentarians. On 11 September 2016, Belarus held a parliamentary election. It would be wrong to say that the international community had high hopes, but it was certainly impatient to see some progress in the countrys adherence to international electoral standards. Yet despite these expectations, the international observers could not point to any significant improvements in the election process quite the contrary in fact. In its statement of preliminary findings and conclusions, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europes Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) said the elections were efficiently organised but a number of long-standing systemic shortcomings remain. Early voting, counting and tabulation procedures were still marred by a significant number of procedural irregularities and a lack of transparency. It further noted that a number of key long-standing recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR and the Council of Europe Venice Commission remain unaddressed, underscoring the need for comprehensive electoral reform as part of the broader democratisation process, in cooperation with international partners. In this context, the Chairman of the European Parliaments Delegation for relations with Belarus, Bogdan Zdrojewski, stated on 13 September that the changes were unsatisfactory. Belarus still has some way to go to reach European standards, Zdrojewski said. Kent Harstedt, special coordinator of the short-term OSCE observation mission, noted that in the run-up to the elections, the authorities made a number of promises regarding the transparency of the process, on which they delivered partially, but insufficiently. And the EEAS spokesperson called for a comprehensive electoral reform as part of the broader democratisation process, in cooperation with international partners. The opposition representatives are considered to have been politically appointed, not freely elected. Nevertheless, the election was calm and, as a result, two representatives of the opposition will hold seats in the newly elected House of Representatives of Belarus, Palata: Anna Konopatskaya and Alena Anisim. The first is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and member of the opposition United Civic Party. The second is a linguist and a promoter of the countrys native language, as deputy head of the Belarusian Language Society. But in light of the electoral shortcomings, the opposition representatives are considered to have been politically appointed, not freely elected. Paradoxically, the situation of the opposition which was already weak and divided has now been further complicated. With seats in the parliament, it will be expected not only to contest the activities of the current regime, but to initiate change in a pro-active way. To achieve this, it will need support. The European Parliaments dilemma The electoral improvements may have been insufficient, but the conditions imposed by Western politicians were vague enough that the Belarusian authorities could claim to have fulfilled them. A key question remains as to whether, in this situation, European politicians should legitimise the Belarusian parliament by meeting with its politically appointed members. This is a particularly pressing question in the European Parliament, because unlike many of its sister institutions in the EU member states, it has not engaged in relations with the Belarusian parliament since the elections in 2010. MEPs neither hold meetings with their Belarusian counterparts, nor visit the Palata building. Each improvement and each step forward towards free and fair elections in Belarus, however small, should be acknowledged, and will help us to keep the channels of communication open. But this progress should not be overestimated. While the Palata, as a whole, cannot yet be recognised as a legitimate institution, some form of cooperation with Belarus parliamentarians provided it does not come at the cost of excluding the democratic opposition could and should be found. The Euronest, a parliamentary dimension of Eastern Partnership, could provide the framework for such cooperation. Last but not least, it is the Belarusian people who should be at the centre of all political considerations and whose contacts with the EU must be supported and encouraged. This cannot be achieved without a dialogue that includes the government in Minsk. The Unions critics like to compare it to the Soviet Union. But there is more than an echo of Lenins democratic centralism in what Mrs May is now proposing. By Brendan Donnelly It used to be claimed during the Cold War that in the countries of the Soviet bloc elections could not take place until the government had decided what their result should be. Here in the UK, we order these matters differently. We had a referendum on 23rd June about the European Union, but the government has still to decide what its result will be. The widely-advertised brain-storming session of Mrs May on 31st August has taken us little further in the search for content to fill out the empty assertion that Brexit means Brexit. The only specific matter upon which Mrs May and her colleagues could apparently agree was their hostility to the principle of European free movement. This is not an encouraging basis on which to erect a negotiating strategy for the sensible and orderly departure of the United Kingdom from the EU that Mrs May says she seeks. Free movement of labour is a fundamental building-block of the European Union, an element of the sovereignty-pooling which is philosophically at the heart of the Union. In the weeks since 23rd June, it has become a commonplace to assert that during the referendum campaign Mr. Cameron mishandled the migration issue. It cannot be repeated too often that the free movement of labour is a fundamental building-block of the European Union, an element of the sovereignty-pooling which is philosophically at the heart of the Union. In casting doubt upon this principle, Mr. Cameron was conceding a major intellectual victory to his opponents, a victory only enhanced by his own acquiescence in the lazy use of the term migrant to describe very different categories of persons. The Conservative Party Manifesto of 2015 set as a goal the reduction of net immigration into the United Kingdom. This conflation of EU citizens exercising their free right of movement with individuals from outside the European Union wishing to work in the United Kingdom or to seek political asylum allowed Leave campaigners to paint a picture of the United Kingdom utterly exposed by its membership of the European Union to uncontrolled (particularly Muslim) migration from the whole world. Mr. Cameron bears a large portion of the blame for allowing this damaging caricature to take root in the popular imagination. If in the years leading up to the referendum he had used a more reassuring and accurate rhetoric to describe the free movement of EU citizens as a beneficial consequence of the enlargement of the EU always favoured by the British government, his chances of winning the European referendum on 23rd June would have been greatly enhanced. It is of course generally true that Mr. Camerons manifest lack of enthusiasm for the European Union over the past ten years made it more difficult for him to act as a plausible advocate for the Remain camp during the referendum campaign. It was perhaps the awareness of the ground that he needed to make up as an apparently passionate convert to the cause of British membership of the Union which led him and the Chancellor to make implausible predictions about the immediacy of economic catastrophe after a vote to leave the EU. But the tawdry and confused debate on migration which scarred the referendum campaign has left a particularly damaging legacy for Mrs Mays government in its attempts to make a success of Brexit. This legacy is clearly reflected in the divisions within Mrs Mays Cabinet, not merely in regard to how to make a success of Brexit, but even what would count as making a success. Some of those who voted to leave will have shared Mr. Goves view that Albania was an appropriate model for future British dealings with the EU. Even during the referendum campaign, there were voices raised to point out that the choices offered to the British electorate in the referendum were insufficiently clear, particularly on the Leave side. Some of those who voted to leave the Union on 23rd June will have done so in the firm expectation that the UK would continue as a member of the European Economic Area or a similar arrangement; others will have shared Mr. Goves view that Albania was an appropriate model for future British dealings with the EU; yet others will simply have voted against what they took to be the shortcomings of the Union with no clear idea of what the alternatives might be. The now apparent divisions within the Conservative Cabinet faithfully mirror these disparities of view. The governments interest in popular consultation on European issues is clearly now exhausted. Mrs May has reaffirmed in the strongest possible terms her unwillingness to hold a further referendum on the terms for Brexit or to make these terms the subject of an early general election. It is the Conservative government and nobody else that will decide for what the British electorate voted on 23rd June as an alternative to membership of the European Union. When the Conservative Party has made up its collective mind on that issue, the electorate will in due course be informed. The high-handedness of the government in this matter could not be better exemplified than by its repeated contention that it is constitutionally entitled to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without Parliamentary endorsement for doing so. To use a narrowly won referendum as a pretext for the extension of executive power unaccountable to Parliament calls inevitably to mind Mrs Thatchers prescient warning against referendums as a device of dictators and demagogues. If Mr. Corbyn, as his critics claim, is taking the Labour Party in a Trotskyite direction, there would be a pleasing symmetry in Mrs Mays following Leninist precepts. It has long been a favoured hyperbole of the Unions critics to compare its workings to those of such totalitarian regimes as the Soviet Union. But there is more than an echo of Lenins democratic centralism in what Mrs May is now proposing. Once Lenins Bolshevik party had concluded its internal debates, it was the role of the states institutions to acquiesce in the Partys adopted decisions. The Conservative government seems to have a similar approach to Parliament in regard to Brexit. If Mr. Corbyn, as his critics claim, is taking the Labour Party in a Trotskyite direction, there would be a pleasing symmetry in Mrs Mays following Leninist precepts. It would not be the first instance in politics of making strange bedfellows. This is an abridged version of Brendan Donnellys article first published on his blog. The Minsk process is crucial to Kyiv, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said, adding that the dialogue with Moscow was also important. "Minsk is crucial to Ukraine, as it enabled the Armed Forces to gain strength amid the existence of a very serious threat: Russian troops were standing practically in every sector, every part of our border," Poltorak said during the Livy Bereh program aired by Channel 24. "We need to resolve the problem with the Russian Federation. This problem cannot have a solely military solution," the minister said. There has to be a dialogue with both 'Ukraine's friends' and Russia in order to reformat the Minsk agreements," he said. "We should negotiate not with the DPR and the LPR but with friends, France and Germany, as well as with Russia. No one is going to sign anything; what has already been signed should be fulfilled," Poltorak said. In his opinion, Russia is the only party failing to comply with the Minsk terms. "Unfortunately, the main party to the Minsk agreements who fails to fulfill them is the Russian Federation. Everything depends on its will. Russia was complying with certain provisions of the agreements when that was beneficial for it. It stopped doing so when it became non-beneficial. Yet, the implementation of those agreements depends on Russia, because we are complying with them," Poltorak said. The minister said that the sanctions against Russia must not be cancelled. "Considering the ongoing policy of Russia, those sanctions cannot be lifted. All of us should be saying that," he said. "Everything that happened to Georgia in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and to Moldova in Transdniestria was the exact same scenario. Russia managed to do so because there were no sanctions back then," Poltorak said. Ukraine should anticipate and analyze possible risks that may arise if it introduces visas with the Russian Federation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said. "Russia will try to complicate the visa reception procedures as much as possible, perhaps offering some forms of citizenship instead of this. Therefore, we should thoroughly analyze all these risks, and, based on this, we will make a decision. This is precisely what we see as the key element in our position," Klimkin told journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday. Ukraine is ready for introducing visa issuance procedures, Klimkin said. "We have assessed the Foreign Ministry's needs to start issuing visas, which includes additional consular jobs and additional equipment. We should do all this, and we are ready in principle, and we know what we should do, but I certainly must say clearly that this is not a matter of weeks, this issue requires serious political consideration and logistics," he said. The need to improve security on the border between Ukraine and Russia is unconditional and undisputed, and this requires support for Ukrainian special services' work, Klimkin said. "We should understand that, unfortunately, the Russian special services will get adapted to visa-free travel very quickly," Klimkin said. After Ukrainian citizen Roman Suschenko was detained and arrested in Russia, Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy said he did not rule out that Ukraine might consider the introduction of visas with Russia and the expansion of sanctions against it. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its deep concern about the increasing number of provocation acts on the part of Russian security forces against citizens of Ukraine and calls upon the Ukrainian citizens to refrain from trips to Russia. "Taking into account the temporarily limited ability of the Ukrainian side to provide adequate security for our fellow citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the citizens of Ukraine to refrain from trips to the Russian Federation, as well as from traveling through the territory of this state", the statement says posted on the official website of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry also said that the Russian Federation has increased the number of unfounded arrests of citizens of Ukraine, and the Russian law enforcement agencies "roughly treat Ukrainians, apply unacceptable methods of physical and psychological harassment and other acts that demean human dignity." At the same time, the detainees denied access to lawyers and consuls. "The Russian side violates the universal norms of international law in the sphere of observance of human rights and freedoms, as well as its international legal obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 and the Consular Convention between Ukraine and the Russian Federation of 1994," the message says. LINCOLN The gray lion of the Nebraska Legislature will soon have a big cat on his compact car. State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha said Tuesday he was pleased with the artistic rendering selected for the new mountain lion specialty license plate, which resulted from a bill he sponsored this year in the Legislature. It was so well done I dont know that I could have come up with something so good, said Chambers, who also is a capable artist. The 79-year-old lawmaker has served in the Legislature for more than 40 years. The state Department of Motor Vehicles charges $40 extra for mountain lion plates adorned with custom messages or $5 more for assigned letter-and-number combinations. Portions of those fees will go to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to help fund wildlife conservation education. A fiscal analysis predicted the plates could raise about $20,000. As of Monday, 62 motorists had ordered mountain lion plates, said Rhonda Lahm, director of the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The artwork on the plate was created with computer software using two photos: a reclining mountain lion and a landscape in the Nebraska Panhandle, Lahm said. Chambers said he was provided an advance copy of a plate listing his first name. He has since submitted the paperwork and paid the extra fees to have a plate stamped with the message CUGR 1, which he plans to affix to his car. Chambers formerly opposed all efforts by lawmakers to authorize specialty plates, saying they detracted from the intended purpose of identifying vehicles for law enforcement. But he relented after former State Sen. Charlie Janssen suggested the idea of a cougar plate in 2014. Although no senators voted against the license plate bill, Game and Parks testified against it at a public hearing. The commission said a plate featuring a more popular species, such as a sandhill crane, could raise more money for conservation. Most cattle ranchers see cougars as a threat to their livestock, while still others view them as a threat to rural Nebraskans. Chambers also has tried unsuccessfully to outlaw mountain lion hunting in the state, saying their numbers are too small to withstand hunting pressure. Game and Parks officials have argued they need hunting as an option to help control the growth of the cougar population, particularly in northwest Nebraska. Hunters killed four big cats in 2014, the only hunting season for mountain lions so far. The commission has delayed setting another season until wildlife biologists can get a more accurate idea of the cougar population. Senators also passed a bill this year creating breast cancer awareness licenses plates, which will be available in January. A new standard plate with a design featuring the iconic sower statue also will come out in January. Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver is pictured during an event to promote Gusto, Bell Media's new food and lifestyle network in Toronto on Tuesday, October 4 , 2016. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver says he's hoping to meet with Justin Trudeau later this week to discuss the prime minister's plan to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy eating. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has held a working meeting on the investigation into criminal proceedings against former president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. The purpose of the meeting was to test the state of the investigation into these cases. "According to the conclusion of the investigators, Yanukovych's activities as the president of Ukraine were subordinated to the interests of the Russian Federation in matters relating to national security as evidenced by the decrees he signed, appointments to the key positions of people with Russian citizenship, and so on. The activities of Yanukovych are qualified under Article 255 (the creation of a criminal organization) and Article 111 (high treason) of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine," reads the statement posted on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO). The ministry said Yanukovych's actions are considered in the following areas: deliberate acts to the detriment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability, the defense capability of the state, as well as the economic and information security of Ukraine. Three hours of body painting produced this new look for Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick, who is promoting a program that gives farmers a tax credit for donating produce to food banks. ADDIS ABABA - African people cherish a dream that one day the capitals of all African countries will be linked by high-speed railways, Chairperson of African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma once said. Perhaps, the African people have never come closer in their endeavor towards making the dream a reality. On Wednesday, Africa's first modern electrified railway -- the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway built by Chinese firms, is set to become fully operational. With the inception of what has been hailed as the "Tazara railway in a new era", a new chapter will be turned over in Africa's railway history, while a new milestone will be set up in China-Africa traditional friendship. TAZARA RAILWAY IN A NEW ERA During a visit to Ethiopia in May 2013, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang hailed the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway as the "Tazara railway in a new era." In 1970s, China, where a thousand things still waited to be done, resolved to support the construction of the Tazara railway which links Tanzania's Dar es Salaam with Zambia's Kapiri Mposhi. More than 50,000 Chinese railway workers worked for construction of the railway. Among them, 64 Chinese experts made the ultimate sacrifice in a land far away from home. But Tazara Railway has since become a symbol for China-Africa friendship which opened a new era of development for China-Africa friendly relations. China has since put on top agenda its assistance to African countries in building infrastructures. He who wants to get rich must first build roads. This is one of the key lessons China has learned after realizing rapid economic development following decades of reform and opening up to the outside world. China is willing to share the lesson with African countries so that they will get rid of the bottlenecks that have been holding back economic growth for centuries. In recent years, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the new concept of "building nests to attract phoenix" and "teaching them how to fish" in China's cooperation with Africa. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also proposed that China and Africa work together to develop the "Three Major Networks" -- railway, road and regional aviation. With sincerity and good faith, China is helping African countries to boost infrastructural construction, promote Africa's inter-connection and integration process and help Africa realize independent sustainable development. It is against this historic backdrop that the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, which links Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa with the port of Djibouti, comes into being as an early fruitful result in China-Africa cooperation in building the Three Major Networks and driving industrialization. Thus, the railway, following its predecessor Tazara Railway, has become another symbol for China-Africa friendship. AFRICA'S NEW GROWTH ENGINE Built in 1970s, the Tazara Railway played a major role in the socioeconomic development of Tanzania and Zambia. As the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway commences operations, it will avail landlocked Ethiopia a precious access to the sea, greatly improving its logistics capacity. On the other hand, the small, resource-poor Djibouti will have a chance to realize its ambition to become a regional transport hub. The railway's operation will also help boost economic growth along the railway, speed up urbanization, create jobs, improve people's living standards and promote socioeconomic sustainable development. The Ethiopia-Djibouti is built with a complete set of Chinese standards and equipment. During the process, a great number of Ethiopian and Djibouti technical and managerial personnel received systemic training in Chinese railway technical knowhow, paving the way for the development of their own railways by the two countries themselves. It is foreseeable that more and more African countries will improve their understanding of and finally accept the Chinese railway standards, pushing forward their own railway development, which in turn will speed up their industrialization process. Besides, the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is also expected to give impetus to the economic development of East Africa and even that of the whole Africa. African countries will have a new engine for economic growth. THE CRADLE OF AFRICA'S RAILWAY TALENTS Give a man a fish and he eats a day. Teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime. The railway's two contractors -- the China Railway Group (CREC) and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), have attached great importance to the training of local railway talents. Li Weidong, a senior engineer of CREC, told Xinhua that an international training center at CREC has organized nearly 100 African railway officials and technicians for training programs in China. Trainings are also offered at all levels, covering the complete spectrum of job titles in the railway industry. Li disclosed that CREC is helping Ethiopia in planning for Africa's first railway institute, where Africa will be able to train its own railway talents. CCECC Ethiopia manager Li Wuliang said that his company is now focusing on the training of Djibouti technicians in the field of railway operation and management. Since June 2015, 94 Djibouti students with academic credentials above undergraduate have been sent to China for half-year training programs in railway technology. After the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway's official operation, a consortium of CREC and CCECC will manage its operations for six years, during which the Chinese firms will teach the Ethiopian and Djibouti staff knowledge in railway operation and management, including the maintenance of the railway systems. Six years later, the consortium will hand over the operation and management to the two countries, which means they will be in charge of running the railway independently. SWEAT, BLOOD AND LIFE Chinese railway construction workers have sacrificed a lot for building the railway. No one can tell how many of them had lost precious gatherings with loved ones, lost health and even life. On March 27, 2013, Zhang Peng, a 33-year-old CREC engineer who only got married half a year ago, was the first fallen hero while working for the railway's construction, when a sudden flooding swept him away. Two years later, on July 2, 2015, Yang Hongwei, a 31-year-old site manager, made the ultimate sacrifice in a flooding, leaving behind a son less than four. Colleagues of the fallen heroes told Xinhua that Chinese firms have taken various measures to ensure the safety and security of their staff working in Africa, with their living and working conditions now far better than that of their predecessors during Tazara railway's construction decades ago. However, they said despite all security measures, zero casualty is something that is impossible to avoid. Long gone are the Chinese fallen heroes who had fought for Africa's railway dream, but the railways they had built with sweat, blood and life will signify the everlasting friendship between China and Africa, which both the Chinese and African peoples will treasure forever. Halloween customs from around the world Halloween is derived from some of the oldest customs in the world. The culture of these traditions are 2000 years old during an age... Spindle Items ..FUN WITH WORDS Have you heard of the saying, to appear smart, be silent. It means if you dont open your mouth, people may... Out of the Past 25 Years AgoOct. 29, 1997 A light industrial park is planned for the site of the abandoned grain mills on Military Road after their expected... Make a plan to vote this November Election Day is less than two weeks away. Have you made a plan to vote yet? Midterm elections are often overlooked, but I urge everyone... WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (R) and Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino attend a press conference at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Britain, Aug. 18, 2014. (Xinhua/Press Association/John Stillwell) Julian Assange, who founded the disclosure website on Oct. 4, 2006, said new materials would be released over each of the next 10 weeks, but did not give any concrete information regarding the form of publication. The anticipated revelations about the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton did not happen at the press briefing marking the 10-year anniversary of the website's founding. Wikileaks had published previously thousands of emails of the Democratic National Committee. Assange is wanted by the Swedish government for an allegation of rape against him, which he denies. He was granted asylum by Ecuador in 2012 and has stayed in the embassy of Ecuador in London since then. Zhang Zhengyan sits in a delicately decorated room at his hostel, surrounded by a group of reporters who are here just for a short break after looking around Pingshan village on September 20. Zhang, in his 60s, is an experienced film producer, who has produced 12 of the most famous films directed by Zhang Yimou, one of the most celebrated directors. Although some guests were seen enjoying their drinks in the front hall, Zhang said the seven rooms in the hostel were all vacant on the day. "It is likely because of the high prices, apart from the fact it is a work day today", said Zhang, whose hostel is an ancient house of some 1800 square meters. Zhang said a room in the hostel that is named the Imperial Bodyguard, costs nearly 1,000 yuan ($150) for a single day. He refuses to offer any discount even when sometimes there are no guests. Pingshan of Yixian County is an ancient rural village in Huanshan city, which is known for the Huangshan Mountain, or the Yellow Mountain, in East China's Anhui province. Although it was an ancient Huizhou-style building, the hostel, opened earlier this year, was not the original building on the site, but was reassembled with the components of similar ancient residences bought from the Huangshan region by Zhang in the last nine years. Zhang said he runs the hostel not for money, "but mostly for fun, and the guests who share the same tastes with me are the most welcome". On the site was originally a temple owned by the family of a high-level official surnamed Shu of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). "Out of restoration, the temple vanished about three decades ago", said Zhang. The Shu family established the village in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). During the peak of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty, there were more than 400 houses and 18 family temples, while there are only about 200 houses and seven temples left. Three years ago, Zhang acquired the land at a cost of 800,000 yuan, while reassembling the current house cost him almost 10 million yuan. The hostel building is just a fraction of what Zhang has bought and rebuilt in the last years. In 2006, Zhang acquired some 66,700 square meters of land in the nearby Xiuli village of Yixian County, at a cost of 5 million yuan, to build a film base on the site. Building the base cost him tens of millions of yuan more, as he had bought more than 60 ancient buildings from the ancient Huizhou region and moved them to the place for reassembly and restoration. In ancient times, the Huangshan region was called Huizhou Prefecture, which governed an urban area and six rural counties, including Yixian County. "Huangshan city now has more than 8,000 ancient Huizhou-style houses, while only around 2,000 of the better-preserved ones have been listed as historic cultural relics by the government. The remainder are available for purchase, since the government is not able to protect so many ancient houses", said Wang Zefeng, party chief of Huangshan city. Wang said it is because Huangshan is a mountainous region and was seldom disturbed by wars that the local ancient houses could be preserved much better than other areas of the country. "This is reflected in the fact that the city enjoys a forestry coverage rate of more than 90 percent", added Wang. Although some tycoons like Zhang choose to move the houses they buy to specific sites, most of the buyers are not able to afford the moving and reassembly process. So, they prefer to keep the building on their original sites and run their businesses after some restoration. "The inside of most of the ancient houses is not suitable for living any more, so restoration and decoration inside the houses would be necessary", said Wang. He added that in this way the ancient house could be revived. "The ancient buildings are only for sightseeing, but more importantly they should serve people's lives", said Wang. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 4 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will establish a joint investment fund, Dashgin Shikarov, Azerbaijani ambassador to the UAE, told Trend Oct. 4. Shikarov added that the preliminary agreement on that issue has been already reached on the level of the governments of the two countries. "The establishment of the fund would contribute to making joint investments in mutually beneficial projects," he said. "It is important to invest in such areas that stimulate the growth of mutual investments and increase trade turnover, in particular, in the agro-industrial complex, food industry, logistics, transport systems." The ambassador added that the funds, to be distributed by the new investment fund, will be used for the establishment of new enterprises. "In general, the fund can be a tool for the modernization of the Azerbaijan-UAE bilateral relations," he said. According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the UAE amounted to $50.6 million in January-July 2016. Earlier, Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijani economy minister, said that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the UAE has increased by more than 40 percent for January-July 2016. "This is a very good index, given that the current world processes do not contribute to the development of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the UAE," Mustafayev said. "The governments of Azerbaijan and the UAE are working to improve these indices." 11K Shares Share Once upon a time, there was a land where parents were anxious, information was pervasive, and trust was hard to come by. Misinformed celebrities with impressive influence (despite minimal education) were spouting ideas that provided concrete solutions to poorly understood situations, and parents were clinging to them as if their (childs) life depended upon it. Pediatricians everywhere were scratching their heads, wondering, what has happened? Why are our patients doubting us? We are not the enemy. The enemy is Dr. Google, social media, the ability for ill-informed people to spread their misplaced agendas by feeding on parents fears; incentivized by the number of Facebook likes and shares. We found ourselves exasperated and powerless against this Dr. Google, who had access to all information, but no reputable filter to weed out what was useful, scientific data versus that which was was inflammatory and unproven. Every time a parent presented us with an article from a doulas blog citing evidence of the toxins in vaccines or a link to Autism, we would smile tight-lipped, hold their hand, and review the proven evidence-based data stating these claims were actually false. Then we would bang our heads against the wall during our lunch break knowing our own research articles would likely end up in the trash. We were reciting mantras like the flu vaccine does not cause the flu in our dreams to the point where our spouses threatened to smother us in our sleep. We mocked Jenny McCarthy for her ill-conceived ideas about autism while crying at night for our infant patient too young for vaccines who died after contracting whooping cough or measles from an unvaccinated child at the local amusement park. We would make jokes about Dr. Google, a feeble attempt at lightheartedness while spending our precious free weekends visiting our immunocompromised patients in the PICU fighting for their lives after catching influenza from an unvaccinated peer at school. We high-fived when California passed a law stating students could no longer use religious reasons as an excuse not to be vaccinated, and were shocked when friends actually moved out of the state because of this. When we noticed this indisputable trend of kids falling ill and even dying unnecessarily due to the inconceivable influence of Dr. Google and these ignorant celebrities, pediatricians everywhere got angry. How can people ignore what is happening here? And to be honest, our feelings were hurt. We have nothing but our patients best interests at heart; why are people continuing to doubt us? Fed up, we spent countless hours wondering, Why are our voices falling on deaf ears? And then one day, just like that, pediatricians everywhere were silent. Because they all decided to quit. And heres what happened: Pediatricians had a full nights sleep. No more pages, no more on-call texts, no sleepless nights worrying about patients. Pediatricians spent time with their families, exercised and read a book. Pediatricians saw their own primary care doctors and had their teeth cleaned. And pediatricians missed their patients. Terribly. Because patient care is the most appealing part of our job. Its why we do what we do. To see a child healthy again, fight off a cold, prevent an illness, catch something early, support and reassure a parent. Watching your children grow from little babies to almost-adults, heading off to college and into the world, this is why we do our job. We are not the enemy. Meanwhile, our true foe Dr. Google and social media spread misinformation like wildfire, confusing well-intended parents and placing doubt in their minds. Dont trust your doctor, trust me. I have all the information you need. Home schools popped up around the country to avoid the vaccination laws. The rates of influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis and influenza soared to all-time highs. Kids fell ill, parents frightened. They felt lost, uncertain where to turn. Dr. Google was not returning their phone calls at night, advising on how to manage that fever or reassuring them that their child did not need antibiotics. He didnt present you with objective, scientifically-backed information to help guide your decisions. He didnt do a thorough exam of your child to help determine the cause of their pain, the best treatment approach for their stomachache or sore throat. He didnt sit with you in moments of sadness or pain. He didnt help you decide, together, what is the best treatment option for your individual child. So the next time you have questions, doubts or fears, dont turn to Dr. Google. Ask your pediatrician. Thats why we are here, to help your child stay healthy, as best we can. Trust us when we say that not only do we bring thousands of hours of knowledge and experience to the table, but we also care, deeply, about each and every one of your children. This is not a battle; its not about taking sides. Its about our kids health. And trust us, that is our number one priority. Kristen Compton is a psychiatrist who blogs at Some Thoughts Are Better Left Unsaid. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 225 Shares Share Opioids are common pain medications that are used for the treatment for mild to moderate pain. These medications are highly addictive and bind to particular receptors in the brain and spinal column that produce a feeling of euphoria along with the relief of chronic pain. However, in the U.S. they are becoming a leading cause of death due to overdoses. Opioids such as oxycodone, Percocet, and others are now gateway drugs to heroin and other narcotics. They are also becoming a drug of choice for those who have not abused drugs in the past. Now they are gaining increased in popularity due to ease of access and their street value continues to grow. The sad fact is that in the last year, drug overdoses killed more people in the U.S. than car crashes. While some physicians are very diligent in the way in which they prescribe opioid type pain killers others are not. Drug companies that make these compounds for profit have misled physicians with small studies touting opioid safety, and many physicians have not done their due diligence in evaluating the addictive nature of pain medications. All of these factors have led to a practice of indiscriminate and irresponsible prescribing practices. What are the facts regarding the abuse of opioids? As a society, we are quick to accept a pharmacologic approach to treating any ailment. As a people, we demand an immediate fix for any medical problem and often do not consider any other alternatives. Drugs are much cheaper way to treat chronic pain as opposed to a more comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach. Time with therapists, treatment plans involving meditation, yoga and exercise are not widely supported it is simply easier to take a pill. Currently, the U.S. accounts for over 75 percent of the worlds total opioid prescriptions. In the last year, over 260 million opioid prescriptions were written in the U.S. alone according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Currently, drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. today. Of the nearly 50 thousand overdose related deaths in 2014, opioid overdoses accounted for over 18 thousand only 10 thousand were due to heroin. In the last decade, opioid overdose rates have risen more than six-fold. Women tend to be more at risk than men with overdose rates from prescription pain relievers up 400 percent over the last decade (as compared to 230 percent for men). What role to doctors play? Obviously, physicians and other health care professionals are the source of opioid prescriptions. Dont get me wrong opioids do in fact have an important role to play in medicine in the short-term treatment of acute pain related to accident, injury, surgery or the like. However, chronic opioid use must be avoided. These medications have numerous side effects and can be highly addictive in some patients. As a physician, it is incumbent upon me and my prescribing colleagues to choose the best treatment for a particular patient. It is never OK to enable abuse through writing recurrent, long-term narcotic prescriptions. Unfortunately, financial pressures in medicine have created situations in which physicians feel as though they must write prescriptions of this type or fear losing patients to another provider who will. In addition, many patients with chronic pain require a great deal of time and effort during the course of a busy office day. Rather than spend the necessary time to create a more holistic and multi-disciplinary treatment plan, many physicians find it easier to simply write a prescription and move on the the next patient thus enabling addiction. What is our government doing to address opioid addiction? In March 2016, President Obama announced a new initiative (and new funding ) to combat opioid abuse and addiction. Currently, the FDA and DEA is considering regulations that will require retraining of doctors who prescribe opioid medications. Health care providers may be required to undergo re-education in order to maintain a particular DEA prescribing certification. Many state medical boards already track opioid prescribing patterns and will often reach out to physicians who have unusual prescribing practices or prescribe higher numbers than their peers. Many of these physicians may be subject to disciplinary action. Research dollars are being spent to investigate new types of pain relievers with less abuse potential and greater efficacy. Other studies are being conducted that will help better understand this type of addiction and how best to treat it. In addition, government dollars will be allocated to improve access to addiction treatment programs and the FDA will require new labeling of opioid prescriptions that will make their abuse potential much more clear. Finally, drugs that reverse narcotics overdoses, such as naloxone (also called Narcan), are making their ways to city streets. It is imperative that we provide first responders as well as others in areas of high abuse rates with easy access to this life-saving antidote during an overdoes. IF we do not, many more will die before we can change the course of the opioid epidemic in the U.S. today. Whats next? While these proposed government-sponsored initiatives do have some promise, it is unlikely that any of them will have an immediate impact. It is important that we continue to educate the public as well as healthcare providers to the risks associated with taking opioids. In addition, we must make it easier for physicians to develop a more comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to pain management. Those physicians who do not carefully prescribe narcotics and instead do so indiscriminately, must be sanctioned and must no longer be allowed to prescribe these medications. We must also address the behaviors of those who are addicted to these drugs we must identify sources of these drugs in the community and eliminate them from circulation. We cannot wait for government to act for us and fix the problem through bureaucracy and legislation as physicians and as citizens we must act on our own. While ultimately research into better ways to treat chronic pain and the management of addiction will produce new ways to treat our patients, we must all work together now in order to halt the alarmingly high rise in opioid use in our country today. Ask your physician for alternative ways to treat pain. If you are concerned, you or your friends and loved ones are suffering from addiction say something get involved and help. Kevin R. Campbell is a cardiac electrophysiologist who blogs at his self-titled site, Dr. Kevin R. Campbell, MD. He is the author of Women and Cardiovascular Disease. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: Armenias armed forces have 25 times violated the ceasefire on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Oct. 5. Positions of the Azerbaijani army in Gaymagli and Kamarli villages of the Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian positions located on nameless heights and in Barekamavan village of Armenias Noyemberyan district. The Azerbaijani army positions also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near Chilaburt village of the Tartar district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village of the Fizuli district, Mehdili village of the Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of Goranboy, Goygol, Khojavand and Fizuli districts. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The importance of listening to our young people was highlighted at the launch of the findings of the Mental Health School Flag Project at City Hall on Monday evening. The Ombudsman for Children, Doctor Niall Muldoon launched the important evaluation report of a unique youth mental health project that began in Kilkenny and could be rolled out all over the country. Chairperson of the Kilkenny Comhairle na Og, Malcolm Noonan welcomed guests to the launch and stated that it was 'a great honour to be involved in this project'. In 2013 Kilkenny Comhairle na nOg (Kilkennys Youth Council) came up with the idea of creating a Mental Health Schools Flag similar to the Green Flag, for schools who took part in mental health and wellbeing initiatives among staff and students. Upon conclusion of a pilot study in Kilkenny, the idea caught the attention of St Patricks Mental Health Services in Dublin. An evaluation report carried out by Dr Gerry Jeffers of NUIM has been launched by the Childrens Ombudsman. The evaluation of the project was commissioned by Comhairle and Kilkenny County Council to determine how the project might be rolled out nationally and to learn from those who participated in the pilot study, as to what supports are needed in schools to deliver effective and safe mental health programmes. Kilkenny Comhairle na nOg is facilitated by Ossory Youth with all initiatives and ideas for civic engagement or influencing change coming from young people involved in Comhairle. Cllr Noonan commended the 'inspirational young people' involved and added that we 'must ensure collaboration so that all schools are safe and healthy places to be'. Mayor of Kilkenny, Patrick O'Neill spoke of his first hand experience of the importance of mental health and said three of his friends had died by suicide. Young people are the key. This initiative is great, going into schools to address topics like bullying. Mental health is very important and I would like to thank the three schools (Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown; Kilkenny VEC and Duiske College in Graignamanagh) that have got involved, he said. Caothairleach Matt Doran congratulated all involved describing it as ' a truely wonderful project'. However it was the young participants who conceived, created and participated in the project that shone on the night. Ciara Delaney spoke of bringing the project to fruition while Ben Lanigan bravely shared his first hand experience of been bullied and Ben McDonald spoke of the need for the Mental Health Flag to be developed further adding that there is still taboo around mental health in teenagers. Dr Muldoon highlighted the importance of listening to our young people and said that the programme is very much to be welcomed. I want to commend and congratulate all involved for their hard work in rolling out the pilot project, he added. We can't go wrong if we listen to the voices of our people, added Cllr Noonan. Airbags are meant to save your life in a collision, but it turns out that millions of airbags made by Takata have the potential to kill you. Over time, a mix of age, humidity and heat can degrade the chemical inside the airbag inflator, potentially causing the inflator to rupture when the airbag deploys during a crashand shooting what is essentially shrapnel at drivers and passengers. This dangerous defect has caused 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries in the U.S. So far, nearly 70 million vehicles have been recalledor soon will befor faulty airbag inflators, adding up to the largest safety recall in U.S. history. In May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it would be phasing in recalls of between 35 million and 40 million Takata inflators (mostly in passenger airbags) by the end of 2019, on top of the nearly 30 million mostly drivers airbag inflators that have already been recalled. (For more details, click here (opens in new tab).) Consumers are notoriously lax when it comes to taking their cars in for recalls. But with so many potentially deadly devices in so many vehicles, the level of alarm is high. Problem is, you may not be able to get a replacement anytime soon. A shortage of available parts means that only about one-third of affected airbags have received a fix so far, according to NHTSA. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up The reality is, manufacturers are not stepping up as much as they need to, says Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, a safety advocacy group. Its hard for me to commiserate with manufacturers who say they are doing everything they can to ramp up production, he adds, because carmakers helped enable the whole mess by using Takatas products despite growing evidence of design and manufacturing issues. What to do If your vehicle is affected, you should have received a letter from your automaker. Even if you havent, run your vehicle information number (VIN) through the search tool at Safecar.gov (opens in new tab) every few months or sign up for alerts at the site. Your make and model may turn up later. Contact one or more dealers in your area who sell your brand of car to schedule a repair as soon as possible. Just dont expect the repairs to happen next week. Vehicles are prioritized based on age and whether they were sold or registered in hot, humid states, such as Florida and Texas, because those factors increase the odds that your airbag will fail. If the drivers airbag is faulty, ask your dealeror the manufacturer, if your dealer wont budgefor a loaner car while you await a fix. To improve your chances, says Kane, go up the chain and continue to press for a rental or replacement car. (If only the passenger airbag is being recalled, your chances of getting a loaner drop, but you can put passengers in the backseat.) Some automakers are offering an interim, or like for like, fix, which means your airbag inflator will be subbed with a newerbut still problematicTakata inflator. That inflator will eventually have to be replaced as well. Plus, youll be shunted to the end of the priority line and may not be called in for a permanent fix until 2019. Still, if you have an extended period before replacement, I would consider a near-term fix, says Karl Brauer, of Kelley Blue Book. What if you simply wait until a replacement airbag is available? Dont even think about disabling your airbag. Aside from certain Honda and Acura models (according to NHTSA.gov (opens in new tab)), the odds of injury in a crash without an airbag are far greater than with a potentially defective airbag. To reduce the risk, move your seat back as far as you can while still comfortably controlling the vehicle, suggests Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a consumer advocacy group. Whether your company has decided to move its headquarters or operations to a new state or asked you to move to a different office location, you likely have a myriad of questions running through your mind. Where will I live? How are the schools? What's the cost of living difference? Who are the best doctors? And on and on. You should consider a number of financial issues as well, some of which may not be top of mind. Here are a few tips to help make the financial transition as smooth as possible and avoid some unexpected turns. Income Taxes Evaluate the state income tax structure. If you are moving to a state with a higher income tax rate, depending upon how much advance notice you are given, it may make sense to recognize some income before you move, such as capital gains in your portfolio or exercise of stock options. Certain states have recapture rules whereby if you earned income while working in State A, but move to State B when that income is actually paid out to you, State A may argue they have claim to their share of the tax burden. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up In my home state of Georgia, for example, the top state income tax rate is 6% whereas Georgia's sunny neighbor to the south, Florida, has a 0% state income tax rate. That makes it seem tempting to move one state away before incurring a large amount of taxable income, but you should consult with a certified public accountant familiar with both states before you make a big income recognition decision. If you are moving to a state with a higher tax rate structure, such as California, your take-home paycheck may be lower than you expected, so do some quick math before you sign your relocation and cost of living adjustment package. You may need to negotiate a higher salary to keep pace with your projected after-tax living expenses. Don't forget about property taxes and sales taxes which tend to be higher in states that don't tax your income. Also, moving expenses that you incur and are not reimbursed by your company may be tax deductible, so keep your receipts for all moving-related activities and talk with your CPA. Estate Plan Update your will. Estate tax and probate matters vary from state to state. If you relocate, your will needs to be updated and possibly amended for different state laws. In addition, you may suddenly need a trust due to tax, legal or probate matters in your new state. Plus, if you own out-of-state property, such as your former residence, that you plan to keep or rent out for a long time, having that asset held in a revocable trust or an limited liability company may help avoid probate costs. The same updating guidance holds true for your financial and health care powers of attorney, as these forms and statutory provisions vary from state to state as well. Of course if you don't have your estate planning documents in place, use this as an opportunity to button up this part of your financial plan! College Savings Consider the college savings 529 plan in your new state. While saving for college is a major goal for a lot of working families, and there are numerous quality plans to choose from, consider whether there are any benefits to start funding the 529 plan offered by your new state of residence. For example, do you qualify for a state income tax deduction on contributions made to your home state's 529 plans? Do you like the investment option better in your new state's plan? Finally, those who have children in high school may need to reconsider in-state vs. out-of-state tuition, as their residency is now changing. What do in-state scholarship opportunities look like in your new state? Cost of Living, Especially Education Cost of living is often a major factor in one's relocation package from their company. In addition to knowing how much more housing and recreation may cost, consider the school system and whether you do or do not want your children enrolled in private school. Tuition can be a substantial budgetary item for any family, and if you've never had to pay it before, you certainly need to plan ahead for how these bills will get paid (more salary, use of bonus each year, savings, etc.) Your education expenses may influence what part of town you live in, how much house you buy and therefore your mortgage payment. All of these are cash flow considerations, but be careful not to raise your lifestyle expenses so much upon this move that you throw your long-term financial plan out of alignment. Investments Your investment strategy may also need some fine tuning. If you own municipal bonds in your portfolio that are tax-exempt from your original state, they may not be in your new home state. In addition, certain states such as South Carolina exempt a portion of your capital gains from income tax. Dividends are not taxed in Nevada (which is a 0% income tax state). So consult with a CPA to understand investment taxes so you can adjust your portfolio holdings if necessary. While you should not let taxes drive investment strategy, it is prudent to be tax aware. Lisa Brown is a partner and wealth adviser at Brightworth, an Atlanta wealth management firm. She specializes in investment management, executive compensation, retirement transition and estate planning. As Americans age and the need for long-term care grows, the options for providing it continue to evolve. An increasingly available choice: "continuing care at home" programs for seniors who want to stay in their own homes. Typically, there's an entry fee (which may be based on your age at enrollment) and monthly fees based on your level of coverage. In the Westlake, Ohio-based Kendal at Home program, for example, a 75-year-old who wants coverage of in-home and facility care would pay an entry fee of roughly $50,000 and monthly fees of about $650, says Lynne Giacobbe, executive director. Ask if the fees can go up, and by how much, and whether any part of the entrance fee is refundable. (A portion of nonrefundable fees may be tax-deductible as a prepaid medical expense.) Make sure you understand what services are included in those fees, and what might cost you extra. Typically, all members are assigned a "care coordinator" who works with you while you're healthy to meet your wellness goals and coordinates caregivers to help you get back on your feet when you have health problems. The care is generally provided by home health aides, who can help with bathing, grocery shopping, meal preparation and other daily tasks. But you may be charged extra if you need more specialized services such as physical therapy. You may also have to pay extra for educational workshops and transportation to non-medically necessary appointments. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up The value you get from the program, of course, depends partly on your health. Sally Strauss, age 71, of Westlake, Ohio, was healthy when she enrolled in Kendal at Home in 2011. Within months, she had to have open-heart surgery and needed many weeks of care at home. Without the program, "I don't know what I would have done," Strauss says. Gerrie Schmidt, however, hasnt needed any in-home care since signing up with Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based Friends LifeCare eight years ago. But the retired marketing executive has attended workshops on brain health and mindfulness meditation near her home in Philadelphia and made some new friends. "There really is a sense of community in addition to the services they provide," says Schmidt, age 70. If you already have long-term-care insurance, a gold-plated continuing-care-at-home program "may be a belt-and-suspenders strategy," says James Ciprich, a financial planner at RegentAtlantic, in Morristown, N.J. But it may make sense to add a stripped-down continuing-care-at-home contract that provides only care coordination. Although continuing-care-at-home programs offer something akin to insurance, they're not always regulated by state insurance departments or subject to strict financial standards. Ask to see a copy of audited financial statements, and ask a financial adviser or accountant to help you evaluate them. Ask how many members are in the program. If it's a very low number--perhaps less than 100--just a handful of people needing long-term care could hurt the financial viability of the program, Ciprich says. Generally, the programs work to keep members at home for as long as they wish, although conditions such as advanced dementia may require a move to a facility. Since the goal is to "age in place," you may want to ask how many program members wind up in facilities. At Friends LifeCare, for example, just 33 of 2,500 members are in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities, says president Carol Barbour. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: The OSCE monitoring held on the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops passed without incidents, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said. The monitoring was held Oct. 5 under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative on the line of contact near Gulustan village of Azerbaijans Goranboy district. On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring was held by personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk and his field assistants Hristo Hristov and Peter Svedberg. On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring was held by desk officer for Armenia and Azerbaijan of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Klaus Keller, field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Ghenadie Petrica and Simon Tiller. 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. By Swati Pandey and Charlotte Greenfield SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar edged ahead on Wednesday as investors cheered better-than-expected retail sales data after months of tepid growth, while Brexit concerns lifted the Aussie to its highest against the pound in more than three years. The Australian dollar rose 0.26 percent to $0.7636, but still clocked a 10th straight session trapped in a 76 to 77 U.S. cent band after again failing to break higher on Tuesday. Australian retail sales grew 0.4 percent in August, double forecasts and a relief after a flat July. "The outlook for retail sales from a macroeconomic perspective remains positive, without the likelihood of breaking any speed records," said National Australia Bank Economist Tapas Strickland. The sales data may provide some comfort to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) with the futures market pricing in only a 24 percent chance of another cut after the central bank held rates at a record low 1.5 percent on Tuesday. The Aussie continued its winning streak elsewhere. It touched a 3-year peak against the pound on growing worries about Britain's impending exit from the European Union. It also held near a one-month high against the yen at 78.51 yen and added 0.5 percent against its New Zealand counterpart , its third straight day of gains. The New Zealand dollar fell on Wednesday to its lowest level since mid-August, dragged down by a reversal in global dairy prices. The kiwi sank to $0.7184, from as high as $0.7286 before the auction, which was held in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The fortnightly Global Dairy Trade auction showed prices for dairy products, the country's largest goods export earner, dipped 3 percent after rising for four consecutive auctions. "A decline at this auction could raise fears that the recent price run-up may be unwound, just like we have seen on a couple of occasions over recent years," said Kim Martin, senior market strategist at BNZ. The recent rebound in dairy was clear in ANZ Bank's commodity price index which jumped 5.1 percent in September. New Zealand government bonds eased, sending yields 6 basis points higher at the long end of the curve. Australian government bond futures slipped in line with U.S. Treasuries. The three-year bond contract fell 4 ticks to 98.44, while the 10-year contract dipped 5 ticks to 97.92. (Reporting by Swati Pandey and Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Eric Meijer) HANOI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0107 GMT. Oct 5 Oct 4 USD/VND mid-point 21,964 21,952 USD/VND interbank 22,305/22,310 22,305/22,310 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.83/36.07 35.85/36.09 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) * Rice prices in India ease as supplies rise * Thai 5-pct broken rice unchanged * Prices in Vietnam edge up on Mekong Delta rain * Vietnam's Jan-Sept rice exports fall to 3.76 mln T By Ho Binh Minh HANOI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Asian rice prices were mixed this week as scattered buying demand and rising supplies kept quotations down in India and unchanged in Thailand, while prices edged up in Vietnam as bad weather disrupted harvesting, traders said on Wednesday. India's five-percent broken parboiled rice prices eased by $3/tonne this week to $365-$375, free-on-board (FOB) basis, amid thin demand and an expected rise in supplies. "Export demand is still weak. African buyers are not active in the market," said an exporter at Kakinada in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh, adding that rain has delayed the harvest in some areas while output was expected to be bumper. The summer-sown output in India, the world's top exporter of the grain, could hit a record 93.88 million tonnes in the crop year to June 2017, as plentiful monsoon rains help boost yields after back-to-back drought years. The country's non-basmati rice exports in April-August, the first five months of its fiscal year, edged up 0.8 percent from a year ago to 3 million tonnes. In Thailand, the benchmark five-percent broken rice stood unchanged in the past week at $365-$370/tonne as on Wednesday, FOB basis, while thin demand has raised concern among traders, they said. "There is no buyer," a trader in Bangkok said. "I'm worried about prices dropping further as new rice comes in." Harvesting of the main crop in Thailand, the world's second-biggest exporter after India, will peak this month, with paddy output projected to rise 4.8 percent from last year to 25.02 million tonnes. In Vietnam, rain in recent days has disrupted harvesting of a minor crop in the Mekong Delta food basket and prevented drying, boosting rice prices slightly, traders said. Quotations of the five-percent broken rice narrowed to $335-$340 a tonne, FOB basis, against $330-$340 last Wednesday, while the 25-percent broken rice rose to $325 a tonne, from $310-$315 a week ago. "Prices are rising as rain has slowed the harvest in the Mekong Delta," a trader at a European firm in Ho Chi Minh City said. Chinese firms are buying sticky rice from Vietnam, and Philippine private traders have also been seeking quotations of Vietnamese rice but have signed no deals yet, traders said. Vietnam's January-September rice exports dropped 16.4 percent from a year ago to an estimated 3.76 million tonnes, the agriculture ministry has said. (Reporting Ho Binh Minh in HANOI; Additional reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in BANGKOK and Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI; Editing by Vyas Mohan) ROME, Oct 5 (Reuters) - It is essential that the European Central Bank keeps in place its Quantitative Easing (QE) asset buying programme to support the euro zone economy, the Bank of Italy said on Wednesday. The ECB has said it will keep the programme in place at until March next year, and for longer if necessary. "The most recent forecasts for the euro zone incorporate a considerable monetary support which, as the ECB Council has reiterated, it is essential to maintain," Bank of Italy executive board member Fabio Panetta told a conference, in reference to QE. The ECB press office said on Tuesday the bank's governing council had not discussed reducing the pace of its monthly bond buying, responding to a Bloomberg article. (Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte, writing by Gavin Jones) NAIROBI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Kenya's private sector activity rose in September on the back of a recovery in tourism and a rise in orders from new export markets, a survey showed on Wednesday. The Markit CFC Stanbic Kenya Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 53.5, unchanged from August, but still well above the 50.0 mark that denotes growth. Jibran Qureishi, regional economist for East Africa at CFC Stanbic Bank, said tourism, a top foreign exchange earner, had improved after the government boosted security following a spate of militant attacks that scared off holidaymakers. He said respondents to the survey had also reported higher export orders from countries like Namibia, Sudan and Ethiopia. "This diversification of export markets will only serve to underpin the Kenyan private sector's resilience," Qureishi said. Kenya's economy expanded by 6.2 percent in the second quarter of this year, up from 5.9 percent in the year ago period, mainly due to a rebound in tourism. - Detailed PMI data are only available under licence from Markit and customers need to apply to Markit for a licence. To subscribe to the full data, click on the link below: For further information, please phone Markit on +44 20 72602454 or email economics@markit.com (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Catherine Evans) HANOI, Oct 5 (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 0420 GMT. Oct 5 Oct 4 USD/VND mid-point 21,964 21,952 USD/VND interbank 22,305/22,307 22,305/22,310 USD/VND unofficial 22,310/22,320 22,300/22,310 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.29/35.56 35.85/36.09 Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.5-1.3 0.6-1.4 1 week 0.5-1.3 0.8-1.5 1 month 1.6-2.4 1.7-2.2 3 months 3.3-4.2 3.3-4.2 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) HANOI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - State-owned Sabeco, Vietnam's biggest brewer, may list on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange by late November or early December, its chief executive said on Wednesday, as the government moves towards loosening its tight grip over one of Asia's most sought-after beer markets. Sabeco, formally known as the Saigon Beer, Alcohol, Beverage Corp, could list all of its shares on the exchange, Le Hong Xanh told Reuters in an interview. He added that all options for the government's stake divestment were being considered and the government had yet to approve any particular course of action. Xanh's comments come a day after a Vietnam deputy minister said listings of Sabeco and smaller brewer Habeco could be delayed until the first quarter of 2017. The brewers' share debuts had been scheduled for the end of 2016. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) (Adds quote) CAIRO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund will discuss Egypt's $12 billion loan programme at an executive board meeting, not at its annual meeting this week, Egypt's deputy finance minister told Reuters on Wednesday. Local media had speculated that the IMF would sign off on the programme, aimed at plugging Egypt's budget deficit and balancing its currency markets at the annual meeting in Washington from Oct.7-9. "Egypt's loan will not be discussed at the annual IMF meeting because this meeting is not intended for executive board members. The executive board meeting will be scheduled later on," Mohamed Meait said. Egypt secured a preliminary agreement for the loan in August, but head of the IMF mission in Cairo Chris Jarvis told Reuters at the time that Egypt would have to secure $5-6 billion in bilateral financing before the board grants final approval. The United Arab Emirates agreed in August to give Egypt's central bank a $1 billion deposit for six years, and Cairo has been in talks with Saudi Arabia to secure a new deposit worth $2 billion-$3 billion. It is also in talks with China. The IMF has not commented on whether these outstanding pledges are sufficient. (Reporting by Ehab Farouk; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) (Adds manufacturing survey, analyst, background) JOHANNESBURG, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Business confidence in South Africa fell to its lowest in three decades in September, reflecting uncertainty about the outlook for Africa's most industrialised economy, a survey showed on Wednesday. South African companies are struggling to stay afloat due to sluggish economic growth since a 2009 recession. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (SACCI) monthly business index dipped to 90.3 in September from 92.9 in August, its worst showing since July 1985. "The general overview of the demand side of the economy suggests a tight economic situation for all subjects of the economy, including consumers, investors and the public sector," SACCI said. "The most pressing of the present situation is the lack of confidence by, notably, investors." Investors have been nervous about Pretoria's commitment to sound economic policies since Zuma changed finance ministers twice in less than a week in December, without explanation. An ongoing police probe into current Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has further hurt sentiment. "Business confidence is unlikely to show any signs of a recovery until the grave concerns surrounding Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan are put to bed," said Paul Sirani, chief market analyst at Xtrade. "There could still be worse to come with fears rising over a possible credit downgrade as dark clouds continue to hover over South Africa." AngloGold Ashanti's chairman, Sipho Pityana, on Wednesday became the latest business leader to call on Zuma to resign, labelling him the "sponsor in chief" of corruption. A manufacturing survey on Wednesday showed the private sector returned to growth for the first time in four months in September but was barely above the 50 mark dividing expansion from contraction. (Reporting by Stella Mapenzauswa; Editing by Joe Brock) The ferry Hiyu sits at the Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility in May. The Hiyu is being auctioned by the Washington State Ferries. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN file) SHARE The ferry Evergreen State at the Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island in January 2015. The Evergreen State is being auctioned off by the Washington State Ferries. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun BAINBRIDGE ISLAND Want to buy a houseboat with a 34-car garage? How about 87 cars? Washington State Ferries placed two retired vessels up for auction Tuesday for the price of a house. The Hiyu, which the system outgrew, is going for $300,000; the Evergreen State, which grew too old, for $450,000. Both can be viewed at Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island. Built in 1967, the 34-car Hiyu still has some life left in it, by ship standards. The state expects its ferries to operate for 60 years. The Hiyu served the smaller Point Defiance-Tahlequah and interisland routes until even they had too many travelers. It also is slow, topping out at 9 knots. The Hiyu was mothballed for more than 10 years but returned in 2007 as an emergency replacement because the state didn't have a backup boat. It last sailed July 23, 2015, providing supplemental service on the Southworth-Vashon Island-Fauntleroy route. The Evergreen State, built in 1954, was the oldest ferry in the fleet. Its sister ships, Klahowya (1958) and Tillikum (1959), continue to operate but will be the next to go when two 144-car vessels under construction join the fleet. The Evergreen State can carry 87 cars, 594 passengers and travel at up to 13 knots. It's unlikely it or the Hiyu, which has a 199-person capacity, will be used again as passenger vessels because they require crew of 11 and five, respectively. The state estimates it could get $462,000 from scrapping the boats but would prefer not to. "We're hoping at least one of them will sell," said WSF spokesman Ian Sterling, noting there has been interest. "The Hiyu could be useful. It's a little more modern than the Evergreen State." The last ferry that was purchased from surplus was the Rhododendron. It was sold for $275,000 in 2013 to a British Columbia scallop-growing company for use as an operations support vessel. "We get some funny inquiries," Sterling said of boat uses. "Usually what shuts it down is moorage and crewing not being easy to come by. "By the time we retire boats, they're old, so a lot of them do end up going to scrap, but every once in a while somebody can find a use for them. That's what we like to see if at all possible." Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: Azerbaijans Permanent Mission to the OSCE told Trend Oct. 5 that it expressed concern over illegal economic and other activities by natural and legal persons of the OSCE participating states in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. As it was underlined at the OSCE Permanent Councils meeting on Sept. 8, it is necessary for the OSCE participating states concerned to take proper measures to reverse such activity in line with their international commitments, in particular those taken within the OSCE framework, read the statement of the Azerbaijani mission to the OSCE. Such a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms with respect to Azerbaijani population is in itself gross violation of our shared OSCE commitments, says the statement. It is equally notorious to misuse noble notion of humanitarian assistance to conceal the true essence of illegal activities, according to the statement. The permanent mission also noted that Azerbaijan has on numerous occasions presented countless facts proving that economic and other activity by third country nationals is misused by Armenia to generate financial and other means to sustain its occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, including for promotion of illegal settlement of Armenians in those territories. These activities, directly or indirectly, are changing the demographic composition in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by increasing the number of Armenians and preventing the return of expelled Azerbaijanis to their homes and properties, says the statement. Such a policy can in no way be considered as humanitarian in nature and consistent with human rights standards. In light of the above-mentioned, we reiterate our call on the OSCE participating states concerned to take urgent and effective measures to prevent any activity of their natural and legal persons in the occupied Azerbaijani territories taking into account their relevant OSCE commitments, added the mission. 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. Details added (first version posted at 11:56) Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received credentials of the newly appointed Romanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Dan Iancu Oct. 5. The ambassador reviewed a guard of honor and Iancu presented his credentials to President Aliyev. President Aliyev then had a conversation with the ambassador. Describing Azerbaijan and Romania as strategic partners, the president highlighted Azerbaijan's interest in expanding cooperation between the two countries and strengthening partnership in bilateral format as well as within the EU-Azerbaijan and NATO-Azerbaijan relations. Recalling his visits to Romania, President Aliyev described the country as one of the closest partners of Azerbaijan in Europe. The president noted that many people in Azerbaijan are well aware of Romania, and underlined their respect for the country. The ambassador conveyed the best wishes of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to President Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan. He described the two countries as strategic partners. The Romanian diplomat said that in Azerbaijan he saw development and huge potential, as well as the magnificence of Baku. He characterized Azerbaijan as a country with a rich and ancient history and culture, which is located on the crossroads of the East and West, South and North. Hailing long-running traditions of tolerance in Azerbaijan, Iancu described the visit of Pope Francis to the country as a manifestation of respect to tolerance, diversity and harmony in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev wished Iancu success, expressing his hope that the ambassador`s diplomatic tenure will give him a good opportunity to meet with people and familiarize himself with the country. The president underlined active work carried out in Azerbaijan in the fields of cultural diversity and multiculturalism. President Aliyev thanked for the greetings of President Iohannis and asked the ambassador to extend his greetings to him. President Aliyev also received credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Azerbaijan Yusif bin Hasan Yusif al-Sai. President Aliyev had a conversation with the ambassador. The ambassador conveyed greetings of the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to President Aliyev, Azerbaijan and its people. Describing Qatar as a friendly country for Azerbaijan, the ambassador noted that supported by President Aliyev, he will spare no efforts to contribute to further development of friendly ties between the two countries. Expressing his satisfaction with the successful development of Azerbaijan-Qatar relations, President Aliyev hailed friendly and fraternal ties between the two countries. The president recalled Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's official visit to Azerbaijan, describing it as successful and noting that fruitful discussions were held during the meetings. The president also underlined his meetings with the Emir of the State of Qatar on the sidelines of a number of international forums and hailed the importance of their exchange of views on bilateral relations and regional issues. The sides emphasized the huge potential for cooperation between the two countries in a number of areas, particularly in agricultural and tourism fields, stressing the importance of increasing efforts in this regard. President Aliyev thanked for the greetings of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and asked the ambassador to extend his greetings to him. President Aliyev also received credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Azerbaijan Javad Jahangirzadeh. President Aliyev had a conversation with the ambassador. Hailing relations between Azerbaijan and Iran, the president said that the bilateral ties are rapidly developing in all areas. Describing it as a manifestation of the will of the two countries` presidents, President Aliyev stressed the importance of reciprocal visits of the Iranian and Azerbaijani presidents, and the agreements reached during these trips. The president noted that Azerbaijan is interested in strengthening friendly and fraternal ties with Iran even further. The president wished Jahangirzadeh success in his diplomatic activities, and expressed hope that he will spare no efforts to contribute to the development of Azerbaijan-Iran relations. Jahangirzadeh conveyed greetings of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani to President Aliyev. He said President Rouhani called President Aliyev one of his closest friends and brothers. The ambassador noted that the political will of the two countries` presidents will lie at the heart of his efforts to develop relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. Jahangirzadeh said he will do his utmost to develop the bilateral ties, expressing hope that his efforts will be supported by President Aliyev. The sides discussed the issues related to the expansion of the bilateral cooperation in various areas, particularly in the fields of security, transport, infrastructure projects, agriculture and tourism. President Aliyev thanked for the greetings of President Rouhani, and asked the ambassador to extend his greetings to him. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: Azerbaijan has started promoting the Made in Azerbaijan brand in foreign markets. Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree Oct. 5 to approve the The rule of defining and regulating the mechanism of paying a part of the expenditures from state budget, organizing export missions to foreign countries, exploring foreign markets and marketing activities, promoting Made in Azerbaijan brand in foreign markets, local companies receiving certificates and patents in foreign countries for export, research programs and projects for development of export. The decree also approves the form of the report On the work carried out to encourage the export of non-oil products of Azerbaijani origin. In order to finance the support measures envisaged in the above-mentioned rule, 3 million manats have been allocated from the Azerbaijani Presidents Reserve Fund in the 2016 State Budget. Growing. Thriving. Prospering. Black entrepreneurs make Knoxville proud! Knox News reporters and photographers have spent the last year reporting the stories of local Black-owned businesses. SHARE By News Sentinel Staff The Tennessee Supreme Court ordered a Campbell County lawyer be disbarred this week after authorities said he mishandled client funds from a trust account. Wesley Lynn Hatmaker, of Jacksboro, Tenn., took money from the trust account, allowed his wife to write checks on client funds and lied to a judge to cover it up, according to a news release from the state Board of Professional Responsibility, which polices lawyers. Hatmaker also "failed to communicate with and diligently represent a client," according to the release. Hatmaker must pay back the amount in full as a condition of his reinstatement, according to the release. More details as they develop online and in Wednesday's News Sentinel. Michael Raulston takes the witness stand as a photograph of his stepfather, Kenneth Koster is displayed on the screen during the trial of Monica Briggs on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the Campbell County Courthouse. Briggs is on trial for the Sept. 8, 2014 shooting death of Kenneth Koster. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE Michael Raulston is the first witness called to the stand during the trial of Monica Briggs on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the Campbell County Courthouse. Briggs is on trial for the Sept. 8, 2014 shooting death of her boss, Kenneth Koster. Raulston is Kenneth Koster's stepson. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) Assistant Public Defender Bill Jones during opening statements for the trial of Monica Briggs on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the Campbell County Courthouse for the Sept. 8, 2014 shooting death of her boss, Kenneth Koster, 45, inside a shed in Caryville, Tenn. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Cadle gives the opening statement for the trial of Monica Briggs at the Campbell County Courthouse on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 for the 2014 shooting death of her boss, Kenneth Koster. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) Monica Briggs is in trial on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the Campbell County Courthouse for the Sept. 8, 2014 shooting death of her boss, Kenneth Koster. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel JACKSBORO, Tenn. It was an odd promise, coming from the lips of the man tasked with defending a Knoxville woman facing a murder charge. "You're going to hate her guts at the end of the trial," Assistant Public Defender Bill Jones told jurors Tuesday during opening statements in the trial of his client, Monica Leigh-Ann Briggs, in Campbell County Criminal Court. Jones was forced to concede as much by Briggs herself, whose own words to authorities about the September 2014 shooting that killed Kenneth G. Koster, 45, of Knoxville, are the state's best evidence against her. But Jones added one more assertion Briggs, he said, is no killer. "I'm not here to tell you she's a good person," Jones said. "You're going to think she's terrible. But that doesn't make her guilty of first-degree murder." Briggs, 38, is seated alone at the defense table, charged with first-degree murder and felony murder in Koster's death. The man who prosecutors acknowledge fired the first two of three shots to Koster's head Briggs' beau, James Bradley Phillips is dead. A Pigeon Forge Police Department sergeant fatally shot Phillips inside a Wendy's restaurant on the Parkway during a packed rod-run weekend in that city just days after Koster's death and while the couple were on the run. Jones and Public Defender Leif Jeffers contend Phillips was the real bad guy, forcing Briggs to not only go along with his murderous plans but to fire the third shot. But Assistant District Attorney General Lindsey Cadle told jurors that Briggs was a willing partner who shopped for bullets and gloves, lured Koster to his death, helped try to cover up the killing and enjoyed sexual trysts with Phillips while the pair traipsed from motel to motel in hiding. "The defendant wants you to think she's trapped, under his control," Cadle told jurors. Koster had hired Briggs to work at a contractor supply business in Knoxville. The two grew close. Jones said Koster and Briggs both were drug addicts. Briggs met Phillips in the summer of 2014, and he introduced her to methamphetamine. Koster, Jones said, began partaking of that drug, too. In late August 2014, Koster had loaned Briggs and Phillips an ex-con whose real name Koster did not know his vehicle, cash, his bank card and a gun to make a run to Kentucky to buy meth. But the vehicle broke down, and Koster had to go get them. According to Cadle, Koster began stewing over the couple's failure to get his vehicle back to him and threatened to go to authorities. Phillips was on parole for making meth and told Briggs that Koster would have to die because he wasn't going back to prison, Cadle said. On Sept. 8, 2014, Koster was seated in a chair inside a shed on Phillips' mother's property in Caryville, Tenn., where Phillips had been living. Cadle said Briggs sat down at Koster's feet, and Koster began rubbing her shoulders. Phillips walked up behind Koster and shot him in the back of the head, Cadle said, then fired a second shot into his ear. The defense concedes Briggs fired a third shot into Koster's other ear although her lawyer said Koster was already dead and insists Phillips forced her to do so to keep her from going to authorities. The couple were high on meth. Prior court testimony has shown their bid to hide Koster's body proved disastrous and the couple simply abandoned the body near the shed. They also wound up abandoning Phillips' vehicle with lots of bloody evidence, including Koster's and Briggs' identification inside in Anderson County. Authorities found the vehicle before investigators even knew Koster was dead. For the next five days, the couple hid out in various motels before winding up at the Wendy's in Pigeon Forge, where police say they thought Phillips was armed and about to shoot, so officers killed him. He wasn't. The officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing. The trial continues Wednesday. SHARE By Tyler Whetstone, tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com More than 100 University of Tennessee students marched and chanted across campus Tuesday to show solidarity with minority students and to air grievances against an administration they said has not done enough to help marginalized students. March leader and UT Diversity Matters spokeswoman Colleen Ryan, a senior, said the protest was intended to get the administration's attention after officials' failure to fix core issues on campus over the past year. Ryan said the administration has not done enough recently to confront such issues as the vandalism of flags at the UT Pride Center and UT law professor and USA TODAY columnist Glenn Reynolds' "run them down" tweet that urged drivers to run over demonstrators blocking traffic in Charlotte, N.C. when protests and violence erupted in the wake of a black man's shooting by police. Reynolds has apologized for the tweet. "The last year has been really hard for marginalized students on campus, and we've seen a lack of response from the administration addressing the root causes of that sort of violence," Ryan said. She said members of the UT Diversity Matters coalition want to see required sensitivity training and quicker responses from UT's administration when acts of violence or intimidation occur on campus. A statement released by the group prior to the march said groups of students no longer feel safe on campus. "Marginalized students do not feel safe, yet our university continues to allow and, in their silence and inaction, encourage this environment of hostility," the statement said. "When they do release statements, those statements are empty and even victim blaming." UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek met with and walked behind the protesting students during the march. He said he came to listen. "I think everyone has the freedom of speech and the First Amendment, and we certainly support that completely," Cheek said. "And I'm just here to listen to what they say." He said diversity is a moving target for a school like UT. "When I came here, I said diversity was important to us, and we've made significant progress as we measure diversity on campus, but we've still got a long ways to go just like most places," Cheek said. John Hodges, a professor emeritus of religious studies and African studies who taught at UT for 28 years, said he commended Cheek for coming out to the march, but that the administration should do more to help marginalized students whether they be black, like himself, or any other minority. "You must keep in mind that I am a child of the 1960s and I've done a lot of protesting for causes that we always thought were righteous," he said. "And I want to make sure here that diversity does matter and that the university ought to do everything to make everybody feel welcomed. "We definitely need to have an atmosphere where everybody feels welcome. That's very important. I believe in that to the core." Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: As a country which itself strongly suffered from the 25 years of unresolved conflict, Azerbaijan full-heartedly understands Afghanistans problems, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Mammadyarov made the remarks Oct. 5 at the EU Conference on Afghanistan in Brussels, Belgium. We all have to extend to Afghanistan our support in all their endeavors and challenges, he said. Azerbaijan is among probably the first, closest, and most active supporters of Afghanistan to this end, noted the minister. We do it mostly bilaterally through the constant talks and meeting with Afghan authorities, but also through other international platforms, including at NATO, he added. We continue providing substantial training for Afghan security personnel, government employees, de-mining and other activities, including education, said Mammadyarov. Less than a month ago, President Aliyev approved Azerbaijan-Afghanistan agreement on a multimillion assistance mostly in security area. Its implementation is already underway. Our troops serve at the Resolute Support Mission and we rend financial assistance to Afghan Army through the NATO Trust Fund, noted the minister. My country is a major transit route for international operations in Afghanistan and at some point more than 30 percent of entire transit for ISAF was via Azerbaijan. He added that Azerbaijan has always championed beefing up security efforts with economic development. Reviving ancient Silk Road can do exactly that, he said. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey are completing Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, which in conjunction with a new international seaport near Baku and involvement of Central Asian countries will put Afghanistan right in the middle of the transit link between Far East and North Europe. Azerbaijan is committed to continue its full support to Afghan-led state and institution building as it is clearly indicated in the final communique of our todays conference, added Mammadyarov. SHARE The price Tennesseans are paying for drug abuse is rising. Drugged driving has surpassed drunk driving as a factor in fatal traffic deaths in Tennessee, with the number of crashes involving drivers under the influence of drugs rising a startling 89 percent from 2010 to 2015. Experts attribute the surge to increasing abuse of prescription painkillers, though fatal crashes attributed to drug use are caused by a wide range of substances. According to a USA TODAY Network analysis of Tennessee Highway Patrol data, 174 people died last year in crashes in which a driver either tested positive for drugs or an officer determined drugs contributed to the crash. One hundred thirty-six died in wrecks involving alcohol. The numbers should compel officials to redouble efforts to stem the tide of drug abuse in Tennessee. The traffic fatality analysis and a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association show overdoses are not the only danger associated with drug abuse. The study of more than 45,000 Medicaid patients in Tennessee, The Associated Press reported, indicates prescription drug use may contribute to heart-related deaths and other fatalities. The patients using opioids had a 64 percent higher risk of dying within six months of starting treatment compared to patients taking other prescription pain medicine. New federal guidelines recommend physicians use non-narcotic pain treatments before prescribing opioids. In Tennessee, a state with 6.5 million residents, health care practitioners wrote more than 7.8 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers last year. Though the state has begun addressing opioid abuse, more resources and programs are needed. Dr. Keith Anderson, president of the Tennessee Medical Association, told the News Sentinel that more money should be put toward addiction treatment, especially in rural areas. Tennessee now has a database to track prescriptions, but it is not coordinated with other states' databases. That is a particular concern in Memphis, he said, where people can quickly dash to pharmacies in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. Pinpointing drugs as the cause of a crash is not easy. There is no blood concentration level for drugs as there is for alcohol, and the tide of drug tests has swamped TBI crime labs, which take about six months to complete the tests. Through its Drug Recognition Expert Program, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office has certified about 115 officers to identify drug-impaired drivers and serve as expert witnesses in court. Jack Arnold, an assistant district attorney for the counties northwest of Nashville, said he expects Tennessee lawmakers soon will take a shot at setting standards for drug levels. If legislators take this tack, they should base any standards on science that takes into account drug levels in people with legitimate prescriptions for medical conditions. Gov. Bill Haslam and the Legislature need to find ways to fund more treatment programs, expand TBI lab capacity, coordinate prescription tracking efforts with other states and provide more training for law enforcement officers. The cost in dollars would be outweighed by the savings in lives. SHARE Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee would like to thank Gov. Bill Haslam for recognizing October as Careers in Construction Month in Tennessee. Construction has provided fulfilling, family-supporting careers for American workers for generations. However, industry growth, an aging workforce and a lack of emphasis on the lucrative construction career track in our schools has contributed to a shortage of skilled workers in the industry. This shortage is projected to reach 1.1 million skilled workers over the next decade, according to the Construction Labor Market Analyzer. That's why ABC of Greater Tennessee has committed over the next year to work with our area schools on promoting the trades within our local high schools and promoting careers in construction. Construction is one of the few industries where an entry-level employee can earn a paycheck while training for a specific career. Once training is completed, skilled craftsmen and women receive industry-recognized credentials and marketable skills that will help them triumph as highly skilled professionals in the construction industry, all without accumulating student loan debt. ABC is committed to developing the next generation of American skilled craft professionals, as evidenced by our members' $1.1 billion national annual investment in workforce development. Proclamations such as Haslam's help us raise awareness of the career opportunities available. If you are considering a career in construction, we encourage you to visit www.abctennessee.com to find out more about training programs in the state of Tennessee. Clay Crownover, regional director, East Tennessee, Associated Builders and Contractors, Knoxville Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: For Azerbaijan, Pope Franciss visit was part of a broader vision to become a great crossroads of nations and cultures, which has resulted in a strategy of promoting multiculturalism and internationalism in many forms, Wade Shepard, Forbes contributor, said in his article. Azerbaijan has been very active in hosting an array of international events, which have included the 2015 European Games, the 2016 European Grand Prix Formula One race, the World Chess Olympics, and Eurovision, Shepard said. Baku even built an entire Olympic village and other facilities in hopes of eventually hosting the worlds biggest sporting event. Shepard added that sitting to the north of Iran, to the east of Georgia, and to the south of Russia, Azerbaijan has always been a crossroads of nations, cultures, and religions. The country was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road, the article said. Azerbaijan is enacting a multi-vector policy of establishing friendly relations with countries from all sides of the geopolitical tracks, so to speak, concurrently dealing with Israel and Iran, the U.S. and China, Ukraine and Russia, Shepard said. Pope Francis also congratulated Azerbaijan for creating a religiously tolerant atmosphere and for cultivating a society that has largely avoided extremism, the article said. Shepard added that Pope Francis praised Azerbaijan as a model for a world divided by violent extremism for the sake of encouraging religious tolerance in the region where Catholics are a minority. By Lee Hyo-sik The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) is facing the biggest crisis in its 55-year history, as more and more people are calling for the dissolution of the lobby, which primarily represents the interests of the country's family-controlled conglomerates. Opposition parties and progressive civic groups have been demanding that the FKI be dismantled due to its involvement in a series of controversies in which it allegedly acted as a private-sector apparatus promoting the policies of the President Park Geun-hye administration. Now, conservative think tanks and even some FKI member companies have begun speaking against the organization, which was set up in 1961 after a military coup by former President Park Chung Hee. FKI has often been at the center of many scandals over the years as it raised funds from large businesses for those in power in exchange for the government's chaebol-friendly economic policies. The Institute for Future State (IFS), a conservative think tank headed by Kim Kwang-doo, issued a joint statement with the progressive Solidarity for Economic Reform, Tuesday, calling for the dismantling of FKI. Kim served as one of President Park's key economic advisors during the 2012 presidential election. The two institutes called on FKI member companies to disband the lobby, arguing that it has no more roles to play. "FKI has failed to regain the public trust even if it tried to clear suspicions surrounding the Mir Foundation and the K-Sports Foundation," they said. "Its existence has become a burden for its members and doesn't play any positive role for the Korean economy. We urge member firms to dissolve FKI." Over the past few weeks, the lobby has been facing criticism for raising funds from member firms to create the two controversial foundations, which critics say are run by people close to President Park. Early this year, FKI also drew strong protest from opposition parties and liberal civic groups for giving money to the right-wing Korea Parent Federation in return for allegedly organizing pro-government rallies. On Wednesday, Rep. Lee Un-ju of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea criticized the Korea Development Bank (KDB), the Export-Import Bank of Korea, Korea Electric Power Corp. and 16 other public enterprises for paying membership fees to FKI, which has more than 600 fee-paying members. "It is hard to understand that these state-run companies have been paying FKI, an interest group for conglomerates, for years," Rep. Lee said. "It is unthinkable that they give taxpayer money to FKI, which spends it for chaebol. Public companies should immediately leave the lobby." During the National Assembly's audit of government agencies, Tuesday, KDB Chairman Lee Dong-geol said he will consider canceling the bank's FKI membership. Opposition parties have been stepping up their pressure on FKI to break up voluntarily, claiming that it is a symbol for the cozy politics-business ties in the past. Rep. Park Young-sun of the Minjoo Party of Korea said that FKI has been involved in numerous illicit dealings with those in power over the decades. "FKI has become a lobby for special interests, orchestrating many politically-motivated activities. I think now is the time for the organization to disappear." The People's Party also issued a statement, demanding FKI dissolve itself. "It is not a business group but a political organization. We want it to be dismantled immediately." In response, FKI officials said they have nothing to say, adding that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. By Jhoo Dong-chan Hyundai Motor called for its union workers to return to work and resume negotiations over a wage hike, hinting the nation's largest carmaker may surrender to their all-out strike again this year after suffering trillions of won worth of reduced car production. According to industry observers, Tuesday, Hyundai Motor said in an official letter to striking union workers that "a number of small and medium-sized businesses plan to stage a boycott of Hyundai Motor cars while the government is reviewing the plan to take an emergency arbitration measure due to the prolonged labor dispute." The company added, "We should consider every option to normalize our production line and find the middle ground through dialogue. Let's resume the negotiation for a wage hike this week to conclude it as soon as possible." In response, the union workers immediately held a committee meeting, and have decided to end their strike and return to work until Oct. 11. The union, however, conditioned that if negotiations are not concluded by Oct. 12, it will instantly resume the all-out strike for a wage hike until Oct. 14. Instead of staging a massive walkout, the union leaders set up a tent to hold a rally in front of the Ulsan plant, Wednesday. They also staged an overnight sit-in in front of Hyundai Motor headquarters in Yangjae-dong, southern Seoul, on the day. They will also visit Ulsan Metropolitan City Hall, Thursday, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor in the Sejong Government Complex on the following day to demonstrate their struggle for a wage hike. Union workers also warned that if the government intervenes by issuing an emergency arbitration measure, they will immediately hold a committee meeting to discuss holding another all-out strike. Hyundai Motor's union has refused to work overnight and staged walkouts 24 times this year since May 24. A series of the workers' walkouts have reportedly cost the carmaker more than 2.9 trillion won ($ 2.51 billion), or 131,000 cars of reduced production. Apart from Hyundai Motor's loss, a total of 380 Hyundai Motor subcontractors, mostly small and medium-sized businesses, suffered approximately 1.3 trillion won in sales losses. In late August, the company's union and management tentatively reached a collective bargaining agreement, under which the company would increase the base monthly salary by 58,000 won, raise annual bonuses by 350 percent and offer a 3.3 million won one-time bonus, among other things. But 78.05 percent of the union workers voted down the agreement, sending wage negotiations back to square one. Union leaders then asked the company for more concessions, which management refused. The union workers then began their first all-out strike in 12 years, paralyzing the domestic production plants of the nation's largest carmaker in Ulsan, Asan and Jeonju. By Jhoo Dong-chan GM Korea is gearing up to export the all-new popular Chevrolet Malibu sedans manufactured at its Bupyeong plant, Incheon, to the Middle East, expanding the automaker's global presence. According to industry sources, the U.S.- automaker's Korea unit exported some 900 cars to the region in August and 1,493 cars in September. GM Korea also expects to ship more than 1,000 cars this month. Major Gulf Coast countries, including Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, along with Saudi Arabia, imported the locally manufactured GM cars in September, and the all-new Malibu midsize sedan will join the list in the middle of October. The sources added that all of the Malibu sedans exported to the Middle East will be manufactured in Korea. GM Korea expects that exporting the Malibu to the region will boost the company's overseas sales. GM Korea's sales report said that since the locally made car started to be sold in the Middle East in August, the automaker's export performance in the midsize sedan division has surged by 206.3 percent in the month compared to the same period last year. It also spiked 211.7 percent in September year-on-year. "The all-new Malibu sedan is expected to expand its popularity in the Middle East as it did in North America, China and Korea," said a GM Korea official. "The all-new Malibu exported to the region will contribute to raise GM Korea's position as a global automaker." The automaker's only concern is declining consumption in the domestic market. Although GM Korea sold a total of 127,990 cars domestically in the January-September period this year, up by 12.3 percent year-on-year, its sales performance has started to decline with the termination of the government's consumption tax cut in July. GM Korea sold 14,078 cars domestically in September, a 14.1 percent decline compared to the same period last year. Of them, the all-new Malibu reportedly sold some 5,000 cars while 7,000 cars are ready to be delivered. "As the management and union have recently reached a tentative agreement over wages, GM Korea will do its best to maintain its domestic performance to dispel such concerns," said the automaker. The all-new Malibu was unveiled here, April 27, with GM Korea Vice President Dale Sullivan's confidently saying it will be the top seller in the nation's mid-sized sedan market. The Malibu's sporty design received favorable responses from the market, attracting not only traditional sedan buyers in their 40s and 50s but also young motorists in their 20s and 30s. 6,000 orders were made for the car in four days following its introduction. By Nam Hyun-woo The financial regulator is focusing its investigation of Hanmi Pharmaceutical, suspected of being part of an insider trading scandal, on finding out who reaped gains from massive short selling just minutes before the collapse of a major licensing deal was announced, officials said Wednesday. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is looking into whether institutional investors were aware of the termination of an 850 billion won drug cancer license deal between Hanmi and Boehringer Ingelheim before the former announced it Sept. 30 at 9:28 a.m. "The team has conducted an on-site investigation at Hanmi headquarters and seized Hanmi officials' mobile phones to find out whether there was trading through non-public information," said Ryu Jae-hun, who heads the investigation team. Besides institutional investors, the FSC does not rule out the possibility of top managers of Hanmi Pharm or their family members reaping illicit stock gains using insider information. The probe came after the Korea Exchange (KRX), the country's bourse operator, said that 50,471 Hanmi shares were the target of the suspicious short selling during the 28 minutes between the market opening at 9 a.m., and the time of Hanmi's posting. The volume is about half of the entire 104,327 Hanmi shares sold short on the day. The entire volume is also more than the 20 times the Hanmi average daily short-selling volume this year. This raised suspicions that the information was leaked to securities firms and asset management companies so that they could benefit from the margin coming from short selling. Short selling refers to a trading strategy in which an investor sells borrowed shares in anticipation of a price decline. After the decline, the investor can buy the shares at a lower price and gain from the margin. In Korea, those who borrow shares must return them within three days. The KRX tally shows that the average price of Hanmi short selling on Sept. 30 was 594,700 won. Traders who bought back Hanmi at the closing price of 508,000 won could have enjoyed a 14 percent return. "The average short selling shows that a significant volume of short sales were done before Hanmi's announcement," said a local asset management company official, who declined to be named. Short selling is a legitimate stock trading strategy, but it has been a target of criticism because it mostly benefits institutional investors, such as asset management companies, securities firms and foreign hedge funds which are better informed and capable of taking advantage of market changes. To protect individual investors, the KRX introduced a public announcement system on short selling in June. In the system, investors who hold a massive volume of short-selling balance must identify themselves. However in the system, most of those who have identified themselves were securities firms and brokerages. Since foreign hedge funds and other investors sign contracts with those brokers and evade tracking, it is hard to confirm who was behind the short selling unless those brokers reveal their contract partners. Such contracts make securities companies into principal agents of short selling, while actual investors pay commissions to the brokerage houses and take profits. Of the total 455 postings on the massive holders of short-selling balance as of Sept. 28, 254 postings were made by Morgan Stanley International PLC. Merril Lynch International and Goldman Sachs Internationals also accounted for a majority of postings. A spokesman for Morgan Stanley was unavailable to comment on a request for it to disclose its contract partners immediately. The system shows holders' names three trading days after their trade, meaning whoever directly engaged in Hanmi short sales will be revealed Thursday evening, according to a KRX official. "The Net" poster By Park Jin-hai Korean indie film virtuoso Kim Ki-duk returned to the big screen with a new psychological drama "The Net." This time, Kim expanded into an ideology-swept society beyond focusing on human relations as he did in previous movies. The controversial director won international acclaim with the blunt depiction of violence and paradox in marginalized people's lives. His movies include "Pieta," a cruel story about a mother and a son and the family sex tragedy "Moebius." Kim's 22nd movie and probably the most publicly friendly one tells the tale of a North Korean fisherman Nam Chul-woo, played by Ryoo Seung-beom, who accidentally drifts into South Korean waters. Nam is interrogated by South Korean National Intelligence Service officials under the suspicions that he might be a North Korean spy. As suspicions are lifted, he is forced to become a defector Nam keeps on saying that his only hope is to return to his family in the North, South Korean intelligence agents take him in the bustling tourist area Myeongdong to lure him with the affluence of capitalism. With his desperation not to see anything in the South, he shuts his eyes all the way to the streets so that he has "nothing to tell" until he is forced to open his eyes. Nam happens to see a teddy bear in the show window but the video footage of his outing was leaked to the media and wrapped up as praise for capitalism. Nam is now tormented that he might have jeopardized the lives of his family in the North. When he finally makes his way home, his homeland was no different from the South. The North Korean officials put him under grueling interrogation, blacklisting him and finally depriving him of his livelihood as a fisherman. Caught in the big net of ideology, where the South brands the North as an authoritarian hell and the North accuses the South as rotten capitalism, Nam is a compared to a small fish in the movie struggling to escape from the net but gets critically damaged. The film, which stands in line with the director's former works of "Poongsan" (2011) and "Red Family" (2013), is straight forward political symbolism, centering on three main characters, each of whom represents a specific generation's view on inter-Korean matters. The senior NIS official is a staunch believer who thinks it is his duty to liberate Nam who has been brainwashed under the dictatorship; the mid-level official, whose father was a Korean War veteran, labels Nam as a potential spy punishes the communist out of personal revenge; and the youngest official empathizes with Nam and his desire to return to his home. Director Kim, whose late father was a wounded war veteran, said he made this film to reflect the sad reality of the two Koreas and raise awareness on inter-Korean issues. "My father had suffered for a long time from the wound he sustained during the war. Personal antipathy toward the North influenced me to volunteer for the South Korean Navy. But I realized that personal rage cannot solve the issue," said the 55-year-old director during a recent interview with local media. "Now no one living today is free from the inter-Korean issue since many people accuse others for the reason. (Lost in the ideological fight), people lose direction and push themselves into more turmoil." He says he made the film for the future generation. "When the generations that survived the Korean War passes away, I'm worried that the two Koreas (in a ceasefire armistice) could become separate countries or become reduced to a battle field for world superpowers. I wish through the film, we all, including the young generations in particular, should reflect on where we are and strive to find solutions," he said. This thought provoking film, however, might feel a little mundane for Kim's devoted fans who expect smartly portrayed modernism and provocative vocalism in his movies. "The Net" hits local theaters Thursday. Chung Kyung-wha speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap By Yun Suh-young Violinist Chung Kyung-wha returned from a 15-year hiatus with "Sonatas & Partitas Bach - Kyung Wha Chung" released Wednesday by Warner Classics. Her previous Brahms' violin concerto album with conductor Simon Rattle was released in 2001. The new album contains six of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas from No. 1 to 3, a monumental work of Bach. Chung had recorded parts of this repertoire in 1974 but never recorded the entire work. Forty-two years later, she finally attempted and completed recording the whole repertoire. Chung will be holding a concert next month playing Bach's six pieces from beginning to end in one day. The concert will last three hours and will be a challenge for both the audience and Chung. The piece is like a violin monologue with no other instruments joining in. It is a piece where a single violin performs from beginning to end. Chung had left the stage for five years after pulling a ligament of the index finger on her left hand in 2005 and was unable to perform. In 2010, she recovered from the injury and returned to the stage. Ever since then, however, she only occasionally played on stage due to her on and off pain and physical conditions. Defying her age at 68, she is challenging herself again to complete the Bach repertoire on stage, which is her first attempt ever. "I am so thankful and grateful for being able to perform and record this album which I didn't imagine I would be able to do since my finger injury. I gave up performing and taught at Juilliard and thought that would be my future. But you never know what life brings to you," said Chung during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. "I cannot express how I feel when I'm performing. I'm so happy and it's such an amazing feeling, full of passion and love." Chung said she is particularly honored and delighted to be able to finish the whole repertoire of Bach, whom she had favored all her life. "I have loved Bach ever since the first time I learned violin. His music is timeless and embraceable by any generation and any time period. He is also very pure in spirit. You can feel that in his songs," said Chung. "It's so wonderful and miraculous to be able to deliver the feeling as if I'm in Bach's mind. I wondered what Bach would say to me when he heard me play this piece and I think he would have loved it." Chung has a tight schedule ahead for the next year. She has a duo recording with pianist Kevin Kenner and an orchestra collaboration recording coming up and a performance at the New York's Carnegie Hall in May. When asked if she had any physical difficulties due to her finger or her age, she said "it's always difficult." "Oh, you can't imagine," said Chung. "When I'm up on stage, however, there's this surprisingly strong energy that comes through. I think it's passion. It's a wonderful feeling on stage, but when I'm off stage, I feel like dropping to the ground. Of course I need to consider my physical condition. "I wish I could perform continuously, but complete recovery is the most important thing for me and for the audience. For this recording, I had to take painkillers." To offer the best sound in this album, Chung and her crew sought out locations all across the world and selected St George's Bristol in the southwest of England. Her long-time partner and Grammy-winning producer Stephen Jones participated in the album once again to create the finest sound possible. By Kim Hyo-jin A North Korean diplomat based in Russia defected last month to an unknown country, according to media reports, Friday. The diplomat worked as a trade representative for North Korea in its consular office in Vladivostok. His whereabouts and detailed route of defection have yet to be identified. He reportedly defected with his family sometime in July, around the same time that high-profile North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho defected to Seoul from London. The national Intelligence Service refused to clarify if he came to South Korea or not. The diplomat is known to be a higher-level official than Kim Chol-song, the third secretary and trade representative of the North Korean mission who also defected from St. Petersburg in July. Local sources said that a joint inspection team from North Korea's security and trade departments was sent to Vladivostok following the defection. The team began a full-scale inspection of North Korea missions in Vladivostok, Russia, and China's Changchun, Shenyang and Dandong, according to the sources. Following a series of defections, Pyongyang has canceled plans to send company delegates to Yanji in China near its border for a trade fair slated to begin Sunday, they said. The recent defections followed the U.N. Security Council imposing tougher sanctions on Pyongyang for its nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch the following month. These have stirred anxiety among the North Korean elite working overseas, according to North Korea experts. "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. South Korea's three opposition parties said Wednesday they will get the National Assembly to approve the formation of a special prosecution to investigate the death of a protester who was hit by a police water cannon during a protest last year. Baek Nam-gi, who died last month at the age of 69 of acute renal failure, had been in a coma since a water cannon knocked him down during the massive anti-government demonstration in November last year. The three parties agreed to launch a special prosecution, which can be approved by parliament through a majority vote. Political pundits said the investigation will focus on whether the water cannon used against the protester violated any laws, along with the ongoing controversy over the cause of Baek's death. If the proposal is passed, the parliamentary speaker will form a special committee to find candidates to head the investigation, with the president making the final appointment. The investigation can run for 60 days, and it can be extended once for 30 days more. While the opposition bloc argued an excessive crackdown was the main cause of the death, the police countered that there is no clear link between the water cannon and Baek's death. The ruling Saenuri Party also claims an autopsy should be considered to find out the cause, while opposition parties have been opposing the move, adding that the cause is already evident. (Yonhap) South Korea will introduce its traditional food to Indonesians this week in a fair designed to promote its charm and taste worldwide, a government ministry said Wednesday. The four-day event, titled "2016 Indonesia Jakarta K-food Fair," is to open on Thursday at a local hotel, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Indonesia, with close to 90 percent of its population Muslim, is expected to emerge as an advance base for South Korea's efforts to tap deeper into the global Halal food market. Indonesia has also posted an average of more than 6 percent in annual economic growth. The upcoming event to be co-hosted by Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. will feature various Korean food products, a Halal seminar, trade-related consultations and cultural shows. "It is expected to serve as a good chance to expand food exports by helping South Korean businesspeople raise their understanding of the Halal market and establish close partnerships with local importers," a ministry official said. The ministry hosted similar food expos in China, Malaysia and Vietnam earlier this year. (Yonhap) Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: On the occasion of the Day of Teachers celebrated on October 5, Fuad Veliyev, Doctor of Engineering, Professor of the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) and a member of American Association for Science and Technology, gave us an interview. Dear Mr. Veliyev, in your opinion, what it means to be a teacher? In my opinion, the very notion of being a teacher is beyond any time frames, as teacher is required all through the ages. There is no many differences between contemporary teachers and teachers living a century ago. Good teachers qualities are based on four pillars, namely high qualification, intellectuality, a desire for, and competence in, teaching, and respectful and kindness towards students. There is no doubt that a teacher shall be an expert in his field, but this is not enough. For example, a teacher giving lessons on science, technology, engineering and mathematics shall also have a good knowledge of arts, music, history, philosophy, and religion. The founder of the quantum mechanics and Nobel laureate Niels Bohr not only founded a science school. He was giving lessons on theory of music at Berlin University and often participated in discussions about unity of science and religion. In the meantime, a teacher of liberal arts must understand the basics of technical science. Charles Snow used to say that if an Englishman did not know the second law of thermodynamics, it is the same as if he did not know Shakespeare. If a teacher is a well-known scientist, then his lessons reach higher levels. Lectures given by the late famous academician Azad Mirzajanzadah provide the best example of this to me. He not only was giving lectures on mechanics, but he also was informing his students about latest scientific achievements and telling them interesting facts arts, literature and classical music. True scholar can talk about the most difficult subjects in laymans terms using a simple language. In the end, the quality of teaching depends on the teachers qualities. Only good teachers can prepare good students and excellent specialists. Let us recall who teachers at Ecole Polytechnique (Paris Polytechnic School) were in the first part of 19 century. The teachers were scientists such as Laplace, Lagrange, Fourier, Ampere, Dulong and Berthollet. And who were their students? The students were Carnot, Cauchy, de Coriolis, Poisson, Gay-Lussac, Fresnel, Clapeyron, to name a few. A true teacher does not give lectures; he encourages students interest towards science and creativity. One the greatest physicist in 20 century Enrico Fermi once said: A student is not a bucket that shall be filled up with knowledge. A student is like a torch, and the teachers duty is to ignite this torch. The teacher shall feel empathy and kindness towards his studens, he also must help them to develop their personality. As Leo Tolstoy was saying, If a teacher likes his profession, he is a good teacher. If he likes both his profession and his students, he is a perfect teacher. A teacher, who is kind towards his students and loves them, will certainly receive their respect and love in return. What award can be more precious for the teacher? Hazrat Ali was telling: I shall be a servant forever for someone who taught be one letter. You have had hundreds, if not thousands, students. In your view, do nowadays students differ from those in the past? I think that neither students, nor teachers have changed a bit. It is the time and the world around us that have changed. Young people in our days have access to the vast amount of information, but this does not mean they are smarter than previous generations. The test system, with all its advantages, has one disadvantage, as it does not help develop logical reasoning. The huge volume of information is available to youth today, but it is unfortunate that it restricts their development as educated and intellectual persons with good reasoning. Unfortunately, most of the young people today are pragmatists and technocrats. They read very few books and they are not very much interested in classical literature and music. And this is happening all around the world. Leading universities in many countries prepare narrow specialists, not open-minded intellectuals. In the meantime, we can recall that university graduates in Azerbaijan in the past not only were excellent professionals, but also played an important role in political, social and cultural life of Azerbaijan. However, despite the fact that there are more people with higher education now, there are fewer true intelligent people. What can you say about your students at BHOS? I believe that the Baku Higher Oil School meets the highest international standards applied in education. It is an exemplary educational facility with great prospects. I am sure that BHOS will be listed among the best universities around the world in the nearest future. I was giving lessons at some universities abroad and I can confirm that you will not find the same support and attitude towards students, which is provided to the students at BHOS. The task to be implemented by our Higher School is not to prepare cosmopolitan technocrats; the task is to prepare highly-qualified professionals who love their motherland and their people, who are open-minded and who can think globally. They must be people who can think and make decisions independently and who have modern thinking. Subjects such as Azerbaijani history and culture of speech as well as various musical and cultural events including visits to theatres and other performances arranged by BHOS greatly contribute to development of these qualities. Of course, our students appreciate the unlimited opportunities given them by BHOS. They shall honorably represent Azerbaijan both as experts in their specialty and as intellectuals. I also would like to emphasize the high level of knowledge of our students, their modern worldview and high intellectual potential. They can favorably compete with students from the best universities of the world. I am confident that many of BHOS graduates will become leading specialists in the largest international companies and organizations. A former prime minister was quoted by political sources on Wednesday as saying that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will run in the upcoming presidential race, a move which may bring key changes in the election amid the lack of popular figures among the conservative bloc here. "I think Ban has clearly made up his mind," said Kim Jong-pil, a former prime minister and an iconic conservative politician, during a meeting with close figures last week. Kim, however, declined to comment further on the background of the remark. Kim met Ban personally during the U.N. head's visit to South Korea in May. Ban has been cited as one of the potential candidates for the country's presidential race slated for late 2017, although he has never expressed a clear stance on the speculation. During Ban's recent meeting with floor leaders of South Korea's ruling and opposition parties in the United States, he also refrained from making any comments on the speculation. Despite maintaining such a stance, many in the opposition have expressed concerns that the popular U.N. chief may become the standard bearer for the conservative Saenuri Party. (Yonhap) South Korea has been named a council member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the sixth consecutive term, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. South Korea garnered 146 votes from 172 member countries participating in the ICAO assembly underway in Montreal to be elected a council member for the next three years, according to the ministry. Launched in 1947, the ICAO is a U.N. agency that sets global aviation policy and standards. South Korea joined the organization in 1952 and became a member of its council for the first time in 2001. "With this success of being elected a council member for the sixth straight term, (we) have consolidated our status as a leading country in the global aviation community," the ministry said in a press release. Based on the status, the government will do its best in helping strengthen the competitiveness of the country's flag carriers, airports and other areas in the aviation sector going forward, the ministry added. (Yonhap) Suh Kyung-bae, Amore Pacific Chairman / Korea Times file By Park Si-soo A total of 315 people joined the suit, each demanding 1 million won in compensation, said their representative, law firm Next Law. The firm is collecting clients to file an additional lawsuit against the company, its officials said. Hundreds of people have filed a damages suit against Korea's leading cosmetics firm, AmorePacific, for alleged "toxic" toothpastes that were recalled last month. The legal action came a week after the government ordered a recall of 11 toothpaste products made and sold by the company. The products were confirmed to have contained methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT), toxic chemicals used in Oxy Reckitt Benckiser's deadly humidifier sterilizers that have been blamed for the deaths of more than 100 people. The two toxic substances are used as preservatives in the products, but they are banned from toothpaste in Korea. By Jun Ji-hye The prosecution has opened an investigation into a failed deal with British defense firm BAE Systems to upgrade KF-16 fighter jets, which resulted in losses estimated at around 100 billion won ($90 million) of taxpayer money. The investigation came after the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) said in June that the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) mismanaged the upgrade program, raising suspicions of possible corruption regarding the deal. The state auditor claimed that the arms procurement agency gave multiple favors to BAE Systems when the U.K.-based multinational defense firm won a 1.75 trillion won contract to upgrade the KF-16s in July 2012 over Lockheed Martin, the maker of the aircraft. When requesting the prosecution investigation, the BAI said that DAPA changed its evaluation standards to select the British firm that was believed to be unqualified. DAPA later had to change the contractor to U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin, after the DAPA was asked by the U.S. government to pay 800 billion won more 500 billion won to the U.S. government and 300 billion won to BAE. At the time, Washington cited that the risk cost in implementing the project had increased. The DAPA officially announced the change of the contractor in December 2015 and signed a 2.2 trillion won contract with the U.S. firm, which consequently led to budget losses and a program delay. Prosecutors said they have reviewed a report submitted by the state auditor and secured relevant data from DAPA in August through a search-and-seizure raid. They are also questioning those who were in charge of the deal. Taehwa Market in Ulsan is flooded after typhoon Chaba struck the region, Wednesday. The typhoon caused five deaths with one person missing, as well as property damage on Jeju Island and southern coastal areas. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun At least five people died and and five more are still missing as of Thursday 10 a.m., after typhoon Chaba hit the southern parts of the peninsula. With an atmospheric pressure of 975 hectopascals and maximum wind speeds of 47 meters per second measured on Jeju Island, Chaba was the strongest typhoon since Maemi in 2003 which devastated the country. Chaba hit Jeju and the nation's southern regions before heading eastward to the coastal cities of Busan and Ulsan and moving further east away from the Korean Peninsula. In Busan, a tower crane at a construction site at Kosin University collapsed on a nearby container, killing a worker surnamed Oh, 59. In another part of the city, a woman surnamed Park, 90, died after winds swept her from the second floor of her house. A man surnamed Heo, 57, was found dead after being swept away by waves at a seawall while examining vessels tied there. Busan had waves as tall as 9 meters. In Ulsan, one person who was swept away by flood waters at the entrance of an apartment building died. A rescue worker also went missing during rescue operations and authorities are searching for him. Submerged cars in a riverfront parking lot in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. / Yonhap On Jeju Island, a man surnamed Song, 42, presumed to be a sailor, went missing after falling into the sea from a vessel moored at a dock amid the strong winds and heavy rain. Maritime police are searching for his body. Operations at Hyundai Motor factory production lines in Ulsan were temporarily halted, after one of the factories was flooded. A section of high-speed track for the KTX between Gyeongju and Ulsan was closed following a power cut, prompting seven trains heading from Ulsan to Seoul to be canceled. Operations resumed later in the day. On Jeju, police received reports that eight vessels sank, while three capsized and two were adrift. Mountainous areas on the island received as much as 624.5 millimeters of rain. Heavy rains inundated hundreds of houses and cars in many parts of the south, including Busan, Ulsan, Pohang, Gyeongju and Jeju, forcing people to evacuate. Six car insurance companies received more than 1,400 reports of vehicle damage, with the total damage being expected to reach 10.3 billion won. According to the Korea Electric Power Corp., a total of 211,852 households across the nation mostly on Jeju and in South Gyeongsang Province suffered power outages. More than 300 cases of property damage have been reported to disaster authorities. A total of 42 flights departing and landing on Jeju Island were canceled, inconveniencing 6,500 passengers. Another 36 flights departing from Gimhae Airport near Busan were canceled. A total of 1,451 schools in South Gyeongsang Province were temporarily closed. A crane at a school building site in Yeongdo district in Busan collapsed on a worker and killed him after typhoon Chaba hit the city on Wednesday morning. / Yonhap Cars are piled up at a parking lot on Jeju Island, Wednesday. / Yonhap Part of a building's wall collapsed in Busan, crushing a car. / Yonhap Floodwaters flow into Hyundai Motor's assembly line in Ulsan, Wednesday. / Yonhap An excavator clears debris and soil from a landslide on a highway linking Tonhyoung and Daejeon, Wednesday. / Yonhap People's Party floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won, left, talks with Saenuri Party floor leader Chung Jin-suk during a ceremony marking Korean Day at Lotte Hotel in southern Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap Lawmaker, presidential office in verbal war on N. Korean policy By Kang Seung-woo People's Party floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won is trading barbs with Cheong Wa Dae over the former's criticism of President Park Geun-hye's hawkish remarks about North Korea. The ruling Saenuri Party is also taking issue with his ideological orientation. A lawmaker even called Park a North Korean spy during a National Assembly audit session, Wednesday. An angry Park said, "I have never had my weakness seized on by North Korea and have strongly condemned its provocations so far." On Tuesday, an unnamed Cheong Wa Dae official attacked the four-term lawmaker for his criticism of President Park Geun-hye's Armed Forces Day speech encouraging North Korean civilians and troops to defect to South Korea. The Cheong Wa Dae official said that given the floor leader criticized the President's speech stressing humanitarian assistance for North Koreans, he may have this weakness seized on by North Korea. "Unlike Cheong Wa Dae that criticized me behind an unnamed official, I can say directly that the People's Party and I are not followers of North Korea; rather, we are trying to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula." Also on Tuesday, the Saenuri Party denounced Rep. Choi Gyung-hwan of the People's Party as a spokesman for the North Korean military. Citing a letter from a retired general, the opposition lawmaker said earlier that Park's speech was a declaration of war against North Korea, adding that the government could be plotting for more North Korean provocations to provide a pretext for the ROK-U.S. combined force's retaliation. Later in the day, the governing party renewed its attack on the People's Party floor leader, with lawmaker Kim Jin-tae telling him to stop his pro-North Korean acts. "Rep. Park's words have gone too far. If he felt the President's speech was a declaration of war, his ideological orientation is pro-North Korea," Kim said in a press conference at the National Assembly. In addition, Kim made a remark that likened him to a North Korean agent. "Something surprising can happen when we achieve unification in the future," he said, citing that West German Chancellor Willy Brandt's secretary, Gunter Guillaume, was an intelligence agent for East Germany. Since the North Korean regime carried out its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9, the Park administration has adopted hard-line measures, igniting speculation that Seoul may be pushing for regime change there. However, opposition parties have insisted that the government leave the window open for dialogue with Pyongyang. In addition, they urge the government to resume its humanitarian aid to the North, which has been devastated by floods. But the government remains cautious about this, believing that the aid may end up being diverted by the North Korean government. Film director Shin Sang-ok and actress Choi Eun-hee hold a press conference upon their escape from North Korea to the United States in 1986. / Korea Times file By An Hong-kyoon My phone rang. The caller was the press officer at the Korean Embassy in Washington. "Mr. Shin Sang-ok and Ms. Choe Eun-hee are scheduled to hold a press conference. Our embassy wants you to act as their interpreter. Would you do it for us?" Elated by the surprise request, I replied to him in one breath. "Of course I will." "The Watergate Hotel conference room at ten in the morning of the15th [May, 1986]," the press officer continued in a relaxed voice, obviously relieved that I had accepted his request. "More than a hundred American and foreign reporters are expected to attend the press conference." My thoughts ran back to the January, 1978 media report that Choe Eun-hee, whom her fans dubbed the "Liz Taylor of Korea," mysteriously disappeared in Hong Kong. In July of the same year, her estranged husband and the renowned film director, Shin Sang-ok, disappeared, also last seen in Hong Kong. Several years passed and people learned that they were in North Korea, making movies for Kim Jong-il. Kim boasted that Shin and Choe came to North Korea on their own volition. In the mid-1980's, Shin and Choe showed up in cities like London and Belgrade, and their words and demeanor appeared to attest, beyond question, their allegiance to Kim Jong-il. Film director Shin Sang-ok and actress Choi Eun-hee pose as they enter South Korea in May 1989. Then there was a bombshell. On March 13, 1986, the world learned that Shin and Choe had sought refuge in the American Embassy in Vienna, Austria. For over two months thereafter, people heard nothing. Then came the May 12 call from the Korean Embassy. I could hardly believe my fortune. I would hear their story, tell the world their story, and above all, I would meet them in person. Then the day arrived. I sat with the Shin couple in a small ante-room adjacent to the main hall. They were charming, but their smiles were stiff and wary. The subdued air was intensified by the presence of two white bodyguards towering behind them. I wondered momentarily if their press conference was voluntary. As we entered the conference room, cameras flashed, and a large crowd of reporters rushed about, vying for better spots. Following a brief photo session, the conference began with many questions flying all at once. Shin gestured them to calm down. Choe would tell them her story first. The couple appears on a Japanesemedia outlet in1984 She began by narrating the scene of her abduction. A group of men grabbed and placed her on a speed boat in Repulse Bay of Hong Kong. She screamed, "Where are you taking me?" "To Kim Il-sung's bosom!" one abductor shot back. She used the Korean word, Pum, a word that is reminiscent of the warm heart of a mother. "Kim Il-sung's what?" a reporter in the front row shouted. Alarmed by the question, I repeated, "Kim's bosom." Suddenly a question flit through my head. "Does bosom refer only to female breasts?" Choe continued, in minute detail, of her life in captivity in North Korea. In turn, Shin did the same as if to convince the world that, contrary to some rumors and Pyongyang's claims, they had been taken to North Korea against their will. People read stories on the couple's escape from North Korea, which appeared in the Hankook Ilbo in 1986. / Korea Times As the long narrations continued, the American reporters grew impatient. They wanted to hear about Kim Jong-il and what the Shin couple had thought of the North Korean dictator. If those reporters expected slanderous and quotable words from them about Kim Jong-il, they were disappointed. Shin and Choe did not attack the person of Kim. When pressed, Choe said Kim Jong-il was a man capable of committing "stupendous" acts. No reporter asked them if they feared Kim Jong-il's reprisal. Or if they felt they were indebted to their captor for the generous treatment the evil man had bestowed on them. The press conference lasted three hours. Two security guards reappeared from nowhere, and director Shin and Choe were hurried to a dark van. I hardly had time to say goodbye to them. Seven months later, I received a Christmas card from them with a pleasant greeting. Although the card was postmarked Atlanta, Georgia, I later learned that the couple had actually been living in a townhouse all this while in Reston, VA, my own neighborhood. Then there was a call from Shin on a spring day in 1988. They had decided to move to Hollywood to pursue film production careers in America. "Would you be available for dinner tomorrow?" He suggested a Chinese restaurant in our area. When my wife and I arrived at the restaurant, Shin and Choe were already seated at a table far inside the spacious dining room, discreetly apart from other diners. Both looked bright and carefree. Their regained freedom had done wonders for the charming couple, letting their guard down finally. "Sorry we had to wait for so long to meet you again," Shin began apologetically. "We had to ponder about our future, what to do, where to live, and how." He paused for a moment. "American friends had suggested we live in seclusion in retirement, and I almost decided to do just that. I thought of painting." He paused again. "But Choe yeosa thought otherwise." Yeosa is a Korean term for "lady" or "Madame." I got the hint: she wanted to be addressed as yeosa, signifying her independence. "Choe yeosa insisted that we stay in America and make movies, and I agreed." Shin smiled at his lovely wife. I thought it was more on the part of Choe yeosa who had engineered their bold escape from the North. Shin said he knew the Korean people would wonder why he and his wife would choose America for home. "Of course we love Korea and want to go home, and our fans want us to come home." But he said, "We are not comfortable with the Korean authorities. Shortly after we had sought refuge in the American Embassy, the Seoul government said it would leniently embrace us back to Korea. Leniency for what? We were taken to North Korea by force, and the South Korean government had the nerve to treat us as if we were North Korean collaborators." Shin spoke calmly, but his indignation was scarcely concealed. In an even tone, Shin continued. "We are not safe in South Korea. North Korean agents roam the streets of Seoul at will. Kim Jong-il once boasted to us that he could bring anyone he requested to Pyongyang from Seoul." With a deep sigh, he said, "And Kim Jong-il has set millions of dollars on our heads." There was a pause as we munched sweet-and sour pork. Shin turned his head toward his wife. "Choe yeosa, when I saw you for the first time in Pyongyang at Kim Jong-il's party, I thought you had completely sold your soul out to the little, bushy-haired dictator. You behaved so fresh with him." "Are you kidding?" Choe mischievously retorted. "People don't call me Korea's best actress for nothing." We all laughed together. I turned to her. "Madame Choe, I saw you for the first time in Daegu during the Korean War. You were playing Ophelia on stage." "Oh, you did?. I was a green novice then, and I hardly knew what I was playing. I had a role in Death of a Salesman, and I had no idea what mortgage meant in the script." While travelling in Eastern Europe, Choe continued, they had come across a tiny Catholic church. "We entered it and got married...with a solemn ceremony." "Over my objection," Shin quipped, "I don't believe in such formalities." He looked at her with a smile that betrayed his ritualistic adherence to his creed. The conversation turned to their plan for Hollywood. Shin had a lifelong dream to produce an epic movie on Genghis Kahn. One of his proposed desert battle scenes would employ over 3,000 horses, a record in motion picture history. He had written the script based on Aaoki Okami The Blue Wolf authored by Yasushi Inoue of Japan. "Sitting up straight in the prison cells, I went over the script hundreds of times in my head, writing and polishing it mentally. The North Korean jailers had laughed at me when I requested a pen and paper." Shin was inspired by a character in the story, Quryang, a maiden warrior who, risking her life, withstood Genghis Khan's attempt to take her by force. She triumphed when the Great Khan begged her for her love. Over dessert, Shin abruptly asked me if I was familiar with General Dean. I told him I knew who the general was. Shin said his first project in Hollywood would be General Dean's story, the anti-hero hero commanding general of the ill-fated U.S. 24th Infantry Division, that was smashed by columns of the North Korean Army in Daejeon. Retreating soldiers reported that General Dean was last seen at a city crossroads with a bazooka on his shoulder facing an approaching enemy tank. He then disappeared for many months. President Truman awarded him a medal of honor in absentia. In December, 1951, the world learned that the general had been held as a POW in the North. He returned home to a hero's welcome after the armistice. He denied he was a hero. "There is little information about his captivity in North Korea," Shin said. Oh, yes, I replied. General Dean had written an autobiography. I would find a copy, I promised Shin. I also told him that the current commanding general of the U.S. forces in Korea was an old acquaintance of mine. I had first met him in 1958 when he served in Korea as a green platoon leader. He is now a full general. He would gladly provide us with all the resources and assistance foot soldiers, tanks and bazookas. Shin's face lit up with excitement. It appeared that the move would be Shin's way of returning the favor to the American establishment which had embraced Shin and Choe since their dash to the American Embassy in Vienna and were now providing a refuge from Kim Jong-il. Walking toward the parking lot, Shin told me that after settling in Hollywood, he and Choe would travel to Seoul. They had to appear before a court and settle their legal case. After all, they had been in North Korea and had helped Kim Jong-il make movies in clear violation of the South Korean National Security Law. All had been pre-arranged, Shin said, and they would be given Korean passports, signifying their complete freedom at last. Nothing would then hamper their future, nothing, he appeared to reaffirm himself. Waving at their automobile as they drove off, I wondered what Hollywood looked like. In the late Fall of 1988, Shin wrote me a letter. He and Choe had settled in a Los Angeles suburb. I noticed that Shin signed his name Sheen Sang-okk. I later learned that the new name spelling had been advised by certain U.S. intelligence officials as a security measure. Several months later, I wrote Shin that I had discovered where General Dean's son, William, Jr., a retired Army colonel, lived. In the spring of 1989, Shin and I met Colonel Dean at a hotel restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. He was an unassuming gentleman with a ready smile. He listened carefully to my account of Shin's captivity in North Korea. While I had no way of fathoming his thoughts, he surely would have thought of his own father's incarceration in the North as a POW. Colonel Dean was delighted with Shin's plan to produce his father's story, and was happy to transfer the copyright of his father's book. We all shook hands and parted. A contract would be drafted and signed in due time. The following month, Korean media reported that Shin and Choe had arrived at Kimpo Airport in Seoul to a tumultuous welcome by his fans. Customs inspectors found in their possession a large amount of material on the Korean War. "They are for General Dean's story," I assured myself. Then in the late fall of the year, I learned from a newspaper account that Shin, in Korea at the time, had announced a plan to produce a new film, Mayumi, in Korea. There was no mention about General Dean's story. I was puzzled at first. Why the change of heart? Betrayal! I thought. "Mayumi" was a code name for a young North Korean female terrorist who blew up Korean airliner in midair over the Indian Ocean. Again, what prompted Shin to change his plan? I could only speculate: a certain powerful element, most likely a South Korean intelligence establishment whose wishes Shin was not in a position to resist was behind it, and with ample funds. Eventually, Mayumi was produced. It turned out to be a box-office dud in Korea and overseas. Another year passed. In September of 1990, I received a fax from Shin. A wealthy Japanese businessman had promised to invest in the production of The Blue Wolf: the Genghis Khan Story. "Please join me," he wrote. "I know how to make movies but I know nothing about America. And you have a passion for the arts and a knack for motion pictures. I would expect you to run the office American style." Without a second thought, I told my wife that I was going to Hollywood. "You are crazy," she cried out. I packed up and headed for Dulles Airport. My wife, behind the wheel, did not say much. Shin and Choe lived in a small but attractive house in Beverly Hills. Its front yard was full of roses. An elderly maid, whom the Shins had brought from Korea, moved around like a family matriarch. There were two adorable children playing. They seemed to be deeply attached to the maid. They were the offspring of one Oh Su-mi, once Shin's actress lover. The maid had raised the two toddlers while their father, Shin, spent eight years in North Korea. Choe was now their surrogate mother, and the children looked at their "stepmother" bashfully. Shin delegated to me the power to sign bank checks for the office, a sure sign that he trusted me. But when I requested an employment contract, Shin declined. "We work together with an honor-bound trust, not by a signed paper." That was not a good sign. I suggested that we retain a law firm, a public accountant, and a PR firm. Shin objected on the grounds that we did not have legal problems, we did not have any income presently, and a PR firm would be expensive. I told him that that was the "American way" to run a business. He did not answer. I took it as his acquiescence and retained a law firm, and so on. Shin instructed me to deny health coverage for office employees, but I did arrange coverage for them. If there were signs of discord between us, I did not sense it at that time. Shin was a reticent, secretive person. He shared little with me about himself, his intentions, and what he expected of me. I wondered if this was his personality, or the result of the trials he had suffered in North Korea. He kept me in the dark about the details of his production plans. He shared little information with me about his Japanese patron and the investment the latter had promised. Yet at certain unguarded moments, he told me revealing things. He considered North Korea a haven for film makers. Kim Jong-il provided everything, money, cast and staff, location sites, even a cargo train to blow up, and a helicopter to fly over to create snow-storm scenes. Above all, one did not have to worry about the prospect of box-office success. An audience would be mobilized, and told when to cheer. "You know," he once said over lunch, "I chiseled my name on the wall of my cell just to mark that I was there." I recalled a scene from The Count of Monte Cristo. "I hope they don't raze the prison." Shin remarked with an impish smile. "When I went overseas, my minders wanted me to bring them gifts. The souvenir items most craved were sunglasses. I wondered if those bastard comrades wanted to look like Kim Jong-il." In mid-November of 1990, Shin and I traveled to Calgary, Canada, to look for location sites for a cavalry battle scene for Genghis Khan. The final cavalry charge scene of Kagemusha by Akira Kurosawa of Japan was previously shot in the open field of Calgary. "Kagemusha" meant "a body double" for a warlord. Calgary, however, was dropped because, besides its cost estimates, its topography hardly resembled that of the Great Steppes of Central Asia. Mongolia, seemingly the best location site for The Blue Wolf, was out of the question. The Mongolian government would not allow a motion picture about its greatest khan drift one inch from its official history. Quyrang, the khan's warrior-lover did not exist in the orthodox Mongol history as The Blue Wolf script portrayed her. In the spring of the same year, Shin flew to Tokyo to confer with his Japanese investor. He looked content when he returned. One day soon after, Shin told me with a straight face. "I chose Natasha Kinski for Quyrang's role." He continued, "And I want you to go to Italy and meet with Sophia Loren. Tell her we need her for the role of Genghis Khan's mother." I was dumbstruck. The task Shin purported to assign me was nothing like asking a movie star for an autograph. "Is this man serious?" I thought to myself. Did this man make a hollow commitment in order to placate his Japanese patron? To my relief, Shin never brought up the subject again. Then Shin said he wanted to explore Tajikistan for locations. It was one of such occasions when the director spelled out brilliant ideas as if in passing. Besides the cost factor, the Central Asian region provided an excellent environment. After all, Genghis Khan and his horde rampaged and conquered the desert and steppes of Central Asia. In early 1991, the mysterious and closed land was wide open, thanks to Gorbachev's perestroika. I called the Soviet embassy in Washington, DC and spoke with a representative of Sovexporfilm, the Russian state corporation charged with film trade. Through his good offices, his Moscow headquarters sent a letter of invitation for Shin, Choe and me. The Soviet Consulate in DC quickly issued us our visas. Russians were eager to do business with the capitalist world. Choe, however, was not allowed to go. Her fervent desire to travel together with Shin to Russia had been quashed by the South Korean Consulate in Los Angeles. Why was anyone's guess. I traveled to Moscow on February 9, 1991 and met with Boris, a lawyer from Sovexportfilm, who was our contact man and escort throughout our travels in the Soviet Union. The following day, Shin arrived at the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. He was one of the last passengers to show up at the waiting area. Wearing a pair of sunglasses and a hat tipped way down, he walked in our direction quietly. Shin and I sat down on a corner bench while Boris went outside to hail a taxi. Shin, his head bowed down, did not stir. My heart started to pound faster and faster. What could I do if North Korean agents and their KGB comrades surrounded us? There was prize money on Shin's head, and North Korea had been in the Soviet orbit until recently. I noticed a tall and well-built Asian man in a long and loose trench coat and wearing a hunting cap walking briskly toward us. My heart froze. Shin remained motionless. I stood up. The man handed me his business card: First Secretary J.H. Choi, Embassy, the Republic of Korea. "Welcome to Moscow. Our ambassador would be happy to meet with you tomorrow." He walked away. He looked like a core intelligence officer. The following day, the first South Korean ambassador to Russia, and my high school classmate, greeted us cordially, but Shin appeared distant to our host. Meeting alone with me in his office, First Secretary Choi stressed that I stay in touch with him wherever Shin and I traveled. "Nothing to worry," he assured me. When we parted, Shin failed to bow back to Choi. Our two-day meeting with the executives of Sovexportfilm was pleasant and productive. They appeared sincere and eager to do business with us. Their figures for all the logistic support for our film was less than one-third that of Calgary's. One executive suggested in jest that a Red Army cavalry regiment could be mobilized for combat scenes. Shin nonchalantly answered he would study the offer. During a tea break, Shin asked if a replica of the best actress prize for the 1985 Moscow film festival could be made. The award Choe had won for her role in the North Korean film Salt had to be left behind in Pyongyang when they fled to the West. He was told that that could not be done. Our first stop was Alma Ata, present day Almaty, of Kazakhstan. The city had a large ethnic Korean community. Obviously pre-warned by the South Korean embassy, several leaders of the Korean community came to our hotel to pay a courtesy call to Shin. They identified themselves with South Korea and praised Shin for his heroic escape from the North. Our next destination was Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the famed hub of the ancient tea trade along the silk road. During the flight, I struck up a conversation with an Uzbek who sat next to me. When he heard the purpose of my trip, his expression turned incredulous. "Genghis Khan of all people, why?" he asked me. "You know, he burnt down our city in 1219. His soldiers killed our noblemen by breaking their spines by bending them backward." He grew angrier. "Do you know what that evil khan and his hordes left behind? Ashes and their semen in the wombs of our women." He turned his back on me. Rhaman, the director of Vatan Film Studio greeted us in the Tashkent airport. Vatan was the best-known film producer in the region. We toured his studio, huge but run down. Its warehouse was full of art work, film sets, and props, mostly of bows and armors. Shin again did not say much, and he showed little interest in what he was seeing. Strange, I thought. In the evening, Rhaman took us to an ethnic Korean festival entitled Transit, a musical that portrayed the story of ethnic Koreans being forcibly removed from the Soviet Far East to Central Asia in the mid-1930s. When an MC announced Shin's presence, many people flocked to greet him. Elderly women hugged him. Shin was their hero, and he personified the image of their ancestral home called Korea. He tranquilized the nostalgia of the Korean diaspora. The following day, Rhaman drove us eastward near the Afghan border to trace the routes that Genghis Khan's Mongol horsemen had rampaged. Suddenly, Boris shook Rhaman's shoulder. "Hey, we are in Kyrgyzstan. We have no visas to enter here." Rhaman did not flinch and kept on driving. He couldn't care less about what the Kremlin said. Moscow's grip on its citizens was apparently waning fast. Indeed, the Soviet Union would fall half a year later. Soon, the snow-covered Tian Shan Mountain range came into view. The Mongol's ancestral spirits dwelled on the summits. Its sheer majesty humbled me. We all got out of the car and sipped the ice-cold water from the stream at the bottom of the steep-walled valley. Shin remained in the car, his head bowed and pensive. What was he thinking? I wondered. In Bukhara, we saw gigantic mud-brick walls. A good location site for a cavalry assault, Rhaman suggested to Shin. Shin smiled back meekly. In town, we visited a timeworn mosque mantled in a rich patina of age. "This mosque," intoned a village elder, "was saved from the Mongol invaders. We buried it underground before they came." We were told, ad nauseam, of the Mongol atrocities in Urgenchi, Khiwa and other towns we visited. The Great Khan certainly was not popular in this part of the world. Back at Vatan Film Studio in Tashkent, Rhaman and Boris wanted to hear from Shin. Would there be a contract for the production of The Blue Wolf? Shin was noncommittal. I was not surprised by his reaction. Throughout the trip, Shin remained aloof to the mission he had set out for. He acted more like a bored tourist. We flew from Moscow to Tokyo and met with the Japanese investor. Shin told his patron that the trip to Russia had been highly productive. He had found excellent location spots and had nearly reached a contract agreement with the Russians. The Japanese investor did not seem convinced. Back in the Hollywood office, my misgivings about Shin and his intentions deepened. A disturbing thought lingered in my mind: Was Shin genuinely serious about producing The Blue Wolf film? Yes, at least in the beginning, I concluded. He envisioned producing a Hollywood epic. He fondly talked about Elia Kazan, John Ford, and Robert Wise. He liked to be compared with Akira Kurosawa. He believed his Genghis Khan was his raison d'etre. It deserved an Oscar. However, his dream ended as just that, a dream. The funds he was promised shrank rapidly as Japan's economic bubble burst. He discovered that the sheer scale of his imagined production outweighed his ability. Shin was angry and disheartened, but his ego was too big to forsake his dream. So he kept on acting, literally acting. He was in denial about pursuing a phantom objective. I decided that there would be no The Blue Wolf, ever. One day in mid-May, 1991, I tendered my resignation to Shin. He replied that he would not stop me from leaving. I packed and returned home to Virginia. Taehwa Market in Ulsan is flooded after typhoon Chaba struck the region, Wednesday. The typhoon caused five deaths with one person missing, as well as property damage on Jeju Island and southern coastal areas. Yonhap Kang Kyung-hee, president of the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family, speaks during the Power Women Network for Change in Asia Pacific at Seoul Innovation Park in Eunpyeong, northwestern Seoul, Sept. 29. / Courtesy of Seoul Foundation of Women and Family By Chung Hyun-chae Female leaders of various fields said having a network among them helps create fresh ideas and ultimately improves the world. "Each of us has been participating in a number of associations or networks like this, but joining this kind of women's networking event can help us to connect more easily and create a special synergy between us," Trang Thuy Tran, human resources director at Deloitte Vietnam Company in Hanoi, told The Korea Times. About 30 female leaders from Korea, the United States, Vietnam, Mongolia and other Asia-Pacific countries gathered to attend a network event hosted by the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family, a foundation under the Seoul Metropolitan Government established for female empowerment. The event, called the Power Women Network for Change in Asia Pacific, was held Sept. 29 at Seoul Innovation Park, a social innovation platform located in Eunpyeong-gu, northwestern Seoul. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, local newspaper Women News and educational board game development company Happy Baobab. "Physical distances and awareness distances are being demolished in this network event," Robert W. Ogburn, minister-counselor for public affairs at the U.S. Embassy, said in his congratulatory speech. "The work that you are doing is really helping to shape my 17-year-old daughter's future, your own daughters' futures and those of all the different young women in the colleges and countries you represent and the other countries that you have an impact on." Five of the participants had met each other in July 2015 at a three-week seminar in Hawaii that was offered by the East-West Center, an education and research organization established by U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations among Asia-Pacific countries. Among the five was Lee Keun-chung, founder and CEO of Happy Baobab, who took the initiative to organize the networking event. "I hope this event will work as a venue where female leaders of various fields can share their ideas and plans with each other," Lee said. The business sectors of the participants range from art and education to consulting and broadcasting. "We are all passionate about social issues which are complex and multidisciplinary, so we need people from different fields to be able to make change happen," said Kawtar El Alaoui, a lawyer from a third-world country. Tran said, "We understand that participants come from different parts of the world, having diverse backgrounds, but we had a common interest: making the world better." Uyanga Batzogs, CEO of Proliance LLC, a medical equipment company headquartered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, connected with women who have senior care expertise, through the networking event. "Today I met some people from the Asia Foundation. I have heard of them but I didn't realize that they are doing a project in Mongolia," Batzogs said. "Using such a good network, I hope I can help women entrepreneurs to do a better job in Mongolia." For Tomomi Kumai, an education consultant for international students, the event helped her realize her dream which is to create a share house for single moms. "I, as a single mom who is raising two kids, the older one having a brain tumor and disability, have always struggled to find caretakers," Kumai said. "Today I met Shin Se-jin who said one of her future projects is to make a share house for single moms. I told her that I am very happy to volunteer to make that happen." Shin, president of Insadong Bee Soap, a handmade natural soap store, was one of the participants of the networking event. "It feels very lonely when you are a leader, when you are responsible for an institution, a team or assignment. There is a lot on your shoulders," said Lee Mi-ho, co-founder of the Japan Multicultural Relief Fund in Oakland, California, the first U.S.-based grant-making entity for the victims of the Fukushima earthquake and nuclear disaster. "I know that it's important to spread the seed. And it's the relationships that really help blossom and give you the help when you need it," she added. English teacher Kim Jin-sung, center, poses with second-grade students during a class at Hyundo Information High School in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in May. He has developed teaching methods using pop songs to help students learn English easily. / Courtesy of Hyundo Information High School By Chung Hyun-chae "ABBA's old hit song I Have a Dream' taught me that having a dream helps to overcome hardships. It also helped me improve my English listening and speaking abilities," Lee Jae-beom, 17, said. Lee is a second-year student at Hyundo Information High School in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. He first listened to the pop song in an English class taught by his English teacher Kim Jin-sung. "Having familiar everyday expressions, pop songs are easily accessible to students like me who are not good at English at all," Lee told The Korea Times. Kim, 47, has developed his own teaching methods using pop songs for his English classes. "The English level of students attending schools specializing in vocational education, including our school, is far below the national average, almost the same as the level of elementary students," Kim said. "While trying to have those students awakened and interested in English during the class, I came up with the idea of using pop songs as teaching material." He wrote a book titled "Miraculous Hunminglish Class Using Pop Songs," which contains his teaching methods. Hunminglish is a combination of Hunmin Jeongeum and English. Hunmin Jeongeum refers to the Korean script, or Hangeul, which was invented by King Sejong in 1443. His book has been listed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), a larger version of the Science Citation Index (SCI), a citation index covering thousands of notable journals, and the Scopus, a bibliographic database containing citations for academic journal articles. "Every other week, I have my students choose a pop song during the class from my book which has 104 pop songs I have selected to study with the kids," Kim said, describing himself as a DJ for the class. He cited split-brain research by Roger Wolcott Sperry, who won the 1981 Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine, saying that both the left and the right hemisphere of the brain may be conscious simultaneously in different mental experiences. "According to the study, learning a language while listening to music can improve long-term memory," Kim said. Kwon Soo-ryeo, 17, another second-year student, said that her English score has nearly doubled after studying with pop songs. "I was surprised that I have remembered new English vocabulary and expressions because all I did was just hum pop songs that I learned in English class, without memorizing the words," Kwon said. Kwon's classmate Noh Eui-jung, 17, also said that he was amazed how her English has improved. "When I walk down a street, I can partly understand some pop songs, which is marvelous," Noh said. "I can also notice similar changes in my classmates; we can now sing a number of pop songs together." Besides these three students, there are many more students whose English proficiency has improved with the help of pop songs. One of them is Shin Tae-hoon, now a junior majoring in business administration at Chungbuk National University in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. "Shin was not able to spell out the word apple' when he was a high school student," Kim said. "After studying English with pop songs in my class, his English improved so much so that he could be accepted to Chungbuk National University." He also recalled one of his students, Min Eui-ghee, now a junior majoring in English education at Seowon University in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. "Min, who had no dreams and hopes before I met him, is now preparing for the teacher qualification exams to become an English teacher," Kim added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 6 Trend: Premiere of the Ali and Nino movie was held in the Heydar Aliyev Center Oct. 5. Azerbaijans First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, the Foundations Vice-President Leyla Aliyeva, the movies cast and crew, and representatives of the public attended the event. Ali and Nino is about Azerbaijans fight for independence in early 20th century and love between two young people of different religions. The film, based on the namesake world bestseller Ali and Nino novel by Gurban Said, was shot in 2015. After the premier of the movie, its producer Kris Thykier made a speech greeting Azerbaijans First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and the audience. Madam first lady, thank you for your support and for being here tonight. It has made it a wonderful evening for me and for my colleagues, he said. Thykier said the movies premiere in Baku was in fact its world premier. It was appropriate that it [the premiere] should be here in Baku, he said. This is the first time I have seen the film in the Azerbaijani language, Thykier added. I think it may well be the first major international picture that has been dubbed so beautifully into Azerbaijani. He also expressed hope that Ali and Nino will have success in Azerbaijan and the world. The making of this film was a great adventure for me. It was a wonderful experience for me and I have fallen in love with this country, said Thykier. He further invited the cast and crew of the movie to join him on the stage. Thykier firstly introduced his producing partner in the making of the movie, the Heydar Aliyev Foundations Vice-President Leyla Aliyeva. He said that without Leyla Aliyevas passion, creativity and undying support this film would have never happened. And I am lucky to have been able to work with her, to consider her a friend, he said. Thykier also thanked the Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Anar Alakbarov and the team at the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for hosting the movies premier and for the help in filming it. He also thanked the movies distributors in Azerbaijan, the ministry of culture and tourism, the officials and the residents of the Old City for their help and support. I would like to thank the people of Azerbaijan, Baku, he said, adding the love, support and outreach from everyone in the city and across the country was amazing. Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva is the executive producer of the movie. The movies producer is Kris Thykier and director is BAFTA Award winner Asif Kapadia, while its script was written by the Academy Award winner Christopher Hampton. The film was shot in various parts of Baku, as well as in the streets of the historical Old City, Gobustan, Khinalig, Ganja and Gadabay. The movie lasts 104 minutes. Starring in the film are Adam Bakri as Ali and Maria Valverde as Nino. Other actors are Halit Ergenc, Mendy Petinkin, Connie Nielson, Riccardo Skamarchio, Homayon Ershadi, Fakhraddin Manafov, Assaad Bab, Numan Acar and others. Ali and Nino was first screened Jan. 27, 2016 at the Sundance film festival. The film will hit the CinemaPlus cinemas Oct. 6 in Azerbaijani and English. "Ali and Nino" will also be screened during the opening ceremony of the Asian World Film Festival, which will kick off Oct. 24. By Frank Ching Last month, US President Barack Obama was in Hangzhou for a G-20 meeting and, while there, held whatis likely to be his last substantive bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two men may meet again at the 19-20 November Apec leaders' meeting in Lima, Peru but, by then, there will be a new American president waiting in the wings. What's interesting about the Hangzhou meeting is that Obama picked up a theme from his first meeting with the Chinese president in June 2013, a theme that he then dropped for three years. This was Xi's proposal of a new model of major country relationship between China and the US, a proposal that the Chinese leader said was meant to avoid the "Thuycidides Trap" which says conflict between a rising power and the established power is inevitable. Obama evidently liked it and said in Sunnylands that it was important to "forge a new model of cooperation between countries based on mutual interest and mutual respect." The Chinese said there were three points to the new model: No conflict, no confrontation; respect for each other's core interests, and win-win cooperation. The US found those unacceptable, especially the point about respecting core interests, since China's definition of its core interests includes the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which are disputed with Japan, and the South China Sea, almost all of which China claims. Respect for China's core interestswould have meant putting China's interests ahead of those of American allies, such as Japan and the Philippines. So, ever since the Sunnylands meeting, the US has not mentioned the "new model." But China continued to talk about it at every Obama-Xi meeting. Thus, after Xi's state visit last year, the White House issued a "Fact Sheet" in which it summarized issues the two sides could work on, such as cyber security, climate change, Afghanistan,peacekeeping, nuclear security, ocean conservationand people-to-people exchanges. The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued an "Outcome List" of issues where the two sides had agreed to cooperate. Much of it was similar to the American list. But at very top of the Chinese list was something not mentioned by the US: the New Model. The American silence on the "new model"continued until Hangzhou. There, Obama held another press conference and unexpectedly said: "Consistent with the notion of a new model for relations between our countries, what I think we've been able to achieve is practical and constructive efforts where our interests intersect and a candid discussion of those areas where we differ, and our ability to manage them in a way that does not put the bilateral relationship at risk." So, at his last substantive meeting with Xi, the American leader returned to the concept of a "new model" which he had embraced and then shunned more than three years ago. His emphasis was on managing the overall relationship, rather than China's requirement of respect for core interests. Not mentioning the New Model after having accepted it looked like the US realized that it had made a mistake. Mentioning it one last time, in a way, is to bury it. It is seriously questionable whether his successor would maintain the pretense of a new model of relations with China. Of course, China is the world's second most powerful country. That alone means the US has to deal with it, and deal with it in a way different from the way it deals with other countries. The US has paid a high economic price for policies that allowed China to rise. A look at Donald Trump's supporters makes it clear that US manufacturing jobs were exported to China as a result of a combination of American policyand the greed of US capitalists, who wanted to extract every penny of profit possible, regardless of the loss of US jobs. Washington needs to be much more aware in dealing with China of the consequences of its policies. What's good for China is not necessarily good for the US. With the rise of anti-China sentiment in America, China is bracing itself for a period in which relations will deteriorate, regardless of who becomes president. For decades now, the Chinese have been describing the relationship with a slogan: "Even if it's good it won't be too good, and even if it's bad it won't be too bad." Recently, however, the Chinese have dropped the second half of that saying. There is still a cap on how good the relationship can be. But now, it seems, the deterioration of the relationship is open ended. 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. A young North Korean math whiz who is believed to have sought asylum at the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong has recently arrived in Seoul, a foreign media outlet reported Wednesday. Citing a report of news agency Factwire, the South China Morning Post said that the 18-year-old student "left Hong Kong for South Korea over the weekend," ending a two-month stay there. The North Korean teen who took part in the International Mathematical Olympiad in Hong Kong walked into the South Korean consulate in the special administrative district in July and sought asylum, Hong Kong media outlets earlier reported. A source said that the North Korean teenager arrived in South Korea on Saturday through a third country after leaving Hong Kong the same day. South Korea's unification ministry declined to confirm the latest report. The next U.S. president should consider negotiations a primary option for resolving the North Korean nuclear standoff, but make sure not to offer key concessions, such as suspension of joint military exercises with South Korea, without consultations with Seoul, a former U.S. negotiator said Tuesday. Robert Gallucci, who negotiated a 1994 nuclear freeze deal with Pyongyang, made the point during a discussion in Washington, stressing that Seoul and Washington must be in lockstep with each other with regard to the goal and other aspects of negotiations with Pyongyang. "This is advice to the next American administration, not that they're asking for it, but be very, very careful not to put on the table elements, carrots for the North that go to in their essence the U.S.-ROK alliance," Galluci said during a discussion organized by the U.S.-Korea Institute in Washington. Gallucci cited as an example the North's long-running demand for an end to joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. Pyongyang has condemned such drills as a rehearsal for invasion despite repeated assurances that they're purely defensive. "They always find the exercises aggressive, they always find them provocative," he said. "Well, those are joint military exercises and they are part of the alliance. So I would be very, very careful ... that we not put those at risk without consultation." "Whatever we decide to do, we the U.S. ought to be of this kind in consultation with Seoul. If we do that then we preserve the alliance at the same time as we try to be creative about what might be on the table in negotiations with the North," he said. Gallucci also said that Seoul and Washington should not enter into negotiations unless they agree on the objective. "The first thing I would worry about, as an American concerned about the alliance, is that we not enter serious, hopefully durable negotiations unless both sides agree that the objective of successful negotiations would be a North Korea that could re-enter the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty," he said. Gallucci also stressed that negotiations should be the No. 1 means for resolving the nuclear standoff. He said that Pyongyang would be willing to negotiate away its nuclear ambitions if there is an agreement that guarantees the regime's "survival with as much certainty as they think nuclear weapons will give them as deterrent to U.S. efforts at regime change." "I understand that they have wanted to convey the idea that they will never give up their nuclear weapons program. My view is that just raises the price. It doesn't mean they're not for sale," Gallucci said. Negotiations with the North will be hard, but there is no good alternative to that, he said. Imposing stronger sanctions on Pyongyang and taking other tough measures, including maritime interdiction and even a preemptive strike on the North, would only make the situation worse, the former negotiator said. "We could continue just as we are now. We could continue with what might be called some version of containment, where we have a sanctions regime, we attempt to limit the North Korean options politically and economically. But, as has been noted, as we do contain the North, we also watch the situation get worse," Gallucci said. "As someone has said, the North Korean case is not like fine wine. It doesn't get better with age. With each passing month and year, we look a nuclear weapons capability that grows qualitatively and quantitatively. We see ballistic missile capability also growing," he said. Gallucci also said that whatever forms future negotiations with the North would take, whether they be three-party or five-party talks, the U.S. should be the "essential player" as the U.S. is the only one that can address the North's security concerns. He also said the U.S. should no longer look to China to resolve the problem. "We want the Chinese to move the North to the proper frame of mind and enter negotiations. But we should not subcontract this issue, the North Korea issue, to Beijing. This I say as an American interested in our position in the Asia-Pacific region," he said. "The best way to do that is not to subcontract the key security issue to our peer rival. So I say, cooperate with the Chinese, get them to do as much as possible, but don't expect them to do the whole job," he added. (Yonhap) The U.N. Security Council is "moving fast" to adopt a new sanctions resolution on North Korea for its fifth nuclear test, Britain's U.N. ambassador was quoted as saying Tuesday. "I think we are moving fast, or at least fast by normal Security Council standards, to impose additional significant measures in light of the continued breaches of the resolutions, and that's progressing," Amb. Matthew Rycroft told reporters, according to the DPA news agency. The Security Council condemned the North's Sept. 9 nuclear test and pledged to adopt a new sanctions resolution. Officials said the United States and China have been in negotiations to reach agreement on how strong new sanctions should be. Cooperation from China is key to putting together any meaningful punishment for the North as it is one of the five veto-holding permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and the main provider of food and fuel to the impoverished North. China, the North's last-remaining major ally, has been reluctant to use its influence over Pyongyang for fear that pushing the regime too hard could result in instability in the North and hurt Chinese national interests. (Yonhap A ranking North Korean official stationed at North Korea's mission in Beijing has recently defected, possibly seeking to move to South Korea, a source familiar with Pyongyang's affairs said Wednesday. An official belonging to the North's health ministry disappeared with his family in late September, according to the source, who declined to be identified. He is known to be in charge of providing medical supplies to a clinic in Pyongyang which caters to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his family, the source added. The JoongAng Ilbo earlier reported that two ranking officials at North Korea's mission in Beijing were seeking to defect to Japan. "As far as I'm concerned, that report is not true," the source said. Two United Nations agencies have decided to provide emergency aid to North Korea after the latest floods that struck the reclusive country's northeastern region, Pyongyang's state media said Wednesday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the U.N. International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) decided to offer assistance to North Korea to help in the recovery effort in North Hamgyong Province, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Heavy rains hit North Korea's northeast area at the end of August, leaving more than 130 North Koreans dead and about 400 missing, according to the Red Cross. It marked the first time that North Korea unveiled the U.N. decision after the recent flooding. The KCNA reported last week that China has decided to offer free relief goods to the flood-ravaged areas. China is North Korea's ally and economic benefactor. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho had appealed for help during his closed-door meetings with U.N. officials when he visited New York for a General Assembly meeting last month, according to a report by U.S.-based media Radio Free Asia (RFA). South Korea earlier said that it will not provide aids to North Korea over the flooding amid heightened tensions following Pyongyang's nuclear test in early September. On Sept. 9, North Korea conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test to date, eight months after its fourth. The test was conducted days after heavy rains pummeled the northeastern region. Seoul condemned North Korea for pouring money into its nuclear program while neglecting the suffering of its people in the flood-hit areas. (Yonhap) The U.S. envoy to the United Nations will visit South Korea this week to discuss countermeasures against North Korea's latest nuclear provocation, a government source said Wednesday. Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., will arrive in South Korea on Saturday and stay here for four days, according to the source. Her visit comes as the U.N. Security Council is working on a fresh resolution to punish the North for conducting its fifth nuclear test early last month despite repeated global warnings. The test is regarded as the strongest ever, raising worries that the North is getting closer to nuclear weaponization. Demand is growing that the new resolution under consideration should include measures aimed at covering what many see as "loopholes" in the previous ones. She is to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and other key diplomats dealing with the North and its nuclear weapons program, the source said. Observers say that the North might carry out an additional provocation in time for the 71st anniversary of the foundation of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea that falls on Monday. (Yonhap) North Korea is ready to mercilessly make retaliatory nuclear strikes against the United States if it seeks to stage preemptive attacks on the North, the country's state media said Wednesday. The North's latest threat came in response to Seoul and Washington's joint naval drills which were conducted last week in the East Sea as a show of force against Pyongyang's fifth nuclear test. The exercises involved training for precision strikes on key land-based targets. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, condemned the two nations' drills, saying in its commentary that the move is an "advance preparation for mounting a preemptive attack" on North Korea. "If the aggressors and provocateurs dare mount a preemptive attack on the DPRK, they will not be able to escape a merciless, nuclear retaliatory strike of justice," the newspaper said. The DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name -- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In September, an independent task force report from the Council on Foreign Relations, suggested that Washington, Seoul and Tokyo should send a strong message to the North that future aggression will meet strong responses, including "strikes against military targets inside North Korea." South Korea has not had any discussions with the U.S. over a possible preemptive strike on the North, Seoul's ambassador to Washington Ahn Ho-young said during a parliamentary audit of his embassy on Monday. (Yonhap) By Yi Whan-woo North Korea has been mobilizing an army of slave workers for state-run construction projects nationwide, a report showed Wednesday. The finding adds to a series of revelations on North Koreans who are forcibly sent abroad to earn hard currency in order to prop up the cash-strapped regime. The 81-page report, titled "Sweatshop, North Korea," was based on testimony from 18 North Korean defectors in South Korea, including four former workers for the construction projects. An estimated number of 200,000 to 400,000 construction workers toil more than eight hours a day under extreme conditions for 10 years although they receive hardly any wages. Many of them, both men and women, are physically weak and came from lower-class families. They were forcibly taken to toil when they were in their senior years at middle school. Calling them "storm troopers," the report said their life resembles that of the military. It claimed that they live in groups in different regions and are asked to follow orders. "This is one of the odd systems of exploiting labor," it said. "It can be called a modern caste system." A former "storm trooper" in South Korea testified that the workers had to stay up from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. to build railways, roads, power plants, apartments and others "We often stayed up through midnight during the times of speedy battle," he said, referring to period when the tyrannical state rushed them to finish construction projects in preparation for important events, such as the seventh congress of the ruling Workers' Party in May. The workers were starved all the time because they were given poor meals despite their long working hours and that their monthly salary was too low to buy nutritious meals. The workers usually worked in a group of 10 and the women were also forced to fulfill physically-demanding jobs as much as men. "Everyone was given an equal amount of work regardless of their gender. Beatings and safety hazards were commonly seen," a defector said. Meanwhile, the report said over half of the 10 million soldiers at the North Korean Army have been mobilized for the government-run construction projects in addition to the slave workers to meet the deadline. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been pushing for a wide range of projects since he took power in December, such as apartment complexes for nuclear scientists and engineers. "The interviewees said they spent about six years on construction-related duties during their 10-year military service," the report said. "The mandatory military service is not considered as forced labor as defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO), but mobilization of the soldiers for construction exclusively is seen as a violation of the ILO regulations." The dictatorial regime has been pocketing cash from employees at other workplaces in return for ensuring their positions there, according to the report. Housewives and students are tasked with turning in cash, collecting waste paper or other goods that can be exchanged for money. It is estimated that North Korean authorities have been pocketing cash worth $975 million from the households across the country. "The international community should pay attention to enslavement of North Koreans at both home and abroad and take measures accordingly," the report said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: Azerbaijani Bank Standards mortgage portfolio has been transferred to Muganbank and NBCBank. The Azerbaijani Financial Market Supervisory Body revoked Bank Standards license on Oct. 1. After getting part of Bank Standards mortgage portfolio, the number of Muganbanks mortgage borrowers exceeded 2,000 people, while the bank moved into first place in the mortgage portfolio volume. A part of Bank Standards mortgage portfolio transferred to NBCBank is not reported. According to the Azerbaijan Mortgage Fund, as of June 30, 2016, Muganbank had 1,105 active mortgage contracts, NBCBank 452, while Bank Standard 1,181 contracts. Bank Standard was founded in 1995. It was one of the largest private commercial banks in Azerbaijan. The individuals deposits in Bank Standard total 603 million manats (official exchange rate on Oct. 5 is 1.6115 AZN/USD), including 568 million manats of insured deposits. The total number of insured depositors in the bank is 138,000 people. Muganbank JSC started to operate in 1992. The bank's 44 branches and 6 divisions in Azerbaijan, as well as its representative office in Moscow render every banking service to customers. Muganbank and NBCBank have been operating since 1992. Foreign ministry outwitted by Abe Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a history-denying, warmongering descendant of a World War II war criminal. Handling this calculative politician in his latest gambit on the "comfort women" issue, the foreign ministry deserves a big flunking F for its naivete, defeatism and incompetence. On Sept. 29, ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck told reporters, "We expect the Japanese government to take steps to address the sensitivities of the former victims of wartime sex slavery." The ministry had been asking for Abe's letter of apology in lieu of his direct spoken words of regret. On Oct. 3, Abe told the Japanese parliament that he had not "a tip of a hair" of intention to do so. The expression is rarely used in ordinary life, and because it is too impolite to use in reply to Seoul's suggestion means nothing less than an insult to Korea. The problem is that by all appearances the ministry had begged for it. Last Dec. 28, foreign ministers of the two countries agreed to wrap up a rancorous dispute over Japan's forced prostitution of Korean women for its soldiers in the lead-up to and during World War II. Under the agreement, Japan would pay 1 billion yen or 10.8 billion won in government restitution and Abe's apology was verbally relayed by Fumio Kishida, Japan's top diplomat. Ministry spokesman Cho's plea came at a time when Tokyo paid up the agreed sum with which the government began a foundation for comfort women. Most of the surviving comfort women and their advocates oppose the agreement, while public opinion is also unfavorable. Besides, Abe has taken every chance afterward to emphasize that the agreement should put an "irrevocable" end to the issue. In return, the government has neither ditched the pact nor raised the issue strongly. Regarding Abe's rejection, Cho refrained from commenting. The ministry should have known better. Minister Yun Byung-se gave his word on the behalf of the nation so in this case Abe was not wrong, however deplorable his behavior was. This doesn't have to mean that the sex slavery issue is over as Abe wishes. Rather, it is time for private citizens to take the initiative and press on so as to thwart Abe's dream of letting loose the beast in Japan again. This is an issue that deserves the attention of all the peace-loving conscientious people of the world. One mystery is why the ministry made its public overture, knowing that Abe would certainly reject it. The two sides talked about a follow-up measure from Japan including Abe's letter with the launch of the foundation. It can't be ruled out that the Japanese side hinted at accommodating Korea's request for Abe's letter in a diplomatic sleight of hand and, as often in the past, then pulled out. Even if it is true, it only would prove the Korean diplomats' tactlessness. Samantha Power By Kang Seung-woo Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will visit South Korea later this week to discuss North Korea's nuclear issue, according to a diplomatic source, Wednesday. "Ambassador Power plans to arrive in South Korea, Saturday, on a four-day visit," said the source. It is rare for a U.S. ambassador to the U.N. to travel to South Korea. It will be her first visit to Korea since she assumed the position in 2013. Her trip comes as the U.N. is working on new sanctions against North Korea following its recent nuclear test and missile launches. Pyongyang carried out its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9 its most powerful so far along with a series of ballistic missile tests, both of which violated existing U.N. resolutions. According to the source, Power will meet Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and other ranking diplomatic officials to exchange views on a fresh resolution being negotiated at the U.N. Demand is growing that the new resolution under consideration should include measures aimed at covering what many see as "loopholes" in the previous ones. However, since the latest nuclear test, U.N. negotiations on a new resolution are making little progress due to China's lukewarm stance. So while in Seoul, she is expected to hold talks with South Korean officials seeking to change Beijing's position. Power is regarded as one of the key figures in the security and foreign policy sector of the Barack Obama administration. She joined the Obama camp in 2008 and served for four years as a special assistant to the president and senior director for multilateral affairs and human rights at the National Security Council. Power also proposed the use of military force on humanitarian grounds in Libya while in the White House. In June 2013, Power was nominated as U.S. ambassador to the U.N., replacing Susan Rice, who now serves as national security advisor. A woman strolls the compounds of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul dressed in the traditional Korean attire of hanbok in this file photo. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Renewed interest comes from young, tourists By Kim Ji-soo At about half past 9 a.m., the streets of Seoul are usually empty, as office workers are hunkered down at their desks and tourists are not yet out and about. But the street that begins from Anguk Station leading toward the Constitutional Court and into Bukchon Hanok Village is already crowded with tourists relishing the city in autumn. On Tuesday morning, tourists flocked to 3355, a hanbok (traditional Korean attire) rental shop. A huge number of Chinese tourists are in the country for a short vacation as China marks its National Day Golden Week holiday. Two friends from Shanghai Zhang Yan and Li Jinxia, both 32 have already selected an elegant-looking ivory-and-blue hanbok in the store. "We wanted to experience Korean culture and also the ambience," Zhang and Li told The Korea Times. Gyeongbok Palace was closed that day, but Changdeok Palace was open and they planned to tour its courts later that day. Zhang Yan, left, and her friend Li Jinxia from Shanghai, China, look through an array of hanbok at the rental shop 3355 located in Gye-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Ji-soo Zhang and Li, who arrived in Seoul Oct. 1 for a five-day holiday, said they first learned about the traditional garments through Korean historical dramas ike "Jewel in the Palace." The two remain avid fans of Korean dramas, including "W" and "Jealousy Incarnate." Renting a traditional dress at 3355 costs between 30,000 won and 50,000 won depending on the style, which is affordable considering that purchasing a tailored hanbok can cost anywhere from several hundred thousand won to 1 million won. Yet until last year, in particular in Seoul, not many Koreans or tourists had rushed to rental stores like 3355 to try one on. "We also try to tell them how to put on the complete outfit, from the underskirt to the outer jeogori (jacket) and the skirt. We don't tell them that the underskirt is an option," said 3355 employee Shin Hyun-ji. "And for those who are interested, we also style their hair according to the hanbok silhouette for an additional charge of 5,000 won," she said. This is what Li and Zhang were doing. Hanbok at 3355 are available only for daily rental and the store dry cleans them each time they are returned. It has about 600 hanbok and four employees assisting customers. Such rental shops in the Bukchon and the large Jongno area _ about 70 according to some news reports _ are easily spotted. Hwang So-jung, 39, recently opened her shop Choyeon in the same neighborhood in April this year. She decided to open a hanbok rental shop after seeing a group of young people wearing colorful, vibrant hanbok in Gwanghwamun. For the past six months, she has immersed herself in her new business by dressing up her main customers, tourists. She said she wants to convey the singular role that hanbok played in Korean life. Unlike 3355 which charges only by the day, her store charges 15,000 won for four-hour hanbok rental and 30,000 won for the whole day. But there are other stores that rent by the hour or a few hours at lower prices, and Shin at 3355 believes these shops also play their role in promoting the hanbok. Both Hwang and Shin seemed proud and hopeful that the interest in wearing hanbok could spread, just like wearing a kimono or yukata in Japan. The trend is said to have been prompted by the government's policy of offering free entry for anyone dressed in hanbok to the four major palaces of Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Changgyeong and Deoksu starting in late 2013. But Shin also saw the powerful effect on social media of the photos of young people wearing hanbok. In general, there has been a more heightened awareness that the traditional Korean attire doesn't have to remain in the closet or be worn only to important family occasions. Heudereojida, a club at Ewha Womans University, hosted a two-day hanbok-wearing event in September on its campus in western Seoul. The general public sentiment seems to be that people are interested in returning to their roots. Hanbok designers, however, are skeptical; they have noted that the hanbok has been disappearing from cultural events and rituals such as the "pyebaek" in marriage ceremonies, where the bride and groom dress traditionally and pay their respects to each other's parents. "I do see more young people wearing hanbok especially around the palaces, but I question whether they ponder the meaning of this traditional attire, which was (in modern times) worn on important occasions," said Lee Hye-soon, hanbok designer and head of hanbok shop Damyeon. "Our hanbok is about the line, the silhouette, where it starts from the underskirt. It is about beauty where it shows our body lines only down to the shoulders. Then the silhouette changes from there depending on whether it is for daily wear, whether it is for a major family event or for when greeting family elders," Lee said. Lee expressed concern that avid wearers of hanbok on the street may be doing so for fun. As a designer, she hopes that the people who rent out these hanbok teach the wearers about its cultural origins and its significance, as she did recently when she saw some customers incorrectly tie the bows on their rented hanbok at Jeonju Hanok Village in North Jeolla Province. Kim Ye-jin, designer and owner of Kim Ye-jin Hanbok, sees the positive side of the hanbok-wearing trend in that the stellar quality of the traditional dress is becoming more broadly known. Yet like Lee, Kim wants people to know the proper way to wear the hanbok, which begins with the underpants, followed by the underskirt, petticoat and wearing in layers. Kim Jeong-soo, secretary general of the Korea Cable TV Association (KCTA), explains its plan to tackle the growing market uncertainty for the declining cable TV industry, at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of KCTA By Lee Min-hyung The nation's cable TV association has called for the government to toughen sanctions on mobile carriers' product bundling, as it hurts fair competition and dampens the already gloomy outlook for the cable TV industry. The Korea Cable TV Association (KCTA) voiced its concern at a press conference Wednesday when it announced its "One Cable" initiative with which the organization is seeking to revitalize the declining cable TV outlook here. "Mobile carriers such as SK Telecom are increasing their market share by bundling such services as mobile and internet protocol television (IPTV), posing a threat to cable TV operators which cannot sell such bundled services," Kim Jeong-soo, secretary general of the KCTA, said, urging the government to revise the current legal system in a way to foster fair competition in the media industry. Without a more specific and fair legal system, the nation's media industry will fall prey to the dominating power of such mobile companies, said the KCTA executive. The nation's cable industry has suffered a serious setback in recent years, as it failed to compete with IPTV services. Amid the growing market uncertainty and falling revenues, the cable TV coalition established an emergency planning committee in late July, right after the government disapproved of a controversial takeover of the nation's top cable TV operator CJ HelloVision by SK Telecom. During the press conference, the committee unveiled the One Cable blueprint. Under the initiative, the KCTA said it will push for developing a unified platform for some 90 cable TV operators across the nation. Toward that end, the organization pledged to join forces with local cable operators to develop next-generation quality services and technologies, in its bid to compete fiercely against IPTV operators. "We are also planning to launch an internet-based platform such as smart home services," he said. "The KCTA will focus on establishing our own smart home ecosystem which is largely different from that of mobile carriers." It added that the cable TV industry can be reshaped under the framework of the initiative, dispelling concerns both at home and abroad over the outlook for the cable TV industry. Under the roadmap, the KCTA said it will start collaborating with Internet of Things (IoT) service operators this year, and set up a standardized broadcasting technology by next year. The KCTA also said it will end existing analog television broadcasting by 2018, replacing it with digital broadcasting. Meanwhile, the nation's cable TV industry has stood at a crossroads over its lack of new growth engines. The rise of internet and IPTV has been cited as the key reason for its decline in recent years, with mobile carriers backed by their massive capital strength launching a series of bundled products combining their telecom services with internet and IPTV. Failing to catch up with the internet-centered media transition, cable TV operators have slowly lost their ground to the capital-backed telecom operators. Singapore! Philippines! Get ready to be invaded by six lovely ladies for the month of November! Three Angles Production is bringing APINK to your countries for their Asia Tour. On November 25, 2016 Friday, the girls will be having their show in Kallang Theatre. While on November 27, 2016 Sunday they will be in the Philippines and their show will be held in The Theatre of Solaire. Last June 24, 2016, APINK were in the Philippines as they were included in the line up for the MTV Music Evolution 2016 that was held in Mall Of Asia, Concert Grounds. It has been 4 months and they're coming back again! Filipino Pink Pandas are really excited and they can't wait to see them once more! Three Angles Production have just released an announcement regarding the tickets in the Philippines and more information about the show. See below! Event Details: - Event: APINK PINK AURORA ASIA TOUR IN MANILA 2016 Date: SUNDAY, 27th NOVEMBER 2016 Venue: THE THEATRE @ SOLAIRE Time: 6:00PM Show Duration: 120 Minutes Ticket Categories: VVIP PHP8500, VIP PHP6500 & PREMIUM PHP4500 (Ticket prices are in Philippines Pesos excluding ticketing fee.) The launching of the VVIP tickets will be on October 9, 2016. See below! VVIP Ticket Launch Details: - Ticket Launch Date: SUNDAY, 9th OCTOBER 2016 Time: 12.00PM to 4.00PM Venue: HARD ROCK CAFE MAKATI VVIP Ticket Price: PHP8500 (Cash Transaction ONLY) Number of Tickets Per Pax: Each Person is entitled to purchase a maximum of 4 tickets at the ticket launch at HARD ROCK CAFE MAKATI. Also the seat plan has been released. See below! For more information about the tickets and ticket launch in Singapore, see below! Event Details: - Event: Apink Pink Aurora Asia Tour In Singapore 2016 Date: Friday, 25th November 2016 Venue: Kallang Theatre Time: 7.00PM Ticket Categories: Cat 1 VIP S$288, Cat 2 S$198 & Cat 3 S$148 (Ticket prices are in Singapore Dollars excluding ticketing fee) Show Duration: 120 Minutes For Singapore, the CAT 1 VIP ticket launch will be on October 8, 2016 Saturday. Cat 1 Ticket Launch Details: - Ticket Launch Date: Saturday, 8th October 2016 Time: 10.00AM to 2.00PM Venue: Kallang Theatre (1 Stadium Walk, Singapore 397688) Cat 1 Ticket Price: S$288.00 (Cash Transaction ONLY. Please bring along EXACT change.) Number of Tickets Per Pax: Each Person is entitled to purchase a maximum of 4 tickets at the ticket launch at Kallang Theatre. The seat plan has also been released. See below! To know more about the show in Singapore and Philippines, you can visit Three Angles Production Facebook page (click here). Details added (first version posted at 13:27) Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Anvar Mammadov Trend: Baku hosted the ceremony of signing an agreement between the Gilan Holding company and the world's leading hotel operator AccorHotels Oct. 5. One of the hotels of Pullman international upscale brand owned by AccorHotels will start operating in Baku, according to the agreement. The agreement was signed by Director of Gilan Hospitality Group Elgun Mammadov and Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Russia, Georgia & CIS Alexis Delaroff. AccorHotels is very pleased that it will finally enter the Azerbaijani market, the most developed one in the South Caucasus, which has great potential, Delaroff said. He said the company started talks with the Gilan Holding a few months ago, and is happy to cooperate with this large Azerbaijani holding. Delaroff noted that it is very interesting to work in Baku for AccorHotels, as the city center with its architecture and buildings coating is very similar to Paris. Badamdar Hotel Baku, which previously operated under the Kempinski brand, will operate under the Pullman brand starting from 2017. The Kempinski company and owners of the Kempinski Hotel Badamdar came to a mutual agreement on the termination of the management contract starting from July 31, 2016. Kempinski Hotel Badamdar opened September 1, 2011, having become the first resort hotel of the Kempinski international network in Baku at that time. AccorHotels, which owns the Pullman brand, operates in 95 countries. Its portfolio comprises internationally acclaimed luxury brands including Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Swissotel and others. Currently, as many as 117 hotels and resorts in 31 countries operate under the Pullman brand. As the international upscale brand of AccorHotels, Pullman has 100 four- and five-star hotels across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: The Baku International Sea Trade Port (Port of Baku) will bring billions of dollars to Azerbaijan, Vahid Ahmadov, Azerbaijani MP, member of the parliamentary committee on economic policy, industry and entrepreneurship, told reporters Oct. 5 in Baku. Ahmadov said that the creation of the Baku International Sea Trade Port is a big project in the transportation sphere, which will allow creating the first free trade zone in Azerbaijan. If the project will work in accordance with the established procedure, it will bring benefits in 2018-2019, he noted adding that the project will also play an important role in non-oil sectors development. The worlds biggest companies will work here, he said, adding that companies of Dubai have already expressed their interest. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree March 17, 2016, on measures to create a free trade zone type special economic area in the Alat township of Bakus Garadagh district. The draft law on the free trade zone will be discussed during the fall session of the countrys parliament. Earlier, Azerbaijani government and Dubai Port World company (DP World, one of the worlds major port operators) signed an agreement on providing consulting services for the creation of the free trade zone in the Alat township. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: Turkey will continue its support for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route in order to keep it preferable for carriers, said Ahmet Arslan, Turkeys minister of transport, maritime affairs and communications, in his exclusive interview with Trend Oct. 5. Arslan noted that transportation to the Central Asian countries through Azerbaijan grew substantially in 2015 as compared to previous years. About 8,000 trucks were sent to the Central Asian countries through Azerbaijan in 2015, said the minister. There is no doubt that these volumes may increase even more in a short time, if the regions countries invest in transport infrastructure, he added. Arslan also noted that the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railways construction will create an opportunity to transport various cargos by various methods that will benefit the carriers. He said the non-governmental organizations must also work actively to strengthen the Trans-Caspian corridor, for which Turkey is ready to provide support. Turkey believes the opening of the Baku International Sea Trade Port and the adjustment of systematic voyages by RO-RO vessels will help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Trans-Caspian corridor, added the minister. Ankara considers the joining of the Iranian and Azerbaijani railways important, he said. Arslan went on to add that Turkey always supports the alternative routes, because it considers them necessary for carriers in the current economic conditions. We think the cooperation of the regions countries should be mutually complementary and believe these projects will help increase the prosperity of the entire region, noted the minister. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route runs from China to Europe through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR will consult with Italys Snam in the negotiations with Greece on purchasing a 66-percent share in Greek gas operator DESFA, Vitaliy Baylarbayov, deputy vice-president of SOCAR for Investments and Marketing, told EurActiv. SOCAR won a tender in 2013 on the purchase of a 66-percent stake in DESFA for 400 million euros. SOCAR plans to purchase a 31-percent stake of DESFA from the Greek government, and a 35-percent stake from Hellenic Petroleum SA. Earlier, Azerbaijans Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said the deal on SOCARs purchasing the 66-percent share in DESFA will be completed after Snam buys 17 percent of that share. We respect the Greek government effort to ensure the best conditions for the consumers of the DESFA network, be them industrial or private, said Baylarbayov. Both SOCAR and Greece know the importance of the issue, he added. Baylarbayov pointed out that Greek government made proof of its constructive attitude at a recent meeting between SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Baylarbayov recalled that Tsipras said he is committed to seek, during this month, a solution acceptable to both sides. SOCAR deputy vice-president pointed out that the objective is to find, in less than a month, a solution which would be good for both sides. What makes things more difficult is that the methodology has changed, which impacts the price of DESFA, he added. SOCAR agreed to pay a certain price for the company, Baylarbayov said, adding that in the meantime, the price changed, it became smaller. But I am sure that from the side of SOCAR, and also from the side of the Greek government, in accordance with the statements of the prime minister, a constructive approach will be followed, he said. It is in the interest of both sides that the protracted process of privatization of DESFA is successfully completed. We dont guarantee, but we hope that the goal can be reached. What adds optimism is that SOCAR is not alone in this process, said Baylarbayov. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Non-OPEC countries will unlikely join OPECs agreement to cut oil production, reached late September, and could try to benefit from the situation, says Erkal Ersoy, assistant professor and co-principal investigator at Heriot-Watt Universitys Center for Energy Economics Research and Policy. The risk with a coordinated production cut is always that rising prices could benefit other producers. For the cut to have a substantial effect, non-OPEC producers would need to refrain from accelerating production as prices inch higher, Ersoy told Trend Oct. 5. Last week OPEC agreed to cut its oil output for the first time since 2008. The group plans to reduce output to 32.5 million barrels per day (bpd) from current production of 33.24 million bpd. How much each country will produce is to be decided at the next formal meeting of OPEC in November, when an invitation to join cuts could also be extended to non-OPEC countries, such as Russia. Ersoy believes that at the moment there is no reason to think that other countries would commit to such an agreement, and US onshore Lower 48 producers could benefit the most. If OPEC did reduce production, the real question is whether non-OPEC producers and stock draws would make up for the difference. If so, oil prices could stay put. If not, we could see an upward tendency in prices. In the current climate, the former seems more likely, Ersoy said. However, the expert noted that OPEC agreement has a vague nature, reminding that individual member countries of the cartel have not formally agreed to a freeze level. Moreover, Iran, Libya and Nigeria, the three countries exempt from the freeze, are all looking to increase production due to various reasons, such as lifting of economic sanctions from Iran earlier this year and recent damage to petroleum assets in Libya and Nigeria in terrorist attacks. Due to these reasons the overall effect of the agreement on OPEC production is unclear, Ersoy said. A successful supply cut would put an upward pressure on prices as the market readjusts to a new equilibrium. However, it is difficult to tell whether this will happen until OPECs November formal meeting, the expert noted. On Wednesday afternoon the cost of the December futures for Brent crude oil increased by 1.69 percent to $51.74 per barrel and November futures for WTI rose by 1.68 percent to $49.51 per barrel. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 5 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The Aarhus Convention, a UN document on access to environmental information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters, was the focus of an OSCE-supported seminar in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, said the OSCE in a message. Twenty five representatives of local authorities, commercial organizations, civil society and media attended the event. Discussions focused on administrative liability in the area of environmental protection, the importance of awareness-raising about air pollution and activities of the Caspian Environmental Control Service of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Nature Protection and Land Resources (SCTNPLR) in the area of implementation of environmental legislation. The implementation of the Aarhus Convention is a multi-step process which requires a systematic approach, including strengthening knowledge and understanding among officials at all levels of government of their respective obligations and responsibilities within the Convention, said Natalya Drozd, head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat. The seminar was organized by the Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan Project, launched in 2012 by the Tebigy Kuwwat public organization, with the support of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, and in cooperation with the SCTNPLR. After 14 years of holding the La Jolla Cove 10-Mile Relay Swim at the Village enclave, organizers decided to relocate the 15th edition on Sunday, Sept. 25 to La Jolla Shores. The reason behind the move was the high levels of Fecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB) found at The Cove, which prompted a Bacteria Exceedance Advisory from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health. According to the website sdbeachinfo.com the advisory was posted on Sept. 1 and still stands. Swim event director John Heffner explained, We got an indication that the lifeguards were banned from going in the water as long as the bacteria signs were up, and we couldnt operate our event without the lifeguards being in the water. In fact, the San Diego Lifeguard Services policy states that no recreational contact with the water is allowed if the County has issued a high bacteria or a general advisory, routinely released after it rains. Lifeguard Lt. Rich Stropky confirmed the information. That means we dont go in the water unless we need to for work-related stuff so no workouts, no paddle boards, no swimming in the area. La Jolla Cove Swim Club President Dan Simonelli, who is also involved in organizing the 10-Mile Relay Swim, said directors didnt want to risk participants health. He said he stopped swimming at The Cove in September. I went to The Cove and it stunk so bad you could taste it in the water. I just finally said, Ive heard of friends and other swimmers that have gotten sick, and I cant risk it getting some infection any longer, he said. How water quality is measured San Diego County issues two kinds of Bacteria Exceedance Advisories, one for acute situations (when the statewide thresholds are exceeded on a given day, which means one-time exposures may cause illness) and another for chronic risks (when the average for a 30-day period is exceeded, which means multiple-day exposures may cause illness). Keith Kezer, program coordinator of the Land and Water Quality division of the Countys Environmental Health Department, told La Jolla Light the current bacteria advisory at The Cove belongs to the second kind. To calculate chronic risks, the County uses the geometric mean a way to determine the average among a set of values of five measurements within a 30-day period. When the thresholds for the geometric mean are exceeded, as Kezer puts it, If someone goes in (the water) multiple days, because they are having more exposure, the risk of them getting sick is greater. Therefore, the thresholds for a chronic bacterial advisory are lower. Another example of a chronic advisory for bacteria exceedance is Childrens Pool (aka Casa Beach). We have enough data that we know this risk is maybe not always there, but its predominantly there, Kezer explained. The Environmental Health Department conducts periodic water tests on every beach along the Countys 55-mile coastline. Daniel Collins is the environmental health technician who performs the task. The Light accompanied Collins on a sampling trip to La Jolla Shores last week. If you see me here tomorrow, the water was bad today, he said, referring to the policy of next-day testing carried out when a sample comes back exceeding the standards. He explained that a good water sample is taken 12-20 inches below the surface and well above the oceans floor to avoid any contamination that might not be representative of the overall water quality. His equipment consists of a 6-foot pole that extends to 12 feet if the surf is high, and a 100-milliliter bottle provided by the laboratory that contains the water. Immediately after the sample is taken, its put in a cooler with ice to preserve the bacteria from growing. Once Collins collects all the samples for the day, he drops them off at the laboratory where they are analyzed with culture methods. Essentially, you take one bacteria, which is hard to detect, give it food and let it grow into a colony, and then you can count it, Kezer explained. This process takes 24 hours, which is one of the challenges of this method. The morning after, at 16 hours of cultivation, the County obtains a preliminary report on the bacteria and if the thresholds have already been exceeded, it issues a Bacteria Exceedance Advisory. This is almost one whole day after the samples are taken. How accurate are measurements? Heal the Bay is an environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds of the Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy and clean. Beach water quality modeler Ryan Searcy, who created models that predict water quality, criticized the current measuring method. You typically wont receive the results back until the following day, and during that time conditions can change, water quality can increase. The result you receive is accurate by the time it was taken, he said. Until we have a method that can almost instantaneously get us bacteria information we never really know what the concentration of bacteria is. Searcy is working on a series of predictive models that can fill in the gaps between water quality samples. We take old samples and environmental data like rain, temperature, waves and water conditions we can easily measure and we predict, based on statistics, if the water will be clean or dirty. The benefit of this program is theres water quality information every single day rather than once a week, he explained. Assembly Bill 411 of the Health & Safety Code of California mandates local authorities across the State test for total coliform, fecal coliform and enterococci bacteria (aka FIB) on a weekly basis, and take the appropriate measures if the standards are exceeded. But many may be surprised to learn none of those bacteria can actually make humans sick. Does fecal-indicator bacteria cause illness? Those three bacteria groups have been found through studies to be present where there are other pathogens that do make people sick, Kezer explained. Some of the illnesses related to these bacteria include skin rashes and Gastrointestinal Infection (GI). UC Los Angeles Associate Vice Chancellor for Environment & Sustainability, Dr. Mark Gold, said he believes there is a sufficient correlation between the FIB and the pathogens that make humans sick. Surprisingly so, this has been one of the big areas of debate and research for the last 25 years, and the reason why is that most FIB are not the pathogens that get you sick when swimming, but they are an indicator of health risk, he said. Results of studies all over the world say that high densities of enterococcus bacteria is associated with health risk for GI, even though the association might be different depending on the source of the enterococcus. However, not everyone in this field agrees with this theory. Ruth Kolb, program manager in the City of San Diego Stormwater Department, doubts the effectiveness of measuring the FIB in Southern California beach waters. Over the last 30-35 years, all the epidemiology studies that show the correlation between bacteria and human illness have been done in the East Coast and the Midwest where theres a lot more contamination in the receiving water. In Southern California, we dont have those combined systems of stormwater and sewer, so (studies) are showing that our water quality is very good and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies are geared toward areas where FIB can do a better job at predicting illness. Research shows that the correlation between FIB and human pathogens is lower when the source of the contamination is non-human, for example at La Jolla Cove, where the source of the bacteria is presumably animal, more specifically sea lion waste. (FIB is present in the feces of all warm-blooded animal species). The health risk is generally considered to be less with non-human contamination than when you have human sewage in the water, said Dr. Gold, but there are many cases of cross-contamination illness between species, so theres still a risk. Studies have been done for cross-contamination with birds, cows, horses or pigs, and while the amount of risk varies, a lot of those sources, risk-wise, are far lower than from human pathogens. Dr. Gold said, There hasnt been a specific study on people who swim on marine contaminated water with pinnipeds. That study has never been done because the number of beaches that are like La Jolla Cove you can count with only one finger. Kezer added, Just like with anything, theres advantages and disadvantages to (measuring FIB). Theres going to be some areas where it works, and others where it doesnt work. A new approach A different approach is being developed by the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP). The rapid method gives results within four hours and searches for the human marker HF183, tracking bacteria that actually lives in humans. City stormwater expert Kolb said, EPA and the State Water Board have been funding the SCCWRP to help develop methods that will be faster and more accurate by trying to develop something that works in four hours, and developing measures that are more accurate at tracking the pathogens. Public Information Officer Anthony Santacroce said the City is also funding the development of this project. For now, this new method is considered expensive and ineffective by the authorities, who still mandate that FIB are tracked on California beaches. However, Dr. Gold, who is also associated with Heal the Bay efforts to develop a predictive model for beach water quality, believes that until water testing becomes a daily venture, beach water quality will still be a question mark in Southern California. The beauty of the rapid method is that is going to give you a better idea, but youll need to start doing daily monitoring. Ideally, wed have rapid methods and every beach would be monitored daily, but thats not the case, the monitoring agencies arent willing to spend that kind of money. COMING NEXT WEEK: What are we surfing in? a report on stormwater infrastructure in La Jolla. What are we surfing in? A look at stormwater infrastructure in La Jolla Every Thursday night a group of young surfers paddle out together at a La Jolla beach. They call themselves the Surf Church, and afterwards meet at La Jolla Christian Fellowship (627 Genter St.) for pizza and prayer. Their meetings began in January 2015, and as co-founder Alex Reynolds explained, For the first six weeks, we had one grom (young surfer) come, so it was four of us kind of leaders and just this kid, Matt, who still comes every week. Shortly after, the Surf Church organized its first surf contest and weekly attendance increased. The Surf Church, as Reynolds put it, is for everyone who likes surf or is interested in surfing, but our mission is to connect with people who find some of their identity in surfing, because thats who we want to connect with and share faith with. I love that theres older people, like Alex, who are really cool and we have the same values. We love surfing and Jesus. Jacob Kelly, 14 Reynolds, a La Jolla High School graduate, came up with the Surf Church idea after returning from living in South Africa for two years, where he was involved in Christian surf groups. While at a La Jolla Christian Fellowship meeting, I realized that this church is two blocks away from WindanSea and two blocks away from La Jolla High, and a lightbulb went off. This was a perfect place to pack full of groms! he said. At 5 p.m. on Thursdays, the group surfs at a designated beach for two hours. We usually go to Bird Rock, WindanSea or Scripps, Reynolds said. After that, they meet again at La Jolla Christian Fellowship and have dinner. Nine out of 10 times its pizza, he joked. We have a ping pong table and surf movies, and sometimes we play crazy games. Then we have a message, and someone shares a story about how God works in their lives. A part of their meetings is the Stoke Meter, where the groms using a scale from 1 to 10 say how stoked they are. They can give as little or as much reasoning as they want, but it works to find out whats going on in their lives, Reynolds said. Lastly, the group has prayer time, when participants share about their lives or what they need prayer for. Maybe their grandpa is sick or they have a test coming up, he explained. The depth of their faith varies with every grom, Reynolds said. All the kids really enjoy coming and connecting on different levels, not all of them take their faith that seriously or its not so deep in their hearts ... some are just interested and still kind of checking it out and some for sure own it and believe. Reynolds himself was not always a firm believer. I had a phase when I put my faith more on the back burner trying to find satisfaction all over ... but I realized that real joy only comes from believing in Jesus, and I think God slowly works this process on everyone. Fourteen-year-old Jacob Kelly has been a regular at the Surf Church for a year. I love that theres older people, like Alex, who are really cool and we have the same values. We love surfing and Jesus, he said. Another regular at the surf sessions is 21-year-old Rebecca Mueller. She also started surfing with the crew one year ago. I learned about it through friends. I like the community aspect of it, its a way of having good friends who are supportive. Its very positive that we are a group striving for better relationships with the Lord, she explained. Earlier this month the group organized the first Jesus Fish festival where four 5-foot 7-inch identical surfboards were raffled off among the participants. Each surfboard was sponsored by a church in San Diego County that chose a quote from Bible scripture that was printed on each board. IF YOU GO: Surf Church gathers Thursday nights at La Jolla Christian Fellowship Church, 627 Genter St. To learn more, call (858) 401-9204, visit churchatlajolla.org/surf-church or send an e-mail to surfchurchsd@gmail.com Of Note: Chris ORourke and Christian surfers In the 1970s, surf legend Chris ORourke converted a group of WindanSea surfers to the Christian faith before he died in 1981. The documentary Changes-Chris ORourke (1998) by La Jolla-resident Edward Feuer chronicles his story. I produced the documentary because I was so amazed about this guys life and all the people touched by him, Feuer said. ORourke was Californias best surfer in 1976, according to Pipeline ace Gerry Lopez. At age 16, he was the top-rated surfer in the Western Surfing Associations elite division. Born in New Jersey, he moved to La Jolla as a child and began surfing at WindanSea. He was reportedly very active in the practice of localism, a tendency among surfers of the 1970s to reject non-local beach-goers. He was like a gangster beating people up and that kind of thing, Feuer said. In the documentary, his friend Mark McCoy explains, We were a pack of hyenas and we would threaten anybody who threatened the pack. And ORourke was very vocal in that. I can remember times where we would tip over a Volkswagen van and set it on fire, because the guys driving it were not from La Jolla. At age 18, ORourke was diagnosed with cancer and in the process of his recovery found faith. As Feuer puts it in his documentary about the legendary surfer, With death at his doorstep, ORourke prayed with his friend Brew Briggs, and asked God to forgive him and save his life. After finding this new aspect of his life, ORourke dedicated himself to sharing the message he held dear. In the documentary, WindanSea surfer Peter King explains, Chris was cool, and we wanted to be cool. Whatever he was into, we wanted to be into. The documentary Changes-Chris ORourke is available at vimeo.com/4617038 Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct. 5 By Demir Azizov Trend: Foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries and the EU discussed the state and prospects of cooperation with a focus on various aspects of economic development, the press service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported. The ministerial meeting Central Asia-European Union was held Oct. 4 in Brussels. Foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan took part in the meeting. Within the plenary session and other formats, the foreign ministers exchanged views on regional and international problems, issues of security and combating extremism, according to the Uzbek Foreign Ministry. The strategy of cooperation in the Central Asia-European Union format was approved in 2007. Regional programs within the strategy are effective in the field of stability and security, sustainable economic development and poverty reduction, as well as regional cooperation both within the region and between the EU and Central Asia. Energy and water resources, transportation, small and medium businesses, border management and fight against drugs, education and science, as well as environmental protection are among priority directions of cooperation between the EU and five countries of Central Asia Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Since 2007, the EU has allocated more than one billion euros for the implementation of various regional programs and projects in concrete countries. The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Exports of Irans mineral industry products increased by 15 percent during the first six months of the current fiscal year (March 20-Sept. 21, 2016), the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), said. Iran exported $3.4 billion worth of mineral industry products in the six-month period as compared to $2.9 billion worth of export during the same period of the preceding year. The volume of the exported mineral products stood at 25.5 million tons, 25 percent more year-on-year. The main exported goods were steel, copper and iron and products, IMIDRO said. The Islamic Republic exported $1.3 billion worth of steel products (11 percent more year-on-year), while the figure for copper and iron ore was $463 million and $327 million, respectively, in the six-month period. Copper exports witnessed a sharp rise by 472 percent during the first half of the current Iranian fiscal year (began on March 20, 2016) Mines and mining industry of the Islamic Republic exported $7.05 billion worth of goods and services over the last Iranian fiscal year. The countrys mining product imports in the six-month period stood at $1.8 billion 25 percent less year-on-year. The volume of the mining products imported into the country accounted for 2.7 million tons, meanwhile the figure stood at 4.4 million tons during the first half of the last fiscal year. Lead worth $12 million registered the highest growth among the imported mineral goods (415 percent increase). The country also imported $4.7 million worth of chromium (90 percent increase) and $260,000 worth of Molybdenum (188 percent more year-on-year) during the six-month period. PRESS RELEASE Beijing-Tokyo Defense Ministers Meet: First Time in Four Years Oct. 3, 2016 (EIRNS)Foreign and defense officials from China and Japan kicked off a high-level security meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 29, the first one between the two sides in more than four years. Liu Jianchao, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister, told the meeting that the international security situation has changed dramatically in the four years and that the situation around China and Japan has been also getting more sophisticated during this period. It is important to maintain dialogue between the two countries foreign and defense ministries as the two sides are important neighbors and regional powers, Liu said, adding that the meeting is also of significance to maintain regional peace. The Chinese diplomat also called for a sincere and pragmatic attitude so as to improve the talks and the countries cooperation. China-Japan relations witnessed a turning point last year with the signing of a four-point agreement. Beijing hopes to develop ties with Tokyo in the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future," Liu said. PRESS RELEASE Die Welt: Deutsche Bank Threatens U.S. Government with Systemic Collapse Oct. 4, 2016 (EIRNS)On the day when Deutsche Bank CEO John Cryan is travelling to Washington, the daily Die Welt delivered a message from the German establishment, in an article headlined "Deutsche Bank Threatens U.S. Government with Systemic Collapse." It is a chicken game, Die Welt writes, explaining what this means from the famous James Dean movie "Rebel Without a Cause." John Cryan plays the role of James Dean, and is going to tell the Americans: if you push too much, Deutsche Bank will go bankrupt and pull you down, too. Die Welt has two important charts: one showing foreign bank investments in German banks, and another one showing German export of derivatives (sic). Foreign bank investments in German banks amount to 1 trillion. Leading the charge are British banks with 316 billion, number two are French banks with 259 billion. Then come Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the U.S.A. with between 70 and 130 billion each. In the list of world export of derivatives, German banks are in the first place, head to head with Britain. Third is Switzerland, and fourth is the U.S.A. "German banks have twice as as many cross-border derivative contracts as U.S. institutes," says a strategist at Nomura. "The DOJ [Department of Justice] cannot afford to claim a fine that is much too large, if it does not want to risk a new banking crisis in its own country," Die Welt writes. "Therefore, Cryan must play the chicken game with the U.S. officials so long, until the fine is reduced to $4 billion." Anything above this will be problematic for DB, writes Die Welt, although reducing the fine will in fact do little to resolve Deutsche Banks crisis. The idea, says Die Welt, is to avoid a fine as high as to absorb the entire planned capital increase. It is a difficult path, because, per shareholder mandate, DB can increase its equities by only 50%, which makes a net capital quota increase of 5.6 billion on the current capitalization of 15 billion (in a capital increase, shares are usually devalued by 25%). Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Umid Niayesh Trend: MOL Group, a leading international integrated oil and gas company from Hungary, has confirmed the purchase of Iranian heavy crude oil. Speaking to Trend Oct. 5, Judit Nemeth, an official with the MOL, said that since 2014, MOL has been actively looking for alternative crude grades with seaborne delivery as part of its optimization measures and to capture additional margin opportunistically if and when crude differentials are favorable. Since the sanctions against Iran are lifted, Iranian crude has become part of these alternative crude grades MOL is actively considering for using in its refineries, she added. Nemeth further said that as a first step, MOL completed the reconstruction of the Friendship I/Adria Oil Pipeline in February 2015, which is technically capable of covering the full crude intake of the landlocked refineries. Based on our previous evaluation we see a great potential in crude oil import through the recently extended Adriatic pipeline and expect 13-16 cargos this year from seaborne sources, she added. Nemeth also said the MOL imports most of its crude demand from Russia, but it is also buying about 20 percent from other sources via the Adriatic pipeline this year, however, the majority of its crude intake is expected to remain the Ural type oil. According to traders and shipping data, MOL has commissioned a cargo of 140,000 tons of Iranian heavy crude oil for Oct. 23. The cargo will be delivered from Iran's Kharg Island terminal to Croatian port of Omisalj. Meanwhile, Mohsen Qamsari, director of international affairs at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), said Oct. 1 that the NIOC finalized a deal to export a 1-million-barrel oil cargo to Hungary the next month. Negotiations for crude export to Hungary launched in early 2016. In mid-July, Qamsari said the MOL called for importing 40,000 barrels of light crude oil per day from Iran. However, at the time, he said Tehran was not ready to provide MOL with light crude. PRESS RELEASE German Economic Minister: U.S. Should Drop Iran Sanctions Oct. 4, 2016 (EIRNS)Germanys Economic Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Iranian President Rohani yesterday that he would press the U.S. to lift economic restrictions on Iran, as stipulated in the 2015 nuclear deal. Gabriel, leading a delegation of 120 senior business leaders from Germany to Iran, said Germany "intends to remind the United States of its commitment to get an effective dismantling of sanctions. Washington should act on its responsibilities concerning Iran so the outcome of the nuclear deal becomes visible in Iran." Russias RT reported that Germany intends to sign 10 key deals, and boost economic trade with Iran by 2.5 billion euros. Although the U.S. and UN sanctions were lifted in January 2016, the Iranian President said this lifting has been "flawed," and that many European banks and businesses have stayed away from commerce with Iran, out of fear that their dealings will endanger their dealings with U.S. financial institutions that are still banned from dealing with Iran. The U.S. response, RT says, is that it is fulfilling its state obligations, [but] its up to individual companies if they want to invest in Iran. PRESS RELEASE Lavrov: U.S. Policy Threatens Strategic Stability Oct. 4, 2016 (EIRNS)In a sharply worded statement issued yesterday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made clear that the unsatisfactory performance of the U.S. implementation of the plutonium treaty was not the only reason behind President Vladimir Putins decision to suspend Russian participation in it (the United States did not fulfill the agreement to reprocess spent plutonium to non-weapon grade status, as Russia did). "I would like to stress that this is a measure of last resort. We considered the agreement an important step towards nuclear disarmament," Lavrov said. However, "Washington introduced large-scale economic and other sanctions against Russia, citing unsubstantiated claims. NATO military infrastructure is expanding, with an increasing number of U.S. troops in proximity to the Russian border. The United States and its allies openly and freely discuss transitioning to a policy of containing their relations with Russia. They even threaten terrorist attacks in Russian cities." So, clearly, Putins decision to suspend the plutonium treaty is a function of the overall collapse of U.S.-Russian relations brought on by President Obamas policy of geopolitical confrontation. "All these actions taken by Washington are leading to a major shift in strategic stability and are increasingly limiting possibilities for Russian-U.S. cooperation on reducing nuclear arsenals," Lavrov went on. "Our decision is a signal to Washington that it cannot use the language of force, sanctions and ultimatums with Russia while continuing to selectively cooperate with our country only when it benefits the U.S." The response at the State Department to the Putin decision, yesterday, was the usual combination of lies and arrogance: "I would note this is the latest in a series of steps by Russia to end longstanding cooperation on nuclear security and disarmament, including its decision to not participate in the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, and its unwillingness to continue strategic arms control reductions," State Department spokesman Elizabeth Trudeau said during yesterdays briefing. Smoke that caused a plane to be evacuated at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky was caused by a Samsung device, a fire official said. Louisville Metro Arson Capt. Kevin Fletcher told news outlets that the device overheated Wednesday morning and began to smoke, which led Southwest Airlines to evacuate the plane, which had been scheduled to depart for Baltimore. Airport authority spokeswoman Natalie Chaudoin said 75 people, including crew members, were evacuated from the flight. She said no one was injured. Advertisement Fletcher said there was minor damage to the planes carpet where the device was dropped. U.S. safety regulators announced a formal recall last month of Samsungs Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after a spate of fires led to injuries and property damage. The Verge, a tech news site, reported that the Samsung device on the plane was a replacement Note 7 that is, a phone that was supposed to lack the battery problem that caused other Note 7 phones to overheat and catch fire. According to the Verge, the phones owner, Brian Green, said he used to have a recalled Note 7 and picked up the replacement phone Sept. 21. Sarah Green of New Albany, Ind., was quoted by the Louisville Courier-Journal as saying that her husband, Brian, told her his Galaxy Note 7 made a popping noise and started smoking after he powered it down. She also said the phone had been replaced recently because of the recall. Fire Capt. Sal Melendez said the device overheated during the flight crews safety demonstration. Samsung said in a statement that its working with authorities to recover the device and confirm the cause of the fire. ALSO Yahoo doesnt deny scanning users emails, but calls report misleading Column: Former Time Warner customers, get ready for your cable bill to go up Column: Cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs was silenced by a huge hacker attack. That should terrify you. UPDATES: 2:50 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Sarah Green and Fire Capt. Sal Melendez. This article was originally published at 11:40 a.m. Recalling the childhood fun she had at summer camp, Ciji McBride has decided to go back to the outdoors. The 41-year-old African American beauty consultant from Baldwin Hills recently joined the Sierra Club, began taking day hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains and is planning a camping trip to Yosemite National Park next summer. As a kid, I always liked being in the outdoors, and as I approached my mid-30s and 40s, I said, What are some of the things I like to do, she said. You can go to bars and movies, and thats all great, but we live in a state with great weather. Advertisement McBrides renewed interest in hiking and camping reflects the growing percentage of minorities spending time in the great outdoors, a significant shift for a demographic long underrepresented among campers and hikers in the U.S even as the nations population becomes more diverse. The development holds the promise of a potentially lucrative new market for state and national parks as well as makers of outdoorsy equipment and clothing. A recent survey of nearly 3,000 Americans and Canadians found that among the 1 million people who began camping for the first time last year, nearly 1 in 5 was black and 11% were Latino, nearly twice the rate for those groups in 2014. The survey, commissioned by Kampgrounds of America, showed that the latest generation of campers more closely represent the nations overall ethnic breakdown. An increase in participation among minorities in the outdoors could help boost state and national park attendance as well as sales of hiking boots, camping tents, backpacks and other outdoor equipment. The changing demographics of the U.S. is the demographics of consumers, said Ivan Levin, deputy director for the Outdoor Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the trade group that represents the outdoor recreation industry. Its important to get these people interested in the outdoors now. Minority groups represent a growing and largely untapped market for outdoor gear manufacturers and retailers with buying power that is rising much faster than for the general population, marketing experts say. U.S. Latinos buying power defined as household income minus taxes increased 167% between 2000 and 2015, while the overall buying power of all U.S. consumers rose 82% in that same period, said Jeff Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgias Terry College of Business. The same 15-year period saw 91% growth in African Americans buying power and a 199% increase for Asian Americans, he said, based on annual studies by the Selig Center. The reason why these multicultural markets are so compelling is that they are quite large and are exhibiting extraordinary growth, Humphreys said. Buying power is surging for all three groups, he said, because of a rising level of education, above-average population growth and increasing entrepreneurship. Increased interest by diverse groups is redefining the $646-billion outdoor recreation industry, which despite annual sales growth of about 5% a year, hasnt managed to increase the overall participation rate in outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, camping and fishing. Close to half of the nations population participated in an outdoor activity in 2015, a rate that has been almost unchanged for the past nine years, according to annual studies by the Outdoor Foundation. In California, attendance at the state parks has dropped 6% since 2006. National parks fared better, with a 13% increase in visitors during that same period. The managers of state and national parks say increasing visitation numbers means ensuring that parks have funding to stay open. The more people appreciate the parks, the more constituents we have for our parks, said Karl Knapp, who is part of a team at the California State Parks trying to make parks more relevant to the states diverse population. Its not just a numbers game. Its an appreciation. One of the reasons more minorities are venturing into parks and forests, according to the KOA survey, is that technology, including smartphones and online apps, makes it easier to book campsites, locate hiking trails or meet up with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Nadine Jackson, an African American cafeteria manager from Compton, said she was prompted a few years ago to spend more time in the outdoors when she saw the Facebook posts of a friend who enjoyed hiking near Rancho Palos Verdes. After checking out videos and photos on Facebook of other people having outdoor adventures, Jackson, 46, said she decided last year to take 17 family members to Sequoia National Park. Im on a mission to see as many national parks as I can before I leave this world, she said. McBride agrees that technology has helped encourage her to spend time in the outdoors. She said she recently used a sky map app on her smartphone to look at a meteor shower. Things are much more accessible, she said. In opinion surveys, the top reasons African Americans and Latinos have said they dont spend more time on outdoor activities are the expense or the lack of time or skills to participate. Recognizing the need to draw more minorities into the outdoors, park managers and outdoor industry groups have launched several outreach programs in the past few years. The Outdoor Foundation launched a program in 2014 called the Outdoor Nation Challenge that rewards college students for taking time to birdwatch, hike, camp or other activities. The college that scores the most points gets a trophy and up to $5,000 in cash and outdoor gear. The program started with 10 colleges and 8,000 participants and has expanded to 90 colleges and nearly 20,000 participants. The contest is designed to pique the interest of young, ethnically diverse populations, Levin said. In California, the state parks department launched a transformation effort in 2015 to draw more Californians into state parks. Among the initiatives of the group is to create a community liaison program to encourage young people in urban areas to venture into the parks. The program also includes a partnership with Google to map state parks, making it easier to find trails and landmarks easier. The state parks also are working to install more wireless Internet access at campgrounds. Its a more digital generation than in the past, said Knapp of the state parks. The national park service also has launched an effort to get minorities into the outdoors by inviting artists, photographers, bloggers and writers who have huge followings on social media to visit parks and post videos, stories and photos of their experiences. Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation, the official charity of the national park system, said the future of the national parks depends on getting a more diverse generation of millennials to be regular visitors to the parks. We are going to need people to stand up and fight for the parks, he said. We are going to continue to need financial support. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. To read the article in Spanish, click here ALSO Yahoo helped the U.S. government spy on emails, report says Users of popular prepaid debit cards finally get some federal consumer protections Google shows off new phone, virtual reality headset and home assistant SpaceXs investigation into the mysterious explosion of its rocket last month is drawing political support and branching out in unusual directions. A bipartisan group of 24 members of Congress many of whose interests align with those of SpaceX have sent a letter to the heads of the Air Force, NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration praising the agencies roles in assisting or overseeing SpaceXs investigation into its September launch pad explosion that destroyed a Falcon 9 rocket and a communications satellite. That comes a week after 10 Republican House members, including a number of representatives whose districts host space operations by the companys competition, criticized SpaceXs role in leading the investigation. Advertisement In the latest letter, dated Sept. 30, the congressional members said they were pleased that the FAA is maintaining a strong and prudent oversight role that appropriately draws upon private sector insight in ensuring a robust investigative process and safe return to flight for SpaceX. The House members, led by Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), also supported NASA and the Air Forces roles in assisting the investigation, saying it is consistent with long-standing accident investigation procedures. We are confident that current NASA and Air Force procedures will ensure that future U.S. government missions that utilize the Falcon 9, and any other launch vehicle system, will undergo appropriate flight worthiness evaluations prior to flight, the letter states. NASA and the Air Force said they received the letter and are reviewing it. The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The letter sharply contrasts with and at one point appears to rebuke the letter sent last week by SpaceX critics. Those critics, led by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), suggested instead that NASA or the Air Force should take charge to ensure that proper investigative engineering rigor is applied and that the outcomes are sufficient to prevent NASA and military launch mishaps in the future. Accidents are unfortunate events and accident investigations should not be politicized, the letter led by Flores states. We encourage you to to reject calls for your organizations to abandon established, well-considered and long-standing procedures. Under federal law, SpaceX is allowed to conduct its own investigation. SpaceX, whose full name is Space Exploration Technologies Corp., and other companies lobbied successfully to extend the law last year. The FAA oversees such investigations. Flores congressional district includes McGregor, Texas, where SpaceX has a rocket development facility. Among the letter signers were several members of Congress who represent states where Hawthorne-based SpaceX has operations, including California. Coffmans congressional district includes the headquarters of United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. that had long held a lucrative monopoly on national security launches until SpaceX was certified by the Air Force in 2015 to compete for these contracts. Meanwhile, the explosion investigation veered off in an unexpected direction when the Washington Post reported last week that in an attempt to chase down all possible leads, a SpaceX employee asked for access to the roof of a nearby building leased by ULA after SpaceX officials had come across something suspicious they wanted to check out. Citing unnamed industry sources, the Washington Post said the encounter between the SpaceX employee and ULA officials was cordial, not accusatory, and that the SpaceX worker had still images from a video showing an odd shadow, then a white spot on the roof of the ULA building. ULA ultimately denied the SpaceX employee access to the roof, instead calling the Air Force to come and inspect, according to the Washington Post. In a statement, ULA said it cooperated with the Air Forces 45th Space Wing and nothing associated with the SpaceX accident was found. SpaceX said its accident investigation team has an obligation to consider all possible causes of the anomaly, and that the firm would not comment on any specific potential cause until the investigation was complete. We have sought all available data to support the investigation in a timely manner following the anomaly, as expected for any responsible investigation, SpaceX said in a statement. About two weeks ago, SpaceX said a preliminary review of the data suggested that a large breach took place in the helium system of the upper-stage liquid oxygen tank. The cause of the breach is still unknown. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com For more business news, follow me @smasunaga ALSO Googles new household gadget is all about search Yahoo helped the U.S. government spy on emails, report says This app promises privacy through encrypted messaging, but a U.S. subpoena puts it to test Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.5 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Iran exported more than 3.064 million tons of crude oil to Turkey (about 108,000 barrels per day) in seven months of 2016, compared to Jan-July 2015, the statistics of Turkeys Energy Market Regulatory indicate. Irans crude oil export to Turkey stood at 438,507 tons (108,000 barrels per day) in July. Turkey also exported 2,635 tons of petroleum products to Iran in this month. The reports didn't elaborate on the country's oil imports statistics in the same period of last year, but Iran currently shares about 13 percent in Turkey's total crude oil imports. Turkey was importing about 180,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude oil before the western countries impose sanctions on Iran in 2012. The sanctions were removed in January 2016, but the statistics indicate that Iran couldn't resume its share in Turkey markets. In the special skills section of every actress resume, she ought to consider adding the phrase gives good phone. Thats because even the most gifted women in Hollywood are all too often called on to deliver a prosaic phone scene worrying about, cheering on, pining for their men. This month two variants of the worried phoner are in theaters Laura Linney as Lorraine in Sully, Clint Eastwoods biographical drama starring Tom Hanks as airline pilot Sully Sullenberger, and Kate Hudson as Felicia in Peter Bergs thriller Deepwater Horizon, starring Mark Wahlberg as an offshore oil rig worker. Both actresses play their parts with warmth and naturalism. A wary Linney peeks out the window at reporters gathered on her lawn as she begins to grasp the magnitude of her husbands newfound fame after landing a plane on the Hudson River. A bubbly Hudson shares news of their daughters school day over a video call moments before an explosion on the rig. Advertisement But the similarities between their dialogue reveal the characters limited narrative function, as spokespersons for their spouses bravery. Sully, watch the news. Youre a hero! Lorraine tells Hanks calm and competent Sully. Youre a good man, Mike, Felicia tells Wahlbergs calm and competent Mike. An aw-shucks guy could hardly ask for better publicists. When actresses dial into the story from outside the action, theyre often there to remind the audience what the hero has to lose, like comfort, family or the love of a good woman who doesnt seem to own any pants. Or they exist as evidence of a tough guys softer side. But the wife-on-the-phone is rarely written as a fully dimensional character herself. In true-life stories about male-dominated professions, the wife-on-the-phone trope may be hard to resist. It was, after all, a man who piloted that plane, and it was mostly men who worked on that oil rig, although Gina Rodriguez has a substantial supporting part as a worker on the bridge of the rig. Other women who have dialed into the action in recent movies include Keira Knightley as the supportive pregnant wife of expedition leader Rob Hall in Everest and Sienna Miller as the supportive pregnant wife of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper, another highly successful Eastwood film. The persistence of the device reflects the wider disparity in Hollywood films, where there are two men with speaking roles for every one woman who speaks, according to research by USCs Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative. Even when she does speak, a woman is often there to narrate her husbands journey. In 2015, females made up just 22% of protagonists, according to the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film at San Diego State University. For every Katniss Everdeen or lady Ghostbuster, there are many, many more women working the phone. At their worst, phone scenes are a wasteful use of a great actress, like revving up a Maserati just to drive to the corner market. Linney has three Oscar nominations, three Tony nominations and three Emmy Awards. She could probably make a telemarketer look interesting. She also has a deep affection for Eastwood, who cast her in his 2003 mystery Mystic River and in his 1997 political thriller Absolute Power, and she would clearly play a heros wife for him any time. An actress needs to work, and she may as well work for an icon. It is possible to make a movie about a heroic man that gives his wife some texture as well Ava DuVernays 2015 historical drama Selma is one example. In the role of Martin Luther Kings wife, Coretta, Carmen Ejogo conveys the weight the civil rights movement had on their marriage in a simple look across the dinner table. Publicly shes the picture of devotion, but privately, she confides her doubts in a friend. Pablo Larrains Jackie, a biopic starring Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy due in December, forgoes the heroic man altogether, setting its action in the days after President Kennedys murder and focusing on the first ladys mourning and shaping of the Camelot legacy. As the adult drama has become rarer in Hollywood, giving way to larger-budget, franchisable, kid-friendly fare, well-written women like these have been one of the casualties. Though Hollywood was once driven by the box-office power of actresses, in film noir, screwball comedies and dramas, women who want to play layered characters on a big screen have fewer choices today, and many have migrated to television instead. And if the cinematic equivalent of I just called to say I love you is what awaits them in movies, who could blame them? See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour rebecca.keegan@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter for more movie news: @thatrebecca ALSO: How Deepwater Horizon director Peter Berg and crew created what could be the biggest set ever built Eastwood and Hanks talk Sully, their film about the humble, smiling hero who landed on the Hudson River Commentary: With Miss Peregrine, Tim Burton is just the latest director to shirk a responsibility to diversity How serious is Hollywood about stopping presidential candidate Donald Trump? The Avengers have been summoned, a beloved sitcom cast reunited and calls have been sent out across space and time to both the women of Shondaland and the entire Star Trek universe. For the record: An earlier version of this story credited John Billingsley and John de Lancie with cowriting the Trek Against Trump statement with Armin Shimerman. The post was primarily written by Shimerman and Andre Bormanis with some input from others among the Star Trek cast and crew. While its nothing new, especially in this traditionally left-leaning industry, for well-known names to lend theirs to the typical flurry of fundraisers and fetes that inevitably mark the political season, what is surprising is the way in which so many celebrities have been pulling out all the stops, or in the case of Will & Grace creator Max Mutchnick, the old set out of storage. Advertisement Other efforts, including a super PAC launched by writer-director Joss Whedon (The Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and an open letter from the extended Star Trek family seem more elaborate than usual. I think its gotten even bigger when people feel that their freedoms are being threatened, or theyre concerned about where things are going, said Shonda Rhimes, powerhouse writer-producer of ABC prime-time stalwarts Greys Anatomy and Scandal, who was called upon by the Hillary Clinton campaign to direct the candidates introductory video at the Democratic National Convention in July. I think for a lot of people it feels personal. In addition to the usual celebrity draw toward campaign appearances, this year has seen an increasing interest in capturing viral online success outside of the campaign apparatus. In 2008, then-Sen. Barack Obamas presidential campaign benefited from a star-studded video produced by the Black Eyed Peas will.i.am called Yes, We Can, a short that was then considered unconventional for its online launch but earned more than 25 million views on YouTube. One of the more surprising recent efforts included the brief return of Will & Grace, a sitcom that last aired on NBC in 2006 and starred Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes. The project was the result of timing, luck and a dedicated sense of secrecy. After the series ended, creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan arranged for the set to be stored behind glass at their alma mater, Emerson College in Boston. When construction at the university forced its move back to Los Angeles, however, Mutchnick was inspired to write and produce a short that included the shows cast as well as its regular location, costume designer and director. Furthering its time capsule-like look, a studio audience of friends and family was also on hand. It was fun because it was secret ... my agents didnt even know what I was doing, said Messing, speaking by phone from her home in New York while on a break from recent appearances for the Clinton campaign in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Ohio. Targeting voter participation with the hashtag #VoteHoney (while making no secret of its disdain for Trump), the episode debuted shortly before the first presidential debates and has since earned more than 5 million views. We just felt like, OK, there has never been a more important election in our lifetime and I cant imagine ever again because of how insane this election is, Messing said. So to be able to do just something to try and energize people to have their voice heard, to participate, to register to vote it made that feeling of general impotence sort of lessen at least for a minute. Attempts to reach the campaign for comment about the video were unsuccessful, but Messing described its initial reaction as shocked by the surprise release but ultimately thrilled with it. Save the Day, a super PAC started by Joss Whedon last month, also aims to increase voter registration. Whedon announced Save the Day with a video that featured lots and lots of famous people, such as Neil Patrick Harris, James Franco and Julianne Moore, along with actors from the Avengers films he has directed, including Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle and in a playful pledge to appear in a nude scene if their efforts are successful Mark Ruffalo. The irreverent clip has earned close to 7 million views since Sept. 21. A statement on the Save the Day site clarifies that its efforts are paid for by the PAC and are not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. Whedon did not respond to a request for further comment, but in an interview with Buzzfeed, he said he had heard from the Clinton campaign. They have a specific thing that they have to do to stay on message. We can go anywhere, we can be a little more anarchic, have a little more fun with it. Joss Whedon They have a specific thing that they have to do to stay on message, Whedon said. We can go kind of anywhere, we can be a little more anarchic, have a little more fun with it. Clinton addressed the video in an interview with People magazine. For the record, I was planning to vote anyway, she said. That said, Marks a true patriot, Im sure he wont let America down. Whedon and Save the Day are said to be planning more videos, with seven filmed and five more in the works. Last week a second, more straight-faced clip, You Say Vote, debuted led by Greys Anatomy star Jessie Williams. It has thus far earned just over 57,000 views. On a similar but more low-fi scale, Trek Against Trump debuted last week with a Facebook page and statement signed by cast and crew from various generations of Star Trek from both the film and TV universes, including reboots director J.J. Abrams, original Sulu George Takei, new Spock Zachary Quinto and The Next Generation favorite LeVar Burton. Written by science consultant for the recent TV series Andre Bormanis and Armin Shimerman (Quark of Deep Space Nine), among others, the language of the statement carries a familiar ring to fans of the famously humanistic franchise. Dont remain aloof vote! We have heard people say they will vote Green or Libertarian or not at all because the two major candidates are equally flawed, the statement reads. That is both illogical and inaccurate. What basically happened was I watched the polls narrow and I feared for our country, said Shimerman, who also appeared as Principal Snyder on Whedons Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. And as I went to conventions and talked to my colleagues at Star Trek I heard the same fear. And we heard Hillary say you couldnt sit back in this election. . I didnt think I could do much, and I couldnt do anything alone, that was for sure. The statement and its signatures came together in just over a week. We moved at warp speed, Shimerman said. Rhimes believes some of these efforts could be the result of a hope to stand out amid the 24-hour cycle of election chatter on social media, which has been a stronger presence than ever in 2016 with candidates trading barbs on Twitter. This is not necessarily a campaign where its a battle of ideas, unfortunately, said Rhimes, who considers herself a Clinton campaign volunteer and plans to go door-to-door to help register voters with her 14-year old-daughter. You have ideas battling a lot of noise and so there is a sense that more work has to be done to sort of say Hey, look over here to make sure people are paying attention to the right things, she said. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour chris.barton@latimes.com Follow me over here @chrisbarton. ALSO Twitters big winner from Tuesdays V.P. debate? Joe Biden Watch Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live The Obamas most notable pop culture appearances Hillary Clinton might have more all-star wattage behind her than any presidential nominee ever has During an interview on the BBC last spring, Esa-Pekka Salonen described a recent dream he had of hearing an orchestra playing something unbelievably gorgeous. When he awoke, he excitedly told his wife that he had the opening for a cello concerto he was working on for Yo-Yo Ma. Still bleary-eyed, the composer rushed to the piano before he forgot the dream. The passage, he soon realized, had been lifted note for note from a symphony by Witold Lutoslawski. It was not a good morning, Salonen bemoaned. It was a good night Tuesday when Salonen began a West Coast tour with his London orchestra, the Philharmonia, at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa with a great performance of Sibelius Fifth Symphony. That performance made me think of his dream. Advertisement Leonard Bernstein claimed that when he conducted Mahler, he was Mahler. When Pierre Boulez conducted Debussys Jeux, he did so as though Boulez had written it. This is something that only happens with the most creative and accomplished composer-conductors. With this Sibelius Fifth, in which it was difficult to tell where one composer stopped and the other started, Salonen joined ranks with a select few. Salonen comes from a generation of Finnish composers who rebelled against the looming presence of Sibelius, a composer who became the symbol of a nation. For much of his 17-year tenure as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Salonen was both selective and diffident about performing Sibelius until he finally led a cycle of seven symphonies and miscellaneous other orchestral works during his penultimate season. Salonen explained on the BBC interview that Sibelius hands were a little bit away from his neck, not around it. The performances of the seven symphonies stood out for their revelatory freshness, clarity and modernity with still a hint of hands-off wariness. But in this latest interpretation of the Fifth, nine years later, Salonen doesnt simply let Sibelius be. Here he magnifies the sheer visceral impact of a great symphony, as though he moved from the first high-definition televisions to the best new 4K and 5K models, from a 40-inch screen to a 100-inch one. The clarity is greater. The colors are richer. There is simply more there there. The brass are brassier, and the woodwinds blow through mysterious Finnish forests but also have the cheery flavor of delicious small Finnish summer strawberries. The sense of nature is imposing. The music feels to grow by natural means, to change shape and feeling like clouds in a spectacular sky. For the final climax, Salonen found a musical equivalent of stop-motion photography, allowing the force of nature to stop us in our tracks. Where does this come from? The program did, and didnt, prepare us. The first half was another standard repertory symphony, Beethovens heroic warhorse, his Third Symphony (Eroica). This seemed an unusually conventional program for one of the most innovative of our celebrated conductors and known for brilliant program-making. Unlike when he was music director of the L.A. Phil, overseeing all aspects of programming, Salonen has devoted his energies as principal conductor and artistic advisor at the Philharmonia for eight years to exploring in depth composers and musical styles that interest him. Hes done projects around Bartok and the Second Viennese School. This year he has embarked on a Stravinsky festival, which has included a re-creation of Peter Sellars production of Symphony of Psalms, and Oedipus Rex created for Salonens last concert as L.A. Phil music director in 2009. In fact, after the cheers for the Sibelius performance started to die down, Salonen turned to the audience and noted that we were probably wondering where Stravinsky was. The encore then was the coda from Stravinskys ballet, Apollon Musagete. Really, though, the Stravinsky was in the Eroica. Salonen did some surprising things with Beethoven, most surprising of all using valveless early 19th century trumpets. But they were used to the opposite effect of reproducing historical performance practice. Instead, the symphony came across as a predecessor of Rite of Spring. Rhythms were propulsive. Cellos and basses in the first movement dug in as though warming up for Stravinsky-ized ancient Russian rites. Spring sprung violently. The Philharmonia, an orchestra with an unusually high proportion of young players, does not make a lush sound but rather a tightly focused one, harsh even at times. But the playing is extraordinary vivid, the individual timbres of instruments never watered down for the sake of homogeneity. Again, where does this come from? The answer may be technology. Salonen does less new music in London than he did in L.A. But he has made this orchestra one of the worlds most inquisitive in its use of new multimedia technologies, the latest of which is undertaking explorations with virtual reality. The traditional program Tuesday which opened a new season for the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and which moves this week to Northridge, Santa Barbara and Berkeley includes no bells and whistles. Yet it sounded all bells and whistles, as though the Philharmonia had so absorbed virtual reality that it could now produce larger-than-life effects the old-fashioned way. ------------ Philharmonia Orchestra with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen In Northridge: 8 p.m. Wednesday at Valley Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St.; $43-$85; (818) 677-3000, ValleyPerformingArtsCenter.org In Santa Barbara: 8 p.m. Thursday at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State St.; $39-$119; Community Arts Music Assn., (805) 899-2222, camasb.org mark.swed@latimes.com ALSO The connection between Gordon Davidson and Neville Marriner, and what it means for modern-day L.A. Neville Marriner, L.A. Chamber Orchestra music director and Amadeus maestro, dies at 92 Gordon Davidson, Mark Taper Forum founder and L.A.'s Moses of theater, dies at 83 Critics Appreciation: Gordon Davidson changed L.A.'s image of itself The L.A. Phils nonstop new music marathon, Noon to Midnight As more and more jet-setters take their furry friends wherever they go, high-end hotels have created amenities that welcome four-legged guests with open arms. Cushy beds, treat room-service and walking services are now de rigueur at just about any luxury pet-friendly hotel. But some go that extra mile to welcome Fido and Fluffy. At Romes Waldorf Astoria Cavalieri, VIPs (very important pets) chow down on a special dog menu, and those who may have put on a few extra pounds can run off some calories during a pooch personal trainer session in the surrounding 15 acres of parkland. After a full workout, a staff member escorts your canine to nearby Domus Aventina for a shampoo, massage, skin treatment and stylish comb out. The ornate, baroque-styled Hotel Bristol in Vienna welcomes dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles and other animal companions. Pet menus are available both in-room and in the hotels restaurants. In the Bristol Lounge, the chef offers a choice of porcelain-bowl-served beef tartare, seasonal fish or poached capon breast. Fred & Otto in Wien, a dog-centric Viennese city guide, is available for guests. Advertisement Guests staying at the Milestone Hotel in Londons swish Kensington district are sent a pet preference form prior to their arrival to make sure everything is ready for four-legged friends. The dog beds include a cozy duvet and the hotel provides a number of services from grooming to birthday parties. The Very Important Pet Program at the Napa River Inn in Northern California includes a custom-designed blanket, place mat and bowls from which your pet can feast on the hotel-supplied gourmet bones and biscuits made with Napa Valley wines. Should you want time away from the kids to fully enjoy the areas wineries, pet sitters are available to make sure they dont get up to any mischief or get lonely. And while youre relishing a spa treatment at the Napa River Inn, you can pamper your pooch with a doggie massage. Closer to home, pet friendliness is nothing new at the stylish La Valencia hotel in La Jolla, which has been offering pet services for more than 90 years, including in-room pet bed nightly turndown service. The hotel hosts monthly Yappy Hours and can arrange a multiple critter services including canine yoga and massages, as well as kayaking and surfing lessons you can enjoy together. To ensure your pet fits right in to the La Jolla lifestyle, the hotel can also arrange a personal shopper to browse the eclectic selection at a neighborhood pet store called Muttropolis. La Valencia shows it cares about all pets (not just pampered ones) by collecting canine care packages for the nearly 3,000 soldier dogs serving with the U.S. military around the world. The first hotel to teach dogs how to hang ten, Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers dog surf lessons in conjunction with the Coronado Surf Academy. The first step in teaching a dog to surf is to make sure that he/she enjoys the water, academy owner Teevan McManus said. Its really our only requirement. Second, we invite the owners to participate with us in the water during the lesson. Its their experience, too, and the dogs respond much better to their owners commands. All pets staying at Loews Coronado receive gifts, including a pet tag, bowl and a special treat to start their vacation. The hotel stocks a full range of pet accessories and offers dog or cat room service menus. Joe Yogerst, LA Times Custom Publishing Writer The one percent that astronomically wealthy group politicians love to hate dont vacation. They summer or winter, and in jaw-dropping style. If you can pony up six figures for a brief getaway not including round-trip transportation from the U.S. heres how to chill like the super-rich. A romantic weekend in St. Moritz: $135,000 (depending on exchange rate) In honor of Badrutts Palaces 120th anniversary, theyre offering romantic a 120,000-euro weekend. Perks include a private jet from airport to hotel, a 12,000-euro shopping spree and a cocktail served with a diamond ring. Around the world in a private jet: $147,500 per person From French Polynesia to the rainforests of Borneo, from Mount Everest to Iceland, this 26-day vacation from Abercrombie & Kent circles the globe. Youll stay at the finest accommodations and at restaurants, or a private chef will prepare meals. Advertisement A swank safari in Kenya: $210,000 Ol Jogi, a family-owned 60,000-acre resort in Kenya, is home to wildlifes big five lions, leopards, elephants, endangered black rhinos and buffalo. Its also a nature reserve. As the only guests on the property, you and your posse can indulge in unparalleled luxury. Youll fly in on a private Cessna and stay in exquisite cottages appointed with fine art, antiques, Hermes linens and Buccellati silver. All profits from your visit are reinvested in wildlife conservation. Maxine Nunes, LA Times Custom Publishing Writer A San Jose man faces 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing or injuring more than 20 pet cats that he stole from a quiet residential community last fall, according to prosecutors. On Tuesday, Robert Farmer, 25, pleaded guilty to 21 felony counts of animal cruelty after a surveillance tape showed him snatching a tabby cat in the Cambrian Park neighborhood, according to the Santa Clara County district attorneys office. As this sad case comes to a close, our thoughts are with the families who lost their beloved pets, Deputy Dist. Atty. Alexandra Ellis said in a statement. We intend to hold Mr. Farmer accountable for his perverse and violent acts. Advertisement The gruesome case of animal cruelty came to light in October 2015, when authorities arrested Farmer as he slept in his car. Hidden inside the vehicle was a dead orange tabby cat and some cat collars. While investigating the matter, police found surveillance video that showed Farmer luring a similar looking tabby cat from a Cambrian Park home and running away with it. The dead cat and collars were eventually linked to Farmer and what investigators said was a mass killing of neighborhood cats. Farmer was suspected of maiming the felines and possibly sexually abusing one cat, the San Jose Mercury News reported. Prosecutors said Farmer stole the felines from neighborhood streets and killed up to 16 cats. But investigators found only four bodies. Late last year, prosecutors appealed to the public for help in identifying the female, long-haired tabby cat as well as the two collars with bells one was black with a white chain-link pattern and the other was pink and coated with glitter. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. It took several days to find the body of Cynthia White, who was strangled in San Bernardino County in 1991. When her former boyfriend discovered her on the night of May 27, 1991, in the Devore home she had inherited from her father, investigators thought she had been dead for a week. But tracking down her suspected killer took far longer, and the case grew cold by 1993. Advertisement On Tuesday, after more than a quarter of a century, prosecutors charged a man already on death row with the murder of White, who was known as C.J. Dean Eric Dunlap, 57, has been in San Quentin State Prison since he was convicted in 2005 of killing, raping and kidnapping 9-year-old Sandra Astorga in January 1992. The conviction made him the first man in San Bernardino County to be sentenced to death because of evidence uncovered through Californias DNA database. Now, DNA has proved crucial to tying him to another cold case, authorities said. Detectives from the countys Sheriffs Department reviewed Whites case in 2012 and submitted additional evidence for DNA analysis. The next year, the state Department of Justice database registered a match with Dunlap. Its unclear what evidence contained Dunlaps DNA. Dunlap had provided a blood sample to authorities in 1996, when he was paroled after serving a prison term for sexual assault. That sample was used to tie him to semen found on Sandras underwear, T-shirt and shorts. The young girl was walking to Roosevelt Elementary School in January 1992 and vanished. A hiker found her body weeks later, covered by a bedspread and oily tarp in a field near Devore. In 1999, the fluids on her clothing matched DNA that Dunlap had provided. In 2005, jurors convicted Dunlap of first-degree murder, kidnapping, forcible rape and committing a forcible lewd act upon a child, along with three special circumstances that left him eligible for the death penalty. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter White was known as a likable young woman who frequently held barbecues and parties at her home, the San Bernardino Sun reported shortly after her death. Her father had died of cancer and bequeathed his Devore home to her in 1988. She often went to the Screaming Chicken Saloon and would pay for drinks for friends, the bars owner told the newspaper. White also worked at a convenience store. She was a good little worker, very sweet, co-worker Sigrid Townley told the Sun. The customers all liked her. And thats what counted. Dunlap is expected to be transferred from San Quentin to custody in San Bernardino County. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno. MORE LOCAL NEWS Man dies after Burbank police shoot him with Taser; second armed suspect in custody Homeless sex offender charged with raping woman at Glendale grocery store parking lot Sacramento officers acted appropriately in fatal shooting of man who posed direct threat, lawyer says The foolishness began in South Carolina with frightening, false accounts of clowns attempting to lure children into the woods. From there, reported sightings of so-called creepy clowns spread to other states and even prompted the White House to weigh in on the frenzy. Now, with Halloween just weeks away, police agencies throughout California are scrambling to calm public anxiety as costumed hoaxsters frighten residents on the street or terrorize others via social media. Advertisement Most recently, authorities in Lancaster warned that men wearing ugly-looking clown masks were using a kitchen knife to frighten people and then videotaping their reactions. They were not the friendly-type of clown, said Ali Villalobos, a community service officer for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department in Lancaster. The clowns have struck at least three times. Sheriffs deputies said the suspects are only trying to scare the victim(s), adding that it was prank. There have been reports of scare tactic-style videos appearing online, the department said Wednesday. Sheriffs deputies have been searching online for videos but havent found any showing the Lancaster pranks. Similar creepy clowns sightings were reported in Modesto, prompting police to issue a stern notice to residents: If you see anything or anyone suspicious, including individuals dressed as clowns, to avoid contact and report the circumstances to us immediately. The most troubling episodes, according to police, have involved false threats of mayhem against students. Earlier this week, online pranksters terrorized schools in Oakland, Fairfield and Sacramento by threatening violence against students and staff. Fairfield police Sgt. Jeff Osgood said a group calling its members the ClownGanng threatened to kill or kidnap people at several schools. Although police said the threats were not credible and were merely copycat pranks, officers were monitoring social media and activities on campus closely. These viral posts tend to take on a life of their own, Osgood said. Fontana police also have received reports of people dressed as clowns are making threats toward citizens. Social media has seen this activity occurring across the country for the past several weeks, and it is believed to be a hoax, the department said Wednesday. Since the clown sightings started in August in South Carolina, police there have attempted to dispel any rumors that the clowns tried to contact or lure children into the woods. The White House even chimed in on the phenomenon when a reporter asked about the sightings in a briefing Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said he didnt know whether the president had been briefed on the episodes, but added that local police agencies likely were taking the reports seriously and should carefully and thoroughly review any perceived threats to the safety of the community. Not even horror novelist Stephen King could undo the decades of deep-rooted fear of clowns. Kings miniseries It famously depicted killer clown Pennywise, who terrorized children in a small town. On Monday, the author tweeted, Hey, guys, time to cool the clown hysteria--most of em are good, cheer up the kiddies, make people laugh. But the effort didnt appear to help. Clovis police said Tuesday they cited a 12-year-old student after posting threats regarding Clovis Killer Clowns. The incident followed arrests made last week in Fresno. Two 14-year-old girls were arrested in connection with threatening to shoot up schools in Fresno all while making references to clowns. Police Chief Jerry Dyer said the threats were serious and deemed to be felonies. Their future is ruined because of something this stupid, he told reporters. We take this extremely serious, and quite frankly we are fed up. We want this to stop immediately. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Former detective depicted in McFarland, USA is sentenced to five years in prison Man pleads guilty to killing or injuring cats he stole from a quiet San Jose neighborhood Man serving life sentence for raping and killing San Bernardino 9-year-old charged with murder in second cold case Good morning. It is Wednesday, Oct. 5. Here is a list of what you might not know about Koreatown. And heres what else is happening in the Golden State: TOP STORIES Fight over transparency Advertisement Hoping to curb the spread of misinformation, the Los Angeles Police Department released surveillance video Tuesday that captured part of a chase that led to the deadly shooting of an 18-year-old man. The video appears to show Carnell Snell Jr. running through a strip mall parking lot with a gun in his hand. Over the weekend, protesters questioned the LAPDs assertion that Snell was armed when he was shot by officers. I dont care if he had a gun because life matters, said Melina Abdullah, an organizer with the Black Lives Matter movement. Los Angeles Times Massive bill Something funny is going on with a retired schoolteachers water bills in Northridge. Typically, Velma Matthews bills from the Department of Water and Power are about $500 for every two-month billing period, she says. But in July, she received one for more than $12,000. And in September, she got an even bigger surprise, writes columnist Steve Lopez. Los Angeles Times An appreciation Many Angelenos had never heard of Gordon Davidson, but he did much to change the way the world viewed L.A. and how L.A. viewed itself. Los Angeles Times L.A. AT LARGE Wheels on the bus: Yes, its possible to be car-free in Los Angeles when you have a toddler. She knows that if we are going to the playground, the farmers market, the library, the doctor, were walking. In our house, the car is the exception. Curbed LA Tourist destination: Souvenir carts have been cleared away from the front of TCL Chinese Theatre. A documentarian posted a picture to Facebook last week that showed the kiosks covering the famous handprints, footprints and signatures of Hollywoods biggest stars. Hollywood Reporter Storage site: A former printing press for La Opinion could soon be turned into storage for the homeless. The property could accommodate showers and 500 storage bins. Urbanize LA Architectural treasures: A walk through Los Angeles Art Deco history. New York Times POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT New leadership: Rep. Loretta Sanchez has a new campaign manager for the final stretch of her U.S. Senate campaign. Maria Unzueta is expected to lead the campaign through Nov. 8. Los Angeles Times Campaign ad: A new ad from congressional candidate and retired Marine Col. Douglas Applegate slams Rep. Darrell Issa for his comments on providing financial aid to the first responders of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A spokesman for the Republican lawmaker says his statements were taken out of context. Los Angeles Times Hey kids: Hollywood and D.C. meet up again for this PSA on preventing sexual assault on college campuses. Vice President Joe Biden makes a special appearance. Funny or Die Housing the homeless: A report from the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California states Orange County has enough to money to house all of its homeless residents. If the county does not allocate significant local funds to the issue, homelessness will continue indefinitely, according to the report. Orange County Register CRIME AND COURTS Deputy shooting: An L.A. County sheriffs deputy shot a man at an Expo Line station in Santa Monica on Tuesday. The man, who officials said had two knives, was wounded. Los Angeles Times Change of venue: Former L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca wants his federal trial moved out of Los Angeles County. In new court papers, Baca says he believes he cannot get a fair trial here. Based on the constant, inflammatory, and far-reaching media coverage surrounding this matter, a trial within the Central District of California, particularly within Los Angeles County, will violate Mr. Bacas due process rights, a court motion says. Daily News Religious freedom: United Poultry Concerns is asking a federal judge in Orange County to stop the kosher slaughter of chickens during a Jewish ritual. Kapparot is performed by some Orthodox communities between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During a ceremony, a chicken is swung over someones head and then slaughtered. Orange County Register BUSINESS Bankruptcy filing: The San Diego-based company that owns Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The reorganization will include the closure of 20 to 30 restaurants. San Diego Union-Tribune Government funding: When Silicon Valley says no, some innovators turn to the federal government. There is a lot more experimental tolerance in the government, said Brandon Borko, who is working on swarm technology thanks to the Pentagons Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Bloomberg No privacy: Yahoo Inc. reportedly built a computer program that allowed the U.S. government to scan users emails for a specific phrase. Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayers decision to obey the demand apparently led to a major security hole in Yahoos email system, which frustrated the companys security chief enough that he soon defected to Facebook. Los Angeles Times DROUGHT AND CLIMATE Sounds like trouble: Earthquakes are terrifying when you feel them. But listening to them is another matter. Take Californias 7.3 Landers quake back in 1992. The recording begins with a rumble so thunderous it overwhelms the other activity captured by the seismogram. California Sunday Magazine CALIFORNIA CULTURE Early detection: In a new essay, actor Ben Stiller reveals he had prostate cancer two years ago. He now has a clean bill of health, which he attributes to early detection via the PSA test. What I had and Im healthy today because of it was a thoughtful internist who felt like I was around the age to start checking my PSA level, and discussed it with me, he writes. Medium Money, money, money: A new ranking of the wealthiest people in Orange County. Orange County Register Worth a thousand words: New photos that show homeless individuals using drugs are causing a stir in San Francisco. SFGate CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Sacramento will be 74 and mostly sunny. San Francisco will have some clouds and a high of 68. It will be mostly sunny and 78 in Los Angeles. Riverside will be sunny with a high of 81. San Diego will have low clouds and a high of 74. AND FINALLY Todays California Memory comes from Doug Culver: Gov. Pat Brown was visiting Hollywood as part of his 1962 reelection campaign. For hours, cars with speakers on the roof drove up and down La Brea Avenue loudly announcing, Gov. Brown will be at Oakwood and La Brea at noon! My mother, oblivious to all this, was making her regular run to Tops Market at Oakwood and La Brea to refill my Dads liquor cabinet. She was there with her cart full of beer and booze when Gov. Brown walked in. He took one look at her, he took one look at her full cart and in his booming college debate champion voice, shouted, Theres a woman I need to meet, and I need to meet her RIGHT NOW. My mom may have been embarrassed, but she did vote for him. If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct .5 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Iran has increased natural gas export to Turkey by 8.8 percent during the seven months of 2016, compared to Jan-July 2015, Turkeys Energy Market Regulatory said. According to the statistics, Iran exported more than 4.408 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to Turkey in seven months of 2016, compared to 4.021 bcm in the same period of last year. Irans gas export to Turkey (mcm) Turkeys gas intake from Iran in July incresed by 56.57 percent year-on-year to 582.27 million cubic meters (mcm). Iran delivered about 8.6 bcm of gas to Turkey in 2015. A homeless man who is also a registered sex offender pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he kidnapped and raped a woman in a Southern California parking lot. Michael Zinzun entered the not guilty plea in a Glendale courtroom during his first appearance since his arrest on Thursday, according to Ricardo Santiago, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. Police were called Thursday about 4 a.m. to Los Feliz Road and Central Avenue, where a witness reported a sexual assault was underway. Advertisement Police said Zinzun, 48, approached a 56-year-old woman who was sleeping on a bus bench and allegedly asked her if she wanted to smoke meth. She declined. Zinzun remained, and eventually she asked him to leave. Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William alleged that Zinzun began to sexually assault the woman and threatened to further hurt her if she did not stop screaming. Police allege that he dragged the woman from the bus bench and tossed her behind a small retaining wall, where, shielded from public view, he raped her and punched her in the face. When officers arrived, the woman was visibly injured and half-naked. Zinzun tried to run away, but he was arrested after a brief pursuit. Zinzun fought with police and an officer suffered minor injuries from the incident, William said. Deputy Dist. Atty. Miguel Espinoza said in a statement that Zinzun was charged with one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by a foreign object, resisting arrest and kidnapping to commit rape. The criminal complaint field in Los Angeles County Superior Court includes the additional allegation that Zinzun was convicted in Florida of sexual assault in 1998 and burglary in 2005. If convicted, Zinzun faces up to life in prison. Hes being held in L.A. County Jail with bail set at $3.33 million. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 25. Times Community News staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno. Last year, a Chula Vista sex offender parolee was instructed to post a do not disturb sign in front of his residence on Halloween night to ward off trick-or-treaters. What followed was a lawsuit filed by the California Reform Sex Offender Laws organization, as well as the parolee in San Diego County and another in Los Angeles. The policy, they argued, violated their civil rights and put their safety at risk. Posting signage was never part of existing policy, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which recently issued a memorandum to its staff reminding them of directives for sex offender parolees on Halloween. Advertisement Parole agents are not authorized to impose rules, conditions or restrictions on sex offender parolees beyond the scope of the existing policy, the memorandum stated. Specifically, parole agents will not direct any sex offender parolee to post or display any signage or messages outside of their residence, on their vehicle or, on their person relating to their status as a sex offender, parole, or their participation in Halloween-related activities. The directive was issued as part of a settlement agreement, in which the agency agreed that the Department of Corrections Division of Adult Parole Operations would release an internal memorandum to all parole officers. As part of the settlement agreement, the agency also agreed to pay the plaintiffs attorneys fees. For more than 20 years, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has run Operation Boo, under which sex offender parolees adhere to special Halloween restrictions. Parolees must follow a 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, in which they remain indoors and turn off exterior lights of their home. They cannot offer Halloween candy or put up Halloween decorations and can open the door that night only to respond to law enforcement. There is no mention on the Operation Boo website of a requirement for parolees to post signs. That has never been part of the protocol, said Luis Patino, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Janice Bellucci, a civil rights attorney and president of the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, filed the lawsuit last year in October on behalf of the unidentified Chula Vista man. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Bellucci said she learned from her client that there was a requirement for signage in San Diego County. We found that requirement to be outrageous, Bellucci said Wednesday. I believe justice has been served. Here was a sign requirement that was actually putting in danger the lives of registered citizens. Bellucci said the two plaintiffs in the case are people whose information is not posted on the Megans Law website. They were very concerned that if their neighbors found out ... they would be harmed in some way, Bellucci said. For more California news, follow @brittny_mejia ALSO L.A. County sheriffs sergeant wounded, suspect is sought in Lancaster, authorities say We want this to stop immediately: Creepy clown pranksters spread fear and annoyance Man pleads guilty to killing or injuring cats he stole from a quiet San Jose neighborhood Californians water conservation slipped for the third consecutive month in August, prompting new alarm from regulators about whether relaxed water restrictions may be causing residents to revert to old habits as the state enters its sixth year of severe drought. The trend raises new questions about Californians willingness to continue austere conservation after spending the last two years dramatically reducing their water use by ripping out lawns, installing water-sipping appliances and shortening their showers. Conservation numbers varied widely across the state, with some places actually saving more water compared with 2015 levels. But other communities are turning the spigot back on, and state data show that several of the worst offenders are the affluent cities that previously have been criticized for heavy consumption. Advertisement Regulators on Wednesday singled out Malibu as one example of a city returning to profligate water use. The water district that serves the city saw its water-savings drop from 20.4% in August 2015 to just 7.9% in August 2016. The 22,000 residents served by the district used about 300 gallons per person per day, according to state data. By contrast, Los Angeles residents used an average of only 84 gallons per day in August. The Santa Fe Irrigation District, which serves upscale pockets of northern San Diego County, including Rancho Santa Fe, saw its residents use about 525 gallons per person per day. The district had ramped up conservation efforts after being tagged as one of the states heaviest water users and had managed to save 36.6% in August 2015. But this August, the savings fell to 14%. Beverly Hills, long a target of regulators scorn, actually increased its water savings in August by about two percentage points compared with the same month in 2015. Everybody liked to pick on Beverly Hills in the beginning, but Beverly Hills is using less than half of what Malibu is, State Water Resources Control Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus said. Statewide, people in cities and towns cut their water use by just 17.7% in August, compared with the same month in 2013, state board staff members said. Thats a dip from August 2015, when Californians reduced their consumption by 27%, beating the target of a 25% reduction set by Gov. Jerry Brown. Were at yellow alert, Marcus said. Im not ready to go to red alert until we see the details. Regulators lifted mandatory conservation for the vast majority of the states water suppliers beginning in June. That month, water savings fell sharply to 21.5%, and conservation has continued to flag each month since. Water board members have defended their decision to ease the rules, saying that while a 25% statewide reduction in urban water use was necessary for a time, it could not continue indefinitely. They cite significant rains and snow in Northern California, which replenished some reservoirs, as helping reduce the need for conservation. But faced with lower conservation numbers, officials on Wednesday acknowledged that easing the restrictions may have contributed to increased water consumption. There are some communities back over 500 gallons [per person] per day, Marcus said. Im not going to say, Whats the story there? But thats a question. Did they stop messaging, or whats happening? Mark Gold, UCLAs associate vice chancellor for environment and sustainability, called the August numbers completely predictable. This is what weve come to expect when there are strong messages from Sacramento that the crisis isnt as bad as we thought it was, Gold said. People, on their own, in a voluntary way, dont do as much to conserve. California is broken down into 10 so-called hydrologic regions, and in every one, residents used more water per person per day in August 2016 than they did during the same month in 2015. On average, Southern Californians used about 104 gallons per person per day, about 10 gallons more than they had the year prior, making them the fourth-lowest users among the 10 regions. In April 2015, Brown ordered a 25% statewide reduction in urban water use, which the board tried to achieve by assigning conservation standards to each of the states urban suppliers. Some were told to slash their usage by as much as 36%; others could cut as little as 4% and remain in compliance. The suppliers were required to hit their targets beginning in June 2015. In the 15 months since, Californians have cumulatively cut their consumption by about 23%, state officials said. They have saved almost 660 billion gallons of water over that period enough to provide water for 10 million residents for a year. Some water officials were more optimistic than others about the August conservation numbers. Rob Hunter, general manager of the Municipal Water District of Orange County, noted that this August was two degrees warmer than August 2013, the baseline against which water savings was measured. So an 18% statewide reduction is something we should be congratulating people for, not castigating people for, he said. Thats an incredible achievement, Hunter said. There was some concern there would be zero conservation, that everybody would start using more, he added. Thats not happening. But water board staff members also said conservation efforts tend to start sliding around this time of year, as the temperatures cool and water use dips. As urban Californians use less water, there is less savings to be had, officials say. When the water year ended last week, forecasters and water officials warned that it will be hard to predict whether this winter will bring the rain and snow the state so desperately needs. And if a sixth year of drought is on the horizon, regulators have warned that they could return to mandatory conservation. While last years rain and snow brought a respite for urban California, we are still in drought, and we cant know what this winter will bring, Marcus said in a statement released later Wednesday. What we do know is that climate change will continue to make our water years even more unpredictable, so we need to retain our conservation habits for the long term, rain or shine, drought or no drought. matt.stevens@latimes.com Twitter: @ByMattStevens ALSO Medical marijuana community split over legalization of pot Power lines and poles to be replaced throughout Cleveland National Forest Why did this retired teacher get a $12,836 bill from the Department of Water and Power? UPDATES: 2:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details. 12:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional context and details about specific water districts. This article was originally published at 10:50 a.m. The Burbank Police Department has suspended officer deployments based on predictive policing technology hailed by top brass as the future of crime-fighting after complaints from police officers. The shift comes as police departments across the country are increasingly using computer technology to help predict crime trends and deploy officers accordingly. Some law enforcement agencies have said the system has helped crack down on crime. But in Burbank, critics said the softwares algorithm couldnt beat a veteran officers intuition and knowledge of his or her patrol area. They also said the algorithm sometimes zeroed in on obvious areas where officers already know theres crime or silly locations, such as the police station, where people often show up to report crimes. Advertisement Roughly half of the 118 sworn employees who took a June survey by the Burbank police union indicated that theyd considered leaving the department sometime during the last year, while 60% indicated they were unlikely or extremely unlikely to recommend a career with the agency to their children, relatives or friends. About 75% indicated that morale at the agency was low or extremely low. Dozens advocated that the agency hire more officers, increase specialty assignments and rely less on the predictive policing technology, which analyzes crime reports to predict potential problem areas. The survey results prompted several discussions with the departments administration that union leaders hoped would improve working conditions. The agency started using the predictive policing technology in late 2014 at an annual cost of $15,000. The technology analyzes crime data the location, time and type of crime to predict crime patterns. Daily, it spits out 500-feet-by-500-feet boxes, or potential problem areas, in which officers were required to spend about 15 minutes during their 12-hour-20-minute shifts. The idea was that visibility in those areas would deter crime. During a shift, officers were given up to three boxes, which would translate into roughly 45 minutes of time. Sometimes, theyd get none. Theyre no longer required to spend time in the boxes. Were still pushing the information out and telling people to pay attention to whats being said, Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse said. He doesnt have a problem with officers self-deploying based on their knowledge of their patrol areas but said, The future in law enforcement is not going to be random patrol, its going to be predictive analytics. The crime analyst who oversaw the program recently left the city for another job. LaChasse said he will reevaluate how the department uses the technology once that vacancy is filled. Its not clear how the technology has affected crime in Burbank, which rose 9% last year. The Los Angeles Police Department has been a leader in the use of predictive policing technology. The department uses heat maps, technology and years of statistics to identify crime hot spots. Helicopter pilots then use their downtime to fly over them, on the theory that would-be criminals tend to rethink their nefarious plans when theres a police aircraft hovering overhead. Police have said crime fell during periods when the helicopter program was operating. British researchers are working with the LAPD and Santa Monica-based Rand Corp. to monitoring millions of tweets related to the L.A. area in an effort to identify patterns and markers that prejudice-motivated violence is about to occur in real time. The researchers then will compare the data against records of reported violent acts to see if predictions can be made. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com When President Obama visited the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital here last year, he proclaimed a new day for the troubled facility, which was the epicenter of a nationwide scandal in which waiting lists were manipulated to hide long delays in care for veterans. Weve brought in a new team that has been tackling these issues to make sure that wait times for scheduling, access to providers, is greatly improved, Obama said after a facility tour in March 2015. This week, more than two years after the scandal was exposed, the VAs watchdog concluded that the problems in Phoenix have not been fixed. Advertisement The hospital system is still manipulating scheduling data, unilaterally canceling appointments and forcing some patients to wait nearly a year for care, according to a report by the VA Office of the Inspector General. In one case, a delay in care may have contributed to the death of a veteran, the investigation found. That patient, a 58-year-old man, came to the Phoenix hospital in May 2015 complaining of chest pain and was told he needed a stress test within a week. None was ever scheduled. The man was found dead the next month of advanced heart disease. Timely testing may have indicated that the patient had significant disease and could have prompted further definitive testing and interventions that could have forestalled his death, the watchdogs report said. Another 214 patients died between January 2015 and this September while waiting for appointments, but investigators did not link their deaths to delays in care. Currently, about 38,000 veterans have been waiting more than 125 days for an appointment. That is 3,000 more than when the scandal broke in 2014. Reacting to the report, Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, both Republicans of Arizona, issued a statement decrying the lack of progress in fixing problems at the hospital. We should all be alarmed that more than two years after the scandal in care first erupted at the Phoenix VA, such reprehensible behavior continues to take place, putting the health of our veterans at risk, the statement said. An investigation in 2104 found that the hospital was concealing long delays in care by keeping false records that were submitted to the head office in Washington and qualified executives for pay bonuses for maintaining short waiting times. The VA still paid out those bonuses, despite the ongoing investigations. In the fiscal year that ended in September, the VA awarded more than $142 million in performance bonuses to its staff, including people that investigators had named as key players in the deception. The scandal came to encompass the entire VA health system. Secret waiting lists were found in other hospitals, and whistle-blowers complained about retaliation from their superiors. Eric K. Shinseki, the secretary of Veterans Affairs, resigned. This year, the former director of the Phoenix hospital, Sharon Helman, was sentenced to two years of probation in federal court for failing to disclose thousands of dollars worth of gifts she received from a lobbyist. The gifts were discovered during the investigation. The 1,700 hospitals and clinics in the VA system make up the nations largest integrated healthcare network. Returning veterans from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are using the healthcare system at rates unseen in previous generations. To eliminate the backlog, the VA system is planning to outsource some of the consultations to private contractors. The new system could cost more than $1 billion each year. Follow Nigel Duara on Twitter: @nigelduara ALSO NSA contractor charged with stealing classified government information Supreme Court appears hesitant to curtail insider trading prosecutions Why is Trump still winning our poll? White men and uncertain voters The Supreme Court justices on Wednesday appeared ready to reopen the claims of two black men in separate cases involving alleged racial bias, one from a Texas convict on death row and another from a Joliet, Ill., man who said he was jailed for seven weeks based on evidence fabricated by a police officer. In both cases, the justices questioned why lower courts had tossed out their claims. But they also hinted they are not likely to rule broadly on race discrimination or police misconduct. Instead, they spoke of setting aside the legal barriers that stood in the way of people who say their constitutional rights were violated. Advertisement The Texas case began nearly 20 years ago when Duane Buck was sentenced to die for a double murder after jurors were told that blacks are, statistically speaking, more dangerous than whites and more likely to commit future crimes of violence. This was an explicit appeal to racial bias. It is an extraordinary case, Christina Swarns, an attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, told the justices. But in appealing his sentence, Buck ran into a series of procedural barriers. First, his claims were dismissed because his own court-appointed trial lawyer brought in the expert who offered the inflammatory testimony about data showing blacks were more dangerous. Then later, a different court-appointed state lawyer did not raise this issue of racial bias when he lodged his first appeal. Ever since, judges have refused to reopen Bucks case because he had failed to raise the claim in time. John Cornyn, then the Texas attorney general, announced in 2000 that his office would not stand in the way of appeals like Bucks, which arose from testimony reflecting racial bias. But after he left office, the state switched position and opposed a new hearing for Buck. Five years ago, the divided Supreme Court refused to hear Bucks case. But from the opening minutes on Wednesday, the justices debated only whether to rule narrowly or broadly for Buck. A narrow ruling would tell the U.S. appeals court in New Orleans to take another hard look at Bucks appeals. A broader ruling would go further and tell the lower court that Buck deserves a new sentencing hearing because of the racially biased testimony. This was wildly prejudicial, said Justice Elena Kagan, yet his claim has never been heard by any court. In the Joliet case, the justices spent most of the hour debating how to describe Elijah Manuels claim. Was it a claim of false arrest, a violation of the 4th Amendments ban on unreasonable searches? Or was it a violation of his right to due process of law, if a magistrate sent him to jail based on evidence fabricated by a police officer? Should it be legal to have a congressional district only one party can win? According to Manuels complaint, he was a passenger in his brothers car when they were pulled over for failing to signal a turn. He said an officer pulled him from the car, threw him to the ground, kicked him, handcuffed him and subjected him to racial slurs. He said he was arrested and taken to jail for having pills in his pocket that the officer claimed were Ecstasy. Manuel denied they were illegal drugs, but the officer in his arrest report said he knew the pills to be Ecstasy. At the station, a technician also suspected the pills were not Ecstasy, but the officer told the magistrate they were illegal drugs, and Manuel was sent to jail and charged with a felony. An Illinois police lab confirmed the pills were not illegal drugs, but despite that report, Manuel was held for seven weeks before he was released. He filed a lawsuit against the city and the two police officers involved in the arrest, alleging he was the victim of an unreasonable search and seizure and a malicious prosecution. But a federal judge in Chicago and the 7th Circuit Court threw out his claims. Unlike other courts, the 7th Circuit said claims based on the 4th Amendment and unreasonable seizures expire as soon as the arrested person appears before a magistrate. As a result, the court said Manuel could not press a 4th Amendment claim over the seven weeks he spent in jail. Stanley Eisenhammer, an attorney from Arlington Heights who represents Manuel, said the justices should overrule the 7th Circuits decision and send the case back to Chicago. Our claim here is detention without probable cause. And that detention went through 48 days after he was subject to legal process, he told the court. Court disputes over voting laws often divide justices along party lines Justice Sonia Sotomayor agreed he had a valid claim if the legal process is corrupted by false information supplied by the police. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said he had a claim for wrongful detention if it is true the police lied all along to keep him in jail. At the early stage of such a lawsuit, the justices assume the facts of the complaint are true. They did not discuss the details of Manuels claim during Wednesdays argument. The justices also agreed a police officer could not held liable for making an honest mistake during an arrest. Justice Stephen Breyer said the case did not pose a difficult question. I thought everyone agrees that if a police officer wrongly arrests you maliciously arrests you and puts you in jail, you have a claim for a false arrest. It will probably be several weeks before the justices issue decisions in the two cases: Buck vs. Davis and Manuel vs. City of Joliet. david.savage@latimes.com On Twitter: DavidGSavage The Supreme Court showed little enthusiasm Wednesday for cutting back on the governments power to prosecute people who profit from trading stocks based on inside information. Instead, most of the justices said it made sense to charge people with stock fraud if they knew they were making quick money based on secret tips from an insider, even if they came from friends or family members. The court heard an appeal from a grocery wholesaler in Chicago who made $1.7 million in stock profits from trading on information passed along from a brother-in-law in California, who in turn learned about it from his younger brother, an investment banker for Citigroup. Advertisement For decades, securities regulators and federal prosecutors have brought charges against corporate insiders who use secret tips to buy or sell stocks. This is deemed to be fraud, even though Congress has never passed a law to spell out the crime of insider trading. Should it be legal to have a congressional district only one party can win? White-collar defense lawyers are urging the high court to rein in prosecutions against people like the Chicago man, who were not themselves insiders and learned secrets from friends and family members. We are dealing with a crime never defined by Congress, said New York attorney Alexandra Shapiro, representing Bassam Salman, the Chicago man. But she ran into steadily skeptical questions from most of the justices. Justice Elena Kagan described insider trading as stealing corporate information and a kind of embezzlement. To win a conviction, she noted, prosecutors had to prove that Salman knew he was trading based on information that should have been kept secret. You are asking us to cut back significantly and change the rules in a way that threatens the integrity of the markets, Kagan said. Justices Stephen G. Breyer and Anthony M. Kennedy said the high court made it clear in the 1980s that people could be prosecuted if they obtained secret information from a corporate insider. Court disputes over voting laws often divide justices along party lines Prosecutors must also prove that the person leaking the information benefited in some way. Though Salman received no direct benefit, such as a payment, prosecutors argued that there are inherent benefits in sharing such valuable information with family members. Salmans attorneys called that argument overzealous, but Breyer said he saw no reason to shield family members. To help a close family member is like helping yourself, he said. It would change the law to accept your argument, he told Salmans lawyer. Justice Department lawyers in their legal briefs said a defeat for the government would seriously harm investors and damage confidence in the nations securities markets. It could free well-placed people to reap instant no-risk profits at the expense of ordinary stockholders, they warned the court. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg questioned the reach of the federal law. This was two brothers. How far down the line do you go? she asked. Quite a ways, responded Deputy Solicitor Gen. Michael Dreeben. However, prosecutors must always prove the accused trader knew he was trading based on confidential information from an insider. Last year, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the insider trading conviction of several big Wall Street traders. But in that case, lawyers said, there was no evidence the traders knew that their information came from a specific insider. Wednesdays argument showed again how the court is a different place without Justice Antonin Scalia. He was the foremost critic of allowing prosecutors to bring charges when the law itself was hazy. A year ago, he had voiced doubts about insider trading cases because Congress had failed to clearly define the crime. His comments and concerns helped to fuel a series of challenges in the lower courts, but by the time Salmans case reached the high court, Scalia had died, leaving the defense lawyers without their strongest ally. david.savage@latimes.com On Twitter: DavidGSavage ALSO Who gets credit for Pences debate performance? Trump does, says Trump Asian American voters are spurning Trump and threatening to spurn the Republican Party Why is Trump still winning in the USC/L.A. Times tracking poll? White men and uncertain voters Hillary Clinton says debate showed Donald Trump is indefensible Hillary Clinton told the crowd at a fundraiser here that the vice presidential debate on Tuesday night showed Donald Trump was an indefensible candidate. She praised her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, for how he handled Trumps pick, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. Every time he tried to push Mike Pence to defend what Donald Trump has said and done, Pence just bobbed and weaved and tried to get out of the way because, after all, trying to defend Donald Trump is an impossible task, Clinton said. She pointed to Trumps comments about allowing more countries to get nuclear weapons as proof. Pence falsely claimed during the debate that wasnt Trumps position. When your own running mate wont defend the top of the ticket, I think that tells you everything you need to know, Clinton said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: Irans President Hassan Rouhani has left Tehran for Hanoi, Vietnams capital to attend a session of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). The 21st century belongs to Asia. The Asian neighbors are important for the Islamic Republic in terms of culture, science, technology and economy, IRNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying before leaving Tehran. Rouhani added that he will also pay a visit to Malaysia on the second leg of his Asian tour. As part of the Asian tour the president is slated to hold talks with Thai officials, as well. An economic delegation will accompany President Rouhani during the visit. Several documents on cooperation between Iran and Asian states are expected to be signed during the visit. Bill Clinton on Obamacare: The craziest thing in the world Bill Clinton calls Obamacare "the craziest thing in the world." https://t.co/TMq0ymogLS pic.twitter.com/ymQielgaTz CNN (@CNN) October 4, 2016 Bill Clinton criticized President Obamas most significant policy achievement while campaigning for Hillary Clinton this week, breaking with his wifes public practice by referring to aspects of the Obamacare system as the craziest thing in the world. At a rally for Democrats in Flint, Mich., on Monday, Clinton said the current system works fine for seniors on Medicare, poor people on Medicaid and low-income earners who qualify for Obamacare subsidies. But small-business owners and individuals who make just a little too much to qualify for government subsidies are getting killed in this deal, the former president said. So youve got this crazy system where all of a sudden 25 million more people have healthcare, and then the people who are out there busting it sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half, Clinton said. Its the craziest thing in the world. In their substance, the remarks werent at odds with the Democratic nominees public stand. Hillary Clinton says she wants to defend and build on the Affordable Care Act and improve it, possibly through a public option that may bring down the price of other plans through competition. But Bill Clinton broke with Hillary Clintons fierce public loyalty to Obamacare, a split message that either showed him to be off the campaign game plan or mercurially in sync with it. It was the true definition of a campaign gaffe, where a politician screws up by saying what they really think, said Kevin Madden, an advisor to 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney. At the same time, Bill Clinton could be making a play for white working-class voters who feel they are suffering under the Affordable Care Act feeding a suspicion in Washington that the former president could morph into a shadow candidate, saying the things the real candidate cant say. Everyone is always quick to ascribe some sort of triangulating genius to Bill Clinton, as one strategist put it. Best way to test the theory that its some sort of signaling? Watch to see if they walk this back. Right off the bat, the Clinton campaign did not do so. What he was expressing was the same view that not only Hillary Clinton has, but President Obama would express as well, senior Clinton advisor Jen Palmieri told MSNBC on Tuesday. As much progress has been made with the ACA, there are still a lot of cost issues to be dealt with not just for small businesses, but for some individuals. In his Obamacare critique in Flint, Bill Clinton offered one policy scenario. Heres the simplest thing, he said. Figure out an affordable rate and let people use that, something that wont undermine your quality of life, wont interfere with your ability to make expenses, wont interfere with your ability to save money for your kids college education, and let people buy into Medicare or Medicaid. It is unclear exactly what he meant, but that simple solution could be an allusion to the thing liberals most want a single-payer system. Oct. 4, 2016, 7:01 p.m. Pence says its nonsense that Trump wants to deport millions. Its not. When Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said during Tuesday nights debate that it was nonsense that Donald Trump was going to deport millions of immigrants living in the United States illegally, he was incorrect. During a Republican primary debate in November 2015, Trump praised President Dwight Eisenhowers mass deportation program. You are going to have a deportation force, and you are going to do it humanely, Trump said the next day on MSNBCs Morning Joe when asked how he would round up the nations 11 million undocumented immigrants. In the general election, Trump has modulated his rhetoric on illegal immigration, emphasizing that his top priority is to expel criminals. But in an August immigration speech in Phoenix, Trump made clear he was sticking to his hard line on deportations. Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation, he said. That is what it means to have laws and to have a country. Otherwise we dont have a country. Oct. 4, 2016, 8:03 p.m. Pence, Kaine engage in deeply personal debate on abortion Perhaps one of the most personal, intense policy arguments of Tuesdays vice presidential debate was on the issue of abortion. This, despite the fact that Mike Pence and Tim Kaine are both against the practice. What separates them is whether their personal views should dictate public policy. Kaine offered a lengthy explanation of why he feels it should not, starting initially on the subject of the death penalty, which he opposes but carried out as Virginia governor. Kaine personally opposes abortion. However, hes supported keeping the procedure legal and has earned a perfect voting record from Planned Parenthood. Hillary Clintons support for abortion comes without qualifiers, and shes also pushed for ending the Hyde Amendment, a ban on federal funding for abortions. Kaine has defended the amendment in the past, although a campaign spokeswoman said he is fully committed to Hillary Clintons policy agenda. Pence questioned how people of faith like Kaine could support late-term abortions, which he called anathema to him. Kaine said both he and Clinton are people out of religious backgrounds, discussing his running mates upbringing in the Methodist Church. We really feel like you should live fully and with enthusiasm in the commands of your faith, but it is not the role of the public servant to mandate that for everybody else, he said. Kaine said the Democratic ticket supports Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal, and cited Pences previous pledge to repeal it. He then pivoted to attack Donald Trump for having said in an MSNBC town hall that he would support punishing women who have abortions. Donald Trump and I would never support legislation that punished women who made the heartbreaking choice to end a pregnancy, Pence said. Kaine quickly interjected to ask why Trump had said that. Hes not a polished politician, Pence answered. Kaine argued that Pence should not simply dismiss Trumps previous controversial statements on a range of issues as simply a lack of polish. He raised Trumps comments about Mexican immigrants -- calling them rapists and criminals -- as an example. Senator, you whipped out that Mexican thing again, Pence responded. Can you defend it? Kaine answered back. Oct. 4, 2016, 8:13 p.m. Tim Kaine, who is opposed to the death penalty, explains why he allowed executions as governor Tim Kaine opposes the death penalty, describing his stance as a moral position. He also represented death-row inmates as a defense lawyer, something his Republican opponent tried to use against him when Kaine ran for governor in Virginia. But I looked the voters of Virginia in the eye and said, Look, this is my religion. Im not going to change my religious practice to get one vote. But I know how to take an oath and uphold the law. And if you elect me I will uphold the law, Kaine recalled Tuesday night as he discussed how his faith informed his public service. After he was elected, Kaine still allowed death sentences to be carried out because it was state law. Eleven inmates were executed during his tenure from 2006 to 2010. Kaine differs on the issue from Hillary Clinton, who supports the death penalty. She has said execution is justified for particularly heinous crimes as long as prosecutors meet the highest standards of evidentiary proof. For his part, Kaine said it was very, very difficult to allow executions to go forward as governor. But in circumstances where I didnt feel like there was a case for clemency, I told Virginia voters I would uphold the law and I did, he said. I think it is really, really, really important that those of us who have deep faith lives dont feel like we can just substitute our own views for everyone else in society. Tehran, Iran, October 5 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: For security concerns, Iran has laid off 39 officials that have dual nationalities, said Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesman of the Parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, quoting Intelligence Minister Mahmud Alavi. Among high-ranking officials of the country, 39 who had dual nationalities or a US Green Card were dismissed, Alavi had told the commission, IRIB news agency reported October 5. He added that the 39 mentioned officials were among the 79 officials whose nationalities had been investigated by the Intelligence Ministry. Alavi had stressed that If we are made sure by firm evidence that they hold dual nationalities, we will surely disqualify [them]. Meanwhile, Fars news agency quoted Alavi as having said that officials have been told to choose between dual nationality and their office. Dual nationalities grew into a major security debate raised by conservatives in Iran in the past two or three years. The conservatives say dual nationality is one of the major canals for foreigners to infiltrate the Islamic Republic. Recently, conservative media accused Abdolrasul Dorri Esfahani, who used to serve as consultant on banking affairs during Irans nuclear talks with world powers, of having acted as a spy, underlining his dual nationality. In the past several years, Islamic Republic security forces have arrested many dual nationals under charges of espionage. Proposition 57 is Gov. Jerry Browns effort to recalibrate Californias criminal justice system by returning to judges, parole boards and prison officials some of the power that craven lawmakers and frightened voters have, over the years, unwisely transferred to prosecutors. Its a welcome and needed measure, although less simple than the brevity of its language or various assertions on both sides would suggest. The Times urges voters to read it, understand it, and vote yes. The measure comes in two parts, and one of them is easy. It makes accused lawbreakers under 18 subject to the states juvenile court system. Any prosecutor who wants a case transferred to adult court would have to make an argument to a judge, who would have the final say on where the accused would be tried. Thats the sensible way the law worked in California for decades until 2000, when voters passed Proposition 21 and upset the essential balance of the justice system by allowing prosecutors, rather than judges, to choose between juvenile and adult court. Advertisement Why did voters do it? Although youth crime was dropping, politicians got a lot of mileage out of the argument that huge numbers of children and teenagers had morphed into uncontrollable predators who could be dealt with only by trying them and punishing them as if they were fully formed adults. It was a message built on fear and dipped in racism because a disproportionate number of the people affected by it were nonwhite and the subtext was that judges were too softhearted or softheaded to see how just vicious young offenders had become. Today, however, many district attorneys acknowledge that the 2000 juvenile justice measure was overkill and ought to be rolled back. Gov. Pete Wilson wrote the measure and won enthusiastic support from prosecutors. Today, however, many district attorneys acknowledge that the 2000 juvenile justice measure was overkill and ought to be rolled back. Some say theyd have no problem with Proposition 57 if it didnt also change some aspects of adult punishment. Thats the second, more complex part: Proposition 57 would make some prison inmates eligible to seek parole once they have served the base portion of their terms but before they have served time for any of the add-ons that lawmakers, and sometimes voters, have used to enhance sentences for, say, having previous convictions or belonging to a gang. Under Proposition 57, some inmates could apply for parole hearings and get parole after they have completed their base terms and have begun serving the enhancement portion of their sentences. Opponents call this early release, and they are technically correct an inmate facing sentence enhancements who successfully goes through the parole process will be out earlier than one who does not. But a little context is in order. Even today, most inmates get some form of early release automatically because the Legislature has adopted laws that allow or even require release on parole after only a portion of the sentence is served. California law calls that kind of automatic release parole, but its really something quite different. Real parole is release from prison after a parole board finds that the inmate has behaved properly and has presented persuasive evidence of reform and rehabilitation. The process includes arguments from the prosecutor, opportunities for the board to hear from crime victims and their families, and an assessment of the risk that the inmate would pose to society if released. It requires final sign-off from the governor. For most inmates, that kind of real parole virtually disappeared from California in 1977, after Brown signed a law banning open-ended sentencing something he now says he regrets.. In the last few years, real parole has made a modest comeback as the state seeks to comply with federal court orders to reduce its prison population. Parole boards have weighed and granted release of elderly inmates and second-strike prisoners. So far the results are good. Proposition 57 would expand this real parole process to many more inmates. In addition to parole boards, prison officials would be able to grant inmates rehabilitation credits. This portion of the measure is controversial because it appears to apply to base terms as well as enhancements, but the thinking is sound. Inmates will have new incentives to change their behavior, both in prison and after release. For many inmates, prisons will cease to be merely warehouses and may at last become instruments of rehabilitation. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook In Tuesdays vice presidential debate, Republican nominee Mike Pence did an effective job of challenging Hillary Clintons record and articulating traditional Republican principles. It was a far defter and more disciplined performance than Donald Trump turned in at his disastrous debate with Hillary Clinton last week. Not for the first time, many Republicans must have wished that the positions on their ticket were reversed. The problem for Pence, and its an insoluble one, was that he had no reply for the argument with which his Democratic opponent Tim Kaine relentlessly even monotonously pummeled him: that he is yoked together on a ticket with a presidential candidate who traffics in insults, has made reckless proposals and cant be trusted to represent U.S. interests on the worlds stage. Unfortunately for Pence, most of what Kaine said about Trump was accurate. Advertisement Kaine telegraphed that line of attack in his answer to the first question of the debate, which asked the candidates about their qualifications to assume the presidency if necessary. He turned it into an expression of alarm about the possibility that Trump might be elected: We trust Hillary Clinton, my wife and I, and we trust her with the most important thing in our life. We have a son deployed overseas in the Marine Corps right now. We trust Hillary Clinton as president and commander in chief, but the thought of Donald Trump as commander in chief scares us to death. Much of Kaines presentation was essentially a variation on that theme, though the Virginia senator did score some other points, especially toward the end of the debate. He effectively contrasted his (and Clintons) positions on immigration and racial bias in policing with those of the Trump-Pence ticket and, in answer to a question about the conflict between his religious faith and political actions, made a powerful defense of abortion rights. (We can encourage people to support life. Of course we can. But why dont you trust women? Why doesnt Donald Trump trust women to make this choice for themselves?) Yet clearly Kaines prime directive was to paint Trump as unacceptable, a mission he pursued so relentlessly that Pence complained, with some fairness, of the avalanche of insults coming out of Sen. Kaine. Unfortunately for Pence, most of what Kaine said about Trump was accurate. Trump did question the American citizenship of the nations first black president and still hasnt apologized for his birtherism binge. Trump did suggest that it might not be a problem if other nations acquired nuclear weapons. (PolitiFact rated Pences defense of Trump on this point mostly false.) Trump did claim that a judge of Mexican ancestry couldnt adjudicate a case fairly because of his ancestry. Trump did say that Mexican immigrants were rapists (though he allowed that some, I assume, are good people). Trump did say women who have abortions should be punished (though he later backtracked). Finally, Trump has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a stronger leader than President Obama (as has Pence). Pence delivered a polished performance in Tuesdays debate, but even he could not defend the indefensible. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who revealed the details of U.S. electronic surveillance programs including the bulk collection of millions of Americans telephone records, a practice Congress later ended is in the news again. Three years after he took refuge in Russia rather than return home to face charges that he had violated the Espionage Act, Snowden is the subject of an admiring film directed by Oliver Stone. Not so coincidentally, Snowdens lawyers and human-rights groups have launched a campaign to persuade President Obama to grant him a pardon. In a recent op-ed in The Times, Anthony Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, listed the positive consequences of Snowdens actions: In response to an ACLU lawsuit, a federal appeals court found the NSAs mass phone surveillance program illegal. Congress passed an intelligence reform bill restricting the NSAs authority for the first time in 40 years. Polls have shown a sea change in how the public views online privacy. Advertisement Much of what Snowden revealed exposed intrusions on the privacy of American citizens. Much of what Snowden revealed exposed intrusions on the privacy of American citizens. In addition to the mass collection of information about the source, destination and duration of telephone calls, he unearthed a program called PRISM that targeted the communications of foreigners outside the United States and also incidentally captured the content of their conversations with Americans. The problem is that Snowden also revealed intelligence activities that didnt impinge on the privacy of Americans. That includes information about U.S. surveillance operations in Berlin and a document showing that the NSA had intercepted the communications of then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during a visit to Britain. Thats why the effort to win a pardon for Snowden has faced a powerful pushback from both Democrats and Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee. In a letter urging Obama not to grant a pardon, committee members say that Snowden is a criminal, not a whistleblower or a patriot, and they argue that the vast majority of the documents he removed from government files had nothing to do with programs impacting individual privacy interests, but instead pertain to military, defense, and intelligence programs of great interest to Americas enemies. While lawmakers may be exaggerating the damage Snowdens leaks did to the nations ability to gather foreign intelligence, Snowdens defenders cant credibly argue that his disclosure of sources and methods of intelligence collection had no adverse effect. The last time this page considered the question of what should happen to Snowden, we acknowledged that he had performed a public service in revealing the fact that the government, under a strained and secret interpretation of the Patriot Act, was vacuuming up and storing millions of Americans telephone records. But we also asserted that a pardon was premature and that he should return to the United States to face the charges against him and make a case for leniency. A presidential pardon at this point seems even according to Snowdens supporters highly unlikely. But we believe Snowden has a case for leniency, based not only on his motives but also on the fact that his disclosures brought to light practices that eventually were repudiated. It would be difficult for him to make that case to a jury, however, in a trial on the serious charges that have been brought against him two of them violations of the Espionage Act that could result in lengthy prison terms if Snowden were convicted. Based on past judicial precedent, Snowden would not be allowed to defend himself by arguing that he thought the surveillance programs he objected to were immoral or unconstitutional. So the administration should take a different route: striking an agreement in which Snowden would plead guilty to a lesser offense related to the disclosure of classified material. In the past, Snowden has suggested he might be willing to serve some time in prison as a condition of returning to the United States. Allowing him to plead guilty to a misdemeanor offense of mishandling classified information, carrying a sentence of a year or less, would hold him responsible for violating the law; but it also would reflect the fact that, in the words of former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., Snowdens actions spurred a necessary debate. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Since Californias Proposition 14 passed in 2010, all partisan candidates except those running for president appear on the same primary ballot, regardless of party. Then the two leading contenders face off in the general election. Like so many other electoral reforms in the state, this top-two primary system isnt shaking out quite as intended. Reformers promised more moderate candidates and more competitive races. Instead weve got something that looks like one-party rule. The race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer is exhibit A. State Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez were the survivors of a free-for-all nominating contest with 34 candidates, including Democrats, Republicans and a litany of minor party and independent candidates. But in deep blue California, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by better than a 3 to 2 margin, it should be no surprise that Democrats Harris and Sanchez prevailed. Advertisement The Senate race is not the only example. Of the 53 contests for the House of Representatives, seven have candidates from the same political party. Of the 80 state assembly contests, 15 do. Of the 20 state Senate races, five do. Most, though not all, are between two Democrats. And this isnt a fluke: The same thing happened in state elections in 2012 and 2014. California hasnt had a competitive race for a U.S. Senate seat since ... 1992 and now general election voters get to choose between two liberal Democrats. But its the U.S. Senate race that really rankles. California hasnt had a competitive race for a U.S. Senate seat since Boxer and Dianne Feinstein were elected in 1992 and now general election voters get to choose between two liberal Democrats with only nuanced differences in their policy views. Republicans arent the only ones left out in the cold by this system, though. At a time when interest in third-party candidates is at a new high, no Green, Libertarian or other alternative party will be able to oppose the Democratic duo competing for a Senate seat on Nov. 8. In fact, it has become nearly impossible for third-party candidates to gain a toehold here. Proposition 14 essentially wiped out the ability of these political parties to nominate their candidate for partisan office. California reformers argued that the major parties were dominated by extremes on the left and the right, and that a top-two system would attract centrist candidates, especially in districts where one party was dominant. They also contended that more competitive races would increase turnout. Early studies show that neither expectation has been met. Supporters of top-two dont see same-party races as a problem; voters, they say, still get to choose the best person. To this line of thinking, party affiliation is meaningless. But parties are symbols of political belief systems, with party candidates their embodiment. Voters rely on political parties as shortcuts in their election decisions. Research shows that most people identify with a political party as early as fourth grade, and most maintain that association for decades, if not their entire lives. Of course, there are independents who decline to affiliate with any political party, but most voters in California as elsewhere still identify as a Democrat or Republican. Faced with two candidates from the same party, most voters are likely to be more confused than pleased. Democrats will wonder what the difference is, and Republicans will wonder if they should bother voting at all. This scenario also limits voters ability to produce political change by throwing their support to a different party. Even in those races with a Democrat and a Republican on the ballot, the top-two system denies dissatisfied voters the opportunity to choose an independent or minor party candidate, which is often the mark of a protest vote expressing disgust with both major parties. The irony here is that reformers hoped a top-two system would give the electorate more control. Proposition 14 will change the political landscape in California, said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010, finally giving voters the power to truly hold politicians accountable. Instead, we have a system that limits our choices to two candidates who have more in common than not. So much for party politics in the Golden State. Larry N. Gerston is professor emeritus of political science at San Jose State University and the author of Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The unfairness of the tax laws is unbelievable, Donald Trump told supporters in Colorado this week. Im a big beneficiary. But youre more important than my being a beneficiary, so were going to straighten it out and make it fair for everybody. Lets acknowledge that when Trump claimed almost a billion dollars in business losses on his 1995 tax returns, that was perfectly legal, assuming the losses were real. (It didnt quite make him a genius, as his allies claimed; if there was a genius, it was his tax accountant.) And lets give Trump credit for agreeing that the tax laws including the ones that allowed him to pay no federal income taxes for several years are unfair. Advertisement Its unfair that a real estate investor like Trump can deduct all his losses against ordinary income; other taxpayers cant do that. Its unfair that he can sell a casino at a loss and take a tax deduction, when an ordinary homeowner who sells her house at a loss takes a bath. But Trump has promised to fix that unfair system, even if it hurts his own wallet. My tax plan is going to cost me a fortune, he bragged last year. Except it wont not as far as anyone can tell. (Its hard to know for sure, of course, since Trump still wont release his tax returns.) Many of the changes Trump has proposed would actually reduce his tax bill if he ever had one, that is. Instead, many of the changes Trump has proposed would actually reduce his tax bill if he ever had one, that is. Trumps tax plan would lower the top rate on ordinary income from 43.6% to 33%; assuming he earned enough for the top rate and paid income taxes, that would give him a windfall. Hed lower capital gains taxes too. Theres more. Trump has proposed dropping the tax rate of businesses like his to as low as 15%, although his campaign has issued contradictory signals on whether he intends to keep that proposal. (Tax experts in both parties hate the idea, because it would give ordinary taxpayers a huge incentive to declare themselves small businesses.) Trump would repeal the estate tax too a boon to his heirs. (But he would subject them to capital gains taxes if they sold any of their inheritance, a sensible proviso.) All those measures would help Trump, not hurt him. Its not as if Trump has proposed to trim any of the real estate-friendly provisions that help him avoid taxes. Theres nothing in the Trump tax proposals that would cut back on all the special tax subsidies for real estate investment, USC professor Edward Kleinbard, an expert on tax law, told me Tuesday. Some Republicans are in favor of at least modest reforms. House Republicans have proposed a tax plan endorsed by Speaker Paul Ryan that would limit the loss carryover provision that Trump has used. Under current law, Trump (or any other real estate professional) can not only carry losses forward for 15 years, but can also use them to cancel out income from two years in the past. The House GOP plan would eliminate the two-year look-back. Trumps plan doesnt mention it. In an even bigger change, the House GOP would bar businesses from deducting interest on loans to reduce the incentive for them to pile up debt. (The House plan allows businesses to expense their investments instead.) That would be a big hit to debt-dependent real estate tycoons like Trump and surprise, surprise he refused to get on board with that proposal. One more thing: according to the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation, Trumps tax plan would blow a giant hole in the federal budget: cutting revenue by at least $2.6 trillion over 10 years. That might make small-government advocates happy but it would make it impossible for Trump to keep his promises to preserve Social Security and Medicare and increase defense spending. I asked the Trump campaign on Tuesday if any of his tax proposals would cost him real money. Remember, this is the candidate who said: My tax plan is going to cost me a fortune. I got no response. Candidates tax proposals rarely become law, of course. Congress, aided by armies of eager lobbyists, will spend months laboring over every clause. Thats true of Hillary Clintons tax plan, as well. (Hers, built on Democratic boilerplate with a dose of Bernie Sanders, would raise tax rates on high-income taxpayers, increase the holding period for long-term capital gains taxes to six years, and increase the estate tax instead of repealing it.) But they are windows into the candidates minds and, arguably, into their characters as well. Clintons tax proposals would actually cost her money. Trump says his plan would too but its not true. doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com Twitter: @doylemcmanus Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook On Aug. 6, 2013, just weeks after Janet Napolitano was named the first woman president of the University of California, the institution offered its complete support for a bill, SB 493, known as the pharmacist protocol. After unanimous legislative approval, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law, which permits pharmacists to furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives (birth control) to women without a prescription from a physician. The law also outlines training standards to make implementation as practicable as possible. Under the pharmacist protocol, women seeking birth control are no longer required to endure yearly pelvic exams or the wait times associated with themwhich aligns with the medical consensus advising against annual exams for healthy women. It marks a turning point in feminist history, removing paternalistic barriers to womens agency over their bodies. Yet nearly three years after President Napolitanos office supported the passage of the pharmacist protocol, no UC school has implemented it on campus or even made a sincere attempt to do so. Physician visits, and in many cases yearly pelvic exams, are still required, despite the well-known facts that unintended pregnancies are highest among college-age students 18 to 24 years old, and that half of all California pregnancies are unintended. Advertisement Privacy concerns for birth control are no different than any other medication. As women students at UC Irvine School of Law who pay for the UC systems health plan and believe in public education, we are compelled to speak up. We were hesitant to comment publicly, especially in light of the offensive commentary and death threats aimed at Sandra Fluke for her advocacy regarding birth control at Georgetown University. But timely access to birth control is of paramount importance to women who may need it to prevent pregnancy, plan their menstruation, and control other important medical issues, such as endometriosis and primary ovarian insufficiency. This is not our first attempt to engage with UC administrators about the pharmacist protocol. In May, we met on numerous occasions with the UC Irvine Student Health Centers Clinical Staff Committee and the director of UC Health. The committee assured us they would implement the protocol in the Student Health Center by August. Despite these assurances, and after months of advocacy, which included our Birth Control Access Petition signed by hundreds of students and alumni, the Irvine Student Health Center only removed the pelvic exam requirement for obtaining birth control refills. Women are still forced to schedule and waitsometimes monthsfor an initial visit. This is a serious problem. Even the Irvine Student Health Centers administrative director has acknowledged that womens access to timely consultations and prescriptions has been hampered by primary care appointments. The UC system has a constitutional duty to provide services to students equally, yet its choice not to adopt the protocol in its health centers disparately affects women. Why have UC Health administrators refused to implement the protocol that President Napolitanos office supported? They claim that the protocol will burden students with long pharmacy wait times, but they have not produced evidence to support this assertion. Besides, under the current system women students are burdened with long wait times for primary care appointments. UC Health administrators also claim that the protocol will diminish womens privacy at the pharmacy window, but privacy concerns for birth control are no different than any other medication, according to HIPAAs Privacy Rule. Finally, again without evidence, they claim that the protocol will require hiring more pharmacists. The UC system has had more than three years to set aside funding for the protocolyears in which there has been plenty of funding for unnecessary pelvic exams. The pharmacist protocol is the only option that doesnt require women to jump through hoops to get to the pharmacy window. Incidentally, the UC systems failure to put this law into practice across its student health centers hurts low-income, rural, and first- generation women students. These students rely on the convenience and low cost of student health insurance plans. In order to take advantage of the pharmacist protocol, they bear the burden of finding transportation to participating pharmacies off-campus and paying higher prices. UC advocated on behalf of these students before the pharmacist protocol became law, but has now forgotten them. The UC systems commitment to equality should not end in the admissions office. The University of Californiaand President Napolitanomust do better for women students. Women deserve equal access to reproductive health services, and the pharmacist protocol provides that. Olivia Weber, Ali Chabot, and Laura Lively are third-year law students at UC Irvine School of Law. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook To read the article in Spanish, click here Sometime during the post-debate torrent of words gushing from the array of motor mouths on CNN, Fox and MSNBC, someone described vice presidential candidates Tim Kaine and Mike Pence as able dodgers. That phrase summed up the face-off between the running mates as well as anything. Both men gave only passing notice to the questions posed by the moderator, CBS newswoman Elaine Quijano, as they dodged bullets and fired back like a pair of seasoned gunslingers. When it was all over, pundits faulted Kaine for his many interruptions and his rush to deliver as many memorized attack lines as he could in the first 15 minutes. Pence won praise for his calmer style and his ability to pivot from an uncomfortable question to a sharp assault on Clinton for putting in a performance, in other words, that was far more disciplined than any Donald Trump has ever pulled off. It did not go unnoticed, however, that Pence just plain ducked several times when confronted with the challenge of defending the man at the top of the Republican ticket. Unlike the odd squad of Trump surrogates, such as ex-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Pence was not willing to spout a bizarre justification for Trumps every unhinged misstep. Advertisement 1 / 51 la-1491523602-y7ephyarj1-snap-image (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 51 la-1491368625-0bgh58ihw8-snap-image (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los angeles Times) 6 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 51 Trump inspires millions to take to the streets -- to oppose him. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 51 Cartoon caption contest winner at the DENT conference in Sun Valley, Idaho: Jon Duval, executive director of the Ketchum Community Development Corporation. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 51 Old radicals and big media descend on Selma (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 51 Horsey imagined the creation of the Ann Coulter phenomenon in this cartoon from 2007. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 51 This David Horsey drawing is a reconfiguration of a cartoon he first published in 2006. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 51 Donald Sterling, owner of the L.A. Clippers, should give Cliven Bundy a call. After Sterling loses his NBA franchise and the deadbeat Nevada rancher loses his cattle, the two old racists will both need a buddy. Maybe they can team up together and open an all-white rodeo. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 51 Besides sending a chill up the spine of the international community, Vladimir Putin has accomplished one other thing by seizing Crimea and threatening the rest of Ukraine: Putin has brought back the bear. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 51 The right-wing insurrection at the Bundy ranch in Bunkerville, Nev., has taken another weird turn with new revelations about the family history of Cliven Bundy. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 51 David Horsey / Los Angeles Times (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) Perhaps, Pence avoided looking like a total shill for the outlandish GOP standard bearer because has his own ambitions to protect. Before being picked as Trumps running mate, the Indiana governor was nearing a political dead end, but with this solid showing on the debate stage, his prospects are revived. Conservatives especially those of the church-going variety had to like what they saw: an articulate, antiabortion, washed-in-the-blood Christian man with a hard line on defense, terrorism and taxes. If anyone was the loser in this debate, it was Ted Cruz, the Texas senator who may have been eclipsed by Pence as the Republican Partys next great white hope. And the winner? Pence did well for himself, but his easily disprovable assertions that Trump has not said all the crazy things that he has actually, verifiably said just gave the Clinton campaign a batch of talking points for the next several days. Kaine may have been more feisty than he needed to be, but he did pepper the exchange with reminders of Trumps vulnerabilities, in particular all the income taxes the billionaire hasnt paid. Meanwhile, tracking the comments Trump was posting on his Twitter account during the debate seemed as important as following the action on the debate stage. Would the Donald send out a shrill tweet that would make everyone forget what either Pence or Kaine had to say? Would he self-sabotage again? As it turned out, the tweet-addicted Trump was relatively restrained. Wow, Kaine couldnt go 12 seconds without a lie, he wrote. Kaine looks like an evil crook out of the Batman movies, he retweeted. But that was about as lively as it got. Too bad it wasnt 3 A.M. and he wasnt alone. As we have come to learn, that is when he really lets his flying monkeys take to the sky. David.Horsey@latimes.com Follow me at @davidhorsey on Twitter MORE ON THE ELECTION: We scored the vice presidential debate and Mike Pence won The most important exchanges of the vice presidential debate, annotated The race to 270 Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran's police seized about 700 kilograms of opium from smugglers in the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. Police forces seized the drugs in an armed clash with smugglers in the city of Iranshahr last night, the province's police commander, Brigadier General Hossein Rahimi said Oct. 5, Fars news agency reported. The smugglers left the drugs and fled the scene, Rahimi said, adding that efforts for arrest of the smugglers continue. Iran is situated on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Persian Gulf states. The Islamic Republic shares about 900 kilometers of common border with Afghanistan, over which 74 percent of opium is smuggled. The fight against drug trafficking annually costs Iran about $1 billion, according to the official estimates. The statistics also say there are about two million drug users in Iran. For years, Republicans have expressed angst at their poor showing among Latino voters. But the focus on that group has obscured another, related problem for the party: antipathy on the part of what has become the fastest-growing ethnic group in the country, Asian Americans. And theres new proof that the tactics and policy positions that have alienated Latinos are now having a dire effect for Republicans on Asian voters as well. Asian American voters are siding strongly with Hillary Clinton in the presidential contest, as younger voters in particular abandon Donald Trump and the Republican Party, a new poll of those voters has found. Advertisement Clinton has a firm hold on 55% of Asian American voters. When those leaning toward the candidates are counted, she leads Trump by 49 points, 70% to 21%. That puts her in striking distance of President Obamas standing in the 2012 election, when he won 73% of Asian American voters, according to exit polls. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter | The race to 270 The results released Wednesday as part of the National Asian American Survey suggest that Trumps rhetoric especially on immigration has caused an irreparable breach with those voters. All of the anti-immigrant rhetoric and harsh tone and language is a turnoff to voters, said Karthick Ramakrishnan, a UC Riverside political science professor and associate dean of the School of Public Policy, who directed the survey. In a twist, the gender and education demarcations seen in the national electorate this year were absent among Asian Americans: A majority of both men and women sided with the Democratic nominee, as did almost 6 in 10 of both college-educated voters and those without college degrees. Among white voters, Trump has regularly claimed the allegiance of men and those without college degrees; Clinton has won among women and the college-educated. The findings among Asian American voters are similar to results in surveys this year among Latino voters, who have sided with Clinton regardless of gender or educational experience. Race seems to trump the impact of other categories like gender and class, Ramakrishnan said. This is fairly clear evidence that we do not live in a post-racial society. Other differences like education dont matter as much for communities of color. As negative as Asian American voters overall were toward the Republican nominee and his party, the views worsened among younger voters, suggesting a difficult path ahead regardless of the results of Novembers election. Fifty-two percent of voters in the poll overall had a very unfavorable view of Trump; among millennial voters that figure rose to 69%. Adding in voters with a somewhat unfavorable position resulted in 67% with a negative view of him. Among voters under age 35, that rose to 81%. Clinton, by contrast, was seen in a very unfavorable light by only 18% of voters; 36% were either somewhat or very negative toward her. Almost 6 in 10 voters thought well of Clinton, compared with only 23% for Trump. But it was voters views of Republicans that spelled the greatest long-term danger to a party whose base of older white voters is rapidly losing strength in the electorate. (Asian American voters will make up 3% to 4% of November voters nationally, but their heft will be felt more acutely in contested states like Nevada and Virginia.) Almost 6 in 10 Asian American voters had a negative view of the Republican Party; fewer than 3 in 10 had a positive view. Those numbers were reversed when it came to the Democratic Party. And, as with Trump, younger voters were more negatively disposed. Seven in 10 of voters under age 35 had an unfavorable view of the GOP, compared with 31% who had a negative view of the Democratic Party. That alliance with Democrats and against the Republicans is telling because Asian American voters have historically been more independent than other groups. About 4 in 10 said in the new survey that they were independent, and another 4 in 10 said they were Democrats. Only 16% said they were Republicans. But when independents who lean toward a particular party were considered, almost 6 in 10 were with the Democrats. Among younger voters, that figure rose to 7 in 10. The liberal alliance appeared to be driven by issues. The survey found strong support among Asian American voters for President Obamas healthcare plan, for government help with college costs and for measures that would limit emissions in order to lessen climate change. Trumps proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country was opposed by almost two-thirds of Asian American voters. But they were more equivocal about accepting Syrian refugees, with 44% approving and 35% opposed. The exception when it came to embracing liberal views was the legalization of marijuana: 56% were opposed and only 36% were in support. The survey illuminated a quirk found in almost all polling of Latino or Asian voters: Immigration is a powerful character test for candidates, but it doesnt rank high on the list of issues that those voters think are most pressing. For more on politics In the Asian American survey, the economy was seen as the most important issue, followed distantly by terrorism and racism. Immigration was cited as the most important issue by only 4% of voters less than one-sixth the percentage who cited the economy. But immigration clearly is a threshold issue, Ramakrishnan said one that can either block a candidate from consideration or ease the path to acceptance, depending on their position and tone. In Trumps case, his handling of the issue has blunted his candidacy. The way that a candidate talks about immigration is a sign of respect or disrespect, Ramakrishnan said. Its not that immigration is a big policy issue its that they cant bring themselves to vote for someone who seems to disrespect their community. The poll questioned 2,238 Asian American adults, including 1,694 registered voters, between Aug. 10 and Oct. 1. It has a margin of error of 3.5 points in either direction among registered voters, and larger for other subgroups. cathleen.decker@latimes.com Twitter: @cathleendecker ALSO: Pennsylvania: once merely important, now Hillary Clintons firewall Tax troubles threaten Trump as election day nears. So does his approach to campaigning Live coverage from the campaign trail With the first two debates of the general election finished and early voting starting in many places, Hillary Clintons lead has strengthened in opinion polls in key states needed to win the White House, especially those with large minority populations. But Donald Trumps core support among blue-collar white voters remains largely intact, giving him a base from which to try to stage a comeback in the campaigns final phase, judging by a raft of new polls released in the last several days. A key for Trump is tenacious support among men, whose backing for him increased after Clintons health became an issue in early September, according to the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Daybreak tracking poll of the race. Advertisement Nationally, the race has not shifted dramatically since the first debate between Clinton and Trump even though large majorities of voters say Clinton won the encounter. But beneath that relatively stable national picture, the lineup of states has shifted to Clintons benefit, the polls indicate. The Daybreak poll, a national survey which is updated daily, has shown almost no movement. National surveys by YouGov for the Economist and SurveyMonkey for NBC, both of which poll each week, also have shown a very stable race, although they disagree with the Daybreak poll about which candidate leads. All three of those surveys are conducted online; several national surveys conducted by telephone have found a larger shift toward Clinton. That sort of difference, with telephone-based surveys having bigger ups and downs than online ones, has shown up in previous campaigns. The Daybreak tracking poll is the only major survey that shows Trump ahead; as of Wednesday, he leads the poll 47% to 43%. Averages of recent polls, by contrast, show Clinton leading by four or five percentage points. One important reason for the difference is how surveys account for people who are not certain to vote or are unsure about which candidate they support. Gentlemen, please! 90 minutes of bickering, with a few blows landed, in the vice presidential debate Clinton and Trump are now even in the Daybreak poll among the most committed voters those who say they are absolutely certain to vote and sure about which candidate they back. Trump previously had an edge among those voters. Trumps overall lead in the poll now depends on support from people who say they are less than 100% sure to vote. The Daybreak poll asks people to estimate how likely they are to vote, using a zero-to-100 scale. The gender gap provides another big reason for the difference. In the Daybreak poll, Trump leads Clinton by 17 points among men, while Clinton has a nine-point edge among women. Surveys that show Clinton ahead have the gender gap cutting in the other direction with Clintons lead among women exceeding Trumps margin among men. The NBC/SurveyMonkey poll, for example, which showed Clinton ahead 50% to 44%, found her leading by 18 points among women, double the size of Trumps lead among men. The YouGov survey, which showed Clinton leading 43% to 40%, had her ahead by 11 points among women, while Trump led by five among men. Support for Trump from men increased sharply in the Daybreak poll just after Sept. 11, the day Clinton was recorded on cellphone video stumbling into a van while leaving a memorial ceremony for the victims of the 2001 terrorist attack. She later disclosed she had been diagnosed with pneumonia. Trump has used that episode as evidence that Clinton lacks the stamina to be president, a charge he frequently lobs, and the increase in his support among men in the poll suggests that line of attack may have found a receptive audience. Between Sept. 11 and the end of the month, Trump supporters likelihood of voting increased by five percentage points in the survey, with men driving much of the increase. But Trumps approach may have further alienated women, a huge stumbling block for him in some key states. A recent poll of Florida voters by Quinnipiac University, for example, showed Trump losing women in the state by 20 percentage points while winning among men by 11 points. In Pennsylvania, a poll this week by Franklin & Marshall College showed him losing women by 12 points. The gender gap is one of three huge divides in the electorate that have framed the race since Clinton and Trump secured their parties nominations. The other two involve race and education. The divide along racial lines has been critical in the state polls. Overwhelming support from minority voters has been key to Clintons leads in both Florida, where she has led in five out of the last six polls, and in Pennsylvania, a state that Clintons campaign has seen as a firewall against any resurgence by Trump. Minority voters have also been crucial for Clinton in North Carolina, a state that Republican nominee Mitt Romney carried four years ago, but in which Clinton has led in six polls released over the past two weeks. A poll of the state by Elon University found Clinton winning 98% of black voters while Trump led among whites 61%-39%. In each of those states and nationwide, the education gap has also been a major factor. Trump has dominated the race among white voters who did not graduate from college. He has trailed Clinton in many states among white college graduates, a group that Republicans used to dominate. The divide between white college graduates and those without a degree has been key to Clintons lead in Virginia and Colorado, both states with a high percentage of college-educated voters. Both were hotly contested four years ago, but this year, the Democrats have cut back drastically on their campaign advertising because they dont think they need to spend much more money to win them. By contrast, Trump appears to be holding his own in states with whiter electorates and fewer college graduates, notably Ohio and Iowa, two battleground states that President Obama carried in 2008 and 2012 but where Trump now appears to hold narrow leads. Detailed results from the USC Dornsife/LAT daily tracking poll The Clinton campaign has recently stepped up its efforts in other heavily white northern states, including Minnesota and Maine, suggesting concern about soft support in places where the minority vote is smaller than average. The problem for Trump is that even if he carries those states, its not enough to win the White House. To win the 270 electoral votes needed to gain the presidency, Trump almost certainly would need to carry North Carolina and Florida as well as Ohio, and even then would need to take some other state currently in Clintons column. In addition to the divisions along lines of gender, race and education, Trump also is contending with defections by a small, but important, slice of Republican voters in several key states. In the Quinnipiac poll, for example, Trump was winning 84% of Republican voters in Florida, compared with Clintons backing from 92% of Democrats. In Pennsylvania, the Franklin & Marshall poll showed Clinton getting 78% support from Democrats while Trump got 71% from Republicans. A sizable share of Republicans, 11% in that survey, said they did not know how they would vote. In the Daybreak poll, Clinton now gets 91% of the vote among Democrats, up from 86% in the past week. Trump gets 81% among Republicans. A small decline in support for third-party candidates may be widening that partisan gap to Clintons advantage. The share of the vote going to a candidate other than Clinton or Trump has dropped to 10% in the Daybreak poll, down from 13% a month ago. That decline is particularly noticeable among people with college degrees. Similarly, the SurveyMonkey poll, which has a very large weekly sample that allows analysis of small groups in the electorate, has shown a decline in support for both the Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson, and the Green Party nominee, Jill Stein. Earlier, the third-party candidates appeared to be siphoning more voters away from Clinton than Trump. As support for them ebbs, however, voters who lean Democratic seem to be returning to their usual partisan home faster than those who lean Republican. That trend could continue. The Franklin & Marshall survey found that fewer than half of Johnsons voters in Pennsylvania said they were certain to vote for him. By comparison, 92% of Clintons supporters and 88% of Trumps said they were certain about their choice. David.Lauter@latimes.com For more on Politics and Policy, follow me @DavidLauter To read the article in Spanish, click here ALSO Senator, youre no Jack Kennedy almost didnt happen. How it became the biggest VP debate moment in history Pennsylvania was once merely important in presidential elections. Now, its Hillary Clintons firewall How Honduras helped vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine find his mission in life UPDATES: 1:05 p.m.: This story was updated with details from the Daybreak poll. This story was originally published at 10:25 a.m. Mike Pence, asked during the vice presidential debate how he would deal with home-grown terrorists, quickly turned to a frequent talking point of his running mate: Donald Trump often says that Hillary Clinton supports a radical 550% increase in Syrian refugees. Clintons running mate Tim Kaine pushed back by noting that on Monday, a federal appeals court upheld a lower courts order blocking a Pence effort to try to stop Syrian refugees from being resettled in his home sate of Indiana. While the figure Pence cited is accurate, the assertion is misleading, given the scale of the crisis with Syrians fleeing the countrys bloody civil war that has raged since 2011. Advertisement In a September 2015 CBS News interview, Clinton said she believes the U.S. should take in 65,000 Syrian refugees, which would be a 550% increase from the Obama administrations goal of resettling 10,000 refugees this fiscal year. Hillary Clinton supports a radical 550% increase in Syrian refugees. Donald Trump at several rallies this summer Thats a small fraction of the nearly 11 million Syrians who have left their homes, with many settling in nearby countries. About 470,000 have been killed in the war. Human rights groups have called for the U.S. to accept higher numbers, as smaller countries have admitted far more refugees. Turkey, which neighbors Syria, has taken in 2.5 million refugees, and hundreds of thousands have fled to Germany, according to Amnesty International. Trump has called for a ban on Syrian refugees entering the U.S. Hes said, without citing evidence, that there are too many terrorism risks and added this week that the refugees would hurt the quality of life in the U.S. His proposed ban on Muslims entering the country, announced in December after the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, eventually morphed into a ban on immigration from so-called terrorist countries, which he says includes Syria. People are pouring into our country; we have no idea who they are, he told supporters at a rally in Maine this summer. This could be the great Trojan horse of our time. Trump has pointed to the Paris attacks and others in France as well as Belgium as reason enough to bar Syrians from the U.S. But those perpetrators were mostly Belgian or French. Some had traveled to the Middle East and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State extremist group operating in Syria and Iraq. The Obama administration indicated this month that it would raise its goal of admitted refugees to 110,000 with a substantial number being displaced Syrians for the fiscal year beginning Oct.1. Clinton has remained steadfast in her calls to admit 65,000 refugees and has not indicated support for the new proposal from the White House. Were facing the worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II and I think the United States has to do more, she said last year. For more political news follow @kurtisalee and @LATSeema kurtis.lee@latimes.com and seema.mehta@latimes.com With the measured tones of a former radio host and the policy chops of a veteran politician, Mike Pence in Tuesday nights vice presidential debate delivered the performance Donald Trump failed to achieve in his recent meeting with Hillary Clinton. The Indiana governor ticked off specific points central to the Republican tickets plans for Washington. He smoothly, and without a hint of embarrassment, denied that Trump had said things Trump had said. And yet he repeatedly declined to attach himself too closely to Trumps policies and priorities. In the end it was hard to know: How much was this debate performance meant to arrest the Trump campaigns weeklong slide? And how much was it the first blush of Pences own run for president in 2020? Advertisement The performance of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine was less ambiguous. A man known for a gee-whiz affability, he flirted with obnoxiousness by repeatedly interrupting both Pence and the moderator. But in the process, the Virginia senator landed more than a few blows. Over and over, he called attention to the worst moments of Trumps campaign including the businessmans coarse comments about women and Latino immigrants and a Mexican American judge overseeing a lawsuit involving one of his business ventures, as well as Sen. John McCains capture during the Vietnam War and his refusal to apologize for any of it. Over and over, Kaine asked Pence how he could justify Trumps behavior. Pence often had no reply other than to shake his head. If the night seemed to go narrowly to Pence, it also is more than likely to have no impact on the presidential contest. The two vice presidential candidates had their 90 minutes onstage Tuesday, and henceforth will be where they have been since summer, in the shadow of two dominant personalities engaged in a fierce fight for the White House. That shadow will only deepen on Sunday, when the two presidential candidates gather for their second debate, this time at Washington University in St. Louis. As for the vice presidential candidates, this was their only meeting and they spent it bickering and interrupting and walking all over moderator Elaine Quijano, who repeatedly interjected, Gentlemen, please! The behavior during the 90-minute session at Longwood University in Virginia was all the more surprising because Kaine and Pence entered the ring as the mollifiers of the campaign. Pence has served in the last several months as Trumps explainer in chief, telling voters what Trump meant to say when the presidential nominee has created a mess. He did that again Tuesday when he sought to excuse Trumps comment that women who receive abortions should be punished. First Pence denied that Trump had made the comment Trump did, in a well-publicized interview with MSNBCs Chris Matthews and then he offered his running mate an excuse: Look, hes not a polished politician like you and Hillary Clinton. Pence, with what seemed an eye to his future, didnt break character. He rarely raised his voice. When he wanted to make a point that Kaine was exaggerating even when he wasnt he adopted the sorrowful look of a disappointed parent. Kaine seemed more willing to consign his reputation to the attack-dog demands of the vice presidential position. But that tactic was often jarring and drew attention more to his over-caffeinated style than to the content of his statements. Under all the nasty back-and-forth, however, the debate did provide a healthy comparison of the two tickets. More than in the presidential debate, the two dove into weeds of policy. In the presidential debate, Clinton had done that, but Trump almost completely declined to elaborate on the details of his plans. It was on the topic of Russia that Pence seemed to distance himself most from Trump. He castigated Clinton and President Obama as weaklings on the world stage, unwilling to stand up to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Putin has, of course, come in for repeated praise from Trump, which Pence ignored as he pressed a more traditionally Republican line of foreign policy thinking. When Donald Trump becomes president, the Russians and other countries in the world will know they are dealing with a strong American president, he said. Kaine referred to claims from Pence and Trump that Putin was a better leader than Obama. If you dont know the difference between dictatorship and leadership, then you got to go back to a fifth-grade civics class, he said. Ultimately, voters reaction to the debate may rest in part on where they stand on the issues. The contrast often was this: Pence operated smoothly, but in pursuit of enunciating policy positions that are opposed by most Americans. Kaine was more herky-jerky in his approach, but he was drawing a contrast from the side of the aisle where most Americans reside. That came through most directly on illegal immigration and abortion rights. Donald Trump proposes to deport 16 million people, 11 million of whom are here without documents. They want to get rid of birthright citizenship, Kaine said. They want to go house to house, school to school, business to business, and kick out 16 million people. I cannot believe that Gov. Pence would sit here and defend his running mates plan that we should create a deportation force so that they will all be gone. Pence restated the Trump plan far more rosily than Trump has. Border security, removing criminal aliens, upholding with law, and then but then, Senator, Ill work you when you go back to the Senate I promise you, well work you to reform the immigration system, he said, getting in a suggestion of defeat for Kaine that he repeated twice. A discussion of abortion arose from the question that showcased the two candidates better than any other: How has their personal faith conflicted with their duties? Kaine spoke of his Jesuit upbringing and his missionary service, and said he tries to practice his faith in a very devout way. But I dont believe in this nation, a 1st Amendment nation, where we dont raise any religion over the other, that the doctrines of any one religion should be mandated for everyone, he said. Approving executions as governor a practice objected to by the Roman Catholic faith followed from that belief, he said. It is difficult for those of us who have these faith lives; we dont feel we can just substitute our views, he said. Pence said his religious views had pushed him in the other direction essentially, to extend his personal views into his political life. I would tell you for the sanctity of life proceeds out of that ancient principle of God. I tried to stand for the ancient principle of the sanctity of life, he said. For me, my faith informs my life. For me, it all begins with cherishing the dignity, the worth, the value of all human life. It was a brief passage of reflection between the two men, both acknowledging the depth of their faith. But it was swiftly broken by a renewed fight over immigration. When Donald Trump says women should be punished, that Mexicans are rapists and criminals, he is showing you who he is, Kaine said. Senator, with that Mexican thing again, Pence replied. And then he cast Trump as a defender of anti-abortion policies, omitting Trumps recent adoption of that position. The debate between the vice presidential nominees soon ended, to be taken up anew by their running mates on Sunday. For more on politics cathleen.decker@latimes.com Twitter: @cathleendecker ALSO: Updates on California politics Live coverage from the campaign trail Nobody expected the face-off between vice presidential contenders Mike Pence and Tim Kaine to be a scorcher. Both Kaine, the Virginia senator running alongside Democrat Hillary Clinton, and Pence, the Indiana governor joining Donald Trump on the Republican ticket, project a demeanor thats more dad-next-door than street brawler. But as both running mates mounted their best cases for their tickets, the debate Tuesday in Farmville, Va., generated some interesting moments. Heres what well remember from their one and only showdown: Interjections ad nauseam The cross-talk and interruptions began around 10 minutes into the debate when Kaine cut into a Pence riff denouncing Clinton's foreign policy and they seemed to never stop. The candidates talked over each other and talked over the moderator, CBS News' Elaine Quijano. They pleaded for more time or a chance for a rebuttal. The feisty tone was driven more by Kaine than Pence; the Democrat was more aggressive in his interjections and at times came off as overeager. Pence, whose smooth delivery harked back to his stint as a conservative radio host, appeared largely unruffled by Kaine's jabs. The interruptions clearly exasperated Quijano, who at one point admonished both contenders. "Gentlemen, the people at home cannot understand you when you speak over each other," she reminded them. But the interruptions continued. There was one notable exception to the cross-talk: a discussion toward the end of the debate on how their personal faith influences their public policy. Both deeply devout men Kaine a Roman Catholic and Pence an evangelical Christian they listened wordlessly as their counterpart spoke about how he wrestled with his own faith in pursuing policies related to the death penalty and abortion. Coming to a campaign ad near you Kaine frequently sought to put Pence on the spot to defend or answer for comments that his running mate had made. Pence's strategy appeared to be deny, deny, deny. It was an effective strategy to defuse Kaine's attacks in the debate hall. But it wouldn't be surprising if some of Pence's denials soon appear in a Clinton campaign ad, spliced with Trump saying the very thing Pence denied. On nuclear weapons, for example, Pence repeatedly brushed off Kaine's accusation that Trump has supported other countries obtaining nuclear weapons. But Trump has backed the idea of South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia developing their own nuclear programs to lessen the burden on the United States. https://twitter.com/markzbarabak/status/783486326398132224 On Russia, Pence similarly changed his tune, calling Putin a "small and bullying leader." Trump has been much rosier in his appraisal of the Russian leader, and so has Pence, who last month called Putin a stronger leader than Barack Obama. 'That Mexican thing' In yet another attempt by Kaine to box Pence in with Trump's words, the Democratic vice presidential nominee repeatedly brought up the inflammatory comments Trump made at the beginning of his campaign when he called some people who immigrated from Mexico "rapists. "Senator, you whipped out that Mexican thing again," Pence groaned at one point. And thus a hashtag was born. #ThatMexicanThing quickly took off on Twitter, with users co-opting the phrase to share their own family histories of immigrants building their lives in America. Someone quickly claimed the web address www.thatmexicanthing.com and redirected it to Clinton's site. The phrase underscored the Trump-Pence ticket's clumsy Latino voter outreach efforts. Pence repeatedly used the phrase "criminal alien" to describe people who have committed a crime while living in the United States illegally, wording that may not sit well with that slice of voters. In California, for example, the state government recently struck the word "alien" from its labor code because it can be seen as derogatory. melanie.mason@latimes.com Twitter: @melmason Maybe the Republican National Committee knew something we didnt when it accidentally went live with claims that Mike Pence won the vice presidential debate 90 minutes before he stepped out on stage. Welcome to Essential Politics. Im Christina Bellantoni. Times analysts scoring the debate called some draws and a few strong moments for Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine but handed the evening to Pence. Many of his points were scored on style, as he came off as less aggressive while Kaine continually interrupted him. Advertisement What Kaine did do was repeat some of the Clinton campaigns sharpest attacks on Donald Trump over and over again. He made clear his role was to play fierce challenger to the GOP nominee and mostly ignore his actual rivals record from the outset, telling voters that for him and his wife, the thought of Trump as president scares us to death. The faceoff was distinguished by barbs and interruptions from the get-go, making for lively exchanges that frequently were punctuated by an Oh, please from Pence or a chiding from the moderator that the topic really wasnt Trumps taxes. The bickering aside, Pence used his radio host voice and policy chops to deliver the performance Trump failed to achieve last week when facing Hillary Clinton. As Cathleen Decker writes for todays front page, In the end it was hard to know: How much was this debate performance meant to arrest the Trump campaigns weeklong slide? And how much was it the first blush of Pences own run for president in 2020? The Indiana governor smoothly, and without a hint of embarrassment, denied that Trump had said things Trump had said. And yet he repeatedly declined to attach himself too closely to Trumps policies and priorities. As weve noted in this space, vice presidential debates hardly matter, and neither man did any real damage to his running mate. They also escaped with little defense of their own records, because the evening was clearly outlined as a referendum on the people at the top of the ticket. ABOUT LAST NIGHT: DEBATE HEADLINES Here are a few things you might have missed. We did fact-checking in real-time, from Kaines economic record in Virginia to what Trump really said about Putin. Decker, Mark Z. Barabak and Doyle McManus played judges and scored multiple rounds, ultimately handing the victory to Pence. Our team is annotating a transcript of the key exchanges. This video shows how often Pence deflected Kaines jabs toward Trump. Trump provided running commentary on Twitter, and Clinton piped in. Melanie Mason rounded out the moments that defined the night. Kaine managed to avoid a question on a major issue his push for the authorization for use of military force against ISIS. Noah Bierman explained the significance of Farmville, Va., and where the heck it is. Here are the top photos of the evening. One moment that didnt go unnoticed during the debate? When Pence referred to that Mexican thing. Catch up quick with our full coverage, watch the debate in full, or see highlights from our fact-checks. As the candidates head back out on the campaign trail, well be there. Stay up on whats happening via Trail Guide and follow @latimespolitics. Check our daily USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times tracking poll at the top of the politics page. THE OTHER DEBATE THE ONE YOU HAVENT BEEN FOLLOWING Tonight will be your one-and-only chance to see state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez go head to head in a U.S. Senate debate. The Democrats will take the stage at Cal State Los Angeles at 7 p.m. for a debate that will be televised live on ABC7 and C-SPAN. Cal State LA will webcast the debate. Well run a livestream and our team will be covering it live on Essential Politics. Sanchez, meanwhile, is now on her third campaign manager. Phil Willon reports that the Orange County congresswoman brought in union organizer Maria Unzueta to lead the campaign through the general election. Unzueta replaces Millie Herrera, who ran Sanchezs campaign through the June 7 primary. Tim Allison, a Ventura County union official, managed Sanchezs campaign when it first kicked off, but left after a few months. The Truman National Security Project, a progressive national security group, endorsed Harris on Tuesday morning, praising her work as attorney general on cyber-security, consumer privacy and her work with law enforcement to disrupt human traffickers and drug cartels. Sanchez has long cited her national security bonafides from her time in Congress as the reason shes the better candidate. GETTING THEIR VOTE ON Election day is five weeks away, but nearly 100,000 votes have already been cast nationwide. Michael Memoli took a look at the states where early voting is picking up. Californians can start to vote next week. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 24. SANDERS BACK ON THE AIR IN CALIFORNIA Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is back on Californias airwaves again this time to promote Proposition 61, the ballot initiative seeking to lower prescription drug prices for state agencies. The measure is one of a couple dozen that Sanders and his new group, Our Revolution, have endorsed, Christine Mai-Duc reports. Prop. 61, sponsored by the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation and opposed vigorously by drug companies, seeks to tie prices state agencies pay for prescription drugs to those paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Voting yes on the measure will be a real blow against this greedy industry that will reverberate all over America, Sanders says in the 30-second ad, now running statewide. To see the spot and for more on the ballot measures, keep an eye on our Essential Politics news feed. TODAYS ESSENTIALS Californians wading through the long list of statewide ballot measures on Nov. 8 may wonder why they are being asked to weigh in on Proposition 52, a wonky measure about Medi-Cal. The answer dates back to a state budget crisis in 2012, Sophia Bollag reports. A barrage of television and radio ads has been launched by the campaign for Proposition 64, arguing that the measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana has restrictions to keep pot out of the hands of minors and will generate $1 billion in new tax revenue. The campaign has reported this week that it has spent $6.8 million of the more than $14 million it has raised so far on broadcast, cable television and radio ads throughout the state. In Californias 49th district congressional race, Democratic challenger Doug Applegate released a new ad criticizing Rep. Darrell Issa for his controversial comment about giving more financial aid to workers who responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. And the San Diego Union-Tribune reports Issa is challenging Applegate over another series of ads in this increasingly competitive race. Tom Steyer, Californias billionaire Democratic activist who has made environmental issues his political calling card, announced his endorsement Tuesday of Gov. Jerry Browns prison parole measure, Proposition 57. A doctor now is making the case against the Proposition 56 cigarette tax in a new TV ad. First Lady Michelle Obama mocked Trump on the campaign trail. Jonah Goldberg devotes his column to that time Trump wrote him a thank-you note. Who will win the November election? Give our Electoral College map a spin. LOGISTICS Miss yesterdays newsletter? Here you go. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Californians wading through the long list of statewide ballot measures on Nov. 8 may wonder why they are being asked to weigh in on Proposition 52, a wonky measure to generate money for Medi-Cal, the states subsidized healthcare program for the poor. The answer dates back to a state budget crisis in 2012. What really triggered it for us was going through that economic downturn, said Anne McLeod, a senior vice president at the California Hospital Assn. When the people needed the program the most, thats when the state dipped in and took more. Thats when we knew we had to stop that. Proposition 52 would make it harder for lawmakers to change the way money is allocated from a program where California hospitals contribute money to Medi-Cal. This fee paid by hospitals triggers a federal contribution to Medi-Cal that results in a net benefit to hospitals. Advertisement The hospital fee program is scheduled to expire in 2018. In addition to solidifying the way the money is allocated, Proposition 52 would make the program permanent. Hospitals paid $4.6 billion through the hospital fee program during the fiscal year that ended in June 2016. Most of the money went to hospitals for Medi-Cal payments and grants. Some money also went to the states general fund. By law, money from the program that goes into the general fund is used to offset costs for children in the Medi-Cal program. Changes to the amount of money used for that purpose prompted hospitals to take the issue to the ballot. The California Hospital Assn. is sponsoring the initiative, which has no active opposition. The initiatives supporters point to decisions made by lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown during a 2012 budget crisis as the spark that prompted their campaign. The Legislature took a larger portion of the fee program for the general fund than the hospitals believed was fair, McLeod said. At least $260 million originally slated to fund hospitals was moved to the general fund. Sign up for our Essential Politics newsletter Some of that money would have funded grants for public hospitals that treat Medi-Cal patients if it hadnt been diverted, McLeod said. The hospitals that receive these grants are typically county hospitals in urban areas that treat large homeless populations, she said. That was a big wake-up call to us, McLeod said. We worked very hard to make the legislation very careful and very fair as to how much the state would get and how much the hospitals would get And we found that in difficult times, none of that really mattered. But it wasnt just hospitals that were unhappy with budget negotiations that year. Lawmakers were slashing costs across the board during the budget crisis, said Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who was chairman of the Assemblys budget committee in 2012. He rejected the characterization of the funds as a diversion, noting that the money that went into the general fund was still spent on healthcare. We were cutting everything to the bone, Blumenfield said. During my time, I dont think there was ever inappropriate diversion of money into the general fund. The program Proposition 52 would make permanent began in 2009 and has been reauthorized by the Legislature several times. Even though the Legislature has been very supportive of this program, theres political uncertainty when you have a program that [needs renewal] every year or every couple of years, Proposition 52 spokesman Kevin Riggs said. Hospitals and other supporters have put nearly $60 million into their initiative campaign. Proposition 52 was the first measure that qualified for the November ballot, after supporters submitted voter signatures in 2014 too late to qualify for that years fall ballot. The initiatives only announced opposition comes from the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, which argues Proposition 52 would allow hospital executives to misuse the money it generates. The union set aside nearly $19 million to oppose the measure, but a spokesman said SEIU-UHW has now decided to spend most of that money on other issues. Although the proposition would give lawmakers less flexibility to change the way the money is allocated, Blumenfield said the hospital fee it would protect is a win-win for the state and the hospitals. Im absolutely for Prop. 52, he said. The good part about doing it through an initiative rather than through the Legislature [is] then it wont become fodder for political issues when people dont want to pass a fee or a tax. sophia.bollag@latimes.com Follow @SophiaBollag on Twitter. ALSO What you need to know about Prop. 61, the spendy prescription drug measure on Novembers ballot The money is starting to roll in on Californias 17 ballot propositions. A lot of it Updates from Sacramento A man suspected of making threats died after a fight with two police officers Tuesday evening outside a Burbank home, authorities said. Burbank police showed up at the house, located on the 500 block of North Mariposa Street, to speak with the man after someone reported him for making criminal threats, said Burbank Police Sgt. Claudio Losacco. The man, who was in his 60s, emerged from the house and immediately became confrontational with officers. Join the conversation on Facebook >> A fight ensued, during which police shot him with a Taser. During the struggle, a second man armed with a handgun appeared in the doorway and threatened the officers. Officers then backed off from the first suspect, found cover and called for help. The armed man subsequently barricaded himself in the home for about 40 minutes. During that time, officers approached the first suspect, who was down in the driveway, and pulled him away from the home so he could be treated by paramedics, who pronounced him dead. After police spoke with the barricaded man over the phone, he exited the home and was arrested. The relationship between the two men is not clear. Details on what sort of threats were made by the man who died and to whom were not available. Internal affairs investigators were alerted to the incident, as were representatives of the Los Angeles County district attorneys office, which is customary with in-custody deaths. -- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @atchek ALSO Burbank police implement changes following survey indicating low morale in department Woman who was one of 18 victims secretly recorded at pool locker room files claim against Burbank Massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting client A family of five escaped a fire that heavily damaged their Costa Mesa home early Wednesday, authorities said. About 20 firefighters responded to 996 Azalea Drive at about 1:30 a.m., Costa Mesa fire Capt. Chris Coates said. When they arrived, firefighters found a man trying to fight the fire by spraying water from a hose through the front window of the home, Coates said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within about 10 minutes. The man was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and was taken to a hospital, Coates said. Nobody else was injured. Fire investigators were notified by Southern California Edison that power had been out in the area Tuesday night and the family had been using candles to light their home, Coates said. Coates said the family fell asleep while the candles were lit and a couch in the living room caught fire. Coates said the house was badly damaged but that firefighters were able to contain the flames to the room where the fire started. The American Red Cross was called to help the displaced family. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot After arriving in Newport Beach last week, seven Japanese students were ready for some fall fun with pumpkin carving and a barbecue Monday at Private Road Park. For more than 30 years, the Newport Beach Sister City Assn. and the Newport Balboa Rotary Club have sponsored a student exchange program, working with counterparts in Okazaki, Japan. Each year, Newport Beach eighth-graders apply for the program to travel to Okazaki in June to stay with families there and attend school. In September, the Japanese host families send their eighth-graders to Newport Beach to do the same. The Okazaki students are chosen by their school district to participate in the program. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: Turkey is ready to share with Azerbaijan its experience in shipbuilding, including warships production, and help to modernize and re-equip Azerbaijans Navy, General Director of Turkeys STM Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. Davut Yilmaz said, Anadolu Agency reported Oct. 5. The STM specializes in construction of high-speed warships, including the MILGEM corvette. The Turkish company took part in the 2nd Azerbaijan International Defense Industry Exhibition - ADEX 2016 in Baku. We know what Azerbaijans Navy needs, and we are ready to support modernization of the newly built naval base of the country, Yilmaz said. Azerbaijan also needs new warships, and the STM can deliver MILGEM corvettes to the countrys navy. He added that negotiations with the Azerbaijani side on this issue have been going on for already 2.5 years. The general director of the STM said that ADEX 2016 exhibition demonstrated the contribution the Turkish side can make to ensure the needs of Azerbaijan in the defense sphere. Fast patrol boats and corvettes designed for Turkeys Navy were presented within the framework of the exhibition. The projects, which may be developed for Azerbaijans Navy, which is in the restructuring process, were also discussed. Newport Beach voters will have a chance during Thursdays Wake Up Newport forum to learn more about 17 statewide propositions before they cast their votes next month. California voters will be asked to decide on a plethora of issues Nov.8, including education bonds, income tax increases, taxes on tobacco products, marijuana legalization and the death penalty. Bryan Starr, senior vice president of the Orange County Business Council, will share his groups thoughts on how the propositions could affect businesses in the county. Starr oversees all aspects of external affairs for the council, including public affairs, government relations and advocacy at the state, federal and local levels. Wake Up Newport will begin at 7:15a.m. at the Newport Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. Glendale Adventist Medical Center will hold four events in October as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Starting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the hospital will conduct a breast cancer prevention seminar in the JCPenney court area in the Glendale Galleria, 100 W. Broadway. An event called Zumba for Pink! will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 14, in the main auditorium at Glendale Adventist, 1509 Wilson Terrace, promoting breast cancer awareness through exercise. Join the conversation on Facebook >> A mammogram night will be offered 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 at 1505 Wilson Terrace, where the hospitals staff will pamper with goodie bags and educate women as they receive a mammogram. The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., will host a Laugh for a Cause fundraiser at 5 p.m. on Oct. 30, featuring comedian Maz Jobrani. For more information, call (818) 409-8050. Health event slated for next Wednesday The Regal Medical Group and Lakeside Community Healthcare will host an event called Celebrating Your Health from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. next Wednesday at the Adult Recreation Center, 201 E. Colorado St., Glendale. Attendees can receive free health screenings, a flu shot and advice on selecting the right doctor. Licensed insurance agents will also be on hand to help navigate various healthcare coverage and insurance questions. For more information, visit regalmed.com. -- Jeff Landa, jeff.landa@latimes.com Twitter: @JeffLanda A 48-year-old homeless man accused of viciously raping and beating a woman in a Vons parking lot in Glendale last week pleaded not guilty Tuesday to several charges connected to the attack, officials said. Michael Zinzun, a registered sex offender, was charged with one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by foreign object, kidnapping to commit rape and resisting an executive officer by the use of force or violence, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. Zinzun has two strikes on his record from prior criminal convictions in Florida one for committing a lewd act with a minor under 14 in 1998 and another for a burglary of an occupied home in 2005, officials said. Join the conversation on Facebook >> He was slated to be arraigned Monday but refused to leave the jail, so a judge signed a court order to get him out the following day, according to a Los Angeles County sheriffs spokeswoman. If convicted, Zinzun faces up to life in state prison. Hes looking at three strikes, said Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William. The attack occurred shortly before 4 a.m. last Thursday, when Zinzun approached a stranger sleeping on a bus bench near Los Feliz Road and Central Avenue, and asked her if she wanted to smoke meth, William said. The woman said no. He continued to speak to her, and she asked him to leave her alone. Zinzun then reportedly began sexually assaulting the victim, threatening to harm her if she didnt stop screaming. After dragging her away from the bench, police said he pushed her over a 3-foot retaining wall and into the Vons supermarket parking lot, where he allegedly raped her, strangled her and punched her face repeatedly. A worker loading his truck at the grocery store saw the attack and called 911. The first officer on scene saw Zinzun standing over the woman, who was lying on the ground half naked with visible injuries. As the witness told police what happened, Zinzun took off running, leading officers on a short pursuit into the boiler room at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital, where he fought with officers, William said. As of Tuesday, the woman had been released from the hospital. An officer involved in the fight, meanwhile, was taken to the hospital on Thursday with injuries to his hand. Zinzun is being held in lieu of more than $3.3-million bail and is due in court later this month. -- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @atchek ALSO Witnesses ask jury to spare killers life GCC officials look to boost support for $325-million facilities bond Glendale man sentenced to 16 months in prison for his role in synthetic marijuana ring Acting under apparent pressure from China, authorities in Thailand on Tuesday detained Joshua Wong, the teenage face of the youthful pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. Wong, 19, arrived in Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport shortly before midnight and was immediately taken into custody, according to a statement from Demosisto, the political party he co-founded in April. Thai authorities deported Wong about 12 hours later back to Hong Kong. Advertisement At a brief appearance upon return to Hong Kong airport Wednesday, Wong said that upon arriving in Bangkok he had been taken away by about 20 police officers from the tarmac straight to a holding cell inside the airport. They said, Well not give you any explanation, Wong said. Youve been blacklisted. He said Thai authorities had denied his request to reach his family and attorney. The activist had been invited by student leader Netiwit Chotipatpaisal to speak at Thailands Chulalongkorn University in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of a brutal crackdown on student protesters by the military, a sensitive topic in the country. He was invited there to speak about Hong Kongs Umbrella Movement and the ongoing push for self-determination, said Nathan Law, an incoming city legislator from Demosisto. In its statement, the Demosisto party said it had been informed by Chotipatpaisal that Thai authorities received a letter from the Chinese government earlier regarding Wongs visit. The Chinese foreign ministry in a brief statement said only that Chinese authorities were aware of Wongs detention and that they respected Thailands ability to manage the entrance of people into the country in accordance with law. Thailand has taken a sharp turn toward authoritarianism under its ruling junta, which toppled a democratically elected government on May 22, 2014, ending months of street protests. It has also forced closer military and economic ties with China, drawing criticism from the U.S., its longtime ally. China is Thailands largest trading partner, spending billions a year on food, raw materials and manufactured goods from the country. The two countries have also stepped up joint military exercises and in July closed a deal for Thailand to purchase three Chinese submarines for $1 billion. In July 2015, Thai authorities deported more than 100 Uighur refugees who had come from China, a move that drew international condemnation. The Turkic-speaking Muslim minority has long complained of cultural and religious suppression under Chinese rule, but Beijing blames Uighur separatists for bombings and stabbings in Xinjiang in the countrys far west. In October 2015, a mainland China-born Swedish publisher who ran a book business in Hong Kong was abducted from the Thai resort city of Pattaya by Chinese agents and secretly taken to the Chinese mainland, where he has remained in detention pending trial. Student leader Chotipatpaisal, a self-proclaimed conscientious objector who has refused to submit to conscription, said in a recent interview with Hong Kongs South China Morning Post that he had hoped to use Wongs example to inspire a massive pro-democracy protest akin to the 2014 Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. Last month, Wong and two others were spared jail time for their involvement in the protests but were sentenced to community service. Hong Kong, a former British colony of 7.3 million people which is now a semiautonomous Chinese territory, has maintained an independent judiciary under a separate constitution. The territorys justice secretary, Rimsky Yuen, who has sought to sentence Wong to jail for his involvement in the 2014 protests, was scheduled to visit Thailand Wednesday. Wong, who has been maligned by Chinas state media as a secret agent trained by the CIA, is no stranger to detention by governments hostile to civil disobedience. He posted a selfie on his Facebook page from the gate before boarding his flight to Bangkok and recalled his treatment at the hands of Malaysian authorities, who had expelled him on the grounds of endangering national security. Im a bit worried if Ill get the green light this time, Wong wrote in his post. Its obvious the Thai government has been siding with the Communist Chinese regime. Law, a special correspondent, reported from Hong Kong, and Kaiman reported from Beijing. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow @JRKaiman on Twitter MORE WORLD NEWS Hurricane Matthew pummels Haiti and Cuba on route toward U.S. Americas best idea may now be Chinas, too, as it expands national park system American football is gaining traction in China UPDATES: 1:50 a.m.: The story was updated with Wongs statement upon returning to Hong Kong. 1:35 a.m.: This story was updated with news that Wong has been refused entry to Thailand and put on a plane back to Hong Kong. This story was originally published at 9:10 p.m. Wang Zhan drives three hours out of Beijings smog, past gray-brick towns and yellowed hills to reach a place where he can hear birds. The Baihuashan National Nature Reserve, a rare sanctuary of pine trees and unobstructed views just west of the capital, is one of Chinas more successful attempts to preserve its dwindling natural resources. Signs encourage people to stay on the trails and off the wild mountains. Garbage actually lands in the bin. China has no single agency responsible for managing its overcrowded, haphazard assortment of natural areas, places that are suddenly in demand by a growing middle class looking for refuge from polluted cities. Advertisement For help, Chinese officials are turning to a system born out of similar conservation goals a century ago, an idea once labeled Americas best: its national parks. Wang Zhan and Fan Lei hike in Baihuashan National Nature Preserve in China. (Jessica Meyers / For The Times ) Ive never been to Yellowstone, but I saw it in a film, said Wang, a 36-year-old hairstylist from Beijing who used his day off to go hiking with his wife. He flicked through a series of phone photos from their trek through Baihuashan, depicting a series of cloudless skies and deep valleys that he imagined must be similar to the mountains of Wyoming. We climbed to the top. I think the view is similar. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell underscored the relationship in a visit in July to the reserve, where she established a sister park connection with Shenandoah National Park. Two months later, Chinas National Development and Reform Commission and the U.S. National Park Service signed a formal cooperation agreement. The Paulson Institute, a Chicago-based think tank, also has agreed to assist Chinese officials with a pilot project that spans nine provinces. Our national parks are an important source of shared national pride and cultural identity, Paulson Institute chairman and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said as his organization formalized the partnership in Beijing. He said the center will work with China to help develop a comprehensive and effective system of protected areas. Celebrating the centennial of the U.S. National Parks China has set aside about 18% of its land for protection, compared to nearly 14% in the U.S. Both systems comprise a patchwork of parkland, made up of forests, wetlands and other scenic areas. The U.S. Department of the Interior manages most of Americas vast network in a clear, regulated manner. Chinas thousands of national-level parks have overlapping administrations, inconsistent standards and competing interests. Local officials run Baihuashan, but a hodgepodge of government agencies including the forestry and tourism administrations oversee it. Baihuashan National Nature Reserve, west of Beijing. (Jessica Meyers / For The Times ) Chinas diverse natural areas include such treasures as the multicolored lakes in Sichuan provinces Jiuzhaigou valley, and haunting karst rock formations in Hunans Zhangjiajie. But conservation goals at some parks have lost out to the drive for tourism, a valuable source of income for local governments. Ticket prices can top $30, two days wages for a rural migrant worker. At some locales, hordes trample scenic views, plastic bags drift downstream, and couples scratch their names in 300-year-old-trees. A lot of Chinese parks are not about preservation, theyre about moneymaking, said Guangyu Wang, a forestry expert at the University of British Columbia. National parks in China are like theme parks. Guangyu recalled a recent trip to China, when he tried to see peach blossoms and instead spent four hours staring at cars stuck in traffic. The Ministry of Transportation was expecting 650 million trips on Chinas roads during this weeks National Day holiday, meaning even more packed parking lots and crowded green space. China has struggled with ecotourism. In 2009, a man in Yunnan province hunted and ate the last tiger in a nature preserve. A wetland park in Guangzhou last year installed lightning rods after two tourists were struck by lightning. The latest push comes from the top. President Xi Jinping told top officials in 2013 that the country needed a real national park system, according to state media. Leaders want to project Chinas new image as a climate-conscious global power. And they also recognize wealthier Chinese are exploring the world and desire similar experiences back home. A lot of Chinese parks are not about preservation, theyre about moneymaking. Guangyu Wang, forestry expert at the University of British Columbia About 40% of Chinese who visited the U.S. in 2014 toured at least one national park or monument, according to the National Park Service. Chinas Hainan Airlines announced in February that it would start direct flights from Beijing to Calgary, the jumping-off point for Canadas Banff National Park. Public awareness of nature conservation has increased, and the general public and decision-makers have really changed their philosophy, said Zhu Chunquan, head of the China office for the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Officials also hope increased domestic travel will act as a salve for the slowing economy. Tourism has doubled over the last four years, according to Chinas tourism agency. But Chinese use parks differently than Americans do, and administrators aim to select aspects of the U.S. model rather than simply duplicate it. Baihuashan National Nature Reserve, China. (Jessica Meyers / For the Times ) The U.S. has done a really great job with environmental protection education that we would like to learn, said Su Yang, research fellow at the Development Research Center of the State Council, Chinas chief administrative body. Chinese generally keep their park visits short; few sites even allow camping. And while family trips are becoming more popular, many still opt for cheaper bus tours. Chinese tourists mainly go for one day or a half-day to have a quick look around, not for one or two weeks to walk inside the reserve or to establish a personal relationship with nature, Zhu said. The pilot projects look largely at management and funding, as officials weigh what role the central government should play in running the parks. U.S. national parks are publicly funded and rely only partially on entrance fees. But Chinese sites depend on revenue to sustain themselves, and officials sometimes use the income to cover other local government expenses. Chinese officials also must figure out how to balance the needs of communities that have lived in these regions for generations. The countrys development commission and its forestry administration did not respond to requests for comment. A record 307 million people visited U.S. national parks last year. (The Park Service celebrated its centennial anniversary in late August.) The Chinese government doesnt compile overall visits, and Baihuashan officials said they werent certain about their total number because a different district operates two other entrance gates. Wang Suohong, a 47-year-old who works in the construction industry, spent a recent afternoon with a friend surveying Baihuashan, which means 100-flower mountain. You can see a lot of man-made elements in Chinese parks, but if a tree falls in Yellowstone, they wont [clean] it up, said Wang, who spoke with awe of his trip years ago to the first U.S. national park. Officials plan to assess next steps in their own national park vision after the pilot efforts conclude. What if the government pays the ticket for you and you go outside and see how beautiful our country is? said Deng Zhaoming, a lecturer at Hunan First Normal University, who studies tourism management. To view with confidence the natural beauty and national image, that is what China is lacking, and that is what we need to do. Meyers is a special correspondent. Nicole Liu in the Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. A vast swath of the Chinese public sees the U.S. as a top threat, worse than climate change or Islamic State, according to an independent public opinion survey published Wednesday. The sweeping report, by the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based nonprofit organization, was conducted among 3,154 respondents in China in the spring. It offers rare insight into public opinion in a country where the government heavily restricts the flow of public information. For the record: An earlier version of this article said Chinese President Xi Jinping took office in 2012. He became president in 2013. Chinese citizens see their countrys role in the world expanding, according to the report 75% of respondents believe that China plays a more important role in global affairs than a decade ago. Yet Chinese are warier of foreign influence, with 77% responding that their way of life needs to be protected against foreign influence, up 13% from 2002. Advertisement Just under half of respondents said the U.S. is a major threat, according to the report, marking the highest percentage among the seven potential threats tested on the survey. (The other threats include global economic instability, climate change, cyberattacks and Islamic State.) People take photos of the dawn flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square on National Day in Beijing on Oct. 1. (Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press ) The Chinese think they play a bigger role globally than they did 10 years ago, and theyre pretty happy about that, said Bruce Stokes, director of Global Economic Attitudes at the Pew Research Center and one of the reports authors. And that does reflect an underlying reality, in the sense that its indisputable that China is more important. They could be full of themselves but by the same token, theyre very worried about foreign influence. Theres this combination of self-confidence, and at the same time, real wariness, he continued. I cant explain that, but it seems its something we need to pay attention to because theres an unease there. Since taking office in 2013, President Xi Jinping has cracked down on corruption, stifled dissent and revamped the countrys foreign policy to be more assertive, especially with regard to territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. Many Chinese believe that the U.S. is attempting to contain China in the South China Sea and thwart its emergence as a rival superpower. (About 59% of the Pew survey respondents voiced concern that territorial disputes with neighbors could lead to military conflict.) Xi has also overseen a resurgence of rhetoric that presents hostile foreign forces as a catchall scapegoat for threats to Communist Party rule, both real and imagined. Authorities have used the term to explain the behavior of activist lawyers, a domestic stock market crisis and the Hong Kong protests of 2014. Visitors gather on Beijings Tiananmen Square for National Day on Oct. 1. (Fred Dufour / AFP/Getty Images ) Stokes said that to administer the annual survey in China, Pew contracts a local research firm, which often rejects some questions as politically out of bounds. You cant ask about the government directly, he said. You can ask them about Obama, but you cant ask about Xi. And you dont ask about the Communist Party. The survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews, according to the report. All interviewees were 18 or older, and lived in cities and counties across the country, with the exception of Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Macau. Yet the survey did touch on several domestic issues. Chinese respondents voiced concern about official corruption, air and water pollution, food and pharmaceutical safety, and a yawning wealth gap, which, since the country emerged from communism in the late 1970s, has widened to become one of the worlds worst. Despite a clear economic slowdown Chinas 2015 GDP growth was its slowest in 25 years most Chinese remain optimistic about their economic future and confident that their leaders can take on a range of domestic challenges. Most expect progress on fighting corruption over the next five years; nearly half believe the countrys food safety record will improve. About 8 in 10 believe that when children in the country today grow up they will be financially better off than their parents. The Chinese feel really good about the direction of the country, said Stokes. Concern about unemployment is down a bit from 2008. Concern about rising prices is down from 2008. So you dont see a whole lot in this survey where people are dramatically feeling worse about the economy. Most governments would die for their publics to feel that way. jonathan.kaiman@latimes.com For more news from Asia, follow @JRKaiman on Twitter ALSO International courts ruling in South China Sea case wont end the fight American football is gaining traction in China Chinas self-proclaimed most charismatic philanthropist accused of falsifying millions in donations UPDATES: 7:27 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the studys methodology. This article was originally published at 7 a.m. A Syria monitoring group and a Kurdish news agency say overnight airstrikes, suspected to be Turkish, have hit a village in northern Syria, killing at least 18 civilians. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 19 were killed, including three children, in the attack on the majority Kurdish village of Thulthana, in northern Aleppo province. The village is in an area controlled by Islamic State militants. Advertisement The Hawar news agency in the semiautonomous Kurdish areas in Syria said 18 were killed. It says the attack happened around midnight Tuesday. There was no immediate comment from Ankara. Turkish military launched an offensive inside Syria in August, backing Syrian rebels, to push Islamic State militants from its borders and curb advances of Syrian Kurdish rebels, which it sees as an extension of its own outlawed Kurdish rebels. ALSO 4 ways Brazil has changed since former President Dilma Rousseff was impeached More than half of the worlds 21 million refugees live in these 10 countries After defeat of the FARC peace deal, Colombians wonder whats next Barely a month has passed since Brazils Senate voted overwhelmingly to remove President Dilma Rousseff, putting an end to both 13 years of Workers Party rule and a controversial impeachment process that seemed to drag on and on. Since then, Latin Americas largest country has seen some major and minor shifts. Here are four things to know about the worlds fifth most-populous country. Fractured international relations Advertisement The new government of Michel Temer, the vice president under Rousseff, quickly found that impeachment has led to new diplomatic divisions in Latin America, most forcefully underlined by a dramatic scene at the U.N. General Assembly. Brazil is traditionally a neutral international power, and for much of the 21st century maintained good relations with the Latin American countries moving to the left, as well as its more conservative neighbors and the U.S. Brazilian President Michel Temer addresses the United Nations General Assembly in September. (Richard Drew / Associated Press ) But as Temer took the microphone to speak in New York in September, representatives from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua walked out of the hall, saying they would not listen to an illegitimate leader. There is no precedent for something like this in Brazilian history, said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist at Rio de Janeiro State University. There are major shared economic interests and real benefits for Latin America to remain united, and I didnt think wed see that level of diplomatic conflict. Some international observers have welcomed new Foreign Minister Jose Serras willingness to criticize Venezuela after Rousseffs silence about economic problems largely blamed on the leftist government. But there is more at work behind the new split. Some governments believe that Brazils impeachment sets a dangerous precedent for removing any president whenever other politicians and power brokers choose. Prosecuting Lula For years, extremely popular former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been the most potent political force in Brazil. And since 2014, the corruption probe code-named Car Wash has achieved remarkable success in prosecuting political and business figures, earning broad support from the Brazilian population. But in September, Lula and Car Wash crashed into each other in a strange spectacle that put both of their fates in jeopardy. A judge ruled that Lula can be tried on charges of money laundering and corruption. But while presenting allegations that Lula received approximately $1 million in benefits from a construction company, prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol also made a series of broad accusations without presenting any evidence that Lula was the mastermind of the entire corruption scheme surrounding the state-run Petrobras oil company, the main scandal uncovered by Car Wash. Dallagnols presentation was criticized even by Lulas opponents, and his supporters saw a politically motivated attempt to neutralize Lula as a political force. Especially bizarre was a PowerPoint graphic that strained logic by simply showing a large number of arrows pointing at the name Lula, and the image went viral on Brazilian social networks. Dallagnol made an enormous mistake, said Brian Winter, vice president for policy at Americas Society and Council of the Americas. It might eventually be forgotten if there are other big arrests or revelations. But it certainly reinforced the perception that the probe has become too politicized, and will increase pressure for investigators to conclude their work in coming months. Punishing recession Brazil remains mired in the worst recession in a century, and 2016 will remain a difficult year. But even though Brazilian citizens have repeatedly told pollsters they would prefer new elections as a means of picking a president to finish the remainder of Rousseffs term, many international investors and local business elites have long been united behind the Temer solution to avoid short-term volatility and get the economy back on track. Polling shows that Temer is not a popular president, and its very likely he wont be when his term ends in 2018, said Joao Augusto de Castro Neves, Latin America director at the Eurasia Group, a risk-analysis organization, in Washington. But at the very least, he said, Brazil may have seen the end of political gridlock. Temer just wants to deliver a country slightly better off than when he started, he said. And now there is the perception that next year may be better than this year. Same divisions, different protesters The tumultuous last few years of Brazils political and economic crisis have led to an increasingly divided population. Conflicts remain, but the various sides have switched positions. From the beginning of Rousseffs second term in 2015 until her suspension in May, protesters periodically demanded her removal. They wore Brazils national colors of yellow and green, were broadly conservative and tended to get on exceedingly well with police. Now, the demonstrators demanding the fall of the government tend to come from Brazils traditional left. They often wear red and their slogan heard often during the Rio 2016 Games is Fora Temer, or Out With Temer. Their protests, usually smaller than the anti-Rousseff demonstrations, tend to end in clashes with military police, a traditional enemy of progressives here since the dictatorship, which ended in the 1980s. But Brazils political configurations are much more complex than the U.S. two-party system. There are more than 30 active parties here, and allegiances shift constantly. In Sundays municipal elections, voters punished Rousseffs Workers Party around the country, while some of Temers major allies also struggled, and the country saw record levels of voter abstention. Many of the mayoral races will be decided in a second round in late October. At the federal level, many of Temers new supporters in Brazils Congress where a majority of members themselves face more serious accusations of corruption or serious crimes than Rousseff ever did were actually part of Rousseffs coalition. Overall, however, the government has ditched its left wing and will probably see continued attacks from this direction. Bevins is a special correspondent. ALSO Polish women protest proposal to ban abortions in almost all cases Britains exit from European Union expected by summer 2019 Battle for Mosul could spark one of the largest man-made disasters in years, U.N. warns Hurricane Matthew hurtled toward the United States on Wednesday after battering Cuba with torrential rains and 145 mph winds. No deaths were reported in Cuba, even after a massive storm surge with waves as high as 26 feet toppled apartment buildings and washed out bridges on the islands northern coast. More than 1 million Cubans were evacuated from their homes, according to state-run television channel Cubavision. The hardest hit region was Baracoa, a municipality of 80,000 near the eastern tip of Cuba, whose streets on Wednesday were littered with bricks, mattresses and other muddy debris. High winds and massive waves stripped away rooftops, knocked out power and cut off roads to the city overnight. Advertisement Complete destruction in Baracoa, Cuba from a combination of extreme wind and storm surge. Sad situation here. #HurricaneMatthew pic.twitter.com/JgUtW0vGjf Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) October 5, 2016 A major bridge used to access the region was washed out, and several coastal highways were blocked by boulders thrust ashore by the tempestuous sea. For all the destruction, there could have been much more. Forecasters thought the hurricane might hit Santiago de Cuba, the islands second-biggest city. But it changed course, traveling up Cubas sparsely populated eastern coast and sidestepping major population centers. Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where the storm hit Monday night, were not so lucky. The Category 4 hurricane, deemed the most powerful Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, killed at least five people in Haiti and four more in neighboring Dominican Republic. There also were reports of one person killed in Colombia and another on the island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A NASA satellite captured the scope and strength of Hurricane Matthew just south of Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Oct. 2, 2016. At that time, Matthew had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph making it a strong category 4 hurricane. (NASAs Scien With schools, roads and bridges destroyed and at least 10,000 people displaced from their homes in the islands south, Haiti is facing the largest humanitarian event witnessed since the earthquake six years ago, said United Nations official Mourad Wahba. Many in Haiti have been living in tents and other makeshift shelters since the earthquake in 2010. The country has been in political crisis and without an elected president since 2015, when the last round of elections were declared fraudulent by several front-runners. Haiti was planning to hold a new presidential election Sunday. But with schools and other polling places being used as emergency shelters, Haitis government decided to postpone the vote. The U.S. government said it has sent experts to Haiti to assess the damage and will provide $1.5 million in food and disaster assistance. A team of about 200 U.S. military personnel and nine helicopters have been sent to Haiti to support disaster relief operations at the request of the Haitian government, said Adm. Kurt Tidd, commander at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the Caribbean and Central and South America. After pummeling Haiti and Cuba, the hurricane was headed for the Bahamas on Wednesday, where residents and tourists in the capital of Nassau were taking cover. Officials in the U.S. urged millions of people to evacuate the southeastern coast of the country and said the hurricane threatened to hit as soon as Thursday. It youre able to go early, leave now, Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned coastal residents in his state. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley also gave evacuation orders for several coastal counties. Meteorologists said the storm could hit Florida late Thursday and leave a path of destruction up the East Coast over the weekend. President Obama urged residents of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to prepare to evacuate even if they dont expect it to be necessary, calling Matthew a serious storm as he met with officials at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington on Wednesday. If there is an evacuation order in your community, you need to take it seriously, Obama told reporters after meeting with officials at FEMA. Even if you dont get the full force of the hurricane, we are still going to be seeing tropical force winds, the potential for a storm surge, and all of that could have a devastating effect. This is something to take seriously, Obama added. We hope for the best, but we want to prepare for the worst. He also called on Americans to consider offering help and contributions for those hard hit by the storm already. In Cuba, government officials credited widespread evacuations before the storm with saving lives. The country developed a sophisticated hurricane response system in the wake of Hurricane Flora, a 1963 storm that killed 1,750 people on the island. The system includes standing evacuation plans for every household and frequent drills. When a big storm like Matthew approaches, people whose homes are at risk are evacuated to shelters, while others move in with friends or neighbors who live in safer structures. Times staff writer Linthicum reported from Mexico City and special correspondent Lopez reported from Havana. Christi Parsons and W.J. Hennigan contributed to this report from Washington, D.C. kate.linthicum@latimes.com ALSO Hurricane Matthew pummels Haiti and Cuba on route toward U.S. Canadian government says it will implement a nationwide carbon tax by 2018 Colombian voters reject peace deal between the government and FARC rebels UPDATES: 4 p.m.: This article was updated with information about the U.S. support for the relief effort in Haiti. 1:30 p.m.: This article was updated with new details throughout. 10:50 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the damage in Cuba. 10:20 a.m.: This article was updated with remarks from President Obama. This article was originally published at 9:40 a.m. In a blunt rebuke, the State Department on Wednesday accused Israel of planning to establish a new Jewish settlement deep in the West Bank, saying the move would further harm chances for a two-state solution for peace with Palestinians. The statement by Mark Toner, State Department spokesman, came a week after a committee in Israels Defense Ministry decided to promote a plan for 98 new homes in what the committee described as a new neighborhood in the existing settlement of Shiloh. The Israeli settlement watchdog group Peace Now warned over the weekend that the building plan could eventually include 300 units. Advertisement The State Department said that redrawing of local settlement boundaries does not change the fact that this approval contradicts previous public statements by the government of Israel that it had no intention of creating new settlements. And this settlements location deep in the West Bank, far closer to Jordan than Israel, would link a string of outposts that effectively divide the West Bank and make the possibility of a viable Palestinian state more remote. In a response released Wednesday night, Israels Foreign Ministry denied the new housing constitutes a new settlement. This housing will be built on state land in the existing settlement of Shiloh and will not change its municipal boundary or geographic footprint, the statement said. The ministry said the new housing would provide a solution to facilitate the relocation of residents of Amona, a hilltop outpost elsewhere in the West Bank that Israels Supreme Court has said must be demolished. Toner criticized Israel for approving the new housing just weeks after the allies reached a new multibillion-dollar 10-year agreement on military aid, and as world leaders paid tribute to former Israeli President Shimon Peres, who died last week, for his efforts to reach a peace deal with Palestinians. The right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticized by the international community over its settlement policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, particularly for efforts to retroactively legalize dozens of unauthorized hilltop outposts. A statement cosigned by Yoav Kish, a pro-settler legislator from Netanyahus Likud Party, said the State Department statement marked a black stain on the White House and said the Obama administration should respect the democratic decision of the Israeli public and its sovereign government. In recent months, the Israeli government has been searching for a way to sidestep a court ruling to demolish Amona, an outpost with dozens of homes built illegally on Palestinian property, by the end of December. Israel has considered a bill to retroactively legalize Amona and relocate the outpost to plots of land owned by Palestinian who do not live in the West Bank. Hagit Ofran, a spokeswoman for Peace Now, said the new housing plan was meant to mollify the governments pro-settler constituency and allow authorities to comply with the court order and avert a clash when evacuating Amona. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement Tuesday that the decision was the latest evidence of Israels resolve to destroy the two-state solution. Day by day the right-wing extremist Israeli governments real intentions are unraveled by Israels lack of respect for international law. Mitnick is a special correspondent. The White House is aware of the reports about Russias decision to suspend the Russian-US agreement on cooperation in nuclear- and energy-related R&D work, White House spokesperson Mark Stroh told on Wednesday, Sputnik International. Earlier in the day, the Russian government announced in a directive that Moscow suspends the agreement on nuclear and energy cooperation. We have seen these reports, Stroh stated when asked to comment on the suspension. According to the directive, an agreement between Russia's Rosatom nuclear corporation and the US Department of Energy on studying the feasibility of converting six Russian scientific reactors to low-enriched uranium fuel has been terminated as part of the suspension. The directive said actions taken by the United States related to the introduction of sanctions against Russia in connection with the events in Ukraine have directly affected the areas of cooperation under the agreement. All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. Hurricane Matthew caused extreme damage hitting Haiti with 175 miles per hour together with dangerous flooding. Reports state that there are at least 9 dead due to the storm which might bring landslides and flooding. The storm could hit Southeastern US as per The Telegraph. With a rainfall up to 15 to 25 inches, the storm was powerful and slow moving. South western Haiti experience more than 1 meter of rainfall in some mountain areas. According to EN.IR.-Q many of Haiti's 11 million people live in flimsy homes. After the massive earthquakes in 2010 thousands remain in tents and other temporary housing. Haiti was destroyed twice by Hurricanes in the 18th century. It is stated that the Haitian port town Les Cayes was hit hard by hurricane Matthew. It appears that rains of 20 to 40 meters are expected; Dennis Feltgen a meteorologist from the US Hurricane Centre stated that the conditions were extremely dangerous. Residents have been urged to evacuate before the storm's arrival. The situation in Les Cayes is shattering as the city is flooded with trees lying in all around the place making it difficult to even move. The wind has created a huge damage destroying many houses. The poorest country on the continent faces a massive damage from the storm. Communications are out across all over Haiti. The main bridge to cross has become impossible because the river is swollen due to the floods. There could be more casualties as there are still areas that need to be identified by the storm's damage. Precautions have been taken and desperate measures to rescue civilians, but the people of Haiti have no other option than moving out in advance before the arrival of the storm. By the late afternoon the Hurricane had hit the eastern tip on Cuba and is possible to head towards Florida later this week. Antonio Guterres, the former Portuguese prime minister, will be the next UN secretary general, after the security council agreed he should replace Ban Ki-moon at the beginning of next year, The Guardian reported. In a rare show of unity, all 15 ambassadors from the security council emerged from the sixth in a series of straw polls to announce that they had agreed on Guterres, who was UN high commissioner for refugees for a decade, and that they would confirm the choice in a formal vote on Thursday. Today after our sixth straw poll we have a clear favourite and his name is Antonio Guterres, the Russian UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters with his 14 council colleagues standing behind him. We have decided to go to a formal vote tomorrow morning at 10 oclock, and we hope it can be done by acclamation. The abrupt end to the UN leadership race came as a surprise. Many observers had expected the selection process to go on late into October as the major powers struggled to promote their favourite candidates. And some thought that Russia, currently holding the presidency of the security council, would block Guterres, as Moscow had said it wanted an eastern European in the top UN job. I think in the end, the Russians wanted the decision to come during their presidency and to have all the security council come out and stand together at a time of so much deep division on other issues, said a security council diplomat. Guterress margin of victory was decisive. He won 13 votes in his support and two abstentions, with no one voting against him. The second-place candidate, the Slovak Miroslav Lajcak, had seven votes in support and six against him two of them vetoes from permanent council members. Two soldiers were martyred and three others wounded in a rocket attack in southeastern Turkey on Tuesday, a local official said, Anadolu reported. In a statement, the Diyarbakir governor's office said PKK terrorists targeted a military base near the village of Abali, around 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of the town of Lice. Soldiers returned fire and two died while three were injured in the exchange. They were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. One more succumbed to wounds at the hospital. A search operation supported by aircraft was launched following the attack. Lice district has seen a number of terror attacks since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the state in July 2015. The latest saw a soldier martyred Saturday. During the last 14 months, PKK terrorist attacks have martyred more than 600 security personnel and also claimed the lives of numerous civilians, including women and children, while more than 7,000 PKK terrorists have been killed in army operations. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed in a phone call on Wednesday the Syrian crisis and the prospects of improving Russia-Turkey ties, the Kremlin press service said. According to the statement, Putin and Erdogan also confirmed their upcoming meeting at the World Energy Congress in Istanbul, and reaffirmed mutual desire to restore bilateral economic ties as well as to implement the Turkish Stream and the Akkuyu NPP construction projects. "The sides emphasized the need to step up international efforts aimed at facilitating peaceful political process in Syria, as well as creating favorable conditionsfor resolving urgent humanitarian issues in the country," the press service said in a statement. UPDATE: 17-year-old identified as deadly shooting victim Authorities in Allentown were investigating a double shooting Tuesday night that left one person dead, according to city police. It was reported about 9 p.m. at North Ninth and West Liberty streets in the city, police Assistant Chief Gail Struss said. No one was immediately reported to be in custody. One person, a male, was found dead and a female who had also been shot was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, authorities said. The investigation was continuing, and authorities were not immediately labeling the death a homicide. That determination was up to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. Struss said she did not immediately have a condition update for the female victim. Police ask anyone with information that may aid the investigation to call detectives at 610-437-7721. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A 17-year-old Allentown boy was killed in a Tuesday night shooting in the city that wounded one other person, the Lehigh County coroner said. Johnny Lopez, of the 1300 block of West Turner Street, was shot in his car a little before 9 p.m. in the 400 block of North Ninth Street, near Liberty Street, the coroner's office said. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning, but the coroner ruled the cause of death a gunshot wound to the body and the manner of death as homicide. Allentown police said a female was also shot and was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township. Assistant Chief Gail Struss said police do not have anyone in custody in connection with the shootings, and did not have additional information to release Wednesday morning. Lopez was a student at William Allen High School, and the Allentown School District was providing crisis counselors Wednesday morning, spokeswoman Kim Golden Benner said. Police ask anyone with information that may aid the investigation to call detectives at 610-437-7721. The shootings are being investigated by Allentown police, the county coroner's office and the Lehigh County homicide task force. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Two men were caught with $580,000 worth of heroin Tuesday in Allentown, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office. Angel Roa, 32, and Hugo Lopez, 32, were arrested after the raid at a city furniture store revealed about 6.5 pounds of the drug, prosecutors said. Roa, of the 400 block of North 10th Street in Allentown, is charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, conspiracy and corrupt organizations. Lopez, of Arizona, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, as well as conspiracy and corrupt organizations. The men were sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $350,000 bail each. Agents learned Roa and another individual, later identified as Lopez, planned to meet at 10th and Tilghman streets in Allentown to exchange the drug, according to prosecutors. Investigators saw Roa and Lopez enter a furniture business in the 400 block of North 10th Street. Lopez was carrying a large black bag, prosecutors said. Agents raided the store and found four shrink-wrapped cylinders labeled "R" in ink, and inside each cylinder was approximately 1.5 pounds of heroin. Agents also found a .40-caliber handgun during the search, officials said. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is returned by consumers on Sept. 15 after the Consumer Safety Commission announced a safety recall on the new smartphone due to the device catching fire. (Photo : Getty Images/George Frey) South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co was criticized by a broadcaster of China's CCTV has for alleged "discrimination" against Chinese consumers in the handling of the global recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to replace batteries, according to an article by technologynewschina.com. Advertisement A commentary posted on CCTV's website on Thursday, Sept. 29, the network said that the South Korean company's behavior in China was "full of arrogance," after 2.5 million phones were recalled on Sept.2. According to CCTV, Samsung issued a video apology to U.S. consumers, including replacement options and compensation, while Chinese consumers were issued a short statement which said that most of the phones did not have to be replaced. "Samsung's discriminatory policy has caused discontent from Chinese consumers," CCTV claimed. Samsung China did not respond or comment on the CCTV criticism. For Samsung, the criticism may disrupt its attempt to strengthen its position in China, the world's largest smartphone market. Samsung was once the top mobile phone seller in the country but in 2015, it dropped out of the top five as local brands such as Xiaomi, Huawei and Oppo grew. In recent years, the country's influential broadcaster has lambasted several popular global consumer brands, from German automaker Volkswagen to Samsung rival Apple Inc, which drove them to strive to strengthen their image. Earlier in September, Samsung China held a meeting with the country's quality safety watchdog, after which it issued a brief statement, saying that 1,858 Note 7 devices sold in the country would be recalled and it was only part of a test scheme before the official launch. According to Samsung, most Note 7s sold in China are not part of the 2.5 million phones covered by the global recall as announced on Sept. 2 and their batteries came from a different supplier. Samsung China however released a statement on Thursday, Sept. 29, apologizing to Chinese consumers for "lack of sufficient explanation" after some Note 7s in the mainland have reportedly caught fire. China's Xiamen Airlines Opens First Direct Route to US, Hopes for More Flights in the Future A Boeing 737 of Xiamen Airlines is parked at Dalian Airport. (Photo : Getty Images) Xiamen Airlines, a subsidiary of state-backed China Southern Airlines, has inaugurated its first direct U.S. route with the opening of the Seattle-Shenzhen flight on Monday, Oct. 3, CNBC reported. Advertisement "Shenzhen is known as the 'Silicon Valley' of China, and this new destination will be a tremendous opportunity for both business and leisure travelers to experience our shared values," Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman said during a ceremony welcoming the first Xiamen flight at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Xiamen's arrival will help strengthen the region's status as a business and tourism hub, Felleman added. Xiamen, a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, has more than 140 Boeing aircraft and 30 more on order. It is also one of China's largest carriers. The latest move by Xiamen, which is China's only airline with an all-Boeing fleet, came at a time when tourism and business activity between U.S. and China is growing at a fast pace. A recent study by Boyd Group International predicted that annual U.S. arrivals from China will more than double, from 2.4 million in 2015 to over 6.5 million in 2020. The report added that in that period, more than 23 million Chinese will visit the U.S. Shenzhen is the country's first economic zone and home to some of China's biggest tech firms such as telecom equipment maker Huawei, Internet tech firm Tencent Holdings and other companies that operate in the Pacific Northwest. According to the report, only carriers like Delta Air Lines or Hainan Airlines serve the flights from Seattle to Chinese cities such as Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai before Xiamen's new Shenzhen service. Kazue Ishiwata, airline service development director for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, said that Xiamen's Seattle-Shenzhen new route stands out partly because it was the first time that the two high-tech cities are linked by a direct route. "Xiamen is not the biggest airline in China. There's Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Hainan already in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities," Ishiwata said. "So it benefits a new entry carrier to begin service in a city where there aren't other airlines to compete with on the route." A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, with four first class seats, 28 business class seats and 236 economy class seats, will fly three times a week in the new route between Seattle and Shenzhen. The airline will offer complimentary WiFi for first and business class customers, the report said. But aside from Seattle, Xiamen has also opened its North American flight between Vancouver and Xiamen in July, while its long-haul service between JFK International Airport and Fuzhou (FOC) will begin on Feb. 15, 2017. The route between Xiamen and Los Angeles will begin in mid-2017, which is part of the airline's strategy to gain advantage in China. The hospital group responsible for running Portlaoise hospital has confirmed that Tullamore hospital could be home to a single maternity unit for the midlands but that there is no plan to move in that direction at this stage. The group issued a statement following the publication by the Leinster Express of the contents of a letter from the group's chief executive Dr Susan O'Reilly in which the idea was floated. The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, in common with other Hospital Groups across Ireland, has been engaging with the HSE in respect of a national review into the provision of 24/7 anaesthetic cover in hospitals with co-located maternity units, such as that under development between the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise and the Coombe Hospital. This review is being led Dr. Colm Henry, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Hospitals Division, HSE. On 27 September last, as part of this review Dr. Susan OReilly CEO of the DMHG responded to an earlier letter from Dr. Henry in which he set out a number of possible options which could be implemented across smaller co-located maternity units, to ensure that optimum aesthetic cover for maternity services is maintained for all patients utilising such services. In this letter, Dr. OReillys reasserts that the policy of the DMHG is to complete the ongoing roll-out of the maternity network currently being developed between MRHP and the Coombe Hospital. This commitment remains unchanged. The letter also refers to the potential for the possible establishment of a single maternity unity at the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore which could incorporate a number of smaller existing maternity units in the region. While such a unit might provide a long-term solution to providing maternity services in the wider Midlands Region, it is but one possible solution. However, there are no plans to develop same. Our focus, as first set-out in 2015, is on developing existing maternity services at Portlaoise on an integrated basis with the Coombe Hospital, concluded the group. If the Tullamore option was progressed it would likely have big implications for hospitals in Mullingar and possible Ballinasloel Laois TD and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, addressed the Seanad today on Brexit, outlining the Governments approach to defending and protecting Irelands strategic interests. The Minister dismissed calls a Brexit Minister, outlining the Governments approach. He stated: I might take this opportunity to address calls by some in the Opposition for a Minister for Brexit. My own view, informed by my deep engagement in EU matters, is that it would be a mistake to appoint a Brexit Minister. Why? Well in the first instance, Ireland and the EU are so integrated - and our relationship with the UK is such - that each and every Department is impacted and we need each and every department to engage with Brexit and mitigating its effects. Add to that the fact that at political level, it is the European Council, of which the Taoiseach is a member, who will set the political direction of the negotiations. In turn the Taoiseach chairs the Cabinet Committee on Brexit which oversees the government response, coordinating the work right across government. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I will be working closely with the Taoiseach and with all of my ministerial colleagues. My Department has a unique role coordinating our response to Brexit. As you know, my Department is works closely right across government at all times in all policy areas with an international or North-South dimension. And, of course, the 80 strong mission network under my Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a crucial role to play both within the EU in respect of our EU strategy and outside the EU in terms of our wider trade and other bilateral interests. In this respect the missions in key capitals including but not limited to Brussels and London will be important players. The Minister described some of the work underway at EU level and Michel Barniers forthcoming visit to Dublin. I wish to update you also on some of the activity taking place at EU level where the Institutions are also taking practical steps to deal with the challenges ahead. The EU Council Secretariat has established a Brexit Task Force led by Didier Seeuws, a former Chief of Staff to the previous European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy. The European Commission has appointed Michel Barnier, a former French Minister and former EU Commissioner, as its chief Brexit negotiator. And former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has been named as the lead Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament. I expect Mr. Barnier to be in Dublin in the near future and I look forward to engaging with him. Noting the radical Cabinet changes in the UK, Minister Flanagan stated: In the UK, we have a new Prime Minister who the Taoiseach has met formally and who I have met informally, and a radical Cabinet shake-up with a number of new ministries. Ive already had discussions with Foreign Secretary Johnson and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU as well as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire. We share a common desire to protect the invisible border, the Common Travel Area and the strong bilateral trade relationship and we are now faced with the challenging task of ensuring those goals can be achieved in the context of the future relationship between the UK and the European Union. Later in his speech, he addressed recent comments by the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May: So, where exactly are we now? Recent days have brought greater clarity on the timelines we will be working to. It is positive that there is no longer any uncertainty about the date by which Article 50 will be invoked the end of March 2017 - thereby setting the negotiating process in train. This was in line with our expectations and our extensive contacts with UK and other EU partners. The united EU position remains that there can be no negotiations before the notification under Article 50 is made. We adhere to that approach, but it does not mean that we cannot have exploratory discussions on the important bilateral issues which will need to be sorted out. This would mean that the UK could depart the Union in spring 2019. However, it remains to be seen how, and within what timeframe, the linked negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK will be taken forward. From Irelands perspective, we would like this relationship to be strong and positive. I believe that is a goal to which we all, in the European Union and in the UK, should be committed. However, the Prime Ministers comments indicate that the UK will not seek a so-called soft Brexit under which it would seek a relationship with the EU similar to that of Norway or Switzerland. This would not be compatible with controls on the free movement of people, which appears to be a cornerstone of her position and runs contrary to the EUs insistence on the indivisibility of the four freedoms which underlie the Single Market. I appreciate the factors underpinning the Prime Ministers approach, though clearly it is not what we would have ideally wished to see and will pose challenges all round. That said, the rather general concept of hard Brexit allows for a range of possible outcomes on key issues and these will have to be teased out in detail, first by the UK itself and then in the negotiating process. We will work actively to ensure the best possible outcome for Ireland and the EU as a whole, and in particular to ensure, as I said earlier, that our very particular concerns are safeguarded to the greatest possible extent. Minister Flanagan outlined plans for an all-island Civic Dialogue, agreed by Cabinet yesterday (Tuesday): Having spoken of our economy and of Northern Ireland, I am acutely conscious that there is a need for the widest possible conversation on the implications of the referendum result for Ireland, North and South and for North/South relations. There are many organisations and individuals across the island of Ireland who must be given a real opportunity to make their voice heard. This is in everyones interest. I am pleased that yesterday the Government approved a proposal that the Taoiseach and convene an all-island Civic Dialogue on Brexit. This event will provide an opportunity to hear the voices of the people affected by the vote, both directly and through their representative groups. It will also provide an opportunity to map the challenges presented by Brexit and how they might impact on different elements of society and the economy on an all-island basis. The main output will be a report and recommendations which will be used to help inform the Government's position on issues related to the UKs exit negotiations. Preparations for an all-day Conference in Dublin on 2 November are now underway and invitations will soon be extended to a broad range of civic society groups, trade unions, business groups and non-governmental organisations as well as representatives of the main political parties on the island. Minister Flanagan outlined his approach as Trade Minister: Coming into office I inherited the Export Trade Council which draws together all senior government ministers with an economic focus, the heads of the State agencies involved in promoting trade, tourism, investment and education abroad with the support of the Embassy network, and members drawn from the private sector. The ETC is a valuable forum. In the run up to the referendum it facilitated useful discussions between Government, our State Agencies and the private sector. That dialogue continues. We are also looking, in conjunction with IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland among others, at potential opportunities for Ireland arising from Brexit. We are all acutely conscious of the importance of the UK market to Irish exporters. I intend to intensify our focus on other markets, near and far. I believe we have the capacity for much greater market penetration in other EU member states and I am focussed on that. But we are also looking beyond Europes borders. For example, the next ETC meeting will focus on Asia-Pacific. Im just back from the UN General Assembly where I had a series of bilateral meetings with countries from the Americas, Asia and the Antipodes. I gave the strong message that Ireland will remain at the heart of Europe; we will continue to be an English speaking gateway to a market of 500 million people; we will continue to offer a business friendly environment and a talented and adaptable workforce. I undertook a similar set of meetings at the Asia-Europe Summit in Mongolia in July. I take every opportunity to promote Ireland as a country to invest in and to trade with and I intend to carry out a series of trade engagements within the EU, in the Gulf, and further afield in Asia in the weeks ahead. In January this year, I launched an Economic Diplomacy Strategy that seeks to build on the consolidation of the Departments trade role in recent years by establishing a network of locally hired Commercial Attaches to extend the range and impact of our Embassies activities in support of trade. In the coming months Commercial Attaches will be appointed in Mexico, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Bucharest, and Jakarta these are locations where economic opportunities exist to be explored and where either there is no State agency presence on the ground, or a relatively light one. Ends Full text of Speech - Check Against Delivery Cathaoirleach, I am delighted to be back in the Upper House today to engage with Senators on what is, undoubtedly, the highest priority and biggest challenge on my desk as Minister addressing the implications of Brexit. Cabinet has been discussing Brexit on an almost weekly basis since plans for a referendum were first announced. Yesterday, the Taoiseach and I presented a Memorandum to colleagues and a series of actions were agreed - we released a detailed statement following the meeting which I hope you have all had a chance to read. I wish to thank Senators for their ongoing engagement in the national debate now underway and I look forward to hearing your contributions today. First, I will provide an update on activity in government. You are all well aware of the Governments priorities on Brexit in relation to the economy, Northern Ireland, the Common Travel Area, and the EU itself. There has been a huge amount of activity underway in Government some of it very public, for example the Taoiseachs meetings with Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande, Prime Minister May and President Tusk..and my own bilateral meetings with EU colleagues, some of whom visited Dublin, including Minister Gentiloni, Davis, Brokenshire and Koenders. But, behind the scenes, I have, in fact, had talks with all of my EU colleagues. In these discussions I have set out clearly the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland. Most of them are familiar with the success of the Irish Peace Process and all of them agree the gains of peace must be protected. In this context, I have also, of course, engaged with all of Northern Irelands political leaders. In Departments, Missions and Agencies at home and abroad, our officials and diplomats are extremely busy analysing, planning, engaging with counterparts and stakeholders - supporting the work of the Taoiseach and Ministers. There has been considerable restructuring, particularly in the Departments of An Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade. My own Departments EU policy function is being significantly strengthened and it will work alongside our Ireland, UK and Americas Division. The Department of the Taoiseach continues its cross-government work and in particular supports the Taoiseach in his work on all dimensions of Brexit. I might take this opportunity to address calls by some in the Opposition for a Minister for Brexit. My own view, informed by my deep engagement in EU matters, is that it would be a mistake to appoint a Brexit Minister. Why? Well in the first instance, Ireland and the EU are so integrated - and our relationship with the UK is such - that each and every Department is impacted and we need each and every department to engage with Brexit and mitigating its effects. Add to that the fact that at political level, it is the European Council, of which the Taoiseach is a member, who will set the political direction of the negotiations. In turn the Taoiseach chairs the Cabinet Committee on Brexit which oversees the government response, coordinating the work right across government. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I will be working closely with the Taoiseach and with all of my ministerial colleagues. My Department has a unique role coordinating our response to Brexit. As you know, my Department is works closely right across government at all times in all policy areas with an international or North-South dimension. And, of course, the 80 strong mission network under my Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a crucial role to play both within the EU in respect of our EU strategy and outside the EU in terms of our wider trade and other bilateral interests. In this respect the missions in key capitals including but not limited to Brussels and London will be important players. I wish to update you also on some of the activity taking place at EU level where the Institutions are also taking practical steps to deal with the challenges ahead. The EU Council Secretariat has established a Brexit Task Force led by Didier Seeuws, a former Chief of Staff to the previous European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy. The European Commission has appointed Michel Barnier, a former French Minister and former EU Commissioner, as its chief Brexit negotiator. And former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has been named as the lead Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament. I expect Mr. Barnier to be in Dublin in the near future and I look forward to engaging with him. In the UK, we have a new Prime Minister who the Taoiseach has met formally and who I have met informally, and a radical Cabinet shake-up with a number of new ministries. Ive already had discussions with Foreign Secretary Johnson and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU as well as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire. We share a common desire to protect the invisible border, the Common Travel Area and the strong bilateral trade relationship and we are now faced with the challenging task of ensuring those goals can be achieved in the context of the future relationship between the UK and the European Union. I would like to now outline in more detail our approach to our key priorities, namely: the economy and trade, Northern Ireland, the Common Travel Area, and the EU itself. In the run up to the referendum, the Government engaged in extensive contingency planning, and we continue to update and develop our analyses as circumstances change and evolve. The economy is naturally an area of core concern, and the market volatility weve seen since the referendum in particular in the currency markets was unwelcome if, regrettably, not unexpected. Let me summarise the key elements of the Government and state institutions response to the economic aspect of Brexit. First, I will address matters with my Trade Minister hat on. Coming into office I inherited the Export Trade Council which draws together all senior government ministers with an economic focus, the heads of the State agencies involved in promoting trade, tourism, investment and education abroad with the support of the Embassy network, and members drawn from the private sector. The ETC is a valuable forum. In the run up to the referendum it facilitated useful discussions between Government, our State Agencies and the private sector. That dialogue continues. We are also looking, in conjunction with IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland among others, at potential opportunities for Ireland arising from Brexit. We are all acutely conscious of the importance of the UK market to Irish exporters. I intend to intensify our focus on other markets, near and far. I believe we have the capacity for much greater market penetration in other EU member states and I am focussed on that. But we are also looking beyond Europes borders. For example, the next ETC meeting will focus on Asia-Pacific. Im just back from the UN General Assembly where I had a series of bilateral meetings with countries from the Americas, Asia and the Antipodes. I gave the strong message that Ireland will remain at the heart of Europe; we will continue to be an English speaking gateway to a market of 500 million people; we will continue to offer a business friendly environment and a talented and adaptable workforce. I undertook a similar set of meetings at the Asia-Europe Summit in Mongolia in July. I take every opportunity to promote Ireland as a country to invest in and to trade with and I intend to carry out a series of trade engagements within the EU, in the Gulf, and further afield in Asia in the weeks ahead. In January this year, I launched an Economic Diplomacy Strategy that seeks to build on the consolidation of the Departments trade role in recent years by establishing a network of locally hired Commercial Attaches to extend the range and impact of our Embassies activities in support of trade. In the coming months Commercial Attaches will be appointed in Mexico, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Bucharest, and Jakarta these are locations where economic opportunities exist to be explored and where either there is no State agency presence on the ground, or a relatively light one. I will continue to work assiduously to promote Irelands trade interests. In reference to next weeks Budget - clearly, Brexit looms large and my colleagues, Minister Noonan and Minister Donohoe, will be ensuring that the Budget is Brexit proofed. Moving on to Northern Ireland: Obviously, a key concern - for us all, and, in particular, for me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade - is the potential impact of a UK exit for Northern Ireland and for the Peace Process. Overall, we will be working for special arrangements which take account of Northern Irelands unique circumstances. Our priorities in this area are to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the overall balance of the settlement is not in any way disturbed by the UKs exit from the European Union and of course to maintain the open, and effectively invisible border. The wider economic impacts for the all-island economy are of course also a concern as is the potential consequences for EU support under the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. Last week I discussed the implications of Brexit for the Agreement and the Peace Process with the Members of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. There was I believe a shared sense that there are no guaranteed solutions to any of the issues arising for Northern Ireland. The Government and the British Government have reaffirmed that Good Friday Agreement is the indispensable foundation for all engagement on Northern Ireland. This provides much needed reassurance for people and the political system in the North but I am under no illusions about the hard work needed to deliver it. As the Taoiseach and I have made clear, as a co-guarantor of the Agreement, the Government is determined that its institutions, values and principles be fully protected, throughout and at the end of the UKs negotiation of its new relationship with the EU. As an institution of the Agreement, the North South Ministerial Council has a very important role in preparing for and seeking to mitigate cross-border implications of a UK exit. Protecting EU funding, sustaining the economy and trade and maintaining the Common Travel Area are priority areas where the NSMC Plenary agreed in July that we need to work together. It was also agreed that a full audit would be undertaken in all sectors of co-operation to identify the possible impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies arising in the phases preceding and following the UKs withdrawal from the EU. This work commenced immediately and is progressing across all of the North South cooperation sectors. The next NSMC Plenary meeting on 18 November will provide an important opportunity to build on the discussions between Ministers within the NSMC sectors and to explore further the agreed key priorities for both the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive in dealing with the UKs exit from the European Union. Having spoken of our economy and of Northern Ireland, I am acutely conscious that there is a need for the widest possible conversation on the implications of the referendum result for Ireland, North and South and for North/South relations. There are many organisations and individuals across the island of Ireland who must be given a real opportunity to make their voice heard. This is in everyones interest. I am pleased that yesterday the Government approved a proposal that the Taoiseach and convene an all-island Civic Dialogue on Brexit. This event will provide an opportunity to hear the voices of the people affected by the vote, both directly and through their representative groups. It will also provide an opportunity to map the challenges presented by Brexit and how they might impact on different elements of society and the economy on an all-island basis. The main output will be a report and recommendations which will be used to help inform the Government's position on issues related to the UKs exit negotiations. Preparations for an all-day Conference in Dublin on 2 November are now underway and invitations will soon be extended to a broad range of civic society groups, trade unions, business groups and non-governmental organisations as well as representatives of the main political parties on the island. Let me now turn to the developments which have been taking place in Europe. There has been a lot of discussion and rightly so at EU level about the lessons that our can be drawn from the referendum result. In that regard, I think it is particularly welcome that the Taoiseach and the other 26 leaders began an earnest process of reflection in Bratislava in mid-September. We are all aware that these developments come at a time when we in Europe are struggling with many critical issues, in terms of jobs, prosperity, migration and security both internal and external. But I am confident that the EU and Ireland will rise to this challenge. I should emphasise one very important point here: although much has been changed by the result of the UK referendum, one thing has stayed constant, and that is that Ireland remains absolutely committed to EU membership. Public support here for Europe and for EU membership remains consistently high. So, where exactly are we now? Recent days have brought greater clarity on the timelines we will be working to. It is positive that there is no longer any uncertainty about the date by which Article 50 will be invoked the end of March 2017 - thereby setting the negotiating process in train. This was in line with our expectations and our extensive contacts with UK and other EU partners. The united EU position remains that there can be no negotiations before the notification under Article 50 is made. We adhere to that approach, but it does not mean that we cannot have exploratory discussions on the important bilateral issues which will need to be sorted out. This would mean that the UK could depart the Union in spring 2019. However, it remains to be seen how, and within what timeframe, the linked negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK will be taken forward. From Irelands perspective, we would like this relationship to be strong and positive. I believe that is a goal to which we all, in the European Union and in the UK, should be committed. However, the Prime Ministers comments indicate that the UK will not seek a so-called soft Brexit under which it would seek a relationship with the EU similar to that of Norway or Switzerland. This would not be compatible with controls on the free movement of people, which appears to be a cornerstone of her position and runs contrary to the EUs insistence on the indivisibility of the four freedoms which underlie the Single Market. I appreciate the factors underpinning the Prime Ministers approach, though clearly it is not what we would have ideally wished to see and will pose challenges all round. That said, the rather general concept of hard Brexit allows for a range of possible outcomes on key issues and these will have to be teased out in detail, first by the UK itself and then in the negotiating process. We will work actively to ensure the best possible outcome for Ireland and the EU as a whole, and in particular to ensure, as I said earlier, that our very particular concerns are safeguarded to the greatest possible extent. Finally, Cathaoirleach, may I say that that the enormity of Brexit combined with the question marks over how the UK will approach negotiations and where the landing zone will ultimately be, has given rise to a great deal of comment and speculation. For our part, we are knuckling down and doing all that we can do to ensure that Ireland defends and protects its strategic interests in the time ahead. Having given an overview of where the Government currently stands, I now look forward to hearing the perspective and analysis of the members of this House this afternoon. Old soldiers never die; they just fade away. Or so said US Army General Douglas McArthur. And so it is that every year former members of the Defence Forces, who entered as apprentices and left with a trade, regroup in Naas. The Army Apprentice School existed for 32 years on the outskirts of the town roughly where Aras Chill Dara is now situated. Each group of apprentices was known as a platoon and the No 11 Platoon celebrated their arrival at the School 50 years ago. Three years later, in 1969, they left for various units of the Army, Air Corps and Na val Service. They reunited at the Osprey Hotel this month to celebrate the 50th anniversatry and they included County Kilkenny native Piery Holden, who lives at Sarto Park, Naas. There were 48 apprentices in the class. All all but one qualified and more than half of them attended the reunion event, which included a function in Lawlors Hotel and a visit to the site of the barracks. Another Naas resident Joe Evans from Tinahely, Co Wicklow, was involved in organising the reunion in 2015. Many of the apprentices subsequently left the Defence forces and some moved all over the country and abroad, including one to Canada. some hadnt met since leaving Naas. Campaigners have pledged to continue to fight for a new second level Educate Together school for South Kildare despite the Departments contention there is no need for one at present. We are again extremely disappointed and frustrated by the Departments response. They have outlined their demographic data to us, but have taken no consideration for the inaccuracies we pointed out in relation to the schools that people are choosing in this area. Their feeder school analysis does not reflect what is happening on the ground, said campaign group member, Jennifer Buttner. Indeed, the widely varying admission policies in operation across the second-level schools in the area do not reflect the Departments feeder data. The group met with Minister Richard Bruton, along with Kildare South TDs Martin Heydon, Sean O Fearghaill and Fiona OLoughlin, on July 19. It presented data to challenge the Department's demographic exercise, and the decision by Minister Jan OSullivan last November to deny a new school build for Kildare South. Ms Buttner said the data shows a significant second-level shortfall in the area going forward, and demonstrated inaccuracies in the assumptions made by the Department, specifically feeder school inaccuracies, admission policy restrictions and inclusion of restrictive fee-paying places in capacity available. The group outlined that future growth and expansion, including influx of employers and investment in housing infrastructure, is not being taken into account, and voiced concerns regarding the disparity of dedicated ASD Class Facility provision from primary to second- level in the area. Minister Bruton committed to taking the data back to the Department for review. The response that no new second-level school is needed currently, has just recently been received by the group. We are deeply concerned about the shortfall figures that we have collated and that the Department is continuing to under estimate the demand. The recent CSO figures show a 5.6% population growth in Kildare since 2011, and confirms the growth of the county we are witnessing in the shortage of second-level places here, added Ms Buttner. Plus every week we open the local papers we see permission granted for more new house builds. Where are these children expected to go to school? The group welcomes the note of additional ASD classes for second-level schools to be provided by the Departments 6 year capital investment programme across the county, but are still frustrated by the lack of clarity on where these classes will be, and how far parents and children may have to travel to avail of these places. She thanked the Minister for taking time to review the data, but pointed out the campaign group cannot accept No for an answer. So far the group has collected over 2,500 childrens names for a South Kildare Educate Together Second-level. Further info about the campaign is available at www.sket2ndlevel.org or www.facebook.com/SKET2NDLEVEL. Commenting on the Home Secretarys speech to the Conservative party conference, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: Amber Rudd delivered a speech that could have been written by John Redwood. The Nasty Party hasnt come back, rather it seems it never went away. This speech is exhibit A on how the Liberal Democrats restrained the Tories. Without us they are showing their true colours: reckless, divisive and uncaring. All the Conservatives care about is tough rhetoric rather than helping those in need. Amber Rudd cant defend the indefensible, heartless inaction by the Government on child refugees. The Home Secretary also made the case quite clearly that the Government cannot be trusted with your personal details, and are still committed to running headlong towards to the so-called Snoopers Charter. THE CRESCENT Shopping Centre in Limerick will play host to three jam-packed days of fashion later this month, featuring special guests from the worlds of style and sport. Crescent Inspire will kick off on Thursday, October 20, and run until Saturday, October 22, and promises to be an enjoyable weekend of businesswear advice, health and lifestyle tips and autumn/winter trend workshops. Special guests will include entrepreneur, broadcaster and fashion designer Sonya Lennon, olympian and former world champion Derval ORourke, and fashion influencer Yvonne Connolly. Sonya Lennon will be giving advice on Thursday, October 20 from 6pm to 9pm, followed by a business wear fashion show featuring some key pieces from Crescent retailers. It will address how to get the corporate look down to a fine tee, how your work output benefits from how you feel in what you wear, and tips on back to work after long absence or Mums parental leave, said Sonya. Athlete Derval ORourke will be giving health tips on nutrition, training, and getting the most from your workout on Friday, October 21, at 12 noon. The autumn/winter trends showcase on Saturday, October 22 with Yvonne Connolly will cover tips for styling your wardrobe for the colder months. Celia Holman Lee and models from the Holman Lee Agency will be bringing the trends to the catwalks, with fashion shows also taking place over the three days. There will also be a range of beauty and hair demonstrations over the course of the weekend. LIMERICK council planners have shot down a proposal to reactivate plans for a major out-of-town shopping centre on the Dublin Road. Capital Assets was seeking an extra year to develop the half-finished Parkway Valley/Horizon Mall site as a 63,000 square foot shopping mall, having acquired the land from its previous owners. But the council yesterday wrote to the company, which has a base at Howley's Quay, to state it was refusing the request for the 12 month extension. The local authority pointed out that any applications for extensions can be made once and only once under section 42 of the Planning and Development Act, and denied the extension on this basis. Previous owners of the site had sought to extend various planning permissions dating back to 2004 when a massive shopping centre was initially approved by the old County Council, before strategies were in place to protect the city centre. According to the latest plans, there would have been two anchor tenants at the site one being Marks and Spencer as well as 37 smaller units. Twelve restaurants were also proposed, along with a leisure centre, a creche, public library and play park. The news of the refusal will no doubt come as a relief to many city traders, with the 100m proposals sparking a huge debate over the viability of Limericks core retail space. Mayor Kieran OHanlon, who represents the Dublin Road area on the council, welcomed the councils move. This should never had permission in the first place. We need to protect the city centre. It is now an eyesore. It could be converted into student accommodation, and the new secondary school planned for Monaleen/Castletroy should be located there, he said. Cllr Elena Secas added: Physically, it would not have been possible to build such a big shopping centre in one year. The council will have to look at the [original] objections which were submitted as part of this process. Capital Assets was unavailable for comment yesterday. But the Leader understands the firm is keeping its options open on the future of the site. While the final plan may not include shops, it did not want to rule out this possibility by allowing the plans remain dormant. The firm still has the option to appeal Limerick City and County Councils decision to An Bord Pleanala. Indonesian President Joko Widodo shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit. (Photo : Getty Images) President Widodo wants to strengthen support to Indonesia's e-commerce industry by getting advice from Alibaba's CEO, Jack Ma. Widodo stopped by to buy an iPad that he ordered online from Bhinneka.com located at the country's shopping area, Mangga Dua. Indonesia's online marketplace is now valued at $2 billion. Advertisement McKinsey & Co. reported that Indonesia has one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets that is seen to grow to $150 billion by 2025. The growth of e-commerce prompted the President to get advice from Jack Ma on how the government can support the industry's growth. Adrian Li, a managing partner of Convergence Ventures, observed, "It does have that potential and I think that part of it boils down to also Indonesia, as a culture, being incredibly consumptive." Li added, "By some estimates, for example, you've seen Indonesia and the adoption of e-commerce grow even faster than some of the peers in China." The Indonesian middle class is enjoying an income growth and is seen to further increase until 2020. At present, there are already 5 million Indonesians with a salary of more than $10 a day. The increase in spending capacity of many Indonesians is making companies like Go-Jek, a car-booking company, to expand to services like tickets deliveries and booking for pedicures and cream baths. Li said "If you look at where Go-Jek is today--bear in mind this is a company that's less than three-years-old--the number of deliveries and transactions it's able to do per month, that's also significant. Again, it's on par with some of the fastest-growing startups you've seen in China." Similar to China, more consumers outside metropolitan areas like Jakarta and Surabaya now have access to goods that were not available before. With the penetration of e-commerce they now are able to buy those things," Li said. "Increasingly we see with large branded retailers coming online--Alibaba purchasing Lazada, Matahari Mall, JD.com--people become more and more comfortable with transacting online. There is less and less of a trust issue." TWO young girls have been awarded 3,000 between them after eating cheese bought in Lidl which allegedly made them sick. Limerick Circuit Civil Court heard that the cheese, the type of which was not specified, was bought in Lidl on the Childers Road on March 19, 2010 and was consumed that evening. A case for compensation was brought against Lidl Ireland GMBH and Adams Food Limited by Linda Ahmed, the mother of minors Rafait Ahmed, age 11, and Zainab Ahmed, both of whom are her daughters. Zainab was aged 11 months at the time. Barrister Pat Barriscale told Judge Gerald Keys that the young girls allegedly got gastroenteritis, which is defined as inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhoea. The court heard that their medical condition cleared after a couple of days and that they suffered no more issues with their health. One of the children was taken to the Regional Hospital in Limerick, as she had earlier been prescribed other medication and her parents feared that this could have been washed out of her system. The younger child also suffered from nappy rash after this incident. Mr Barriscale told the court that the parents, from the Father Russell Road area of the city, were satisfied with the sum offered. The case against Lidl was struck out, with no order, as it argued that it had no involvement in the manufacture of the cheese. Based in England, Adams Food Ltd is the UKs largest supplier of pre-packed hard cheese, supplying over 30% of the total market. Adams Foods is owned by the 2bn Irish dairy Board which is a co-operative owned by Irish Dairy processing co-operatives and dairy companies and thorough them, by Irish dairy farmers. Capcom is set to release a DLC for "Street Fighter V" to coincide with EVO 2016. (Photo : Getty Images/ Christian Petersen) Capcom revealed that "Street Fighter 5" will receive a new Halloween-themed content and the new content will only be available for just a month. Capcom assembled some special Halloween-themed DLC for "Street Fighter 5," which is expected to make a debut next week. The "Street Fighter 5's" new content release will definitely adhere to the expected Halloween season. Advertisement "Street Fighter 5" will get a number of premium costumes for characters as well as a special stage, all themed around Halloween, as revealed on the Capcom-Unity blog. The blog post does not specify how many costumes will be available, but going by the images provided, it looks like the costume packs may include eight color variants. The Halloween-themed stage launch for "Street Fighter 5" will be following the traditional jack o' lantern decorations accordingly. In addition, it will bring forth some sneaky cameos, namely Necro and Effie who will be seen standing by a witch's cauldron-with. Both characters are plucked from "Street Fighter 3." According to Game Spot, the Halloween stage is actually a reworked version of the Russian stage and seven new costumes, though with plenty of jack-'0-lanterns, candles and more. The confirmed characters in "Street Fighter 5" to get these Halloween costumes include Ryu, Vega, Cammy, Alex, Charlie, Juri and Necali. "Street Fighter V" rated the Halloween stage at $1.99 real-world money, but fans can also acquire this particular map with 40,000 of Fight Money. "Street Fighter 5" Halloween update is expected to be available on PS4 and PC starting on Oct. 11 until Nov. 29. Watch "Street Fighter 5" full length CG trailer here: Canada and China have agreed on a one-year pilot program on practicing rule of law. (Photo : Getty Images) Many Canadians criticized the government of the City of Vancouver for raising the Chinese flag and officials wearing a red scarf, similar to the practice of the officials of the Communist Party. Mayor Kerry Jang and MP Joe Peschisolido raised the flag while wearing red scarves in front of the city hall. About 300 spectators were in attendance. Advertisement Many Canadian-Chinese reacted to the ceremony and voiced out their concerns on Twitter. "Our first reaction was, we could not believe this was happening at city hall," said Louis Huang, the spokesman for The Alliance of the Guard of Canadian Values. He added, "I think as a Chinese-Canadian, it is my responsibility to warn them to be cautious." Huang clarified that he had no issues with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China, but said that local officials should not patronize the communist government. He said, "Right now they raise the national flag of China in front of city hall. What will be next? We worry when they are dealing with the Chinese government. Do they put Canadian values in first or second place?" Wearing of the red scarf was also concerning to the Canadian-Chinese community. Huang said that the scarf was a communist symbol. "It has very, very unique political implications in China. That means to struggle for communism, to spread the ideology to everywhere in this world. This is what we are taught from our childhood [in China]. During the ceremony, there is no reason to wear this red scarf. It doesn't make any sense. It means they accept communist ideology," Huang said. Former mayoral candidate from COPE Meena Wong agreed with Huang. In a tweet, she said, "My family and I suffered greatly under that national flag. During the infamous Cultural Revolution, the red guards wearing red scarves came to our home and took everything valuable. They abused my aging grandmother and threatened my parents." A new trend shows that families who travel prefer home-like accommodations. (Photo : Getty Images) As family travel grows trendy, the demand for accommodation shifts from standardized hotel rooms to the more flexible private apartments. The Chinese travel industry sees more families with children below 18 who prefer booking private apartments where they could feel more at home and conveniently do things which cannot be normally done in hotel rooms. Advertisement A typical private rental home has a kitchen, complete with cooking equipment, allowing a family to prepare meals at their convenience. It also has a living room, providing a suitable space for when kids play. Xiaozhu, the Chinese counterpart of the U.S.A.'s Airbnb, has seen in the previous years the transition of the kind of customers they serve. According to Pan Caifu, vice president of Xiaozhu, most of the people who booked through them two years ago were college students. Today, their market is being dominated by middle-class families. He said that the bookings through their website increased five times from 2014 to 2015, and during this period the bookings by families with children below 18 increased 20 times. Like Airbnb, Xiaozhu is a rental-sharing website where homeowners could list and travelers could search rental homes. Chen Chi, a co-founder of Xiaozhu, said that "the peer-to-peer-based sharing of access to goods and services is becoming the trend, and it has a big effect in the accommodation industry." Other booking websites, such as Airbnb and Zubaijia, compete with Xiaozhu in the accommodation industry in China. This implies a growing demand in home-like accommodations, which of course comes from the growing number of tourists. Data from the China National Tourism Administration showed that 67.87 million overseas visitors came to China during the first half of 2016. This indicated a 3.8 percent rise over the same period in 2015. SR-71 (Photo : USAF) The tactics to be employed by the stealth fighters and stealth bombers of the United States in a war against China and Russia stem from operational experience gained flying the legendary Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird -- the world's second stealth jet after Nazi Germany's Horten Ho 229 stealth jet fighter that first flew in 1944. Advertisement Retired from active service in 1999, the Blackbird flew for the U.S. Air Force and the CIA on its classified high altitude spy missions above the former Soviet Union and communist China. From the time it first flew operationally in 1966, the SR-71 owed its success to its stealth and supersonic speed. The Blackbird had a maximum speed of over Mach 3.3 (3,540 km/h), faster than any aircraft in the 1960s, and almost as fast as the Soviet SA-2 surface-to-air missile (SAM) that shot down the U-2 spy plane flown by Francis Gary Powers on May 1, 1960. The airframe of the SR-71 employed the blended body techniques that reduced its radar cross-section (RCS) and hence its vulnerability to detection by enemy radar. This strategic reconnaissance aircraft was intentionally designed with a smaller RCS, the essential element of any stealth aircraft today, to offset the disadvantages of the Lockheed U-2 spy plane. One of these disadvantages was a huge 31 meter-long wingspan that lit up radar screens. Experience with SR-71 operational missions, however, convinced the Pentagon stealth alone isn't sufficient to guarantee the survival of a stealth aircraft in a high intensity threat environment. Current U.S. thinking leans towards stealth, speed and networking together as essential to attaining mission goals. One of the letdowns in the SR-71 program was the realization the Blackbird couldn't be made stealthy enough to evade detection. According to an unclassified CIA report, the RCS levels achieved on the SR-71 were "in fact, quite low." This critique followed a series of 58 spy flights over North Vietnam and neighboring countries as part of Operation Black Shield in 1967. "It was hoped that a significant reduction in radar return could be accomplished," said the CIA about the aim of Black Shield. The CIA described the results of the spy flights emanating from Japan as disappointing. "Enemy radar tracking was reported on all but four missions," revealed the CIA. The North Vietnamese fired eight SAMs at the Blackbirds. Seven missed but one exploded close enough to send a small piece of shrapnel into the jet. Following the tests, the Pentagon banned SR-71s from flying directly over hostile territory unless they were assisted by electronic radar-jamming. This decision led to the realization stealth alone isn't enough to guarantee an aircraft's survival. This survival will require what we now call networking. The lesson of stealth and speed is reflected in the supersonic and stealthy F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighters operated by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. The lesson about the need for networking is illustrated in tactics employed by the Air Force's B-2 stealth bombers. These massive strategic bombers that can carry over 80 independently targeted smart bombs attack their targets while networking with other warplanes and cruise missiles, and supported by intense electronic jamming from electronic warfare aircraft such as the EA-18G Growler. "All possible means of reducing vehicle vulnerability (must) be exploited," said the CIA in 1969. That lesson has apparently been taken to heart. Water war China stepped-up for its "iron brother" Pakistan by blocking a tributary of the Brahmaputra River flowing into India from China a scant week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government will review the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. China's blocking a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River is tantamount to launching a "water war" against India. The Yarlung Tsangpo is the longest river in Tibet and is the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River. Advertisement China's action follows Modi's vow to isolate Pakistan internationally in the wake of the deadly attack on an Indian Army base in Indian-administered Kashmir, a Muslim majority region, which killed 18 jawans on Sept. 18. Ratified by both countries in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty gives India and Pakistan control over three rivers flowing within their territories. Control over the three "eastern" rivers -- the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej -- went to India. Control over the three "western" rivers -- the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum - went to Pakistan. Pakistan, however, has always complained that since the source of rivers of the Indus basin are in India, India might block these western rivers, potentially creating droughts and famines in Pakistan, especially at times of war or rising tensions, as are evident today. China's excuse for blocking a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River that flows into India on Sept. 30 is to complete the Lalho project on the Xiabuqu River in Xigaze, its most expensive hydro power project worth $740 million. The project, which began in 2014, is scheduled for completion in 2019. It will provide irrigation, flood control and power generation. The dam's reservoir can store up to 295 million cubic meters of water and help irrigate 30,000 hectares of farmland. The project will have two power stations with a combined generation capacity of 42 megawatts. They are designed to generate 85 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Unfortunately from India, the Brahamaputra originates in China (Yarlung Tsangpo) and flows through India and Bangladesh. And also unfortunate for India is that China is completely aware of the Brahmaputra's importance to India. Upstream dams, barrages and other water infrastructure can transform water into a political weapon that can be wielded overtly in a war, or subtly in peacetime to signal dissatisfaction with a state that shares a water source, said one study. A military analysis of the water resource competition among India, Pakistan and China said China views India's "actual control" over Arunachal Pradesh can be strengthened through dam-building activities. Beijing continues to claim Arunachal Pradesh is part of Tibet. Blocking the Brahmaputra, said some analysts, is China's way of reminding India it still claims ownership of Arunachal Pradesh and is prepared to wage a water war to seize it. Singapore to Consider F-35 Stealth Fighters for its Already Powerful Air Force Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16Cs and an F-16D in formation. (Photo : RSAF) Singapore has chosen a moment of rising tensions against China to announce it's considering acquiring the deadly and stealthy Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II to spearhead its already formidable air force, which is currently the most powerful in Southeast Asia. This move might be calculated to place China on the back foot because of an ongoing tiff with Chinese propaganda sheet the Global Times. Or it might be Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen chose to sort of confirm rumors. But the timing itself does raise eyebrows. Advertisement Ng said the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) might acquire the F-35 somewhere in the 2030s. He was reported to have described the stealth fighter as "a good plane, but our needs aren't so urgent at this point and time." He noted the RSAF's powerful fleet of McDonnell Douglas F-15SG and General Dynamics F-16C and F-16D will remain front line combat aircraft into the next two decades. The U.S. Air Force in December 21015 awarded Lockheed a $914 million contract to update RSAF's F-16 fleet under a foreign military sales agreement. Singapore will only be the third Asian country apart from Japan and Australia to show an interest in the F-35. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) already has two operational F-35As with a further 70 on order. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force will take delivery of its first four F-35As this December. It has orders for 38 more, which will be built in Japan. The RSAF with its inventory of 62 F-16C/D and 40 F-15SG strike fighters is currently the strongest air force in terms of numbers and offensive power among all member states of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), to which Singapore belongs. The RSAF has about as many modern air superiority and attack jets as the Indonesian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force combined. Only the RAAF can match the RSAF in numbers of modern air superiority and attack aircraft. Red is associated with love, power, nobility and now, scientists say, attention to detail. Blue (the other preferred tie color of choice for business and politics) is now thought to boost creativity. Image In high-stakes politics and business, there are only two colors of ties: red and blue. Oh, sure, you might spot purple or yellow now and then, but those are clear statements of aloofness, be they calculated or careless. Few world leaders or CEOs want to be seen as aloof. But does it matter whether one wears red or blue? Yes, suggest several studies, including one published in the journal Science on Feb. 6, 2009. More on that in a moment. First, some color: Tonight (Feb. 28), during his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump wore a blue and white striped tie. Seated behind Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Paul Ryan, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, both wore blue ties. For his inauguration on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump wore a red tie with his dark suit, while outgoing President Barack Obama donned a blue tie. Their wives wore the reverse, with Michelle Obama in a red dress and Melania Trump wearing a powder blue ensemble. [The 15 Weirdest Presidential Inaugurations in US History] In the first presidential debate of 2016, then-nominee Donald Trump donned a blue tie, while the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, wore a red suit. (Here's more science on why everyone should wear red.) The Democrats may have decided on "red" during the election, as Clinton's running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine donned a red tie during the first vice presidential debates on Oct. 4, while Trump's running mate, then-Indiana governor Mike Pence sported a blue necktie. Related: In President Obama's first 11 days on the job, he wore only red and blue ties, observed Daily News reporter Joe Dziemianowicz. "Obama represents something different in politics, but he dresses the same as everyone else," said Esquire senior fashion editor Wendell Brown. "Washington, D.C., is a strange place when it comes to style. All the emphasis is on fitting in." At the inauguration in January 2009, Obama and Joe Biden seemed to coordinate efforts: "For the inaugural festivities, both executives chose predictable dark gray suits, white dress shirts, enlivened by either baby blue or red necktie," wrote Lisa Irazarry of The Star-Ledger in New Jersey. "As Obama wore a blue necktie on Monday and Biden wore his blue Tuesday, maybe they prearranged not to duplicate each other alternating necktie colors." (Former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush both had on plum overcoats and purple scarves at the inauguration. They can be aloof now. Plus, purple is associated with royalty and we do tend to treat our former presidents as such.) Where's all this come from? The ties to red and blue go way back. Neckties are said to be descended from the cravat and used throughout most of history, at least the portion during which humans have been fully clothed. Blue was once associated with the blue blood of British nobility, while red represented the red blood of the Guards. Red has long been associated with love. And there's some science to that, too. A study last year found red clothes on women makes men feel more amorous towards them. In sports, athletes wearing red are known to outperform their opponents, in part because referees cut the red-clad competitors some slack, researchers discovered. Politicians, of course, love to gain advantages. Neckties are one way they try to do that. As Washington Post columnist Tom Shales wrote of a televised Bush-Kerry presidential debate in 2004: "Bush wore his traditional blue necktie, though a darker shade than the usual robin's-egg hue, and Kerry wore the classic TV-red necktie; red ties supposedly lend color to the face of whoever wears them, and if there's anything the Massachusetts senator needs, it's color." But wait, there's more. Red and blue are also thought by psychologists to improve brain performance and receptivity to advertising. The 2009 study in Science supports this idea. It also suggests nuances that world leaders and presidential candidates might want to know about, assuming one buys into the notion that presidential messages and speeches are essentially a form of advertising. The study found that red is the most effective at enhancing our attention to detail, while blue is best at boosting our ability to think creatively. "Previous research linked blue and red to enhanced cognitive performance, but disagreed on which provides the greatest boost," said study leader Juliet Zhu of the University of British Columbia. "It really depends on the nature of the task." Zhu and colleagues tracked the performance of more than 600 people on cognitive tasks that required either creativity or attention to detail. Most experiments were conducted on computers with a screen that was red, blue or white. Red boosted performance on detail-oriented tasks such as memory retrieval and proofreading up to 31 percent more than blue. For brainstorming and other creative tasks, blue cues prompted participants to produce twice as many creative outputs compared with red cues. Why? Look around. "Thanks to stop signs, emergency vehicles and teachers' red pens, we associate red with danger, mistakes and caution," Zhu said. "The avoidance motivation, or heightened state, that red activates makes us vigilant and thus helps us perform tasks where careful attention is required to produce a right or wrong answer." And the value of blue? "Through associations with the sky, the ocean and water, most people associate blue with openness, peace and tranquility," says Zhu, who conducted the research with UBC doctoral candidate Ravi Mehta. "The benign cues make people feel safe about being creative and exploratory. Not surprisingly it is people's favorite color." Perhaps presidential candidate's choice of red vs. blue neckties should be made more thoughtfully than they realize. Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2009 and updated in 2017. Introduction (Image credit: The New England Journal of Medicine ) Have you ever been to the doctor because you had a fish jaw stuck in your eyeball? Or perhaps you've been rushed to the hospital after accidently inhaling your own earring? If you answered no to both of those questions, then consider yourself lucky: Fishy eyeballs and inhaled earrings are two real (and really bizarre) medical cases that have cropped up in recent years. When doctors encounter such weird cases, they sometimes decide to publish a case report. Case reports are meant to add to scientific research, or help other doctors who might encounter the same strange symptoms in the future. But for those who aren't doctors, case reports illuminate the limits and the mysteries of the human body. Some also serve as highly effective cautionary tales. Here's a look at 27 cases that will make your next trip to the doctor seem like a total bore. Editor's Note: This article was first published on July 2, 2013, at 3:45 p.m. ET. Enormous tapeworm (Image credit: The New England Journal of Medicine 2016) You know what they say about raw beef: You shouldn't eat it (at least, not unless you cook it first). A man in China learned this lesson the hard way after finding out that he had a 20-foot-long (6 meters) tapeworm living inside of him a result of chowing down on uncooked cow meat. The tapeworm likely lived inside the man's small intestine for at least two years before he went to see the doctors who would ultimately help him flush out this lengthy stowaway. [Here's a list of top meats that can make you sick.] The man complained of stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss; his doctors were able to quickly identify the cause of these symptoms because the patient brought along a crucial piece of evidence a fragment of the parasite, which he had found in his stool. Combined with the patient's known predilection for raw beef, the tapeworm specimen helped doctors guess that the man was sharing his intestine with Taenia saginata(a species of beef tapeworm). After being treated with an antibiotic that caused him to pass the tapeworm out of his body within hours, the man's symptoms cleared up in just three months, according to a case report published in The New England Journal of Medicine in January 2016. Presumably, the man's preference for uncooked beef passed just as quickly. Parasitic worm infection (Image credit: The New England Journal of Medicine 2016) What's worse than a parasitic worm infection? A parasitic worm infection that causes a "calcified bladder" a condition that probably feels every bit as uncomfortable as it sounds. A 43-year-old man in Qatar found out just how painful a calcified bladder can be. He had blood in his urine and pain when he peed for a month before doctors diagnosed him with an infection by the parasite Schistosoma, which is transmitted by freshwater snails. The man's infection was located near his bladder and ureters(the tubes connecting the bladder to the kidneys). Eggs of the parasite ended up on the wall of the man's bladder, and his body's immune response caused these areas of the bladder wall to become calcified in a pattern known as "eggshell calcification," according to a case report published in The New England Journal of Medicine in February 2016. While this kind of calcification as a result of schistosomiasis(another name for aSchistosoma infection) is not rare, it is unusual for doctors to see a patient with an entire bladder encased in calcium, since it takes years for that much calcium to build up inside the body. But the patient's doctors suspected that the man actually became infected with the parasite as a child and that he lived with it for at least 30 years before doctors prescribed a treatment. Fish bone in the eyeball (Image credit: The New England Journal of Medicine 2015.) Nothing ruins a day at the beach quite like getting a fish bone stuck in your eyeball. Unfortunately, that's what happened to a beachgoer visiting the Red Sea in 2015. The 52-year-old tourist was swimming in the Red Seawhen he collided with a school of fish. Not long after the incident, the man developed a swollen and droopy eyelid that wouldn't heal. A doctor's visit revealed he had an area of inflammation called a granuloma on his eyelid, and the patient underwent surgery to correct the issue. But a granuloma wasn't the only thing that doctors removed from the erstwhile swimmer's eyeball during the surgery. "Two tubular structures" were also removed from the man's eyelid, according to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine in September 2015. A biologist was called in to examine these strange specimens, which turned out to be the jawbones of a halfbeak, a fish that dwells in shallow coastal waters. The fish bones had immobilized the muscles controlling the man's eyelid, causing it to droop. But the droopy-eyed swimmer recovered shortly after his surgery. Sudoku seizures (Image credit: severija/Shutterstock.com) You know that expression "too much of a good thing?" Well, that applies to this next case. A young man in Germany completed so many Sudoku puzzles (a logic game that may help sharpen memory) that he began having seizures. Of course, that's only part of the story. The man had been an avid Sudoku solver for some time before experiencing such seizures, but that changed after he was trapped in an avalanche during a ski trip. He was eventually rescued, but while buried under the snow, the man experienced a condition known as hypoxia, in which the body tissues and brain don't receive enough oxygen. This condition caused the man to develop sudden muscle twitches around his mouth when he talked and in the muscles of his legs when he walked. He also experienced spontaneous seizures in his left arm. Doctors prescribed anti-epileptic medications and thought they had these seizures under control. However, a few weeks after he was discharged from the hospital, the man began having seizures in his left arm again but only when he did Sudoku puzzles. Eventually, doctors got to the root of the problem: The man had a very intense "three-dimensional imagination" that was activated whenever he did these brain-stimulating puzzles. The part of his brain that he used when thinking about things in 3D happened to be the part of his brain that was most affected by his 15 minutes of oxygen deprivation under the snow. Overactivating this damaged part of his brain was what caused the man's seizures. Unfortunately, he had to give up Sudoku in order to make a full recovery. Leaking brain fluid (Image credit: holbox/Shutterstock.com) Need a reason to skip Pilates class? Because we've got a good one: In 2015, a British woman with persistent headaches found that the reason for her pain was leaking brain fluid brought on by (you guessed it) a Pilates class. It typically takes some kind of trauma for brain fluid a clear liquid that flows between the brain and spinal cord and their outer coverings to leak. Trauma from car accidents, tumors and botched surgeries are all known to sometimes cause this problem. But in certain people, brain fluid leaks can occur spontaneously when too much pressure is put on the skull or spinal cord, which is probably what happened to the Pilates-performing patient with persistent headaches. After a standard treatment of bed rest, caffeine and ibuprofen, the woman recovered, according to a report published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports. Toothy brain tumor (Image credit: The New England Journal of Medicine 2014) It's not entirely unusual for a 4-month-old baby to have a few teeth, unless those teeth are lodged in the baby's brain. An infant in Maryland had teeth form in his brain as a result of a specific type of rare brain tumor. Doctors were able to remove the tumor and the boy made a full recovery, according to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine in February 2014. Doctors suspected something might be going on inside the boy's brain when his head appeared to grow faster than was usual for his age. A scan of the child's brain revealed a tumor that contained what looked like teeth normally found in the lower jaw. And indeed, when doctors removed the tumor they extracted several fully formed teeth with it. While teeth do sometimes appear in tumors, the type of tumor removed from the infant's brain a craniopharyngioma wasn't known to host these strange additions. Energy drink heart attack (Image credit: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com) What could cause a healthy 26-year-old to suffer a heart attack? Drinking nearly a dozen energy drinks a day, every day, that's what. A man in Texas told doctors that he regularly consumed eight to 10 caffeine-laden energy drinks a day before suffering a heart attack. He also smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for two years prior to the incident, according to a report published in the journal Case Reports in Emergency Medicine in February 2015. [5 Health Problems Linked to Energy Drinks] It's possible that the excessive amount of caffeine in these drinks, as well as other potentially harmful substances, may have reduced blood flow in the man's coronary blood vessel, causing a blood clot to form and ultimately resulting in a heart attack. The report's authors also noted that smoking may have led to the constriction of the man's coronary artery. Inhaled earring (Image credit: 2015 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. All rights reserved.) This is not what people mean when they say they want to "ring in the New Year" A woman in Australia accidentally inhaled an earring at a New Year's Eve party in 2015. The 41-year-old woman, who had asthma, reached into her purse for her inhaler when she began to wheeze during the New Year's festivities. Unbeknownst to her, a loose earring from her purse had become lodged in the inhaler, and she inhaled it when she used the device. The earring scratched the back of the woman's throat, causing her to wheeze more and cough up blood, before it became lodged in her right bronchus (one of the main airways leading from the windpipe to the lungs), according to a report published in the journal BMJ Case Reports in April 2015. Doctors were able to remove the earring, and the woman healed quickly. She also learned an important lesson about replacing the lid on her inhaler after every use. Hepatitis from tea (Image credit: 5 second Studio | Shutterstock.com ) Green tea is supposed to be good for you; researchers have found that compounds in the beverage may help suppress lung cancerand improve certain brain functions. However, drinking too much of the green stuff is not a good idea if you're not sure what else is in the teabag, according to report published in the journal BMJ Case Reports in October 2015. A 16-year-old girl in the U.K. learned this lesson the hard way when, after consuming about three cups of green tea a day for three months, she started to show symptoms of acute hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver. The girl had ordered the suspect tea online (after hearing claims it could help her lose weight). Most of the beverage's ingredients were in Chinese, so she wasn't sure exactly what was in the alleged "weight loss" beverage. Her doctors didn't analyze the exact chemical makeup of the tea, but once the girl stopped consuming it, her symptoms which included jaundice, joint pain and dizziness improved quickly. Baking soda craving (opens in new tab) via Shutterstock) (Image credit: Pregnant woman photo via Shutterstock) Pregnancy cravings are normal, but indulging unusual cravings when pregnant can sometimes be dangerous. Case in point: A woman who consumed a 1-pound box of baking soda a day, both before and during her pregnancy, developed serious muscle and heart conditions, according to a report published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology in August 2013. What caused the woman to crave an ingredient most commonly found (in very small quantities) in baked goods? The doctors who diagnosed her believe it was a condition known as pica, which is common during pregnancyand is characterized by cravings for nonfood items, such as baking powder, clay or dirt. [9 Uncommon Conditions That Pregnancy May Bring] Baking soda is mostly made up of sodium bicarbonate which, when consumed in large quantities, can disturb the body's normal metabolic processes. In the case of the mother-to-be, downing such a large quantity of baking soda resulted in weakening of the heart and other muscles. Luckily, doctors were able to induce labor and the woman delivered a healthy baby. Here, a slide shown during the announcement of the 2016 Nobel Prize in physics, showing the three winners (from left to right): David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz. The Nobel Prize in physics went to three physicists who studied matter at the smallest scales and the coldest temperatures, which could lead to new materials and insights into phenomena such as superconductivity. The three Nobel laureates are David J. Thouless of the University of Washington, F. Duncan M. Haldane of Princeton University and J. Michael Kosterlitz of Brown University. All three worked on unusual states of matter; Kosterlitz and Thouless studied the theoretical properties of very thin films, essentially 2D materials. Haldane looked at chains of atom-size magnets. [Nobel Prize 2016: Here Are the Winners (and What They Achieved)] They used the mathematics of topology to explain why superconductivity appears and disappears when it does. Topology is the mathematical study of processes that occur in discrete steps. More formally, it's the study of shapes that can be transformed without breaking them like the transformation of a doughnut into a straw. The steps in topology come from the fact that a doughnut can have one hole, or two (like a straw), but not one and a half. Kosterlitz and Thouless were interested in what happens when you cool a 2D film of matter to near absolute zero. Their calculations showed that it was possible for such a material to conduct electricity without resistance, turning into a superconductor, something that scientists thought impossible. Paul Coxon, a research associate in the Materials Chemistry Group at the University of Cambridge, said that even at near absolute zero, "there's always some minor fluctuation that disturbs the order." That disruption should prevent superconductivity from happening, he added. Or that's what scientists thought. But calculations by Kosterlitz and Thouless showed that it did not prevent superconductivity, and later experiments confirmed they were correct. The reason was related to the mathematics of topology. In 2D material, little whirlpools called vortices form pairs as the temperature drops, and the material becomes superconducting, Coxon said. When you raise the temperature, the vortices separate and go their separate ways. The separation creates shapes that are one-holed as opposed to two-holed (vortices have two openings), like breaking up a two-holed doughnut into two one-holed doughnuts, and the material loses its superconductivity. The transition from superconducting to non-superconducting in such films is known as the KT threshold, for its discoverers, according to a release from the Nobel committee. Later, Thouless studied the Quantum Hall Effect. Ordinarily, if you put a magnet perpendicular to an electric current, the voltage will change. The Quantum Hall Effect is similar, except that the voltage change can happen only in certain increments. Thouless found that the mathematics of topology explained the phenomenon. Haldane, meanwhile, showed that chains of atomic magnets can behave in a similar fashion. Their discoveries could lead to new materials, though that is still in the future. "This has implications for superconducting materials," Coxon said, "but that's still some way off." Coxon added that the choice of work for the Nobel Prize was a surprise, as, like many in the physics community, he thought the prize would go to the scientists who observed gravitational waves using the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). "Everyone had half-written stories on LIGO, and then this comes out of the blue." Original article on Live Science. Much of the universe is made of of matter that we can't see. Most of the universe is made up of "stuff" that is invisible, possibly intangible and interacts with other things only via the force of gravity. Oh, yes, and physicists don't know what the stuff is or why it makes up so much of the universe some four-fifths of its mass. They call it dark matter. So where is this mysterious stuff that makes up such a huge chunk of our universe, and when will scientists find it? First, though, how do we know it's even out there? Dark matter was first hypothesized in the 1930s when Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky realized that his measurements of the masses of galaxy clusters showed some of the mass in the universe was "missing." Whatever was making galaxies heavier, it didn't give off any light, nor did it interact with anything else except via gravity. Vera Rubin, in the 1970s, found that the rotation of galaxies was not following the predictions of Newton's laws of motion; the stars in galaxies (notably Andromeda) all seemed to be orbiting the center at the same speed, rather than those farther out moving more slowly as theories of gravity said they should. Clearly, something was adding mass to the outer parts of galaxies, something nobody could see. [Does the Universe Have an Edge?] Other pieces of evidence came from gravitational lensing, which happens when the gravity of a large object bends the light waves around that object. Per Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity bends space (like a sumo wrestler might deform the mat he is standing on), so light rays bend around massive objects even though light itself is massless. Observations indicated that there wasn't enough visible mass to bend the light by as much as it was bending around certain galaxy clusters in other words, the galaxies were more massive than they should be. Then there is the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the "echo" of the Big Bang, and supernovas. "What the CMB tells you is that the universe is spatially flat," said Jason Kumar, a professor of physics at the University of Hawaii. "Spatially flat" means that if you were to draw two lines across the universe, they would never meet, even if those lines were a billion light-years across. In a steeply curved universe, those lines would meet at some point in space. Researchers then calculated how much matter the universe must have in order to be flat and produce the amount of normal matter (also called baryons) observed in the universe. "I ask myself, 'Is the amount of matter I have equal to baryonic matter, and it's not," Kumar said. There's now little dispute among cosmologists and astronomers that dark matter exists. Yet it seems unaffected by light, and it isn't charged like electrons or protons are. So far it has eluded direct detection. "That's kind of the mystery," Kumar said. There are may ways scientists have tried to "see" dark matter either via its interactions with normal matter or looking for particles that dark matter might become. "Those experiments are going to keep getting better, and don't seem to have any hiccups so far as they go to better detectors." What we know it isn't A number of theories have come and gone as to what dark matter is. One of the first was logical enough: The matter was hidden within massive astrophysical compact halo objects, or MACHOs, such as neutron stars, black holes, brown dwarfs and rogue planets. They don't emit light (or they emit only very little), so they are effectively invisible to telescopes. [The 9 Biggest Unsolved Mysteries in Physics] Yet surveys of galaxies looking for small distortions in the light of background stars produced by a MACHO passing by called microlensing events couldn't account for the amount of dark matter around galaxies, or even a significant portion of it. "MACHOs seem as ruled out as ever," said Dan Hooper, an associate scientist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois. Dark matter doesn't appear to be clouds of gas that telescopes wouldn't see, either. Diffuse gas would absorb light from the galaxies that are farther away, and on top of that, ordinary gas would re-emit radiation at longer wavelengths there'd be a massive radiation of infrared light in the sky. Since that doesn't occur we can rule that out as well, Kumar said. What it might be Weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs, are some of the strongest contenders to explain dark matter. WIMPs are heavy particles about 10 to 100 times heavier than a proton that were produced during the Big Bang, though just small quantities are left today. These particles interact with normal matter via gravity or the weak nuclear force. More massive WIMPs would move more slowly through space, and therefore be "cold" dark-matter candidates, while lighter ones would move faster, and be "warm" dark matter. [Wacky Physics: The Coolest Little Particles in Nature] One way to find them is in "direct detection" experiments, such as the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment, which is a container of liquid xenon in a South Dakota mine. If a xenon nucleus seems to "bounce" with no explanation, that would be a candidate for getting hit with a dark-matter particle. The magnitude of the bounce would give an idea of the new particle's mass. But Hooper said that LUX hasn't seen anything yet. Another way to see the WIMPs might be particle accelerators. Inside accelerators, atomic nuclei smash into each at near the speed of light, and in the process that energy of the collision gets turned into other particles, some new to science. So far, though, particle accelerators haven't detected anything that looks like a dark matter candidate, either. Results from both direct detection and particle accelerators, however, have placed limits on the size and mass of this hypothetical dark-matter particle, Kumar said. The sensitivity of LUX is down to 200 MeV, or about a fifth of a proton's mass, and it could theoretically see particles as heavy as 1 TeV, which is comparable to some types of quarks. Since LUX saw nothing so far, that could well mean that dark matter isn't in that range. Kumar said that it's possible that WIMPs are really heavy, and because they are so massive there just aren't that many of them, meaning the chance they'll hit a xenon atom is small. Another possibility: axions. These subatomic particles could be detected indirectly by the kinds of radiation they emit as they annihilate or as they decay into other kinds of particles, or appear in particle accelerators. Yet there hasn't been any direct evidence of axions, either. Since detecting heavy, slow-moving "cold" particles, like WIMPs or axions, hasn't yielded results yet, some scientists are looking at the possibility of lighter, faster-moving particles, which they call "warm" dark matter. There has been a renewed interest in such a dark-matter model after scientists found evidence of an unknown particle, using the Chandra X-ray Observatory, in the Perseus cluster, a group of galaxies about 250 million light-years from Earth. The known ions in that cluster produce certain X-ray emission lines, and in 2014, scientists saw a new "line" that may correspond to an unknown lightweight particle, Nicola Menci, an astrophysicist at Italy's National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), told Live Science in an email. If dark-matter particles are light, scientists are going to have a difficult time detecting them directly, said Tracy Slatyer, a physicist at MIT. Slatyer has proposed new kinds of particles that might make up dark matter. "Dark matter with [a] mass below about 1 GeV is really hard to detect with conventional direct detection experiments, because they work by looking for the unexplained recoils of atomic nuclei but when the dark matter is much lighter than the atomic nucleus, the recoil energy is very small," Slatyer said. Protons a hydrogen nucleus can't be any lighter than about 938 MeV, so a particle that weighs in the keV range would be 1,000 times lighter. "Think bouncing a ping-pong ball off a bowling ball; the bowling ball doesn't move very much," she said. Slatyer said there is a lot of research being done on how to find dark-matter particles if current methods fail. Using "superfluid" liquid helium, semiconductors and even breaking of chemical bonds in crystals, are among the ideas being floated. Kumar said one reason dark matter is so mysterious is precisely that physicists feel that they understand, to a point, how the Big Bang nucleosynthesis the origins of matter worked. The Standard Model, which predicted the Higgs boson, has been very successful so far, so unless they've all been really wrong about something fundamental it's odd that nobody has managed to detect a dark-matter particle yet. If, for example, dark-matter particles are very different from what many current models predict, it's possible that particle accelerators wouldn't have seen it. Accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider are better at seeing things that interact with the strong nuclear force, which decay into other particles. "If that's the way your dark matter works it's a great machine to find it," he said. "But if there isn't a heavier particle like that it's harder." DNA extracted from roughly 3,000-year-old skull found on the island of Vanuatu (shown here) reveals that the first people to settle Polynesia came from Taiwan or northern Philippines. The skull was found inside a vessel made by the Lapita, the ancient culture that colonized all of Polynesia. The first settlers of the far-flung Pacific islands of Tonga and Vanuatu likely arrived from Taiwan and the northern Philippines between 2,300 and 3,100 years ago, a new genetic analysis suggests. Ancient DNA extracted from skeletons at two archaeological sites on the islands helps paint this picture of how the remotest reaches of the Pacific were first colonized. "The people of Vanuatu today are descended from Asia first of all. They were straight out of Taiwan and perhaps the northern Philippines," study co-author Matthew Spriggs, an archaeologist and anthropologist at the Australian National University, said in a statement. The new findings suggest that on their route out of Asia, these first settlers may have bypassed closer areas, such as Australia and Papua New Guinea, which have been occupied by ancient populations for at least 40,000 years. [See Images of the Ancient Skeletons from the South Pacific] "They traveled past places where people were already living, but when they got to Vanuatu there was nobody there. These are the first people," Spriggs said. Fantastic voyage New evidence suggests the first inhabitants of the Pacific Islands came from Taiwan and the northern Philippines. Here, a map of the different culture zones present in the region (Image credit: Kahuroa, Wikimedia Commons/ Vaka Moana: Voyages of the Ancestors - the discovery and settlement of the Pacific, ed K.R. Howe, 2008, p57.) As for why they set out on this difficult and dangerous excursion, "that is the $64,000 question; 'we just don't know' would be the honest answer," Spriggs told Live Science in an email. "But some strong ideology must have driven them on." [The 9 Craziest Ocean Voyages] Exactly who peopled each of these islands and when, however, has remained an issue of hot debate. Some argued that people from the islands of Asia went straight to islands such as Tonga, while others argue that they mixed with people from the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea or Australia before reaching their final destination. To help settle the question, Spriggs and his colleagues analyzed DNA extracted from four female skeletons from Vanuatu and Tonga, which were about between 2,300 and 3,100 years old, and compared it to DNA from hundreds of people from Oceania, as well as from East Asia. Tonga and Vanuatu are about 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) apart. The team found that the first Tongans, who belonged to the so-called Lapita culture that colonized much of Polynesia, shared a common ancestry with the modern-day indigenous people of Taiwan, such as the Ami and the Atayal, as well as the Kanakey of the Philippines, the researchers reported Monday (Oct. 3) in the journal Nature (opens in new tab). Similar ancestry was found in the skeletons from Vanuatu. These first settlers had little or no ancestry originating in Papua New Guinea, even though the region is much closer geographically (and many people from Vanuatu speak a language that traces its roots to Papua New Guinea). Genetic mix However, all modern-day Polynesians do carry some genes inherited from Melanesians, such as the Papuans. Further analysis revealed that the Papuan DNA entered the Polynesian gene pool roughly 1,200 to 2,000 years ago, which suggests Papuans came after the Lapita culture was established and intermarried with the local population, the researchers wrote. "We should stop using inexact terms like 'Melanesians' and 'Polynesians,' as the only difference is in percentage of Papuan as opposed to Asian genes," Spriggs wrote in the email. "As all Pacific Islanders are a mix of these two groups, I think it is better to call them all Pasifika people (Pacific Islanders) and avoid making distinctions between them that don't mean anything." Interestingly, in modern-day Oceania, genes from these first pioneers seem to have been largely passed on through women. "The Lapita culture was probably matrilocal, so that, when people form pairs, females stay in the group where they live but males move, so Papuan males might have come to live in Lapita-like groups," study co-author Pontus Skoglund, a population geneticist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, told Live Science in an email. "Secondly, it might be that secondary migrations into remote Oceania carrying Papuan ancestry were mostly male." While the skeletons were found on Vanuatu and Tonga, the findings have much broader implications, Skoglund said. "I expect to see very much the same pattern, at least in other parts of remote Oceania," Skoglund said. Original article on Live Science. Lapita skull (Image credit: ANU) DNA extracted from roughly 3,000-year-old skull found on the island of Vanuatu (shown here) reveals that the first people to settle Polynesia came from Taiwan or northern Philippines. The skull was found inside a vessel made by the Lapita, the ancient culture that colonized all of Polynesia. Ancient skeleton (Image credit: ANU) An approximately 3,000 year old burial in the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu that is source of one of the ancient DNA samples reported on in this study. It is a triangular bone arrangement, with skulls at each vertex, lying on the legs of a skeleton without a skull. Broader region (Image credit: Kahuroa, Wikimedia Commons/ Vaka Moana: Voyages of the Ancestors - the discovery and settlement of the Pacific, ed K.R. Howe, 2008, p57.) The broader region of Oceania, is often broken up into Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. However, evidence suggests that the first inhabitants of many of these islands were likely the Lapita people, who came from somewhere near Taiwan or the Philipines. Another view (Image credit: ANU) Here, another view of the Vanuatu skeleton. First inhabitants (Image credit: ANU) A skeleton unearthed on the island of Vanuatu has revealed the first inhabitants of Polynesia. Vanuatu today (opens in new tab) / Shutterstock.com (opens in new tab) ) (Image credit: livcool Two modern-day children in Vanuatu play. While tpeople of Vanuatu are classified as Melanesian, meaning their ancestry is closer to people of Papua New Guinea, the first inhabitants of the island likely came from Taiwan. Modern-day Tongans Here, people from Tonga celebrate arrival of Fuifui Moimoi on his home island on November 17, 2013 in Tonga. Fuifui is Tonga international representative forward in rugby league. New evidence suggests the first inhabitants of Tonga arrived from Taiwan or the northern Philippines. Solomon Islander (Image credit: Sean Myles) People on the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea, are considered part of the Melanesian culture group. Genetically, however, they likely differ from other people of the Pacific Islands only in the relative percentage of Papuan or Asian ancestry they carry. Papuan Woman Portrait of a papuan woman from a korowai tribe. New Guinea Wild Jungle . May 15, 2016 An artistic interpretation of what the newly identified cynodont Bonacynodon schultzi looked like during its lifetime about 235 million years ago during the Triassic. Two weird, mammal-like reptiles that sort of looked like scaly rats, each smaller than a loaf of bread, roamed ancient Brazil about 235 million years ago, likely dining on insects the predators snagged with their pointy teeth, a new study finds. The analysis of two newfound species of cynodont, a group that gave rise to all living mammals, sheds light on how mammals developed from these late Triassic creatures, the researchers said. "These new fossils help [us] understand in more detail the evolution of pre-mammalian forms that gave rise to the group of mammals, in which we humans (Homo sapiens) are included," the study's lead author, Agustin Martinelli, a paleontologist at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, told Live Science in an email. [In Photos: Mammals Through Time] Cynodonts predate dinosaurs, first appearing in the fossil record about 260 million years ago, during the Permian period. Their descendants include marsupial and placental mammals (the furry creatures usually thought of as mammals), as well as monotremes mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young, such as the platypus and echidna, the researchers said. However, the early cynodonts that lived during the late Permian and the early Triassic periods weren't mammals, but rather reptiles with mammal-like skulls and jaws, the researchers said. The specimen of one of the newfound cynodont species has been resting in the collection department at the Museum of Earth Sciences in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil since 1946. That's when L.I. Price, a Brazilian paleontologist, found the two skulls and two jaws in rock dating to between 237 million and 235 million years ago in the Santa Cruz do Sul municipality of Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Those specimens belong to a small animal of about 12 inches (30 centimeters) in length, with unusually large, protruding upper-canine teeth suggesting it ate insects. The creature's anatomy indicates that it is part of an extinct family of carnivorous cynodonts called Probainognathidae. In fact, the newfound species is likely related to Probainognathus jenseni, a species discovered in Triassic-age rocks of the La Rioja province in western Argentina. But the researchers said the newly discovered creature is different enough to justify having its own genus and species: Bonacynodon schultzi. The name honors two eminent paleontologists, Jose Bonaparte from Argentina and Cesar Schultz from Brazil, both of whom spent their lives studying the Triassic fossils of South America. The other newfound cynodont species, also discovered in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, was identified from fewer remains just a jaw with teeth, the researchers said. The scientists dubbed it Santacruzgnathus abdalai, in honor of Fernando Abdala, an Argentinian paleontologist who studies South American and African cynodonts, the researchers said. S. abdalai was about half the size of B. schultzi, measuring only 6 inches (15 cm) in length. The shape and dentition of S. abdalai's teeth are "reminiscent of those present in early mammals," Martinelli said. However, both cynodonts lived millions of years before the appearance of the first known mammal: a shrew-like creature that lived about 160 million years ago in what is now China, experts told Live Science in 2011. The new study was published online today (Oct. 5) in the journal PLOS ONE. Original article on Live Science. Marie Curie (1867 1934), one of just two female scientists to ever win a Nobel in physics, shown here in her lab with her husband and French chemist Pierre (1859 1906). The Nobel Prize has a woman problem. A total of 203 people have won the Nobel Prize in physics, but only two were women (Marie Curie in 1903 and Maria Goeppert-Mayer in 1963). Many scientists say those numbers point to a fundamental problem with the prizes and how they are awarded. Science writer and physicist Matthew Francis wrote on his blog, Galileo's Pendulum, that the prize favors men of European descent, and European and American researchers in general. That bias, he said, is part of a larger problem of excluding women and minorities for consideration. "The difficulty may ultimately lie in the fact that it's nearly impossible to honor the science without tripping up on which scientists to assign that honor to," Francis wrote in an email to Live Science. [Nobel Prize 2016: Here Are the Winners (and What They Achieved)] Women in science "I do think that, increasingly, the Nobels have a public relations problem," said Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical astrophysicist at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prescod-Weinstein and many others noted on Twitter (with the hashtag #NobelforVeraRubin) the example of Vera Rubin. Rubin discovered the anomalies in the way galaxies rotate that provided evidence for the existence of dark matter, one of the universe's greatest scientific mysteries. This accomplishment was not awarded a Nobel Prize, although many scientists (and nonscientists) say it deserved the honor. Searching #NobelforVeraRubin yields many people calling for Rubin to be recognized. Nobel prizes can't be awarded posthumously, and Rubin is 88 years old so there's a sense of urgency. As science writer Rachel Feltman of The Washington Post tweeted, "Vera Rubin deserves a Nobel. She probably won't get one in time." Emily Levesque, an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, tweeted, "yet another year has now passed without the #NobelPrize recognizing the groundbreaking detection of dark matter by Vera Rubin..." and "Dark matter utterly revolutionized our concept of the universe; it's basically spawned entire subfields within physics at this point." [Female Firsts: 7 Women Who Broke Barriers in Science and Tech] Physics isn't the only field with a dearth of female Nobel laureates. According to the Nobel Committee website, 171 people have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, and only four have been women: Marie Curie (1911), her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie (1935), Dorothy Hodgkin (1964) and Ada Yonath (2009). Women have fared a bit better in medicine and literature. Out of the 211 total recipients of the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, 12 have been women. And of the 112 total recipients of the Nobel Prize in literature, 15 have been women. Women have picked up 16 Nobel Peace Prizes of the 129 that have been awarded to either individuals or organizations. The Nobel Prize in economics, which has existed only since 1969, has honored only one woman of the 76 laureates. It isn't as though women haven't been nominated, though the numbers are still small. Lise Meitner was nominated no less than 48 times by different people between 1937 and 1965 for prizes in physics and chemistry. (She died in 1968, having never been awarded a Nobel.) Astrophysicist Margaret Burbidge was nominated in 1964 for the Nobel in physics; that year the Nobel laureates in physics were Charles Hard Townes, Nicolay Gennadiyevich Basov and Aleksandr Mikhailovich Prokhorov for work in electronics that allowed for new kinds of transistors. Award structure The way Nobel Prizes are awarded could partly explain why women are underrepresented, some researchers say. First, it can take time to measure the impact of scientific work. Sometimes, the prize for a particular scientific accomplishment is not awarded until decades after the initial research is done, though that's not always the case. [What's Missing From the Nobel Prizes? Scientists Weigh In] Another major problem, many scientists say, is that no more than three people can share a prize but that doesn't reflect how science is actually done. Most research, especially in physics, involves many people there can be up to hundreds of authors listed on a typical particle-physics paper, for example. (In fact, in physics, authors are often listed in alphabetical order for this very reason). A recent article in Science noted that if the physics Nobel had been awarded to the LIGO team, for the observation of gravitational waves, a contender might be Barry Barrish, who was instrumental in building the interferometer. "I definitely think it should be possible to award the prize to teams," said Prescod-Weinstein. For example, in 2011, three men won the Noble Prize for the discovery that the universe's expansion is speeding up an idea known as cosmic acceleration. "The cosmic acceleration discovery was definitely a team effort, including making sure the data was correctly interpreted when they first started looking at it," Prescod-Weinstein said. Maria von Konow, communications manager for Nobel Media, noted that Alfred Nobel's will and the Swedish Academy of Sciences set the criteria for nominations. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to organizations, but the rules that were set up to award the physics prize were different. It's possible for the rules to change the Nobel Foundation statutes have a procedure for doing so. But so far there's been no action on that front, at least not publicly. Francis added that an entirely different award structure might be a good idea. "Ideally, there should be a range of prizes, whether called Nobels or not, to honor both discoverers and pioneers, but also to adequately honor collaborations (instead of just their leaders, who tend to be white guys because they get promotions denied to others) and recent work, rather than primarily decades-old research," he said in a an email to Livescience. Righting past omissions would also help, Prescod-Weinstein said. For example, in 1974, the Nobel prize in physics was awarded to two recipients Antony Hewish and Martin Ryle for the 1967 discovery of pulsars, a type of star that pulses rapidly. Yet the actual discovery made by poring over the data from radio telescopes, was the work of Jocelyn Bell. "Tthe prize should be able to retroactively correct errors, such as Jocelyn Bell not receiving the prize for her own discovery, with her advisor getting it instead," Prescod-Weinstein said. Can the Nobels be fixed? Prescod-Weinstein said the committee could be more open to changes in how it awards the prizes. "Eventually, it becomes hard to take the selections seriously, because we have no idea what factors are taken into consideration, except that somehow, it ends with only white and Asian men receiving the prize," Prescod-Weinstein said. (Sir William Arthur Lewis is the sole black Nobel laureate in the sciences [economics, 1979], and there are six science laureates who are Latino.) The nominations for the prizes, and the deliberations that went into the awards, are kept secret for 50 years. So it's hard to know whether more women were nominated in the 1970s and 1980s, and we won't know for another decade. It's possible Rubin, for example, was nominated, and passed over. Some, like Francis, say it might be time to retire the Nobels. "They're fundamentally about something that's not an adequate reflection of real science, and they reinforce the worst aspects of the culture of science," he said. "Maybe we should dump 'em and start over." Original article on Live Science. Several Samsung Galaxy Note 7's lay on a counter in plastic bags after they were returned to a Best Buy on Sep 15, 2016 in Orem, Utah. (Photo : Getty Images/George Frey) The South Korean tech giant, Samsung, has resumed sales for its recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 via T-Mobile. Customers having a recalled Note 7 will have their device exchanged for a new model or issued a full refund. The manufacturer has replaced most of the defective Note 7 handsets and it is shipping them to the United States carriers to stock them. T-Mobile has resumed sales of the Galaxy Note 7 today, Oct. 5 and in participating stores countrywide. Advertisement "Customers with a recalled Samsung Galaxy Note7 can bring it to a T-Mobile store and exchange it for a new CPSC-approved Galaxy Note7 replacement or, if there are no replacement Note7s available, get a temporary device," read a statement on T-Mobile official website. "We'll waive any restocking charges, and customers can keep the free Netflix subscription and Gear Fit or SD card they received with purchase during pre-order." According to the statement, customers can as well exchange their recalled Note 7 and any Note 7 accessories they bought from the carrier for a full refund and choose from any devices in stock. T-Mobile posted the information online and addressed clients who may have a defective Galaxy Note 7. Most customers have increasingly embraced the idea of jumping to phablets with screen sizes close to a small tablet. Apple reportedly increased the production of its new 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus because of high demand for the smartphone, which remains sold out. The high demand is seemingly attributed to a change in speed after the iPhone 7 Plus updated to a beta version of iOS 10.1, according to BGR. Samsung hopes to capitalize on the fact that the iPhone 7 Plus is sold out as it re-launches its recalled Galaxy Note 7. The manufacturer was receiving a lot of credit for its new flagship phablet before reports emerged that the Galaxy Note 7 had defective batteries. Samsung made the Note 7 out of premium metal and glass, besides using a unique curved edge display that not only makes the phablet stand out from competitors, but also adds a UI that is accessible by swiping the right side of the screen. The Note 7 is packed with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC, 4 GB of RAM, and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Samsung announced that the Note 7 would receive an update to Android 7.0 Nougat. It is the first device from Samsung that features an iris scanner that allows users to unlock it by staring at the screen, in addition to being the first Galaxy Note to be waterproof and dust resistant. Watch the footage below for more information on Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Out of four uterus transplants that were recently performed at a U.S. hospital, three were not successful, doctors announced today. What makes uterus transplants so challenging, and why might they fail? In mid-September, doctors at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas performed four uterus transplants on women who were born without the organ, according to a statement from the university today (Oct. 5). The uteruses came from living donors, marking the first time such transplants have been performed in the United States. In February, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic performed the country's first uterus transplant, but the organ came from a deceased donor. However, three of the women who received the transplants at Baylor needed to have their uteruses removed after follow-up tests showed that in all three cases, the organ was not receiving proper blood flow, the statement said. The patient at the Cleveland Clinic who received the first transplanted uterus also needed to have the organ removed, because of a yeast infection that had developed and caused complications. [The 9 Most Interesting Transplants] So far, there have been 16 uterus transplants in the world that have been reported, and eight were not successful. The main challenge for uterus transplants is that the surgery is very new, so it will take time to perfect. "It's not so much more difficult [than other transplants]; it's just that it's a brand-new surgery, so the learning curve is steep figuring out how to actually do it," Dr. Alexander Maskin, an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), told Live Science in an interview in March. Maskin was not involved with the Baylor or Cleveland Clinic cases, but he is helping plan a uterus transplant program at UNMC. Three decades ago, kidney transplants took 6 to 10 hours to complete, but can now be done in an hour and a half, Maskin said. Indeed, doctors at both Baylor and Cleveland Clinic said that the unsuccessful surgeries will likely result in changes to the surgery protocols, in the hope of improving future outcomes. The doctors at Baylor "believe the valuable learnings from the cases will result in recommendations to change the current protocols in operative and post-operative management of uterine transplant patients, with specific attention to the thickness of the uterine veins," the medical center's statement said. Another challenge is that uterus transplants are slightly more complex than other organ transplants. "The uterus lies deep inside the pelvis and [so] it's difficult to access," Dr. Andreas Tzakis, who led the Cleveland Clinic uterus transplant surgery, said at a news conference in March. "And the [blood] vessels are all deep inside the pelvis as well. So it's a little bit more difficult," than other transplants, Tzakis said. Uterus transplants can fail for the same general reasons that any organ transplant fails, Maskin said. The main reasons for failure include organ rejection, which is when the patient's immune system attacks the organ; an infection of the organ (as happened in the Cleveland case); or problems with the organ's blood supply (as happened in the Baylor cases). In 2014, doctors in Sweden performed nine uterus transplants using organs from living donors. In two of those cases, the transplanted organs had to be removed after the surgery. But five of the Swedish women were able to become pregnant and give birth. Members of that Swedish team assisted in the Baylor surgeries. One patient from Baylor still has her transplanted uterus, and there are currently no signs of rejection, the statement said. "We are cautiously optimistic that she could ultimately become the first uterine transplant recipient in the U.S. to make it to the milestone of uterine functionality," the statement said. The plan is for that patient to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) in six to 12 months, according to Time. Baylor is planning a total of 10 uterus transplants before the end of the year, but doctors will assess the results from the first four surgeries before continuing with the other six, Time said. Original article on Live Science. See more An overhead satellite image of Hurricane Matthew battering Haiti is disturbing people across the internet for an unusual reason: The image bears an uncanny resemblance to a skull or spooky goblin face. The sinister satellite image, which was posted on Twitter Tuesday (Oct. 4) by Stu Ostro, a meteorologist at The Weather Channel, went viral, with users likening the creepy face to the Grinch or a skull. The image, which was taken using infrared light, was color coded to show the most intense portions of Hurricane Matthew. Color coding is a standard practice in weather reporting, though it's not clear whether this color coding was intentionally ghoulish. The seeming row of teeth in the storm's creepy face are actually convection clouds, Paul Meyer, an atmospheric scientist at NASA's Earth Science Office, told CNN. [Face on a Comet: See Images of Faces in Space] Hurricane Matthew is currently heading toward the Bahamas, but the storm could cause intense winds and rainfall on Florida's east coast and parts of North Carolina, according to an update released by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 8 a.m. ET today (Oct. 5). The storm is currently listed as a Category 3 hurricane, the NHC reported. Seeing faces The phenomenon of seeing significance in random images or objects, known as pareidolia, is surprisingly common; humans are wired to see structure and significance in images, according to David Huber, a psychologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who has studied the phenomenon. "Your brain is constantly trying to make the most out of just the tiniest thing," Huber previously told Live Science. "You're sort of in overdrive on imagining from limited information that there is a face." And humans are particularly wired to see faces everywhere: From an evolutionarily perspective, humans probably had a need to react more quickly to things with faces from a scary tiger, to an enemy tribesman, to a cute and hungry baby than to inanimate objects, Huber said. Add in millions of years of evolution, and voila: the image of the Virgin Mary on toast, a face on a comet and ghoulish skulls in hurricane imagery. Original article on Live Science. US and ASEAN Navies to hold Largest Naval Exercise in Asia; China not Invited ASEAN logo (Photo : ASEAN ) The United States Navy will hold its largest naval drill in Asia with all 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that is, if China's three steadfast ASEAN allies attend and if the Philippines' anti-U.S. and pro-communist president allows the Philippine Navy to participate. Advertisement The United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) announced the as yet unnamed joint exercise with ASEAN navies to assist the fractious and enfeebled grouping of nations to strengthen their surveillance capabilities. U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter unveiled the plan a few days ago during a meeting with ASEAN defense ministers in Hawaii even as China continues unilateral building and militarizing its illegal island outposts in the disputed South China Sea. Since the exercise was only recently announced, there were no details about the warships to be involved, the number of personnel, the dates and location in Asia of the exercise. But there is the strong possibility the exercise will take place in the South China Sea. ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have competing claims to small portions the South China Sea. Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are allied to China. Vietnam and the Philippines are the staunchest anti-China members of ASEAN but that alliance is now in doubt given leftist Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's anti-U.S. and pro-China leanings. On the other hand, China claims to own most of the sea based on its illegal and discredited historical rights claim. The defense ministers' meeting was the first between U.S. and ASEAN since an arbitration ruling on July 12 invalidated China's claims to own almost the entire South China Sea. China has refused to comply with the rulings of the tribunal, preferring to instead assume the role of Asian bully boy. Carter and his ASEAN counterparts also agreed to boost information sharing and to hold talks in 2017 on maritime security involving the U.S. Navy, coast guard authorities and ASEAN. Washington will invite ASEAN defense ministers to the U.S. in 2017 for talks to increase surveillance activities by ASEAN. Carter told the ASEAN defense ministers the United States will assist their countries in their efforts to safeguard the waters and ensure they're open to all. Carter said Washington will expand President Barack Obama's "pivot to Asia" policy that will see most of the U.S. Navy's strength, including its most modern weapons, deployed to Asia. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. It was a day for celebration in Ballymahon last Monday when Center Parcs CEO Martin Dalby and Minister for Jobs & Enterprise Mary Mitchell OConnor came to town. The occasion was the Center Parcs Longford Forest development, which, those in the Goldsmith Room at the local library heard, will start in the Spring of 2017. This has been met with much enthusiasm and as Cllr Paul Ross (FG) pointed out, it was the fast-tracking of the planning application by Longford Co Council that left the biggest impression on the Center Parcs team, One of the main impressions left here today was the fact that Center Parcs UK have never had a planning application come through the whole process so quickly, added Cllr Ross. As a result of that, the development here in Ballymahon is ready to start now effectively - and that it very significant. A Community Forum is to be established by Center Parcs in Ballymahon towards the end of this year and those present at the library on Monday heard that this would ensure that all groups and associations in and around the south Longford town would be represented there. This, added Mr Dalby will be all about inclusion. Responding to the move, Cllr Ross said it was all very exciting as workshops to provide employment information will also be put in place at the same time as the Forum. Everyone asks about jobs so all of this will be addressed when that process is rolled out in November, the local area representative continued, before pointing out that return and value for money from the project were key. Meanwhile, Brexit and the news at the weekend that Britain would begin its exit from the EU as early as 2019 were also addressed in Ballymahon on Monday, Many were curious as to whether or not there would be any implications for the UK development in Ballymahon as a direct result of the move. Absolutely not, said Mr Dalby, before adding that Center Parcs had absolutely no concerns about Brexit with regard to the development of Longford Forest. Cllr Colm Murray (FG) also welcomed this news. People had concerns following the vote a few months ago by the UK to leave the EU, but Martin Dalby has made the assurances here today that it has left Center Parcs undeterred and they are intent on going ahead with this development here in Ballymahon, he added. This project forms part of Center Parcs' Business Plan for the next few decades and even though the pound is weakening and will put pressure on some of the companys projected costs, Center Parcs remains fully committed to the project here in Ballymahon. That is very, very reassuring. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell OConnor then assured the people of Co Longford that the 1,000 or so long-term sustainable jobs at Centre Parcs - once it is up and running - would be given to local people. The event also heard that AIT had come on board and it would ensure that all the necessary skills would be provided through varying degrees of training programmes and appropriate courses. There will be 750 jobs during the construction phase with a further 1,000 sustainable jobs thereafter, added the Minister. I have been around the town here today; people are genuinely delighted that this is coming to Ballymahon. This also ties in with the Governments Rural & Regional Action Plan for Jobs. Finally there were also questions about the Gas pipeline and its extension to Longford. Mr Dalby has made no bones about the fact that Longford Forest will have gas, but whether or not the rest of the county will benefit from this, still remains unclear. The CEO said on Monday that he was due to have discussions with the relevant authorities in respect of the matter over the next couple of months, and he would not be able to comment one way or another about the matter until those talks concluded. By Aisling Kiernan Lunchtime protests at four Longford secondary schools that were planned to take place today have been postponed. More than 280 Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) members from schools in Longford and Westmeath held lunchtime stoppages on Tuesday, September 27 over a dispute with Longford/Westmeath Education & Training Board (ETB) to implement nationally agreed grievance procedures. Further lunchtime stoppages had been planned for today (October 5) and on Thursday, October 13. However, todays stoppage was postponed as Chief Executive of Longford/Westmeath ETB, Dr Christy Duffy agreed to meet with the TUI in relation to the alleged grievance. Declan Flanagan, TUI Branch Secretary and teacher at Ardscoil Phadraig in Granard said, We were quite willing to postpone the protests in light of Dr Duffys acceptance of our willingness to engage with the national grievance procedure. He added, We want to move matters on to stage three of the process and it now looks likely that we will be able to do that. Local News, National & World News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: October 05 2016 New Yorkers must register to vote by October 14 in order to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential election on Tuesday, November 8. Albany, NY - October 4, 2016 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a record number of New Yorkers registered to vote online using the Department of Motor Vehicles automated online system during the month of September. The website processed more than 140,600 applications, including more than 78,400 applications from first time voters, an all-time high in both categories. New Yorkers must register to vote by October 14 in order to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential election on Tuesday, November 8. "Knocking down artificial barriers to New York's voter registration process has encouraged hundreds of thousands of voters to get involved," Governor Cuomo said. "I encourage eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of this convenient and accessible online tool before October 14 in order to ensure their voices are heard this November." Since Governor Cuomo launched the online application system in 2012, the DMV website has processed more than 607,600 online voter registration applications, including nearly 261,000 from first time voters. The previous monthly record was set in March 2016 ahead of New Yorks presidential primary, with more than 98,400 total applications, including nearly 50,400 first time voters. In comparison, the DMV website processed more than 9,200 voter registration applications, including nearly 3,400 from first time voters in September 2015, and in September 2012, the website processed more than 13,700, including nearly 5,200 from first time voters. DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan said, "Governor Cuomo's launch of the DMV online voter application system has served as a true gateway to the democratic process for hundreds of thousands of people. In a democratic society, the people have the ultimate say in how they want to be led. DMV is proud to play a role in bringing more and more new voters into the election process." The DMV website now allows New Yorkers to register to vote without signing up for a MyDMV account. Applicants must enter information from their New York State driver license, permit, or non-driver ID, their date of birth, current zip code, last four digits of their Social Security Number, and email address. The information provided is validated to ensure accuracy and security. New Yorkers must register to vote by October 14 in order to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential election on Tuesday, November 8. To register to vote, a New Yorker must: Be a United States citizen. Be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you submit the form, (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote). Live at their present address at least 30 days before an election. Not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction. Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court. Not claim the right to vote elsewhere. DMV does not approve or deny voter registration applications. Upon completion, DMV sends the voter registration applications to the appropriate County Board of Elections for review and action. Once processed, the county will notify the applicants that they are registered to vote, or that additional information is needed to complete the application. New Yorkers can also visit the New York State Board of Elections to check their voter registration status. Click here for a list of frequently asked questions about registering to vote through the DMV website. Nature & Weather, Local News, National & World News By Christian Abbatecola Published: October 05 2016 The latest prediction models for Hurricane Matthew show it veering far away from the Northeast. Hurricane Matthew caused massive devastation as it moved through Haiti this week, and the massive storm is now moving toward the southeastern United States. Exactly what impact it will have in the region will depend largely on where the center of the storm will be as it continues northward, but Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas remain within its potential path. Matthew, which has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds up to 120 mph, could reach the east coast of Florida on Thursday and is expected to creep north toward Georgia through Friday night. The National Hurricane Center predicts that the storm will strengthen over the next two days, with a return to Category 4 strength not outside the realm of possibilities. Those living in the Northeast can breathe a sigh of relief today as the most recent prediction models now show Matthew trending far southwest of the region, likely heading out to sea by the time it reaches as far north as Virginia. While prior models showed Long Island as a potential destination for Matthew sometime after Sunday morning, the newest predictions have its path far south of New York and likely on its way out to sea for that same time period. The models can, of course, change as the storm continues to move north, so it is still advisable to keep an eye on the forecast and stay abreast of the latest updates for anyone living on Long Island or elsewhere in the region. For the most up to date weather information head over to the LongIsland.com Weather Center , where you can find the latest weather forecasts, advisories and more. Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: October 05 2016 The Second Squad reports the details of two Robberies which occurred on Monday, October 3, 2016 and Tuesday October 4, 2016 in Hicksville. Pictured: Jose Roberto Savala, 19, of Hicksville has been arrested in connection to the incidents. Update - October 6, 2016 - Second Squad detectives report the arrest of Jose Roberto Savala, 19, of Hicksville in connection with the incidents. Savala was also responsible for an additional pedestrian robbery that occurred on Sunday, September 18, 2016 in front of 71 N. Broadway, Hicksville. During that incident Savala assaulted a 41 year old male and removed his backpack and wallet. The defendant is charged with Robbery 1st Degree, two (2) counts of Robbery 3rd Degree, Assault 1st Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree. He will be arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead on 10/06/16. The original press release is below. Hicksville, NY - October 5, 2016 - The Second Squad reports the details of two Robberies which occurred on Monday, October 3, 2016 and Tuesday October 4, 2016 in Hicksville. According to detectives, on Monday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m. a female victim, 63, while walking on Jerusalem Avenue in the vicinity of W. Marie Street was approached from behind by an unknown male in his twenties who was riding a bicycle. The suspect forcibly grabbed the victims purse from her wrist before fleeing southbound on Jerusalem Avenue. No injuries were reported. On Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 3:40 p.m. a second female victim, 63, while walking on Jerusalem Avenue in the vicinity of W. Cherry Street was approached from behind by a male matching the same description riding a bicycle who forcibly grabbed her pocketbook from her shoulder before fleeing southbound on Jerusalem Avenue. No injuries were reported. Detectives ask anyone with information regarding these crimes to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous. 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 Ansar Dine, a largely Tuareg front group for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), has claimed credit for a series of attacks on UN forces yesterday near the town of Aguelhok in the Kidal Region. The strikes included two separate incidents of rocket and mortar shelling and ambushes using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The first occurrence of shelling occurred with Grad rockets, which targeted the UN base in Aguelhok. The rockets did little damage, but it was reported that one vehicle was destroyed. After the shelling, a Chadian patrol team mounted a combing operation near the area where the shells were fired. Ansar Dine claims that when the Chadian troops were near the area, it ambushed the patrol with an IED. One peacekeeper was killed in the blast, while another died from his injuries later in the day. After the IED, an ambulance belonging to the Chadian contingent at Aguelhok was hit by another IED trying to make its way to the earlier patrol. As this was happening, mortars were again fired into the UN camp. Elsewhere in Mali, suspected jihadists targeted a Malian military checkpoint near Timbuktu today, leaving one soldier dead. Two civilians are also reported to have sustained injuries as a result of the assault. While no group has so far taken responsibility, the Timbuktu Region is the main area of operations for AQIMs al Furqan Battalion, which is part of its Sahara Emirate. According to data compiled by The Long War Journal, there have been at least 175 al Qaeda-linked attacks in Mali and the wider West African region so far in 2016. This number represents a significant uptick in the insurgency waged by al Qaeda and its many affiliates and allies in Mali in recent years. Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The Islamic States Khorasan province claimed it killed a US soldier and three Afghan troops in an IED attack that took place in the contested district of Achin in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Despite multiple efforts to eject the group from Nangarhar, Achin remains a haven for the Islamic State. Amaq News Agency, a propaganda arm of the Islamic State, claimed that it eliminated the US and Afghan soldiers in a brief statement that was published on its website (see above). US Forces-Afghanistan announced yesterday that a soldier was killed in an IED attack in Achin: One U.S. service member died as a result of wounds sustained during operations in Achin district, Nangarhar Province today The service member was killed conducting operations with Afghan forces when the patrol triggered an Improvised Explosive Device. The mission was conducted as part of a larger United States-Afghan counter terrorism mission targeting the Islamic State, Khorasan. An investigation is being conducted to determine the exact circumstances of the event. US forces have been active in hunting the Islamic State in Nangarhar, and have taken casualties during operations there in the past. The US killed Hafiz Saeed Khan, the Islamic States emir for Khorasan province, in an airstrike in Achin district in late July. Other senior Islamic State leaders have been neutralized in US strikes in Nangarhar. Last week, the US is thought to have killed civilians in an airstrike in Achin that targeted the Islamic State. In a Sept. 23 Pentagon press briefing, General John Nicholson, the commander of US Forces-Afghanistan and the Resolute Support mission, said that the Islamic State largely confined to Nangarhar: They are primarily in Nangarhar. We estimate their numbers are 1,200 to 1,300 fighters. Theyre primarily Pakistani Pashtun from the Agoricsi Agency [Arakazai tribal agency in Pakistan], who were previously part of (inaudible) Taliban Pakistan, TTP, who then changed alliance to ISK. They were joined by some fighters from Islamic movement of Uzbekistan, who joined them as well. They have some enclaves in Kunar Province but primarily theyre in Nangarhar Province. Their goal was to establish their caliphate the Khorasan Province, with Jalalabad as the capital and Nangarhar as their initial caliphate. Now theyve been frustrated in that by us and the operations in July have pushed them down into the mountains of southern Nangarhar. And its primarily in three to four districts. As you know, Courtney, there was a time when they had spread out to nine to ten districts last year in 2015. So the operations this year have helped to push them down. And we will continue these operations into the future. The Islamic State has been under siege in Nangarhar for well over a year. In addition to being targeted by US and Afghan forces, the Taliban has battled the group for control of Nangarhar ever since the Islamic State declared war on it. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. As the fighting inside the northern Afghan city of Kunduz continues for its third day, a Taliban fighter stationed there threatened to take the White House. The ongoing fighting directly contradicts US military claims that Kunduz was cleared of the Taliban three days ago. An unnamed Taliban fighter who claims to be in Kunduz threatened the United States while being videotaped at a checkpoint inside the city. The video, which was published by Afghan journalist Ahmed Yar, was published on Twitter. I say to Obama, today we take Kunduz, tomorrow we will take the White House, the Taliban fighter says (video is below). The fighter levels his threat against the US as armed fighters man the checkpoint and stop cars moving on the busy road. After initially denying on Oct. 3 that there was fighting in the city, Resolute Support, the NATO command in Afghanistan, claimed that Afghan forces control Kunduz. However, reports from Afghanistan indicate that clashes inside the city continue, and the Taliban remains entrenched. Yesterday, reports from Kunduz suggested that the front line in Kunduz was just outside of the governors compound in the center of the city. It is unclear if the situation has changed for the better. According to TOLONews, Residents and security force personnel also say the Taliban has control of large parts of the city and only the governors compound, the NDS headquarters and a few other government buildings are still in the control of security forces. The US military has launched two airstrikes in Kunduz, and the commander of Afghan forces said that the Taliban has launched attacks from the south and east of the city as Afghan forces begin clearance operations, The Associated Press reported. The Taliban took control of Kunduz for two weeks last fall, and also threatened the city earlier this year. The provincial capitals of Helmand and Uruzgan are also under direct threat, and reports from Baghlan indicate that the Taliban fighting on the outskirts of Pul-i-Khumri. A Taliban fighter in #Kunduz today detailing the situation in English at a checkpoint they built in the city. pic.twitter.com/sXNRYH6DxV Ahmet Yar (@Pashtunist) October 5, 2016 Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Yemeni Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed they successfully fired anti-ship rockets at an United Arab Emirates military vessel in the Bab el Mandeb Strait that was approaching the Yemeni port of Mocha. The Iranian-backed Houthis posted videos of the attack which were circulated by the Lebanese Hezbollah media outlet Al Alam. U.S. officials told Fox News on October 3 that Iran had supplied the Houthis with the shoulder-fired rockets that nearly destroyed the vessel, but this claim is inconsistent with footage from the video and the damage to the vessel, according to military experts who spoke with the Long War Journal. Reports indicate that it was likely a C-801 or C-802 anti-ship missile. Bab el Mandeb is a strategic maritime chokepoint that connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. More than 4.7 million barrels of oil flowed through this waterway daily in 2014. The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to put down the Houthi insurgents who had seized control of the capital Sanaa in 2014, and to restore the exiled president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) also controls swaths of territory in central and southern Yemen, and the U.S. frequently targets AQAP with the approval of the exiled government. The United Nations has declared a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with over 10,000 killed, at least 3,800 civilians, in the 18 months between March 2015 and August 2016. On October 5, the UAE Foreign Ministry announced that the vessel struck on Saturday was a civilian catamaran carrying aid passing through the strait. No one was killed, but some members of the civilian crew were injured. The UAE denounced the incident as an act of terrorism, and warned about the attacks implications for freedom of navigation. The United Nations Security Council has also condemned the attack, declaring the same day that it takes threats to shipping around Bab el Mandeb extremely seriously. The United States has furthermore reiterated its commitment to upholding freedom of navigation through Bab el Mandeb, according to a strongly-worded condemnation issued by the State Department Spokesman on October 4, one day after the Houthi attack. The U.S. Navy has dispatched to the strait two destroyers, the USS Mason and USS Nitze, and the USS Ponce the last of these a floating staging ship which includes a compliment of special operations forces. Sending the warships to the area is a message that the primary goal of the Navy is to ensure that shipping continues unimpeded in the strait and the vicinity, said a U.S. defense official. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is in charge of Tehrans extraterritorial military activities, is believed to be arming the Houthis with missiles and rockets, including a variant of the Zelzal-3 artillery rocket that was unveiled in August and stationed near the Saudi border. Since the summer of 2015, Western navies have intercepted at least four weapons shipments of Iranian origin bound for Yemen. In April, the U.S. Navy publicized the interception of an Iranian cargo ship seized in late March. While visiting Saudi Arabia in late August, Secretary of State John Kerry said he was deeply troubled about Iranian-supplied projectiles positioned on the Saudi border. Kerry also called Irans shipment of missiles and other sophisticated weapons into Yemen as not just a threat to Saudi Arabia; it is a threat to the region, [and] it is a threat to the United States. [Update: Military experts told The Long War Journal on October 6 that the Houthis fired a cruise missile] [Update: The latest data on daily oil flow through the Bab el Mandeb Strait is from 2014, not 2013 as initially stated.] 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. To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry. Disclaimer Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here. Culture / Events Luxuo meets Ray Perry, CEO of Raffles Marina and learns more about the venue that will host the SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS. Oct 05, 2016 | By Vimi Haridasan Raffles Marina plays host this month to the highly anticipated SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS. While we have met several of our trustworthy partners who will be on hand to meet guests, we thought it is time that we introduce you to Ray Parry, the CEO of Raffles Marina. As the man behind Singapores first marina, Parry talks to us about the venue that will host the islands largest luxury lifestyle event and what is in store for the marina. Raffles Marina is the first marina built in Singapore. Could you tell us more about the history of the marina and its location? It was the first modern recreational marina with country club facilities. The Club is 22 years old, and offers an international standard of berthing and facilities. Its location provides a gateway for cruising around local waters and up the west coast of Malaysia and Thailand, to Phuket and beyond. The location also offers stunning sunsets, as we are located on the western tip of Singapore. Raffles Marina is a big advocate of protecting the environment. Could you elaborate on the efforts made by the marina to help conserve the environment and marine wildlife? We work with many partners regarding environmental issues. A recent study by NUS on marina environments found an enormous bio diversity of sea life in and around the marina, which was most encouraging. We also partner with various NGOs including Biosphere Foundation, whose exploration boat MIR is home berthed at the Marina. Biosphere Foundation conducts research and manages environmental projects throughout Asia, from coral mapping to whale monitoring and sustainable fishing practices. Raffles Marina has close links with Indonesia and has been advocating for more open cruising grounds between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Please tell us more. Raffles Marina has had a long and happy association with Indonesia, be it organizing in-house cruises, to exploring the extraordinarily diverse archipelago, or engagement with government authorities on recreational marine matters. We congratulate Indonesia for their recent far-sighted liberalization of their Marine Tourism sector, including the spectacular list of countries now granted visa-free access to explore this region. What specific yachting activities and services does Raffles marina provide to its members? Both yachting and boating facilities are available at Raffles Marina. As well as secure and safe berthing, both on the water and in our stackable boat-house, we offer all the services required in a modern marina. Anything from utilities, Wi Fi, and fuel to guidance, regional experience and a great network of regional marinas, When ashore our boaters can enjoy the clubs two restaurants, pub, 19 bedrooms and a variety of meeting spaces. Weve heard a lot about the excellent food available at Raffles Marina. Could you tell us more about it? Our Chinese Restaurant, Captains Table features Szechuan Cuisine. Captains Table has also recently begun to specialise in TCM-inspired dishes, offering significant health benefits whilst remaining satisfying and very tasty. Our Bistro, with Alfresco dining, meets all the needs of local favorites along with some memorable Western and Indian offerings. The Pub is the go-to place for cooling ale and one of the most spectacular sunsets that Singapore has to offer. What does hosting SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS mean to Raffles Marina? We are delighted to be the host venue for SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS. It is a unique lifestyle show and we are excited to see the amazing variety and quality of participating organizations for visitors that has been coordinated by the event organizers Could you share your best personal experience as the CEO of Raffles Marina? There are many highlights. Amongst the best are the annual closing Dinners following our Western Circuit Sailing Regatta each year. This is a fun event jointly organised by Singapore Management University and Raffles Marina. Now in its 19th year, the event is Singapores biggest sailing regatta and traditionally on that final night, we hold an auction to raise funds in support of Sailability, sailing for the disabled community in Singapore. These funds go towards purchasing new boats for our disabled sailing community to get out on the water and compete at the highest of levels. To see sailors giving back so readily to advance their sport for others is always gratifying. More info on the Marina on Raffles Marinas website Book your tickets for SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS now Culture / Events We take a look at the new F&B partner, The Lifestyle Concepts, that will be a part of the SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS. Oct 05, 2016 | By Vimi Haridasan No event is complete without good eats and SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS promises to be no different. The organizers welcome aboard The Lifecycle Concepts as the official F&B partner for the event in October. That name might not be familiar to you but the lifestyle consultancy company happens to be the brains behind some of Singapores most popular local dining options. From Jubilee, a vintage-themed coffee house and bar, to Contemporary Melting-Pot & Bar (CM-PB), a fused Cafe-Bar-Bistro set in a bungalow, the company has developed numerous and notable dining options. Other lifestyle concepts they have brought to Singapore include weekend activity hub for the family the Singapore Wake Park (SWP), its associated restaurant Costal Rhythm Cafe & Bar as well as The Coastal Settlement (TCS), which brings the coastal life to you. On the docks of Raffles Marina, The Lifecycle Concepts will incorporate various elements in its repertory for all to enjoy. With a mobile caravan churning out speciality drinks like cider slushies, an afternoon tea buffet, a live acoustic act that serenades guests as they soak in the sunset, The Lifecycle Concepts will provide a relaxing atmosphere. Apart from the numerous dining options, The Lifecycle Concepts will also be bringing in Vespas and classic cars to be on display. One highlight is the famous 1961 Morris Minor (above) that is now a colorful art piece thanks to Singaporean artist Chieu Shuey Fook. Join us at the SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS from October 20 to 23. Book your tickets on SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS official website. Five armed Islamists were killed in an army operation in a mountainous region of southeast Algeria on Thursday, the defence ministry said. An army unit shot dead the "five terrorists" in Jebel Ouslati near the Batna region, around 450 kilometres (280 miles) from the capital Algiers, said the ministry. It said arms and "a large quantity" of munitions were seized. Algerian authorities use the term "terrorists" for armed Islamists who have been active in the North African state since a devastating civil war in the 1990s. This year, at least 106 suspected Islamists have been killed in army operations in the east and south of the country, according to an AFP count compiled from official statements. Search Keywords: Short link: After years of making killer software, Googles next step is to try to integrate it all together into hardware thats just as impressive. On Tuesday, Google showcased a slew of new products aiming to replicate Apples success when it comes to creating an ecosystem. The high-end Pixel phones feature state-of-the-art cameras and a built-in virtual assistant. Daydream View is a portable headset designed specifically for Android VR. While Google Home, Chromecast Ultra, and a new Wi-Fi router aim to create a hyper-connected house. At first glance, Googles products seem promising, but one key component seems to be missing from this new hardware play. For Google to truly compete with Apple in selling a high-end ecosystem, it needs to put customer support front-and-center. And Google simply cant do that without operating its own retail stores. When your iPhone breaks, your first instinct is to take it to the Apple store. What happens when your Pixel phone starts acting up? Googles customer service is virtual or outsourced Even though Google is now selling Apple-priced tech products, the company has a different approach to customer service. Instead of operating physical locations, Google is concentrating on virtual support. Pixel owners will be able to tap a support tab on their settings to access a 24-hour chat and call service. They will also be able to share their Pixel screen with the customer rep. Tapping on a support tab and subsequent screen-sharing wont be an option, however, if you cant get your Pixel phone to turn on. Unlike software, hardware sometimes requires physical assistance. For that, Google will be relying on other retailers like Best Buy and Verizon, which will be selling the Pixel phones later this year. However, its unclear whether Google will give special training to Best Buy and Verizon reps on how to best fix a Pixel phone. Its likely that these third-party retailers might only be able to help Pixel owners order a replacement phone. Microsoft Microsoft Store inside Best Buy Furthermore, outsourcing customer service runs counter to Googles ambitious hardware strategy, which had the company choosing to solely design and develop the Pixel phones in-house. Fundamentally, we believe that a lot of the innovation that we want to do now ends up requiring controlling the end-to-end user experience, Googles head of hardware Rick Osterloh told The Verge. But by relying on Verizon middlemen instead of Googles own brand of genius, the company missed out on controlling a vital aspect of the user experience: Continued customer support. Apple became a hardware powerhouse thanks to its retail stores In the 90s, Apple was in a similar situation that Google is in now. Apple products were sold in Sears and CompUSA, but they werent flying off the shelves. When Steve Jobs returned, he felt that Apple hardware in those mega-stores was hard to find, and the only thing the employees seemed to know about Macs was that they didnt run Windows. Consumer electronics retail is broken: selling products at traditional venues like Best Buy leads to undifferentiated displays, sales associates with limited product knowledge, and a poor overall buying experience, Forrester analyst J.P. Gownder told Fortune. Apples enthusiastic employees Theres a reason why CompUSA is no longer in business, while Apple has had tremendous success in creating and controlling its retail experience. The Apple stores are laid out to showcase each product to its full potential and to give customers a unique hands-on experience, whether that means trying on an Apple Watch or playing video games using the Apple TV. And the Apple employees are trained meticulously on all the products, some even to the point of garnering the title of geniuses. Its a strategy that Microsoft followed to a T in 2009, and one that Google seemed to flirt with in 2013. Google ultimately decided to forego the idea in 2015, but that was before it was trying to convince people to buy a $649 phone. Malaria Consortium helps train health workers in Bangladeshi area with highest malaria transmission 5 October 2016 October 2016, Dhaka, Bangladesh - I want to thank Malaria Consortium for giving us their brains. So said Professor Dr. A K M Shamsuzzaman, Director of the Disease Control and Line Director, Communicable Disease Control Department of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), at the end of a three-day training-of-trainers from the Bangladesh Ministry of Health. For the first time in Bangladesh, Malaria Consortium, in collaboration with icddr,b, conducted a training that brought together two different divisions within the DGHS: Family Welfare and Communicable Diseases, which is also home to Bangladeshs National Malaria Control Programme. The integration of both divisions and their expertise will leverage the success of this UK aid funded project as the training provided new knowledge and skills. The focus was on training staff from Union Welfare Clinics and family welfare staff who currently have access to communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, one of the last remaining malaria endemic parts of Bangladesh. The participatory training focused on how to diagnose, test and treat malaria as well as improve interpersonal communication, supervision and training skills. It was developed and delivered by Malaria Consortium and involved interactive practical learning sessions for 29 medical doctors and family planning officers who will now become trainers themselves. The selected trainers will pass on their knowledge to 60 sub-assistant community medical officers, family welfare assistants and family welfare visitors during two cascade trainings to be held in Bandarban in the border area of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Subsequently, three supervision visits will help to collect data on the efficacy of the training and follow-up visits to produce a workforce who can deliver quality assured care to their clients and make recommendations for scaling up the intervention to the DGHS. Reflecting the importance of the training, the DGHS held a ceremony for the three-day event which was attended by dignitaries including Dr. Shimul Koli Hossain, Program Manager at A & RH, Mother and Child Health (MCH) Services Unit, Directorate General of Family Planning, DGFP, Dr. Abu Nayeem Mohammad Sohel, Evaluator for Malaria with the National Malaria Control Programme, Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Director MCH Services and Line Director, MCRAH, Dr. SM Akhtaruzzaman Deputy Programme Manager, NMCP, Dr. Wasif Ali Khan, icddr,b and as well as Prof. Shamsuzzaman. In an interview given to Bangladeshi television, Dr. Prudence Hamade, Malaria Consortium Senior Technical Adviser, said The integration of expertise of both divisions is unique in the Bangladeshi health landscape. Combining this expertise with a practical learning approach will help health workers to address malaria effectively in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, especially among pregnant women and children who are very vulnerable to malaria infection and at present underserved by existing health services. This is the first time since 2011 that the two presidents have headed the meeting; Sisi awards Bashir army Order of Honour star Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir signed a comprehensive partnership agreement on Wednesday in Cairo during bilateral high committee meetings, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported. Fifteen memoranda of understanding were also signed on the sidelines of the meetings in various fields including commerce, education, tourism, economy, transportation and agriculture. El-Sisi awarded the Sudanese president the Egyptian army's Order of Honour Star for his participation with Sudanese army units in the 6 October War in 1973 and the War of Attrition after 1967. In opening remarks during the ceremony, El-Sisi said that "a comprehensive strategy between the two countries shall enhance cooperation and further progress in all fields." He added that Egypt and Sudan face similar regional and international challenges, stressing the importance of cooperation to counter "extremism and terrorism." This is the first time since 2011, when the committee was founded, that the two presidents have headed its meetings. In previous years, the proceedings were chaired at the prime ministerial level. The Egyptian-Sudanese high committee consists of sub-committees for military affairs, policy and security, economics and finance, transportation, education, culture, health, water resources and agriculture. The Egyptian president stressed Cairo's support for all efforts to achieve peace and stability in Sudan, adding that Egypt will exert its utmost effort to support Sudan's sovereignty and prosperity. On his part, Al-Bashir called for strengthening bilateral cooperation within a practical framework and mechanisms to maintain the security of the two countries, given the regional circumstances. Sudan's president added that the meetings were "positive" and reflect the "special" bilateral relations between the two countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Mumbai: The Mumbai police filed a case against the veteran Bollywood actor Om Puri following the comments he made during a television debate on the India-Pak situation. During the debate, Mr. Puri said, Who had asked the soldiers to join the army? Who told them to pick the weapons? He also suggested that some 20 suicide bombers be sent to Pakistan and added that the visas of Pakistani artists be cancelled instead of banning them from Bollywood. Many people, including other Bollywood actors, termed Mr. Puris comments as insensitive. The case was filed on the basis of a complaint by Prithvi Maske. Are you feeling bummed about missing last nights vice presidential debate because you were doing something I can almost guarantee was more enjoyable (catching up with a friend, sleeping, making a quilt out of your own skin)? Allow me to alleviate your stress. Gently place your palms on your knees, let your eyes flutter to a close, calmly slow your breathing and conjure the following image in your mind: two old white dudes talking over each other with unsettling commitment for an hour and a half. Everyone feeling better? Wonderful. Here are the 10 things you need to know about last nights first (and sole) VP debate. 1. First and foremost: The GOP declared victory for Mike Pence 90 minutes before the debate started. Our sincere congratulations to Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence, who, according to the Republican Party, has emerged victorious in the sole vice-presidential debate of 2016, despite it not having happened yet, wrote Philip Bump of The Washington Post earlier last night, after the GOP accidentally hit publish on their pre-written story. #lol 2. There washow do I put thisA SHIT-TON OF INTERRUPTING. Fivethirtyeight.com reported that Kaine interrupted Pence around 70 times, and Pence interrupted Kaine around 40 times. What those numbers dont quite capture, though, is how often both of them would just continue talking at the same time while literally forgetting the debate had a moderator. Which brings me to: 3. The moderator, Elaine Quijano of CBS News, frequently lost control of the debate. Let me be clear, though, that this poor woman tried her absolute hardest. THE PEOPLE AT HOME CANT UNDERSTAND EITHER ONE OF YOU WHEN YOU SPEAK OVER EACH OTHER, she pleaded at one point. The most memorable moment: Governor, I will give you 30 seconds to respond, because I know you want to, but, again, I would remind you both this was about North Korea after theyd spent minutes parsing the faults of the Clinton Foundation versus the Trump Foundation. The audience erupted in laughter, the crazed kind that expresses intense frustration. Both candidates say they support women. Yet both disrespect and talk over the woman moderator in front of them. Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) October 5, 2016 Someone is really going to have to buy @Elaine_Quijano a martini after this. Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) October 5, 2016 4. Kaine was consistently frazzled, exuberant and aggressive. Pence was consistently bewildered, calm and passive aggressive. Anyone who went into the debate expecting a quite measured and vanilla (so to speak) debate between two men with similar dispositions and experience under their belt was sure to be surprised. Mike Pence, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, dominated throughout the night. He was smooth, smiling, and unflappable, reports The Atlantic. Tim Kaine, his Democratic counterpart, wasnt able to break through, tryingoften unsuccessfullyto cut in to rebut Pence, and to deliver a series of carefully prepared one-liners. But Pence, the governor of Indiana, seldom took the bait, grinning, raising his eyebrows in mock surprise, and shaking off Kaines attacks with a Reagan-style shrug. 5. They addressed several of Hillary and Trumps scandals. Hillarys emails, Trumps taxes, the wall, the Clinton Foundation, the Trump Foundation, Miss Universe, birtherism, John McCain: nothing was off-limits. That said, nothing particularly new or shocking came out of this either. Neither candidate made significant errors through the night, meeting the baseline test of not doing any harm to the top of the ticket, reported The Times. 6. They arguably covered more ground than Trump and Clinton did during the presidential debate last week, but with less depth. They covered the economy (Pence says theyll cut taxes, Kaine says theyll create more jobs), immigration (Pence says theyll deport illegal immigrants, Kaine says theyll focus on those who are criminals), terrorism and national security, foreign relations (Pence says strength is key, Kaine says diplomacy is key), healthcare, police (Pence says the problem isnt implicit bias, Kaine says the problem is implicit bias), abortion (Pence says life, Kaine says choice), and religion (both Christian). Again, though, nothing super new. 7. Kaine asked Pence to defend Trump several times and Pence didnt take the bait. Most of the debate was focused on Clinton and Trump. For 90 minutes on Tuesday night, reports The New York Times, Mr. Pence, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, was asked, over and over, to carry out perhaps the most unenviable, thankless and futile task in American politics: answering for Mr. Trumps cruel name-calling, factual distortions and radical proposals. Instead, he dodged, deflected and demurred deciding, it seemed, that all of the fires that Mr. Trump has set in the past year could not be doused in a single night. 8. Kaines most memorable moment: his long Trump takedowns. Kaine may have been a bit flustered but you have to hand it to him, he covered a lot of (horrifying) ground. This was within the first 30 minutes: And I just want to talk about the tone thats set from the top. Donald Trump during his campaign has called Mexicans rapists and criminals. Hes called women slobs, pigs, dogs, disgusting. I dont like saying that in front of my wife and my mother. He attacked an Indiana-born federal judge and said he was unqualified to hear a federal lawsuit because his parents were Mexican. He went after John McCain, a POW, and said he wasnt hero because hed been captured. He said African-Americans are living in Hell. And he perpetrated this outrageous and bigoted lie that President Obama is not a U.S. citizen. If you want to have a society where people are respected and respect laws, you cant have somebody at the top who demeans every group that he talks about. 9. Pences most memorable moment: that Mexican thing. In yet another attempt by Kaine to box Pence in with Trumps words, the Democratic vice presidential nominee repeatedly brought up the inflammatory comments Trump made at the beginning of his campaign, reports The Los Angeles Time. Senator, you whipped out that Mexican thing again, Pence groaned at one point. And thus a hashtag was born. #ThatMexicanThing quickly took off on Twitter, with users co-opting the phrase to share their own family histories of immigrants building their lives in America. 10. Some light reading/watching for your afternoon: The New York Times fact-checked the debate here, summed up what you missed here, and analyzed the debate via voice-over here. CNN analysts debate who won here. Here is The Washington Posts full-transcript of the debate for the interested and here it is summed up in three minutes: Feature collage by Emily Zirimis. Egyptian security forces on Tuesday carried out a prosecutor's order to transfer 10 rare-species animals from a private ranch in rural Giza to Giza Zoo, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported. Two units from the Central Security Forces (CSF), along with two armoured vehicles, secured a team of veterinarians who supervised the transfer of the animals from El-Ayat in southern Giza to Giza Zoo. The transferred animals included a Bengali tiger worth USD $100,000, four White Siberian tigers each worth $USD 60,000, two cheetahs, four spotted-hyenas as well as a rare African spurred tortoise. The transfer comes one week after a rare mountain tiger escaped from the ranchowned by a businessman who holds an international license to trade in endangered speciesand attacked and killed a nine-year-old girl. Villagers and security forces succeeded in tracking down the tiger and killing it. A Giza prosecution investigation into the deadly incident determined that the ranch violated many safety standards and laws, including the failure to place locks on the animals cages. On Wednesday, the prosecution ordered the detention of the ranch's owner for four days pending investigations into charges of manslaughter. On Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture suspended issuing and renewing licenses to ranches raising wild animals pending a revision of the rules regulating their operations. According to the ministry, there are 17 ranches in Egypt which are licensed to raise wild animals in Giza, Alexandria, South Sinai, the Red Sea and Fayoum. Search Keywords: Short link: A Qalioubiya criminal court acquitted on Wednesday Farouk Lashin, the former head of Qalioubiya state security, and two of his aides, of killing protesters during the 2011 uprising. In February 2014, the police general and his two aides were acquitted of murder charges but the general prosecution appealed the ruling, forcing a retrial. According to news reports, Lashin's defence team argued during the retrial that prosecutors failed to present evidence showing that the police force carried live ammunition during the 18 day clashes, which left 864 protesters dead. The defence also urged the court to apply a precedent established in a 2015 Court of Cassation rulingwhich acquitted former interior minister Habib El-Adly of similar charges in a separate trialto acquit Lashin. In El-Adly's case, the court of cassation found that the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence of guilt in the killing of protesters and failed to inspect the crime scene. Lashin and his aides are the latest in a series of acquittals of police officers in cases involving the killing of protesters during the early days of the January uprising against former president Hosni Mubarak. Last month, the court of cassation upheld a retrial decision to acquit low-ranking police officer Mohamed Ibrahim "Al-Sunni" of killing protesters outside a police station during an Old Cairo uprising. "Al-Sunni" was the first member of the police force to be officially convicted of killing protesters. During his retrial, defence lawyers argued that he acted in self-defence against protesters attempting to storm police stations. Search Keywords: Short link: Reporter Mickey Powell put together questions for each of the six candidates running for the three open seats on the Martinsville City Council. There are six questions in all. Over the next few days, well be running the answers to those questions, with one sent out in every edition. The questions will also be available online. The candidate answers are listed in alphabetical order by their first names. Question: How should the city go about developing its economy and what are your ideas along that line? Chad Martin Answer: The city of Martinsville is on the brink of greatness. We have suffered some of the hardest times but we have pulled that question out of mid air like Shakespeare, when he pulled it out of mid air and put it in the mouth of Hamlet. "To be or not to be, whether it is nobler in the mind of men to suffer the slings of arrows of outrageous misfortune or to take arms and by opposing end them". We as a city have answered that Shakespearean call of taking up arms as a community in turbulent times by creating a new way of educating our youth in Martinsville to compete on a global level with New College becoming a regional entity for students to remain here while receiving a first class education. Patrick Henry Community College creates a educational force to be reckoned with that will speak to generational change, along with its innovations of the Fab Lab, and the innovation space for entrepreneurs. I have been a consultant for a local nonprofit that has taken the task of creating 700 communities that will increase the credit scores of low income people and create home ownership, which is the staple of wealth for people who find themselves disenfranchised by the society as a whole. One of the truest voices and oftentimes one of the most overlooked voices is our youth and our women. It is my intention to create a conversation with EDC and the chamber to really focus on this population as there is some wonderful things in the pipeline to service this population with information to create business owners that will bring their ingenuity to our area and change the face of Martinsville. Efigenia Mota Answer: We should w ork with private land owners who own empty buildings in the city to come up with ways to use these properties, offering incentives for new companies to come in, including the industrial parks in cooperation with the county. We should also develop after school programs to develop a strong work force and healthy community. We also need more activities in the uptown area, like visiting art galleries, more restaurants, healthy food to bring customers. We should work more on small business to increase revenue and develop industrial trade programs outside the regular school programs. We need more cultural events, festivals for the whole community like Oktoberfest. We also need to continue support and opportunity for existing business. We should encourage existing business to invest more in the community and youth development. For after school programs, business leaders can help provide resources, maybe acting as a mentor, and some employers may offer job-shadowing program for neighborhood youth. Also we can find ways to work with banks to invest more in our community. Working together, we will see a better future Joseph Martin Answer: Some ideas I have for improving the struggling economy in Martinsville include assisting with small business growth, improving education and properly marketing the positives of our city. We should continue to support the Chamber of Commerce in their efforts to start up new businesses and also increase investments for growth in existing businesses. Small businesses provide a diversity of jobs and their variety of offerings draws customers to our retail areas. Another area we need to improve on that will translate into economic growth is turning around the schools performance. Poorly performing schools drive out families and prevent interest from new residents, potential customers, and potential businesses. One of the most important ways to develop the economy locally is to focus on the positives. Martinsville has a friendly atmosphere compared to bigger cities, low cost of living, multiple resources that aid in business development and growth, a business friendly infrastructure, and a community that supports locally owned and operated small businesses. We cannot continue the narrative to people outside this community about all we once had and all we have lost because in that sense we are not that much different from other localities across the country. Instead of dwelling on past losses, we need to highlight to others and ourselves the positives and focus on what we can be in the future with proper vision, leadership, and community involvement. The city government should do all that it can to highlight success stories and potential that the city has to offer. City hall should always be as business friendly as possible and not be too restrictive or intimidating to those interested in taking a chance with our city. We want new businesses here and we want them to thrive. We do not want to over regulate or intimidate but instead should strive to be as accommodating as possible to any new business development that will benefit the entire city. Kathy Lawson Answer: The city, while landlocked, has to utilize all resources available to them. Currently the city partners with The Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation to market our city to bring in new businesses and to expand current businesses. Along with the Chamber and EDC, the city partners with Henry County for revenue sharing at the Patriot Center and Commonwealth Crossing. Within the city, we have a department for Community Development which also works in hand with the Chamber and the EDC. The City streamlined its licensing requirements/process several years ago to make the process of doing business in the city easier. We have to continue to be business friendly to engage new businesses/corporations to our city and to retain those we have. We also have to continue to work with our existing businesses so they are successful and want to remain here in the city. One element to help with our small businesses was the change/reduction in BPOL which gives a break to the small business owners. To further develop our economy, we have to look outside of the box to make our city attractive to new companies. In partnership with Gateway Streetscape Foundation, the city maintains an attractive and welcoming green space which is an element taken into consideration when prospective employers visit our community. An educated workforce is a necessity and we, as a community, have to work with Patrick Henry Community College and New College to provide for our adult population to assist in providing them the skills necessary for todays technology. Along the lines of education, we must have accredited schools for our children. Prospective employers look at the educational opportunities that would be available to their employees. We have to step up to the plate to provide a quality education foundation to our citizens. We are fortunate to have an active workforce program as a resource for our citizens. I believe the city administration made the right move when they partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to promote small business in the city. We have seen positive results with that program and also the Small Business Bootcamp program at PHCC. The city also made positive steps in turning the West Piedmont Business Development center over to the Chamber. They currently have a 90 percent occupancy rate and are most successful in working with new small businesses. Being able to give incentives to new business and to work with existing businesses is a necessity for our city. Our city staff is dedicated to making our city a great place to establish your business, which in turn provides jobs to our citizens and economic growth. Ural Harris Answer: To help business in the city, an economic incentive plan should be considered. A plan could be developed similar to one looked at several years ago where a dollar sales point was set at the highest amount of sales ever reached by the store owner or developer. Once that sales point was reached, then the amount of local sales tax above that amount would be split 50/50 between the city and owner or developer up to a maximum amount per year for a set number of years. For new businesses or ones only a couple of years old, an amount of sales would have to be set. Meals tax would be excluded. A plan like this should serve as an added incentive for business to grow sales and expand. It also should encourage developers to revitalize their properties to attract the best stores which would produce the most sales. I have heard that this plan has been adopted in another locality and could become a model for other places to follow. To reach a set sales point might take some time, so what is needed at present is something to boost sales now. Are there grants for expansion or development? An easier way to get low interest loans? Bring more events to town? The city needs to look outside the box for ways to help business grow. Also we need to look at what other areas are doing to encourage growth. The city cannot continue to raise taxes and fees. Also I support the original I-73 route, using as much of Route 220 as possible as this would be the cheapest and easiest. In addition, I support the eight mile connector route from the 220 bypass in Ridgeway to the North Carolina line. This is the cheapest part to build. If any other route is used, the project goes back to square one. If we wait, North Carolina and other areas in Virginia could proceed with another route perhaps using Route 29 through Danville. Sharon Brooks Hodge Answer: Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to hear a presentation on successful economic development. The speaker, from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, wanted to debunk myths that many localities believe. One of the misconceptions is this: One big employer will solve all of our problems. For far too long, that has been the prevailing philosophy in Martinsville. When I campaigned for city council in 2012, my platform included reducing the amount of money that the city was spending on whale hunting. Thats what I call chasing the big one thats going to save Martinsville. Instead, to continue the metaphor, I believe we should stock our pond with lots of small fish and nourish them as they grow. I have recommended two specific ideas, which have since been adopted by the Martinsville City Council. Cut the BPOL . Most observers of council meetings know I am opposed to the BPOL (business and professional occupations license) tax, which initially was created to fund the War of 1812. I asked council to consider ways that we could wean ourselves off this tax. Although the city needs the revenue, I successfully argued that a tax higher than our Henry County neighbors was not business friendly and made it more expensive to start and operate within the city limits. Although the city could not afford to completely eliminate this tax, we could be equitable with Henry County, which does not tax the first $100,000 of revenue. Research revealed that roughly 70 percent of businesses in the city have gross receipts under this threshold. This change, which I initiated, can be considered an investment albeit a modest one in Martinsvilles small businesses. Promote entrepreneurship along with manufacturing . In 2014, I called for a comprehensive staff report analyzing the performance of the EDC as compared to the Memorandum of Understanding governing the relationship with the city. After the report was presented and discussed in 2015, council agreed that more focus needed to be placed on launching and expanding businesses. This was the catalyst to the recent opening of five new businesses and the expansion of another. MARTINSVILLE Forecasters now believe that Hurricane Matthew will bring rain and wind to Southern Virginia later this week. They just dont know how much yet. There is a lot of uncertainty in the forecast, said James Morrow, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Blacksburg. The forecast on Tuesday called for mostly cloudy skies with up to a 50 percent chance of rain from Friday afternoon through Saturday night. Temperatures were expected to range from the upper 50s to the lower 70s. Those precipitation chances were slightly higher than what meteorologists predicted on Monday. On Tuesday, Matthew was in the Caribbean, where it had inflicted major damages and caused at least seven deaths, including one in Haiti and four in the Dominican Republic, The Associated Press reported. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the Category 4 hurricane had maximum sustained winds of about 145 mph with higher gusts. It was moving north, but it was anticipated to turn north-northwest by today and then make a more northwesterly turn by tonight. Hurricane-force winds of at least 74 mph extended outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extended up to another 185 miles. Forecasters were expecting Matthew to make landfall in the United States, with Category 2-level winds of about 105 mph, between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, by Friday night or Saturday morning. Once it hits land, Matthew is expected to make its way northeastward through North Carolinas coastal plains, Morrow said. Areas along the coast of the Carolinas could get between 5 inches and 15 inches of rain, he said. A map on the NHCs website showed the Martinsville-Henry County area has a 20 percent to 30 percent chance of seeing tropical storm-force winds later this week. That was up from about a 10 percent chance on Monday. A forecast discussion on the Blacksburg weather service offices website showed the area could see heavy rain and winds between 25 mph and 30 mph, with gusts approaching 40 mph, on Saturday. Forecasters were thinking, though, that the heaviest rain will be east of a line extending from Reidsville, North Carolina, to Buckingham, Virginia. For Martinsville-Henry County, rainfall could range from sprinkles to an inch-and-a-half and wind speeds could reach about 15 mph, Morrow said based on meteorologists current knowledge of the storm. But its important to keep an eye on the weather during the next few days, he said. If the hurricane decides to take a more westerly path through central North Carolina, its a whole new ballgame with more rain and wind for Southern Virginia, he added. In North Carolina, Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency throughout most of the central and eastern parts of the state including Rockingham and Stokes counties, which border Henry County expecting that Matthew will cause problems for residents and emergency services providers. The weather should improve on Sunday, when sunny skies are forecast. But there is another storm that meteorologists are watching. Tropical Storm Nicole has formed in the Atlantic north-northeast of Puerto Rico. On Tuesday, the storm was moving northwest, but forecasters expected that it will weaken. It was nowhere near land, and they were not yet publicly discussing whether it will affect the East Coast. Mickey Powell reports for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at mickey.powell@martinsvillebulletin.com. WEDNESDAY'S WORD is shallop (sha-lop). Example: The crew of the small shallop made it through the storm, reaching port just before dark. YESTERDAYS WORD was skycap (sky-cap). It means a porter at the airport. Example: The man handed the bags over to the skycap once he made it through the line at Dulles International Airport. Wednesday Morning Bible Study Are there any of our older readers looking for a morning Bible study? Today and every Wednesday, the Martinsville Senior Center holds a Wednesday Bible Study. The only requirement is that people coming be 50 or older. The class meets at 10 a.m. with Pastor Zeke Zanatos. For more information, you can call (276) 403-5260. School board meets The Henry County School Board will meet this Thursday, over at 3300 Kings Mountain Road. The meeting will start at 9 a.m., with an update on Meadow View Elementary and discussion about future renovations to Bassett High. Cub Scouts sign-up Cub Scout Pack 166 will be holding sign-ups this Thursday at Smith Memorial United Methodist Church, 2703 Daniels Creek Road in Collinsville. Cub Scouts are for all boys from first through fifth grade. Pack 166 serves Collinsville and the surrounding area. For more information, contact scoutmaster Linda Henley at (276)-647-7179. Laurel Park flower sale Laurel Park Middle Schools Agriculture Department is putting together a flowery fundraiser. The schools fall plant sale is going on right now, with mums being offered for $5 and a six pack of pansies for $2. The mums are bronze, yellow, purple, red or white, while the pansies come in a mix of yellow, purple and white. Anyone can come by the school to purchase some from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Country breakfast The Fairystone Volunteer Fire Department will have a country breakfast fundraiser Oct. 15, running from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The menu includes pancakes, country ham, sausage, bacon, eggs, gravy, baked apples, homemade biscuits and a choice of coffee or orange juice. Its $7 for adults and $3.50 for kids, with the option to pick up meals or eat at the department, 6687 Fairystone Park Highway in Stuart. TRIVIA QUESTION: Throughout the centuries, there has just been one time when Halloween didnt happen. It was a slightly large occasion, one that involved multiple countries and took place in the 1900s. What was this occasion and why did it cancel Halloween? The answer will be in tomorrows Stroller. TRIVIA ANSWER: Now that weve made it to October, Halloween decorations are doing up all over. But Halloween has changed a lot through the years. For example, Jack-O-Lanterns werent originally made out of pumpkins. What vegetable did the original Jack-O-Lanterns get carved out of? They were made out of turnips and for that, you can thank the legend of Stingy Jack. Its an Irish legend, of a man who tricked the Devil into promising never to take his soul to Hell. But Jack wasnt the best person and so, when he died, St. Peter wouldnt let him into Heaven either. The legend goes that Jack wanders the world, with only an ember inside a hollowed turnip to light his way. So the first Jack-O-Lanterns were based on the legend, to honor Jacks Lantern. Through the years, Jack-O-Lanterns were carved out of apples, squashes and even cucumbers, before settling on pumpkins. Egypts Court of Cassation decided on Wednesday to temporarily suspend a three-year jail sentence handed to Mubarak-era housing minister Ibrahim Suleiman over squandering public funds, pending final verdict in December The former minister is appealing the jail sentence he received in 2013 for selling public land to real-estate developer SODIC at below market prices. Suleiman, who served as minister of housing under Mubarak from 1993 to 2005, was found guilty of costing the treasury an estimated EGP 1 billion and ordered to pay EGP 970 million in damages and fines back to the state. His defence team pushed for voiding the sentence against their client, arguing the prosecution's charges were faulty and witnesses' testimonies wrongly attributed. SODIC is a real-estate development company owned by fugitive businessman Magdy Rasekh, the father-in-law of ousted president Hosni Mubaraks son Alaa Mubarak. In 2013, an appeals court lowered the initial five-year jail sentence Suleiman received in his first trial in March 2012 to three years. Rasekh, who received a five year jail sentence in absentia in the same case as Suleiman, must turn himself in to authorities before requesting a retrial. Search Keywords: Short link: SPRINGFIELD Back by popular demand, the Great Oktoberfest returns to the Student Prince and Fort Cafe for the first two weekends of October, beginning Friday and continuing Saturday. The festivities will resume on Oct. 14-15. The event, billed as "the wildest Oktoberfest celebration in the area," will feature steins and frauleins, live music, fresh brats and an Oktoberfest Biergarten. "Even with the bad weather last year, we still rocked the house with a legendary party," said Andy Yee, managing partner of the legendary bar and restaurant on Fort Street in downtown Springfield. "This year is bigger and better, with two full weekends and lots of fun surprises," Yee said. "If you liked our Wurst Haus booth at the Big E, you're going to love this." Fort Street will be closed to accommodate revelers as they imbibe draft beer and dine on sausage, brats and other German favorites. The party will also spill into the bar and over to the Oktoberfest Biergarten across the street from the restaurant. Every night of the festival will include live music. Maxxtone will take the stage on opening night, Friday, Oct. 7, from 5-7 p.m., followed by Trailer Trash. Brass Attack will take the stage Saturday, Oct. 8, at 4:30 p.m., with the B Street Band closing out the evening. On the following weekend, the Unforgettable Fire will take the stage on Friday, Oct. 14, from 7-10 p.m., followed by Livio Gravini and the Free Spirit Society on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 4:30 p.m. Following Gravini, Ross Bon Jersey will take the stage from 7:30-10:30 p.m. For each weekend of the event, festivities run from 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and from 1-10 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is $10, which includes a souvenir Student Prince stein with your first beer. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Student Prince. SpaceX Sci Fi This artist's rendering provided by SpaceX on Tuesday, Sept 27, 2016 shows the company's proposed Interplanetary Transport System passenger module on the surface a moon orbiting the planet Jupiter. For the past decade, Elon Musk has borrowed from science fiction and fantasy when naming his rockets, engines, capsules and other space doodads. For his first passenger ship, he is leaning toward the name "Heart of Gold," the starship in the novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." (SpaceX via Associated Press) Well, this is fun. Now I can talk about Mars colonization in the not too distant future and not get laughed out of the room... at least not by everybody. Last week SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tried to make the case that it was at least possible. A few days later, the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe ended its two-year mission to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in dramatic fashion with a gentle crash on the comet's surface. In the overall scheme of things, I have to wonder which of these two events, which couldn't be more different, might have the greater impact on the future of space exploration. One editor at this paper telegraphed her surprise at my question with a diplomatic "Time will tell" response. But here's the thing: I find myself thrilled by the prospect of seeing humans on Mars in my lifetime. I also know that it's a crazy way to feel. Just a few years ago, I wrote in this space of NASA's ever-receding plans for sending humans to Mars, and how after much soul searching and anguish, I was finally coming to grips with the reality: I would never see my cherished childhood dream come true. I still believe that to be true, although I'm happy to report that Musk shaved a nanometer off my conviction. Despite the cold, harsh realities of space I've come to embrace through the years, the irrational romance retains its appeal. SpaceX founder Elon Musk speaks during the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. In a receptive audience full of space buffs, Musk said he envisions 1,000 passenger ships flying en masse to Mars, 'Battlestar Galactica' style. He calls it the Mars Colonial fleet, and he says it could become reality within a century. Musk's goal is to establish a full-fledged city on Mars and thereby make humans a multi-planetary species. Such practical matters as what the first people on Mars would do, or how they would survive, have barely been addressed. The problems of bone and muscle wasting in Mars' low gravity and a host of other issues needs to be resolved. There's an unknown risk of biological contamination in either direction. But I choose to be optimistic. Many folks' dreams of humans at Mars hearken back to nearly half a century ago when Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, a mere eight years after JFK challenged the nation to do so. Most people assumed that Mars would be next. Of course, it wasn't that simple. The last two moon missions were canceled, and manned missions to Mars weren't on NASA's, or anyone's, agenda. The mighty Saturn V moon rocket that could have propelled astronauts farther yet was abandoned in favor of the Space Shuttle, which could only reach low Earth orbit. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Space Exploration Initiative named Mars as a goal for NASA, but the price tag, which included a new rocket called Constellation, totaled $500 billion over several decades, dooming it from the outset. A cheaper, more efficient architecture was developed in response by aerospace engineer Robert Zubrin, who called his plan "Mars Direct." It was embraced by many in the space community, but found little political support because the integrated design minimized pork barrel options. Zubrin and his Mars Society still promote that plan. NASA's roadmap now calls for astronauts to orbit Mars in the early 2030s, followed by a "flag planting mission" -- as some refer to it -- no earlier than the late 2030s ... and probably much later. This would likely be a quick "to Mars and back" for a few astronauts. The Space Launch System (SLS) with its Orion crew capsule required for this program is currently under development, although many observers see it as little more than an updated version of the Saturn V rocket and Apollo capsule. So, after almost half a century, NASA seems to have barely nudged the needle past "if," even while it discusses the "how" and "when" of Mars missions. The mainstream deliberations continue, and alternative designs struggle for recognition, while the ever-receding "30 years away" time frame seems to have muted at least some enthusiasm for spaceflight. There may be kids who still aspire to be astronauts on the International Space Station, and NASA continues blowing our minds with its robotic exploring the farthest reaches of our Solar System, but the dream has faded. That's why so many tuned in to Tuesday's presentation in Mexico by Musk. Could he really provide an antidote? NASA's programs are constrained by political forces and stifled by bureaucratic stagnation, so I myself couldn't wait to hear the audacious Mr. Musk reveal his promised details for a plan not just to visit, but to colonize Mars. Here's a link to Musk's presentation, "Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species": spacex.com/mars Armed only with vague leaked impressions of his Mars Colonial Transporter, I didn't know what to expect, so I watched and listened carefully. There were surprises, but I wasn't feeling the magic ... not at first, anyway. Musk stood on the large empty stage, assisted by graphics on a set of large screens behind him. From there he spoke of the Interplanetary Transport System, his new name for the MCT. The ITS will carry hundreds of people aloft on each of thousands of launches, he said. Whoa! Really? This guy isn't bashful. He played a video depicting the huge rocket -- previously nicknamed the BFR, it stands 400 feet tall and is 40 feet wide at the base -- that would do the heavy lifting. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qo78R_yYFA) Also check out this BFR overview: http://waitbutwhy.com/2016/09/spacexs-big-fking-rocket-the-full-story.html I spent considerable effort trying to imagine that any of this could really ever be real. Bold new visions can be like that, I guess. The CG fly-through of the ITS certainly made it look impressive, but it was such a departure from anything in existence today, that it was hard to take seriously. The brightly lit interior even evoked a vision of spaceflight a la "Star Trek." Musk's vision is so grand, and his goals so lofty, that one can't help but have doubts. Yet, at the same time, it's hard not to cheer him on. One thing is for certain: he has inspired broad new discussions on the future of spaceflight -- the kind that have been largely missing in recent years. Musk has made a career of proving the experts wrong -- a reputation he firmed up on Dec. 22 when SpaceX brought a first stage Falcon 9 booster back down to Cape Canaveral for a soft nighttime landing, after giving a final shove to the second stage which went on to deploy 11 communications satellites. This changed everything. This scene -- straight out of 1950s science fiction -- had a visceral impact. It made space fans giddy, and made history. Musk continued "sticking it to the man" with a stunning series of industry-defying booster landings on an unmanned barge in the ocean ... all in an effort to make boosters reusable and bring down costs, and to gather data for future Mars landings. SpaceX is disrupting entrenched interests. When a Falcon 9 blew up on the launch pad during a static test a month ago, defenders of the establishment couldn't contain their glee. A joyous chorus of "We told you so" flooded the comments sections of some spaceflight websites with admonitions of moving "too quickly" and not focusing on the current task at hand. There may be truth in that, but Musk may also have succeeded in transforming our view of spaceflight forever ... again. He has provided a new vision of what is possible. The complacency is broken. Before this, advocates of the status quo assured us that everything was fine, and that it was we who had to learn how to feel inspired. We wanted that. We told ourselves that the old food was nourishing, and that we should feel good about eating it. We tried, but still craved something fresh and new. We felt restless. Our culture needs excitement as much as we do, and an individual can almost single-handedly provide the inspiration. Musk is fond of pointing out that we can't just go on solving one problem after another, but need something to excite us, something that makes us want to get out of bed in the morning. Talking with my sister Janice about Musk's talents in engineering and business, she deadpanned, "He's such an underachiever!" Consider Musk's involvement in the automotive, aerospace, solar energy, energy storage and high-speed ground transportation fields, not to mention multi-planetary expansion. Some doubt that he can get humans to Mars at all, let alone achieve his ultimate stated goal of landing 1 million people there in less than 100 years. Far fewer doubt that he is serious about it. Elon Musk wants to make us an "interplanetary species," by creating a self-sustaining civilization on Mars. It would be fun to watch, but I wouldn't want to live there. Find rise and set times for the sun and moon, and follow ever-changing celestial highlights in the Skywatch section of the Weather Almanac in The Republican and Sunday Republican. Patrick Rowan has written Skywatch for The Republican since 1987 and has been a Weather Almanac contributor since the mid 1990s. A native of Long Island, Rowan graduated from Northampton High School, studied astronomy at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the '70s and was a research assistant for the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. From 1981 to 1994, Rowan worked at the Springfield Science Museum's Seymour Planetarium, most of that time as planetarium manager. Rowan lives in the Florence section of Northampton with his wife, Clara, and cat, Luna. It may be nearly two years before MGM Springfield plans to open its doors, but hundreds of Western Massachusetts residents have already signaled interest in working at the casino. A crowd of jobseekers filled a MassMutual Center conference room Wednesday morning during MGM Springfield's first "Career Launch" session - one of 20 the company plans to hold by the end of the year. And while hiring will not begin for over a year, MGM Springfield is attempting to spread word of upcoming opportunities and to connect potential employees with job training, as the company prepares to fill the 3,000 jobs it has committed to creating once the casino opens. "These 60-minute interactive sessions really are the first vital step to get people ready for employment," MGM Springfield Director of Training and Workforce Development Marikate Murren said. "The critical part now is for people to understand where their skill sets are." The company plans to do that through its online job portal, which underwent a soft launch in May and includes classifications and descriptions of the jobs that will be available once MGM begins hiring in the spring of 2018. Jobseekers who register with the system can see what skills they require to perform different jobs - and can connect with Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community College to learn those skills, as part of a partnership between MGM Springfield and local educational institutions. For Danielle Hillman, a 31-year-old Springfield native, the career session is a chance at opportunity - even if that opportunity may not pay dividends until late 2018. Hillman said she is currently out of work, and was drawn to the session by MGM Springfield's wide array of job possibilities "I'm looking for the opportunity to have a job, basically, when they do start hiring," Hillman said. "They actually have a lot of openings and there's a variety of things to do. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse spoke before the session, describing the casino project as an exciting prospect for the entire region and touting agreements made with the company to benefit Holyoke residents. Holyoke will receive $1.28 million in community impact payments from the casino, and is spending $500,000 of that money to fund MGM's culinary training partnership with Holyoke Community College. The deal means that 50 Holyoke residents will be able to attend the culinary institute for free, Morse said. "We want to see more Holyokers, more people from Holyoke at these meetings," Morse said. "We have to take full advantage of this investment that doesn't come along often in our urban communities." City of Springfield Chief of Staff Denise Jordan urged attendees to tell their friends and family about the available careers, saying there was something for everyone in the job openings. "As the chief of staff for the city I absolutely love my job, but I brought my resume just in case," Jordan joked. MGM's online job portal, viewable here, features listings ranging from card dealers to chefs to financial analysts. The system, which is currently being used to actively fill positions at MGM's National Harbor casino in Maryland, assigns a score for open jobs based on workers' education, skills and life experience, The $950 million MGM Springfield casino is expected to open in downtown Springield in September 2018. The company has pledged to create 3,000 casino jobs and 2,000 construction jobs. MGM Springfield will be able to serve alcohol from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. and will comp drinks on the gaming floor once it opens in the fall of 2018. MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis discussed the upcoming casino's alcohol policy on Bax and O'Brien Wednesday morning. In an interview, MGM Springfield Vice President and General Counsel Seth Stratton elaborated on how the facility will serve drinks, saying the rules have already been set by Massachusetts Gaming Commission regulations. "Under gaming statutes, casinos get alcohol licenses through gaming commissions rather than local licensing boards," Stratton said. The casino, which is currently being built on a 14.5-acre lot in downtown Springfield, will be allowed to serve until 2 a.m. Gamblers with customer loyalty cards will be able to have their drinks comped, though the program will be monitored, Stratton said. "We can comp drinks only in the gaming area," he said. "We have to keep track of it and have our records available for review by the gaming commission." The gaming commission's regulations also include a number of restrictions. A customer cannot be served more than two drinks at a time, open bars are generally prohibited, and drinking games are not allowed. Restaurants and bars that open on the casino site will be covered under MGM Springfield's liquor license -- a potential advantage for those businesses, Stratton said. "It certainly makes their lives easier," Stratton said "We certainly explain it as a selling point." MGM Springfield has not yet obtained its liquor license; that step will come closer to the casino's opening date, Stratton said. When it does, the casino will have to identify its managers to regulators and ensure its staff is properly trained in alcohol service. One thing the casino will not offer is happy hours or drink specials, due to a state law that banned the practice in 1984 following the drunken-driving death of a woman in Braintree. The law prohibits discounting drinks, selling access to open bars and giving drinks away as prizes. The state's 2011 casino law granted a limited exemption to casinos, who are allowed to comp drinks on gaming floors. MGM Springfield's $950 million casino is scheduled to open in September 2018, and will feature a hotel, shopping areas, outdoor plazas, bars and restaurants in addition to its gaming floor. This story is part of ongoing MassLive coverage into the state's October 2016 launch of all-electronic tolling on the Mass. Pike and the elimination of toll plazas. _________________________ BOSTON - The Massachusetts Department of Transportation wants to keep for 30 days the speed data collected by the metal gantries that have gone up on the Turnpike. The state records conservation board plans a public hearing on Wednesday morning on MassDOT's proposal. Massachusetts plans to shift to all-electronic tolling in Oct. 28 at 10 p.m. The metal gantries that have gone up across the state as state transportation officials plan to demolish the toll plazas. MassDOT engineer explains why new Mass. Pike electronic toll gantries are clocking your speed The Boston Globe first reported MassDOT's proposal and noted privacy advocates' concerns. "It's not clear what business purpose the collection and retention of these data serves," Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty Project at the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, told the newspaper. When electronic tolling began in Massachusetts in the late 1990s, there was no data retention policy, according to MassDOT officials. The switch to cashless, or all-electronic, tolling will bring about less congestion on the state's roadways, better air quality and increased public safety as vehicles won't have to slow down to go under the gantries like they do when passing through the toll plazas. Raytheon built the roadside system and Transcore is handling customer service or the back office operations of all-electronic tolling. Turkey's army said it clashed with Islamic State (IS) militants over the border in Syria, leaving one soldier and 23 militants dead, as Ankara stepped up an operation to clear fighters from the war-torn zone. Three other Turkish soldiers were wounded in the encounter near the Syrian village of Ziyara over the past 24 hours, part of Ankara's "Euphrates Shield" offensive, the military added on Wednesday. Turkey's entry into Syria has raised fears of a further escalation in an increasingly regional conflict. But Ankara says its efforts to cleanse its border region of IS militants are legitimate under international law as self-defense after months of rocket attacks and bombings in cities along the boundary. President Tayyip Erdogan has also made it clear that Turkish forces are in Syria to prevent the Syrian Kurdish militia, which is backed by the United States to fight IS, from expanding areas under its control. Two Syrian rebel fighters backed by Turkey died in other clashes with IS along the boundary, the Turkish military statement said. The Ankara-backed rebels had seized control of around 980 square km (378 square miles) of territory since Euphrates Shield began on Aug. 24, it added. Separately, U.S.-led coalition warplanes launched nine air strikes on IS targets in northern Syria, killing five further militants, the military said in its daily summary of the Syrian operation. Search Keywords: Short link: At the request of Jeffrey's mother, this story does not use his last name. Jeffrey, a ten-year-old boy from Agawam, has over 350 names in his black notebook. They are the signatures of veterans - the physical markers of his months-long campaign to thank service members for their work, which has taken him to military bases, memorials and the Big E's veterans' day. "We always pay attention the black hats because they can say navy, air force, marines, army," Jeffrey said. "We look at those, and if they say that we thank them for their service." In an interview, Jeffrey, his mother Genevieve and Vietnam War veteran Richard Connor said that Jeffrey's efforts to thank veterans across Western Massachusetts have left an impact on service members unused to recognition from such a young civilian. Jeffrey's grandfather was a veteran, he said, though Jeffrey was too young to understand what that meant before his grandfather's death several years ago. "I was younger and I didn't really even know what a veteran was then," Jeffrey said. "I didn't know how much they are helping us right now every day, so I didn't really recognize them quite yet." Several months ago, Jeffrey began going up to veterans in stores and asking to shake their hands, his mother said. The first time he did it left an impression on the man he approached. "I just watched that exchange, and was like holy mackerel," Genevieve said. "It was so cool for Jeff, and this gentleman had tears in his eyes." Jeffrey was enthusiastic about the experience, and suggested that he go on a "campaign" of greeting as many veterans as he could, and collecting their signatures. His mother was supportive. While greeting veterans at The Wall That Heals - a scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial which traveled to West Springfield last month - Jeffrey met Richard Connor, a veteran who has become a supporter for his project. Connor served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969, and, he said, was like many veterans skeptical of being thanked by civilians. He, as a rule, does not talk about his wartime experiences, he said. "Not many people even say that nowadays," Connor said. "Especially back then, most of them didn't like us." But while he was manning a Veterans Administration booth at The Wall That Heals, Jeffrey came up and asked for his signature. It was a surprisingly positive and emotional moment, Connor said. "He came up the booth and introduced himself and shook my hand," Connor said. "I was definitely put back by it. I didn't expect it from a ten-year-old boy." Connor introduced Jeffrey to other veterans at the memorial, including Purple Heart winners and Medal of Honor recipient Samuel Davis. Word about Jeffery's campaign has spread through the Western Mass. veterans' community, Connor said, as Jeffrey has shaken hands at Westover Air Reserve Base, Bradley Air National Guard Base and other events. "Most of them are pretty shocked," Connor said. "I can see a lot of emotions being held back, myself included." Connor invited Jeffrey to meet more veterans at the Big E's Military Appreciation Day, and he has more events coming up, including a visit to the State House in November. "He really is doing this out of the love of his own heart," Genevieve said. A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip struck an Israeli city near the border with the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday causing no casualties, authorities said. "One rocket struck the city of Sderot, landing in the city in an open area (with) no injuries," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said in a statement. The area was closed off and bomb disposal teams were working at the site, he added. The Israeli military said the rocket had been fired from the Gaza Strip, run by Islamist movement Hamas, at Sderot, part of which lies barely a kilometre (less than a mile) northeast of the enclave. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Israel launched three military offensives on Gaza since 2008 and there are frequent flare-ups along the border. Israel often responds to rocket fire from Gaza with air strikes. In August, it carried out dozens of retaliatory strikes after a rocket hit Sderot, a far larger response than usual. Israeli media reported that attack was the first time downtown Sderot had been struck by a rocket from Gaza since the last war in 2014. Hardliners who sympathise with militants of the Islamic State (IS) group have claimed recent rocket fire from Gaza, but Israel holds Hamas responsible for all such activity. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Three children were among at least 19 civilian killed in an air strike on a village held by the Islamic State (IS) militant group in northern Syria on Wednesday, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was unclear who had carried out the strike, which took place in an area where rebels backed by Turkish forces are advancing against IS. Search Keywords: Short link: Morocco will elect a parliament on Friday for the first time since an Islamist-led government took office following Arab Spring uprisings that toppled leaders across the region. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) came to power in 2011 after swelling protests prompted concessions from King Mohammed VI, the scion of a monarchy that has ruled the North African country for 350 years. A new constitution reduced some, though not all, of the king's near-absolute powers. Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane's PJD says a second term would allow it to continue its limited economic and social reforms. Heading a coalition that includes communists, liberals and conservatives, it retains considerable support among the urban middle classes that have largely abandoned the left in favour of Islamist parties. But it has been weakened by rising unemployment and what critics say is a failure to deal with corruption. The party has faced a string of scandals within its ranks including a major drugs bust, a dodgy land-grab deal and the suspension of two vice presidents found in a "sexual position" on a beach. It also faces a resurgent liberal opposition Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), formed in 2008 by a close adviser to the king. The PAM has poured enormous resources into a campaign criticising the government's record as "catastrophic" and pledging to roll back the "Islamisation" of society. It pitches itself as the defender of women's rights and liberal social mores, and aims to bring more women into parliament, where they hold just 67 out of 395 seats. The PJD accuses its rival of being the party of the palace, part of a shadowy "parallel state" controlling political life. If it holds on to power, the PJD will remain an essential part of Moroccan politics, "despite the feelings it rouses at the palace and among the globalised bourgeoisie," said Pierre Vermeren, a historian of the Maghreb region. A victorious PJD would try to take the opportunity to gain more space from the monarchy for joint decision-making, he said. But the decisive clout in Morocco remains in the hands of King Mohammed VI -- regardless of who is in government. "The king is de facto the exclusive decision maker on a series of long-term and strategic matters," including foreign policy and big infrastructure projects, according to an analysis from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank. At the same time the monarchy can present the successful inclusion of an Islamist party "as a sign of the ongoing process of democratisation following the adoption of the 2011 constitutional amendments," it added. Previously the monarch could choose his prime minister, but since the consitutional changes he must appoint someone from the party that wins the most seats in parliament. Friday's poll also marks the return of Salafists, followers of an ultra-conservative brand of Sunni Islam, to the political arena. There are only a few dozen Salafists among the 7,000 candidates in Friday's poll, but their re-emergence is a notable shift in a country where they were once pariahs. They include Abdelwahab Rafiki, also known as Abou Hafs, a former preacher who was sentenced to 30 years in prison after jihadist attacks in Casablanca in 2003 that left 45 people dead. He was pardoned in 2012 and is running for Istiqlal, a nationalist party. Rafiki is not alone. The Casablanca bombings prompted authorities to arrest some 8,000 people, many of them Salafists. But like him, many were pardoned following the turmoil of 2011, and have since gained a foothold in Moroccan politics. Moroccan Salafists were among the thousands who headed to Afghanistan in the 1990s to fight the Soviet Union. Today, many have renounced violence and declared allegiance to King Mohammed VI. "It is the classic old policy of the palace, which after sanctioning deviants, reintegrates them," Vermeren said. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Intellectual Property, Funding Your Innovation, and Going to Market Come together with other inventors, innovators, and researchers in your community to learn key concepts all idea people need to know. Montana Technology Innovation Partnership (MTIP), a Department of Commerce program, is hosting a free workshop covering topics related to moving your invention from idea to market. MTIP counselor Christie Bell leads this one-hour presentation on Intellectual Property, Funding Your Innovation, and Going to Market. Lunch is provided! Chief Dull Knife College, Lame Deer & Montana State University Billings Full Event Information: https://t.e2ma.net/message/mtzom/qk7jif An air strike was responsible for the attack on an aid convoy in Syria that killed 18 people last month, a UN expert said Wednesday. "With our analysis we determined it was an air strike," said Lars Bromley, a researcher at the United Nations body UNOSAT, which collects and analyses satellite images. US officials have said that Russian planes carried out the air strikes on September 19 that hit the 31-truck convoy bringing aid to a town west of the besieged city of Aleppo. Moscow has denied the accusation and the Russian military is carrying out its own investigation of the bombing that destroyed 18 trucks and damaged a warehouse. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon last week announced that he was setting up a board of inquiry into the bombing. Bromley said UNOSAT had an image that "clearly" showed the damage at the at the site of the attack. "For air strikes what you are usually looking at is the size of the crater that is visible, and the type of crater," he told reporters in Geneva. "Basically air-dropped munitions are often much larger than anything you would fire from the ground", he added, explaining his analysis. UN officials have said the area around the convoy that was clearly identified with United Nations and Syrian Arab Red Crescent markings. The strikes on the convoy in Urum al-Kubra claimed the life of the local head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Omar Barakat, as well as 12 volunteers and five drivers. Another 15 drivers were wounded, many civilians were killed and wounded, and the warehouse as well as a nearby medical clinic severely damaged. Search Keywords: Short link: As part of Governor Steve Bullocks Main Street Montana Project, the Governors Office of Economic Development and Innovate Montana are hitting the road to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in an effort to enhance their potential to achieve growth and sustainability. The Governors Office of Economic Development is partnering with Sweet Grass Chamber of Commerce to produce Innovate Big Timber: Small Business Roadshow. The roadshow is a casual event where business owners, potential entrepreneurs, and community members can network, share ideas and learn innovative ways to start or grow small business. All are welcome to attend. The Roadshow will take place on October 20 at the Greenman building, 227 McLeod, in Big Timber. Things kick off at 5:00pm with a networking meet and greet event with presentations about Entrepreneurial Spirit and Community Development starting at 5:45pm. Followed by talks from successful entrepreneurs Meg Swanson, owner of Spire Climbing in Bozeman and Cathy Smith, owner of the Phillipsburg Brewery in Phillipsburg. Refreshments will be provided. Enjoy an evening with fellow businesses and community members, Sweet Grass Chamber of Commerce, Beartooth RC&D, the Governors Office of Economic Development and more. Any and all are welcomeCome with ideas and be ready to INNOVATE Big Timber! Sudanese doctors are planning a nationwide strike Thursday to demand higher wages, protection from security forces and better services at government hospitals, their association said. The Federal Committee of Doctors said doctors at more than 350 government hospitals would stop work. "From tomorrow doctors across all government hospitals will be on strike," the committee said in a statement on Wednesday. "They will attend only emergency cases." It said dozens of doctors had already stopped working at certain facilities in Khartoum. An AFP correspondent saw several doctors at two government hospitals in Khartoum on Wednesday wearing badges saying "Doctors on strike". They said they were only dealing with emergency cases. The committee said Thursday's strike was a protest at low wages, deteriorating services at government hospitals and a rise in attacks on doctors by security forces and relatives of patients. "We are also demanding better training and medical equipment at government hospitals," it said. In recent weeks, Sudanese media reported several attacks against doctors by policemen and angry relatives of patients. Sudan's public health system suffers from poor facilities and under-paid medical staff. Private health facilities have mushroomed in Sudan in recent years, and the country has more than 1,400 private hospitals. Search Keywords: Short link: Hurricane Matthew devastated the historic colonial town of Baracoa in eastern Cuba and hurled large rocks onto the roads, cutting off a total of four towns, authorities and residents said Wednesday. Cuban authorities said no victims had been reported from the storm -- the Caribbean's fiercest hurricane in nearly a decade -- which swept the province of Guantanamo with winds of up to 220 kilometers (135 miles) per hour Tuesday. But residents said it left a trail of destruction in Baracoa, the first Spanish settlement in Cuba. "There's nothing left of Baracoa. Just debris and remains. The big colonial houses in the city center, which were so pretty, are destroyed," said resident Quirenia Perez, 35, speaking to AFP by cell phone after losing her roof, electricity and land line in the storm. "About 70 percent of the city's roofs flew off. There are a lot of trees, electric polls and telephone lines down," said Joel Gomez of humanitarian organization Oxfam in the nearby city of Guantanamo, relaying reports from the Red Cross. He said the hurricane sent flood waters surging into Baracoa, partially or completely destroying many homes in the town of 82,000 people. Baracoa and the towns of Imias, Maisi and San Antonio del Sur, all near the island's eastern tip, have been cut off from the rest of the country by rocks picked up in the storm and scattered across the roads, said Deputy Defense Minister Ramon Espinosa Matin. "There was a lot of destruction in Baracoa. We don't have any reports of lives lost, but the material losses are substantial," he told journalists. He said the situation was also "extremely complicated" in the other three towns, where the authorities are still trying to assess the extent of the damage. The four towns have a total population of around 158,000 people. The region was already hit hard in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy, which killed 11 people here. Matthew, which has killed a total of at least nine people so far, pummeled Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba on Tuesday. The storm, which made landfall as a Category Four hurricane, has been downgraded to three on a scale of five. But it was still causing alarm Wednesday as it barreled toward the Bahamas and the US East Coast, prompting President Barack Obama to warn residents to "prepare for the worst." Search Keywords: Short link: The fair hosts 140 international galleries and has announced Africa as its guest of honour this year Works from seven seminal Egyptian artists will be presented at Art Paris Art Fair's upcoming edition scheduled to take place in March 2017. The featured artists include three painters -- Hamed Abdullah (1917-1985), Hamed Nada (1924 1990) and Georges Sabbagh (18771951) while the four other seasoned artists include sculptor Adam Henein (b.1929), photographer Youssef Nabil (b.1972), and painter Gazbia Sirry (b.1925), and the written word installation artist Fathi Hassan (b. 1957). Running between 30 March to 2 April, the annual Art Paris Art Fair is a springtime art fair focusing on discovery. Art Paris Art Fair brings together 140 galleries from some 20 countries at the Grand Palais. This year Africa is the fair's guest of honour and will be curated by independent cultural consultant and exhibition curator Marie-Ann Yemsi. Bringing galleries from Africa and African artists from around the world, in addition to a symposium, a programme of video projections and special projects, the fair hopes to present African artwork in depth, highlighting the richness and diversity of contemporary works from the continent. Also from the Middle East are galleries from Bahrain, Syria, Morocco, Iran and Algeria, as well as Lebanon's Gallery Tanit participating in the fair's Solo Show platform. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: The film Wall of Heroism will screen on the occasion of 6th of October celebrations Haet El-Botolat (Wall of Heroism, 1998) will screen for the first time on Egyptian state television on the occasion of 6th of October celebrations. The star-studded film features Mahmoud Yassin, Farouk El-Fishawy, Ahmed Bedeir, Khaled El-Nabawy, Hanan Tork, Mostafa Shaaban, Nada Bassiouny and Samira Mohsen. The film was reportedly banned during ousted president Hosni Mubarak's reign for not focusing on the first airstrike against Israel in the 1973 war which was led by him as head of the air forces. More than 15 years after its production, the film premiered in Egypt in 2014 at the 14th Cairo International Film festival. The war-pic , which was directed by late Mohamed Rady, the war-pic is about the lead-up and the events of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, portraying life in the army and air force during missions of heroism. The film also looks at the 1970 Bahr El-Bakar massacre where an Israeli war raid left 30 Egyptian elementary school children dead. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Torange Yeghiazarian, an Iranian-American playwright and director of Armenian heritage, was one of the guests of honour of the 23rd Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre, which ran between 20 and 30 September. Yeghiazarian talks about her career and the struggle to keep Middle Eastern theater alive in the United States. Ahram Online (AO): How was the Golden Thread troupe born and what is its objective? Torange Yeghiazarian (TY): I am originally from Iran but I live in the United States. When I tried to find my voice as a playwright, I found that my world, that of an immigrant Iranian woman, was not of interest to the theatre community in the United States. And even when I worked with theatres or troupes that were ready to venture with my works, the actors had neither background nor any cultural reference that would allow them to transmit my ideas onto stage. This is what triggered founding my own troupe, one that would shed light on the history of immigrants in the United States. The Golden Thread troupe is interested in problems of the Middle East including Turkey, as well as Maghreb and even a few countries of Eastern Europe. AO: What are your thoughts about the Iranian theater? TY: The Iranian theater is very varied and I really appreciate work of Iranian actors and directors. Many topics discussed on the Iranian stages are similar to those raised in Cairo's theatres. I think there could be an interesting interaction between the Egyptian and Iranian artists. The Iranian drama tackles many social issues, setting them in naturalistic, realistic or even abstract formats. Some creators incorporate multimedia and experimenting with new techniques. The theater is less conservative than before even if we are dealing with several restrictions that touch on the presence of a man and a woman on the same stage. The woman must be covered and hijab is obligatory. But the actresses are creative with their hijabs, using it as an accessory or wearing it in different ways. For example, when an actress plays the role of a European or Asian women, she often replaces the hijab with a wig or a hat. AO: Your theatre company has already participated in the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre back in 2004, when it performed with Karima City show. How do you perceive the festival today? TY: First of all, it is an honour to be part of this festival. This also underlines the ongoing vibrant link between the Golden Thread troupe and the Egyptian public. Egyptian artists appreciate our work. The festival seemed much more organised this year. Arab and foreign artists were accommodated in one hotel, which makes everything easier. Also, the seminars were held around the same area what allowed the participants to meet, exchange ideas, etc. I saw many Egyptian plays, done mainly by young directors. I was especially impressed by the performance of The Stranger, presented by a group of young university students. Despite the language barrier, their passionate acting really touched me. Also Zombie And The Ten Sins [Al Zombie Wa Al Khataya Al Ashra] was also very interesting on a visual level. AO: What are your impressions from the workshop that you held during the festival? TY: I noticed that the directors outside the United States are more free when it comes to text and often allow themselves to implement more radical changes. In the US, most directors are closely attached to the original text. Hence, it is out of curiosity that in this workshop, I decided to work with many young actors and directors. I chose a few scenes from Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat by the Egyptian-American playwright Yussef El Guindi. Each group participating in the workshop gave a different interpretation of the text, some young people remained faithful to the original text, while others moved away from it. On this basis I managed to ask questions related to the relationship between the theatre makers and the text. AO: And what are the new productions of Golden Thread? TY: This fall, we will celebrate our 20th anniversary, and for this occasion we wanted to present two new shows: The Most Dangerous Highway in the World, written by the American-Afghan playwright Kevin Artigue and directed by Evren Odcikin, as well as Our Enemies: Lively Scenes Combat of Love by Youssef Al-Guindi, which Im going to direct this November. In fact, Yussef El Guindi is a well known playwright in the US and we want to honour him. Search Keywords: Short link: Chanel on Tuesday made fun of how much technology was part of people's lives by producing a fashion show at Paris' Grand Palais dedicated to wires, cables and black data boxes. Greeted by a huge sign that said "Chanel data center", designer Karl Lagerfeld presented guests with a collection complete with blinking handbags, iridescent tweeds and fluorescent rays of color splashed on flowing dresses and caps. The show opened with an all-white tweed suit with a round plastic helmet and boots reminiscent of Star Wars warriors. "We all depend on it," Lagerfeld, 83, told Reuters TV after the show, referring to technology. "Imagine your life without the telephone and the next step will be artificial intelligence and robots." Models walking alongside rows of computer hardware wore classic Chanel tweed suits and jackets completed with metallic ballerina shoes. Accessories included a small black handbag that was effectively a plastic robot with blinking square eyes. Chanel, which is privately owned, traditionally organizes some of the most striking shows during Paris Fashion Week. The events help the brand preserve its image which is crucial for retaining customers and wooing new ones. According to figures filed with the Amsterdam exchange, the French luxury goods maker was hit hard by the luxury spending slump last year. Search Keywords: Short link: by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, October 4, 2016 Google is weighing in against the Federal Communications Commission's proposal that broadband providers obtain consumers' opt-in consent before using data about their Web activity for ad-targeting. The company argues in a letter to the FCC that its rules for broadband providers should follow the Federal Trade Commission's model. The FTC only calls for companies to obtain people's explicit consent before sharing "sensitive" data -- like health information, precise location data and the "content" of their communications, including social media posts and search queries -- with outside companies. Companies are free to share non-sensitive data with ad networks on an opt-out basis, under the FTC's approach. "This model is familiar to consumers, has worked well for them for many years, and contributed to todays thriving, innovative, and free Internet," Austin Schlick, Google's director for communications law, says in a letter sent to the FCC on Monday. advertisement advertisement "The FTCs framework recognizes that while U.S. consumers consider healthcare or financial transactions, for example, to be sensitive information that should receive special protection, they do not have the same expectations when they shop or get a weather forecast online," Schlick adds. He goes on to say that the FCC "should allow such differentiation based on the nature of web browsing information, regardless of the company collecting the data." This letter marks the first time that Google itself has publicly commented on the FCC's proposal, although the company belongs to industry associations that have argued against the FCC's proposed privacy regulations for broadband. Google's involvement is notable for several reasons, including that the FCC appears to lack the authority to regulate Google's search or ad business. (The FCC's rules, however, would apply to Google Fiber.) What's especially striking is that broadband providers have argued that the proposed regulations would disadvantage them against Google and other so-called "edge" providers -- meaning the Web companies that offer content or services. In fact, AT&T specifically said that the potential regulations would benefit Google and Facebook at the expense of broadband providers. "The proposed marketing restrictions would irrationally protect market incumbents (e.g., Google and Facebook) against competition from new entrants (ISPs) in the digital advertising market," AT&T said in a 15-page presentation submitted to the FCC in June. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler recently hinted to a Senate panel that the agency may revise its proposal. He didn't elaborate on how the rules may evolve, but told lawmakers that the FTC's input into the potential rules was "particularly helpful." Staff at the FTC recomme nded earlier this year that Internet service providers should obtain opt-in consent before using "sensitive" data for ad targeting, and allow consumers to opt out of the use of "non-sensitive" information. But consumer advocates say the FCC should reject calls to craft different rules for different types of data. "The sensitivity of information is highly subjective and context-dependent," Chris Calabrese, vide president of policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology, writes in an FCC filing submitted last week. "A single piece of data may seem non-sensitive on its own but reveal sensitive information when combined with other data points," he writes, adding that IP addresses (often considered non-sensitive) can reveal information about where people live, which can lead to inferences about their race and income. "'Non-sensitive' information can be a lynchpin in a broader system of profiling," he writes. "Offering one level of protection (in this case, opt-in) for 'sensitive' information and another level of protection (opt-out) for other information would be impractical and would negate consumer choice." by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, October 4, 2016 Reebok, which launched a controversial Perfect Never campaign with the chastened UFC fighter Ronda Rousey earlier this year, is adding supermodel Gigi Hadid to its lineup. In creative that it promises will help the world see a different side of the 21-year-old social media phenom, Reebok says ads will show how hard work and sweat help her be true to herself. The campaign, from Venables Bell, is part of the brands larger Be More Human effort, and the company says it will focus not just on how Hadid uses fitness to escape the noises in my head, but how all women can occasionally flee from the negativity that often surrounds them. advertisement advertisement We know there is that expectation that women are supposed to be perfect, and that standards may be unfairly high, Yan Martin, VP/global brand communications for Reebok, tells Marketing Daily. And women put pressure on themselves. We need to talk about things in a way thats more real. With almost 24 million Instagram followers, the 21-year-old model bears a strong resemblance to mom Yolanda Hadid, former model and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And she has made an even bigger name for herself by standing up to modeling agencies and Internet trolls who think she should lose weight. Social media continues to be a big part of Reeboks strategy, Martin says. Social media will let us tell Hadids story, like Rouseys, in a very rich, deep way that resonates with people and inspires them, he says. Shes not just a fashion model. Shes a role model. Social media is a gateway for us, he says. We have people in-house answering every tweet and every post. Its part of what we do as a brand, part of our authenticity. And while the womens workout gear category has been flooded with stellar advertising in the last year, including woman-wooing work from Nike and Under Armour, what sets us apart is that weve been a fitness brand for women since the 1980s. Other brands are focused on team sports, and while theyre jumping on the fitness trend now, we are and always have been committed to it for the long run. In its most recent quarterly results, Adidas, which owns the brand, says Reeboks revenues grew 7%, with double-digit gains in Europe, China, Russia and Japan. by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, October 5, 2016 Who won the vice presidential debate? The answer depends on what criteria you feel like applying. I happen to think Mike Pence won, based generally on the way he came across on TV compared to his opponent, Democrat Tim Kaine. Why? Because on TV, Kaines behavior was rude, intolerant and disruptive, and his demeanor was smug. What did the Pakistani taxi driver say on Seinfeld? I believe it was smugness is not a good quality. And he was right. Based on Kaines performance Monday night, and Hillary Clintons first debate last week with Donald Trump, you might come to the conclusion that the Democratic debate strategy consists of ridiculing their opponents, repeating certain messages over and over again regardless of context (or a moderators questions), and smiling idiotically through most of it -- whether or not the moment calls for such a carefree, lighthearted facial expression. By contrast, Pence came across as serious, calm, thoughtful and unflappable. And lets face it: He had the tougher job -- defending Trump. Kaine challenged him repeatedly (and smugly) on the many controversial utterances that have emanated from the Republican presidential nominee ever since he announced his candidacy in June 2015. Incredibly, Pence parried just about every one of them and in the process, managed to stick up for Trump and also maintain his own integrity -- which was no mean feat. Although Trump is an easier target than Clinton, Pences attacks on the Democratic presidential nominee, in which he focused frequently on questions about her effectiveness as Secretary of State, scored points for the Republican side. In reply, Kaines assertions that the Iran nuclear deal, for example, represents the worlds best chance for peace in the Middle East rang hollow. Its the kind of statement a politician makes that causes ordinary people watching at home to scratch their heads in wonder at the bottomless capacity of politicians to frame situations in any way they please, as long as it serves the politicians interests. Pence also repeatedly accused Kaine and Clinton of running a smear campaign based largely on attack advertising and insults. This may or may not be true, but Pences strategy here, combined with the demeanor he adopted on TV, was effective enough to paint the Democrats as taking a lower road in the campaign than the Republicans -- another feat that was not easy to accomplish. In giving Pence a victory in Tuesday nights debate, let it also be said that this 90-minute face-off was in many ways a tiresome affair. Sitting through it was a tough slog. There is something off-putting about watching two people greet each other cordially, state that they each respect the other, and then proceed to tear into each other for an hour-and-a-half. In this regard, Kaine was the more off-putting of the two. He interrupted Pence more or less constantly, starting very early in the debate. If someone did this to you in real-life in, say, a business meeting or over the dinner table, you would think this person was the worlds biggest jerk. Based on the way he acted in last nights debate, theres no reason why one shouldnt think the same of Kaine. Why couldn't he have kept his mouth shut while his opponent spoke, no matter how much he disagreed with him? Instead, Kaine tried over and over again to ride roughshod over Pence -- in much the same way perhaps that opposing viewpoints get shouted down these days on college campuses. The debates moderator, Elaine Quijado of CBS News, tried her best to control the debaters when they evaded questions, went long or interrupted each other. And she did better than Lester Holt did last week with Trump and Clinton, probably because the presidential candidates are more difficult to rein in than their vice presidential running mates. Moderating these televised debates is really a thankless job anyway. Its like being named host of the Academy Awards. Its great exposure, but it is always followed by an avalanche of post-show criticism (or these days, in-show criticism via Twitter). There is almost no way a debate moderator can avoid it. Nor can a moderator do much about it when a debate participant decides beforehand that his strategy will consist of interrupting his opponents statements as often as possible, as Kaine did in this debate. That showed disrespect for Pence, the moderator and viewers watching at home -- a disrespect trifecta for the Democratic nominee for vice president. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, October 4, 2016 A U.S. Federal District Judge in New York has tossed a class-action shareholder law suit against MDC Partners that alleged a pattern of fraudulent behavior on the part of the company and several of its current and former executives and board members in violation of the Securities Exchange Act. The suit was filed in July 2015 amid an accounting scandal at the firm that resulted in the forced resignation earlier that month of the companys founder and then CEO Miles Nadal. Nadal was named in the suit, along with company CFO David Doft, former Chief Accounting Officer Michael Sabatino (who left around the time that Nadal did), General Counsel Mitchell Gendel and former board member and audit committee head George Kirby. An SEC investigation that began in October 2014 looking at accounting and trading misconduct at MDC is still ongoing. Nadal agreed to pay back about $21 million in bogus expenses and unearned incentive bonuses. advertisement advertisement In a 32-page decision issued last Friday, Judge Richard J. Sullivan ruled that the company might have been mismanaged and that negligence might have occurred but that the plaintiffsled by a California-based institutional pension fund--fell far short of demonstrating in their amended complaint that any fraud on the part of the company or its officials occurred. Thus, Sullivan granted MDCs motion to dismiss the suit with prejudice and the case is now closed. Back in April 2015, MDC Partners investors got scorched when the company disclosed the ongoing SEC investigation. Overnight, the companys stock price fell nearly 28% to $20.20. The stock price hasnt recovered yet. Today it closed at a 365-day low of $10.63. The lawsuit alleged that MDC had overstated the so-called goodwill value associated with certain poorly performing or defunct subsidiaries and that the firm used a misleading version of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)in financial reports. The plaintiffs also alleged that the company failed to disclose all of then-CEO Nadals compensation and falsely reported that its internal controls over financial reporting were adequate. As a result of the allegations, plaintiffs claimed they were injured along with other MDC shareholders who bought shares in the 18-month period leading up to April 27, 2015, when the company disclosed the SEC investigation in an earnings release. Judge Sullivan ruled that the allegations lacked the specificity required by the Securities Act for claims of fraud. Sullivan also ruled that plaintiffs failed to show that defendants intended to commit fraud or to provide any plausible motivation as to why they would want to. The judge also ruled that alleged misleading MDC statements cited by the plaintiffs to support their case werent material as required by law. Sullivan concluded that much of the plaintiffs case relied on assertions from a confidential witness in the ongoing SEC investigation. That witness was previously a consultant that MDC had hired a few years ago to provide advice concerning a number of under-performing companies in MDCs portfolio. The consultant, KJ Roberts & Co., and MDC had a falling out over compensation that ended up in New York District Court in 2012, when the consultant sued. That case was also tossed after MDCs motion for summary judgment was granted. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, October 5, 2016 Eight OClock Coffee is supporting the launch of its Infusions line with an eight-week, $3-million campaign. The marketing includes digital, social and radio advertising; a sampling tour and a direct mail sampling campaign; a national FSI; and in-store displays. The positioning for Infusions coffees, which feature added functional ingredients, is: Theres a reason behind every sip. The first two 100%-Arabica coffee varieties are Alert, which is blended with caffeine and guarana; and Relax, which is decaf blended with chamomile and lavender cuts. The digital and mobile elements are targeting in-market shoppers across devices on top-indexing sites and apps, based on behavioral data segments and mobile app downloads. advertisement advertisement In a Try Today and Save execution, desktop users are directed to a $1.50 coupon on Coupons.com, and mobile users are driven to the Ibotta app for a $1.50 reward with purchase. On National Coffee Day, Sept. 29, those who made an order of any size on Eight OClocks online store received a free sample of one of the Infusion blends. A 10-city national sampling tour at local events and stores kicked off in Houston on National Coffee Day. During the events, consumers can snap selfies with filtered overlays showing why they should take a break to refuel with Alert or chill with Relax. The snaps can be sent to their mobile devices to share on social. Radio campaigns promoting the new line and the sampling locations will run in all tour cities. The social media campaign will include a new brand video featuring the reason behind messaging. In a television integration, an executive from Eight OClocks parent company, Tata Global Beverages, will be interviewed about Infusions and the sampling tour during New York Live on New Yorks WNBC-TV. Segments from the integration will be used to create TV spots. Source CXM is handling Eight OClock Coffees social media, digital and consumer events. by Sara Guaglione , October 5, 2016 The New York Times is expanding its Flex Frame Everywhere cross-device digital advertising solution to run across desktop and smartphones. According to The Wall Street Journal, this is the NYTs strategy to phase out banner ads now considered by many to be a bland ad format losing its popularity on its site. They will be replaced with Flex Frame, its own proprietary, native display ad offering. Banner ads will now only appear near the top of 30% of the NYTs desktop Web pages, Sebastian Tomich, senior vice president of advertising and innovation at the newspaper told WSJ, and he hopes that number will continue to decrease. The launch of the next phase of Flex Frame Everywhere is an effort to modernize and improve the digital advertising experience for both marketers and users on NYTimes.com and its apps, the company stated. Google is the first to adopt the new ad products, as part of a site-wide advertising takeover today to promote the launch of Googles new phone, Pixel. The way advertisers are using Facebook is very native, for example, but you havent really seen many publishers using that model, Tomich told WSJ. Theres a good amount of negativity around the display business in the market now, but its a staple for us. Flex Frame is described by the company as a horizontal, large format, cross-device, responsive unit which appears in-stream alongside editorial content. The units are available on the NYTs homepages, section fronts and between paragraphs in article pages across all platforms. They can also feature video, 360 video and images, slideshows and regular images. Flex Frame comes in three forms: a customizable branded content unit built by the publisher's brand marketing team T Brand Studio, a template-style, native unit designed by the NYT and built using DoubleClick for Publishers, and programmatic ads that advertisers may soon be able to buy using automated ad buying software. Thehas been experimenting with Flex Frame units on mobile since last year. by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, October 5, 2016 On CNNs post-debate coverage of the only Vice Presidential debate between Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Paul Begala put forward the idea that Mike Pence announced his candidacy for president in 2020. Stylistically, Pence had the stronger performance in Longwood, Virginia, Tuesday evening. Pence, though a frequent head shaker with smug grins, was more composed than Kaine, with his fluttering interruptions. Pence's paused approach to attacks on Trump presented the Indiana Gov. in a comparatively positive light. If anything, last nights performance made me wonder why Pence isnt the guy at the top of the ticket. He clearly doesnt have the bluster of Trump, which so many in the Republican Party admire. He was losing in his reelection polls for governor before he pulled out to join Trumps ticket and he has the insider CV that so many despise these days. Still, as Begala pointed out, Pence presented himself as a legitimate national politician with the image and self-command of a president, unlike his bombastic running mate Donald Trump. advertisement advertisement On the substance front, however, the story line was quite different. Pence was unable to defend multiple attacks Kaine waged on Trump. The usually ebullient Kaine, as David Axelrod described him, was sent out there last night to be a Democratic attack dog. He did effectively hit Trump on a number of issues, including his closeness with Putin, his tax returns, his comments on women and stance on abortion, but looked uncomfortable and at times, downright pained while doing so. Many of the attacks stuck, and Pence was not effective in substantially defending Trump on a majority of the points Kaine addressed. But thats not what will be remembered. The poise, self-control and general pleasantness that Pence showed will stick in voters minds going forward -- preparing him for what some may believe is a presidential run in 2020. Kaine was a stalwart defender of anything launched his way about Clinton, whereas Pence was content with laughing and shaking his head when Kaine presented any of the myriad offensive statements Trump has trumpeted. What the debate could possibly do is coerce some Republicans averse to Trump to consider supporting him, given he tapped a seemingly level-headed VP at his side. There is little chance last nights performance will do anything to move any Democrats away from Clinton. In the end, Pence painted the image of a running mate that more Republicans might support. The problem is that the candidate conjured up during yesterdays debate is definitely not Donald Trump. If the Trump/Pence ticket is to have any chance on Nov. 8, Trump needs to take debate tips from his VP and potential 2020 Republican candidate for president. Odds are he wont. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, October 5, 2016 Artificial intelligence software remains the foundation of most services and products that advertisers will see this year. While search became the first to demonstrate the power of AI and machine learning, it now shares the glory with video and other media. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said during a recent product launch event that Knowledge Graph now holds 70 billion facts. On Wednesday, IRIS.TV released technology that runs on AI and serves in real-time branded video campaigns. It analyzes the publisher's video archive and the behavior of the individual viewing the content. The goal is to create a continuous stream of videos that have the highest probability of being watched by that person. Rohan Castelino, IRIS.TV director of business development and marketing, says Campaign Manager creates additional pre-roll inventory downstream. Viewers of video players powered by IRIS.TV can watch up to eight videos per viewing session. AI will change the way brands create content. Consider findings from data company Beakon, which estimates just 5% of branded content garners 90% of total consumer engagements. The other 95% shares the remaining 10% of engagements. In other words, 19 out of 20 content pieces get little to no engagement, per Beakon's findings. The average number of content images and videos that brands created and posted in the past 12 months, in both free social media channels and paid media channels, jumped three times compared the prior 12-month period, according to Beakon. AI is also the backbone for IRIS.TV's platform, which creates custom video streams served one-on-one by pulling, creating and analyzing a variety of data in real-time. Titles, descriptions, keywords, categories are the main data points, but if the publisher using the platform doesn't tag the video with metadata, IRIS.TV's platform uses natural language processing. Without user login data, it tracks viewer behavior through device, browser, location, time of day, when they click on "skip the ad," and on what type of content they typically apply a thumps up or down. Combining these analyses, the AI makes a decision of what to play next. Finally, the cloud-based system processes billions of data points daily to serve videos in real-time. To build a consumption history on users, when they go to a Web site for the first time and click play on a video, the system drops a session cookie that creates an anonymous user ID. As long as the user returns within a 30-day period, the cookie extends. by Larissa Faw , October 5, 2016 MDC Partners is promoting Ryan Linder from SVP business development to CMO, U.S. He will oversee marketing and business development across MDC Partners largest agency portfolio and market and also work with MDCs regionally based CMOs, Stephanie Nerlich in Canada and Lotta Malm Hallqvist in Europe. Linder, who is based in Florida, reports to Bob Kantor, chief marketing and business development officer. The elevation to this newly created position underscores Linders role in helping to drive the holding company's recent and expected future growth. He is credited with spearheading efforts that have led to many of the networks big wins of late, including MillerCoors, The Hershey Company, Campbells Soup Co., The Truth Initiative and Beats by Dre. advertisement advertisement Prior to joining MDC, Linder served as SVP and chief growth officer for creative agency Doner, which MDC acquired a stake in in 2012. Before that, Linder was CMO for Omnicom shop Zimmerman Advertising in Fort Lauderdale and led business development for Olson in Minneapolis and IPGs Jack Morton Worldwide. What sets Ryan apart is his boundless energy and enthusiasm for business development, and the investment he makes in building deep agency and client relationships, stated Kantor. Ryan works across MDCs diverse partner agencies to expertly align them with the right clients, which is why so many brands count on him as a partner and a stakeholder in helping them achieve their goals." MDC confirmed that Linders previous SVP business development position will not be filled. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 5, 2016 The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear a challenge to Facebook's $20 million "sponsored stories" settlement. The move leaves in place a settlement that requires Facebook to pay $15 each to around 600,000 users whose name and images were featured in sponsored stories ads that were shown to their friends. The deal also obligates Facebook to change its terms of service to require users to consent to their names and photos appearing in ads. Users under 18 must represent that at least one parent agrees. (The company discontinued the sponsored stories program in 2014, but still allows people's names and photos to be paired with ads.) The University of San Diego's Children's Advocacy Institute challenged the terms of the settlement, arguing that the deal allows Facebook to flout state laws that prohibit companies from using minors' names and photos in ads without their parents' consent. The settlement, approved in 2013 by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Seeborg, resolved a class-action lawsuit alleging that Facebook's sponsored stories violates a California law about endorsements. That law says companies need adults' permission before using their names or images in ads. advertisement advertisement Earlier this year, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge to the settlement. That court said it's unclear whether the ad program violated California's law. The appellate panel added that the settlement offers "more protection for minors from Facebook's advertising practices than existed before." The Children's Advocacy Institute then asked the Supreme Court to review the deal. The advocacy group brought its petition on behalf of Michael Depot, the father of two underage Facebook users. "The nature of the Internet poses unique dangers to children," the organization wrote in its petition to the Supreme Court. "Children lack maturity, which may lead to ill-considered decisions. If a child posts regretted information, it is commonly accessible for years." The group added that Facebook's new procedures for obtaining consent to the use of people's names and images wrongly require people to grant the company a "blanket privacy waiver." "There is no real or lawful child or parental consent," the organization argued. "Neither the child nor any parent will necessarily nor even likely see what is being captured and how it will appear and to whom it will be sent." As is customary, the Supreme Court didn't provide a reason for its refusal to hear the appeal. by Sean Hargrave , October 5, 2016 LONDON -- An emotional Steve Wozniak paid tribute to Steve Jobs on the fifth anniversary of his death at the Festival of Marketing here today. Prompted by a question from delegates, Wozniak spoke fondly, but realistically, about the Apple co-founder. I was thinking of Steve a lot this morning, he said. He did have a lot of flaws and I would sometimes wonder how could a human being do these things, some things you will never know about. Id wonder if you only think about yourself, how can you live like that. But the truth is, he was always acting for us both -- everything he did was for us, more than it was ever about the money. Wozniak explained that their relationship was based on him putting everything into his computer designs and Steve Jobs making money for them both. To understand Steve Jobs, you have to remember how the pressure of wanting to be a major entrepreneur changed the man. There were two Steve Jobs, Wozniak explained. There was Steve Jobs when we were playing around making computers in the early days. Wed play tricks on each other and laugh all the time. But he wanted to be a somebody and so when we became a big company he became very serious. He wanted to be a businessman and wanted to learn how to be that person. Hed still laugh sometimes afterwards but he generally was different. Probed further about what he would say if he could talk to Steve Jobs today, Wozniak pointed out that he was thankful for having been able to talk fully to Jobs on his deathbed to let him know how much he had meant to him. However, he admitted if he were to talk to him today about the latter days, they would just end up having a row, so he would go back to a question that has always vexed him. Why did you turn your back on your family, why did you never respect them? Wozniak would ask. He was adopted and so I think maybe he didnt see them as his family. His sister once called to get a discount on a computer and Steve wouldnt give it to her, not even a staff employee discount. I told him he should, its his sister, but he just wouldnt. Id love to know why he just didnt seem to see his family as his family. Ive never understood it. As for what Wozniak has left to do, the answer was simply. A visit to Bucharest is on the bucket list as is a dream of hitting a 700,000 high score on the computer game Tetris, the music to which welcomed him on to the Festival of Marketing stage in London. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, October 5, 2016 Luis DeAnda the former president of TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles, has joined the executive recruitment firm Heidrick & Struggles. DeAnda, a 14-year TBWA veteran, will remain based in Los Angeles. He left the agency in April of this year after a two-year stint overseeing the LA operation. Earlier, he served three years as COO of the agencys Tokyo office. Before that, he worked at the agencys Media Arts Lab, the unit formed to service the global Apple Account about a decade ago. Before joining TBWA, DeAnda held roles at several agencies in Los Angeles, including Rubin Postaer & Associates and Publicis. "His work with TBWA has given him a global point-of-view that will resonate with both consumer digital clients as well as with marketing and advertising clients," stated Tom Snyder, Global Managing Partner, Consumer Markets Practice. "He will bring a wealth of expertise within the digital marketing sector, broadening the firm's ability to serve clients internationally." A quarter of a billion children across the globe may not achieve their full potential because of extreme poverty and stunting, says a series of papers published in The Lancet. Share on Pinterest Preschool programs can help children build a better future. More children are now surviving into adulthood, but around 43 percent of those in low- and middle-income countries risk not fulfilling their potential. The authors of the research, entitled Series on Early Childhood Development , call for more policies and programs to support early child development, calling this a wise investment. When children do not fulfill their developmental potential, their adult earning capacity can be up to 25 percent lower, and the cost to governments in the long run may be double the amount they normally spend on national healthcare. Problems faced by children during the all-important 1,000 first days of life, starting from conception, include poor sanitation and infections, and a lack of nurturing care and stimulation. The study highlights the role played by nurturing care in enabling children to reach their full potential. Nurturing care is the kind of care that promotes nutrition, health, security, safety, and early learning. Need to support nurturing care Most children receive this care from their family, but poverty, violence, poor working conditions, and a lack of supporting policies can leave caregivers struggling to provide adequate nurturing care. Policies that can help families to provide this kind of care include free early schooling, paid maternity and paternity leave, breast-feeding facilities, and a minimum wage. Free early education Children who attend preschool, especially those that provide both nutrition and education, do better in primary school. The report notes that 2 years of free preschool education is recommended, but only 40 countries provide this. Forty-three percent of countries provide 1 free year or more. Nearly 1 in 3 high-income countries do not provide free preschool education. Paid leave Parental leave provides opportunities to bond with and care for young children. Only eight countries do not guarantee paid maternity leave. Most provide at least 12 weeks, with two thirds of wages. However, those in the informal sector may not enjoy such benefits. Paid paternity leave is offered in only 77 countries. Breast-feeding facilities Breast-feeding can protect a child from disease and improve cognitive function. In 139 countries, breast-feeding breaks are guaranteed for 6 months or more. In 43 countries, breaks are paid. Again, this is not guaranteed in the informal sector, and women in workplaces where there is nowhere to use a breast milk pump and no refrigeration may not be able to benefit. Minimum wage When parents earn a basic income, children are more likely to have access to healthcare and education. Eighty-eight percent of countries have minimum wage policies, but they do not necessarily guarantee that this income will be more than $2 a day, considered the poverty level for a parent supporting a child. Increasing numbers of children are surviving, but begin life at a disadvantage because they do not receive the nurturing care they need. Political prioritization, legislation and financing of early childhood development programs are key to ensuring their success, as is creating a policy environment that supports nurturing care, for instance by providing paid maternal and paternal leave, free preschool education and support for breastfeeding. Series author Prof. Linda Richter, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Programs such as Early Head Start in the United States appear to be effective in supporting children. However, programs in many countries face a lack of resources and uncertain funding. Series co-author Prof. Gary Darmstadt, of Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, CA, calls for nurturing care to be made a priority in countries around the world. The cost of inaction is huge, he says. Scientists reveal how particular brain pathways can influence food choices through a study of individuals that carry defects in a gene that is associated with obesity. The study led by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom provides insight into what guides our preference for certain foods and identifies a direct link between food selection and specific gene variants. Share on Pinterest People with the MC4R gene defect ate nearly twice the amount of high-fat korma, compared with the other groups. Understanding the science behind food choice may increase knowledge of obesity and consequently assist with strategies to decrease the global obesity burden that affects more than 600 million people worldwide . The development of food preferences begins early in humans, even before birth, and what people like and dislike changes into adulthood. Many determinants affect food choice. While hunger is a key element, what individuals choose to eat is not determined just by physiological and nutritional needs. Factors that may influence food choice include aspects that tantalize the senses, such as taste, appearance, smell, and texture, as well as more subtle economic, physical, social, and psychological elements. New research published in the journal Nature Communications indicates that biology may also play a role. Previous research has shown that a defect in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene causes obesity. Research suggests that 1 in 100 obese people have the defect, which makes them more likely to gain weight. In mouse studies, the MC4R gene variant has been shown to induce obesity as a result of disrupting a particular pathway in the brain that leads to mice eating considerably more fat. While the mice with the gene defect were found to eat more fat, they ate significantly less sugar. The University of Cambridge study adds to these findings by revealing the relevance of this high-fat, low-sugar eating behavior. Assessing how MC4R gene variant affects food preferences The new research observed peoples preference for high-fat and high-sugar foods by providing participants with an all-you-can-eat buffet of chicken korma curry with a dessert of Eton mess (a mixture of strawberries, whipped cream, and crushed meringue). Three korma curry options were provided that were manipulated to look and taste the same; however, the fat content in each varied. Fat content across the choices provided 20 percent (low), 40 percent (medium), and 60 percent (high) of the calories. Participants were divided into groups of lean people, obese people, and people who were obese as a result of having the MC4R gene variant. All groups were tested on their food preferences by initially having a taste from each of the three curries unaware that there was a difference between the kormas or that the fat content varied and they were then asked to eat freely from any of the three. Some HIV-infected - and untreated - children do not develop AIDS. A new study shows that they control the virus in a different way from the few infected adults who remain disease-free, and sheds light on the reasons for this difference. Children who are HIV-positive but remain free of AIDS are very rare. In the absence of antiretroviral therapy, over 99% of individuals infected with HIV go on to develop full-blown AIDS, and the condition evolves more rapidly in children than in adults. However, between 5 and 10% of perinatally infected HIV-positive children avoid this fate, as an international research collaboration, led by Dr. Maximilian Muenchhoff at LMU's Max von Pettenkofer Institute and colleagues based at the University of Oxford (Professor Philip Goulder), report in the current issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine. The group has characterized the immunological responses of a cohort of these so-called non-progressors - HIV-positive children in South Africa who contracted the infection from their mothers but who remain healthy. At the time of the study, the average age of the cohort was just under 8 years old. The investigations reveal that these children have high concentrations of circulating HIV particles, although their immune system remains fully functional. "Interestingly however, these infected but healthy children exhibit only low levels of immune activation. In addition, while the spectrum of cell types that contain the virus - the so-called viral reservoir - is very complex it is predominantely restricted to short-lived CD4+ T cells in these young non-progressors," says Dr. Maximilian Muenchhoff. In addition, the researchers found that most of these children have high levels of potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies directed against HIV. These features of the immune response in healthy HIV-infected children show a striking resemblance to that observed in the more than 40 species of African monkeys which are the natural hosts of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) - from which HIV itself is derived. Although the virus replicates very efficiently in these primates, infected animals show no signs of immune dysfunction. Here too, short-lived CD4+ T cells serve as the primary viral reservoir, and levels of immune activation are low, as seen in the study cohort. In contrast to this picture, the vast majority of HIV-infected AIDS patients, both adults and children, display all the signs of chronic activation of the immune system. Furthermore, this condition persists even under anti-retroviral therapy which effectively reduces viral numbers, and it is also associated with long-term complications, such as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The new findings are therefore of interest not only with respect to the development of effective HIV vaccines, they may also provide pointers toward potential interventions for patients with chronic HIV infections. "This is a remarkable clinical study from the epicenter of the HIV pandemic. The ability of these children to maintain an intact immune system in the face of ongoing viral replication and in the absence of antiretroviral therapy can provide us with new insights into hitherto unknown defense mechanisms, which could eventually benefit other HIV patients", says Professor Oliver T. Keppler, Chair of Virology at the Pettenkofer Institute, and former head of the German Reference Center for Retroviruses in Frankfurt am Main. The 170 members of the study cohort in Durban, South Africa, were infected with HIV by mother-to-child transmission. However, since these children showed no symptoms of disease, the fact that they were infected was, in most cases, discovered only several years later when their mothers had developed AIDS and sought medical attention. In a study appearing in JAMA, Paul S. Chan, M.D., of Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, and colleagues evaluated the association of hypothermia treatment with survival to hospital discharge and with favorable neurological survival at hospital discharge among patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest. Therapeutic hypothermia, or targeted temperature management, is recommended for comatose patients following both out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, therapeutic hypothermia has only been shown to improve overall survival and rates of favorable neurological survival in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. Whether this treatment improves survival for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest is unknown. As in-hospital cardiac arrest affects approximately 200,000 individuals annually in the United States, there is a need to understand whether therapeutic hypothermia is associated with improved survival for these patients. With the use of the national Get With the Guidelines-Resuscitation registry, the researchers identified 26,183 patients successfully resuscitated from an in-hospital cardiac arrest between March 2002 and December 2014, and either treated or not treated with hypothermia at 355 U.S. hospitals. Overall, 1,568 of 26,183 patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest (6 percent) were treated with therapeutic hypothermia; 1,524 of these patients were matched to 3,714 non-hypothermia-treated patients. After adjustment, therapeutic hypothermia was associated with lower in-hospital survival (27.4 percent vs 29.2 percent), and this association was similar for nonshockable cardiac arrest rhythms (22.2 percent vs 24.5 percent) and shockable cardiac arrest rhythms (41.3 percent vs 44.1 percent). Therapeutic hypothermia was also associated with lower rates of favorable neurological survival for the overall study group (hypothermia-treated group, 17 percent; non-hypothermia-treated group, 20.5 percent) and for both rhythm types. When follow-up was extended to 1 year, there remained no survival advantage with therapeutic hypothermia treatment. "Collectively, these findings do not support current use of therapeutic hypothermia for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest," the authors write. "These observational findings warrant a randomized clinical trial to assess efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia for in-hospital cardiac arrest." Article: Association Between Therapeutic Hypothermia and Survival After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest , Paul S. Chan MD, Robert A. Berg MD, Yuanyuan Tang PhD, Lesley H. Curtis PhD, John A. Spertus MD, MPH, JAMA, doi:10.1001/jama.2016.14380, published 4 October 2016. Dr. Chan is supported by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Get With the Guidelines-Resuscitation registry is sponsored by the American Heart Association. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, etc. Researchers have discovered a gene region that raises the risk a child will have a middle ear infection, known to doctors as acute otitis media (AOM) - and known to parents as one reason for a screaming, unhappy preschooler. The finding may offer an early clue to helping doctors develop more effective treatments to prevent one of the most common childhood illnesses. "Parents and pediatricians are all too familiar with this painful childhood ear infection - it's the most frequent reason children receive antibiotics," said study leader Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). "Although microbes cause this condition, it's been well known that genetics also plays a role. This is the first and largest genetic study focused on risk susceptibility for acute otitis media." Hakonarson and colleagues from CHOP collaborated with Dutch researchers led by Gijs van Ingen and colleagues from the University Medical Center, Rotterdam, in the study published online in Nature Communications. The researchers performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on two discovery cohorts with DNA samples from 11,000 children. They found that an association between AOM and a site on chromosome 6 containing the gene FNDC1, and then replicated the finding in an independent pediatric cohort with data from 2000 children. Co-first author Jin Li, PhD, of CHOP, was the lead analyst on the study. In further studies, the scientists showed that the mouse gene corresponding to FNDC1 was expressed in the animal's middle ear. "Although the gene's function in humans has not been well studied, we do know that FNDC1 codes for a protein with a role in inflammation," said Hakonarson. Hakonarson added that learning more about the biological interactions between genes and pathogens involved in AOM, researchers hope to develop more specific therapies for the childhood infection, while learning which children are most susceptible to the disease. "As with many other diseases, early medical intervention may offer the greatest benefits," he said. The National Institutes of Health (grant HG006830), the EU 7th Framework Programme (grant 247642), and the Kubert Estate family supported this research. The festival in its 17th year will hold the opening ceremony at a theater in Hapjeong-dong in Seoul on Nov. 4. Actress Han Ji-min has been appointed as a promotional ambassador for this year's Persons with Disabilities Film Festival. The festival's organizing committee said Han was selected to promote the festival as she is a multi-talented actress who appeals to people of all ages. "I will do my best to promote the festival and draw interest from more people," Han said. The festival was first started in 2000 to raise awareness for the disabled and has become an event all people can enjoy together. The festival will run from Nov. 4 to 7. Advertisement The findings may lead to better ways of distinguishing between active and latent disease and to a more effective vaccine against tuberculosis."Ending tuberculosis by 2030 is one of the targets of the World Health Organization's newly adopted Sustainable Developmental Goals," says Lenette Lu of the Ragon Institute and the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Medicine, a co-lead author of thereport. "A more effective vaccine against TB could substantially contribute towards that goal, impacting the nearly one in three people worldwide who are infected and addressing the leading killer of individuals infected with HIV."BCG is believed to work by stimulating cellular immunity, which is carried out by specialized immune cells including T cells and the macrophages that are directly infected by TB bacteria. Previous investigations into a possible role for antibodies in the immune response to TB have had conflicting results, but the Ragon team - led by Galit Alter, of MGH Department of Medicine and Sarah Fortune of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - used a novel approach.In addition to binding to their target pathogens and marking them for destruction by the immune system, antibodies also directly stimulate pathogen-killing cells of the innate immune system by binding to a cell-surface protein called the Fc receptor. The Ragon team profiled TB-specific antibodies from 22 individuals with latent TB and 20 with active TB for 70 different features associated with Fc-mediated antibody function. They first identified nine characteristics that differentiated between antibodies of the two groups of participants, and further investigation identified the biomarker that best distinguished between them.A key regulator of Fc-mediated immune function is the addition to antibodies of compounds called glycans, made up of sugar molecules; and distinct differences in glycosylation patterns were found to clearly distinguish latent TB antibodies from active TB antibodies. To confirm these results in the initial group of participants, who were from South Africa, the team conducted a similar analysis of antibodies from 20 individuals from Texas and Mexico - half with latent and half with active TB - and had the same results. Further experiments revealed that application of latent TB antibodies to TB-infected human macrophages not only increased the activation of several antimicrobial processes but also reduced the survival of the TB bacteria.Co-lead author Amy Chung now at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia - a joint venture between The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital - explains, "This is a completely new area of immune research in tuberculosis, since these antibodies don't just recognize the infection, they also recruit immune cells to target it. People with latent infection have inactive disease for a reason, and if antibodies are playing a role in controlling the infection, the mechanism they use could be harnessed for future vaccine development."Alter, an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, adds, "The diagnostic potential of these findings should not be overlooked. The detection of Fc-related modifications of TB-specific antibodies could be easily translated into a rapid, inexpensive point-of-care diagnostic that could have enormous public health impact, particularly in those parts of the globe where TB is endemic.""These findings - which could lead to major advances in the fight against one of humanity's oldest diseases - would have been impossible without visionary philanthropists like Terry and Susan Ragon, whose major gift created the Ragon Institute in 2009, and Mark and Lisa Schwartz, whose long-term support provided seed funding for Dr. Alter's work," says Peter Slavin, president of Massachusetts General Hospital, where the Ragon Institute is administratively based.Source: Newswise Advertisement Typhoid (Salmonella) Cholera (Vibrio) Dysentery (Shigella) Meningitis Pneumonia (Klebsiella and Acinetobacter) Flavobacteria -proteobacteria Oscillatoriphycudea Actinobacteria -proteobacteria Sphingobacteria Deltaproteobacteria Siphoviridae Podoviridae Myoviridae Started in November 2014 Commissioned by federal Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry. Headed by Kum. Uma Bharati Conducted by IMTECH Other participants are National Botanical Research Institute, Indian Institute Toxicology Research and Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (all in Lukhnow) Sewage from many cities along the Basin Industrial wastes Religious offerings, often in plastic containers Cremation of the deceased, containing bones and ashes Un-cremated dead bodies Illegal mining in the Ganga river bed The scientists studied the fresh water sedimentary metagenome-viromes and found that apart from the bacteriophages and the non-putrefying bacteria the waters also contain the double stranded DNA viruses.Dr. Shanmugam Mayilraj, Senior Principal Scientist at the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology Chandigarh, has quoted in The Indian Science Journal that they have identified 20-25 interesting viruses.These viruses were never reported earlier and are found to be active against certain clinical isolates. This makes them useful against multi-drug resistant infections, or MDR infections.Some of the MDR infections include:A bacteriophage is a virus that infects a bacterium and replicates within the bacterium and destroys it. Bacteriophages have been used as an alternative to antibiotics against infectious diseases for over 90 years.Various types of bacterial groups were found to be present in the samples of the waters of Ganga and the sediment.The sample of Ganges waters contained bacterial groups:The sediment also contained some different strains:The virus (bacteriophage) groups found in the waters are:The water samples were collected before monsoon and after monsoon from the Haridwar to Varanasi stretch of the Ganga River. This stretch is known to be the highly polluted region of the Ganga Basin.The virus found in the waters and sediments mimic bacteria in the sediment of the river and eventually eat them up. The bacteriophages also feed on the decomposing bodies and other waste that are dumped into the river.One of the earliest studies on the waters of Ganga was done by E Hanbury Hankin, a British physician. He reported that cholera microbes died within three hours in the Ganga water, while they survived in distilled water even after 48 hours.The Ganga originates from the western Himalayas and flows through various states of northern India. Throughout its journey, it is joined by various tributaries like Gomti, Kosi and Yamuna.In Hindu mythology, Ganga is considered to have descended from the heavens for the purpose of redemption of the dead.The various sources of pollution in Ganga include:The IMTECH team would now collect water samples from other rivers like Yamuna and Narmada for a comparative study to find why the Ganga waters are special.This discovery of bacteriophages in the river Ganga can bridge the gap between its reputation of self-purifying abilities and its potential disease-fighting abilities.Source: Medindia Advertisement "Using a combination of learning tasks and brain imaging in teens and adults, we identified patterns of brain activity in adolescents that support learning -- serving to guide them successfully into adulthood."Dr Juliet Davidow, a psychology postdoc at Harvard University, Dr Shohamy, and Dr Adriana Galvan from the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted a study to test whether teen's sensitivity to reward could make them better at learning from good and bad outcomes.The study involved 41 teens (ages 13-17) and 31 adults (ages 20-30), the authors focused on a brain region called the striatum, a region of the brain which is a critical component of the reward system. Studies have shown that striatum coordinates the brain function from planning to decision making. But, the striatum is well-known for its role in reinforcement learning."In simplest terms, reinforcement learning is making a guess, being told whether you're right or wrong, and using that information to make a better guess next time," said Davidow, first author of the study."For example, imagine you are given a series of cards with numbers on them and are asked to guess the next number in the sequence. If you guess right, the striatum shows activity that corresponds to that positive feedback, thus reinforcing your choice," Dr. Davidow explained. "Essentially, it is a reward signal that helps the brain learn how to repeat the successful choice again."The test included an image of a butterfly and a pair of flower pictures. The participants were asked to guess the flower on which the butterfly would land on. When participants guessed it right, the word "correct" flashed on the screen, and when the answer was wrong, the word "incorrect" flashed on the screen.When the correct or incorrect label appeared on the screen, an unrelated image like watermelon or pencil was also displayed. These unrelated images were used in a memory test to examine whether the participants remembered their environment during the learning process.The results showed that teens selected the right flower than the adults during the experiment. The teens also remembered the unrelated images and did better than adults on the memory test. The study suggests thatThe researchers wanted to see what exactly happens in the brain. Dr Shohamy teamed up with Dr Galvan scanned the brains of each participant with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they were performing the learning tasks. Initially, the researchers hypothesized that the teens learning abilities were due to the hyperactive striatum.The hippocampus stores memories, events, places, people, but it is not related to reinforcement learning."When we compared the brains of teens to those of adults, we found no difference in reward-related striatal activity between the two groups. We discovered that the difference between adults and teens lay not in the striatum but a nearby region: the hippocampus," said Dr Davidow.During reinforcement learning, the fMRI analysis showed activity in the hippocampus for teens but not adults. But, the hippocampal activity coordinated with activity in the striatum."What we can take from these results isn't that teens necessarily have better memory, in general, but rather the way in which they remember is different. By connecting two things that aren't intrinsically connected, the adolescent brain may be trying to build a richer understanding of its surroundings during an important stage in life," said Dr Shohamy, who is also a member of Columbia's Kavli Institute for Brain Science."Broadly speaking, adolescence is a time when teens begin to develop their independence," said Dr. Shohamy. "What more could a brain need to do during this period than jump into learning overdrive? It may be that the uniqueness of the teen brain may drive not only how they learn, but how they use information to prime themselves for adulthood."The researchers are working to determine what changes occur in the brain between adolescence and adulthood when it comes to reinforcement learning."If you frame something positively, it could be the case that adolescents will remember things about the learning experience better," says Davidow. "In everyday life, they're paying attention to their environment in a way that is different from adults."The study is published in the JournalSource: Medindia Advertisement Several of the findings of Luster's team depended on the ability to analyze, for the first time in living patients, the structure and function of the airway smooth muscle cells that contract and obstruct the airway during an asthma attack. This was made possible by a novel imaging technique develop by the other team, led by Melissa Suter, PhD, of the MGH Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. They developed an advanced version of optical coherence tomography (OCT), an MGH-invented technology that provides high-resolution imaging of the structure of many types of tissue."Although in theory OCT has the resolution necessary to see airway smooth muscle, it doesn't provide sufficient contrast against the surrounding airway tissues to do so," says Suter. "Standard OCT generates images by measuring the amount of light that is reflected back from tissue, but there is more information in the returning light than just how much is reflected back. When light travels through organized tissue, which smooth muscle is, different aspects of the light will travel at different speeds depending on the orientation of the tissues. The ability to measure orientation-dependent properties, like light polarization, lets us know how airway smooth muscle is organized."Suter's team developed a microscopic imaging platform that provides both orientation-resolved OCT (OR-OCT) images, which reveal the amount of airway smooth muscle, and mechano-microscopy, which measures the force with which muscle tissue contracts. After validating the ability of their equipment to do so in segments of animal airway, they collaborated with Luster's group to assess the structure of airway smooth muscle in six volunteer study participants - three with mild allergic asthma and three with no allergy - and found that airway smooth muscle was two times thicker in participants with asthma.Luster's study used Suter's technology and several other approaches to investigate differences in the airway response to allergens among 36 participants with mild allergic asthma, 48 with allergies but no history of asthma, and 5 healthy control participants. After initial measurements of participants' airway smooth muscle using OR-OCT, researchers introduced diluted amounts of the appropriate allergen - either cat dander or dust mites - into a small section of participants' lungs. They then measured numerous aspects of the immune response within the lungs, with particular attention to inflammation and to characteristics of the CD4 T cells that specifically respond to the allergen in question.Both allergic patients with and those without asthma responded to the allergen challenge with type 2 inflammation, the type that is characteristic of allergy, and both groups were found to have similar levels of several types of T cells. But use of a novel tool developed in the laboratory of James Moon, PhD, in the MGH CIID - an immunologic agent that recognizes allergen-specific T cell receptors - allowed the team to identify and analyze allergen-specific CD4 T cells in participants' airways. While both participants with and those without asthma had increases in these allergen-specific CD4 T cells after the allergen challenge, cells in participants with asthma showed markedly higher expression of two receptors for type 2 innate immune signals.A collaborator with Luster's team, Mehmet Kesimer, PhD, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, analyzed both the amount and the consistency of mucus secreted in participants' airways in response to the allergen challenge, finding in asthmatic participants both larger amounts of mucus and increased levels of a protein that makes mucus more gelatinous and may increase airway hyper-reactivity. Use of OR-OCT to measure both the thickness of airway smooth muscle and the width of the bands of muscle that wrap around the airway showed significantly greater smooth muscle mass in participants with asthma than in either allergic participants without asthma or in healthy controls."Recognizing that the response of airway structural cells to allergens and to type 2 inflammation appears to be critical for the development of allergic asthma is an important step forward," says Luster, who is the Harrison Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS). "If we are able to understand the mechanisms that determine the sensitivity of the epithelial and smooth muscle cells of the airway to inflammation in asthma, we could identify novel targets to treat or reverse asthma, possibly even to prevent its development in allergic individuals."Suter adds, "People have struggled for a very long time to determine the precise role that airway smooth muscle plays in asthma - our current understanding is based largely on autopsy studies and on biopsy samples. The ability to image airway smooth muscle and to assess its contractile force in living patients will likely transform the study of asthma - distinguishing between various types of asthma, guiding therapy, and uncovering the true role of airway smooth muscle in asthma and other obstructive lung diseases." She is an assistant professor of Medicine at HMS.The results are reported inSource: Eurekalert Many are unable to differentiate migraine from other headaches. A typical migraine headache is usually felt on one side of the head and patients describe it as throbbing or pulsating kind of pain. These headaches are episodic headaches means they can occur anywhere from once or twice a year to 1-4 times a month but in between, there are prolonged pain free intervals.(1 Trusted Source What is migraine? Go to source) Migraine is three times more common in women than men. It generally appears for the first time between 10-45 years of age. Advertisement Previously the doctors linked migraines with the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. However, now they believe that it is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. The exact chain of events still remains unclear. Migraine attacks are believed to begin in the brain, and involve nerve pathways and chemicals. This abnormal brain activity triggers a migraine. Avoiding the triggering factors and using preventive migraine drugs can help reduce the frequency of attacks. Treatment with analgesics (to relieve the pain) and anti-emetics (to relieve the nausea or vomiting) can help relieve symptoms during a migraine attack. Treatments to relieve stress can also be helpful to prevent migraine. Botox, is another method of treatment that inhibits pain in chronic migraine by suppressing the nerve cells in the trigeminovascular system, which plays a key role in the headache phase of a migraine attack.(2 Trusted Source Botulinum toxin Go to source) On September 12, 2016, liberal Egyptian doctor Khaled Montaser published an article in the Egyptian daily Al-Watan marking the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In the article, Montaser criticized prominent Muslim Brotherhood theorist Sayyid Qutb and former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden for arguing that the world is divided into two camps - the camp of Islam and the camp of and infidels who do not implement shari'a law. He called on Muslims to abandon their obsession with this notion and integrate in the modern world while preserving their culture and identity. He warned that those who do not join the global camp will be left behind in the "desert of isolation." The following are excerpts from the article:[1] Khaled Montaser (image: Al-Watan, Egypt) "'The world is divided into two camps... the camp of belief and the camp of unbelief.' This is what Osama bin Laden said after the September 11 [attacks], which the world commemorated two days ago... The important question is this: Does the perception of the two camps still dominate the minds of political Islam movements, or did it die along with bin Laden? [To find] the answer, let us first look back and read the writings of Sayyid Qutb, who originated the notion of takfir [accusing fellow Muslims of apostasy] that is [endorsed] by all political Islam organizations born from the womb of the mother movement - the Muslim Brotherhood. In his book In the Shade of the Koran, considered to be the manifesto from which bin Laden drew [inspiration] for his claim, [Qutb] says...: 'In the eyes of Islam and the Muslim, the world is divided into two... The first [part] is Dar Al-Islam [the abode of Islam], which includes any country that implements the laws of Islam and is ruled by Islamic law, whether all its residents are Muslims, some are Muslims and others are their wards (dhimmi), or all are wards and only the rulers are Muslims... The second [part] is Dar Al-Harb [the abode of war], and includes any country that does not implement the laws of Islam and is not ruled by Islamic law, no matter who its residents are - Muslims, people of the book [Jews and Christians], or infidels...' "Bin Laden is dead, but the notion of the two camps is not; on the contrary - it has expanded and snowballed. Bin Laden did not invent this concept, since it unfortunately exists in the texts of our heritage and is taken verbatim from certain religious law books and Koranic interpretations. Bin Laden's role was merely to realize it- declare this idea publicly, implement it in practice, and transform it into an ideology. "The perception of the two camps is a Nazi, racist, and marginalizing mentality that is outdated and unsuitable for the current age... The continued existence of this perception, which draws strict boundaries in the era of modernity and globalization, is [akin] to stopping time, challenging history, and committing political and cultural suicide that will end with Muslims being expelled from the world cultural map and becoming isolated... "There is no escape from joining the world while preserving [our] cultural uniqueness. There is no escape from merging and interacting [with the world] without losing [our] identity... We must discard the obsession, the delusion, and the lie of the two camps [perception] and not live as prisoners [of the view] that we are the best, greatest, and most moral... [This view] blinds our eyes from seeing ourselves in the mirror, keeps us from coping [with reality] in times of true danger, and paralyzes us when we are called to participate in the circle of culture and play a constructive role in it [instead of] withdrawing and isolating ourselves, wallowing in our problems and sorrow and reminiscing [about the past], and manufacturing explosive belts in the caves of Tora Bora and the forests of Somalia. "The world is one big camp that includes us all, not two camps fighting an existential war. Each of us drives a stake while erecting this one tent, and those who refuse to participate, or think they are the only ones with the right to hold a stake, belong outside the camp where there is thunder, lightning, scorpions, snakes, thirst, and hunger - in the desert of isolation without mercy, salvation, or protection." Endnotes: Saudi intellectual Dr. Turki Al-Hamad (Majalla magazine) To write anything about Saudi Arabia is to invite controversy. The country has been both an incubator and a victim of terrorism for years. It has been a strong American ally on a range of regional and international issues. The Saudi Kingdom's support of Salafism worldwide for decades - scaled back in recent years - has also promoted an extremely intolerant form of Islam, often at the expense of more local, sometimes more tolerant, forms of that religion in Africa and Asia. A country that produced 15 out of the 19 September 11 bombers and whose texts were used initially by the Islamic State in Raqqa without much revision has a lot to answer for. And today, the Saudis have become even more controversial. There is U.S. material support for the ongoing Saudi misadventure in Yemen. And there is President Obama's veto of the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which had passed unanimously in Congress and would have allowed victims of 9/11 to sue the Saudis. Both Yemen and the JASTA veto can be seen as efforts by the current American administration to curry favor with a Saudi Arabia deeply disturbed by U.S. foreign policy in Syria and, especially, by the seemingly weak response of the Americans to Iranian adventurism throughout the Middle East. This is a concern, of course, widely held by Sunni Arab Muslims beyond the borders of the Kingdom and by many in the West. But the Saudi reality has always been more complicated than either the rule of the Al-Saud or Saudi foreign policy, or even the presence of Salafism. It is clear that there are today sincere efforts to bring about some sort of reform within Saudi Arabia, especially in the economic sphere - reform that is as necessary as it is difficult.[1] But even before these current reform efforts, even in the successful actions of extremists, one can discern an ongoing twilight struggle. I remember doing some research on leading Saudi extremist preacher Dr. Awad Al-Qarni and seeing a 2012 video in which he fulminated against the Al-Qasim Literary Club for having the temerity to think of organizing a session related to Abdullah Al-Qasimi and Abdul Rahman Al-Munif.[2] Al-Qasimi was Saudi Arabia's most notorious atheist, while the novelist Al-Munif was a leftist. Both were stripped of citizenship, calumnied, and died in exile. The fact that Al-Qarni (as well as the governor of Al-Qasim) were furious about the mere possibility of such an event was not unusual. That some Saudis would actually talk about doing such a thing was a bit of a surprise. While the struggle of some younger members of Saudi Arabia's embattled liberal class, like blogger Raif Badawi, have received considerable media attention, other, older figures are sometimes less known in the West.[3] One such heroic figure is the Saudi analyst, novelist and university professor Dr. Turki Al-Hamad. Some may be familiar with Al-Hamad through MEMRI's extensive coverage of Arabic language reformers and free thinkers.[4] Ironically, one of Saudi Arabia's most influential religious figures (there are many) also called him just that, as in "a hypocrite free thinker."[5] The Arabic terms used, munafiq and zindiq, are much harsher and dangerous than a plain English translation could convey. In addition to MEMRI, if Al-Hamad is known in the West, it may be mostly through his literary work.[6] There was also some prominent media coverage a decade ago, including on BBC's HardTalk and other outlets.[7] Turki Al-Hamad was born in Jordan in 1953 to Saudi parents hailing from Buraydah. Interestingly enough, this town has been a notorious hotbed of both extremist Salafi activism and of eloquent critics like Al-Qasimi and Al-Hamad.[8] Al-Hamad was pro-Ba'athist as a teenager growing up in Al-Dammam, in the Saudi Eastern Province. He was imprisoned for over a year at the age of 18 because of his political activism before departing for study in the U.S. Al-Hamad has described the "revolutionary romanticism" of the Left that attracted Arab youth in those years and has compared it with how Islamism attracts the young today.[9] Al-Hamad has noted that he remained a leftist when he came out of prison but that he had become more open to criticism of leftist ideologies, also adding that "the Turki Al-Hamad who went to America was not the same as the Turki Al-Hamad who returned."[10] He studied first in Colorado and eventually received his doctorate from University of Southern California in 1985 with a dissertation on "Political Order in Changing Societies: Saudi Arabia, Modernization in a Traditional Context." Al-Hamad described himself as a "committed Marxist" when he went to the U.S., but by the time he left, he rejected it as an ideology.[11] He retired early, in 1995, from university teaching at King Saud University after only a decade, to devote himself to writing. While Al-Hamad attracted the attention of conservative clerics and the religious police early on, he was never one to hide his views. He began as a columnist in the Saudi paper Al-Riyadh and then moved on in 1990 to the higher profile pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. His first novel appeared in Arabic in 1995, part of a semi-autobiographical trilogy completed in 1999. Although the trilogy deals with controversial topics such as politics, sex, and religion, it is remarkably tame by Western standards, but still wild enough to have been banned in Saudi Arabia though relatively easy to acquire by a devoted, if small, reading public. As recently as 2010, the Saudi Minister of Culture questioned how these ostensibly banned books, printed by Beirut's Dar Al-Saqi, could actually be appearing at the Riyadh International Book Fair.[12] It is with the last novel of his trilogy, Al-Karadib, that the Islamists rose in anger. In the book, the main character muses that perhaps God and the devil are two sides of the same coin.[13] As a result, several fatwas were issued by individual clerics against Al-Hamad, who still lives in Riyadh, accusing him of apostasy and calling for his killing. Reportedly, then Crown Prince Abdullah offered bodyguards for Al-Hamad's protection.[14] Al-Hamad has described the fatwas as more of a nuisance than anything else, while taking seriously the death threats that flowed from them.[15] Al-Hamad on Al-Arabiya TV, MEMRI TV Clip # 235, August 25, 2004. Often called a secularist and a Saudi liberal, al-Hamad usually eschews labels. He once described himself as "a human and a citizen who wants the best for his country and the people of his country." To Al-Hamad the Saudi Arabian patriot, the necessary building blocks for a healthy society are respect for the dignity of man, for freedom, justice for all, and for equality. He doesn't reject Islam but sees it in conflict with the totalitarian worldview embedded in Salafism, particularly in the discourse of the Saudi Sahwa (Islamic Awakening) movement which fed directly into the ideology of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. He noted that both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia had once used religious ideology as a political tool in the region but added that this is "a double-edged sword, which can be used by you but also against you." Al-Hamad's latest brush with the authorities to date occurred in December 2012 when he was arrested after some controversial tweets (Raif Badawi was arrested earlier in 2012 and remains in prison). The tweets included: "Neo-Nazism is on the rise in the Arab world under the guise of Islamism" and "Our Prophet came to rectify the faith of Abraham and now is the time when we need to rectify the faith of Muhammad." While several hundred Saudi supporters and international groups like PEN lobbied for his release, Islamists celebrated and promoted his arrest under the hashtag #__ (The Heretic Turki al-Hamad).[16] He was released some months later and all charges were dropped. Al-Hamad has described the challenge of extremist ideology in the region in this way: "The question is how we can stop ISIS. We cannot do it by fighting it, but by drying it up at the source. I am not talking about financial sources, or about its foreign sources - it's not that we need to find out who stands behind ISIS in order to fight it. I am not talking about tracing the financial sources of ISIS. All these things may be of importance, but most important of all are the ideological sources. The youth who joined ISIS were driven by the notion of martyrdom. They had an extremist religious motivation. Call them 'misguided,' call them 'deviant,' or call them whatever you like, but the truth is that they've been brainwashed with this discourse and ideology. In order to stop ISIS, you must first dry up this ideology at the source. Otherwise you are cutting the grass, but leaving the roots. You have to take out the roots. These roots are in people's minds and nowhere else. "[17] Dr. Turki Al-Hamad is a brave and principled man, but he also is a part of a much broader, loose movement of liberal intellectuals and activists existing in the Arab world - and including many in Saudi Arabia - who refuse to be silenced, refuse to flee to the dubious comforts of exile, and still fight for what they believe in, despite the dual threats of state authoritarianism and rampant, aggressive Islamism. They are woefully outnumbered and under-supported but they exist and they remain. They usually lack the patronage system and subsidized sub-culture from which Islamists have benefited for decades, but they persevere, even though liberal prospects in the region seem further from fruition than at any time since the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring. But these are also people writing their own epic journeys and struggles - not those fashioned by the salons and NGOs in America and Europe - in a Middle East that is changing, at times seemingly for the worse. We can and should openly and aggressively criticize many things about the Saudis, including a plethora of all too frequent, gross violations against the dignity and human rights of individuals. But that place where Turki Al-Hamad and so many others inhabit and fight for is broader, perhaps, than we give it credit for in our sweeping denunciations. It is broader and more nuanced than the subsidized crazies and political hypocrisy, than the numerous promoters of violent and intolerant Salafism, and, while the hour is late, the clock has not yet chimed and hope still remains. *Alberto M. Fernandez is Vice-President of MEMRI. Three United States university professors have won the Nobel Prize for Physics for their work on exotic states of matter, the Nobel jury announced Tuesday. Research conducted by the three British-born scientists, David J. Thouless, F. Duncan Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz, brought forth a new and totally unexpected understanding of the way solid materials behave. The scientists also developed their own mathematical equations to explain the new behavioral properties. "This year's laureates opened the door on an unknown world where matter can assume strange states. They have used advanced mathematical methods to study unusual phases, or states, of matter, such as superconductors, superfluids or thin magnetic films. Thanks to their pioneering work, the hunt is now on for new and exotic phases of matter," The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which hands out the award, said in a statement. Two U.S. warships have made their first port call in 21 years at Vietnam's strategic naval base at Cam Ranh Bay, marking an important step in improving military ties between the former enemies. Submarine tender USS Frank Cable and guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain arrived at the deep-water naval base in Khanh Hoa province, the U.S. navy said on Tuesday, in the first such call by U.S. warships since the two countries normalized relations in 1995. The visit came after the full lifting of a U.S. embargo on trade in lethal arms with Vietnam in May as part of President Barack Obama's strategic "rebalance" toward Asia. At the same time, tension has been rising over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea, straining ties between Vietnam and its giant neighbor China. Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi has won the 2016 Nobel Prize in medicine for research on how the body's cells deal with and recycle waste, the 22nd Japanese scientist to win the Nobel. Korea by contrast allocates 4.15 percent of its GDP to research and development, the biggest chunk in the G20, but it has yet produced a single science Nobel laureate. Forty scientists here in a public petition last month urged the government to set research and development budgets according to specifications presented by researchers rather than based on guidelines set by bureaucrats. It drew the support of hundreds of other scientists in a matter of days. Twelve foreign academics who diagnosed the R&D competitiveness of the science departments at Seoul National University pointed out in February that the school is too focused on "me-too science," riding the coattails of others rather than taking bold pioneering steps. In July of last year, engineering professors at SNU issued a report criticizing the country for copying advanced nations but lacking the capacity to conduct independent research. Scientists are complaining, in short, that the present top-down style of allocating funds is riddled with problems. Bureaucrats know nothing about the ins and outs of research, while rivalry with other government ministries leads to overlapping spending. Too often government funding ends up focused on projects that produce flashy short-term results. This culture ends up suffocating pioneering research and pushing scientists into projects that slightly modify research done earlier overseas. The U.K.'s Laboratory of Molecular Biology, which produced 13 Nobel Prize winners, is equivalent to a mid-sized state-run research institute here. It was founded in 1962 and five scientists have led the organization so far. That means each head of the center stays in the post for more than 10 years. The British government provides funds every five years and does not meddle in the LMB's affairs. Here, the government announced in March this year that it would invest W1 trillion in research in artificial intelligence, prompted by the high-profile defeat of baduk or go champion Lee Se-dol by Google's AlphaGo program (US$1=W1,108). Such a short-sighted approach cannot nurture innovative and creative research. Korea needs to set up a control tower that will take a broad-minded and long-term approach to R&D funding. Read this article in Korean BAD AXE A Bad Axe man avoided prison and was sentenced to a year in the county jail this week for sexually molesting a teenage girl during a nearly three-year period. William Raymond Dahlman, 62, previously pleaded no contest to one count of assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct-second degree in connection to the case. According to police reports, between the end of April 2014 and sometime in 2016, Dahlman was accused of having sexual contact with the victim in various ways. When conducting their investigation, the victim who was 16 in 2014 told officials they would find Dahlmans DNA on her bedding. Samples of the bedding were sent in for testing and traces of Dahlmans sperm were found. Dahlman told the victim if she ever told anyone, he would kill her, the report states. At sentencing on Monday, Walt Salens, Dahlmans attorney, told the judge his client has been a working man throughout his entire life, but lost his current job because of the incident. Salens also questioned statements made by the victim in her impact statement. Theres no explanation of how it (the incidents) affects her, Salens said adding the victim didnt go into detail of what exactly has affected her life. When the time arrived, Dahlman declined his opportunity to speak. Although the sentencing guideline range was zero to 14 months, Huron County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Schumacher argued for more time five years minimum. Schumacher told the court Dahlman was a father figure to the victim and sexually molested her. She said he abused, threatened and even taunted the victim at various times. Hes told police, Shes made up stuff like this before so dont believe her, Schumacher explained. Nobody believed her, but forensics finally came to her aid. Prosecution then read the victims letter to the courtroom. Bill is nothing to me, Schumacher stated. He was some guy who tried to be a father figure, but never was. In the letter, the victim stated Dahlman was a person who beat women and would even pull the victims hair because she didnt know how to do her homework. Prior to handing down a sentence, Huron County Circuit Judge Gerald M. Prill told Dahlman he needs to get help. He did take advantage of her, theres no question about that, Prill said. Youre very fortunate sir that you werent charged with a more serious charge. Dahlman was sentenced to 365 days in the Huron County Jail with credit for one day served. He was placed on probation for a five-year period. As part of his probation terms, Dahlman was ordered to register on Michigans sex offender registry and must seek sex offender treatment. The Boeing Company is the worlds largest manufacturer of airplanes and commands more than 50% of the market in some channels and categories. The company and its family of subsidiaries design, develops, manufacture, sell, service, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight, and related services worldwide. The company operates through four segments including Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital providing products and services to end-users in 150 countries. Boeing got its start in 1910 when William E. Boeing developed a love for aircraft. Soon after he takes his first plane ride which leads him to build a hangar and begin construction of his first plane. The onset of WWI helped spur the companys growth but business was cut drastically in its wake. The start of WWII was another milestone for the company and one that led to its current position of dominance. The company was incorporated in 1916 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. Boeing employs over 140,000 people in 65 countries making it one of the most diverse employers on the planet. The Commercial Airplanes segment is built around the iconic 7-series which includes the 737, 747, and 787. The segment provides commercial jet aircraft for passenger and cargo requirements, as well as fleet support services for regional, national, and international air carriers and logistics and freight companies. In terms of global volume, the company estimates about 90% of all air freight is carried aboard one of its jets. This segment also includes the Dreamliner family of planes. The Dreamliner is a game-changing airplane for many carriers as it opens up the potential for new one-stop destinations because of its capacity and range. The Defense, Space & Security segment develops and manufactures a range of systems including manned and unmanned aircraft, missiles, missile defense systems, satellites, communications equipment, and intelligence systems for governments. Among the many iconic brands within this segment are the AH-64 Apache, Air Force One, B-52, C-17 Globemaster, Chinook, F/A-18, and the V-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft used by the Marines. The Global Services segment offers a range of products and services that include supply chain and logistics management, engineering, maintenance, upgrades, conversions, spare parts, pilot and maintenance training, technical and maintenance documents, and data analytics to its commercial and defense customers. Boeing is also a leader in innovation, leveraging its many decades and avenues of experience to further aerospace and defense technology. Among the many innovations is the MQ-25 Stingray which will be the worlds first autonomous aircraft. The Stingray is only one of many areas of research that also include drones and undersea vehicles. Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company. The firm specializes in early stage, acquisition, distressed investments, short-term financing to mid-market companies, corporate carve-outs, recapitalizations, convertible, senior and mezzanine financings, operational and capital structure restructuring, strategic re-direction, turnaround, and under-performing midmarket companies. The firm invest in attractive businesses through the public debt and equity markets or by providing financing. The firm invest in Business services, Industrials and Residential sectors. Through its subsidiaries, the firm invests in the property, power, and infrastructure sectors. Its property business includes owning and managing office properties, developing master planned residential communities, and offering clients bridge and mezzanine lending, alternative assets funds, and financial and advisory services. Through its subsidiaries, the firm operates hydroelectric power facilities, interconnections and transmission facilities in Northeast North America, and development of wind power in Canada. Through its subsidiaries, it invests in specialty funds including private equity and makes direct investments in real estate, energy, and resource assets. The firm launches and manages equity and fixed income mutual funds. It also manages real estate and hedge funds. The firm invests in equity and fixed income markets across the globe. It also invest in British Columbia, United States, Brazil, Australia, Chile, Uruguay, New Zealand. It prefers to invest between $2 million and $500 million in its portfolio companies. The firm also prefers to take both minority and majority stakes in its companies. It was formerly known as Brascan Corp. Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is based in Toronto, Canada with additional offices in Bogota, Colombia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Calgary, Canada, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Gatineau, Canada, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, London, United Kingdom, Melbourne, Australia, Montreal, Canada, Mumbai, India, New York City, Perth, Australia, Shanghai, China, and Sydney, Australia. U.S. Army leaders were tight-lipped about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposal to boost the size of the armed forces. Speaking Monday at the Association of the United States Army's annual conference in Washington, D.C., Army Secretary Eric Fanning and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley didn't directly respond to Trump's plan. In a speech last month, the candidate called for increasing the size of the Army to about 540,000 active-duty soldiers. By comparison, the Pentagon's $583 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2017, which began Oct. 1, requests funding for 460,000 active soldiers. "Numbers are one way to measure the effectiveness of the Army, and lots of things get lost in that conversation when you just talk about force structure -- 540, 450, 490 -- whatever number that is," Fanning said at a briefing with reporters, referring to end-strength figures in the hundreds of thousands of soldiers. A danger would be if the Army is told to maintain a larger force structure without any additional resources, the secretary said. "Our modernization investments are down we're trying to get our readiness up, and if we had to maintain a larger force structure without additional resources, it would further unbalance the program that we have for the Army," Fanning said. Milley said the Army is constantly studying manpower needs. "I'm not going to share those numbers because it's not so much about numbers as it is about capabilities and what we need to make sure we have the most capable Army to deliver specific effects on a battlefield relative to U.S. national security interests," he said. The general added, "I don't publicly discuss specific numbers because it can be unhelpful and depends on which way you're looking at it, and people can turn those into different things. Yes, we do have specific requirements." More importantly, Milley said, "What is it you want to do? What is the national security requirement? What does it say in the defense spending guidance? And those will vary depending on the contingencies you're looking at." His predecessor, retired Gen. Raymond Odierno, frequently warned of the dangers of the Army shrinking too much, given the levels of contingencies around the world "Its easy to say, 'I just dont see us having another conflict again,' " Odierno said in 2014. "Well, I heard that in 1980. I heard that in 1990. And I heard that in 2000. And yet, we're constantly engaged." In response to another question from a reporter, Milley warned against comparing the Army of World War II -- the service had eight million soldiers and 89 divisions in 1945 -- to today's smaller but more capable force. "That can be misleading," he said. "A platoon of M1s -- you have four M1 tanks -- could arguably defeat Patton's Third Army with hundreds of M4 tanks." -- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry. In a warning to Russia, the Pentagon said Tuesday that the U.S. maintains the right to self-defense against advanced anti-aircraft systems sent to Syria by Moscow. "This is something that we take very, very seriously -- the safety of our aircrews," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in response to reports that Russia sent highly mobile S-300 anti-air missile systems (known to NATO as the SA-23) to its naval facility in the northwestern Syrian port of Tartus over the weekend. "Those aircrews have the inherent right to self-defense," Cook said at a Pentagon news conference. This marks the first time the system has been deployed outside Russian territory, according to the BBC. Last year, Russia deployed S-300s and the more advanced S-400 systems around its Khmeimim air base near the coastal city of Latakia, the hub of its air operations in support of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russia has no need of advanced surface-to-air systems in Syria given its stated aim of focusing operations on the Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the al-Qaida affiliate formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front, Cook said. "The last I checked, the Russians said their primary goal was to fight extremism. Neither one of them has an air force," Cook said of the two militant organizations. "We're obviously tracking very closely" the placement of the Russian air defenses, he said. Already frayed U.S.-Russia relations have deteriorated even further since the collapse of last month's "cessation of hostilities" in Syria and the fierce bombardment of Aleppo by Russian and Syrian air forces, with the intent of driving out rebels holding the eastern part of the city. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday announced that talks with the Russians on renewing the cease-fire had been suspended. Cook said U.S. air operations against ISIS in northeastern Syria are continuing. He also said that neither the White House nor the State Department has asked the Defense Department to plan for relief airdrops to Aleppo or to provide air cover for U.N. humanitarian convoys. In a statement, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, confirmed that the S-300 system had been sent to Syria and questioned why the deployment raised U.S. concerns. "The S-300 anti-aircraft missile system has indeed been sent to the Syrian Arab Republic," Konashenkov said. "I remind you that the S-300 is a purely defensive system and poses no threat to anyone. It's not clear why the placement of S-300 in Syria has caused such a stir among our western colleagues." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related Video: Air Force bases on the East Coast have begun moving aircraft and, in some cases, releasing personnel, as Hurricane Matthew targets the Eastern seaboard. The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday began a personnel evacuation process for non-mission critical airmen, Air Force spokeswoman Erika Yepsen told Military.com. The base has entered Hurricane Condition II status, according to a base release. Remaining personnel may be released per the base commander's order "once HURCON II actions are accomplished to protect unit mission assets," the release said. Mandatory evacuation for personnel and residents on barrier islands, in manufactured homes and in slosh zones for the base were to begin at 3 p.m. Airmen from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, will begin a similar evacuation process beginning at 3 p.m. The base, in HURCON III mode, has also begun evacuating all operational C-17 Globemasters -- roughly 30 -- currently on station, according to the base. The aircraft will go to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; and Campbell Army Airfield, Kentucky, to continue missions from there. About 44 F-22 Raptor and T-38 Talon aircraft, along with 100 support personnel, will begin moving Wednesday from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio, Yepsen said. HURCON phases are determined when sustained winds hit a certain speed. HURCON II and III are both reached when 58 mph or greater are expected or possible within the next 72 hours, but III distinguishes a preliminary preparation stage. HURCON II is a final preparation stage. Matthew, a Category 3 hurricane, sustained 140 mph winds as it made landfall early Tuesday in Haiti; on Wednesday, the storm continued to strengthen as it moved west toward the Bahamas. Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, are looking at plans to evacuate aircraft, "but no final decisions have been made yet of when and where they will go," Yepsen said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. The U.S. Army's chief of staff on Tuesday issued a stern warning to potential threats such as Russia and vowed the service will defeat any foe in ground combat. "The strategic resolve of our nation, the United States, is being challenged and our alliances tested in ways that we haven't faced in many, many decades," Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told an audience at the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting in Washington, D.C. "I want to be clear to those who wish to do us harm the United States military -- despite all of our challenges, despite our [operational] tempo, despite everything we have been doing -- we will stop you and we will beat you harder than you have ever been beaten before. Make no mistake about that." Milley's comments come during an election year in which voters will decide a new president and commander in chief -- and a period of increased military activity of near-peer competitors, including Russia and China. The Army has struggled to rebuild its readiness after more than a decade of extended combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The service has significantly cut the size of its force since the Cold War and decreased its modernization budget in the last decade, Milley said. "While we focused on the counter-terrorist fight, other countries -- Russia, Iran, China, North Korea -- went to school on us," he said. "They studied our doctrine, our tactics, our equipment, our organization, our training, our leadership. And, in turn, they revised their own doctrines, and they are rapidly modernizing their military today to avoid our strengths in hopes of defeating us at some point in the future." Milley also quoted a senior Russian official as saying publicly, "The established world order is undergoing a foundational shake-up" and that "Russia can now fight a conventional war in Europe and win." The general warned that future warfare with a near-peer adversary will "be highly lethal, unlike anything our Army has experienced at least since World War II." "Our formations will likely have to be small; we will have to move constantly," he said. "On the future battlefield, if you stay in one place for longer than two or three hours, you will be dead." Despite the challenges, Milley said the Army will adapt to survive such a dangerous battlefield. "It's a tall order for sure -- to project power into contested theaters, fight in highly populated urban areas, to survive and win on intensely lethal and distributed battlefields and to create leaders and soldiers who can prevail. Tough? Yes. But impossible? Absolutely not," Milley said. "Make no mistake about it, we can now and we will retain the capability to rapidly deploy," he said, "and we will destroy any enemy anywhere, any time." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. The Department of Homeland Security seeks to combat any number of threats, from lone wolf terrorism and installation defense to infectious disease and cyber intrusions. But the threat most discussed during a panel at this week's Association of the United States Army annual conference in Washington, D.C., was the war on drugs. Col. Mike Adams, director of operations, plans and training for Joint Task Force-North at U.S. Northern Command, said officials are looking at ways to leverage military training along the U.S.-Mexico border to help stem the narcotics flow. A memo signed by former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel encourages the services to conduct "training along the southwest border and provides incidental support to law enforcement," Adams said. Despite an associated funding stream, the many authorities involved created "very detailed challenges associated with that," he added. Adams was one of several officials who participated in the forum. Others included Brig. Gen. James Blackburn Jr., deputy commanding general of operations, U.S. Army North; Col. Celestino Perez Jr., deputy chief of staff for plans for U.S. Army North; Chief E. Erik Moncayo, operations section, Joint Task Force-West, Department of Homeland Security; Chief Jesse Shaw, U.S. Border Patrol; and retired Navy Rear Adm. Donald Loren, former deputy assistant secretary of defense, Homeland Security Integration. While the task force already complements federal law enforcement agencies in counter-drug and countering transnational criminal organizations' activities, it's considering ways to train multiple agencies together, similar to what the Air Force is doing in Southern Command. Last month, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said the service is looking for ways to use more assets in the Southern Command region that would be "of training benefit to our forces, but also contributing to counter drug and counter transnational crime commission." For some, the training boost can't some soon enough. Some audience members expressed concern for the increase in drug use across the U.S., especially the rising heroin epidemic. "What we've learned is you can't force your way on an issue like drugs," Moncayo said. "There's only so much you can do when it comes to seizure, and seizures and interdictions. You have to address the root cause, and sometimes it's a socioeconomic issue, other times it's organizations embedded in foreign countries. And that's where we need those partnerships." Moncayo said once drug smugglers hit the border, it's pretty much too late. "We have to degrade [the drug] networks in order to make a genuine impact." Blackburn added, "We don't have a clue how much is coming across the border, how much is coming North, South, East, West. Which makes those seizures, while important, a meaningless major effectiveness because you don't know of what." The general said the price of some drugs, such as heroin, is going down, "and the quantity is going up." Blackburn earlier in the panel joked that the problems the U.S. faces at the border will soon be put to bed once there is "a wall" -- a dig at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's aspiration to build a wall along the border to keep out illegal immigrants. But his comments sparked a question from an audience member, a retired Army colonel who didn't disclose his name, but said he served as a mayor of a small town of 16,000 residents in a country struggling to cope with rising heroin overdoses and illegal immigration. "We don't have the money to pay for" these problems, he said, so my plea "to you is whatever it takes: Stop it. We can argue about whether it's demand-driven, but we know where it comes from." -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Despite Flipping in Surf 4 Times in a Year, Marines Say New ACV Is the Future of Amphibious Warfare Some Marine veterans familiar with the vehicle and its operations have worried about the reliability of the ACV. The commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force has lifted an operational pause order grounding all AV-8B Harriers in Japan following a Sept. 22 crash off the coast of Okinawa. Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson said the pilot of the crashed aircraft, who ejected safely, had been medically cleared and returned to his unit. All of the Harriers in Japan, including the other aircraft attached to Marine Attack Squadron 542, the unit that sustained the crash, have been thoroughly inspected, Nicholson said in a statement. Marine officials have also completed an initial review of the mishap. "Preliminary reports from ongoing investigations do not identify the incident's cause as systemic in the aircraft, aircrew or maintenance," Nicholson said, though he did not say if the actual cause of the crash had been determined. "Additionally, since the mishap, Marine Corps Harrier aircraft have continued to operate safely around the world, demonstrating the platform's reliability." The crash remains under investigation, he said. "While we cannot discuss the details of ongoing investigations, we are confident and in concurrence with our senior leadership in Hawaii and Washington, that we are able to safely return to normal flight operations," he said in the statement. The Cherry Point, North Carolina-based VMA-542 is currently stationed aboard Kadena Air Base in Japan and attached to the Pacific-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Nicholson said the review of the squadron included evaluations of the unit's command culture, aircrew, maintenance and aircraft material readiness. The unit will resume air operations Friday, he said. "The safety of our community is a priority, and we will continue to conduct preflight inspections, pilot inspections, and post-flight inspections every time we fly," he said. The operational pause was announced Sept. 23 after the crash, the third major Harrier mishap for the Marine Corps in a year and the second aircraft loss for VMA-542. The Harrier entered service in 1985 and is set to be replaced by the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter over the next decade. The aging platform has been the subject of scrutiny in recent years, and underwent a readiness review in 2014 and 2015 that identified key parts that were especially vulnerable to stress. A Marine spokeswoman, Capt. Sarah Burns, said readiness for the squadron had increased since the launch of the review in 2014, with 26 percent more pilot hours completed per month and 23 percent more ready basic aircraft available. But Marine Corps officials maintain they have not found a connection between aircraft readiness challenges and limited flight hours and recent major aircraft mishaps. "We're working really hard on aviation, because we've dug ourselves a deep hole," Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in a recent interview with MIlitary.com. "We're digging ourselves out. It's not going to happen overnight. It's going to happen if we get consistent, stable funding of parts and sustainment, and we get new airplanes." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck. The remains of F-16 pilot Maj. Troy Gilbert, who died Nov. 27, 2006, after his F-16C crashed northwest of Baghdad, returned home this week, the Air Force announced Wednesday. Partial remains had been recovered and buried with full honors Dec. 11, 2006, at Arlington National Cemetery. But a year later, an al-Qaida-linked insurgent group posted a propaganda video denouncing President George W. Bush and portraying the body of a U.S. pilot killed in Iraq, alleged to be Gilbert. Gilbert's family requested the Air Force search for additional remains, even though the Defense Department labeled him as "accounted for." The Pentagon later made Gilbert an exception to policy, allowing the search to continue. Gilbert, assigned to the 309th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, rerouted outside of Taji, Iraq, after he and another pilot got word that an AH-6 Little Bird helicopter had been shot down. Gilbert and his wingman took turns refueling their aircraft while providing low-flying passes and engaging insurgents threatening U.S. and coalition forces. Using his 20-millimeter Gatling gun, Gilbert destroyed enemy trucks and dispersed others that were almost upon the friendly forces 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, the Air Force said in a release. During a low pass, Gilbert's jet impacted the ground. The Pentagon initially listed him as missing, but later confirmed his death. It was determined the crash killed him instantly. U.S. forces in Iraq who investigated the crash, however, said that insurgents had reached the site before friendly forces could. In September 2012, some of Gilbert's remains were recovered and buried during a second service at Arlington on Dec. 11, 2013. The service said in August 2016 that an Iraqi tribal leader approached a U.S. military adviser near Al-Taqaddam, Iraq, with evidence of more of Gilbert's remains. The evidence was turned over to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. AFMES confirmed the evidence Sept. 7 through DNA testing, the release said. The U.S. advisers reconnected with the Iraqis, who provided the remains, including a U.S. flight suit, flight jacket and parachute harness. The remains arrived at Dover on Monday for additional testing. The arrival was attended by his family; Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein; Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody; and Gen. Robin Rand, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, who had been a longtime friend of Gilbert. Gilbert's wife, Ginger Gilbert Ravella, said she felt justice finally "was served" after 10 years. She and Gilbert had five children together. "I want to thank not only the brave Special Operations Forces that ultimately found Troy's body but also each and every single airman, soldier, sailor and Marine who searched or supported the recovery mission during these last 10 years," she said. "As an Air Force officer, husband and father, Troy Gilbert truly represented what being an airman is all about," Goldfein said. "He was committed to serving his country, his team and his family in everything he did. On the day he died, he characteristically put service before self when he answered the short-notice call to support coalition ground forces who had come under attack. He put his own safety aside and saved many lives that day." -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@Oriana0214. The Army is looking at proposals to expand tuition assistance for active duty, Reserve and National Guard soldiers, particularly in the areas of licensing and credentialing not leading to academic degrees, the service's top enlisted soldiers said Monday. "What we're trying to figure out -- what is that going to do to the cost and can we afford it," said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Dan Dailey. He said the service spends about $250 million annually on tuition assistance, while the military as a whole spends about $500 million. Dailey said the Army is also looking at expanding tuition assistance for graduate school, but the details have yet to be worked out. "We don't think there's going to be a significant cost," he said in a panel discussion with Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner of the Army National Guard and Command Sgt. Maj. James Wills of the U.S. Army Reserve at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army. "A few years ago, we had to put limitations on the use of tuition assistance" despite the popularity of the program," Dailey noted, following the 2013 temporary suspension of new enrollments during the government shutdown that resulted from sequestration budget caps. Currently, tuition assistance is available to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. Eligibility varies by service, but Congress has given each the ability to pay up to 100 percent of tuition costs. More than 201,000 soldiers across the active and reserve components now receive tuition assistance. "It's a big topic for all our soldiers," Dailey said of tuition assistance and use of GI Bill benefits to advance education after leaving the service. Education benefits are "the number one benefit and the reason why soldiers join the military ranks," and also why they stay, he said. "So it's critical, critical for success." One of the "great initiatives" he's supporting would allow the use of tuition assistance not just for academics, "but also for credentialing and licensing" in trades such as auto mechanics and plumbing for those transitioning to civilian life, Dailey said. "My belief is that the preponderance of our enlisted soldiers will probably work in technical trades" rather than in academic fields, he said. "Maybe we should be putting more money into technical trades and licensing in technical fields" although the requirements vary from state to state and even from county to county. Dailey made similar remarks last month at a meeting of the Military Family Readiness Council, which later made recommendations to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to expand tuition assistance for technical training and tuition assistance for military spouses. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account program is separate from service members' tuition assistance programs and available to spouses of lower-ranking troops. It helps pay for spouses' costs associated with pursuing licenses, certificates, certifications or associate degrees, but spouses of more senior troops have complained over the years that they're not eligible. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. The U.S. should be prepared to bomb the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end the siege of Aleppo and enforce safe zones to protect civilians, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said in the vice presidential debate Tuesday night. Pence also called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "small and bullying leader" in remarks that contrasted with those of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and appeared to line up more with those of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who has also called for a humanitarian safe zone in Syria. During the debate in Farmville, Virginia, with Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat and Clinton's running mate, Pence said, "I just have to tell you that provocations [in Syria] by Russia need to be met with American strength. "And if Russia chooses to be involved and continue, I should say, to be involved in this barbaric attack on Aleppo, the United States of America should use military force to strike the targets of the Assad regime, and prevent Aleppo," he said. Pence added, "I truly do believe that what America ought to do right now is to immediately establish safe zones, so that families and vulnerable families with children can move out of those areas [and] work with our Arab partners in real time to make that happen." Earlier Tuesday, at a rally in Prescott, Arizona, Trump called on Russia to stop joining with Assad's air forces in bombing Aleppo and return to the cease-fire agreement that collapsed last month. He did not go as far as Pence in stating that the U.S. should consider using force to stop the Russians and Syrians. "Russia broke the deal, and now they're shooting, they're bombing, something like that," Trump said. "It should end, and it should end fast," Reuters reported him saying. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the British-based monitoring group, reported Wednesday that the bombardment of Aleppo had killed at least 456 civilians, including 83 children and 33 women, since the cease-fire agreement collapsed Sept. 19. The White House, U.S. State Department and Pentagon have repeatedly rejected the pleas of human rights groups for the creation of a safe zone or a no-fly zone along the Turkish border to protect thousands of refugees fleeing Aleppo in northern Syria. On MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program Wednesday, John Podesta, a top Clinton adviser, said Pence's remarks in the debate amounted to "backflips on Russia" that went beyond what Trump has proposed. "He made a whole new policy up on Syria, which embraced Hillary Clinton's approach to what's going on in Syria," Podesta said. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, went further in calling for U.S. action to stop "the wanton slaughter of innocent Syrians" by Russian and regime forces. In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, prepared before the vice presidential debate, McCain said, "The U.S. and its coalition partners must issue an ultimatum to Mr. Assad -- stop flying or lose your aircraft -- and be prepared to follow through." "If Russia continues its indiscriminate bombing, we should make clear that we will take steps to hold its aircraft at greater risk. And we must create safe zones for Syrian civilians and do what is necessary to protect them against violations by Mr. Assad, Mr. Putin and extremist forces," said McCain, who has criticized the Obama administration's Syria policy as "feckless." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank (MADB) will continue to disperse loans using a group-pledge system rather than allowing individual farmers to be responsible for the risk, the deputy minister for agriculture told parliament. Deputy Minister U Tun Win was responding to a question from Daw Ei Ei Pyone (NLD; Ayeyarwady 8), who asked on October 3 whether there were plans to extend loans to individual farmers. MADB employs a group-pledge system, where if one farmer fails to pay his or her share of the group loan, the others are responsible for covering the shortfall. In the past, 10 farmers had to group together to apply for loans, although this year farmers can apply in groups of three, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation previously told The Myanmar Times. But if one farmer lets a group down, that group can then struggle to take out new loans, Daw Ei Ei Pyone told the Amyotha Hluttaw session. So, Id like to know if there is a plan to disburse agricultural loans under an individual responsibility system, she said, referring to the 2017-18 financial year. The deputy minister said that farmers had to form their loan application groups with people who would be accountable for their debts. When issuing new loans, priority would be given to groups that had repaid existing debt on time, he said. If farmers default on their loans, they shall be punished according to the law, he said. But the state still loses revenue. To prevent losing state revenue, we have to disburse loans using a collective responsibility system rather than taking collateral [from individual lenders]. MADB is the only affordable source of finance for Myanmars farming households and struggles to stay profitable. The bank relies on loans from fellow state-owned enterprise Myanmar Economic Bank (MEB) and the countrys Central Bank. But it relies on farmers paying back loans in order to meet it owns debts. The government recently announced it would place MADB under the finance ministrys control, and plans to corporatise the bank as part of a reform process. Translation by Thiri Min Htun The Chin State government is offering investors opportunities in hotels and community-based tourism projects in an effort to improve economic development in one of the countrys poorest areas. According to the state government there will be seven hotel projects across Tiddim, Falam, Hakha and Paletwa towships this year. The authorities have already chosen the investors for the two Hakha hotel projects, Salai Isaac Khen, state minster for development affairs, electricity and industry told The Myanmar Times. But he declined to give names. Chin State has only three international-standard hotels at present, two in Mindat township and one in Kanpetlet township, according to the tourism ministry. Salai Isaac Khen said that only seven hotel projects are planned at present, although there could be more in the future. The government is also implementing three community-based tourism (CBT) projects this year in accordance with the Chin State governments strategy plan, he added. These are based in Tiddim, Falam and Kanpetlet townships. Developing the tourist sector will take at least five years and require several longer-term projects, Salai Isaac Khen said, adding that the government aims for at least three CBT projects a year in the coming years. We need technical support and organisations to help promote Chin State tourism, he said, adding that the state government had already selected Friends of Nature Travel and Tours company for the Falam township project, but had not picked a partner for the Tiddim initiative. There are a lot of beautiful places in Chin State but we havent taken people there because transportation is so bad, he said. Chin State will be good for adventure tours. The state government is already implementing an initial CBT project in Sor Loung village at Kanpetlet township near Natmataung National Park. This is backed by Action Aid Myanmar, which will guide the process and offer suggestion. Forever Top Travel and Tours will begin prepping for business in Sor Loung village this month, with hopes of opening during this years high season. The firm is building six Chin traditional homes with double rooms in the village, while Business Innovation Facility is providing hospitality trainings to local residents. Sor Loung village, which is a 15-minute drive from Kanpetlet, has only 31 households and a population of around 170 people, according to the state government. This article has been corrected to reflect that Business Innovation Facility is providing hospitality training or Sor Loung village, as well as to correct the number of rooms under construction. The Myanmar Times regrets the errors. Demand for coffee is booming in an increasingly caffeinated world, and although Myanmar is capable of producing international-quality product it has neglected the crop for years. But agricultural ministry officials are hoping to develop a coordinated strategy to ramp up production and connect cultivators with world markets. Myanmar has been growing coffee for years but in relatively small amounts. An itinerant Scotsman brought a strain of arabica to the Mandalay hill town Pyin Oo Lwin in the 1930s, and it is still grown today, U Myint Swe, director of the coffee crop branch under the ministrys agriculture department, told The Myanmar Times. But the agricultural sectors overwhelming focus has been on an industrial approach to growing crops like rice and beans for domestic consumption and export, said U Tin Htut from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. Coffee was previously a neglected crop, he said during a ministry research workshop on coffee growing in Myanmar on September 28. But U Tin Htut is hoping that ministry workshops can help produce a strategy to boost coffee production and tap into a strong global market. The annual growth rate in global coffee consumption has averaged 2 percent since 2011, and the world consumed the equivalent of 152.2 million 60kg bags in 2015, according to the intergovernmental International Coffee Organisation. US demand is higher than ever, and two shipments of coffee beans to the US in August represented Myanmars first commercial-scale exports to that country in over 15 years, according to Reuters. The US recently announced it was lifting almost all remaining sanctions against Myanmar, and would reinstate generalised system of preferences (GSP) benefits on November 13. Myanmar is well placed to take advantage of the global thirst and improving economic relations with the US. At a US coffee expo in June 2015, Myanmar-produced strains of arabica and catimor coffees were deemed world-standard in a quality test receiving higher marks than most other coffees shown at the event, U Myint Swe said. The strains have also been tested in Germany, and they also sent a report saying the quality was world- standard, he added. Local firms have taken advantage of Myanmars climate and regional demand. Yangon-based firm Coffee Genius, owned by Ko Ngwe Tun, has exported its Shan highlands coffee to Singapore and also enjoyed high marks from the Specialty Coffee Association of America. But although Myanmars local industry can produce exceptional quality, it also faces production and marketing problems that have made it hard to reach international markets, U Myint Swe said. Strains like the arabica have been grown for over 80 years, but a lack of finance has seen little in the way of progress. Crop yields have decreased steadily, although the quality has not, U Myint Swe said. The useful life of a coffee plant, depending on growing conditions, is 20 to 30 years. In other countries, once a coffee plant reaches 30 years old it is cut down and new ones planted, he said. But in our country we dont cut them down, we make existing plants produce new shoots and branches. Although the international market is booming driven mainly by rising consumption in developed economies Myanmars local market for coffee is poor and cultivators are producing less in response, U Zaw Tun Myint, director general of the Agriculture Department, told The Myanmar Times. The ministry wants to see coffee planted and grown according to international-standard practice, but in order to get cultivators onside the ministry has to improve the market, he added. We need to cooperate with the department and expand the market for growers, he said. Right now profits [in the local market] are low, so growers lower inputs, which lowers quality, which lowers prices and pushes profits down further. We need to reverse this vicious cycle. The acreage given to coffee plantations in Myanmar is shrinking and is now less than 50,000 acres down from over 60,000 acres at the peak of production many years ago, he said. U Tin Htut from the agriculture departments coffee branch said collaboration between agricultural experts, exporters and planters is crucial to remedy the slump in production. He is helping work on a strategy paper for coffee development in Myanmar. Now is the time to really perform, he said. Myanmar has the human resources and skills, but needs to improve the agricultural system in order to catch up with regional competitors, he added. The coffee strategy should include targets for the next 10 years, and cover market research, finance, technical assistance, farmer training and which strains should be planted more widely, he said. The plan will be sent to a parliamentary economic committee, which includes the vice president and officials from the finance and commerce ministries, he said. U Myint Swe said the plan will take around six months to draw up, and should involve assistance from experts from the agriculture department, USAID, the Myanmar Coffee Planting Association and other coffee experts. But industry interest bodes well. At the ministry workshop on coffee growing last month over 40 members of the Coffee Planting Association and the private sector attended the meeting, joined by over 100 experts and officials from government departments, U Zaw Myint Tun said. It was the first big meeting on coffee in the last five years, he said. Its a very encouraging situation. We held meetings in the past, but there wasnt as much freedom as there is now. Translation by Win Thaw Tar and Khine Thazin Han Bagan's ancient religious heritage is at risk because of a combination of natural disasters, botched repairs and neglect, experts are warning. The citys 3000 ancient pagodas, temples and other religious buildings risk further damage unless urgent action is taken. Bagan is also a major asset for tourism, one of the countrys main foreign-currency earners. More than 30 pagodas, including Ananda, That Byin Nyu, Pyathagyi and Buu Payar, sustained serious damage in the 1975 earthquake that registered 6.5 on the Richter scale, said U Than Tin Aung, a visiting professor at Yangon and Mandalay Technology Universities who is involved in restoration work. The Bagan pagodas are built with bricks nearly 1000 years old, and whose resistance to shock was already reduced when the earthquake struck, he said in a recent interview. The year after the earthquake, UNESCO sent experts from France to work with the ministries of construction and archaeology, and local architects, on repairing the damage, he said. The UNESCO experts produced documentation which was very important to the renovation work. It helped us restore the Ananda Pagoda, which was built as a Kwan Taung [pyramidal spire on a square temple] to its original form, said U Than Tin Aung who has more than 30 years experience. In 1988, the then-military regime permitted renovation work that deviated from UNESCO standards, causing damaged to more than 600 pagodas, architecture expert U Sun Oo told The Myanmar Times. The resulting structure had nothing in common with the original Bagan era culture. It has no heritage or architectural value. Since the renovation was paid for with public money, that represents both a financial and a historical loss, he said. Renovation work should be carried out by masons experienced in ancient architectural techniques, and cannot be rushed, said U Than Tin Aung. Ordinary masons cannot do this work unless they have been trained in ancient archaeological techniques. All the work we have done employs these experienced masons, he said. When another quake struck on August 24, causing further damage, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi warned that a proper renovation would take time. At the time of the earthquake, the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library had been supervising the renovation of already-damaged pagodas on a tender basis. Some experts have criticised the quality of the work, calling into question the qualifications of the masons. Where the work was estimated to cost less than K5 million, the archaeology department would undertake the renovation itself, said U Zaw Zaw Tun, director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture. Some pagodas are renovated with donor funding [if the estimated cost exceeds K5 million]. We would invite companies to tender for the work, in accordance with all the necessary rules and regulations, he said. According to the archaeology department, the August quake damaged about 400 pagodas, including 56 ancient buildings with murals. Luckily, the collapse did not destroy all the murals in these 56 pagodas. Just the edges sustained damage, said U Thein Lwin, deputy director general of the archaeology department. UNESCO is conducting the renovation of those pagodas, with the more than K2.3 billion received from donors as of September 15, said local MP U Win Myint Khaing (NLD; Nyaung-U 1). The Mandalay Region chief minister said all the funds collected from public donors must be applied toward repairing the damage, and should not be used for departmental budget support. Thats why weve withdrawn only K30 million for immediate repair work, he said. The archaeology department had intended to apply for World Heritage Status at the end of 2017, a decision that has called into question the status of hotels built in the historic zone. The question of renovation funding has shed new light on the sometimes uneasy relationship between historical conservation and the demands of tourism. The ministries of Religious Affairs and Hotels and Tourism had allowed 45 hotels, including 25 still under construction, to operate for the next 15 years in order to ensure the return of their investment. After that, they have to move their hotel out of the heritage zone, said tourism minister U Ohn Maung on September 20. Some of the entrepreneurs concerned have bank loans at 13 percent interest. We will let them operate for 15 years, but then they have to leave the zone, he said. Tourism sources say the August quake did not make much of a dent in visitor figures. Though some of the most famous pagodas had to be closed temporarily, no booking cancellations were reported. Tour operators factored in other, undamaged, pagodas, as well as trips to local villages, said tour operator Daw Sabei Aung. The tourists were happy even though they didnt get to see some of the pagodas, she said. But the August damage could delay the application for World Heritage Status, said Daw Ohnmar Myo, a coordinator at UNESCO Myanmar. We are still working on the heritage status despite the damage caused, she said. According to the master plan by the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library and UNESCO experts, the application will be followed by an expert inspection in 2018, and the decision on whether or not to accord heritage status will be made in 2019, said U Aung Aung Kyaw, directory of the archaeology department. Pitting allies against each other, two of Myanmars strongest ethnic armed organisations have reportedly engaged in military hostilities. The aggression has shocked domestic peace observers and political analysts who perceive the clashes as exposing a long-extant rift between the two pro-China factions, each operating out of their own enclaves in Shan State. On September 28, a convoy of as many as 600 Wa soldiers crossed over the border into territory controlled by its former ally, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), according to Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN). The report alleged that the Wa troops had captured two mountain outposts Loi Kiuhsai and Loi Hsarm Hsoom as well as a strategic border checkpoint in the Mongla territory, and then arrested more than 150 guards. The detained soldiers were later released. The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has an estimated strength of nearly 20,000 fighters, whereas the Monglas NDAA has an estimated strength of 3000 fighters, according to the Myanmar Peace Monitor. The Monglas demand for autonomy for the Arkhar ethnic people, Mongla leader Sai Lins frequent visits to Nay Pyi Taw and most recently issues at the 21st-century Panglong Conference, were probably the underlying causes of the outbreak of clashes, U Khun Sai, a member of the Pyidaungsu Institute and an adviser to the Restoration Council of Shan State, told the Shan Herald Agency for News. At the Panglong Conference last month the new governments first major foray into the peace process the UWSA sent a low-level delegation to attend after much lobbying from government negotiators. By contrast, NDAAs leader, Sai Lin, attended. Sources close to the two ethnic armed groups said the NDAA leader rejected the UWSAs suggestion to likewise send a low-ranking delegation to the conference as a way to tread into the negotiations slowly. On the second day of the conference, the Wa delegates pulled out and left the capital after a perceived sleight caused by registration confusion. The UWSA delegation claimed the government had unfairly sidelined them, and did not respond to attempts to entreat them to return. U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, said the walkout was precipitated by earlier shortcomings. The Wa leaders asked State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to include all armed ethnic groups at the conference. However, the Tatmadaw did not agree and hence the UWSA sent a low-level delegation and was not so committed to participating in the conference, he said. Neither of the ethnic armed groups signed last years nationwide ceasefire agreement. The UWSA publicly said last year, after being invited to the signing by then-president U Thein Sein, that since it has a decades-long bilateral ceasefire agreement, it does not need the NCA. Instead, the UWSA lobbied the government to upgrade its autonomous zone into an ethnic state. While the UWSA has kept its distance from Nay Pyi Taw and the government-initiated peace process, the NDAA has walked a more neutral line and continues to keep diplomatic channels with Nay Pyi Taw open. U Than Soe Naing suggested recent Tatmadaw aggression against other ethnic armed groups in Shan State was aimed at intimidating the larger groups and especially the UWSA because it exerts an influence over the three allies that make up the northern alliance. The northern alliance the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Taang National Liberation Army has built a close relationship with the UWSA over the last year. The Tatmadaw has frozen the northern alliance out of the peace process. Political analysts have said that as the peace process advances, military pressure is being applied so the armed groups buckle and sign the NCA. But the Mongla claimed the recent invasion had been misunderstood, and was instead a matter of Wa troops simply carrying out military exercises. During the military exercises, some UWSA troops misunderstood the instructions and that led to negative consequences. The leaders from Special Region 4 [Mongla territory] met with the Wa leaders to discuss the matter on the morning of October 1. Corrections have been arranged, the Mongla said in a statement, adding that the Mongla territory had returned to normal circumstances. SHAN also reported that the deputy commander-in-chief of the UWSA, Zhao Zhongdang, is headed to the Mongla region for talks with NDAA leaders. No spokespersons for either ethnic armed group could be reached for comment yesterday. Unless the three groups [of the northern alliance] are brought into the fold of the peace process, northern Shan State is not going be in a stable situation, said U Than Soe Naing. Long a known public health scourge for Myanmar, drug use is also fuelling gender-based violence in the country, according to activists. Some domestic violence cases and drugs [use] are linked, said U Thein Kyi, a central executive committee member of the Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association (MANA). In some households, drug [use] is the main reason for unexpected violence happening between husband and wife, or parents and children. As the issue has been given greater attention in recent years, the MANA and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have been working together to address gender-based violence by giving awareness training to police officers in how to handle these particular cases. The aim is to highlight the key role police can play in both the prevention and response to cases of gender-based violence. Indications that illicit narcotics use was a main problem in these cases was the reason his association became involved in the police trainings, U Thein Kyi said. The MANA member emphasised the importance of raising awareness among both men and women in combating gender-based violence. That means sometimes challenging traditional cultural and social norms, he said, such as the problematic notion that the spousal dynamic of husband and wife is one of owner and property, making it acceptable for a husband to beat or otherwise mistreat his wife. Similar ideas about parent-child relationships were equally unacceptable, U Thein Kyi said. The chair of a womens committee for the Karlan IDP camp in Kutkai township, northern Shan State, offered anecdotal proof of the assertion that drug use was contributing to domestic violence. In our camps, the drug users or alcohol-addicted households fight and violence happens more than normal households. The men become addicted to drugs and they ignite problems in the family and beat or scold the wife and children, Daw Yein Nu said. U Thein Kyi stressed the importance of reporting domestic violence in order to combat it, saying those who hide such cases were only potentially exacerbating the situation. Daw Yein Nu said part of her committees role, in conjunction with community leaders, was to field domestic abuse complaints and intervene when necessary. She said given community leaders considerable influence in IDP camps, women have typically experienced less violence, or an end to domestic abuse entirely, after they have come forward. A member of the Kachin Baptist Church who deals with cases of gender-based violence at another IDP camp in Kutkai township, Daw Zaung Yen, said the encampments themselves were part of the problem. Men drink and use drugs due to a lack of opportunity to do business, she said. There are more problems in that kind of household. Currently, there is no legislation on the books that specifically addresses gender-based violence, leaving community leaders particularly in remote areas and conflict zones to serve as the primary protectors of women. The drafting of a National Law on Protection and Prevention of Violence against Women has been in the works for years but has yet to be tabled in parliament. Any law would likely include provisions on providing police with the kind of training being offered by the MANA-UNFPA partnership. Daw Seng Hkham, a gender-based violence coordinator for the Metta Foundation, which is working to combat such abuse in part by raising awareness among communities in Kachin State, said strong communal and familial support networks were also important for victims of gender-based violence. GBV [gender-based violence] is preventable, she said. Parliament voted today to abolish the Emergency Provisions Act, which was widely applied by the former military government to stifle political activists by threatening harsh penalties, including a potential death sentence for leaking state secrets. The law, introduced in 1950, was one of the military government's chief weapons of silencing dissent and instituting a climate of fear and distrust. Under the Act's provisions, state security forces could arrest and detain civilians indefinitely without filing official charges. Under the repressive act anyone found guilty of committing treason which included such activities as sabotage of railways or damaging telegraph poles could face penalties including a lifetime in prison or a death sentence. Hefty terms were also meted out for other crimes, such as spreading false news or disrupting public morality. National League for Democracy MP's, many former political prisoners themselves, have pushed for repeal of controversial law since taking power in March. The Pyithu Hluttaw Bill Committee proposed abolishing the law at the beginning of August, citing its misuse to arbitrarily detain civilians and politicians, but a Union Solidarity and Developmetn Party and a military MP defended the law, suggesting amendments to restrict the scope of its application instead. The proposal made its way to Myanmar's upper house on September 14. Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than told parliament today that legislation overturning the act had been approved. Previous attempts to axe or amend the act have been scuppered by fierce opposition from military MPs. Today's motion was just the latest in series of motions to expand personal freedoms and overturn some of the former military junta's favoured tools of repression. Last month, parliament also narrowly voted to scrap the widely-reviled "midnight inspection" clause of the Ward and Village tract administration law that were used by the former military regime to controlling the movements of political dissidents, as well as to justify unannounced household inspections that infringed on citizens' privacy and created a climate of fear and intimidation. The Pyithu Hluttaw also approved a separate bill on September 20 securing personal freedoms from state surveillance, despite objections from military MPs as well as some representatives of the ruling party. Activists charge that repressive laws are still being levied, however, to silence criticism of the government, and particularly of the military, as well as to censure social media satirists. Earlier this week, U Aung Win Hlaing, a Myawady resident was jailed for nine months under section 66(d) of Myanmars Telecommunications Law, which covers online defamation, for calling President Htin Kyaw an "idiot" and "crazy" following complaints by an NLD Kayin State central executive committee member. China is offering to sponsor a conference of international experts brought to Myanmar to survey and then discuss Bagan renovation work. The Chinese embassy submitted a proposal for the discussions to the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library in Bagan, according to U Aung Aung Kyaw, the department director. A group from China came in the past month to observe the pagodas destroyed in the August earthquake to see how they could lend a hand, U Aung Aung Kyaw said. The department suggested the delegation help fund international archaegologists to assist in the repair work and planning. It would be better for the pagodas in Bagan in the long-term to have such an event that brings good ideas for their upkeep, U Aung Aung Kyaw said. The delegation accepted the suggestion and plan to submit a formal proposal to the state government for permission, he added. This is a matter to be decided on by the state government. If the state government accepts, then the event can be held as soon as the end of October, he said. Chinas offer as it was submitted to the department included sponsoring not only the expenses of the meeting, but also the provision of funds, machinery and technicians needed to carry out the restoration processes determined during the meeting. Local residents were cautiously optimistic about the proposal. It is good that another country wants to help restore the damaged pagodas in our country, but I hope it is not a give-and-take type of deal, said U Soe Lin from Nyaung-U. I will be glad if they are willing to do it without any expectations of getting something in return. Translation by Emoon and Win Thaw Tar UPDATE: The presiding judge sentenced Dutch tourist Klaas Haytema to 3 months imprisonment this afternoon for disrupting a religious assembly, the minimum sentence under section 296 of the criminal code. Haytema was also handed an additional 6 month term or the payment of a K100,000 fine for immigration-related offences, which he opted to pay. Mr Haytema is accused of disconnecting the amplifier at about 10pm on September 23 outside his hotel near Thusarita Dhammaryone, a religious community hall in Maha Aung Myay township, Mandalay Region. He had been charged under section 295 of the penal code for intentional insult to religious feelings or beliefs, as well as facing facing additional charges under immigration laws. On October 3, the prosecuting legal officer from Maha Aung Myay township, U Sithu Swe Tun, made a formal application to the court recommending that Mr Haytemas case should go to trial, given the weight of evidence against him presented in preliminary hearings. The court also heard from three witnesses, including a Mandalay hotel usher who testified that it was Mr Haytema's first trip to an Asian nation, and he was unfamiliar with the proper codes of conduct around Buddhist sites of wirship. The following day, the township court judge announced his decision to formally indict Mr Haytema. He asked the accused to enter a plea, to which Mr Haytema responded, I did not do it with intention. I didnt know it was a religious building. So, I am not guilty. U Hla Ko, chair of the Myanmar Legal Aid Network, appeared pro bono on Mr Haytemas behalf and formally entered a plea of not guilty, similarly arguing that the crux of his clients case went to the question of intent. Number one, he had no intention [to insult religion] so he should not be convicted under section 295. Number two, he did not destroy anything so, again, he should not be convicted, U Hla Ko said, referring to part of section 295 that subjects anyone who destroys, damages or defiles any object of worship to up to two years imprisonment. The immigration charges faced by Mr Haytema are contingent on him being convicted of unlawful behaviour in Myanmar, and his lawyer therefore asked that they also be dismissed. In response to the defences submissions, U Sithu Swe Tun said, Id like to put forward an argument the saying Ignorance of the law is no excuse. After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge announced that the final verdict would be delivered on October 6. After the hearing, his lawyer was asked why he had decided to assist Mr Haytema, who had gone without legal counsel in prior hearings. Previously, I [only] helped the poor, U Hla Ko said. Subsequently, I decided to help anyone who needs it without considering whether they are poor or rich or what race or religion they are. Thats why I am representing him. Dutch newpaper Leeuwarder Courant quoted Mr Haytemas mother as saying the family is following the case with updates from Mr Haytemas girlfriend. Were hearing that our son is being treated well in prison, but hes also anxious of whats going to happen. Were trying to stay positive here, she said. Translation by Thiri Min Htun Addressing legislation that sparked nationwide student protests last year and saw dozens of activists imprisoned, the National Network for Education Reform yesterday demanded an overhaul of the National Education Law. The legislation is expected to get new teeth with three draft by-laws slated to be submitted to parliament soon, according to U Khaing Myal, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education. The National Education Law, a piece of legislation seeking to regulate the school system, has been plagued by controversy since it was adopted in September 2014. A revised version was re-adopted with no less of a backlash on June 25, 2015. But before the by-laws can be enacted and the law sinks in for good, the National League for Democracy-led parliament needs to reconsider, said U Thein Lwin, a member of the NNER. The National Education Law should be amended. This mother law permits too much centralisation [of the education system] and goes against the federalism espoused by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. So I say, amend it, he said at a seminar yesterday. At the end of last month, the Ministry of Education posted three draft by-laws to its Facebook page: the Basic Education Law, the Private Education Law, and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Law. The by-laws were drafted under then-president U Thein Seins administration, but according to spokesperson U Khaing Myal, they have since been updated following suggestions from the public received via email and its Facebook page. Critics of the law say these by-laws continue to ascribe too much decision-making power to the government, and suggest this is especially problematic in the ethnic minority areas where schools may wish to deviate from the curriculum taught to the Bamar majority. Daw Nyo Nyo Thin, a former Yangon Region MP and one of the laws most vocal critics, said that out of 10 lines discussing responsibilities in chapter 5 of the Private Education Law, nine focus on ascribing government control. These laws do not reflect the NLD governments pledge to make the peace process a first priority, she said during a September 24 conference call on the Dangers Centralisation Poses for Democratic Education. Daw Nyo Nyo Thin added that the existing laws should be redrafted with the input of local education experts from all areas of the country. Speaking at the same event, Ko Thwin Linn Aung, another member of the NNER, said, The centralisation [enshrined in the education law] can damage the peace processes and keep the quality of education low. Yesterday, U Thein Lwin also pointed out that when the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw reorganised the National Education Policy Commission on September 16, no ethnic minority members were chosen. Instead, the commission is dominated by retired government employees. U Khaing Myal said the appointments were made to ensure continuity and to utilise the knowledge of former bureaucrats. I think involving retired government staff and experts on the commission is a good idea, he said. The NNER plans to lobby the government about the draft by-laws in an upcoming meeting with representatives of the hluttaw, the Ministry of Education and the policy commission. The meeting is expected to be held within the month, though a date is yet to be finalised, according to U Thein Lwin. The meeting will depend on the when the governments side has free time, he said. Amid much talk of luring outside investment to Myanmar, Yangon Region lawmakers have indicated that they want to see greater scrutiny of foreign operators of illegal businesses in the commercial capital. Regional MPs yesterday approved a proposal to debate cracking down on these foreign entrepreneurs next week. Parliamentarian U Win Maung (NLD; Hlaing Tharyar 1) submitted the proposal at yesterdays parliamentary session, telling lawmakers that Yangon Region authorities had for too long turned a blind eye to illegal enterprises ranging from gambling dens and real estate ventures to KTV outfits and drinking holes. By the Myanmar Real Estate Service Associations estimate, he said, as of June 20 there were about 100 foreign real estate agencies that were operating without licences and related permissions from the relevant ministries, most of them Chinese and Korean. U Win Maung said foreign businesspeople had for years taken advantage of a corrupt bureaucracy and weak rule of law to set up shop in Yangon without going through the proper channels. I wondered when I saw a boarding-house that is owned by a foreign businessman in a squatter area of Hlaing Tharyar township. Those businesses wont be giving any tax to the government, he said. The MP said so-called K5K shops peddling goods priced at a flat K5000 and typically owned by Chinese nationals had proliferated this year without licences from Yangon City Development Committee and related authorities. Some foreigner-owned bars and restaurants were also suspect, he added. I can say that the government wont get any tax from them and the government should take action effectively. The country and our people wont get any benefits from these kinds of businesses. The government should consider that, said U Win Maung. MP U Hla Htay (NLD; Mingalar Taung Nyunt 1) said the government must handle the issue in accordance with the Foreign Investment Law. The government shouldnt be just monitoring and inspecting these businesses. They should take action against them, he said. The regional parliament will debate the proposal on October 11. I think that this proposal will help advance rule of law. And foreigners will respect our country if we have a strong rule of law system, said U Win Maung. While unlicensed businesses were in Yangon Region MPs crosshairs yesterday, the National League for Democracy government has followed in its predecessors footsteps in encouraging foreign businesses to legally enter the country. State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said on her visit to the United States last month that such investment would help spur economic development at home. According to Myanmars Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, approved investment for the 2015-16 fiscal year hit US$9.4 billion. Like many 20-year-olds in Myanmar, Ma Yadana Kyaw Thu* has had a Facebook account for several years to share her thoughts and photos, and to stay in touch with friends. But then, earlier this year, she started receiving disturbing phone calls from unknown men. After a while she realised someone had created a fake Facebook account in her name that publicised her phone number and falsely claimed she was selling sex. Panicked and embarrassed, she quickly changed her phone number, while telling friends and family in Yangons Mingalar Taung Nyunt township she lost her phone. My friends and I reported the abusive account to Facebook, but I didnt want to file a case at the police station. If the court case lasts too long I would be absent from work a lot, Ma Yadana Kyaw Thu said. Also, I dont want my parents and relatives to know about this. She said she had no idea who was behind the abuse, adding that it took several months before Facebook removed the fake account. Ma Khine Thu Zar, a 30-year-old married women from Tarmwe township, recalled how she suffered harassment after she lost her mobile phone last year. A man who found her phone tried to extort K100,000 (about US$85) from her, threatening to otherwise release her private pictures on Facebook with her name and Photoshop them to make her appear nude. Ma Khine Thu Zar tried to file a police complaint but after spending a day waiting at the local station she realised police were not going to take any action. She was distraught for weeks until the threats stopped. I worried that photos would appear on other websites, or that my husband would divorce me, she told Myanmar Now. Womens rights and tech-focused activists say such online abuse cases are quickly becoming more frequent after internet and mobile phone use increased in Myanmar in recent years, reaching 11 million internet users with 43 million SIM cards sold. Revenge porn abuse hits Myanmar Myanmars exposure to the downsides of social media networks includes hate speech, cyber-bullying, sexual harassment and, most recently, the unauthorised online publication of intimate photos and videos. The latter phenomenon dubbed revenge porn in Western countries, where it has become a growing problem has recently emerged in Myanmar, said Daw Aye Thada Hla, a communications coordinator of Myanmar Gender Equality Network. She said a growing number of victims of this abuse, mostly young women and girls, experience its devastating social and psychological impact. Private video clips are found on social networks, but most of the victimised girls did not seek legal help, Daw Aye Thada Hla said, adding that it was common for the perpetrator to try to extort money. Sometimes photos are taken by ex-boyfriends or stolen from devices, she said, while pictures are also shot of couples intimate moments in the park. Ko Nay Phone Latt, an online activist and a Yangon Region parliament member for the National League for Democracy, said the revenge porn phenomenon appeared to be spreading. In the past it was only a problem for celebrities, but now we heard it is happening to many normal girls on Facebook, he told Myanmar Now. Ma Ei Myat Noe Khin, program associate of Phandeeyar, a Yangon-based organisation for tech start-ups, said victims often felt stigmatised in Myanmars conservative society, even by other women. Some women put the blame for cyber abuse on the victim, she said. Sexual violence facing women, such as rape and domestic abuse, is often surrounded by a culture of silence in Myanmar, and victims struggle to find justice in a law enforcement and court system that is ineffective and corrupt. Govt should raise awareness Some urged the government to work with NGOs to raise public awareness about online abuse and its prevention, and toughen penalties for abuses. MP Ko Nay Phone Latt said, The Ministry of Information should run education programs on the effective and proper use of social media. Ma Ei Myat Noe Khin of Phandeeyar echoed his remarks, saying, Cyber abuses should be prevented through measures improving security and privacy. Ko Yatanar Htun, program coordinator of the Myanmar ICT for Development Organisation (MIDO), said, Few people understand cyber abuse and that internet technology can be used in many ways, including the spread of false information on social media. MIDO runs campaigns against hate speech and anti-Muslim sentiment propogated by Buddhist nationalists in recent years. It also raises awareness about online abuses. Ko Yatanar Htun said it would help if victims participate in campaigns and publicly speak out to warn others against abuse and loss of private photos. Shin Thant, a network coordinator with Colours Rainbow, which advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, said mens conservative attitudes on womens roles and sexuality should also be addressed. Criminal punishment? According to MP Ko Nay Phone Latt, the government could develop tougher laws against cyber abuse, and law enforcement should investigate serious cases. Revenge porn has become a public concern in many countries in recent years, prompting legislation that specifically criminalises non-consensual sharing of intimate photos or video. In Asia, the Philippines government passed the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act in 2009. Activists said Myanmar police could take action under the 2013 Telecommunication Laws Article 66(d), which sets a fine and prison term of up to three years for extortion, threatening or defaming someone by using any telecommunications network. Criminal laws punishing physical and sexual abuse could also be amended to include online abuse, Daw Aye Thada Hla of the Myanmar Gender Equality Network said. She added that the long-awaited National Prevention of Violence against Women bill includes online abuse as an offence. A police officer at the Tarmwe Township Station in Yangon said police were reluctant to take action in cases of cyber abuse and need district-level approval to accept a complaint due to a lack of IT knowledge in the force. We cant accept an official complaint on cyber abuse in the absence of our police officer-in-charge, said the police officer, who asked not to be named. Human rights lawyer U Robert Sann Aung said authorities only ever prosecuted online offences dealing with theft of government data or with social media posts allegedly defaming the military or government. He added it would be hard for a civilian plaintiff to know how to file digital evidence of online abuse with the police. Actions are being taken against only for national-level cyber crimes at the moment. I dont know of any prosecution for cyber-related complaints by ordinary people, he said. Myanmar Now *Some names in this article were changed to protect the identity of abuse victims. There is no subtlety about Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines. He has waged a brutal extrajudicial campaign against supposed drug dealers and users, killing thousands without due process. On September 30, he compared himself to Hitler in describing his desire to exterminate dealers and addicts. Previously, he crudely insulted President Barack Obama, leading to the cancelation of a meeting between the two, followed by his expression of regret and an informal conversation. He declared that he would cross the Rubicon in his ties with the United States a long-time ally and put out a trade and economic welcome mat for the other side of the ideological barrier, China and Russia. On September 26, Mr Duterte said that during a recent summit of East Asian leaders in Laos, he had informed Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that he was about to cross the Rubicon with the United States. I would need your help in everything trade, commerce and I will open up, he said he told Mr Medvedev. Asked by a reporter what he meant by cross the Rubicon, he said it was a point of no return. What is going on? For starters, Mr Duterte has a big mouth and in his first months in office he has been unrestrained. He bristled at criticism of the drug war from the United States and Europe. The anti-drug campaign has been reprehensible, and the criticism deserved. But at the same time, the relationship between the United States and the Philippines is key to the success of a US pivot to Asia, and as an offset to Chinas increasingly aggressive expansionism in the South China Sea, building airstrips and bases on an archipelago also claimed by the Philippines and a half-dozen other nations. The United States and the Philippines have a defence treaty dating to 1951, and the Philippines was a major outpost for US forces during the Vietnam War. Although there was a breakdown over the US bases in 1992, joint exercises continued, and in 2014 the two countries signed a 10-year agreement envisioning a stronger US defence presence in the Philippines. Over the past week, while on a visit to Vietnam, Mr Duterte announced that this months joint military exercises with the United States would be the last while he is president. Taken at face value, Dutertes statements suggest an alarming turn away from the United States. We notice that, after many of his outrageous comments that the Philippines might leave the United Nations; that US forces have to leave the southern island of Mindanao; that Mr Obama was a son of a bitch; that the joint military exercises are ending his associates and spokespersons have stepped in to say he didnt really mean quite what he said. We understand that Duterte has a firebrand style popular at home. But if he implements his threats to degrade the alliance with the United States, neither nation will benefit. The Washington Post Myanmar's democratic transition and the consequent dynamics between Nay Pyi Taw and Washington have commanded strategic priority for Americas Asia policy. Chinas long years of influence in Myanmar and the latters new overtures to diversify its relationships lend geostrategic significance to US-Myanmar ties. As the Obama years come to a close, and the White House prepares for its new president, how the US-Myanmar relationship pans out will be of interest to Americas strategic competitors and partners alike. On September 14, during State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis official visit to the US, President Barack Obama returned Myanmar to the status of a least-developed beneficiary developing country. This allows the US to restore trade benefits by reinstating preferential treatment to Myanmar under the Generalized System of Preferences program. Calling Myanmars transition remarkable, Mr Obama scrapped those sanctions that could be lifted without congressional authorisation in order to reward the Southeast Asian nation for the progress made so far. But not all sanctions could be removed immediately with an executive order of the president. Under the George W Bush administration, the US Congress passed the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act to ban all imports from Myanmar. In 2013, the Obama administration relaxed some provisions of the act, but continued the ban on imports of precious stones. It was believed that the trade in rubies and gems was run by corporations controlled by the military and clandestine businesses, which in turn promoted corruption and human rights abuses. Additionally, the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department maintains a Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, which prohibits American companies from having business associations with the entities and individuals mentioned. The list includes individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries as well as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. In May this year, OFAC removed seven enterprises and three state-owned banks in Myanmar from the sanctions list. OFAC also added a general licence allowing US citizens to live and conduct business in Myanmar. At the same time, OFAC added six companies to the SDN list which were owned by Steven Law and his company Asia World, even though the company claims to have sold its mining operations and that it no longer has any interest in the jade sector. However, Asia World is one of Myanmars biggest conglomerates and similar sanctions on other businesspeople have made it difficult for foreign investors to enter Myanmars market by restricting options for local partners in potential joint ventures. This indicates that despite its commitment to help Myanmar progress economically and sustain its democracy, the US is still treading cautiously as it goes about normalising its relations with the country. Mr Obama faces domestic opposition in the US Congress from those who think persisting concerns regarding military involvement in dubious business operations warrant continued sanctions. Daw Aung San Suu Kyis own policy on human rights violations against the Rohingya has been a subject of extensive debate for some time. While the Obama administration can take credit for defrosting ties with Myanmars military establishment, it is believed that the US Congress is in the drivers seat in US-Myanmar relations, especially after the Republican Partys 2014 congressional election victories. This has been highlighted by the steep budgetary cuts in military training to Myanmar and the reporting requirements the National Defense Authorization Act imposes on the Department of Defense for all military training or consultation offered to the Tatmadaw. This could create more scope for China to increase its influence in the country through enhanced military relations. China has over the years also injected itself as a power broker in Myanmar by supporting strong minority rebel groups like the United Wa State Army, something that a distant power like the US cannot manage. China became an important economic partner for Myanmar during its period of international isolation under the military government. With its recent democratic transition, it was believed that increasing investments from the West would help Myanmar reduce its economic dependence on China. So far, however, investments from the US and elsewhere in the West have been unable to match those from China. The National League for Democracy government finds itself forced to assure Beijing of the safety of its key investment projects as Myanmar strengthens ties with the US. Key among these is the Myitsone dam project, over which Beijing is increasingly applying pressure for a speedy resolution. However, the NLD, which also recently convened the 21st-century Panglong Peace Conference to unite Myanmars different ethnic groups, is sensitive to the hostilities which are likely to break out with the Kachin should the Myitsone project go ahead as it is expected to submerge several villages in the project area. Thus, national security also becomes a driving force behind the need for Myanmar to develop new partners as a way of ensuring its economic growth. On that front, the US will have an important role to play in making it viable for investors to venture into what has been called Asias last frontier economy. To this end, the joint statement by Mr Obama and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi inspires confidence by announcing that the US-Myanmar partnership will be anchored on annual cross-sectoral dialogue between the US Department of State and Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, when asked when the sanctions will be lifted in entirety, the only timeframe offered by Mr Obama was soon. The question facing Myanmars economy: Will that be soon enough? Policy Forum Monish Tourangbam is assistant professor at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal University (Karnataka). Pawan Amin is a research scholar in the Chinese Studies Programme, Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, JNU (New Delhi). [October 04, 2016] Network-1 Announces Settlement Of Patent Litigation With Polycom, Inc. NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Network-1 Technologies, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NTIP) announced today that it agreed to settle its patent litigation against Polycom, Inc. ("Polycom") pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division, for infringement of Network-1's Remote Power Patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,218,930). Polycom was one of sixteen original defendants named in the litigation. Under the terms of the settlement, Polycom will license the Remote Power Patent for its full term which expires in March 2020, and pay a license initiation fee of $5,000,000 for past sales of its Power over Ethernet ("PoE") products. In addition, Polycom will pay ongoing royalties based on its sales its PoE products, including those PoE products which comply with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers ("IEEE") 802.3af and 802.3at Standards. $2,000,000 of the license initiation fee will be paid within 30 days and the balance will be paid in three annual installments of $1,000,000 beginning in October, 2017. Payments due in October 2018 and October 2019 need not be paid if all asserted claims of the Remote Power Patent have been found invalid. In September 2011, the Company initiated patent litigation against sixteen data networking equipment manufacturers in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division, for infringement of its Remote Power Patent. Network-1 previously reached settlement and license agreements with eleven of the original defendants. The remaining four defendants in the lawsuit are Avaya Inc., AXIS Communications Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, and Juniper Networks, Inc. Network-1 seeks monetary damages based upon reasonable royalties. The Remote Power Patent relates to, among other things, delivering power over Ethernet cables to remotely power network connected devices including, among others, wireless access points, VoIP telephones and network cameras. In June 2003, the IEEE approved the 802.3af PoE Standard. The IEEE also approved the 802.3at Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE Plus) Standard, which increased the maximum power delivered to network devices to 40-60 watts from the current 15 watts under the 802.3af Standard. Network-1 currently has twenty-five license agreements with respect to its Remote Power Patent, which include, among others, license agreements with Cisco Systems, Inc., Extreme Networks, Inc., Netgear Inc., Dell, Inc., Alcatel-Lucent USA, Sony Corporation, Shoretel Inc., Microsemi Corporation, Motorola Solutions, Inc., NEC Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and several other data networking vendors. ABOUT NETWORK-1 TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Network-1 Technologies, Inc. is engaged in the development, licensing and protection of its intellectual property and proprietary technologies. Network-1 works with inventors and patent owners to assist in the development and monetization of their patented technologies. Network-1 currently owns twenty-eight (28) patents covering various telecommunications and data networking technologies as well as technologies relating to document stream operating systems and the identification of media content. Network-1's current strategy includes continuing to pursue licensing opportunities for its Remote Power Patent and its efforts to monetize two patent portfolios (the Cox and Mirror Worlds patent portfolios) acquired by Network-1 in 2013. Network-1's acquisition strategy is to focus on acquiring high quality patents which management believes have the potential to generate significant licensing opportunities as Network-1 has achieved with respect to its Remote Power Patent. Network-1's Remote Power Patent has generated licensing revenue in excess of $90 million from May 2007 through June 30, 2016. This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements address future events and conditions concerning Network-1's business plans. Such statements are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties as disclosed in the Network-1's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, among others, the continued validity of Network-1's Remote Power Patent, the ability of Network-1 to successfully execute its strategy to acquire high quality patents with significant licensing opportunities, Network-1's ability to achieve revenue and profits from its Mirror Worlds Patent Portfolio and the Cox Patent Portfolio as well as intellectual property it may acquire in the future, the ability of Network-1 to enter into additional license agreements, the ability of Network-1 to continue to receive material royalties from its existing license agreements for its Remote Power Patent, the uncertainty of patent litigation and proceedings at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the difficulty in Network-1 verifying royalty amounts owed to it by its licensees, Network-1's ability to enter into strategic relationships with third parties to license or otherwise monetize their intellectual property, the risk in the future of Network-1 being classified as a Personal Holding Company, the continued viability of the PoE market, future economic conditions and technology changes and legislative, regulatory and competitive developments. Except as otherwise required to be disclosed in periodic reports, Network-1 expressly disclaims any future obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein. Corey M. Horowitz, Chairman and CEO Network-1 Technologies, Inc. (212) 829-5770 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/network-1-announces-settlement-of-patent-litigation-with-polycom-inc-300339235.html SOURCE Network-1 Technologies, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2016] Navidar Adds New Managing Director in Indianapolis Navidar is pleased to announce that Matt Kreutz has joined the firm as a Managing Director in Indianapolis, IN. Matt will be focused on the SaaS (News - Alert) software, eCommerce, consumer products, and specialty manufacturing sectors. Matt has 17 years of technology experience as a successful entrepreneur, investor and investment banker with significant advisory experience with a wide variety of financing transactions for high growth companies. "Matt's background with high growth technology companies dovetails perfectly with our focus," said Stephen Day, Co-founder and Managing Director of Navidar. "His M&A and financing experience are exactly what we were looking for in adding a senior banker to focus on the very vibrant technology industry here in Indiana. We are excited that a veteran technology banker will be leading our efforts in the Indianapolis office." Prior to joining Navidar, Matt has been in Indianapolis as an M&A specialist, advising start-ups and lower middle market companies. Prior to an investment banking career, Matt founded three venture-backed strt-ups that were successfully exited to strategic acquirers. Matt understands win-win transactions between companies - investors, founders, management and employees - and strategic or private equity buyers. Matt is a native of Chicago and a DePauw University graduate. "Navidar is an excellent fit for me because of its well-respected reputation and demonstrated record for delivering outlier results for high growth companies right here in Indiana," said Matt. "That's my passion. I am excited to be part of the local tech community and look forward to building upon Navidar's well established brand serving outstanding Indiana businesses." About Navidar Navidar Holdco LLC, with a presence in Austin, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and San Antonio, is an investment banking firm that provides businesses and investors in dynamic industries with strategic merger and acquisition advice, capital raising solutions and corporate advisory services. The firm focuses on SaaS software, eCommerce & Internet, IT and engineering services, specialty manufacturing, and health care information technology companies. Navidar principals have completed more than 300 transactions representing transaction volume of nearly $70 billion in M&A and capital raising, for both private and public companies, over the past 20 years. Navidar Group LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, is a broker-dealer that is registered with FINRA and SIPC. To learn more about Navidar, please visit www.navidar.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161005005014/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Controversial popular radio and television relationship Counsellor, Rev. Cyril George Carstensen Lutterodt has hit hard at husbands who thank Jesus after eating their wifes food. Speaking on Ekwan So Dwoodwo, hosted by Abeiku Santa on Okay FM, he said any man on earth who will finish eating the wifes food and will say thank you Jesus is a very stupid man. The emotional fixer as he calls himself explained that, a man must first show appreciation to his wife after being served by his wife but not Jesus. To buttress his comment more, he added that its the woman who went through all the hustle to prepare the food for the man so why should men say thank you Jesus but not thank you my wife. Your wife has served you food,Have you seen Jesus going to the market before. Thank you Jesus for what, he quizzed. However, Mrs Akosua Kyeiwaa Arhin on the show disagreed and explained that its fair for a man to first give thanks to Jesus before his wife. It is Jesus who gave his wife the strength to cook that food her husband, she continued by quoting the bible to support her comment. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Phillipians 4:13. Mr Lutterodt has come under intense criticism for most of his comments on relationships. The Ghana Police Band will on October 12, 2016 host a massive election concert towards a peaceful general election come December 7, this year at the National Theatre in Accra. The concert is being organised by the band, in collaboration with its counterparts from Germany. Performing at the event will be bandsmen from the other security services, including the Army Band, Fire Service Band, Ghana Immigration Band and the Prisons Band. Director in-charge of the Ghana Police Band, Superintendent Dr Frank Hukporti, at their rehearsal session, said the concert will be in two parts, and it will be held at the National Theatre in Accra and Koforidua in the Eastern Region. He hinted that musicians from the Federal Republic of Germany, led by Stephan Flore, leader and prominent conductor known to be an expert in the playing of horns, will perform alongside the Police Band. The Germans will also perform African songs as part our message of peace to the ordinary Ghanaian during the elections and the gate will be free. He added that invitation has also been extended to the various universities music departments to also perform that day. According to him, on October 14, 2016, a similar event will be held in Koforidua. The Inspector General of Police, Dr John Kudalor, is expected to address the gathering during the concert. In the Eastern Region, the regional commander will deliver the IGP's peace message during the October 14 concert. By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey ( [email protected] ) Kim Kardashian was ordered out of bed by masked men she initially thought were going to rape her. Our sources say Kim was lying in bed with only her robe on when she heard boots pounding up the stairs of her two-storey apartment. Were told Kim saw at least one masked man and another wearing a police hat through a sliding glass door. She knew something was amiss, so she rolled off the bed and tried dialing her bodyguard on her cell phone. Before she could finish dialing, one of the men yanked the phone out of her hands. They zip-tied her hands with plastic handcuffs and duct taped her to make it more secure. Were told one of the men grabbed her by the ankles. Kim told cops at that point she believed she was about to be raped. The robbers duct taped her ankles, picked her up and put her in the bathtub. She then started screaming, begging them not to kill her because she had babies. She went on to say she had money and they could take whatever they wanted. Kim told cops the robber spoke French. The only thing she understood the men kept saying, ring, ring. Kim knew what they were after the new ring she got from Kanye. She told them where it was in the apartment, but that was not the end. Kim continued to beg and cry, and at that point, the robbers duct taped her mouth shut. Were told a friend of Kims Simone was also in the apartment, sleeping in the downstairs bedroom. Simone heard the commotion and locked herself in the bathroom and called Pascal, the bodyguard, and Kourtney, telling them to hurry back because something was terribly wrong. Pascal got back to the apartment two minutes after the robbers left. The entire incident took around six minutes. -tmz New reports of Kim Kardashian Wests Paris robbery have started to surface. The timeline of events begins when Kardashian West arrived at her apartment at the No Address Hotel (a ritzy private apartment building in which celebrities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Madonna, have stayed in the past to avoid paparazzi) just after midnight. At around 2:30 a.m., five men wearing masks and police uniforms broke into the building by holding up the receptionist at gunpoint and asking him to take them to the reality stars apartment. They later entered Kardashian Wests penthouse, tied her up, and gagged her with duct tape. They took off with almost $10 million worth of jewelry, including a $4 million ring recently gifted to her by her husband, Kanye West; two cell phones; and her wallet. The heist was reportedly completed in about six minutes. According to People, a source says that Kardashian West was afraid she was going to be assaulted by the five men. The reports of her fear of being raped are real, the source shared. She really did think she was going to be raped. She had a gun to her head the whole time. Many are wondering why Kardashian West was alone without her bodyguard, Pascal Duvier. According to TMZ, it was because Duvier was out protecting her sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, who were attending a party at a nightclub nearby. The two rushed to Kardashian Wests apartment after hearing of the break-in. Early on Monday, Kardashian West flew back home to New York to be with her husband. Yesterday, the rapper announced he would be rescheduling this weeks tour stops in Philadelphia and Detroit until December in order to spend time with his family. Migrants wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016. By Aris Messinis (AFP) 05.10.2016 LISTEN ABOARD THE ASTRAL (Italy) (AFP) - The horror, terror and joy felt during perilous rescues of migrant boats have been captured in powerful new images published Wednesday, as the latest deadly episode in the Mediterranean fuelled calls for Europe to change tack on the crisis. Migrants wave at members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 AFP photographer Aris Messinis was on board NGO boat The Astral as it battled to help a number of overcrowded rubber dinghies and a larger wooden vessel found in distress off the coast of Libya in a frantic operation that lasted from dawn until after dusk on Tuesday. Hundreds of mainly African migrants were hauled to safety but dozens died agonising deaths from suffocation as a result of either toxic fumes or the panicked crush of too many bodies: 29 of them on one of the dinghies. Migrants wait to be rescued as they drift in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 3, 2016 Messinis said a final count on Wednesday put the death toll at 32 and his photographs capture the extreme range of emotions produced by the drama. Among the most striking is the hauntingly poignant respect shown by the survivors as they tiptoe over lifeless bodies on their own way to safety. A migrant is rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 In the water, an African man clings desperately to a float thrown in by the rescuers and stretches his leg out as if he were trying to help a fellow passenger floundering helplessly a yard (metre) away from him. Or could he have been seeking to push him away? 'Policies not working' Migrants are rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 Other images reveal that there were many small children on board the boats; one is crying, perhaps sensing the prevailing sense of fear, others seem totally carefree, oblivious to the panic, including one hoisted above the crush of the crowd. Migrants wait to be rescued by the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 "There must have been about 1,000 people on board the (larger wooden) boat, spread over three levels," Messinis said. "I went onboard and there was total panic, there were people jumping into the water, people trying to get out (from below deck)." William Lacy Swing, the head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 3,500 migrant deaths in the Mediterranean this year showed Europe needed to do something different. Migrants wait to be rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 "That is more than all of last year and last year was more than 2014, so clearly our policies are not working as they should be or you wouldn't have that many people who are dying," he told AFP. Italy's coastguard said it coordinated 33 different rescue operations on Tuesday and that 4,655 people had been saved, taking the total recovered alive to more than 10,000 in two days. A migrant hangs from a boat as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 3, 2016 Tuesday's drama underlined how easily the life-saving capacities of the multinational search and rescue operation off Libya can become critically stretched. Baby boom The Astral, which is operated by Spanish NGO ProActiva Open Arms, was on its own for hours after it first came across the stricken boats. An airplane drops flotation devices as migrants wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 A relatively small converted yacht, it could not risk getting too close to any of the distressed vessels for fear that it could be capsized by the panicked migrants all trying to board it at once. It was not until midday that an Italian navy vessel arrived to help. By then it may already have been too late for some of the victims, and it was after 10 pm when the operation was finally wrapped up. Migrants wait to be rescued as they drift in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 3, 2016 Italy's coastguard and the charity MSF (Doctors without Borders) reported Wednesday that four pregnant women who were among the rescued had given birth on their way to Italian ports. The number of pregnant women boarding migrant boats in Libya has increased significantly this year and it is not uncommon for them to go into labour as soon as they reach the safety of a rescue boat. The 10,600 new arrivals will raise to more than 140,000 the total number of migrants or refugees to have landed in Italy since the start of this year. The numbers are in line with the previous two years but Italy is now having to register and accommodate a bigger proportion of them under pressure from its EU partners, putting immense strain on its overcrowded reception centres and government coffers. Addis Ababa (AFP) - An American woman was killed by a rock thrown in a town outside the Ethiopian capital, the US embassy said Wednesday, as anti-government anger sparked fresh protests after a deadly stampede. Protesters stoned the vehicle the woman was travelling in as demonstrations sprung up in parts of the capital and the restive Oromia region on Tuesday, several targeting foreign companies, after the weekend stampede blamed on police. "A passenger van was hit by rocks thrown by unknown individuals on the outskirts of the city of Addis Ababa. One of the passengers, a US citizen, was struck by a rock and subsequently died from her injury," said a statement from the embassy. Vehicles were stoned in several parts of the tense capital, and on Wednesday the mobile internet network was down in Addis Ababa -- a measure regularly taken by authorities to stop the spread of calls to protest. Ethiopia is facing its biggest anti-government unrest in a decade, from the majority Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups which feel marginalised by a minority-led government. An Oromo religious festival on Sunday ended in tragedy when police fired tear-gas on anti-government protesters, sparking panic in the massive crowd and triggering a stampede. Medical sources and authorities gave differing death tolls of between 52 and 58, however the opposition believes it is much higher. "Given the contradictory accounts, it is critical that an investigation be held to unearth the truth and to identify law enforcement officers criminally responsible," said Michelle Kagari of Amnesty International's regional office. Foreign companies targeted Protests have subsequently broken out in several parts of the Oromia region and elsewhere, some targeting foreign companies which are regarded as supporting and being backed by the central government. In the southern Awash valley a Dutch fruit juice company AfricaJuice was attacked by protesters. "The farm was targeted by a very large group of people. Two of our staff have been injured," chief executive officer Harry Van Neer told AFP on Wednesday, adding there had been extensive damages and looting. State-controlled Fana radio reported the looting of a cement company owned by Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote. Last month a Dutch flower farm was attacked by anti-government protesters in the northern Amhara region. The company, Esmeralda Farms, decided to pull out of the country, which investors have long considered one of the most stable on the continent. "Investors are worried. Some of them are starting to ask for tighter clauses in their contracts, asking the government to take responsibility if their installations are damaged," a diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. However Zhang Huarong, the president of Chinese company Huajian, which exports three million pairs of shoes from Ethiopia every month, said he was not worried. "Ethiopian ministers are calling me saying they will handle this. We are confident Ethiopians will handle this. We won't leave," he said. Together, Oromos and Amharas make up 60 percent of the population of Ethiopia. The protesters accuse the country's leaders, who largely hail from the northern Tigray region, of monopolising power. International rights groups estimate at least 500 demonstrators have been killed in a bloody crackdown on protests over the past 10 months. H.E. Mrs. Fatima Haram Acyl, the African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry paid a working visit to Global Affairs Canada in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa where she held important meetings and useful engagement with a number of senior government officials and stakeholders on critical issues related to the Africa-Canada Cooperation. Commissioner Acyl was received in audience by the Canadian Minister of International development and La Francophonie, H.E Marie-Claude Bibeau. Both officials exchanged views touching on Canadian support for the continents development and the role of the African Union Commission among other critical development issues. The Commissioner thanked the Canadian government for their technical and financial support to the African Union through their contribution to key initiatives including the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and the African Mining Development Centre (AMDC). The Commissioner also participated in a round table discussion chaired by Ms. Lisa Stadelbauer, Director General, Pan-African Bureau of Global Affairs Canada. The roundtable focused on the themes of: Canadas value added in Africa through business and economic development; womens economic empowerment in Africa; and Africas youth bulge and the need for skills development. The roundtable was an opportunity to discuss with Canadian stakeholders about the AUs agenda 2063 as well as the work of the AUC in promoting the continents development. After the roundtable, the Commissioner was hosted at a working lunch by H.E Christine Hogan, the Canadian Deputy Minister for International Trade. There were key exchanges between Commissioner Acyl and Minister Hogan on the African trade agenda, specifically the negotiations of the Continental Free Trade Area, as well as the future opportunities for enhanced Africa-Canada trade and investment relations. The working visit rounded up with an event co-organized by the Canadian Centre Fair Trade Policy and Law focusing on Africa and the Canadian governments Progressive Trade Agenda. While some politicians in the global north express doubt about the benefits of trade, countries in Africa are moving ahead with deeper economic integration. This integration will be key to Africa's long-term success and African nations must integrate more, UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi told a public meeting in Geneva. "Africa has to know that there is no part of the world which has been successful in trading globally without learning first to trade with its neighbours," Dr. Kituyi said on Thursday, talking at a session on inclusive trade at the World Trade Organization (WTO) public forum. "Africa is widely noted for its low levels of intra-regional trade, but in fact the levels are much higher when North Africa is removed from the analysis," Dr. Kituyi said. In East Africa, intra-regional trade is closer to 26%, the same level as in Latin America. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), bringing together more than one billion people in 54 African countries with a combined gross domestic product of more than $3.4 trillion. Dr. Kituyi said the CFTA was unlikely to happen in 2017 as originally planned, but the target had helped to move the project forward. "I had the privilege to visit 16 African presidents to talk to them about the CFTA and I am satisfied that a large number of the political leadership believes in the future and the need for African integration." Change is already happening. In the space of a year, the time required to move a container from Mombasa in Kenya to Kampala in Uganda has dropped from 48 days to four. "That is progress." Africa's largest economic sector, its extractive industries, has not created enough jobs on the continent. More intra-African trade will lead to fairer, more equitable, growth, and the creation of more and better jobs. Dr. Kituyi said there were limits to regional integration, however. Switzerland has prospered without joining the European Union. And although a single African currency is politically attractive, it cannot be effective without an effective mechanism to discipline public deficits. Despite the reservations of some politicians, trade is a powerful driver of jobs, economic growth, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. "Trade is not just about statistics on goods and services. It is also about people," Dr. Kituyi said. "And for me, trade integration is most exciting whenever it creates more jobs." By Comfort Sena Fetrie, GNA Zabzugu (NR), Oct. 04, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at the weekend inaugurated the reconstituted Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) in the Zabzugu District of the Northern Region, tasking members to ensure peaceful polls in December. The Zabzugu District Assembly supported the NCCE with funds for the inauguration of the Committee, which among other things was to work towards strengthening effective inter-party relations for the promotion of peace and democracy before, during and after the general election. Mr Tahiru Imoro, the Zabzugu District Director of NCCE said the composition of the 42-member committee included representatives from registered political parties, religious bodies, the security services, youth groups and women's groups, persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the District Assembly, NCCE, NGOs and the media. He advised the members to work together to ensure a peaceful and successful electoral process. He called on members to watch out for issues that would trigger violence and report to the appropriate agencies for redress. Mr Imoro urged the public to tolerate, respect and accept each other's viewpoints while articulating their own positions in a peaceful manner towards enhancing Ghana's democracy. Alhaji Abdul-Razak Saani, the Northern Regional Director of the NCCE entreated all the political party leaders to openly condemn their supporters who misconduct themselves to serve as a deterrent to others. He appealed to politicians to sensitize their supporters on how to thumbprint correctly on the ballot paper in order to reduce the number of spoilt ballots. He urged all the political party leaders to display a high sense of maturity and discipline whenever they were on the campaign platform and to also set good examples for their supporters emulate. Mr Saani urged political parties to see themselves as one with a common destiny, so that peace could prevail. He also urged them to serve as watchdogs and report any activities that may trigger conflict or violence during and after the elections to the appropriate authorities. He advised parties to resolve their differences at IPAC meetings or through the law courts rather than resort to violence. He also expressed gratitude to the District Assembly for the financial support it extended to the NCCE's district directorate towards the inauguration of the Committee. Mr Issifu Alidu Labandow, the DCE of Zabzugu also advised the public to desist from posting unnecessary and derogatory comments on face book and other social media to prevent violence. He called on Imams and Pastors to take it upon themselves to create awareness towards peaceful elections. GNA 04.10.2016 LISTEN BY D. I. Laary, GNA Accra, Oct. 4, GNA - The African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E) Zion Church has inducted the Right Rev Dr Hilliard Dogbe as the Bishop of the Western West Africa District of the Church. The district covers Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. Bishop Hilliard, until his elevation, was the Pastor in charge of Aggrey Memorial A.M.E Zion Church, Mamprobi. He also served as the Chief of Staff and Protocol to Bishop Seth Lartey, the past Bishop of the Western West Africa Episcopal District. Representatives of the Church presented signs of the Episcopal Office to Bishop Dogbe, after he was decorated with a robe by Kenneth Monroe, the President of the Board of Bishops. They presented to the new Bishop a pastoral staff to be upheld and sustained by Christ as he exercised authority over the Ministry. He was also given a Bible as a sign to proclaim fearlessly prophetic word in the cause of justice and peace. A loaf of bread and cup was added to enable him to keep members in communion with Christ and the Church. A towel and a basin were also given to him, signifying to the congregation that the new Bishop would be their pastor, preacher, and teacher; and he would encourage and support all the baptised people in their gifts and ministries, and pray for them without ceasing. Also a book of discipline was offered to him, which was meant to guard the people's faith, seek unity, supervise the whole Church, and supervise its life, work, and mission. Bishop Dogbe took a gavel as a sign to preside the annual conferences; appoint pastors and assign ministers to their ministries, and guide the people in their common mission of love and justice, witness and service. Bishop Monroe said after the presentations: 'These are the signs of your ministry among the people of the Western West Africa Episcopal Area of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.' 'Faithfully administer discipline, but do not forget mercy, that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the never-fading crown of glory.' Bishop Monroe spelt out his new roles as being planning and coordination of operations and activities within the Episcopal District, together with the provision of leadership and effective management of work. Bishop Dogbe is described as an 'astute administrator, a pastor, a counsellor, an academician, church builder, and a leader with a proven ministry in Ghana and beyond.' He is also hailed as someone with passion for multi-generational ministry that finds high premium in his ministry to the youth and the aged as well as a person who places much emphasis the on 'holistic' development of every individual and total wellbeing of all. Bishop Dogbe told large crowd of Christian faithful, including the representatives of the Christian Council of Ghana that: 'God is faithful, when it comes to God and his faithfulness, he will never fail us.' 'But faithfulness lies in our soul,' he explained. 'It is also amazing that this Bishop [Monroe] who has influenced our lives in so many ways, who ordained people as deacons and as elders and continues to inspire on this journey.' 'Beloved this is to suggest that let's no one look down upon our land, let no one look down upon you.' 'The fact that you are a Ghanaian, the fact that you are African does not make you inferior to somebody else.' 'God has endowed each of us with great potentials and great possibilities, all we have to do is to unearth our talents in faithfulness and allow God to do God's work.' Bishop Dogbe was born to the late Presiding Elder, Doe Dogbe-Gakpetor, and Mrs. Catherine Efua Dogbe-Gakpetor. He was baptised under one Bishop W.A Hilliard, and received into full membership by Bishops Cecil Bishop and Ruben Lee Speaks. He grew up in faith in the A.M.E Zion Church and is married to Cynthia Adwoa Serwaa Dogbe, with two sons, Emile Delali and Ellis Delasi. GNA 04.10.2016 LISTEN By George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA Yeji(B/A), Oct. 4, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday embarked on a four-day campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo Region with a call on Ghanaians to embrace steps that would maintain the peace of Ghana. This, he said, Ghanaians could do by strictly adhering to regulations spelt out in the Constitution of Ghana without resulting to any form of violence or undermining. President Mahama who began the tour at Yeji in the Pru District would during his four-day campaign, call on chiefs, address rallies, inaugurate completed development projects and seek the mandate of the people for another four-year term. He would be visiting Yeji, Basa, Amantin, Prang and Kwame Danso on his first day of the tour, while the second day would begin with the Best National Teachers' Award programme in Sunyani. Later on Wednesday, President Mahama would call on the Paramount Chief of Bechem, hold a rally and move to Dua-Yaw Nkwanta, where he would interact with the people before closing the programme of the day at Abesim. President Mahama would also inaugurate two Community Day Senior High Schools at New Longoro in the Kintampo North District and Krobo in Techiman North. President Mahama promised to allocate an Ambulance to the Yeji Midwifery Training College to facilitate the movement of emergency cases from their homes to the health facilities in the area. President Mahama further made known plans to provide a new Pontoon that would convey goods and services at the Yeji-Makango stretch of the river. He appealed to the people to eschew acts that could undermine the progress of the country by conducting themselves professionally during the activities leading to the December 7 polls this year. Nana Pimapim Yaw Kabrese V, Paramount Chief of Yeji appealed to the government to put in measures that would ensure peaceful elections this year. GNA The Energy Commission has initiated a baseline study towards the review of the Building Code for developers of public buildings to utilise standard energy efficiency architecture and materials to conserve energy. It is, therefore, working with the Ministry of Works and Housing and other relevant bodies to develop a strategic framework for the attainment of the goals for sustainable national progress. Head of Energy Efficiency Promotion and Climate Change of the Commission, Kofi Agyarko, who announced this at a forum with media practitioners, said it was imperative for Ghana to progressively adopt energy conservation choices and lifestyles for the efficient and sustainable use of power. The forum was to announce the successful execution of the Refrigerator Energy Efficiency Project, in which Ghana saved 400 gigawatts hours of electricity, 1.1 million tonnes of Carbon dioxide and recovered 1,500 kilogrammes of Chlorofluorocarbon over the three-year period, with other major benefits. Mr Agyarko said the current trend of high rise buildings being encased in anything glass, thus necessitating the resort to too many air conditioners with the attendant rise in energy consumption would be tackled in the Commissions next project. Instead of using, for instance, doubled glazed glass, which has air within it and thus can repel heat, developers are using cheaper options, which rather attract heat into their buildings and lead to the demand for expensive cooling appliances, he said. He explained that even in advanced countries where power generation was at its peak, energy conservation practices and enforcement were not taken for granted, less Ghana, which could not meet its demand for electricity, which grew by seven per cent annually. Mr Agyarko said the Commission would extend the standards and regulations to the real estate sector on the successful implementation of the Public Building Project, explaining that tackling problems in phases allowed for easy management and enforcement. On the achievements of the Refrigerator Project, Mr Agyarko said Ghana now had an assembling plant in the free zones area for manufacturing energy efficient refrigerators as well as a refrigerating testing laboratory at the Ghana Standards Authority, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. Under the Rebate and Exchange Scheme, 10,000 used and inefficient fridges in homes were replaced with new energy efficient ones, with their annual average refrigerator consumption dropping from 1,200-kilowatt hours to 385 kWh. The project, however, sought to replace 15,000 appliances within the period. Mr Agyarko said all appliances on the markets, however, had been affixed with a yellow label, giving the model, manufacturer's name or trademark, annual electricity consumption, energy efficiency star rating, type of refrigerant and climate class. Additionally, 30,000 illegally imported refrigerating appliances were confiscated and dismantled during the period. On the challenges of transforming the refrigerating market from used and inefficient ones to new and efficient ones, Mr Agyarko said some importers tried to use sophisticated means, including the guise of diplomatic cargo to perpetuate their trade. Some of us were even targeted for extermination, so it has been tough, but I am glad that we have succeeded in making savings both economically and environmentally, he said. He urged the public to be vigilant and report any fake labels or suspicious appliances on the market to the Commission to ensure the sustainability of the achievements. Under the Global Environment Fund, the United Nations Development Programme contributed $2.1 million, while the Government paid $1.0 million for the implementation of the project, which started in 2012. Aboard the Astral (Italy) (AFP) - Twenty-eight Europe-bound migrants were found dead on a day of frantic rescues off Libya on Tuesday, including at least 22 in an overloaded wooden boat, an AFP photographer and the Italian coastguard said. The photographer, who was able to go aboard the vessel, said it appeared that many of the dead had suffocated. He said there were about 1,000 people on three levels. He counted 22 bodies and said there were more dead in the hold. The Italian coastguard -- which is coordinating rescue efforts in international waters north of Libya -- said 28 bodies had been recovered over the course of 33 operations on Tuesday, while 4,655 migrants had been rescued. The photographer was travelling on the Astral, a ship chartered by Spanish NGO ProActiva Open Arms, which rescues migrants at sea. Late on Tuesday, the Italian navy took over helping survivors and retrieving bodies, the photographer said. It was yet another day of drama at sea after more than 6,000 migrants, most of them Africans in packed rubber dinghies, were rescued off Libya on Monday. Nine bodies were found in those operations, including a pregnant woman. 'Panic onboard' With numerous rescue boats en route to Italy to unload the huge human cargo collected on Monday, the Astral was left alone to deal with the overloaded wooden boat for several hours. It was aided only by lifeboats dropped by a Spanish military plane until the navy arrived at midday. There was panic onboard, with people jumping into the water, according to the photographer. The Astral's rescue operations had begun before dawn and lasted until nightfall. The latest people to be rescued will add to a total of some 132,000 migrants who have landed at Italy's southern ports so far this year, fleeing conflict, poverty or persecution and hoping to start new lives in Europe. The new arrivals are mostly Africans who plan to try to get to northern Europe but increasingly are obliged to seek asylum or the right to remain in Italy, where reception centres have been strained to bursting point. 05.10.2016 LISTEN A new group with a focus on enhancing the financial performance of businesses which will impact the economic growth of Ghana has been launched in Accra. The group, Regulus CFO Forum, comprises of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Financial Controllers (FCs) and Financial Directors (FDs) of companies with businesses in the various sectors of development. The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Honorable Mona Quartey who officially launched the group as the guest speaker, expressed that the Regulus CFO Forum is the first of its kind as a function focused business professional group in Ghana whose great value cannot be overstated. She further stated the need for professional groups to emulate the example of Regulus CFO Forum, as well as encouraged participants and members of the forum to continue to stay focused in their activities for the benefit of their various businesses and Ghana. In a welcome address, the President and Founder of group, Mr. Hitesh Makhija said Finance officers are important leaders in making sure that businesses run successfully, and the thought of creating this forum first occurred to me when I realized the absence of a common platform wherein CFOs can discuss challenges, opportunities and strategies. According to him, Regulus CFO Forum is aimed at managing an interactive financial executive networking group that will empower its members in Ghana and beyond. This forum will enhance the performance of CFOs through meetings, ground breaking discussions and conferences, as well as also provide immense value to its members through multiple trainings and create mentorship opportunities for new members, he added. Mr. Makhija, who is also the current Cluster Finance Controller- Ghana &MBTN (WAF3) at Olam Ghana, explained that the theme for the maiden session: "The CFOs Role in Todays Digital Economy, was preferred due to the fact that the gap between the digital economy and the financial space was narrowing, hence, the need for finance officers to embrace the digital age to maximize their performance and results. The forum which was mainly sponsored by Access Bank Ghana had two (2) sessions with interactive discussions on the topics: Managing Financial Risks in Todays Digital Economy and Measuring and Monitoring Key Value Drivers in Todays Digital Economy. Participants included CFOs and FDs from PZ Cussons Ghana, Allterrain Services, SBC Beverages (Pepsi Bottlers), Stallion Group, Beiersdorf Ghana Limited, Mohinani Group, Japan Motors, Vodafone. The remaining are Access Bank, Interplast Limited, Expro International Group, Focos Orthopedic Hospital, Right Holdings Limited, Predictive Excellence and Invest Corporation. [4th October, 2016] Airtel Premier the bespoke lifestyle sub-brand of Airtel Ghana catering to the needs of high value customers is making international travel an exciting experience for its customers by offering amazing discounts on airfares through a strategic partnership with three leading airlines British Airways, RwandAir and Kenya Airways. The partnership enables Airtel Premier customers to travel to over 30 destinations around the world at exclusive discounts as a way of rewarding their loyalty to the Ghanaian telecom industrys only offering for high value customers. Customers who travel with British Airways and Kenya Airways can enjoy up to 15% discounts, whilst those traveling with RwandAir to major cities in Africa, Europe and the United Arab Emirates enjoy discount of up to 8% on their airfares. Announcing the latest partnership, Frank Djan, Head of Customer Experience at Airtel Ghana said Providing our customers with unmatched service offerings and options that suit their lifestyle is at the core of what we do as a business. We have been providing discounts on airfares since 2015. This year, we are raising our game by partnering with more Airlines to give our customers more exciting options. Our partners,British Airways, RwandAir and Kenya Airways are some of the leading airlines in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle-East. They provide world class travel services that match the lifestyle of our customers. Premier customers who want to access this unique benefit, should simply send an email to [email protected] or call 303 and we will take care of the rest. Speaking to other exclusive offerings customers enjoy he said Airtel Premier customers also enjoy exclusive access to over 700 VIP airport lounges across the world via Priority Pass, the world's largest independent airport lounge access programme, this includes the Adinkra Lounge at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra which offers free access to Airtels Wi-Fi services and other exciting treats whilst they wait or transit through flights. We continue to partner with several benefit partners across the world to bring a world of excitement to its customers. As the foremost sub-brand dedicated to serving the telecom and lifestyle needs of high value customers, Airtel Premier provides bespoke services to delight customers including discounts on hotels, automobiles, restaurants, spa treatments, birthday treats and access to Airtel sponsored events all year round. Airtel Ghana is the telecom industrys leader in data and digital innovation. About Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 18 countries across Asia and Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 3 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. In India, the company's product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, high speed DSL broadband, IPTV, DTH, enterprise services including national & international long distance services to carriers. In the rest of the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services and mobile commerce. Bharti Airtel had over 359 million customers across its operations at the end of July 2016. To know more please visit, www.airtel.com About Airtel in Africa Airtel is driven by the vision of providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all.Airtel has 17 operations in Africa: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.Airtel International is a Bharti Airtel company.For more information, please visit www.airtel.com, or like the Airtel Ghana Facebook page via www.facebook.com/airtelgh or follow us on Twitter via the handle @airtelghana. The Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Henry Seidu Danaa, is urging persons concerned about Chiefs endorsing presidential aspirants despite the act being unlawful, to report to them to their respective Regional House of Chiefs to have the issues addressed. According to him, the constitution frowns on traditional rulers mounting political platforms or displaying party paraphernalia. Dr. Danaa said political comments by traditional leaders may be considered inappropriate by some people. He said the National House of Chiefs has developed a code of ethics to regulate activities of traditional leaders to ensure they do not bring the name of the institution into disrepute. Speaking on Eyewitness News, in reaction to the endorsement of President Mahama by a Chief in the Brong Ahafo Region, he said, normally, when something like that happens, anybody who thinks that it is an aberration of something, bring the matter to the attention of the region concerned and the chief will be summoned to appear. The rule is that chiefs should not go into this kind of political partisanship. He however noted that caution must be applied in addressing the issue if a chief breaches the law. The Minister said the Ministry currently working to sensitize the chiefs against such practice as it could undermine their authority. What we do is we try to sensitize, we have workshops. We take up these matters, bring resource persons and try to get people to stay away from these kind of things, he said. 'Concern over chiefs involved in politics' Some Ghanaians have raised concerns about the act which contravenes the constitution. However several chiefs have in election years thrown caution to the wind and openly supported candidates. The development according to many could jeopardize the role of the chiefs in their respective communities. 'Yeji Chief endorses President Mahama for second term' The Omanhene of Yeji, Nana Pemapin Yaw Kagbrese on Tuesday endorsed President John Mahama for a second term in office. The chief, who doubles as the President of the Brong Ahafo regional house of chiefs called on Ghanaians to vote massively for the president in the December polls. Nana Pemapin Yaw Kagbrese was addressing a gathering of elders and people of Yeji when President John Mahama visited the area as part of his Brong Ahafo regional tour today. He said the President had achieved a lot in his first term of office in spite of the numerous challenges he faced. By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana The Minority in Parliament has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), of being selective in picking the facts to back their supposed achievements in their manifesto. At a press conference on Tuesday, the Minority refereed to instances in the manifesto where the NDC chose to tout its achievements by making references to the last two years, when it should have been eight years. According to the minority, this could only be described as a deliberate attempt by the Mahama-led administration to mislead the voting public. Speaking at a press conference, the minority spokesperson on agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, made reference to the declining fortunes of the agricultural sector in the last 8 years as an example. Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto He explained that for subsidized fertilizer, the NDC selected the year 2008 and the year 2013 to show that distribution has increased over the whole period of eight years. They failed to mention that there was no distribution of subsidized fertilizers in the year 2014, and that only 90,000 metric tonnes of the 180,000 was distributed in the year 2015. The Minority made similar observations with governments rice projections where it said the NDC had overseen a period of 8 years, but showed numbers for only 2008 and 2014, to say that rice production has increased over the period. What they failed to show was that, rice production was down in the intervening years, 2009 to 2013 and after 2014. What is worse is they failed to mention that rice imports rose from 425,390 metric tonnes in 2008, to 630,200 in 2015, Dr. Afriyie Akoto added. He also indicated that, his research was from the Statistical Service based on custom declarations at Tema and Takoradi ports, adding that, I am sure the NDC had access to this information; but decided to go quiet on it and rather come out with very selective information. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Fraudulent activities in the banking sector is expected to go down as some multinational companies move into the sector to help banks completely move from magnetic swipe cards to chip and pin ATM cards. In June this year, two Bulgarians were arrested for withdrawing huge sums of money from the accounts of customers of some banks in Ghana using the Gh-link platform, operated by the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GHIPSS). Some observers have blamed the frequent breach of Ghana's ATM system to the use of magnetic swipe cards by some banks. Speaking to Citi Business News as part of measures aimed at reducing ATM fraud, the Chief Executive Officer of Mobility Technologies, Mr. Muhammad Abid stated that the company's introduction of the Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) personalization centers in Ghana will help reduce ATM fraud in the country. Today there is a mandate by the central bank of Ghana to migrate or the magnetic swipe card to chip-based and all the challenges we have from the people responsible for implementing this changes is the lack of understanding of the technology and this is where we come in, he said. He announced that Mobility Technologies has a track record in preventing ATM fraud across the African continent with the implementation of the technology. We have the experience of implementing such technologies in various of the markets in Africa so we are going to bring in the technology and this is the technology that we have today which is going to help the banks and help the central bank and the other players in the ecosystem to migrate from magnetic swipe to chip base cards, he said. Expressing optimism in the technology, Mr. Abid stressed that the EMV system cannot be hacked since it has been tested worldwide to prove its security. He stated that after the implementation, ATM fraud will drastically be reduced since the system cannot be breached when it starts operations with Ghana's banking platform. I can confidently tell you it is going to massively reduce the number of fraudulent transactions because it is impossible to duplicate a chip card, but it very easy and possible to duplicate magnetic swipe card, he said. By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice Presidential Candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, has given the assurance that if given the mandate to govern, the NPP will turn Ghana's economy around to lift the people out of poverty. He said his party's government led by Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, would make sure that Ghana worked for everybody and not a privileged few. He said the NPP would keep faith with the people, live up to expectation and will not disappoint. He was speaking to students of the Assin-Fosu College of Education as part of his week-long campaign tour of the Central Region to win over more voters ahead of the December polls. Dr. Bawumia mocked the Mahama administration for poor economic performance, which he said, had led to untold hardship and widespread suffering. The government has proven that it clearly lacks the ability to manage the resources of the nation efficiently to bring development and transform the lives of the people. He said the coming election was therefore an opportunity to vote out the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for messing up things. Dr. Bawumia, an economist and a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, indicated that, the prevailing harsh economic conditions were the result of the massive corruption, wastefulness and the ineptitude of the current managers of the economy. He repeated the pledge to move quickly to restore teacher trainee allowances and bring back to life collapsing social intervention programmes introduced by the NPP under President John Agyekum Kufuor. He had earlier toured a number of communities in the Assin North, Assin Central and Assin South constituencies, where he interacted with the people, to help them to appreciate why they should trust the NPP with their votes. He was accompanied by the regional party officers and some NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) in the region. Authorities of the University of Ghana are living in fear of a possible theft of the statue of Indian freedom fighter barely three days after his signature spectacle was stolen by some unidentified people. A source told Myjoyonline.com that authorities have charged campus security to operate in the area of the Mohandas Gandhi statue to avoid further damage. The school officials feel embarrassed about what has happened to the statue and fear possible damage and theft if care is not taken, the source said. The statue which was donated by the Indian High Commission to Ghana to the University of Ghana has been at the center of a brewing controversy for some time now. Related Article: Signing of petition to remove Ghandhis statue from Legon underway A Gandhi Must Fall movement spearheaded by a former Director of the Institute of African Studies (IAS), Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, argues the statue of the man widely acclaimed for his doctrine of non-violence is undeserving to be mounted on campus because he was a racist. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi when it was not riddled with controversy The movement says if there should be statues on our campus then they should first be African heroes and heroines, who can serve as examples of who we are and what we have achieved as a people. In a lengthy petition addressed to the University Council, the group cited remarks made by the Indian hero during his many battles against imperial regimes as proof of his racist past and the unmannered way he handled Africans. A classical example was when the eminent leader of Indian independence movement said on December 19, 1894 that: A general belief seems to prevail in the Colony that Indians are little better, if at all, than savages or the Natives of Africa. Even the children are taught to believe in that manner, with the result that the Indian is being dragged down to the position of a raw Kaffir, he continued. Not wanting a university desirous of rising to the stature of world-class institutions to be tainted by a racist, Professor Ampofo cautioned the school authorities to do the noble thing by pulling down the statue. She was emphatic that anything short of this suggestion made by the group would amount to a slap in the face that undermines our struggles for autonomy, recognition and respect. However, just when the University Council was brooding over the group's petition, some unidentified people went to disfigure the statue, making away with Gandhi's signature spectacle bought in the United Kingdom while studying there in 1890s. The original Gandhi's spectacle bought in the 1890s The pair of distinctive round-lensed spectacles represents a distinguishing feature of the father of the Indian Nation, known as Mahatma - a title meaning 'Great Soul.' A campus security personnel had told Joy News he saw some people closed to the statue but he did not suspect some mischief. Ghana is not the first country that Gandhi's spectacle had been stolen whether as a protest to his past attitudes or on a normal theft spree adventure. On October 2012 just a day before Indian's marked Gandhi Jayanti, a national festival celebrated in India to mark the occasion of the birthday of Mohandas Gandhi, his spectacle from a statue in Ralegan Siddhi a village in Western India was stolen. Again in Indian on December 2013, a 28-year-old unemployed man, Kunal Vaidya, admitted stealing Gandhi's spectacle from Sevagram Ashram museum in Maharashtra's Wardha three years back. Sources said Mr Vaidya did not actually steal the spectacle but that when had tampered with the lock of the box in which the specs were kept it fell off and when he picked up the antique piece somebody entered the museum. Afraid that he might be accused of theft, Vaidya pocket the spectacle. Museum officials realised the theft three days after the incident in November 2010, but could only report it to police several months later on June 13, 2011. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected] Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. The Member of Parliament for Walewale constituency in the Northern Region, Dr. Sagre Bambagi has donated a brand new ambulance vehicle to the Walewale district hospital. The vehicle valued Ghc90,000 cedis was in response to a request from the district health directorate for assistance. The West Mamprusi district Director of Health Services, Dr. Abdulai Abukari at the official handing over ceremony commended the Walewale MP for his kind gesture. Dr. Abdulai Abukari revealed that a similar ambulance donated to the hospital in 2003 by Alhassan Dawuda is weak. He said the district needed additional ambulance to respond to critical referrals to the Tamale Teaching and Bolgatanga regional hospitals. He gave the assurance that the ambulance would be put to good use and also ensure regular maintenance. He however called for enough logistics to enable management of the Walewale district hospital improve their efficiency. Dr. Abdulai Abukari praised the New Patriotic Party (NPP)s vice Presidential nominee, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia for fixing the hospitals water crisis by constructing a mechanized borehole at the premises. He equally commended a businessman from the area called Alhaji Abuba alias Nasona for constructing a new 50 bed capacity Childrens Ward for the district hospital. He however disclosed that the new childrens ward lacked beds and other medical equipment required to make it operational. Dr. Abdulai Abukari thereby appealed to philanthropist to help furnish the ward. He also complained about the District Health Insurance Schemes delay in reimbursing claims submitted by the hospital management. The MP, Dr. Sagre Bambangi promised to address some of the hospitals myriad changes. He explained that the ambulance was funded with his share of governments statutory fund. Dr. Bambangi appealed to his constituents to renew his mandate on December 7 to enable him fulfill his campaign promises. He called for deeper collaboration between him and the district Chief Executive of the West Mamprusi District Assembly to develop the area. By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana At 22 years old, Salamatu Mohammed Shiraz is an ambitious, dynamic and persistent young woman who believes everybody has the right to quality education. Growing up in Tamale in the Northern Region, Salamatu experienced strong economic limitations that reduced her ability to access quality education. The oldest daughter of a single mother, Salamatu, at age 12, moved from her village to the city. Despite being one of the most brilliant students in her school from childhood, Salamatu struggled to access quality education due to the under-resourced nature of the schools she attended in the Northern Region. Hidden charges often included in the public education system, from exams fees to furniture and extra classes fees, made it difficult for Salamatus mother to make ends meet and offer her daughter the best of education. To support herself and her family, Salamatu sold bread at the Tamale Market. Using some of the profit from bread selling, as well as with support from teachers and community members, Salamatu paid her way into Senior High School. Admitted to the Kalpohin Senior High School (KASS) in the Sagnarigu District in the Northern Region, Salamatu was asked to buy her own chair as the school was severely under-resourced. Faced with these challenges, Salamatu did not give up, never once considering dropping out of school. With support from Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), a non-governmental organisation that sponsors marginalised girls to access education, succeed and lead, Salamatu was able to complete her senior high school education. The challenges Salamatu faced never prevented her from demonstrating leadership skills, in fact, it did quite the opposite. In primary school, she was elected Student Prefect. In Senior High School, Salamatu was voted the Secretary General of her course. Salamatu confesses that she has been an activist without knowing it since she was in primary school, taking any opportunity to question her patriarchal society and demand equal opportunities for girls to be educated. In high school, her teachers were engaged in a process of selecting five students per class to attend a special Information Technology (IT) workshop, at the end of the selection process, Salamatu realised no girl had been selected. She did not remain silent over it. Salamatu recalls questioning the process and sparking a heated debate with the boys and the teachers on equal opportunities for boys and girls. Eventually, three out of five students selected for the IT workshop were girls. Because of her, a space had been created for the girls. Since then, Salamatu has been actively advocating for opportunities for girls and women to be educated and empowered. However, Salamatu started calling herself an activist after she joined ActionAids Global Platform Ghana, an innovative training and capacity development platform that educates youth groups and young individuals who are passionate about making positive changes in their communities, for a campaign training in 2015. The campaign issue selected during the Global Platform Ghana course was the right to education particularly the right to Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) such as desks and books in basic schools in rural areas in Ghana. An issue Salamatu has had first-hand and personal experiences with. The campaign demanded the provision of adequate teaching and learning materials to basic schools in Ghana. During the course of the campaign, which included sensitisation meetings, Salamatu realised the Ghana Education Service (GES) is supposed to provide enough books, desks and chairs to public schools for all students. The realisation made her feel indignant as she felt neglected and marginalised any time she remembered that she had never received any textbooks and learning materials from her primary education to junior high school. Research conducted by the Global Platform Ghana campaign team in four selected schools in the region also discovered that the schools did not have sufficient number of desks, textbooks and other teaching materials with the issue being widespread in basic schools. Salamatu and her campaign team also discovered that, on average, a textbook is shared among five students, with some students even resorting to sitting on the bare classroom floor due to the lack of desks and chairs. The campaign was a chance for Salamatu to speak up about how Ghanas public education system was failing boys and girls and gave her the opportunity to fight for the right to quality education for children, not only in her community, but in the Northern region and Ghana as a whole. Salamatu became the co-spokesperson of the campaign and a leading figure in organising and mobilising the youth and her colleagues to advocate for change on the issue of inadequate provision of teaching and learning materials. Her passion and zeal, as well as her commitment and understanding of the issue were so intense that it earned her the nickname, Action Mama She gave public speeches to raise awareness in the busiest streets of Tamale, participated in radio debates, and spoke at the campaign march at the Tamale Independence Square. Her speeches informed citizens about their right to education as enshrined in Ghanas 1992 Constitution. She questioned the current state of education in Ghana and whether education is still a right or it has become a privilege. Together with the campaign team, Salamatu met the Regional Education Director of the Northern Region of Ghana, and presented the campaign research report showing evidence of the lack of desks, chairs, textbooks and other necessary learning and teaching materials in the four selected schools to the Director, and demanded for action. The result of the campaign was a commitment on the part of the Ghana Education Service to distribute desks to the four schools, as well as a strong awareness and support among citizens and organisations of the campaign. Overall, the campaign mobilised more than 400 young people, school representatives, and active citizens. Today, Salamatu is the chairperson of CAMA (the alumnae network of CAMFED) and is responsible for training, mentoring and empowering other girls in the areas of education, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. ActionAid also unveiled Salamatu as the elected National Coordinator of Activista Ghana, its advocacy network on the International Youth Day on Friday, 12th August, 2016. According to Salamatu, being part of the campaign course has offered her an in-depth understanding and insight of the structural reasons behind the challenges she faced as a student and also as a woman, as she puts it, I have been a victim, now I have the power to stand for people. Marina Tota Training and Quality Coordinator Global Platform Ghana ActionAid Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako 05.10.2016 LISTEN The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, says he is yet to see the much-talked about international airport that President Mahama and the NDC government claim to have constructed in Kumasi. The NPP regional chairman says Ghanaians should ask President Mahama where exactly that airport which he has touted as international is situated because as far as he is concerned, he does not see anything international about it. "Paul you call this an international airport; you have travelled far and wide do you see this Kumasi Airport as international?" the NPP Chairman queried. Speaking on the flagship Good Evening Show hosted by Paul Adom Otchere on Tuesday, Chairman Wontumi asked Ghanaians to demand accountability from President Mahama and his NDC government about the contractual sum of the project. The NPP Chairman, who was reacting to a statement by the host on claims by President Mahama that his government has done enough in the region including the construction of an international airport, said the President had done virtually nothing in the region except bringing untold hardships to Ghanaians, particularly people in the region. According to him, there are clear evidence to the contrarily as far as the contractual sum was concerned, stressing that the figure is far far below the $29m amount quoted by government. "Paul we brought engineers to come and value the project and they said clearly that this project shouldn't cost more than $4m. If the President says he has built an international airport, then its not in Kumasi here," He said. The NPP regional chairman further noted "All the NDC and President Mahama know is to squander our money; corruption is all that they know," He said. The erection of Indian iconic freedom fighter and thinker, Mahatma Gandhis statue on the campus of University Ghana (UG) was encumbered with a controversy. For example, a former Director of the Institute of African Studies, Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, started a campaign for the removal of the statue of Mahatma Ghandi from the UG campus on the grounds that the Indian philosopher was racist. I read with stark horror and amazement from Ghanaweb.com on October 4, 2016 that Gandhis portrait at UG campus had been defaced. This is very unfortunate because Gandhi himself reportedly said: Be the change that you wish to see in the world. The main subject of contention here, is racism. The purpose of this article is to reflect on the action of some staff and students of UG against the mounting of Gandhis statue within the pale of a philosophical theory known as prisoners dilemma. The prisoners dilemma is a sort of game theory, a discipline in mathematics that looks at various outcomes from situations that require strategy. This is notwithstanding the fact that prisoners dilemma goes beyond simply being a mathematical intuition. It poses significant questions about ethics, psychology and philosophy. It is applicable to the real world situations like the destruction of Gandhis statue on the grounds of racism. In 1950, RAND Company employed mathematicians Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher as part of their ongoing research into game theory and how it could be applied to global nuclear strategy. Relying on the puzzle that Flood and Dresher created, Albert Tucker, a professor of Princeton University, New Jersey, made their work more accessible to the public by creating a theory known as prisoners dilemma. The theory asserts for example that two prisoners, Prisoner Yaw and Prisoner Adu are taken into custody. The police do not have a sufficient amount of evidence, so they decide to keep Yaw and Adu in separate rooms. The police officers tell each prisoner that if he turns in the other person and the other person remains silent, he will be able to go free whereas the prisoner who remains silent will face a time in jail. If both Yaw and Adu confess, they will both have to face some jail time but a shorter sentence than the one faced by the person who did not speak (Remember! Adu will never be silent if Yaw speaks because he alone will be jailed). If both prisoners Yaw and Adu remain silent, they will both face an even shorter prison sentence. The dilemma in the theory is this: Prisoner Yaw and Prisoner Adu are better off confessing, but the outcome from having them both confess is much worse than it would have been if both had remained silent. The prisoners dilemma is a perfect illustration of the misunderstanding that arises between group rationality and individual rationality. If a group of people act rationally, they will actually do far worse than if a group people act irrationally. In the prisoners dilemma, it is assumed that all players are rational and know that the other player involved is rational. The rational thought would be to defect. However, by deciding to protect themselves and acting in their own interest, the prisoners will actually be worse off. Gandhi who happens to be a ghost and the UG community are the prisoners here. By choosing to protect themselves and acting in their own interest, both UG community and Gandhi (if he is not dead) will actually be worse off when it comes to racism. Thus, the decision to deface the dummy of Mahatma Gandhi especially when he is a ghost does not align well with my intuition. Are some UG students and professors telling us not to forgive in this world? This is an intellectual dishonesty. Colonization and slave trade is considered the most egregious holocaust bequeathed to Africans. In his book: Christopher Columbus and the Afrikan Holocaust, Slavery and the Rise of European Capitalism page, 93, Professor John Henrik Clarke, asserted that slavery and colonization remained the worlds greatest holocaust. It is our holocaust because this is a holocaust that started 500 years ago and it is not over. We do not start our count at 6 million, we start counting at 60 million, and we have just begun to count. Professor Clarke, intimated. There are many professors in Ghana who used taxpayers money under the pretext of scholarship and went to Europe to pursue PhD in African studies. Must they go to Europe to study Africa or Ghana? How many of them came out to say that because of colonization, slave trade and racism they would not go? Ghana and India have a very good diplomatic relations. The two countries are both members of Commonwealth of Nations. Many Ghanaian students are studying in India. Indian government supported the construction of Ghanas presidential palace under President Kofours administration. The destruction of Gandhis statue will ignite a covert diplomatic tension. UG is an international university and should have raised the bar of prestige when it comes to such conducts. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana had his flaws, yet at Makerere University in Uganda, one of their halls of residence was named after Nkrumah. Also, even in the Republic of South Africa where people are discrediting Gandhi on their behalf, some of their freedom fighters such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and Oliver Thambo had their inspiration from Gandhi (Source: Long walk to freedom, The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela page 369). The destruction of Gandhis statue is very unfortunate. Like prisoners dilemma analogy, the decision to deface Gandhis effigy makes both UG community and the ghost Gandhi worse off when it comes to racism. We must also take into accounts individuals culture, traditions and values before tagging them as racist. Oh! Fellow countrymen, love is stronger than hate. I know that I am intelligent because I know that I know nothing. (Socrates). Feedbacks must be directed to [email protected] Nana Yaw Osei (Padigo), PhD Candidate in Psychology, Arizona, USA. I have just read a feature article published on Ghanaweb on Tuesday 4 September 2016 by one Margaret Jackson. The publication is titled, Mahamadu Bawumia is Ghana's biggest brazen thief - http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=474593&comment=0#com It is amazing to read such a publication that is full of complete lies and nonsense. What makes it all funny is that, it was written by that toady coward called Koku Anyidoho but under the assumed name of Margaret Jackson. Koku Anyidoho of all his immense physique has only the mouth to talk nonsense and absolute lies about Dr Bawumia but not the guts to publish his articles in his own name. What is very funny about the whole issue is, if he is not writing in the name of Margaret Jackson, he writes in that of Nana Akua Tweneboah Kodua. What a big HE/SHE fool he is! His demeanour gives him away as a failed political apprentice. By the way, is Koku Anyidoho not a hermaphrodite? If he wasnt, why does he love impersonating females names that much? Writing in such names is a sign of cowardice hence his accusations against Dr Bawumia as read in the said publication are all the figment of his imagination. He is just hallucinating, seeing incorruptible persons as thieves and corruptible people as Saints. Could it not be that he is on his menstrual period with his brains gone haywire so he feels relieved when he writes in such names? Whatever his state of mind is, having once requested for free sanitary pads when the issue of free SHS cropped up, his allegation against Dr Bawumia being a brazen thief is pure balderdash. If the allegation he has levelled against him was true, why has nobody from NDC as he queried himself, has not brought it up until today? It is a pity that the late President Mills in his vision to encourage the youth to involve in active politics and the administration of the country, ended up appointing purely young men who have all turned out to be deep-rooted thieves among whom is Koku Anyidoho. Why should I spend my precious time on this coward and liar called variously as Koku Anyidoho, Margaret Jackson and Nana Akua Tweneboah Kodua? Shame on a big, big thief, as my Indian work colleague, Bob, would say; thus, Koku calling an innocent incorruptible person a thief. As he points his (one) index finger on Dr Bawumia calling him a thief, his own four other fingers are pointing back towards him as the enormous thief without precedent or comparison. No sensible Ghanaian will believe the silly accusatory propaganda and lies being levelled, and spewed, against the person of Dr Bawumia by that shameless HE/SHE called Koku Anyidoho. Is he scared to engage Dr Bawumia in intellectual debate? Engaging him on such front will be more credible than to involve in such self-dehumanizing and unfounded allegations. Wise up, Koku Anyidoho. Rockson Adofo President John Mahama has expressed concerns about the ageing farmer population in West Africa. According to the President, the ageing farmer population in the sub-region is posing significant challenges to the cocoa industry. He explained that the current farmer population is not strong enough to produce enough food items in the sub-region, saying those in agriculture are currently all aged. The development, President Mahama said, might pose serious security and food problems to the sub-region if steps are not taken. He made this known yesterday in Accra in a statement read on his behalf by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna at the opening ceremony of the second Pan-African Conference on Agribusiness Incubation. The high level three-day event is being held at the Accra International Conference Centre under the theme: 'Turning Science into Business: Inclusive Agribusiness Incubation for vibrant economies in Africa.' President Mahama said it's important for governments within the sub-region to devise policies and programmes that can help attract the youth into the agriculture subsector so that they can replace the current aged population. He said it is therefore important for all of us to recognize the fact that programmes aimed at attracting the youth into agriculture will be addressing both food and national security issues. The President added that therefore, nurturing youth venturing into agribusinesses with their ideas, as well as start-ups is critical. Commercialize agric He called for the commercialization and mechanization of the agriculture on the continent. According to him, the use of incubator programmes is a necessary aspect of agribusiness development. Dr Alex Ariho, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN), organizers of the conference, said on the global agenda today, innovation has become the best means of fostering commercialization. Across Africa, he said, incubators continue to assist in harnessing the value chain approach. He said, It's through incubation that many countries today have managed to develop value chains that were for long left to subsistence agriculture, as more entrepreneurs develop enterprises along the same value chains. Dr Ariho explained that AAIN is a network of incubators with a continental presence that offers incubation to incubators for jobs and wealth creation. Meanwhile, Board Chair of AAIN, Professor Henry Bwisa said with the coordinated effort from the Africa Agribusiness Incubator Network, incubators continue to evolve into the solution to unemployment which now threatens a working-age population of 1.4 billion people in Africa by 2050. By Melvin Tarlue Government has begun taking subscriptions for the country's first US dollar-denominated bond. This follows the recent institution of a domestic multi-currency bond programme by government. A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, which made this known, quoted the minimum subscription for investment at $10,000 with integral multiples of $1,000 above the minimum size. It added that the exercise will end on October 13, 2016. The bond is open to investors resident in Ghana and non-resident Ghanaian investors, who have USD balances in their Foreign Exchange Accounts (FEA) and Foreign Currency Accounts (FCA), it mentioned. By the transaction, government said it was exploring alternative sources of funding for meeting its financing needs, as well as further developing and deepening the capital market in Ghana through the introduction of a new investment product. Billed to be traded on the Ghana Fixed Income Market (GFIM) platform, the joint book-runners on the transaction include Barclays Bank Ghana Limited, Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited and Strategic African Securities Limited. As at August, this year, Government borrowing had reached GH110 billion, 66 percent of which was borrowed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC). But government has announced that the Eurobond will become a yearly occurrence in Ghana's borrowing mix. Ghana's fifth Eurobond of $750 million attracted a 9.25 percent yield. Ghana, as part of the new debt management strategy, recently implemented a buy-back of $100 million of the Ghana 2017 bond, using the newly established sinking fund. As a result, the balance on that bond has been reduced to $400 million which will be redeemed from the proceeds of the new issue. This year alone, Ghana is expected to pay some GH10.5 billion in interest payments. Meanwhile, Seth Terkper, Minister of Finance, is leading a government delegation to the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC from October 4 to 14, 2016. The delegation comprises officials from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), including the Governor, Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament and officers from the Finance Ministry. The delegation will participate in the African Caucus meeting with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and the African Caucus meeting with IMF Managing Director, Christian Lagarde. They would also hold a side meeting with IMF Deputy Managing Director, Tao Zhang. The delegation will also hold bilateral discussions with other partner countries, financial institutions and private sector investors and sign a loan agreement for the 'Expansion and Development of Existing High Schools Project' with Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. By Samuel Boadi [email protected] A physician assistant has indicated that Janet Amankwah, the lady accusing one Queenie Akuffo of sexually assaulting her with a vibrator, 'appreciated the act.' According to Mary Mills, the physician assistant at the Ga South Municipal Hospital in Accra, 22-year-old Janet said that the accused reportedly inserted a dildo into her (Janet's) vagina. In the view of the doctor, the lady who narrated what Queenie had done to her was normal when she was brought to the hospital. Mary Mills said in an answer to a question that she would agree with Andrew Vortia, lawyer for Queenie, that the victim appreciated what happened to her. Ms. Mills further stated in a court presided over by Mrs. Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku during cross-examination yesterday that Janet Amankwah was also not drunk when she visited the health facility. The defence lawyers are currently seeking to convince the court that the act perpetrated by Queenie was purely consensual. Meanwhile, state prosecutors led by Detective Inspector Judith B. Asante, claimed they were set to present eight witnesses in the course of the trial. This followed the discharge of Ms. Mills who had over the weeks been in the dock under cross-examination by Mr Vortia. Sitting continues on October 13, 2016. Queenie, 26, allegedly committed the act at about 6pm on January 25, this year at Ablekuma in Accra, where both of them reside. According to the prosecution, Queenie asked other witnesses around to leave and she locked her bedroom, but a 13-year-old witness reportedly went to peep through the window of the accused person and saw her (Queenie) inserting the artificial male organ into the victim's private part. The victim's brother, one Nana Sasu, was said to have seen the act and alerted her mother (the complainant). They rushed to the aid of Janet and saw her lying naked in Queenie's bedroom with vomit all over her body. The artificial organ was found on top of Queenie's wardrobe while a video recording of the act was also found on her Infinix mobile phone. Queenie, according to the prosecution, in her caution statement to the police, admitted the offence. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson [email protected] An Accra Circuit Court judge yesterday expressed anger at accused persons who are standing trial in the DKM Diamond Microfinance Company case for failing to regularly appear before the court. According to trial judge, Aboagye Tandoh, the accused persons-Martin Kuudening Delle, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DKM, Monica Afriyie, aka Maame Korkor and Nortey Noel, both Directors of God Is Love Fun Club and Charles Asum run shift in appearing before the court to stand the trial, which has resulted in incessant adjournment of the case. He added that anytime the case is called, all the accused persons do not come to court. At yesterday's sitting, lawyers for the accused persons said Monica and Noel were on their way to the court. Judge Tandoh warned the duo that at the next sitting, they should not allow the court and the lawyers to wait for them. He said the accused persons have no excuse to be late and that if they wanted to be in court early, they should leave their residence on time to avoid traffic in Accra. The judge stated that the accused persons must come to court before their lawyers arrive, insisting that accused persons in any case should not see lawyers as messengers they could sent to tell the court anything. Sitting continues on November 2. The accused persons are believed to have taken various sums of money from several depositors. Delle, who is said to be the son of CPP National Chairman, Dr Edmund Delle, is alleged to have dishonestly appropriated GH40,000 belonging to one Kwaku Charles. He is currently on bail in the sum of GH80 million with four sureties, (two to be justified) and ordered to make GH6 million security deposit. Currently, Afriyie and Noel are each on a GH50 million bail with five sureties, two to be justified. They are each required to make a security deposit of GH5 million. Asum was granted bail in the sum of GH20 million with three sureties, two to be justified. He was ordered to make GH2 million security deposit. As part of the bail conditions, the accused persons are to report to the BNI every Thursday until the conditions are varied by the court. The accused persons have variously denied the charge of fraudulent breach of trust. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson [email protected] A docket on the case in which a 22-year-old man is being tried for strangulating a seven-year-old girl to death has resurfaced at the Attorney-General's Department months after it mysteriously disappeared. Francisca Tutu Mensah, a Principal State Attorney, yesterday, told an Accra Central Magistrate Court that the file got lost at the A-G's Department although it was forwarded to the State Prosecutor. She stated that the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP), on the advice of the AG, had instructed her to take a two-week adjournment to commit the accused for trial. Ms. Mensah disclosed that the accused, Lucas Agboyie, aka Gabriel or Kojo, a mason apprentice would be tried summarily for defilement. Banter The trial magistrate, Ebenezer K. Ansah wondered how the AG was able to trace the docket. On that the prosecutor said a copy of the file was requested, compelling the judge to ask why the AG does not do same in other cases. The judge threatened to discharge all accused persons whose cases had been in the court over three years. Ms. Mensah pleaded with the judge not to do so because the AG's Department was under staffed, stressing that the department has only 150 lawyers in the criminal division. On his part, the judge stated that his court also has one interpreter who even shuttles between two courts. He said, We have allowed a certain man known as the system to dictate to us. It would be recalled that another judge Worlanyo Kotoku at the last sitting expressed worry over the delay on the part of the AG in the matter. He stated that there was no need for the case to delayed especially when the accused had been consistent with his narration of events in respect of the murder. There was also no prosecutor at the court as the investigator repeated his three-month old mantra that the substantive investigator was indisposed. Gabriel had shocked the court when he gave a vivid account on how he killed the girl and had sex with the corpse for three hours. He said he murdered the girl after smoking wee, adding that he informed the victim, Ruth Amankwah that he wanted to have sex with her. Lucas, aka Sympathy or Sky Lover, told the court that the deceased tried to escape but he pulled her back. He said he ignored the pleas from Ruth to spare her life and strangulated her until she died and had sex with the body in his metal container at Kubekro No. 1, near Atadeka at Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra on April 19, 2015. The plea of Sympathy, who has been charged with murder contrary to sections 46 of Act 29/60, has not been taken. Hearing continues on October 17. Ruth was a class one pupil of the Meshach Academy School at Zenu also in Ashaiman in Accra who lived with her mother at Kubekro where the accused also lived about 200 metres away from them. At 8 am on Sunday, April 19, 2015, the mother of the deceased prepared porridge and sent her with GH20 to buy bread from a nearby shop for their breakfast. The parents became alarmed and searched for her in the area after the deceased failed to come home after a long period of time. An informant told the complainant that she saw Sympathy pulling the deceased into his metal container. The team found Ruth's naked body lying in a supine position on an old student's mattress with blood oozing from her mouth and nostrils. The accused disclosed that he killed Ruth voluntarily but later mentioned one Baba Ali as the one who contracted him to murder the victim for money, house and a car. Sympathy has however failed to lead the police to Baba Ali. He took the police to a wrong house and pointed at a car that the said Baba promised him. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson [email protected] The Nii Tackie Oblie Royal Family has disclaimed one Nii Ayittey Anumle Oyanka, accusing him of posing as chief of Oblieman, near Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region. According to Mustapha Nii Ofoli Tackie Oblie, who is the head of the Nii Tackie Oblie Family, there is no place called Oblieman in the area and the man holding himself as the chief does not even belong to the family. In a rejoinder sent to DAILY GUIDE by lawyers of the family, Nkrebeah & Associates, the family said the real name of the man holding himself as the chief is Bezaleel Zola who they claim is from Benin. The family issued the rejoinder after Nii Ayittey Anumle Oyanka issued a news release, claiming activities of landguards in Oblieman were threatening his life. Highlighting developments in the area, the family claimed they were descendants of popular Ga Kings called Nii Tackie Oblie who left behind a vast estate including 26 children. It said the last of Nii Tackie Oblie's children died aged 81 in May last year, and Mustapha Nii Ofoli Tackie Oblie, one of the grandsons of the king, was installed as head of the family. For some time now, nearly 10 years, some enterprising grandchildren of the king tried to grab as much of the Tackie Oblie lands for themselves, and the courts are inundated with series of endless writs of summons on various portions of the Tackie Oblie lands, the rejoinder said. It said, All of a sudden, in the early part of this year, a Beninois national, Bezaleel Zola, direct grandson of King Tackie Oblie's caretaker of his lands at Opah, Kobla Zola pretended that he has been installed a chief of a phantom non-existent community under the name Oblieman. According to the family, This upstart foreigner pretending as chief in the pay of some sell seeking persons in the Tackie Oblie family go about dressed as a chief under a frightening stool name of Nii Ayittey Anumle Oyanka. The family said the so-called 'chief' was being aided by some members of the Abola Paim We who they accused of selling all lands at Sowutuom, Accra and setting their sights on Nii Tackie Oblie lands located at Opah. The Beninios national's activities of seizing developers' working tools and extorting large sums of money from them have resulted in a confused multiplicity of land cases at Amasaman Police Station, adding As we write now there are over 45 extracts of complaints from Amasaman Police on reference to land and property Unit at Police Headquarters. The family said they were already in the process of invoking the powers of the Judicial Committee of the Ga Traditional Council to annul the purported installation of the Beninois as a chief of a phantom community on our soil. 05.10.2016 LISTEN When society invest in educating a kin, the kin was not privileged to look down on the society but to revamp and uplift the societal practices for techno-socio-economic liberation. According to Akan Cosmology, Adanse in present day Ghana, is the place Odomankoma/Borebore (God) started creation of the world. This story sounded weird and I debunked its authenticity which is very typical of most educated Africans; we debunk traditional cosmologies because of our ignorance! Moreover, Western education tags anything it doesnt truly understand as superstitious. Adanse people like any Akan group in Ghana trace their root to ancient Babylonia (Sumer). According to history, the name Adanse was derived from edan si fo' (house builders); they were the first settlers to build wattle and daub buildings. Another account says the name Adanse was derived from adansefo) (witnesses); they are principal witnesses to God's creation. The second account is more potent because Akan people all along were builders even at Bono Manso (first settlement of most Akan people). Hence, Adanse people werent just the first house builders but were witnesses. Why would Akan cosmology say that the present geographic location of Adanse is the starting point of creation of the world? This cosmogony isnt biased because Akan people know that they are immigrants at their present home, Ghana. Why would they say such a thing? Let us consider biblical account which happens to be a guide to most anthropologists. Genesis 2:11-12, The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. KJV. Africa/Eden is the birthplace of humanity according to anthropologists. Hence, Africa is the place that was described in the Genesis story. After creation, provinces were created and each province was described based on peculiar items there. Names of provinces in chronological order; Havilah, Ethiopia/Cush, Assyria/Syria. To decode Havilah, we need to answer the following questions: what is onyx stone?; Where can fine gold deposit associated with onyx stone be located in Africa? What is the possible modern name for Pison? Onyx stone is primarily composed of silica and comes in different colours depending on the inclusions (impurities). It has white colour in its powdered form (streak) and hardness of 6.5-7 on the mohs hardness scale. In antiquity, black onyx stone was the most revered type. ONYX STONE is QUARTZ (obohemaa) and therefore BLACK ONYX is simply SMOKY QUARTZ. According to International Union of Geological Sciences, the earth is about 4.6 billion years old. Griffis et al. in their report on Gold Deposit of Ghana stated, Geology of West Africa is very complex with Paleoproterozoic (2.50-2.05 billion years old) origin. The most important Paleoproterozoic units are extensive sediments and volcanics, which are generally referred to as the Birimian Supergroup. The Birimian rocks are very widely distributed throughout a large part of West Africa; Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger...Volta Basin in Ghana is underlain by Paleoproterozoic units with equivalent rocks in North West Africa, which suggest that much of the Western Sahara has the same but buried Paleoproterozoic cratonic units as West Africa. Ghana by land settlement is the centre of the world. Ghana is the second largest gold producer in Africa to South Africa not because of limited deposit but because of exploitation technology. Ghana has the finest gold deposit in Africa. Bosman and Barbot (European missionaries who acted as anthropologists) stated, ...in the seventeen century, gold from Adanse, was referred to as Accany and was so pure and fine that the best gold was called Accani sika (Accany gold) in the world. The fascinating occurrence is that the gold at Adanse is associated with smoky quartz (onyx stone). Griffis et al. stated, the most important gold minerlisation type in West Africa is the mesothermal auriferous arsenopyrite and quartz vein mineralisation; This is by far the most important type of gold occurrence in West Africa and is commonly referred to as the Ashanti-type in recognition of the Obuasi area being the type locality and by far the largest gold deposit... Where is Obuasi located In Ghana? Isnt it Adanse? Obuasi is just 15 km from Akrokyere (the exact place Akan cosmology says creation started). Isnt this the biblical Havilah? What is modern Pison? Enock Ofori Jnr, Pison is the Nile River. The Nile River is the longest river system in the world. An early civilization was born along the banks of this river in Egypt. It is the only river in the world that rises near the equator and flows into the middle latitudes. The Nile is a great river but not the nearest river to the area rich in fine gold. The Volta River is 1500 km long with Black and Red Volta as tributaries. Volta passes through Cote dIvoire, Burkina Faso and Ghana; Volta is the nearest great river that encompass the area with fine gold which is associated with smoky quartz (onyx stone). Can bdellium be found in West Africa? Go figure out! West Africa and North West Africa is geologically the biblical Havilah and Pison is Volta River. Contemporary, the ancient biblical provinces would be: West and West North Africa (Havilah); Central, East and South Africa (Ethiopia); and Middle East (Assyria). The Akan cosmology is original and wasnt adopted from the Europeans. If the Akan cosmology about creation is very accurate and not mere myth, who enlightened them? Akan people migrated from their original home and headed towards the Centre of the World (modern Ghana) without the help of Google Map. Do you think such people were naive? This is the time educated Blacks must give critical analyses to their original and ancient traditions. We should stop debunking things we dont understand about Africa because the complex African knowledge gave birth to world civilisation. African Cosmologies such as the Dogon Cosmology are not bedecked with scientific jargons, they sound so weird and would be rejected by the uninitiated. However, with unbiased analyses, one will get easier understandings of the mysteries behind the hyper dimensions. Kwasi Boadu Ntiamoah ([email protected]) Bawku (U/E) Oct. 4, GNA - Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Simon Yaw Afeku, the Upper East Regional Police commander, has called on residents in the region to use lawful means to address their concerns. He said using lawful means such as the courts and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) would help them resolve conflicts that erupt amongst them. He said the laws of the country were made for all to help resolve issues beyond one's control and it was always better to seek redress using the law instead of taking it into one's own hands. The Regional Commander said this at an all-night peace concert organized by the Bands Competition of Security Agencies held in Bawku to foster unity among security personnel and the general public. He assured the people of Bawku that the security agencies were well prepared to enforce security and maintain the prevailing peace in the area and urged all residents to be law abiding. 'The security has drawn all its operational orders and has embarked on several capacity building measures for its personnel to be able to live up to the task of maintaining peace in the country', DCOP Afeku said. Mr Francis Azumah, the Executive Secretary for the National Peace Council, urged all to be ambassadors of peace as it was the only thing that would help them develop. He urged the people to show love to one another because that would generate the needed peace for a peaceful coexistence. Mr Osman Musah, the Programmes Support Officer for Actionaid Ghana, said the campaign for peace in any African elections could not be underrated because there were hidden and apparent dangers that could threaten the peace of the country. He said through the hard work and foresight of the security and election agencies, the Ghanaian public was better informed about the flashpoints for possible electoral violence. Mr Musah commended the National Peace Council and other stakeholders including the Actionaid Ghana, the Christian Aid among others for their effort in ensuring peace in the country. GNA By Philip Tengzu, GNA Wa, Oct. 4, GNA - The Coalition for Change (C4C), a non governmental organisation which seeks to improve the livelihoods of poor households in deprived communities, has embarked on a tree planting exercise in some communities of the Upper West Region. The C4C focused on the promotion of agriculture through the protection of the environment as well as promoting quality education in the communities. It is being supported by the Jacobs Well Appeal, a United Kingdom Charity. Speaking at the launch of the project, Madam Ruby Yap, Executive Director of C4C, said the organisation was carrying out the tree planting on a pilot basis in the region to help secure families using ecologically sustainable local farm base strategies. 'The move is also aimed at bridging the poverty gap among the people through adaptable income generating activities and available forms of education while preserving the environment', she said. Madam Yap said more than 220 seedlings of mango and 110 seedlings of moringa have been planted at Kpaliworgu, in the Wa East District with community members receiving training on environmental protection and the proper way of planting and nurturing trees. She said the community provided land, poles and free labour for the plantation while the Jacobs Well Appeal through C4C provided the seedlings, fencing and trainings. The seedlings would be looked after by the community for the next two years until they are matured and once they start to fruit the community could harvest them to supplement their fruit intake, while they sell some for developmental projects, Madam Yap said. Madam Yap expressed disappointment that some rural dwellers in the northern parts of Ghana had indulged in the cutting of trees for livelihoods. The traditional practice of women fetching fuel wood from the bush for domestic activities, which used to have less effects on the environment has now given way to the wanton destruction of trees by some companies which are engaged in charcoal production and lately timber logging. Madam Yap said Kpaliworgu was selected for the pilot project to demonstrate to the people that good environmental practices were very crucial for the continual survival of living things on the planet since the community was one of the remaining areas in the region where timber logging is currently ongoing. 'C4C believes that one of the best ways of protecting the environment is to support the people whose livelihoods depended on environmental destruction with alternatives ways of earning income and improving their livelihoods', she said. GNA By Philip Tengzu, GNA Wa, Oct. 4, GNA - Mrs Cate Bob-Milliar, the Founder and Executive Director of the Upper West Rural Women Association, has appealed to political parties and all politicians to ensure that Ghana remains an oasis of peace. 'Elections are means of testing Ghana's democratic credentials, its processes as well as systems and politicians must conduct political campaigns devoid of insults, provocative language and aggression', she said. It would be in the best interest of all to see Ghana as a beacon of peace on the African continent after the December polls, she said. Mrs Bob-Milliar was addressing political party representatives, youth groups, market women, queen mothers' as well as media practitioners among others at a workshop in Wa. The Upper West Rural Women Association in collaboration with the Young Entrepreneurs Association organised the forum with financial support from the US Embassy to serve as an engagement platform to lobby key stakeholders and organisations on the need for a peaceful election in the forthcoming general elections. The participants were taken through various topics including: 'civic responsibility' and 'peaceful elections', 'electoral reforms' and 'electoral violence'. Mrs Bob-Milliar said Ghanaians should see themselves as one people with a common destiny and must therefore make it a collective responsibility of ensuring a violence free elections in December 7 elections. Mr Annoh Jackson, the Wa Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), assured the public that his outfit has taken the needed steps to ensure that peace is maintained in the country. 'I have been engaging with political parties through the District Inter-Party Advisory Committee (DIPAC) consisting of all registered political parties in the municipality on the need to educate their followers and sympathisers on the appropriate ways of campaigning so as not to infringe on the rights of others', he said. Madam Edna Bosompem, a representative of the United States Embassy, said it is in the interest of the US government to ensure that the peace that the nation is currently enjoying remains intact. She announced that the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) which is President Barak Obama's special legacy for raising competent leaders for Africa, which began in 2010, has opened nominations. Madam Bosompem urged the youth to take advantage of it to acquire quality leadership training to champion development in Africa. The participants jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pledge their commitment to upholding the peace of the country. GNA Nana Akufo-Addo - the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party is an incorruptible man who believes in rule of law - a course he has dedicated his life to since the early stage of his youth. Eastern Patriots have observed the recent apprehension "Nana Akufo-Addo will jail us if he wins" by the bigwigs of the ruling NDC government. It baffles us as to why this has become the campaign message of the ruling NDC. Nana Akufo-Addo when voted for as president of the Republic of Ghana in the coming December poll, will not arrest innocent people. However, in accordance of the laws of the land, his government will scrutinize and retrieve all monies which have been dubiously squandered from the coffers of the state in the name of dubious judgment debt and bloated contracts. The fear that has griped the leadership of the Mahama's government is in justification of how corrupt Mahama's government is hence needs to be voted out coming December poll. Dzifa Attivor - the resigned Transport Minister who bloated Gh3.6 million on bus branding was the first to exhibit the fear of being scrutinized. On 26th April Dzifa Attivor expressed a fear of being sent to jail if NDC lose the coming election while addressing some NDC faithfuls in the Volta region. The latest to express such apprehension is the Eastern regional chairman of the NDC Mr. Bismarck Tawiah Boateng while addressing his party faithfuls in Akuapem few days ago. Eastern Patriots is aware that most of the Mahama's appointees are expressing same apprehension in their hometowns. Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome the NDC financier who defrauded the state of an amount of Gh51.2 million has also been heard expressing same fear so as the front liners of the SADA Nkonfem and Tree Planting fraudsters. We can assure Ghanaians that Nana Akufo-Addo is a nobleman and a respecter of all persons. He is a respecter of the laws of the land hence when voted for coming December, he will follow the legal requirements to retrieve the monies that have been dubiously squandered by government officials. Taking Nigeria as a reference, when President Buhari came to power, he met absolutely nothing in the nation's coffers but his determination to fight corruption and to retrieve stolen monies, he has been able to retrieve over US$14 Billion which is good enough to manage the state. Nana Akufo-Addo will also retrieve state squandered monies so that excessive borrowing will be a thing of the past. We pray Ghanaians not to give ears to the cry of the corrupt government officials. However, we should vote for change so our national resources would be managed to the benefit of all Ghanaians. ...............Signed............ Nana Ofori Kissi Ratina Secretary 0247454953 Nana Asem Bi Nti Convener 0554547843 Kwasi Bediatuo Press&Information Finance Minister Seth Terkper 05.10.2016 LISTEN A statement from the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Finance indicates that Hon Seth Terkper, Minister of Finance has led a Government delegation to the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings to be held in Washington DC, from October 4 14, 2016. According to the statement, the delegation is made up of officials from the Bank of Ghana including the Governor, the Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament and officers from the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Ghana. The statement noted that whiles there, the delegation will participate in the African Caucus Meeting with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, as well as the African Caucus Meeting with IMF Managing Director, Christian Lagarde. They would also hold a side meeting with IMF Deputy Managing Director, Tao Zhang. It further indicated that the delegation is also scheduled to meet with the Commonwealth Secretary General, Her Excellency Patricia Scotland and attend the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting to be held on the sidelines of the Annual meetings. Other meetings they would attend include the G24 Deputies Meetings and a closed door meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of Sub-Saharan African countries with David Owen, Ag. Director for African Department on the Regional Economic Developments, it added. The statement emphasised that aside the obligatory meetings with the IMF and the World Bank, the delegation will hold bilateral discussions with other partner countries, financial institutions and private sector investors. The statement posited that the Ghanaian delegation will in addition sign a loan agreement for the Expansion and Development of Existing High Schools Project with Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. About the Annual Meetings The Board of Governors of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) normally meet once a year to discuss the work of their respective institutions. The Annual Meetings bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness. Also featured are seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, and many other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the world's financial system. The Ghana Police Service has justified a recent decision to halt motor checks across the country, despite criticisms. The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, told Joy News the unrelenting traffic jam on Ghanas roads needs attention, hence the directive to shift focus away from other operations of the police. Per the order, police will not check documentation, road worthiness, and allied requirements of motorists. All attention is going to be concentrated on managing traffic which has become a source of concern in our communities just to make sure that we create a more congenial atmosphere for travelers and commuters in our cities and our towns, he said Tuesday. A wireless message from the top hierarchy of the police in Accra Tuesday said all motor checks in the country [are to be] suspended with immediate effect. It said personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service are to be "used only for traffic management duties. The directive has been criticised as unsound. Founding President of the think tank, IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, says the order against checks for motor traffic offences is an absurd form of policing. Mr Cudjoe thinks IGP John Kudalors directed smacks of lawlessness. Supt Cephas Arthur, however, says there is a need to focus on the clampdown on arms proliferations and drugs, insisting the order is a routine strategy to improve operational efficiency. When the need arises that we restore that aspect of police operations we shall restore it, said. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | GN Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam 05.10.2016 LISTEN The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has raised serious concerns over the new fuel standard announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) because the 500PPM announced is not satisfactory in view of its negative implications for our environment, our health and our vehicles. In a statement signed by the Executive Director of ACEP, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam said it is curios why the NPA can put the national regulatory standard for fuel quality at 500PPM and yet proposes to industry to import fuel at 10PPM. If it is convinced that 10PPM is the optimal standard that assures consumers of high quality fuels, why did it put the national standard at 500PPM?, he intimated. According to him, they are wondering whether the position taken by NPA is due to regulatory fatigue on the part of our regulators, logistical failures or simply disrespect to fuel consumers. He said it is unacceptable for industry to be more compliant with international standards than the industry regulators who are supposed to be setting the rules. Dr. Amin noted that this shows that the NPA can do more to raise the standards further. He calls on the NPA to consider benchmarking our national standards to the European standards of 10ppm. Dr. Amin further raised that they disappointed that after fruitful initial deliberation with the NPA, which culminated in a scheduled public meeting with all relevant stakeholders and interested consumers on fuel standards, the NPA called for a postponement of the dialogue only to announce the new standards without input from non-governmental stakeholders and the citizens of Ghana who eventually suffer from low fuel standards which is an action in bad faith. Dr. Amin added that they believe that a bold decision to benchmark Ghanas standards against the European standard will most clearly define the leadership role NPA has taken and to accelerate sub-regional alignment to cleaner fuels. He added that it is refreshing however, to see that industry (BDCs) are rather willing to move to higher standards as they always did against national regulatory standards. We want to commend the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOG) for accepting that the currently national regulatory standards pose serious danger to lives. We are further satisfied by the determination of industry to import fuel with higher standards than what the industry regulator is going for, he stated. He intimated that the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) has articulated that the alignment with European standards will absorb the logistical cost associated with neutral standards such as 500PPM which the NPA has proposed. Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam is encouraging governments of the rest of the Sub-region to set high fuel standards. He indicated that the level of pollution on the Sub-region is escalating with increasing traffic in our cities and towns. Dr. Amin added that the decision to consume cleaner fuels cannot wait any longer and therefore, ECOWAS should also show interest in this to accelerate migration to Ultra Low Sulphur Fuels across the region. But that notwithstanding, he commends the swift action taken by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Ghana Standards Authority in collaboration with some stakeholders to improve on fuel standards in the country. Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Executive Secretary, Carlos Lopes, on Tuesday expressed his deepest condolences to the government of the Republic of Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopia following the loss of lives during a stampede at an Oromo thanksgiving festival Sunday. On this very sad occasion, I would like, on behalf of the ECA, to express my deepest condolences as well as my sincere sympathies for all those who have been affected, Mr. Lopes said of the weekend deaths in Oromia. As the government of Ethiopia has called for national mourning, we at the ECA are mourning with them. Many people lost their relatives and friends and our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time. I was saddened to hear of the loss of life during such a profound festival. Finally, I sincerely hope and pray for the speedy recovery of those who are still in hospital following the stampede on Sunday, said Mr. Lopes. Ethiopia has declared a three-day national mourning period as millions pray that the death toll does not rise. The stampede occurred in Oromia where an estimated 2 million people were attending the annual Irrecha thanksgiving festival in the town of Bishoftu, southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa. Top DGGI officials said that it is the complexity of GST laws, and the rates that keep changing, that the builders or real estate agents have used to their benefit. The events which took place during the annual Irrecha festival in Bishoftu were a tragedy and our first thoughts and condolences go to the victims and to their families. We wish a quick recovery to those who were injured. The European Union calls for a process of reconciliation, as well as addressing the wider aspects of the grievances. The EU remains ready to support Ethiopia and all Ethiopians in this demanding situation. Addis Ababa (AFP) - With Chinese conductors at the helm, a fleet of shiny new trains will on Wednesday begin plying a new route from the Ethiopian capital to Djibouti, in a major boost to both economies. The 750 kilometre (460 mile) railway, built by two Chinese companies, will link Addis Ababa to the Red Sea port city of Djibouti in about 10 hours, a far cry from the current excruciating multi-day trip along a congested, pot-holed road. "We're so excited! It takes two or three days for a truck to come from Djibouti. The driver doesn't answer his phone. We don't know where he is and that can be a bit of a nightmare, said Ethiopian importer Tingrit Worku. "The train could make a huge difference". Some 1,500 trucks a day currently lumber along the road which carries 90 percent of imports and exports from landlocked Ethiopia to the port -- a key trade hub to Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa. "This train is a game changer. Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The connection to the ports (of Djibouti) will give a bounce and our economy will grow faster," said Mekonnen Getachew, project manager of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation. A Chinese employee of the Addis Ababa / Djibouti train line pictured at the Feri train station in Addis Ababa on September 24, 2016 All Chinese staff The Horn of Africa country was the world's fastest growing economy last year at 10.2 percent, however the International Monetary Fund estimates that the worst drought in 30 years is likely to see this plummet to 4.5 percent in 2016. Both countries benefit from economic integration, with Ethiopia gaining access to the sea and Djibouti gaining access to Ethiopia's emerging market of 95 million people. "It is the first standard gauge electrified railroad on the continent build with Chinese standard and technology, and certainly it will not be the last. Many stand to benefit from it," Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia La Yifan said in a statement. The new railway means the end of the historic French-built diesel line built in 1917, which fell into abandon in later decades, with frequent derailments. Wednesday's inauguration will be followed by a three-month test period, with no paying passengers and carrying only cargo. Work in progress on the new railway line linking Djibouti with Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa pictured in Djibouti on May 5, 2015 However when the line is fully functional, uniformed Chinese controllers will welcome passengers to spotless platforms of newly built stations all along the route, while Chinese technicians and stationmasters will keep things running in the background. "We don't yet have the management experience yet. We have a management contract with Chinese staff for five years, with an Ethiopian counterpart in training," said Getachew. A first step China has invested heavily in infrastructure in Ethiopia, funding sub-Saharan Africa's first modern tramway -- which opened last year -- as well as motorways and dams. The new $3.4 billion (three billion euro) railway, with its red, yellow and green trains evoking the Ethiopian flag, was 70 percent financed by China's Exim Bank and built by China Railway Group and China Civil Engineering Construction. Work in progress on the new railway line linking Djibouti with Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, pictured in Djibouti on May 5, 2015 A high-level Chinese delegation, in Addis Ababa for the inauguration of the railway, on Tuesday signed further agreements worth $100 million for the construction of roads, the state-controlled Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported. Natural resources from Africa have helped fuel China's economic boom, and it became the continent's largest trade partner in 2009. Beijing even built the $200 million African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa in 2012 as a gift expressing "friendship to the African people." However direct investment in Africa slumped "more than 40 percent" last year, as growth slowed in the Asian giant. The railway is the first step in a vast network of 5,000 kilometres of rail which Ethiopia hopes to build by 2020. "Our plan is to connect the train to Mekele (north), to Moyale (south), near Kenya, and to Gambella (west), near South Sudan. So we will be connected to Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan," said Getachew. Djibouti, the smallest state in the Horn of Africa, sees the project as the start of a trans-African railway crossing the continent from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, a journey which takes three weeks by boat. However this dream appears far off, as the railway would have to pass through war-torn countries such as South Sudan or the Central African Republic. A former finance lecturer at the Presbyterian University College (PUC), Tema Campus, Yaw Ohemeng Kyei, has donated items to the inmates of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital to mark his birthday. Mr Ohemeng Kyei also provided lunch for the inmates, danced, interacted and made merry with them. He adopted one of the wards in the facility, assuring that he would help to provide the necessary items and drugs needed to take care of the inmates. Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, he revealed, I am subscriber of the paper who was touched by a publication in the paper that the facility even lacks A4 sheets among other logistics. I took the decision to spend my birthday with the inmates who I consider to be great people with great future and destinies. He expressed his appreciation to God for adding another year to his life and for the opportunity to share with the needy and less-privileged in society. George Arthur, a member of the hospital's communication team who received the items, thanked the lecturer for the kind gesture. He further called on corporate Ghana and Ghanaians living abroad to emulate the worthy example of Mr Ohemeng and assist the facility with the needed drugs for the inmates. BY Daniel Bampoe Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo, wife of the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has taken her campaign tour to the Volta Region. During the tour, she visited some constituencies and advised the hosts to vote for Nana Addo and the NPP parliamentary candidates. In the Hohoe constituency, Mrs Akufo-Addo donated some items to the Hohoe Municipal Hospital and also interacted with the constituents. She appealed to them to vote for Nana Addo to fulfill his promises to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians. Mrs Akufo-Addo also participated in the launch of the NPP campaign by the Buem constituency at Jasikan and spoke passionately about the need to vote for the NPP to restore allowances of nurses and teacher trainees, revamp the NHIS and implement the One-district-one factory policy, among others. I know Nana Addo and he would fulfill every promise to Ghanaians. She was accompanied by Francis Addae Nimo, MP for Mampong, the parliamentary candidates for Hohoe and Buem, Marlon Anipa and Aziale Lawrence Kwami and their respective constituency executives, as well as other party bigwigs. The Local Govt Minister, Collins Dauda (3rd from right) and some of the residents during the exercise The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has disclosed that public toilets would be phased out in the country and replaced with household toilets from 2017. According to him, the introduction of household toilets forms part of the National Sanitation Day Campaign which is expected to end by 2025. The minister revealed this during the National Sanitation Day (NSD) campaign by the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly at Sefwi Asawinso in the northern part of the Western region. It is an action plan of government to ensure that every household owns its toilet facility and house owners should take advantage of the offer when it begins, the minister told the residents. He explained that the initiative was also to make Ghana compliant with international standards while creating a friendly environment for residents of the various communities. He further mentioned that as part of the efforts to phase out the public toilets, government had already started a programme dubbed, 'Small Town Water Systems' for some beneficiary communities. The Minister explained that the water systems would help in the management of the household toilets which would be constructed. The Local Government Minister lauded the people for their massive attendance and participation in the clean-up exercise, adding that the campaign has come to stay to ensure the waste disposal. The Minister earlier paid courtesy calls on the chiefs of Sefwi Asafo and Asawinso Nana Kofi Ahenkorah II and Nana Adu Kwasi II respectively during which he debunked claims that the NSD has outstayed its usefulness. He explained that NSD has led to a sharp decline in cholera cases in the country and therefore appealed to the chiefs to promote it. The chiefs assured government that they would continue to lead the people during communal labour. The chief of Asawinso, Nana Adu Kwasi II, appealed to government to construct a fence wall round the Asawinso Community Senior High School (SHS) The Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, who accompanied the Local Government Minister on the tour of the three communities- Sefwi Asafo, Asawinso and Ankyeabor, lauded the people for taking part in the campaign. From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has accused the Mahama-led government of making the country more dependent on food imports as a result of the total neglect of the agricultural sector which has seen unprecedented negative growth in the history of the country. According to the minority, since the current NDC government took over power in 2008, food import have sharply risen from $344 million to a staggering $2.3 billion, which is seven times the figure it came to meet. The NDC government has consciously been slashing the budget for the agriculture sector every year, thereby affecting the performance of the sector badly which is the backbone of the economy, it disclosed. The minority made the revelation at a press conference addressed by the minority spokesperson on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto at Parliament House in Accra yesterday. Dr Afriyie Akoto said the total $2.3 billion of food imports represent only rice, sugar, poultry, fish, wheat, vegetable oil, vegetables and salt. He said Ghana spent $10 million to import salt from Brazil last year but the country has huge prospects in salt production that could help give employment to many Ghanaians. Dr Afriyie Akoto said the disturbing aspect of the governments penchant for importation of some staples which could easily be produced here is that apart from the hard-earned foreign exchange used to import the food which eventually creates more agricultural job opportunities for countries of import, these huge imports pose serious threat to the survival of local farmers and fishermen and also affect balance of payment of the economy. These imports are competing directly with local production under trade conditions which are putting our local farmers, fishers and overall food security at risk, the minority spokesperson said. Looking at the terrible performance of the NDC in agriculture over the last eight years and the overzealous and unrealistic promises made in its 2016 manifesto to transform agriculture, it would be more accurate to describe that promise as mere rhetoric, he explained. Looking at the absence of incentives for farmers, lack of credit, little or no inputs for farmers to expand their farms, this government promises of Green Revolution in its 2016 manifesto which will help double food production in the next four years but Green Revolution would succeed when there is an assurance of adequate supply of services and inputs to farmers, including improved seeds, chemicals, extension services, irrigation, marketing, farm credit and mechanisation yet under this government these resources and services are either stagnant or declining, he said, stressing that the NDC has failed to lay the necessary foundation to improve agriculture as promised in its 2016 manifesto. He said the NPP, which would launch its manifesto on Sunday, October 9, will give vivid details of how to improve agriculture under Akufo-Addos presidency. He said for instance that the NPP will replenish the financial allocations to research institutions in order to revive active agricultural research and also involve the district assemblies in support of farmers and fishermen in on-farm production and marketing of their produce. We shall collaborate with commercial banks and use legislation to ensure adequate funding for farmers, fishers and their related activities of marketing and agro-processing. In the savanna zone, we shall pursue the one village, one dam policy which will focus on boreholes, dugouts and small community dams in our irrigation policy, the minority spokesperson said, stressing that the NPP would adopt the concept small is beautiful in its approach to agricultural development. By Thomas Fosu Jnr Togbe Afede XIV (left), Executive Chairman of WTC Accra exchanging documents with Lu PengQi (2nd left), Vice President of CCPIT As part of efforts to promote trade and investment between Ghana and China, the World Trade Centre (WTC) Accra, in collaboration with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), has organized a forum in Beijing, China for Ghanaian and Chinese companies. The forum was attended by Togbe Afede XIV, Executive Chairman of World Trade Centre Accra, Dr. Lu Peng Qi, Vice President of China CCPIT, Alfred Saame, Head of Chancery of the Embassy of Ghana in Beijing, Zhou Jian, Director of SME Bureau of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhang Gang, Vice President of Beijing City Council, Ghanaian businesses and their Chinese counterparts. Representatives from SAS Finance Group, BEA-NEWT Company Limited, City Toll/City Auction Mart, Crisel Consult Limited, Deliman Group Limited and GCB Bank Limited are to tour the four cities in China- Beijing, Shanghai, Shizen and Guangzhou. About 150 Chinese related industries and enterprises, as well as representatives of relevant enterprises and members of the media participated in the forum. The leader of the business delegation from Ghana, Togbe Afede XIV, said Ghana offers lucrative investment opportunities in the areas of finance, agriculture, infrastructure, real estate, transportation and water services. Trade between Ghana and China is growing rapidly. Available data indicates that total bilateral trade has increased from $2 billion in 2010 to over $6.6 billion in 2015, an increase of 221 percent, the Executive Chairman of WTC Accra disclosed. Vice President of CCPIT, Dr. Lu PengQi lauded the initiative of the World Trade Centre Accra to accelerate trade and investment between the two countries. MoU signed During the forum, WTC Accra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China CCPIT. The agreement was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two organizations. A business Desk report Rabat (AFP) - Morocco will elect a parliament on Friday for the first time since an Islamist-led government took office following Arab Spring uprisings that toppled leaders across the region. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) came to power in 2011 after swelling protests prompted concessions from King Mohammed VI, the scion of a monarchy that has ruled the North African country for 350 years. A new constitution reduced some, though not all, of the king's near-absolute powers as autocratic regimes fell in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane's PJD says a second term would allow it to continue its limited economic and social reforms. Heading a coalition that includes communists, liberals and conservatives, it retains considerable support among the urban middle classes that have largely abandoned the left in favour of Islamist parties. But it has been weakened by rising unemployment and what critics say is a failure to deal with corruption. The party has faced a string of scandals within its ranks including a major drugs bust, a dodgy land-grab deal and the suspension of two vice presidents found in a "sexual position" on a beach. It also faces a resurgent liberal opposition Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), formed in 2008 by a close adviser to the king. The PAM has poured enormous resources into a campaign criticising the government's record as "catastrophic" and pledging to roll back the "Islamisation" of society. It pitches itself as the defender of women's rights and liberal social mores, and aims to bring more women into parliament, where they hold just 67 out of 395 seats. 'Exclusive decision maker' The PJD accuses its rival of being the party of the palace, part of a shadowy "parallel state" controlling political life. A supporter of Morocco's Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM) waves a flag during a party meeting in Kenitra on October 4, 2016, ahead of the parliamentary election If it holds on to power, the PJD will remain an essential part of Moroccan politics, "despite the feelings it rouses at the palace and among the globalised bourgeoisie," said Pierre Vermeren, a historian of the Maghreb region. A victorious PJD would try to take the opportunity to gain more space from the monarchy for joint decision-making, he said. But the decisive clout in Morocco remains in the hands of King Mohammed VI -- regardless of who is in government. "The king is de facto the exclusive decision maker on a series of long-term and strategic matters," including foreign policy and big infrastructure projects, according to an analysis from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank. At the same time the monarchy can present the successful inclusion of an Islamist party "as a sign of the ongoing process of democratisation following the adoption of the 2011 constitutional amendments," it added. Previously the monarch could choose his prime minister, but since the consitutional changes he must appoint someone from the party that wins the most seats in parliament. Return of the Salafists Friday's poll also marks the return of Salafists, followers of an ultra-conservative brand of Sunni Islam, to the political arena. Moroccan Prime Minister, and Secretary General of the ruling Islamic Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane, speaks during a party meeting in Larache on October 1, 2016 There are only a few dozen Salafists among the 7,000 candidates in Friday's poll, but their re-emergence is a notable shift in a country where they were once pariahs. They include Abdelwahab Rafiki, also known as Abou Hafs, a former preacher who was sentenced to 30 years in prison after jihadist attacks in Casablanca in 2003 that left 45 people dead. He was pardoned in 2012 and is running for Istiqlal, a nationalist party. Rafiki is not alone. The Casablanca bombings prompted authorities to arrest some 8,000 people, many of them Salafists. But like him, many were pardoned following the turmoil of 2011, and have since gained a foothold in Moroccan politics. Moroccan Salafists were among the thousands who headed to Afghanistan in the 1990s to fight the Soviet Union. Today, many have renounced violence and declared allegiance to King Mohammed VI. "It is the classic old policy of the palace, which after sanctioning deviants, reintegrates them," Vermeren said. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejura/Sekyedumasi in the Ashanti Region, Mohammed Salisu Bamba, has donated a brand new ambulance to the Ejura/Sekyedumasi Health Directorate at a colourful ceremony in the constituency. The MP made the donation at a grand durbar of the second edition of the 'Bra Fie' festival of the chiefs and people of Sekyedumasi. Speaking at the durbar, the MP stated that he remains committed to his promise to stop pregnant women and sick people from being carried on motorbikes and other discomforting means to their referral centres. Mr Bamba also promised to upgrade the Sekyedumasi Health Centre to a full hospital when he and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo emerge victorious in the December elections. After the presentation, the Omanhene of Sekyedumasi Traditional Council, Nana Antwi Bosiako I, who received the ambulance on behalf of the health directorate, out of joy immediately crowned Mr Bamba as 'Oyeadeeyie' (destiny changer). He added that the ambulance comes as a big relief to the health centre since it would reduce the difficulties the health authorities encounter in referring patients, especially women in labour, to the referral centres. The Omanhene said though chiefs do not engage in open politics, he is entreating all the people of Sekyedumasi and its surrounding to make sure Mr Salisu Bamba continues as an MP of the area in 2017. The South African man who was raped by three women has said he will not be able to forgive the alleged rapists. A video of the alleged incident appeared on social media yesterday and has since gone viral. The man, whose name is known to the Daily News, said he was at home when a woman whom he knows called him over, saying she needed help with an electrical problem at her home. I went into her house and when I got there, I saw another girl in the room. I did not pay any attention to her. Then another girl who was hiding behind the door closed it, that's when I realised that something was wrong. He said after they closed the door behind him, they told him they wanted to sleep with him. I initially thought they were joking, he said. However, he soon realized they were serious when he was attacked. He said he tried to defend himself but his arm was weak since he had injured it in an accident years ago. According to reports two of the women forced him to have sex while another allegedly handled the camera. He said he was let go and he went home and took a shower. He said the incident had left him feeling confused. I told my older sister about what happened but she thought I was joking. It was only after a video appeared online that she took what he said seriously and encouraged him to go to the police. It is unclear who initially posted the video on social media. The man said he feared going to the police because he thought they would not take him seriously. When I told them what happened they were shocked. The three women were arrested the same day I reported the matter. The alleged rapists were people he knew and grew up with in the area, he said. I'm very angry, he said of the assault. One of the families of the alleged rapists went to the man's home to try to make amends, he said. My brothers and sisters were not having any of it, he said. He was looking forward to the trial. People like that should not be part of society. What made it more difficult to move on was that the video was on social media and people had come to ask him what happened. It is something I never thought would happen to me. There is not much I can do but try to move on. According to Reese Mann, executive director of the South African Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse (Samssa), one out of six males before the age of 18 were sexually abused. Mann said 19.3% of all sexual violations reported to police involved male victims. Male victims of sexual abuse are less likely than their female counterparts to report incidents of sexual abuse, because police and the judiciary don't take it seriously, Mann said. Mann said a widely held myth was that if males got an erection and/or, ejaculated during the sexual abuse, they must have enjoyed it. A man being raped can still get an erection because it is in the physiological make-up of males that if they are caressed long enough they end up getting an erection, said Mann. He said there was also the myth that men should be capable of protecting themselves against sexual abuse. There are three stages that any victim of sexual abuse goes through, and they are called the three Fs. They can fight back, they can flee or they are just overcome by fear and the force exerted by the perpetrator, in which case they just freeze, said Mann. Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident and said the women had appeared in the Hluhluwe Magistrate's Court last Thursday and were expected to appear again on Tuesday for a bail application. He said they were being held in custody. Source: Iol.co.za The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has given strong indications it is ready to challenge the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in equal measure when the party continue to unleash attacks against its flagbearer, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom. The PPP said the NDC has directed some of its members including Adu Asare and Fred Agbenyo to engage in activities that seek to discredit Mr Nduom. A statement issued by the party and signed by its National Campaign Coordinator, Richmond Duke Keelson said it has taken note of a Serious Fraud Office report allegedly being circulated by the NDC in a section of the media to hurt the reputation of the its flagbearer. All of a sudden such peripheral NDC surrogates particularly a certain Adu Asare, who lost his parliamentary seat rather pathetically, has discovered how to resuscitate his dwindling political fortune in the so-called SFO report, the statement said. It added that, we wish to assure Adu Asare that he cannot find in the discredited report any safe haven to worm himself back into the comfort zone of President John Mahama. So is the toddler Fred Agbenyo. According to the PPP, it will soon address the public on the allegations against Papa Kwesi Nduom in the report. The PPP will deal will the subject matter of the SFO report very soon. It will not be the first time we would have done so. It's obvious that the NDC and John Mahama are not the least comfortable with the gains so far made by Dr Nduom and the Progressive People's Party (PPP) in the run-up to the December polls, it said. It added that Again they are very uncomfortable with certain pronouncements made by Dr Nduom on his campaign platforms. These include his promise to punish those found culpable of looting the state treasury; that some NDC chiefs, rejoiced and proclaimed that the death of Professor Mills gave the NDC new life; and the saga of President Mahama and the Ford Expedition. According to the PPP, it will continue to demand accountability from the NDC and President Mahama and force him to reveal the actual cause of the death former President, John Evans Attah-Mills. We wish to state emphatically that the NDC has grossly misfired on this mischief course. The NDC should get it clear that there are no cowards in the PPP. We are wide awake to such NDC artful subterfuge and are prepared to go with them boot-for-boot in all its ramifications. Yes we again assure the NDC that if that is the brand of politics that they intend waging against Dr Nduom and the PPP, then the NDC and candidate John Mahama should prepare to go the long haul with us on many fronts including the mystery of Mills' death, the statement concluded. PPP has no campaign message The National Democratic Congress (NDC), took a swipe at the Progressive People's Party (PPP), for its incessant demand for the autopsy report of the late President, John Evans Atta-Mills. The PPP Flagbearer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, has in recent times on various political platforms, asked the NDC to produce the autopsy report of the late president to clear the doubt of Ghanaians on the true cause of the president's death. But according to the NDC, the calls are needless. But speaking on Eyewitness News, the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirim (KEEA), constituency organizer of the NDC , Phillip Bosomtwe Amoah, said the PPP's demands was an indication it had no campaign message for the constituents. The PPP does not have any message for the constituents that is why they have resorted to this foul play, he said. Mr. Bosomtwe Amoah expressed disappointment that the leader of the PPP, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom had taken interest in centering his political campaign on the death of President Mills. By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana Marriott International (www.MarriottNewsCenter.com) continues its robust expansion across the African continent with news of brand-new signings of new properties in Cape Town, Nairobi, Cairo and Mauritius. This announcement comes hot on the heels of Marriotts recently completed acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which has created the worlds largest hospitality. The transaction has increased Marriotts distribution in Africa, thus affirming the companys number one position across the continent. The past couple of weeks have seen an incredible transformation for our company, and I am proud to say that we are continuing the momentum with our expansion and development plans across the African continent, said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. We officially opened the Kigali Marriott Hotel yesterday, under the patronage of His Excellency, The Honourable Prime Minister Murekezi, and today we announce six new deals across Africa, which when open, are expected to bring our total African property and room count to 205 and 37,000 respectively. These new signings comprise over 1100 rooms, and include AC by Marriotts brand entry into Africa. The Cape Town deals are in partnership with the Amdec Group, Marriotts long term partner and owners of the new Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, announced last year and currently under development. The Amdec Group has been instrumental in bringing in Marriott Internationals global brands into South Africa, as they were the first to announce Marriott Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments and now AC by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott into the market. The AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront will be located at the gateway to Cape Towns waterfront, while Harbour Arch will be the site of the 200-room Cape Town Marriott Hotel Foreshore and the 150-room Residence Inn by Marriott Cape Town Foreshore. The first deal to be signed since Marriotts completed acquisition, and further consolidating Marriott Internationals presence on Mauritius, the globally renowned Sheraton brand will make a landmark debut on the island with Sheraton Mauritius St Felix Resort and The Residences at Sheraton Mauritius St Felix Resort. Owned by Clear Ocean Hotel Resorts Limited, the resort will be a part of a mixed use development with a boutique retail mall and branded residences. Scheduled to open in early 2020, the resort will feature 152 well-appointed guestrooms and suites and 37 branded apartments and villas. The first Element Hotels property signed in Egypt will be the largest Element Hotel in the Middle East and Africa. Situated in Cairos upscale Heliopolis district and scheduled to open in 2019, Element Cairo is developed by Abraj Misr Urban Development and owned by Middle East Real Estate for Development (MERED). A part of the iconic new smart and ecofriendly development, The Gate Project, the largest housing, administrative, commercial, project in Egypt and the Middle East, Element Cairo will feature 344 light-filled rooms and an atmosphere designed to fuel a life in balance and on the move. Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi, Hurlingham, is the brands second hotel in the city, strategically located in the upmarket suburb close to the city center and within easy access from the surrounding business areas of Westlands, Kilimani and Nairobi Central. Owned by Kamcan Properties Ltd, the 96 room hotel is a conversion from an existing hotel, will be operated under a franchise arrangement, and is expected to open in 2017. These news deals are testament to our combined development efforts going forward, as there are significant growth synergies between the brands and our newly combined company, with a focus on expending brands across the region, and looking for opportunities in new markets, concluded Mr. Kyriakidis. Continuing to capitalize on opportunities within the region, Marriott International has set a clear objective to be represented in all major gateway cities, commercial centers and established resort destinations while catering to a wide variety of market segments. Each of Marriott Internationals brands, including those in the pipeline, target a specific segment and support the increased inflow of visitors within that segment. ABOARD THE ASTRAL (Italy) (AFP) - The stomach-churning horror, raw terror and delirious joy experienced during life-or-death rescues of crammed migrant boats have been captured in a series of powerful images of the latest deadly episode in the Mediterranean. Migrants wave at members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 AFP photographer Aris Messinis was on board NGO boat The Astral as it battled to help a number of overcrowded rubber dinghies and a larger wooden vessel found in distress off the coast of Libya in a frantic operation that lasted from dawn until after dusk on Tuesday. Hundreds of mainly African migrants were hauled to safety but dozens died agonising deaths from suffocation as a result of either toxic fumes or the panicked crush of too many bodies: 29 of them on one of the dinghies. Migrants wait to be rescued as they drift in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 3, 2016 Messinis said a final count on Wednesday put the death toll at 32 and his photographs capture the extreme range of emotions produced by the drama. Among the most striking is the hauntingly poignant respect shown by the survivors as they tiptoe over the lifeless bodies on their own way to safety. A migrant is rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 In the water, an African man clings desperately to a float thrown in by the rescuers and tries to stretch his skinny leg out to help a fellow passenger floundering helplessly a yard (metre) away from him. Other images reveal that there were many small children on board the boats; one is crying, perhaps sensing the prevailing sense of fear, others seem totally carefree, oblivious to the panic. Migrants wait to be rescued by the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 One is held up above the crush of the crowd as if being offered up to God. "There must have been about 1,000 people on board the (larger wooden) boat, spread over three levels," Messinis said. Migrants are rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 "I went onboard and there was total panic, there were people jumping into the water, people trying to get out (from below deck)." Italy's coastguard said it coordinated 33 different rescue operations on Tuesday and that 4,655 people had been saved, taking the total saved to more than 10,000 in two days. Four babies born Migrants wait to be rescued by members of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 At least nine corpses were recovered on Monday and the Libyan coastguard reported a separate sinking in which at least 11 people died. Tuesday's drama underlined how easily the life-saving capacities of the multinational search and rescue operation off Libya can become critically stretched. A migrant hangs from a boat as they wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 3, 2016 The Astral, which is operated by Spanish NGO ProActiva Open Arms, was on its own for hours after it first came across the stricken boats. A relatively small converted yacht, it could not risk getting too close to any of the distressed vessels for fear that it could be capsized by the panicked migrants all trying to board it at once. An airplane drops flotation devices as migrants wait to be rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 4, 2016 It was not until midday that an Italian navy vessel arrived to help. By then it may already have been too late for some of the victims, and it was after 10 pm when the operation was finally wrapped up. Italy's coastguard and the charity MSF (Doctors without Borders) reported Wednesday that four pregnant women who were among the rescued had given birth on their way to Italian ports. The number of pregnant women boarding migrant boats in Libya has increased significantly this year and it is not uncommon for them to go into labour as soon as they reach the safety of a rescue boat. Migrants wait to be rescued as they drift in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on October 3, 2016 The 10,600 new arrivals will raise to more than 140,000 the total number of migrants or refugees to have landed in Italy since the start of this year. The numbers are in line with the previous two years but Italy is now having to register and accommodate a bigger proportion of them under pressure from its EU partners, putting immense strain on its overcrowded reception centres and government coffers. From IssahAlhassan, Kumasi THE COMMUNITY of WassaSraha in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region has become the latest victim to the indiscrete activities of illegal miners following the invasion of then town by some Chinese nationals. Information available to The Chronicle indicates that the Chinese miners, with the support of some powerful individuals have taken over the main forest in the community, destroying crops and major sources of drinking water, putting the lives of residents at serious risk. They are said to have started excavating the lands under the guard of heavily armed military personnel. The District Chief Executive for the area, some traditional authorities as well as the Western Regional Executives of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been fingered by some concerned youths in the community of being behind the activities of the Chinese miners. The Upper Denkyira West District, which has Diaso as its district capital, shares borders with the Western Region with residents of both regions sharing common economic and social activities. The spokesperson for the concerned youth, Sam Yeboah, is making a passionate appeal to the government through the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to quickly intervene in order to save residents living in catchment communities from further harm. According to him, their only source of water has been polluted as a result of the activities of these Chinese miners with its attendant effects spiraling to the main river Ankobra tributaries. Meanwhile, the DCE for Upper Denkyira West, Hon. Yankey M. Ackah, has described the allegation as palpable lies calculated to score political point. According to him, he has nothing to do with granting of mineral concession as a DCE, stressing that it is the duty of Minerals Commission and other relevant institutions connected with the granting of permission. He further intimated that the Sraha community is not within his geographical jurisdiction and therefore could not have interfered with the processes involved. Ackah, however, said he suspects underhand political agenda, adding that his name is being dragged into the issue because he is the Parliamentary Candidate for the area. Why would people bring my name into this issue; is it not because I am also the Parliamentary candidate for the NDC? And so easy to be slapped with mud, he queried. (pix: Alex Segbefia) From Naabenyin JoojoAmissah, Cape Coast The acceptance rate of couples to practise family planning in the Central Region is said to be declining in spite of the numerous benefits they stand to gain from it. Available statistics from the regional health directorate indicate that family planning in the region saw a downward trend in 2015. This came to light at a media briefing by the regional health directorate as part of activities marking the family planning week celebration in the region. It was revealed during the briefing that in 2013, the region recorded 15.5% of acceptance but the figure saw a sharp decline to 13.5% in 2015. This situation, according to the directorate, was worrying and had, therefore, resolved to allay the fears and negative perception about it. In view of this, the media has been urged to lead a holy crusade to educate the masses about the actual benefits parents and others who want to use it stand to enjoy. Family planning, according to the directorate, is the surest way married couple could decide on how to space their children. It is the best means that families could use to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies. The directorate again noted that lack of interest or apathy on the parts of men to accept family planning was a major contributory factor to its decline in the region. Another factor that the directorate mentioned was the massive conception people have about the planning. It was disclosed that some people who are already on it, sometimes turned to discourage others from getting involved. The media was, therefore, charged to dedicate air time to educate the men so that they would allow their partners to accept and practice it. Other major stakeholders including queen mothers and opinion leaders were encouraged to preach the good news of family planning in their communities. 05.10.2016 LISTEN Story from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor, Somanya ( [email protected] ) Tension is gradually building among chiefs and people of Yilo-Krobo traditional area in the Eastern Region over the celebration of this year's Kloyosikplem festival. The Kloyosikplemi, which means descending the Krobo Mountains, is an annual festival celebrated in November every year. This year's celebration, which aims at promoting unity and development, is likely to meet a huge setback, following traditional war among the people and invocation of curses against the committee charged with the responsibility of organizing the event. While a faction of the Chiefs believe the festival is coming on and that preparations are far advanced, others have also sworn that there is no way the festival will ever come on, since the outstanding chieftaincy disputes have not been resolved yet. The festival, which began in 1992, was not celebrated last year due to some challenges. The Acting President of the council, Nene Tetteh Odonkor Tumeh, however, announced recently during a traditional council meeting that the festival would be celebrated this year. This back and forth has left the citizens of Yilo-Klo in a state of confusion, since they do not know whether the festival will come on or not. It all began in the second week of July when the Acting President of the Yilo-Traditional Council had a meeting dubbed 'Yilo-Krobo Outreach Meeting' with a section of people of Yilo-Krobo. In the said meeting, Nene Tuumeh made it clear that this years Kloyosikplem festival would come on and that preparation was far advanced. We were unable to organize the festival last year, mainly due to some chieftaincy dispute pending before the Koforidua High Court. We have now gone far in the matter and so it will not affect the celebration of this year's festival, he said. The Kloyosikplemi Festival is for all Yilo Krobos and once there is an Acting President of the Council, we shall celebrate it by all means, come what may, Nene Tumeh emphasized. He said preparations were far advanced and that the divisional chiefs would soon meet with members of the festival planning committee to start preparations towards its successful celebration. This was followed by the Launching ceremony of the festival some few weeks later in August 2016. However, in a counter press release issued by five (5) out of the six (6) Divisional Chiefs on Monday October 3, they urged all citizens of Yilo-Krobo to disregard the said pronouncement and that no decision had been taken by the Traditional Council to celebrate Kloyosikplem this year. According to them, they have also not recognized the said Outreach meeting since they were all not invited. These Divisional Chiefs are -Nene Tetteh Aglbeze III, Divisional Chief of Plau; Nene Narh O. Agbo III, Divisional Chief of Bunase; Nene NaniAzzah V, Divisional Chief of Nyewer; Nene Akro Saki II, Divisional Chief of Ogome and Nene Anati Agor VIII, Divisional Chief of Okper. According to the chiefs, no traditional council meeting had taken place at which the decision was taken to celebrate the Kloyosikplemi Festival this year. According to the spokesman for the chiefs, Nene Tetteh Agblezee III, the Convener of the said Outreach Meeting, Nene Osayem Odonko Tumeh is not a Traditional chief but rather an Honorary chief who did not have the power to convene such a meeting. Furthermore, he said it was wrong for Nene Tumeh who is only a 'Swapolo', that is an honorary chief, to carry himself as the Acting President of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council, since the Chieftaincy Act confers the position of an Acting President on the most Senior Divisional chief and not an Honorary chief. He said the chiefs would want to place on record that any Traditional Council meeting without the involvement of the Divisional Chiefs of the Traditional area would be of no effect. We wish to inform the general public that the situation, which did not make it conducive to hold the Kloyosikplemi Festival in 2015 still prevails today, he said. Nene Agblezee III further said any organisation, body corporate or individual who did any transaction with the said festival committee or the said traditional council and planning committee did so at their own risk. He said there had not been any move to resolve the outstanding chieftaincy dispute in the traditional area which was pending before the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and that until the case was adjudicated, the celebration of the festival was still on hold. Meanwhile, the Krobo advocacy and Heritage association of the Krobo area, Kloma Hengme, in a statement on Monday called for calm among the chiefs in the Yilo-Krobo Traditional Area. The association said since the Appeals Court is getting ready to give its final ruling on the Chieftaincy saga in the last week of this month (October), they should remain calm since they believe that the court will serve justice and peace will not only prevail in Yilo-Klo, but it will also give a clearer picture as to whether the festival should be celebrated this year or not. The Statement, which was signed by the Chairman of the association, Isaac Tamatey Otu, also reminded the chiefs of how their actions have been drawing the Krobo area backwards in terms of development over the years, and the need to put a stop to them with immediate effect. By A.B. Kafui Kanyi President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday said government is working towards providing palm oil processing plant for Dzodze. He said the initiative was a result of the selection of the area as a major oil palm production zone for the country. President Mahama said this at a durbar of chiefs and people of Dzodze to climax this year's Deza celebrations of Dzodze in the Ketu North District. Dzodze is noted for oil palm production and the festival is to revive the industry and make it attractive to the youth. Palm oil is described as a multipurpose commodity-an edible vegetable oil, good for margarine, soaps, shampoos and fuels. Mr President commended the locals for sustaining the industry and assured of government's assistance for the establishment of oil plantations with some supports for smallholder farmers. He said a regulatory board is being considered to drive the sector towards diversifying the local economy and called for support from all stakeholders. Oil palm is a major investment area to make Ghana self-sufficient and it is our major initiative, President Mahama stated. He said Dzodze Township and other link roads are being fixed, alongside rehabilitation of some dams to boost farming and other economic activities in the area. President Mahama called for peaceful co-existence among the people ahead of the December 7 polls. Mr Prosper Ledi, Chairman of 2016 Deza celebration Planning Committee, on behalf of the chiefs expressed gratitude to the government for giving Dzodze its fair share of the national cake. He however pleaded for the quick fixing of roads in the catchment areas and the completion of infrastructure projects in the District. The durbar was attended by some government officials and the Running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia. Source: GNA The Return to Sender campaign by Public Eye in collaboration with the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) is duly on course as the Irenes Rainbow ship left the Port of Accra on Tuesday 4th October, 2016 and set course for Antwerp. On board is a container labelled Return to Sender which Public Eye and its African partner organizations plan to deliver to the door of the trading company Trafigura in Geneva. It is filled with toxic air from the capital of Ghana, which owes much of its pollution to Swiss commodity companies that produce and distribute fuels with high levels of sulfur. A statement from Public Eye, a Swiss NGO (formerly Berne Declaration) said already, more than 12,000 people have signed a petition calling on industry leader Trafigura to sell its African customers only diesel and gasoline that meet European quality standards. It further noted that the dirty fuel business model has been criticized by authorities as well. On dirtydiesel.ch, the three-week-journey of the Irenes Rainbow can be followed in real time and as of now, a ship tracking service makes it possible to virtually accompany the toxic air container on its 7,000 km voyage to Antwerp. It added that from there, the transport continues to Geneva, where this symbolic gift, along with the petition, will be presented to Trafigura in November. This Return to Sender action is based on the findings of the Dirty Diesel report which stirred great media interest around the world when it was published two weeks ago and continues to generate headlines especially in West Africa. In Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, the responsible authorities and members of government had to answer many critical questions about the health-damaging sulfur standards and the low quality of fuels. A few days ago, growing public outrage compelled the National Petroleum Authority in Ghana to offer our partner organization ACEP (Africa Centre for Energy Policy) and other stakeholders to enter into a discussion about a significant improvement to current standards. Meanwhile the influential Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors has issued a statement showing its support of the adaptation of sulfur standards to European levels, too. The Public Eye statement added that at the same time, political protests against the production of toxic fuels in the areas around Rotterdam and Amsterdam and their export to Africa are gathering steam in the Netherlands. It noted that Dutch trade minister Ploumen calls it a gross scandal that companies intentionally export toxic fuels to countries with weak standards. The statement indicated that the Swiss government for its part, answering to a query by MP Lisa Mazzone from Geneva, said that it expected companies based in Switzerland to exercise their social responsibility in compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Public Eye intimated that the companies in question, in their public statements to date, are still hiding behind the argument that they are abiding by the weak standards of the countries concerned. If Trafigura were to live up at the last moment to its ethical claim of being an industry leader and were to become the first clean fuel supplier to Africa, the container would be rerouted to a different Geneva address, the statement posited. Education Minister, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on Ghanaians to acknowledge governments achievement in the education sector. She says a comparative analysis of previous governments performance and that of President John Mahama would reveal that the present government has done far more. There has been an improvement in the quality of teaching delivering and teaching-learning materials (TLM) have been widely distributed to students and schools in the country, the Minister said. 230,000 teachers notebooks, 2.2 million boxes of chalks, 209,675 uniforms, 40,000 school sandals, and between 2009 to date we have distributed over 105 million exercise books, 2,549,647 dictionaries to basic and senior secondary schools. Nobody can say this dont constitute TLM, she said. The Minister who is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) made these remarks when she addressed members of teacher groups during the International Teachers Day marked in the Brong Ahafo Regional capital of Sunyani, Wednesday. During the 2016 manifesto launch of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Sunyani Coronation Park September, President Mahama touted his achievement in the education sector. He spoke about the increase in student enrollment and the distribution of free school uniforms, exercise books, reading materials and sandals among other things. These and much more the President believes has facilitated teaching and learning in the schools across the country. He also talked about the completion of 23 out of the promised 200 Community Day senior high schools (SHS) across the country as evidence of his walking the talk mantra. Although political critics have predicted government would be unable to build all the 200 schools by the end of 2016 as promised, the Education Minister said they would not be pushed to rush the project. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said what they have done as a Ministry was to conceive what the ideal secondary school look like [namely], a classroom, a library, an Assembly Hall, computer room, headmasters office, heads of department offices, that school must have a flat for teachers, it must have a workshop, and it must have a beautiful campus. This, she said explained why the signature E-block classroom complex was chosen to respond to thousands of Ghanaian students who do not get SHS placement as well as providing an ideal secondary school for students. Acting President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Philippa Larson who also spoke at the ceremony lamented about the inadequate teaching materials across the country. "It is common knowledge that teachers must be well resourced to be able to perform their professional duties," she said, adding inadequate education material inhibit the work of teachers." She also berated about activities of private institutions which she said end up exploiting the poor. Even though she believes an effective Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in the education sector is key to a quality teaching delivery in Ghana, she wants activities of private schools to be streamlined. She urged government to provide the right It is very worrying that some development partners have decided to allocate resources to most of these private institutions, she said. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected] Introduction Once again, registration for the DV lottery is right upon us. This years DV lottery registration is called the DV-2018 lottery. The name DV-2018 lottery does not imply that registration for entries will be done in 2018. It only means that while entry for the lottery will be done in 2016, you are entitled to apply for visa issuance only during U.S. government Fiscal Year 2018, which spans from October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018. This article attempts to discuss certain information you must know to help you make a valid and proper entry for the lottery. When can I register for the lottery? Registration for DV-2018 opened on Tuesday, October 4, 2016, and runs through to Monday, November 7, 2016. You must submit your entry for the DV-2018 program electronically at dvlottery.state.gov. You can make your entry at any time within this period. You are advised to file your entry on time. Do not wait until the last week of the registration period to enter, as heavy demand may result in website delays. You can file only one entry during this registration period. If you submit more than one entry, your entry will be disqualified. Retain your confirmation page for your records You must retain your confirmation page for your records. You must retain your confirmation page, even if someone helped you to file your entry. After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation screen that contains your name and unique confirmation number. Print this confirmation screen for your records. If someone helped you, you should be present when your entry is prepared so that you can provide the correct answers to the questions and retain the confirmation page and your unique confirmation number. It is extremely important that you retain your confirmation page and unique confirmation number. You must insist that the person helping you with your entry prints out the confirmation page and hand it over to you. You must not allow the other person to retain the confirmation page and unique number. Without this information, you will not be able to check if you have been selected. If another person retains your confirmation, they will be able to check your entrant status without your knowledge and consent. If they find out that you have been selected, they may require you to pay some exorbitant fee, or set conditions for you, including insisting that dependents be included in your application. Is it advisable for someone to help me file my entry? You are encouraged to complete the entry form yourself, without a visa consultant, visa agent, or other facilitator who offers to help. Some agents may claim that they can get special attention for your lottery registration if you pay them to handle it. Others may claim that your chances of being selected will be increased if the entry is filed on your behalf by someone resident in the U.S. There are no truths in these claims. However, provided that you retain your confirmation page, there may be nothing wrong in paying an agent to help you complete the registration according to instructions. Yet, that is the only help they can offer; but no more. Ensure that your entries are error-free Ensure that you have entered correct and accurate details on the entry form. If someone helped you complete the form, make sure all details entered are correct before they submit it. Errors frequently occur with names, dates of birth, places of birth, etc. Considering the time constraints involved in processing DV visas, Consular Officers (CO) may not be sympathetic to even minor errors made at the time of your entry. To be sure that your name, date of birth, or place of birth corresponds to that in your passport or other document, ensure that you have them at hand at the time of making the entry. This will enable you to cross-check for possible errors. To be continued Emmanuel Opoku Acheampong Disclaimer: This article only provides general information and guidance on U.S. immigration law. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. The writer will not accept any liability for any claims or inconvenience as a result of the use of this information. The writer is an immigration law consultant and a practicing law attorney in Ghana. He advises on U.S., UK, and Schengen immigration law. He works for Acheampong & Associates Ltd, a law firm in Accra. He may be contacted on [email protected] or www.acheampongassociates.com . Yahoo last year secretly built a custom software program to search all of its customers incoming emails for specific information at the request of US intelligence officials, according to a report. The company complied with a classified US government directive, scanning hundreds of millions of Yahoo Mail accounts at the behest of the National Security Agency (NSA) or FBI , two former employees and a third person who knew about the program told Reuters. Some surveillance experts said this represents the first known case of a US internet company agreeing to a spy agencys demand by searching all arriving messages, as opposed to examining stored messages or scanning a small number of accounts in real time. It is not known what information intelligence officials were looking for, only that they wanted Yahoo to search for a set of characters. That could mean a phrase in an email or an attachment, said the sources. Reuters was unable to determine what data Yahoo may have handed over, if any, and whether intelligence officials had approached other email providers besides Yahoo with this kind of request. According to the two former employees, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer s decision to obey the directive troubled some senior executives and led to the June 2015 departure of the chief information security officer, Alex Stamos, who now heads security at Facebook. Yahoo is a law abiding company, and complies with the laws of the United States, the company said in a brief statement in response to Reuters questions about the demand. Yahoo declined any further comment. Andrew Crocker, staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that the use of the word directive to describe the program indicated that the request may have been ordered under the section 702 of the 2008 Fisa Amendments Act, which allows the government to target non-US citizens abroad for surveillance. Revelations by Edward Snowden about the Prism and Upstream programs of which the Yahoo program looks like a hybrid, Crocker said show that US citizens were also subject to mass surveillance. The fourth amendment and attendant privacy concerns are quite staggering, Crocker said. It sounds like they are scanning all emails, even inside the US the fourth amendment protects that fully. Its hard to see how the government justifies requiring Yahoo to search emails like that; there is no warrant that could possibly justify scanning all emails. Yahoo security initially thought hackers had broken in Sources said the program was discovered by Yahoos security team in May 2015, within weeks of its installation. Staff initially thought hackers had broken in. When Stamos found out that Mayer had authorized the program, he resigned as chief information security officer and told his subordinates that he had been left out of a decision that hurt users security, sources said. Due to a programming flaw, he told them, hackers could have accessed the stored emails. Stamos declined a request by the Guardian for an interview. Stamoss announcement in June 2015 that he had joined Facebook did not mention any problems with Yahoo . The NSA referred questions to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which declined to comment. The demand to search Yahoo Mail accounts came in the form of a classified directive sent to the companys legal team, according to the three people familiar with the matter. US phone and internet companies are known to have handed over bulk customer data to intelligence agencies. But some former government officials and private surveillance experts said they had not previously seen either such a broad directive for real-time web collection or one that required the creation of a new computer program. It is deeply disappointing. Post-Snowden, customers are counting on tech companies to stand up to novel spying demands Patrick Toomey, ACLU staff attorney Ive never seen that, a wiretap in real time on a selector, said Albert Gidari, a lawyer who represented phone and internet companies on surveillance issues for 20 years before moving to Stanford University in 2016. A selector refers to a type of search term used to zero in on specific information. It would be really difficult for a provider to do that, he added. Experts said it was likely that the NSA or FBI had approached other internet companies with the same demand, since they evidently did not know what email accounts were being used by the target. The NSA usually makes requests for domestic surveillance through the FBI, so it is hard to discern which agency is seeking the information. Reuters was unable to confirm whether the 2015 demand went to other companies, or if any complied. Google, whose Gmail is the worlds largest email service, said on Tuesday that it hadnt received a similar spying request from the request from the US government. If it had, Google said, its response would be: No way. Microsoft, whose email service also is larger than Yahoo, also said it has never engaged in the secret scanning of email traffic. Twitter, which doesnt provide email service but does allow users to exchange direct messages, likewise said it has never received such a request and would challenge it in court if it did. A Facebook spokesperson said: Facebook has never received a request like the one described in these news reports from any government, and if we did we would fight it. Apple fought a legal case against a similar request by the US government in February after refusing to give access to the phone used by one the attackers in the 2015 San Bernardino massacre. In a statement, the company said: We have never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services. We have also never allowed access to our servers. And we never will. In a further statement, Apple said We have never received a request of this type. If we were to receive one, we would oppose it in court. Companies are obliged to comply with government requests Under laws including the 2008 amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, intelligence agencies can ask US phone and internet companies to provide customer data to aid foreign intelligence-gathering efforts for a variety of reasons, including prevention of terrorist attacks. Disclosures by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and others have exposed the extent of electronic surveillance and led US authorities to modestly scale back some of the programs, in part to protect privacy rights. Technology companies including Yahoo have challenged some classified surveillance before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Fisa), a secret tribunal. Some Fisa experts said Yahoo could have tried to fight last years directive on at least two grounds: the breadth of the demand and the necessity of writing a special program to search all customers emails in transit. In the Apple case, the FBI dropped the lawsuit when it unlocked the phone with the help of a third party , so no precedent was set. Other Fisa experts have defended Yahoos decision to comply, saying nothing prohibited the surveillance court from ordering a search for a specific term instead of a specific account. So-called upstream bulk collection from phone carriers based on content was found to be legal, they said, and the same logic could apply to web companies mail. Some surveillance experts said this was the first case of a US internet company agreeing to a spy agencys demand by searching all arriving messages. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA As tech companies become better at encrypting data, they are likely to face more such requests from spy agencies. Former NSA general counsel Stewart Baker said email providers have the power to encrypt it all, and with that comes added responsibility to do some of the work that had been done by the intelligence agencies. ACLU staff attorney Patrick Toomey said that the demand made on Yahoo was unprecedented and potentially unconstitutional. He said it represented a new surveillance paradigm, one in which computers constantly scan our communications for information of interest to the government. It is deeply disappointing that Yahoo simply chose to comply with this sweeping surveillance order, Toomey said. In the post-Snowden world, customers are counting on technology companies to stand up to novel spying demands in court, because customers themselves have no opportunity to challenge these invasions of their privacy. Senator Ron Wyden told the Guardian: It is a fact that collection under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has a significant impact on Americans privacy. It is public record that this expansive surveillance program is the basis for warrantless searches of Americans emails, and that the government has never even counted how many. The NSA has said that it only targets individuals under Section 702 by searching for email addresses and similar identifiers. If that has changed, the executive branch has an obligation to notify the public. Marissa Mayer did not involve the security team Mayer and other executives ultimately decided to comply with the directive last year rather than fight it, in part because they thought they would lose, said the people familiar with the matter. Yahoo in 2007 fought a Fisa demand that it conduct searches on specific email accounts without a court-approved warrant. Details of the case remain sealed, but a partially redacted published opinion showed Yahoos challenge was unsuccessful. Some Yahoo employees were upset about the decision not to contest the more recent directive and thought the company could have prevailed, the sources said. They were also upset that Mayer and Yahoo general counsel Ron Bell did not involve the companys security team in the process, instead asking Yahoos email engineers to write a program to siphon off messages containing the character string the spies sought and store them for remote retrieval, according to the sources. In a separate incident, Yahoo last month said state-sponsored hackers had gained access to 500m customer accounts in 2014. The revelations have brought new scrutiny to Yahoos security practices as the company tries to complete a deal to sell its core business to Verizon for $4.8bn. President John Mahama has marked World Teachers' Day, congratulating the Education ministry for its aggressive efforts to stamp out teacher absenteeism in public schools. "I am happy to note that after three years of zero tolerance for teacher absenteeism, the rate declined from 27 percent in 2012 to 11 percent in 2014. "In 2015, it declined further to 9 percent...in 2016 it has come down to 7 percent," he said at the national durbar held at the Jubilee Park in Brong Ahafo regional capital Sunyani," he said. October 5 has been set aside to celebrate the teacher whose immense contribution to national development can hardly be ignored. The theme for this years celebration Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status is meant to highlight the decline in teacher status and conditions of service over the last few years. Applauding the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Education ministry, President Mahama said unannounced visits to public schools by a resourced inspectorate board has worked in reducing the practice. The president also reported that more teachers are demonstrating their professionalism by teaching with well-prepared lesson notes in accordance with the syllabus. According to him, by 2013/2014 academic year, the proportion of teachers who possess and use well-prepared lessons notes vetted by school heads stood at 55.3. "I am happy to note that this figure increased to 69 percent," in the 2015/2016 academic year, he said and urged stakeholders to work and improve the rate of preparedness. A day before the celebration, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) expressed worry about the "unfortunate" decline in teacher status and conditions over the last few years. In a communique, the Association complained about sub-standard teacher preparation programmes and recruitment of unqualified personnel, infringements on academic freedom and professional autonomy. It also listed problems such as serious violations of teachers human and Trade Union Rights and poor salaries and working conditions. The Association's acting president, Phillipa Larsen, also touched on a vexed issue in the education sector - teacher trainee allowance which was scrapped by government. Government has explained that the removal of the allowance which has was to improve access to teacher training colleges. aIt was inhibited in admitting greater number of applicants to these colleges because it had to also pay them the allowance. But with the removal, more students are expected to gain admission. They are also to fund their education by opting for a loan from the Student Loan Trust Scheme. In a related development government has announced the suspension of its decision to scrap teacher training allowance. But disapproving of the move, Phillipa Larsen said the policy has resulted in only a "marginal" increase in enrolment in the Colleges of Education. Scrapping the allowance "is our view....counter-productive". Touching on GNAT's contribution towards improving teaching and learning, the ag. President Phillipa Larsen said 1,282 teachers benefitted from in-service training programme held at the Wesley College in the Ashanti Region, Ghana Senior High School in Koforidua in the Eastern Region and the St. Francis College in Hohoe in the Volta Region. Listen to President Mahama